556 
LEGISLATION AFFECTING PHARMACY. 
all medical and chemical matters, took in the ‘ Lancet,’ they would find the leading 
points of the Act,with some very judicious remarks, in last week’s number of that period¬ 
ical. The Chairman went on to say that he augured well for the success of their appli¬ 
cation to Parliament, when it was thus supported in the leading medical journals. He 
read the heads of the proposed Bill, commenting upon, and pointing out the parts 
which would constitute the distinctions between the “Pharmaceutical Chemist” and 
the “ Chemist and Druggist.” The Bill proposed “ That, after a certain date, all exist¬ 
ing chemists and druggists should be registered as such, upon payment of a fee of one 
guinea, and that no person should keep open a shop for dispensing prescriptions unless 
registered as a pharmaceutical chemist under the Pharmacy Act, or as a chemist and 
druggist under the proposed Act. That the examiners and registrars should be the same 
under both Acts, and that power over these should be in the hands of the Pharmaceutical 
Council; that a due register should be kept and published annually, and penalties in¬ 
curred on its falsification, or obtaining registration by false representation, and for keep¬ 
ing open shop for dispensing prescriptions without being registered. The Act also pro¬ 
vides for evidence of qualification to be given before registration, and of examination 
on the part of those who shall commence business after the coming into operation of the 
Act; also as to assistants and associates under the Pharmacy Act, to the reservation 
of the rights of medical men, and the administration of the Benevolent Fund.” 
The Chairman remarked that as he hoped the Bill would be printed ere long, all would 
then have an opportunity of considering its provisions, which he hoped would be such 
as to satisfy and convince them of its being worthy of their hearty support. In reply to 
queries as to the admission by chemists to a full participation in the advantages to be 
derived from membership with the Pharmaceutical Society, Mr. Hollier expressed his 
hope that with the obtaining of an Act for registration of all chemists and druggists, the 
Council -would, at the same time, obtain the alteration of their bye-laws, which could be 
done (to a certain extent) with the sanction of the Secretary of State, by which they 
would be able to admit, under definite restrictions, those chemists of a certain standing 
who aspired to the higher title as members of the Society, without the necessity of an 
examination. He thought this might be done without in any degree lowering the status 
of the Society. In reply to inquiries as to whether the United Society intended to apply 
for an Act of registration or incorporation, the Chairman stated he knew nothing. He 
conceived it would be far better to act unitedly for the obtaining of an extended Pharmacy 
Act, than for two, and perhaps fail to obtain either, especially when no Act the United 
Society would be likely to get would give them more advantages than those proposed by 
by that of the Pharmaceutical Council. Some other discussion ensued, when Mr. Jones 
proposed the following resolution:— 
“ That this meeting learns with great satisfaction that the Medical Council have 
abandoned all further legislation in regard to the proposed amended Medical Bill, many 
of the clauses of which has called forth so unanimous an opposition and condemnation of 
the chemists of this kingdom, as an unjust and uncalled-for interference with their rights 
and privileges; and this meeting would still further express its satisfaction that the 
Pharmaceutical Council have, in accordance with a resolution passed at a special meeting 
of their Society, on the 17th March, determined to apply to Parliament for an amended 
Pharmacy Act, and this meeting pledges itself to support by every means in its power 
the endeavour to obtain snch an act, which shall have for its object to provide for a proper 
educational qualification on the part of those who shall prepare, compound, or dispense 
medicines, with, at the same time, a reservation of the existing rights of all those who 
may be now or shall be at some future time to be named, in such an Act, engaged in the 
trade or profession of a chemist.” 
He remarked that if the Pharmaceutical Society dealt as fairly and as liberally with 
the general body of chemists and druggists as the Chairman expressed, it would meet with 
their hearty and earnest support. 
This was seconded by Mr. Bishop, and carried unanimously. 
It was proposed by Mr. Swinnerton that copies of the resolution, as well as an account 
of this meeting, be forwarded to the editor of the ‘Pharmaceutical Journal,’ and of the 
‘ Chemist and Druggist,’ with the hope that they would give to it, by their publications, 
an equal - and extended publicity as to that of the former meeting held in this room. 
This was seconded by Mr. Gare, and carried. 
It was then proposed by Mr. Bishop, and seconded by Mr. Bell, “ That the best thanks 
