164 
BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
The President read extracts bearing upon this question from the Sixth Report of 
the Medical Officer of the Privy Council just published, including the Report by Dr. 
Alfred S. Taylor, F.R.S., “ On Dangers arising to the Public Health in the conditions 
under which Drugs and Poisons are retailed.” In giving the conclusions which 
Dr. Taylor records, the President took the opportunity of assuring the Conference 
that the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society would not support or approve of 
exclusive privileges being conferred upon Pharmaceutical Chemists to the exclusion of 
other competent dealers in drug3. 
It was clear that poisonous medicines must be sold in villages where no person 
devoting his whole time to pharmacy could make a livelihood, but a case had been 
made out for enforcing some restrictions. 
It had occurred to him that the village huckster might be allowed to sell some of 
the potent remedies if they were put up in packets or bottles by recognized wholesale 
houses, whose names they should bear. The question as to what drugs should be 
considered poisons had often been canvassed, and though well aware of its difficulties, 
he must say that it was quite feasible to form a schedule of those which had most 
frequently led to accident. 
He approved of the proposed system of inspection of medicines by a second person, 
also of the separation of the more poisonous drugs, and of the dispensing department 
being distinct from the retail. At the same time, it was clear that these arrangements 
must be subject to circumstances. 
He thought highly of the plan of tying over the stoppers of powerful drugs, and had 
adopted it for years. 
Mr. Merrikin’s rough shop bottles appeared to him to be admirable, as were also 
the poison labels with white letters on a black ground. 
He was aware that it was sometimes the practice to dilute such remedies as syrup 
of poppies for retail sale, in order to diminish the risk of accident. This was, on the 
other hand, a dangerous proceeding, as likely to cause accident when the proper article 
was supplied. In conclusion, the President deprecated late hours of business, and 
expressed a warm sympathy in the interest of assistants and apprentices. 
Mr. Pooley remarked, that the recommendations of the Committee were not intended 
to apply inflexibly to all cases, since their adoption must be modified by varying con¬ 
ditions. 
Mr. Tylee expressed approval of the plan of having peculiar-shaped bottles for 
potent remedies upon the shelves, and considered that the public liked it as evidencing 
special care. 
Mr. Abraham begged to take that opportunity of conveying his gratitude to his 
professional brethren for the many expressions of sympathy which he and his partner 
had received since a late painful occurrence. He would further take the opportunity 
of explaining some points which had been misunderstood, because the course of the legal 
proceedings had not afforded this, and the line of defence adopted by Mr. Poole’s counsel 
(though not by his wish) was to exaggerate the blame attaching to his principals. 
The facts were that fourteen dark-blue bottles were kept together in the dispensing 
department, strychnia being the one most frequently used, the others having P. Digi¬ 
talis, P. Conii, P. Salinse, Hydr. Iodid., etc. Upon the strychnia was a very conspi¬ 
cuous label, “Poison.” 
The practice of the establishment had been to keep this drug in crystals, but an 
order for an ounce of the powder had induced an assistant to pulverize it, but he (Mr. 
A.) knew nothing of this until after the accident. When the trial approached, his firm 
were prepared with a large amount of evidence as to the precautions adopted by va¬ 
rious leading houses, which however varied widely. They were advised by counsel 
that, even if proving their arrangements to have been the best that could be devised, 
that would be uo defence, and the amount of the damages would be the only question. 
Under those circumstances, his firm felt that an arrangement was desirable, being 
anxious to make what reparation they could for their part in such a melancholy oc¬ 
currence. 
Mr. Abraham would conclude these personal allusions by referring to a subscription 
towards reimbursing the firm, which had been suggested, and even commenced. On 
behalf of Mr. Clay and himself, he must respectfully decline receiving this. 
