318 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[October 15, 1870. 
tormpttona. 
Communications for this Journal , and hooks for review , 
should he addressed to the Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square. 
*** No notice can he taken of anonymous communica¬ 
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must he authenti¬ 
cated by the name and address of the writer ; not necessarily 
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. 
‘‘Help for Students!”—Pharmaceutical Education 
in the Provinces. 
Dear Sir,—At tlie recent Liverpool Conference two papers 
were read, and a lengthened discussion arose on the “ educa¬ 
tional question.” It was my privilege to be present as a 
delegate, and to listen to the observations of our worthy 
President and other gentlemen whom we have long esteemed 
for their intelligence and earnest efforts to promote the eleva¬ 
tion and best interests of our body. I quite agreed with the 
various speakers that no subject in connection with our asso¬ 
ciation is deserving of more careful consideration than the 
training and education of the young men, who will in due 
time become our successors and the future chemists of this 
country. In every branch of society these questions are re¬ 
ceiving more universal attention, and increased facilities are 
being offered for thorough mental culture. 
We, therefore, on whom so much responsibility devolves, 
must not be behind the age in vigilance and activity in these 
matters. Already special privileges have been accorded to 
us by Government, but in conjunction therewith additional 
duties also devolve upon us, viz. to protect the public against 
accidents through ignorance and the incautious use of dan¬ 
gerous and powerful medicines. The prolonged controversy 
and correspondence which have taken place on the “ Poisons ” 
question may be cited as a proof that we are fully alive to 
the responsibilities of being entrusted with the safe storage 
and dispensing of deadly and hazardous drugs. It seems 
almost impossible by any simple arrangement of chemists’ 
establishments to avoid the possibility of accidents, neither 
would it be agreeable to gentlemen of liberal education and 
experience to subject the details of their business to the in¬ 
spection or dictation of others, probably less conversant with 
its requirements than themselves; at the same time we are 
all, I think, agreed that a systematic and complete course of 
education is of vital importance, and that this is the best 
guarantee for safety we can offer to the Government and the 
public at large. 
The question therefore arises, “How can this be most 
effectually encouraged and carried out P” 
Prom long experience I may venture to say that, as a 
class, the young men entering and engaged in the drug 
business are as thoughtful, intelligent and diligent in the 
pursuit of knowledge as those in any other department of 
business or science. Many, in their earlier days, had not the 
advantages which are now offered; and we owe much to the 
founders and various members of the Pharmaceutical Society 
for the example and stimulus they have given. We revere 
the memories of Allen, Bell and other noble pioneers of the 
past. Much, however, still remains to be done. The Society 
is well represented by the learned and able members of the 
Council for the present year; and we rejoice to see that so 
many young men are coming forward each season to compete 
for the prizes and to pass the examinations. It involves no 
little amount of energy, application and self-sacrifice for those 
who are in most cases closely occupied with business all day, 
to find the time (often wrested from the hours of sleep) to 
pursue the course of study necessary for success. 
I believe the very struggle will itself be a good thing for 
those young men in years to come, teaching them the import¬ 
ance of industry, perseverance and economy of moments; but 
at the same time I would say that there is a word we might 
use and perhaps carry into practice with good effect for all 
parties, that word is “Sympathy.” How often it cheers 
the drooping spirit and reinvigorates relaxing energies! I 
have generally found that the diligent student at nights is 
also the most active and faithful apprentice or assistant 
during the day, and thus becomes more valuable to his master. 
A word of kindly encouragement now and then,—the offer of 
more time for reading when the day’s work and duties are 
over, or half an hour for study during the day,—often 
stimulates and creates a genial reciprocity of feeling. A 
youth thus taken into the business and treated as a son, 
generally grows up thoughtful and steady, and proves a com¬ 
fort and a credit to the house with which he was connected. 
