430 
Editorial. 
(  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
t     Sept.  1,  1871. 
after  having  obtained  the  approval  of  the  Society,  were  to  become  binding 
upon  all  registered  pharmacists,  chemists,  and  druggists  in  Great  Britain. 
A  violent  opposition  arose,  based  mainly  upon  the  fact  that  dispensing  sur- 
geons were  not  included  and  could  not,  under  the  existing  laws,  be  compelled 
to  conform  to  these  regulations  ;  the  interference  with  individual  rights  and 
the  greater  safety  of  the  public  under  property  educated  pharmacists,  were  like- 
wise among  the  arguments  brought  forward  in  opposition  to  the  proposed 
measure.  The  pressure  of  this  opposition  was  so  strong  that  the  council  re- 
considered its  action,  and  instead  of  proposing  the  regulation  as  compulsory, 
made  them  merely  recommendatory,  and  in  this  form  they  were  subsequently 
adopted  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  at  the  anniversary  meeting  held  May 
17th.  In  the  meantime  the  president,  Mr,  Sanford,  had  resigned  Jiis  position, 
because  he  considered  the  Society  bound,  by  the  Act  of  1868,  to  propose  com- 
pulsory regulations.  The  following  are  the  recommendations  by  the  Pharma- 
ceutical Society  of  Great  Britain  for  the  keeping,  dispensing  and  selling  of 
poisons  : 
1.  That  in  the  keeping  of  poisons  each  bottle,  vessel,  box,  or  package  con- 
taining a  poison  be  labelled  with  the  name  of  the  article,  and  also  with  some 
distinctive  mark  indicating  that  it  contains  poison. 
2.  Also  that  in  the  keeping  of  poisons,  each  poison  be  kept  on  one  or  other 
of  the  following  systems,  viz. 
(a)  In  a  bottle  or  vessel  tied  over,  capped,  locked,  or  otherwise  secured  in 
a  manner  different  from  that  in  which  bottles  or  vessels  containing  ordinary 
articles  are  secured  in  the  same  warehouse,  shop,  or  dispensary  ;  or 
(b)  In  a  bottle  or  vessel  rendered  distinguishable  by  touch  from  the  bottles 
or  vessels  in  which  ordinary  articles  are  kept  in  the  same  warehouse,  shop, 
or  dispensary ;  or 
(c)  In  a  bottle,  vessel,  box,  or  package  kept  in  a  room  or  cupboard  set 
apart  for  dangerous  articles. 
3.  That  in  the  dispensing  and  selling  of  poisons  all  liniments,  embrocations, 
awd  lotions  containing  poison  be  sent  out  in  bottles  rendered  distinguishable 
by  touch  from  ordinary  medicine  bottles,  and  that  there  also  be  affixed  to  each 
such  bottle  (in  addition  to  the  name  of  the  article,  and  to  any  particular  in- 
structions for  its  use)  a  label  giving  notice  that  the  contents  of  the  bottle  are 
not  to  be  taken  internally. 
After  the  action  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  in  this  matter  had  taken 
place,  a  bill  was  introduced  into  Parliament,  entitled  :  An  Act  to  amend  the 
pharmacy  act,  1868,  in  which  all  power  to  frame  such  regulations,  is  taken 
from  the  Society  and  placed  into  the  hands  of  the  council  of  the  Society,  and 
ultimately  of  the  Privy  Council.    The  section,  as  amended,  is  as  follows  : 
2.  The  recited  powers  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great  Britian  un- 
der the  principal  Act  shall  cease,  and  the  Council  of  the  said  Society  may  from 
time  to  time  submit  to  the  Privy  Council  regulations  as  to  the  keeping,  dispen- 
sing and  selling  of  poisons  within  the  meaning  of  the  principal  Act,  and  as  to 
revoking  or  amending  any  such  regulations  previously  made,  and  the  Privy 
Council  may,  if  they  think  fit,  by  order  approve  of  such  regulations. 
If  at  any  time  it  appear  to  the  Privy  Council  that  there  are  no  regulations 
for  the  time  being  in  force  under  the  principal  Act  as  to  the  keepiuij,  dispen- 
sing and  selling  of  poisons  within  the  meaning  of  the  principal  Act,  the  Privy 
Council  may  serve  a  notice  on  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  re- 
quiring them  to  frame  and  submit  for  the  approval  of  the  Privy  Council  regu- 
lations as  to  the  matters  aforesaid,  and  if  the  Council  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
