A NEW DEMAND FOR QUALIFIED CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS. 199 
They all fail to reach the officinal standard,—Nos. 1 and 2 being really dis¬ 
graceful specimens, and were probably made with the opium in its moist state. 
M. J. Ellwood. 
Newcastle-on-Tyne, September, 1867. 
A NEW DEMAND FOR QUALIFIED CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Sir,—By the following circular letter from the Poor Law Board, it will be 
seen that it is in contemplation to alter in the Metropolis the mode of adminis¬ 
tering medical relief. The medicines and medical appliances are in all cases to 
be supplied at the cost of the guardians, and not by the medical officers as here¬ 
tofore. Dispensaries will have to be established, and maintained in convenient 
positions, and resident dispensers attached thereto. I estimate that at least 
sixty qualified assistants will be required for these dispensaries. This will have 
an appreciable effect on our labour market; and, as doubtless the diploma of 
the Pharmaceutical Society will be required from all candidates, I would advise 
young men preparing for the examination, and desiring such employment, to 
present themselves as soon as possible. Having laboured many years to bring 
about this much-needed reform, I feel no ordinary gratification at the result; 
and I venture to hope that the day is not far distant when the example of the 
highest and lowest classes of society being medically attended by “ prescribing 
men ” will not be without effect on the great middle class, and that before this 
generation has passed away a specimen of the genus “Apothecary ” will be a? 
rare as a black swan. 
I am, Sir, yours obediently, 
John R. Collins. 
Haverstoclc Hill, 20 th September, 1867. 
“ Poor Law Board, Whitehall, S. W., 29 th August, 1867. 
“ Sir,—The Poor Law Board desire me to inform the guardians that they have under 
their consideration those sections of the Metropolitan Poor Act, 1867, which authorize 
the Board, with the view of improving the administration of out-door medical relief in 
the Metropolis, to direct that dispensaries should be provided, where the district medical 
officers may pee such of the sick poor as may be able to attend there for advice, and 
where the medicines and medical appliances required for the sick poor may be dis¬ 
pensed and furnished to them on the prescription or written directions of the medical 
officers. 
“It will be seen by the Act that the dispensaries, if established, will be under the 
management of a committee elected by the guardians, either from among themselves or 
ratepayers assessed on an annual rateable value of not less than £40, and that the 
guardians may either provide separate buildings to be used as dispensaries, or, if it 
should be found more suitable and convenient without interfering with the general 
accommodation required in the workhouse, they may set apart and adapt parts of the 
w r orkhouse for that purpose. 
“ In each case, however, it is requisite that there should be a resident dispenser, and 
that the medicines and medical appliances should be supplied by the guardians, and not 
by the medical officer. 
“ The salaries of the dispensers and other persons employed in the dispensaries, if the 
appointments have been sanctioned by the Poor Law Board, and also the expense of the 
medicines and medical appliances supplied by the guardians, will be repaid to them out 
of the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund. 
“ In order to assist the guardians in their deliberations upon this subject, the Board 
have directed me to enclose for their information the accompanying extracts from the 
Report of Mr. Lambert, Poor Law Inspector, on the system of dispensary relief in Ire- 
