The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1892-05-10

and to this has been added the sad
bereavement have recently sustained
in the unexpected death of my brother
These matters have prevented the
greater attention that | intended to
give this address, for any faults that
it may have | claim your kind in
diligence.
am pleased to note the attendance
of members, even though regret it is
not larger. When think of how that
first handful of members so to
sneak, met in Dallas, and contrast it
with our present gathering, am
pleased and gratl63d. There are at
this time counter attractions 10 Dallas
aud Houston, aud | may perhaps be ex
cused if express the opinion that II
the executive committee had taken my
advise and changed the date OF meet.
ing, he attendance would have been
much larger
Asit Is your presidents duty to
address YOU, | will humbly ondeavor
to do so, and take for my theme a
subject that | consider of vital impor.
taLce. | am aware that, while it may
please some it may not be satisfactory
to others, vet rightly viewed its aspect
may be appropriately and probably
considered.
As | have said | regard the science
of pharmacy to be grand and noble,
the equal of any profession on this
mundane sphere, and as an sppren
tice, di pencer, proprietor aud whole.
saler, - | may claim to have some
knosledge of the profession and its
various phases. As | love nv profess.
sion, so am Jealous of it and do not
want to see 1t degenerate into that of
mere store keeper,an there is great
danger of such degeneration.
In former years the pharmacist used
to take pride in making his own
pharmaceutical Preparations, but now
where unscrupulous manufacturers
and dealers come and sell "as' Elixor
BIS pills or drugs aud chemicals
cheaper than they can be honestly
made, and with the "dispencers"
name on the bottle, or package that
pride is scattered to the winds, and a
serious degeneration Is the practical
result In the one case the phsrma-
cist was a scientific dispenser not
mere retailer He knew what he
vended; in the other he has to rely
upon the statement of the chemical
manufac ,urer, in saying this am
making no insinuations, but simply
stating facts
The fact | regret to say, is that
many in the trade are to apt to consi-
der, first, not the value of the article
but its cost, and price rather than
quality is the first consideration. The
pharmacist should never for.
get that he has a three fold
duy before him, first in duty to his
profession, second to the physician
aud thirdly to the public.
The patients life is as much in the
hands of the pharmacist as the doc.
tor, what matters the doctors skill if
his prescriptions are not properly pre-
pared, unless the drugs are of stand.
ard quality, Most of you are bust
ness men and know that however
tempting the bait may be the market
prices rule and if drugs are offered
for something less, there is something
wrong sbout it, and prudence says,
have nothing to do with such doubt
full things.
What Is the use of such dangerous
and false economy. The public need
the best and efficient drugs and will
pay for that at such figures as yield
handsome profit. 1t is essential to
their health, may be to their life. In
honor to them the best should be given
and the doctors reputation should not
be impaired.
Many pharmacists, especially in
small places, have hard struggle for
existence The best part of the bust
ness is the prescription business; will
their business be improved if ques-
tionable practice, as those indicated,
drive the physicians into putting up
their own prescriptions, as is done in
some parts of the northern states and
other places. think not and whilst
| am charging none, [ simply say con,
slider this matter fairly and If neces