PHARMACY  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN. 
395 
page  312  of  this  volume)  as  presented  by  the  committee,  the  Act 
passed  the  House,  and  subsequently  became  the  law  of  the  land. 
Opinions  being  variable  among  the  members  of  the  Society  as 
to  the  advantages  likely  to  arise  from  the  Act,  it  was  determined 
at  a  meeting  of  the  Council,  held  on  the  19th  of  July,  1852,  to 
call  a  special  General  Meeting,  for  the  4th  of  August,  "  to  discuss 
the  provisions  and  operation  of  the  Pharmacy  Act,  and  to  con- 
sider the  steps  which  it  may  be  expedient  to  take  in  reference 
to  it." 
In  accordance  with  the  call,  the  meeting  was  held.  Mr.  Ed- 
wards, of  Dartford,  moved,  "  That  in  order  to  bring  the  Pharmacy 
Act  into  more  extensive  and  immediate  operation,  it  is  desirable 
that  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  should  include  among  its  members 
all  duly  qualified  dispensing  Chemists  throughout  the  United  King- 
dom."   The  resolution  was  carried  unanimously. 
Mr.  Orridge  moved,  "  That  this  meeting  recommends  the  Coun- 
cil to  adopt  a  liberal  constrution  of  the  terms  of  the  Act  in  regard 
to  the  admission  of  Chemists  in  business  on  their  own  account 
before  the  passing  of  the  Act,"  which  was  carried  unanimously. 
Mr.  Morson  moved,"  That  the  Pharmacy  Act  having  been  passed 
for  the  purpose  of  elevating  the  character  and  status  of  the  Phar- 
maceutical Chemists  of  Great  Britain  by  means  of  improved 
education,  this  meeting  considers  it  of  the  highest  importance 
that  the  Members  of  the  Society  should  afford  every  encourage- 
ment and  facility  to  their  Assistants  and  Apprentices  for  prepar- 
ing themselves  to  pass  the  examination,"  which  was  also  carried 
unanimously. 
Mr.  Bell  received  a  vote  of  thanks,  for  his  "  energetic  exertions 
in  promoting  the  passing  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  through  Parlia- 
ment." 
Having  obtained  the  Act,  partial  as  it  was  in  its  powers,  the 
next  step  was  to  decide  on  the  plan  for  carrying  it  into  effect  so 
as  to  accomplish  the  best  results.  Among  the  numerous  members 
of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  scattered  over  England  and  Scot- 
land, men  of  all  grades  of  liberality  and  ability  exist,  and  it  was 
not  to  be  expected  that  a  measure  affecting  the  interests  of  the 
whole  profession  should  pass  into  a  law  without  being  met  by  op- 
position, often  frivolous,  sometimes  serious.  Perhaps  there  is  no 
country  where  the  persons  who  retail  drugs  and  dispense  medicines 
