March 18, 1871.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
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reserve the latter part till some future night. He then 
described the first steps the botanist required to take in 
beginning the collection of plants, and explained the use 
of the necessary apparatus, viz. the digger, vasculum, 
and pocket-glass, and after mentioning the proper time 
for collecting plants in fit condition for the botanist’s 
i purpose, and giving some hints on the selection of plants 
for beginners, he described the different parts of a flower 
■as calyx, corolla, stamens, and pistil; and in referring 
to the fruit, begged to explain what was a popular error, 
viz., that the soft part of such fruits as the strawberry, 
apple, orange, etc., was not in reality fruit, but merely 
a soft covering or protector of the fruit proper. He then 
referred to the uses of botany in the arts and medicine, 
and made particular reference to the value of a thorough 
understanding of its principles to the chemist, and that 
these principles could only be well grounded in the 
earlier years of one’s apprenticeship ; he also referred to 
the selecting of poisonous from non-poisonous plants, 
showing how a traveller who had a knowledge of botany 
could not be at a loss for food, in an emergency. He 
then drew attention to the specific and generic names of 
plants, recommending the ‘ Clydesdale Flora,’ by Pro¬ 
fessor Hennedy, as the best text-book for this district, 
and mentioning some spots in the neighbourhood well 
adapted for the study of the science. Mr. Clark’s paper 
was listened to with marked attention, and was rendered 
all the more interesting by being illustrated with dia¬ 
grams and natural flowers. 
The Report of the Soiree Committee was then brought 
forward by the Secretary, showing a balance of cash of 
.£1. 6s. 6d., and, on the motion of the President, this sum 
was ordered to be added to the funds of the Associa¬ 
tion. 
Mr. Paterson, in proposing a vote of thanks to the 
Committee, referred to the promise made by Mr. Mac¬ 
donald to give a donation of other £0 to the Society, 
and also read a communication he had had from Messrs. 
Evans, Sons, and Co., Liverpool, authorizing him to pre¬ 
sent to the Association one of their five guinea cabinets 
ef Materia Medica. 
On the motion of the President, seconded by Mr. 
Paterson, the Secretary was instructed to convey to 
these gentlemen the best thanks of the Association for 
their handsome donations, which was agreed to by accla¬ 
mation. 
An address by Dr. Black was announced for next 
meeting. 
HALIFAX CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 
Mr. Stott, President, in the chair. 
The business of the meeting commenced with the pre¬ 
sentation of prizes to the successful students in the 
botany class. All the pupils being present, Mr. Stott 
addressed them, saying it had fallen to his lot to present 
these first prizes of the Association, and the pleasure he 
had in doing so, though great, would have been far 
greater if he could have congratulated them on the 
result of the examination. He found, however, that the 
most successful had reached little more than half the 
number of marks attainable. He pointed out the im¬ 
portance of these local classes, and thought they would 
become more numerous, as the number of young men 
who presented themselves at Bloomsbury Square for the 
purpose of study kept steadily increasing. He bade the 
students go on in their career, and take advantage of every 
opportunity to increase their store of knowledge, till they 
were able and competent to fulfil the duties of their 
future calling. 
Mr. Shaw thought the President had been rather too 
hard upon the class. Having gone over the same 
ground as the students, he could make great allowance 
for their comparatively slight success. Botany was not 
such an interesting science as some others, and, unless 
there was a special liking, and an intuitive reception of 
its laws and principles, he could quite understand it 
might prove a little dry and tedious at the commence¬ 
ment. The neighbourhood, too, was not the best for 
botanizing. Some twenty miles off was a better ground, 
where they might collect many specimens, and, with 
Bentham for reference, would find employment for many 
evenings of study. He pointed out to them the scholar¬ 
ships in connection with Bloomsbury Square, and hoped 
the seeds now being sown would in time bear fruit. 
After a few words from Mr. Farr, 
Mr. Hebden stated that it was the intention of the 
Association to commence a class for materia medica, and 
that an examination would be held, and prizes offered, 
as well as in Latin and chemistry. 
The President then drew the attention of the meet¬ 
ing to the proposed regulations of the Council with 
respect to poisons, and whilst for his own part he could 
not support them, he should be glad to hear the views of 
the members generally. 
Mr.’ Dyer, believing there was no halfway of meet¬ 
ing the Council on this question, had come to the con¬ 
clusion that they should be opposed, and was glad that 
Manchester had moved in the matter, and the Defence 
Committee, he thought, should be supported. He could 
not but feci it to be an insult, and degrading to a che¬ 
mist, to have these regulations forced upon him, and his 
shop to be inspected by a surgeon. 
Mr. Shaw could not support them. From the tone of 
the medical journals, he thought he could perceive a 
strong animus against our body at large, and an evident 
desire to fetter us with restrictions, whilst their own 
surgeries should be exempt. The Privy Council, in con¬ 
junction with the Pharmaceutical Council, having the 
power of increasing .the schedule of poisons, might prove 
a serious source of annoyance under the proposed regu¬ 
lations. From the ignorance displayed by those in autho¬ 
rity with respect to the poison schedules in the Act of 
1868, he dreaded being placed any further under their 
jurisdiction. 
Mr. Hebden would have been glad if the members 
would have approached this question with an earnest 
desire to improve the regulations, rather than throwing 
them overboard altogether. A mild inspection, in his 
idea, was not so frightful as had been stated. He 
thought, in the long-run, it would even prove beneficial 
in many respects. He felt sure, if rejected, stronger 
and firmer ones would be brought forward, perhaps in 
the midst of a panic on the part of the public, when 
reason would be lost sight of, and we should be com¬ 
pelled to accept such as the Privy Council demanded. 
After a few words from Mr. Farr against the propo¬ 
sition, and Mr. Wood supporting the views of Mr. 
Hebden, 
Mr. Brook agreed with Mr. Shaw, that the Medical 
Council had a great deal to do with it; in fact, he looked 
upon it as an attempt on the part of that body to 
create a vast monopoly of their interests. Inspection 
by surgeons first, then they would try to put down 
counter-prescribing. See what a power for annoyance 
would be created and placed in their hands by inspec¬ 
tion, and couple that with the 26th clause of the Act of 
1868. He advocated a strenuous opposition to the regu¬ 
lations. 
Mr. J. B. Brierly and Mr. Jessop strongly con¬ 
demned them as insulting and degrading. 
The following resolution was carried unanimously:— 
“ That, in the opinion of this meeting, the proposition 
of the Council for compulsory regulations in the dispen¬ 
sing and storage of poisons is uncalled for by the public, 
inimical to the true interests of the trade, and ought to 
be most strenuously opposed and resisted.” 
