that in future all writers of papers be required to present a written abstract or a resumé of the essential points contained in their respective communications; such abstracts to be used for the consideration of the executive officers of the Section to which it is to be referred, and for subsequent distribution among members of the pharmaceutical press. THE PRESIDENT: You have heard the reading of the second resolution, which calls for the expenditure of a small sum annually. THE SECRETARY: I would like to ask for information, whether it is intended that, in addition to printing the whole paper, the Association shall print the abstracts also. MR. WILBERT: No, sir; these abstracts are to be printed and sent to the officers of the Sections. There was one paper read here this morning which the Secretary of tho Section did not get. If the members presented written abstracts of the essential points of their papers, the officers of the different Sections could have an exact idea of the contents of the paper, and whether or not it applied to the particular Section; and a resume would be subsequently printed in the journals, so that the public would have an idea of the contents, and the paper would not be lost, so to speak, as it is now for several months after the meeting adjourns. The question upon the adoption of the resolution was put to a vote and carried. Vice-President Payne was called to the chair. THE SECRETARY: Two amendments to the By-Laws were offered the other day, to be laid over for aetion until this session. One was to amend Chapter 8, Article VI, by striking out the word "session" in the article, and inserting in. lieu thereof the words "and fifth sessions," so that the article as amended will read, "The fourth and fifth sessions shall be devoted to the subject of Practical Pharmacy and Dispensing." The object, as before stated, is to give two sessions to the Section on Practical Pharmacy and Dispensing, instead of one, as heretofore. The question was put upon the amendment, and it was adopted. THE SECRETARY: The second amendment proposed is to strike out the word "fifth ” in the seventh article, so that it will read, "The sixth and seventh sessions shall be devoted to the reading of scientific papers and the discussions thereof." This amendment is made necessary by the one just adopted, to make the articles consistent, and equalizes the Sections in the number of sessions allotted them. This amendment was also adopted without dissent. THE SECRETARY: I desire to present a communication from Washington, which, unfortunately, is a little late, as the Government Departments close at 4 o'clock, I believe, and that was the limit of time for making application. But I do not suppose any of the members present would have taken advantage of the information. It is no more than proper that I should present it, however. It is a letter from the United States Department of Agriculture-a letter from the Acting Chief, Mr. Bigelow: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY, AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION, PHILADELPHIA, PA.: I am enclosing herewith a copy of the circular issued by the United States Civil Service Commission, or the purpose of inviting applicants who desire their names added to the list of eligibles for the appointment of Chief of the drug laboratory. We desire the best man available for this position, and shall appreciate it if you will give the circular as much publicity as possible. Respectfully, W. D. BIGELOW, Acting Chief. Accompanying this letter is a printed circular giving the details of the Civil Service examination for the position of Chief of the Drug Laboratory, and showing that the applicant must be over twenty years of age and that the salary attached to the position is $2,000 per annum. "No one will be examined who is not a graduate in pharmacy or pharmaceutical chemistry (or an equivalent), and who has not since graduation had training and experience in the investigation of the purity and strength of substances used as therapeutic agents, and in the various sciences, a knowledge of which is essential to the successful conduct of such investigations." This shows, as was broughr out at the Scientific Section meeting the other night, that the Government is lending a hand in this desirable movement of establishing a pharmaceutical laboratoratory, and that graduates in pharmacy are eligible for the position of chief. THE CHAIR: Gentlemen, the paper is with you. Will you submit it to publication or not? Mr. Mayo moved to refer to the Publication Committee, with authority to publish or not, in their discretion. The motion was seconded by Mr. Gable and carried. THE SECRETARY: I have here two communications that come to us from the Section on Scientific Papers, and one of them involves the adoption of a resolution proposed by the Committee on Drug Adulteration, Mr. E. L. Patch, Chairman: "Resolved, That in the judgment of the American Pharmaceutical Association the appraising and inspection of drugs at our different ports should be placed under the supervision of the Drug Laboratory, so securing uniformity not now existing." The detail of it is as follows: "Your Committee consider the establishment of the Drug Laboratory at Washington to be one of the most important events that have transpired in the history of American Pharmacy, and we recommend to the General Session the consideration of the following resolutions, in addition to that previously offered: WHEREAS, We have learned that, under authority of an Act of Congress, the Secretary of Agriculture has established a laboratory in the Bureau of Chemistry, to study the composition and adulteration of drugs; therefore, Resolved, 1st.