October 26, 1872.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
333 
signs ; and we may easily imagine how they would excuse 
some disastrous effect by the supposition of a malevolent 
influence intruding to mar the expected effect. And doubt¬ 
less, under such circumstances, the practice of physic was 
doubtful and hazardous. Fearful must have been the 
suspense of individuals, when brought low by sickness, 
when some panacea said to have the effect of kill or cure 
was presented. No wonder then that physic should 
be suspected of being an ally of Mors himself. Hea¬ 
then mythology relates that iEsculapius, the son of 
Apollo, made great progress in the medical art and 
gained the reputation of ability to raise the dead. But 
it is recorded that his success was so great that Pluto, 
who saw the number of his ghosts daily increase, com¬ 
plained to Jupiter, who killed iEsculapius with his 
thunderbolts. Doubtless it would be said by some 
medico-astrologer that there was an unfortunate con¬ 
junction of stellar influences. 
After referring to the progress of knowledge, inven¬ 
tion and discover}' which has happily delivered us from 
the superstitions that formerly held the human spirit 
in bondage and retarded liberation from its wide-spread 
thraldom for ages, and paying a tribute to those who 
by their labours have prepared the way for the student 
of the present day, the speaker continued,— 
Some here present have passed through difficulties to 
which I have only alluded, and have made good use of the 
advantages which they had to seek as they could, and for 
which, under stress of business, they had to deny them¬ 
selves of needful rest and recreation; and some are now 
about entering the gate through which we passed. What 
will they find F They wall find a path rendered easy by the 
labours of their predecessors; the difficulties which had 
well-nigh excusably deterred them smoothed down ; and 
everywhere the hand of intelligent instruction eagerly 
inviting to progress. 
Shall the opportunities now so freely offered be care¬ 
lessly passed by ? Shall all the wise provision of the 
Pharmaceutical Society, and the associations everywhere 
rising up in the country, be negatived by indifference 
and neglect F I trust not. The chemists and druggists 
of Rochdale, actuated by laudable feelings, now band 
themselves together, and appear at this their first ordinary 
meeting, to take the oath of allegiance to pharmaceutical 
science, and swear fealty to her rule and sway. And 
they desire in thus associating themselves together to 
render to each other assistance in the prosecution of 
their interests, whether commercial or scientific. Feel¬ 
ing each a brother’s care, they desire to strengthen each 
other’s hands, and diffuse around them thorough wise 
educational schemes,—the advantageous opportunities 
of instruction they have devised. Let no youth entering 
on the study of pharmaceutical chemistry be discouraged. 
Pluck up heart and hope on. How did Faraday obtain 
knowledge F By diligence, attention ; by labour and 
work. And so with a thousand others. And so must 
it be with the young aspirants for pharmaceutical know¬ 
ledge and fame. Let them remember the prize before 
them,—a status and a position to 'which we have not 
yet attained. But it can only be reached through 
labour. I remember in the frontispiece to an old school¬ 
book the Temple of Fame represented as being placed on 
an eminence, and in the valley below Science pointing 
ardent youths to the path which led to it, apparently 
cheering them on to the path leading to the temple. 
The path could not be seen; it might be dark, difficult, 
rocky and steep, but the light of the temple shone over 
the path if not upon it. So it is with you. It is a true 
saying there is no royal road to learning. Nor is there 
a railroad either. The way is too steep, even with all 
that can be done to ease it. But there is a real way, 
and you do not need to miss it. While I would com¬ 
mend you to enter with determination, I would have 
you enter with caution. Inquire for the right path. Do 
not take any side path however promising. There are 
real pleasures in store for you, and every turn of the 
true path will bring you to some halting-place for your 
encouragement; but you cannot make progress by 
merely looking out and staying in these groves of de¬ 
lights. Nerve yourselves again for the upward path. 
I have been distressed to find so many incapables- 
turned back at the Preliminary examinations. More- 
strict examinations into progress must be the rule in. 
educational establishments, for young persons ought not 
to fail at such an examination, to pass which may be 
said to be only the test of ordinary attention to study. 
The observations of Dr. Temple, Bishop of Exeter, go to 
confirm all that is said as to the necessity of application 
to study. 
Offering advice to students, he warns them not to-' 
give way through weariness, for if there was not weari¬ 
ness in the work, they might be sure it was not so 
thorough going as it ought to be. Of all work that 
produces results, nine-tenths must be drudgery. There 
is no work, from the highest to the lowest, which can be- 
done well by any man who is unwilling to make that 
sacrifice. Part of the very nobility of the devotion of 
the true workman to his work consists that a man is not 
daunted by finding that drudgery must be done, and no 
man can really succeed in any walk of life without a 
good deal of w r hat in ordinary English is called pluck. 
This is the condition of all work whatever, and it is the 
condition of success. And there is nothing which so- 
truly repays itself as this very perseverance against 
weariness. This is the Bishop’s experience, and it is 
that of every successful man. On that which costs us 
labour we set most value in proportion to that labour. 
And we shall love and prize the learning we attain be¬ 
cause it has cost us labour and 'anxiety. I counsel 
you to perseverance even under most adverse difficulties,, 
assured that you will find solid pleasure and enjoyment 
in the study you pursue ; and, finally, you will come to 
love the work most ardently. Read, mark and learn 
then with that persevering attention ,to which I have 
pointed. Wordsworth says of learning that it is— 
“ A substantial world both pure and good, 
Round which, with tendrils strong as flesh and blood, 
Our pastime and our happiness will grow.” 
Mr. Alderman Taylor then moved a vote of thanks to 
the President for his valuable address, with a request 
that it should be printed. In the course of his observa¬ 
tions he reminded the young men present of the supe¬ 
riority of their privileges over those enjoyed by young 
men in the days of his apprenticeship. Then, no time 
was left at liberty during the day for either study or re¬ 
creation. Mental improvement could only be sought in 
hours that ought to have been devoted to sleep. Now, 
not only is time allowed, but teachers are provided, and 
the young man is without excuse if he fails to improve 
himself. 
Mr. Councillor Scott seconded the resolution. He- 
corroborated the statements of Mr. Alderman Taylor 
with regard to difficulties in the way of young men 
forty or fifty years ago. He also referred to the ob¬ 
stacles to the trade that had risen from the action of 
the Legislature, commencing with that promoted by the 
Apothecaries’ Society, and having its last illustration in. 
the action of the Medical Department of. the Privy- 
Council in reference to the question of poison regula-- 
tions. 
On the motion being submitted to the meeting it^was- 
carried very heartily. 
Mr. J. W. Bramford then read a short paper on “ Old 
Books,” calling attention to some preparations in use a 
century ago, but now no longer used—illustrating one- 
phase of the advance that pharmacy has made in tho 
interval. 
After this Mr. Robinson gave a brief description of a 
few of the fine specimens of drugs contributed .by 
Messrs. Barron, Harvey, and Co, of London, viz.,, 
kousso, cassia fistula, areca nut, Indian hemp, bt. Igna¬ 
tius’s bean, jChinese cantharides, guarana, and English. 
