860 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[April 26, 1S73. 
ceutical Society, as a body, will, be no party to the bring¬ 
ing about of any such a state of matters; and let us believe 
that our Irish Apothecaries’ Company will be alive to the 
interests of its members, as also its duty to the Irish 
public. 
I leave Mr. Anderson to reply to those parts of Mr. 
Holmes’s letter that more immediately concern himself. 
J. B. 
Belfast, April 21st, 1873. 
Pharmacy in Queensland. 
by means of resin. She knows the names of all the leading 
English chemists, and tells her intended victim that she 
has been particularly requested by one or two chemists 
well known to himself, to call on him. If he takes the 
bait and purchases, he will find to his cost that the “new 
invention” is perfectly useless, and the existence of the 
firm a myth. She has evidently taken in the Pharmaceu¬ 
tical Journal, as also she has your obedient servant, 
„ , Silas Daniel. 
Ramsgate, April 16th, 1873. 
_ Sir,—May I ask how it is that we do not see any adver¬ 
tisements for assistants for Queensland, although greatly 
needed, according to the statement made by Messrs. Bur- 
goyne, Burbidges, and Co. in last Saturday’s Pharmaceu¬ 
tical Journal. Doubtless what they say is correct, but 
perhaps it may be accounted for if the Queensland che¬ 
mists give but small salaries, although competent men are 
required. I have been looking out for an engagement 
abroad, but do not intend taking one unless a liberal salary 
is given me. 
An Assistant. 
A few Remarks on the Brighton Early Closing 
Meeting. 
Sir,—It seems from the opinions expressed at the above 
meeting, that the majority think something should be done 
to shorten the hours of labour. If the chemists would 
agree to issue circulars to their customers (and give them 
away over the counter also) stating that they would close 
at a certain hour, after which time necessary medicines 
would be supplied at the shop or side door at an extra 
charge, say 25 per cent., I think they would soon find a 
solution of the difficulty, and one that would repay them 
for the accommodation. I have seen it carried out with 
success. Of course the same hour would not do for all 
neighbourhoods. 
Mr. Armitage thinks we should close earlier, and stated 
that where the assistants work late they have time allowed 
in the daytime; it may be so in Brighton, but he would 
find it very different in other towns. 
Mr. Glaisyer’s remarks may be true, but there are many 
assistants who do not feel satisfied with merely passing an 
■examination; they wish to confirm their work by keeping 
up in the different branches of study, and if overworked^ 
can hardly feel fit to apply themselves as they ought. 
We are coming to the time when these things will have 
to be done, and it is only putting off the evil day. Assist¬ 
ants are getting scarce, and the coming ones will not like 
■long hours after paying a lot of money to pass examina¬ 
tions, especially for the present wretchedly low remunera¬ 
tion. It is necessary that the employer and employed 
should agree on the matter, if they wish to work happily 
together; for, after all, the principal should remember his 
assistants are independent of him to a certain extent, and 
by combining might effect what they require, at great in¬ 
convenience to himself. I hope such a proceeding will 
never be necessary, and feel sure the majority of assistants 
have sense enough ndt to wish to try it without great pres¬ 
sure were put upon them. Chemists’ assistants, like other 
animals, require fresh air, besides time for study, a thing 
many masters seem to forget. I hope to see the day when 
they will be treated as well as drapers’ assistants, both in 
time and remuneration. 
Every labourer is worthy of his hire; and I am sure no 
one works harder for or is more worthy of his pay than the 
chemist’s assistant. 
_ C —FORD. 
