NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS CHEMISTS* ASSOCIATION. 
587 
furthering local organization and educational improvement. He thought they might 
congratulate themselves that pharmacy had at last received that recognition from the 
country to which it was so justly entitled, and for which its followers had so long 
struggled. The most strenuous exertions of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society 
had been put forth, and were at length crowned with success. The thanks of the whole 
body of Chemists and Druggists, of the medical profession, and the public, were due 
to them, and especially to the President and the Secretary. He was glad to find that a 
testimonial of a personal and commemorative character was about to be presented to 
the President, in acknowledgment of his services, but he felt sure that his greatest re¬ 
ward was the honour and respect he had obtained from his brethren. 
The passing of the Pharmacy Act seemed to have aroused the slumbering energies of 
chemists throughout the country. Educational societies were being formed in most 
large towns, and he was proud to think that Nottingham was not behindhand. 
He proceeded to explain the objects and scope of the Association. The first impor¬ 
tant object they had was to establish evening meetings. It was proposed to hold them 
monthly at first, and at such an hour as would best suit the convenience of their mem¬ 
bers ; they would be occasions when they would have an opportunity of becoming better 
acquainted with one another. They must not look upon them as scientific and formal, 
but as periods for social and friendly conversation, in which all may join without fear 
of unnecessarily exposing their ignorance. The very aim and intention of these meetings 
was mutual improvement; they did not commence as a scientific body, but humbly, as 
students with a desire for knowledge. At these monthly meetings short papers would be 
read, appropriate and interesting objects exhibited and explained, and an opportunity 
for conversation and discussion afforded ; and as to the nature of the papers, these might 
comprise the Pharmacy Act and its various provisions, the British Pharmacopoeia, new 
medicines and new processes, improvements in old forms, methods of testing the strength 
of medicines and detecting adulterations. 
A regular system of testing the purity and strength of the medicines they dispensed 
would be of immense service, not only tending to the general improvement of their 
position, to the satisfaction of the medical profession, and to the general good of the 
public,—but affording a moral satisfaction in the thought that they had a higher prin¬ 
ciple to be guided by than mere pounds, shillings, and pence. 
A few short papers from their members and associates on any of these subjects each 
evening, if only of a few minutes’ duration, would be really more interesting and ser¬ 
viceable, as a rule, than longer and more elaborate papers of less practical interest. 
There was one faculty they all possessed to a greater or less degree, and that was the 
power of observation ; let them properly cultivate that power. 
He much wished to press this point strongly on their minds,—they must support these 
evening meetings; he believed the very existence of the Society depended upon their 
attendance. 
He wished, in the next place, to direct their attention to the means by which their 
apprentices and assistants were to be enabled to prepare for the examinations they 
would have to pass. It was their intention to have lectures at different times on che¬ 
mistry, pharmacy, materia medica, and perhaps botany. They proposed to have two 
educational courses in the year, and to admit any associate of the Society to them on 
payment of a mere nominal fee. Arrangements were nearly completed for the formation 
of a Latin class for juniors, both assistants and apprentices, with more especial reference 
to the proper reading of prescriptions and the proper terminations of the words used. 
Next October they would have a course of lectures on chemistry. 
But they would be only half doing the work if they confined themselves to providing 
lectures. There would be little use in a young man’s attending lectures if he could 
not solidify and extend the information so obtained by reading at home. It was, there¬ 
fore, one of the objects of their Association to establish a library. 
Reference was made to the “ Petroleum Act,” more particularly to the ambiguity 
of some of its provisions. The subject of our relation to the medical profession, 
and as arising therefrom, the evil of “counter practice,” were touched upon. The 
“ decrease of pharmaceutical remuneration in comparison with our increased education ” 
was dwelt on at some length, and he observed:—We are all unfortunately aware of the 
cause, and we all know full well the remedy for our malady. So long as it is the prac¬ 
tice of the medical profession to dispense their own medicines, and so long as it is the 
