COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO MR. SANDFORD. 
703 
honour of presenting to him a testimonial which had been purchased out of 
part of the fund of £500, or rather more, which had been collected by the 
friends of the Society. He had commenced his work with a considerable de¬ 
gree of nervousness, not being accustomed to public speaking, but was encouraged 
by seeing very clearly from the countenances of his audience, that the President 
was a general favourite, and there was no doubt that he fully deserved the high 
opinion in which he was held. Pie had laboured hard for the cause of pharmacy, 
and particularly for the Society of which he was President, and his labours had 
been crowned by the passing of the “Pharmacy Act,” for if he had not carried 
• the Act himself, he would defy any one to say that he had not been mainly in¬ 
strumental in obtaining it. He was quite aware that in that matter he had 
been backed up by very talented men ; men industrious, intelligent, clever, 
good speakers, men who thoroughly kuew their business, and who had worked 
very hard in this labour of love. As a wholesale druggist, he felt that the 
whole trade was being gradually raised to a condition of greater respectabi¬ 
lity. He did not wish to refer to what druggists were some thirty years ago; 
but there was no need to disguise the fact that at that time they were in many 
parts of the country in a state of lamentable ignorance. At the present time, 
however, the Pharmaceutical Society was training up a body of clever, well- 
educated men, who would be a credit to any country, and there would now be 
no longer any chance of people being poisoned through the iguorance of che¬ 
mists. The Pharmaceutical Society had gone on exceedingly well, both under 
the present President and those who preceded him, but now they were advan¬ 
cing with very rapid strides indeed, and he could only hope that the members 
might always continue as united as they had been. He did not think that the 
Bill was as perfect as it might have been, but he had great faith in their talented 
President, in their clever professors, and in their indefatigable and excellent 
Secretary, nor must he forget the Treasurer, Mr. Hills. The accounts were 
certainly kept in so admirable a manner that the audit seemed almost a work 
of supererogation, but it was an opportunity for a pleasant meeting at any 
rate. He felt his inability to discharge worthily the duty which had fallen upon 
him, but he had much pleasure in proposing the health of their friend Mr. 
Sandford, with the fervent hope, in which he was sure all present would join, 
that he might live long to enjoy the blessings of health and prosperity, and 
the good opinion of the whole trade. 
The toast having been drunk with three times three cheers, 
Mr. Sandford rose to reply. He said he was almost afraid to get upon his 
legs after what had been said by his friend Mr. Barron, lest too much should 
be expected of him. The events of the day had been something marvellous, 
and little did he think when elected President of the Society six years ago, that 
he should ever see such a day as this. He felt altogether unfit for the office, 
but he might now venture to hope, and he felt sure from the kind manner in 
which he had been received, that his friends were of opinion, that the general 
affairs of the Society had not suffered in his hands. There was one point, how. 
ever, to which he had from the first given special attention, and that was 
legislation. He seemed to have a notion that the Society’s work would not 
be complete until there was some extension in that direction. He watched 
for an opportunity to obtain that extension, and it soon came, in the proposal 
of the Medical Council that dispensing chemists should be examined and placed 
under the control of that body. That was a step in advance for the cause of 
pharmacy, but the Pharmaceutical Society was capable of conducting such ex¬ 
aminations, and he saw no necessity for the Medical Council taking charge of 
them. Owing to the exertions of Jacob Bell, a Society existed well qualified, 
not only to educate and examine, but to take charge of all matters connected with 
pharmacy, and for that reason he considered they ought to remain independent. 
