186 
BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
It will be seen that of these seventeen Pharmaceutical Associations, eleven 
only have organized any plans for systematic scientific teaching, and some of 
these are far from complete. Prom others, however, very gratifying reports 
were received. At Manchester, for instance, they are able to speak of an 
average attendance at their lectures of fifty pupils. At Leeds, Liverpool, and 
Sheffield, a resolution seems to prevail that their schools shall be really 
worthy of their respective localities, and at Newcastle, the efforts of local 
pharmaceutists have been so far recognized and supported by the authorities 
of the College of Medicine, that the result has been the establishment of a 
Chair of Pharmacy in Durham University, and distinct facilities have been 
offered for complete and systematic, rather than fragmentary study. This 
seems worthy ot especial mention as the programme for the Session 1869-70, 
just issued, places medicine and pharmacy side by side, and defines equally 
the proper order ot study in each. In point of fact, the section of pharmacy 
becomes a “faculty” in all but the name, and thus the claims of pharmacy 
as a profession are for the first time recognized by an English University. 
I must not, however, enlarge upon particulars, interesting and useful 
though they be, but must content myself with the general statements that 
the Pharmaceutical Associations, in connection with which chemistry and 
botany are systematically taught, are eleven in number. 
2nd. Medical schools exist in nine towns, viz. in Cambridge, Birmingham, 
Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield, and Hull. At 
all of these chemistry and botany constitute a portion of the general curricu¬ 
lum of study. Erom what I can learn, however, these subjects do not gene¬ 
rally rank as of the highest importance in the medical students’ course ; they 
are therefore most probably not the best taught subjects in the school, and 
the fees (except where mitigated by arrangement with the local Pharmaceu¬ 
tical Society) are high. It must also be remarked that the towns I have just 
named, with the exception of two, have been already mentioned as contain¬ 
ing organized pharmaceutical associations. 
3rd. Science schools are to be found in 232 towns in England and Wales. 
The word science is here employed to include twenty-three subjects. They 
are not necessarily all taught at every school, but a selection, determined 
pretty much by the demand, constitutes its curriculum. I find that of these 
232 towns, there are 13 whose schools include both chemistry and botany in 
their schemes ; 86 that include chemistry and not botany ; and 2 that include 
botany and not chemistry (I am speaking of the session 1868-9). But again 
I must state that, of these 13 at which both chemistry and botany are taught, 
3 have been already mentioned as possessing organizations in connection with, 
local pharmaceutical associations. 
These are ail the organizations for the systematic study of chemistry and 
botany in the provinces with which I am acquainted. It is quite possible 
some may have escaped my knowledge ; 1 hope such is the case, but I fear 
they can be but few. And so we are brought to this, that about 1700 would- 
be students spread all over the country may be supposed to be constantly 
seeking for scientific instruction, and that fair opportunities are offered them 
in 29 towns, and half opportunities in about 88 more. 
I think every gentleman in this room will echo me in the sentiment that 
this is a condition of things to be deplored, and, if possible, remedied. 
But the mere expression of a sentiment will work no miracle in facts ; nor 
can either the enthusiasm or labour of any individual , however giant-like his 
powers, be of much avail in a case like this. It is the hearty, earnest, co¬ 
operative work of the many that alone can produce the change we hope. I 
shall take the liberty presently of speaking of a little work done upon a small 
scale, and adapted perhaps for small conditions, but attended with very hope- 
