THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL 
THE AUSTRALASIAN 
^Journal of] jjliarmaci) 
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 
ceutical Society of Australasia in 
he Pharma - 
South Australia, 
i Tasmania, 
I Western Australia, 
I Fiji, 
at 10s. 6d. per annum. 
1000 
Victoria, 
New South Wales, 
New Zealand, 
Queensland, 
And to non-members 
payable in advance. 
We guarantee a bona fide circulation of 
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. 
Wxxii&vmL 
THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE SALE OF POISONS ACT. 
Under the above heading we published in our last issue a letter from Mr. H. T. 
Tompsitt, hon. treasurer of the Pharmacy Board of Victoria, and one of its 
members. Mr. Tompsitt referred to a common complaint that there was an 
apparent want of vigour in the prosecution of vendors of prohibited articles. Said 
our correspondent “ There is no doubt but that a general feeling exists that 
the enforcement of ‘The Sale and Use of Poisons Act’ by the Board is feeble 
and perfunctory.” While admitting this much, however, Mr. Tompsitt proceeded 
to exculpate the Board from the charge of being indifferent to the interests of 
pharmacists or the public, his answer being “ that the funds available for this 
purpose (the detection and prosecution of offenders) are very small, and quite 
inadequate to defray the expenses of a properly organised system of any magni- 
tude, owing to the fact that, when convictions are obtained, the costs awarded 
by the magistrates are usually insufficient to cover one-half the expense incurred 
in obtaining them.” Mr. Tompsitt proposed, as a solution of the difficulty, the 
establishment of a fund in connection with the Pharmaceutical Society, to be 
called “The Chemists and Druggists’ Protection Fund,” to be supplied by 
annual subscription, by means of which the Board would be guaranteed 
against loss in connection with the energetic prosecution of delinquents, 
which would be possible under the proposed new state of the finances. In 
Mr. Tompsitt’s words, “ a small annual contribution from each chemist 
would provide an auxiliary fund, which, added to the sum already under 
the control of the Board, would render it possible to systematically and 
thoroughly enforce the law throughout the colony.” This very opportune 
and practical suggestion needs little recommendation. A survey of the 
record of the prosecutions initiated by the Pharmacy Board during the 
past few years shows that the convictions have been by no means few 
in number. But while the amount of the fines inflicted enriched only the 
general revenue, the burden of the costs in unsuccessful cases fell altogether upon 
the Board, and, where convictions were obtained, the costs awarded only in very 
rare instances covered the expenses of the proceedings. In reply to a requisition 
upon this subject, the Government expressly declined to increase the Board’s 
yearly grant, it being evidently the opinion that the matter was one in which 
