52 
THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST. 
November, 1880. 
Act. (Applause.) Of course that Act was not perfect, but it 
was the best they could get at the time. By the light of 
experience they found in it flaws, which at the time were not 
detected. These mistakes, he trusted, would be rectified as 
soon as the Assembly settled down to useful legislation, 
and peace was restored to this politically afflicted country. 
(Laughter and cheers.) The new Pharmacy Act would give 
larger powers than those possessed at present, and limit the 
sale of patent medicines. It was monstrous to suppose that 
ignorant men should be allowed to dispense poisonous medicines 
simply because the bottle or packet had a stamp and a seal on 
it. It was also, in his opinion, a dangerous practice to allow 
grocers to sell unchecked such large quantities of patent medi- 
cines, and he considered that any wise Government would re- 
medy this defect. In regard to the suggestion to establish a 
school of pharmacy, he was convinced that there was abun- 
dance of talent in the members of the society to carry out 
the undertaking, but what seemed to stand in the way was the 
want of cash. (Laughter.) He would, however, in the event 
of the suggestion being carried out, like to see the school 
taken under the wing of the University. If, however, this 
could not be effected, he would be satisfied to see pharmacy 
added to the curriculum of studies in the University for medi- 
cine. (Cheers.) Why, he (the speaker) knew of an instance 
where an M.B. did not know the difference between opium and 
asafoetida. (Laughter.) To his mind it was incumbent for medi- 
cal men to study materia medica more than they did. (Cheers.) 
And now he had to say a word about the journal representing the 
society. He admitted that it was an imperfect one, but he was 
quite certain that it was better than nothing, and that efforts 
were made to make it interesting and valuable. (Cheers.) What 
the paper wanted was fresh writing. He did what he could, 
and was ably assisted by Mr. Shillinglaw, but much could be 
done by young pharmacists contributing original papers. He 
hoped that this matter would be attended to, and his appeal 
receive a ready response. The journal, he was sure, had done 
much good, not only here, but in the neighbouring colonies ; 
and, with support, was sure it would become a valuable pro- 
perty ; and he hoped that it would ultimately be able to run 
alone, and become, like the Medical Journal, the independent 
organ of pharmacy in Australasia. 
Mr. Best, in a few well-chosen remarks, couched in eulogistic 
terms, proposed the health of the members of the Pharmacy 
Board, coupled with the name of Mr. Bosisto. 
Mr. Bosisto, in thanking the company for the hearty 
manner in which the toast of the Pharmacy Board had been 
drunk, said the object of the Board was to seek to educate the 
young pharmacists in this colony to a standpoint equal to 
those in other countries of the old world. He was astonished 
at the progress made by the Board, and at the beneficial 
results that had accrued from its establishment. He felt sure 
that what had been done would prove an incentive to the rising 
generation. He regretted to find that the University did not 
recognise pharmacy as it ought to, as, in his opinion, it ought 
to be included in the curriculum of medical studies. (Hear, 
hear.) He trusted that in the alteration of the University 
Amendment Bill the medical faculty would recognise this fact, 
and endeavour to have the study of materia medica enforced 
on a broader basis than the present. And not only did 
he desire to see this object attained, but that medical 
botany would be taught as well. (Hear, hear.) He trusted 
that the day was not far distant when the University 
would see its way to establish a school of pharmacy, which 
would meet all the difficulties that they had at present to 
encounter. (Cheers.) He did not think that it was the duty 
of a chemist to merely learn the art of coating pills, but to 
obtain knowledge regarding the different plants and other vege- 
tation which so vast a field lay open for them in Australia. By 
so doing they would thereby be handing down to posterity 
knowledge which would be at once useful to generations to 
come and make to themselves great names. The Pharmacy 
Board were willing to help, and he hoped that young men 
would take advantage of the opportunities. 
Mr. Francis proposed the health of the Pharmaceutical 
Society of Great Britain and kindred societies. 
