HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 PROGRESS OF PHARMACY 
 
 GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 JACOB BELL 
 
 AND 
 
 THEOPHILUS REDWOOD. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED FOE THE 
 
 PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN, 
 
 17, BLOOMSBUEY SQUARE. 
 
 1880.
 
 Bl'TLEK AND TANNEK; 
 
 IB SELWOOD PRINTING WORKS, 
 
 FBOMK, AND LONDON. 
 
 '' 

 
 7 
 
 FAI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THE first part of this Historical Sketch was written by 
 Mr. Jacob Bell in 1842, as an introduction to the Phar- 
 maceutical Journal. It contains an account of the early 
 but unsuccessful attempts made to separate pharmacy 
 from the practice of medicine in this country, and of 
 the efforts which* at a later period were successfully 
 made to found an institution with the object of raising 
 up a race of qualified men devoted to the practice of 
 pharmacy as a distinct occupation. 
 
 The latter part of the work has been produced by 
 desire of the Pharmaceutical Council as a record of 
 events and the results of operations which have taken 
 pL.ce from the founding of the Pharmaceutical Society 
 until the passing of the Pharmacy Act of 1868. In the 
 collection of facts which are embodied in this narrative 
 the author has received valuable assistance from 
 members of the Pharmaceutical Council, from the 
 Secretary, and especially from Mr. Joseph Ince. 
 
 June, 1880. T. R.
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 OP THE PKOGKEStj OF 
 
 PHARMACY IN GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 AT the period at which our history commences, Pharmacy was 
 in the hands of the Physicians, who professed the healing art 
 in all its branches, and prepared their medicines themselves, 
 or superintended the preparation of them. The science of 
 medicine was so little understood, and so imperfectly culti- 
 vated, that it was in general practised empirically, and was 
 often confounded with sorcery and witchcraft. The Greek 
 word, <papfj.aKV(D, signifies either to practise witchcraft or to 
 use medicine, and this acceptation of the term was acted upon 
 in our own country as late as the 16th century. There were, 
 therefore, persons of various classes, both men and women, 
 who professed to cure disease, some by incantations ; others, 
 who considered that by their genius they were " cut out and 
 configurated for it ;" and others, again, who had obtained a 
 kind of traditional education from recognised Physicians, and 
 who therefore constituted the medical profession. 
 
 But no laws existed for the protection of the public from 
 ignorant practitioners. Indeed, it was difficult to discriminate 
 between the different degrees of ignorance which prevailed : 
 so much so, that it was not uncommon for patients to be 
 placed in public thoroughfares, in the hope that some of the 
 persons who happened to pass might be able to recommend a 
 remedy from the result of their own experience, when afflicted 
 with similar symptoms. The first Act of Parliament relating 
 to the medical profession was passed in the year 1511, and is 
 entitled " An ACT for the appointing of PHYSICIANS and SUR- 
 GEONS." 
 
 The preamble is worded thus :
 
 '2 THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE, ONE JJOUY. 
 
 * " Forasmuch as the science and cunning of Physick and 
 Surgery (to the perfect knowledge of which be requisite both 
 great learning and ripe experience) is daily within this realm 
 exercised by a great multitude of ignorant persons, of whom 
 the greater part have no manner of insight in the same, nor 
 in any other kind of learning ; some also can read no letters 
 on the book, so far forth that common artificers, as smiths, 
 weavers, and women, boldly and accustomably take upon them 
 great cures, and things of great difficulty, in the which they 
 partly use sorcery and witchcraft, partly apply such medicines 
 unto the disease as be very noxious, and nothing meet there- 
 fore, to the high displeasure of God, great infamy to the 
 faculty, and the grievous hurt, damage, and destruction of 
 many of the king's liege people ; most especially of them that 
 cannot discern the uncunning from the cunning. Be it there- 
 fore (to the surety and comfort of all manner of people) by 
 the authority of this present Parliament enacted : That no 
 person within the city of London, nor within seven miles of 
 the same, take upon him to exercise and occupy as a Physician 
 or Surgeon, except he be first examined, approved, and ad- 
 mitted by the Bishop of London, or by the Dean of St. Paul's, 
 for the time being, calling to him or them four Doctors of 
 Physic, and for Surgery, other expert persons in that faculty : 
 and for the first examination such as they shall think con. 
 venieiit, and afterward alway four of them that have been so 
 approved. 
 
 " That no person out of the said city and precinct of seven 
 miles of the same, except he have been (as is aforesaid) 
 approved in the same, take upon him to exercise and occupy 
 as a Physician or Surgeon, in any diocese within this realm, 
 but if he be first examined and approved by the Bishop of the 
 same diocese, or, he being out of the diocese, by his vicar- 
 general : either of them calling to them such expert persons 
 in the said faculties, as -their discretion shall think con- 
 venient, t * . . " 
 
 By this Act the faculty of medicine was vested in one body 
 of practitioners, who practised Medicine, Surgery, and Phar- 
 macy. The Physicians' assistants were styled Apothecaries, 
 
 3 Heury VIII., c. 9. 
 
 I Dr, Goodall's " History of the College of Physicians. 1 '
 
 COLLEGE Ol 1 PHYSICIANS. THE SUEGEONS. 
 
 and they, gradually acquiring information respecting the 
 properties of drugs, began to transact business on their own 
 account. 
 
 In the year 1518, Thomas Liuacre, the Physician of Henry 
 the Eighth, proposed the establishment of a College of 
 Physicians, which was accomplished on the 23rd of Septem- 
 ber of that year. The powers of this body were extended 
 in the year 1540 : the Physicians were exonerated from the 
 necessity of attendance on juries and parochial offices,* and 
 were empowered to enter the houses of Apothecaries in Lon- 
 don, " to search, view, and see the Apothecary-wares, drugs, 
 and stuffs," and to destroy such as they found corrupt or unfit 
 for use. In the same year the Barbers and Surgeons were 
 united into one company, but the Surgeons were prohibited 
 from shaving, and the Barbers were restricted from perform- 
 ing any surgical, operations, except drawing teeth. The 
 Physicians, however, were allowed to practise surgery. 
 
 The Surgeons having abused their privileges, an Act was 
 passed, in the year 1542, of which the following is the sub- 
 stance : 
 
 Whereas in the Parliament holden at Westminster, in the 
 third year of the King's Most Gracious Reign, amongst other 
 things, for the avoiding of sorceries, witchcrafts, and other 
 inconveniences, it was enacted, That no person within the 
 City of London, nor within seven miles of the same, should 
 tuko upon him to exercise and occupy as Physician and 
 Surgeon, except he be first examined, admitted, and approved 
 by the Bishop of London, etc. . . : Sithence the making of 
 which said Act, the Company and Fellowship of Surgeons of 
 London, minding onely their .owne lucres, and nothing the 
 profit or ease of the diseased or patient, have sued, troubled, 
 and vexed divers honest persons, as well men as women, 
 whom God hath endued with the knowledge of the nature, 
 kind, and operation of certain herbs, roots, and waters, and 
 the using and ministering of them, to such as have been 
 pained with customable diseases, as women's breasts being 
 sore, a pin and the web in the eye, uncomes of the hands, 
 scaldings, burnings, sore mouths, the stone, stranguary, 
 
 ^ * The Surgeons liad been exonerated from these duties in the year 
 1513.
 
 i PROCEEDINGS AGAINST EMPIRICS. 
 
 saucelin, and morphew, and such other like diseases. . . . 
 And yet the said persons have not taken anything for their 
 pains or cunning. . . In consideration whereof, and for 
 the ease, comfort, succour, help, relief, and health of the 
 King's poor subjects, inhabitants of this his realm, now 
 pained or diseased, or that hereafter shall be pained or 
 diseased, Be it ordained, etc., that at all time from henceforth 
 it shall be lawful to every person being the King's subject, 
 having knowledge and experience of the nature of herbs, 
 roots, and waters, etc., to use and minister . . according to 
 their cunning, experience, and knowledge . . the aforesaid 
 statute . . or any other Act notwithstanding." 
 
 This Act is understood to apply to the practice of medicine 
 without remuneration, and accordingly it was not uncommon 
 for empirics to evade the law by pretending to practise gra- 
 tuitously. This, however, was not always successful; and 
 Dr. Goodall's History of the PROCEEDINGS against EMPIRICS 
 (published in 1684) contains an account of numerous pro- 
 secutions, in which the law was put in force in a summary 
 manner. 
 
 In the year 1552, Grig, a poulterer, in Surrey, "taken 
 among the people for a prophet, in curing divers diseases by 
 words and prayers, and saying he would take no money," 
 was set on a scaffold in the town of Croydon, with a paper 
 on his breast, declaring him to be an impostor. He was 
 afterwards set on a pillory in Southwark. 
 
 In the reign of Queen Mary, a great number of empirical 
 impostors were prosecuted and punished, not only in London 
 but in other parts of the country; and during the reign ot 
 Queen Elizabeth, these prosecutions continued, the delinquents 
 being fined various sums from 5 to 20, and in many cases 
 being imprisoned. Some of these quacks were patronised by 
 persons of rank, who wrote to the President of the College on 
 their behalf. Sir Francis "Walsingham, Secretary of State, 
 interceded on behalf of " Margaret KennLc, an outlandish 
 ignorant sorry woman," but the College refused to remit the 
 sentence (1581). 
 
 John Booffeat (1583) was liberated from prison on the in- 
 tercossion of a person of quality, upon condition that he 
 would submit to any penalty the College might inflict, if he 
 ever practised again.
 
 COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OBTAIN NEW ACT. O 
 
 Paul Fairfax (1588) was prosecuted for cheating the 
 people by puffing the pretended virtues of a water which he 
 called Aqua Coelestis. He was fined 5 and imprisoned. 
 The Lord Chamberlain addressed the College on his behalf, 
 but to no purpose. 
 
 Paul Bud- (1593), having been imprisoned for illegal prac- 
 tice, obtained letters of recommendation from Sir Francis 
 Walsingham, the Lord High* Admiral Howard, and Lord 
 Essex. 
 
 John Inimldn, a surgeon (1593), being convicted of mala 
 praxis on several patients, and being committed to prison, 
 propier ma-Jam praxin, et irnmodestos mores, obtained letters 
 from the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Dean of Roches- 
 ter, and was released on bail. 
 
 In the year 1552 the question was argued before the Lord 
 ^Eayor, whether Surgeons might give inward medicines, and 
 the President of the College of Physicians was summoned to 
 give his opinion, in accordance with which, the Lord Mayor 
 decided that it was illegal for Surgeons to practise medicine. 
 The College of Physicians issued a letter in 1595, prohibiting 
 their interference with medical practice. 
 
 The question was again tried in the cases of Bead and 
 Jenkins, in 1595, when the Chief Justice decided, 
 
 " That no Surgeon, as a Surgeon, might practise physic for 
 any disease ; " and that "no man, though never so learned a 
 Physician or Doctour, might practise in London, or within 
 seven miles, without the college licence." 
 
 In the year 1553, the College of Physicians obtained a new 
 Act,* in which their former powers f were confirmed and en- 
 larged, and in which it is stated that " the four censors, or 
 any three of them, shall have authority to examine, survey, 
 govern, correct, and punish all and singular Physicians and 
 practisers in the faculty of physic, Apothecaries, Druggists, 
 Distillers, and sellers of waters and oils, and preparers of 
 chemical medicines," " according as the nature of his or their 
 offences may seem to require." 
 
 In 1602, Francis Anthony was fined several times and im- 
 prisoned, for persisting in the administration of his Aurnrn 
 Potabile, with which- he occasioned the death of many patients. 
 
 * 1 Mary, c. 9. t 32 Henry VIII., c. 40 (1540).
 
 6 APOTHECARIES OBTAIN A CHARTER. 
 
 Dr. Alexander LetgJiton (1627) was interdicted from prac- 
 tice, being found unqualified, on examination by the president 
 and censors ; he persisted in practice, was arrested, and cen- 
 sured in the Star Chamber and lost his ears. Ellin Eix un- 
 dertook to cure a boy of consumption in fourteen days for 3. 
 " She gave him purging drinks once a day for seven days 
 together, and twice a day for 14 days more." The boy died 
 a fortnight after. She was fifled 5 and imprisoned 14 days. 
 
 Mr. Briscoe, an apothecary (1634), appeared before the 
 president and censors, being accused of " falsifying a bill," 
 having administered 2 drachms of troch. alkrikcngr cum opio 
 instead of troch. gordonii, as prescribed by Dr. Johnson, with- 
 out asking the Doctor's opinion, for which offence he was 
 fined 5 marques and expelled the company. 
 
 It is uncertain at what period the Physicians gave up the 
 practice of preparing their own medicines ; we are informed, 
 in a work entitled " Short Answers to Tentamen Medicinale " 
 (1704): 
 
 " 'Tis very well known there was no such thing as a Com- 
 pany of Apothecaries in the beginning of King James the 
 First's reign, but what drugs and medicines were then in use, 
 were sold in common by the grocers ; and as for the prepar- 
 ing and compounding of them, that the Physicians principally 
 took care of themselves. But this growing too servile and 
 laborious a business, and no other means being likely to be 
 found out for easing themselves of it, but by lopping off a 
 considerable number of grocers who had mostly been brought 
 up that way, and constituting them a company by themselves, 
 wholly to be employed in the business of pharmacy, in selling 
 of drugs and preparing and compounding of medicines, ac- 
 cording to the Physicians' orders and directions; in order to 
 this they obtained a charter for them to the number of a 
 hundred and fourteen." 
 
 This number coincides with the number of Physicians who 
 were then in practice in London. 
 
 The Apothecaries (who had been incorporated with the 
 Grocers into one company in the year 1606) were separated, 
 and obtained the charter above mentioned in 1617. It was 
 enacted at the same time that no grocer should keep an 
 Apothecary's shop, and that no Surgeon should sell medicines. 
 The power of searching the shops of Apothecaries within
 
 THE LONDON PHARMACOPCEU PUBLISHED. 7 
 
 seven miles of London, and examining their drugs, was also 
 vested in the chartered body. 
 
 Soon after the Apothecaries were formed into a Society, 
 they took into their serious consideration the frands and 
 artifices practised by the Grocers and Druggists from whom 
 they obtained their drugs ; and in order to remedy this evil, 
 they established a dispensary in the year 1G23, for the pur- 
 pose of making some of the most important preparations for 
 the nse of their own members. This institution was placed 
 under the inspection and superintendence of a Committee of 
 Apothecaries, and was conducted, in the first instance, on a 
 small scale, being confined to the manufacture of a limited 
 number of preparations. 
 
 The first Pharmacopoeia was published by the College of 
 Physicians in the year 1618. This was the first step towards 
 reducing the processes of Pharmacy to a regular standard for 
 the guidance of dispensers of medicine. It was, however, a 
 very imperfect production. Subsequent editions have been 
 published by the College in 1621, 1632, 1639, 1650, 1677, 
 1721, 1746, 1788, 1809, 1815, 1824, and 1836. 
 
 The medicinal compounds formerly employed were chiefly 
 empirical nostrums, or heterogeneous mixtures of substances, 
 some of which neutralized others, and which were selected 
 .without any reference .to scientific principles. One of the 
 most striking instances of this practice is to be found in the 
 Mithridate, which was a compound of seventy-two ingredi- 
 ents ; and in looking over the ancient works on Pharmacy, a 
 great variety of ridiculous formulas present the same peculiar- 
 ity. The science of Chemistry was so little advanced, that 
 the real composition of ordinary remedies was seldom under- 
 stood, and in many cases different virtues were attributed to 
 the same substance, according to the source from whence it 
 was obtained. Thus crab's eyes, prepared pearls, oystershells, 
 aud burnt hartshorn, were severally recommended as specifics 
 in certain cases, the qualities of these remedies being sup- 
 posed to be essentially different. Snails, vipers, the urine of 
 men and animals, calculous concretions, various portions of 
 criminals, as the thigh bone of a hanged man, and many 
 other equally absurd remedies, were extolled as specifics for a 
 variety of disorders. 
 
