New-York tribune., 1903-01-03
TOO LITTLE CHEMISTRY.
Pharmaceutical Association C,1ticises
State Board Examinations

At the last monthly meeting Of the Manhattan
Pharmaceutical Association a committee. compris-
ing a. c. searles. William C Alpers and John N.
Tobin. submitted report and set of resolutions
criticising the State Board of Pharmacy for not
having rigid examinations. 1t has been said
that the State board has lowered the standard ef
pharmacy. practically ignoring pharmaceutical
chemistry as one of the essential tests of phar-
maceutical education.
The report SAYS that an examination of the rec
ords Of the State board examinations held under
the present law, and of the available records OF
examinations held prior 1901, showed that there
usually about fifteen questions of such va
rietv. and nature that the applicant would have
10 be well posted in chemistry applied 10 the
practice of pharmacy TO pass the examination.
1t further states that the present board has
sinlost entirely omitted the question relating TO
chemistry; that while in some papers there are
Two or three questions in pharmaceutical chem
istry. they form such small proportion Of the
examination that the applicant could miss any
one OF them and yet pass
The portion Of the committees report censuring
the State Board Of Pharmacy is follows:
The State Board Of Pharmacy have made a very
serious mistake in dismissinsa hen1istry from their
obligations officers Of the State to safeguard
hs-nascy which was the main object of the pres
ant State pharmacy law. chemistry being a very
essential part Of proper pharmaceutical educa-
1ion
The State Board of Pharmacy has fifteen men,
I,ers being divided into three branches-the middle
western and the greater New-York The board
has lowered the necessary percentage for licensed
druggists from - per 65 per cent licensed
druggist can manage drug store in any
city in the State with a population less than one
million. while licensed pharmacist may own or
manage in any part of the State.
The New-York members OF the board are Sidney
Faber DR.. A H. Brundage. C. o. Bigelow, George
c. Dycknan and William Muir
The next meeting is TO be held in Albany on
January & when this subject is to be discussed
Sydney Faber said yesterday that he did not
really know OF any action that was 10 be taken
and that he did not to discuss the subject
until after the meeting
{. O. Bgelow said last night:
The present reduction in the number of questions
IN chemistry made at the request OF the up
State mem bers Those members from this city are.
] think in favor of the old examination in chem
istry AS il is however, an applicant successfully
passing the present examination in pharmaceutical
chemistry must have vide knowledge OF the
euhiect.
The fact that the necessary percentage has been
lowered % per cent does not at all lower the
standard Of proficiency in the cities of this State
In the country the conditions much different.
The proprietors OF the country stores complained
mat they unable to get enough drug clerks
4 country drug clerk does not have any such de-
Most of the stores sell general merchandise.
such as books. than prescriptions
At an examination held within a year by the
Board of Pharmacy z large percentage Of the ap-
plicants unable 10 pass the examination