526 
PROPOSED LEGISLATION AFFECTING PHARMACY. 
Protect tlie present chartered rights of the Pharmaceutical Society. 
These four bases of operation are in themselves just and reasonable, and 
should be met, we think, in a fair and liberal spirit by our Society, which, 
from its twenty years’ experience, its organization, its legal standing, and (we 
hope we shall not be thought vain in adding) the high position of many of its 
members, now occupies the vantage ground, and is recognized by the Legis¬ 
lature, the medical profession, and the trade, as the one Pharmacy Board of 
the kingdom. 
Taking the Bill then as now published in our Journal, we may paraphrase it 
thus:— 
The duty of dispensing medicines is so important, and the danger of its 
being performed by uneducated persons so great, that for the safety of the 
public it is necessary that all who undertake it should be specially educated 
for that purpose ; and that the public should have some means of knowing 
who are, and who are not, qualified for their service, an examination shall be 
enforced, a register kept, and a special title given to those who may in future 
compound medicines : therefore— 
After the 1st day of January, 1865, no person shall commence business as 
a dispensing chemist unless he shall have been examined by the examiners 
appointed under the Pharmacy Act of 1852, and have received a certificate 
from them that he is qualified to be placed on the register of chemists and 
druggists. 
But inasmuch as chemists and druggists who are already in business have 
obtained a vested interest in the trade, of which it would be unjust to deprive 
them, and it may be assumed from their experience that they are qualified, 
this provision shall in no way lessen their rights and privileges, but on the 
contrary, those rights and privileges shall be confirmed and perpetuated by 
placing such persons on the register also ; and on their part it is only required 
that they shall make a declaration, accompanied by the attestation of a duly 
qualified, medical practitioner, that they were in business as dispensers prior 
to the 1st of January, 1865, and that they pay a sum not exceeding one guinea 
for such registration. 
And as there are many men employed as assistants to such chemists and 
druggists, some of whom have been many 3 T ears so employed, their privilege 
of commencing business for themselves at some future time without under- 
going examination shall be preserved also, and they shall be placed on the 
register of assistants, on making application for that purpose, and bringing 
the certificate of two persons that they were so employed prior to the 1st of 
January, 1865, the fee for such registration being five shillings; and all 
persons whose names are on that register will be entitled on commencing 
business to be placed on the register of chemists and druggists on payment of 
a fee not exceeding one guinea : this exemption is limited to persons who shall 
have attained the age of twenty-one years. 
That the [Registrar may keep a correct register, he must have evidence of 
qualification before placing any name on it; and that he may, from time to 
time, erase the names of persons who have died, or alter the addresses of such 
as may have changed their residence, he may write letters to registered 
persons for information, and if such letters are not answered within six 
months, he will be at liberty to strike off the name; but if the party so struck 
off can show cause, the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society can restore 
him to registration. If the Registrar refuse to place the name of any ap¬ 
plicant on the register, appeal may be made to the Council; and if he 
place any name there improperly, the Council may, by order in writing, 
cause it to be removed. If he wilfully falsify the register he shall, on con¬ 
viction, be liable to imprisonment ; and if any person shall wilfully, by 
