580 
PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY, EDINBURGH. 
paniecl his observations with a number of simple and beautiful experiments, which were 
successfully performed. The present is our sixth meeting; and I am sure that after the 
very able remarks to which we have just had the pleasure of listening on the subject of 
chloroform and the tests for its purity, in the British Pharmacopoeia, and the instructive 
experiments which we have just witnessed, you will admit that the session has been 
brought to a very successful termination. The subject which Mr. Brown has brought 
under our notice is one not only possessing some novelty, but is of considerable importance 
both to the scientific chemist, and the manufacturer and vendor of chloroform, and will 
no doubt receive from them the attention which it deserves. 
On the whole, then, I think I am warranted in saying that during the session we have 
had an abundant supply of excellent subjects provided for us; that we are under great 
obligations to all the gentlemen who so kindly laboured for cur instruction; and that 
they are well entitled to our sincere and hearty thanks, which I now, with much 
pleasure, offer them in name of the Society. 
As might have been expected, the Pharmacy Bill has been attracting a large amount 
of attention, and forming the subject of much discussion in all parts of the country; but 
it is gratifying to find that there is a very general expression of opinion in its favour, 
and that from this city a petition was presented to Parliament, containing 105 
signatures, or nearly all the chemists and druggists and their assistants in the town. 
It is, however, interesting to notice that when non-professional parties object to the 
Pharmaceutical Society’s Bill, it is generally on the ground that it contains no poison 
schedule—thus showing that they regard the classification of poisons as not only 
necessary for the general safety, but easy of attainment; while to the professional mind 
it is surrounded with difficulty, and appears a subject sufficiently large and important to 
require separate legislation. That it is so is very evident from the complete failure of 
the attempt which has been made to construct a poison schedule, in connection with the 
Chemists and Druggists Bill, No. 2, which includes among dangerous drugs articles 
which are comparatively harmless and others which are quite innocent, and omits 
altogether such articles as hydrocyanic acid, the preparations of silver and copper, and the 
mineral acids, etc.,—and is, therefore, not only useless for its purpose, but in the highest 
degree crude and impracticable. I am satisfied that the Bill which lias been introduced 
by Sir Fitzroy Kelly contains all that is necessary in present circumstances. Its object 
is evidently a good one, and really for the benefit of the whole trade. 
I cannot conclude these remarks without saying what I am sure we all feel, that we 
have been very much gratified by receiving from Mr. Hills, of London, the beautiful 
bust of Jacob Bell which now adorns this hall, and that we will carefully preserve it, 
not only as a representation of the great original, but as a memorial of his generous and 
persevering efforts for the elevation of Pharmacy, and of his noble and disinterested 
services as the founder of the Pharmaceutical Society. 
I have now only to thank you all very cordially for the unvarying kindness I have 
received during my year of office, and to assure that, even in a humbler position, it will 
give me pleasure to promote the interests of the Society by every means in my power. 
Mr. Mackay proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman for his services to the 
Society during the past year, which was agreed to most cordially and with acclamation. 
Arrangements in connection with the library for the summer months were then 
intimated, and the meeting separated. 
The Annual Meeting of the Society took place in the Cafe Royal on Tuesday evening, 
18th April, at eight o’clock; Mr. Kemp, President, in the chair. 
The Secretary read the following 
ANNUAL REPORT. 
The Council have, as usual, to lay before the Society their Report for the past year ; 
and in doing so, cannot refrain from expressing their belief, that never, perhaps, in the 
history of the Society, was there a more important period than the present. 
It is scarcely necessary to refer to the onward progress of the Society since its founda¬ 
tion, now nearly twenty-four years ago; nor need allusion be made to the passing of the 
Pharmacy Act, under the operation of which, the Society has now for so many years 
carried on its examinations and other departments of its machinery. A growing desire 
