590 
GLASGOW CHEMISTS AND DEUGGISTS’ ANNUAL SOIEEE. 
The Seventli Annual Soiree of the Glasgow Chemists and Druggists’ Association was 
held in the Merchants’ Hall, on Thursday evening, January 31st; Mr. Alexandeii 
Kinninmont, President, in the chair. The Hall was completely tilled, upwards of 400 
being present. The Chairman was accompanied to the platform by Drs. J. G. Wilson, 
E. Wood Smith, Otho Wyer, Howatt Tannahill, Buchanan, and Newman; Messrs. 
Ainslie (Edinburgh), Mitchell, Stanford, Eait, Currie, Moffat, Taite, Black, Jardine, 
Brodie, etc. 
After tea, the Chaiemax, in giving a slight sketch of the history and objects of the 
Association, said that many years ago the young men belonging to the trade in Glasgow, 
seeing the advancement of education on all sides, and stimulated by the establishment 
of the Pharmaceutical Society, resolved to form an association for the purpose of mutual 
improvement. At the first outset, however, they met with an almost insuperable ob¬ 
stacle, namely, the late hours then universal in the trade. Before improving time, it 
was necessary to have some time to improve, and the Association, therefore, was first 
originated as an Early Closing Association, and, as such, existed for several years. 
After many ineffectual struggles, its efforts were at last crowned with success, and the 
time of labour shortened by one hour. The Chairman wished he could convey to the 
mind of those who have entered the trade since that time, and who have grown up 
under the new regime, some idea of the cost at which this victory was obtained; the 
frequent canvassing, the angry rebuffs, the never-ending discussions as to the “ night 
bells,” which always brought with it a dilemma, threatening to prove fatal to the very 
existence of the Association: all these things are to them matters only of tradition. 
First among those who contributed to this result was Mr. John Campbell, our deceased 
President, who, by his unwearying energy, never-failing tact, and steady enthusiasm, 
aided us in overcoming obstacles which it long seemed almost hopeless to encounter. 
This victory won, it was necessary to redeem the pledge given as to the use made of 
it. The Association then assumed the name of the Glasgow Druggists’ Association, and 
as such has earned and deserved the respect of the public. The Chairman then pointed 
out the great difference which existed between mutual improvement associations of other 
trades, compared with that of the chemists; the improvement sought in the other cases 
being more of a literary nature, and entirely personal to the individual, whilst every step 
forward made by the chemist acted directly for the benefit of the public. 
Much had been said about adulterations, and he was not inclined to dispute the exist¬ 
ence of such abuses, he might say crimes; he believed, however, that such things were 
rare, and would become still more rare; but of one thing he was certain, that to the 
man who understood and knew the characteristics and properties of the articles in which 
he dealt, who felt that his preparations partook something of himself, the offspring of 
his hand and head as it were, the temptation to adulteration was very much weakened— 
it was felt to be a crime and a paltry wickedness. “ Noblesse oblige ”—nobility compels, 
was the maxim of the French aristocracy; “Science compels” was really the maxim of 
the educated druggist, who felt that it would be unworthy of him to tamper with the 
dishonouring treason of adulteration. That sentiment was indeed the greatest safeguard 
to the public, second only to a high degree of conscientiousness in the discharge of duty. 
This Association, originated for the purpose of advancing the cause of pharmacy, has 
been productive of great benefit. Courses of lectures have been delivered, and prizes 
have been awarded for essays, and those essays have shown an amount of research and 
careful experiment highly creditable to their authors. 
In concluding, the Chairman, remarked that whilst the Society was in a prosperous 
condition, numbering seventy members, yet that was far short of the entire number con¬ 
nected with the trade in the city, and he would call upon all those who had not yet 
joined to come forward and enrol themselves. They might, perhaps, be studying at 
home, but they would certainly find more benefit was derived from intercourse with 
others having a similar aim, .than by any private efforts. 
Mr. Ainslie, of Edinburgh, then addressed the meeting, dw^elling more particularly 
on the duties and responsibilities of assistants and apprentices. In the course of his re¬ 
marks, after addressing the apprentices, he said:—Allow me now to make a few remarks 
to the assistants. As they occupy a higher position in the establishment, they ought 
to exercise that authority with kind forbearance to their juniors, not forgetting their 
