22 
EDINBURGH MEETING. 
vernraent of an Amended Pharmacy Act, at present passing through Parliament, whereby 
the claims of such parties to keep open shop are recognized, although still amenable to 
all the operations in reference to the sale of poisons contained in the Act. 
It may be gratifying to know that, after the passing of the Act, and during November 
and December, 107 appeared before the Examining Board in Edinburgh, while up to 
the present time, and since the commencement of the year, 82 more have been examined. 
The Council here have no hesitation in stating that the operation of the new Act must 
prove of incalculable benefit to all those who, in connection with dispensing medicines, 
really desire to know and practise pharmacy with some degree of credit to themselves 
and satisfaction to the public. 
It is to be hoped that arrangements will be made here, during the approaching sum¬ 
mer, for the admission of apprentices and others to Lectures on Chemistry, Botany, and 
Materia Medica for Session 1869-70. When these have been completed, due intimation 
will be made of the hours and fees in connection with such opportunities. 
In reference to the Benevolent Fund it is pleasing to know that, during the past 
year, upwards of £300 have been distributed. When this Fund was first started, 
£10,000 was the ultimatum to which the promoters aspired. This amount it may fairly 
be stated has been accumulated, and the money funded. The annual proceeds from this 
investment, assisted by voluntary contributions from members and others, will enable 
the Council to distribute more freely substantial aid and assistance to many who, by 
misfortune, ill-health, or other causes, are to a certain extent dependent upon some such 
source as our Benevolent Fund; and the Council here cannot too strongly commend its 
support to the notice of those who are able and willing to assist in carrying on the good 
work. All interested may rest assured that the more liberally and generally sums are 
given, the more certainly will the range of relief to those applying be extended. Sub¬ 
scribers to this fund may be reminded that they have votes in connection with granting 
annuities, and also, that while at the formation of the fund the proceeds were to apply 
solely to those connected with the Society, claims can now be made by all who have 
ever been or ceased to be members of the Society, or by those who may have been regis¬ 
tered as pharmaceutical chemists or chemists and druggists, as well as the widows and 
orphans of such persons. 
The Council of the North British Branch of the Society cannot conclude this short 
Report without noticing the untiring exertions on the part of Mr. Sandford, who has now 
for so many years held the office of President of the Society ; and they take this oppor¬ 
tunity of recording a sense of the part so ably undertaken and successfully carried out by 
him, in connection with pharmaceutical legislation, during the time he has occupied 
the chair of the Society. 
The time has arrived when it is no less a pleasure than a duty to recognize the long 
and arduous services gratuitously rendered to the Society, especially to the North British 
Branch, by our Honorary Secretary ; and in accordance with this feeling, at a meeting 
of a few members of Council, Mr. Baildon proposed that an opportunity should be 
afforded to those who agreed in this opinion, to subscribe towards a testimonial to be 
presented to Mr. John Mackay. That this proposal has been responded to in the most 
gratifying manner, the pieces of plate now on the table, and which will be presented to 
Mr. Mackay to-day at a public dinner in his honour, sufficiently testify. 
It is proper to state that, as a mark of the high estimation in which our Secretary is 
held by our Southern brethren, many have voluntarily come forward to request that 
their names might be added to the Scottish list. 
The following lists of office-bearers were then submitted to the meeting,—subject, of 
course, in the case of the Examiners, to the approval of the Council in London:— 
president —Mr. Wm. Aitken, Pitt Street. 
Vice-President —Mr. Buchanan, of Duncan, Flockhart, and Co. 
Council —President and Vice-President, Messrs. Ainslie, D. R. Brown, H. C. Baildon, 
G. Blanshard, Gardiner, Gilmore, Kemp (of Portobello), Noble, Raimes, J. R. Young, 
President and Vice-President in London ex officiis, Kinninmont (Glasgow), Kerr (Dundee). 
Examiners — Messrs. Aitken, Buchanan, Ainslie, Kemp, D. R. Brown, Young, Presi¬ 
dent and Vice-President in London and Secretary in Edinburgh ex officiis. 
Library and Museum Committee — President and Vice-President, Messrs. D. R. Brown, 
H. C. Baildon, and Mackay. Mr. D. R. Brown to be Convener. 
Secretary — Mr. John Mackay. 
