Am.  Jour.  Pharm 
Jan..  1887. 
Editorial. 
51 
The  deliberations  of  this  conference,  as  published  in  the  Chemist  and  Druggist 
of  Australia,  and  in  the  Australasian  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  were  characterized 
by  the  evident  desire  of  elevating  pharmacy,  and  placing  it  in  all  the  colonies 
upon  such  a  basis,  that  there  shall  be  no  essential  difference  in  the  qualifica- 
tions exacted  in  each.  These  objects  are  to  be  accomplished,  by  insisting  upon 
a  good  education  prior  to  apprenticeship,  upon  an  apprenticeship  of  four  years 
upon  a  systematic  course  of  study  in  the  essential  branches,  and  finally  by 
written,  oral  and  practical  examinations.  The  delegates  were  unanimous  on 
nearly  all  points,  including  the  details,  and  appeared  to  have  no  doubt  that 
the  essential  features  of  the  plan  would  be  adopted  by  the  different  legislatures. 
As  soon  as  this  is  accomplished,  the  certificates  of  qualification  will  be  mutually 
recognized,  and  it  has  been  urged  that  they  also  be  recognized  in  Great 
Britain ;  the  hope  was  even  expressed  that  they  would  ultimately  be  exchange- 
able with  France  and  Germany.  Although  the  colonies  recognize  the  French 
diploma,  of  "  pharmacien "  and  the  German  certificate  of  "  State's  Examin- 
ation," there  is  no  likelihood  of  reciprocity  being  secured  with  the  two 
countries  named,  or  with  any  other  of  continental  Europe,  for  many  years 
to  come ;  and  even  in  Great  Britain  a  modification  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  seems 
to  be  necessary  before  the  object  sought  ran  be  attained.  It  is  rather  signifi- 
cant that  in  this  particular  respect  no  allusion  was  made  to  the  reciprocity 
with  other  British  colonies,  or  with  Canada  or  the  United  States.  As  far  as 
our  country  is  concerned  this  is  probably  due  to  the  heterogenous  legis- 
lation, and  the  total  absence  of  compulsory  pharmaceutical  education  and  of 
uniformity  of  qualification,  demanded  under  our  laws.  For  the  present  it  seems 
more  likely  that  proof  of  attendance  at  a  full  course  in  a  reputable  college  in 
this  country  may  be  accepted  as  complying  with  the  required  course  of  study, 
than  that  American  certificates  of  qualification  issued  under  our  pharmacy 
laws  may  be  regarded  as  the  equivalent  of  Australasian  certificates. 
In  directing  special  attention  to  the  proposed  Intercolonial  Pharmaceutical 
Council,  we  append  here  the  resolutions  adopted  by  the  conference.  They  are 
as  follows: 
I.  That  a  uniform  system  of  education  is  desirable,  such  system  to  embrace — 
(a)  Preliminary  Examination  to  include  the  same  subjects  as  required  by 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britain,  to  be  passed  prior  to 
apprenticeship  ;  but  if  the  candidate  produces  and  lodges  with  the 
registrar  a  certificate,  that  he  has  at  the  matriculation  examination 
by  some  university,  college  or  school  recognized  by  the  Board,  passed 
in  the  above  or  corresponding  subjects,  he  shall  not  be  required  to 
pass  this  examination. 
(b)  Apprenticeship  of  four  years. 
(c)  Course  of  study,  based  upon  the  course  adopted  by  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society  of  Great  Britain. 
(d)  Examinations,  to  be  conducted  by  examiners  appointed  by  boards, 
councils,  or  governing  body. 
(1)  The  mode  of  conducting  examinations  to  be  both  written 
and  oral  in  every  subject,  the  oral  to  be  at  the  discretion  of 
the  various  boards  and  societies. 
All  candidates  for  the  qualifying  examination  shall  have  reached  the  full 
age  of  twenty-one  years. 
