THE BILLS BEFORE PARLIAMENT. 
47 
and other predatory animals to commit unlimited depredations upon farm and 
garden stock. Is it to be understood that these animals are to be allowed to 
multiply to any extent that an unlimited supply of food may induce, without 
any efficient means being permitted for their destruction ? And if rooks and 
sparrows are to be protected at the cost of farmers’ crops, why not extend this 
philanthropic legislation by protecting blackbeetles and other animals of a 
strictly domestic character ? 
The Bill for decimalizing our weights and measures having passed the second 
reading under a protest from members of the Government, has not been heard 
of since. It seems to have died of apoplexy. Several important communica¬ 
tions, however, have appeared in the newspapers, in which objections have been 
urged against the metrical system, and many facts stated with reference to the 
operation of it in countries where it has been introduced. This will probably 
give rise to a more full and general discussion of the merits of the proposed 
measure than at first it seemed likely to obtain ; and it is to be hoped be¬ 
fore this or any similar bill is again introduced, that practical men will be able 
to realize, and to appreciate with some degree of accuracy, the consequences of 
such a change. 
The Exhibition Medals Bill is a bill to prevent false representations as to 
grants of medals or certificates made by the Commissioners for the Exhibitions 
of 1851 and 1862. It imposes penalties of fine or imprisonment upon traders 
who commit any of the following offences :— 
1. Falsely to represent that he has obtained a medal or certificate from the 
Exhibition Commissioners. 
2. Falsely to represent that any other trader has obtained a medal or certifi¬ 
cate from the Exhibition Commissioners. 
3. Falsely to represent that any article sold, or exposed for sale, has been 
made by, or by any process invented by, a person who has obtained in respect 
of such article or process a medal or certificate from the Exhibition Commis¬ 
sioners. 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
It will be seen, by a notice at p. 58, that it is proposed to hold a pharmaceu¬ 
tical conference during the approaching meeting of the British Association at 
Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The number and the character of the signatures to the 
invitation afford good grounds for expecting, not only a numerous, but influ¬ 
ential meeting; and from the results of the deliberations of such an assemblage of 
pharmaceutists from different parts of the country, we may hope, not only to 
obtain valuable contributions to pharmaceutical knowledge, but what is perhaps 
equally important, to diffuse a more lively and general interest among the young 
and active members of the profession in the investigation of scientific and prac¬ 
tical questions relating to pharmacy. The subject has already been adverted to 
on two or three occasions in this Journal, and we believe the proposition, which 
has now for the first time assumed a definite and tangible form, has been 
responded to so promptly and with so much cordiality, that a successful issue 
may be confidently anticipated. 
