president's address— (sub)-section b 



Section B. 



CHEMISTRY. 



Sub-section Pharmacy. 



address by the president : 



C. E. Totrl, Mc/hounte. 



It is lay pleasiug duty and pleasure to welcome you* to par- 

 ticipate in the labours of this modest sub-section of Section B of 

 this Congress of the Australasian Association for the Advancement 

 of Science. It has been found necessary, as you are already 

 aware, to hold the meetings in Melbourne instead of Hobart, and 

 to emphasize this fact the Council have determined that this meet- 

 ing shall be known as the Hobart meeting held in Melbourne. 



Our interest in the scientific development of Pharmacy and 

 Pharmaceutical Chemistry must necessarily be a quite practical 

 oHe. 



The improvement in method, the development of new formulae 

 and the working of less empiric and more scientific practice must 

 occupy our attention. 



To have papers read and discussed is our present business, and 

 it is hoped it will be shown that some intelligent research work 

 has been conducted, calculated to fester and stimulate a spirit of 

 emulatio'n and enthusiasm for the scientific side of our work. 



In glancing ove^r the subjects for discussion in Seotion B, I 

 notice that one of them is entitled "The Training of the Profes- 

 sional Chemist." It has occurred to me, therefore, that we may 

 devote a few minutes very profitably to the discussion of the cog- 

 nate subject "The Training of the Professional Pharmacist." 



In order to divest the discussion of any ambiguity in the mean 

 ing of a Professional Pharmacist, I think we should make a clear 

 demarcation between his scientific training and that of a business 

 man or salesman — two aspects of his preparation both necessary to 

 fulfil his responsibilities to the public — the latter demanding as 

 much care as the former. The duties which a scientifically 



trained Pharmacist is required to perform may be summed up in 

 his having: — 



(a) A thorough knowledge of the appearance and quality of 



all organic and inorganic substances used in pharmaceu- 

 tical preparations and their preparation. 



(b) A knowledge of practical chemistry sufficient to enable 



him to apply it to the manufacture and testing of in- 

 organic salts. 



(c) A sufficient acquaintance with therapeutics to make him 



an efficient and safe dispenser of prescriptions. 



