Albany College of Pharmacy - Alembic Yearbook (Albany, NY)

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Board ot Editors James J. O’Leary - Joseph V. Walsh Francis G. Scanlon Edwin W. Taylor Lazarus Weinstein Peter Danzilo Arthur S. Palmer William A. Larkin - - Editor-In-Chief Assistant Editor Editor of Humor Sporting Editor Business Manager Advertising A1 ariager T reasurer Faculty Adviser Associate Editors. Joseph Walsii Harry 0. Kantrowitz Burdette G. Dewell Margaret J. Ostrander Frances K. Rosensweig Edna Gray Associate Advertising Manager Gustave L. Freund 10

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(|)APMAKON 'MPMAKON (Pharmacon) is the Greek term, meaning drug, potion, medicine, or charm. This title has been chosen as one that is unique and distinctive in that it relates to Pharmacy. The term drug immediately suggests a Pharmacy or Drug Store, but how few realize or think beyond? How many think of the innumerable sources, the varied people, and the vast amount of labor the gathering of drugs entails? How many consider the painstaking methods used in the compounding of drugs into suitable medicants? Drugs come from all parts of the world and are gathered by the natives in their respective localities. Some drugs require a short time and little care, others require a long time and the b$ t of care for their maturation. Those gathered in the Orient, in the past, have been sent to market in cartons, bundles, and bales identical in nature for each separate drug. Those from the Occident do not seem to have the same care and consideration, and this fact requires that the Druggist have the most minute knowledge in order to separate them, whether they have been accidentally or intentionally adulterated. Consider for a moment the amount of time one spends in preparation before one actually compounds the ingredients of a prescription. The student of Pharmacy spends many hours of careful study and close observation on all the outstanding characteristics of a crude drug so that it will be distinct and individual. The student also studies the preparations into which each crude drug enters, taking into account its therapeutical and toxic effects so that it may be dispensed intelligently. Economic pressure has made the compounding of many medicants by the individual Pharmacist a lost art, but do not infer from this that he has not as good or better knowledge of compounding than his predecessors. The State, realizing the necessity of sufficient knowledge of these things, requires that before a person is able to fill prescriptions, on one’s own respon- sibility, that one must spend several years in preparation, including a college course which devotes itself exclusively to this end. When these require- ments have been met an examination testing the fitness of the person must be passed. Tf passed, the person is given the title of Pharmacist and the right to dispense drugs. The Dispensing Pharmacist is held entirely responsible for all prescrip- tions. irrespective of the originator, unless the originator accepts full responsibility. From a consideration of the facts so briefly stated here it is hoped that a better understanding will be reached regarding the Pharmacist and his implements of trade—drugs. 12