4G4 JACOB BELL. 



1859. annually, having objected to compound for it. A few weeks 

 PharmTjour- before his death, however, he sent and paid his life subscription- 

 naL One of the most useful agents in promoting the advancement 



of pharmacy in this country, has been the Pharmaceutical 

 Journal The first number appeared in July, 1841, and, with 

 the five succeeding numbers, was intended by Mr. Bell as an 

 experiment, to test the necessity for such a journal. At the 

 termination of this period "the influx of scientific papers," to 

 quote his own words, " and various communications from cor- 

 respondents on subjects relating to the society, had increased 

 to such an extent, that it was found difficult to restrict the 

 dimensions of each number within the prescribed limits. The 

 advantage resulting from a periodical interchange of ideas 

 among the members of the society, became so obvious, that all 

 doubt as to the practicability of maintaining a journal of pharmacy 

 was at an end. The Pharmaceutical Journal and Transactions 

 was, therefore, continued with regularity, remaining under the 

 superintendence of Mr. Bell until the completion of the 

 eighteenth and last volume. The disinterestedness with which 

 he pursued this labour for eighteen years is very remarkable. 

 From the low price at which the journal was supplied to the 

 society it was never, notwithstanding its large circulation, a 

 source of income ; on the contrary, until the last three years, 

 when through advertisements and increased sale it about paid 

 its expenses, the deficit which he had to make up varied from 

 30 to 60 per annum. 



Editorial Life. For the office of editor his literary tastes, general acquaintance 

 with science, and ever-ready pen, proved important qualifications. 

 Nor should we omit to add the happy wit and conciliatory tone 

 that pervaded his editorial articles. As editor, Mr. Bell con- 

 stantly contributed the leading articles, which appeared, as is 

 customary, without their author's name. Many papers, how- 

 ever, upon purely practical subjects, were furnished by his pen, 

 and bore his name; and his last communication, which was not 

 published until after his death, was a paper on Concentrated 

 Infusions and Decoctions. 



Previous to the existence of the Pharmaceutical Journal we 



