670 
COMPULSORY EXAM IN A TI ON S. 
the first—inasmuch as, if the first be true, the second must inevitably follow ; 
for it is hardly possible to suppose the public really to appreciate the value of 
the Society without supporting its members ; but if they have no appreciation, 
then the Society man has no advantage over the non-Society man, and this, to 
a great extent, explains why so many are still “ outsiders.” 'I'he proposed 
“ additions to and amendments of ” the Pharmacy Act, epitomized in the 
Journal for April last, do not remove the difficulty, but, on the contrary, will 
render confusion more confounded. A member of the Society has hitherto 
been always a Pharmaceutical Chemist, and now we are to have Chemists and 
Druggists members also ; this advances tlie latter at the expense of the former, 
for any advantage that can accrue to the fact of membership, will be held by 
both equally. Is this right or fair to those who have already passed their 
examination and paid the fees? 
The Council have undoubtedly done wisely and well in making the conces¬ 
sions they have. It has been evident for some time past that, as a body, we 
are losing our status, or rather, not progre-ssing with the age, and progress can 
only be secured by a united effort. If thecoticessions now made have removed 
the differences which prevented success in 1865”—and that no opposition will 
be offered to the future Bill by any section of the trade—then the Parliamentary 
Committee should be authorized to frame the Bill on a broader basis, and give 
a distinct and definite title to those who are already Pharmaceutical Chemists, 
and another to those about to be admitted, and at the same time both should 
be titles that could be easily and readily understood by any one unconnected 
with the Society, ^. e. by the public. 
In order to do this satisfactorily, I would propose (and earnestly urge its 
acceptance by all concerned) to strikeout the name “ Society,” and let it be 
called in future The (Royal?) College of Pharmaceutists; let all present Phar¬ 
maceutists be called Fellows (F. C. Ph.), and those about to be admitted 
without examination be called Members (M. C. Ph.). After this the examina¬ 
tion for F. C. Ph. should be gradually made very severe, so as to become in a 
few years a degree of real merit and worth, the examination for ordinary 
members to be pretty much as at present. 
We have a College of Physicians, a College of Surgeons, a College of Den¬ 
tists, a College of Yeterinary Surgeons—why not a College of Pharmaceutists? 
But beyond all this, the idea of “ College ” is so very much preferable to that 
of Society.” There is something of real worth in the very word, which all 
the world knows and appreciates. Depend upon it, that if this be not done 
now, we shall be compelled to advance to it in another ten years or so, and it 
would be just as well to save these ten years, when so very favourable an oppor¬ 
tunity now presents itself, for obtaining all reasonable requirements and 
demands. 
Edward Smith. 
8, The Strand, Torquay, April 12, 1867. 
COMPULSORY EXAMINATIONS. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Sir,—As the question of “ compulsory examination ” seems still to occupy 
the attention of chemists and druggists in England, perhaps a few remarks 
on the “mode of doing things ” in this colony may be interesting to some of 
your readers. There are in this tow n, and, in fact, all over the country, an 
over-abundance of druggists. In Cape Town alone there are over twenty. 
It is one satisfaction to know, however, that all those engaged in this busi¬ 
ness are competent men, and thoroughly acquainted with their profession. 
