May 4, 1872.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
899 
with, regard to apprenticeship and provincial education ; 
and we are glad to observe that the Council in London, 
principally through the exertions of Mr. Frazer, the 
Glasgow representative, have decided to reconsider the 
mode of giving aid to provincial associations. And your 
Council hope that before another year, some such pro¬ 
posal as that suggested by Mr. Frazer will he agreed 
upon, and that in future those societies throughout the 
country, such as yours, requiring aid, will have some¬ 
thing tangible to look forward to each year, and not, as 
at present, an isolated and paltry sum which, hitherto, 
your Association has considered not worth asking for. 
It is certain, at all events, that provincial associations 
can do but little of themselves without the prospect of 
regular help from the Pharmaceutical Society, a body 
which at present is drawing very large sums from the 
very class who require their help. 
“ The question of prices, we observe, has again come 
up for consideration, and your Council express the hope 
that Glasgow, which has for so long been behind other 
towns in this respect, will soon be on a level with its 
compeers. A better opportunity certainly could not 
present itself than the present, when not only tradesmen 
of all grades are getting higher wages and shorter hours, 
but the present high price of many drugs and chemicals 
demand that something shall be done to remedy the 
anomalous state of things which has existed so long 
Payments. 
By Hall-Rent and Janitor’s Fee 
,, 18 Fees for Chemistry class, 21s. each 
n Attfield’s ‘ Chemistry ’ for class 
,, Printing Account 
„ Supper Account .... 
,, Postages, Stationary, etc. . 
„ Balance on hand 
Audited and found correct. 
(Signed) John M‘Millan ) 
10 12 
18 18 
9 0 
G 14 
14 16 
1 14 
0 17 
0 
0 
6 
6 
6 
H 
9 
£62 13 7£ 
Robt. T. Dun £ 
Auditors. 
among us. 
“Your Council are glad to record that the early-closing 
movement has at last resulted in something fruitful; and 
we earnestly hope that those still adhering to the late 
hours will be induced this summer to adopt the eight 
o’clock movement also. We would not be wanting in 
•our duty, however, if we did not acknowledge that the 
present reduction of the hours, on the south side of the 
river especially, has been stimulated to a very great 
extent by the exertions of the Assistants’ Association, 
a society which has sprung • into existence chiefly for 
this purpose, though, we believe, they intend, after 
securing the short hours, to remain organized for mu¬ 
tual improvement. Your Council look upon this step 
of the young men as very promising for the future body 
of pharmacists. It is to hoped, however, that they will not 
only acknowledge gratefully what has already been 
done for them by this Association, but will go hand in 
hand with them in endeavouring to advance the educa¬ 
tional status of the trade. 
“ Your Secretary has received regularly as published, 
the Pharmaceutical Journal, Chicago Pharmacist , and 
Chemists and Druggists' Advocate , all of which have been 
largely taken advantage of by members who have not 
other opportunities of perusing these journals. 
“ In conclusion, your Council trust that the earnestness 
and energy which has hitherto characterized the mem¬ 
bers of your association will continue; and as we hope 
ere long to have increased facilities for meetings and 
mutual intercourse, may we always have in view the 
advancement of pharmaceutical science; and as our 
business is one of a humane nature, may we, in our 
studies as well as in the pharmacy, do our utmost to 
alleviate the sufferings of our fellow men.” 
Mr. Young, treasurer, was then called upon, who 
read the financial statement of which the following is an 
abstract:— 
Several motions where then brought forward, and 
referred to the Council for further consideration. 
The election of officers, council, and auditors for tho 
ensuing year was afterwards proceeded with, and the 
following were declared duly elected:— President , Mr. 
Thomas Davison; Vice-President, Mr. John Jaap; 
Treasurer , Mr. Wm. Young; Secretary , Mr. J. A. 
Clarke; Council , Messrs. Daniel Frazer, Alexander 
Kinninmont, Wm. Whyte, John Black (Rutherglen), 
John M‘Millan, J. M. Fairlie, John Fenwick (Strath - 
bungo), Robert Brodie, Archibald Paterson, Andrew 
Waddell, J. J. Weir and John Murdoch; Auditors , 
Messrs Robert T. Dun and Jas. L. MacMillan: 
On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. A. 
W. Ritchie, Messrs. Brodie and Fairlie were awarded 
a very hearty vote of thanks for their valuable services 
as vice-president and secretary to the Association during 
the last three years. 
The meeting then separated. 
Receitts. 
To Balance from last year 
,, Donation, W. and R. Ilatrick and Co. 
,, Do. Wm. Greig (New Apothecaries 
,, Do. Thomas Davison 
,, 4 Donations at 10*. each 
,, 30 Subscriptions at 5s. each 
,, 50 Do. at 2s. 6 d. each 
„ 6 Do. at Is. each 
,, 18 Fees for Chemistry Class at las. each 
,, Attfield’s ‘ Chemistry ’ for class 
,, “ Supper” account .... 
Co. 
18 
1 
1 
2 
0 
7 10 
6 5 
0 6 
13 10 
9 0 
16 0 
H 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
6 
0 
£62 13 74 
THE NORTHAMPTON CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS 
AND APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION. 
The Monthly Meeting of the above Association was 
held on Thursday, April 2oth, in their rooms in College 
Street Mr. Masters, President, in the chair. The Secre¬ 
tary (Mr. Druce) read the minutes of last meeting, and 
announced that they had received during the month a 
grant of ten pounds from the Pharmaceutical Society, 
a Bunsen’s burner from Mr. Dadford, book for prescrip¬ 
tions from Mr. Negus, and Lindley’s ‘Introduction to 
Botany ’ from Mr. Barry. 
Mr. Masters said he should be only expressing tho 
feeling of all the members when he said how deeply gra¬ 
tified they were at having received the grant from the 
Council, and how each would do all in his power to show 
that the confidence put in them had not been misplaced ; 
the apparatus and books which they had thus been able 
to purchase would prove invaluable to them in their 
practical chemistry class, which he had no doubt would 
prove very successful. He was sorry that the reading 
of papers did not occur more frequently. Some little 
misunderstanding must exist, he thought, as to what was 
required in a paper ; he would suggest that it should bo 
made as terse as possible, either original or a digest from 
the best authorities. Alluding to the method of pre¬ 
paring certain tinctures, he thought that percolation was 
not the best mode of procedure, and suggested that ma¬ 
ceration for seven daj'S, with frequent agitation, would 
give much better results. He also very strongly objected 
to the tinctures being made up with spirit to a definite 
quantity, as he believed it impossible by so doing to 
produce tinctures of the same strength by different 
makers. 
After a long and exhaustive discussion, the Secretary' 
read a paper on “The Origin and Early History of 
Chemistry,” in which, after touching upon its probable 
beginning, and the discoveries made by the Egyptians, 
Arabians, and Chinese, and its eventual introduction 
into Europe, proceeded to notice the chimeras those early 
philosophers indulged in, namely, tho Philosopher’s 
Stone, the Elixir of Life, and the Universal Solvent, and 
