December, 1882. 
THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST. 
63 
cordial understanding now existed which was of mutual 
advantage. He was sorry to say that medical students did not 
at present receive the same careful training in pharmacy that 
they did in his earlier days ; but the efforts now being made by 
the board would lead to an improvement in that direction. The 
fact that it had been decided to appoint a professor of phar- 
macy, and to establish a laboratory, showed that the importance 
of communicating a thorough knowledge of practical chemistry 
was being recognised. He was glad that the old county court 
had been granted by the Government for the purpose of found- 
ing a college of pharmacy ; and when such an institution was 
completed the authorities of the University would have to come 
to the Pharmaceutical Society. (“Hear, hear.”) He would like 
to see an affiliated college, and he could not see any obstacle in 
the way of forming an alliance with the University. (Ap- 
plause.) Before sitting down he wished to express satisfaction 
at seeing so many members of the Legislature present. He 
had been informed that they had greatly assisted the society in 
the efforts of that body to secure a suitable site for the pro- 
posed college, and he was sure that their efforts were fully 
appreciated. (Applause.) Mr. Bosisto, who had worked so 
long and faithfully in the interests of the chemists and drug- 
gists of the colony, both in his private and legislative capaci- 
ties, was especially deserving of thanks. He was a gentleman 
of whom every one was proud. The chemists and druggists 
were proud of him and the medical profession was proud of 
him. (Applause.) He (Dr. Neild) had known Mr. Bosisto 
ever since he had come to Victoria — over thirty years — and the 
respect and esteem with which he had then regarded that 
gentleman had gone on increasing ever since. Messrs. Bosisto, 
Blackett, Laurens, and Zox, who were present with them that 
night, were each and all creditable members of Parliament, 
and were respected by their fellow-citizens accordingly. 
(Loud applause.) 
The toast was drunk with much enthusiasm, and, after 
musical honours, 
Mr. Joseph Bosisto responded. He congratulated the mem- 
bers of the Pharmaceutical Society on the advance made by 
that body during the past year. With reference to the Board 
of Pharmacy, he might state that its efforts had been attended 
with much success, and its members deserved great credit for 
carrying out the provisions of the Act, with the administration 
of which they were entrusted. Although that Act had been 
passed six years before, it had been found so free from defects 
of any kind that no amending Act had since then been found 
necessary. This fact proved that the pharmaceutists who had 
framed the Act knew their business. The Poisons Act — a 
measure which had been passed hurriedly — had not worked so 
satisfactorily. Several cases of poisoning had occurred, but 
the sale of the drugs could not be traced owing to the defective 
machinery of the Act on one point. Under that Act pharma- 
ceutists kept a register of every poison vended, a register that 
was perfect in every way, but no such check was imposed on a 
numerous class of tradesmen who were allowed to sell com- 
pounds in the highest degree dangerous to human health 
and life. He alluded to the grocers, who were practically 
irresponsible. (“Hear, hear.”) In a short time an Act would 
have to be passed for regulating such cases, and for preventing 
the indiscriminate sale of virulent poisons. The appointment 
of a new Board of Pharmacy would soon be necessary, and he 
exhorted the pharmaceutists of the colony to exercise the 
greatest care in the election of the members of that body, 
otherwise the Act would fail in its operation. He had been 
president of the board for six years— ever since the passing of 
the Act — and he had no desire to continue in the position any 
longer. He did not wish to take any active part in the 
administration of the Act, as he would prefer standing by and 
watching the operations of the measure. He would at all times 
take a deep interest in the affairs of the Pharmacy Board and 
Pharmaceutical Society, but he had given the best part of his 
lifetime to such matters, and therefore desired a little rest. In 
conclusion, he might state that he did not intend to stand again 
either for the position of president or as a member of the board. 
He thanked those present for their very kind expressions of 
regard. (Applause.) 
Mr. F. S. Grimwade, president of the Melbourne Chamber 
of Commerce, proposed “The Parliament of Victoria.” In 
speaking to the toast, he could conscientiously say that phar- 
macists need not be ashamed of the legislators who had 
sprung from their ranks. Amongst past legislators who had 
distinguished themselves was Mr. George Harker ; and at 
present there were Messrs. Bosisto, Blackett, and M‘Intyre, 
all four of whom were chemists. (“Hear, hear.”) 
