The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-04
President Rusby Raps
Scientific Experts mad
dress to Druggists.
BIG CONVENTION
BEGINS ITS WORK
Formal Welcome Extended by
Governor and Mayor-Effort Of
Trusts to Stifle Competition
Roundly Scored-Discuss
Many Prob
lens.

Laying the startling indictment that
certain combinations OF capital are
trying to crush small competitors into
''sertdom,'' and charging that the ten
dency of scientific expert witnesses is
toward naked perjury" President ii.
II. Rusby. OF the American Pharma-
ceutical Association, member of the
faculty of Columbia University, stirred
his fellow members TO tremendous
demonstrations of approval yesterday
morning. II was in tho course of his
presidential address that he uttered
his scatiling accusations against expert
witnesses. declaring that their inhu-
ence was .'ruinous TO public morals"
In the next breath. he pointed out the
evils of commercalization. character
izing 1t as "stupendous danger
II believe that one OF the most i'm
portant considerations to which we
can devote attention in this conuec-
ton" he said. rs the growing ten
dency of scientific experts to sell their
services as witnesses without due re-
gard to the merits of the case, or oven
TO the truth of the statements to which
they are testifying
..Nnked Perjury
1T is not mere question of the
commission of naked perjury: there
are many ways of giving testimony
outside or the witness stand. The real
offense Is the sacrifice of that sense OF
responsibility TO the cause for which
all scientific effort should ultimately
be put forth, the establishment OF alb
solute truth. 1t is deplorab Bile that SO
great and general laXity in this di-
rectton should have come TO exist. II
is 10 such people as ourselves that the
great uninformed body OF the people
look for an example of their own
course of action, and the influence
upon them OF seeing US disregard our
duty is ru.nous TO the public morals
.sWhaf Is TO be expected from the
students of m institution who see the
profcssor to whom they look for es-
ample go upon the witness stand and,
for n fee, swear to the exact opposite
OF that which he has bcen teaching
them ms the truth In his instruction
course. Can il be expected that such
influences will tend toward the train
ing of pharmacists bent upon a con-
scientious discharge of their profess
sional duties2
81 do not know that any specific ac-
tion by our organization toward
amending this defect is possible. but
It is quite practicable for us to keep
upon to consider problems in which
this influence enters as factor.
'It is only pretender, hypocrite,
n charlatan. who will subscribe to our
constitution and then subordinate the
end to the means, or prostitute the
soul of our association to any form OF
material gain.
Danger of Commercializntion.
"The most serious danger which has
ever threatened our profession now
looms comparatively near at hand. 1
refer to the enlistmcnt OF VAST
amounts of capital in the crushing out
of Individual enterprise, In the climi-
nntion of professional responsibility,
In the reduction of professional cm-
pIoyes to IL state OF scrfdOm. and In
the destruction of mn honest means of
livelihood ON the part of great NUM-
bers of people engngsd In phRrmn-
ceutical pursuits. TN > this attempt
will become successfl ustunless effec-
lively opposed is manifest when we
note that the same means are being
employed which have already proven
successful in other lines, and which
are now applied to ours with the adj
ditional advantage Of successful pre-
yious experience. The interests en-
gagged in this work are the most dead
" possible enemies toward all the oh j.
1ects of our association and of all
other institutions in which educational
and professional ideals are cultivated,
How shall we meet this stupendous
danger? To this question / have been
able to see but one answer, and that Is
through the strength of union. WE
must in this instance fight fire with
Are"
Pure Food Reform.
Referring to pure food and drug
refornl, President Rusby continued:
Owe have wisely refrained from Of
fering opinions or advice concerning
the physiological properties of arti-
cles in dispute, feeling that, however
strong the opinion we entertained, we
should be careful not to intrude upon
the domain of the medical profession.
Once a statute Is enacted. however, our
attitude is necessarily changed. for 1t
is one of the solemn obli cations upon
which we have entered, to lend our
aid in enforcing provisions thus es-
tablished Not alone are we interested
IN the provisions relating to drugs. A
food and drug act is one entity and
Nits integrity in one part Is dependent
upon its integrity as a whole. 1t is
The duty of this association. and Its
nppropriate committee should be so
Instructed. to observe and INQUIRE into
the administration OF lne 1000 ana
drugs act IT Is standing reproach
against American citizens that they
are in the habit of securing the enact
nent of statutes and then failing ia
take any interest In their enforcement
This is a reproach which should never
he allowed to lie against the Anneri-
ran Pharmaceutical Association"
The remainder Of the presidential
ADDRESS was given over to the dis
spssion of questions connected with
lhe organization Of the association
Many points of technical import were
also touched upon,
Given Warm Welcome.
Probably e5O members, representing
1hirty zone States, We're in their seats
when the first general session Of the