256 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 23,1872. 
of precipitated resinous matter, which, forming a waterproof 
diaphragm, necessarily stops the process; remove this, and it 
proceeds until another similar layer is formed. 
Now it seems clear to my mind that Mr. Stoddart’s pro¬ 
cess, as applied to essence of ginger, is not nearly so satisfac¬ 
tory as that of the Pharmacopoeia, as regards mixing the 
whole of the spirit with the ginger in the first instance; for 
on displacing with water, the dark layer of precipitated 
resinous matter •would form much earlier, and the loss from 
its more frequent removal would be greater. 
Charles Symes. 
Work 'Place, Birkenhead, 
September IQth, 1872. 
Pharmaceutical Education. 
Sir,—The criticisms that have been lavished on Mr. 
Schacht’s scheme for provincial pharmaceutical education, and 
on its predecessor, that of Mr. Reynolds, have, perhaps, been 
numerous enough, yet it seems to me that from this multi¬ 
tude of counsellors, not wisdom, but rather confusion has 
resulted. I cannot see that we are one step nearer the mark 
than we were last year at this time. 
Then, as now, it was universally admitted to be neces¬ 
sary, in order to raise the status of the pharmacist and 
improve the character of his work, that he should receive a 
good general and a thorough scientific education, and that 
with the latter only should the Pharmaceutical Society con¬ 
cern itself, 
Men of a certain stamp of mind can scarcely be ex¬ 
pected to understand the disinclination for study evinced 
by so many young men. They seem to believe that a 
desire for knowledge and the power it confers would of them¬ 
selves be sufficient to put every one on the alert, and that the 
complaint of employers ought rather to be, “my employees 
are devoting so much time to study that my interests are 
being neglected,” instead of the, alas ! too prevalent cry, 
“my employees won’t learn, and think themselves injured if 
the necessity for study is urged upon them.” 
It is certain, however, that every one who aspires to an 
independent position as proprietor of a pharmacy must some¬ 
how acquire enough to satisfy the Board of Examiners; and 
as the requirements of that body are not likely to grow less, 
while the capacity for imbibing knowledge by the young does 
not improve with age, it seems to me a cruel thing to hesitate 
any longer in providing a sufficient stimulus to exertion. 
I think it may be assumed that the offer of cheap instruc¬ 
tion has failed in almost every case ; and I am glad of it. It 
convinces me that in pecuniary matters things have not come 
to the pass that ari’angements need be made for half-a-dozen 
young men to read out of the same Manuals, or for pro¬ 
viding science lectures at a mere fraction of their actual cost. 
The real difficulties are time, which must be conceded by 
employers, and disinclination for study, which must be 
overcome by employees. 
I will take the latter first, and commence by stating that I 
have not the slightest sympathy with the idle young man who 
prefers smoking his pipe and sipping his beer to improv¬ 
ing his mind and securing his future prospects, nor 
would I consult his feelings in any arrangement to be made. 
On the other I cannot see that the diligent young man should 
to be regarded as one so very meritorious that he ought to be 
petted and caressed. The tendency to that sort of thing has 
already, I fear, made some who would otherwise have cast in 
their lot with the diligent, hesitate and conclude that after all 
study cannot but be a very disagreeable process. The stimulus 
that I would provide is, the by no means “clever” expedient 
of an “Act ot Parliament,” one that shall exhibit as little as 
possible of that “management” which finds favour in so 
many eyes. I should like to see that muddling compromise 
of 1868 (I am happy to say that I had nothing to do with it 
except in the wiry of denunciation) superseded in most, if 
not all, its provisions relating to examination by one strictly 
logical and to the purpose. Is it not absurd, that while so 
much pains has. been taken about the qualifications of the 
master, no restriction has been placed upon his choice of a 
subordinate ? According to the present state of the law a 
youth may enter a pharmacy and continue in it till grey¬ 
headed, dispensing to the public the most delicate and 
dangerous remedies without ever coming before au examiner 
to prove his competency. Can this be for the good of the 
public or even ot the unqualified dispenser? 
