January 7, 1871.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
510 
SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1871. 
Communications for this Journal , and books for review , etc., 
should be addressed to the Editou, 17, Bloomsbury Square. 
Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the 
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Elias Buem- 
kidge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, 7 V.C. 
Advertisements to Messrs. Chlrchill, New Burlington 
Street, London, W. Envelopes endorsed “ I'harm. Jo urn.” 
THE OPENING YEAR. 
Though the present number is neither the com¬ 
mencement nor the conclusion of a volume, the fact 
of its being the first to appear this year will, we 
hope, be received as a sufficient excuse for a brief 
allusion to some of those points of pharmaceutical 
interest which may be expected to constitute for us 
characteristic features of the year now opening. 
First, in regard to the general organization of 
pharmacy, as a business in which the interests of 
the public demand above all things certified compe¬ 
tence in those who practise it, we may expect that 
measures will be taken to secure for Ireland the 
same advantages as we now enjoy in other parts of 
the United Kingdom. 
In the matter of education, which is now engaging 
the earnest attention of all classes of the community, 
we may expect that pharmacists will be no excep¬ 
tion ; but that the means by which rising members 
of the trade may acquire that thorough knowledge 
■of chemistry, botany and the materia medica, which 
is as essential to an accomplished pharmacist as the 
practical training gained during apprenticeship, 
may be developed and made still more generally 
accessible than they are at present. 
Within the year now opening we may also expect 
the Pharmaceutical Society to take an important 
step in reference to the storing of poisons, by deciding 
whether or not it will prescribe regulations for that 
purpose. In this respect the forthcoming Annual 
Meeting of the Society will probably be one of 
•unusual interest. 
The alteration of the laws relating to patent 
medicine stamps and licences, will probably be dealt 
with during this year. 
Among the prominent events of the year, the 
second meeting of the Conference, north of the 
Tweed, must not be forgotten, and while the fact 
that it is to be in Edinburgh will be an earnest of its 
brilliancy to all who know Scotland, it will be espe¬ 
cially so to all who remember the success of the 
meeting at Dundee. 
Last, but not least, we may be permitted to hope 
that within the present year an}” question which 
may remain as to the desirability of altering this 
Journal from a monthly to a weekly issue may be 
disposed of. We ivill also take this opportunity of 
addressing ourselves to all who are interested in the 
success of this Journal, as the property of the Society 
and the organ of its Council, to solicit from them 
such individual assistance as they can afford, with 
the object of rendering it a worthy representative of 
British pharmacy. There are probably few, if any 
journals connected with pharmacy which enjoy such 
advantages as this one, but we are inclined to believe 
that its general character no less than its utility 
might still be largely enhanced by the freer co¬ 
operation of those practically engaged in the busi¬ 
ness of pharmacy throughout the country. 
We desire to return hearty thanks to those who 
have spontaneously come forward and given their 
help by contributing information, news and com¬ 
ments on matters of interest to the trade. AYe hope 
such contributions will still continue, and that they 
will become more general under the conviction that 
they may tend to the good of the entire body. 
Nor must we forget to thank some grumblers who 
have favoured us with complaints which we have 
found both useful and beneficial in their influence, 
for we fully recognize the obligation of making this 
Journal generally acceptable and interesting, while 
at the same time endeavouring to perform the duty 
of elevating and leading opinion in all matters with 
which it is concerned. 
In conclusion, therefore, we ask not only for the 
assistance of all who approve our endeavours, but 
also for the complaints of those who disapprove or 
are unsatisfied, and if these requests be responded to 
as we desire they may be, we do not doubt that the 
new year will be as prosperous for the Journal as 
we hope it will be for all its readers. 
DISPENSING CHARGES AND ALLIANCES. 
AYe think the Pharmaceutical Society would lose 
influence if it responded to the suggestion of corre¬ 
spondents by promulgating a scale of dispensing 
charges. AYe by no means underrate the import¬ 
ance of the question of proper remuneration, but 
unless we were prepared to advocate uniformity of 
price (which appears to us eminently calculated to 
repress the best kind of emulation), we must leave 
the actual determination of prices to the judgment 
and good sense of the parties concerned. 
Fixed rates are not, according to our experience, 
adopted b} r other trades, and the difficulty of assess¬ 
ing them is increased by the semi-professional nature 
of dispensing operations, in wliicli personal qualifi¬ 
cation and reputation become positive elements of 
market value. In the professions there is still 
greater elasticity, and we see that one barrister will 
demand a hundred guineas for services which an¬ 
other would willingly render for ten, without conclud¬ 
ing that the first is extortionate or the other unpro¬ 
fessional. If we offer any advice at all upon this 
