276  Drugs  and  Druggist  in  Tuberculosis.  j  Am'juner"i909arm' 
DRUGS  AND  THE  DRUGGIST  IN  RELATION  TO 
TUBERCULOSIS.* 
By  Henry  Kraemer,  Ph.D. 
Notwithstanding  the  maddening  rate  at  which  we  Western 
peoples  are  moving  through  time  as  well  as  space,  producing  there- 
by a  long  train  of  nervous  disorders,  and  sometimes  even  instant 
death  from  the  snapping  of  the  v.tal  cord,  we  are  at  the  same 
time  growing  optimistic  in  regard  to  the  question  of  the  prolonga- 
tion of  human  life.  For  this  there  is  ample  justification,  as  on 
the  one  hand  we  have  the  facts  to  show  that  the  average  length 
of  life  is  on  the  increase,  and,  again,  we  see,  as  never  before,  the 
beneficial  results  which  follow  from  the  use  of  good  food  and  from 
hygienic  and  congenial  surroundings.  Still  more  do  we  see  the 
positive  results  which  have  been  accomplished  by  medical  science 
in  the  prevention  and  treatment  of  infectious  diseases,  so  striking 
in  the  case  of  smallpox,  as  also  by  modern  surgery  through  the 
application  of  the  principles  of  asepsis  and  antisepsis. 
Thus  it  follows  that  we  are  beginning  to  form  hundred-year 
clubs,  in  which  it  is  held  to  be  a  disgrace  for  the  members  to  die 
before  having  attained  the  age  of  one  hundred  years. 
All  of  these  movements  are  but  the  signs  of  the  advancement 
that  is  being  made  by  education  and  science,  and  all  of  them  are 
intimately  connected  with  our  social  progress  and  ideas  of  citizen- 
ship. I  cannot  illustrate  this  better  than  by  giving  Senator 
Chandler's  idea  of  a  citizen.  He  was  visited  by  a  delegation  who 
were  desirous  of  having  him  assist  them  in  the  selection  of  a  mayor 
of  Concord.  Name  after  name  was  offered  to  the  Senator  only  to 
be  rejected.  Finally  one  of  the  delegates  asked,  "  Well,  who  in 
thunder  do  you  want  anyway,  Mr.  Senator?  How  are  we  going 
to  know  when  a  man  does  possess  the  qualities  that  will  entitle  him 
to  your  approval?"  The  Senator  replied  in  a  quiet  way,  "  When 
you  find  a  man  who  isn't  ashamed  to  show  respect  for  women, 
love  for  children  and  animals,  and  who  will  walk  to  the  edge  of 
the  sidewalk  at  midnight,  when  no  one  is  watching,  to<  do  his  ex- 
pectorating into  the  street,  you  may  be  sure  that  he  possesses  all 
*  Address  delivered  to  pharmacists  at  the  International  Tuberculosis 
Exhibition  at  Philadelphia,  March  11,  1909. 
