THE PHARMACEUTICAL AND POISONS BILL. 
251 
disease, “Indian Brandee ” dodges, etc. etc. The chemists of the future are 
expected to be men in every respect,—men who shall conduct their business 
on sound and right principles, and who will in a special manner throw character 
into all they do. 
J. S. T. W. Smith. 
Hexham , August 24, 1868. 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL AND POISONS BILL. 
TO THE EDITORS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Gentlemen,—At length the two great objects for which Chemists have so 
long laboured and contended have been secured, viz. the management of our 
own business free from hostile interference and control, and the satisfactory 
examination by our own body of every future chemist entering upon the 
profession. No doubt many assistants will be somewhat disappointed that 
their exemption from examination was struck out of the Bill; and not with¬ 
out some just reason, seeing that all present chemists are exempt. But 
there can be no doubt that all these men will be, and ought to be, very 
considerately dealt with ; and aftej* their cases are leniently disposed of, it 
will be to the interests of all parties concerned and of the public especially 
to admit none into our ranks but men of superior qualifications and fitness. 
Up to this time we have often been abused and insulted as to our defective 
attainments, and the sooner we wfipe away all grounds of accusation on these 
points the better for ourselves and others. One duty of the Council will be 
at once important and urgent, that is, to see that the men who apply for 
registration are hondjide entitled to admission ; there can be no doubt that 
scores, perhaps hundreds, will make application, who, according to the law 
have no title to admission whatever, and in every case of this kind, it wfill be 
a plain dereliction of duty to admit them. There are many minor points yet 
to be settled, and to my own mind, some passages in the new enactment wfill 
bear different and conflicting constructions. Would it not be desirable to 
have one general meeting of chemists in London, and other local meetings, to 
congratulate one another, and to discuss some of the doubtful and unsettled 
points, with a view to closer union and concord for the future ; especially as 
to any further alterations in the Parliamentary or bye-laws, by which we 
shall now be governed? As a country member, I feel the Pharmaceutical 
Society, and the chemists generally, are so deeply indebted to the Metro¬ 
politan members of the Council, I should greatly regret (and I firmly believe 
it would be immensely to our disadvantage) to see more than seven country 
members admitted to the Council. None but London members on the spot 
could ever have commanded the influence, or accomplished what has been 
already done for the Society and the trade generally. It does, however, 
appear desirable, if possible, that something should be known beforehand of 
the future candidates for the Council. Hundreds of members in the country 
have to vote for or reject names, the relative merits of which they have no 
means of deciding upon. Is there no way of obviating this difficulty? The 
great changes which the new law wfill ultimately bring about, will certainly 
necessitate some, possibly many alterations and adaptations in the bye-law r s, 
and it would be a great advantage if opportunity could be given for full and 
free friendly prior discussion to any proposed amendments. 
The clause in the new bill respecting compounding medicines containing 