 Cnlpeper, in his translation of the Pharmacopoeia (16-53),
 
 CULPEPER'S TRANSLATION OP PHARMACOPEIA. 
 
 ridicules the catalogue of remedies derived from the animal 
 kingdom, which were at that time enumerated in the Phar- 
 macopoeia of the college. The following is a portion of a list 
 which will serve as a specimen, with Culpeper's remarks in 
 parentheses : 
 
 " The fat, grease, or suet of a duck, goose, eel, bore, heron, 
 thymallos- (if you know where to get it), dog, capon, bever, 
 wild cat, stork, hedgehog, hen, man, li/on, hare, kite, or jack (if 
 they have any fat, I am persuaded 'tis worth twelve-pence the 
 grain), wolf, mouse of the mountains (if you can catch them), 
 pardal, hog, serpent, badger, bear, fox, vultur (if you can 
 catch them), album Grcecum, east and west benzoar, stone taken 
 out of a man's bladder, viper's flesh, the brain of hares atid 
 sparrow*, the rennet of a lamb, kid, hare, and a calf and a horse 
 too (quoth the colledg.) [They should have put the rennet of 
 an ass to make medicine for their addle brains.] The excre- 
 ment of a goose, of a dog, of a goat, of pidgeons, of a stone horse, 
 of siwtllows, of men, of women, of mice, of peacocks," 'c. fyc. 
 
 Although Culpeper abuses the college for inserting this 
 absurd catalogue of remedies in their Pharmacopoeia, he is 
 not free from superstition himself, as he tells us, that " bees 
 being burnt to ashes, and a ly made with the ashes, trimly 
 decks a bald head, being washed with it." He also extols 
 snails, as a cure for consumption, but blames the college for 
 directing the slime to be separated from them with salt or 
 bran before they are used, and supports his opinion by say- 
 ing, that " Man being made of the slime of the earth, the 
 slimy substance recovers him when he is wasted." 
 
 In describing verbena he says, " It is hot and dry, a great 
 opener, cleanser, and healer, it helps the yellow jaundice, de- 
 fects in the reins and bladder, and pains in the head, if it be 
 but bruised and hung about the neck." 
 
 Of scammony, he says, " Scammony, or diagridium, call it 
 by which name you please, is a desperate purge, hurtful to 
 the body by reason of its heat, windiness, corroding or knaw- 
 ing, and violence of working. I should advise my country to 
 let it alone ; 'twill gnaw their bodyes as fast as doctors gnaw 
 their purses." 
 
 Calpeper says, that " the head of a cole-black cat being 
 burnt to ashes in a new pot, and some of the ashes blown into 
 the eye every day, helps siich as have a skin growing over
 
 ANCIENT MATERIA MBDICA. 
 
 their sight. If there happen any inflammation, moisten an 
 oak leaf in water and lay it over the eye." 
 
 The compound waters, syrups, electuai'ies, and other pre- 
 parations used at that time contain a vast number of herbs, 
 flowers, juices, roots, etc., which are now obsolete, being found 
 to be quite inert, and the properties ascribed to these remedies 
 had reference, in many instances, to superstitious notions 
 which belonged to the age. Culpeper, in the title-page of 
 his Pharmacopoeia, styles himself " Nich. Culpeper, Gent., 
 Student in Phyxick ami Astrology," and in reading the work it 
 is difficult to determine which science preponderates. 
 
 Notwithstanding the superstitious prejudices which prevail 
 in the work, we see nevertheless in many passages an evidence 
 of a close observance of nature, and just reasoning; for 
 instance, in the translator's preface, we are told that "the 
 time to gather all roots is before the herbs run up to seed." 
 "Herbs are to be gathered when they are fullest of juice, 
 which is before they run up to seed : and if you gather them 
 in a hot sunshine day, they will not be so subject to putrifie. 
 The best way to dry them is in the sun, according to Dr. 
 BEASON, though not according to Dr. TRADITION. Let flowers 
 be gathered when they are in their prime, in a sunshine day, 
 and dried in the sun. Let the seeds be perfectly ripe before 
 they are gathered." 
 
 " In boyling syrups," Culpeper says, t; have a great care of 
 their^just consistence, for if you boyl them too much they 
 will candy, if too little, they will sour." 
 
 The Materia Medica was divided into two classes, Chymicals 
 and Galenicals. The " Chymical Medicins " were of mineral 
 origin, and prepared by fire ; the Galenicals comprised the 
 herbs, roots, and other vegetable or animal substances. The 
 trade in these articles was also distinct, and Chymists are 
 alluded to in works of the date now under consideration, as 
 being a class of men who prepared these mineral compounds 
 for the use of the Apothecaries. 
 
 THE TRIUMPHANT CHARIOT OF ANTIMONY, by Bazil Valen- 
 tine, a work published in 1678, contains a curious account of 
 that metal, with a great variety of processes for reducing it 
 into a proper state for medicinal use. " This unlocking and 
 preparing of mineral antimony," the author observes, "is per- 
 formed by divers methods and ways, by the disposui'c and
 
 10 THE PRACTICES OP APOTHECARIES. 
 
 governance of the fire, with manifold labonr of the hands, 
 whence proceeds the operation, virtue, power, and colour of 
 the medicine itself." 
 
 Antimony had hitherto been considered a poison, destitute 
 of any utility, and was generally denounced by the profession ; 
 but Bazil Valentine undertook to prove that it is " more than 
 any one simple of nature able to subdue and expel infinite 
 diseases." He says, " The life of no one man is sufficient for 
 him to learn all the mysteries thereof; " and that " when it is 
 rightly prepared, its medicinal virtue consumes all noxious 
 humours, purifies the blood in the highest degree, and per. 
 forms all that may be effected by aurum potalile." 
 
 In tracing the origin of customs which are involved in the 
 mist of antiquity, we are sometimes enabled to draw infer- 
 ences, in cases where there is no very definite record of facts. 
 In this respect, the following extracts from a pamphlet, pub- 
 lished in the year 1671, entitled " The Wisdom of ///<> Nation 
 is Foolishness," serve to throw some light upon the subject: 
 
 "Dr. Merret, a collegiate physician of London, and a prac- 
 tiser thirty years with Apothecaries, gives this account of 
 them in his book lately put forth (page 8) : They use medi- 
 cines quite contrary to the prescriptions myrtle leaves for 
 senna, &c. . . They falsify the grand compositions of the 
 London Dispensatory . . (page 9). 'Tis very common 
 for them to load medicines with honey, and other cheaper 
 ingredients, and to leave out in whole or in part those of 
 greater value . . Such CHYMISTS which sell preparations 
 .honestly made, complain that few Apothecaries will go to the 
 price of them . . All the drugs imported into England 
 sooner or later are sold or made into medicines, although they 
 have lain by years, with the MERCHANT, DRUGGIST, and APOTHE- 
 CARY, before they are used." 
 
 Chemists are alluded to in a quaint poem, published in the 
 year 1080, of which one stanza will serve as a specimen : 
 
 " 'Mongst all professions in the town, 
 
 Held most in renown, 
 
 From th' sword to the gown, 
 The upstart Chymist rules the roast ; 
 
 For he with his pill, 
 
 Does ev'n what he will,
 
 CHEMISTS' SHOPS ESTABLISHED. 11 
 
 Employing his skill 
 
 Good subjects to kill, 
 That lie of his dangerous art may boast. 
 O 'tis the Chymist, that man of the fire, 
 
 Who, by his black art, 
 
 Does soul and body part ; 
 
 He smokes us, and choaks us, 
 And leaves us like Dun in the mire." 
 
 The following is an extract from an advertisement pub, 
 lished in the year 1686 : 
 
 " GAZA CHYMICA. 
 
 " A magazine or storehouse^ of choice chymical medicines, 
 faithfully prepared in my laboratory, .at the sign of Hermes 
 Trismegistus, in Watlin Street, London by me, George 
 Wilson, Philo-Chym." 
 
 A house and shop, "with a laboratory, were built on the 
 Bedford estate, in the year 1706, by Ambrose Godfrey 
 Hanckwitz, who had carried on business as a Chymist in the 
 neighbourhood since 1680. He was a maker of phosphorus 
 and other chymicals, which were rare at that period, and which 
 he sold in different parts of the country during his travels. 
 His laboratory was a fashionable resort in the afternoon, on 
 certain occasions, when he performed popular experiments 
 for the amusement of his friends. It opened with glass doors 
 into a garden, which extended as far as the Strand, but which is 
 now built upon. Four curious old prints of the laboratory in 
 its former state are in the possession of its present proprietors, 
 Messrs. Godfrey and Cooke, of Southampton Street, Covent 
 Garden, also a portrait of Ambrose Godfrey Hanckwitz, 
 engraved by George Vertue (1718), which he distributed 
 among his customers as a keepsake. 
 
 The merchants and druggists, being a section of the Grocers' 
 Company, merely sold articles in the raw or unprepared state, 
 and the Chemists (who were not incorporated) took upon 
 themselves the duty of preparing those medicines which 
 required the aid of fire, and which were chiefly, if not entirely, 
 minerals, earths, or preparations of the metals j and it is pro- 
 bable that the class alluded to derived their origin from the 
 nlchymists. It is unnecessary here to enter fully into the
 
 12 CHEMISTS AND ALCHYMISTS. 
 
 history of the alchymists, which would lead us into a series 
 of details too voluminous for our present purpose. We need 
 only observe, that their lives were devoted to the most perse- 
 vering and laborious researches, undertaken in the hope of 
 discovering an imaginary treasure, the elixir vitce or pliilrmo- 
 plier's stone, from which they expected to obtain the power of 
 transmuting the baser metals into gold, and also to prolong 
 life. 
 
 M. Dumas gives the following as the process recommended 
 by Raymond Lulle, who was born in 1235 : "To make tie 
 elixir of the sages, or the philosophy's stone (and by this word 
 stone the alchemists did not mean literally a stone, but a cer- 
 tain compound having the power of multiplying gold, and to 
 which they almost always attributed a red colour), to make 
 the elixir of the sages,\takQ the mercury of philosophers (lead), 
 calcine it until it is transformed into a green lion (massicot) ; 
 after it has undergone this change, calcine it again, until it 
 becomes a red lion (minium). Digest in a sand-bath this rerl 
 lion with acid spirit of grapes (vinegar), evaporate this pro- 
 duct, and the mercury will be converted into a kind of yum 
 (acetate of lead) which may be cut with a knife : put this 
 gummy matter into a luted cucurbit and distil it with heat. 
 You will obtain an insipid phlegm, then spirit, and red drops. 
 Cymmerian shades will cover the cucurbit with their sombre 
 veil, and you will find in the interior a true dragon, for he 
 eats his tail (i.e. the distilled liquor dissolves the residuum). 
 Take this black dragon, break him on a stone, and touch him 
 with red charcoal : he will burn, and assuming a glorious 
 yellow colour, he will reproduce the green lion. Make him 
 swallow his tail and distil this product again. Lastly, rectify 
 carefully, and you will see appear burning water (pyro-acetic 
 spirit) and human blood."* 
 
 This substance, called by the alchymist human blood, is a 
 reddish-brown oil, which is formed during the distillation of 
 the acetic acid in the above process. This oil has the pro- 
 perty of precipitating gold, in the metallic state, from solu- 
 
 * Lecons sur la Philosophic Chimiquc. Par il. Dumas, 1837. For an 
 outline of the History of Alchemy and the Alchemists, see Hittoire 
 de la Chimie depttis les temps les plus reculrs jusqiCii noire epoque. Par 
 Le Dr. Ferd Hoefer. Tome Premier, 1842.
 
 LABOKATORY OF THE APOTHECARIES. lo 
 
 tioiis containing that metal ; which, property probably gave 
 rise to an idea that it possessed the virtues which were so 
 much desired. It wants, however, one very important pro- 
 perty ; namely, that of precipitating gold when there is none 
 of that metal in the solution. 
 
 The Society of Apothecaries, which was formed in 1617, 
 continued to prosper; and in the year 1671 they added a 
 Chemical Laboratory to the Dispensary, which had been insti- 
 tuted in 1623. This was done by subscription, and the object 
 contemplated in it was the preparation of chemicals for the 
 use of the subscribers. It had been found no less difficult to 
 obtain this class of substances in a state of purity than the 
 ordinary drugs which were sold by the merchants and grocers, 
 and by thus uniting in one establishment the preparations of 
 " Chemicals " and " Galenicals," the Apothecaries opened out 
 a new field of research to the members of their body, from 
 which important results have arisen. The institution was, in 
 the first instance, conducted on a small scale, commensurate 
 with the limited means and the purpose for which it was 
 designed ; but the superior quality of the articles prepared 
 by this Company of Apothecaries, led to an application (in 
 1682) on the part of other persons for a participation in the 
 advantage. 
 
 We are not informed how soon this request was complied 
 with, but within a few years the Company became a trading 
 body and supplied any customers who came in their way. 
 
 About this period, Prince George of Denmark, the Lord 
 High Admiral, contracted with the Company to furnish the 
 Royal Navy with drugs and chemicals ; and the increase in 
 the demand rendered a considerable extension of premises and 
 apparatus necessary, which was done by fresh subscriptions of 
 large amount. By this means, the establishment became con- 
 verted into a wholesale drug warehouse and manufactory, and 
 although the original subscribers did not at first realize much, 
 if any pecuniary advantage, they laid the foundation for a 
 very lucrative concern. 
 
 Bate's Dispensatory, or, as it is usually termed, the Pharma* 
 copceia Bateana, was published in 1691. It is arranged in 
 three divisions : 1. Compound Chymick Internals ; 2. Com- 
 pound Galenick Internals ; 3. Compound Externals. This 
 work is curious on account of the mixture which it displays of
 
 14 APOTHECARIES INCREASE IN NUAILEK. 
 
 laborious research and superstitious ignorance peculiar to the 
 age. 
 
 In Quincey's " New Dispensatory," which enjoyed great 
 celebrity, a different arrangement is adopted ; the preparations 
 being generally classified according to their effects, and the 
 author enters at some length into the subject of therapeutics. 
 The tenth edition was published in 17oG. 
 
 In the year 1694, Apothecaries were exempted from serving 
 the offices of constable, scavenger, and other parish duties, 
 and from attendance on juries. By this time we are informed 
 that their number had increased from 114 to nearly 1000. 
 They had become a very influential body ; and by practising 
 medicine as well as Pharmacy, they excited the jealousy of 
 the Physicians, who suffered materially from this encroach- 
 ment, and endeavoured to reduce their rivals to their original 
 condition, of grocers or vendors of drags. The contest rose 
 to a great height ; on one side it was alleged that the im- 
 provement which had taken place among the Apothecaries 
 was a great benefit to the public, and that the Physicians, by 
 endeavouring to restrain them, were undoing what the labour 
 of their predecessors had accomplished ; while the other party 
 animadverted on the extortionate charges of the Apothecaries, 
 and the loss which the public sustained in being deprived of 
 the advantage of the best advice in many cases, for which it 
 was impossible to pay both the Physician and the Apothecary. 
 
 The evil was felt especially by the poor, and in order to 
 meet the emergency, some of the Physicians united together 
 in the establishment of dispensaries, where they supplied 
 medicines on reasonable terms, employing assistants to dis- 
 pense them under their own superintendence. 
 
 The following is a copy of an instrument subscribed by the 
 president, censors, most of the elects, senior fellows, can- 
 didates, &c., of the College of Physicians, in relation to the 
 sick poor : 
 
 " Whereas the several orders of the College of Physicians, 
 London, for prescribing medicines gratis to the poor sick of 
 the cities of London and Westminster, and parts adjacent, 
 us also the proposals made by the said College to the Lord 
 Mayor, Court of Aldermen, and Common Council of London, 
 in pursuance thereof, have hitherto been ineffectual, for that 
 no method hath been taken to furnish the poor with medicines
 
 PHYSICIANS ESTABLISH DISPENSARIES. 15 
 
 at low and reasonable rates : we, therefore, whose names arc 
 hereunder written, Fellows or Members of the said College, 
 being willing effectually to promote so great a charity, by the 
 counsel and good liking of the President and College, de- 
 clared in their Comitia, hereby (to wit, each of us severally 
 and apart, and not the one for the other of us) do oblige our- 
 selves to pay to Dr. Thomas Burwell, Fellow and Elect of 
 the said College, the sum of Ten Pounds a-piece of lawful 
 money of England, by such proportions, and at such times, as 
 to the major part of the Subscribers here shall seem most 
 convenient ; which money, when received by the said Dr. 
 Thomas Burwell, is to be by him expended in preparing and 
 delivering medicines to the poor at their intrinsic value, in 
 such manner, and at such times, and by such orders and 
 directions, as by the major part of the Subscribers hereto in 
 writing shall be hereafter appointed and directed for that 
 purpose. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands 
 and seals, this twenty-second day of December, 1696." 
 
 This document was published with fifty-three signatures 
 and the following note : 
 
 " The design of printing the Subscribers' names is to show 
 that the late undertaking has the sanction of a College act ; 
 and that it is not a project earned on by five or six Members, 
 as those that oppose it would unjustly insinuate." 
 
