VoL. ii., No. 1 
THE CHEMIST AND DEUGGIST OF AUSTEALASIA 
7 
colonies. Little manufacturing is done, so that three times ! 
three years would not help the student in that department. ! 
With the condition that he shall not jDresent himself tor 
examination until he arrives at the age of 21 years, where does 
the objection to a three years’ compulsory pupilage come in? 
Apprenticed at 15 years of age with the education to pass the 
proposed preliminary examination, he has six years before | 
him — three years under indentures as a learner paying a 1 
premium in . most cases for privileges offered, and three years | 
as an assistant or improver. Such a student has, of course, | 
six years’ experience. Instances have occurred where appren- i 
ticeship has not commenced until the student has arrived at i 
eighteen or even twenty years of age. Of the legality of such j 
an’angements we say nothing. It cannot be argued that a I 
fourth year will add much to the experience in the same 
establishment in the capacity of an apprentice. Upon the 
country apprentice will this press more heavily whilst serving 
his pupilage with the local chemist, and where, doubtless, the 
shop knowledge could be as efficiently learnt as in the centre 
of population, and his knowledge of dispensing would be con- 
fined to the prescriptions of the one or two local medical men. 
Will our Victorian friends say that three years under such 
circumstances are not sufficient ? Had Victoria joined in the 
view taken by New South Wales, and accepted Mr. Pond’s 
amendment for three years’ compulsory apprenticeship, their 
reputation would have suffered little. Of the method of con- 
ducting examinations, New South Wales was to the front in 
the opposition, promptly and forcibly supported by New 
Zealand. Of the value of an oral examination over a written 
one, or in addition to it, those who have experienced both 
know what assistance an examiner can afford the candidate by 
“leading up” in commonplace phraseology. But to 
efficiently carry out such a system candidates would be com- 
pelled to present themselves at one centre only. In New 
Zealand there are four centres, this would mean an examiner 
for the oral examination in each. Mr. Blackett’s remarks 
on this subject — speaking of the “ wiles of the examinee” — 
I with tlxe compulsory curriculum and the facilities at the 
i School of Pharmacy, it is a little surprising that such things 
I should be anticipated. 
! The chemists in Christchurch have made the phenyle 
prosecution a trade matter, and have resolved to support Mr. 
Elliot should any further action be taken ; and in the mean- 
time exonerate him (Mr. Elliot) from any blame. Mr. Wright 
stands alone in his view of the case. We understand, however, 
that Mr. Hill, the veterinary surgeon, has no immediate 
intention of pursuing the case. The remarks of the P.M. were 
considered as quite uncalled for, and indicated an insufficiency 
of technical and especially pharmaceutical evidence. Mr. J. 
Stevens and Mr, Skog were present to give evidence in Mr. 
Elliot’s interest, but were prevented by legal niceties from 
being placed in the witness box. 
He said he did so on the grounds that a medicine was pre- 
scribed which was not in the Pharmacopceia. It was not per- 
fectly described. If it had been so described there could have 
been no mistake ; therefore there had been negdigence on the 
part of the defendant, and he must be held liable. At the 
same time, he added, the chemist was equally, if not more to 
blame, and if the plaintiff had sued him no doubt he would 
have recovered from him. It seemed almost incredible that a 
chemist should substitute an article for the one prescribed, 
when the real intention of the prescriber could have been 
easily ascertained by reference to him. Leave -svas given to 
appeal. 
The New Zealand Patent Medicine Manufacturing Company 
have purchased the business and patent rights of Mr.H. A. H. 
Hitchens. The registered office of the company is 24 Short- 
land-street, Auckland. Mr. Hitchens has charge of the manu- 
facturing department, and the medicated baths. 
SIR J. VOGEL ON PATENT MEDICINES. 
As already mentioned, a deputation from the Otago Protec- 
tion League w'aited upon Sir Julius Vogel on Tuesday, to request 
him to deliver an address while in Dunedin. Sir Julius agreed to 
address a public meeting, but remarked that he was not sure 
he could go the length of the Protection League. Towards 
the close of the interview (w'e learn from the Otago Daily 
Times) Mr. Neil, herbalist, suggested that if a protective duty 
were placed on patent medicines the makers of them would 
establish factories here, and so increase the population. Mr. 
