October 12, 1872.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
297 
not wish it to bo thought that heretofore he had been 
assisting- in a scheme to which he objected; on the 
contrary, he thought that up to the present they had 
been justified in assisting the Preliminary students, but 
now a sufficient time had elapsed since the passing of 
the Pharmacy Act, he thought they should discontinue 
to do so. Just now, pharmaceutical education was an 
all-absorbing topic, and its discussion had brought for¬ 
ward many different schemes, but in nearly all of these 
there was one point upon which unanimity seemed to 
prevail, viz., that to advance the best interests of the 
trade it was necessary to insist upon passing the Pre¬ 
liminary examination before a youth should be appren¬ 
ticed, and he now asked them to endorse this principle. 
Mr. Nuthall then proceeded to say that with this asso¬ 
ciation the Preliminary Class had always proved a dead 
weight. In their first year not only had it been an 
expense to them, but an unfortunate misunderstanding 
led to great unpleasantness, and in the present year the 
results of the teaching had been almost nothing- This 
was not the fault of the teacher, for he was most suited 
Lor the task and had had great experience, but it was 
that of the students who, he was sorry to say, had been 
represented to him as most negligent. 
Mr. Tooke, in seconding this resolution, said he felt 
very strongly on this subject, and was glad that it 
Rad been brought so prominently before the meeting. 
He thoroughly agreed with what Mr. Nuthall had said. 
Mr. Lincoln, although admitting the force of Mr. 
Nuthall’s remarks, hoped the society would not act 
Tashly upon so important a subject. He would remind 
them that those of their members who had not yet 
passed, as well as some who might be about to join, were 
entitled to some consideration. 
Mr. Fox thought by passing the resolution before 
them, they would do great injustice to some of their 
members, and would also deter others from joining. He 
thought it would be better to continue the Preliminary 
Class during the ensuing session, and discontinue it in 
the year following. Meanwhile, the discussion that night 
would show the apprentices what to expect, and act as a 
warning to them not to look for further help. He would 
propose as an amendment that the Preliminary Class be 
continued during the ensuing session. 
Mr. Butler seconded the amendment for althoxigh he 
■agreed in many respects with what Mr. Nuthall had 
advanced, he thought they would be thinning their 
ranks were they to adopt his proposition, and further 
they would lose the support of some of the honorary 
members, as he thought several employers regarded the 
Preliminary Class as an important part of the business of 
the association. 
Mr. Mason said, while agreeing thoroughly with the 
theories enunciated by Mr. Nuthall, he thought it would 
he better to wait a year, and then enforce the principle 
hy declining to admit to membership any who had not 
passed the Preliminary examination. 
After some further remarks, Mr. Nuthall stated in 
reply that he quite expected that some apprentices would 
not join when they saw that Preliminary subjects were 
omitted from their curriculum; but he thought that 
would be better than carrying out what they omitted 
to be wrong in principle, and he much questioned whether 
the association would be a loser by this, for more than 
these subscriptions would be absorbed by the tutor’s fee. 
With regard to those who were already members, and 
had not yet passed, he thought no injustice would be 
done, as they all had the benefit of one session’s classes, 
and some had actually attended them for two years. 
Further, it was open to them to withdraw from the asso¬ 
ciation, if they thought it failed to give them the help 
they required. Allowing another year to pass before 
adopting the course he proposed he thought would be 
useless, as at the end of that year they would in all 
probability have members who had failed to pass, and 
again the cry of injustice would be raised. In reply to 
Mr. Mason’s remarks, ho thought it would not be ad¬ 
visable to refuse to admit those who had not passed the 
Preliminary. 
A division resu’ted in the amendment being carried 
by a majority of 3, several not voting. 
MANCHESTER CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION AND SCHOOL OF PHARMACY. 
The fourth Annual Meeting of the above association 
was held in their new rooms, 37, Blackfriars Street, on 
Friday evening, October 4th; Mr. W. S. Brown, Presi¬ 
dent, in the chair. 
The following report was read by the Secretary, Mr. 
F. B. Benger, and the statement of accounts by the 
Treasurer, Mr. G. S. Woolley :— 
POURTH ANNUAL REPORT. 
In again laying before you an annual report, your 
council are compelled to express some disappointment. 
Great hopes had been entertained that the association 
would receive the hearty support of the whole trade of 
the district; but the number of enrolled members and 
associates is slightly' less than last year. It was felt 
that the objects aimed at by this association were such 
as should arouse the interest, and claim the sympathy 
and cordial assistance of every chemist and druggist; 
and, inasmuch as every effort has been made to bring 
these objects under the notice of all, it has been some¬ 
what disheartening to those who do the work of the 
association, that no more ready response has been made ; 
at the same time, the council have been cheered by the 
fact, that so large a number of old members continue 
warmly interested in the work which the association has 
set itself to accomplish ; and that so many assistants and 
apprentices, who have come to Manchester during the 
year, have availed themselves of the privileges offered, 
and obtained great benefit from the use of the library 
and museum. It is encouraging to note, that the list of 
associates almost equals that of the members. 
Five ordinary monthly meetings were held during the 
session, and the following lectures and papers given:— 
1st.—“ On some of the difficulties of Dispensing.” By 
Mr. W. Wilkinson. 
2nd.—“ On the Natural History of the Mineral Sub¬ 
stances used in Medicine.” By Professor W. C. William¬ 
son, F.R.S. 
3rd.—“ On Pharmaceutical Education in its relation 
to Pharmaceutical Examinations.” By Mr. Louis 
Siebold. 
4th.—“ On Dispensing.” By Mr. W. Lane. 
5th.—“ On the Pharmacy and Materia Medica of the 
Bible.” By Mr. J. T. Slugg, F.R.S. . 
These meetings were all held at eight o’clock in the 
evening, and tea was provided; but some members 
having complained that they are unable to attend at this 
hour, it is proposed to return to the original plan of 
holding the monthly meetings, alternately, in the after¬ 
noon and evening. 
The reading-room has been opened three evenings a 
week during the winter months; and on a fourth, it has 
been placed at the service of the “ Chemists’ Assistants’ 
Association.”—a society consisting of your own asso¬ 
ciates,—who met weekly for mutual improvement. Stu¬ 
dents have been admitted at any other time by applying 
to the secretary. 
It was a subject of deep regret to your council that 
the lecture courses, established in connection with Owens 
College were suspended last session, because the mini¬ 
mum number of students required by the college autho¬ 
rities failed to present themselves. Nevertheless, as you 
have all been made aware by a recent circular, a very 
complete course of pharmaceutical instruction has been 
again organized. 
Two large and convenient rooms at 37, Blackfriars 
Street, within a few minutes’ walk of either of the rail- 
