March 25, 1871.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
771 
%\)t |1ljannnxeutit;tl Jounutl. 
- ♦- 
SATURDAY, MARCH 25 , 1871 . 
Communications for this Journal, and boohs for review, etc., 
should be addressed to the Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square. 
Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the 
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Elias Brem- 
ridge, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, JF.C. 
Advertisements to Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington 
Street, London, W. Envelopes indorsed “ Pharrn. Journ .” 
THE PROPOSED POISON REGULATIONS. 
The foregoing pages of our present number, toge¬ 
ther with some reports published in previous num¬ 
bers, will afford sufficient evidence of a very general 
response to the circular of the Council calling the 
serious attention of the members to this question as 
one demanding early and definite settlement. The 
Pharmaceutical vox pop uli is at length making itself 
heard, and we may gather from the resolutions passed 
at the various meetings, that British pharmacists 
are to a large extent resolved to oppose the applica¬ 
tion of compulsory regulations. We consider it un¬ 
necessary to enter upon any discussion of the reasons 
which have been advanced either for this opposition, 
or in favour of the proposed regulations being 
adopted, for the arguments, on both sides, have been 
worn threadbare, and they may be fully studied in 
our correspondence columns. 
But we would especially urge upon our readers 
the desirability of putting an end to the state of dis¬ 
quiet prevailing in regard to the matter of poison 
regulations, inasmuch as we consider it is a state 
fraught with possible danger to the best interests of 
the craft, one already showing signs of incipient 
disunion and anarchy. 
As regards the action of those concerned, it seems 
to us the case is very simple, and that much of the 
argument we have heard is superfluous. The Phar¬ 
maceutical Society, having been by law constituted 
the body to prescribe regulations, with the consent 
of the Privy Council, it is obviously the duty of its 
members individually to exercise, at the coming 
meeting, the power they have of deciding the ques¬ 
tion, in accordance with the provisions of the Charter. 
To fail in doing this would, we consider, indicate an 
inadequate appreciation of the privileges belonging 
to members of the Society. In like manner we can¬ 
not attach much weight to the complaint that a 
large portion of the trade may be legislated for, and 
subjected to compulsory regulations by, a body con¬ 
sisting only of a much smaller number, for this com¬ 
plaint is urged with an assumption that the Pharma¬ 
ceutical Society, as a body, is in favour of the 
proposed regulations, or that its members will neglect 
to exercise their power of self-government; wliile, 
at the same time, it is still more seriously invalidated 
by the circumstance that those who complain thus 
fail to avail themselves of that power to influence 
the action of the governing body which is open to all 
registered chemists and druggists. Such reticence, 
in either case, might well be construed as indicative 
of indifference to the general interests of the trade, 
or even as a practical disbelief in the objections to 
any measure complained of. 
We feel the more called upon to dwell on this 
point since there is one feature of the meetings that 
have been held which we look upon with much 
satisfaction, as showing that progress has been made 
towards the establishment of a creditable esprit de 
corps among all classes of pharmacists. We refer 
to the almost unanimous expression of respect for 
the Pharmaceutical Society and for its Council, and 
to the candid recognition of its good intent and 
of the service which it has rendered to the trade 
generally. 
Although these meetings have represented a cer¬ 
tain degree of antagonism, it has not been of an un¬ 
wholesome nature, and we have had no exhibitions of 
stump oratory or abuse, neither has there been any 
opportunity afforded for parasitic attempts to make 
trade grievances or difference of opinion amongst 
members of the trade a battening ground for the 
promotion of sordid individual interests. 
We trust that the good feeling thus manifested 
will become even still more apparent, and that, by 
the time when the Annual Meeting takes place, all 
who take a hearty interest in the question now so 
prominent, will have resolved to avoid the re¬ 
proach of unseemly contention—that in place of 
joining with the medical journals in censure of our 
Society and its Council, they will devise means of 
supporting the view they take to be the right one, by a 
peaceful exercise of their privileges in a way calcu¬ 
lated to command respect as well as the confidence of 
the public in the propriety of British pharmacists 
being, as a body, entrusted to provide for its safety in 
regard to the sale, storing and dispensing of poisons, 
or medicines of dangerous potency. 
DISPENSING. 
We have much pleasure in drawing the attention 
of our readers to the remarks upon dispensing, by 
Mr. W. J. Halliday, in our issue of last week. 
Our younger friends in particular may peruse some 
of them with profit, especially those parts drawing 
their notice to care in dispensing, cleanliness in the 
matter of labels, bottles, etc., the weighing of pow¬ 
ders, and the best mode of proceeding in mixing 
ointments, essential oils, etc.; but there is a great 
deal more to be learnt, as the paper explains, than 
mere manipulation, although dispensing has occa¬ 
sionally been spoken of as a mere mechanical ope¬ 
ration. Mr. Halliday points very clearly to the 
fact that the art of dispensing prescriptions is not 