Pleasing remembrances of this character can never be for¬ 
gotten ; and while it is thus desirable that mutual sympathy 
should be cultivated in the family circle and business esta¬ 
blishments, I think the same principle might with profit be 
applied to our Society at large. I believe all those who joined 
in the recent Conference, felt cheered and highly gratified by 
the hearty welcome and generous reception they met with at 
the hands of their Liverpool friends. We went as it were 
with tears (for the first day was very wet), but we certainly 
returned again “rejoicing,” having also assisted the Liver¬ 
pool Chemists’ Association to celebrate its “majority.” The 
same feeling of sympathy often leads members and associates 
in the country to look with affection and interest to the parent 
Society,—to you, our fathers and seniors in the metropolis. 
Some of us, however, have watched and assisted the Society 
even from its commencement. I well remember (a youth, 
as I then was, just entering the business) with what zest we 
received and read the first numbers of the new Pharma¬ 
ceutical Journal, and thinking the objects it sought were 
very good, I joyfully sent up my first half-guinea as an asso¬ 
ciate more than twenty-eight years ago; yet my interests 
and sympathy have never declined, and though it has cost 
me now some £25 to £30, I have always been glad to con¬ 
tribute my share to its support. As “children,” therefore, 
we in the provinces have been faithful to our “parent” in 
the capital. I am happy, too, to find that your resources 
are increasing, and that last year £500 was able to be set 
aside for the “Benevolent Fund”—a noble institution, and 
that you are also in so good a pecuniary position as to feel 
justified to devote other sums as bonuses to indicate your 
appreciation of long and valuable services, and I have con¬ 
fidence that the members at large (when appealed to) will 
support any right expressions of gratitude for help and sym¬ 
pathy thus rendered to the association. 
In reflecting upon the present income of the “Pharmaceu¬ 
tical Society ” I have occasionally asked myself how its funds, 
a considerable proportion of which are derived from the pro¬ 
vinces, might be turned to the best account. Before a chemist 
can obtain the diploma (and I would urge each young friend 
to determine on taking the highest position), the sum of ten 
guineas will have been paid, in the three separate fees of two, 
three and five guineas each. In the case of many whose first 
resources are but limited, this is no trifling consideration, 
apart from the expenses of books, classes, hours of study, etc. 
Now how can we best assist and show our “sympathy” 
for these laborious students, especially for those who reside 
in our smaller towns, and therefore have not all the advan¬ 
tages which London and other cities or larger towns afford ? 
Your interest and desire, I may fully presume, would be to 
encourage and secure young men of character and ability, 
and help them to elevate themselves to higher social positions, 
and none is nobler than that of a “ pharmaceutical chemist.” 
I therefore beg respectfully to suggest that wherever a 
chemists’ association is established in a town or neighbour¬ 
hood, principals, assistants, and apprentices uniting to 
commence a library, museum, reading-room, etc., and to 
raise, say £10, £20, or £50 amongst themselves, that the 
parent Society ( i. e. our London friends) should kindly offer 
an equal amount, or at least some stated sum in proportion 
to that which they may raise. It would thus stimulate local 
effort, and be a suitable return for the subscriptions some of 
us have for so many years been forwarding and still forward 
to you. There are about twenty-five associations already 
formed, and on their behalf I beg most respectfully to make 
this proposition,—trusting you will bring it before the Presi¬ 
dent and Council for their consideration and approval. While 
helping to scatter abroad the seeds of knowledge, they also 
will ultimately realize an “abundant harvest.” 
Believe me, dear Sir, yours faithfully, 
W. Bostock, Local Secretary. 
Ashton-under-Lyne, 
September 30 th, 1870. 
Prison Compounders. 
Sir,—In an unfair fight the bystanders generally interfere; 
will you act that part between Parliament Street and us poor 
compounders ? 
The army and navy compounders have lately been recog¬ 
nized; how is it that the convict service has been passed 
over? or in a prison of 1600 men the “ dispensing” (sic) is 
allowed to be done by some of the warders (as for some years 