 Three dispensaries were established, one at the Physicians' 
 College in Warwick Lane ; another in St. Martin's Lane, 
 Westminster; and a third in St. Peter's Alley, Comhill 
 They came into operation about the beginning of February, 
 1697, and were soon very generally resorted to for the pre- 
 paration of Physicians' prescriptions, or " bills," as they were 
 then termed, and also for the sale of medicines by retail. 
 
 The establishment of these institutions gave great offence 
 to the Apothecaries, whose feelings on the occasion are thus 
 expressed in the words of Garth, in his " Dispensary " : 
 
 " Our manufactures now the Doctors sell, 
 And their intrinsick value meanly tell ; 
 Nay, they discover too (their spite is such) 
 That health, than crowns more valued, costs not much; 
 Whilst we must shape our conduct by these rules, 
 To cheat as tradesmen, or to starve as fools."
 
 1C CONTROVERSY RESPECTING DISPENSARIES. 
 
 A violent contest arose, and pamphlets were published on 
 both sides of the question. It was asserted by the Apothe- 
 caries that the assistants employed at the dispensaries were 
 unqualified, that the drugs were of bad quality, and the man- 
 agement in other respects defective. As a contrast to these 
 abuses, the education and usefulness of the Apothecaries 
 were insisted on in terms like the following : 
 
 " Every Apothecary has eight years in his apprenticeship, 
 by his own observation, to acquaint himself with drugs and 
 plants, by the frequent use of them in the shops, besides often 
 visiting the markets and physic-gardens ; and several set days 
 in the summer, the Company have to go into the country on 
 purpose to make acquaintance with all the vegetable tribes, 
 the seniors, and more experienced, instructing the juniors. 
 Then there is an elaboratory at their hall, open to all the 
 Company, where they may see all the necessary processes of 
 the chemical preparations, by which the different natures, &c., 
 of bodies are laid open." 
 
 The following are the "reasons" which the Physicians gave 
 '/or sending their wealthy patients, as ivell as the poor, to tJie 
 dispensaries for their medicines : " 
 
 " First. Because the Physicians, prescribing for them, were 
 assured that the medicines there were undoubtedly the best. 
 
 " Secondly. Because many excellent remedies are there 
 deposited, which have never yet been trusted in the Apothe- 
 caries' shops. 
 
 " Thirdly. Because the Physician was not obliged to pros- 
 titute his honour and conscience by overloading his patient, to 
 oblige a craving Apothecary, or run the risk of being under- 
 mined in his reputation by slanderous suggestions, for not 
 submitting to be the Apothecaries' under-pickpocket. 
 
 " Lastly. Because he could serve his patient, quantity for 
 quantity, and quality for quality, fifteen shillings in the 
 pound cheaper than anywhere else : which is a thrift the 
 greatest man that does not love to be cheated need not be 
 ashamed of." 
 
 In corroboration of the justice of these allegations, with re- 
 ference to the charges of Apothecaries, and the quantity of 
 medicine they administered, an instance is quoted in the pam- 
 phlet above mentioned (" The Wisdom of the Nation is Foolish- 
 ness "), and some of the items are enumerated.
 
 HIGH CHARGES OP APOTHECARIES. 17 
 
 " Apothecary's bill for attending Mr. Dalby, of Ludgate 
 Hill, five days, total amount, 17 2s. lOcZ." 
 
 The following are the items of medicines for one day : 
 
 s. d. s. d. 
 
 J.WUW jLttvrVt 
 
 An emulsion . . . 
 A mucilage .... 
 Gelly of hartshorn . 
 Plaster to dress blister 
 An emollient Blister 
 
 0* 
 4 
 3 
 4 
 1 
 2 
 
 6 
 4 
 
 
 6 
 
 Another bolus . 
 Another draught . 
 A glass of cordial spirits 
 Blistering plaster to the 
 arms 
 
 o. 
 
 2 
 2 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 C 
 4 
 6 
 
 o 
 
 An ivory pipe armed . 
 A cordial bolus . 
 The same again 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 2 
 
 
 6 
 6 
 
 The same to the wrists 
 Two boluses again 
 Two draughts again . 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 4 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 8 
 
 A cordial draught . . 2 4 | Another emulsion ..46 
 The same again ..241 Another pearl julep . 4 6 
 
 This is quoted, not as an isolated case, but as an illustra- 
 tion of the practice of Apothecaries when attending patients 
 of the higher classes. 
 
 Dr. Pitt, in a book entitled " The Craft and Frauds of Phy- 
 sic exposed " (1703), states, 
 
 " The Dispensary at the College, where all the preparations 
 are made, and distributed to its now two branches, in St. 
 Martin's Lane, Westminster, and St. Peter's Alley, in Cornhill, 
 may probably make up yearly twenty thousand prescriptions. 
 The doses of the electuaries, juleps, pills, etc., one with the 
 other, may be about a penny a piece, though every the most 
 useful drug, though of the highest prices, is in every compo- 
 sition. There never was, or ever will be, the least profit, be- 
 yond the necessary expense of servants, etc." 
 
 Dr. Pitt observes, in his preface, that when the abuses in 
 the profession are complained of, 
 
 " The old usually answer, that they are ashamed to own 
 the villainy of their long former bills, by reforming their 
 practice now. Others tell you that they'll leave physic as 
 they found it, and not give themselves the trouble to treat 
 the sick more faithfully. There are of the confederates who 
 have said, that their scandalous profession would not last 
 above four years, being every day more and more suspected, 
 that they must make haste by venturing largely, to secure 
 something by that time. 
 
 "But the affair is now laid clearly before you: in your 
 
 c
 
 18 COMPLAINTS AGAINST APOTHECARIES. 
 
 judgment of it, you are not capable of any error or fallacy. 
 Yon see by tlie prices of the Dispensary, which are the jnst 
 prices of the best medicines of the shop. You may observe 
 by their practice and more certain success, that two or three 
 medicines every day, at the value of as many shillings, over- 
 come those diseases, which the more numerous aggravate to 
 the death of the patient in all the difficult and dangerous 
 cases. You may conclude from the whole, that this is the 
 greatest instance and degree of madness, to rely on any ad- 
 vice, when the fee is procured by the multitude of medicines 
 obtruded on all the diseases in all the constitutions." 
 
 " We know an Apothecary who over night appointed his 
 servant to make ready twenty boles out of one pot, and twenty 
 draughts out of one glass. These he conveyed to his custom- 
 ers the next morning, to the old and young, to the male and 
 female, without distinction, and promised a new supply in the 
 afternoon." 
 
 Another argument advanced by Dr. Pitt in favour of the 
 Dispensaries is this : 
 
 "When the Apothecary deserts his station, is always 
 abroad, and leaves the compounding part to his young unex- 
 perienced apprentice, who cannot avoid sometimes misusing 
 one thing for another, by which errors very many are known 
 to have lost their lives, you will allow that the people and 
 the College shall reasonably provide for the safety of them- 
 selves and their patients." 
 
 Dr. Pitt exposes the absurd notions which at that time 
 prevailed respecting the supposed virtues of many inert 
 substances ; as, for instance, the Bezoar stone, which, he says, 
 "has held its name and reputation almost sacred with us, 
 though exploded long since in almost all other parts of 
 Europe." 
 
 His observations on the " Chymical medicins" would almost 
 apply to the homoeopathic doses now in fashion. 
 
 " Their uses are very considerable to amuse the minds of 
 the people with an assured expectation of releif from the 
 magnify'd pretended powers of the preparations by fire* 
 against all the feebleness of the spirits, and the last conclud- 
 ing coldness of death. And their titles are very necessary to 
 
 * Homceopathically, for "fire" read '-friction in a mortar." See p. 12 ~>,
 
 COMPLAINTS AGAINST DISPENSARIES. 19 
 
 keep up the fallacy of the clearness of medicins : every chymi- 
 cal grain or drop are the bezoar and the pearl, to deceiv the 
 people into an opinion of their value." 
 
 " The profession has sunk into the craft of deceiving and 
 amusing and making profit by new medicines, or preparations 
 brought into fashion, and highly esteemed, as long as the 
 mode of crying them up shall last." 
 
 These assertions of Dr. Pitt, and other allegations of a simi- 
 lar nature against the Apothecaries, were answered by an 
 Apothecary, in a small work above alluded to, entitled TEN- 
 TAMEN MEDICINALE, or an Enquiry into the Differences between 
 DISPEXSARIAXS and APOTHECARIES, wherein the latter are proved 
 capable of a skilfid composition of Medicines, and a rational 
 practice of Physick, to which are added some PROPOSALS to pre- 
 vent their future increase. (1704.) 
 
 Among other arguments, it is said, that 
 " The Physicians' directions in their bills, or dispensatory, 
 are not sufficient to instruct any one in the true composition 
 of medicines there prescribed, unless he first be thoroughly 
 acquainted with the nature and qualities of simple bodys, and 
 qualify'd with most parts of knowledge necessary to one as 
 a Physician. From whence it may justly be infer'd that he 
 who is accomplished for a good Apothecary, is upon the bor- 
 ders of making a good Physician." 
 
 In answer to the four " Reasons " above quoted, in favour 
 of the Dispensaries, it is stated, that it is absurd to suppose 
 that the Physicians can make their medicines better than the 
 Apothecaries, since they devote so much less time to this pur- 
 suit ; that " when a Physician has got a guinea for his visit, 
 it seldom much concerns his honour or conscience, how the 
 Apothecary shall get a shilling for his medicines : " and that 
 the assertions respecting the sophistication of drugs by Apo- 
 thecaries are unjust and unfounded exaggerations. 
 
 The plan for preventing the further increase of Apothe- 
 caries consisted in the institution of a strict examination of 
 apprentices in Latin and Greek, public lectures at the hall, 
 instruction in practical Pharmacy, and an examination at the 
 close of apprenticeship, prior to the granting of a licence to 
 practise as an Apothecary. 
 
 In another pamphlet, entitled " The Necessity and Useful- 
 ness of the DISPENSARIES, lately set up ly the College
 
 20 ORIGIN OP CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS. 
 
 dans in London, for the use of the SICK POOR, together rt-ith an 
 Answer to all the objections rais'd against them by the APOTHE- 
 CARIES, or others" (1702), it is stated, that the Physicians 
 were obliged to send their wealthy patients to the dispensaries 
 in self-defence, because the Apothecaries entered into a com- 
 bination to denounce all those who had subscribed to those 
 institutions, and recommend others in their stead ; that they 
 purposely sent " ill-prepar'd medecins," in order " to make 
 the patients question the Physicians' skill," and that they 
 sometimes continued to keep patients in their own hands, 
 even when labouring under dangerous disorders ; and that, 
 therefore, they required some check. It is also said, that the 
 patients complained of the dearness of medicines sold by 
 Apothecaries ; as, for instance, when an ounce of a powder, 
 value less than a shilling, was ordered in half-drachm doses, 
 " yet the Apothecary, by officiously dividing it into sixteen 
 papers, would make 8s. of it, viz. 6cZ. a paper." Another fact 
 is mentioned, namely, that some " persons of condition " at- 
 tended the dispensaries in forma pauperum, and thus imposed 
 upon the Physicians. (In this respect human nature still 
 displays the same peculiarities, as we hear occasionally of 
 patients leaving their carriages round the corner, while they 
 call for the advice of a Physician who prescribes grntis.) 
 
 The author of the above pamphlet answers the argument 
 " that Physicians ought not to sell physic, but only to pre- 
 scribe it," by saying, " that Apothecaries ought not to give 
 advice, but only to sell medicines." 
 
 Among the conflicting statements published on the subject 
 of this controversy, it is not easy to arrive at the truth, but 
 we may infer the prevalence of considerable exaggeration on 
 both sides. It is clear, however, that the dispensaries pros- 
 pered and enjoyed the patronage of the public ; and we have 
 reason to believe that the Assistants employed and instructed 
 by the Physicians at these institutions, became dispensing 
 Chemists on their own account ; and that some of the Apothe- 
 caries, who found their craft in danger, followed the example, 
 from which source ice may date the origin of the CHEMISTS and 
 DRUGGISTS. 
 
 It was not likely that the College of Physicians, or a sec- 
 tion of the College, would for any length of time continue to 
 conduct or superintend shops of this description. They had
 
 PHYSICIANS EilPOWEKED TO VISIT SHOPS. 21 
 
 commenced the undertaking from the double motive of en- 
 abling the public to obtain drugs at a reasonable rate, and at 
 the same time of gaining for themselves an advantage over 
 the Apothecaries, who had become formidable rivals. Having 
 succeeded in these objects, and a class of men having been 
 raised up to perform the drudgery of the business, it might 
 naturally be expected that they would be glad to be relieved 
 from any further mercantile responsibility ; and that the 
 parties whom they had employed as dispensers would be no 
 less anxious to assume the position of masters. 
 
 In the year 1723, the College of Physicians was again em- 
 powered by Act of Parliament* to visit and examine the shops 
 of Apothecaries, attended by the Master and Wardens of the 
 Company of Grocers, or one of them. 
 
 This Act was entitled, " An Act for the better viewing, search 
 ing, and examining all Drugs, Medicines, Waters, Oils, Compo- 
 sitions, used or to be used for Medicines, in all Places where the 
 same shall be exposed to Sale, or kept for that Purpose, within 
 the City of London, ami suburbs thereof, or within seven miles 
 circuit of the said city." 
 
 Some of the circumstances relating to this Act are rather 
 curious. James Goodwin, a Chemist and Apothecary, whose 
 business had for many yeai's been extensive, made overtures, 
 in the year 1721, to the Royal African Company, to supply 
 them with drugs. Two Apothecaries (Markham, of Paternos- 
 ter Row, and Matthews, of the Poultry), who had been in 
 the habit of supplying the society, by the recommendation of 
 Dr. Levit, applied to the doctor to assist them in opposing 
 this inroad on their privilege. Dr. Levit, therefore, " under- 
 took to destroy Goodwin, and to prove that he was an ignor- 
 ant, illiterate person ; and that he neither knew a drug when 
 he saw it, nor what drugs were put into a composition." But 
 Goodwin being summoned before the company, so fully proved 
 the doctor's ignorance and his own integrity, that he obtained 
 the order for the supply of drugs. On this, Dr. Levit and 
 the Apothecaries vowed vengeance, and excited other Phy- 
 sicians to unite with them in applying for an Act of Parlia- 
 ment, conferring upon them additional powers in searching 
 shops. Among other Physicians, Dr. Shadwell joined with 
 
 * 10 George L, c. 2-2.
 
 22 DISPUTES ABOUT SEARCHING SHOPS. 
 
 much spirit iu this enterprise, having taken offence at Good- 
 win for applying to him for the payment of a debt due for 
 medicines. 
 
 On the 10th of June, 1724 (after the Act had passed), Dr. 
 Arbuthnot, Dr. Bale, and Dr. Plumtree, called at the shop of 
 Goo'dwin, and having ascertained that he was not at home, 
 they commenced the destruction of his goods, turning out one 
 drug after another, and burning them in the street. Having 
 found a parcel of old plasters and other things, which had 
 returned from a voyage, in a chest sent to be re-filled, these 
 they sealed up, and sent to the College. They then went to 
 another shop, belonging to Goodwin, in Charles Street, West- 
 minster, and condemned every article which came into their 
 hands. On the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th of June, paragraphs 
 were inserted in several public papers, of which the following 
 is a copy : 
 
 " On Wednesday last, the four Cetisors of the College of 
 Physicians, and the two Wardens of the Apothecaries' Com- 
 pany, visited several Ghymists, Druggists, and Apothecaries' 
 shops, pursuant to the authority granted them by a late Act 
 of Parliament, and we hear they burnt several drugs and 
 other things in the Medicinal Faculty, before the doors of Mr. 
 Goodwin, chymist, facing the Haijmarket, the corner of Pall 
 Mall," etc. 
 
