LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
205 
places, although to some extent desirable, could not be conveniently legislated for; con¬ 
sequently they were exempted. 
My object therefore this evening is to advocate the desirability, and also the necessity, 
of compulsory education, and examination of all chemists and druggists as a principle ; 
and if we want a proof of the advantages arising from such a course, we have it in the 
fact of its existence and beneficial effect in the medical as well as several other profes¬ 
sions. Prior to the Act of 1815, when no efficient supervision was exercised, by Act of Par¬ 
liament or otherwise, over the apothecary or chemist of that day, and when education 
and examinations were entirely voluntary on the part of young men who intended fol¬ 
lowing the profession, it followed as a matter of course that numbers would commence 
business with anything but an efficient amount of professional knowledge, and the re¬ 
sult would neither be creditable to the practitioner nor advantageous to the public. 
Hence the necessity for enforcing education and examination; and these examinations, 
instituted by the Act of 1815, were, I believe, productive of the greatest good. 
When the late Sir Astley Cooper was examined before a Parliamentary committee 
thirty years ago, in reference to the laws which regulated the medical profession, he 
expressed himself strongly as to the necessity of enforcing them. He said, ‘ l If exami¬ 
nations are not enforced, the profession will never be a profession of much usefulness. 
The apothecaries have done good service to their country by getting their Bill enacted 
and he continues : “ When I began to teach the profession, I used to lament that there 
were no enforcing examinations; education was left to accident, and the result was that 
it was very difficult to make the pupils attend with any degree of regularity. But as soon 
as the Apothecaries’ Bill was passed, ail began to feel that by being idle they might be 
a disgrace to themselves and their families, and they then studied intensely; and I do 
very much attribute to the Apothecaries’ Bill the great improvement the general prac¬ 
titioner has undergone in the last eighteen or twenty years.” 
Now this was the opinion of an eminent surgeon of the advantages of examination 
resulting to his professional brethren. The chemist and druggist of the present day 
seems to occupy something like the same position that the apothecary formerly did, with 
this exception, that he cannot visit and prescribe for patients. With regard to the 
apothecary, many years ago he emulated a higher position than the mere preparing and 
dispensing of medicines. Ambition and interest, those powerful incentives to valorous 
action amongst all classes of the community, took possession of his mind, and to the 
business of the apothecary he attached the profession of the physician, and the Act of 
1815 secured him the enjoyment of that position. 
With respect to ourselves, it is true a step has been made in the right direction by 
the Act of Parliament granted to the Pharmaceutical Society ; but so long as the exa¬ 
minations conducted by that Society are entirely voluntary on the part of those who 
present themselves, it will never be productive of the good which a compulsory Act 
would establish. And here I am ready to admit, as before stated, that a very large 
majority of those in business at present are fully competent for all the duties of the dis¬ 
pensing-counter,—perhaps the minority may be very small indeed, but still sufficient to 
produce mischief occasionally, and bring discredit on the whole trade. I am not going 
to suggest any of the probable causes of the occasional inefficiency of medicine, or 
enter into any statistics as to the accidents that have taken place either from incompe¬ 
tence or otherwise, in order to establish a good case for what I am advocating, because 
I believe that a very large majority of the trade admits its desirability. I will however 
mention one case in point which occurred only a few months ago. An advertisement 
appeared in a Manchester paper intimating the want of a competent dispensing assistant. 
Amongst a number of applications for the situation was one from a person residing in 
a populous district in Lancashire, which I will read to you. 
“ Dear Sir,—Your advertizment came under my notice this morning, for which I 
beg leave to offer myself as a candidate. I am in buisness myself as druggist, etc., but 
owing to the great depression in the cotton-trade, I can with confidence leave my place 
to the managment of the famiely. This may seem strange; should you faveour me 
with an intervew, I can explane all. Wages I leave entirely with you—only don’t be 
afraid of giving me too little, if wages be a great object. I will come for my board 
until you see wether I shall suit you or not. I am 30 years, married, with three 
child len. Testimonials: Mr . Give me a trial. 
[Unknown.] “ Yours truly, ——.” 
VOL. V. 
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