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tion, that it is becoming increasingly harder to make both ends meet, and that they are compelled to expect more of their clerks in the way of alertness and intelligence than they did eight or ten years ago. Here and there a note of warning is sounded. It is contended that clerks are demanding more than the traffic will bear.

The clerks, in turn, are rapidly coördinating their forces. They have local associations, State associations, and a national association. Organizers are at work constantly, and occasionally the inference gets into print that in the end certain segments will become affiliated, en masse, with the American Federation of Labor. One concession demanded, and not without reason, is shorter hours.

What the outcome will be it is hard to foretell. But one thing is certain-the wider the gap grows the harder will it become to recement its two edges. It is a matter that demands serious consideration. The hand

writing is on the wall. It will not do to ignore

it.

NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.

There is no reason in the world why any druggist should feel unduly concerned about the changes made in the new U. S. P. and the new N. F. These changes are in no sense radical; and the fact that both books are, to a degree, invested with the solemn authority of law does not warrant a stampede to the tall timber.

As far as doctors' prescriptions go, the two Pharmacopoeias-the old and the new-might be interchangeable, and no lives would be lost. The druggist need not fear a lack of coördination with the physician; speaking in a general way, doctors are not yet basing prescriptions on the new order of things. When they begin to do so, it is up to them to indicate the transition.

The change from the old to the new must come gradually. It would be the height of folly to expect a druggist to throw away tinctures made in good faith the middle of last August, say, and put in their places those in which a few minor changes in formula have been made by the revision committee-and do this at the drop of a hat. Jobbing houses and manufacturers are getting into shape as rapidly as they can, but it is slow work and many months must necessarily yet elapse.

Here is a case, surely, where the enforcement of the law must be tempered with reason. It is the understanding that it will be.

AS TO SCHOOLS OF PHARMACY. · Some rather interesting statistics were collected recently by Prof. R. A. Kuever in behalf of the American Pharmaceutical Association. They had to do with schools and colleges of pharmacy. leges of pharmacy. It may surprise many people to know that there are 73 such institutions now existing in the United States, besides one-third as many more "unrecognized" schools described by Professor Kuever as "diploma mills" and "plugging courses."

Of the 73 regular schools, it is exceedingly gratifying to know that 42 of them hold membership in the American Conference of Pharmaceutical Faculties. At least this many institutions, therefore, are able to meet the mem

bership standards of that organization, and are gradually working in the interests of higher and more uniform education.

Some data was collected from the schools belonging to the Conference, with reference to the amount of preliminary education demanded as an entrance requirement, and it was discovered that 35 per cent of the colleges require one year of high-school work or its equivalent, 33 per cent demand two years, 5 per cent three years, and the somewhat gratifying number of 26 per cent insist upon the completion of a full high-school course of four years. This situation is quite different from that which existed only five or six years ago, and it gives assurance that both preliminary standards and curriculum standards are gradually being elevated in sympathy with the broader educational evolution of the time.

According to the American Druggist, the filing of a list of its holdings in California, as required by law, has revealed the fact that the United Drug Company owns a block of stock in the Owl Drug Company, a well-known Pacific coast chain.

Drug stores in Eastport, Maine, are closed on Sundays, the mayor having directed that the Sunday-closing law be enforced against all places of business.

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Group pictures taken at the annual convention of the National Wholesale Druggists' Association held at Baltimore in October.

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In his advertising, Druggist Brown makes a big noise about his delivery service.

NEW IBERIA

LA.

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