100 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[August 3, 1S72t. 
Sir,—With regard to the subject of payment for results, ‘ G. 
T.’ states (July 6th, 1872) that I had better leave the matter 
in abler hands. What authorizes £ G. T.’ to say so ? Although 
I write anonymously, it is not that I am unqualified to write. 
Permit me to tell £ G. T.’ that I was till last year a science 
teacher, and that I have had very large science classes under 
my instruction; that I know every part of the Government 
system; and that I speak as a practical man. 
I should like Mr. Schacht to say why be favours the Go¬ 
vernment system. He ought not to favour it simply because 
it is adopted by our Government. Were Mr. Schacht to 
tabulate the results of the Government schools of these last 
three years, and notice the narrow escape the system had 
from a collapse—at the same time the secession and disgust 
of both teachers and students, as well as the disadvantages 
of the scheme—he would, 1 think, recommend anything but 
it. 
I much regret that others of practical experience have not 
spoken against the imitation of the Government scheme. 
Mr. Schacht has yet to show that the scheme adapted (even 
if it were so) to the Government is adaptable to the Phar¬ 
maceutical Society. I should have been glad to see more 
originality—some scheme that the Pharmaceutical Society 
has really given birth to. 
Would Mr. Schacht be disposed to reconsider his scheme, 
and leave out such parts as are objectionable, or such parts 
as are not adaptable to the Pharmaceutical Society ? 
The system of payment for results is hateful to every one 
who has experienced it. I fancy that the scheme cannot be 
adopted into our Society, simply from the objection of ex¬ 
amined men to allow some of the interest of their money de¬ 
posited in the Society to be distributed to the students of the 
country. 
Mr. Reynolds and I are not the only persons who consider 
that it is neither necessary nor desirable in every case to miti¬ 
gate the expenses of students. 
The time may come when there will perhaps be no occasion 
for any country schools. To bear out this remark, I will 
advance my own case. I am an examined pharmaceutist, 
and delight to teach. On my assistants wishing to attend 
the local association, I reply that there is no necessity for it; 
that in my pharmacy are more specimens than in the local 
museum; that in my library, which all my young men are 
invited to use, are more books and better ones than in the 
local library; that if they require instruction, I am happy 
to give it; that when they converse about the examination 
subjects, I am happy to converse with them. In these re¬ 
spects my case (now that the Society has in the field a mag¬ 
nificent army of trained men, which army is increasing year 
by year) is not unparalleled. 
As I write, Mr. Schacht’s system seems to me more like 
the oolite system of geologists than anything else. The 
oolite at one time teemed with life; now it is a mass of 
of dead things fossilized. The Government system was full 
of life; now it is dead, or fossilizing, as may be proved by the 
revolt of teachers and other circumstances. What the geolo¬ 
gists do of the oolite we, can also do of Mr. Schacht’s sys¬ 
tem, viz., give an ideal representation of the society, com¬ 
mittee, teacher and student under it. 
I am glad to observe Mr. Schacht’s remark, ££ Details to 
be understood as incomplete.” 
A COUNTEY MaJOE ASSOCIATE. 
Miceoscopical Specimens Illusteative op the 
Mateeia Medica. 
Sir,—Mr. D. Hanbury having very kindly sent me a copy 
of £i Moller’s Price-list of Microscopic Preparations,” I am 
able to give your microscopical readers information I have 
reason to believe many of them will be glad to receive, namely, 
that specimens well-mounted and reliable, illustrating the 
structure of pharmaceutical roots, etc., may be procured at 
a moderate cost. Moller gives on page 24 of his catalogue a 
list of what he calls expressively ££ Pharmacognostische Pra- 
parate,” numbering 144 slides, many of which contain from 
two specimens and upwards. The list comprises the starches 
and arrowroots commonly met with, and the principal roots, 
barks, fruits and seeds. Sections of ££ Radix Sarsaparille 
Caracas, S. Honduras, S. Lissabon, S. Veracrux,” in my pos¬ 
session, are without exception the finest specimens of the art 
of mounting I have ever seen, and present the peculiarities of 
the structure in a manner our English preparers would do 
well to imitate. 
