404 
LEEDS CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
ments,—the influences which led to this being often more lucrative prospects in connec¬ 
tion with manufactures or commerce. When the chemist was thoroughly furnished with 
the multifarious information required in his own business, it was not wonderful if he 
found more tempting opportunities of applying this knowledge upon a larger scale than 
the retail counter could furnish. The close confinement of a shop was another and very 
different influence, which, by its injurious effects upon health, thinned our ranks and left 
us a smaller proportion of elderly men than in most other trades. 
Mr. Brown then cntcied upon the main subject of his paper, which might be termed 
the ethics of prices. He expressed an opinion that the chemist who had achieved suc¬ 
cess in business, ought not to charge lower prices than he could have afforded when en¬ 
tirely dependent upon his sales for making a livelihood. Exceptions to this duty of 
maintaining prices were admissible towards the really poor class of customers ; and since 
in some districts, all the clients of a chemist belonged to this class, he would be exempt 
from the rule. Again, on the other hand, in some districts, where wealth and luxury 
prevailed, greater accommodation and attention would be required by customers who 
might be charged proportionately higher. The author brought forward many reasons 
why sound morality claimed such a rule as he had laid down in his paper: let competi¬ 
tion be in quality and in the style in which business was done, not in trying to under¬ 
sell a neighbour. The paper concluded by a consideration of the desirability of a fixed 
price current to be observed by all chemists in the towns where it was adopted. The author 
was disposed to think favourably of such a compact as this implied, and brought forward 
the case of the price list that has been for several years used by the chemists of Edin- 
burgh. 1 his tariff includes both retail sales and dispensing; in the latter case, the 
chemist w ho first dispenses a prescription marks it with the standard price in a cipher 
known to all the trade. This ensures uniformity in future charges. In conclusion Air 
Brown read a letter which he had received from Mr. Ainslie, of Edinburgh ffivine-a* re¬ 
port of the working of the list alluded to 6 ’- 6 6 
“ Mr. Edward Brown, 
‘‘Dear Sir,—I have much pleasure in replying to your note of 'the 4th instant, re¬ 
garding the woiking our retail price list. We have a retail price committee, say of 
twelve gentlemen, and a convener. We meet generally twice a year to make any altera¬ 
tions requned; but if any article advances very much, and rapidly, our convener calls us 
together to fix what our price is to be, but as a rule we do not alter our prices for a 
trifling variation. I believe our list price is adhered to by all whom we call the respec¬ 
table members of the trade. 
But I must state the feeling of the trade, as a whole, to be that this list is a great 
comioit, and not only a comfort, but a considerable pecuniary advantage. I have Ion 0- 
been of opinion that chemists, especially dispensing chemists, have not been remunerated 
lor their labour and responsibility; and this movement of ours, although not all that one 
could wish, is decidedly a move in the right direction. Being a member of this price 
committee, I was present at a meeting fourteen days ago ; we made several minor altera¬ 
tions, to take effect on January 1st, 1866. Amongst the more important, I may mention 
tinctures ; that is, those previously charged 5d. oz., or such as tr. gent, co., sp. am. arom., 
etc., are to be in future Qd. oz.; cod-liver oil, the same price as castor oil, in our list, 8 oz! 
and bottle, Is., although the prices generally exclude bottles. If I can give you further 
information, it will afford me pleasure, as I think it is our duty as brethren to assist each 
other in the advancement of our trade interests. 
“ I am, dear Sir, yours respectfully, 
“ Wm. Ainslie.” 
A lively discussion followed the paper, in which many members took part: and the 
general feeling was favourable towards a consideration of the subject of a price list. 
Mr. Reynolds, F.C.S., exhibited a series of sixty models of fungi, which he had lately 
received from the Continent. He took the opportunity also of rapidly reviewing a num¬ 
ber of species belonging to this Natural Order, having an interest to mankind either from 
useful qualities or their destructive influences upon animal or vegetable life. 
Mr. Ward moved, and Mr. Thompson seconded, a vote of thanks to the authors of 
papers. 
