JOSEPH W.E. HARRISSON GOLD MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN
PHARMACOLOGY
Aug. C. Frank Co.: USA, 1958, Gold, 34 mm
Obv: Mouse standing on hindquarters over mortar and pestle, with
microscope and test tube .JOSEPH W.E. HARRISSON. PHARMACOLOGY.
Rev: PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF PHARMACY & SCIENCE. AWARDED FOR
EXCELLENCE IN PHARMACOLOGY BENJAMIN WEISS 1958
Signed: AUG. C. FRANK CO. PHILA. PA.
Ref: Weiss BW693
In original green, felt-lined case of issue.Joseph W.E. Harrisson, D.Sc., the donor of this
commencement award, was Professor of Pharmacology and Chair of the
Department of Pharmacology at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and
Science. Dr. Harrisson was a world-renowned expert in the field of
biological assay (bioassay), then the principal approach to the measurement
of drug activity. In a bioassay, the concentration of a pharmacologically
active substance is estimated by measuring its effect on a living organism,
rather than by measuring its concentration by direct physical or chemical
methods. Bioassays are often performed when medicinals are of plant, animal
or mineral origin and their pharmacological activity is due to a complex
mixture of natural components rather than to a single identifiable compound
that could be measured by chemical analysis.
Dr. Harrisson was also president of LaWall and Harrisson
Laboratories, a drug formulation and analytical company, formerly located in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (now
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia), founded in 1821, is the oldest
and largest college of pharmacy in North America.
This Gold Medal was awarded to
Benjamin Weiss by the Philadelphia
College of Pharmacy and Science for Attaining the Highest Grade in
Pharmacology of the 1958 Graduating Class. The medal is housed in its original
green, felt-lined case of issue.
LINK to
A Brief Story of University
of the Sciences in Philadelphia (by G. Victor Rossi)
LINK
to the
History of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (from
wikipedia)
LINK to
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia website
Curriculum Vitae of Benjamin Weiss