I have not been able to learn that these slides are procu¬ 
rable in England otherwise than by order. Moller’s price is 
££ 32 Thalers for the collection of 144 specimens.” 6| thalers 
is equal to 20s. English. Single slides cost 8 silver gr., 
of -which 10 equals 1. Microscopico-pharmaceutical Asso¬ 
ciations could easily arrange to procure as many as their 
members might require direct from Moller. The postage of 
small parcels is heavy. Moller’s address is ££ Institut fur 
Microscopie, Wedel in Holstein (per Hamburg). 
Heney Pocklington. 
7 lull, July 29 th, 1872. 
Examination Fees. 
Sir,—I have no wish to detract attention from the discus’- 
sion as to educational assistance, of w T hich the students in 
the trade seem very much in need (judging from the results, 
of the recent examinations); but I am of opinion that, as the 
Society have funds and to spare, the present is a time when 
they ought to reconsider the question of examination fees. 
For the right to practise medicine, dispense prescriptions, 
and sell drugs—poisons included—the Apothecaries’ Com- 
pany claim six guineas, and for their Assistants’ examination 
in dispensing, pharmacy, etc., two guineas, -whilst the Phar¬ 
maceutical Society charge ten guineas, and five for a certifi¬ 
cate, merely to dispense prescriptions and retail poisons. We 
must remember that there is not any restriction as to the 
selling of drugs—any one may do that. 
W. B. 
July 29 th, 1872. 
Dugong Oil. 
Sir,—In your impression of the 6 th ult. a notice appears- 
regarding the great value of Dugong oil as exhibited at the 
Queensland Annexe of the International Exhibition, and 
that you believe at present there has not been any attempt to 
introduce the oil to the English market. I must inform you 
that for many years past I have brought it to public notice, 
and endeavoured to introduce the oil from the East at a 
reasonable price. Its medicinal import is well known at the 
hands of my medical friends and myself, the introducer, as 
most valuable in cases of phthisis, pulmonary, and scrofular 
diseases. I would merely refer you to Mr. Hill, of Bell and 
Co., Oxford Street, the well-known chemists, in confirmation, 
of my exertions to bring the oil to England at a cheap rate, 
in which I have hitherto failed. I intend to make the 
acquaintance of Mr. Daintree regarding his importation; and 
if we can unite our exertions to cheapen the oil, a most 
valuable boon will be conferred on the public. 
J. McGeigoe Ceoft. 
Mandarin Villa, St. John's Wood, N.W. 
July 18 th, 1872. 
JXJ.Y.Z. entirely misunderstands the object we had in 
view in the remarks to which he refers. 
72. II .—Apply to the Secretary for a pamphlet entitled 
‘Hints to Apprentices and Students.’ 
JR. F. Morcom .—You can^obtain the information at the 
College of Surgeons. 
W. C. M. —(1) A rudimentary knowledge of chemistry 
would enable you to answer the question without any special 
work on arithmetic. (2) We are informed that a new edition 
is in preparation which will be ready in the autumn. 
££ Tere Bene.”—Probably of any respectable dealer in 
druggists’ sundries. 
££ A Constant Reader .”—The subject of your suggestion 
has already been under consideration, and arrangements have 
been made for partially carrying it out. The chief obstacle 
is the difficulty in getting information. 
Curiosities of Labelling .—A correspondent has sent us a 
label, on which the following words occur in red upon a 
black ground:—■ 
££ In conformity with the Sale of Poisons Act, 1868, this 
preparation must be labelled 
Poison, 
but its composition remains unaltered” 
Laudanum. 
[Name and address of seller follows.] 
Communications, Lettees, etc., have been received from 
Mr. J. Mackay, Mr. C. R. C. Tichborne, Mr. Stone, Dr. 
Porter Smith, Mr. J. Bienvenu, Mr. Glaisyor; “Oxonian”. 
