546 
PRICES. 
In furtherance of the general object many interests had to he considered. 
There were chemists in business on their own account, assistants employed 
by them, and apprentices w ho had paid them premiums for instruction,—all 
possessed of a certain vested interest in the trade, of which they were not to 
be deprived ; and accordingly all action of the proposed Bill on them w r as pro¬ 
hibited, unless they chose voluntarily to put themselves within the scope of 
its action. On the other hand, there were Pharmaceutical Chemists who had, 
without any compulsory reason, other than their own appreciation of the value 
of the distinction, enrolled themselves under a Society founded by Royal 
Charter, and consolidated by the Pharmacy Act. They were undoubtedly 
enjoying a higher position, increasing year by year as the Pharmaceutical So¬ 
ciety advanced through their superior qualification, in the estimation of the 
public. These men had worked for their position, and had certainly as much 
a vested interest to be protected as the others. 
These were individual rights. But beyond these there was the interest of 
the Pharmaceutical Society, to understand which we must look back to its 
foundation and objects. As to its foundation, it is too well known to need 
comment here ; but its objects cannot be too often insisted on. According 
to the Charter, it was formed “for the purpose of advancing chemistry and 
pharmacy, and promoting a uniform system of education of those who should 
practise the same , and, also for the protection of those who carry on the business 
of chemists and druggists.” 
Now bow could these objects be best carried out? The founders were 
men so well placed in the trade that they had nothing to gain, but might on 
the contrary be losers by the elevation of others. Nevertheless, they en¬ 
deavoured to advance all; and if Jacob Bell could have carried his Bill in its 
entirety, none but Pharmaceutical Chemists would have been allowed to prac¬ 
tise pharmacy. For that advantage he would have thrown open the door 
and admitted all chemists and druggists then in business to membership of 
the Society. For such an advantage now the Council are (wisely, we think) 
prepared to gather, as far as may be, all the present chemists and dri^gists 
into union,—not to give them the title of “ Pharmaceutical Chemist,” which 
was by Parliament made the sole property of the then members of the Society 
and future examined men,—but to make them eligible for membership of the 
Society. And in this arrangement we think all rights are well cared for, 
—those of the men who have hitherto stood aloof, for they are offered mem¬ 
bership, and, if disinclined to take it, may be left entirely unmolested ; those 
of assistants and apprentices, for they may be placed on exactly the same foot¬ 
ing as examined assistants under the Pharmacy Act; these of registered Phar¬ 
maceutical Chemists, for their title is rendered, if possible, more secure to 
them ; and those also of the Pharmaceutical Society, for the enrolment of all 
chemists and druggists under its banner will enlarge its power of action, and 
enable it more surely to fulfil the duty for which it was established, namely 
to advance chemistry and pharmacy, and with them the position of pharma¬ 
ceutists. 
PRICES. 
Great caution has uniformly been observed in this Journal respecting in¬ 
terference with personal trade practices. The theory has been that individual 
members of our Society should regulate their several establishments according 
to their own discretion. Still we may venture, without impropriety to offer a 
few suggestions on a matter that seems to be imperfectly understood. The 
question of trade prices has long been a stumbling-block, and not by way of 
