8 
LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
"VVe cannot disguise from ourselves, nor in justice to those who have left us would we 
do so, that of late we have suffered great losses—losses which for a local association 
might wellnigh paralyse ; yet, with one exception, you have sustained the session by 
papers from members of our own body, and in reserve there are promises from others 
still unfulfilled, sustained too in such a manner that I look forward, with confidence, to 
our future progress. I think we may anticipate an amount of educational and pharma¬ 
ceutical, as well as chemical and scientific, papers for another year, that shall tend to 
keep us in that position which we have held in years gone by. 
I will not take up in detail the subjects which have occupied us this session, as that 
would supersede, in some measure, our annual school, which I trust you will this year 
get without the delay that unavoidably detained the one last issued ; in that delay, how¬ 
ever, you are amply rewarded by the very complete classification of our library. 
The library and museum committee have still a great work before them in the resus¬ 
citation of the museum, and in many instances probably a fresh supply of specimens, 
and this affords me an opportunity to say for myself, and which I feel sure I may say 
also for our other friends, that we will gladly supply whatever our stocks will afford, to 
render the museum as great a credit to the committee as the library now does. 
Just at a time when we need such help the New Pharmacopoeia comes to our aid, a 
production which as a whole strikes one as much more business-like than any of its 
predecessors ; the forms, directions, and products commend themselves as from those who 
have penned the results immediately under their own working. 
With regard to the present transition state in which we stand, we may ask what is to 
result out of the agitation for a new Pharmacy Bill. We can only have a prospective 
measure ; we can do nothing more than has been done by a permissive Bill; the result 
of which has been a small minority of the rising and immediate future chemists and 
druggists of this country as a whole. 
You are then driven to go for a compulsory Act, which shall establish in time the same 
uniformity as in the medical profession, nay, a greater uniformity than it; for whilst 
they have a multitude of authorities conferring degrees and granting qualifications, we 
hope to have only one, 
I do look upon the time as not so far distant when the one title, whatever you may 
choose to designate it, will not only be one in name, but shall be known aud recognized 
by the public as one in essence. Not that every Pharmaceutical Chemist, like every 
coin of the same name, shall have the same value. Men and money may assimilate in 
some things, but they widely differ in others, and however much they differ in relative 
value to one another, still I would say, let us have all alike genuine, emanating from 
one standard, and who will let him gild his golden self and win from a discerning public 
a due reward for his more ample enlightenment. 
I cannot omit mention of our foster-mother, the Pharmaceutical Society, with her 
monthly record, marking, like so many milestones, our way along the course of time ; 
we have reason to do so with pleasure and gratitude, from the information and profit we 
may all derive from this source. As the family increases it may be difficult to afford the 
elder children the space of former time, yet we would plead an extending of the boun¬ 
daries or a packing of the family more closely together; for like all dutiful children we 
intend to call her house our home, and put in our claim to submit our periodical contri¬ 
bution. The success of our session will not be complete without the collector’s list be 
well exhausted, to enable our treasurer to show a clean bill of health in a good balance- 
sheet. And now, gentlemen, although last, let me assure you it is by no means least, 
that I have to tender you many thanks for your forbearance in the much that I have 
not done, and for the kindness I have experienced for the little I have been able to do in 
discharge of the duties of your president; especially I have to thank the members of 
Council for the willing and cordial and constant help they have all afforded, and the very 
efficient co-worker I have found in my friend Mr. E. Davies, our Honorary Secretary. 
Mr. Robinson proposed a vote of thanks to the President, for his constant attendance 
and able presidency during the session. 
Mr. Redford seconded, Mr. Shaw warmly supported the motion, which was carried 
unanimously. 
The President returned thanks, and referred feelingly to the hearty good-fellowship 
which exists among the members. 
