THE PROPOSED PHARMACY BILL. 
663 
for one to raise liis voice against legislation. I believe no pharmaceutist who 
has considered the question is ujiawarethat legislation is necessary to consoli¬ 
date the foundations of his Society; but, I will admit, legislation of a certain 
character, i.e. a character that will duly recognize the position of the Phar¬ 
maceutical Society. This will be justice to the Society, and to its earl}’- 
career; and being justice to tlie Society, also to the members. Let us see 
how that object may be attained, and how it will be frustrated. The object 
can be gained by the adoption of this measure. The Government has inti¬ 
mated a willingness to consider any Bill on which the trade is agreed. Now 
the result of public meetings and conferences between the Pharmaceutical 
Council and the outsiders, is the acknow ledgment of the right lo the title of 
Pharmaceutical Chemist being restricted to its present holders, and the agree¬ 
ment that future induction to the trade through the Minor and Major Exami¬ 
nations shall be a monopoly for the Pharmaceutical Society, to wdiich is in¬ 
trusted the registration of the trade, and every authoritative act in connection 
with it. 
What action will lead to another result ? viz. to the Government doing 
what it has before attempted, to initiate a Bill itself, influenced partly by 
the Pharmaceutical Society, aiid by tlie pressure of that machinery that non- 
pharinaceutists, the majority of the trade, can put in motion ? The postpone¬ 
ment of legislation. The result must still be a compromise, but a blow will 
be struck at the Pharmaceutical Society by the introduction in our directing 
body of a mixed element; fur instance, the appointment of Government exa¬ 
miners (an attempt not made for the first time by the House of Commons, in 
opposition to the claims of the Pharmaceutical Society. Legislation being 
thus demanded by chemists and druggists, and unity amongst ourselves being 
necessary to escape Governmental legislation, where is the injustice if we are 
jealous of the position of the Pharmaceutical Society, in securing to it these 
privileges ? The examined members can never lose the advantages of a 
higher training for their business ; the founders would be rejoiced to see the 
edifice crowned, or rather to witness the second foundation of their Society, 
and what injustice can befall the public? Whilst doing justice to the Society 
by obtaining for it its legitimate influence, are we not doing justice also to 
the public, by proceeding w ithout furtiier delay to pass a Pharmacy Act that 
will close our doors to all but qualified dispensers ? 
I cannot see the consistency of deferring the Pharmacy Act, and talking 
with such deep concern of the public. Will delay, and a tedious one, in the set¬ 
tlement of this question, benefit the public? What future does Mr. Mills see 
for us and for the public?—and here he makes a proposition. He says, “ Go 
on prospering at the present rate for a few years longer until the Society is 
still sti'onger.” What will the Pharmaceutical Society do w hen it is stronger? 
So much and no more than it can do at the present time. Then, as now% there 
will be found an organization outside of the Pharmaceutical Society, that 
will stand in the way of any exclusive privileges being given to a Society 
existing only in virtue of a permissive Act of Parliament. Mr. Mills him¬ 
self speaks of this remote contingency in words that would be synonymous 
with the “ Greek kalends.” He says “ ^e end the founders of the Society 
had in view appears to be gradually approaching;” and he is content with 
this shadowy vision of what may happen at a distant period. He would 
mar the combined efforts of pharmaceutists and non-pharmaceutists, to effect 
now in this session the darling project of Jacob Bell’s existence ; he would 
negative the unanimous wish of Chemists and Druggists to recognize the 
Pharmaceutical Society as the educating, examining, and registering body of 
the whole trade on conditions w hich only could command general assent, and 
are already accepted by the Pharmaceutical Council, and then he taunts us, 
