TAUNTON. 
627 
The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. 
Messrs. R. Spear, E. Wiles, and J. E. Dyson were elected Members, and Messrs. 
Appleton, Atkinson, and Carr, Associates. . 
The Council had much pleasure in accepting the offer of Mr. Ward, M.P.S., to give 
a course of twelve lectures to the students of the Association on “ Pharmaceutical 
Chemistry,” in the lecture-room of the Society, every Thursday evening at nine 
o’clock, commencing March 24th. There being no other business, the meeting broke 
up. 
A Special Meeting of the Members and Associates was held, March 17th, for the 
purpose of considering the proposed legislation as to the regulations to be observed 
in the keeping and dispensing of poisons, as proposed by the Council of the Pharma¬ 
ceutical Society. Mr. E. Wilson, the President, took the chair, and there was a good 
attendance. After eliciting the opinions of all present, and fully discussing the sub¬ 
ject (which incidentally brought out the fact, that all were adopting precautionary 
measures of some kind), the following resolution was unanimously adopted 
“ That this meeting is desirous to express its thanks to the Council of the Phar¬ 
maceutical Society, for its valuable suggestions as to the regulations to be observed m 
the keeping and dispensing of poisons, but feels that, as the heavy responsibilities 
resting upon members of the trade, tend to make them take the most careful precau¬ 
tionary measures to prevent accident, and as every business is so varied and peculiar 
in its character and circumstances, each principal ought to remain at liberty to make 
such arrangements as will best suit his own particular case, and, therefore, any definite 
legislation on the subject would be unwise, inconvenient, and unnecessary. 
The subject of the licence for the sale of patent medicines was then introduced, it 
being deemed desirable to ascertain the views of the Association on the matter, 
although the action of the Council in London in reference thereto is, for the present, 
suspended,—the following resolution was unanimously agreed to 
“ That this meeting is of opinion that it is not desirable to abolish the licence tor 
the sale of patent medicines, but it would not object to a uniform charge of 10*. or 
upwards.” 
This concluded the business of the meeting. 
SUNDERLAND CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
The Monthly Meeting of the above Society was held on Monday, March 8th, in the 
Athenaeum; W. Thompson, Esq., President, in the chair. . 
The lecturer for the evening was Mr. D. B. Sharp, who, addressing himseli to the 
students pointed out with great minuteness the leading points in the science of materia 
medica, particularly in reference to the Minor Examination, showing how easily the 
requisite amount of information could be obtained, with a very little systematic exer¬ 
tion • and illustrating his lecture with samples of genuine and adulterated drugs 
After cordial votes of thanks to the lecturer and Chairman, the Annual General 
Meeting was announced for April 4th. 
TAUNTON. 
Several meetings of the chemists of Taunton have been held during the last few 
weeks, which were attended by the whole of the trade. . , 
The chair was occupied by Mr. Prince, the Local Secretary of the Pharmaceutical 
^°Th<rprovisions of the Pharmacy Act, with the recent regulations, were discussed. 
Other questions of considerable interest were considered, especially the Benevolent 
Fund, which was warmly advocated by several members, and the Chairman intimated 
that lie intended shortly to call upon all personally in its behalf. 
