SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING. 
453 
but at first he was apprehensive lest they should not have fully expressed the 
views of the members. Had that been the case, it would have been most 
unsatisfactory, but he had every reason to think that by giving free expres¬ 
sion to their opinions they would ultimately arrive at a unanimous decision 
upon the subject then before the meeting. He believed that ver} r few me¬ 
dical practitioners were at all jealous of that kind of prescribing which could 
not be separated from the duties of a chemist and druggist, and which, in fact, 
the latter were, generally speaking, very unwilling to undertake. He should be 
glad if they could get rid of it, but he thought it would be a harsh proceeding 
to refuse to prescribe anything for a cough, and send the applicant to a medical 
man. Indeed, he did not think the medical profession, except those who 
were of no importance, were at all jealous on that point. The final question 
raised by the resolution was, whether compulsory examination was desirable 
or not, and Mr. Pedler appeared to entertain some doubt on that point; but 
he (Mr. Giles) considered now, as he always had done, that Mr. Jacob Bell 
was right in thinking that compulsory examination was desirable, and that 
at a time when free-trade ideas were more dominant than now. They had 
not got compulsory examination because they had not asked for it, but he was 
one of those who thought they should do so ; and with regard to Mr. Abra¬ 
ham’s observation, that there was no hope of our getting class legislation, he 
begged to remind him that, in addition to the medical profession, every at¬ 
torney and every barrister had to pass an examination before he could prac¬ 
tise. There were exceptions to every general rule, but was it expedient that 
there should be an exception in this case ? It was not a question of free trade 
or protection, and with regard to himself personally, he was quite indifferent 
about it. Mr. Bottle had asked what would be the feeling of those who 
had passed an examination, to be brought down to the same level as those 
who had not, and he (Mr. Giles), though lie cared nothing about it personally, 
thought, however, that they should maintain the value of the examination b} r 
adopting some distinguishing mark in the case of those who had passed. He 
did not think it wise to allow every one to assume the name of Pharmaceu¬ 
tical Chemist, which he believed had become of some value, or the effect would 
inevitably be to discredit it. Then, with regard to the present movement; 
was it desirable that the pressure should be from without, and had it been 
so ? He understood that the Medical Council had, for the present, aban¬ 
doned their intention of going to Parliament for such powers. 
The President said the Medical Council had not abandoned it, but it had 
been sent back to the committee for further consideration. The committee 
sent in a report last year to that body, suggesting an amended Medical 
Council Act, which however was not adopted. It was possible that it might 
be again brought up at the next meeting of the Council, but of course he 
could not say what the Medical Council would do with it. 
Mr. Giles said, that under those circumstances he thought it would be 
criminal, and that the Pharmaceutical Society would be abrogating their du¬ 
ties if they did not take action upon it,—it would be a neglect of duty on the 
part of the Council (who, it was known, were strongly interested in the 
welfare of the Society) if they did not move in the matter. Some action was 
looked for from the Pharmaceutical Society, and they ought not to disappoint 
that expectation, otherwise they would be lowering themselves in the estima¬ 
tion of the trade, and at the same time raising the United Society up to take 
their place. The United Society was taking energetic action on the matter. 
It would be necessary for the Pharmaceutical Society to do the same, 
and with regard to what should be done, he was indisposed to tie the hands 
of the Council. He should like the question to be remitted to them, to deal 
with it as they might consider best, even by co-operation with the Medical 
