MEETING OF CHEMISTS AND DllUGGISTS AT YOIiK. 4 71 
were not members of that Society, but as yet they had ignored the existence of the 
United Society. The Pharmaceutical Society was however a small body compared to 
the great mass of druggists in the country, and for himself he could not see that a phar¬ 
maceutist was any better, or possessed more knowledge, than an ordinary chemist and 
druggist. He would give honour where honour was due, and he would say, all honour 
to that gentleman who was there in that room, who had obtained his title as a Phar¬ 
maceutical Chemist by examination; but in what respect (and he spoke with all defer¬ 
ence to those members of the Society) were they considered, either by themselves or 
the public, superior to those for whom the Pharmaceutical Society were now anxious 
to legislate ? Pie stated there boldly, had it not been for the United Society, who had 
stirred in the matter with proposals for the incorporation of the trade, nothing would 
have been heard of the Pharmacy Bill; they had rested on their oars, and had neglected 
the very object for which the Society was originally founded; they had even done worse 
than that, for they had encouraged the Medical Council in their monstrous measure, and 
had conspired to hand over all non-members to the tender mercies of the medical pro¬ 
fession. So, rather than have two societies, one of which would prosper whilst the other 
would gradually die out, they came forward to subject those who did not belong to 
them to their own control, and levy contributions upon their victims, without giving 
them any voice in the management of the Society. He had come there, however, to 
support the Pharmacy Bill, providing those present agreed to the amendments of cer¬ 
tain clauses in that Bill which he had drawn up,—reasonable amendments, which he fully 
believed would meet with their concurrence. He should also move a resolution embody¬ 
ing those amendments, and calling upon the Councils of the two Societies to come to 
terms, and mutually sink their differences; so that a real union of the trade might take 
place for the benefit of all, and for the future interests of succeeding chemists. 
Mr. Cooper, the local secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society, then read the cir¬ 
cular from the Society, and commenced with the Pharmacy Bill, clause by clause. Con¬ 
siderable discussion took place upon the first, fourth, and sixteenth clauses, as well as on 
Schedule “C,”and Mr. Brown moved the amendments of which he had spoken, which 
were unanimously agreed to. 
On the discussion of the first clause, Messrs. E. Dresser and Croskill moved and se¬ 
conded an amendment to' exempt all present apprentices (as well as assistants) from the 
operation of the Act; and it was stated that all preceding Acts of Parliament contained 
such exemption. This was agreed to, and all succeeding clauses and Schedule “D” 
were ordered to be altered accordingly. 
Mr. Brown remarked there was no provision in this clause, or anywhere in the 
Act, providing, in case of death of a registered chemist, for saving the rights of his 
widow or of his children in the interests of his business. It would be a very serious 
matter to many families, if, in case of death, where a family was dependent upon such 
business, and where a son was young, or at all events under age, and where the business 
had been intended for him, that it should be disposed of to another party ; such a state 
of things would in many instances produce great hardships. He thought a clause should 
be introduced to remedy this defect, and that a registered assistant should be allowed to 
manage the business. He moved to insert a clause, which was seconded by Mr. Cooper,, 
and unanimously agreed to. 
On Clause 4 being read over, Mr. Brown said it was of such a nature as would meet 
with his most strenuous opposition. Was it to be borne that the Pharmaceutical 
Society should pounce upon respectable chemists and say, although you are in business,, 
we will register you, and charge you a guinea for doing so? We will tax you, but you 
shall have nothing to do with the disposal of the money. We will also fix another mark 
of degradation upon you: we will compel you to produce a certificate from a medical 
man, stating you have been in business from a certain time for the compounding of his 
or other doctors’ prescriptions, when at the same time your neighbour, who is a Phar¬ 
maceutist by payment, is not asked a question, though he is less competent than your¬ 
self in the business. He asked, why should this distinction be made ? He had no ob¬ 
jection to be registered, but had a great objection to pay for being so when he was 
already in business, and no person or society could legally prevent him. He thought 
Schedule “C” was humiliating to him and the whole body of chemists who were non¬ 
members. For these reasons he should move that the clause be struck out, and an 
amended one be introduced, doing away with the one guinea fee, as well as the oh- 
