Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-12
Theme Considered Today by
Agricultural Chemists.
DISCUSS WATER CONTENT
Reports Of Committees to Be Sub
mitted This Afternoon.
ADDRESSES MADE AT BANQUET
Rap Given to Patent Medicines and
the Shotgun Practice" Of
Medicine.

Reports were read by title and pro-
ceedings were rushed with all the speed
compatible with decorum at the meeting
Of the agricultural chemists at the
Raleigh today. The object was to get
through in time for the foot ball game
between Virginia and Georgetown this
afternoon.
The reports OF the referees were all Of
purely technical character. The pres
ence Of tin salts in canned vegetables
was discussed and it was decided that
where there were soluble salts Of tin
formed they increased in quantity up to
three months.
The water contents in foods was dis
cussed and results obtained with the
vacuum desiccator were given to three
places of decimals.
Special committees on the revision Of
the constitution. the revision of methods,
the Standardization of food and method
OF analysis vii, all report at the afternoon
session. and report Is also expected
from the committee on nominations.
Members at Reception.
The entertainment for last night was a
reception at the Raleigh by the Pharma.
copial Association, on whose revision
board Dr. H. w. Wiley, chief Of the blu.
| reau Of chemistry. has been appointed
The standards set by the pharmacopia
have not now the force of law. but IT IL
| intended, II possible. to get a bill through
Congress eniorcng the national stand.
ards, and Dr. Wiley said ne would ieIC
all his influence to secure the adoption OF
such q measure
speaking of the work Of modern doc.
tors, the chief chemist took q nins al
| Doth regular practitioners and patent
medicine men. he SAID that The pa.enl
medicine haDit was still q strong one In
this country, though there was less ten.
aency than heretofore TO accept any pat
ented compound as q cureali for evei
i'll. He said On the other hand there was
100 much shotgun practice" among reg
aaUit, he SAID, of making a mixture OF
various drugs IN the hope that something
IN the prescription would strike the all
ment Of the patient.
Third School Cited.
There was third school. he said, that
went to the opposite extreme and decried
drugs altogether. pinning its faith to air
and exercise with a mixture OF menta.
applications and breakfast foods The ra-
lonal medium, he said. was between the
two extremes. Drugs had uses. but they
should be drugs that were standardized.
and the druggist should be compelled t.
keep his drugs up to the standards sci
for him by a committee Of experts. He
said that drugs having a certain thera-
jeutic effect should be prescribed where
needed. but that the physician and pa
uent should both be assured that they
were getting what they paid for from the
drugs list who .ilIed the prescription.
Before adjourning for the afternoon ses-
sion the association selected the following
Cficers for 181O-1911: President. w. w.
Wolf. Wisconsin; vice president. III. j.
Patterson, MARYLAND; secretary. DR.. H.
w. Wiley, Washington, d. c.; additional
members Of the executive committee, H.
C. Lythgoe, Massachusetts,, and p. r.
Trowbridge, Missouri
The afternoon session was devoted to
the discussion of drug plants