326 
EDINBURGH MEETING. 
to be one of the most vigorous associations out of London, and I was surprised to find 
that his representation of the state of matters in his locality was much the same as 
with ourselves; and we appeared to agree in this: that until other means were adopted 
than now exist in almost all places out of London, for the educational training of our 
apprentices and assistants, the difficulty alluded to was likely to continue. 
No doubt can be now entertained regarding the advantages arising from these meet¬ 
ings ; and at a time like this, when we have the good hope that within no long period 
one of the great objects originally contemplated by the founders of the Society bids 
fair-to be realized, viz. “ the union of the chemists and druggists of Great Britain into 
one ostensible, recognized, and independent body,”—it appears a suitable opportu¬ 
nity for calmly considering whether we can do nothing now which may tend in future 
years to further the interests of education amongst ourselves, and thereby facilitate the 
means for making these meetings more instructive, in being more numerously attended, 
and having less of an up-hill character than hitherto we have found them to be. 
We, in Edinburgh, have had, like our brethren in London, considerable assistance 
from members of the medical profession, who have once and again favoured us with 
valuable papers, for which we are grateful, and for a continuance of which from time to 
time we must still long and hope for. It must be obvious, however, that well fitted as 
are the members of the medical profession to instruct us in reference to the effects of 
the various remedies in the treatment of disease, and in suggesting the most suitable 
modes for their administration,—they are necessarily so much occupied with their or¬ 
dinary engagements, and have such ample opportunities in connection with other so¬ 
cieties, of which they are members, for giving publicity to their views and opinions, that 
we cannot expect from them continuous aid; and believing that there is a wide field open 
in connection with materia medica and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, in which a well- 
trained Pharmaceutical Chemist may find abundant scope for his exertions, and ample 
material on which to operate, in proof of which there are many with whose names 
we are familiar, and who having had the advantage of a thorough training in the 
school established under the auspices of the Society in Bloomsbury Square, are now 
taking a leading part in enlarging our knowledge of the materia medica, and in investi¬ 
gating, with scientific skill, those substances, which drawn from all the kingdoms of 
nature, yield their treasures to the patient and laborious explorer, many of which have 
such an important influence in assuaging the ills of suffering humanity. 
We are all very much at one in the opinion that in order to attain success as a phar¬ 
maceutist, it is absolutely necessary that a youth, before entering on the duties of the 
business which he or his friends for him have chosen, should first of all have received a 
good English education, and in addition, have a knowledge of the Latin language, and 
all the better if some French and German are added thereto. Having these, the appren¬ 
tice commences his career under the most favourable auspices ; and if the place of busi¬ 
ness, to which he chances to become attached, is situated within a reasonable distance of 
Bloomsbury Square, he has every reason to hope, if possessed of ordinary abilities and 
with ordinary application, that in the course of a few years he will have acquired such 
habits of application, of methodical arrangement, and of scientific attainment, as will 
enable him to discharge the duties of a Pharmaceutical Chemist, and to take part in 
discussions on subjects pertaining to his business in a manner satisfactory to himself and 
profitable to his auditors. 
If, on the other hand, the start should be made in a less favoured locality, even with 
the same advantages in reference to preliminary education and business acquirements, 
the result may be very different; arising in great measure from the want of those oppor¬ 
tunities for improvement which, in the other case, are so abundant and so easily 
reached. All this tends to prove the great importance of the Pharmaceutical Society, 
and the beneficial results which have followed from the system which has been pursued 
in reference to educational progress ; and it points out to us, and others having their 
habitats in University towns, the propriety of adopting such measures as will place 
those in whose progress we are so much interested in a more favourable position as re¬ 
gards their ability to acquire those attainments, without which they will in no long 
time find themselves helplessly lagging behind their more favoured compeers, and with¬ 
out which we cannot hope that meetings, such as this, can for any length of time be 
continued successfully. There are differences of opinion as to the extent to which what 
may be called the medical portion of the education should be carried, some maintaining 
