4 
THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
were attracted to the colony, bringing with them the new ideas which they had become 
imbued with under the spirit which had recently been diffused in England on the 
question of Pharmaceutical Education. Many had been in contact with men whose 
names we shall not readily let die, to whom we in our time owe an everlasting debt of 
gratitude — such men as Jacob Bell, W. Allen, Morson, Savory, Dean, Hanbury, Squire, 
and many others. We have now with us some who studied in the old laboratory of the 
Pharmaceutical Society in the earliest years of its existence, before the Imperial Parlia- 
ment had legislated for the regulation of Pharmacy : men who, naturally loyal to the 
associations of youth and country, wished to see provided similar means for the better 
education of their fellows here. In 1857 the Government of the day proposed legisla- 
tion which it was thought would seriously embarrass, if not restrict unduly, pharma- 
ceutical chemists. A meeting was called at the house of the late Mr. Croad — at the 
suggestion of Mr. Holdsworth — who then carried on business in the premises now in the 
possession of Mr. H. Francis. 
Mr. Holdsworth called a meeting of the chemists and druggists of Melbourne, which 
was well attended — Messrs. Ford, Glover, Cooper, Drewery, Croad, Plummer, and 
others. Many of those who were present are no longer with us, hut are still remembered. 
The purpose for which this, the first meeting of chemists and druggists in Australia, was 
summoned was to consider the formation of a society to watch over their interests. Mr. 
W. Ford was elected as chairman, and it was resolved that a society should be formed, 
to be called the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria, which wa3 done, and this has 
developed into the present Pharmaceutical Society of Australasia. Other 
meetings took place, at one of which the late Dr. Greeves was present ; he wa3 
then in Parliament. Our interview with him led to beneficial results. Crude and 
unfair legislation was prevented. Out of these circumstances the Pharmaceutical Society 
arose. Mr. F. Cooper was elected president, Mr. Bosisto vice-president, of the Council. 
Five survive — Messrs. Bosisto, Johnson, Lewis, Blackett, and Kruse. The first 
pharmaceutical meeting was held 2nd October, 1857. Mr. Bosisto read an elaborate 
paper upon Australian plants. On reference to the old journal this paper will be found. 
In those early days lectures — very good lectures, indeed — were delivered by Mr. Johnson, 
Mr. Ford, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Ellery, Dr. Von Mueller (now Baron Sir Ferdinand), and 
others. Baron Von Mueller was the first honorary member elected. The Pharma- 
ceutical Society and all pharmacists are under great obligations to the Government 
botanist for what he has done for them in the past. In 1858 the Society published a 
journal, under the joint editorship of Messrs. Johnson and Bosisto. It continued to 
exist for two years, and was discontinued through that u cursed lack of pence” which so 
often “ vexes public men.” 
The present journal, which was started in 1878, has been now in existence some years, 
and has been, it is said, of some service to us. All we ask and require is more support 
in the way of original contributions from members. Since the passing of the Pharmacy 
Act a new era has arrived, and during the nine years which have elapsed from the 
enactment of the Pharmacy Act a great change for the better has been observed. We 
have now a much superior class of youths engaged in the practice of Pharmacy, and as 
the standard of education has been raised, and the examinations made more efficient, 
we have every reason to hope for still further progress, which will be to the advan- 
tage of the public, and, it is to be expected, give a solid impetus to the diffusion of 
scientific knowledge. In consequence of the passing of the Amended Health Act, the 
necessity for a larger number of analysts has made itself felt ; therefore we would strongly 
urge upon our students to make themselves as thorough masters as possible of Chemistry. 
In England a number of public analysts have been drawn from the ranks of Pharmacy. 
The qualifications for a pharmaceutical chemist have been well set forth by Dr. George 
Wilson, of Edinburgh, a good authority in treating of the education of pharmaceutical 
chemists. He laid down the following as essential in the knowledge of a qualified 
pharmacist : — 
1. A thorough familiarity with the appearance and sensible properties, such as 
colour, odour, taste, and the like, of every important drug or medicine, 
natural or artificial, whether derived directly or indirectly from the 
mineral, vegetable, or animal kingdoms. 
2. A knowledge — the greater the better — of the chemical nature or composi- 
tion of all the important drugs or medicines. 
