VOL. XXIX.

Entered at the Post Office at St. Louis, Mo., as second-class matter in January, 1895.

Meyer Brothers Druggist

PUBLISHED MONTHLY.

C. F. G. MEYER, PUBLISHER.

No. 11.

"A well-nigh universal desire to acquire and accumulate is, of course, the source of progressive prosperity of a vigorous and thrifty race. It provides what is called capital."-[PRES. CHARLES W. ELIOT, Harvard University.

Julius E. Huber, of Peoria, President of the Illinois Pharmaceutical Association, greets the readers of the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST from the frontispiece of the November issue.

WILLIAM SIMPSON ELKIN.

William Simpson Elkin, Jr., of Atlanta, Ga., President of the N. A. R. D., was represented on the cover of the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST for October.

We Thank the Readers of the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST who so generally mention this journal when writing to advertisers. To some it may seem a small matter to say, "Saw your ad. in the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST," but these few words demonstrate to our advertisers the extent of our circulation and the manner in which this journal is regarded by the general drug trade.

Price List, Drugs, Page 15. Bulletin for Buyers, Page 3. Want Advertisements, Page 1. Index to Advertisements, Page 2

Editorial

The 1908 Meeting of the A. Ph. A. is fresh in the minds of those who were present because it was a convention of such a nature that it cannot be soon forgotten. The transactions are making an impression upon American pharmacists who were not present, for the pharmaceutical press as a unit has given extended attention to the meeting.

First of all, the occasion was a success from practically every point of view. The retail druggist, the teacher, the jobber, the manufacturer, the ladies and the editors unite in saying that it was a successful meeting. The A. Ph. A. is accustomed to having successful meetings but this year many members had misgivings for fear that Hot Springs, Ark., was "too distant" or "too inaccessible", but where there is a will there is a way and the members of the A. Ph. A. will go to a meeting no matter where it is held. As some one has said, and it sounds like Hallberg, the regular attendance would go to a meeting on the Isles of Pine. The place for the 1910 meeting is practically settled and will be either at or near Washington, D. C., where the United States Pharmacopœial Convention occurs, the first week of May, 1910. The selection of a place for the 1909 convention has been referred to the council. The convention seems to be in favor of Los Angeles, Cal., although no test vote was made on that point. It was finally decided to refer the matter to the council with power to act. This was done in order to give opportunity for conference with the N. A. R. D. whose members are this year talking about meeting at a time and place that delegates can conveniently attend both the A. Ph. A. and N. A. R. D. convention. The matter may not be settled for some time. This feature is unfortunate, as nothing detracts more from the annual attendance than the postponement of deciding the place of meeting: Such uncertainty may prevent some of the regular attendants from going and it leaves those who are present but occasionally to arrange for their summer vacation regardless of the A. Ph. A. Meantime, the pharmacists of Los Angeles and, in fact, of the Pacific Coast are renewing their invitation for Los Angeles in 1909.

The pharmaceutical press has been talking re-organization for two years past but it was not until the Hot Springs meeting that the A. Ph. A. really got down to business and considered the matter seriously. A conservative spirit seemed to prevail and after the discussion had quieted the members found that as far as real action is concerned re-organization is a condition for the future. The discussion has familiarized many members with the working plans of the association and it is likely that continual changes will occur in the future as in the past, but it does not seem probable that revolutionary measures will be adopted. As some one has expressed it, we will have evolution and expansion rather than re-organization.

The voting by mail for the officers to be installed in 1909 occurred in September and October and the result will be announced in the A. Ph. A. Bulletin for December. The plan is a new one and somewhat of an experiment. It works fairly well in some other national organizations and there is no harm in giving it a trial. Each member has been asked to state his preference for the new plan or the old one and the result of this vote will be watched for with interest. To many, it seems strange to elect officers almost a year before they are to be installed, but such a plan is common-place in some of our national organizations.

