206 
LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
Three persons are named as references (“testimonials ” is the word used). 
Now. here we have evidence either of misfortune, or perhaps something worse. But 
far be it from me to cast any ungenerous reflections on any who, like this person, have 
been perhaps reduced by the hard hand of misfortune to the cruel necessity of abandon¬ 
ing wife, family, business, and home, in order to eke out. an existence, a mere existence, 
with a stranger. We are all aware of the fearful amount of destitution which has been 
occasioned by the want of that, staple of our manufacturing industry, cotton, in conse¬ 
quence of the war which has been devastating the American continent during the last 
two years, and which, unfortunately, continues to rage as fiercely as ever; and this circum¬ 
stance must have seriousl} r crippled the resources of those tradesmen who were patronized 
chiefly by the cotton operatives. But we have to note almost the entire absence of even 
the common rudiments of education, and that is more immediately the subject which en¬ 
gages our attention to-night. The writing is bad, and the orthography is seriously at 
fault, and the wording of the letter is not of that business-like character which might 
be expected from one in his position. 
Some persons may possibly suggest that although ihis applicant’s education appeared 
defective, be yet might understand the practical part of his business tolerably well ; but 
this is hardly probable, considering that ours is a trade which necessarily involves almost 
the constant use of the pen, the reading of formulae, prescriptions, and books treating 
on the various branches of our business, as botany, chemistry. Materia Medica, phar¬ 
macy, etc. Now, I should imagine that there will not be a difference of opinion as to 
the desirability of some effectual means for preventing persons of this class engaging in 
the responsible duties of our profession ; and I presume there is no gentleman here 
present who would feel perfectly satisfied with our brother-chemist alluded to above, 
preparing and dispensing any medicine, either for himself or any member of his family; 
and possibly some may say that they w'ould never think of engaging such an assistant. 
That may be true ; but there are others perhaps who do not draw their income from 
aristocratic localities, or even from the middle classes of the community, who might 
not be so scrupulous. And besides, we have evidence in the letter that he is already in 
business on bis own account, and therefore patronized by some of her Majesty's su! jects ; 
and as the law of this country recognizes the value of the peasant’s life as equal to that 
of the peer, I think that the poor should not be forgotten by the advocates for free trade 
in physic. 
In this age of progress and improvement, the subject is one which assuredly will not 
be allowed to rest; its accomplishment, I believe, will be merely a question of time. 
I certainly cannot understand why, if the physician and general practitioner be required 
to prove their competency to prescribe medicine, the man who prepares and dispenses 
that medicine should not also give evidence of being thoroughly capable of performing 
bis part. In the treatment of disease, if medicine is of any avail at all, it requires to 
be appropriate, according as past experience may suggest: this of course being the pro¬ 
vince of the prescriber ; but it is of equal importance, if success is expected to follow, 
that the remedy should be definite and unvarying in its character and composition. And 
considering that we have to deal and manipulate with some of the most deadly sub¬ 
stances, a thorough knowledge of their character is of the utmost importance, as offering 
a partial guarantee against accidents. 
And if this principle of compulsory examination applies io the medical profession, 
why not to the pharmaceutical? There is certainly more reason that the public should 
be fully assured of their competency, than that the members of several other professions 
should be compelled to give evidence of theirs. I need not remind you that all captains 
and mates sailing from this or any other port of the United Kingdom, must undergo 
examination as to their knowledge of the laws and science of navigation before being 
entrusted with the command of a vessel, and the care of human life. And it seems 
strange that the governing powers should be so remiss in their duty, in not insisting 
upon proof of competency of dispensers of medicine ; for when a prescription is given 
to a pharmaceutist to prepare, the life of the patient in a number of cases is certainly in 
his hands, and his responsibility is therefore quite as great as that of the physician, the 
apothecary, or the captain of a vessel. I am not here advocating anything like the 
system which obtains on the Continent, where, in addition to the examinations, the num¬ 
ber of pharmaciens in a town or district is limited, and the charges for medicine, and other 
minor matters, are arranged by the Government. Such a system would not work in 
