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ciation: It is certainly a great honor to be selected as the one whose duty it should be to endeavor to the best of his ability to care for the Association at the meeting next year. It is very seldom, I think, that we could find in any city in this country a gentleman that represents the affability, the majestic as well as the magnetic presence of our friend Mr. Whitney (applause). I do not think that I am constituted to fill a position of that kind, no matter how much I possibly could attempt to do so for the interests of the Association. Besides, it is a position that requires work of a peculiar character, work which I possibly am not so well fitted for as somebody else. I would, therefore, like to ask the Association to substitute the name of a gentleman in Chicago who, I am satisfied, will fill the position with credit to the local fraternity, and that means to the entire satisfaction of the ladies and gentlemen who will visit the World's Fair city next year. Mr. President, I desire to ask that my name be withdrawn, and in place thereof substituted the name of one of the oldest members of this Association, Mr. Henry Biroth (applause).

MR. EBERT: I wish to say, in seconding that nomination, that it gives me the greatest pleasure that I have ever had in this body. Mr. Henry Biroth will be the man for the place, and I thank Mr. Hallberg heartily, for he will unite all conflicting interests, if there have been any. I will say further, ladies and gentlemen, that when you come to Chicago, with Mr. Henry Biroth as Local Secretary, you can come there assured that you will be welcomed by one united body. Again I thank Mr. Hallberg for having nominated so good a man as Mr. Biroth.

MR. MARTIN: I also desire to second the nomination of Mr. Henry Biroth. He is one of the oldest druggists in Chicago, who by long experience and pleasing manners has always been held in high esteem by the public of the entire city. In all differences he was the one man who always held aloof and counseled moderation, and for that reason I know of no one in Chicago who could be chosen to fill the position of Local Secretary to greater advantage to the American Pharmaceutical Association, and more creditably.

Mr. Hallberg's request to withdraw his name was, by a rising vote, unanimously concurred in; and, by a rising vote, the Secretary was instructed. to cast the ballot for Mr. Biroth's nomination, which having been done, Mr. Biroth was déclared duly elected Local Secretary.*

The reports of committees were now called for, and Mr. Remington presented the following:

REPORT OF DELEGATES TO THE SECTION OF MATERIA MEDICA AND PHARMACY OF AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

Your Committee who were appointed by the President (upon invitation of the American Medical Association) to form a delegation to the latter body, to aid in the organiza

* The following letter has been received by the Secretary:

CHICAGO, September 1, 1892. Dear Sir: Your esteemed letter of August 11th, informing me of my election as Local Secretary of the American Pharmaceutical Association for the meeting to be held in Chicago during the World's Fair in 1893, duly received. I greatly appreciate the honor which the Association has conferred upon me, and the confidence the Council has placed in me; and with the hearty co-operation of the Committee on Arrangements, and the nanimous support of the Chicago druggists, I shall endeavor to make the coming meeting a success. Respectfully yours,

HENRY BIROTH.

tion of a Section of Materia Medica and Pharmacy, beg leave to report that they have performed the duty which was assigned to them. To say that the delegation was received with cordiality and welcome, does not fully express the manner of their reception; there can be no question that a very auspicious beginning of the establishment of more harmonious and useful relations between the two professions has been firmly established. A brief sketch of the proceedings is hereby appended:

SECTION XII, ON MATERIA MEDICA AND PHARMACY.

The Section on Materia Medica and Pharmacy of the American Medical Association met in Grand Army Hall, in the city of Washington, on the afternoons of May 5, 6, and 7, 1891, Frank Woodbury, M. D., of Philadelphia, Pa., chairman. H. G. Ewing, M. D., of Nashville, Tenn., being absent, owing to sickness, F. E. Stewart, M. D., of Wilmington, Del., was elected Secretary pro tem.

In addition to the members of the American Medical Association attending the Section, there was present a delegation from the American Pharmaceutical Association, including Joseph P. Remington, of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, chairman of the committee; Mr. Alfred B. Taylor, of Philadelphia, Pa., the venerable ex-president of the American Pharmaceutical Association, who had served on the committee for revising the United States Pharmacopeia since 1840; Prof. J. M. Maisch, of Philadelphia; Prof. Edgar L. Patch, of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Mass.; Prof. Chas. T. P. Fennel, State Chemist of Southern District, Cincinnati, Ohio; Mr. B. T. Fairchild and Prof. Bedford, of New York City. This delegation was welcomed appropriately by the chairman, and invited to take part in all deliberations of the Section. A committee of the Section was formed to act on publication of papers and other business that might be referred to it, this committee consisting of the officers of the Section and Joseph P. Remington.

The following papers were read and discussed:

1. Pharmacopoeial Nomenclature and the Latin of Prescriptions, by Prof. Joseph P. Remington, of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, and member of the committee for revising the United States Pharmacopœia.

