From Mr P. J. Keen, FRPharmS
SIR,-Professor Florence's letter (PJ, September 2, p329) draws attention to the aesthetic conditions in which pharmacy is practised in the Netherlands, contrasting this with the commercial nature of general practice pharmacy in the United Kingdom. This environmental contrast may well be one of the factors in the public attitude here towards medicines not being much different from general items of commerce, something that shapes sentiment towards retail price maintenance as well as to the thoughtless use of home remedies, despite good advice being available in pharmacies.
Pharmacy in a New Age has a long way to go yet and it will be necessary for Professor Florence and others to keep reminding the profession of the importance of the conditions under which medicines are supplied if pharmacy is to develop as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society envisages.
P. J. Keen
Uxbridge, Middlesex