June 3, 1S71.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
9S3 
Cflrrcspniitntt. 
*** No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬ 
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬ 
cated by the name and address of the writer ; not necessarily 
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. 
The Benevolent Fund. 
Sir,—I was much surprised to see that a suggestion had 
been made at the annual meeting that “it would be ad¬ 
vantageous to add a separate column to the Calendar, show¬ 
ing the subscription, or lack of subscription, of each of the 
pnembers ” to the Benevolent Fund. It is a fertile idea, and 
might be worked by promoters of local charities and sectarian 
leaders until all spontaneity were eliminated from our charity 
sand our giving became a mere matter of coercion. Surely 
the asterisks of the Calendar are all that—if not somewhat 
more than—could be desired. To me it is questionable what 
moral right any person has to advertise my not subscribing 
to any particular charity. AVhence the authority of the 
■censors ? 
To the utmost I would support the proposition that it is 
the duty of every man to devote a liberal poition of his in¬ 
come to charitable purposes; but I would equally oppose the 
interference of any one in the manner of ils allocation. No 
man should be branded for electing to be the almoner of his 
own bounty. 
Charity is such an evident outflow of Christianity that it 
is difficult to discuss any branch of it without recalling the 
admonition of its Founder that “ alms should be in secret.” 
In this spirit the suggestion might, perhaps, be tolerated 
that, while it is highly desirable that subscribers should in¬ 
crease their subscriptions, and that every member should 
become a subscriber, it is not advisable that any names should 
be published. 
Is there so little of principle and so much of policy in our 
giving that a half-crown subscription must be published all 
■over the country ? In modern times we have so improved 
upon the ancient sect that we “ sound the trumpet” of our 
promises before us and advertise our subscriptions afterwards. 
We no longer “do good by stealth,” nor “blush to find it 
fame.” Henricus. 
May 22nd, 1871. 
Poison Regulations. 
Sir,—When the Council agreed to submit the po : son regu¬ 
lations as a code for voluntary adoption, a “ tacit understand¬ 
ing” arose that they would not be submitted to the vote of 
the meeting as a compulsory code. I need not say more, for 
those who have read your last number know all the rest. 
Barnard S. Proctor. 
Sir,—I was apprenticed in the country, the business a 
mixed wholesale and retail. I have lived in situations both 
in country and town I have been in my present house thirty 
years, and have been connected with the Pharmaceutical 
Society from the year of its formation, but cannot recollect a 
single case of poisoning that would not have been prevented 
by the most simple precaution. 
Education will give knowledge of drugs and doses, but 
will not prevent absence of mind. It is reported of one of 
our greatest men that, instead of applying his lady’s hand to 
his lips, he once used the little finger of it as a tobacco-stopper. 
The best, because the most simple, precaution that I have 
.read of, is a band of colour, equally applicable to the most 
carefully conducted dispensing establishment or the most 
carelessly kept country warehouse; in the one case by a solu¬ 
tion of sealing-wax in spirit round the neck and under the 
lip of the bottle, and in the other by a paint brush round the 
top of the arsenic cask. We should not again hear of arsenic 
being substituted for gypsum in lozenges, or strychnia for 
salicm in powders. I voted yesterday for the “recommenda¬ 
tions ” of the Council being made “regulations,” but I fear 
if they become law this plan becomes illegal, as the bottles, 
etc., are neither tied over, capped or locked, rendeied distin¬ 
guishable by touch or necessarily kept apart. I should regret 
this, and therefore make my remonstrance while it is still 
©pen to the Council to consider it. 
J. M. IIucrleeridge. 
116, Ebtiry Street, Eaton Square, S.W., 
May 1 Qth, 1871. 
The Register op Chemists and Druggists. 
Sir,—As Mr. Wiggin, who addresses a question to me in 
this week’s Journal, was present at the meeting when I made 
the statement the accuracy of which he doubts, I regret he 
did not save his own as well as my time by putting the query 
then ; had he done so, I should have felt great pleasure, with 
the kind permission of our “active Registrar,” in giving him 
ocular demonstration that I had not made an assertion I was 
unable to substantiate. If Mr. Wiggin will, on his next 
visit to Bloomsbury Square, ask our mutual friend the “active 
Registrar” for a view of returned circulars, his incredulity 
will, I think, at once be put to flight. 
As Mr. Wiggin is evidently anxious that, so fur as Ipswich 
at least is concerned, all matters should be found correct, I 
venture to draw his attention to one oversight on his part, 
which doubtless he will take an early opportunity of rectifying. 
I refer to the utmost entire absence of Ipswich from the list 
of contributors to the Benevolent Fund. Should the Council 
think well to adopt my suggestion of publishing the subscrip¬ 
tions against each name in the Calendar, I regret to say Mr. 
Wiggin and his charge would be found wanting. 
As Mr. W. may be anxious to know my authority for 
stating this fact, I refer him to the Calendar of the Pharma¬ 
ceutical Society for 1871, and to the Pharmaceutical 
Journal of the 13th instant. Edwin B. Vizer. 
63, Lupus Street, Belqracia South, 
May 21th, 1871. 
The late Election of Council. 
Sir.—Will you permit me, through your columns, very 
sincerely to thank the 719 members 'who recorded their votes 
in my favour at the Annual Meeting on the 17th inst. The 
result is highly satisfactory to me, being only three votes be¬ 
low Air. Sandford, the late President. I should have been 
exceedingly sorry to have displaced that gentleman, and 
thereby deprive the Society of his valuable services. I trust, 
however, at some future time, to have a seat on the Council, 
when I shall have more time and leisure to attend to its im¬ 
portant duties. 
In the meantime, let me urge on the great body of che¬ 
mists to secure at least the return of two or three of thoir 
number to represent them on the Council. 
John Owen. 
231, Upper Street, Islington, London, A r . 
Pharmaceutical Examinations. 
Sir,—A T our correspondent, Air. P. II. Mason, asks some one 
to inform him what advantage is gained by passing the Major 
Examination besides the honour of the thing? I will at- 
tempt to answer him. In the first place, Air. M. allows that 
the title Fellow would be compensation enough, thus proving 
that it is no direct monetarv advantage that he alludes to. 
With this premise, by stating my own case, I think I shall 
effect my proof. Having lately passed the Examination 
alluded to with honours, although in studying for it I have 
only learnt enough to teach me my ignorance of the great 
field of knowledge beyond, yet I have gaiued the title of 
Pharmaceutical Chemist, with a diploma stating to the public 
that it was obtained by examination, which title will yearly 
be of more value, as those who have obtained it otherwise 
are passing away. Also, I obtained the privilege of becoming 
a member of the Society, giving me the power of voting at 
the General Meeting, etc., which privilege I have recently 
availed myself of; and, thirdly, when I set up in business, I 
expect to prosper beyond what I should have done with only 
my Minor qualification. Believing, Sir, that these induce¬ 
ments are quite sufficient to urge young men to push on to 
the,Major, I see no need for the title of Fellow, which would 
but add another to the long list that already confuses the 
public mind. If we who have lately passed it do not obtain 
from the public all the respect we would have them give to 
it, yet the day is coming when the young pharmacist will 
enjoy a very superior position to the chemist and druggist. 
AI. P. S. 
Sir,—I fully agree with “B. S.” that the man who has 
passed the Modified Examination should be eligible for the 
.Minor. I myself, knowing I must pass the Modified before 
January, 1870, or be shut, out from the Society altogether, 
hastened to do so, fully intending, at. a future time, to pre¬ 
sent myself for the Minor, and lastly the Ala j or; but finding 
