H. C. Wood

“ A common, fallacious belief is that Pharmacopœial recognition means that the drug recognized is of value; the fact is that the United States and other Pharmacopoeias have in them numerous drugs of very little use. The nature or motif, so to speak, of a pharmacopœia is not to distinguish between worthy and worthless drugs, but to see that a drug which is asked for is as sold by the apothecary pure, and that proper preparations of uniform strength are made by the apothecary. ”

“ The pharmacopœia exists for the purpose of requiring the apothecary to give in the first place pure brick-dust or pure witch-hazel when asked for; and in the second place uniform preparations of these remedies.
Every European country has its own pharmacopœia, prepared by governmental officials; or, in the case of England, by a board especially authorized by the government. One of the peculiarities of Anglo-Saxon civilization is the performance by volunteer bodies under sanction of law of functions which are really governmental. ”

“ UNDERLYING our civilization, and often very necessary to our daily life, are agencies unrecognized by the general mass of humanity. Among these is a little book known as the 'United States Pharmacopœia' It concerns most nearly the medical profession, but perhaps most vitally the general public. ”