PROVINCIAL TRANSACTIONS. 
LEEDS CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
The Second Meeting of the Session was held at the Library of the Association, on the 
evening of November 1G, 1864-, the President (Mr. Haigh) in the chair. 
The President delivered the following address :— 
I congratulate the Members and Associates of the Leeds Chemists’ Association upon 
its having safely passed the critical period of the first two years of existence. This is 
the surest guarantee that we shall hold together as a society, and continue to have these 
pleasant meetings, which are so well calculated to confirm and strengthen the friendly 
relations which exist among us, while, at the same time, by their means, we carry out 
the primary objects of our association. It is a great advantage also, that by its means, 
with very little delay, we can so readily meet together to express an opinion, in our col¬ 
lective capacity, on any matter affecting the trade, or upon any subject of general 
interest, such as the Metrical System of Weights and Measures, Poison Bill, etc. This 
is important, when it is borne in mind what a disposition there is in the present day—no 
doubt with the praiseworthy object of improvement—to alter existing regulations of all 
kinds. Praiseworthy this disposition is, to a certain extent, but, like every other good 
thing, it may be carried too far. Most desirable it is that every practicable arrangement 
which can be devised should be brought into operation, for the prevention of accidental 
poisoning, and I hope that, at no distant date, the intelligence of the age will accomplish 
this ; while, at the same time, powerful medicines shall be as readily procurable as at 
present, in the constantly recurring cases of urgent necessity. I think there is no doubt 
of the correctness of the opinion of our Committee in their last report, in which they 
say, “ It is certain that the greatest attainable security to the public from accident, in 
the use of poisons, can only be reached by raising the standard of character and education, 
in those who deal in and dispense them.” It is this intelligence only that can deal with 
another matter, which may be said to be in immediate connection, and which, I think, 
no act of the Legislature could reach ; I refer to the class of articles which are dangerous 
if improperly used, in fact, poisonous, but which are not. included in any list of poisons 
that I have seen. In point of fact, to answer the question—What is a poison ? seems 
to me more difficult than to answer the question of a late celebrated statesman, “What 
is a pound?” Is Saltpetre a poison? Is Tartaric Acid a poison? I have known 
instances of persons poisoned by both these articles, and yet it could never be considered 
that these and similar articles should be included in a list of poisons! I mention them, 
more particularly because they bear upon another matter, respecting which, I think, a 
word may not inappropriately come from me—I mean shop arrangement. I have seen 
or read of two bottles of the same size, on the same shelf, labelled “ Sodas Tart.” and 
“ Acid. Tart.” Half an ounce of the latter sent out in mistake for the former produced 
death. I remember an instance of poisoning by half an ounce of Saltpetre being sent 
out instead of Epsom Salts. I have seeu “ Mag. Sulph.” and “ Zinc. Sulph.” in the 
same row of drawers, also “Hydrarg. Chlor.” and “ Hydrarg. Bichlor.” in the same row 
of bottles. These few remarks will serve to draw our attention to the great importance 
of careful shop-arrangement, and of its absolute necessity in respect to dangerous articles. 
While I am on this subject I cannot refrain from saying, that if it were for no other 
merit than the care and pains with which, month by month, the Editors of the 1 Phar¬ 
maceutical Journal ’ bring before the trade the various accidents and disasters occurring 
from poisons and other matters, the conductors of that Journal would be entitled to our 
thanks. I am satisfied that the good done in this way is incalculable. I will say here, 
that for years past I have constantly looked through this report, and also been careful 
to call the attention of my assistants to it. It cannot do otherwise than cause greater 
care and thought, and I commend it, not only to the younger members of the trade, but 
to all of us, how long soever our experience may be. 
In an address like the present, it would seem an unaccountable omission, if I did not 
make some reference to the British Pharmacopoeia, of which, there is no doubt, it may 
be said, that it has not been favourably received by a portion of the medical profession 
and others. It is a satisfaction to me publicly to state, that I do not participate in these 
