644 PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING, EDINBURGH. 
parties, we shall have to wait another year before our hopes in regard to the proposed 
measure can be realized, and a broad legislative foundation laid for the future progress 
and elevation of the pharmaceutical profession. 
As you are aware, there has been, for some time back, a very general desire for an 
improved edition of the ‘British Pharmacopoeia.’ That desire, it appears, is now about 
to be gratified by the republication of the work, with several of our old and familiar 
preparations restored to their officinal position, many new ones introduced, and other 
important changes made which afford evidence of progress, and of a desire on the part 
of the Medical Council to adapt it to the requirements of the profession, and make it a 
true exponent of the present state of British Pharmacy. 
It is gratifying to observe that the Benevolent Fund of the Society is in a hopeful 
condition, and that the recent effort made by the Committee in London to excite a 
greater interest in it on the part of the members has been rewarded by such a degree of 
liberality as to encourage the hope that the sum of ten thousand pounds, originally 
named as the capital fund, will ere long be realized and even exceeded. Although it is 
not pleasant to contemplate the necessity of such a provision being made, or the possi¬ 
bility of our requiring assistance from such a quarter, yet it is by no means improbable 
that, out of the large number of individuals engaged in the business of Pharmacy, which, 
while highly honourable in itself, seldom leads to fortune, and in the majority of instances 
yields but a humble subsistence, cases will occasionally present themselves, not only 
deserving of our sympathy, but requiring prompt, efficient, and kindly aid. As evidence 
of this, we have it already on record that the fund has been the means of bringing com¬ 
fort to several desolate homes and aching hearts. 
The British Pharmaceutical Conference, which is to be held this year in Dundee, bids 
fair to be highly successful, judging from the number of important papers already pro¬ 
mised, and the names of the authors. I have no doubt the proceedings will be such as 
to attract a large number of members and visitors, to elucidate many subjects connected 
with Materia Medica and Pharmacy, and give a fresh impulse to their investigations. 
I have now, in conclusion, to thank you for permitting me so long to occupy the 
position of President of this branch of the Pharmaceutical Society, and to acknowledge 
the kind and able assistance I have received from the members and Council, and 
especially from our Secretary, Mr. Mackay, whose services to the Society, both here 
and in London, are exceedingly valuable and highly appreciated, and whose prudent 
counsel, and untiring zeal, have not only guided and encouraged me in the discharge of 
my duties, but done much to render them both light and agreeable. 
At the close of the Address, Mr. Mackay proposed a very special vote of thanks to 
Mr. Kemp, whose term of office as President was this evening about to close. Mr. 
Mackay mentioned that Mr. Kemp had now occupied the position of President of the 
Society in Edinburgh for three j'ears, and that during that time he had been most con¬ 
stant in his attention to the duties of the chair, never having been absent from any 
meeting of importance, throughout the whole period of his presidentship. Mr. Kemp’s 
activity and zeal on behalf of Pharmacy were well known, and it must be gratifying to 
all to learn, that though he was about to leave the chair, the Society would continue 
to benefit by his sound judgment and excellent advice, as he would retain his position 
both as a Member of Council and as an Examiner.—This was carried with loud and 
hearty applause. 
THE ANNUAL MEETING. 
The Annual Meeting was then held, and commenced by the President requesting the 
Secretary to read— 
THE ANNUAL KEPOET. 
The Council have again, on the termination of another Winter Session, and close of a 
financial year, to lay before the Members of the Society the Annual Eeport and State¬ 
ment of Accounts for 1866. 
The scientific meetings for the session 1866-67, just closed, have been below the 
average in point of number. This is to be regretted, but the Council express a hope, 
in which they trust they will not be disappointed, that next session may be more 
productive in original and scientific communications. The present opportunity, in con¬ 
nection with the recent meetings, cannot be allowed to pass, without making marked 
