364 
PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY, EDINBURGH. 
shown by the druggist that proper arrangements have been made, that everything has been 
done which the most careful forethought could devise, that rules have been laid down, and 
as far as possible enforced, and that the dispenser is well qualified for his duties,—I 
think that is all that can reasonably be expected of us, for it is sitnply impossible that 
principals can see and know, much less superintend all that is done, even in a limited 
establishment, and therefore it is very difficult to see the justice of making one indivi¬ 
dual responsible for the act of another, over which he had no control and could do no¬ 
thing to prevent. 
I believe the public have no idea of the care and anxiety of chemists and druggist 
general]} 7- , not only to prevent dangerous mistakes, but even trifling errors, which at once 
arouse the suspicion of the patient and the medical attendant, and not infrequently de¬ 
stroy the confidence of both, thereby causing an amount of pecuniary loss, which of 
itself is a strong guarantee against them. 
As an evidence of our solicitude for the safety of the public and the preservation of 
our professional character, I think we may safely point to our general accuracy, and the 
beautiful and correct system of labelling which we have devised and spontaneously 
carried out at great labour and expense, and that too in face of no small opposition from 
the public themselves, who sometimes manifest considerable impatience even at the brief 
delay which the operation occasions. 
There are many, however, who think that something more should be done, and accord¬ 
ingly we have had a variety of suggestions as to the subject generally, and particularly 
as to the internal economy of our establishments,—some suggesting improvements in the 
shape of the shop bottles, and others in the kind and style of the labelling, etc. But 
while there might not be any harm in making some changes in these respects, I do not 
anticipate any* great benefit from them, because it is only transferring the responsibility 
from one sense to another, from the sight to the touch, which is just as likely to be put 
off its guard by familiarity with the object as the other. Supposing the chemist to 
understand his business, I think the safeguards which experience suggests as the best, are 
to put dangerous articles as far as possible out of the way, and quite separate from others 
similar in appearance, but comparatively harmless ; to read the label on the bottle care¬ 
fully, both before and after removing, the quantity of its contents required, and in every 
instance to determine mentally whether the substance used be right or wrong. 
But whatever may be the course which the anticipated legislation may take, or tho 
nature of its provisions, it cannot be doubted that the claims of the Pharmaceutical 
Society to recognition, as a body qualified to deal in poisons, will be admitted. It is 
therefore desirable that all qualified chemists and druggists should come forward and join 
the Society, the real object of which is, not to seek exclusive privileges, but to secure the 
benefit of all. I am glad to say that there are very gratifying symptoms of a fuller ap¬ 
preciation of its objects and benefits, and of an increasing desire to become members, 
he result of which has been a large addition to our number both by admission and 
restoration. 
It seems reasonable to expect that this desire will spread, now that the chief obstacles 
with regard to the time and the nature of the examinations have been removed by the 
wise resolution of the examiners in London, not only to have separate examinations for 
those in business, but to make them more practical than technical. 
No druggist then, who has a practical knowledge of his business, who is well acquainted 
with the appearance, the uses, the doses, the composition, and the usual tests and modes 
of preparation of the various substances used in Pharmacy, need fear the examination ; 
and I am sure that every one who wishes to stand well with himself, the medical pro¬ 
fession, and the public, will prefer it to simple registration as a chemist and druggist, 
without any test of qualification. 
I have observed with great satisfaction that a Pharmaceutical Conference has been es¬ 
tablished, because it affords another pleasing evidence that the labours of the Society are 
hearing substantial fruit. The annual discussion of those subjects in which we are most 
interested will, no doubt, be of great service to us, and to the cause generally, by bringing 
out more prominently the talents and researches of pharmaceutists, raising pharmacy to 
its proper place as a science worthy of »special study, and affording scope for the exercise 
of the most powerful and most cultivated minds, and at the same time attractive enough 
to excite the interest, engage the attention, and relieve the toil of the humblest ap¬ 
prentice. 
