THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
415 
the unanimity of this Conference, I will withdraw it, with the permission of my 
seconder. 
The President — I am very glad it has been withdrawn. If it had been carried 
its effects would have been disastrous. 
Interchange with Great Britain. 
Mr. Pond moved, and Mr. Melhuish seconded — 
44 That the results of this Conference be transmitted to the Pharmaceutical 
Society of Great Britain, with a request that interchange of certificates be con- 
sidered.” 
Mr. Blackett intimated that an effort in the same direction was made some time 
ago, but it was then found to be premature. 
The motion was then put, and carried unanimously. 
Intercolonial Pharmaceutical Council. 
Mr. Mayne moved, and Mr. Bozon seconded — 
44 That it is most desirable that an Intercolonial Pharmaceutical Council should 
be established, such Council to visit and hold meetings in rotation in the various 
colonies, to discuss and consider questions relating to Intercolonial Pharmaceutical 
subjects.” 
This was carried without any discussion. 
Patent Medicines and Secret Nostrums. 
Mr. Blackett moved the fifth resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Pond — 
44 That the rapid increase in the trade of proprietary medicines and secret 
nostrums is antagonistic to the true interest of pharmacy.” 
The mover remarked that every loyal pharmacist should do all in his power 
to put a stop to the trade in these patent medicines, which was daily increasing. 
Some of them were advertised to cure all diseases, and one that was placarded 
all over the place at the present time was nothing else than common saltpetre. 
Some medical men were in the habit of prescribing patent medicines which 
they knew scarcely anything of, and this he condemned as a very undesirable 
practice and very derogatory to the pharmacist. The common preparation of 
chlorodyne vended by every storekeeper was a mixture of some of the most 
deadly poisons — viz., chloroform, prussic acid, and morphia ; and many people, 
principally women, were poisoned with it. Would it not be better for those 
people who wanted a drug of that kind to go to the chemist or medical man 
and get morphia pure and simple? It ought to be patent to everybody that the 
quack medicines could not do what was claimed for them. Phosphodyne, sold 
some years ago at five guineas a box, was composed of nothing else than citrate 
of iron and quinine, and was a very weak composition at that. He felt degraded 
when he had to hand over his counter these patent medicines to his customers, 
and felt 'partxcejps criminis in the fraud. It would be a great boon if they 
could insist upon the same law as France and Germany did in respect of these 
medicines. In those countries they were analysed before they were allowed to 
be sold, and, if found genuine, were passed, otherwise they were prohibited. 
In conclusion, he said that he had lived 55 years, and had never taken a pill, 
a black draught, or a seidlitz* powder, and many people might save themselves 
a lot of money and trouble by avoiding quack medicines. 
The President said that Tasmania did not allow the sale of patent medicines 
other than by registered chemists. 
The motion was carried nem. con . 
Condolence. 
On the motion of Mr. Blackett, seconded by Mr. Huntsman, the following 
resolution was carried : — 
