BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
149 
Although it is now shown that the law makes the employer of an assistant respon¬ 
sible for the acts of the latter, I am at a loss to conceive on what principle of justice 
it is so, when it can be shown that no pains have been spared to prevent accidents. If 
the assistant were a lifeless machine of man’s construction, and a man the worker of 
it, I can well understand how he would and might be solely responsible for the lives 
of all risked by its use. Again, it seems a monstrous thing that the only guilty party 
should be acquitted, and the perfectly innocent employer mulcted of £2000,—a sum 
that it would probably ruin three-fourths amongst us to have to pay. Every one 
henceforth will be in constant danger and dread of some calamity befalling him, which 
may at once reduce him from a position of honour and comfort to one of perfect de¬ 
stitution and misery. Without some change in the law, this must ultimately lead to 
the abandonment of the profession by educated and high-minded men, and their 
places taken by others, ignorant and reckless, and thus public safety will be jeopar¬ 
dized. The twelve pence now demanded for as many doses of pills, can only be ade¬ 
quately replaced by a sum equal to the fee of the prescriber, for it is clear we have the 
responsibility of two professions on our shoulders, which ought in common justice to 
be paid for. 
For some admirable remarks on this case, I may refer you to the ‘ Liverpool Daily 
Post,’ of August 16th last, where you will find much that I have said, and a deal 
more, stated in the most lucid and forcible manner; and it will be seen how unjustly Lord 
Campbell’s Act may be brought to bear upon a particular class of the community, and 
in cases where it could never have been intended it should take effect. I cannot re¬ 
frain from quoting one passage, for reasons which I will not record here :—“ Nay, more 
unlikely things have happened than for a man to commit suicide after surreptitiously 
mixing poison with a dose from a chemist, and so Virtually bequeath to his family the 
damages obtainable by an action under Lord Campbell’s Act. The deed is an unlikely 
one ; but as the Insurance Companies deem it worth while to except suicide from the 
causes of death allowed by their policies, our supposition is not beyond the bounds of 
possibility.” 
I must now conclude; but it would be wrong in me to resume my seat without 
sayiug how greatly we are indebted to our members in this city, and especially to our 
local secretary, Mr. Pooley, for the energetic kindness they have displayed in welcom¬ 
ing the Conference on the present occasion, and in making arrangements not only for 
the comfort of the members, but for the convenience of the meetings. I am sure we 
all feel how much we owe to them in this matter. 
And now, Gentlemen, I must bring these remarks to a conclusion. The subjects 
which will be brought before you for consideration and discussion will be many and 
various. In scientific subjects, and in matters of fact, the end of all discussion is 
simply the elucidation of the truth ; but there are other questions which may come 
under your notice, in winch the balance of opinion must hold the sway; and with 
respect to the discussion which may take place in this room, you will perhaps not 
consider me sermonizing if I quote the words of a great man, spoken, it is true, with 
reference to religious matters, but none the less applicable in their spirit to those of 
secular bearing:—“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, 
charity .” 
On the motion of Mr. Tylee, seconded by Mr. Iving, the best thanks of the Meeting 
were offered to the President for his able and opportune address. 
Dr. J. B. Edwards presented a resolution of the Liverpool Chemists’ Association, 
expressing a w r arm interest in the objects of the Conference, deputing Mr. Abraham 
and himself to act as delegates, and offering a w r elcome to the Association wdienever it 
should think it desirable to visit Liverpool. 
The Report of the Executive Committee w r as read as follows :— 
“ REPORT OP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 
“ At this, the first Annual Meeting of the Conference since its formation at New'castle- 
upon-Tyne, your Committee have but a very short Report to lay before you. Its first 
business consisted in issuing a general circular of invitation to membership, accompa¬ 
nied by an account of the establishment of the Conference. Upwards of one hundred 
and fifty gentlemen responded to that invitation, and have been enrolled as members; 
