Am.  Jour.  Pharoi.'l 
February,  J901.  J 
Editorial. 
97 
EDITORIAL. 
THE  SEMI-CENTENNIAL  OF  THE  A.PH.A. 
There  is  a  marked  difference  in  the  duration  of  the  germinating 
and  life  periods  of  different  animals  and  plants,  and  the  same  may 
be  said  of  the  projects  and  undertakings  of  men.  Hardly  was  this 
nation  entailed  in  the  conflict  with  Spain  than  rich  men  gave  munifi- 
cently to  provide  for  the  exigencies  of  war.  The  nation  to  a  man 
willingly  contributed  to  the  war  taxes.  Not  always,  however,  do 
appeals  to  men  meet  with  such  ready  responses.  This  applies  more 
especially  to  appeals  made  for  the  establishment  of  memorials  per- 
petuating the  lives  and  names  of  the  learned  and  the  great.  The 
merits  of  those  who  are  truly  distinguished  appeal  for  the  most  part 
to  special  classes,  and  it  generally  devolves  upon  a  few  who  have 
a  particular  regard  and  affection  for  them  and  their  work  to  execute 
the  tasks  in  hand. 
Last  May  the  Huxley  memorial  statue  Was  unveiled  in  the  Muse- 
um of  Natural  History,  South  Kensington,  London.  It  required  over 
four  years  (since  November  27,  1895)  f°r  the  committee  to  collect 
£3,380  for  this  purpose.  Almost  all  memorials  which  are  of  real, 
lasting  consequence  require  time  for  decision  in  regard  to  the  most 
fitting  character  of  the  memorial,  and  also  for  the  devising  of  ways  and 
means  for  collecting  funds  for  such  purposes.  Nearly  two  years  have 
elapsed  since  Albert  E.  Ebert  suggested  to  the  American  Pharma- 
ceutical Association  (see  Proc,  1899,  p.  115)  that  something  be 
done  by  that  Association  to  revive  the  memory  of  Professor  Wil- 
liam Procter,  Jr.  We  believe  that  Mr.  Ebert  had  put  forth  this 
suggestion  quietly  for  a  number  of  years  to  various  members  of 
the  Association,  and  no  doubt  to  almost  all  of  the  members  it  has 
at  first  seemed  as  though  the  project  were  a  great  way  off  and  that 
at  the  proper  time  the  right  thing  would  be  done. 
At  the  semi-centennial  of  the  Association  something  will  no  doubt 
be  done  by  the  members  that  will  be  worthy  of  her  history  and 
her  influence  in  promoting  the  welfare  of  pharmacy  and  medicine. 
It  will  be  an  unusual  opportunity  for  stimulating  the  growth  of  the 
Association  and  for  extending  her  influence  in  the  professions  and 
among  the  people.  In  order  to  facilitate  the  discussion  of  the 
various  aspects  of  this  celebration  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, the  Editor  of  this  Journal  has  sought  expressions  of  opin- 
