BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
147 
A year ago the question was discussed as to whether the Conference should 
follow what w'as then a tacit understanding rather than a rule, and accept 
in common with the Association a Scottish locality for 1867. There was no in¬ 
disposition to meet north of the Tweed, for had Edinburgh been the city pro¬ 
posed the question would never have been raised; but Dundee seemed, in the 
minds of those called upon to decide, to be represented, so far as pharmacy was 
concerned, by a blank. Happily there were some present who urged that the 
Conference must relinquish its name “British” if it determined on any other 
course than that eventually adopted. It was even thought necessary to hint 
that in the natural order of things, large and small meetings were inevitable, 
and that a single gathering of minor character would be only a temporary evil, 
and might yield its equivalent in experience. 
Now, the result. The attendance has been excellent in point of numbers, 
the accession of new names large, and, as pertaining to a portion of the country 
hitherto but poorly represented in its list of members, most satisfactory; and 
if the scientific papers have not been so numerous as on some occasions, it should 
be recollected that this is a matter which must vary with the engagements of, 
unfortunately, a comparatively limited number of contributors. Judging from 
the report, published in our present issue, they appear to have been sufficient, 
together with the discussions, to occupy sittings extending over two days. The 
papers of Messrs. Han bury, Stoddart, and Warren are specially worthy of at¬ 
tention, containing much of immediate practical value, as well as of suggestion 
for more extended inquiry. The opportunity afforded by Mr. Kerr’s commu¬ 
nication for discussing the relations of chemists to the various departments of 
the Inland Revenue resulted in an expressive memorial to the Council of the 
Pharmaceutical Society, embodying the views, we believe, of the majority of 
those engaged in business, and, we doubt not, will initiate some movement 
towards a definite settlement of a much-vexed question. The memorial will 
have a weight of its own, coming from so influential a meeting. 
But possibly it is in its social relations that the greatest amount of good will 
accrue from the visit to Dundee. The welcome given by the resident chemists 
and some of their friends from Edinburgh, was such as Scotchmen know best 
how to accord, and must have disarmed, at the first moment, any doubt of 
success; their care for the comfort of their visitors was unremitting. The 
picnic, the supper, and certain unpremeditated evening gatherings, are spoken 
of by all who were present with no little warmth of approval. The presence 
of a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association,—the institution on 
whose model the Conference was founded,—helped the good-fellowship which 
is always ready to spring up amongst men collected together with a common 
object. 
A path distinct from that of any other pharmaceutical body is open to the 
Conference. The reading of papers on scientific subjects, excellent and valuable 
in itself, has perhaps its chief good in awakening an interest in the higher 
branches of their profession, in the class whose opportunities have hitherto 
led them to aspire but little beyond the drudgery of their daily avocations. Not 
a less important mission is its gospel of goodwill, and in no case have its meet¬ 
ings been held without leaving behind them a better feeling and kindlier sym¬ 
pathies amongst those practising pharmacy. The chemists of Dundee will not 
be the worse for having worked hand-in-hand, in a manner they had not thought 
possible before, in furthering such an object, whilst those who came to them 
from a distance cannot but regard their new local association with interest. 
In conclusion, we would just note one object of the Conference, which does 
not yet seem to have received full attention ; we allude to the representation at 
its meetings of the various local societies. Questions affecting the interests of 
chemists must from time to time arise in the centres where such associations 
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