Fraser remarked, sotto voce, that considering the nature ef 
patent medicines generally, wlratever their manufacture might 
do, their extensive consumption would very likely decrease 
the poi)ulation. Sir Julius, in reply to Mr. Neil, said the 
j virtue of patent medicines depended entirely upon the amount 
I of faith possessed. The makers of those medicines, he 
! observed, all pretended that they had some secret that no one 
1 else could possibly discover ; and he was not sure the duties 
j would cause them to start manufactories here, but he had no 
doubt whatever, that, if patent medicines were made here and 
j advertised sufficiently, the people would be induced to consume 
I them. 
We learn from Messrs. Sharland and Co., Auckland, that 
Mr. G. W. Wilton, formerly Avith Mr. J. S. Welsman, of 
Napier, has started in business for himself at Wellington. 
Mr. Alexander Eccles, of Napier, was the successful tenderer 
for the supply of drugs, &c., for the Napier District Hospital. 
Mr. Ec cles has for some time previously, supplied that Insti- 
tution. 
Mr. W. Garrick has commenced the manufacture, at Albert* 
street, Auckland, of “ Garrick’s Mineral Soap.” The new soap 
is put up in tins containing about 2^1bs. each, and has been 
tried with great success. 
Phexyle oe Phexoe. — During November a curious case ' 
came before Mr. R. Beetham, P.M., of Christchurch, on a j 
claim made by Mr. Haslam for £10, the value of a dog which [ 
was killed by the application of an ointment made from a ( 
prescription written by Mr. Hill, veterinary surgeon. The j 
dog suffered from a disease of the skin. The defendant I 
prescribed an ointment, the constituents of which were sul- 
phur, lard, vaseline, and “ phenyle.” The prescription Avas 
taken to A. Elliot, a chemist, Avho made up an ointment 
which was rubbed on the dog with a hard brush according to 
the directions. From the first it did not seem to benefit the 
dog, Avhich shortly afterwards died. Plaintiff' alleged that the 
ointment killed it, and noAv claimed £10 as its value. Evi- 
dence in support of the claim was given by the plaintiff, his 
man, Professor Bickerton, and A. Elliot. It appeared that the 
defendant, by “ phenyle,” the active agent of the ointment, 
meant an article sold as “Little’s soluble phenyle,” a jno- 
prietary preparation. The chemist, AAffio had never heard of 
it before, referred to the book, and concluded that “phenol” 
(carbolic acid) Avas meant, and used that substance. For the 
defence it Avas admitted that the ointment had been fatal. 
Mr. Hart, lecturer on chemistry at the Lincoln College, Mr. 
Wright, chemist, and Mr. Brock',' veterinary surgeon, deposed 
that it should have been impossible to get carbolic acid, Avhich 
: was strongly corrosive, when “ phenyle,” Avhich was compara- 
• tively inocuous, Avas prescribed, and that the latter was a 
locally well knoAvn preparation, in extensi\'e use in veterinary 
practice. Mr. Beetham gave judgment for the plaintiff for £5\ 
QUE ENSL AND- 
PHARMACY BOARD OF QUEENSLAND. 
At a meeting of the Board, held on Tuesday, 21st 
September last, the folloAving applicant having satisfied the 
Board as to his qualification in accordance with the provisions 
of “The Pharmacy Act of 1884,” was duly registered as a 
pharmaceutical chemist: — John Dart Connellan passed 
examination, Queensland, 8th June, 188G. 
The Examiners reported the result of the examination held 
j on 8th and 9th September, when there Avere only three 
i candidates, and Henry Robert Hyam Woolf passed in 
I chemistry, pharmacy, and dispensing. 
The Board recorded a vote of thanks to Messrs. Elliott 
Brothers, Limited, of Brisbane, for their generous gift of 
forty odd pounds for the purpose of purchasing a large 
cabinet to keep the examination specimens in. 
The October monthly meeting of the Pharmacy Board of 
Queensland Avas held on Tuesday, 12th October, 1886. 
Present — The President (Mr. Edward Taylor) in the chair ; 
Mr. A. W. Field, Mr. C. H. F. Yeo, Mr. J. H. Fitzgibbon, and 
Dr. Ellison. 
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and con- 
firmed. 
An application was received from Mrs. Ellen Mary Davies, 
through her solicitors, for permission to carry on the business 
of her late husband, as now carried on in Albert-street, Bris- 