Retiring Treasurer Sheppard pointed with just pride and extreme satisfaction to the improved financial condition of the association. The organization a few years ago found it necessary to cut down expenses in order to have the income meet the expenditures. A change has taken place and the council voted a few special appropriations at the Hot Springs meeting. It will require increased additions to the membership and careful management of the finances to keep the balance on the right side of the ledger. Several special funds, such as the Endowment, the Centennial, the Ebert, etc., are growing at a satisfactory rate but cannot be used to meet current expenses.

The increase in membership is fairly satisfactory but it is conceded by all that the additions are not as great as they should be. The chairman of the committee on membership has been authorized to secure the services of a stenographer for a period of six months and determine what additions to the member

ship can be made by carrying on an aggressive campaign, during that period of time. The association has outgrown a feeling that once existed that pharmacists should seek membership in the A. Ph. A. The spirit of the present time is to meet desirable persons who are not members more than half-way and guide them into the fold. We are confident that President Oldberg will be particularly active in this work.

Some one has said that science is the what and art is the how of things. The A. Ph. A. considers at its annual meetings both the what and the how of everything that pertains to the calling of the pharmacist, no matter whether he be a retailer, wholesaler, manufacturer, a teacher, an author or associated with some other feature of pharmacy. In this respect, the A. Ph. A. differs widely from the N. A. R. D. and to a great extent from state associations. At the Hot Springs meeting, the what and the how were both considered with a view of utility and the great problems of the day, such as purer medicines and remedies of more definite strength, as well as the careful organization of the Committee of U. S. Pharmacopoeia and the Committee on National Formulary were given much attention. We publish elsewhere in the MEYER Brothers DRUGGIST for November a review of the convention from the point of view of science as seen by one of our special contributors. The article emphasizes the fact that the A. Ph. A. is not only, as Dr. Beal has expressed it, a great post gradu

ate course in pharmacy but it is also the central clearing house for matters pharmaceutical.

America is said to be great through her worship of toil. Hot Springs, Ark., is a convention city and those in touch with public affairs are accustomed to organization meetings of national character. Local Secretary Eisele repeatedly referred to the fact that the A. Ph. A. differed from all other associations which have met at Hot Springs in the general desire of the members to accomplish results and the manner in which work seemed to be the master passion. This spirit prevailed in the general sessions, in the section meetings and at the conferences of the various committees. The National Association of Board of Pharmacy and the American Conference of Pharmaceutical Faculties have developed since their organization and are now practically sections of the A. Ph. A., although not officially recognized as such. The sessions of these conferences were largely attended by men imbued with the transformation, transmission and utilization of energy directed for the advancement of the special objects of the conferences. Practically all of the boards of pharmacy in the country were represented by delegates and more than a score of the leading colleges of pharmacy took part in the transactions.

Ministers of Medicine.-In many sections of the country, practitioners of medicine are also ministers of the gospel. Such a combination of duties was common a generation or more ago and is continued to quite an extent down to the present time. Not long ago, West Pullman, Ill., was afflicted with a typhoid epidemic and the medical profession called upon the ministry in spreading information which enabled the citizens to take hygienic precautions against the spread of the disease. They were advised to boil milk, to screen food from flies and other insects, and to promptly disinfect discharges. The information given from the pulpit assisted the physicians in stamping out the typhoid fever. No doubt, ministers differ as much in their views of medicine as do other members of the laity but the general principles of hygiene are so well recognized that no one need hesitate in giving them publicity. If pharmacists are to be classed members of a profession, they should also take advantage of the opportunity presented to educate their customers along the broad principles of hygiene. While this subject is not taught in the colleges of pharmacy, it should be studied in the drug store and we advise each pharmacist to make a good work on hygiene a part of his working library.

