November, 1881. 
THE CHEMIST A.ND DRUGGIST. 
51 
The country districts were represented by Mr. Henry Blind 
and Mr. J. T. Macgovvan (representative of the Ballarat Dis- 
trict Chemists’ Association), Ballarat; Mr. A. J. Owen, Geelong. 
Letters of apology were received from Mr. Frank Senior, presi- 
dent of the Pharmaceutical Society, N.S.W.; Drs. Girdlestone, 
Bird, and Allan; Messrs. Geo. Lewis, H. Wheeler and J. Whittle, 
Ballarat; Hewlett, Carlton; W. Anderson, Windsor ; T. M. 
Blackett, Williamstown ; H. J. Long, Melbourne ; J. W. Don, 
Richmond; C. Marston, Collingwood ; John Jackson, West 
Melbourne ; — Walton, Fitzroy ; B. Prosser, New Zealand ; 
David Jones, Melbourne ; S. S. Strutt, East Melbourne ; 
— Holds worth, Sandhurst ; J. C. Newbery. 
The president proposed the usual loyal toasts in suitable 
terms, and they were drunk with musical honours. 
Dr. Robertson proposed “ The Pharmaceutical Society of 
Victoria.” He spoke of the close relationship existing between 
the medical profession and pharmacists, and said that meet- 
ings like the present one did much towards fostering and 
diffusing kindly feelings. It gave him great pleasure to pro- 
pose the toast entrusted to him, and to couple with it the name 
of the president of the society, Mr. Wm. Bowen. (Applause.) 
Mr. Bowen, who was received with cheers, said : — On 
behalf of the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria, I beg to 
thank you for the cordial manner in which you have been 
pleased to respond to the last toast ; and in replying thereto I 
will ask your forbearance for a few moments while I endeavour, 
in accordance with the usual custom on occasions like the 
present, to review briefly the principal events which have 
occurred during the past year, interesting to the pharmaceutical 
chemist, and to show the systematic progress which pharmacy 
is making throughout the various countries of Europe and in 
the United States of America. Without doubt, the most 
important is that of the International Pharmaceutical Con- 
gress, which assembled in London during the month of August 
last. When I reflect upon the circumstance that it is just thirty 
years ago since the first International Exhibition was held in 
London— 1851 — prior to this date, many present will probably 
bear me out, that Englishmen knew virtually nothing of the 
continental countries beyond the number of their standing 
army and the strength of their naval forces. I well 
remember at that great world’s fair the effect produced 
upon the minds of my countrymen by the many beautiful works 
of art, machinery, and other elements of progress brought 
together by these continental countries to the astonishment 
and delight of the British public. 
I have no hesitation in declaring that I know of no circum- 
stance which marks the progress of civilisation more than this : 
That within the space of thirty years, socially speaking, from 
our first acquaintance with the inhabitants of these European 
nations, that a congress should assemble in the metropolis of 
the world, of delegates from nearly every country of Europe, 
the United States of America, and even Victoria — for our little 
colony had her delegate — a colony not even in existence at the 
time referred to. I say that nothing marks this progress 
more than that a congress should be assembled to discuss a 
subject like that of pharmacy. At this congress one of the 
principal subjects for discussion was the desirability of 
establishing an international pharmacopoeia ; and when we 
consider the marvellous rapidity of communication— the tele- 
graphic, postal, and railway systems existing throughout these 
various countries — when we remember that besides 
the vast number of persons who avail themselves of 
such communication for business and pleasure, there 
is likewise a large proportion who travel for recreative 
purposes, in search of health — it will at once be apparent the 
necessity which exists for uniformity in the preparation of 
medicines which such travellers may require. At this con- 
gress many excellent papers were read, among which I observe 
one by Mr. Peter Squire of a practical character, containing, 
as it does, a number of tables showing the comparative 
strength of the various preparations used in these several 
countries. I have selected a few of the more potent to illus- 
trate my statement : — 
Tinct. aconite 1 and 1 to 1 and 10 
Tinct. belladonna 
Tinct. colchicum 
Tinct. digitalis 
Tinct. nuxvomica 
Tinct. opium 
1 and 1 to 1 and 18 
1 and 5 to 1 and 10 
1 and 1 to 1 and 10 
1 and 3 to 1 and 10 
1 and 6 to 1 and 20 
Although I do not anticipate the immediate success of the 
movement in establishing an international pharmacopoeia, still 
I have every confidence that some degree of uniformity as 
regards the more potent of these preparations will be the 
result. The consideration of these papers will show the 
importance of another subject brought before this congress — 
that of pharmaceutical education; and I think you will readily 
admit the grave responsibility devolving upon pharmaceutical 
chemists when such difference of strength exists in the phar- 
macopoeias of European countries. But, gentlemen, I contend 
that the duty of a dispenser is not complete when he simply 
dispenses accurately the prescription of a medical man with 
pure and the best of medicines, but consider that another and 
equally important duty devolves upon him — to read, copy, and 
carefully examine every prescription brought before him, and 
to satisfy himself that the doses therein prescribed are in 
accordance with the latest information. With regard to 
pharmaceutical education in Victoria, you will probably 
remember that our late president, Mr. Blackett, informed us 
that an application had been made to the Melbourne 
University authorities, requesting them to appoint a lecturer 
on pharmacy, and that this august body occupied a period of 
two years in discussing the subject, and at the end of which 
time sent an acknowledgment of the communication, declining 
to comply with our request. 
