March 15,1S73.J1 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
733 
GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 
The annual festival of the chemists and druggists, 
under the auspices of the Glasgow Chemists and Drug¬ 
gists’ Association, was held in the Albert Hall, on the 
27th Feb. 1873. Thomas Davison, Esq., President, in 
the Chair. On the platform were Messrs. Kinninmont, 
J. Hatrick, Currie, Walker, McDonald (Glasgow Apoth. 
Co.), J. A. Clarke (Sec.), McAdam, Galbraith, Fairlie, 
Drs. Robertson and Clark, etc. 
Tea being over, the chairman apologized for the 
absence of several gentlemen, who from illness or 
other causes were unable to be present. He then deli¬ 
vered the following address:— 
Three years ago when I was honoured by being 
elected president, and on my first taking the chair at our 
opening meeting, I had to address you as “ Ladies and 
Gentlemen.” Now, almost my last meeting as presi¬ 
dent, I have again to address you as “ Ladies and Gen¬ 
tlemen.” As the question of ladies being admitted fo 
our Society is now being agitated, I will, with the per¬ 
mission of the gentlemen, address myself to the ladies 
first. 
I am not going to advocate what is popularly termed 
“women’s rights.” I think that expression wrong; for 
women have had their “rights” ever since the creation, 
when she was made a helpmeet for man—the only true 
place a woman should occupy. Many will say that to be 
a helpmeet women can assist in the shops, and occupy a 
place on the School Board, Parochial Board, etc. But 
to soothe the cares of the sterner sex, and when 
troubled and perplexed to give a word of comfort and 
encouragement, and in a thousand little ways make our 
lives sweeter and happier, is, I think, the true meaning 
of helpmeet. But, let women have their say in the tur¬ 
moil of contested elections, enter universities, and become 
professional women, legal as well as medical—and phar¬ 
maceutists if they please—I would not oppose them, for 
they soon would become weary of the hard rough work 
we of the sterner sex have to undergo. The example of 
the London University is sufficient to show how soon 
they wearied ; do not oppose their becoming pharmaceu¬ 
tists, which they can without becoming members of the 
Pharmaceutical Society. 
But let the Radies pass their Preliminary and Minor 
examinations, and the Major if their ambition is great. 
Still j ust hear what Professor Blackie said the other day 
on this point:—“ He sometimes did not know what the 
women wanted ; but he promised that if they stated dis¬ 
tinctly what they wanted, he would not stand in the 
way. If they had strength to snuff the foetid horrors of 
the dissecting-room, or withstand the heartless wrang¬ 
ling of the bar—if they 7 thought it would be a dignity 7 to 
their sex to wear a wig, in the name of all the wrangling 
angels, let them go in and do it. He would not oppose 
them. But he would not stand up for them in reference 
to these matters; because they ought to thank God for 
being free from some of that hard, harsh, angular, gritty 
work which took the hearts out of us, if we had any 7 to 
take out at all. Therefore, ladies, do not give up your 
true, dignified, and exalted position at home. You can 
achieve more there, than becoming— 
“ A short-haired woman, frizzy, curled, 
Her flag for woman’s rights unfurled, 
Her middle finger black with ink, 
Her staring eyes that will not wink, 
Her spectacles—a double-barrelled terror to men that 
think.” 
The application of ladic.s for admission to the Phar¬ 
maceutical Society ought to be a stimulus to young men 
who have for some y 7 ears been at the trade. Surely they 7 
will not sit still and let young ladies pass them in the 
race for the title of chemist and druggist, or pharma¬ 
ceutical chemist. I fear there is very much indifference 
in this matter; too much of the spirit of Micawber— 
hoping and expecting “something to turn up.” Now, 
gentlemen, don’t give way to any 7 such spirit as that; it 
is day 7 -dreaming, a pernicious way of wasting time— 
“The child may dream; the man must act 
"With reverence for the world’s great fact; 
And look to toil, and sweat, and. bleed, 
And gather his energies, all compact.” 
Those young men who will be the future chemists' 
and druggists of this great city 7 , I would urge at once, 
and without any delay, to get through their minor 
examination; every year it will become more difficult 
and more expensive. The original intention of the 
founders of the Pharmaceutical Society was that the 
Preliminary examination should be for apprentices. 
Minor for assistants, and Major for those entering into 
business. But as the law say 7 s that those who can pass 
the Minor and Modified may “ keep open shop,” the 
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society think, as the 
Minor is to be the entrance into business, it must be 
made more stringent; and the fee for it should be £5. 5s. 
with the title, Chemist and Druggist. The Major with 
the title of Pharmaceutical Chemist will then become 
more an honorary title, not one of qualification. This 
surely ought to be a stimulus to every young man here to 
be up and doing; and not sit grumbling about want of 
opportunity 7 , and little remuneration to be had after he 
does pass. You have the future as it were in your own 
hands ; the proper remuneration will come if you show 
yourselves worthy of it. Remember the fable of Jupiter 
and the waggoner, and the lesson taught by it. “ The 
gods help them who help themselves.” To those who 
have to pass the “ Modified Examination ”—and 1 regret 
to say 7 there are yet many who have to do so—according to 
a statement by the Registrar, 2900 registered themselves 
for the Modified, and only 1430 have passed,—to them, I 
hardly know what to say. They got the privilege of 
passing it by making a declaration that they had been 
three years previous to the passing of the Act, en¬ 
gaged in dispensing, and practical pharmacy. It 
Fs now more than four years since the passing of that 
Act, making as it were an apprenticeship of seven years. 
All that is required of you in that examination, is to 
show you are practically acquainted with those things 
you are daily handling. 
Now, gentlemen, I would make an effort, and don’t let 
it be said of Glasgow that there are so many here who 
have not passed the Modified examination. Delays are 
dangerous. A sad instance occurred very lately—a gen¬ 
tleman who had for twenty-five y 7 ears held a first posi¬ 
tion in a London house, died suddenly, leaving a wife 
and family. Application was made a few weeks ago for 
a "rant from the Benevolent Fund, but it could not be 
^ranted. Her husband was not a registered chemist 
and dru""ist; fie not having passed the Modified ex¬ 
amination, which privilege I suppose he had claimed. 
Now, just a word or two for our association. Some 
blame, I know, is attached to those in office for not more 
particularly attending to the special wants of the assist¬ 
ants ; but you must remember it has been a summer 
and winter of work with a price list—a work of which 
we may be proud, even with all its faults. _ Then, again, 
a class was begun this winter by Mr. Currie, of which the 
assistants might have taken advantage in greater num¬ 
bers, and it has been a very interesting one. To 
those who have regularly attended that class, it has been 
"reat "ain. But to those who have not, it has been a 
positive los3. Mr. Currie deserves great praise for giving 
up so much of his valuable time for the benefit ot 
assistants. I must say you have advantages here above 
any city in the kingdom. I might just say heie that 
there is a small pa m Phlet, published by the Council of 
