October 5, 1872.] 
THE PHAEMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
265 
go beyond the sum of money already invested in the 
name of the Jacob Bell Memorial Scholarships Fund. 
If, however, that system worked well, the time might 
come w T hen it might be extended, and in that way he 
believed they might very much help forward provincial 
education. He would only add that these recommenda¬ 
tions had been well considered by the Committee, who 
had met many times, and had had the benefit of the 
opinion of the examiners who had tested the candi¬ 
dates. 
Mr. Stoddaht seconded the motion, saying he was 
satisfied the committee had well considered the matter, 
and. he w T as quite willing to fall in with their sugges¬ 
tions. 
Air. Schacht said he heartily concurred in the prin¬ 
ciples laid dowm by Mr. Williams, and carried out in the 
resolution, that the alteration proposed was wise and 
proper ; but he must object to a portion of the last two 
clauses, namely, that which stated that the examiners 
should take into consideration the means, position, and 
surroundings of the candidates, and that preference 
should be given “ to those least favoured by fortune.” 
That was a very generous doctrine to recognize wdiere 
possible, but not in such a place as the examiners’ room. 
The first condition w-as, talent should be the criterion of 
merit in the candidate, and taking into account the 
primary object for which the scholarships were insti¬ 
tuted, that should still be the rule; and the examiners, 
instead of being directed to favour any one, should not 
travel out of that strict line of justice, but should 
simply decide who was the best man. Again, the last 
sentence he thought should be made more emphatic. 
Mr. Mackay also agreed with the principle of abo¬ 
lishing the Senior Scholarships, but desired to supple¬ 
ment very strongly what had fallen from Mr. Schacht. 
He suggested that the Council should agree or disagree 
with the principle of abolishing the Senior Scholarships ; 
and if this were agreed to, he thought it would be w T ise to 
let the matter go back to a committee for further con¬ 
sideration as to the details of working out the examination. 
As to the examiners inquiring into the means and sur¬ 
roundings of the candidates, it would be placing them 
in a most peculiar position, and would be, in fact, revi¬ 
ving an inquisitive system, such as had last been heard 
of in Spain some years ago. Such a thing was most ob¬ 
jectionable, and especially so when they had seen in 
days past, and no doubt would see again, that the son 
of an ordinary baker might become the senior w r rangler. 
Mr. Williams said it was only intended that, where 
the marks were equal, preference should be given to the 
candidate who had had fewest opportunities of study. 
Mr. Bottle concurred with the remarks of Mr. Mac¬ 
kay, and added that the elected candidate himself wrnuld 
be placed in a very unfair position if it were understood 
that he was selected on account of his poverty. 
Mr. Sutton said if they had to choose between two 
shipbuilders, one of whom had used only an adze, and the 
other had been provided with all kinds of tools, and 
the vessels were equally well constructed, they would 
certainly prefer the man who had accomplished the most 
with the fewest opportunities. 
Mr. Owen said he hoped that would be borne in mind 
in awarding marks. 
Air. Williams said the marks were awarded before 
such questions came under consideration at all. 
Mr. Sandford said he was much averse to seeing the 
Senior Scholarship abolished, though he was not averse 
to men leaving the profession to go into something 
better. They had just had an instance in their own in¬ 
stitution ; Dr. Tilden, who was a Bell scholar, having 
now left pharmacy to take a higher position, but he 
would still be a credit to the Society, and advance its 
interests. In addition to that, very recently one of the 
best men belonging to the Society had been talking to 
him about its future; and said he hoped to encourage re¬ 
search and a further prosecution of study by the mem- 
! bers of the trade by instituting a sort of senior scholar 
ship. He thought that if six or eight young men every 
year could be induced to enter the laboratory and work 
there for a time after passing the Major examination, it 
would tend greatly to advance the interests of pharmacy. 
It must also be recollected that when this Fund was first 
established, a circular was sent round which contained 
this passage :—“ The details, including the extent of the 
proposed scholarships and the conditions on which they 
shall be awarded, necessarily depend on the amount o 
subscriptions obtained, but the Council feel assured tha 
such a sum will be subscribed as will enable them to es 
tablish not only minor scholarships for young men les - 
favoured by fortune than by industry, but also one, as 
least, for the advancement of high scientific attainmentst 
so that there may thus be two classes of scholarships 
tending to advance the reputation and dignity of the 
Pharmaceutical Society.” That was the principle which 
started the scholarships, and on which the money was 
raised, and he thought they would be to some extent 
breaking faith with those who contributed if they abo¬ 
lished the Senior Scholarship. This question of principle 
should be decided first before going into any detail, and 
it must not be forgotten that they had the opportunity, 
which had been used, of giving two Junior Scholarships 
when there had not been candidates for the Senior. 
Mr. Brown said he intended to propose an amend¬ 
ment :— 
“That this Council receives and adopts Clauses one 
and two of the Recommendations of the Special 
Committee (omitting the word ‘junior’ in Clause 
two), and refers back the details for further con¬ 
sideration and future report to the Library, Museum, 
and Laboratory Committee.” 
That would at once bring before the Council the ques¬ 
tion to which Mr. Sandford was speaking. 
Mr. Mackay said he wrnuld second that amendment. 
Mr. Savage thought the Senior Scholarship had already 
been practically abolished, for several times there had 
been no senior candidates, and unless the system was 
modified he did not see how they could come in. 
Mr. Sutton said the Society ought to keep its aims as 
high as possible; and by keeping up the standard of 
education, they would be able to get a position equal to 
that of any chemical or medical society, but this could 
not be done without hard w 7 ork. 
Mr. Atherton said by abolishing the Senior Scholar¬ 
ships, they would do away with any reward for pro¬ 
ficiency in pharmacy, since by the new code of regula¬ 
tions the scholarship would only be given for proficiency 
in elementary education. It hardly seemed to him proper 
that the Jacob Bell Scholarship Fund should be devoted 
to such purposes. It ought certainly to be so dealt wuth 
as to incite extra exertions in young men to make them¬ 
selves more efficient pharmacists, and therefore he 
thought they should either retain the Senior Scholarship 
or modify the proposed examination. In fact, he should 
prefer doing away wuth the Junior Scholarship and 
modifying the Senior. 
Mr. Urwick felt greatly in favour of retaining the 
Senior Scholarship, thinking it must result in good to 
the Society; for if a man distinguished himself by attain¬ 
ing it, wherever he might go the credit which attached 
to him would be reflected on the place where he was 
educated. 
Mr. Greenish thought it would be most injudicious 
to do away with the Senior Scholarship ; and although 
there had* been no candidates for it on some occasions, 
education was advancing, and probably in the course of 
a year or two, applicants would be forthcoming. Just 
at the present time, wdien they were desiring to advance 
education in every possible w r ay, it would be most unwise 
in his opinion, to make this alteration, especially when 
if there were no competitors for the Senior Scholarship, 
two Juniors might be given, so that no injustice was 
committed. 