I have often endeavoured to satisfy my mind as to the cause 
of this extraordinary circumstance, and can only arrive at one 
conclusion. You will probably remember that the late Mr. 
Buckle, in his book, The History of Civilisation (a book 
which will be regarded as a standard work so long as the 
English language may continue), has established the rule 
“ that the climate of a country determines and controls 
to a very large extent the character of its species ;” and 
when I remember that the shores of our Australian con- 
tinental home are washed by the waves of the broad Pacific 
Ocean, the home of the cephalopoda, a species not remarkable 
for hasty locomotion, but rather for the tenacity of its grip, 
I can only arrive at the conclusion that the Melbourne Uni- 
versity has become acclimatised. But, gentlemen, however 
unsatisfactory and discouraging this reply was to the Pharma- 
ceutical Society, I am glad to inform you that it has not 
proved an unmixed evil ; for there is a remarkable feature in 
the British character — a determination to overcome difficulties 
and to remove obstructions in its path — for within a period of 
two months the Pharmaceutical Society established a school 
of pharmacy, with a complete staff of lecturers, under the 
able superintendence of Mr. Cosmo Newbery — a school which, 
I am proud to anticipate, will occupy no mean position among 
the educational establishments of Victoria. 
At the last meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society it was 
resolved to offer three gold medals annually to the most profi- 
cient among the students, and I have much pleasure in antici- 
pating the results of this incentive to perseverance ; but I 
would warn the students that it will be an unfortunate circum- 
stance on their part, when passing the board of examiners, 
should they be unable to define the difference between opium 
and assafoetida. 
There is one feature in the schools of Europe which might 
well be adopted in our Victorian schools, that of microscopical 
study ; and I have every confidence that when this subject 
has been considered by the authorities the same will be 
recommended. (Applause.) 
Dr.Neiid next proposed “ The Pharmacy Board.” He congra- 
tulated the society on the success of the Pharmacy Act. Like 
all useful measures, he said, it was not passed without a great 
deal of trouble, and much praise was due to Mr. Bosisto for 
his untiring exertions in connection with it. (Applause.) The 
Act was the result of the collective deliberations of the two 
professions, and he was pleased to say it worked admirably. 
He wished the medical profession had half so good an Act. 
With reference to the chairman’s remarks respecting the refusal 
of the University authorities to appoint a lecturer on phar- 
macy, he desired to say something as to how there came to be 
a failure with respect to the application. Numerous commu- 
nications on the subject passed between the council and the 
faculty, and there was some doubt as to what was compre- 
hended by “ a lecturer on pharmacy.” The medical faculty 
did not decline to take the question up ; but, somehow or other, 
he could not exactly tell how, it fell through. (Laughter.) The 
Pharmacy Board had done a great deal of good, and he was 
sure it was a source of satisfaction to all concerned. He 
concluded by asking the company to honour the toast of “ The 
Pharmacy Board,” coupled with the name of Mr. J. Bosisto, 
the president. (Applause.) 
Mr. Bosisto, who, on rising to respond, was received with 
much warmth, returned thanks on behalf of the Board, which, 
he said, knew its duty and endeavoured to perform it. 
