Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-23
PROF. CHARLES Il. LA WALL

fHOf. CfRHIGO ~ GN WALL
On Pharmacy as Legitimate Science
DHARMACN as II legitimate and very
L important Scicnc" should assume Us
rightful place in public esteem, according :"
Prof Charles H. La Walt. dean OF IN"
philadeIphia College Of Pharmacy. when i~
today celebrating its 1GOth anniversary.
The pharmacist must be odu"ated IN IN"
basic sciences of botany. chemistry. phar,
macognosy, physics and bactcriology. ana
this pharmaceutical education. begun III
America 100 years ago. has. in the opinion
Of Prof. La wall. resulted in tn" formation
Of a class of men who deserve the respect
and appreciation of tn" general public,
The material changes which hav" taken
place in our surroundings since IN" i"uhn-
ing Of the Philadelphia College OF Npoth-
ccaries in ISL" says Prof, La Wall. 'hnvr
been astounding. Epoch making discoy"rIrS
in medicine aud chemistry have followed
one another IN rapid succession. NrW
sciences, such rs that OF bnrt"ri"IoGE' nav"
arisen, and new remedial agencies. Surh Us
the Srrums and vaccin"s. have appeared. re-
quiring highly specialized knowlcdg" ON lh"
part of III" dispenser as well as ol u"
physician.
II think It will be admitted without qu"s
ton that i j. luSt a. important I" kh""
how to till II prescription correctly rs 10
know how to write it correctly. Few but II
trained pharmacist or II physician know
how frequently III" dispenser has the issues
of life and death in his hands or how much
care and skill arc required III order to give
and dispcns" medicines which shall b"
cticaciouS aud safe. The making Of even
the simplest preparation demands an art
and IL technique acquired only by study and
practice.
Some OF Pharmacists Requirements
.'It is necessary for the pharmacist TO
know the Latin name, the English name and
the synonym or popular nam" OF several
thousand drugs. chemicals aud medicines OF
hand and also to know whcr" to immediately
turn for information which il would be folly
TO try to remember concerning thes" thngs.
lie must know the physical properties,
such as appearance and Solubilti"S Of hun
drcds Of chemical salts and TO b" NbI" 1"
npply Distinguishing and identifying tests I"
substances concerning which there j. doubt
of their identity II" must know III" duS"s
of scores Of drugs and medicines Of high de
gree of potency and low TO "omhln" sub
stances which ar" difficult Of preparation in
DreScntablc and palHtubl" form. lie must
know when comparatively harmless sub
stances react to produce new products OF
posonous possibilities, lie must know the
misleading popular synonyms and US" SKILL.
ful and udroit methods in asrcrtHiniug from
A purchaser just what j. wanted when no
urrscriptiOn or written order is presented,
for drugs having widely diSSimlur properties
often have the sam" name among p"rSOus Of
little cducation
I'm order to perform all tnCs" duties
nropcrly the pharmacist must b" educated in
the basic sciences of botany, phHrmaC0gnoSl
chemistry, physics and bart"riOlOgy--phnr.
macy being Il COmmingiing Of all these in
virtually applied form. That h" may con
sricntiously fulfill these responsibilities and
rrduirrments he must if he values his pro
fessional welfare and progress. become
member of the professional dissertations
representative of his calling und k'"p his
scientific knowlcdg" alive by constant read
ing and study.
Few Recrpant 10 Trust
.'Tnr pharmacist is III" responsible nu
ihority under the narcotic and revenue laws
for the proper handling and dispensing Of
habit forming drugs and alcOhOl" liquors
The proportion of pharmacists who are
r.rrcant to this trust is small. indeed com
uurrd to the great number who uphold the
law. We hear very quickly about the vio-
lotors but nothing is said about the great
army Of those who are law abiding While
the phaTmacst seems TO be fair game for
would be hum"riSts in regard to III" liQuor
question Jokes prturng him Us II done
ncddlrr or liquor dealer ar" Hs far fetched
and in as bad taste ny the hOAry jokes about
Thc mother in law or sleepy Philadelphia.
Ills il the privilege to deal in substances
of interest rarity and value, both intrinsic
aud potential, Ills wares ara brought 70
him through tn" trath" lanes which cover tle
seven seas. From Spc"-lH laden brcnZcs Of
Oriental isles; from the base "r SNOW
CanpPd, muiCSti" mountains Of great con
tinrnts; from Ice bound ports OF the polur
cline; from tropic iungl"s; from the land
Of the midnight sun; from the shudow Of
ho Pyramids thpmgrlVpS