498                  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference.     { A£viZbev%£' 
BRITISH  PHARMACEUTICAL  CONFERENCE.  
The  thirty-third  annual  meeting  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference 
was  held  at  Liverpool,  England,  July  27  to  30,  1896.  For  the  following  infor- 
mation we  are  indebted  to  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  and  the  Chemist  and 
Druggist,  in  their  issues  of  August  1st. 
The  sessions  of  the  Conference  proper  were  begun  with  the  customary 
address  of  welcome  on  the  part  of  the  city  authorities,  after  which  the  Presi- 
dent, William  Martindale,  delivered  his  address. 
Mr.  Martindale's  work  in  connection  with  the  "Extra  Pharmacopoeia,"  and 
his  numerous  official  services,  as  well  as  his  long  and  active  interest  in  the 
development  of  both  the  sciences  of  medicine  and  pharmacy,  were  factors 
which  went  far  to  fix,  in  the  minds  of  his  hearers,  the  belief  that  the  questions 
demanding  attention  would  receive  at  his  hands  careful  and  able  consideration. 
Nor  in  this  were  they  disappointed. 
The  President  reviewed  the  history  of  pharmacy  back  to  a  time  shortly  prior  to  the 
Liverpool  meeting,  twenty-six  years  ago,  and,  in  giving  reminiscences  of  the  papers  read  at 
that  meeting,  it  was  curious  that  the  adulteration  of  beeswax  with  paraffin  was  attracting  the 
attention  of  pharmacists  then  as  now.  In  speaking  of  the  advances  made  in  this  period,  he 
said  : 
"  We  may  take  the  year  1868  as  the  commencement  of  a  new  epoch — the  beginning  of  a 
great  physiological  and  chemical  awakening  in  regard  to  the  uses  of  chemicals  as  medicinal 
agents.  It  was  also  memorable  by  the  passing  of  our  Pharmacy  Act,  and  the  inauguration 
of  a  system  of  compulsory  examination  and  registration.  .  .  .  But,  adhering  to  our  date, 
1S68,  let  me  draw  your  attention  to  the  important  medical  agents  that  are  now  largely  used, 
which  were  then  either  not  in  existence  or  were  mere  chemical  curiosities. 
"I  have  already  mentioned  amyl  nitrite  and  the  nitrites.  Chloral  hydrate  was  first 
exhibited  at  our  Exeter  meeting,  in  i8'9,  by  Daniel  Hanbury,  and  by  the  following  year  had 
created  a  great  sensation.  Its  homologue,  butyl-chloral  hydrate,  has  also  since  been  largely 
used.  Boric  acid  was  but  a  chemical  rarity  previous  to  1875  ;  it  is  now  produced  in  tons  for 
medicinal  use,  as  well  as  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  milk  and  foods.  Regarding  the 
desirability  of  the  latter  use  of  it  there  may  be  difference  of  opinion,  but  there  can  be  little 
doubt  of  its  utility  and  value  in  hot  climates,  although  it  is  being  superseded  by  a  new  com- 
petitor in  the  field — formic  aldehyde." 
After  referring:  to  a  number  of  antiseptics  introduced  within  this  period,  the  speaker 
mentioned  the  active  principles  of  drugs,  the  sjmthetic  alkaloids  and  the  synthetic  coal-tar 
products  which  have  come  extensively  into  use  in  ophthalmic  surgery,  local  anaesthesia,  and 
as  hypnotics. 
In  calculating  the  cost  to  the  purchaser,  the  President  maintained  that  the  qualifications 
of  those  engaged  in  dispensing  drugs  and  medicines  should  be  taken  into  consideration,  and 
his  own  words  may  be  used  to  illustrate  this  opinion. 
"  The  pharmacist,  therefore,  as  a  chemist,  must  be  worthy  of  this  name,  and  it  is  now 
legally  held  that  in  all  cases  the  individual  seller  of  a  poison  must  be  a  qualified  and  regis- 
tered person.  The  pharmacist  has  the  responsibility  of  selling  poisonous,  as  well  as  other 
medicines,  and  his  care  and  attention,  both  in  storing  and  selling  them,  need  to  be  continu- 
ally exercised.  Not  only  so,  but  he  must  be  a  judge  of  the  quality,  as  well  as  chemically 
able  to  test  his  wares,  of  which  the  public,  in  most  cases,  can  be  no  judges.  Hence,  his 
remuneration  is  not  for  material  supplied,  but  for  special  service  rendered,  and  is,  therefore, 
in  many  cases,  out  of  proportion  to  the  actual  commercial  value  of  his  commodities.  This 
applies  to  the  simple  sale  of  drugs,  though  the  argument  is  much  stronger  when  applied  to 
the  compounding  of  medicines.  The  special  training,  therefore,  of  the  individual  seller  or 
compounder  must  necessarily  enhance  the  cost  of  medicines  to  the  public,  who  are  safe- 
guarded by  such  training." 
The  progress  of  elegant  pharmacy  was  then  dwelt  upon  at  some  length  by  the  speaker. 
"  Pharmacy  being  the  handmaid  of  medicine,  it  is  our  duty  to  aid  the  medical  practitioner 
and  to  be  in  touch  with  his  requirements  wherever  our  assistance  may  be  of  service  to  him. 
