PREFACE xxix 



Jicentiates is not applied to any public use, as was intended by 

 the associated apothecaries, but that it is taken to the use of a 

 private London society. It has been answered, that this society 

 keep a botanic garden, have botantic excursions and demonstra- 

 tions, and even lectures on materia medica ; but these are not 

 open, either to the licentiates or their apprentices, being confined 

 to the apprentices of the members of the society. 



However much the totally unprecedented extension of the 

 Apothecaries'* Act to villages may be deprecated by every liberal- 

 minded person, it is certain that this Act, by the Society of 

 Apothecaries rendering the examination as efficient as the time 

 will allow, and making it necessary that three of the examiners 

 should sign the certificate, or seven of them vote for the person 

 under examination being remanded, has already had the effect 

 of obhging a few careless youths to be more attentive to their 

 studies than heretofore, through the fear of being remanded. 

 The prevailing error, and which is fostered by this Act, is to 

 consider the mere passing of the examination as the great object 

 to be obtained, rather than the acquirement of that general 

 knowledge, without which an apothecary cannot perform the 

 duties of his profession with honour to himself, and with benefit 

 to his patients. Some teachers of medicine, knowing the im- 

 portance attached by students to passing examination at the 

 Hail, undertake to cram their pupils for an additional hour daily, 

 under the name of examination ; and so much does the taste for 

 this parrot-like instruction prevail, that the majority of pupils 

 would rather absent themselves from any other, or even all their 

 other pursuits, than be absent from this mock examination by 

 these grinders. 



Whether the public will be ultimately benefited by these 

 attempted restrictions upon medical practice, is even already 

 doubtful. The licensed practitioners, it appears from the public 

 papers, presuming upon their freedom from competition, often 

 refuse to give medical assistance to the poor in accidents, until 

 their remuneration is guaranteed to them : they have even taken 

 the opinion of counsel, whether they might not disobey, unless 

 their expenses are tendered them, the coroner's warrant to give 

 their evidence in cases of murder, &c. although all other persons, 

 of whatever rank, are obliged to attend, as a personal duty owing 



