26 
THE PROPOSED PHARMAGY ACT. 
and privileges of the “ insiders ” in any one of the three sections before men¬ 
tioned cod stitilting the Pharmaceutical Society ? The same means still exist for 
gaining admission as existed and still exist for Section 3 of the Society, and 
these means are examinations. Should the proposed Bill pass, the outsiders may 
join the Society and be registered as qualified chemists and druggists, with the 
title of Associate of the Pharmaceutical Society, and have the same privilege as 
members at any meeting of the Society, on passing the Minor examination only. 
In conclusion, if we wish to raise Pharmacy to the position it occupies in other 
countries, if we wish to do away with a lifelong toil and little remuneration for 
the same, if we wish to benefit both the public and ourselves, we shall all, both 
members of the Society and non-members, unite for the common good, and 
directly and indirectly use our utmost exertions to get the proposed Pharmacy 
Bill passed into the law of the land. 
Wilton, near Salisbury, June 21, 1864. 
THE PROPOSED PPIARMACY ACT. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Sir,—I trust you will pardon my intruding upon your space; but having 
been prevented from attending the Annual Meeting last month, I have not had 
the opportunity of saying a few words upon the new Bill proposed to be taken 
into Parliament. 
I have attentively read each clause, and, as a whole, consider it in every way 
answers the desired object without injuring the interest of any party ; but while 
such is the case, one is somewhat surprised at finding the majority of the 
speakers at the meeting expressing great doubts whether we shall have power 
to pass the Bill through Parliament; and one main antagonistic cause evi¬ 
dently exists within our own family of chemists and druggists, consequently 
should be within our perfect control: and unless the difficulty be removed, I 
firmly believe our efforts will be abortive, and the expense thrown away ; and 
we shall retire with no great dignity. 
But why should this be? Can it be possible that after so many years’labour 
towards uniting the trade into one homogeneous body, and at the very time 
when unity of action is most absolutely necessary in order to obtain success, 
that for the sake of holding our own preconceived opinions we should wilfully 
fly in the face of reason ? We all know that every man is biassed in favour of 
his own opinion, and that no dogmatic assertion that that opinion is based on 
wrong grounds will ever convince a man of his error ; but let the parties meet, 
and calmly and logically enter into the disputed points, and error will speedily 
give place to sound reason. How this is just the point with us at the present 
time. 
The Pharmaceutical Society brings forward a Bill which, as I before said, I 
firmly believe in all its main points satisfactory; but there are other persons, 
not members of our Society, and these are not so satisfied, but feel themselves 
injured by certain clauses, and they therefore solicited an interview with our 
Council. Here was a step, I humbly conceive, in the right direction ; and had 
our Council acceded to that request I can see no reason why difficulties should 
not have been removed; and in place of the present antagonistic feeling, which, 
but too evidently exists, a mutual friendly action might have been brought to 
bear upon the desired object, and success in all probability have crowned our 
efforts ; whereas, as matters stand at present, the two bodies are arrayed in 
deadly warfare, opposing and opposed. 
How, granting our Bill passed, let me ask what have we gained? Certainly 
no friends! not one who would put forth his hand and wish us God speed ! but 
