58 
PHARMACEUTICAL conference. 
“ The Health of the Vice-President“ The Council and Officers,” proposed by Cap¬ 
tain Walker, and responded to by the Honorary Secretary, Mr. Norman Tate; “The Ma¬ 
nufacturers whose works were visited,” proposed by Mr. Mercer, who associated with the 
toast the name of Mr. William Gossage, to whom he alluded in a very complimentary 
manner; “ The Press,” and “ The Ladies.” 
After all the above toasts had been disposed of, the proceedings terminated, every per¬ 
son appearing well satisfied with the excursion, and the dinner which ended it. 
COLCHESTER, DRUGGISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
At a meeting of the Colchester Druggists’ Association, held July 17th, 1863, 
for the purpose of taking into consideration the two Bills now before Parliament 
having for their object the prohibition of the sale of poisoned grain, and the in¬ 
troduction of the decimal system of weights and measures, the following resolu¬ 
tions were unanimously agreed to :— 
1st. That, with respect to the Bill for prohibiting the sale of poisoned wheat 
or grain, in its amended form, there was, in the opinion of the meeting, so little 
in the measure calculated to affect the interests of the trade, prejudicially or other¬ 
wise, as to render it unnecessary for them to take any action with reference 
thereto. 
2nd. With respect to the introduction of the decimal system : that although 
the members have no objection to the principle of decimalizing weights and 
measures, yet they would prefer not giving any active support to the Bill now 
before Parliament, inasmuch as they think it will be unwise to alter the present 
familiar system until one can be substituted for it sufficiently perfect in its 
details to be final. E. Hammerton, Chairman. 
PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
The undersigned invite their Pharmaceutical brethren to unite in a conference, 
to be held at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, during the Meeting of the British Associa¬ 
tion for the Advancement of Science, which commences August 26th, 1863. 
It will already be known that the idea of such a meeting was broached several 
years since by Mr. Schacht. We believe that the time has arrived for its reali¬ 
zation. Our body now includes some hundreds of members who have received a 
professional training, and the exertions which may fairly be demanded from these 
for the advancement of Pharmacy, require co-operation for their most successful 
development. 
Our names will guarantee that the present proposal is not in the slightest de¬ 
gree antagonistic to the Pharmaceutical Society, and we advisedly consider that 
the object and interests of that Society would be promoted precisely to the ex¬ 
tent that the Conference became successful and influential. 
The objects of such Conference would be as follows:—To consult whether it is 
desirable to establish an Annual Conference on Pharmacy, either meeting at the 
place and time of the Meeting of the British Association, or otherwise. 
If accepting such a proposal, to complete the organization of an Executive; 
to recognize the various Provincial Chemists’ Associations, and consider how 
best to promote their union ; to discuss and allot for investigation subjects in 
Pharmacy which demand inquiry, whether referring to new remedies, or pro¬ 
cesses, or adulterations ; to appoint committees for any allied objects, etc. 
The proposed plan of operations involves no costly outlay, no salaries, no pub¬ 
lishing department: viewed as an experiment, it is a perfectly safe one. 
The gratification to be found in the Meetings of the British Association will 
prevent the possibility of disappointment in the journey, whilst the present 
