PHILADELPHIA, PA., March 15, 1906. To the Local Members of the American Pharmaceutical Association: To more readily attain the objects sought by the founders of the American Pharmaceutical Association, and in accordance with a resolution adopted at the Fifty-first Annual Meeting, held at Mackinac Island, Michigan, in 1903, it has been suggested that a branch of this Association be inaugurated and maintained in the city of Philadelphia. You are cordially invited to attend a preliminary meeting to be held in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 20, 1906, at 2.30 o'clock, and to sign the necessary petition to the Council of the American Pharmaceutical Association, and a call for a general invitation to all of the local members of the Association to be present at a subsequent meeting for formal organization. JOSEPH P. REMINGTON, On motion of Professor Remington, Mr. J. H. Redsecker, of Lebanon, Pa., was requested to take the chair, and Mr. M. I. Wilbert, of Philadelphia, was requested to act as Secretary. Professor Remington then briefly outlined the object of the meeting, and requested the Secretary to read the following proposed general invitation to a formal meeting, to be held on Wednesday, March 28, 1906, at the College of Physicians: The undersigned members of the American Pharmaceutical Association, having petitioned the Council of that Association for the privilege of forming, in the city of Philadelphia, a local branch to be known as the Philadelphia Branch of the American Pharmaceutical Association, hereby extend to you an invitation to be present at a meeting for formal organization, to be held on the evening of Wednesday, March 28, 1906, in the lower lecture hall of the College of Physicians, N. E. cor. Thirteenth and Locust Streets, at 8 P.M. Among the more direct objects to be sought for and attained by the institution of such a local branch, we may suggest: The development of a scientific spirit among the members of the local profession. A more complete adherence to the Pharmacopoeia of the United States, and other generally accepted and well-known formularies, in making the preparations to be used in the practice of medicine. . Pharm , 1906 The discovery and exposure of frauds and of fraudulent or dishonest practices in connection with the materials used as medicine. The elimination of secrecy and fraud from the practice of pharmacy and the cultivation of a proper appreciation, by members of the medical profession and others, of the ability, duty and position of an up-to-date pharmacist. All members of the American Pharmaceutical Association, and all reputable pharmacists who are in accord with the principles of that association, are invited to attend this initial meeting and to become active members of the local branch. This general invitation was, on motion, adopted. Professor Remington then read the proposed petition to the Council of the American Pharmaceutical Association. On motion of Mr. Cliffe, Prof. Joseph P. Remington, Mr. William McIntyre and Mr. M. I. Wilbert were appointed a committee to draw up, and to present at the next meeting, a set of rules or bylaws for the guidance of the local branch. There being no further business the meeting was declared adjourned until Wednesday, March 28th, and the members present invited to sign the following petition to the Council: To the Council of The American Pharmaceutical Association: We the undersigned members of the American Pharmaceutical Association, respectfully ask that you extend to us the privilege of forming a local branch of the American Pharmaceutical Association, in the City of Philadelphia, to be known as the Philadelphia Branch of the American Pharmaceutical Association. Our aim in inaugurating this local branch is to extend and to popularize the objects and the established precedents of the American Pharmaceutical Association, and to secure for pharmacy, and for her votaries and followers, the recognition that is rightfully due them for their contributions to the progress and welfare of the human race. J. H. Redsecker. A. M. Hance. Wm. R. Warner, Jr. SIGNED. Joseph P. Remington. Charles T. George. F. P. Stroup. E. H. Hance. Franklin M. Apple. PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING. The stated Pharmaceutical Meeting of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy was held on Tuesday afternoon, March 20th, with J. H. Redsecker, Ph.M., of Lebanon, Pa., in the chair. The meeting was devoted to a symposium on the subject of the use of antiseptics in foods. The interest attaching to this subject at present and the prominence of the speakers on the programme combined to attract a number of representative pharmacists and others as well. Following are the names of some of those in attendance: Thomas S. Wiegand, James T. Shinn, Joseph L. Lemberger, Charles T. George, Louis Emanuel, E. M. Boring, Geo. M. Beringer, W. L. Cliffe, E. Fullerton Cook, Joseph W. England, E. H. Hance, A. M. Hance, Ambrose Hansberger, C. M. Kline, Clement B. Lowe, Charles H. LaWall, Wm. McIntyre, Henry Kraemer, Franklin M. Apple, Aquila Hoch, J. T. Harbold, Geo. W. