OF THE PHAUMACEUTICAL SOCIETY. 
697 
introduce their young friends into it. The long hours must be done away with, and the 
Sunday trade also, before they could think of getting young men to feel the required in¬ 
terest to join the profession. He had often heard people say, that they would be very glad 
to do such-and-such a thing if other people would do the same, but that was not his mode 
of argument; let every one act for himself, although he thought that if there were a 
little more unanimity in the trade, it would become more flourishing and the members 
of it would be far more comfortable. He had observed, during an experience of seven¬ 
teen years, that the number of pharmaceutists advertising for situations was decreasing 
as compared with the outsiders, and he thought that the class of men who applied for 
situations did not come up to that standard that the Society were striving to attain. 
He would wish to see a little more liberality on the part of the masters, so that the trade 
would be more looked up to by eligible young gentlemen. He thought the trade a good 
investment at the present day, for they had only to show the public that they could 
supply an article a little better at a little higher price, and they were sure to get it. 
Mr. Squire thought that nothing could be more in favour of elevating the position of 
the chemist and druggist than the efforts of this Society. The number of gentlemen 
that came up for the Major and Minor Examinations were on the increase. It was said 
that a great many young men at present in situations were exceedingly ignorant; there 
was no doubt about it, but if they had had the advantages that this Society afforded 
they would not be so. Education and examination should never be forgotten. 
Mr. Long thought that the reason there were so many ignorant people in the trade 
was, that it was not sufficiently lucrative to induce gentlemen of position and education 
to join it. He was told that in the country, gentlemen took apprentices without premiums 
and pushed them into the trade, no matter wdiat their position and standing. 
Mr. WiGGiN said he was one of the country chemists, and he would rather prefer a 
country assistant to one brought up to the London trade. He thought those gentlemen 
who spoke disparagingly of country business, knew nothing, and therefore had better say 
nothing about it. He considered the country members were the great supporters of the 
Society, being in point of numbers four to one,—a proportion which he believed would 
be very considerably increased whenever the new Pharmacy Bill came into operation. 
So far as the country members went, a great many, and he among them, had come up 
many miles to support the statement of the Chairman, and he was sure it was more 
than the Londoners would like to do, to go as many miles into the country for the same 
purpose. 
Mr. Hills did not remember the remark of the late Mr. Jacob Bell, alluded to by 
Mr. Long. From what he (Mr. Hills) knew of Mr. Bell, he felt sure that his object 
w'as that every one in the trade should enjoy the same privileges that he did; he w'as 
fond of literary pursuits, and, at the same time, was a good man of business, although 
from his tastes and education he preferred the former. He (Mr. Hills) did not think, 
for a moment, that Mr. Beil w^as for excluding men from the trade; he was not the 
caterpillar on the leaf, complaining of too much life in his brethren in the dust; his 
great object was the elevation of the trade. With respect to the business of a chemist 
and druggist, he was of opinion that it afforded a good living for men of small means, 
and it was presumed that those who entered upon the business had received a liberal 
education, without which, at the present time, a man could not expect to succeed; it 
was education and attention to business which formed his capital, and made the man. It 
was the same in all other professions. With regard to early closing, be thought it was very 
desirable, but it must not be forgotten that a chemist and druggist could never leave 
his business entirely, and could never decide when it was necessary for his customer to 
purchase an ounce of “salts,” or a dose of castor oil. A chemist must always be ready 
and willing to sell medicines when asked for, and should endeavour to carry out the 
early closing movement as far as practicable. 
Mr. Pedler was of opinion that there never existed such a friendly feeling between 
employers and employed as that which existed at the present time, and he thought that if 
Mr. Long had been at the Conversazione, on the previous evening, he would have been 
pleased with the intelligent and gentlemanly appearance of the younger portion of the 
assembly. So far as the Society went, he was happy to see the position which they held 
at the present time, as proved by the statement in the report, that £1500 was collected 
at the dinner. He remembered that if they had tried to raise that sum some years ago, 
it would have been an utter failure, they w'ould not have been able to have raised £500. 
VOL. VIII, 3 A 
