Vol. 21, No. 1
A n Unpardonable Abuse
January 1, 1929
that one of the results of the war was the opening of the eyes of the people to the necessity and importance of chemists in the UCCESS is always capitalized, sometimes by those who defense and maintenance of the country, in the support and have contributed to it, but often by those who, though creation of industry, in contributions to public health and having no part in it, would subvert it to their own uses. The the fight against disease, and as leaders in the multiplication accomplishments of chemistry have made things chemical and preservation of our harvests. Surely these men are not attractive to many who prey upon the gullible, and a flagrant retail chemists. I n England, the chemical profession has been distinctly misuse of the word “chemistJ’has just come to our notice. The Brooklyn Duily Eagle for December 13 carried a San embarrassed by the appropriation of the name “chemist” by those who are pharmaFrancisco despatch with cists, and has been helpthe information that “the less to prevent this misUnited Retail Chemists use of the term. PharC o m p a n y h a s been Greetings from Our Newly Elected Officers macy is a profession formed as the result of kindred to, but distinct t h e a b s o r p t i o n of the from chemistry, and the Neve Drug Stores by the American PharmaceutiUnited Cigar Stores cal Association, which Company of America.” has so much to its credit, Details were then given will be as incensed as we w i t h r e s p e c t to stock are over the misuse of the issues, etc. name “chemist.” Here If those responsible for and there one occasionthe choice of the name ally finds a drug store on indicated have any rethe windows of which is gard for propriety, they i n s c r i b e d the name of will immediately s e e k some member of the staff another appellation for as “chemist.” This man their company, obviously may indeed be a chemist, organized as venders of but more often he is not general merchandise. If and such a misstatement those who sell the multiis another reprehensible tude of things now found in the modern drug stores practice. Even this is S. W. Parr, President-Elect Irving Langmuir, President are to be allowed to call q u i t e a different thing I would like to express to the members of the AMERICAN themselves “retail chemfrom what is involved in CHEMICAL SOCIETY my appreciation of the honor they have ists,” t h e n certainly the term “retail chemdone m e by electing me to the presidency of this great scienthose who sell drugs only ists.” tific organization. The rapidity with which chemistry has should be called “retail The time to stop this advanced in America during recent years has exceeded the d o c t o r s , ” a n d where abuse is right now. The fondest hopes of our leaders of fifteen or twenty years ago. A d e n t i f r i c e s a n d tooth executives of the Keve basic factor in this progress is the fundamental chemical rebrushes are handed over D r u g Stores a n d t h e search which has been carried on so actively under the the counter we shall exUnited Cigar Stores leadership of the AMERICAN CHEMICALSOCIETY. Fortupect to find “retail denC o m p a n y of America nately, research begets research. We can look forward to tists.” The whole thing must be made to see that rapidly accelerating chemical growth for many years to i s u t t e r l y absurd, and common d e c e n c y decome. It is a deep inspiration to m e t o feel t h a t as Presivigorous steps must be mands the withdrawal of dent of the AMERICAN CHEMICALSOCIETYI will be privileged taken to have all and the name, “The United to aid in this further stimulation of the research spirit. sundry understand that R e t a i l Chemists ComIrving Langmuir the word “ c h e m i s t ” pany,” and the substituM y greetings to the AMERICANCHEMICALSOCIETYfor the rightfully belongs to an t i o n t h e r e f o r of some year 1929, and congratulations on the election of Doctor a n c i e n t and honorable designation that really Langmuir to the presidency. This choice of the Council calling. To see “chemdescribes what they inpleases m e greatly. I deeply appreciate the honor of being ist” used as in the name t e n d t o d o . We must chosen to the newly constituted office of President-Elect. of t h i s c o m p a n y is a not permit a s i t u a t i o n S. W. Parr p o s i t i v e shock, for we c o m p a r a b l e to that in have been led to believe England to develop here.
