The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-22
PHARMACY AND PURDUE.

In response to the growing demand for a
thorough practical and theoretical training in
pharmacy and related branches, the trustees
of Purdue University have established a
school of pharmacy in connection with the
university.
This is a department of industrial education
that Purdue may very properly add to her
course of instruction. The State needs edu-
Gated pharmacists as certainly as it needs
educated physicians. Every little town has
its drug store, and deals out poisons to be
used in the arts and trades. They fill physi-
clans prescriptions, and furnish the people
with local remedies for themselves and for the
domestic animals. Certainly every druggist
should have such knowledge of chemistry,
the action of drugs upon the system, poisons
and their antidotes, that he can fill prescrip-
tons intelligently and make no blunders with
death-dealing drugs.
Should the next Legislature pass law com
pelling pharmacists to be graduates of special
schools, provision should certainly be made by
the State for their education. The public
health is matter which concerns every citi-
zen There are enough schools for the educa-
ton of physicians, and the State would do
well to suppress some of those which now ex-
list under State charter, by appointing an ex-
amining board independent Of all medical col
leges and faculties to examine and confer
license TO practice upon all would-be doctors,
But the State has heretofore afforded no OPP
portunity for apothecaries to gain an adequate
education, although pharmaceutical practice is
matter which concerns every citizen and de-
mands State aid and regulation quite as much
as medical practice. Indiana students have
heretofore been compelled to seek knowledge
of pha11nacvin Ann Arbor, Cincinnati or Phila-
delphia. Purdue is the State industrial school.
Under President Smart Purdue has eliminated
the dead languages thrown overheard the nor
NAL school department, given metaphysics the
grand bounce, and is making the school some
thing more than pile of bricks and a cata-
Terre Haute and a school of general science,
art and literature at Bloomington. These are
under the presidency Of eminent educators,
and are we'll differed and conducted. The
place for teachers to be educated at the State
expense and for the public schools is in the
State Normal School, at Terre Haute.
Graduates of high-schools, wishing to attain
the higher education under the patronage
and at the expense of the State, will find the
doors of the State University always open to
Them and can graduate in either arts, sci
ence or philosophy. But Purdue is of a diff
ferent stripe and looks to other ends. It is
school of agriculture and the mechanic arts
by profession and by the intent of its en-
bowers. Its mathematics and drawing are
with reference to mechanics and en-
cheering; its botany and zoology are made
economic and practical; its chemistry looks be-
You'd theory to practical application in phar
macy and agriculture. 1t is quite right that
Purdue should also take to itself the educa-
ton of pharmacists The school is well
equipped with lecturerooms, laboratories, mu-
seums and apparatus It's botanical laboratory
is better fitted with microscopical apparatus,
for objective study, than that of any school in
the West. Its chemical laboratories are ample
At the head of both these departments are
able practical and successful instructors. The
expense to the State of pharmaceutical de
partment will be small in proportion to the
course Of instruction offered. The board and
of high degree of excellence, and should,