May 24, 1873.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
941 
lieved that in many cases they would he much better fitted 
for such positions than young men. In the druggists’ 
shops in Paris you constantly saw the wife assisting her 
husband. 
Mr. Giles reminded the speaker that it was not a ques¬ 
tion of practising the business, but of membership in the 
Society. 
Mr. Borden did not see how women could practise as 
druggists unless they were admitted to all the privileges 
of membership. They ought to be qualified to do every- 
.thing which they might be called upon to perform. 
Mr. Atkins said he must object, although time was 
valuable, to a vote being taken on this question without 
a full discussion, and the Annual Meeting was the only 
■opportunity for provincial members to make known their 
views, except in writing, which many had not time for. 
'The question as to the desirability of women entering the 
business was, it appeared to him, a question for the women 
to decide for themselves. He did not wish to speak in 
the least degree personally or offensively, but he believed 
a great deal of the opposition to this motion arose from 
an unwise feeling of jealousy. Mr. Sandford had said 
that there was a large sphere of labour open to women ; 
but, with all due respect, it appeared to him that their 
sphere of action was very limited, at any rate an 
opinion existed, wisely or not, on the part of many 
women, that a certain section of their own business, being 
somewhat refined in character and light in its manipula¬ 
tion, was capable of being appropriated by them. It 
seemed to him that the whole argument had been con 
ceded when females were admitted to the register. He 
did not pretend to prophetic power, but he believed they 
were only now attempting to resist the inevitable. The 
suggestion had been made—and received with approba¬ 
tion—that women should be driven to apply to the court 
for a mandamus ,but if it came to that, would it not be much 
more chivalrous, honourable, and manly, to admit them 
without that ? He would not say how he intended to 
vote, for he simply came to hear the debate, and though 
he had a natural feeling of conservatism, prompting him 
to say no, he wished only to be influenced by the force of 
argument. 
Mr. Urwick (London) had no wish to see ladies enter 
the trade, but at the same time he would not oppose them 
if they thought themselves axlapted for it. He was guided 
in this matter by the 10th clause of the Act, which said 
they were eligible to conduct business and to be pharma¬ 
ceutical chemists. Ladies having come forward and passed 
the requisite examinations, it was simply a matter of jus¬ 
tice to admit them to membei'sliip, leaving it to each in¬ 
dividual who presented herself to stand upon her own 
merits, and judging in each case, as in the case of a man, 
whether there was any moral reason for rejection. They 
could not assume that ladies who passed their examination 
were going to conduct business in an improper manner, 
and as a pure matter of justice he should vote for the re¬ 
solution. 
Mr. Hasipson, in replying to the adverse criticism 
which the resolution had received, said he had taken care 
to fortify himself -with legal opinions, and he had authority 
to use the name of Mr. Hinde Palmer, Q.C., M.P., who 
distinctly coincided with the principles he had laid down. 
Two other legal opinions were in the same direction, all 
three gentlemen agreeing that women occupied exactly 
the same position as men in relation to the Society. With 
regard to the disagreeable nature of the business and the 
awful consequences of women being mixed up with these 
disagreeables, he could not share the fears which had been 
so eloquently expressed. Those women who passed the 
■examination and carried on business themselves would 
very probably employ female assistants, and in such cases 
there could be nothing in any way derogatory to female 
modesty or propriety. 
The President then put the amendment that the ques¬ 
tion be adjourned sine die, and declared it to be carried by 
a considerable majority. 
Mr. Davis called for a division, but this was not 
pressed. 
The President was then proceeding to put the amend¬ 
ment as a substantive resolution, when— 
Mr. Wade said he had an amendment to propose— 
“ That it is the opinion of this meeting that, the solicitor 
of the Society not being able to give a decided opinion on 
the meaning of the Act, it is the duty of the Council to 
obtain Counsel’s opinion thereon.” 
Mr. Randall seconded the amendment. 
The President said he could not consider that as an 
amendment to the resolution before the meeting. 
Mr. Randall said that difficulty could be easily got 
over. He could put himself perfectly in order by moving 
to omit the words “ sine die,” and to substitute “ for the 
purpose of obtaining Counsel’s opinion on the point.” 
Mr. Wade seconded. 
Mr. Giles wished to know what “ the point ” was. 
Mr. Randall : The point whether women can legally 
demand to be admitted. He would not press the motion 
if the Council would undertake to do so. 
Mr. Brown appealed to Mr. Randall whether it 
was worth while to press the amendment after the meeting 
had so decidedly expressed its opinion that the question 
should be adjourned. The Council was as yet an unelected 
body, but he had no doubt there would be some gentlemen 
on the incoming Council who would not let the question 
entirely rest; and there could be no doubt that before the 
Council brought it forward again they would take care to 
have an authoritative expression of opinion from the 
highest legal gentlemen. He hoped, therefore, the meet¬ 
ing would at once proceed to the important business they 
had still to transact. 
After some further conversation, Mr. Randall said he 
must press his amendment, as he could not get a distinct 
understanding that the question would not be allowed to 
drop altogether. The amendment was therefore put, and 
lost by a considerable majority; and Mr. Pickering’s mo¬ 
tion being put was immediately carried. 
Scrutineers were then appointed to examine the voting 
papers sent in for the election of gentlemen to the vacant 
seats at the Council, and the meeting was adjourned to 
eleven o’clock on Friday, to declare the result of the poll. 
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING. 
The Secretary having read the notice convening the 
Special General Meeting for the purpose of abrogating or 
altering some of the Bye-laws of the Society, and of con¬ 
sidering, and, if thought proper, confirming and approv¬ 
ing the new Bye-laws submitted to the said meeting by 
the Council as follows :— 
FIRST SCHEDULE. 
Present. 
for the 
become 
and all 
Clause 10. 
All subscriptions 
current year shall 
due upon election, 
annual subscriptions shall 
become due on the first day 
of January in every year; 
and if any Member, Asso¬ 
ciate, or Apprentice or Stu¬ 
dent, shall not have paid 
his annual subscription be¬ 
fore the first day of May in 
any year, his name shall be 
omitted from the Register 
of Members, Associates, and 
Apprentices or Students of 
the Society, certified by 
the Council at the Annual 
Meeting. 
SECOND SCHEDULE. 
Proposed. 
Section 1. 
Clause 10. 
All subscriptions for the 
current year shall become 
due upon election, and all 
annual subscriptions shall 
become due on the first day 
of January in every year ; 
and if any Member, Asso¬ 
ciate, or Apprentice or Stu¬ 
dent shall not have paid 
his annual subscription be¬ 
fore the first day of May in 
any year, his name shall be 
omitted from the Register 
of Members, Associates, and 
Apprentices or Students of 
the Society, certified by 
the Council at the Annual 
Meeting. 
