COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO MR. SANDFORD. 
707 
tion, for as Mr. Ince had very properly said, to education alone were they 
indebted for their present position. The subject of education was one of the 
most interesting and increasingly important in the present day. Many 
amongst them could recollect when education generally was much discussed, 
and when it was not at all a decided point whether it improved the condition 
and added to the happiness of those to whom it was given, anu whether its 
general diffusion would tend to the advantage of the public. The importance 
of education was now no longer questioned, but still there were differences 
of opinion as to the kind and extent of it which should be imparted in given 
cases, and this applied not only to the question generally but also to education 
in connection with pharmacy. When education was commenced by the 
Pharmaceutical Society, the question, cui bono ? was frequently asked, and a 
great many practical men—perhaps at one time the majority—would look 
rather shyly upon a young man who had been educated in Bloomsbury 
Square, fearing lest he should be above his business. Experience in this 
particular case, however, had led to the same result as in the wider field of 
education generally, and it had been gradually acknowledged that the benefits 
resulting from systematic scientific education were quite as apparent in the 
case of a pharmaceutical student as in any other. It w r as, therefore, no 
longer a question as to the fact, but simpty as to the extent to which educa¬ 
tion should be carried ; and this undoubtedly was and always must be a very 
important question. There would always be room for differences of opinion 
as to the kind of education best suited to make young men good and efficient 
pharmacists, and upon that question, therefore, he M ould not, on such an 
occasion, enter. But there was one view of the subject to M’hich he must 
allude, and he M T ould ask, What is pharmaceutical education ? Was it not a 
grand source of power ? Might they not be almost said to be creating a new 
estate in their realm by putting pharmacists in possession of it, and M ould not 
some means be required for directing and controlling this poM 7 er ? As 
chemists they were not unaccustomed to the consideration of forces existing 
undeveloped in many substances, and not unfrequently by accident or design, 
Mere forces produced which seemed utterly beyond control. This had been 
much impressed upon his mind on the previous evening Mhen, passing 
through the Museum uith a friend, they stopped for a moment before a 
small bottle containing picrate of potash, a very harmless-looking substance, 
but of the power of M’hick a very appalling exhibition had recently been 
given in France. In conclusion. Dr. IledM 7 ood returned thanks most cor¬ 
dially for the compliment M 7 hich had been paid him, and ventured to express 
a hope that he might be able to devote many years more to the cause of 
pharmaceutical education. 
Mr. Sandeord next proposed the health of the Chairman in appropriate 
terms. 
The Chairman in thanking the company for the cordial manner in which 
they had received the toast, bore testimony to the steady advance in position 
and influence made by the Pharmaceutical Society, and begged to apologize 
for having in its early days spoken coolly of it. He then alluded to the 
Benevolent Fund, as being one of the most pleasing portions of the Society’s 
operations, and claimed for it the further support of members under present 
altered circumstances. 
Mr. Bottle proposed the health of the Treasurer of the Testimonial Fund, 
Mr. Orridge, m ho had discharged his duties with the zeal and ability which 
characterized him in all the actions of life, more especially in his efforts on 
behalf of the Benevolent Fund, for m hick he had done as much as nearly all 
the rest of them put together. 
Mr. Orridge in reply said he should be very glad to do anything for the 