 It is stated as a remarkable circumstance, that Goodwin 
 was the only person whose drugs were condemned on this 
 occasion, although he, being in a large way of business, was in 
 the habit of supplying many other Druggists and Apothecaries 
 with a great proportion of their stock : in some articles he had 
 introduced considerable improvements, which gave him the 
 advantage of a very extensive traded Goodwin being sum- 
 moned before the president and censors of the College, chal- 
 lenged all present to prove any of his drugs faulty, and offered 
 to compound on the spot any preparation, to compare with 
 those which had been condemned. But he was ordered to 
 leave the room, and on being recalled was told that all the 
 articles were pronounced bad* Having collected the evidence 
 of his servants, who had assisted in compounding the medicines, 
 he appealed. again to the censors, and called on Dr. Arbuthnot, 
 who assured him that his drugs should not again be burnt be- 
 fore his house : but two days afterwards, when he was out on
 
 NEW LAW FOE SEARCHING SHOPS. 23 
 
 business, the censors came before his door with a coach-load of 
 faggots, made a great fire, and burnt the goods, to the great 
 terror of Mrs. Goodwin, who happened to be at home. This 
 event was also published in the papers. 
 
 In the year 1727, a bill wag introduced, entitled "An 
 Act * for continuing the Laws therein mentioned, relatiag to 
 Copper Bars exported, and for better preventing Frauds com- 
 mitted by Bankrupts, and for searching Drugs and Composi- 
 tions for Medicines." The Apothecaries petitioned the House 
 of Commons against this Act, and were heard by their counsel, 
 Mr. Fitzakerly and Mr. Lingard: who urged, with much 
 earnestness, the objections against the bill. But when the 
 Apothecaries were called upon to state whether any of them 
 had suffered any of those hardships which had been men- 
 tioned, they remained silent, on which Goodwin came forward 
 and stated his case. This annoyed the Apothecaries, because 
 Goodwin was not a member of their company, on which ac- 
 count they had not called him as a witness, and were unwill- 
 ing to be under any obligation to him. Dr. Friend and Dr. 
 Shadwell spoke in prejudice of Goodwin, and would not allow 
 him to reply ; but Mr. Hungerford pleaded in his behalf. It 
 was determined by the Committee that the Act should con- 
 tinue in force three years. 
 
 Goodwin being thus foiled, petitioned the House of Lords 
 against the bill for continuing an Act entitled "An Act for the 
 better viewing, searching, and examining all Drugs," etc., and 
 was heard before the Committee on the 13th of May ; but, 
 notwithstanding the case which he m,ade out, he could not 
 succeed in gaining his point, and the bill was passed. It is 
 said, however, that he gained 600 damages for the injury he 
 had sustained. 
 
 The author of a pamphlet, entitled "Reasons against the Bill 
 for viewing, searching, and examining all Drugs, Medicines," 
 etc. (1731), gives the following anecdote: 
 
 " I hear there is three or four grocers that have erected in 
 Old Fish Street a gew-gaw elaboratory, and fitted up a 
 whimsical shop, without any titles to their pots, on purpose, 
 as 'tis supposed, to elude the Physicians' inquisition; by 
 which means they propose to serve them as some of the 
 
 * 13 George I., c. 27.
 
 24 IMPROVEMENT IN THE PHARMACOPEIA. 
 
 Faculty was served in a search, who when they came into an 
 Apothecary's shop in the skirts of the city, to examine his 
 medicines, etc., saw a shop-pot standing on the counter, 
 entitled TTngt. Album ; but, by accident or on purpose, I can't 
 say which, the Apothecary had pat some Album Grcvcum in 
 it. The gentlemen got about the pot, and were viewing it ; 
 each gave his opinion : one said it was hard, another said it 
 did not smell enough of fhe camphir, a third said it ought to 
 be softened or malax'd with some oil ; but the fourth, in a 
 passion, was for throwing it out of doors as a medicine 
 corrupt and decayed, and not fitted for the use of man's body. 
 The boy all this Avhile hearing their learned arguments, 
 smiled, but said nothing until they were for throwing it 
 away : then he cried, ' Pray, gentlemen, don't throw it away, 
 'tis a very good medicine; I was forced to go as far as 
 Hampstead to procure the chief ingredient of it.' ' What is 
 it, then ? ' said one of the learned. ' Why, gentlemen,' says 
 
 the boy, ' 'tis white dogs' ; I think you call it Album 
 
 Graecum.' ' And what doth he do with this Album 
 Graecum ? ' ' Sir,' says the boy, ' he mixeth it with honey, 
 and he gives it his patients, and cures them of their sore 
 throats.' " 
 
 In the Pharmacopoeia of 1721, many of the ridiculous 
 remedies formerly in use were omitted ; yet this edition con- 
 tains among the Materia Medica a considerable number of 
 substances which derived their reputation from superstition 
 or prejudice; as, for instance, bees, earthworms, millepedes, 
 vipers, album graecum, bezoar, calculi from the human 
 bladder and from ox-galls, spiders' webs, usnea cranii humani, 
 cranum hominis, stercus columbarum, etc., etc. 
 
 Many of the formulae iii this work appear to be cpnstructed 
 on the principle of a galvanic battery, as if the intensity of 
 the effect had depended on the number of the ingredients. 
 One formula, although not so complicated as some others, 
 will serve to illustrate the state of Pharmacy at that period 
 
 PULVIS AD GUTTETAM. 
 
 R Bad. Fraxinellea, Visci Quercus, Contrayervae, Serpen- 
 tarise Virginians, Pseoniaa maris, Seminis Paaoniae maris, 
 Cornu Cervis calcinati, Ungula> Alcis, ana drachmas duas ; 
 Rad. Valerians) Silvestris. nnciam ; Carallii rubri, Cranii 
 hnmanii, ana drachma tres ; Lapidis Hyacinthi, drachmam
 
 FURTHER IMPROVEMENT IN THE PHARMACOPEIA. 25 
 
 uuam ; Bezoardice occidentalis, drachmam unam et semiss, 
 orientalis scrupulum. M. fiat pulvis : cui addi possunt 
 Moschi grana quinque, Foliorum auri N triginta. 
 
 It was generally supposed by our ancestors that it was 
 necessary to correct and modify the action of all medicines, 
 by adding others of an opposite nature, and remedies were 
 often classified as hot and cold remedies, a certain proportion 
 of each class being combined, according to the preponderance 
 on one side or the other, which was desired. In preparing 
 chemical medicines, the process was frequently repeated ; in 
 some cases above twenty times, under the idea that the 
 efficacy was thus increased or concentrated. MERCDKIDS 
 DULCIS SUBLIMATUS, was directed to be sublimed at least three 
 times ; if sublimed four or five times or oftener, it was called 
 CALOMEL, but not otherwise. 
 
 Vessels were also sometimes used for distillation which 
 were so constructed that the contents of the receiver might 
 easily be thrown back into the retort, without breaking the 
 connection, by which means the process might be continued 
 and repeated ad infinitiim. 
 
 A very slight inspection of the Pharmacopoeia of 1746 is 
 sufficient to show that it is, in eveiy respect, a great improve- 
 ment upon that which preceded it in 1721. This amelioration 
 is, perhaps, in hardly any respect more evident than in the 
 number and nature of the syrups they are reduced from 
 forty to twenty-one, and the formulae are much more simple ; 
 compare, for example, the Syrupus de Altha3a of the older 
 Pharmacopoeia, and the Syrupus ex Althaea of the more 
 recent one ; the former contains about twenty ingredients, 
 while the latter is prepared simply from the root of the plant, 
 with the requisite proportions of sugar and water. The 
 plasters are again reduced from about twenty-six to fourteen. 
 Among those which are omitted, are the Emplastrum de 
 Betonica, containing nearly twenty ingredients ; and the Em- 
 plastrum Caesaris, of which numerous herbs form also a part, 
 and which contain about the same number of ingredients. It 
 must, however, detract from the praise which might otherwise 
 be fairly bestowed on this work, that Mithridatum, with its 
 forty ingredients, and Theriaca Andromachi, with about sixty, 
 were suffered to remain. The ointments are, however, re- 
 duced from about forty to half that number, and their formulae
 
 26 APOTHECARIES OBTAIN NEW POWERS. 
 
 are greatly simplified and improved. Among the chemical 
 preparations of the metals, the progress of science is, in many 
 cases, conspicuous : for example, under the head of SAL 
 SEU VITRIOLUM MARTIS, in the Pharmacopoeia of 1721, 
 we find the following directions for preparing sulphate of 
 
 Fit ex Spiritus Vini optimi, unciis quator. 
 
 Olei Vitrioli, unciis duabus. 
 
 Serratis simul in vase ferreo ut Chrystalli formentur. 
 
 In the Pharmacopoeia of 1746, this salt, under the name of 
 Sal Martis, is prepared by dissolving iron filings in dilute sul- 
 phuric acid, filtering the solution after having for some time 
 kept it warm, and then allowing crystals to form. 
 
 In the preparations of Mercury, advantageous changes are 
 also made, both in the formula) and nomenclature. 
 
 In no part of the more recent work is the improvement 
 greater than in the expulsion of numerous useless articles 
 from the Materia Medica. The entire work was carefully 
 edited, and assumes a much more scientific form than any of 
 its predecessors. 
 
 The Corporation of Apothecaries obtained a charter * in 
 the year 1748, empowering it to license Apothecaries to sell 
 medicines in London, or within seven miles; and also to 
 search the shops within that district. This occasioned a fresh 
 altercation, and many pamphlets and books were published 
 on both sides. One of these, entitled Frauds Detected, sup- 
 posed to have been written at the instigation of the Apothe- 
 caries' Company, advocates the necessity of a strict adherence 
 to the Pharmacopoeia of the College, and the importance of 
 good quality in the articles employed. It contains a summary 
 of the various adulterations which were said to prevail at that 
 
 * I am informed on good authority that the increased power which 
 the Society of Apothecaries obtained in 1748 was not conferred upon 
 them by a new charter, but by an Act of Parliament. I have not been 
 able to find this Act at the British Museum or elsewhere, but have reason 
 to believe it was one of the Acts by which in the first instance the College 
 of Physicians and afterwards the Society of Apothecaries also, obtained 
 authority to examine the medicines in Apothecaries' shops in and around 
 London. These Acts were renewed at intervals of a few years. 
 
 T. K.
 
 DISPUTES BETWEEN APOTHECARIES AND CHEMISTS. 27 
 
 time, and concludes with a series of arguments in favour of a 
 frequent and effectual visitation of shops, which, it is said, 
 would be an advantage to the honest and a check on the 
 fraudulent. Among many other abuses which are enumerated, 
 it is said that few foreign drugs are brought into this country 
 free from impurities, being generally mixed with sticks, stones, 
 straws, dirt, etc., and that it is a not unfrequent practice 
 to " beat them into the most capital compositions (such as 
 mithridate, Venice treacle, diascordium, etc.), with the other 
 ingredients unpicked, and with all their dross about them. 
 Nay, what is worse, sometimes to beat in nothing but the 
 dross left after straining, just to flavour the medicine with 
 the little remains of the true drug sticking to it." 
 
 It was also said, that " in the tincture of rhubarb, and in 
 all other compositions in which this drug has a place, it was 
 too frequent a practice to pick out from the heap all the bad 
 rhubarb and hide it in them ; " that " sal prunel " was some- 
 times adulterated with "alom;" that in diacodium, three- 
 fourths of the poppy-heads were often omitted; that, in lapis 
 contrayerva;, the pearls were omitted, and oyster-shell powder 
 substituted ; that in Gascon's powder, the greenish colour of 
 the bezoar stone was imitated by a little Spanish-juice and 
 ox-gall; that in elixir proprietatis, and other preparations 
 containing saffron, two-thirds of the quantity was omitted, 
 when the price of saffron was high : that in mithridate, 
 nearly all the expensive ingredients were left out, etc., etc. 
 
 Several answers to this publication appeared, among which 
 is one entitled " An Enquiry into the designs of the late PETITION 
 presented to Parliament by the Company of Apothecaries, tuhere- 
 lij the Apothecaries' monstrous profits are exposed, and compared 
 ivith those of the Chemist, with respect to practice and retail, to 
 ^vhich is annexed a Scheme to prevent the empirical Apothecary 
 from practising ; and the Chemist from preparing and vending 
 sophisticated Medicines." The author of this pamphlet ac- 
 knowledges the importance of a strict adherence to the 
 formulae of the Pharmacopoeia, but asserts, that even the 
 Apothecaries' Company do not set the example, and denies 
 the propriety of their being empowered to search shops. A 
 case is mentioned in which the inspectors appointed by the 
 company had been in the habit of annually visiting an 
 Apothecary, and extorting from him six shillings each time as
 
 28 DISPUTES BETWEEN APOTHECARIES AND CHEMISTS. 
 
 their perquisite, which he at length began to resist. On one 
 occasion he was not at home when they called, and on 
 examining his mithridate, they all condemned it as a medicine 
 not fit to be used. At this moment the Apothecary returned, 
 and on being told that his mithridate was bad, and asked for 
 the customary fine, he said, 
 
 "Nay, now I am convinced what a nest of villains I have 
 to deal with, who being nettled at my refusing their usual 
 imposition, begin to show their knavish principles, by con- 
 demning medicines of their own compounding." 
 
 He then produced the invoice from his file, and called the 
 man as a witness who brought the mithridate from the Hall. 
 
 Having endeavoured to show, by this and other instances, 
 that the inspectors of the company were not competent 
 udges, the author observes, 
 
 " And if this be true, how can you expect Apothecaries in 
 general to compound medicines justly, when they haye so bad 
 an example ? . . . 
 
 " It is generally allowed that one half, if not three out 
 of four of those who style themselves Apothecaries, in and 
 about London, some too in very reputable practice, are so 
 very illiterate, that they understand no more of compounding 
 and preparing capital medicines than they do of the philoso- 
 pher's stone. . . . Kay, there is not one in ten who 
 perfectly understands the derivation and meaning of his 
 technical terms, or can read the Physician's bill truly, in 
 proper Latin, nor perhaps understands it any better abbrevi- 
 ated : so that these persons are under the greatest obligations 
 to Dr. Pemberton for translating the late Dispensatory into 
 English." 
 
 The author also observes, 
 
 " It has been often remarked, that there are not upwards of 
 twenty regular Chemists in London, and yet there are hun- 
 dreds who style themselves so. ... To a man who is 
 qualified, the method of compounding Galenical medicines 
 will very naturally occur, though in this there is more 
 honesty than knowledge required ; but it must be allowed, 
 that no man knows how to mix and proportion ingredients of 
 various qualities so well as he who is acquainted with 
 chemical principles." 
 
 One of the objects of the Apothecaries' petition alluded to
 
 DISPUTES BETWEEN APOTHECARIES AND CHEMISTS. 29 
 
 in this pamphlet, was to obtain an Act of Parliament -which 
 would give that body the power of searching the shops of 
 Chemists, as well as Apothecaries. This privilege was not 
 granted, and the author of the pamphlet endeavours to prove 
 that the Chemist who prepares medicine is a more competent 
 judge of their quality than the Apothecary who procures 
 them ready made. He admits that there are many among the 
 Chemists, Druggists, and Apothecaries, who are unqualified 
 and dishonest, and he proposes as a remedy, the appointment 
 of a committee, consisting of an equal number of Physicians, 
 Druggists and Chemists, to be annually chosen by the College 
 of Physicians, as inspectors of shops. 
 
 In another answer to Frauds Detected, entitled The Apothecary 
 Displayed, the several charges of adulteration are answered 
 seriatim. In reference to the statement that the Druggists 
 mix into their compositions the impure drugs as they receive 
 them from abroad, etc., it is said, 
 
 " It is almost impossible for men to be more diligent and 
 careful, or to take more pains than they do ; how often may 
 you see them with a Seron of Bark, first sifting away the dust, 
 then separating the small sort, dividing the large and woody 
 from the more delicate and curious quill ; while they are thus 
 cleansing, sorting, and dividing their drugs, one or other of 
 the most eminent Apothecaries alights from his chariot at the 
 door, and buys up all the raspings of the rhubarb, the sif tings 
 of the bark, and the sweepings of the shop. Does he buy it 
 to burn, think you, or conscientiously to destroy it for the 
 good of mankind (as they would make you believe in their 
 petition) ? No, he says he only wants it for powder, or it will 
 do well enough for the tincture or the syrup ; or if perchance 
 he purchases four ounces of the better sort only to keep in a 
 glass and show his customers, has he not four pounds of the 
 worst sort with it ? ... If the Druggist beats in the 
 dross with the drag, where has he the dross to beat in by 
 itself ? You know the Apothecary bought that, and could he 
 be supposed to beat in the dross by itself, what the DEVIL 
 becomes of the drug? " 
 
 This is the kind of argument which abounds in the works 
 written at the period now under consideration, and so many 
 ludicrous instances of ignorance and fraud are enumerated 
 by all parties, each against the other, that a very elaborate
 
 30 THE FIEST EDINBURGH PHARMACOPOEIA. 
 
 and amusing compilation might be made from these curious 
 documents. It is however sufficient for our present purpose 
 to introduce a few quotations as examples. 
 
