928 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[May 24, 1873. 
examination, and enlarged its scope with a view to test 
the candidates’ abilities, industry, and range of education. 
Thus, inter alia, ‘ Virgil’ has been substituted for ‘Caesar,’ 
and one modern language—French or Herman, at the 
option of the candidate—has been added. These altera¬ 
tions to come into operation in 1874. 
In the report last year it was stated that premises 
necessary for conducting the examinations and the affairs 
of the Society in Scotland had been obtained, and were 
being arranged : the Council has the satisfaction of stating 
that eligible premises are now occupied by the North 
British Branch of the Society. A deputation from the 
Council, consisting of the President, Vice-President; and 
the Secretary, accompanied by Mr. Williams, has paid an 
official visit to Edinburgh. 
The Council, always solicitous to promote the usefulness 
of the library, has continued, with the assistance of the 
Committee, to supply new and suitable books for study 
and reference. The attendance of readers has been good 
during the day, and the Council has pleasure in observing 
that the evening attendance has also increased. 
The museum of the Pharmaceutical Society is a most 
important feature of the establishment, and deserves every 
attention. There is probably no collection in existence 
more interesting to pharmacists than that accessible at all 
times to members and students in Bloomsbury Square. 
During the past year a new curator has been appointed for 
the museums, and certain changes have been carried out 
making him more directly responsible for the safe keeping 
and proper arrangement of the specimens therein contained. 
An herbarium is also in course of formation, which will 
prove useful to students. A catalogue is in preparation. 
During the past session the evening meetings have been 
well attended, and subjects of great interest have been 
discussed. 
The Parliamentary Committee has been much occupied 
with questions involving the interests of the Society and 
of chemists and druggists generally. Strong representa¬ 
tions were made by your Council to the Solicitor-G-eneral, 
showing the great advantage to be secured to the public 
by leaving dispensers of medicine at their daily avocation 
rather than enforcing their absence therefrom by calling 
them to serve on juries. In compliance with these repre¬ 
sentations the Bill to amend the Juries’ Acts, now before 
Parliament, contains an exempting clause for chemists and 
druggists. 
Late in the last Session an Adulteration of Food and 
Drugs Act was passed rapidly, and almost silently, through 
the House of Commons, and but for the timely action of a 
deputation from this Committee, would have become law 
with most obnoxious penal clauses against tradesmen 
generally, and rendering druggists especially liable for 
offences over which they had no control. The Marquis 
of Salisbury, who had charge of the Bill in the House of 
Lords, and Lord Eustace Cecil, who had taken great 
interest in the question in the Lower House, at once 
acknowledged the oppressive character of these clauses 
and amended them by rendering a man responsible only 
for such acts of adulteration, or the sale of adulterated 
articles, as were committed knowingly and with intent to 
defraud. The Act has since given rise to certain com¬ 
munications with the Government respecting the appoint¬ 
ment of analysts, and your Council has had the satisfaction 
recently of seeingseveral pharmaceutical chemists appointed 
by local authorities to the office, which appointments are 
now waiting the approval of the Local Government Board. 
Several prosecutions against offenders under the Phar¬ 
macy Acts have been carried to a successful issue, and the 
Council has every desire to put a stop to the illegal sale 
and dispensing of poisons, as well as the false assumption 
of titles protected by these Acts. 
During the past year applications have been received 
for the admission of ladies to the lectures delivered at the 
Society’s house, to the course of practical instruction in the 
Society’s laboratory, and for admission also into the ranks 
rf the Society. The Council determined to admit lady 
students to the lectures, but not to the laboratory ; and 
deferred the question of their admission to the ranks of 
the Society, in order that the opinion of the members 
generally might be elicited at the Annual Meeting. 
In compliance with the requirements of the Act of 1868, 
section 10, one thousand two hundred and sixty-two re¬ 
gistered letters were sent by the Registrar to those per¬ 
sons on the register whose addresses were doubtful, and 
six months having elapsed, second letters were sent to all 
who had not replied to the first; many addresses were 
thus corrected, but after a further interval of three months, 
the names of between six and seven hundred of those who 
had not answered were struck off the register—clearly 
showing the necessity for such a provision ; at the same 
time the Council has power to restore the names of such 
persons on proper proof being given of the justice of 
doing so. 
The Council cannot report any definite progress on the 
subject of Provincial Education. The scheme which early 
in the past year was submitted to the trade generally 
through the local Secretaries of the Society did not appear 
to enlist such general support as the Council considered 
necessary to warrant the attempt to carry it into effect. 
It is gratifying, however, to see that local efforts in this 
cause are still being made in many provincial centres, and 
the Council congratulates those who are exerting them¬ 
selves with so much constancy and zeal. It must not be 
forgotten that, under regulations at present in force, as¬ 
sistance can be rendered to Local Associations which are 
doing efficient work. 
A Conversazione was held last May at the South Ken¬ 
sington Museum, and the Council has made arrangements 
for a similar and, it trusts, equally agreeable reunion, to 
take place on the evening of the Annual Meeting. 
The Benevolent Fund steadily increases in the number 
of subscribers and in the amount subscribed ; at the same 
time there has been an increase in the number of appli¬ 
cants for relief, and notably from chemists and druggists 
and their widows ; it is gratifying that assistance could 
be given, however much the necessity for such applications 
may be regretted. The amount of annual subscriptions 
in 1871 was £594 3s. 6cl., of donations, <£'74 7s. 10oJ.; in 
1872, subscriptions, £749 2s. Qd., donations, £84 13s. 6d. 
In addition to this, a legacy of £500 was received from 
the executors of the late Mrs. Lyon. Although as a 
matter of account it will not appear until next year, your 
Council cannot allow this opportunity to pass without 
recording publicly the generous gift of £100 from Mrs. 
Waugh, given at the express desire of the late Mr. George 
Waugh, who was for many years a member of Council, 
and always, from its commencement, an ardent supporter 
of the Pharmaceutical Society. 
The Council desires to tender its hearty thanks to those 
gentlemen who have performed the responsible duties of 
Local Secretaries. 
The following registers were placed before the meet¬ 
ing :— 
Register of Members, Associates and Apprentices 
of the Society. 
Register of Pharmaceutical Chemists. 
Register of Assistants. 
Register of Apprentices or Students, 
Under the Pharmacy Act, 1852. 
Register of Chemists and Druggists, 
Under the Pharmacy Act, 1868. 
Mr. J. O. Davis (Kilbum): Mr. President and gentle? 
men, it may appear presumption on my part in addressing 
this meeting; but my apology may be expressed in this 
fact, that I have been connected with the Society since 
its formation. The duty I have to perform is of a very 
simple character. I have read this Report very carefully 
and I shall move,— 
