6r THE PHAllMACEUTICAL SOCIETY. 
703 
borough to be the head-quarters of the insurgents, as two of the signataries hailed from 
that city—complained that their status would be affected by the “ ugly rush ” contem¬ 
plated by the Amended Bill; but in this mouth’s Journal there is a manifesto signed by 
twenty examined men, who are not at all afraid of their honours being degraded by rude 
contact with the outsiders, or their escutcheon blemished by allowing unexamined men 
to be “ members ” of the Society if they should think fiL And among this band of 
twenty good men stand the names of Ince, Giles, and Gale; if these, who are among 
our great men, in the interest of our Society, are willing to extend the hand of fellow¬ 
ship to those without, surely the seven dissentients may be content to be in such good 
company. The mere possession of a diploma was nothing in itself. Mental superiority 
was that which really elevated us one over another, and enabled its possessor to rise in 
the social scale. The great object of our association was to combine the whole trade 
together, having a common object, the elevation of our art and ourselves in social im¬ 
portance,—and this by showing ourselves worthy of public confidence, resulting in ob¬ 
taining legislative sanction to the principle that all who practise pharmacy shall in time 
to come give evidence of their competency by examination. If we fail in accomplishing 
this, the great end of our association is unattained,—we proclaim our own failure and 
hasten our dissolution; but if we are able to carry the Amended Pharmacy Bill now' 
proposed, we shall carry into effect the long cherished views of our founders—many of 
them now no more—and preserve our own existence. The issue raised by Mr. Abraham’s 
motion is this, that it is better to remain as we are, even at the risk of ultimate extinc 
tion. He objected to such a consummation, and asked them to read, mark, and inwardly 
digest his amendment, which affirmed a great future good umuld be attained by a small 
present sacrifice. Mr. Collins concluded by moving the following amendment:— 
“ That, in the opinion of this meeting, the proposed amendment of the Pharmacy 
Act is both wise and expedient, as by enlisting the support of those members of 
the trade outside the pale of the Society, the way is cleared for carrying into 
effect the primary objects of the founders of the Society, viz, the consolidation 
of the whole trade, and legislative provision for the compulsory examination of all 
persons entering the same after a given time. This meeting would further express 
its entire approval of the action taken by the Council, and pledges itself to support 
by all possible means the passage of the Bill through Parliament.” 
Mr. VizER had great pleasure in seconding the amendment. He wished to know where 
those gentlemen were who had called the present meeting. He understood that it had been 
called by those who considered their rights had been invaded, and their interests sacri¬ 
ficed to the benefit of outsiders; that, having spent their time and money in passing an 
honourable examination, they were now to be deprived of the benefit of the title which, 
at great cost, they had secured. But where were those gentlemen ? He was surprised to 
find that they had been compelled to fall back upon the advocacy of those w'hom one 
w'ould have expected to have found among the most liberal and staunch supporters of 
the Bill. The absence of those gentlemen rendered the resolution proposed by Mr. 
Abraham utterly worthless. The present was essentially a reform age, and the usually 
quiet arena of Pharmacy was not to be exempted, and rightly so ; there was room for 
reform, and those present had met with the determination that reform should be carried, 
and the franchise extended. The universal feeling was in favour of legislative power 
being brought to bear by which to regulate the trade. Bills had been brought forward 
by the Pharmaceutical Society ; opposition Bills had been presented by the United So¬ 
ciety side by side with our Society’s, and, as every one foresaw, had been rejected. The 
House of Parliament itself had advised action, but hitherto all efforts had been without 
effect. The “lion in the way” had always been. Who was to hold the ruling power? 
The Pharmaceutical Society justly claimed that privilege, but, unfortunately, had failed 
to recognize the right of outsiders to representation on the Council. These gentlemen 
most justly felt indignant, and opposed the Bills, in which Mr. Vizer most fully con¬ 
curred. It had been used as an argument by the Pharmaceutical Council that the So¬ 
ciety did not interfere with rights of outsiders, and therefore there was no cause to com¬ 
plain. He differed from that opinion, which could not be correct, inasmuch as their appren¬ 
tices and their own sons would have to abide by what was done by the Pharmaceutical 
Society, The Bill before the meeting removed all obstacles. The’ rights of outsiders 
were fully considered; the power of representation was amply provided for; that for 
which the Society had long been fighting, and which was the fondest hope and aim of 
