November 4, 1871.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
379 
teaching of all that his apprentice has to learn, shall at least 
afford him opportunities for study, and encourage him by a 
fcindly interest in his work at a time when sympathy is so 
powerful an influence for good. 
It is but poor consolation to find from the reports of some 
other local Associations that we in Manchester are not alone 
T In our disappointment. We are discouraged, but not with¬ 
out hope. We feel assured that by avoiding anything like 
■“special preparation” classes we have done rightly, and we 
eiow await a possible kindling of the desire for knowledge 
which is something far different from the mere wish to get 
through examinations. 
Market Place, Manchester. F. Baden Benger. 
Sir,—Although Mr. Mason in his letter on provincial 
education, which appeared in last week’s Journal, expresses 
his concurrence with Mr. Smith’s first and third proposi¬ 
tions, his objection to the third would nullify the entire plan, 
for in that proposition is enunciated the principle upon 
which the details of the scheme rest, and it appears to me 
that, as far as it goes, the principle is perfectly just. It 
maintains, as I understand it, that as it is compulsory for 
every member of the trade to pass the Minor before opening 
a business, so it is a necessity to provide means for him to 
do this. 
But I apprehend there would be no necessity for the local 
associations, as educating bodies, to limit their teaching to 
Minor subjects, only whatever was done further it could not 
be expected would be supported to such an extent by grants 
from the Pharmaceutical Society. 
Mr. Mason seems alarmed lest, having passed the Minor, 
the apprentices should be contented to rest on their laurels, 
and it does certainly appear that there are some grounds for 
his apprehension. But the line of action which he indi¬ 
cates when he says that the course of teaching should be 
without reference to any examination, would not have so 
good a chance of success as would a course of preparation for 
the Minor with the teachers endeavouring to interest their 
pupils in the subjects. This might lead to their pursuing 
study for the very love of it. Besides this, Mr. Mason must 
forget that the success, and, indeed, the existence, of pro¬ 
vincial associations depends upon the attendance of appren¬ 
tices ; and if these latter cannot find in the course of study 
provided for them a direct bearing upon the Minor, they will 
terminate their connection with the Association, and fall back 
upon an actual cram at home, thereby bringing to pass the 
very evil he would prevent, as well as leading to the break¬ 
ing up of the Association. 
Norwich , October 25th, 1871. E. Nuttall. 
The Preliminary Examination. 
Sir,—On looking over the Journal of Saturday last, 21st, 
Inst., I noticed the large amount of failures in the Preliminary 
Examinations, the number of which is sufficient to astound 
the most unthoughtful of our learned body; but more partic u- 
•iarly is the fact conspicuous in the glaring result amongst 
the candidates examined in the largest towns, and I am led 
to ask, “ How can these things be ?” 
I will take, for instance, the undermentioned cities and 
towns, viz.:— 
Candidates Candidates Candidates 
London . . . 
examined. 
30 
passed. 
9 
failed. 
21 
Manchester . . 
9 
3 
G 
Birmingham . . 
2 
0 
2 
Derby .... 
4 
2 
2 
Peterborough 
4. • 
0 
4 
Swansea . . 
5 
0 
5 
Taunton . . . 
4 
0 
4 
Aberdare . . . 
3 
0 
3 
Aberdeen . . . 
5 
1 
4 
Carmarthen . . 
3 
0 
3 
Chester . . . 
3 
0 
3 
W olrerhampton 
2 
0 
2 
Total . . 
74 
15 
59 
I find, upon consideration, that twelve cities and towns 
have contributed fifty-nine out of eighty-two failures. The 
above twelve may be branded, without any illwill whatever, 
with the significant words, “Weighed in the balance and 
found wanting.” I would ask all connected with the Society 
the why and the wherefore of these lamentable statistics. 
How many of the candidates examined in London and Man¬ 
chester reside in those two places ? for I cannot conceive of the 
majority, being engaged in business in those two places, 
—having the privilege of such abundant facilities of education, 
enjoying the advantage of every necessary work to enable 
them to cultivate their minds sufficiently to acquit themselves 
honourably in much more advanced examinations,—coming 
so far short as to be plucked in an ordeal which every ordi¬ 
nary schoolboy might go through with ease. I would also 
ask, How many of the number have attended morning, noon, 
or evening classes ? 
In conclusion, I would advise my brethren in the largo 
towns not to be so continually sending their darts at us poor 
country druggists, and at our manner of conducting the 
honourable profession in which we are engaged, but to look 
at home, to guard the flock over which they are placed; not 
only to provide food for their young, but to see to it that they 
eat and digest it with an earnestness of will beyond all doubt. 
By so doing, such calamities as the one in question will be 
averted. “ Spes.” 
Barnsley, October 25th, 1871. 
Improved Tincture Press. 
Sir,—My press is not quite understood; perhaps I am at 
fault for not explaining that the double power is obtained, not 
merely because it has two screws (for each has the double 
power to a limited extent), but because they convert the 
cross-beam into a lever in the second position. Your young 
readers will better comprehend it by this line A-(3 
(or vide any work on mechanics), the prop, or fulcrum A, 
being represented by the end of the cross-beam secured at 
rest by the nut; the weight B by the centre of the block, and 
the power C by the other end where the power is applied 
(these positions being reversed as each screw is used alter¬ 
nately); consequently as the line A C is + A B, so is power 
applied at C + what such power would be if applied direct at 
B, i. e. in this case double. I might have described the theo¬ 
retical power of each screw as doubled by the leverage of the 
cross-beam; the result would have been the same, but as two 
screws must be used, I thought it simpler to describe it a3 
so much for each. Now we will suppose two persons em¬ 
ployed in screwing my press, as your correspondent suggests, 
what power would then be obtained? Exactly the same, not 
one additional pound, either theoretical or practical, as the 
two persons could but act as power and fulcrum to each other. 
I am surprised that so important a part of the principle as 
the leverage of the cross-beam should have escaped the notice 
of any one so well up in mechanics as your correspondent 
Mr. Brown appears to be, and equally so at his misunder¬ 
standing what I stated about the size of the screw affecting 
the power. Mr. Brown says, “no increa-e or diminution of 
the circumference of the screw will affect it;” granted, but I 
never used any such expression. I objected to the bulk of 
the screw generally, large screws being manufactured with a 
proportionately larger thread than small ones, although I see 
no reason why a fine thread should not be cut on a large bolt; 
but as they are not so manufactured, my objection is well 
founded. I should also wish to ask him if he has ever seen a 
sheet of block tin before it has been beaten into shape, which 
sometimes approaches a hemispherical form. To bear this its 
strength and substance must be something considerable; in 
my opiuion, a small cylinder of it riveted, as I suggest, 
would be up to any pressure required in the retail laboratory, 
but would not bea'r what might be applied by such a press as 
mine. What that pressure really is 1 regret not being able to 
inform your correspondents, having no means of testing it; 
but theoretically it works out, as I have stated, to about three 
times as much as several of your correspondents agree in 
assigning to the press in general use. Allow me to remind 
your readers that my simple little press is not in a position 
to bear the severe tests to which some wish to subject it. A3 
already stated, it was rudely constructed in the cheapest man¬ 
ner, merely as a pattern or working model, to experiment 
upon to discover the faults to be corrected in one of superior 
workmanship. 
Now my press has only a pair of iron screws; the nuts were 
correctly made to my model, but unfortunately the smith only 
welded the spiked ends on instead of forging it from one 
piece, consequently both handles broke oil lrom one of the 
nuts. The smith having emigrated, and no other in the 
neighbourhood having exactly the same pattern, I have had 