2. The Present Status of Materia Medica and Therapeutics, by J. W. C. Cuddy, M. D., of Baltimore, Md.

3. The Working Bulletin System: A proposed Investigation of the Materia Medica of the World under the Auspices of the Government of the United States, by Frank E. Stewart, M. D., of Wilmington, Delaware, Demonstrator of Materia Medica and Pharmacy, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia.

4. The Future Chemist, by Prof. Chas. T. P. Fennel, of Cincinnati, State Chemist for the Southern District, Ohio.

5. Discussion on the United States Pharmacopoeia, opened by Prof. Horatio C. Wood, M. D., etc., president of the Convention for the Revision of the United States Pharmacopoeia. In this discussion participated Prof. Remington; Dr. Kirnan, of Chicago; Prof. Whelpley, of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy; Dr. Prentiss, of Washington; Prof. Patch, of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy; Prof. Maisch, of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, member of the Committee on Revision, and Permanent Secretary of the American Pharmaceutical Association.

6. On the Relation of the Profession to Drugs Bearing a Trade Mark; with some Remarks in Regard to the Value of the Pharmacopoeia to the Physician, by Hobart A. Hare, M. D., Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia.

7. Pharmacy for Medical Men, by Prof. P. W. Bedford, of New York City, member of the Committee for revising the United States Pharmacopoeia, etc.

8. American Pharmacy and Legislation, by H. P. Reynolds, Plainfield, N. J.

REPORT OF DELEGATES TO THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 53

The following papers were read by title:

1. The Relations of Physicians and Pharmacists, by E. L. Boggs, M. D., Charleston, W. Va.

2. On the Officinal Sulphocarbolates, by Wm. F. Waugh, M. D., Philadelphia, Pa. 3. Potassium Chlorate; Its Toxic Effects, by G. A. Fackler, M. D., Cincinnati, Ohio. 4. Some Notes on Old Remedies, by Prof. L. E. Sayre, of the University of Kansas. 5. "Guests of This Hotel are Not Permitted to Use Iodoform," by I. N. Love, M. D., St. Louis, Mo.

A very important communication from Dr. Chas. Rice, of New York, chairman of the committee for revising the United States Pharmacopoeia, was read, proposing a commission of physicians and pharmacists, to be appointed jointly by the American Medical Association and American Pharmaceutical Association, for the consideration of subjects, both scientific and ethical, of mutual interest to the professions of medicine and pharmacy, and to report annually to the American Medical Association.

In the discussion upon this paper, it was generally conceded that the recommendation of Dr. Rice was timely and valuable, and that the formation of the Section on Materia Medica and Pharmacy was instigated by the same motives and opinions expressed in the communication, as by this means any subject of interest and importance to medicine and pharmacy could be reported promptly to each National Association.

The papers having all been read, a business session was held.

The business committee of the Section reported:

1. That as the communication of Dr. Rice was also covered by Dr. Stewart's paper, suggesting the formation of a special society of physicians and pharmacists, and as the subject was a very important one, that the entire subject be referred back to the committee, to bring before the Section again next year for further consideration.

2. It was recommended that the committee bring before the meeting next year a plan for more complete organization, with the view of facilitating business and developing the interest of members of the American Medical Association in the Section on Materia Medica and Pharmacy.

3. Resolved, that the Government of the United States be memorialized by the American Medical Association in favor of the plan proposed by Dr. F. E. Stewart, whereby the laboratories of the army, navy, marine hospital service, Smithsonian Institution, customs service, agricultural department and other departments of the Government having charge of the analysis and identification of drugs, may be facilitated, and the results of their investigations made public, and that the information thus gathered may be disseminated for the general benefit of the professions of medicine and pharmacy.

The report of the committee was accepted and adopted, and the last resolution was directed to be referred to the general session of the American Medical Association for its consideration by the chairman of the Section.

An election of officers for the ensuing year resulted in the re-election of Dr. Woodbury as chairman, and for secretary Dr. H. M. Whelpley, of St. Louis, was unanimously chosen, the Secretary casting the ballot of the meeting.

The Section then adjourned.

Signed:

F. E. STEWART, M. D., Secretary pro tem.

FRANK WOODBURY, M. D., Chairman.

The second annual meeting of the Section was held June 7th, 8th and 9th, in the city of Detroit. The proceedings opened on Tuesday, June 7th, with an address of the chairman, Dr. F. Woodbury, of Philadelphia. A very valuable paper was read by Prof. A. B. Prescott, of Ann Arbor, upon "Caffeine and the Question of Its Isomerism," following which, a paper on "The Examination of Market Fluid Extracts," by Prof. E. L. Patch,

was read, together with one on "Pharmacy at Health Resorts," by Dr. F. E. Stewart, of Wilmington, Del.

Upon the following day a discussion upon the Revision of the United States Pharmacopoeia was participated in by the members present, and succeeding this, came a discussion upon the "International Pharmacopoeia," which was opened by the Chairman.