 In a pamphlet, entitled " THE APOTHECARIES' MIRROR, or the 
 present State of Pharmacy exploded (1790)," the incompetence 
 of many Apothecaries who had not passed the regular exami- 
 nation is adverted to, and various instances are cited in 
 corroboration ; from this it appears, that the law respecting 
 the licensing of Apothecaries was not generally enforced. 
 The author also exposes the manoeuvres commonly practised 
 between Physicians and Apothecaries the Physicians pre- 
 scribing a vast quantity of medicines for the benefit of the 
 Apothecary ; and the Apothecary in return only recommending 
 such Physicians as were in the habit of " writing well," or, in 
 other words, "multiply ing their nauseous superfluities." Argu- 
 ments are also brought forth to prove that the Apothecary 
 ought not to practise medicine. It is said that 
 
 " The proper business of an Apothecary is to compound 
 certain drugs, according to Physicians' or Surgeons' pre- 
 scriptions. It may happen that some of these articles require 
 pulverizing ; but it is presumed, that beating at a mortar 
 does not necessarily make a man learned. . . . All the 
 advantages they presume upon beyond these are only seeing 
 eminent practitioners' prescriptions and their patients. . . . 
 The compounding of medicines prescribed, and knowing why 
 they are prescribed, are two different things: one is an 
 ordinary habitual thing, the other depends upon the circum- 
 stances of the case, and cannot possibly be judged of unless 
 by one who understands the natural history of the human 
 body, and is acquainted with the mechanism and operations of 
 nature. These are heights of knowledge at which few 
 Apothecaries arrive." 
 
 The first Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia was published in 1699, 
 and new editions appeared in 1722, 173G, and 1744. Four 
 years afterwards, Dr. Lewis published an English translation, 
 under the title of " The New Dispensatory." This work 
 contained much additional information, and was attended 
 with great success. Dr. Lewis published several editions, 
 and was succeeded by Dr. Webster and Dr. Duncan, and, 
 lastly, by Dr. Duncan, jun., who published eight editions in 
 the course of twelve years. Dr. James's "Pharmacopoeia
 
 THE APOTHECAKIES* HALL. 31 
 
 Universalis, or New Universal English Dispensatory," was 
 published in 1747. 
 
 Subsequent editions or republications of the Edinburgh 
 Pharmacopoeia appeared in 1756, 1774, 1783, 1792, 1803, 
 1804, 1806, 1813, 1817, 1839, 1841. It was invariably pub- 
 lished in Latin until 1839, when the English language \vas 
 adopted by the Edinburgh College. 
 
 The Apothecaries' Hall was partially destroyed at the Fire 
 of London, and in the year 1786 it was rebuilt on a more 
 extensive scale, and improved in every respect. This event 
 is commemorated in an inscription on the walls of the present 
 establishment, which is as follows : 
 
 AVLA 
 
 Hie SITA PRIVS'APTATA IN VSVM 
 SOCIETATIS PHARMACEVTIC/E LONDINENSIS 
 
 A.D. MDCXXVIII. 
 
 RICARDO EDWARDO, MAGISTRO 
 EDWARDO COOKE, LEONARDO STONE CVSTODIBVS 
 
 ILLA 
 
 INCONFLAGRATIONE LONDINENSl PENITVS CONSVMPTA 
 LAPSIS DECEM ANNIS ELEGANTIOR RESURREXIT 
 
 REPARATA DEMVM FVIT 
 MVLTVM AMPLIATA ET ORNATA 
 
 A.D. MDCCLXXXVI. 
 
 IOANN/E FIELD, MAGISTRO 
 
 .GULIELMO BALL,MATTH/EOYATMAN, 
 
 CVSTODIBVS. 
 
 . The Apothecaries' Hall continued to compete successfully 
 with the Druggists and merchants in the supply of medicines 
 to the navy, and the East India Company, as well as in other 
 business, both wholesale and retail. This gave rise occasion- 
 ally to disputes and controversies, and several pamphlets, 
 published about this time, contain reciprocal charges made by 
 the Druggists and Apothecaries against each other of furnish- 
 ing adulterated articles. 
 
 It may be supposed that these charges were not altogether 
 without foundation, although it appears by the result that 
 the Apothecaries had the advantage, as they succeeded in 
 monopolizing a lai'ge share of the export business. 
 
 The origin of the BOTANIC GARDEN AT CHELSEA, belonging 
 to the Society of Apothecaries, is involved in some obscurity ;
 
 THE BOTANIC GARDEN AT CHELSEA. 
 
 but it is supposed to have been founded prior to the year 1673. 
 The first mention of it in the records of the society is con- 
 tained in a minute (dated June 21st, 1674), in which it was 
 resolved to build a wall round the garden, which was to be 
 done by subscription, provided the Court of Assistants would 
 agree to pay two pounds for each of the herborizings or 
 botanical- walks. These walks were instituted in the year 
 1633, at which period one took place annually ; but at the 
 time the above agreement was entered into, the number had 
 been increased to six. The proprietors of the laboratory stock 
 also gave fifty pounds towards the expense of the wall; in 
 consideration of which they were allowed a piece of ground 
 in the garden for herbs. 
 
 In the year 1679, a Committee of Management was ap- 
 pointed, consisting of twenty-one assistants, thirty liverymen, 
 and twenty of the yeomanry. In the following year a green- 
 house was built, at an expense of 138. Mr. Evelyn, in his 
 diary, mentions a visit which he paid to the " Apothecaries' 
 Garden of Simples " (August 7th, 1685), where he saw 
 among other rare plants, " the tree bearing the Jesuit's bark, 
 which had done such wonders in quartan agues." He also 
 notices the subterraneous heat employed in the greenhouse. 
 
 The propriety of discontinuing the garden was discussed in 
 the year 1693, from which it would appear that it was not in 
 a flourishing condition. The decision, however, was in its 
 favour, and in 1697, Lord Cheyne granted a new lease for 
 sixty years. In 1708, it was found necessary to raise addi- 
 tional funds, and ninety persons joined in a subscription. In 
 1714, Sir Hans Sloane became connected with the institution, 
 having purchased the manor of Lord Cheyne in 1712 ; and in 
 1722 he granted a lease to the Master, Wardens, and Society 
 of Apothecaries, on certain conditions, of which the following 
 is the substance : The garden, comprising three acres, one 
 rood, and thirty-five perches, together with the greenhouse 
 and other erections thereon, was to be held by the parties 
 aforesaid for ever, at a yearly rent of five pounds, payable 
 to Sir Hans Sloane, his heirs, and assigns, provided the 
 society presented annually to the President, Council, and 
 Fellows of the Royal Society of London, fifty specimens of 
 distinct plants, until the collection amounted to 2000 ; and 
 provided, also, that the garden was appropriated to the pur-
 
 HISTORY OP THE BOTANIC GAEDEN. 3-> 
 
 pose of cultivating plants, instructing students, and advancing 
 science. In the event of any of these conditions being 
 violated, or dwellings being erected on -the ground, the lease 
 was to be forfeited. 
 
 In 1743 an order was issued that no person should be 
 allowed to gather specimens without the permission of the 
 director or gardener ; and that none but members might 
 walk in the garden without being attended by the gardener. 
 In 1747, Sir Hans Sloane presented 100 towards the repairs 
 of the greenhouse, and in 1748 he gave 150 to aid in main- 
 taining the garden. Other individuals gave liberal donations 
 at various times, without which the garden could not have 
 been, maintained. Mr. Miller, one of the chief gardeners, 
 was elected to that office in 1722, and retained it forty-eight 
 years. He was buried at Chelsea, and some years afterwards 
 a cenotaph was erected to his memory by the members of the 
 Linnean and Horticultural Societies. Further particulars 
 respecting Mr. Miller and other gardeners connected with the 
 institution, may be found in a work entitled MEMOIRS, His- 
 torical and Illustrative, of the BOTANIC GARDEN AT CHELSEA, 
 belonging to the SOCIETY OF APOTHECARIES, London, by those 
 who can find the work, which is very scarce.* A statue of 
 Sir Hans Sloane was placed in the garden in 1751, In 1771 
 an embankment was built to recover portions of the ground 
 which had been washed away by the river. 
 
 The botanical walks continue to be kept up. Five of them 
 are open to the apprentices of every member of the society ; 
 and one, which is called the general herborizing, is confined 
 to membei's. As the excursions generally occupy the whole 
 of the day, refreshments are provided for the students, who 
 derive considerable benefit from this social and practical 
 method of studying botany. 
 
 It was intended by the Charter of 1748,f not only to restrain 
 Druggists from practising Pharmacy, being considered un- 
 qualified, but also to prohibit Physicians and Surgeons from 
 selling or preparing the medicines which they prescribed. 
 But, notwithstanding this monopoly in favour of the Apothe- 
 caries, they found it impossible to secure to themselves those 
 
 * A new edition, continued to the present time, has been published by 
 B. H. SEMPLE, M.D. 1878. T. E. 
 t See note at page 2('. 
 
 D
 
 01 HOSTILITY OF APOTHECARIES TO DRUGGISTS. 
 
 exclusive privileges provided in the Act : the law was con- 
 stantly evaded, and in the year 1793 they instituted an inquiry 
 into the defects and privations which existed among them, 
 and which arose, as they stated, from two grand causes : * 
 
 First "The encroachment which Chemists and Druggists 
 have, of late years, made on the profession of the Apothecary, 
 by vending pharmaceutic preparations, and compounding the 
 prescriptions of Physicians. 
 
 Secondly " The want of a competent jurisdiction in the 
 profession itself, to regulate its practice, and to restrain 
 ignorant and unqualified persons from practising at all." 
 
 In the spring of this year (1793) several respectable Apothe- 
 caries formed themselves into a society for the purpose of 
 investigating the sources of the existing evils ; and, by means 
 of an extensive correspondence, they collected " a volume of 
 facts demonstrative of the injury resulting to society at large, 
 as well as to the profession in particular, from the toleration 
 of these abuses." 
 
 On the 17th of June, 1794, a general meeting of the 
 Apothecaries of this kingdom was held at the Crown and 
 Anchor, in the Strand, at which about 200 attended. 
 
 The object of the meeting was stated by Mr. Chamberlaine, 
 and it was urged in the report, 
 
 " That this unjust and innovating usurpation of the Drug- 
 gists, together with the intrusion of uneducated and unskilful 
 persons into professional practice, called loudly for somo 
 speedy and effective Act, which should at once destroy the 
 obtrusions complained of, and restore credit and respectability 
 to the profession. 
 
 " If we regard personal views, it was stated to be a fact, 
 the proof of which was in. the tables of calculation then pre- 
 sent, that were the aggregate sums obtained by this infringe- 
 ment of the Druggists, and divided amongst the Druggists of 
 this metropolis (a body of men unknown to the world till 
 about the end of the last century, unauthorized by any public 
 charter, and almost undefined by any public Act), were these 
 sums to be divided, as they ought to be divided, amongst the 
 Apothecaries of the metropolis, every one would have an 
 addition of nearly 200 a year to his present income. But 
 
 * See Good's " History of Medicine."
 
 ATTEMPTS TO STOP DISPENSING BY DRUGGISTS. 95 
 
 this evil, it appeared, was not confined to the capital ; it was 
 declared to be a morbific infection that it began at the 
 capital as a central point, but diffused its deadly breath from 
 thence to all the larger cities and towns throughout the 
 kingdom. Xor stopped the contagion here. From the larger 
 cities and towns it was beheld propagating itself to smaller 
 cities and towns, till at length, so general was the disease, 
 there was scarcely to be found a village or a hamlet without a 
 village or a hamlet Druggist. If the sale of medicines and the 
 giving of advice was not here sufficient to support the vender, 
 he added to his own occupation the sale of mops, brooms, 
 bacon, butter, and a thousand such articles besides." 
 
 The hardships endured by the Apothecaries having been 
 described at some length, the report proceeds to discuss the 
 ignorance and inefficiency of the Druggists, some of whom are 
 said to have made fatal mistakes, and 
 
 " From want of classical education, and an incapacity of 
 translating the directions appended to their prescriptions, 
 have been under the necessity of disturbing Apothecaries in 
 the night to translate for them ; others who, from boldly 
 adventuring to interpret, have given wrong directions, or 
 who, not daring to interpret, have dispensed their medicines 
 without any directions at all. 
 
 " The composition of prescriptions, and the vending of 
 pharmaceutic preparations by Druggists, comprise, then, a 
 national evil of no small magnitude. The materials they 
 make use of must, in general, be mere offals, and the refuse 
 of better drugs ; and from want of classical knowledge, per. 
 petual errors and negligences are discovered in their combina- 
 tion. The credit of the Physician is endangered, and the 
 patient perhaps is destroyed. But if this be a source of 
 national abuse and deceit, what infinite injury must result 
 from the still bolder practice such men often allow themselves, 
 of adding pretended medical advice to erroneous medical 
 compositions ? Men who have never enjoyed any other 
 medical education than what their own counters have afforded, 
 and who can know nothing of the powers of diseases, or of 
 the powers of medicines to remove those diseases when pre- 
 sent ? To attemj)t_fn flomnnstrate^tbis to be a public evil,
 
 :")') ACCUSATIONS AGAINST DRUGGISTS. 
 
 and one that calls loudly for redress, is altogether to lose 
 time : it is to light up the sun at noonday with a candle." 
 
 In order to put an end to these abuses, it was proposed to 
 form a General Association of the Apothecaries of Great 
 Britain, who should 
 
 " Engage to deal with such Druggists only as would imme- 
 diately consent to relinquish the composition of all medical 
 prescriptions to retain to themselves their wholesale occupa- 
 tion alone and to receive no Apprentice, and employ no 
 Assistant, who had not had a classical education." 
 
 It was resolved also to form a general Committee, to act in 
 the name of the whole, and to endeavour to obtain the neces- 
 sary reformation by an application to Pai'liament. 
 
 Alluding to the chances of success, Mr. John Mason Good, 
 whose speech is contained in the report, proceeds to state : 
 
 " As to opposition, we had no reason to expect it, but from 
 the Druggists themselves. Nor were all the Druggists inimical 
 to medical reform many had already expressed their good 
 wishes towards it, and some had even contributed pecuniary 
 assistance to carry it into execution. But if the Druggists 
 are to oppose us, who are to oppose the Druggists ? Drug- 
 gists, like all others engaged in commercial transactions, are 
 dependent men. On whom are Druggists dependent ? On 
 Apothecaries, on ourselves. Let us then make that use of this 
 dependence which it behoves us to make. Let us universally 
 and individually write to every Druggist with whom we 
 traffic, and inform him that if he values the connection be- 
 tween us, we insist upon it, on the continuance of that 
 connection, that he withhold from us all personal opposition 
 whatsoever. Let us publish to all Druggists, that if, deaf to 
 their own interests as well as ours, they should nevertheless 
 persist in opposing us ; should they frustrate our intentions, 
 and wrench, if it were possible, the very statute from our 
 hands after we had obtained it, and tear it into a thousand 
 tatters, we have still left the former resource of associating 
 ourselves against such opponents, we have still left the power 
 of creating one common fund, of establishing one general 
 magazine, of supplying ourselves from such magazine, and 
 thus by a single act, of ruining their whole trade, and de- 
 stroying their existence as a commercial community."
 
 COMMITTEE OF Al'OTHECAlliES 1'OKMED. o/ 
 
 It was then proposed, 
 
 " That the persons present should form, themselves into a 
 society, under the title of THK GENERAL PHARMACEUTICAL 
 ASSOCIATION or GREAT BRITAIN, and that all other regularly 
 educated practitioners throughout the kingdom be invited to 
 associate in the common cause." 
 
 A Committee of twenty members was elected ; and it was 
 resolved, 
 
 " That it have regular meetings once a month, or as much 
 oftener as may be deemed convenient, at the BUFFALO TAVERN, 
 BLOOMSBURY SQUARE (the first meeting to be held on the 28th 
 day of the present month, July) ; that it be open to the admis- 
 sion of every member of the Association, and be at liberty to 
 summon general meetings, and to report progress whenever it 
 may seem expedient to do so." 
 
 A subscription of one guinea from each, member was col- 
 lected. 
 