J. Jones. Where the “hardness” of water results from 
the presence of carbonate of lime, the process known as 
r. Vi 1 j S V r< ? ces f for . softening water has been success- 
adopted. It consists in adding a suitable proportion 
of lime, which combines with the free carbonic acid which 
pi eviously held the carbonate in solution, and is precipi¬ 
tated, together with the other carbonate of lime originally 
present. J 
‘‘ Inquirer.”— No person who was not of full age and 
naa .not been, for a period of three years prior to the 
passing of the. Pharmacy Act, actually engaged and em¬ 
ployed in the dispensing and compounding of prescriptions 
as an assistant to a chemist and druggist, and who did not 
before the 31st of December, 1868, forward to the Regis¬ 
trar appointed under the Act certificates to that effect in 
accordance with Schedule E, is entitled to pass the Modi¬ 
fied examination. 
Pharmaceutical Women.— Referring to Mr. H. J. Lut- 
wyche s letter on the subject of pharmaceutical women, 
I. A. L. expresses an ojiinion that it is a most unfair and 
ungallant thrusi at the ladies; and the advice he offers in 
the matter is, that one who seems to evince so much capa- 
bihty m die Dest manner of preparing for table the popular 
vegetable of which he speaks should no more let his talents 
as a chef-de-cuisine be thrown away in a pharmacy, but 
should give them full opportunity of expanding by taking 
YP the.profession of a man-cook, as by so doing he would 
noc only benefit himself, but would make way for such 
ladies who prefer the operations of pharmacy to the boiling 
of vegetables. As regards the “ many occurrences ” which 
• Lutwyehe thinks make a pharmacy unfit for women, 
I. A. L. thinks they would not see greater horrors (?) in a 
chemist s shop than they would in their capacity as nurse 
or doctor. 
[*** We think that the discussion of this question should 
now cease, at least as far as our “Correspondence” columns 
are concerned, until after the Annual Meeting.— Ed. Ph 
Journ.j 
W. White. Professor Fliickiger’s new work may be ob¬ 
tained for 12s. through Messrs. Asher, of Bedford Street, 
Covent Garden. 
“ Cruciferw.”—{1) Ballota nigra (Labiate). (2) Alliaria 
officinalis (Cruciferse)-. 
Inquirer. The persons you mention would obtain 
tickets upon application. 
Inquirer R.” (1) The Minor is entirely a viva voce 
examination. (2) No. 
C. N. C.— The provisions of the Adulteration Act, which 
are intended to prevent admixtures for increasing either 
the bulk or weight, constitute only one portion of the Act. 
It also applies to admixtures of anything injurious or poi¬ 
sonous, and this section of the Act would probably often 
a PPly to articles that are intentionally coloured. 
C. G. B. Probably Attfield’s, Roscoe’s, or Fownes’s 
Manual of Chemistry would suit your purpose, either of 
which could be obtained through a respectable publisher. 
A Caution. 
Sir,—Will you be good enough to caution your readers 
against the wiles of a designing lady. I do not refer to 
either of the three who are now disturbing the harmony of 
the Council, but to one who affects to know but little of 
English or English ways. She introduces herself as the re¬ 
presentative of a French house which has recently brought 
out a new kind of night-light, called by them “ Self-gene¬ 
rating Oil Gas-lamp.” It is made of metal resembling 
tinned iron, and in shape is like the half of an egg-shell 
which has been cut in two transversely. A small piece of 
glass tubing passes through the bottom, and is fastened 
The following journals have been received:—The ‘British 
Medical Journal,’ April 19; the ‘Medical Times and 
Gazette, April 19 ; the * Lancet,’ April 19; the ‘ London 
Medical Record,’ April 16; ‘ Medical Press and Circular,’ 
April 18; ‘ Nature,’ April 19; ‘ Chemical News,’ April 19 ; 
t Gardener’s Chronicle,’ April 19 ; the ‘ Grocer,’ April 19 ; 
Journal of the Society of Arts,’ April 19; ‘ Grocery News,’ 
April 19; ‘ Produce Markets Review,’ April 19, 
Communications, Letters, etc., have been received from 
Mr L. Y. Rees, Ms. T. Tipping, Mr. Clayton, Mr. J. R. 
Jackson, Mr. E. Keating, F. A. L., “A Constant Reader.” 