The last meeting of the Section was occupied with reading the following papers: "On Europhen," by Dr. J. V. Shoemaker, of Philadelphia; "On Tablet Triturates and Dosimetric Granules," by Dr. W. F. Waugh, and lastly on "Notes on Therapeutic Novelties,” by Dr. I. N. Love, of St. Louis. In addition to the foregoing, a valuable communication on "Collaboration in Pharmacy," by Dr. Charles Rice, was read and its recommendations were adopted by the Section.

Before concluding this report, your committee desire to express the opinion that the action of this Association in sending the delegation to the American Medical Association has been productive of results which, if properly encouraged, will prove of lasting benefit. It is now a common act of courtesy for State Pharmaceutical Associations to send representatives to State Medical Societies, and for physicians to return the courtesy by visiting State Pharmaceutical Associations. In the Pennsylvania Medical Society, at their late meeting, resolutions were passed deprecating the law which permits physicians to practice pharmacy without passing examinations in practical pharmacy, and also condemning the habit of some pharmacists who prescribe remedies for the cure of disease without possessing the requisite qualifications. Another proof of the unity of effort between physicians and pharmacists is evidenced by the passage of the following resolutions at the meeting of the American Medical Association-these had received the previous endorsement of the State Medical Society of Pennsylvania:

Resolved, That the attention of the trustees of the Journal of the American Medical Association be called to the fact that the Code of Ethics prohibits all commendatory mention or advertisement of secret preparations, and that said trustees be instructed to respect said prohibition in the future conduct of the official Journal of this Association. In conclusion the Committee desire to express the hope that the American Pharmaceutical Association will authorize its President to tender an invitation to the American Medical Association to send a visiting delegation to the next meeting of the Association at Chicago.

Respectfully submitted,

JOSEPH P. REMINGTON, Chairman.

On motion of Mr. Alexander, the report was received and referred for publication.

Secretary Maisch moved that the recommendation appended to the report, that the American Pharmaceutical Association authorize its president to tender an invitation to the American Medical Association to send a delegation to the next meeting at Chicago, be approved.

MR. REMINGTON: Before the motion is put, I desire to say that informally I was led to believe that, if time had permitted to call the delegation together, the president of the American Medical Association and the secretary, with a delegation, would have been very glad to have met with us here, and this is evidenced by the fact, which you remember, that the President of the American Medical Association sent a telegram to us. In this connection, I would like to make the suggestion that the secretary acknowledge that telegram in some way. Were it not for the fact that the American Medical Association has had two meetings since we have met in New Orleans, there would have been plenty of time to have presented an invitation in due form. They have royally treated our delegation on both occasions, and I think the least we can do is to return the

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE METRIC SYSTEM.

55

courtesy and invite them, and I feel certain that if the invitation is sent in proper official form that they will be glad to attend.

The motion was duly seconded and carried.

Mr. Remington next presented the following report of the Committee on the Metric System :

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE ADOPTION OF THE METRIC SYSTEM.

Your Committee to whom was intrusted the duty of endeavoring to secure favorable legislation from Congress, looking to the adoption of the Metric System, beg leave to make the following report. Upon examination and consultation it was believed to be the best judgment for this Committee to join hands with the American Metrological Society, the Society for the Advancement of Science, the Academy of. Sciences of Chicago, and other bodies, in memorializing Congress to secure support for the following Act. To lay this matter properly before the heads of the Government Departments and Congress, two of the members of the Committee visited Washington personally a few months ago, and the chairman was requested to send written communications to the Secretaries of State and Treasury, and members of Congress.

This was done, and below will be found the correspondence:

To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled:

The undersigned respectfully prays your honorable body to make the following enactment, which, except for the postponement of two years in the date of its going into effect, is the same which was submitted for the consideration of the 51st Congress by the Secretary of State, in his letter transmitted to Congress by the President, July 10, 1890. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled:

That on and after July 1, 1893, the Metric System of Weights and Measures, authorized by the Act of Congress approved July 28, 1866, shall be used exclusively in the customs service of the United States.

PHILADELPHIA, May 20, 1892.

HON. JAMES G. BLAINE, Secretary of State, United States of America.

Dear Sir: I beg leave to urge at this time upon your attention the necessity for some action upon the Act which has been before the House of Representatives upon a previous occasion, in reference to the Metric System, and which reads as follows: That on and after July 1, 1893, the Metric System of Weights and Measures authorized by the Act of Congress approved July 28, 1866, shall be used exclusively in the customs service of the United States.

Your knowledge of the commercial needs of this nation requires no suggestions at my hands; but, if you will permit me, I will call your attention to the late action of the Decennial Association in England, which is doing its utmost and working very successfully among the manufacturers of Great Britain, in urging them to send their goods to South America, measured and weighed according to the standard of the Metric System. This action on their part is no longer a question of choice; it is based upon an overwhelming conviction, that the markets, which have heretofore been almost exclusively controlled by the British, were rapidly yielding to the onslaughts made by outside nations, particularly those by Germany.

It requires no great commercial prescience to point out the fact that the quality of the