January 13,1872.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
561 
THE PARIS SCHOOL OP PHARMACY. 
BY WALTER HILLS. 
In former papers on the “ Ecole cle Pliarmacie ” in 
Paris, I have given short notices of the laboratory 
work and of the lectures; now I would say a few 
words respecting the examinations. 
As is generally known, there are two grades of 
pharmaceutists in France, viz. “ la premiere classe ” 
and “la seconde classe.” Members of the former 
only can establish themselves in any part of the 
country, while those of the latter must confine them¬ 
selves to the special department or district they have 
chosen, and for which they have been inscribed; and 
legally, they have no right to establish themselves 
in either of the three cities of the faculties, Paris, 
Strasbourg,* and Montpellier. I say legally, for I 
believe that many of this class have, for some years 
past, kept open pharmacies in Paris, and although the 
Government has, to some extent, closed its eyes to 
the fact, still it may wake up at any moment, and 
inflict a fine for every day of disregard of the law. 
To become a “ pharmacien de premiere classe,” it 
is necessary, before repairing to either of the cities 
of the faculties, to have served three years in an 
open pharmacy, and also to have passed the exami¬ 
nation of the “ Baccalaureat-es-Sciences.” After 
this, three years are required at one of the above 
schools; that is to say, that the student’s name must 
be on the books for that period, and his numerous 
fees regularly paid, even if he does not make his 
appearance until the examination day. Thus no 
expenses are saved, although a man works up en¬ 
tirely in the country, or at his own home. During 
these three years, five “ semestriel” and four finish¬ 
ing examinations must be passed; on the successful 
issue of each of which, as well as at the commence¬ 
ment of his studies, one or more inscriptions are 
given to the candidate, and twelve of these inscrip¬ 
tions are necessary before he is duly admitted to be 
a member of the first class. The “ semestriel” exa¬ 
minations serve as a test to ascertain that the 
student has made the best use of his time during the 
session, and they treat of the subjects that have been 
especially brought before his notice during that term. 
The other four examinations, which are all passed 
towards the close of the three years, are as fol¬ 
lows :— 
I. Pharmacy, Chemistry, Physics, Toxicology. 
II. Zoology, Materia Medica (specimens and 
history), Botany (recognition of plants, etc.), Mine¬ 
ralogy (recognition of specimens and liistorjfi. 
III. Synthesis. Ten chemical, and ten pharma¬ 
ceutical preparations. The candidate describes the 
process lie intends to employ in making these, and 
IV. He has both to exhibit these preparations, 
which he has made in the interval in the laboratory, 
and also to describe them more fully than in the 
previous examination. 
The fees for a candidate for the “ premiere classe ” 
are— 
Inscriptions (12 a 30 fr.).3G0 fr. 
Travaux pratiques pendant les trois 
annees, 100 fr. par annee. 300 „ 
Cinq examens semestriels (30 fr. par 
exam.).150 „ 
* Of course, since the late war, Strasbourg has ceased to 
hold the position named. 
Third Series, No. 81. 
Les deux premiers examens de fin 
d’etudes (80 fr. par exam.) .... 100 ,, 
Le troisieme examen de fin d’etudes . . 200 ,, 
Trois certificats d’aptitude (40 fr. par 
certif.).120 „ 
Diplome.100 ,, 
Total. 1390 fr. 
And now we come to the requirements for a 
“pharmacien de deuxieme classe.” 
I. Six years’ apprenticeship in a pharmacy. 
II. “Examen de grammaire ” (answering to our 
Preliminary). 
III. “ Inscription a 30 francs.” 
IV. A “semestriel” examination, and one year 
of laboratory work. 
V. Finishing Examination. 
The expenses are : — 
Inscriptions de l’ecole superieure de 
^ pliarmacie (4 a 30 fr.).120 fr. 
Epreuves pratiques.120 ,, 
Trois certificats d’aptitude (40 fr. par 
certificat).120,, 
Diplome.100,, 
Total.4G0 fr. 
All of the examinations of which I have spoken 
are public, and consequently I was able to be present 
at a considerable number of them. The examina¬ 
tion-room has somewhat the appearance of a small 
court of justice. At the upper end is the semi¬ 
circular table for the professors, of whom there are 
usually three or four, the chairman wearing his hood 
and gown; in the centre is the raised seat for the 
candidate, and at the lower end are the seats for the 
public. 
In the “ herboriste ” examinations, which are held 
during the summer months at the School of Phar¬ 
macy, and in which a great proportion of the can¬ 
didates are women, the public end of the room is 
equally divided for the two sexes. The Professors 
usually retire for a minute or two’s consultation after 
each examination, and on their return the chairman 
announces aloud the success or failure of the candi¬ 
date ; and if the former case, he adds the words, 
moderately well, well, or very well, according to the 
amount of satisfaction given. 
The length of time given to each subject in an 
examination is ten minutes, which is regulated by a 
sand-glass passed in rotation to each examiner. 
In conclusion, it will be seen that the time and 
expenses requisite for the acquirement of a diploma 
of the first class, are by no means unimportant; and 
it must be borne in mind, as stated above, that even 
if a man works up at his own home, he must be duly 
inscribed on the books and regularly pay his fees for 
the usual term of years, although he is not personally 
profiting by the instruction given at the lectures and 
in the laboratory. Thus I found that only a very 
small proportion of the students whose names were 
on the laboratory books, came to benefit by the in¬ 
struction and advice of the distinguished manager, 
M. Personne. 
As to the amount of knowledge required by the 
candidate in the examinations, I believe, from first 
to last, it is more extended than in our own in 
England, and this should not be forgotten at the 
present time, when there is such an outcry at the 
