280 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS; 
[October 5, 1372, 
eleven years, thus obviating the erroneous conclusions which 
are unintentionally conveyed in Mr. Carteighe’s letter, by 
having based all his arguments upon the statistics of the last 
two years alone, omitting altogether the peculiar circum¬ 
stances -which surrounded those and the previous year, by 
which a harvest was unquestionably reaped, but the very 
relation of which, when viewed as a whole, proves the fallacy 
of relying upon the continuance of such harvest days. 
Members, Pharma¬ 
ceutical Chemists. 
Associates. 
Apprentices. 
Members, Chemists 
and Druggists. 
Associates iu 
Business. 
Major Examinations 
Minor Examinations 
1861 
1843 
120 
51 
45 
571 
1862- 
1809 
89 
44 
30 
34 
1863 
1781 
93 
66 
36 
44 
1864 
1770 
104 
113 
65 
58 
1865 
1779 
104 
161 
50 
67 
1866 
1786 
124 
198 
66 
86 
1867 
1755 
158 
229 
53 
82 
1868 
1739 
280 
177 
82 
112 
1869 
1782 
310 
499 
403 
22 
105 
187 
1870 
1802 
458 
564 
582 
82 
63 
199 
1871 
1797 
566 
613 
669 
161 
50 
234 
In the first place, exception is taken to my statement, that 
(< but a small proportion of those who pass the 3£ajor ex¬ 
amination, think it desirable to join the Society as mem¬ 
bers Do facts support Mr. Carteighe’s objection upon 
this point? By the above table we see the statistics 
proving, beyond dispute, that on December 31st, 1871, 
the number of pharmaceutical chemists who were members ot 
the Society was 46 less than on December 31st, 1861; so 
that, notwithstanding all the nominal increase, by “166 
pharmaceutical chemists elected to membership,” the supply 
entirely failed to keep up even the aggregate number. 
If again we turn with hope towards the large number of as¬ 
sociates in 1871 (apprentices we cannot possibly take into 
account) they also will be found to fail us in supplying any 
large number of pharmaceutical chemists, for on inquiry I 
have received the following analysis of that number :— 
Associates of 1842, and before the Pharmacy Act 23 
Major „ „ a 67 
Minor ,, ,, >, 262 
Modified „ „ 212 
33 
33 
33 
566 
Showing that at present only 92 are eligible for election 
from that source as members; and when we bear in mind 
the fact that the greater number of those who pass the 
Major do so within a few months of the Minor, I fear 
we cannot depend upon a very large proportion of the 
262 qualifying themselves for membership. 
Again, it is questioned whether “ our numerical strength 
as a Society is yearly decreasing , whilst that of outsiders 
is increasing .” I sincerely wish Mr. Carteighe were right 
and I in error, but unfortunately it is not so, he having^ 
allowed himself to be drawn into reliance upon a source of 
strength on which not the slightest dependence can be placed 
for recruiting our number, so long as the present rule re¬ 
garding the admission of chemists and druggists is retained. 
Here again statistics confront us, and but too plainly tell 
that the'supply from that source, which for a moment seemed 
to meet our need, was purely accidental, and is now rapidly 
failing; the admissions falling from 403 the first year, to 87 
the third; to rely upon such a source of strength is, I fear, to 
trust to a broken reed. 
On the other hand, as regards the numerical increase of out¬ 
siders ; we have no authentic records on which to base our cal¬ 
culation upon this point beyond that afforded by the number 
passing the Minor examination as given above, but if we refer 
to the 'data given by Professor Attfield in the paper read before 
the British Pharmaceutical Conference last month (page 155), 
given by him on the authority of the Secretary of the Phar¬ 
maceutical Society (no mean authority), we find him stating 
as his opinion “ that in the course of a lew years 1000 youths 
will pass the Preliminary examination annually; that 750' 
apprentices will annually present themselves as candidates 
for the title of chemist and druggist, and 600 gentlemen will 
annually start in business ” (aside—a lamentable contempla¬ 
tion !). ~ If this calculation be anything near an approach to 
the reality as regards the future, under the existing ordeal of 
examinations, at wdiat rate may we fairly calculate the body 
of chemists and druggists to have been increasing during the- 
past eleven years ? I leave it to the judgmen lof your readers; 
to decide which body is most rapidly increasing in numerical 
strength. 
