632 
THE TWENTY-FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF 
Watts, that the Council had no difficulty as to the award, and have now the 
satisfaction of reporting that both scholarships have this year been granted ac¬ 
cording to the original intention of the founders. 
The general expeuses of the Society have not increased, and the cost of publish¬ 
ing and distributing the Journal has been diminished. In the last report the 
balance against the Journal was £70 ; it is now reduced to £47. 8s., which is all 
the'outlay incurred by the Society for a journal of which 36,000 copies are dis¬ 
tributed annually to its members and associates free of charge. 
Besides investing the sums belonging specially to the Life Members’ and 
Benevolent Funds, the Council were enabled in 1864 to add £500 to the in¬ 
vested capital of the General Fund, and still the account closes with a balance 
of £815. 0s. 10 d. in the treasurer’s hands (nearly double the amount of that 
which appears at the commencement of the year). Of this a further invest¬ 
ment of £500 has taken place since Christmas. 
Although the gross sum contributed to the Benevolent Fund is somewhat 
less than in the preceding year, it represents a more cheering prospect; inas¬ 
much as it comes from annual subscribers, of whom the number is greatly 
augmented. The subscriptions in 1864 doubled those of 1863. The Council 
have further the pleasure of announcing that the recent revision of the regula¬ 
tions for the distribution of the fund has been practically approved, in the most 
satisfactory manner, by subscriptions and donations to the extent of £215 in the 
first four months of the current year ,—a sum exceeding the contributions for 
the whole of any previous year. 
The disbursements on behalf of this fund, as usual, stand first on the expendi¬ 
ture side of the statement, and, it will be seen, a smaller sum has been required 
for relief and a larger amount invested in Government securities than in 1863. 
During the present year an important arrangement has been made by the 
Council to enable chemists and druggists in business on their own account to 
appear before the Board of Examiners apart from *what may be termed junior 
candidates. 
The question had been long under consideration. It was felt that union with 
the Pharmaceutical Society not being compulsory, but it being nevertheless de¬ 
sirable to extend it as far as possible without sacrifice of principle, all unneces¬ 
sary impediments should be removed. Great care was, however, necessary in 
arranging the synopsis for these “ separate examinations.” To have reduced the 
standard of knowledge would have rendered the examiners’ certificate valueless 
to those who passed the Board ; would have been an injustice to Pharmaceutical 
Chemists previously examined, and positive destruction to the Society itself. 
'The Council believe that the great experience of the Board of Examiners enabled 
them to overcome the difficulty, and while, on the one hand, it will be admitted 
that the requirements are not excessive, it must, on the other, be allowed that 
the chemist who complies with them, and has in addition the benefit of certain 
practical experience, is fully entitled to a certificate of competency. The 
success of the arrangement seems to be established by the number who have 
already availed themselves of it; and the assurance that the examination will be 
faithfully carried out, leads candidates to make due preparation. 
The present method of appointing Local Secretaries appears to work w r ell, 
and these gentlemen have rendered great assistance since the last annual meeting. 
More than usual activity has been required of them in communicating with 
chemists and druggists throughout the country on the matter of legislation, and 
the work has been done not only cheerfully, but successfully. From the earnest 
goodwill with which their time and labour have been given, the Council feel 
that the attendant success must be a most gratifying reward, and cannot omit 
this opportunity of publicly acknowledging their services. 
Legislation has withal been the great feature of 1864-65, and it is hopec\ that 
