THE LATE ME. BAEEY. 
29 
into contact, and whose business abilities and manual industry were fully equal 
to the average, from presenting themselves for examination. It is useless to deny 
that success in business, rather than distinction in science, is the chief object 
most of us have in view; and that few, but those who have been fortunate 
enough to attend such lectures, and work in such laboratories as the Pharma¬ 
ceutical Society provides, or have acquired the rudiments of their profession un¬ 
der superior and indulgent masters, pursue their studies with avidity, and attain 
eminence as scientific chemists. Separate this minority, and the remainder are 
lacking either the inclination or the means to qualify for any higher examina¬ 
tion than the present, or perhaps a rather more stringent “ Minor ” one. The 
average number of working hours amongst chemists (taking town and country 
together) is thirteen per diem, and whatever character the individual business 
may possess, it is not reasonable to expect much systematic and zealous study in 
conjunction with such an undue tax on the faculties of both body and mind, 
especially when the subjects of such study are identical with those to which, by 
the requirements of business, the wearied soul has been confined all day long. 
But to exact from Assistants such an amount of knowledge as the u Minor ” 
requires, is only to ask for as much as few intelligent young men with a spark 
of interest in their labour, and with the very desultory reading obtainable in the 
routine of an ordinary pharmacy, could fail to acquire. Doubtless there are 
many honourable exceptions to such a type of Assistants both within and without 
the Society ; but facts will, I think, bear me out in asserting that the majority 
answer to this description. To such, after passing the requisite ordeal and paying 
a very moderate fee, the Amended Pharmacy Act, if passed , would give a legal 
and sufficient recognition of competency, together with a share in the govern¬ 
ment of the Society, and permission (itself a powerful stimulus to further exer¬ 
tion') to take the higher degree whenever they become competent to do so. At 
the same time, and this is the noble aim of the proposed legislation, reasonable 
though not infallible safety would be secured to the community by preventing- 
unskilful and jgnorant men from compounding the prcescripta of the faculty. 
In conclusion, let me commend the serious consideration of the matter to the 
Assistants in our profession, and I feel firmly persuaded that the genuine “elo¬ 
quence ” of the measure alone will plead so effectually with them, that such a 
body of volunteers would arise to assist its progress into law as no amount of 
opposition could withstand, or successfully encounter. 
Apologizing for the great liberty taken, and the amount of valuable space oc¬ 
cupied, I am, Sir, yours respectfully, 
A Minor Associate. 
THE LATE ME. BAEEY. 
It is probable that the subject of this notice was personally known to a 
very small proportion of our readers. Yet it is appropriate, and we trust it may 
be found instructive, here to sketch a few of the salient features and leading 
events of the character and life of a founder of the Pharmaceutical Society, 
whose labours have produced an indelible impression on the legislation of our 
country. 
John Thomas Barry was the son of Alexander Barry, Esq., of Fratton, near 
Portsmouth. He was born in 1789, and was the eldest of a numerous family, 
seveial of whom were distinguished by conspicuous talents. His brother, Alex¬ 
ander, was a Hospital Lecturer at the age of twenty-one, and he was one of the 
youngest men ever elected into the Eoyal Society ; but in 1832 his life of early 
promise was cut short by an accidental explosion occurring in the course of a 
scientific investigation. Another brother, Dr. Martin Barry, highly dis- 
