HALIFAX ANT) DISTRICT CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 617 
At a General Meeting of the above Association, held at the Mechanics’ Institute, 
Feb. 11th ; Mr. Dyer, President, in the chair,— 
Mr. Shaw repeated, in compliance with the expressed wisli of some members of 
the Association, the paper on the study of Materia Medica which lie had previously 
delivered to the assistants and apprentices engaged in this district. Having defined 
materia medica as distinguished from therapeutics, the distinctive positions and mu¬ 
tual relations of the medical practitioner and the pharmaceutist in regard to these 
branches of study were noted. The chemist, it was observed, ought to have an exten¬ 
sive practical and scientific acquaintance with the former ; and, to be of service to the 
medical man, he should also possess a knowledge of the general action of drugs. Both 
should be capable and willing to co-operate, the one to prescribe and the other to 
supply suitable pharmaceutical preparations of drugs for the prescriber. This was 
conceived to be their true relation. In beginning to study materia medica they had to 
do, for the most part, with accurately ascertained facts, and not with theories ; hence 
the value of system. Based on this plan, an elementary epitome of the more important 
facts was then explained, and illustrated in the case of the sennas, opium, and the 
cinchona barks. The advantages of such a plan were pointed out, and an extract from 
an authoritative paper of advice to students, as well as the requirements for the Minor 
and Major examination in materia medica, were read, to show these still further. 
Some general remarks on the three divisions usual in manuals on the subject, as well as 
warnings against coaches and coaching-books and cramming, led to still more minute 
directions as to the manner in which the study of the various subjects should be con¬ 
ducted ; and students were encouraged, because of the ease and interest attaching to 
the method of beginning to acquire drug lore, to persevere till they had qualified 
themselves to pass with honour and credit those ordeals through which they must now 
pass. Careful reperusal of work previously done, deliberate pi’ogress, the use of phy¬ 
sical exercise, the necessity for change and recreation, were recommended as general 
principles on which all true study should proceed. 
The President then dilated on the principal points of the paper. 
Mr. Stott (Sowerby Bridge) proposed, and Mr. Jessop seconded, a vote of thanks 
to Mr. Shaw for his paper. 
Mr. Farr, in supporting, said he had listened with pleasure to the able manner in 
which the lecturer had simplified the study of materia medica ; and he felt sure that if 
their assistants and apprentices followed out the method as now laid down, they would 
easily surmount every difficulty. The facilities for study were vastly different now to 
what they were during his apprenticeship. Then the principals looked with a very 
discouraging eye on such pursuits ; now the Assistants had every opportunity and 
encouragement. 
Mr. Shaw then introduced the subject of the “ Dispensing and Storage of Poisons.” 
He read the three propositions which have been drawn up by the Pharmaceutical 
Council for approval at the annual meeting in May. 
A desultory conversation followed, in the main opposed to the late proceedings of 
the Council, which were thought to be rather arbitrary. The subject was then ad¬ 
journed till next meeting. 
A Meeting of the Members of this Association was held at the Mechanics’ Institute, 
March 11th ; Mr. Stott (Sowerby Bridge), Vice-President, in the chair, who briefly 
introduced the subject of the meeting, viz. “The consideration of the proposed Regu¬ 
lations of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society for the Storage and Dispensing 
of Poisons.” On which, 
Mr. Brook read a paper. He observed that the Council, having decided to recom¬ 
mend to the consideration of the members the precautions to be observed for the safe 
storing and dispensing of the more generally used poisons, it was important that the 
subject should be thoroughly discussed. He said the Sale of Poisons Act was suffi¬ 
ciently intricate Avitliout adding thereto further provisions. There was plenty of work 
for the Council before the Act would produce those benefits the trade had been taught 
to expect ; and he would certainly deprecate anything further than practical recom¬ 
mendations for the consideration of the whole trade. He thought there were no great 
objections to Regulation No. 1, except the vagueness of the term “poison.” The 
VOL. xi. 2 S 
