The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-18
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION.

Thursday evening, they assembled at the Smithsonian
Institution. The meeting having been called u
order Dr. Joseph Walsh, chairman OF the committee Of
arrangements of the Washington Pharmaceutical Associ-
alton in few appropriate remarks, presented to the
association anbroype group, taken at Mount Vernon
of the members Of the American Pharmaceutical Assoca-
ton which was accepted by Dr. G. B. Guthrie in very
happy speech.
The discussion of scientific subjects was then resumed
and number of regular reports and volunteer essays
scientific questions read and accepted
The following preamble and resolution was presented
by DR.. Guthrie, and adopted
nasmuch as this association has heretofore recognised
the law of Congress known the drug law beneficial
in lis results and when carried out protection to the
community against authorizations and sophistcations, and
believing that law to be imperfect and requiring amend
ments therefore,
RgOlpea, That the memorial prepared by a committee
of this association for presentation to Congress be also
placed in the hands of the Hon Secretary of the Treas
ury, with appeal to him for such recommendation
Dr. Guthrie, according to previous notice, moved TO
strike out the fifth section of the constitution and insert
in its place as follows
he nominations of officers for the ensuing year shall
be in open convention and shall be Immediately after
the delivery of the presidents address and such nomn
tons being sent To the chair, and announced by the
chair the election shall be by ballot ut the opening Of
the succeeding meeting
Mr.. Stearns introduced resolution, which was car
RED that committee Of two be appointed to examine
specimens. The chair appointed John Mealim and Ed
ward w. DonnelIy as this committee; whereupon the
association adjourned
The association hvang been called to order Yesterday
morning. Dr. Squibb continued the reading of his paper
upon suggestions in relation TO the revision of the Phar
macoposia On motion by Prof Proctor the thanks of
the association rendered to Dr. for the very vlu-
able information contained in the paper just read and
for luh1
Prot. Proctor, from the committee to whom was re-
ferrcd the subject OF application to the Agricultural
Bureau of the Patent Office brought to the notice of
the association by Mr. ID. j. Browne reported that they
recommend that application be filed in the Patent
Office requesting that the reception by the depart
ment of any medicinal roots plants seeds capable
yielding plants they forward to the secretaries of the
Colleges of Pharmacy at Boston, New York Philadelphia
Baltimore and Cincinnati the Pharmaceutical Assoca-
tions of Washington Richmond St Louis and San Fran
CISCO and to parties in Detroit New Orleans Charleston
and Nashville to be designated by the committee such
parcels of them they deem sufficient for experimental
purposes They also recommend that the practical
ryng out of this business be referred to committee of
four members, who shall be instructed to draw up an
application to the Agricultural Bureau and file it as above
directed and who shall address, on behalf of the assoca
ton communications to each of the recipients indicated
charging the Importance of giving any specimens
sent to them by the department the most careful aten
ton regards culture analysis the case may re-
que, and communicate the results to the Agricultural
M
mend that the subject shall be referred to the four fol
lowing gentlemen namely--John l., Kidwell and f. s.
Walsh, Of the District of Columbia; T. F. James, Of Pha-
dclphia and VIM. A. Brewer, of Boston.
On motion, the report was adopted.
Dr. Stearns, from the committee whom was referred
the paper of Prof William Proctor, jr upon 'Sya-
bus OF course OF study appropriate to the student Of
Pharmacy, reported that upon examination of said
paper, the committee of opinion that it should be
published in the proceedings OF the present meeting in
eteaso The report was adopted
Several scientific subjects which referred to mem
bers for reports then continued until the next ses
sion, no reports being ready and others were dropped
from the list
A paper was then read from DR. Robert Battey. of
Rome Ga, the question sto what extent is the fecla
of Maanta arundnacea arrow root produced in Georgia.
FLORIDA and other southern States and what impedi
ments prevent its being made to rival that of Bermuda
in excellence and beauty? This paper states that arrow
root OF superior quality is grown in Georgia and
could they have colony Of New England Shakers there
to cultivate it, they would be able drive all other
descriptions of the article out of the market
paper was then read on the detection of adultcra
Tons OF volatile oils, by John Nj Maisch of Philade
pLia which referred to the executive committee for
publication.
Samuel NJ. Cocord, of Boston then read an interest
ing paper ON the professional intercourse between phys
clans and pharmaceusts The importance of physicians
~rlilnS their prescriptions plainly strongly urged
and case was mentioned OF physician who was in the
haot OF writing "lpec for lpecacuanha, but
than anything else. Those apothecaries who were
IN the habit Of putting up his prescriptions knew
MS intention and acted accordingly; but the time
came when n stranger called on to put up one
OF these badly written Prescriptions and the conse
qehce was that twenty grains OF pulverzed opium was
gwen as an cmetc The danger life of such caelessly
written prescriptions be apparent to all and the
paper goes on to state ''we have right to ieopardize
The health or life Of the patient by any doubtful nterpreta
oh oil prescription put up dangerous prescrip
uoh correctly written, when are sure that we know
The dangerous consequences better than the prescbr
we Justify q physician when he objects on reasonable
grounds to his patient getting his medicines compounded
oy an Ignorant irresponsible apohecary even though
he may inure the reputation of the apohecay with his
customers so hold it jusable to refuse compromising
prescription reasonable grounds where are sure it
would prove fatal dangerous the patient even
though 1t might compromise the physician 1t not I'M
common or censurable for physician on reasonable
grounds TO recommend change of apothecares; and
why should it, under similar circumstances be consider
e wrong Tor apothccarics to advise change Of phys
cans for hold that apoheces arc as good Judges of
he professional qualifications of physicians as physicians
are oil apothecares. Ii has often happened TO me- and
presume it has to many OF profession that friends of
the patent in state of great anxiety have made earnest
appeals to us for opinions to the qualifications of their
physician, and under circumstances when direct answer
could scarcely be avoided and hold that such cases.
when sure that our opinions correctly formed we are
oouhd TO give them to customers, whether adverse or
favorable to the physician for in the one case greater
confidence is placed in the treatment which is always
beneficial to the patient and in the other who of us
nave not known Of rapid recovery occasoned by change
oi medical adviser and treatment
If be clearly the duty of pharmaceutists to endeayor
70 correct the mistakes Of physicians and to me
pam that it is duty, for ninc-tcnths of their mis-
s are corrected in the dispensing stores how great
me responsibility and judgment required, aud how lit