SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING. 
447 
general business of a chemist and druggist. That was a matter that must be 
fairly met and properly considered, and he had no doubt it would receive the 
serious attention of the Council. He moved the following resolution:— 
“ That in the opinion of this Meeting it is desirable for the protection of the public 
that all future Chemists and Druggists should undergo a due professional examination 
before commencing business ; and it is highly expedient that the Pharmaceutical Society 
make early application to Parliament for an Amended Pharmacy Act, by which the 
legitimate interests of persons already in business (whether as principals or assistants) 
should be protected, and proper provision made for the compulsory examination of those 
who intend to commence hereafter.” 
Mr. Bottle, of Dover, said he rose to second the resolution of his friend, 
which had been so ably proposed to them, with some diffidence, from the fact 
that it was but a short time since he had the honour of being a member of the 
Council, and that he was unwilling it should be construed into an unnecessary 
interference with their prerogative as the initiators by right of so important a 
change. Probably many of them had had more leisure and greater opportu¬ 
nities than members of the Council, of ascertaining, by the straws flying about, 
which way the wind was blowing with regard to the subject then under their 
immediate consideration. He, with others, had come to the conclusion that it 
was desirable they should now endeavour to obtain that for which the Society 
was originally projected, in addition to the education of its members; and 
that as soon as it was practicable, obtain the necessary enactment for making 
examination compulsory. And when they found the Medical Council on the one 
hand, and the United Society of Chemists and Druggists on the other, shaking 
the ground under their feet with some volcanic agency, he thought it behoved 
them to go at once straight to that object which had now for so many years 
been in abeyance. He would not for a moment have his old friends in the 
Council think that he was standing there and advocating that course as antago¬ 
nistic to them. He knew that many of them entertained as liberal views as he 
did towards the outsiders, and he re-echoed all that had been said on that 
point by the mover of the resolution. He should feel it no discredit if they 
admitted into the Society men of his own standing, who had not hitherto 
availed themselves of the advantages of the Society as he had done. There 
might be some little delicacy about the matter, and he would be willing to 
meet it by giving those who had passed the Society’s examination some exalted 
position, by which they might be distinguished from the ordinary body. 
He thought he might however say to them that they had already reaped an 
advantage on what they had paid, and the months they had spent in the 
laboratory, which would enable them to hold their own against any men, be 
they whom they might, that were admitted members without examination. 
He would say to those who came there to be educated, that they must bear in 
mind that though it cost them money, it cost the Society money also, their 
contributions not paying for the education which they received within the walls 
of the Society. He hoped that in opening the door, as was now proposed, to 
men of good standing outside, they would have no such opposition from men 
who had been educated in the Society, as would prohibit the Council from 
entertaining the question. They were not there that day to consider the 
clauses of a new Pharmacy Act, because they were not prepared to go into it, 
though he thought it was a subject that must have their serious attention 
sooner or later; but it would not do for them to be too precipitate about the 
matter. He felt there could be no two opinions as to the necessity and expe¬ 
diency of applying to Parliament for increased powers ; but there might 
be a difference of opinion with regard to its particular provisions. He hoped 
there would be no difference of opinion as to the propriety of their admitting 
the present non-members, and that thereby they would be enabled to increase 