 The Committee then undertook, by means of a systematic 
 and universal correspondence, to communicate with every 
 regularly educated practitioner in Pharmacy throughout the 
 kingdom, for the purpose of urging them to join the Associa- 
 tion, and also with a view to collect a further supply of 
 evidence. It was found necessary to appoint special com- 
 mittees, and to meet regularly twice every month at the 
 Buffalo Tavern. Mr. Good states in his report 
 
 " The extent of their correspondence is only bounded by 
 the extent of the kingdom ; and the materials collected most 
 voluminous and immense. The ardour evinced by practi- 
 tioners, in every part of the country, to forward the common 
 cause, is uniform and universal ; and scarcely a post arrived in 
 London for the first twt> months after the establishment of the 
 Association, without new statements, from personal knowledge, 
 of increasing evils accruing from the toleration of the abuses. 
 There is not pei'haps a single Druggist in the whole kingdom 
 who compounds his different preparations in all respects con- 
 sistently with the College Dispensatory ; but the Druggists 
 at Manchester appear to excel all others in such nefarious 
 ingenuity, and to extend their endeavours to save trouble and 
 expense to articles in which it could be scarcely imagined 
 such endeavours were necessary. 
 
 " A correspondent at Croydon mentions his having been 
 
 444385
 
 EVIDENCE AGAINST DRUGGISTS COLLECTED. 
 
 applied to by the foreman of a Druggist for an explanation 
 of the words ' cucurbita cruenta,' which he had in vain sought 
 for amongst the different preparations in his dispensatory ; 
 and at last had been happy enough to translate them ' an 
 electrical shock.' 
 
 " A Druggist of similar penetration is reported, in a letter 
 from Worcester, to exist in that city, who took infinite pains 
 to obtain, by sending to other shops, a tincture of the name 
 of ' cjusdem.' " 
 
 In order to obtain evidence of the general prevalence of 
 similar misdemeanours, a number of specimens of drugs and 
 preparations were obtained at different shops in London, and 
 submitted to a special Committee for examination. The 
 Committee state as the result 
 
 " That in the far greater number of instances, there were 
 most evidently spurious or defective drugs, and erroneous 
 composition. That the most expensive medicines were all 
 of them, without any exception, adulterated;" "such was 
 the case, particularly, with Aleppo scammony, with saffron, 
 and Russian castor." " Powder of gum-arabic was generally 
 very indifferent ; and, in one instance, when formed into a 
 mucilage, contained no gluten * whatever, was extremely 
 dirty and extremely opaque." " The preparations from ex- 
 temporaneous prescriptions scarcely bore any resemblance to 
 what was expected, had they been compounded aright ; and 
 no two from, the same prescription were similar." "The 
 directions were, in many cases, misconceived and improperly 
 translated ; in others, not more than half translated ; and in 
 one instance, particularly, the very reverse of what was 
 written." 
 
 Among other circumstances investigated by this energetic 
 Association, the increase in the number ofr Druggists claimed 
 particular attention ; and from the statistical information 
 thus obtained, it appears, that in some places the number had 
 increased fourfold in the space of ten or twelve years. A 
 correspondent, who related the opening of three new shops 
 in one town within twelve months, observes, 
 
 "But Pharmacy alone comprises too small a field for these 
 men of letters and ambition they prescribe, whenever ap- 
 
 * " No gluten " ! !
 
 1'ETITIOX TO PARLIAMENT AGAINST DRUGGISTS. 39 
 
 plied to, tliougli totally ignorant of medical science, and even 
 pretend to reduce fractures." 
 
 The Committee, alluding to this circumstance, remark, 
 
 " But Druggists are not the only persons "who are thus 
 adventurous. In many places the grocers of the town take 
 upon themselves this very benevolent office, or at least a 
 part of it. In the small town of Uckfield there are not less 
 than three of this description, who prescribe as well as vend 
 medicines, applying for information to the Druggists with 
 whom they deal ; who in consequence hereof send them down 
 advice just equal to their medicines, and present them with 
 tables of different doses." 
 
 The Committee spared no exertions in collecting from every 
 quarter, cases of malpractice and misadventure, a few speci- 
 mens of which serve to enliven their report, adding that 
 " The secretary would satisfy the curiosity of any person 
 who wished for farther specimens of the same destructive 
 conduct, at any time, when properly applied to, and from 
 proper motives." 
 
 Having collected a sufficient mass of evidence, the Com- 
 mittee presented addresses to the College of Physicians, the 
 Corporation of Surgeons, and the Society of Apothecaries ; 
 and on the sixth of February, 1795, a petition was presented 
 to Parliament on behalf of the Association, by Sir William. 
 Dolben. It was found necessary, however, to postpone the 
 completion of these measures until the following session, and 
 in the meantime a full report of proceedings was circulated 
 to all the members, calling upon them to second these efforts 
 by means of addresses, in which the following principles 
 were to be continually adverted to : 
 
 " First, That the liberty to vend pharmaceutical prepara- 
 tions, compound Physicians' prescriptions, etc., etc., should 
 appertain to the Apothecary alone. Secondly, That no young 
 men be taken as apprentices, who have not had an approved 
 education. Thirdly, That none be assistants without having 
 been examined as to their competency for pharmaceutical 
 compositions, etc., etc. Fourthly, That none be at liberty to 
 settle until examined ; nor any person entitled to an examina- 
 tion until he shall have faithfully served an apprenticeship of 
 five years at least. Fifthly, That to promote these purposes, 
 a competent court be established to consist of a certain,
 
 10 EFFORTS OP APOTHECARIES UNSUCCESSFUL. 
 
 number of members, who shall have full power to make such 
 bye-laws and regulations as may be thought most conducive 
 to the -welfare both of the public and the profession." 
 
 From the above brief account of the establishment of the 
 Pharmaceutical Association of 1794, it will be seen that, at 
 this period, the Chemists and Druggists were entering upon 
 that position which they now occupy, as dispensers of medicine. 
 
 The result of these exertions, however, was not so success- 
 ful as was anticipated, and the Pharmaceutical Association 
 of 1794 was broken up within a short time of its formation, 
 without having effected the extinction, or subjugation, of 
 that class against which its efforts were directed. The pro- 
 ceedings of the Association are recorded by Mason Good, 
 who was a leading member, and from whose work the above 
 outline is taken ; the absence of a similar record of particulars 
 on the other side forms a gap in our history. It is probable 
 that this violent attack, which was designed as a death-blow 
 to the rising class of pharmaceutists, had the opposite effect, 
 by obliging them in some degree to reform the system of 
 conducting their business, and to unite among themselves for 
 the protection of their interests. 
 
 In the year 1802 the 'Apothecaries and Chemists were 
 brought together and induced to coalesce for the purpose of 
 protecting their mutual interests against the injurious opera- 
 tion of the Medicine Act, passed on the 3rd of June in that 
 year. The Act had reference to the duties, stamps, and 
 licences which had formerly been confined to private nostrums 
 and patent " specifics," but which, by the new measure, in- 
 volved, more or less, the sale of many common remedies and 
 articles in daily use, such, for instance, as blistering ointment, 
 nitre drops, lozenges, tooth powders, Indian arrowroot, salve 
 for ulcerations of the legs, Huxham's tincture of bark, Turkey 
 rhubarb, laxative pills, etc., etc. An Association having been 
 formed, and a Committee appointed, a petition was prepared 
 entitled "A Petition of Apothecaries, Chemists, and Druggists," 
 which petition was addressed to the Lords Commissioners of 
 the Treasury, signed by Fenwick Bulmer, Strand ; John 
 Pugh, Gracechurch Street ; Edward Complin, Bishopsgate 
 Street ; William Chamberlain, Aylesbury Street ; and John 
 Hingeston, Cheapside. During the time that the Committee 
 were engaged in carrying their object into effect, they pub-
 
 THE MEDICINE STAMP ACT. U 
 
 lished, in one of their reports, a caution to all parties con- 
 cerned, which will serve to' point out the predicament the 
 trade was in, and the liabilities to which all venders of 
 medicines were exposed. It is as follows : 
 
 " The Committee also think it would be the means of pre- 
 venting trouble, if something like the following cautious were 
 adopted, in all such cases where it will apply. 
 
 " Viz. If an informer, or any other person, should inquire for 
 healing salve for scalds or burns, to answer that no salve is 
 known by that name, yet they may have for that purpose 
 white unguentum, Turner's cerate, or spermaceti ointment, 
 etc., without a stamp. If asked for nitre drops, not to sell 
 anything by that name, but to offer dulcified spirits of nitre. 
 Tincture of Turkey Rhubarb, a thing not known in the shops, 
 yet common tincture of rhubarb may be sold without restric- 
 tion. If castor oil medicine should be sought for, sell simply 
 castor oil : in this manner stamps will not be necessary. 
 
 The Committee have been informed, from high authority, 
 that informations will not be encouraged upon articles that 
 have been long and generally known, although they may 
 come nearly within the letter of the Act ; yet they cannot 
 help feeling the most lively indignation, when they reflect 
 that men so truly respectable as the Apothecaries, Druggists, 
 and Chemists undoubtedly are, should, by any circumstances 
 in the common practice of their profession, be under the 
 necessity of adopting any subterfuge to avoid being plundered 
 of their property by the innumerable host of informers which 
 this Act will certainly engender and let loose upon them, 
 both in town and country, after the first of September. 
 
 "EDWARD DENTON, Secretary:' 
 
 The final report of the Committee was published in the 
 year 1803, and although they were not successful in obtain- 
 ing a total repeal of the Act, they secured the modification of 
 it in such a manner as to remove the chief sources of incon- 
 venience and oppression. 
 
 The Pharmacopoeia of 1809, which was translated by Dr. 
 Powell, was prepared by a Committee of the Fellows of the 
 College in conjunction with a Committee of the Apothecaries' 
 Company, in whose laboratory such experiments were made 
 on the various processes as appeared necessary. Some addi- 
 tions were made from the Pharmacopoeias of Edinburgh and
 
 42 DP.. POWELL 5 S PHARMACOPEIA OP 1809. 
 
 Dublin, and a " Specimen Pharmacopoeia? " \vas sent by the 
 College of Physicians to those persons whom they thought 
 likely to afford assistance or information. Seventy new pre- 
 parations were introduced, among which were : Acetum 
 colchici, confectio amygdalarum, decoctum aloes comp., and 
 five other decoctions ; extractum aloes purificaturn, belladonna. 1 , 
 hyoscyami, sarsaparilla?, and six other extracts ; infusum 
 anthemidis, aurantii, digitalis, and twelve other infusions ; 
 mistura ferri comp., potassas carbonas, sodcc carbonas, liquor 
 arsenicalis, etc., etc. 
 
 Notwithstanding the precautions which were taken in the 
 compilation of this Pharmacopoeia, it was found to be de- 
 fective in some particulars, and the formula? as well as the 
 nomenclature were severely criticised by several commen- 
 tators. Dr. Bostock published an "Essay on the Nomen- 
 clature of the New London Pharmacopoeia," in which he 
 showed that, while the endeavour to regulate the names of 
 the articles in the Materia Medica by scientific principles had 
 failed, and led to inconsistency in many cases, it had also 
 involved the subject in unnecessary confusion, and added to 
 the intricacy naturally belonging to it. In confirmation of 
 this statement he quoted the following observation of Dr. 
 Powell: "As by names substances are distinguished from 
 each other, their essential properties ought to be brevity and 
 dissimilarity; and if those employed be accurately defined 
 and generally understood if they be sanctioned by use and 
 so distinct as not to be liable to be mistaken, and, above all, 
 convey no false ideas of the substances they are intended to 
 designate, such a nomenclature may be considered as perfect." 
 Dr. Bostock advocated these sentiments, and pointed out a 
 great variety of instances in which Dr. Powell had violated 
 Ids own principle by the introduction of a nomenclature pro- 
 fessedly " scientific," but which, from its inconsistency, did 
 not deserve the name. 
 
 The most severe critique which appeared on the Pharmaco- 
 poeia of 1809, was a review by Mr. Richard Phillips, which 
 was originally published in the London Medical Review 
 (1810), and afterwards in a separate pamphlet (1811), en- 
 titled, An Experimental Examination of the last edition of the 
 Pharmacopeia Londonensis, with Remarks on Dr. Poivell's 
 Translations and Annotations. Mr. Phillips observes in his
 
 PHILLIPS' REVIEW OF THE PHARMACOPOEIA. -13 
 
 introduction that, " although individual error may be in- 
 significant, yet when established and enforced by the authority 
 of law, it becomes truly formidable ; " and, after a few pre- 
 fatory remarks, proceeds to criticise seventy-three of the 
 preparations in the Pharmacopoeia, quoting experiments in 
 confirmation of his statements. The first sentence deserves 
 to be quoted in italics : 
 
 " Before I proceed to tlie principal object of this essay, I shall 
 make a few observations upon the alteration of the names of 
 measures. This ivas not only unnecessary, lut by the mode in 
 which it has been carried into effect, it has been productive of 
 itmch ambigiiity and some absurdity." 
 
 Mr. Phillips enumerates about twenty instances in the 
 I'harmacopceia in which the value of the term libra is 
 ambiguous. 
 
 Some of the remarks of Mr. Phillips on the preparations 
 are rather caustic, as, for instance, the following : " Accord- 
 ing to Dr. Powell's statement, protoxide and peroxide of 
 antimony are synonymous, and ten grains may be properly 
 exhibited ; but if we combine these assertions with those of 
 the authorities which he recommends, it appears that, whilst 
 ten grains of the precipitated oxide are a safe dose, ' two arc 
 a most violent and dangerous emetic,' and sixty grains ' per- 
 fectly inert ; ' and, consequently, that two are much more 
 than ten, and sixty much less. "Well, indeed, has Macquer 
 observed, that some Physicians have considered this prepara- 
 tion as occasioning 'accidents so terrible, that instead of being 
 called the Mercury of life, it ought to have been denominated 
 the Mercury of death ! ' " 
 
 Mr. Phillips devotes thirty pages to his observations on the 
 preparations of antimony, and confirms his statements by a 
 detail of a variety of experiments in which he throws some 
 light on this intricate subject. 
 
 His remarks on the liquor ai'senicalis are very severe, and 
 not without reason, as he discovered an error which ought 
 not to have occurred, especially in a preparation containing 
 so powerful an ingredient as arsenic. It is singular, however, 
 that some of the "defects" pointed out by Mr. Phillips in 
 Dr. Powell's Pharmacopoeia, are to be found in a subsequent 
 edition (1836), of which he is the authorized translator. For 
 instance, in reference to the distilled waters, he states, " The
 
 i i SECOND REVIEW BY M1J. PHILLIPS. 
 
 addition of spirit to distilled waters is altogether useless." In 
 Mr. Phillips' Pharmacopoeia seven ounces of spirit are ordered 
 to two gallons of each of the distilled waters. In the extrac- 
 tum opii he recommends proof spirit to be employed instead 
 of water. In the Pharmacopoeia of 1836, distilled water is 
 ordered as the menstruum without any animadversion. In the 
 hydrargyri oxidum cinereum, he recommends potash in pre- 
 ference to lime ; yet in his own Pharmacopoeia lime is ordered. 
 A few other cases might be mentioned. 
 
 Although Mr. Phillips criticised without mercy the imper- 
 fections of the Pharmacopoeia, he found some merits in the 
 work, to which he gave their share of commendation ; and 
 his review was found to be so far entitled to attention, being 
 based upon practical experience, that some of his suggestions 
 (as well as those of some other commentators) were adopted 
 in the next edition, which appeai-ed in 1815. In this edition 
 several new articles were introduced, others which had been 
 expunged in 1809 were restored, and some of the names were 
 changed. The work was on the whole a decided improve- 
 ment on its predecessor ; but it did not yet come up to Mr. 
 Phillips's ideas of perfection, and accordingly, in the year 
 1816, he published some " REMARKS on the EDITIO ALTEKA of 
 
 the PHAKMACOPffilA LONDINENSIS." 
 
 It happened, unfortunately for Dr. Powell, that he had 
 omitted to give Mr. Phillips credit for those improvements 
 which, at his suggestion, he introduced into the Pharmacopoeia, 
 and that he stated nevertheless in the preface, "I am not con- 
 scious that in any instance I have purloined the observations 
 of others or used them without due acknowledgment." This 
 gave Mr. Phillips a pretext for recapitulating some of his former 
 statements, pointing out the instances iu which his directions 
 had been followed, but not acknowledged, and making a 
 fresh attack on those errors which had not been rectified. 
 
