or THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY. 
701 
obtained, and by degrees the Members assumed the title of Pharmaceutical Chemist, and, 
subsequently, the Pharmacy Act was passed by the Legislature, under which they acquired 
the exclusive right to that title; and then the Society thought proper to admit such che¬ 
mists and druggists as were properly recommended to them. The door was kept open for 
a short time, and for only a very short time, and it had been said over and over again, 
that the door was now only open to Examined men. The title of Pharmaceutical Chemist 
had become of increasing importance; it tended to denote qualification, and proved one 
of two things, either that the man entitled to bear it had so much public spirit as had 
induced him to subscribe many years ago to the funds of the Society, and that he had 
been in business ever since, as well as previously ; or it showed that he had, by passing 
an examination, satisfied the Examiners of the Society that he was fit to be a Member, 
and had the scientific knowledge necessary to perform the duties of a Pharmaceutical 
Chemist. The title had become honourable to the Society, and a useful guide to the 
public, as well as to the medical profession. A member of that profession, at the con¬ 
versazione on the previous night, said that he invariably recommended his patients to 
Pharmaceutical Chemists. It was now proposed to admit to the Society every chemist 
and druggist, so that every man that sold sand, or scouring-stones, and all kinds of 
things, and chose to term himself a Chemist and Druggist, might now become a Member 
of the Pharmaceutical Society, and would be at liberty to place over his shop “Membei 
of the Pharmaceutical Society.” What would be the result ? It would destroy the 
value of the title of Pharmaceutical Chemist. The Council and the founders of the So¬ 
ciety were to be held in the highest esteem throughout the whole country, for the posi¬ 
tion that the Members held at the present time was due to them ; but he hoped that they 
would do nothing so inconsistent with the objects of the Society, as that proposed. In 
the Bill (a copy of which he held in his hand) it was proposed to admit all chemists and 
druggist^ and all who could call themselves assistants, and apprentices who had been in 
the trade two years. That, he thought, was most unfair. It was said that it would 
give the strength of numbers, but he did not believe it would, he feared it would diminish 
the numbers; and those who were registered under the Act would have no inducement 
to come up for examination, if all were admitted without. What would be the attraction 
to persons already Pharmaceutical Chemists ? There would be none ; all could take their 
membership as a right, and would cease to regard it as an honour, and on those grounds 
he thought the Society would not gain much. It was said that they ought to make some 
concession ; that a Bill was required, and that the outsiders would prevent their obtaining 
a Bill unless some concessions were made. He did not believe that the outsiders had the 
influence that the pharmaceutists supposed—they had the same interest in getting a Bill ; 
and what right had they to become Members of this Society, if they did not comply with 
the conditions on which the Society was founded ? It was urged, that those who con 
tributed to the funds should be represented. He thought it was reasonable that thej> 
should pay for their registration ; but if that charge would cause the Society to lose their 
good name, he thought the latter had better pay rt themselves. If the outsiders found 
fault with the proposal to register them, leave them unregistered, as the Apothecaries 
were in 1815, but they would find a great difficulty in afterwards proving their qualifica¬ 
tion. Subsequently the Act was passed under which the Medical Council was consti¬ 
tuted. When that Bill was obtained, the Apothecaries did not claim to be admitted as 
physicians, although they were registered under the same Act; nor did they claim to be 
Surgeons, although they passed an examination, alleged to be more difficult than 
that required to be passed by a surgeon. He, therefore, could see no reason for the 
chemists and druggists clairning to be admitted as Members of this Society. He con¬ 
cluded by reading a letter addressed to the meeting, signed by a number of Pharmaceu¬ 
tical Chemists of Liverpool, who were opposed to the scheme, and also the resolution 
that he wished put to the meeting. (A number of other communications from various 
parts of the country, some in favour of and some against the proposed Bill, were also 
on the table.) 
Mr. Boyce (Chertsey) said, as a founder of the Society, and one of the persons who had 
signed the requisition to call the present meeting, he rose with the greatest pleasure to se¬ 
cond the resolution proposed. He fully agreed with all Mr. Abraham had said ; and, as he 
had so ably and carefully brought the question before the meeting, he would not detain 
them long. He denied that the Council were instructed or authorized to introduce the 
proposed Bill, which would perpetuate the ignorance and incompetency of chemists for 
