PHARMACEUTICAL ANNIVERSARY. 
37 
In our trade money cannot be obtained without working for it, and many 
young men will not go to a heavy expense to pass the examinations in London, 
when the advantages they derive from connection with the Society are so few. 
It is true they have the Journal, but they pay a subscription for it, and often 
find too little in its pages to interest them; besides, in the country, many of those 
who have not passed the examinations obtain as good a situation as those who 
have, by examination, proved their knowledge of the Chemist’s and Druggist’s 
requirements. 
The Pharmaceutical Society will lose much of that sympathy which it ought to 
have from those connected with it if it does not adapt itself to their wants. 
On looking back, I find there are five hundred and thirty registered apprentices 
of the Pharmaceutical Society; of these, more than two hundred and twenty have 
been connected with it for more than five years (the period of apprenticeship) ; 
they have not gone further, and are to a certain extent lost to the Society; their 
parents or master had them registered as Apprentices (by passing an examina¬ 
tion at home), and for the want of a little impetus they have not associated them¬ 
selves with the Society as Minors or Majors, and most of them are in situations 
as Assistants; proving by their influence a drag to the exertions of their juniors, 
who are too apt to imitate their example, and leave their names still on the list 
as Apprentices instead of passing an examination, which, by a little exertion, 
they ought to be able to do if their Master has fulfilled his contract with them ; 
that is, if he has taught them their trade, and not apart of it only. 
Chemistry has advanced with the age,—indeed, no science has advanced to a 
greater extent (especially in the organic department) during the last few years, 
and the Pharmaceutical Society has steadily gained ground ; but we must not 
now sit down in a state of lethargy when a little exertion on the part of a few 
would increase the numbers threefold. I know many who, if the examination 
were brought home to them, would present themselves before the Provincial 
Board and pass, and do so creditably, and thus aid us in a pecuniary, personal, 
and scientific sense, and after passing the Minor at the Provincial Board, they 
would take their Major Diploma in London. 
From the statistics before given, two-fifths of youthful effort has been stifled, 
snuffed out ; surely we may suppose this has had a deadening effect on the others. 
Let us place more allurements in the manner u Opifex” proposes, to induce 
young men to pass the examinations, and there will not then be this falling off. 
If the Society will think over these suggestions, and place them in a practical 
form before us, we will present ourselves for examination at these provincial 
boards, and hope soon, when our time comes, to equal, yea, suqiass, those before 
us having had superior advantages. 
I am, yours faithfully, 
A Registered Apprentice. 
Bristol, May 12th, 18G3. 
PHARMACEUTICAL ANNIVERSARY. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Sir,—One more month, or thereabout, and the Pharmaceutical Society of 
Great Britain will have completed its twentieth year since incorporation. What 
it has done, how it has progressed from its infancy to its present state, and what 
it is now doing, are questions too well known by the general body of its members 
to need reiteration. At all events, they have very little room for dissatisfaction. 
It is thought, perhaps, that were a little younger blood infused into its Council 
it would (with the experience of its older members) be beneficial to the Society. 
The question has been mooted several times about our having an annual dinner, 
