May 13, 1372.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
Cjjt pmriMmitical fcuntal. 
SATUSDAY, MAY IS, 1S72. 
Communications for this Journal, and books for review, etc., 
should be addressed to the Editor, 17, Bloomsbury Square. 
Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the 
transmission of the Journal should be sent to Elias Brem- 
ridge, Secretary , 17, Bloomsbury Square, IV.C. 
Advertisements to Messrs. Churchill, New Burlington 
Street, London, JV. Envelopes indorsed “ Bharm. Journ.” 
THE WEEK. 
The ample report which the present number con¬ 
tains of the various meetings in connection with the 
Pharmaceutical Society during the week, will explain 
the delay of a day which has occurred in its issue, 
and preclude the necessity for any lengthened re¬ 
ference to them here. The gathering at the Crystal 
Palace was all that could he desired in the way of 
success. Upwards of two hundred gentlemen sat 
down to dinner, and it was evidently the general 
feeling that in future years the Annual Dinner 
should constitute a part of the programme of the 
anniversary week. The wise limitation of toasting 
observed at the dinner, prevented a direct acknow¬ 
ledgment of the entliusiastiUexertions of the well- 
known gentleman who was mainly instrumental in 
realizing an idea that has been for some time 
floating in the minds of those who are anxious to 
promote the well-being of pharmacists, but his ser¬ 
vices in this respect were not the less esteemed, nor 
will they be readily forgotten. 
The Conversazione at South Kensington was 
well attended by about three thousand ladies and 
gentlemen, and this ample response to the invi¬ 
tations of the President and Council, not only by 
members of the pharmaceutical body, but also by 
medical and scientific men generally, is satisfactory 
testimony to the estimation in which the Pharma¬ 
ceutical Society is held. 
At the Annual Meeting, as perhaps might have 
been expected, the discussion turned principally 
upon the subject of pharmaceutical education in 
the provinces. The question was ably opened by 
Mr. Atkinson Pickering, of Hull, who was sup¬ 
ported by Mr. Radley, of Sheffield. There was 
great unanimity of opinion amongst gentlemen 
present that something more should be done; but 
there was equal agreement that the subject was one 
of great difficulty. On the one hand, Mr. Pickering 
expressed a doubt whether it would be possible to 
support permanently country schools of pharmacy 
without grants of money from the Pharmaceutical 
Society; on the other, Mr. Mackay showed how 
much the failure of such efforts lias been due to the 
want of interest on the part of those for whose 
benefit their establishment is sought. 
925 
Mr. Giles also reminded the meeting that al¬ 
though the Society was established to promote 
pharmaceutical education, it was not intended to 
be an educating body, the providing of education 
having rather become associated with it from the 
ciicumstances ot the time. However great may be 
the temporary difficulty in dealing with this ques¬ 
tion, it is probably, as Mr. Atkins remarked, one 
that will ultimately determine itself, and that most 
satisfactorily, when pharmacists, as a body, through¬ 
out the kingdom, are themselves thoroughly edu¬ 
cated. This is in accordance with the President’s, 
opinion, expressed in his address, that the visit to the 
Society s school should be the polish which should 
follow scholastic duties and the ordinary instruction 
in the shop. Professor Redwood also, in his reply 
on behalf of the “ School of Pharmacy ” at the 
dinner, said that he looked upon the influence of the 
trained men leaving that school as constituting so 
many local schools of pharmacy dotted throughout 
the country. 
Another subject mentioned was the cost of this 
Journal to the Society; and it must have been 
satisfactory to one who has so identified himself 
with its finances as Mr. John Mackay, to be able 
to say that the apparent deficit of PI01 in the 
Balance-sheet represents the entire cost, including 
postage, of about 4000 copies that are supplied 
gratuitously every week. 
The early closing movement was also alluded to- 
with general approval; and we are glad to be in¬ 
formed that many firms intend availing themselves 
of the “ bank holiday” next Monday, an example 
which we hope will next year be universally fol¬ 
lowed. 
THE JURIES BILL. 
On Monday night the Government Bill for deal¬ 
ing with the law relating to Jury Service was read a 
second time. The bill is one that has been awaited 
for some time with considerable anxiety by the 
Xiliarmaceutical body in consequence of the efforts 
that have been made to secure the extension of the 
exemption from service, hitherto limited to pharma¬ 
ceutical chemists, to all chemists and druggists on 
the Register. It is gratifying to find that this point 
has been so far gained that, among the persons 
whom it is proposed by clause 5 of the Bill shall be 
“ absolutely exempted from serving upon any juries 
“ whatsoever,” are “ apothecaries, certificated by the 
“ Court of Examiners of the Apothecaries’ Company,. 
“ and all registered medical practitioners and regis- 
“ tereil chemists, if actually practising as apothe- 
“ caries, medical practitioners, and registered clie- 
“ mists respectively.” 
It is with satisfaction that we are able to record 
the fact that the Solicitor- General has, in accordance 
with the suggestion of our Council, made this, 
exemption one applying to the trade at large. 
