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anxiously inquired into, and a survey is taken of the bearings of the whole 
group to its proximate allies ; and, finally, to ail equivalent assemblages in or¬ 
ganized nature.” 
No one could go through such a course of study without having his mind im¬ 
proved in tone and vigour, for by such an exercise it must gain in both its ana¬ 
lytic and synthetic powers. 
While the study of botany as a branch of natural history may be thus shown 
to be admirably calculated to train the young student to correct observation 
and accurate discrimination, qualities of the very highest importance to all 
scientific men ; its value in promoting orderly and systematic habits, so essential 
to business men, must not be lost sight of. Thus, what can be better adapted 
for these purposes than the preserving and arranging plants in the formation of 
an herbarium ? The care required in collecting, preparing, drying, and pre¬ 
serving the required specimens; the neatness necessary to secure them on the 
papers on which they are placed, and to affix suitable labels ; and the orderly 
and systematic manner in which they have, lastly, to be grouped together into 
genera, sub-classes, classes, and other assemblages, cannot but be eminently 
useful in such respects. 
Having now briefly alluded to the advantages to be derived from the study 
of such branches of natural history as botany in training the mind to observe 
correctly, discriminate accurately, and to acquire orderly and systematic habits, 
1 cannot conclude this portion of my subject without indulging a fervent hope 
that the time is not far distant when such studies will become an essential part 
of the education of our youth. In saying thus much, I have no desire to dis¬ 
countenance, in any way, the study of the classics; for the youth destined for 
the pursuit of pharmacy must acquire a certain amount of knowledge of Latin 
and Greek, in order that he may understand rightly the prescriptions and di¬ 
rections of the physician, and the derivation and accurate meaning of the 
technical language necessarily employed in the sciences with which he must 
become acquainted. He ought, however, at the same time, to have some 
opportunity afforded to him of acquiring a knowledge of natural science, which 
would not only assist in training the youthful mind to thought and observation, 
but would have so useful a bearing on his future profession. The effect of such 
studies on the Continent, where science forms an important part of the educa¬ 
tion of youth, is abuudantly evident; and already, in some of our great public 
schools, such as Harrow, Rugby, and Marlborough, some attention is given to 
science; and I cannot believe that the time can be far distant, in a country like 
our own, which owes so material a part of its prosperity to a knowledge of 
science, and peopled as it is so largely by men of practical minds, before the 
study of natural science will be considered as at least as necessary in the edu¬ 
cation of our youth as that of the classics. 
Another great advantage which the pharmaceutist will derive from taking up 
the study of a natural science is that which all must experience by the combi¬ 
nation of scientific with the more purely practical studies of their profession, 
for nothing can be more injurious to the healthy action of the mind than to 
confine it entirely to some monotonous occupation ; and nothing, on the other 
hand, can be more favourable to the development of its higher faculties and 
nobler aspirations, than to turn, if only for the brief periods of relaxation 
which the necessary labours and cares of the world may leave unoccupied, to the 
contemplation of the works of the Great Author of the universe. 
Formerly it was the custom to depreciate the value of the study of all the 
sciences as a branch of the education of the pharmaceutist, and he was recom¬ 
mended to confine his attention entirely to the practical parts of his business— 
a profession it could not then be called ; but thanks to the liberal and enlight¬ 
ened founders and subsequent supporters of the Pharmaceutical Society, as well 
