638 
MANCHESTER CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS* ASSOCIATION. 
By an ingenious mechanical arrangement the husk is separated from the cotton which 
covers it, the former being used as a manure, the latter making excellent paper. 
Mr. Symes stated that a large number of experiments had been made during the 
whole of last year, and great obstacles overcome before the manufactures were brought 
to their present state of perfection. 
Specimens were exhibited of the various products described. 
The President said that in this country the oil was principally used for soap-making, 
and was also used by the Jews for cooking purposes, being equal to olive for that 
purpose. 
Mr. Bird said the Arabs preferred cotton-seed oil to all others for cooking. 
A vote of thanks was unanimously passed to Dr. Symes, after which the meeting 
closed. 
THE MANCHESTER CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
A Special Meeting was held at Union Chambers, Dickenson Street, on Friday, March 
19th ; Mr. W. S. Brown, Vice-President, in the chair. 
The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said that the subject of prices had occu¬ 
pied the attention of the Council for some time, and that, after considerable discussion, 
it has been decided that, for the present, it was not desirable to endeavour to form a 
complete price list. The circumstances of various localities, and the demand, differed 
so widely, that it would be difficult to fix a uniform rate of charge. It was, however, 
felt that dispensing charges might be made more uniform, and that, with every prospect 
of success, a list might be framed and offered to the trade for adoption. To carry out 
this, the Council appointed a sub-committee, who, after several meetings and much 
consideration, agreed on and submitted a list to the Council. It was then considered 
the proper course to submit it to members of the Association generally, and to prevent 
any interference with the paper promised by Mr. Slugg for the next meeting, and to 
afford an opportunity for fuller discussion, this special meeting had been called. The 
Chairman said the prices in the list were, for the most part, not higher than had been 
customary in leading dispensing establishments in Manchester, and would be readily 
obtained. For small quantities of medicines the charge hitherto made had been most 
inadequate. Justice demanded that the chemist, in his improved legal position, and 
with the resulting increased demand for superior acquirements, should be adequately 
remunerated. It was not intended that members of the trade who agreed to the new 
list of prices should be absolutely bound by it; the utmost liberty of action was desired, 
the obligation being simply one of honour. At the same time, the importance of the 
movement, and the pains taken by the committee, induced the hope that, if the list be 
adopted, it would be observed as strictly as possible. After explaining the advantage 
and importance of using a universal price-mark, which, being marked on the prescrip¬ 
tion by the first dispenser, became a guide to all subsequent ones, the Chairman pro¬ 
ceeded to read the list, and to more fully explain the reasons which led to deviations 
from the old prices, where such proposed changes appeared ; urging unanimity of 
feeling, and inviting the fullest and most open discussion, he submitted the list for 
adoption. 
Many members then spoke on the subject. Amongst others,— 
Mr. L. Stebold said he did not approve of making any lower charge for dispensing 
than one shilling; one, two, or three pills should be worth that. He also did not see 
why pills prescribed with a mixture should be charged less than when prescribed alone. 
The trouble and care and responsibility connected with the dispensing of a prescription 
were certainly worth that trifling amount. He very much regretted that prices which had 
been obtained for thirty-five years should forma basis for the charges now to be adopted. 
Drugs commanded a higher price, the cost of living had increased very considerably, and, 
above all, a large number of very expensive chemicals were now used in dispensing, 
whilst the prescriptions of former times generally contained substances of comparatively 
trifling value. He thought the price-list just read did not correspond with the views so 
ably advocated in Mr. Hampson’s paper. Assistants were now compelled to pass an 
examination,—most of them would probably pass it before long ; and when they came 
to calculate the heavy expenses incurred for lectures, books, examination fees, etc., and 
