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TILE TWENTY-THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF 
members, but who claim to have their existing interests preserved uninjured. Now, 
Gentlemen, it is very probable that in attending to both we shall fully please nefther 
of them, each will think we have not done quite as well as we might have done, the 
via media may not meet with universal approbation; we must expect this, and 
be content to bear it; but nevertheless our duty is clear, and we must endeavour to the 
utmost of our power to do that which shall be right and just. With regard to the latter 
class, then, we propose to register every man who can make any reasonable claim to be 
considered a chemist, and preserve to him, in full, every privilege and right that he at 
present possesses. More than this surely we cannot be expected to do ; it cannot be 
claimed that we shall grant privileges. The title of Pharmaceutical Chemist is a mark 
of distinction which is no part of the existing rights of the chemist and druggist. If it 
be said that they should have a voice in the Society by which they are governed, the 
reply is that they are not governed in any way. The Society does not control them or 
regulate their business in any way, and cannot do so, under the projected Act, It regis¬ 
ters them, and thus preserves every right to them, and then shakes hands and has 
no more to do with them unless they wish it; you do not in any way govern them, and 
surely they cannot claim to govern you. It cannot be allowed that they should guide 
the affairs of a society of which they are not members, and to whose advancement they 
have never contributed a shilling. And then to give them the title and privileges of 
Pharmaceutical Chemists would be to break faith with the other class ; the Government 
and medical profession and the public would say,’“You had this trust committed to you 
twelve years ago, in the belief that you would faithfully use it to train up a class of men 
who should be fully qualified for their duties; and believing that you were doing this, 
we have honoured and trusted you, and now you gravely purpose to deceive us all, and 
while we declare that the present state of pharmacy is disgraceful to the country, to 
admit all these men to your highest honours, and actually to dignify them with your 
scientific title. How can we think but with contempt of such a proceeding as this?” 
But I may be told that it is not intended to recommeud that all shall be so admitted, 
but only the best of them, such as shall convince the Council that they are fit for ad¬ 
mission. I reply, that every one who has had any experience will know that such selec¬ 
tion is utterly impracticable. The difference between the most suitable man and the 
most unsuitable shades off by such imperceptible degrees that no line of division can be 
drawn ; there would be constantly discussion and division in the Council itself as to the 
propriety of admitting one and another, and without some test, such as examination, it 
would practically be impossible to refuse any application that came before you. And I 
will go further, and say that I believe the Courts of Law would not allow you to do so, 
on no better grounds than your opinion that a man was unfit. It does not matter so 
long as it is merely an honour, and a voluntary society ; but it will be quite a different 
thing when a man’s living depends upon it. Take, for example, a town where there may 
be five chemists, and four are thus admitted and one refused. The rejected one "would 
say, “ Why do you refuse me the distinction which my neighbour possesses, and thus 
injure materially my business ? Is it because my shop is not so handsome ? What has 
that to do with it? Is it because I sell paint and oils? So does my neighbour. Is it 
because I am not so educated ? How do you know this ? you have never examined us, 
and if you had, you might perhaps have found that I was the better of the two. And 
what right have you, without examination, to say this?” And in spite of all your care 
you would find some man whom you had admitted whose case could not be distinguished 
from the man whom you had rejected; and without some test, such as examination, 
you would find it practically impossible to reject any one whose shop displayed a blue and 
yellow bottle. It is said that if we refuse this we shall meet with formidable opposition. 
I hold the opposition cheaply. I think we may meet with formidable opposition, but 
not from the quarter where it is threatened. The opposition I fear is from the Legis¬ 
lature. You are about to introduce a new principle into commercial law. Hitherto any 
man in England might set up in any trade he thought right, and, however unqualified he 
might be, if people liked to deal with him, he might carry on his trade. You and I may 
set up as watchmakers, or jewellers, or any trade we please, without knowing anything 
about the business ; and more than that, we may act as physicians or surgeons (so that we 
do not take the name), and have the lives of our fellow-creatures in our hands, if they 
like to entrust them to us. I know that we cannot enforce our debts for such attendance, 
in law, but if we like to trust to the honour of those who employ us, there is nothing to 
