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THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST. 
May, 1882. 
in Victoria a candidate before becoming entitled to present 
himself for the “major” must have served a four years’ 
apprenticeship and attended one course of lectures and 
passed examinations in materia medica, medical botany, and 
practical chemistry at the Melbourne University or some other 
recognised school ; so that sufficient time has hardly elapsed 
to allow this provision to come into play. Twelve certificates 
have been issued under the Sale of Poisons Act to unqualified 
persons — five of whom appear to be Chinese — resident four 
miles from a registered chemist, and permission has been 
granted to four widows and executrices of pharmaceutical 
chemists to carry on business for twelve months ending with 
the present year. 
We cannot, however, expect the realisation of our 
wishes at once. It is only right that the leaders and 
authorised guardians of pharmaceutical education in 
England should carefully guard their diplomas against 
deterioration, and we only hope that the discussion of our 
proposition may lead to some salutary results in the 
future ; certainly it ought to make us determined on our 
part that our standard of education shall not be allowed 
to fall below that which is now considered essential to the 
proper discharge of the important and responsible func- 
tions involved in the practice of pharmacy. 
^Ite itlontlr. 
We are authorised by Messrs. George Lewis and Sons, of No. 5 
Collins-street West, the well-known chemists, to state that 
there is not a particle of truth in the report that their business 
was about to be disposed of. It is not, and never was, in the 
market. 
The manager of the Warrenheip Distillery Company gave 
some interesting particulars with respect to that industry 
before the Tariff Commission. He stated that the company 
now turned out 72,000 gallons of whisky, gin, and spirits 
of wine annually, which they sold at 4s. 6d. per gallon in bond, 
but as a duty of 4s. per gallon was allowed by the Govern- 
ment, they were, as a matter of fact, protected at the rate of 
something like 100 per cent. The amount represented by this 
differential duty was within £1600 of the total value of the 
company’s yearly operations ; but this, Mr. Walker asserted, 
was made up by the consumer getting his spirits so much 
cheaper. 
The ordinary meeting of the Microscopical Society was held 
on Thursday evening, the 27th April. The Rev. J. J. Halley, 
vice-president, occupied the chair, and there was a fair 
attendance of members. Mr. Geo. Matthews was nominated 
as a country member. Mr. W. M. Bale described a convenient 
form of stage micrometer, which is not in use among English 
microscopists, but a modification of which is much used on 
the Continent. Mr. W. W. Allen exhibited and described a 
lichen from the Cape Otway ranges, a member of the genus 
Cladonia, known as the coral lichen: The Rev. J. J. Halley 
gave a very interesting account of his visits to the principal 
microscopical societies in England, particularly the Royal 
Microscopical Society, the Quekett Club, and others. Some 
interesting exhibits were laid before the meeting, particularly 
specimens of meridion mounted in situ, shown by the Rev. 
J. J. Halley ; some sections of Australian plants double- 
stained, by the Rev. T. Porter; and one of Zeiss’ variable 
low-power objectives, exhibited by the same gentleman. 
Among the other specimens exhibited, Trichina spiralis, in 
human muscle, shown by Mr. Halley, attracted special 
attention. 
The annual report of Dr. O. H. Schomburgk, the curator of 
the Botanical Gardens, Adelaide, notes the fact that during 
the past season the frosts were the most severe on record, yet 
the temperature in the sun was the highest yet known. It 
also states that rust-proof wheat has proved a success, and 
recommends also that drough-resisting fodder plants and the 
Californian phylloxera-resisting vines should be cultivated. 
The small farmers are recommended to give up growing w r heat 
only. A Government grant is asked for to slope the Torrens 
bank. A lengthy appendix is printed with the report, 
proving the influence of trees upon climate. 
The second annual conversazione of the Field Naturalists’ 
Club of Victoria was held at the Royal Society’s Hall on 
Wednesday night. About 200 ladies and gentlemen attended. 
The Rev. J. J. Halley, one of the vice-presidents, was in the 
chair. In the unavoidable absence of Professor M‘Coy, 
president of the club, his address was read by the Rev. J. J. 
Halley. The society was stated to have made satisfactory 
progress during the year, and it now numbered 140 members, 
including many of the first scientific men in the colony. The 
chairman gave a short and interesting lecture on “ The 
Beauties and Curiosities of Protophytes, a First Form of 
Plant Life.” Mr. H. Watts spoke of “ Microscopic Life around 
Melbourne.” Bad drainage developed certain unhealthy 
forms of this life, which were productive of disease. He 
mentioned the localities where malaria of this kind was most 
rampant. Among them was Sandridge Bend, which he 
regretted to see had been named as a site for the proposed 
contagious diseases hospital. That swampy land was highly 
unsuitable for the purpose. During the evening the company 
were invited to inspect the museum in the lower hall. The 
collection was a large and varied one, in an excellent state of 
preservation. It was formed of the contributions lent for the 
occasion by members and friends, upon whom the exhibition 
reflected much credit. Among the most admired specimens 
were some birds of paradise of gorgeous plumage, handsome 
cases of Australian birds, both waders and the parrot tribe, 
reptiles, beetles, eggs, shells, ferns, and butterflies. 
Mr. F. S. Grimwade (Messrs. Felton, Grim wade and Co.) 
has been elected president of the Chamber of Commerce, and 
on taking the chair delivered an unusually interesting address. 
Four fires occurred during the month in chemists’ establish- 
ments — a very unusual occurrence. 
Mr. John Lamb, 47 Elizabeth-street, North Melbourne, has 
closed his shop. 
Mr. Tom Luke, a new arrival in the colony, is about 
commencing business at Shepparton. 
Mr. Thos. Ingham, of Rockhampton, Queensland, whose 
name is well known in connection with euphorbia, pilulifera, 
has been on a visit to Melbourne. 
Messrs. Rocke, Tompsitt, and Co. are the successful ten- 
derers for the supply of medicine and photo-lithographic 
chemicals to the Government for 1882-3. 
Mr. W. W. Caught has taken over the business of the late 
Mr. Griffiths, St. Kilda. 
Messrs. Blogg and Grist have established a new chemical 
manufacturing firm in Melbourne. 
The death of Mr. F. B. Spicer, late of Morwell, Gippsland, 
is announced. Mr. Spicer died in Hobart, where he was well 
known. 
The next quarterly examination of the Pharmacy Board will 
be held in June, the dates are — preliminary examination, 8 th ; 
modified, 12th ; and practical pharmacy, 13th June. 
