208 
BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
At various periods of our history disjointed efforts have been made to 
associate the Chemists and Druggists in some combined form ; but until our 
much-lamented friend, Mr. Jacob Dell, undertook the matter in 1840-41, 
little was done towards a regular organization. When the £ Pharmaceutical 
Transactions ’ appeared and met with so much encouragement, it was deter¬ 
mined to establish the Journal and the Society,—the former to record more 
fully the proceedings of the latter,—and Mr. Bell, in speaking of the consti¬ 
tution of the Society, said, the ultimate objects contemplated are “ The union 
of the Chemists and Druggists of Great Britain into one ostensible recog¬ 
nized and independent body, the protection of their general interests, and 
the advancement of the art and science of pharmacy,” and for this purpose 
to establish a school of pharmacy, etc. etc. This was done, and all then in 
business were allowed to join the Society, with the distinction of founders. 
It was thought desirable at first to show what could be done without any 
legislative enactment, but at the expiration of five years it was thought the 
time had arrived when some Parliamentary measure might be obtained. In 
1843 an Act of Incorporation was obtained, and a Bill was drawn up con¬ 
taining compulsory clauses, so that all who failed to register themselves within 
one year of its passing should be subject to the same pains and penalties as 
those commencing without the Society’s diploma. This, however, was 
obliged to be omitted in the Bill, which was ultimately passed in June, 1852, 
allowing those who had commenced in the meantime, and up to May, 1853, 
to become members, and of this privilege about 1200 availed themselves, but 
as they were admitted under the sanction of a bye-law of the Societjq Mr. 
Dickinson, a member, disputed the legality of the Council’s proceedings, and 
carried his opposition to the Court of Queen’s Bench, and afterwards to the 
Court of Exchequer ; however, he was unsuccessful, and the Society has 
been examining and granting diplomas successfully ever since, and not until 
this year was it contemplated to again relax the law ; to which, however, I 
have already adverted. \ 
The question has been asked in the Journal, Have we progressed? And 
the querist answers by pointing to the fact of the Society having a public 
recognition in compiling the new Pharmacopoeia, and by the Government 
otherwise acknowledging the Members and Associates of the Society in their 
appointments of Medical Dispensers. These are certainly evidences of pro¬ 
gress ; but we must aim at more than this,—we must indoctrinate the public, 
and endeavour, by our example, to make the youth under our care feel the 
necessity of a practical knowledge. It is sometimes said, and I have seen it 
advertised, that Assistants, Associates of the Society, are objected to. This 
would seem to indicate some defect in the mode of examination. But whilst 
I cannot admit that an exceptional case should be taken as a rule, I am not 
quite certain that too much prominence is not given to the theory of our pro¬ 
fession over the cheese-and-bread department; and I have heard it said, since 
it has been my privilege to have a seat at the Council, that the Journal does 
not sufficiently represent the trade department, and as this has been urged 
upon the Editors, I am sanguine that some improvement will take place in 
this particular. On the whole, considering that we are now recognized in 
high places ; that the Assistants, as a rule, are more in demand and better 
paid for their services than formerly, therefore, I think, the review will jus¬ 
tify the conclusion that we are “ progressing.” 
This paper was written some time ago, and before the important alterations 
that have made compulsory examinations imperative. The provisions of the 
recent Act of Parliament are so well known, it is unnecessary further to 
allude to them here. 