Mr. E. L. Zox, M.L.A., responded, and in the course of a 
humorous speech alluded to the remarks made by Dr. 
Thomson in the early part of the proceedings concerning the 
investigations recently made into the rise of disinfectants. 
By many people those remarks might be held to be highly sug- 
gestive as bearing on the toast of the Parliament, for it was 
an undoubted fact that the shameful waste of time which had 
characterised the last few sessions caused the very name of 
Parliament to stink in the nostrils of the public. (Laughter.) 
The Government did very little work. It had delegated most 
of its functions to Royal Commissions, boards of inquiry, and 
select committees. There was a Royal Commission on the 
tariff, another on the Education Act, and a third on the police 
force, all of which were sitting, and others were in contempla- 
tion. He thought, and sincerely hoped, that the time was not 
far distant when the people of the colony would have cause to 
be more proud of their representatives than they were at pre- 
sent. (Applause.) There was one matter which he desired to 
refer to before resuming his seat. When the appeal was first 
made on behalf of the suffering Jews in Russia the Pharma- 
ceutical Society generously contributed £-30 or £40 to the 
fund ; and on behalf of the Anglo-Jewish Association, with 
which he was connected, he desired to publicly return his 
thanks for the donation. (Applause.) 
Messrs. C. R. Blackett and J. Laurens, M.L.A.’s, also re- 
sponded. The first-named gentleman deprecated the present 
system of party government into which the colony had drifted, 
and trusted that a change into a purer political atmosphere 
would be speedily made. (Cheers.) 
Mr. Rivers Langton said, in proposing the toast of “ The 
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, and Kindred 
Societies”— I have an easy task, for I carry with me, address- 
ing as I do so intelligent a body of pharmacists, the sympathy 
of you all. Every one of you here present this evening must 
recognise the great good the Pharmaceutical Society of Great 
Britain has done for your business. Speaking from an 
experience of. over thirty years, I have watched the progress 
of this society, and the wonderful improvement it has worked 
in the social status of the chemist. The London Times , in a 
recent leading article, has spoken of the chemist as “an im- 
portant public servant.” The compliment is well deserved; 
but the position is one of great responsibility and trust. It 
requires, sir, not only a thorough knowledge of the art of 
dispensing, but a perfect familiarity with the articles dispensed, 
that they really are of the finest quality, and such as the 
physician has prescribed, and Dr. Neild has only paid you a 
just tribute when he spoke of the services rendered by the 
pharmacist to the medical profession, and the sympathy 
existing between the two. Your president, in his remarks 
this evening, with a modesty which we must all admire, has 
alluded to “the calling of a pharmaceutical chemist.” I 
think he might claim for you the dignity of a profession, for 
undoubtedly the dispensing of medicines and knowledge of 
drugs is a profession. Dr. Thomson has spoken of the con- 
nection in bygone days existing between the chemist and the 
grocer, but he never spoke more truly when he said that there 
was no connection whatever existing at the present time. No 
sooner does an article get into demand than its sale is 
monopolised by the grocer, and what is termed the business of a 
chemist and druggist is narrowed and narrowed every year. 
The path of the modern pharmacist is one of great difficulty, 
nor do I think the remuneration received has kept progress 
with the services rendered; nor do the public yet recognise 
sufficiently the great services rendered them by the pharma- 
cist. You cannot compare the retailing of medicines with the 
sale of other goods forming the necessaries of every-day life, and 
sold in unlimited quantities. But difficulties in some form or 
other are ever in the path of the chemist. To-day it is the 
co-operative store; but I do not think the salaried assistant of 
one of the stores brings the heart and zeal to his work which 
the chemist does ; the latter is entirely at the call of the 
public at all hours, Sunday not excepted, whilst the stores are 
only open from stated hours; and those people who go to 
them to save threepence on a bottle of medicine are the very 
last who would have any scruple in calling up the chemist at 
any hour of the night to dispense a prescription which they 
could not get done in the new channel. Gentlemen, I ask 
you to drink prosperity to the Pharmaceutical Society of Great 
Britain, and kindred societies. 
Mr. David Jones, who responded, said that the name of 
England was dear to all colonists who were proud of her annals, 
institutions, and organisations. He was certain that the insti- 
tution which they had just honoured was one which they all 
