470 
MEETING OF CHEMISTS AND DltUGGISTS AT YORK. 
Mr. Thompson concluded by giving it as his opinion that the British Pharmacopoeia 
would not suffer by a general comparison with the United States Pharmacopoeia, and 
especially drew attention to the much fuller information as to tests of purity and strength 
given by our own work. 
Mr. F. M. Rimmington, of Bradford (a Corresponding Member), favoured the Associa¬ 
tion by the exhibition and description of an extensive series of microscopic slides illus¬ 
trative of the constituents of opium. The method of investigation was that adopted by 
Messrs. Deane and Brady, and the illustrations served to confirm the statements of those 
observers. The attention of the members was particularly attracted by the appearance of 
narcotine under polarized light, and by the fine massive crystals of codeia. The latter 
constituent was a predominant feature of various specimens of Liq. Opii Sedat. Mr. 
Rimmington also exhibited some slides containing the principles of tincture of opium,, 
precipitated by ammonia. He thought that there were advantages in using this means 
of discrimination ; and whilst admitting that the whole subject was one deserving of 
continued research, considered that it held out fair promise of much practical utility. 
Mr. W. Smeetox proposed, and Mr. S. Taylor seconded a vote of thanks to the- 
authors of the papers. 
MEETING- OF CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS AT YORK. 
The local secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society having received a circular from 
the general secretary in London, enclosing a copy of the proposed Bill for regulating 
the qualification of chemists and druggists, intended to be submitted to Parliament in 
the next session, with a request that he would procure signatures from the York chemists 
and druggists in his favour,—he, on consultation with the local secretary of the United 
Societ}'' of Chemists and Druggists, came to an agreement to call a general meeting of 
the trade, in order that the Bill of the United Society might be considered along with 
it. Accordingly, on this understanding, a circular was issued and a meeting of the 
trade took place at Mr. Beal’s, the King’s Arms Hotel, on Friday, the 20th of January, 
which was respectably attended, Mr. Dennis being appointed Chairman. Amongst those 
present were councillors Thomas Cooper, C. Croskill, and J. Brown, Messrs. R. Dresser, 
W. Bowman, T. P. Bulmer, J. Oglesby, T. Siddall, J. Wood, W. Wilson, etc. The 
Chairman briefly introduced the business of the meeting, and called upon the respec¬ 
tive secretaries to read over the proposed Bills. Previous to the Pharmacy Bill being read, 
Mr. BroAvn, Secretary of the United Society of Chemists and Druggists, stated that the 
Bill of that society was a right and proper measure in every respect for the governance 
and regulations of the chemists and druggists throughout the United Kingdom, and 
provided everything necessary for their incorporation; he had only one fault to find 
with it, and that was, it went rather too far ; in his opinion, the prohibiting all persons 
except registered chemists and druggists from selling and dealing in drugs (however 
desirable it might be) was what the Legislature would not sanction. It would then 
have to be defined what a drug was, which would be a most difficult matter, and 
whether grocers, hucksters, and country shopkeepers should be prevented dealing in 
carbonate of soda, tartaric aicd, salts of senna, sweet nitre, and the common-going tinc¬ 
tures. He had no interest in its continuance—far from it; but they must look upon the 
question as business men, and they would see it was against the public interest and 
convenience to legislate in that way. Let them ask the question of themselves, and 
they would confess they were traders and dealers, and not pure chemists, keeping and 
selling an infinite variety of articles that had no connection whatever with the drug- 
trade ; therefore, however much it might be regretted that numerous accidents arose 
from the ignorance and negligence of unqualified persons dealing in drugs, yet he Avas- 
convinced the public convenience required that such articles should be obtained in 
places where a qualified druggist could not support himself. He also stated that it was- 
his opinion that Parliament Avould not pass either measure in its present form, though 
the Pharmaceutical Society Avas most likely to obtain the support of Government, being 
already incorporated, and had gained a status through Acts of Parliament. He candidly 
OAvned he should give the Pharmacy Bill his support, providing the Council of that 
Society Avould come doAvn a little from their pretensions, and meet fairly those >vho 
