354 
ORIGINAL AND EXTRACTED ARTICLES. 
PHARMACY IN CANADA, 1869. 
BY J. BAKER EDWARDS, PH.D., F.G.S. 
The second annual reports of the two Canadian societies formed for the pro¬ 
motion of pharmaceutical science having just appeared almost simultaneously, 
a fitting opportunity is afforded of reviewing the general position of pharmacy 
in British America, and the efforts now being made to obtain restrictive legis¬ 
lation. 
The first of these societies has assumed the somewhat ambitious title of the 
“ Canadian Pharmaceutical Society.” As, however, one of its leading objects 
was legislation, and this legislation could only extend to the upper province, it 
is obvious that the “ Pharmaceutical Society of Ontario ” would have been a 
more legitimate and correct title. I must, moreover, be allowed to express the 
feeling that the time-honoured titles “ Pharmaceutical Society ” and “ Pharma¬ 
ceutical Journal' have been fairly earned by our “ Alma Mater,” and that 
provincial societies would do well to show their originality by adopting some 
other designation for their associations. This remark also applies to the Bill 
which has been brought before the Ontario Legislature, and obtained a first 
reading. It is so closety a copy of the Pharmacy Act, that some of its provi¬ 
sions may not prove best adapted to the circumstances of thinly populated 
country districts. The Society proposes to undertake the work of education, 
aud to fit up a laboratory, library, and museum ; and its first year’s class in 
chemistry has been very successful, about forty students having been enrolled, 
several of whom passed creditable examinations at the close of the session. It 
has also encouraged its country members by offering three prizes (l> for collec¬ 
tions of indigenous medical substances of vegetable origin,” competitors to be 
u members of the Pharmaceutical Society” (sic/). It has produced a 
useful monthly periodical, called the ‘ Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal,’ which 
is, however, largely indebted to extracted matter. This has obtained a fair 
circulation. 
The report does not give the number of members, but states that 129 were 
added during the year; from which we may assume the number to be from 
300 to 350. These are principally country members, residing in the numerous 
small towns of Ontario. The prospects of this Society are very encouraging, 
and it will, no doubt, accomplish much good. 
The constitution, aims, and resources of the Montreal Chemists’ Association 
are modified by its circumstances ; its members are almost entirely confined to 
this city, and it has a large number of Associate members. It has also under¬ 
taken the work of education, and has completed one session, during which a 
course of lectures on Materia Medica was delivered by Dr. Kollmyer, and on 
Chemistry by myself. About fifty practical students attended, with very satis- > 
factory results. 
The second year’s courses are now about to commence, with an entry of 
about forty students. As these are all city employes , the number indicates a 
very general support. Our monthly meetings are also well attended, and prac¬ 
tical subjects are brought forward and discussed. 
In the matter of legislation we have prepared a Bill of a very simple charac¬ 
ter, which we expect to pass shortly. It constitutes a separate body, “ The 
Quebec College of Pharmacy,” for the purposes of registration, examination, 
and licensing graduates in pharmacy, and prohibits the sale to the public of 
certain poisons of a dangerous character, except by persons duly qualified aud 
registered under the Act. 
