485 
HALIFAX AND DISTRICT CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
The Pharmaceutical Chemists and Chemists and Druggists of Halifax, Brighouse, 
Elland, and Sowerby Bridge, met at the ‘Brown Cow’ Hotel, Halifax, on December 10th, 
1868, to discuss the New Pharmacy Bill and to form an Association. 
After dinner Mr. Dyer was elected Chairman. After the usual loyal toasts had been 
proposed and duly responded to, Mr. Farr proposed the following resolution :—“ That 
it is desirable to form an Association, to be called the ‘ Halifax and District Chemists and 
Druggists’ Association.’” In an able manner he dilated on the necessity of an Associa¬ 
tion being formed ; the great changes which had recently been effected in the position 
and responsibilities of the trade required their conferring together to understand the 
many technicalities which would now every day confront every member of the trade, 
and graphically pointed out the great good which ensue from the creation of a common 
brotherhood in dispelling those feelings of jealousy and antagonism which were so de¬ 
structive of the best interests of the trade. 
Mr. Shaw, in seconding the resolution, spoke as confidently of the good which would 
result from such a movement. 
The resolution was unanimously passed. A number of rules for the government of 
the Association were passed, and the following gentlemen were elected as officers and 
Committee for the ensuing year -.—President: Mr. Dyer. Vice-Presidents : Mr. Kershaw, 
Mr. Brooke, Mr. Stott, Sowerby Bridge. Secretary : Mr. W. C. Hebden. Treasurer : 
Mr. J. Pollard. Committee : Messrs. Farr, Shaw, Jessop, and Brierley. 
The President then drew the attention of the members to the New Pharmacy Bill, 
inviting their opinion as to its merits. As this subject is a prolific ground for discussion, 
it was entered into by all present; the status given to the trade, and certainty of all 
future Chemists and Druggists being of the right stamp, were subjects for mutual con¬ 
gratulation ; the chief interest was, however, centred in the poison clauses, the unne¬ 
cessary and troublesome precautions which are enforced were universally regretted, 
especially with regard to the milder preparations of opium. 
Mr. Shaw, the local Pharmaceutical Secretary, kindly offered to write to Bloomsbury 
Square for information on the point in question. 
Mr. J. B. Brierley then proposed a vote of thanks to the Chair, to which the Presi¬ 
dent briefly replied. 
The meeting then broke up. 
A Second Meeting of the members of the above Association was held on the 7th of 
January, Mr. Kershaw in the chair, who stated that the first matter to take into consi¬ 
deration was the information received from the Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society 
as to the point in dispute at the last meeting. 
Mr. Shaw not being present, the Secretary read the letter received from London in 
explanation, the vagueness of which, however, left the members in much the same 
dilemma as before. After considerable discussion, the following resolution was passed :— 
“That all medicines prescribed, which contain any of the drugs in either the first or 
second schedules of poisons, must be entered the same as a prescription dispensed.” 
The Secretary then read a copy of a Bill intended to be brought before Parliament 
next session by Mr. Dixon, of Birmingham, entitled, “The Adulteration of Drugs Bill,” 
imposing very heavy penalties on the maker and on the dealer “knowingly” of adulte¬ 
rated drugs. It was generally approved of by the members, and a motion to that effect 
was proposed and carried. 
The subject of an uniform rate of charges for mixtures dispensed was then mooted, 
and very energetically advocated by some of the members, who were very desirous of 
raising the minimum price to a more remunerative figure. 
The Secretary begged of them not to push their views too strongly, and promised 
to use his influence to endeavour to obtain a more uniform rate of charges among their 
brethren. 
The meeting then separated. 
