266 
EAKLY CLOSING. 
tliemselyes to tlie preliminary examination. Masters give them the oppor¬ 
tunity to obtain, even if they themselves do not impart it, such knowledge 
of drugs and chemicals, and the operations of the laboratory, as can be had 
from books, or from lectures where good fortune has placed such advantages 
within reach. 
It may seem but the reiteration of a truism to dwell on the duties of 
masters and apprentices. A. and B. have signed articles, giving pledges each 
to other of instruction and diligence,—pledges so distinct, that however much 
they may be disregarded in practice, they are never denied in theory. 
Doubtless Mr. Ince had another, and perhaps a higher, object in introducing 
the subject. It is the tendency of such gatlierings as the meeting at Notting¬ 
ham, to rouse men to a sense of their position as members of the body politic, 
to show in what way their private conduct may influence the public weal; 
the paper on Pharmaceutical Ethics might fitly have been read a week or two 
later at the Social Science Congress, for it treats on a question of interest to 
the whole community. If A. and B. defraud each other in the execution of 
their agreement, the law is open for the redress of private wrong, but no tri¬ 
bunal, save that of public opinion, has authority over a master who agrees, 
and then neglects to educate a youth for the important business of dispensing, 
sending him forth, as it were, at the end of his term, like a bottle of poison 
wrongly labelled. In that a grievous wrong is done to the public, who take 
a service of apprenticeship as primct facie evidence of qualification, and a 
Vast injury accrues to the whole body of pharmaceutists, who suffer, as a class, 
for the shortcomings of individual members. 
We claim for this Journal the right to promote the proper education of 
apprentices in every possible waj^; nay, we hold it to be our duty, alike to 
the preceptor, the pupil, and the public, to do so,'—the right and the duty 
belong to the Pharmaceutical Society. The second branch of the subject 
which attracted so much attention in Mr. Ince’s paper, is of a somewhat 
different character, and is, indeed, one on which the Society can take no ac¬ 
tion. Private arrangements for carrying on trade have ever been carefully 
excluded from our consideration as a corporate body ; they were marked 
“dangerous” by the wise founders of our institution, and the same notice- 
board remains to warn us at the present day.. Not that the same spirit of 
repulsion exists, or could be easily evoked among pharmaceutists now, as was 
in full force a quarter of a century ago; they have been brought together, 
led to act in concert, and imbued with some of those high moral excellences- 
on which Mr. Ince discourses so instructively. They can distinguish now 
between those general principles which should animate all, and private- 
arrangements which mustever'be made by each man, according to the nature- 
and necessities of his business. 
Now the hours of application to the wants of customers will be at once re¬ 
cognized as a question to be governed by both general principles and private 
requirements. As a general question, wo cannot fail to observe that from the 
highest to the lowest occupations in this country, there has of late years been 
a growing disposition to curtail the hours of labour. Public officials, mer¬ 
chants, bankers, wholesale and retail traders, mechanics, and indeed all oc¬ 
cupied in business are alike bent on that object. Circumstances beyond the 
mere desire of the employed to be free, have arisen to favour the movement. 
Eirst, perhaps the desire for mental improvement, stimulated and assisted by 
the institution of various means and opportunities for adult education. Se¬ 
condly, the means of locomotion, at the disposal alike of those who seek health 
and the mere lovers of rural scenery or pursuits. Lastly, we believe the gi’eat 
volunteer movement, which, arising as it seemed in a national necessity, fixed 
itself firmly in the favour of all classes,™the press using its powerful voice to- 