The examinations that I would insist on are three, 
1st. Before entering a pharmacy as apprentice or student,, 
a youth should be compelled to pass a Preliminary examina¬ 
tion to test his general educational qualifications. 
2nd. Not less than, two years say , after this he should be 
permitted to present himself for the “ Assistants ” examina¬ 
tion, and without first passing this he should not be permitted 
to “dispense poisons.” 
3rd. Before commencing business on his own account, he- 
must pass either the Minor examination (giving the title of 
Chemist and Druggist) or the Major examination (giving the 
title of Pharmacist). I would not allow a choice of appella¬ 
tions, nor would I permit a druggist’s shop to be called a 
pharmacy. 
It will be observed that the Minor and Major examinations 
are to be alternative, not consecutive, and as the passing of 
either would enable one to assume the responsibility of con¬ 
ducting a business, care should be taken to make each a 
sufficient test of capability. 
Another most necessary provision would be one compelling 
the present employees within a definite period (one or two* 
years after the passing of the Bill) to present themselves for 
either the Preliminary, Modified, or Assistants examination, 
as the case may be. Those failing to pass should without 
hesitation be remitted to occupations better suited to then* 
abilities. 
This proceeding will of course be denounced as harsh, un¬ 
just, nay, positively cruel. I affirm, on the contrary, that it 
would be an act of great kindness to let those unfitted for the 
trade know the fact as early as possible. It would be, in my 
opinion, an act of cruelty to allow a young man to continue 
in a position of subordinacy from which it would be hopeless 
for him to expect to emerge. As for giving an extension of 
time, that would merely render his chance of passing still 
more problematical. 
I think, then, that on every ground we are justified in taking 
some such step as that I have indicated. The knot w r e have 
contrived with so much pains is not to be unpicked, it must 
be cut. Don’t let us stand shivering on the brink of the 
stream, but resolutely take a header and have done with it. 
"Well, then, suppose a legitimate and general demand for 
pharmaceutical education to have arisen, and superseded the 
penny and even sixpenny lectures of the present, how is the 
demand to be met ? Clearly by the establishment of ad¬ 
ditional pharmacy schools. Not all of them to be necessarily 
permanent, but all to be efficient and receiving substantial 
pecuniary aid from the Pharmaceutical Society. I should be 
prepared to spend in this way a large portion of the invested 
funds of the Society. The employment of peripatetic lec¬ 
turers as advocated by the ‘ Chemist and Druggist ’ "would 
tend much to reduce the cost of the scheme, and further its 
efficiency. The cases of certain young men (there are very 
few of them I expect) who find themselves injured by the 
passing of the Pharmacy Act of 1868, would have to be 
treated individually. 
Little need be said as to the concession of time by em¬ 
ployers. Should any prove so cantankerous as to decline to 
afford reasonable facilities for study, the persons injured will 
have to resort to the same plan that has proved so successful 
in other humble callings. A monster meeting of chemists* 
assistants "would at least be as permissible as one of bakers, 
lamplighters, wood-cutters, etc., and doubtless not less suc¬ 
cessful. 
Mr. Hampson has truly remarked, that the general public 
does not demand high pharmacy, and it is equally true that 
when it is supplied to them, they are unwilling to pay for it„ 
Neither do provincial medical men as a rule apprehend the 
advantage that would result to the sick, from the division of 
labour between the prescribe!* and the dispenser. But we are 
all advancing together, and it is to be hoped that some day 
the British Philistine will become wise enough to perceive 
that the character for encyclopedic learning credited to, if 
not assumed by, his medical attendant is not always strictly 
merited, and will act accordingly. 
It must be understood that 1 would not assent to spend 
any sum whatever on class teaching in the provinces (except 
perhaps, in two or three district centres) unless with tho 
definite object of winding up our affairs and putting things 
straight for the future. 
I do not believe in tiding over the difficulty. Ten, twenty,, 
thirty years hence, it would still face us or more probably oul* 
successors. Tnos. B. Groves. 
Weymouth, September, 1872. 
