0 4 0 SHEFFIELD PHARMACEUTICAL AND CHEMICAL ASSOCIATION. 
means, and now that the Society’s income was so much increased, and the benevolent 
fund having reached the required sum, he hoped that the Council of the Society 
would help such societies as theirs. The income of such societies was quite out of pro¬ 
portion to the work they had to do. After alluding to local examinations, the speaker 
invited any member of the medical profession present to express their views on the 
subject of the lecture. 
Mr. Beddakd, M.B., said that as a member of the medical profession, he had listened 
with great pleasure to the excellent advice given by the lecturer to all those preparing 
for the examinations, as to thoroughly mastering one step in their studies before at¬ 
tacking another. Their progress might not appear so rapid as that of the superficial 
student, but it would be real. With regard to the results of pharmaceutical education, 
it was an immense comfort to a medical man to know that his prescription passed 
through the hands of a man who would not only faithfully dispense his correct pre¬ 
scriptions, but would detect those slips of the pen to which the most careful prescriher 
is liable at times. He finished by assuring the society of his cordial support in fur¬ 
thering its objects. 
Mr. Mayfield proposed and Mr. White seconded that the best thanks of this society 
be given to Mr. Evans for his able address, and that he be elected an honorary member 
of this society. This was carried unanimously. 
Mr. Evans returned thanks, and said it afforded him great pleasure to be present that 
evening, and he hoped at some future time to have the pleasure of again addressing 
them. 
SHEFFIELD PHARMACEUTICAL AND CHEMICAL ASSOCIATION. 
The ordinary Monthly Meeting was held in the rooms of the Society, Music Hall, on 
Wednesday evening, April 14th, the President, Mr. J. Hill, in the chair, when a 
paper, on “ The Adulteration of Food or Drink Act, as extended to all Articles taken or 
sold as Medicines, stated in clauses 15 and 24 of the Pharmacy Act, 1868,” was read by 
Mr. 0. B. Cocking, the subject being treated of under the following heads : — 
1. The extent to which the adulteration of drugs and the preparation of medical com¬ 
pounds otherwise than in accordance with the formulas of the Ph. B., were carried on, 
resulting in reduction of price and unfair competition by unregistered shopkeepers. 
2. How may this be abated ? By enforcing clauses 15 and 24 of the Pharmacy 
Act, 1868. 
3. By whom enforced ? 
A. In the case of medicated spirits, tinctures, etc., by the officers of Excise, whose 
duty it is to prevent any loss of revenue arising from such adulterations. 
B. By any private individual who will take the trouble of acting in accordance with 
clause 4 of the Food Adulteration Act. 
C. By the Pharmaceutical Society, appointing Inspectors, unknown in the localities 
to which they may be sent. 
4. Ignorance no plea against conviction and penalties in the case of Registered Che¬ 
mists and Druggists; clause 24, Pharmacy Act, presuming that all such persons are 
qualified “ to have knowledge of such adulterations.” 
Mr. Cocking concluded his paper with the following remarks :—“ If the regulations 
referred to in the two Acts are enforced, the trade generally will be greatly benefited; 
the unfair competition with the host of little shopkeepers and co-operative stores will 
be ended; a few public prosecutions will soon effect this desideratum; and then, when 
pure genuine drugs are sold only by Registered Chemists and Druggists, it may be an¬ 
ticipated that an agreement may be effected as to greater uniformity in the retail 
price of both simples and compounds, and be speedily followed by a similar uniformity 
in the prices charged for dispensing prescriptions.” 
Mr. Radley, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Cocking for his very interesting 
paper, remarked that the subject of the “ Food Adulteration Act ” in connection with 
the “ New Pharmacy Act,” did not appear, hitherto, to have been brought very promi¬ 
nently before the trade ; the paper had presented points of great importance, making it 
evident, when the two Acts were fully enforced, advantages would be secured and evils 
remedied, which were greatly desired by all. Mr. Wilson seconded the proposition. 