-That the American Pharmaceutical Association offers to the Secretary of Agriculture its most cordial collaboration in this work, which promises so much benefit to the manufacturers of and dealers in drugs, as well as to the consumers thereof. 2d. That this Association will use its influence with the Congress of the United States to secure any reasonable appropriation to properly carry on this work in a systematic and effective manner. 3d. That the President and Secretary of the Association be authorized to convey to the Secretary of Agriculture a minute of these proceedings, and to represent the Association before the Committee on Agriculture of the House and the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry of the Senate, when the next agricultural appropriation bill is under consideration." Mr. England, seconded by Mr. Anderson, moved the adoption of the resolutions as read, and the motion prevailed. THE SECRETARY: Here is another communication from the Scientific Section, embody. ing a resolution, and, I presume, asking the adoption thereof by the general Association: "WHEREAS, The accurate measuring-out and administration of doses of liquid medicines is a matter of great scientific as well as practical importance; therefore, be it "Resolved, That the Scientific Section of the American Pharmaceutical Association recommend that the Association in general meeting endorse the set of resolutions adopted at a pharmaceutical meeting held at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, Tuesday, April 15, 1902: Whereas, It is desirable to secure greater accuracy and more uniformity in the measuring out or administration of doses of liquid medicines. Therefore, be it Resolved, That we, members of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, assembled at this pharmaceutical meeting, recommend the use of accurately graduated glass dose measures; these measures to be constructed so that the height of the contained liquid, at a spoonful mark, is greater than its diameter. Resolved, That for use in connection with spoons as dose measures, we recommend the promulgation of the following definition taken from the French Codex: "A spoon is full when the liquid it contains comes up to, but does not show a curve above, the upper edge or rim of the bowl." Resolved, That for use in connection with the metric system of weights and measures, we recommend the adoption of the following approximate equivalents of spoonfuls: 1 teaspoonful equals 5 c.c.; I dessertspoonful equals 2 teaspoonfuls, or 10 c.c.; 1 tablespoonful equals 3 teaspoonfuls, or 15 c.c." These resolutions I have just read were sent over from the Scientific Section, and the Section asks that the Association endorse these resolutions regarding the definition of the word "spoonful," and also the equivalent of the different spoonfuls in the Metric System. Mr. Wilbert, seconded by Mr. Boring, moved the adoption of the resolutions as read, and it was so ordered. THE SECRETARY: I have another proposition here to amend the By-laws, which I have just received and which may come too late, but I will read it anyhow, at the request of the mover. Possibly, we might adjourn for a short time and then adopt it, but it is hardly worth while to do that. It is in regard to the Ebert Prize, and proposes to make a change in Article V, Chapter IX: CHANGE IN BY-LAWS. CHAPTER IX. Article V changed should read as follows: The Committee on the Ebert Prize, which shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Section on Scientific Papers, shall, at the next annual meeting after the one at which the essays are presented, report which, if any of them, has met the requirements of the founder of the prize. In all respects it shall be governed by the stipulations expressed by the donor. L. F. KEBLER. THE PRESIDENT: Gentlemen, you will take due notice of the proposed change in the By-laws. Action will be taken at the proper time. THE SECRETARY: Mr. President, the Committee on President's Address has not yet completed its report. THE PRESIDENT: I understand Mr. Sheppard will be here in a few minutes. A report from the delegation to the National Association of Retail Druggists was called for, but none of the committee was present. The report of the Committee on Procter Memorial was called for, but the committee was still out, and the President asked if there was any general business to be presented by any one, as this was an opportune time to consider it, whilst waiting for the Memorial Committee, which would be in in a few minutes. THE SECRETARY: Mr. President, I move we take a recess for three minutes, to re-convene at the call of the President. It was so ordered, and the convention took a short recess. When the Association was again called to order, the Secretary presented the amendment to Article V, Chapter IX of the By-laws, read before the recess. THE PRESIDENT: You have heard the proposition to change the By-laws. What is your action in the matter? A motion to adopt is in order. Mr. Caspari, seconded by Mr. Sheppard, so moved, and it was so ordered. The report of the Committee on Procter Memorial was then called for, and Mr. Remington, chairman, presented the report as follows: REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PROCTER MEMORIAL. The Special Committee appointed by President Whelpley to present a report upon a suitable means of honoring the memory of Prof. William Procter, have carefully considered the many propositions which have been made during the last three years. Many of the methods suggested by writers upon this subject were fouud to be impracticable; and some impossible of successful execution. One very serious objection to the plan of establishing a