276 THE . AUSTRALASIAN .JO URNAL O F PHARMACY. 
a crude and unnecessary measure. The petition was accordingly prepared, and 
signed by every member of the trade in and around Melbourne and Geelong, and 
placed in the hands of the Hon. J. Hood, M.L.C. A second meeting was held 
at the same place on the 16th instant (February, 1857), when your committee 
were appointed, consisting of Messrs. Croad, Williams, C. R. Blackett, Ford, 
Bosisto, Walton, Glover, and Lewis, for the purpose of waiting upon the 
members of the Legislative Council and urging the necessity for the rejection of 
the ‘ Poisons Bill ’ then before that House ; and also to take the necessary 
steps for the formation of an Association of Chemists and Druggists. Respect- 
ing the first part of the duty, your committee have the pleasure to report 
that any lengthened opposition became unnecessary, as, on the following day, 
Dr. Tierney thought it most prudent to withdraw the bill, and the matter is 
now before a select committee of the Legislative Council ; and it is believed that 
a considerable time will elapse before anything more will be heard about the 
‘ Poisons Regulation Bill.’ Thus much for the first part of your instructions. 
And, in coming to the subject of the formation of an Association, your committee 
think that, from what has already transpired, it is imperatively necessary that 
immediate steps be taken for the formation of an Association, which shall be in 
existence and at all times ready to take action should any attempt be made to 
infringe upon the rights and privileges of the chemists and druggists. The very 
fact of an organisation existing will probably prevent the bringing forward of 
any measure affecting the trade generally without first submitting it for con- 
sideration to the council of the Association. Your committee would, however, 
desire to place the subject before you for consideration upon higher grounds. 
Desirable as it is to be properly organised — that we may be able to defend 
ourselves against unjust aspersions and attacks — it is of greater consequence that 
we should have an organisation that will enable us to perfect ourselves in 
the art and science of pharmacy, afford opportunities and appliances for carrying out 
experiments, and to be a means of increasing our knowledge and promoting our 
comfort. Hone need be ashamed to own that there is much yet to learn, and a 
wide field still open for profitable investigation. Your committee would 
wish to refer you to the good that has resulted in England from the 
establishment of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain ; and great 
as have been the results of its efforts, your committee are strongly of opinion 
that still greater good will arise from the proper organisation of a society 
(kindred in its character) for Victoria. The benefits that might be 
enumerated are, in the first place, the elevation of the trade in character, 
proper instructions for apprentices that may hereafter come in, a registry for all 
competent assistants, and also the formation of a benevolent fund for any indigent 
or unfortunate members. Should the society be established and properly sup- 
ported, a library, museum, lecture-room, and laboratory should be instituted ; 
and these alone would be worth all the trouble and expense that we might find 
it necessary to go to. By these means the young men, apprentices, and trade 
generally would have a suitable place to resort to, where they might spend their 
time in improving themselves in all that is essential for the proper discharge of 
their duties in the laboratory and shop. Your committee therefore recommend 
that a Pharmaceutical Society for Victoria be established forthwith, with a similar 
organisation and for the same purpose as the Pharmaceutical Society of Great 
Britain. That the following gentlemen be appointed a committee to take the 
necessary steps for the formation of the society, and be empowered to collect funds 
and pay the necessary expenses; and that they bring up their report to the 
members of the Association within six months Messrs. French (of Williams town), 
Archer and Thomas (of Geelong), Cooper, Johnson, Blackett, Croad, Lewis, Bosisto, 
