If we consider the present awakening in pharmacy, it may seem to some
that we are making very rapid strides, but as a matter of fact the
progress of pharmaceutical education in this country has been
comparatively slow. The history of pharmacy in this country may be
divided into three periods: (1) The pioneer period during the sixteenth
century, when there were no physicians, and the general storekeeper who
sold dry goods, groceries, books and paints, also sold medicines and
prescribed them; (2) the colonial period during the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries, when educated physicians from abroad emigrated to
the colonies and prescribed as well as dispensed medicines; (3) the
college period, or the period of organization and development, during
the nineteenth century, when pharmacy became a distinct profession and
business, and colleges of pharmacy were established, these numbering
nearly 100 at the present time. We are now entering, after nearly a
century, upon the fourth period, namely, that of standards in education,
and we are endeavoring to fix the position of pharmacy among the other
professions.
The problem of pharmaceutical education involves two phases, namely (1)
that of the natural ability and preliminary qualifications of the
applicants for entrance to the colleges and schools of pharmacy, and (2)
that of the character and kind of instruction that shall be given by a
recognized teaching institution in pharmacy. Not only are these two
classes of standards being considered by the teaching bodies themselves,
but also by the boards of pharmacy, and with the enactment of laws in
various States it will now be possible for more or less concerted action
to be taken throughout the United States.