142 
KNOWLEDGE A SOURCE OE POWER. 
the scientific qualification required by the Pharmaceutical Society as neither 
necessary nor beneficial for those engaged in the practice of pharmacy, and 
young men are thus often deterred from seeking the position they would other' 
wise desire to occupy as pharmaceutical chemists. 
That knowledge gives power, and that power is an object of every man’s am¬ 
bition, will not be denied. The only question that can arise is with reference to 
the kind of knowledge most suited to give the power required. The chemist 
and druggist or pharmaceutist wants the power of so conducting his business as 
to satisfy the requirements and gain the confidence of the public. The power 
of writing poetry, or of speaking the Chinese language, would not help him to 
his object, neither would a knowledge of astronomy or navigation. Even with 
reference to Chemistry, the very high cultivation of it, as a science, may rather 
detract from than contribute to the power of conducting a business which in¬ 
volves close and constant application to many very commonplace operations of a 
technical nature. All this is freely admitted, and the importance of a thoroughly 
practical acquaintance with operations, and the possession of habits and manners, 
which can only be acquired in the shop, is not doubted. But in addition to this 
there is something wanted to make an accomplished Pharmaceutist. What that 
something is it has been one of the objects of the Pharmaceutical Society, and 
those connected with it, to point out and explain. It is such a knowledge of 
Chemistry, Botany, and Materia Medica as implies a systematic study of these 
subjects, and will furnish an adequate knowledge of the natural history, the 
characters, properties, composition, and mode of production, of every article 
used in medicine. This knowledge is not calculated to carry the possessor out of 
his business, or beyond his province as a dealer in drugs and dispenser of medi¬ 
cines. It will not weaken, but on the contrary it will add to his power of con¬ 
ducting his business, and of obtaining an adequate remuneration for the time' 
and labour and capital he has invested. If the knowledge referred to can be ac¬ 
quired by young men without leaving the shop, there is no reason why they 
should not acquire it in that way. The means of doing so will no doubt be 
more frequently presented as those who take apprentices become themselves 
more thoroughly educated. But such means of acquirement cannot be depended 
upon, nor would they be suited for all capacities. There are many young men 
who, to gain a. competent knowledge of the subjects referred to, must for a time 
devote themselves exclusively to systematic study. It is to enable such to carry 
out their intentions that the educational arrangements of the Pharmaceutical 
Society have been provided. The lectures and practical laboratory instruction 
given in the Society’s house are especially designed to supply the sort of know¬ 
ledge which a Pharmaceutist ought to possess, and which he has but rarely the 
means of acquiring in any other way. 
A prospectus in which, with much other information relating to the Institu¬ 
tion, a full description is given of the means of instruction provided, of the 
prizes and other inducements to study offered, and of the examinations instituted 
by the Pharmaceutical Society, has just been prepared, and students will do well 
to obtain this from the Secretary and carefully to peruse its contents. It will 
serve to dissipate erroneous notions which may be entertained, and may help the 
deteiminations of some who are hesitating as to the course they should pursue- 
