396 
PHARMACY  IN   GREAT  BRITAIN. 
— taking  all  grades — include  such  various  degrees  of  qualification, 
from  the  two-penny  grocer  to  the  scientific  chemist.  As  a  class, 
however,  the  very  nature  of  their  business  has  given  them  a  favor- 
able prestige  in  public  opinion.  This  is  manifest  by  the  numerous 
instances  where  responsible  public  service  is  required  of  chemists 
and  druggists;  yet  a  large  number  of  inferior  practitioners  exist, 
who  reflect  no  credit,  but  cast,  rather,  a  shadow  on  the  profession. 
Abundant  testimony  was  given  in  to  the  Committee  of  Parliament, 
proving  that  a  decided  improvement  had  taken  place  in  the  cities 
and  larger  towns  in  the  general  manner  of  conducting  business 
since  the  establishment  of  the  Society,  and  the  circulation  of  its 
Journal.  The  example  of  the  few  has,  by  a  kind  of  catalytic  ac- 
tion, infused  ideas  of  reform  among  the  many — the  motives  often 
not  higher  than  competition.  A  better  understanding  is  growing 
up  with  the  medical  profession,  who,  seeing  the  disposition  of  the 
better  class  of  members  to  refrain  from  medical  practice  in  accord- 
ance with  the  rules  of  the  Society,  encourage  them  in  their  en- 
deavors after  a  better  education.  The  old  jealousy  among  chemists 
is  disappearing,  and  union  of  effort  for  mutual  aid  gradually  taking 
its  place. 
According  to  the  terms  of  the  Act  its  provisions  were  to  go  into 
effect  a  year  from  the  date  of  its  passage.  As  this  period  ap- 
proached, the  chemists  and  druggists,  not  members,  everywhere 
exhibited  signs  of  interest  in  regard  to  the  influence  of  the  Act. 
To  meet  this  interest,  and  to  induce  as  many  as  possible  of  the 
better  class  of  chemists  and  druggists,  not  members,  to  join  the 
Society,  and  thus  swell  its  influence,  two  by-laws  were  passed  by 
the  Council,  and  adopted  at  a  special  general  meeting  held  Dec. 
8th,  1852,  which  gave  those  members  of  the  profession  who  com- 
menced business  between  the  date  of  the  Charter  ( 1843)  and  the 
Pharmacy  Act,  (June,  1852,)  liberty  of  admission  without  exami- 
nation, but  by  certificates  of  qualification,  signed  by  six  members, 
and  all  associates  of  date  prior  to  June,  1852,  the  same  privilege. 
To  facilitate  the  communication  of  provincial  members  with  the 
parent  Society,  it  had  long  been  usual  to  communicate  through 
Local  Secretaries,  who  often  held  but  a  semi-official  position.  The 
importance  of  a  more  methodical  arrangement  of  the  Local  Sec- 
retaries attracted  attention,  and  it  was  designed  to  have  such  an 
official  agent  in  every  town,  in  communication  with  the  General 
Secretary. 
