April 19, 1873.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
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SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1873. 
Communications for this Journal, an d boohs for review, etc., 
should be addressed to the Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square. 
Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the 
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Elias Brem- 
ridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C. 
Advertisements to Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington 
Street , London, W. Envelopes indorsed t( Pharm. Journ.” 
THE BENEVOLENT FTJND. 
The art of spending money satisfactorily is per¬ 
haps, all things considered, at least as difficult as 
that of getting it together; and it is therefore not 
surprising that the disbursements in connection with 
the Benevolent Fund should evoke criticism, or that 
such criticism should sometimes he unfavourable. 
In calling attention to the subject in these columns 
a fortnight since, it was with the hope that there 
would be a free expression of opinion on both sides 
of the question; and it is with satisfaction that our 
“ Correspondence ” columns have been opened to the 
discussion. Nothing but good can result from such 
an interchange of views ; for while, on the one hand, 
the Council will doubtless be glad to adopt any wise 
suggestion made, or to carryout any clearly expressed 
wish of a majority of the subscribers, on the other it 
affords an opportunity of disabusing some minds 
of the idea that a varying body of gentlemen, se¬ 
lected for their fitness and placed in the best position 
for estimating this among other matters, should have 
persistently acted contrary to the true interests of the 
Fund. 
So much depends upon the manner in which the 
relief is given that it will not be out of place to 
recall the fact that the Society has now engaged to 
pay the sum of thirty pounds yearly to each of 
thirteen persons as long as they live. It has also 
been decided to elect two more annuitants upon the 
same terms in October next. Now, considering there 
is little probability that the number of annuitants 
will ever be allowed to fall below that number, many 
subscribers will agree with Mr. Sand ford, that the 
“ well-known rule in societies in granting pensions, 
to keep those pensions within the limit of the income 
arising from capital,” is a wholesome regulation which 
should not be neglected by the Pharmaceutical So¬ 
ciety. Nevertheless, in the latest official statement 
respecting the Benevolent Fund it was shown that 
the interest on the £13,200 invested moneys was in¬ 
sufficient to pay the then existing annuities. 
Another point worthy of observation is that this 
sum of money does not consist entirely of the accre¬ 
tion of surplus from ordinary subscriptions and 
donations. On four separate occasions the sum oi 
£500 has been voted from the General Fund of the 
Society; about £2500 was the result of public 
dinners in 1848 and 1867 ; and another £500 came 
in the shape of a legacy. Many will remember the 
vigorous efforts that were made for the special pur¬ 
pose of raising the funded property to £10,000, at a 
time when it was necessary that applicants for relief 
from the fund should be connected with the Society; 
but since then, by the operation of the Pharmacy 
Act, its benefits have been thrown open to all persons 
on the register and their widows and children. 
So much being said upon the past policy of the 
Council in reference to the permanent charges on 
the Benevolent Fund, a few words may be devoted 
to the question of temporary relief. The small 
amount of money so spent has been animadverted 
upon; though, notwithstanding the surprise of our 
correspondent, J. B. B., it is undoubtedly true that 
hitherto “ no genuine case of necessity presented to 
the Council has been left unaided by temporary as¬ 
sistance.” But he is right in supposing that there 
are more than thirteen needy druggists or druggists’ 
widows ; for last year special grants, amounting to 
£148, were made to various persons,—a fact of which 
he does not appear to be aware,—and doubtless there 
are many others who have not applied for assistance. 
This department of the Fund will, however, have to 
be considerably developed; of this there can be no 
question. With the immensely increased number of 
persons interested in the Fund, there will certainly 
be a corresponding increase in the number of appli¬ 
cants, and a large number will probably have to 
be relieved by special grants from the current sub¬ 
scriptions. Upon this point the numerous grants 
made at the last meeting of the Council, amounting 
to £110, are veiy significant, as is also the intimation 
that several cases stand over, pending inquiry. 
The opportunities afforded for discussion at the 
annual meetings and in the Journal are such that 
there should be no excuse for the withdrawal of sub¬ 
scriptions. The subscribers can easily make their 
wishes known, and we are confident that the Council 
will be found not only willing but anxious to carry 
them out. But to imagine that relief can be admi¬ 
nistered satisfactorily by a series of local clubs is a 
great mistake, and we are glad that a correspondent 
has been able to show that the gentleman making 
the proposition has, like many good-natured people, 
proved to be worse in his bark than in his bite. 
BARON LIEBIG. 
Science, we fear, is about to lose one of her most 
distinguished votaries. Baron Liebig is so ill that 
his life is despaired of. For some years his health 
has been gradually declining; while the repeated 
fracture of a badly-set lower limb has precluded his 
taking that amount of walking exercise which the 
maintenance of bodily vigour demands. His physi¬ 
cians are in vigilant attendance on him, and we 
would fain indulge the hope that, septuagenarian as 
he is, his life may yet be spared to. his country and 
to science. 
