BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
225 
associate our requirements of articles with, the quantities in which those 
articles can be obtained. Yet what other peoples have done the English can 
do. And probably, by an extension of that class of terms which are inde¬ 
pendent of all systems and compatible with any, such as a bottle of wine, a 
cflass of beer, a round of beef, half oi this, a quarter of that, a shilling’s worth 
of one thing, a franc s worth of another, so much jger cent, of a whole, the 
change will not prove so formidable as it appears. So far as chemists and 
druggists are concerned, the transition will be comparatively easy, most 
dispensers having made up French prescriptions, in which the quantities are 
metrical. 
In short, the only questions which probably need be discussed in the Phar¬ 
maceutical Conference are, how and when the metric decimal system of 
weights and measures should be introduced into pharmacy. In the British 
Pharmacopoeia there is a table showing the relations of the system, and in the 
forthcoming edition of that work we are to have an enlarged table, as well as, 
I believe, some additional allusions to the system. I trust that the table will 
include the English equivalents of the metric decimal units and multiples. 
It is only fair that the formidable appearance of a whole string of figures 
necessary to show the metric value of a pound, etc., should be balanced by 
the equally formidable appearance of the string of figures necessary for the 
indication of the English value of a kilo-, etc. If not in the next, in the third 
edition let us hope to see metrical equivalents of the weights, etc., given in 
every formula. There would be no great difiiculty in doing this, as already 
pointed out by Mr. Squire (‘ Pharmaceutical Journal,’ May 2, 1859); indeed 
it has already been done in a former edition of a Continental Pharmacopoeia. 
To mem.orialize the Medical Council, the body under whose direction the 
Pharmacopoeia is published, with a view to the adoption of this course; to 
resolve that it would be desirable to ultimately use the metric decimal system 
of weights and measures in pharmacy, to the exclusion of all others ; and to 
constantly, individually, make efforts to promulgate a knowledge of the nature 
and advantages of the system among friends and acquaintances,—are probably 
the only ways in which at present the members of the British Pharmaceutical 
Conference can aid in promoting that desirable object, a simple universal rela¬ 
tion between weights, measures, and coins, and the existing universal system 
of numbers. 
17, Bloomsbury Square, London. 
After some discussion and deliberation the following resolutions were passed:— 
Proposed by Mr. Inge, London, seconded by Mr. Bobbins, London, and carried:— 
“ That it is desirable, in the interests of pharmacy, to adopt a system of w^eights and 
measures which shall accord with the existing universal system of decimal numeration.” 
Proposed by Mr. Giles, Clifton, seconded by Mr. Brough, Stockwell, and carried:— 
“ That it is desirable that the decimal system of weights and measures proposed to be 
adopted in pharmacy should be the metric decimal system,” 
Proposed by Mr. Baldock, London, seconded by Mr. Pooley, Bath, and carried:— 
“ That the Executive Committee of the British Pharmaceutical Conference do me¬ 
morialize the General Council of Medical Education and Eegistration in the name of the 
Conference, to the effect that the metric equivalents of the English weights and measures 
be given in every formula of future editions of the British Pharmacopoeia.” 
This concluded the reading of papers. 
Mr. W. Y. Eadley, Sheffield, rose to move the following resolution, which 
\vas seconded by Mr. Halliday, Manchester, and carried by acclamation:— 
“ That this meeting tenders its warmest thanks to the Nottingham members of the 
YOL. VIII. Q 