One word upon the probable increase in the number of 
pharmaceutical chemists apart from membership. A glance 
at the above table again tells a sad tale, by no means favour¬ 
able to any probable large increase in this higher class of 
chemists. In 1861, out of 57 who passed the Minor, 45 
passed the Major, continuing about the same average up to 
1866, in which year the Pharmacy Bill began to assume 
shape; from that time to the present the distance has been 
widening each succeeding year until last year, when out of 
234 who passed the Minor, only 50 passed the Major, becoming 
thereby pharmaceutical chemists. 
Upon the amount of Fees, and the probable appreciation 
by students of the alteration I have proposed, it is unneces¬ 
sary for me again to enter, further than that I still hold 
to the principle, although not wedded to the exact sums. I 
believe such a change would be fair to the student, and ad¬ 
vantageous to the Society; giving to the former his legiti¬ 
mate position as a qualified man; and at once securing to 
the latter the direct support and influence of every gentleman 
passing the Major examination. 
The free issue of the Journal I by no means desire to- 
abolish; the suggestion was made to meet a difficulty which 
I believed to exist, but which Mr. Carteighe assures us is far 
otherwise. 
Such, then, are the exact facts of the case so far as I can 
judge. I put them forth in no cavilling spirit, or with any 
desire to depreciate the position of the Society, and I would em¬ 
phatically add, with no other feeling than that of high personal 
esteem for your correspondent, my only motive being to sub¬ 
stantiate the statements of my former letter, with the hope- 
that when thus brought face to face with stern realities, it 
may be thought advisable to consider whether something 
cannot be done to render the higher examination more at¬ 
tractive, and membership with the Society to flow directly 
from such qualification. 
Edwin B. Vizee. 
63, "Lupus Street, "Belgravia, South , 
September 24>th, 1872. 
Mrs. Stockman and "Family. —The following further con¬ 
tributions have been received':—A 2 s. 6d. subscription by F. 
M. M'Cullock, Esq., per J. Wavell, Local Secretary, Ryde, 
£12.125. 6d.; Mr. J. W. Euston, 5s.; Mr. T. Hughes, Llan- 
dilo, 10s. 6 d.; Amicus, Is.; Pharmacist, 10s.; Nemo, £2. 2s- 
Collected by Mr. J. Robins: Lieut. Skipton, 19th Regt., 
6s. 6d. ; Dr. Haire, £2. 2s.; Mr. Frazer, 10?. 6d.; Mr. J. 
Robins, 5s.; smaller sums, 13s.; in all, £3. 17s; “ Cona- 
tum,” £1. Is.; A. F. C., £1. Is. Contributions will be grate¬ 
fully acknowledged by G. Perfect, Havelock Park, Southsea, 
or Charles Mumby, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Gosport, 
Trustees. 
A. P. S. (St. Austell.)—Dr. Smith’s c Smaller Latin-English 
Dictionary ’ (Murray) w ? ould perhaps answer your purpose. 
S. K. B.— Apply to the Secretary for a copy of a pam¬ 
phlet entitled ‘ Hints to Students.’ 
S. JF. JF. —We believe you could not claim more than 
about) ten shillings per day and some allowance for travel¬ 
ling expenses, unless there was a special agreement. 
G. J. Cutcliff.— We agree with you, but do not think that 
giving publicity to such cases wrnuld be of any benefit. 
JF. H. Cotterell .—See an answer upon the subject in the 
Phabm. Joubn. of December 30th last, p. 540. 
Communications, Lettebs, etc., have been received from 
Mr. G. Mee, Mr. F. M. Rimmington, Mr. Ellwood, Mr. 
Brewis, Mr. G. H. Proctor. Mr. Rich, Mr. W. Wilkinson, 
Mr. Jeffrey ,)Mr. A. P. Baker, “ Jacobus,” “ One of the Laity,’* 
“ Ranunculus,” “ Minor.” 
In consequence of the unusual length of the official pro¬ 
ceedings, several answers to correspondents and communica¬ 
tions are unavoidably postponed. 
