734 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[March 11,1871. 
•were next considered. No great objection was taken to 
Nos. 1 and 2, but Mr. Smeeton thought there were many 
difficulties in No. 3, which would almost render its work¬ 
ing impracticable. Ho concluded by saying that, though 
personally he could comply with the requirements, yet 
he would not like to force such a measure on the trade, 
oxcept it was done to prevent a severer and more op¬ 
pressive measure. 
Mr. R. Reynolds took the opportunity of again meet¬ 
ing his friends to say a few words on a personal matter. 
Being unable, since November, to fulfil his representa¬ 
tive duties by attending the meetings of the Council of 
the Pharmaceutical Society, he had consulted his medical 
attendants, and also private friends, as to the desirability 
of resigning his seat, but had been dissuaded from such 
a step ; and now he had reason to hope that he could 
.shortly resume these duties. He regretted much the 
difference of opinion within the trade, due to divergent 
views on the policy of the proposed poison regulations. 
It was especially inj urious that their energies were thus 
withdrawn from the subject of improving the local 
means of education. However, the responsibility of 
self-government made it impossible to be indifferent on 
so vital a question ; and all must feel that, in approach¬ 
ing it, they ow r ed obligations to their profession and to 
the labours of those who had defended and consolidated 
its rights and privileges during a period of thirty years. 
The present contention was not as to the object, but the 
means and consequences. He (Mr. Reynolds) had felt it 
his duty elsewhere to express strongly his views upon 
the details of the proposed scheme, which had been most 
ably analysed by Mr. Barnard Proctor, and also to indi¬ 
cate the probable consequence of its acceptance. As to 
the charge of ignorant selfishness made against the 
opponents of the regulations by certain medical journals, 
the members of the Leeds Chemists’ Association could 
afford to disregard them, and to point to their voluntary 
action during several years as the best confutation of 
.such a slander. 
Mr. Thompson remarked that these regulations could 
only be enforced by penalties and also police supervision, 
for it w T as not to be supposed that a new staff of officials 
would be organized for the purpose; but that the present 
guardians of the peace would be empowered to see that 
these laws, like all others, were properly obeyed. Mr. 
Thompson then moved the first resolution :— 
“ That this meeting would have received with appro¬ 
bation a well-considered plan for storing powerful reme¬ 
dies, if recommended for voluntary adoption; but is of 
opinion that the proposed compulsory regulations for the 
storing and dispensing of poisons are ill-judged and un¬ 
just to those to whom they would apply, and that they 
ought to be resisted.” 
Mr. Edward Brown, in seconding the resolution, re¬ 
marked that it seemed to him to be an insult to the 
trade, within twelve months after such an expression of 
opinion as emanated from the trade last year, that an¬ 
other set of compulsory regulations should be attempted 
to be enforced. 
The resolution was heartily carried. 
Mr. Edwin Yewdall then moved, and Mr. Samuel 
Taylor seconded, the next resolution, which was car¬ 
ried 
“ It is of the greatest importance that at the Annual 
Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society, to be held in 
May next, the vote of every member of the Society re¬ 
specting the proposed compulsory regulations for the 
keeping and storing of poisons should be taken through 
the post by voting-papers, and not merely by a show of 
hands of those present; and that due regard be given to 
the expressed opinion of all registered chemists and 
druggists.” 
Mr. Edwin Yewdall, after stating that it would be of 
no avail to organize a Defence Association after we were 
once really saddled with the compulsory regulations, pro¬ 
posed the third resolution :— 
“ That this meeting hears -with satisfaction of the or¬ 
ganization of a Chemists’ Defence Association, and 
approves of its objects.” 
Mr. Samuel Taylor seconded its adoption, which was 
unanimously carried. 
It was then proposed by Mr. E. Yewdall, seconded 
by Mr. R. Reynolds, and carried with acclamation :— 
“ That the thanks of this meeting be presented to the 
President, Mr. William Smeeton, for his conduct in the 
chair.” 
The meeting then concluded, when several present 
joined the “ Chemists’ Defence Association.” 
MANCHESTER CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 
An Ordinary Monthly Meeting was held in the Me¬ 
morial Hall on Friday evening, March 3rd; the Presi¬ 
dent, Mr. W. S. Brown, in the chair. 
The Chairman announced that the consideration of the 
subject referred to the Council at the last meeting had 
resulted in the formation of a “ Chemists’ Defence Asso¬ 
ciation,” particulars of which would shortly be in the 
hands of every chemist in the kingdom. 
Mr. W. J. Halliday then read a very interesting 
paper on “ Dispensing,” in which he gave a number of 
valuable practical hints on the subject. 
[We propose printing this paper in extenso in the next 
number of this Journal.] 
A discussion followed in which many members took 
part. Opinions were expressed that prescribes should 
ruiderline any unusually large dose, to indicate to the 
dispenser that it waas not an oversight, and thus relieve 
him from doubt. That, if any part of the prescription, 
either the formula or directions, admitted of a double 
reading, the first dispenser should make a marginal 
note for the guidance of those who followed him, that 
uniformity might be secured. That dispensers should 
accustom themselves to calculate the doses of all active 
ingredients in a prescription before they commenced dis¬ 
pensing it. That where practicable, the dispensing of 
powerful medicines should be “checked” by a second 
person. 
“A case containing a great variety of labels for 
“ poisons ” and “ outward applications ” was exhibited 
by Mr. H. Silverlock, of London. 
HramMnjP at .Scientific Societies. 
LONDON CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
The result of the discussions on “ Poison Regulations,” 
held at the end of last year, resulted in the following 
resolution being almost unanimously carried:— 
“That the propositions recommended for adoption by 
the ‘Jsale and Keeping of Poisons Committee,’ and pub¬ 
lished in the Pharmaceutical Journal of December 17, 
1870, be accepted as satisfactory by this Association.” 
An opinion was generally expressed that the system 
marked II. is to be preferred; it was considered also that 
Clause III. in the old propositions, regarding the sale 
and dispensing of medicines, ought not to be omitted 
from whatever regulations are introduced. 
Thursday, Feb. 9, 1871; the President in the chair. 
Mr. Pick read a paper on “ Belladonna and its Pre¬ 
parations.” He gave an interesting history of the plant 
from the earliest writers, and of its medical value being 
discovered by Lugus, in the year 1532, and an accurate 
botanical description, stating that it belonged to the 
Natural Order Atropacece; some botanists classified it 
under Solanceee, but the plants included in this Order 
(. Atropacece ) were separated from Solanacece, and formed 
into a distinct class under that name by Miers, the chief 
distinguishing character being the different aestivation 
