m 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[March 23, 1872. 
stating that they never paid more than 3 d. He knew 
the cost of the genuine quality, and, no doubt, that what 
was sold at the lower price was either considerably di¬ 
luted or adulterated with methylated spirit. Cases in 
which the Act had been infringed had been brought 
under the notice of the Pharmaceutical Society; their 
reply being, in effect, “ prosecute the infringers your¬ 
selves, and, if you obtain a conviction, we will pay the 
costs.” He (Mr. C.) objected to become an informer 
against a neighbour; he could not afford to take upon 
himself the discredit which invariably attached to a 
private informer. In that town, he asked, why did not 
the Pharmaceutical Society employ private detectives 
.and informers ? It cost money; and their object ap¬ 
peared to he not to help the provinces, hut to accumulate 
an inordinate sum of money for the benefit of their me¬ 
tropolitan members. A conviction was easily to be ob¬ 
tained. Let them send down an independent detective 
to obtain the suspected article, and take it for examina¬ 
tion to the borough analysts, whose certificate would be¬ 
come evidence, and, in the absence of contradictory evi¬ 
dence, would leave the “justices of the peace ” no option 
but to inflict the penalty, not exceeding £5 and costs. 
The remedy, he contended, was provided by “clause 24 
of the Pharmacy Act, 1868,” in which were incorporated 
the provisions of “ An Act for Preventing the Adul¬ 
teration of Food or Drink,” 23 & 24 Victoria, clause 84. 
In conclusion, he trusted that the new Council of the 
Pharmaceutical Society would manifest some interest in 
this subject of provincial education, and that they would 
also do something in the direction to which he had drawn 
attention, so that the Pharmacy Act should (in that dis¬ 
trict) no longer be looked upon as obsolete and inope¬ 
rative; then, and not until then, did he expect to see 
the chemists of Sheffield taking a satisfactory interest in 
the various objects for which this association had been 
established; he begged most heartily to move:— 
“ That this meeting, having considered the educational 
and scientific requirements of the Pharmacy Act, is 
deeply impressed with the necessity that exists for the 
maintenance of Chemists’ Associations in the provinces, 
to afford facilities for the proper training of assistants 
and apprentices, so as to enable them in due time to pass 
the examinations of the Pharmaceutical Society. This 
meeting feels it would be a serious inconvenience to 
those in business in the provinces, as well as a harassing 
pecuniary burden to the young men themselves, if all 
were under the necessity, at the close of their apprentice¬ 
ship, of spending several months in attending the Metro¬ 
politan School. Whilst this meeting fully appreciates 
the efforts that have been made by provincial associa¬ 
tions, yet from its own experience, as well as from 
the testimony of others, it is convinced that the object 
aimed at cannot be fully attained without assistance of a 
subsidiary kind, for a few years at least. Considering the 
large amount of money, in the aggregate, contributed by 
the country members, associates, and apprentices to the 
funds of the parent Society, and also having had brought 
before it the balance sheet of the Pharmaceutical Society 
(as given at the last Annual Meeting in London), show¬ 
ing that in addition to its large funded property, and 
after a gift of £500 to the Benevolent Fund, it had still 
in hand a surplus of upwards of £1100, this meeting 
is of opinion that the legitimate source of aid in this 
crisis is the executive in London. This meeting having 
Rad placed before it the correspondence which has passed 
between their Secretary and the Council in London is 
very much concerned to observe the absence of sympathy, 
and the absolute refusal to render any pecuniary aid to 
provincial associations. This meeting is cognizant that 
a deep feeling of dissatisfaction exists on this matter, and 
is convinced a serious antagonism will be engendered if 
the case is not met in a reasonable manner.” 
Mr. Gr. A. Cubley, in seconding the resolution, said, 
that it was a monetary question with employers, assis¬ 
tants, and apprentices. The effect must be the over¬ 
stocking of the London shops with assistants, who would 
be wishful to have their education at the Metropolitan 
School, being debarred from gaining it elsewhere, and, 
as a consequence, their,labours must meet with a com¬ 
paratively low recompense; on the other hand, provincial 
employers would be robbed of that choice which, under 
more favourable circumstances, they could have. Other 
undesirable consequences would follow. 
Put and carried. 
Mr. W. Ward, F.C.S. moved the following resolution, 
which was passed unanimously:—“ That this meeting 
heartily approves of the action recently taken by the 
President, to ascertain the opinion of kindred associations, 
and hereby nominates and appoints him to attend a meet¬ 
ing of delegates to confer on this subject, such a meet¬ 
ing being deemed most advisable.” Mr. Ward, in the 
course of his remarks, showed that the time had fully 
arrived for taking steps to obtain pecuniary aid from the 
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society. He considered 
they had a right to ask for this assistance, for it was well 
known that the country members contributed large sums 
annually, which went to swell the accumulated funds of 
the Society, and give increased facilities in the school at 
Bloomsbury Square. He, for one, supported with all his 
heart the machinery at work in London for the training 
of students; but he did not think it just that so much 
should be devoted to that establishment, and little or 
nothing to the provinces. A great deal was said against 
the system of “cramming,” but how was it possible to 
avoid this evil if the students in the provinces had not 
the means of obtaining gradatim , that scientific know¬ 
ledge which would enable them to pass the examinations ? 
It was a fact that large numbers went up to London 
comparatively ignorant of their business, but, by the 
greatly to be deplored help of the “grinders,” succeeded 
in satisfying the examiners. Personally he felt, very 
strongly on the question of pharmaceutical education in 
other schools, apart from the one in Bloomsbury Square; 
having passed through the curriculum of a student’s 
career, he had experienced a great loss in not having the 
assistance of a complete course of lectures in his own 
town. Ho felt confident the Council would ere long be 
brought to recognize their great need, and would take 
steps whereby to ascertain the requirements of the local 
associations, and thus give them that aid he was sure 
they were entitled to. 
Mr. C. H. Dunnill, in seconding the resolution, 
pointed out the expense to which he would have been 
put, had he been obliged to attend the lectures in Lon¬ 
don instead of being enabled to attend those furnished 
at the Sheffield School. 
This resolution was put and carried. 
Mr. Dobb, Ex-President, then proposed the next reso¬ 
lution, which was seconded by Mr. J. Preston, and 
carried:— 
“That this meeting feels the necessity of Sheffield 
having a representative on the Council of the Pharma¬ 
ceutical Society, and hereby nominates Mr. W. Y. Radley, 
with the request that he will kindly consent to stand for 
the ensuing election; this meeting determines to sup¬ 
port his election.” 
Mr. Radley, in rising, thanked the meeting for a re¬ 
newal of their confidence, and promised, if returned, to 
do his utmost to forward the interest of the trade. 
On Wednesday evening, at the ordinary monthly 
meeting, Dr. Young delivered a lecture on “ Pharmacy,’ 
in connection with the above Association. Mr. Radley, 
the President, occupied the chair. At the close, the lec¬ 
turer, who treated his subject in a most able and in¬ 
teresting manner, was awarded a very hearty vote of 
thanks. 
Mr. Edwin Watson was duly elected an Associate. 
The ‘ Year-Book of Pharmacy and Transactions of the 
British Pharmaceutical Conference ’ lay upon the table, 
and was ordered to be acknowledged with thanks. 