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Domestic Sweet Wine Ruled Out of Medicine.— According to the grape growers of California, the commissioner of internal revenue has ruled that domestic sweet wine cannot be used in the compounding of proprietary medicines while the imported sweet wine is permitted. The Trans-Mississippi Congress has called upon the president of the United States to revoke this decision. The organization of grape growers claims that the decision of the commissioner of internal revenue has entirely stopped the use of domestic sweet wine

by manufacturing pharmacists and that this has seriously interfered with the grape industry of California. It is stated that the use of sweet wine in medicine has heretofore made use of the product of from twelve to fifteen thousand acres of grapes in the state of California.

Judicious Advertisers. It is true that few men, if any, have the qualities of cool, unprejudiced and level headed judgment in all things and at all times but the advertising patrons of the MEYyer Brothers DrugGIST have exercised excellent judgment during the past few months of dull times. They have realized the value of this journal as an advertising medium and understand that when business is slow it is the very time to put forth energy in securing trade. The number of our advertising patrons has been well maintained. Now that business is decidedly better, these enterprising advertisers are in a position to profit by the general improvement in trade.

Should the U. S. P. be Revised Every Five Years? -The N. W. D. A., at its recent meeting, adopted a resolution favoring a change from ten to five years in the period between revisions of the Pharmacopoeia. Since the enactment of the Federal Pure Food and Drugs Law, the N. W. D. A. has taken an interest in the U. S. P. which was never before evidenced. This recommendation for more frequent reviews is in keeping with the spirit of the retail trade and we believe that the delegates to the 1910 convention will go instructed to vote for a new revision of the pharmacopoeia every five years.

The New York Pre-Requisite Law which requires applicants for registration in the state to be graduates of recognized colleges of pharmacy, has not as yet been enforced sufficiently long to outlive the element of the drug trade which objects to such restrictions. While the wave of enthusiasm for pre-requisite laws is making slow progress, it is certain that college graduation before registration will be a condition of the future, the same as it is in medicine. In states like Missouri where re-registration cannot be secured, it will be some time before a pre-requisite law will be enforced, but it is only a question of time.

Subscription to MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST is payable in advance and such has been our rule in the past. Thus, we go on in the even tenor of our way since the announcement of the post-office department at Washington that payment in advance must be required of all publications admitted to the post-office as second class matter. We make use of this opportunity of thanking our thousands of subscribers for the prompt manner in which they keep the subscription accounts paid in advance.

The Offer List which appeared in the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST for October contains a number of special offers which are open only until a specified date. If any of the retail druggists among the thousands of readers of this journal have failed to take advantage of these special offers, we urge them to do so at once before the time limit expires.

STRAY. ITEMS AND COMMENTS.

An Interesting Old Mortar is owned by W. D. Brace, 2929 M Street, Washington, D. C. It was cast in 1698 for Thomas Lecky, master chemist of London, Eng. It takes a bright polish and rings like a bell. Mr. Brace keeps it on exhibition in the show window.

Illinois Pharmacists and Clerks should know that Section 13 of the Pharmacy Law says, "Any person who shall wilfully make any false representation to procure registration for himself or any other person shall, for every offense, be liable to a penalty of fifty dollars."

Are You a Self Denying Pharmacist?—The President of the British Pharmaceutical Conference, R. Wright, Ph. C., F. C. S., in his address at the 1908 convention reviews British Pharmacy, past, present and future. He makes a careful review of the past, a critical analysis of the present, and sums up the future by saying, "It may be predicted with absolute certainty that the future well being of pharmacy depends entirely upon the self denying efforts of the pharmacists themselves."

Will the 1909 Meeting of the A. Ph. A. be Held on the Pacific Coast? It looks now as if, after twenty years, the A. Ph. A. will return to California for the annual meeting. San Francisco was the host of the convention of 1889. Los Angeles and San Francisco are both bidding for the fifty-seventh annual meeting and the sentiment is strong in favor of accepting one of the invitations. It is a foregone conclusion that the 1910 meeting will be held at Washington or some point near by that city where the United States Pharmacopoeial Convention meets in the decennial year.

