ANNUAL MEETING. 
779 
73,878 members, associates, and apprentices had been supplied with it monthly at an 
aggregate cost of £18,133. 4s. 5 d., and the number of copies circulated was 886,536. 
The average yearly cost, including the feAv profitable years, was-£604, and the average 
number of persons connected with the Society who were supplied gratuitously, 2462 ; so 
that the cost per copy was about 4£d The conclusion he arrived at, therefore, was that 
it could scarcely be unsafe to venture upon a change in the frequency of publication. 
He was aware that some extreme views were held on the subject, many believing that 
a large profit would at once accrue to the Society, and others that the increased expense 
would half ruin their exchequer; but he could agree with neither. Everything must 
have a beginning, and he did not anticipate any profit from the publishing account in 
the first year, but rather that during the first and second years of its infancy it Avould 
add £200 or £300 to the average cost which he had already mentioned; but after that 
he believed the income would be considerable, if it were so conducted as to meet all the 
requirements of the present age. There was also this to be said, that the Chancellor of 
the Exchequer seemed almost to have known of their intentions, for by the alteration 
in the rate of postage for printed matter, each weekly number would cost only one half¬ 
penny, so that the total postage per month would be no more than at present. He 
had so long taken a deep interest in the success of the ‘Pharmaceutical Journal,’ that 
he was anxious all members of the Society should know some of the particulars of its 
past history. He believed they would then be more inclined to appreciate and approve 
the motives of the Council in introducing the contemplated change ; and in conclusion, 
he would venture to express a hope that in the future as in the past, they might hear 
men of high scientific position and attainment exclaim, as he had heard them, “If the 
Pharmaceutical Society had done nothing more than give to the world its well- 
conducted and valuable Journal, it would have been worthy of all encouragement and 
praise.” 
Mr. Maltby (Lincoln) said he was not going to comment on any paragraph in the Re¬ 
port, but rather to complain of an omission in it. Now that there was so much larger a 
proportion of support received from the country, he had expected that there would have 
been some reference made to a fairer representation of the provincial trade at the govern¬ 
ing body. There were 1480 country members against 364 in London, but on the other 
hand, there were twice as many London as country representatives. 
Mr. Waugh said complaints had been made of the stringency of the examinations, 
and he must not therefore forget the courtesy of his brethren, by which he had been 
allowed to become a member without passing any examination, though he had to prove, 
by giving evidence of good principle, integrity, and singleness of motive, that he was fit 
to be called a volunteer in this good cause. God forbid, therefore, that he should advo¬ 
cate putting the screw on any worthy man, whatever his age, who came forward to pass 
the Modified examination; but he would caution the Council to steel their hearts 
against all appeals for leniency in the case of young men now coming forward to enter 
the profession. And he said this in the interest of the young men themselves. One 
gentleman had objected that if they were too strict, it would have the effect of sending 
them back to their books,—and where else should they be sent ? If ever the Society 
were to attain the position which it was fitted, and now promised to attain, it would 
only be by insisting upon a rigid examination in the case of all young men entering 
the trade. 
The Chairman said with reference to the Modified examination being too strict, or 
not sufficient lenity being shown by the Examiners, he would simply say, from his own 
personal observation, and he might also speak on behalf of the representative of the 
Privy Council, that no really safe man had been known to be rejected. What was 
the real test in every case? not a man’s knowledge of Latin, but his being practically 
safe behind the counter. It was actually modified to that extent. Exception had also 
been taken to the severity of the Preliminary examination in the case of young men of 
one or two-and-twenty ; but the result of these examinations showed that while 40 per 
cent, were rejected, the average of their ages was under eighteen. In fact, they were 
in most cases boys who could well afford to go back and spend some further time upon 
their books. It had been suggested that medical Latin should be introduced instead of 
Caesar, but this had been already done in the last two examinations, the candidate 
having the option of choosing between a quotation from the old London Pharmacopoeia 
and a piece of classical Latin. Mr. Chapman pleaded for an extension of the Modified 
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