THE JOURNAL. 
231 
does so, passes bis examination, and bis professional education is supposed to 
commence by his receiving that elementary instruction which will prepare 
him for passing the examinations of the Pharmaceutical Society; and as the 
Society requires that candidates should be well acquainted with botany, 
Materia Medica, pharmacy, chemistry, and practical dispensing, even for 
the Minor examination, one would expect that the master would endeavour 
(as he conscientiously ought to do) to train up his apprentice in the way 
he should go, by giving him lessons in these branches of his profession: not 
a bit of it; in many instances from sheer inability, in others, because he 
thinks the trouble unnecessary, knowing that the apprentice answers his in¬ 
terests as w'ell without a knowledge of these “ arts and sciences,” as some of 
the “ outsiders ” term them. No, Sir, the apprentice learns little more in his 
durance than to dole out “ penn’orths ” of medicines, to pound and sift drugs, 
prepare ointments, dispense a little, and if his master has a trade in cattle me¬ 
dicines, to compound stifling and filthy messes. Trusting you will excuse the 
length of this letter, 
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, 
Paterfamilias. 
September 25, 1863. 
THE JOURNAL. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Dear Sir,—I have always been, not only delighted but also instructed, whenever 
I have read the article in your valuable journal by Mr. Ince. There is always 
such a practical common-sense style about them that no one can help liking them, 
and it would be difficult to conceive of a person who could be so soured or biassed 
as to find fault with them. 
The last article in the October number is of such a nature that many must 
feel rebuked, and yet at the same time good-humouredly goaded on to try and 
do something. He ignores town and country distinctions, and shows clearly that 
the whole of the members of the Pharmaceutical Society should act harmoniously 
as one man towards the support of the Journal and its honour. 
It is time that all jealous feelings and fault-findings should be laid aside; and 
although it may be all right enough for every one to have his full liberty to state 
his opinions, yet there is little doubt that the principal objections to our Society 
have come from those who know least about either it or its Journal. It is pos¬ 
sible that other sources may have enabled some to make pounds by certain classes 
of information ; but such individuals ought not to forget the fact, that the in¬ 
formation in our Journal may have enabled many to do the same thing. No 
man who has taken it regularly and read it carefully, dare to say conscientiously 
that it has been of no use to the trade. The formulm ; the opinions of first- 
class pharmaceutists on the preparations used in medicine; the discussions on 
ointments, concentrated infusions, and tinctures ; the preparation of chemicals; 
the history and production of our medicinal plants ; the reports of some of the 
best and most popular scientific lectures of the day ; the information and advice 
always given so gracefully and willingly to inquiring correspondents ; the well- 
written leaders, so pregnant with sound principles and good advice; besides many 
valuable and interesting articles of a miscellaneous nature which run through 
the whole of the volumes, stamp it with the mark of greatness and usefulness. 
In fact, to it, and to it alone, does the trade (even that portion who affect to de¬ 
spise it) as a whole owe the present status to which as a body they have attained 
in the eyes of the public. Instead of young men trying to destroy the operations of 
a Society which for the last twenty years has done so much to advance the know- 
