THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
SECOND SERIES. 
YOL. IX.—No. V.—NOVEMBER, 1867. 
HOW TO EXTEND PHARMACEUTICAL KNOWLEDGE. 
Much lias been done since the establishment of the Pharmaceutical Society in 
extending the cultivation and acquirement of those branches of knowledge in 
which the accomplished pharmaceutist is expected to be proficient. Not only 
have means been provided for supplying knowledge through museums, libraries, 
journals, lectures, and scientific meetings, but many facilities have been afforded 
to young men by their employers for taking advantage of the means thus placed 
within their reach, and inducements to industry and perseverance in the pursuit 
of knowledge have been held out in the form of rewards and honorary distinc¬ 
tions conferred upon those who have most creditably acquitted themselves at 
competitive examinations. But although much has been effected in this way, 
there is still room for further improvement. Many of those who call themselves 
chemists and druggists, have little or no pretensions to scientific knowledge ; 
and the apprentices and assistants, in the establishments of even the better class 
of chemists and pharmaceutists, often complain of a want of opportunities for 
study and for that relaxation from business occupations which would contribute 
to the improvement of both body and mind. The early closing movement has 
been advocated and promoted on the ground of its being calculated to further 
the extension of pharmaceutical knowledge. That much good has resulted from 
the movement is, we think, undoubted ; nor should we be disposed to complain 
much if the increased freedom thus obtained from the toils of business was some¬ 
times found, as it certainly is found, to be devoted to objects of mere recreation 
and amusement. It would be unreasonable to expect that all the young men 
who are set at liberty by the shortening of the hours of business, should at once 
devote the whole of their leisure time to dry study or to mental culture in any 
form. If they can be restrained from making a decidedly bad use of their time, 
it may be hoped and expected that circumstances will occasionally tend to direct 
their attention to such pursuits as are most calculated to advance them in the 
estimation of their associates and professional brethren. The freedom from 
forced occupation in business being obtained for a part of the time that young men 
of ordinarily constituted minds can devote themselves to such work as requires 
mental application, it must be left to the influence of surrounding circum¬ 
stances to determine the extent to which this free time shall be spent wisely or 
foolishly,—in laying up a store of useful knowledge, or seeking, in some harm¬ 
less recreation, the means of restoring bodily and mental activity, or unhappily 
in an indulgence in mere dissipation. Much may be done by association in 
rightly directing the pursuits of young men whose habits are as yet but imper¬ 
fectly formed. How vastly important is the influence of a young man’s early 
associates! “Tell me who are his friends, and I will tell you what he is.” 
VOL. ix. p 
