JACOB BELL. 



1359. " 5. The separation of the trade in medicines from the practice 

 Attempt to ^ P nvs i c an d surgery, as far as this is practicable. 



gama " 6. The recognition of the Pharmaceutical Society as the 



Government governing body in our department, represented by a council 

 annually elected from among the members at large; having 

 power to superintend the education, examination, and registra- 

 tion, and to make such regulations as may be requisite from time 

 to time respecting other matters relating to pharmacy, in which 

 the interests of our body and the welfare of the public are con- 

 cerned." l 



During the year 1846 the subject of pharmaceutical legisla- 

 tion was much discussed, and numerous petitions to Parliament 

 in favour of some measure to promote education among the dis- 

 pensers of medicine were presented. In July of the following 

 year it became evident that, owing to the pressure of other 

 business and the position of the Government in reference to a 

 dissolution of Parliament, the hopes that were entertained of a 

 Pharmaceutical Bill being passed during the current session, 

 would not be realized. 



Obstacles to A deputation of the society to the Secretary of State in the 

 ceuticaU,egis- fH wm g November again urged the subject upon the Govern- 

 lation. ment, which, although admitting its importance as a branch of 

 medical reform, declined to take it up as a separate question. 



Obstacles continued to impede the progress of pharmaceutical 

 legislation. Mr. Warburton, who had undertaken to bring for- 

 ward the subject in the House of Commons, left Parliament, and 

 no member having similar experience in medical affairs appeared 

 to succeed him. The difficulty was to get the subject brought 

 before Parliament by some one perfectly familiar with all its 

 details, and at the same time possessing zeal, industry, and de- 

 termination sufficient to neutralize the apathy and distaste with 

 which it was regarded by many members of the legislature. 



The accomplishment of this object had long occupied the 

 attention of Mr. Bell, and as a solution of the difficulty, he at 

 length resolved to offer himself as a candidate for a seat in 

 Parliament, and so acquire as a right the opportunity of advocat- 



1 Pharmaceutical Journal, vol. v. p. 245. 



