ANNUITIES FROM THE BENEVOLENT FUND. 
387 
never received any complaints, but, on the contrary, many letters of tlianks 
from all parts. At tlie present time, when its good effects are being exten¬ 
sively propagated, the Pharmaceutical Society of London raises a distur¬ 
bance. In my opinion, this indicates a further success, especially as in France 
its use increases more and more, without its receiving any aid from notice in 
the public papers. 
“ My formula is entered in the register of the pharmacy of Messrs. Eoberts 
and Co., and these gentlemen can state whether my saccharide, of which sugar 
of milk is only the vehicle, does not contain sulphur, iodine in the form of 
iodide of potassium, bromine, and hypophosphite of lime. Moreover, they are 
intending to authenticate this preparation, which is now being submitted to 
analysis for that purpose. 
“ I shall be much obliged if you will get an article inserted in the next 
number of the ‘Pharmaceutical Journal,’ in justification of Messrs. Eoberts 
and Co. and Messrs. Wilcocks and Co., so as to relieve them from all respon- 
sibilty. “ I am, etc., 
“ Dr. L. Thiere. 
“11th Dec., 1865.” 
ANNUITIES FEOM THE BENEVOLENT FUND. 
TO THE EDITORS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Gentlemen,—I addressed a letter to you, on the above subject, in October 
last, (about a week before the election of two annuitants took place,) and in 
the November number, page 296, my letter is kindly acknowledged ; but no 
reply was sent to my inquiry. 
In October last I received a voting-paper for the above election, and that 
paper states that “ Persons eligible for Belief are such necessitous Members or 
Associates whose connection with the Society has been of not less than Four 
Years date, and such Widows and Orphans of Members or Associates as are in 
necessitous circumstances.” 
The same paper admits that the late George Goldfinch had not been con¬ 
nected with the Society four years at the time of his death; in fact, the only 
place where his name can be found in the list of members is in the twelfth 
volume of the Pharmaceutical Journal, at page 521, yet his widow is placed as 
one among four approved candidates. Can a widow acquire a claim on the 
fund, although her husband did not live to attain to such claim? In the 
November number Mrs. C. Goldfinch thanks her friends for their liberality. 
Was such liberality compatible with the rules of the Benevolent Fund of the 
Society? I admit that it is an important step gained for the members to know 
the names of persons obtaining relief. In the Journal for the present month, 
at page 302, I find that the Council have made a grant of £5 to the widow of a 
late member at Birmingham ; of course, it is not intended that the members 
generally should know who the late member was, whose widow received £5 
from the Council, “who, we all know, are honourable men.” In dispensing 
charity, the left hand should not know what the right hand does. Should the 
Members and Council stand in the position of the two hands? 
If it were possible, I should like to see a rule or bye-law, allowing members 
to purchase a small annuity, by sinking a sum of money in the fund, according 
to their age, seniority of membership, election, etc. 
I am, Gentlemen, 
Your obedient servant, 
Joseph Leay. # 
Chilcompton, Bath, December 9th, 18G5. 
*■ As to the non-appearance of Mr. Leay’s letter of October 21st, in the Journal, we need 
