58 
DEBATES ON PHARMACY BILL. 
this Bill let him do so, but I do not think the country will sanction such a proceeding. 
There cannot be a better time for going into Committee, considering the late period of 
the Session. There are only some small verbal amendments on the paper, and under 
these circumstances I do not think we shall have a more favourable opportunity of pro¬ 
ceeding than at this present moment. Of course my right honourable friend can avail 
himself of any opposition to progress being made, but if he throws the Bill over by 
postponement from time to time, why he must take the responsibility. 
The House then went into Committee, Mr. Dodson in the chair. 
Lord R. Montagu moved that in line 21 after the word “druggist,” the words “or 
pharmacist, or dispensing chemist, or druggist ” be inserted. 
The amendment was agreed to. 
Me. Lowe moved that in line 2, page 2, after the word “Act,” the words “ and be 
registered under this Act” be inserted, and said, “This amendment which I propose will 
alter the whole scope and object of this Bill, and in this w r ay:—The Bill at present 
makes it optional to the persons referred to, to register or not,—they need not be regis¬ 
tered unless they like. Of course it means that this optional registration shall be con¬ 
fined to those chemists and druggists now in business, but my amendment will make 
it compulsory even upon these gentlemen to come in under the Act and he registered, 
and unless this registration be insisted upon the Act will not work at all.” 
Mr. Headlam: There are manifest objections entertained to this amendment. This 
Bill, or rather a similar one, was introduced some years ago, and was submitted to a 
Select Committee; that was in 1865. The Select Committee did not require the regis¬ 
tration of those persons who are now carrying on the business of druggists, and this Bill 
has been framed in accordance with the suggestions of the Select Committee, and has 
been circulated all over the country. It will be seen that all these persons now in busi¬ 
ness have been led to suppose that this Bill will be passed in accordance with the report 
of the Select Committee, and if it be not passed in accordance with that report, they 
will consider that there has been a breach of faith. I must therefore oppose the 
amendment. 
Mr. H. A. Bruce : I hope the Committee will adopt the suggestion of my right 
honourable friend the Member for Caine. This subject was inquired into by the Com¬ 
mittee of the Privy Council in 1863, and Dr. Alfred Taylor was consulted, and he 
reported that the sale of poisons could not be satisfactory unless it was carried on by 
proper and competent persons, and in that report I concur. If persons are allowed to 
sell drugs without being first registered, what security will there be to the public ? It 
is evident to us all that many persons under the name of druggists are now entrusted 
with the selling and compounding of poisons, who are utterly ignorant of the nature of 
these poisons and of the general effect of drugs. 
The Home Secretary : I also think that there ought to be a list of all persons who 
sell poisonous drugs. 
Mr. Headlam : The Bill has been circulated in its present form, and the amendment 
may be considered a breach of faith. 
The amendment was agreed to by the House without a division. 
Lord R. Montagu: Inline 3, page 2, after “ keeping ” insert “dispensing,” agreed 
to. And in the same line, after “may,” insert from “time to time,” agreed to. 
Mr. Low t e : In the same clause I move to leave out the words “ Pharmaceutical 
Society with the consent of the.” 
Mr. Headlam : I understand that these words were introduced by the noble duke at 
the head of the Privy Council. They seem to me to be exceedingly valuable, and I 
think they ought not to be expunged. The regulations as to the keeping and selling of 
poisons will be prescribed by the Pharmaceutical Society with the consent of the Privy 
Council. It seems perfectly clear that these two bodies, the Pharmaceutical Society, 
who will prepare these regulations which will relate to their own trading, and the Privy 
Council, will act together; for the latter will have to give their consent to the regula¬ 
tions. It cannot be objected that there ought to be some regulations relating to the 
sale of poisons; nor can it be objected, I think, that these regulations ought in the first 
instance to be framed by the Pharmaceutical Society. Then, having had the sanction 
of that body, they ought to go before the Privy Council for their sanction and ap¬ 
proval. 
Lord R. Montagu : There will be greater security to the public if the words be left 
in as proposed. 
