PHARMACY IN AUSTKALIA. 
21 
a general way, that sticky wheat—wheat that left a good residue when chewed, 
and the starch was washed out of it—made superior bread. It is by reason of 
this superiority of foreign wheats, that they come to be mixed with our domestic 
wheats in the preparation of bread. In fact, British wheat alone will not com¬ 
monly make good bread. I have examined Russian wheat, a small shabby- 
looking translucent grain, that^yet made beautiful bread,—far better, indeed, 
than that resulting from plump, magnificent-looking English wheat. What I 
want to see everywhere, however, is the preparation of whole-meal bread —bread 
including the bran, with the bran-gluten and the bran-phosphates, so all-essen¬ 
tial to good bread and the nurture of our flesh and bones. But I do not think 
that the working classes, to whom it is so very important, will ever take to it 
fully until set the example by the more instructed classes, who yet themselves 
require instruction in this matter. 
^ I am. Sir, 
Henry M‘Cormac, M.I). 
Bdfast^ May 30, 18GG. 
PHARMACY IN AUSTRALIA. 
TO MR. BREMRIDGE. 
Sir,—Thinking that a little information respecting the drug trade as it is 
carried on at the Antipodes might interest you, I send you these few remarks. 
The population of Sydney is nearly 100,000, about one-fourth of the whole 
colony, and there are about 40 chemists in this town and suburbs to supply the 
public,—one-half being bond fide chemists and the other half a nruxture of 
broken-down storekeepers, etc., who have adopted the profession as a last re¬ 
source. In the principal street, viz. George Street, there are firms equal to any 
in Regent Street, and who, from their style of doing business and quality of 
drugs, merit every confidence, and are well supported by the leading medical 
men ; there are also a few who do a cutting trade. Prices, generally speaking, 
are very fair, but rents are extravagantly high and expenses very heavy. Those 
individuals who have crept into the trade of course do not hide their light under 
a bushel, as you will see by circular (enclosed), but try their hand at everything, 
viz. consultations, visiting, dentistry, etc. etc.; one of these gentlemen only 
made two fatal mistakes in about as many months. We have two wholesale 
druggists here; they charge on an average 76, and cent, per cent, on wholesale 
prices (London), and whilst they profess to be purely wholesale will serve any 
one with lib. of carbonate of ammonia or tartaric acid at wholesale price, to the 
prejudice of the retailer; strange to say, there is only one good London house 
represented here. Mr. Llolloway has a draper for an agent, and Messrs. Perry 
and Co., of Triesmar notoriety, one of the oldest established retail druggists for 
an agent. All patent medicines cost wholesale 145. per doz., small size, being 
only 4.9. 6c?. beyond cash price in London. There are plenty of assistants in the 
colony, more than can find situations, and several would be very glad to return if 
they only had sufficient means. The hours are generally from 7 a.m. to 11 
P.M., and all day on Sunday, as at home, and a great many young men find a 
grave out here instead of a fortune, the climate being a very trying one. I am 
pleased to see that chemists begin to understand it is for their interest as much 
as for the safety of the public to compel every one to pass an examination before 
going into business, and I think if the same was law here it would do good, and 
not prevent a man from being a business man, which some foolishly suppose. 
I remain, your well wisher, 
Sydney, New South Wales, A Pharmaceutist. 
April 2Qth, 1&6G. 
