New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-28
N1TION4L SYLLABUS.
Recommended by National
Pharmaceutical Com mittee.

Albany, Feb. 27.-The first edition of the
national pharmaceutical syllabus, recon-
mended by the national committee repre-
senting the boards and schools of phar-
macy of the United States for the first
period August !, 1910 to July 81 1915, has
just been completed according to an an
rouncement made here to-day. 1t was
adopted at the January meeting of the New
York State Board, subject to amendment
for the syllabus period, to be the guide of
the board in testing the students from the
schools of the state that matriculate in the
fall of 1910 and graduate in 1912 and sub
seouent years. Says a statement of the
board which drafted the syllabus:
The pharmaceutical syllabus is prepared
to indicate the general scope and character
OF the instruction 10 be given by the teach
er and the work to be done by the student.
IT is not designed to interfere with such
heXtbillty in the courses of study and free
dom in methods Of instruction as ought to
exist, but to indicate subjects of study to
present outlines, experiments definitions
Its approval. while not possessing any
,hsT bodv ncb d 1rsr any member OF
may be expected to determine for the first
syllabus period the. general policy, of the
boards in framing their examinations and
of the school in fitting their students to
meet them.
Provision is made for its amendment ana
amendments through proper channels and
fol- the continuation OF the work of the ma
tiOnal committee.
One of the principal functions of a board
of pharmacy is to determine the fitness Of
applicants for the responsibilities of sup
plying the public with drugs and medicines.
The colleges were the first in the field:
then the states began 10 decide to the
fitness of those permitted to furnish drugs
and medicines. In 1899 there were laws
affecting the practice of pharmacy in Il
states: in 1903, ten years later, in % states
In 1889 there We're Is states In which q
diploma in pharmacy did not admit to prac-
tice. an examination being required in all
laws of % states required either a diploma
OF an examination. but in 1863 there were
only seven states that permitted the alter
native evidence. Where. then. shall find
the nexus to bind more closely the boards
and colleges?
In the Syllab uS-a scheme of lessons that
covers the ground which the boards believe
should be included in q pharmacists edu-
cation and which the colleges can accept
the minimum preparation of their STU
dents for examination by boards.
A national syllabus has these advantages:
1t gives all the boards uniform outline
of the ground to be covered by their ex-
aminatiOns - the hardShipS of necessary
migratons are minimiZed.
II gives examines definite knowledge of
the preparation expected by the boards
students may forecast accurate future re-
quirements.
It gives the schools a minimum outline
of the ground to be covered Din the prep
aration of their students-schools may eX-
act higher scholastic requirements and de-
velop special fields
II leads to such uniformity of boards eX-
amina tons that the Endorsement Of licenses
ble-the injustice to old practitioners is
minimiZed