THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
SECOND SERIES. 
YOL. VI.—No. II.—AUGUST 1st, 18C4. 
SEPARATE EXAMINATIONS EOR CHEMISTS ALREADY IN 
BUSINESS ON THEIR OWN ACCOUNT. 
Our readers will see, by the Pharmaceutical Transactions, that the propriety 
of examining chemists already in business on their own account, apart from 
younger members of the trade who may more properly be termed “ Students,” 
has been again under consideration of the Council, and it has been decided to 
institute such an arrangement. We believe this resolution wiU find general 
favour. Had compulsory powers been given in the Pharmacy Act of 1852, such 
a step would now be unnecessary, but as submitting to the ordeal has been hitherto 
and is still only voluntary, it is desirable to remove as many obstacles as possi¬ 
ble. The bringing together Principals and Assistants for examination has always 
been regarded as an obstacle to the former, who may naturally feel a disinclina¬ 
tion to descend from an established position and once more stand at the gate for 
admission, side by side with those who have perhaps only twelve months previously 
emerged from apprenticeship. In the event of the passing of the proposed 
amendment of the Pharmacy Act, the necessity for these separate examinations 
would in a few years cease to exist, as no chemists would after that period com¬ 
mence business without previous test of qualification; but for the present we 
think the proposition wise, and calculated greatly to assist those who deem mere 
registration as “ Chemists and Druggists' 1 ' 1 somewhat derogatory. In reality 
such registration would secure and perpetuate all vested interests, and indeed 
improve the position of men so registered; but by this proposal the way to dis¬ 
tinction would be rendered less difficult, and easier access to membership of the 
Society provided. It was stated in our Journal of last month that an increased 
desire for Membership was made evident by the inquiries so constantly sent to 
the Secretary by “ chemists and druggists already engaged in business on their own 
account and that “ the more firmly the application of a test of qualification is 
adhered to as a necessary condition to membership , the more is the attainment of 
the object desired , nd the more tvhen attained is it appreciated.''' 
From this proposition none will dissent, not even the candidates for examina¬ 
tion, and we do not understand, by receiving two different classes at the exami¬ 
ners’ table at two separate times, the Board has any idea of smuggling unquali¬ 
fied men into membership. Nevertheless, although both may be tested for the 
Same knowledge, there should be a wide distinction in the manner of examining 
them,—the one more practical than the other. The Student fresh from his books 
and experimental laboratory must bring proof of his acquaintance with the 
elements which are to fit him for the service of the public ; he will naturally be 
more at home in the language of the schools; he may have been a diligent ap¬ 
prentice and a trustworthy assistant, but he has not been called on to take the 
YOL. VI. F 
