PHARMACEUTICAL LEGISLATION. 
595 
this Bill and the Bill of my honourable and learned friend shall be referred to a select 
committee upstairs, they will be able to smooth down all difficulties, and that they will 
make something out of the two Bills, notwithstanding that the difficulties at present ap¬ 
pear to be great. (Hear, hear.) Under these circumstances, the wiser course to pursue 
will be to refer both Bills to a select committee. (Hear, hear.) This is the course which 
I and those whom I represent desire shall be followed with the Bill which I have had 
the honour of introducing. Though I know this is a very difficult question, I will take 
the liberty of suggesting that the proceedings of the Pharmaceutical Society shall be 
looked into by some independent body, for when we find a Society like this in existence, 
—a Society which has hitherto shirked the question of the sale of poisons, but one which 
it is for the interests of the public shall be taken up,—I think the Government ought to. 
look into it, and they ought to consider this important question. Plitherto they have not 
done so. (Plear, hear.) This being the case, and after the strong representations which 
have been made upon both sides of the House of w r hat practically goes on in the agricul¬ 
tural districts, where everything from laudanum to a pair of boots is sold in the same shop, 
and even in London, it is quite time that this trade in poisons shall be regulated. (Blear, 
hear.) I believe that many gentlemen have given their attention to the subject, and 
that upon the evidence which will be brought before a committee, they will be able to 
frame a good Bill out of the two Bills before the House, and a Bill which shall be a good 
and useful public measure of safety. (Hear, hear.) I believe that my Bill may be made 
a useful measure, and that my honourable and learned friend’s may be combined with if, 
on the principle that the smaller provisions may be combined with the larger; and, I 
think, it may be so arranged, that all persons who dispense prescriptions shall undergo 
an examination. I again state that I do not wish to interfere for a moment with the 
privileges of the Pharmaceutical Society, but, on the contrary, I should be glad to see 
Chemists, desirous of raising themselves in the grade of their profession, taking advan¬ 
tage of the examinations wffiich may be afforded. But I cannot assent to the principle 
of forcing the whole of the Chemists and Druggists to pay for those examinations when 
they can be registered for a very small amount. (Hear, hear.) I shall have no objection 
to the second reading of my honourable and learned friend’s Bill, if it be done with a 
view of referring it to a select committee, and, upon this understanding, I will also agree 
to refer my bill to the same committee. I have made more observations than I at first 
intended to do, and for the patience with which I have been heard, I am much obliged to 
the House. I hope, that upon due consideration, and after the committee have listened 
to the evidence of the trade at large, they will frame a Bill which shall satisfy and take 
care of the interests of the public at large. 
Dr. Brady.— This certainly is a most important Bill, and one which it is absolutely 
necessary should be passed into law as early as possible. It is w'onderful how a coun¬ 
try like this, with so much intelligence and so much w r ealth, should have allowed so 
many years to have elapsed without requiring that such a measure should be passed 
into law. The Pharmaceutical Society has been in existence for many years, and it 
has won for itself the highest possible character. (Hear, hear.) The Society was 
established by gentlemen of the highest intelligence, and possessed of great knowledge 
in the profession and practice of chemistry. Every man connected with the establish¬ 
ment of the Pharmaceutical Society must, from his learning and knowledge of his pro¬ 
fession, necessarily command the respect of the wffiole community, and if honourable 
Members of this House and the country were aware of the great advantages which 
have been derived from the establishment of the Pharmaceutical Society, they would 
not hesitate one moment in passing this Bill which the honourable and learned gentle¬ 
man has introduced. The examinations instituted by the Pharmaceutical Society would 
reflect great credit upon any corporate body in the world. There are no better examina¬ 
tions, even under the auspices of the Royal College of Surgeons, than are regulated by 
this Society. These examinations are fully equal to the purposes intended, and are as 
good as examinations can be, and therefore I shall give my support in favour of the 
Bill which has been introduced by the honourable and learned gentleman, and I think 
if the measure should fail it will be on account of its great moderation in the provisions 
contained in it. Now what has been the state of things as regards the United Society 
of Chemists and Druggists ? The members of this Society are called Chemists and 
Druggists, but are they all Chemists ? I believe that one-half of them are not, and 
until a few years ago, and before the establishment of the Society, the general body 
