THE PROPOSED PHARMACY ACT. 
27 
a host of unwilling and irritated brethren, kicking against the trammels of, to 
their way of thinking, an unjust law. Now we profess to be acting for the 
'benefit of all parties, and yet only one side of the evidence is heard, and upon 
that evidence an opinion is passed and a Bill framed, without allowing one word 
of argument from the very persons whose interest, together with our ov 7 n, we 
are supposed to have at heart. I must contend, Sir, that this is not a very 
reasonable mode of proceeding ; neither can I understand upon what grounds 
the late Council could have refused to entertain the proposal to meet the officers 
of the United Society; the deed is done, but surely it cannot be too late even 
now to remove the evil. 
The Session is now far advanced ; business of importance probably coming 
before the House, a Bill brought in would stand a good chance of being hurriedly 
considered, and very possibly hastily rejected, when it is seen how largely divided 
in opinion are the very persons seeking legislative powers. 
I do not wish to say a word against the gentlemen who held office ; I feel 
satisfied too much praise cannot be given to them for the anxious. care and 
thought bestowed upon their work, under the able guidance of our President, of 
whom we cannot speak too highly ; but there is no denying the fact that a mis¬ 
take has been made, and the question is how that mistake is to be remedied ? 
In order to answer this query I think we need but to consider how the move¬ 
ment originated. The Council, at the request of members of the Society, called 
a General Meeting, at which it was considered advisable that a Bill should be 
prepared, and, if possible, passed in Parliament. The Bill has accordingly been 
prepared, and brought forward by the Council for the approval of the Society, 
and at the Annual Meeting accepted. Thus far all is well; another step is now 
required; let the newly elected Council, in their turn, call a general meeting 
of the entire trade , either at the Society’s house or other convenient place; sub¬ 
mit the Bill as approved, and then let the objections be fairly, calmly, and tho¬ 
roughly considered. Such a meeting, if conducted in a liberal and friendly 
spirit, could not but be satisfactory to all parties; and would materially tend to 
remove the present ill-feeling which exists, and give power and effect to our 
cause before Parliament. Apologizing for the length of my letter, but feeling 
the urgency of the cause, I could not refrain from giving utterance to these few 
words; earnestly desiring to see animosity trodden down, and friendship esta¬ 
blished between brothers of our large and wide-spread family. 
I am, Sir, faithfully yours, 
Edwin B. Vizer. 
63, Lupus Street , Belgravia South , June, 1864. 
THE PROPOSED PHARMACY ACT. 
TO THE EDITORS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Gentlemen,—Having been prevented by business from attending the Annual 
General Meeting, I have read vdtk some interest the account of the proceedings 
and speeches made by various members on that occasion. As one of the mem¬ 
bers by examination, may I be allowed in a few words to express my opinion on 
the subject of this proposed new Pharmacy Act? There appears to me, through¬ 
out all the discussions, to be a most extraordinary solicitude on behalf of the 
“ Examined Men,”—a fear, almost, that they should be brought to the level of 
those outsiders it is proposed to admit. As an examined member I must say (and 
I dare say I might do so for others) I feel exceedingly grateful for the great in¬ 
terest shown to preserve my position, but, as far as I know, I believe this feeling 
of jealousy (for it is nothing more) does not exist among the examined men 
themselves, and I believe it to be a great mistake. If this new Pharmacy Act 