 While it cannot be denied that there was some foundation 
 for these criticisms, it must be admitted that Dr. Powell's 
 Pharmacopoeia met with a most unmerciful reception, and 
 that he did not enjoy a fair share of indulgence. Dr. Powell, 
 as a Physician, could not be expected to compete in practical 
 experience with the manufacturing Chemists, many of whom 
 devoted their whole lives to a small section merely of the art 
 of pharmacy, and who were not likely to reveal the secrets by
 
 APOTHECARIES STILL LOSING GROUND. 45 
 
 which they sustained their reputation, for the benefit of a 
 work in which they were not interested and for which they 
 would gain no credit. Many processes might appear to 
 answer the purpose when conducted on a small scale, by 
 way of experiment, and yet they might not be adapted to the 
 manufacture of the articles in quantity, and this, in fact, was 
 found to be the case in several instances. On the whole, the 
 work appeared in its most unfavourable aspect, when seen 
 through the medium of the searching and practical satire, of 
 Mr. Phillips. 
 
 The improvement which was taking place among the 
 Apothecaries, in consequence of the increased attention which 
 they devoted to medical and surgical practice, tended materi- 
 ally to strengthen the position of the Druggists as dispensers 
 of prescriptions : this office, being comparatively neglected by 
 the one class, naturally fell more and more into the hands of 
 the other. But the Apothecaries, while they were losing 
 ground in the " trading " department of their profession, 
 possessed no other legitimate means of obtaining remunera- 
 tion, the amount of their receipts being chiefly regulated by 
 the quantity of medicine they supplied to their patients. To 
 use the words of Dr. Burrows, " The practising Apothecaries 
 justly complained that the dispensing Chemists and Drug- 
 gists had greatly deteriorated the profits of their business ; 
 but the practice had existed so long, that it had acquired from 
 custom the force of law, and it was impossible by sudden or 
 violent means to suppress it. It had indeed become difficult 
 to define who was, or who was not, an Apothecary. . . ." 
 
 In addition to the falling off in their dispensing business, 
 and the inroads made upon the profession by irregular and 
 uneducated practitioners of every description, the Apothe- 
 caries sustained another grievance, namely, an increase in the 
 taxes on drugs and other necessary commodities, which 
 pressed with peculiar severity upon them. The exorbitant 
 duty on glass, which was imposed by Government in the year 
 1812, brought their misfortunes to a climax, and occasioned a 
 piiblic meeting of their body, which was convened on the 3rd 
 of July of that year, at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, by 
 Mr. Burrows,* Mr. Gates, and Mr. Wells. 
 
 * Afterwards Dr. George Mann Burrows.
 
 46 THE ASSOCIATION OF APOTHECARIES IN 1812. 
 
 Several meetings had been held on the subject of the duty 
 on glass, to very little purpose, when Mr. A. T. Thomson hav- 
 ing accidentally attended one of them, diverted the attention 
 of the meeting from the subject of glass, which he considered 
 derogatory to the profession, to the more important matter of 
 improving the condition of that branch of it, in a professional 
 point of view. 
 
 An Association was formed, of which Mr. Burrows was ap- 
 pointed chairman, and Mr. Ward secretary. Mr. Kerrison,* 
 who had declined taking a share in the proceedings respecting 
 the duty on glass, became an active member of the Com- 
 mittee, when a more enlarged scheme was undertaken, and 
 Mr. Thomson, f Mr. Good,J and Mr. Upton, as well as other 
 influential practitioners, joined with great spirit in the enter- 
 prise. 
 
 The exertions of the Association were directed to the fram- 
 ing of a bill to be brought into Parliament, the objects of 
 which were : 
 
 To constitute a fourth Medical body which should be em- 
 powered to examine Apothecaries, Surgeon Apothecaries, 
 Accoucheurs, Midwives, Dispensing Chemists, and Assist- 
 ants ; to prohibit the practice of Medicine, Surgery, Mid- 
 wifery, or Pharmacy, by uneducated persons ; and to vest in 
 the new body the prerogative of granting licences to such 
 persons as they should find on examination to be competent, 
 which licences should be annually renewed on payment of a 
 fee, the examiners possessing the powers of withholding them 
 from persons whose conduct had been immoral or discredit- 
 able. 
 
 To introduce certain regulations respecting apprentices, 
 and to found a school for the education of pupils in medi- 
 cine, surgery, pharmacy, etc. 
 
 * Afterwards Dr. Kerrison. 
 
 t Afterwards Dr. A. T. Thomson. 
 
 * Afterwards Dr. Good. 
 
 In the London Eepository, vol. iv., pp. 487-8, the following remarks, 
 from the pen of Dr. Burrows, in reference to the subject of education, are 
 worthy of notice : " There is in London another defect, which we will 
 cursorily mention, and that is the want of a regular School of Pharmacy. 
 The Apothecaries' shops in England do not furnish those means of in- 
 struction in this important science which are necessary to form a good 
 Pharmaceutist. Yonnpr men cannot acquire in such situations a practical
 
 INDIFFERENCE OF THE MEDICAL BODIES. 47 
 
 It was the original intention of the Association to apply to 
 Parliament through the medium, or with the concurrence, of 
 the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, and the Society of 
 Apothecaries, and letters were written to these bodies, repre- 
 senting the urgent necessity for some measure of reform, and 
 respectfully requesting their co-operation and support. 
 
 The COLLEGE OP PHYSICIANS declined taking any share in 
 the matter, stating, that they " could not give any advice or 
 assistance on the occasion." The COLLEGE OF SURGEONS con- 
 cluded their reply with these words, " The Court of Assistants 
 does not intend to interfere with the subject of such letter." 
 The SOCIETY OP APOTHECARIES, after having consulted the 
 College of Physicians, stated, that " They could not, as a 
 body* concur with the Committee in the intended application 
 to Parliament." The Associated Apothecaries, therefore, being 
 left to their own resources, prepared a bill, which was intro- 
 duced to the House by Messrs. Wilberforce, Calcraft, Whit- 
 bread, and Rose, in the month of March, 1813. The Colleges 
 of Physicians and Surgeons, laying aside the apathy which 
 they had originally evinced on the subject, when they per- 
 ceived that active steps were in progress, openly opposed the 
 bill and presented petitions against it. The Society of 
 Apothecaries maintained a certain degree of neutrality, as 
 they could not offer direct opposition to a measure in which a 
 majority of their body was prominently engaged. 
 
 The Chemists and Druggists, against whom some of the 
 most important provisions in the bill were levelled, and to 
 whom no application had been made for advice or assistance, 
 spontaneously took the alarm, and the standing Committee 
 of the Society, which they had formed for the protection of 
 
 knowledge of 'Chemistry, of Materia Medica, or of Botany; and when in 
 London, if they are laudably desirous of prosecuting such studies, there 
 are no institutions affording all the requisites for pursuing them with 
 full advantage. A school, therefore, should certainly be established in 
 this metropolis, where all these sciences and arts would be practically 
 taught and illustrated, especially Pharmacy, even to the very manipula- 
 tions of the art. These projects are not chimeras: they are obvious, 
 simple in principle, and facile of adoption, and such as we hope ere long 
 to see carried into effect." 
 
 * Although three-fourths of the body were actually among the 
 petitioners! See "An Inquiry," etc., by Robert Masters Kerrison 
 P- 70.
 
 48 RESISTANCE OP CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS. 
 
 their interests in the year 1802, convened a general meeting 
 for the purpose of opposing the new bill. 
 
 The following account of their proceedings is copied from 
 the minute-book : 
 
 At a general meeting of the Chemists and Druggists in 
 the metropolis, held, in piirsuance of public advertise- 
 ment, at the Freemasons' Tavern, Queen Street, Lin- 
 coln's Inn Fields, on Thursday, March 4th, 1813, to 
 take into consideration "An Abstract of a Bill for 
 regulating the Practice of Apothecaries, Surgeon 
 Apothecaries, Practitioners in Midwifery, and Com- 
 pounders and Dispensers of Medicines throughout 
 England and Wales," published by order of the 
 general Committee, 
 
 MR. HUDSON in the chair, 
 
 The following Resolutions were passed : 
 
 " First Resolved, That the abstract of a bill, published and 
 proposed to be brought into Parliament by certain Apothe- 
 caries, contains many clauses deeply injurious to the Chemists 
 and Druggists who compound and dispense medicines, and 
 to the public at large, inasmuch as the operation of these 
 clauses will be to put all compounders and dispensers of 
 medicines under the control of a Committee of Apothecaries 
 (distinct from the corporate body of Apothecaries), and to 
 give that Committee a power, by the making of bye-laws, and 
 the issuing of annual licences, to use means of the greatest 
 oppression and injustice, and eventually to place a monopoly 
 of compounding and dispensing medicines in the hands of 
 the Apothecaries, which will increase the price of medicines, 
 and consequently diminish the means of a large body of the 
 community to procure necessary medical assistance. 
 
 " Second That the Chemists and Druggists having, for a 
 great number of years, exercised the trade of compounding 
 and dispensing medicines (by which they mean making up 
 the prescriptions of Physicians and Surgeons) to the satisfac- 
 tion and advantage of the public, consider it highly important 
 to oppose this bill in all its stages, so far as it interferes with 
 their established and universally acknowledged business. 
 
 " TJtlnl That a Committee be chosen, five of whom shall
 
 RESISTANCE OF THE CHEMISTS AND DRUGGIST*. 41) 
 
 be a quorum, to take the iiecessary steps for opposing the 
 bill ; and that the Committee do consist of the following 
 persons, with power to increase their number : 
 
 Messrs. ALLEX, Plough Court. 
 BELL, Oxford Street. 
 COOKE, Southampton Street. 
 COLE, Newgate Street. 
 COMPLIN, Bishopsgate Street. 
 CURTIS, Old Fish Street. 
 HASTINGS, Haymarket. 
 HUME, Long Acre. 
 HUDSON, Haymarket. 
 PHILLIPS, Poultry. 
 SAVORY, Bond Street. 
 SMITH, Haymarket. 
 TEBBS, Bond Street. 
 
 " Fourth That a subscription be entered into for defraying 
 the expenses attendant on prosecuting the opposition to the 
 bill ; that Mr. Complin be treasurer ; and that no moneys be 
 paid but on an application, in writing, signed by at least three 
 members of Committee, in Committee ; and that subscriptions 
 be received by all the members of the Committee. 
 
 (Signed) W. B. HUDSON, Chairman." 
 
 * 
 
 The Committee met on the otli of March, at the house 
 of Mr. William Allen. Mr. Hudson, the chairman, stated, 
 that he had had an interview with Mr. Wilberforce, who 
 recommended a meeting, by deputation, between the Apothe- 
 caries and Chemists ; but on a full consideration of circum- 
 stances, the Committee thought this measure inexpedient. 
 The chairman was, therefore, requested to inform Mr. Wilber- 
 force of this determination. 
 
 It was also resolved to publish an address to the country 
 Chemists and Druggists in the following papers : Times, 
 J/o/'/i lag Herald, Chronicle, Ledger, Star, Courier, and Statesman. 
 
 It was resolved to retain Mr. Brougham as counsel. 
 
 A Sub-Committee was appointed to prepare the address, 
 the Secretary was requested to draw up the form of a petition, 
 and the Committee adjourned to the 8th, on which day they
 
 50 GENERAL MEETING OP CHEMISTS AND DIJUGGISTS. 
 
 met at the Globe Tavern. They also met on the 12th, loth. 
 17tb, and 18th. Mr. Brougham being out of town, Mr. Adam 
 was retained as counsel, and Mr. Harrison to assist at con- 
 sultation. The result of the labours of the Committee during 
 the above space of time is detailed in the following report : 
 
 At a general meeting of the Chemists and Druggists in 
 the metropolis, held, in pursuance of public advertise- 
 ment, at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen Street, 
 Lincoln's Inn Fields, on Monday, 22nd March, 1813, 
 
 Mr. HUDSON in the chair, 
 The following report was presented by the Committee : 
 
 " Your Committee, in reporting their progress since the last 
 general meeting, have to observe, that, after advertising the 
 resolutions of that day in the most widely-circulated London 
 newspapers, they directed their attention to the best means 
 of informing their fellow-tradesmen individually throughout 
 the kingdom of the steps already taken to oppose the Apothe- 
 caries' Bill, and to request their communications and sub- 
 scriptions in support of that object. This was done by a 
 circular letter, addressed to all whose names could be collected 
 in town and country. They have now the gratification to 
 state, that their exertions in this respect have been highly 
 successful. From most parts of the kingdom they have 
 received the most hearty concurrence in their views ; many 
 towns have formed associations, and transmitted liberal sub- 
 scriptions some have published and adopted the substance 
 of the resolutions of the general meeting as their own. 
 Numerous subscriptions have also been received from indi- 
 viduals where associations could not be formed; and com- 
 munications have been received from associations promising 
 an early remittance of their funds almost all offering more 
 assistance, if necessary. 
 
 "Your Committee, in acknowledging communications or 
 remittances, have not failed to urge upon their correspondents 
 the importance of soliciting their town and country members 
 to oppose the bill. 
 
 "The expected reading of the bill a second time on an 
 early day after the first reading^ necessarily presented great
 
 OL.JECTIOXS TO THE PKOPOSED LILL. ol 
 
 difficulty and inconvenience to your Committee in preparing 
 their opposition to it; but in consequence of an interview 
 between the mover of the bill (Mr. Calcraft) and one of their 
 body, Mr. Calcraft very handsomely deferred the second read- 
 ing till Friday, the 26th instant, an indulgence "which your 
 Committee acknowledged with due respect. 
 
 "Many Members of Parliament have been waited upon, 
 and their opposition to the bill solicited. Your Committee 
 are happy to state, that several of them were fully sensible of 
 its obnoxious tendency; and others, who were before un- 
 acquainted with it, have promised to give it their attention 
 and consideration. 
 
 " In the course of their exertions and inquiries, your 
 Committee have found that many Apothecaries, both in town 
 and country, were not only unacquainted with the bill brought 
 into Parliament, but that they were averse to many of its 
 provisions. 
 
 "A petition, prepared under the direction of your Com- 
 mittee, is now to be brought forward for your approbation 
 and signature. A circular letter for Members of Parliament 
 is in the press." 
 
 The following is a copy of the circular : 
 
 " SIK, The Committee of Chemists and Druggists respect- 
 fully solicit your attention to the following provisions of a 
 bill, now pending in Parliament, ' for regulating the Practice 
 of Apothecaries, Surgeon Apothecaries,' etc., etc. 
 
 " Section. Page. 
 
 " 1. 2. Provides a Committee of twenty-seven Apothe- 
 caries and eight Physicians and Surgeons, 
 'for ever,' to regulate not only the practice 
 of Apothecaries, but all the Chemists and 
 Druggists in England and Wales. 
 
 " '2. o. Excludes all Chemists and Druggists from any 
 vote or influence in directing the operation of 
 the bill. 
 
 ' " 7. o. Enables the Committee to employ informers, 
 under the description of ' such other officers 
 as the Committee shall adjudge to be neces-
 
 o2 FUKTHLli OBJJECTIONABL1 1'KOVISIONS. 
 
 ; Section. Page. 
 
 " 9. (j. Enables the Committee to make bye-laws for its 
 own regulation, advantage, and ' interest,' and 
 to alter them at pleasure. 
 
 " 11. 7. Appoints medical provincial districts, subject 
 to the absolute control of the London Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 " 20. 11. Empowers the Committee to determine the neces- 
 sary qualifications of compounders and dis- 
 pensers of medicines, and their assistants. 
 
 " 2-3. 13. Requires a sum to be paid for certificate of ex- 
 amination. 
 
 " 30. lo. Requires an annual licence to be taken out by 
 every Chemist and Druggist, on pain of 
 penalty. 
 
 " 34. 10. Licences may be refused on a charge of im- 
 morality of character, to be judged of by the 
 Committee. 
 
 " 35. 17. Appeals from all parts of England and Wales to 
 be determined by the London Committee. 
 
 " 43. '20. Gives great encouragement to informers, and 
 provides a permanent fund for prosecutions. 
 
 " 47. lil. Gives the magistrate authority to imprison for 
 small penalties. 
 
 " 48. -_. Protects the prosecutor tinder any informality, 
 and affords no redress but by an action at law. 
 
 " It will be observed, that in the constitution of the Com- 
 mittee, the Apothecaries are to possess a majority so over- 
 bearing, as virtually to reduce the Physicians and Surgeons 
 to nothing ; and the obvious tendency of the bill is to depress 
 and ruin, and eventually to extirpate, the compounding 
 Chemists and Druggists ; for though their existence is to be 
 suffered, yet they are to be entirely excluded from any share 
 or voice in directing the operation of the bill; and the 
 inquisitorial power it will establish over them and their 
 assistants, must produce infinite confusion, embarrassment, 
 and injury. 
 
