THE LAW AFFECTING PHARMACY IN IRELAND. 
289 
dilute sulphuric acid; and it has retained it all through, although very well 
known to be the name of a substance containing much more than pure beberia. 
We hope, in your December number, to have more to say about the sulphate of 
beberia. 
We are, dear Sir, your obedient servants, 
J. F. Macfarlan and Co. 
Edinburgh, Oct. 14 th, 18G9. 
THE LAW AFFECTING PHARMACY IN IRELAND. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Sir,—I have just observed with great satisfaction Mr. Abraham’s notice rela¬ 
tive to pharmacy in Ireland, reported in the August number of the ‘ Pharma¬ 
ceutical Journal,’ having long considered that the transfer to the Pharmaceutical 
Society of Great Britain of the misapplied powers entrusted to the Dublin 
Apothecaries’ Hall in 1791 could be but a question of time; and I am strongly 
of opinion that no time could be more opportune than the present. 
Compulsory pharmaceutical education is now the law of England, as it has 
been that of Ireland for upwards of seventy years, however much of late over¬ 
laid by oppressive conditions, neither required for the efficient discharge of the 
proper duties of the apothecary, nor authorized by the Irish Apothecaries Act of 
incorporation ; and I can see no valid reason why the holder by examination of 
the Pharmaceutical Society’s Major diploma should not be at liberty to practise 
pharmacy in Ireland, as well as in any other section of her Majesty’s dominions. 
I must, however, strongly deprecate the extension to this country of the Mo¬ 
dified Examination devised to protect in England the interests of an uneducated 
class of dispensing chemists, such as has no existence here. With this single 
reservation, I trust the proposed movement will receive the cordial co-operation 
of every person in Ireland at all desirous of the advancement of pharmacy. 
A short Bill extending to Ireland the authority of the Pharmaceutical Society, 
and authorizing the immediate introduction of its full curriculum, would not 
interfere with any existing rights; no individual at the present moment being 
legally entitled to keep open shop for dispensing medicine in Ireland without a 
licence from the Dublin Apothecaries’ Hall—only to be obtained by an examina¬ 
tion which, I must do the Hall the justice to say, has always been of a very effi¬ 
cient character, though of late years, constituting but a portion of the examina¬ 
tion for its medical certificate. 
With regard to the Dublin Apothecaries’ Hall, I conceive there can arise no 
difficulty whatever. Having long since looked down contemptuously upon its 
original constitution, and having succeeded in transforming itself into a school of 
medicine, it should rejoice exceedingly at being relieved from the burden of an 
irksome duty, derogatory to its present dignified position and exalted functions, 
the distasteful duty of educating the mere apothecary—a requirement no longer 
to be postponed. 
Wishing Mr. Abraham’s proposed movement therefore the success to which 
sound policy and simple justice fully entitle it, 
I remain, your obedient Servant, 
John Grattan, 
Licentiate of the Dublin Apothecaries' Hall. 
Belfast, Oct. 20, 1869. 
