484 
NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS CHEMISTS* ASSOCIATION. 
« 
laws of the country ; there will be better education, and consequently a better class of 
men ; this will produce a better feeling in our ranks, better prices and larger fortunes 
will result. The fear of examinations and other causes will preclude many from joining 
us, therefore our numbers will decrease, but the quality will increase. When we con¬ 
sider the large number of men, lamentably deficient in both general and technical edu¬ 
cation, who combine the sale of powerful drugs with the retailing of almost every imagi¬ 
nable article, we must all rejoice that the time has come when such persons will be 
compelled to leave the sale of medicines in the hands of duly qualified men, thus con¬ 
ducing to the greater safety and welfare of all her Majesty’s subjects. But with our 
greater privileges we have more responsible duties, and we must strive to render our¬ 
selves worthy of our improved position; we must endeavour to increase our own know¬ 
ledge, and what is of more importance, we must give every facility for education to our 
assistants and apprentices. Remember that while we are safely over the brook, they are 
on the other side; and surely it is our duty, and will be our pleasure, to do all we can 
to assist them in the work they have before them. I say, therefore, that it is incumbent 
on us, as chemists and as masters, to carry out the good work commenced by the Phar¬ 
macy Act, and it seems to me that this can only be done by local organization, and that 
by the aid of such a society as that about to be proposed, we shall assume our true posi¬ 
tion. neither solely as scientific men, nor as commercial men, but as a link between the 
two, and mingling the characters of both ; and thus, by giving confidence to the medical 
profession and the public, secure to ourselves pecuniary benefit as well as improved social 
standing. To accomplish this, we propose that every Pharmaceutical Chemist and 
Chemist and Druggist in the county shall be urged to become a member of the Society, 
and every assistant and apprentice invite!! to become an associate. The objects of the 
Society will be to promote, as far as we are able, the general advancement of Pharma¬ 
ceutical Science; the scientific education of the associates, with a view to qualifying 
them for the examinations, which, by the provisions of the Act, they will all have to 
undergo; to take cognizance of and discuss any matter affecting us as a body, and to 
give our voice as a district and a Society in all matters, legal or otherwise, by which our 
interests are affected ; to exercise supervision over the district, to prevent evasions of the 
Act, such as the registration of unqualified persons, or the sale of poisons by any non- 
registered person. It is obvious that unless some such precautions are taken the good 
effects of the Act will be limited. As regards our meetings, the time and place will be 
appointed by your Council, subject to your approval. Your President’s address would 
occupy the first meeting in each session, and the next two meetings in the first session 
would be well employed in discussing the Pharmacy Act. Then, again, the changes in 
the Pharmacopoeia, the many new medicines introduced, and the new processes involved, 
will afford plenty of scope for short papers. If we have only a few lines, a paper occu¬ 
pying a few minutes, or a verbal description of any novelty, from our members or asso¬ 
ciates, we shall have enough, and continue to increase the interest of our proceedings. 
We also propose to establish a Library, a nucleus of which exists already, and to form 
classes in Materia Medica and Pharmaceutical Chemistry for the associates. In con¬ 
cluding, I w r ould say, before the resolution is put to the meeting, that if you think such 
a society is desirable, let us unite in the spirit of these remarks and determine not to 
fail. If you have any fear of failure—if you are not in earnest, let us not start, let us 
stay where we are; we shall respect ourselves the more for it. But if you approve the 
plan, let us work together humbly and with determination. As we do this, so shall we 
succeed. 
The resolution was then formally proposed by Mr. W. H. Parker, and seconded by 
Mr. Dann, and was unanimously carried. 
The following names were then chosen as Officers :— President , Mr. J. H. Atherton, 
F.C.S.; Vice-President , Mr. Frank White ; Treasurer , Mr. J. Rayner ; Hon. Sec. Mr. 
R. Fitzhugh, F.C.S. Council: —Mr. Dann, Mr. J. Jenkins, Mr. T. Harrison, Mr. W.H. 
Parker, Mr. G. Shepperley, jun., Mr. W. Smith, Mr. G. Waterall, Mr. W. Woodward. 
The meeting, which numbered nearly forty, shortly afterwards separated. 
The first ordinary meeting will be held on Friday, the 12th February, when the pre¬ 
sident will deliver the inaugural address. 