Mr. Bowen, in responding, referred to the names of Jacob 
Bell, William Allen, Thomas Nurson, Ur. Pereira, Theophilus 
Redwood, and others, who had so readily come forward to 
establish the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, and 
otherwise to promote the cause of pharmacy. The names of 
these gentlemen were still fresh in the memory of some 
around us, and associated with many great and good deeds, 
especially so, the exposure of the frauds perpetrated by some 
of the English and Continental manufacturers of chemical 
and pharmaceutical products. It was a singular circumstance 
that Great Britain, which usually takes the lead in art, 
science, and literature, should be the last to recognise the 
necessity of establishing a school of pharmacy. Norway, a 
country possessing at that period a population of about 
350,000 souls— less than half that of the colony of Victoria 
was the first to do so in the year 1673. France followed in 
1803 ; the United States next ; Germany in 1823 ; Russia in 
1839 ; and, last of all, Great Britain, in 1811. The establish- 
ment of these schools, to his mind, was an imperative 
necessity, for however skilful the physician or general 
practitioner might be, unless the prescription was uniformly 
and honestly dispensed that skill would be thrown a wav 
(Cheers.) 
Mr. Johnson proposed the medical societies of Victoria, 
coupled with the name of Mr. Gillbee. He was nothing of a 
speaker, and had only experience in that line when bad°gered 
by counsel in the witness-box. 
Mr. Gillbee, in responding, said he had need scarcely to 
mention that, as a rule, physicians endeavoured to keep up as 
friendly an association with their chemists as practicable. 
The medical man depended entirely in them for the proper 
preparation of his prescriptions, and he had to say, from his 
own experience and that of other members of his profession, 
that their directions were attended to with the greatest care 
and precision. (Hear, hear.) He trusted that the Pharma- 
ceutical Society would soon rise above a trade, and establish 
itself into a profession— (cheers)— so that no one would be 
allowed to tamper with the lives of the general public without 
having a State certificate of competency to dispense medicines. 
(Applause.) 
The president said that the next toast he had to propose 
was one he knew they would all drink with great pleasure. 
The toast was the health of Mr. Shillinglaw, the honorary 
secretary of the society. (Applause.) As the president of the 
society, perhaps no one was better acquainted with the large 
amount of work annually performed by the honorary secre- 
tary, and he felt certain all would agree with him when he said 
that the present prosperous condition of the society was in a 
great degree owing to the admirable manner in which the 
business was conducted ; no matter what information was re- 
quired, you had but to apply to Mr. Shillinglaw for it, and it 
was at once forthcoming. They were not, perhaps, aware of 
the very large amount of additional work the publication of 
The Chemist and Druggist had entailed. In the official position 
held by Mr. Shillinglaw as registrar to the Pharmacy Board, 
he had earned the respect and esteem of all with whom he 
had been brought in contact. The toast was drunk amidst 
great cheering. 
Mr. Shillinglaw, in replying, said that he felt very much 
pleased at the kind and hearty manner in which his health 
had been drunk. His duties had been very much lightened 
by uniform kindness and courtesy shown to him by the mem- 
bers of the council. He had endeavoured to extend the 
members’ roll outside Victoria, he was glad to find, with 
some success, and a number of leading pharmacists in the 
neighbouring colonies were now members of the society ; and 
the circulation of the journal had trebled itself during the last 
three years ; not a little of the success of the journal was 
due to Mr. Blackett, who gave a deal of valuable time to 
it. There could be no doubt that the journal had done much 
good, and induced the other colonies to form societies. He 
again begged to thank them for the kind manner in which the 
toast had been received. 
“The Ballarat District Chemists’ Association,” coupled with 
the names of Messrs. Wheeler and Macgowan, was the next toast 
proposed by Mr. Blackett, who said it was highly gratifying 
to find this district society so well represented. He hoped to 
see the other districts follow in the footsteps of Ballarat, and 
form local societies. 
Mr. Macgowan returned thanks, and remarked that it was 
owing to the troubles and difficulties of the tariff some twelve 
months ago that had called their society into existence. He 
was glad to say the formation of the association had done 
great good in promoting general unanimity and good feeling. 
He hoped to see the other large centres of population follow 
their example ; and he thanked them very much for the kind 
manner in which they had drunk the toast. 
, The health of Mr. Holds worth, as the representative of 
Sandhurst, was also proposed. 
