266 
PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING. 
,, f John Moss. 
EDAL . \ Alfred Neobard Palmer. 
Certificate of Honour ...John Thomas Ward Wallis. 
BOTANY AND MATERIA MEDICA. 
Professor Bentley said that among the pleasurable duties which he had 
to perform during the year, none was more so to him than that of present¬ 
ing, as on the present occasion, his report of the conduct of the students in 
the class of Botany and Materia Medica which he had the honour to con¬ 
duct in that Institution. Dr. Redwood had anticipated many remarks which he 
should otherwise have made, for although he could not refer to so long a 
connection with the Society as that gentleman, he could speak from twenty 
years’ experience, and might repeat what he had said on many previous occa¬ 
sions, that he knew of no class of students who were more to be commended 
for diligence, good conduct, and perseverance, than the students of their School 
of Pharmacy. He stated this, not as a compliment, but simply as an act 
of justice; and on the present occasion he was glad to have his own opinion 
fortified by that of those who were well qualified to judge quite independently 
of himself. He referred to the authorities of the Royal Botanic Society, at 
whose gardens in the Regent’s Park the students of the Pharmaceutical So¬ 
ciety were in the habit of attending. When it was first suggested that the 
students should attend the botanical lectures during the summer months, at 
the gardens, many feared that much injury would be done by them to the 
plants and in other ways, but what was the fact? for twenty years no com¬ 
plaint of any importance had been made to him, and he was now very glad 
to be able to read an extract from a minute of the Garden Committee, 
under date May 23rd, 1868, which had been sent to him, and which was as 
follows :— 
“ The Garden Committee, on the commencement of another lecture season, are pleased 
to hear from the Secretary a very favourable report on the gentlemanly conduct of the 
students of the Pharmaceutical Society, and the absence of any complaint during the 
twenty years the class has attended Professor Bentley’s lectures in the gardens, and of 
any injury to the plants and 'flowers; and the committee consider the Society is much 
indebted to Professor Bentley for this favourable report from the Secretary.” 
He was very glad to see the innovation which had been made of inviting ladies 
to be present at their inaugural meeting, and felt sure that the students who 
went up to receive prizes would in consequence feel an additional pleasure in so 
doing. Having made these preliminary remarks as to the good conduct of the 
students which he always had had, and doubtless always would have, to make, 
Professor Bentley went on to give the result of the prize examination. The com¬ 
petition for prizes was, taken altogether, equal to any previous one ; but as there 
seemed a little misunderstanding on one or two points, he would state what the 
rules of the examinations were. He had been sorry to see so few competitors 
for the prizes, but he believed the reason was that in this Institution, as in many 
others, young men associated with one another, became aware of each other’s 
capabilities and attainments, and consequently felt, if Mr. A. was going in for 
a particular prize, it was no use for others to compete with him. This was a 
great mistake, and he hoped all students would bear in mind this fact, that it 
was not the prize itself, but the knowledge attained in striving for it, which was 
of most real value ; and he also reminded them, what all did not seem aware of, 
that although only one could obtain the prize, the certificates of honour and 
of merit were open to all who proved themselves deserving of distinction. He 
hoped, therefore, that next session there would be ten or fifteen certificates of 
