SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING. 
451 
small men in tlie black country to which he alluded, or similar men in the 
small villages. Mr. Pedler had alluded to their late venerated friend Jacob 
Bell. But what were his views on this question? If they referred to the early 
numbers of the ‘Pharmaceutical Journal’ they would find that he continually 
urged that ultimately compulsory examination must be the rule, and not the 
exception. He had had repeated conversations with him on this subject, and 
knew thoroughly what were his views upon it. He (Mr. Orridge) was one of 
the founders of the Society, and he had always felt deep interest in its pro¬ 
gress. It appeared to him that so long as they continued the voluntary ex¬ 
aminations, the Pharmaceutical Society would not have that standing which it 
ought to have as a national institution. By making the examination compul¬ 
sory, they would greatly benefit the public, and give prosperity and perma¬ 
nence to the Society. He also wished to enrol all thoroughly competent per¬ 
sons now in business. 
Mr. Abraham, of Liverpool, said that so many had expressed a particular 
view of the question, that he, who entertained a different opinion with regard 
to the question then before them, ventured to try if he could not elicit some 
expression of sympathy with his own. Those who had already addressed the 
meeting were evidently in favour of protection. How, bethought it was rather 
too late to raise such a cry. He believed that Government would never grant 
protection in the sense in which the meeting asked it, and he hoped they 
never would, because he did not believe the Society’s object would be pro¬ 
moted by any such means. He believed the Society was progressing, and he 
inferred from the numbers that had been given by Mr. Collins, that though 
the diminution was inevitable, it was perfectly satisfactory, so far as the sta¬ 
bility and usefulness of the institution was concerned. Such a state of things 
must have been foreseen by those who had paid attention to the constitution 
of the Society. They must have foreseen that as the members who had been 
admitted without examination died off or left the Society, their places would 
not in the first instance be filled up by examined and certified Pharma¬ 
ceutists ; but the Society was every year, by means of the examined members 
and their means of a still longer experience, becoming more and more a 
body to be looked up to and universally respected by the members of the 
medical profession. If they did not lower its character by admitting members 
less qualified by study and experience, every person who intended to take a 
respectable position as a Pharmaceutical Chemist would pass the examination 
of the Societ}^; he would no more think of beginning business in a town with* 
out their certificate, than a surgeon now does without his diploma. Many 
were under an erroneous impression with respect to the privileges now pos¬ 
sessed by the medical profession. There was no compulsory examination for 
either branch of that profession, except the pretence of one with reference to 
apothecaries. The Medical Act only gave them power to use a certain title, such 
as physician, surgeon, or apothecary, and made it penal for a person not so 
entitled to use it. They had the same privileges. As Pharmaceutical Che¬ 
mists, they were protected in the use of that title by law, and any one falsely 
using it was, he believed, liable to a penalty. He desired nothing more, and 
he believed none of them would be more benefited by having any further pro¬ 
tection. Class interest was said to mean robbery of the people, and every 
political economist who knew anything of the nature of the opinions held by 
the Parliament of the present day, must know that that definition would be 
given to it by them. He said that such a compulsory measure as they sought to 
obtain, if granted, would be a robbery of their neighbours. They had no right 
to prevent a man from taking medicines which he thought would do him good, 
prescribed b}^ any one he chose ; he might go to the most ignorant and take 
his pills, if he chose, but he (Mr. A.) did not recommend him to do so. He was 
