MANCHESTER CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
623 
“ The present century opened with the patenting of Savigny’s tourniquets ; and in the 
midst of the descriptions of such preparations as one which enumerates as its ingredients 
ninety-eight British herbs, are many specifications of valuable inventions. A curious 
collection is that which refers to the cure of sea-sickness, sometimes by the most 
astounding mechanical inventions, at others by the use of medicines more likely to 
cause the disorder than to produce it. The processes for the production of auaesthesia are 
also of a remarkable character, consisting, in most cases of the use of freezing mixtures. 
For the treatment of cod-liver oil in numerous ways, there are many patents. Pill¬ 
making and pill-covering also claim many specifications. Very little pharmaceutical 
apparatus appears to have been registered.” 
After alluding in detail to a number of inventions, the author concluded by saying, 
that in going over the abstracts of specifications, two facts had forcibly obtruded them¬ 
selves upon his attention. First, that there are to be found scattered through the pro¬ 
fessional and scientific journals far more inventions of value than have passed through 
the portals of the Patent Office. Secondly, that the majority of patents are examples 
of egregious folly, and never ought to have been patented at all. 
Mr. Redford wished that the Government stamp could be done away with, as it gave 
a kind of prestige to quack medicines, and, also, that the licence to deal in them should 
be abolished. He thought Government should not recognize such medicines at all, and, 
still less, raise a revenue from them. 
The President opposed the abolition of the stamp, as he feared that many chemists 
would then be bringing out nostrums whom the duty now restrained. The stamp is 
also a guarantee to the purchaser that he gets what he asks for. 
Mr. Tate would have an investigation made into the properties and composition of 
medicines before granting a stamp. He proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Sharp. 
The Secretary seconded the vote, which was carried unanimously. 
MANCHESTER CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
The Fifth Monthly Meeting of the session was held in the' Memorial Hall, Albert 
Square, on Friday evening, March 4th. Tea and coffee having been served, Mr. Coun¬ 
cillor Brown, Vice-President, took the chair. Four new Members and one Associate 
were elected. The sub-committee appointed at the February meeting then presented 
the following resolution, which had been unanimously adopted by the Council on 
February 21st:— 
“ That, in the opinion of this Council, legislation as to the keeping and dispensing of 
poisons is unnecessary and undesirable ; a well-digested plan, if issued by the Council of 
the Pharmaceutical Society as a recommendation , would be generally accepted, and meet 
all present requirements.” 
Copies of this resolution had been forwarded to nearly all the Chemists’ Associations 
in the North of England, and the unanimous opinion received had been in favour of its 
adoption. 
It was then resolved by the meeting that the above resolution be forwarded to the 
Pharmaceutical Council, accompanied by a letter enumerating the reasons for its adop¬ 
tion, the chief of which were the following :— 
“ That accidents arising from mistakes in dispensing are not sufficiently numerous to 
call for legislative interference.” 
« That legislation would be inoperative unless accompanied by systematic inspection, 
which would be very objectionable.” 
“'That medical men in whose hands the greater part of the dispensing remains, would 
be unaffected by the proposed regulations.” 
“ That if the penalty now attaching to want of due care, involving as it does not only 
pecuniary responsibility for damage, but ruinous loss of reputation, does not induce 
sufficient care, no legislative restriction would avail with the negligent, whilst the trade 
at large would be hampered and annoyed by unnecessary regulations.” 
Mr. B. Robinson then read his paper on “ Late Hours of Business, and the Effect of 
such on the Progress of Pharmacy.” After reviewing the improved arrangements made 
