October 7, 1371.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
297 
gniiMtial ®ranswfi0tts. 
TYNESIDE CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 
The Inaugural Meeting of this Association was held 
on Thursday evening, the 21st of September, in the 
Museum of the Natural History Society. 
The President (Mr. Shaw), in commencing his address, 
stated that on coming to Newcastle a few months ago, a 
perfect stranger to the locality, he had regretted that there 
was no place in the town to which he, in common with 
his brethren of the trade, could resort for the purpose 
of social intercourse and interchange of sentiment on 
matters connected with their calling; the hint, he con¬ 
tinued, was taken up by a few who had similar views, 
and the hope entertained that such meetings periodically 
held would form not only pleasant social reunions, hut 
also that opportunities would then be afforded for prac¬ 
tical improvement, and that thus, whether in the capa¬ 
city of assistant or apprentice, a bond of unity for 
mental improvement and encouragement might he 
cemented to their own great advantage, the satisfaction 
of their employers, and the good of the public at large. 
The President then proceeded to say that the special 
business of the Society’s meetings would he the reading 
of papers on subjects connected directly or indirectly 
with pharmacy, and the promotion of free discussion 
thereon, and he believed that such interchange of opinion 
would tend materially to help the younger members in 
preparing for the necessary pharmaceutical examina¬ 
tions. 
A room has been taken for the meetings of the Asso¬ 
ciation, which will be open to members every evening 
except Saturday and Sunday; hither they may resort to 
spend a quiet hour in reading or study, and here the 
ordinary meetings of the Society will be fortnightly 
held. It is intended, as soon as funds will permit, to 
commence a library and museum. Already a valuable 
collection of specimens of materia medica has been 
kindly presented by Messrs. Southall, Son and Dymond, 
cf Birmingham. We indulge the hope that this liberal 
contribution may lead our neighbours to lend a helping- 
hand in an undertaking which cannot fail to commend 
itself to the good feeling of the community. 
The Secretary (Mr. Alfred Brady), in a few cursory 
remarks, stated that it was proposed to place on their 
tables some of the periodical publications more imme¬ 
diately connected with chemical, pharmaceutical, and 
medical science, for the perusal of their members; and 
concluded by assuring the younger members of the As¬ 
sociation that the earnest desire of the committee was to 
render them every aid that their position would admit. 
A medical gentleman was present at this meeting, and 
dropped a few words of encouragement to those who 
had but newly entered on their career, urging them to 
meet courageously the little difficulties which must needs 
arise in their elementary training; and assuring them 
that, after having by close study surmounted these, 
their future course would be comparatively easy and 
pleasant. 
A cordial veto of thanks was accorded to this gentle¬ 
man for his advocacy, and to the President. 
The meeting was brought to a close by the Secretary 
reading a paper on “Alchemy, the Cradle of Chemistry,” 
which was listened to with great attention and interest. 
The number of members already enrolled is upwards 
of fifty. 
THE MIDLAND COUNTIES CHEMISTS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 
A circular has been issued by Mr. Joseph Lucas and 
Mr. Walter R. Jones, Honorary Secretaries of the Mid¬ 
land Counties Chemists’ Association, calling the attention 
of the Chemists’ Assistants and Apprentices of Birming¬ 
ham and the Midland Counties to the following classes, 
at the Birmingham and Midland Institute, as being 
those which arc likely to be most useful to candidates 
preparing for the examinations of the Pharmaceutical 
Society. 
Arithmetic, Mondays and Wednesdays, 8 p.m.—Fee, 
one penny a lesson. 
Botany (Vegetable Anatomy, and Physiology), Wed¬ 
nesdays, 8 p.m.—Fee, 3 s. Gd. a term. 
Elementary Chemistry, Tuesdays, 8 p.m.—Fee, one 
penny a lesson. 
English Grammar and Composition, Thursdays, 8 p.m. 
—Fee, 3s. Gd. a term. 
Latin, Mondays, 7.30 p.m.—Fee, 3s. Gd. a term. 
Practical Chemistry, Fridays, 7 to 10 p.m.—Fee, 10 s. 
a term ; Saturdays, 3 to 6 p.m.—Fee, 10s. a term; Satur¬ 
days, 6.30 to 9.30 p.m.—Fee, 10s. a term. 
There are 30 lessons in each class during the session, 
which is divided into two terms, of 15 lessons each. 
The following arrangements have been made with the 
Council of the Institute, for special facilities being given 
during the present session, to chemists preparing for the 
above-named examinations. 
In the elementary chemistry class, a special lesson will 
be given from 9 to 10 p.m., on the first Tuesday in each 
month, to those students who desire to prepare for the 
examinations of the Pharmaceutical Society, who will 
pledge themselves to attend 25 of the ordinary class 
lesson.3 in elementary chemistry at 8 p.m., during the 
| present session, and to sit at the examination in that 
subject, which will be held by the Science and Art De¬ 
partment in May next. These lessons will be especially 
framed to meet the requirements of the examiners for the 
1 Pharmaceutical Society. As no extra fee will be charged 
! to those students who avail themselves of these lessons, 
it will be understood that all who attend them undertake 
to comply faithfully with the above conditions. 
In the practical chemistry class, the course of instruc¬ 
tion, to those who require it, will be specially arranged 
for the same purpose. As each student will work inde¬ 
pendently, he may begin a course of study at any date. 
All necessary materials will be provided for the course 
of instruction given. 
Each student will be provided with a working bench, 
fitted with drawers and cupboards, for the apparatus, 
etc. with which he is supplied, and for the safe keeping 
and restoration of which he is held responsible on leav¬ 
ing the class. He will be required to pay a deposit of 
2-s. 6rf. in addition to his fee, which will be returned to 
him at the end of the session, less any sum which may 
be charged to him for breakage of apparatus, or for 
the cloaning of any apparatus which he may have neg¬ 
lected. 
All students who are admitted to the practical che¬ 
mistry class, at the fee above-named, will also be required 
to comply with the conditions as to number of lessons, 
and attendance at examination in elementary chemistry, 
referred to in the paragraph relating to the latter 
subject. 
In the Latin class, a special lesson will be given at 8 
p.m., on the first Thursday in each month, for the pur¬ 
pose of reading with the student the works of the Latin 
author required at these examinations. 
In the other classes, the course of study already in¬ 
cludes the subjects required for the examinations. 
The fees to the above classes must be paid to Mr. J. 
Lucas, 4, Colmore Row, or to Mr. Edwin Smith, Secre¬ 
tary of the Institute, Ratcliffe Place, Paradise Street, 
any day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on Saturday. 
The fees to the penny classes are paid at the doors of 
the Institute, or books containing tickets of admission to 
six lessons, price Gd. each, may be obtained at the In¬ 
stitute. 
Arrangements will bo made, in those classes where it 
is found necessary, for extra lessons during the session 
to those students who join at once, in order that they 
