430 MEETING OF THE CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS IN NOTTINGHAM. 
been, for it would not be possible for any persons to draw up a Bill which would satisfy 
every one interested in it; and in this Bill there were very wide interests to be considered. 
There were the opinions of the Home Secretary, representing the Government; there 
were the interests of the medical profession, the interests of the founders and members of 
the Pharmaceutical Society, and the interests generally of the body of chemists and 
druggists. For his own part, he thought the framers had been very successful in keeping 
in view the interests of all those various bodies; and if there was one class of persons 
treated more liberally and generously by the framers of this Bill than another, it was 
the class of chemists and druggists outside the Pharmaceutical Society. Mr. Smith, the 
gentleman who spoke last, has raised an objection which had been raised over and over 
again, but which he (Mr. Mercer) did not think had any foundation at all, namely, that 
the chemists and druggists were going to be “ governed,” and therefore that they ought 
to have a voice in the selection of the body governing them. They were not going to 
be governed at all; the principle of the Bill was to retain for the chemists and druggists 
all the privileges and rights which they at present enjoyed, and in addition to give them 
a little protection, because no one could come into the trade after a certain date who had 
not passed an examination, and that, while it protected the public, must also act as 
a protection to those chemists and druggists who were already in business. They had 
a very good precedent, as had been referred to by Dr. Edwards, in the apothecaries, and 
no doubt that would be followed in the present instance. The apothecaries then in 
business had their rights and privileges maintained, and from that day down to the pre¬ 
sent the apothecaries had been gradually improving in their position (as he had not 
the least doubt the chemists and druggists would improve in their position, until 
now: as had been before remarked, they had raised themselves to the higher branches 
of the medical profession, and were now joined with them in the Medical Council. He 
hoped that, on a future occasion, if they had an opportunity—and he hoped they would 
have an opportunity—the gentlemen opposed to the Bill would really bring forward the 
most forcible objections they possibly could, press those objections, and put them in 
a tangible form, so that they might agree upon a Bill which would meet the views of 
all, and tend to elevate the position of the chemists and druggists to that at present 
occupied by the members of the Pharmaceutical Society. 
Mr. Charles Jones, of Birkenhead, briefly seconded the motion, which was earned by 
acclamation. 
The Chairman, in acknowledging the compliment, said, wfith regard to the Bill and the 
conflicting interests between the chemists and druggists and the Pharmaceutical Society, 
he thought, before any Bill, was passed, through the House of Commons, all interests 
would be so far argued and sifted and tested and tried, that there would be no interest 
that would be omitted. He did not think the chemists and druggists, as a body, would 
have anything to find fault with in a Bill that passed the House of Commons. 
The meeting then separated. 
MEETING OF THE CHEMISTS AND DEUGGISTS IN NOTTINGHAM. 
A General Meeting of the chemists and druggists of this town was held at the May- 
pole Hotel, on Thursday evening, the 5th of January,—Mr. Charles Welsh in the 
chair,—to consider the proposed Amended Pharmacy Act for regulating the qualifica¬ 
tions of chemists and druggists. 
The Chairman called upon the Local Secretary, Mr. I. II. Atherton, to introduce the 
Bill. 
The Secretary, before proceeding to explain the Bill, read the communication which 
he had received from the President. The Bill v r as afterwards read and freely discussed, 
when the following resolutions were unanimously adopted :— 
1st. That in the opinion of this meeting, the proposed Amended Pharmacy Bill for 
regulating the qualifications of chemists in this country is admirably adapted to meet the 
requirements of the trade, and is essential to public safety. Proposed by Mr. Shep- 
perley, seconded by Mr. Burton. 
2nd. That this meeting fully appreciates the great efforts of the Council of the Phar¬ 
maceutical Society to obtain legislation on this matter, and pledges itself to aid by all 