research laboratory, either in Washington, Philadelphia or elsewhere, was the difficulty of successfully maintaining it in perpetuity. It would not be a difficult task to raise sufficient money to start a research laboratory, but it would be an exceedingly difficult thing to provide an endowment fund which would maintain such a laboratory successfully forever. It would be no honor to the memory of Prof. Procter for us to raise a considerable sum of money and start a laboratory only to have the interest in it wane and fade in the future, and then die out. Laboratories for research purposes have been established in many parts of the world, particularly by large business firms, and these have been successful; they have good reason for the success from the fact that abundant resources are at hand, and a concentrated interest due to competition is always present. Our late chairman of Council, William S. Thompson, believed that it would be necessary for the committee to raise $300,000 in order to successfully maintain a research laboratory. Another plan which was advocated by a number, that of erecting a statue to be placed in the rotunda of the Capitol at Washington, met with the opposition of the remaining members of Prof. Procter's family, and also from those friends who are still living, and who knew Prof. Procter intimately, on the ground that such a display would be utterly repugnant to the views, and inconsistent with the character of one who disliked display. The creation of a scholarship or traveling scholarship to educate a student abroad in some line af original research, did not appear to the committee to be exactly consistent with the life-work of the Father of American Pharmacy. His work was, more than anything else, the upbuilding of American pharmacy, and whilst it is true that science knows no language and no country, it was not felt that this plan would be as feasible or appropriate as the one which your committee have the honor of recommending. Your Committee believe that we have right at our hands, a means of honoring the memory of Prof. Procter and perpetuating it as long as this Association continues to exist. It will be remembered that this Association created a fund in 1856, which was later termed the Life Membership Fund. In fact, various sums of money have been added to this fund from time to time, and it has been gradually growing, until at the last report, ending July 1, 1902, it amounts to $12,617.01. It is not strictly entitled to the name of the Life Membership Fund, because it has received accretions from the general resources of the Association from time to time, and has been most carefuily husbanded by the exertions of our most efficient Treasurer, until it constitutes the largest single fund in our resources. The provision has always existed in the past, that under no consideration shall the principal be diverted for any purpose, but that the interest alone shall be available or used, and it is not intended now to change the well-established usage, but we can permanently perpetuate the name of the distinguished and beloved Procter by giving to this substantial fund his name, and it is therefore recommended that this fund be known hereafter as "The William Procter Fund." Prof. Procter's most intimate friend and co-worker in the early days of this Association, was Dr. Edward Robinson Squibb. Dr. Squibb steadfastly declined every honor that this Association sought to bestow upon him, yet he and Prof. Procter were always found together advocating every good movement which would tend to elevate pharmacy and advance the interests of this Association. Your Committee believe that the time has now come for this body to found a Procter-Squibb gold medal, and the credit of this suggestion belongs to one who is very near to us at this moment, who is now speeding homeward on an ocean steamer, sad at heart and bitterly disappointed because of failing health which prevented him from being with us to-day to join in the celebration of our Golden Jubilee-Dr. Frederick Hoffmann, of Berlin. He it was who advocated most warmly the founding of the Procter-Squibb gold medal, and the appropriateness of this additional method of honoring the name of Procter has appealed to your Committee with much force, and we respectfully recommend: That a special committee, consisting of five members, to be annually elected by the Council, with the power to fill vacancies vested in the Council, shall be created, whose duty it shall be to award, at periods not oftener than three years apart, the ProcterSquibb medal to one who has contributed distinguished services to pharmacy, chemistry or materia medica, under such regulations as shall hereafter be approved by the Council. The special committee are not to be restricted in their choice to American citizens, but to be left free to award the medal to those most deserving of this high honor, wherever they may reside. Your Committee further recommend that a special button badge be made, which shall have upon its face in bas-relief the bust of Prof. Procter, to be called the Procter Badge, this badge to be sold by the General Secretary to members who will wear it hereafter at our meetings, the price to be inexpensive, and the proceeds of the sale to be added to a fund to be devoted to perpetuating the memory of Prof. Procter; a special committee to be appointed by the President to have such button badge made, and after approval by the Council, the whole to be placed in the hands of the General Secretary for proper distribution under the adopted rules. Respectfully submitted, The report was received with applause. ALBERT E. Ebert, C. LEWIS DIEHL, S. A. D. SHEPPARD, JOSEPH P. REMINGTON, Chairman. |