MEETING OF TI1E LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS. 
4 28 
put their hands into their pockets for the defence of the common interests of the body, 
whether belonging to the Society or not. 
In reply to the Chairman, Dr. Edwards said it was intended to give the title of 
“ registered chemists and druggists” to the persons registered. 
Mr. Shaw moved the following resolution:—“We, the undersigned chemists 
druggists, residing and carrying on business in Liverpool and the district, having read the 
principles of the bill for regulating chemists and druggists published in the ‘ Pharmaceu¬ 
tical Journal,’ pledge themselves to use their best endeavours to obtain the passing thereof 
into law.” The bill, he said, had his entire approval, and he did not see any fair objection 
that could be raised to it. 
Mr. J. A. Turner had great pleasure in seconding the resolution, which he thought 
commended itself to the common sense of all, and that, he apprehended, was the most 
useful sense. The Pharmaceutical Society had, he considered, been the pioneers of that 
general progress which was now becoming acknowledged and apparent, and he should 
feel every confidence in a general measure which originated with that body. 
The resolution was put to the meeting, and unanimously agreed to. 
Mr. Eobinson moved the next resolution, which was as follows :—That this meeting 
recommend chemists and druggists generally to sign the memorial in favour of the bill 
which is now prepared for presentation to the Secretary of State for the Home Depart¬ 
ment. He confidently submitted the motion to the meeting, cordially endorsing its 
purport, but at the same time anxious to hear adverse criticism, if any gentleman present 
had such to offer. 
Mr. W T right had great pleasure in seconding the motion. There was one remark, 
however, which he should like to make. In the old Pharmacy Act he believed appren¬ 
tices and assistants were placed on the same footing as associates. Now there was no 
mention made of apprentices in the present Bill. 
Dr. Edwards explained that apprentices might be registered as such, but it would 
be to their interest to pass the Minor Examination to prove their efficiency ; and, after 
some further conversation on the subject, in which Mr. Wright agreed, and stated that 
he had taken the objection on behalf of others than on his own account, the motion 
was unanimously adopted. 
Dr. Edwards explained, in reply to a question, that the registration of sales of poisons 
was suggested by the Secretary of State, and therefore the Council had prepared a draft 
clause, requiring such registration of each sale from all dealers not registered as chemists 
and druggists under this Act. This bill would, they hoped, meet the requirements of the 
Medical Council as such, and be conciliatory to the Government on the subject of the sale 
of poisons; and they thought that if a bill was submitted by the Pharmaceutical Society 
which meets with general approval on the part of the whole body of chemists and 
druggists, it would then become a Government measure. It would then be a measure of 
medical police, to be carried on and not be done in the face of the House of Commons, 
but with their approval. It was for that object that the support 6f the chemists and 
druggists of Liverpool was wanted by signature to the requisition. They wished to lay 
a very strong representation on the subject before Sir George Grey. A very large num¬ 
ber of signatures had been obtained throughout the country, and he should have been 
very glad to have called an earlier meeting for Liverpool, but circumstances over which 
he had no control whatever prevented him doing so. He had done so at the earliest pos¬ 
sible moment, and it was considered desirable that as large a number of signatures as pos¬ 
sible should be obtained, in the hope of making it a Government bill. The cost of the bill, 
if they were to attempt to carry it through as an independent measure, would be <£G00 or 
£700, whereas, if they could get it carried as a Government measure, the cost would be 
but trifling. In leading articles, and in the correspondence of chemists and druggists, it 
was continually thrown into the teeth of the Pharmaceutical Society that they wished 
to enrol the chemists and druggists and get subscriptions from them, and yet not to give 
them any voting powers in the management of the affairs of the Society. That was a 
total misrepresentation. In order to secure the bill it was very necessary to spend money, 
and the parties benefited by the bill should recoup the Society for that expenditure. 
There was, therefore, the moderate charge of one guinea for each registration, or what¬ 
ever other sum might be hereafter agreed upon; and it certainly did not require that 
there should be any connection at all, or any representative power, or any further union 
between the body of chemists and druggists so registered and the Pharmaceutical Society. 
