LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
317 
•with white letters on a black ground, and Latin labels by Ford and Shapland, on which 
the name of the drug is given in large letters, as “ Rheum,” and the preparation as 
“Tinct.” or “ Syrup,” is placed beneath it; these I find are not yet ready. Also the 
use of black wrappers with white letters “Poison ” for all dry poisons, such as oxalic acid, 
sugar of lead, red and white precipitate, etc. The poison cupboard has received the 
sanction of the Conference, and I think will commend itself to every one’s judgment as 
a wise and efficient precaution against accident. 
The Committee took as the basis of their deliberations, the whole of the poisoning 
cases that were reported for two years past, twenty-five in number ; of these 10 cases were 
mistakes of the administrator, 2 by a surgeon, 1 by a wholesale house, 11 by retail che¬ 
mists or their assistants. With respect to these, they say that “there are 17 of the 25 
cases of accidental poisoning, in which there is every reason to believe that a thoroughly 
effective poison-bottle would have prevented the accident; next, that there are three 
cases in which, had the poison sold been wrapped in paper of distinctive character, and 
labelled as suggested, there is reason to believe that the accident would not have oc¬ 
curred. Thus we have (they say) encouraging assurance that at least 80 per cent, of 
the usual cases of accidental poisoning may hereafter be prevented by the use of such 
means.” 
There is another aspect of this important subject to which I must refer, and that is 
Government interference with our business. You are generally aware, no doubt, that 
the medical officer of the Privy Council has reported upon the subject, and called to his 
aid Professor Taylor, who has also drawn up a very lengthened report on the matter. 
Both these documents relate to “ poisoning, and the dispensing, vending, and keeping 
of poisons,” and, as has been said, are the most important that have for many years 
appeared, and are “ big with the fate of pharmacy.” Those who have not read these 
papers should do so, that they may be prepared to discuss the question when the time 
for action comes. The great organ of the Press has also announced its opinion “ that 
the present state of things ought not to be allowed to exist.” It is not then very difficult 
to prophesy that before long some Government enactment will be passed, setting at rest 
those vexed questions which have occupied our attention for years past, such as—what is 
a poison ? Can a schedule be so framed as to be a useful restriction without being a 
vexatious hindrance to trade ? Second, who are to be considered qualified to dispense 
and deal in poisons? Third, how should poisons be stored? and fourth, is inspection 
necessary ? The great fear is not that legislation will take place, but that it will be 
hasty, and the result of present apprehensions from recent events, and will not do jus¬ 
tice to all classes of druggists. It is greatly to be desired that this subject should be left 
to those who alone are competent to cope with its intricacies and great difficulties; I 
mean those who practically know the working of the business. It would be far better 
for us as a body, and more likely to secure the interests of the public too, who must 
and will have poisons in many cases with as great facility as possible, if the Pharma¬ 
ceutical Society and the United Society of Chemists and Druggists would agree upon 
one measure, to comprise the whole trade. 
A measure that is too stringent will become r a dead letter, its effect would be to 
demoralize more than to restrain. To register, for instance, the sales of laudanum, 
oxalic acid, sugar of lead, and precipitates, no Act of Parliament that could be devised 
could possibly enforce. 
If the Government should appoint an Examining Board independent of the Phar¬ 
maceutical Society, the license of such a board would be a serious rivalry to their 
examination; it would satisfy the outsiders themselves, and satisfy the public, and so 
retard a consummation much to be desired—the enrolment of the whole trade under 
that one distinguished society. If, on the other hand, the Government make the Phar¬ 
maceutical Society the examining body, whose diploma shall give the only right to 
exercise pharmacy in this country, then it is clear the examination must be made such 
as can fairly be required of men already in business as masters or assistants, and also be 
without any, or with only nominal fees. 
A man who has served a regular apprenticeship of five years to a chemist and druggist, 
so long as that continues to be a trade, and not a profession, has obtained an equitable 
right to deal in every article vised in that trade. Such a man need have no fear of 
submitting to any examination on the subject of poisons, which the Government are 
likely to render compulsory ; he must have spent his five years much worse than poor 