Direct From Japan comes the following quaint English, printed on a Japanese napkin and wrapped around a toothbrush in order to show the people of the United States that the brush is to be relied upon for service. We do not suppose that the heading, Ladies and Gentlemen, in any way indicated that the brush is to be employed as a family cleanser.

Ladies and Gentlemen.-Our tooth powder (or toilet powder) is made of a very good smelling things and with that smelling we by the movements of chemistry have made that tooth powder (or toilet powder) the only one that may be used without injuly and differs very much from the common things. The best tooth powder (or toilet powder) for ladies and gentlemen. If offered on imitation simply look at the registered trade.

The Transportation of Inflammable Articles and Acids.-A regulation went into effect October 15, 1908, covering the transportation of such goods by railroad companies. The N. W. D. A. at the 1908 meeting appointed a committee to represent the trade in conferring with the railway association on this subject. The Chairman, Wm. J. Schieffelin of New York, is anxious to hear from members of the trade who have been experienced with the new regulation. The American Railway Association has adopted the following "Flash

The J. H. Beal Prize Scholarship at the Pittsburg College of Pharmacy. Dr. J. H. Beal is such a modest worker in the pharmaceutical field that few of his friends realize the full extent of his liberal financial contributions to pharmaceutical education and organization work. The Sheppard-Beal Endowment Fund of the A. Ph. A. has assumed proportions which are attracting attention, and now comes the announcement by the Pittsburg College of Pharmacy that the J. H. Beal Prize Scholarship has been established. We quote from the announcement, as follows:

The J. H. Beal Prize Scholarship.

This prize consists of the income of $5,000.00 donated to the Pittsburg College of Pharmacy by Prof. J. H. Beal, and will be annually awarded to the senior students who shall attain the highest average in all branches of the senior year. Further particulars as to the character and method of awarding this prize can be obtained by communicating with the Dean of the College, Dr. J. A. Koch.

Wilhelm Bodemann.-People sometimes make the mistake of writing it "William" but that is an error and one that the good German refuses to pass unnoticed. He was given no cause for complaint in this respect during the Bodemann Night set apart by the New Yorker Deutscher Apotheker-Verein, September 24, when a kommers was held with Mr. Bodemann as the guest of honor. Not only was Wilhelm correctly pronounced but the songs rendered were in German and written for the special occasion and dedicated to Mr. Bodemann. First of all, the guest of honor was elected an honorary member and Dr. W. C. Alpers presented him with a diploma of honorary membership. The entire evening was a continuous program of wit, humor and praise for the type of honest pharmacy which Mr. Bodemann so ably represents. The attendance was large, and the enthusiasm in proportion to the size of the gathering. At the supper, 175 were seated. The hall was especially decorated for the occasion, the German colors being prominent. Leading pharmacists of this country have frequently received attention at the hands of the profession, but this occasion was unique in many respects and shows that the pharmacists of the United States appreciate the type of man who is behind the principles which have guided Mr. Bodemann in his pharmaceutical work. It also shows that, after all, the country is small and Chicago and New York only a short distance apart when it comes to the exchange of pharmaceutical courtesies. As is well known, Mr. Bodemann is recording secretary of the Chicago Veteran Druggists' Association, a society whose motto is, "Cheers for the living; tears for the dead."

PUBLIC EXPRESSIONS.

Read This Before You Write.

Contributions on subjects of interest to the pharmaceutical profession are always welcome. Write upon but one side of the sheet and spell out in full the names of medicines; never use 1bbreviations. The editor pays no attention to anonymous communications.

A New Pure Food and Drug Law for Missouri. -A correspondent of the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST adopted the Federal Act for the State of Missouri, aud submits the following proposed revision of the food and drug law:

"That any food product or drug complying with the requirements of the Act of June 30, 1906, of the Congress of the United States, known as the National Food and Drugs Law, shall be eligible to manufacture or sale or use in this state, and repealing all acts and parts of acts of the legislature of this state not in harmony with these provisions."

