312 
PLYMOUTH ASSOCIATION OF CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS. 
curiosities, by Mr. Filmer; coloured life-size portraits and other photographs, etc., by 
Messrs. Heath, May, Palmer, and Duprez ; and specimens of British mosses (mounted), 
by Mr. E. Holmes ; chemical apparatus, by Mr. James How. 
The inaugural address delivered during the course of the evening by the President 
was of a very suitable nature. Mr. Radford, after explaining the absence of the mem¬ 
ber for Devonport, and that members of the medical profession of the neighbourhood 
were absent in consequence of an important meeting of the Plymouth Medical Society, 
proceeded with his address. He regretted that the society had not been formed many 
years since, for then they would have been in a position to look back on great results. 
He next referred to the efforts made in Parliament, a quarter of a century back, to 
introduce Bills which would have been prejudicial to the interest of chemists and drug¬ 
gists, by imposing on them unnecessary restrictions. Reference was also made to the 
excellent work done by the Pharmaceutical Society, and honourable mention was made 
of the services of the late Jacob Bell and of Mr. Allen. The last session of Parliament 
gave them a Bill which conferred great and important privileges on chemists and drug¬ 
gists, and required from them the right performance of most responsible duties. Allu¬ 
sion was made to the work done by living and departed chemists from the West, and 
to the services of Mr. S. Cave, the member who assisted in carrying the Bill 
through Parliament, who was also a chemist. The president then explained that 
the society, now inaugurated, had for its object the holding of periodical lectures 
and discussions, together with such general arrangements as might be necessary for the 
instruction of assistants and apprentices, and for this purpose classes had been, or were 
about to be formed in Plymouth and Devonport. He trusted that in course of time 
they might get a building of their own, and furnish a museum of pharmacy worthy of 
this great naval and commercial centre. It had been suggested that they should take 
advantage of the proposal made to establish new botanical gardens, and secure a site 
where they might establish a green- and hot-house for the growth of medicinal plants. 
If they could do this, they would be in a position to invite the Pharmaceutical Con¬ 
ference into the neighbourhood. In conclusion, the President enjoined on the students 
the importance of application to study, and counselled the members to keep out of 
the society all party feeling. 
Mr. F. P. Balkwill moved a vote of thanks to the President for his address in eulo¬ 
gistic terms, and spoke of the great and further benefits that he believed would be reaped 
by the continued study of chemistry. 
Mr. Allen seconded the vote, and, on its being put to the meeting by Mr. A. P. 
Balkwill, it was carried with acclamation. 
Mr. F. Herron moved a vote of thanks to those members of the House of Commons 
who assisted in passing the new Pharmacy Act through Parliament, and spoke highly 
of the service rendered by the members for Plymouth, who were present at every 
division. 
Mr. Breeze seconded the motion, which was carried. 
Sir Robert Collier acknowledged with many thanks the kind resolution which had 
been passed. What the President said was quite true ; they had had a very hard fight, for 
the Bill was met by a violent and a persistent opposition, founded too on grounds appa¬ 
rently plausible. It was declared to be a contravention of free trade ; that it sought to 
set up an odious and an invidious monopoly ; and arguments were advanced by speakers 
of no less eminence than Mr. Lowe and others. He was in favour of free trade, but 
every rule had its exception, and he was opposed to free trade in poisons. It appeared to 
him that if there was an exception to free trade it was where they were dealing with 
such delicate and complicated machinery as the human body, and they ought not to 
allow an unlimited competition to treat its ailments. They must restrict it to persons 
whose skill and knowledge were known by a competent examination. On these grounds 
he felt justified in supporting the Bill. He moreover supported the Bill because the 
unanimous opinion of the profession was in its favour, and he agreed with Mr. Balkwill 
that pharmacy was not a trade, but a highly scientific profession. 
Mr. Morrison observed that it was always gratifying to public men to find that their 
labours for the good of society had been appreciated, because the appreciation was some¬ 
what rare. During the seven years he had been in Parliament he knew of no 
Bill, except it was the Reform Bill, that the House got rid of with greater feelings 
of relief than the New Pharmacy Act. As a Government Bill it came on for discussion 