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Peacock, Warren H. Poley, Joseph P. Remington, Richard M. Shoemaker, Samuel P. Sadtler, F. P. Stroup, Chas. A. Weidemann, Wm. R. Warner, Jr., M. I. Wilbert, Chas. E. Vanderkleed, C. P. Gabell, Prof. Susannah G. Haydock and Dr. Mary Pennington. Dr. H. W. Wiley, Chief of the Bureau of Chemistry, U. S. Department of Agriculture, was the first speaker introduced, and gave an address on "The Use of Preservatives in Foods." (See page 153.) Dr. H. C. Wood, Jr., of Philadelphia, followed with a paper entitled, "Is the Use of Food Preservatives Justifiable?" This paper will probably be published in full in a subsequent issue of this JOURNAL. Dr. Wood said that knowing the conditions which have to do with the commerce in foods, he desired to be fair to manufacturers, but that he was pretty thoroughly convinced that the use of chemical preservatives is not justifiable. He was opposed to their use even when the name and quantity of the chemical used are given on the label or otherwise stated, for the reason that the majority of consumers are not able to judge as to the harmlessness or harmfulness of preservatives. He said that the subject is one of special interest to physicians and pharmacists, and he urged those in attendance to use their influence in securing the passage of the Pure Food Bill now before the House of Representatives. Joseph L. Lemberger, president-elect of the American Pharmaceutical Association, said that for some time he had had a conviction Jour. Pharm , 1906 that the use of food preservatives was not desirable, and that his position had been criticised both favorably and unfavorably, the advocates of preservatives claiming that their use is to be recommended under certain circumstances, as, for instance, in delay in transportation. Mr. Lemberger said that in view of the arguments advanced by Dr. Wiley and Dr. Wood, he felt that it would be wrong to encourage the use of preservatives. He said that he personally was opposed to the use of foods containing them and that what he did not favor for himself he did not consider good for his neighbor. Referring to the Pure Food Bill, he hoped that it would pass both houses of Congress, and said that then provision should be made for the proper inspection of food products, so as to insure their purity. Warren H. Poley desired to know if preservatives have the same effect after being applied to food as when administered directly, or, in other words, if the preservative combines with the food material in such a manner as to be less harmful than it otherwise would be. Dr. Wiley in reply said that in the experiments which he had been making the chemicals had been directly administered, that his object had been to study the effects on the organism and not on the foods. He said that borax undergoes no change when applied to foods, and stated that in those cases where there is a combination of the chemical and food product the effect of the chemical on the organism would ultimately be realized. Prof. Joseph P. Remington said that he was in favor of improving the quality of foods, but that he was not quite convinced that a small amount of preservative is objectionable. In this connection he referred to an experience of Dr. Squibb during the Civil War. Dr. Squibb had undertaken to supply the army with chloroform and ether, but in transporting these liquids over the mountains in Virginia and the neighboring States, they were decomposed, the chlorine being liberated from the chloroform, and it was found necessary to add a small quantity of alcohol to prevent decomposition. On the other hand, Professor Remington said that he was thoroughly assured that if food preservatives are used, the fact should be stated on the label, and that this also applies to all medicines and proprietary preparations. FLORENCE YAPLE, Secretary pro tem. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY MAY, 1906. NOTES ON THE NEW PHARMACOPOEIA.1 BY W. M. SEARBY. Before proceeding to discuss the Pharmacopoeia, which is to be my principal theme this morning, I want to say a few words to the members of the Junior Class. Some of you have perhaps come here under the impression that the work is very easy, and that the Faculty and Instructors will do most of it for you. Others are impressed with the opposite view, that the work is attended with much difficulty, and that only very bright students have a good chance to graduate. Let me say to you that both of these views are erroneous. The work in college is not so easy that any of you can do it without effort, and graduate with credit. The Faculty will give you every assistance in their power to acquire the knowl edge which you have come here to obtain. They will render the pursuit thereof as easy as it is wise to make it, perhaps as easy as possible, but there is a great deal that they cannot do. They do not demand much of you in the way of memorizing, but nevertheless there are some things which must be committed to memory, and this the Faculty cannot do for you. There is also a certain amount of reading and thinking which has to be done if you would have a comprehensive knowledge of the various subjects which will be presented to you. The Faculty cannot do your reading, they cannot do your thinking, and it is not all so very easy that anybody can do it with half trying. The work must be done systematically, promptly, day by day, if you would have a clear understanding of all matters submitted to you, grasp them thoroughly, and make An address delivered before the student body of the California College of Pharmacy, September 7, 1906. |