PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION IN THE PROVINCES. 
187 
ful results (and this, indeed will be my excuse for intruding myself before 
you at all) ; but before doing so, I am anxious to take advantage of this ga¬ 
thering for the far more important purpose of getting expressions of opinion 
as to the best method of general action ,—so that, perhaps, with our faces re¬ 
solutely set to what commends itself to the majority as the most promising 
course, we might, in our several localities, urge our labours upon some com¬ 
mon plan whereby not only should we be more likely to commence aright, 
but comparisons of progress might from time to time be reported, modifica¬ 
tions suggested, and the general result thereby greatly helped. 
For the purpose, therefore, of eliciting the views of others, I hazard a few 
opinions of my own. 
In the first place, I consider the universal establishment of local pharma¬ 
ceutical associations, as nuclei of action, to be wellnigh indispensable ; and 
I am of opinion that the more a perfectly unselfish object, such as the one I 
am advocating,—systematic scientific teaching for the juniors,—is kept reso¬ 
lutely to the front, and all dangerous and insidious topics, such as “unifor¬ 
mity of prices,” “ good fellowship,’’ and the like, avoided, the better will be 
their chance of general success. 
Naturally, every local association must determine for itself the details best 
adapted for its own special circumstances; but it must be certainly wise in 
all communities of limited extent to concentrate rather than to divide energy, 
and to develop existing agencies rather than to weaken them by unnecessary 
multiplication. I have already indicated that certain agencies, viz. medical 
schools and science schools, lie ready to the hand of our associations in many 
places. With regard to the former, they are perhaps too few in number to 
be of much general help ; but the teaching in the science schools might be 
emploved with the greatest advantage wherever they are found to exist. It 
must be remembered that the principles upon which Government aid is ex¬ 
tended to the cause of education are “help to those who help themselves,” 
and “ payment for results.” The teacher is rewarded by grants of money in 
proportion to the number of pupils he can pass through the ordeal of the an¬ 
nual Government examinations and the positions they can then take. His 
utmost personal interest in the work is thus secured; and the pupils are 
encouraged, in the first place, by the smallness of the fees the teacher is thus 
enabled to demand, and afterwards by rewards of prizes and honours. Our 
local associations will therefore be sure of the hearty co-operation of all the 
science teachers of their neighbourhood, who will naturally be glad to wel¬ 
come the constant supplies of pupils which our ranks are likely to afford ; 
and they will also enlist more of the confidence of the pupils, who will be 
sure to appreciate the advantages offered by a thoroughly well organized sys¬ 
tem of teaching. In those places where at present both our subjects are not 
taught, an effort might be made to show the authorities of the schools that a 
fair number of pupils are ready to attend. This might frequently be suffi¬ 
cient to cause the opening of the required class. 
Even in places where no science classes yet exist, our associations might 
still look in this direction for help. The Department is thoroughly liberal 
in its scheme, and imposes as few limitations as possible upon the bestowal 
of its aid. An individual who has the requisite knowledge can without 
much difficulty become a “recognized teacher,” after which he may claim 
that his pupils be included in the annual examinations, and that he himself 
be “ paid for the results,” even as though he constituted a portion of an esta¬ 
blished science school. Ordinarily, before an individual can become a “ re¬ 
cognized teacher,” he must himself have taken a first or second class in the 
subject at one of the annual Government examinations. Exceptions, how¬ 
ever, are made in the case of a candidate who has taken any university degree, 
o 2 
