2 
PROPOSED PENSIONS FROM THE BENEVOLENT FUND. 
the Medical Council, and to the petitions not only of a great majority of the 
chemists and druggists throughout the country, but of about two thousand of 
the leading medical and other scientific men, who have advocated our cause ; 
and all this testimony in our favour cannot fail to further our object on any 
future occasion. Even the experience we have acquired in our unsuccessful 
efforts at legislation may be of use in guiding us to a better result hereafter. 
In going to Parliament with a view to the accomplishment of w T hat we want, it 
is necessary to study the feelings of the Legislature, to observe what principles 
are recognized in legislation, and to shape our course in accordance with the 
prevailing indications in these respects. 
If the opinions of the Select Committee are to be taken as representing those 
of the Legislature, it will be necessary that we should change our course or re¬ 
linquish our object. We cannot think that the decisions of the Committee are 
altogether in accordance with the opinions of the House of Commons, nor is it 
certain that the new House will precisely accord with that which is now dying 
out; but it seems probable from what has occurred on the present as well as on 
former occasions, that the regulation of the sale of dangerous drugs will be 
made the ostensible object of any extension of pharmaceutical legislation that 
we may be able to obtain. 
It would be much to be regretted in passing any measure relating to this sub¬ 
ject, that there should be no provision made for the registration of existing 
chemists and druggists, and that the qualification to be required in those who 
in future shall be registered, should relate to the sale and not to the compound¬ 
ing of dangerous drugs. These are points with reference to which the sugges¬ 
tions of the Committee are very defective, but if these defects were remedied, it 
would be quite possible, we believe, to frame a Bill in accordance with the other 
suggestions made that would meet the requirements of the case, and afford a 
reasonable prospect of a satisfactory accomplishment of what is required. 
THE PROPOSED GRANT OF PENSIONS PROM THE 
BENEVOLENT FUND. 
We cannot refrain from congratulating our readers on the announcement in 
this present Journal that the Council of tiie Pharmaceutical Society has decided 
on granting two annuities from the Benevolent Fund, each of the value of £30, 
if proper candidates present themselves for such assistance. 
The scheme, arranged some years ago, for the distribution of this fund, con¬ 
templated permanent as well as casual relief, but it was deemed advisable to 
delay such application until the invested capital had reached the sum of 
£10,000. That proposition was, we believe, made when the subscription to the 
Pharmaceutical Society, both from members and associates, was higher than 
it now is, and when periodical grants might be calculated on from the 
General to the Benevolent Fund. On the reduction of the subscription to half 
the original sum, the income of the Society (which has other great duties to 
fulfil) did not justify these grants, and the Benevolent Fund consequently did 
not increase in the anticipated rate. It is, however, gratifying to know that the 
Council never felt it necessary to refuse aid to an applicant, and yet never 
trenched on “capital” in granting it. But of late years a more active spirit 
has been brought to bear on this question, and a considerable augmentation, 
both in donations and annual subscriptions, has taken place,—an augmentation 
sufficient to justify the commencement of annuities before the proposed stan¬ 
dard of capital has been reached. We presume, in sound policy, it is intended 
still to limit the expenditure, so that until £10,000 be accumulated it shall 
