THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
51 
THE AUSTRALASIAN 
t A 
With which is incorporated the Australasian 
Chemist and Druggist. 
Published on the 20th of each Month. 
Office: College of Pharmacy, Swanston 
Street, Melbourne. 
London Agent : Mr. Francis Forrest, 
9 New Broad Street, London, E.C. 
This Journal, which is the only organ of 
Pharmacy in the Australasian Colonies, is 
devoted to the advancement of Pharmaceutical 
knowledge, and to the advocacy of a more 
thorough education and practical training for 
all persons engaged in preparing and dis- 
pensing medicines, drugs, and chemicals. It is 
issued gratis to the members of the Pharma- 
ceutical Society of Australasia in 
Victoria, South Australia, 
New South Wales, Tasmania, 
New Zealand, Western Australia, 
Queensland, Fiji, 
And to non-members at 10s. 6d. per annum, 
payable in advance. 
We guarantee a bona fide circulation of 1000 
copies each month. 
Advertisements, remittances, and all business 
communications to be addressed to The Hon. 
Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society, 
Swanston Street, Melbourne. 
Communications for the Editorial depart- 
ment of this Journal must be addressed to The 
Editor, Swanston Street, Melbourne. 
No notice can be taken of anonymous 
communications. Whatever is intended for 
insertion must be authenticated by the name 
and address of the writer — not necessarily for 
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. 
PHARMACY AND FEDERATION. 
The present era is one of federation. No subject is more frequently on men’s 
lips, or more thoroughly discussed in the public journals. The federation of the 
Australian colonies may now be said to be an accomplished fact. The session of 
the Federal Council has been held, and the work it has done is destined to endure 
in history. The federation of the British Empire is occupying the minds of all 
leading public men both in the old country and in the colonies, and there is a 
strong tendency manifested in every direction to combine for the maintenance 
of common interests, whether professional or simply industrial. 
As there is no valid reason why this spirit should not be operative amongst 
the members of the pharmaceutical profession, there is shown to be some logical 
connection between pharmacy and federation. At first glance it becomes evident 
that there is sound reason for the holding of the pharmaceutical conference 
to be held in Melbourne in October next, and it is satisfactory to find that the 
project is meeting with general support throughout Australasia. Year by year the 
necessity of assimilating the pharmacy laws of the various colonies, and 
establishing a uniform system of training, teaching, and examination, has been 
forcing itself more strongly on the attention of the more thoughtful members of 
the profession, and the success which has attended the recent meeting of the 
Federal Council at Hobart encourages us to look forward to the results of the 
forthcoming conference with no little degree of confidence. 
Among the matters to be considered by the conference — and the adoption 
of which is thought to be essential to the future development of Australasian 
pharmacy — are the four proposals enumerated in the admirable paper on 
“ Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Education,” contributed to our “ specimen 
copy ” by Mr. C. R. Blackett — viz. : — (1) That there be a preliminary examination 
before apprenticeship ; (2) that the apprenticeship be of four years’ duration ; 
(3) that students should attend certain specified courses in college classes on 
chemistry, botany, materia medica , &c. ; and (4) that they pass exami- 
nations in due course in these subjects, and a final and practical examination 
in pharmacy. If these rules be adopted a firm basis will be laid for the 
improvement of the condition and the extension of the scientific education of 
the future generation of pharmacists in Australia. The synopsis of the various 
pharmacy laws in force throughout the colony (also published in our specimen 
copy) shows that much remains to be done towards their assimilation and 
