THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[June 1,1872. 
Carmpniimu. 
*** No notice can be taken of anonymous communica¬ 
tions. Whatever is intended for insertion must be authenti¬ 
cated by the name and address of the writer ; not necessarily 
for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. 
Clause 16 or me Pharmacy Act. 
Sir,—At the Annual Meeting last week, I drew attention 
to the 16th clause of the Pharmacy Act, which says that it 
shall be lawful for any executor, administrator or trustee, to 
carry on business for the benefit of a widow, by means only 
of a duly qualified assistant, and I stated that I knew of 
several instances of injury and hardship arising out of the 
effect of this clause. 1 gave a case in point:—A widow was 
left sole executrix, and the property and business devised to 
her absolutely. She administered, took possession in her own 
undoubted right, and then her troubles began—“ Her name 
was not on the registera “ brother in trade ” took note of 
this, informed our excellent secretary, and he, bound hand 
and foot by Clause 16, sent her notice under pains and 
penalties that “she must qualify or sell ” within a given time. 
She was nearly fifty years of age, her children all daughters, 
and passing even the Minor was in her case impossible. I 
went with her and a friend to the Society, met with a kind 
official reception, and came away with the assurance that she 
had no right to carry on the business in her husband’s name, 
while her own name had no legal status ; she therefore sold 
for £800 that which had brought in a clear profit of £460 a 
year, thus losing at least £400 a year, and started life again 
by attempting to keep a school, which will be a long time 
before it keeps her. She is, however, well-fitted for her com¬ 
pulsory work; and if any of my brethren wish a child well 
cared for, I shall be happy to forward her name and address. 
We all make mistakes, and a mistake has been made in 
passing this clause ; can nothing be done to remedy it ? And 
would it not be well for every husband and father in making 
his will, to see to it, that he understands Clause 16 of the 
Pharmacy Act of 1868 ? 
Praying you to grant me space for this communication, I 
am, etc., 
Wm. Peed. Smith. 
London, 280, Walworth Road, 
May 22nd, 1872. 
[*** Mr. Smith appears to overlook the fact that the 
widow to whom he alludes was carrying on the business of 
Chemist and Druggist on her own account , and that she could 
not therefore claim the special exemptions provided in the 
Pharmacy Act, 1868. The 16th section of the Act, which 
creates the exceptions, must be strictly construed in favour of 
the ’public, so that the -widow of a deceased chemist and 
druggist would not stand in anymore favoured position than 
any descendant, ancestor, or collateral relative of a deceased 
chemist and druggist; in short, no relative of a chemist and 
druggist can claim any special exemption in right of re¬ 
lationship, and the only persons tvho can claim the special 
exemptions are those ivlio stand in positions of trust as 
defined by the Statute .— Ed. Pharm. Journ.] 
Pharmaceutical Education. 
Sir,—At a time when there is so much difficulty about 
pharmaceutical education, it is, I think, the duty of all 
connected with our business to aid the important considera¬ 
tion with such practical suggestions as may occur to their 
minds. On reading the discussion on this subject at the 
Annual Meeting, and observing the uncertainty in which the 
matter remains, it occurs to my mind that the best plan 
would be to concentrate the completion of the pharmaceu¬ 
tical education at Bloomsbury Square, and to make some such 
arrangement as the following :—Require that every apprentice 
should spend the last four or five months of his indenture at 
the Society’s rooms, and be boarded and lodged in two or 
more houses under the control of a superintendent, and be 
required to attend the necessary courses of lectures, and after¬ 
wards undergo the necessary Minor and Major examinations, 
so as to qualify him for going into business or taking a re- 
sponsible situation, the whole matter, including board, lodg¬ 
ing, and instruction, to be limited to a sum not exceeding 
£25. There should be, I think, two sessions of four or five 
months’ duration during the year ; and assuming there would 
be, say 150 at each, the sum at disposal for this purpose would 
amount to £3750 to each session, or £7500 per annum. 
Jos. Taplin. 
13, Corn Street, Bristol, 
May 2 6th, 1872. 
Sir,—Your Report of the Annual Meeting will have been 
read throughout the country with a feeling of gratification 
that the cause of provincial education has come so promi¬ 
nently forward. The subject was so thoroughly discussed 
that it may seem impertinent to add another word; but I 
should like to raise one voice in urgent support of Mr. 
Schacht’s (or the Government) plan of “ aid for results,” as 
being the most just in principle and the most extensive in 
application. 
The existence of provincial associations is an encouraging 
feature; and if the choice lay between aiding them and confin¬ 
ing pecuniary advantages to “ the square,” little could be said 
against their receiving the requested help. It is policy not 
to lose for want of asking, and not to ask too late. But if 
the principle is to be “ each association for itself,” the usual 
benison is likely to fall upon the “hindmost” ; and if pro¬ 
gress is to move on this line, it must be two generations 
before we of the country, pure and very simple, can hope for 
any benefit. We, “rurals,” compared with our brethren of 
the metropolis and of the large towns, must always be in the 
position of country mechanics who, with their rude imple¬ 
ments, have to compete with their confreres of the city who- 
have the help of every modern invention. Schools of che¬ 
mistry !—classes for the study of botany !—associations for 
education! They are the pleasures of Tantalus. Education 
is a mount that we must climb alone, uncheered by the voices 
of our fellows. We carry, very much “ ’mid snow and ice,, 
the banner with that strange device.” We are asking little 
when, having climbed, we desire “ aid for results ”—aid to 
be given in proportion to the means at the disposal of the 
Council, and hence to the detriment of none. The largo 
towns, with their larger advantages, would get the larger 
share; to them that have would be given; but the solitary- 
chemist in the country would put in his claim on achieved 
success, and feel that he had a share in the commonwealth, 
for the scheme is calculated to call forth the latent talent of 
the country. 
I am greatly pleased to find that Mr. Schacht has been 
returned to the Council so near the top of the poll. I trust 
that he will so powerfully advocate his own plan that it w-ill 
be adopted by the executive, and thus secure—what it should 
be the aim of all executives to attain—the highest good of 
the greatest number. 
Henry H. Pollard. 
Hyde, May 27th, 1872. 
Chemists’ Club. 
Sir,—Some twelve months ago, I believe the subject of a 
1 Chemists’ Club” was suggested in your columns; at the 
time, I must say I thought but little of it, but having since 
had to come to town to attend the Laboratory previous to 
the Society’s examinations, I have much felt the -want of 
such an institution, and have heard many remark how glad 
they would be of a “ Club,” or some place of resort where they 
could have the comforts of home combined with moderate- 
charges. 
If any (and I am sure there must be several) amongst your 
numerous subscribers have felt this want and would like to 
see it supplied, I should be very pleased if they would com¬ 
municate their ideas in your next number. 
One Who Would Gladly be a Member. 
May \ith, 1872. 
Women and Pharmaceutical Examinations. 
Sir,—Are women admitted to the examinations of the 
Pharmaceutical Society, or were the founders of the opinion 
of Cornelius, 
“ I do not like her ... I know her spirit, 
And will not trust one of her malice with 
A drug of such damn’d nature” ? 
Interrogative. 
[* # * According to Mr. J. Stuart Mill’s definition of the 
word “person,” a woman may present herself for examination- 
—Ed. Pharm. Journ.] 
