Otfrid Foerster, Physician and Naturalist (1873–1941)

The author shows that the objects of the College, the promotion of public health, reduction of the danger of self-administration of medicines, and the provision of a helpful service to members have been fulfilled. Members, termed 'Fellows', must have practical experience as registered pharmacists and agree to comply with both laws and ethics relating to pharmacy and with the rules of the College, now affiliated with the parent Pharmaceutical Association. Professional relations with the medical profession, with industry and with public health authorities have brought benefits nationally and to the members; for the most part this is claimed to have been 'out of proportion for the size of the organization'. One of the titles of a publication was 'We Just Didn't Know Our Own Strength'. What the strength or size of the College is we are not told: it is therefore difficult for readers to assess what number of practising pharmacists support the aims and ethics of the College, out of perhaps a total of some 70,000 pharmacists in the U.S.A. The author has produced a history, fully documented, that should become more valuable with the growth of the College and the passing of the years. LESLIE G. MATTHEWS