Pharmacists themselves also have a very important part to perform in
raising pharmacy to the plane that it must occupy to maintain its
separate existence. In the first place they should not admit into
apprenticeship young men who are deficient in preliminary education, for
quite naturally they hope sooner or later to enter the schools of
pharmacy. Indeed to admit such as these into apprenticeship is not only
an injustice to them but also to the colleges of pharmacy, and this may
be considered as one of the fundamental tests as to whether the
pharmacist has the true interests of his calling at heart. Pharmacists
can at this point be of real service to these young men by encouraging
them and advising them to continue their education in the public schools
or to acquire it in some other way.
The second duty of the pharmacist is to endeavor to conduct his business
in such a manner that the educated young men will be attracted to it
(for undoubtedly there is no more interesting work than that connected
with the profession of pharmacy), and find something to repay them for
their pains, and to appeal to their aspirations as professional men.
The third duty of the pharmacist is to the physician. If the physician
is willing to rely upon the pharmacist and to help him in maintaining
and re-establishing the profession of pharmacy by prescribing only the
preparations and medicines in the Pharmacopœia and National Formulary,
and the new and non-official remedies approved by the Council on
Pharmacy and Chemistry of the American Medical Association, then should
the pharmacist aim to eliminate as rapidly as possible patent medicines,
nostrums and sundry articles not used as medicines, or as aids to the
sick, or even as toilet preparations, and prepare to give his undivided
attention to his profession, which alone by training, education and
experience he is qualified to conduct.
In briefly summing up my remarks I may say that I have endeavored to
emphasize the essential principles which we must bear in mind.
(1) A good preliminary education is essential to an apprentice and
student of pharmacy.
(2) The least that a college or school of pharmacy should do is to send
forth graduates that are masters of every detail of the U. S.
Pharmacopœia and the National Formulary.
(3) It is the duty of the Board of Pharmacy to determine what applicants
for the certificate of Registered Pharmacist can do rather than what
they are able to memorize.
(4) That pharmacists themselves must share in the work of elevating the
standards of pharmacy.
If we are clear on these principles, sincere in our professions and
earnest in our endeavors, the details can easily be worked out.