The A. Ph. A. the Friend of the Pharmacist.— Since becoming a government employee, I have realized more than ever, the far reaching fraternal feeling that permeates the members of the A. Ph. A., and the desire it fosters to raise the profession of pharmacy to a higher level and place it on the same footing as that of medicine. I feel that it is only through the association that any advancement can be made at all, and not on the outside. Professionalism marks its mem

bers, while those on the outside are so blinded with commercialism that they are unable to see the professional side.

As for the past benefits that the pharmacist's corp has received from the association, I am sure every member is thoroughly appreciative of the same. It is only through the united efforts of the members of the association that actual results can be obtained, and they will ultimately prove successful.

There will always be opposition to any measure that may be gotten up in our behalf, no matter how just the same may be, yet opposition does not mean defeat.[PHARMACIST, P. H. & M. H. S.

Origin of Oval or Egg Shaped Pills.-It is a fact well known by the older ones in our profession that the shape of a pill as seen on the market forty years ago was universally round. However, since the popular form of the pill today seems to be the oval or egg shape, it might be of interest to know when and with whom the idea originated. About thirty-five years ago, the writer, doing business under the firm name of McDill & Grenslet, at Sparta, Ill., had occasion to use a considerable quantity of a particular pill and on account of the oddity of the shape, concluded that we would have them made oval. Upon stating our wishes to Messrs. Wm. R. Warner & Co., the veteran pill makers of Philadelphia we were advised that they did not have the machinery to turn out a pill of this shape, but stated however that if we would make our order for a certain quantity they would install the machin

ery and furnish them, which suggestion we very readily accepted, receiving the goods in due time. If any of our friends in the drug business have known of oval pills prior to thirty-five years ago we would be pleased to see the fact published.-[E. D. GRENSLET.

Will the A. Ph. A. Go to Los Angeles?—I desire to write in the interest of Los Angeles as the place of meeting of the A. Ph. A. in 1909. In many ways I think that city has the advantage of any other in the United States as a meeting-place for that body. Besides the many internal advantages in the way of accommodations for the society as such, and its individual members, the climate in September and the numerous attractions it offers within itself, and especially in its immediate vicinity, makes it an ideal place for such a meeting.

As to the hotels, there are so many magnificent hostelrys that it is hard to discriminate, but I would suggest the Angelus, or more likely the Alexandra as being everything that could be desired, both as to their internal advantages and nearness to the probable place of meeting.

The Los Angeles Times is the leading paper in the city, and by the way, one of the best, in the whole country.

The Sun Drug Company is the largest retail druggist in the city, having several stores.-[W. W. Kerr, Fullerton, Cal.

Pharmaceutical Assaying and Inspection of Drugs. -Having occasion to assist in some assaying work on a large lot of submitted samples, I would like to call attention to the fact that the assaying of drugs according to the U. S. P. provisions, is not such a formidable affair as it appears to be. It is to the pharmacist's ability to do this work, and keep it before the physician that he does it, at the same time getting the benefit of overlying his chemical and scientific ability in that direction. Only in such a way can he bring himself out and before the public as being more than a shop man. The great trouble in most of this work, is to have ready the various re-agents and volunteer solutions necessary to do the work. Most pharmacists are willing to allow the manufacturer to dictate all this by furnishing the ready assayed goods, etc., but any one possessed of a little scientific spirit will do it himself. It is remarkable what amount of work can be accomplished after everything is ready for the work, and after preparation has been once made for it, then afterwards the work is easy and a pleasure. One cannot do this work occasionally and expect to do it with rapidity unless he has his utensils ready. In this case I mention there were practically all of the pharmacopoeial preparations, one of each class, also all of the assayed preparations to be handled. After once under way all of the work progressed smoothly and one assay after another was turned out with exactness. Demonstrating the fact, that after once prepared for the work, it is only necessary to have the will to do it.[J. E. HUBER, Dept. Agriculture, U. S. A., Chicago, Ill.