346 
THE BENEVOLENT FUND. 
the Bolton Act to which we have referred, the specific restrictions apply to 
the sale of any virulent poison, and questions might be raised as to what is a 
virulent poison, and also as to what constitutes the sale of such poison ? 
Since the conviction of Mr. Goodman, a deputation from the Bolton District 
Association of Chemists and Druggists, consisting of Messrs. Blair, Dutton, 
Knott, Harwood, Hart, Terry, Payne, and Griffin, waited upon the Mayor 
for the purpose of conferring with him as to the discretionary power to he 
exercised in carrying this Act into operation. Mr. Dutton urged upon the 
Mayor that it was impossible to define what virulent poison was, and that if 
the Act were carried out to the letter, it would be impossible for chemists 
and druggists to carry on their business, as even the dispensing of most im¬ 
portant medicines would be subject to the imposed restrictions. The Mayor 
asked the deputation what they wished him to do ; and they replied that 
they wanted the magistrates, in any future case that might come before them, 
to consider the difficulty in which druggists were placed, and not to be strict 
in applying the law except in cases of gross neglect. We think the Bolton 
chemists have acted very judiciously on this occasion, and we only regret 
that they were not equally alive to their own interests when the local Act 
was passed in 1854. If it be necessary to provide for the public safety, in the 
sale of poisonous substances, by legislative enactment, this ought to be done 
by some well-considered general measure in which the interests of all parties 
are studied, and as far as possible protected, rather than by the partial, im¬ 
perfect, and discordant legislation which local Acts, such as we have referred 
to, present. 
THE BENEVOLENT EUND. 
“ The wealthy rarely fail 
To find some reason why the poor deserve 
Their miseries! Is it idleness, I pray you, 
That brings the fever or the ague fit P 
That makes the sick one’s weakly appetite 
From dry bread and potatoes turn away P 
Is it idleness that makes small earnings fail 
For growing wants ?”— Southey. 
A review of the proceedings connected with the Benevolent Fund during the 
year 1865 may be both profitable and appropriate at the commencement of a new 
year, and we think the retrospect cannot fail to afford satisfaction to the readers 
of this Journal. 
In January last we pointed out the determination of the Council to bring the 
resources of this Fund into more active* operation, their resolution to give 
the entire body of Members, Associates, and Subscribers the privilege of elect¬ 
ing pensioners, and, in cases of extreme urgency, and within certain limits, to 
provide a Home by purchase in one of the National Orphan Asylums for the 
children of deceased Members. We also gave publicity to the regulations for 
carrying out those desirable objects that had been devised by a Special Com¬ 
mittee, and adopted by the Council; and we strongly urged the duty of assist¬ 
ing the needy and the helpless who are connected with us, and of augmenting 
the means that are dedicated to the work of charity. 
Let us see what has since been done. 
1. The orphan child of a member (who had punctually paid his subscriptions 