 " By the great encouragement held out to informers, any 
 medical advice or interference on the most urgent or most 
 trivial occasion, whether real or pretended, may subject the
 
 UNJUST OPERATION OP THE BILL. 53 
 
 Chemists and Druggists to frivolous and vexatious proceed- 
 ings and penalties. 
 
 "The clause enabling the Committee to make bye-laws of 
 an indefinite nature, may be the instrument of grievous 
 oppression and injustice. 
 
 "The Chemists and Druggists conceive that their long 
 experience in making up prescriptions, and their extensive 
 employment in preparing the various articles of the Pharma- 
 copoeia, for the use of medical practitioners, must necessarily 
 render them more competent than Apothecaries to compound 
 medicines, and to judge of the qualifications of the assistants 
 they employ for that purpose, and it is scarcely necessary to 
 add, that their interest and reputation are deeply concerned 
 in the selection of proper persons. 
 
 " The annual licence will not only operate as a tax upon 
 persons not represented in the legislating body, but may be 
 withheld upon vague charges against their characters 
 Apothecaries being the judges. 
 
 "Great hardship and injustice may arise in the country 
 districts, where it will be veiy easy for Apothecaries to com- 
 bine against a Chemist and Druggist, or to harass his as- 
 sistants ; and much expense as well as loss of time must be 
 incurred by travelling up to London, from all parts of the 
 kingdom, for redress from the superintending Committee. 
 
 " Persons convicted in small penalties, on the evidence of 
 a single witness, may be distressed and imprisoned on the 
 authority of a magistrate's warrant, and the distressing party 
 is to be protected under any informality, while the aggrieved 
 person can obtain no redress but by an action at law : a 
 single individual, perhaps already rained, against an organized 
 body with a permanent fund ! 
 
 '" The middle and lower classes of the community will 
 suffer material inconvenience and injury from the operation 
 of the bill. In large towns it is usual for Physicians to 
 prescribe gratis for the poor, and to send them to a Chemist 
 and Druggist for the medicines ; and in populous districts, 
 ineligible for the residence of a Physician, and unfavourable 
 for the formation of local charitable institutions, simple 
 remedies are often procured from the Chemist and Druggist 
 at a cheap rate ; but if these classes are obliged on every 
 slight ailment to employ a professional man, who can legally
 
 5|, THE PROPOSED BILL MODIFIED. 
 
 charge for attendance and medicine, they must encounter the 
 greatest pecuniary inconvenience, or the distressing con- 
 sequences of protracted sickness. 
 
 " March 22nd, 1813. 
 
 "First It was resolved unanimously, that the above report 
 be received. 
 
 "Second Resolved, That a petition* be presented to tho 
 House of Commons from this meeting ; and that the petition, 
 as prepai'ed, be now read. 
 
 " Third Resolved, That the petition just read be approved 
 and signed by the Chemists and Druggists of the metropolis. 
 
 "Fourth Resolved, That the Committee be empowered to 
 put the petition into the hands of auch Members of Parliament 
 as they shall think most favourablo to their cause, to have it 
 presented to the House of Commons. 
 
 " W. B. HUDSON, Chairman." 
 
 Tn consequence of the determined opposition which was 
 made in all quarters to the bill at its first reading, the Com- 
 mittee of the Associated Apothecaries modified it considerably, 
 and on the 25th of March, 1813, sent the following notice to 
 the members of tho House of Commons : 
 
 The general Committee of Apothecaries and Surgeon 
 Apothecaries, think it requisite to inform the members of the 
 House of Commons, previously to the second reading of their 
 Bill, of the following circumstances : 
 
 " 1. That in the event of the bill passing into a Committee, 
 they mean to expunge from it everything affecting the com- 
 pounding Chemist and Druggist. 
 
 "2. That the idea of erecting a medical school has been 
 abandoned, and that instead of interfering with the rights of 
 the Royal College of Surgeons, they wish to make it im- 
 perative on every Surgeon Apothecary to have a diploma 
 from the College of Surgeons. 
 
 " 3. That the idea of uniting the different heads of the 
 already-constituted medical bodies with Apothecaries and 
 Surgeon Apothecaries in the superintending body, may be 
 abandoned. 
 
 * Tt is not considered necessary to quote the form of petition.
 
 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS. 55 
 
 "4. That the views of the bill will be altogether confined to 
 rendering the Apothecary and Surgeon Apothecary competent 
 practitioners, by examinations, and obtaining for them a dif- 
 ferent mode of recompense for their visits and professional 
 skill." 
 
 The Committee of the Chemists and Druggists met at the 
 Globe, on the 29th of March, and also on the 1st and 7th of 
 April. On the 8th of April a general meeting- took place, of 
 which the following is a report : 
 
 At a general meeting of the Chemists and Druggists in 
 the metropolis, held in pursuance of public advertise- 
 ment, at the Freemasons' Tavern. Great Queen Street, 
 Lincoln's Inn Fields, on Thursday, the 8th day of 
 April, 1813, 
 
 ME. HUDSON in the chair, 
 
 The following report was presented by the Committee : 
 " Your Committee have now the satisfaction formally to 
 announce to you, that the measure which first occasioned our 
 meeting together is abandoned for the present session the 
 Apothecaries' Bill was withdrawn by the mover, on Friday, 
 the 26th of last month, the day appointed for the second 
 reading. The motives for this procedure are thus stated in 
 tho public advertisement of the Committee of Apothecaries, 
 inserted in the newspapers of the succeeding day, as follows: 
 ' The great importance of the objects embraced by the bill 
 lately introduced before Parliament for regulating the con- 
 cerns of the profession, the complexity of its interest, and the 
 very extensive communications from the country, many of 
 them entitled to more attention than the shortness of the 
 period allowed by the present session will permit, have in- . 
 duced the Committee to withdraw the bill from the House, in 
 order that it may be submitted, in the course of the next ses- 
 sion, under a more perfect form.' 
 
 " The petition submitted to you at the last general meeting 
 was signed by a very large majority of the Chemists and 
 Druggists in the metropolis. It was presented to the House 
 of Commons on the 24th ult., by the Right Hon. Geo. Canning, 
 who previously honoured a deputation of your Committee with 
 an interview, to enable them to explain to him the particular 
 grounds of their opposition to the Apothecaries' Bill.
 
 56 CONTINUED OPPOSITION OP CHEMISTS AND DRUGGIST*. 
 
 "A circular letter was also distributed amongst the members 
 of the House of Commons ; and in the interviews which in- 
 dividuals or deputations of your Committee had with various 
 members, they had the satisfaction to find a general concur- 
 rence in the views, as to the oppressive and injurious opera- 
 tion of the proposed bill upon the Chemists and Druggists. 
 
 " The avowed intention of the Apothecaries to introduce 
 another bill into Parliament next session, and the recollection 
 of the previous harassings the trade has experienced, cannot 
 fail to convince you of the necessity of a continued watchful- 
 ness to protect and preserve the interests of all concerned in 
 t. Your Committee, therefore, feel it to be their duty to 
 recommend to the consideration of this meeting the adoption 
 of some measure for this purpose, and at the same time to 
 submit to you the importance of providing a fund, to be ready 
 on any emergency, to enable them to adopt the most speedy 
 and most effectual measures without incurring the great 
 labour, inconvenience, and delay attendant on an extensive 
 correspondence with the country. 
 
 " The amount of subscriptions already received is a little 
 more than 500, and the expenses are now short of 10o, 
 when the whole of the business is concluded, they will be 
 within 120. 
 
 " Resolved, That the report now read be received. 
 
 " Resolved, That the present Committee d,o remain a perma- 
 nent Committee, for the protection of the interests of the 
 Chemists and Druggists. 
 
 " Resolved, That the surplus of the subscriptions, after the 
 expenses are paid, be funded in the names of Trustees. 
 
 " Resolved, That the Trustees be the Chairman, Mr. Allen, 
 and Mr. Horner, subject to the direction and control of the 
 ( Committee. 
 
 " Resolved, That these resolutions be printed on the same 
 sheet with the circular letter to Members of Parliament, and 
 sent to all the Chemists and Druggists in town and country, 
 in order that they may be accurately informed of the par- 
 ticular grounds taken by the Committee, in their opposition 
 to the Apothecaries' Bill. 
 
 " At the same time urging those who have not yet sent their 
 subscriptions to remit them immediately, that they mny be 
 added to the permanent fund.
 
 THE PROPOSED BILL ABANDONED. 57 
 
 " The Chairman having left the chair, 
 
 " Ifesnlreil, That the thanks of this meeting be given to 
 the Committee for their prompt and persevering exertions in 
 this business. 
 
 ' ; W. B. HUDSON, Chairman. 
 
 " Mr. Savory having been voted into the chair, it was 
 
 " Besolwed, That the thanks of this general meeting of 
 Chemists and Druggists are due, and are hereby presented, to 
 AV. B. Hudson, Esq. (Chairman), accompanied with a piece of 
 plate, of the value of thirty guineas, as an acknowledgment 
 of his services rendered the trade by his prompt, zealous, and 
 unremitted attention to their interests, in the opposition to 
 the late injurious bill introduced into Parliament by certain 
 Apothecaries." 
 
 Xotwithstanding the modifications in the bill, and the per- 
 severing efforts of the Committee of Associated Apothecaries 
 to conciliate the three constituted medical bodies, these ad- 
 vances met with no encouragement, and the Committee, on 
 the 19th of November, 1813, passed the following resolution: 
 
 " Hesolvetl, That this Committee determine not to apply for 
 the formation of a fourth Medical body for the purpose of 
 examinations, if the powers of the present Chartered Bodies 
 nan be so extended as to accomplish the objects which the 
 printed resolutions of the 4th of September embrace."* 
 
 This resolution was sent, with an appropriate memorial, to 
 each of the three bodies, and the following replies were 
 received : 
 
 "Apothecaries' Hall, October 29, 1813. 
 
 " Resolved, That this Court, after taking into consideration 
 the memorial addressed to them from the Committee of the 
 Society of Apothecaries and Surgeon Apothecaries of England 
 and Wales, together with the reply of the Royal College of 
 Physicians, enclosed to their memorial, are of opinion that this 
 Court cannot enter into measures for any improvement in 
 Pharmacy, but in conjunction with that learned body. 
 
 "S. BACKLEB, Clerk." 
 
 Dr. Latham, on behalf of the ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSI- 
 CIANS, transmitted a copy of a resolution as laid before the 
 
 The substance of these resolutions has already been stated.
 
 58 THE SOCIETY OF APOTHECARIES TAKE UP THE SUBJECT. 
 
 College at the last coui.itni, enclosed in a short note dated 
 January 27, 1814, in which he stated that he was " sincerely 
 happy in the prospect afforded of matters being, at last, satis- 
 factorily adjusted." 
 
 " Resolved, That the President be empowered to inform the 
 Right Hon. George Rose, that the Royal College of Physi- 
 cians have no objection to the formation of a bill to be brought 
 into Parliament by the London Committee of Apothecaries, 
 upon the basis of certain resolutions passed by the said Com- 
 mittee, and dated 4th of September, 1813, provided the 
 powers therein contained be vested in the Society of Apothe- 
 caries as established by the charter of King James, and pro- 
 vided the bill, before it shall be brought into the House of 
 Commons, be submitted to the consideration of the College 
 of Physicians for their approval." 
 
 This report, which had been drawn up by a Committee, was 
 approved by the College, with a slight exception, relating to 
 Army and Navy Surgeons, which it is unnecessary here to 
 particularize.* 
 
 The following is the laconic answer of the COLLEGE OF 
 SURGEONS : 
 
 " Royal College df Surgeons, February 12, 1814. 
 " SIB, I am directed by the Master of the College to 
 acknowledge the receipt of your letter and enclosures of the 
 8th instant, and to return you his thanks for the same. 
 
 " I am, Sir, your most obedient Servant, 
 
 " EDW. BALFOUR, /SVc." 
 " Wm. T. Ward, Esq." 
 
 A general meeting of the Associated Apothecaries was held 
 on the 12th of May, 1814, Mr. Burrows in the chair. Tho 
 report of the Committee contained a detailed account of 
 their reasons for abandoning their original design, and of the 
 progress the Society of Apothecaries had made in framing 
 a new bill, which they proposed to bring into Parliament 
 at their own expense, under the sanction of the College of 
 Physicians. 
 
 The report having been read, Mr. A. T. Thomson ox- 
 
 * Sec " The London Medical Depository," vol. i., page 2G6.
 
 ANIMATED DISCUSSION THEREUPON. 59 
 
 pressed at some length his conviction, that although the pro- 
 posed bill was in many respects defective, and by no means so 
 satisfactory and complete as the one which the Committee had 
 been compelled to withdraw, yet the circumstances of the 
 case rendered it advisable to unite with the Society of Apothe- 
 caries in the work which they had undertaken, and thus to 
 secure a portion at least of those advantages which it ap- 
 peared impossible to obtain to the full extent. 
 
 Mr. Good, who had been absent from some of the late 
 meetings of the Committee, dissented from the report, and 
 denounced the proposed bill " as a measure which had been 
 raked from the musty records in which it had mouldered for 
 two hundred years, to disgrace the enlightened period of the 
 nineteenth century." He objected to the omission of what he 
 considered one of the most important features in the original 
 bill examinations in Anatomy, Surgery, and Midwifery. He 
 objected to the inquisitorial power being vested in any body 
 of men, of entering premises under pretence of " searching for 
 drugs, unlawful, deceitful, corrupt," etc. ; and severely handled 
 the clause which subjects an Apothecary to a penalty ''if he 
 shall at any time knowingly, wilfully, and contumaciously 
 I'efuse to compound," or shall " falsely, unfaithfully, fraudu- 
 lently," compound any medicines, etc., as directed in any pre- 
 scription signed with the initials of a Physician. . < 
 
 The Chairman explained that a separate bill was contem- 
 plated for the regulation of Surgery and Midwifery that the 
 clause respecting the visitation of shops would be modified in 
 committee, and that the penalty for refusal to compound pre- 
 scriptions was designed merely to give the Physician authority 
 over the patient and the treatment adopted, and not to oblige 
 Apothecaries to compound prescriptions whether it suited 
 their convenience or not. 
 
 Mr. Good was not at all satisfied with this explanation, and 
 concluded his speech by insisting, that the bill was "a mea- 
 sure made up of restrictions, penalties, and imprisonments; 
 founded in tyranny and oppression," which he felt confident 
 the meeting would reject. After several members had briefly 
 expressed their opinions, Mr. A. T. Thomson replied to ]\Ir. 
 Good in an elaborate speech, in which he answered the 
 various objections seriatim, contending that it would be un- 
 wise, because the whole of what was desired could not bo
 
 GO THE ASSOCIATED APOTHECARIES' BILL. 
 
 obtained, to refuse a part ; and stating that the Committee 
 were still on the alert, and would, he trusted, continue their 
 exertions until, sooner or later, they had succeeded in accom- 
 plishing all that they had undertaken. 
 
 The motion in favour of supporting the bill was carried by 
 a large majority. 
 
 The Committee of the Associated Apothecaries met at the 
 Crown and Anchor, May 26th, and drew up an amended 
 clause, which they desired to substitute for that which makes 
 it penal for an Apothecary to refuse to compound a prescrip- 
 tion, which, with a few other suggestions, they forwarded to 
 the College of Physicians. 
 
 The clause, however, remains as it originally stood. 
 
 "When this unfortunate bill was brought into the House, 
 on the 23rd of February, the College of Physicians signified 
 their determination to oppose it, without stating the ground of 
 their objection. When the several portions of the bill came 
 under discussion, it was found necessary to make considerable 
 alterations in order to meet the wishes of the College. The 
 House of Lords also introduced amendments, in consequence 
 of which it was rejected by the Commons, and it was neces- 
 sary pro forma to bring in a new bill. These proceedings 
 occasioned so much delay that the close of the session had 
 almost arrived before the bill was completed, and it was ulti- 
 mately hurried through Parliament in a state which was not 
 altogether satisfactory to the promoters of the measure, 
 although they chose the alternative of securing it in that con- 
 dition, hoping to obtain an amended Act during the ensuing 
 session, and fearing that by further procrastination they might 
 be defeated altogether. 
 
 But we must not omit to notice the proceedings of the 
 Chemists and Druggists, who met this bill with the same 
 determined opposition with which they encountered its pre- 
 decessor. 
 
 At a general meeting of the Chemists and Druggists in 
 the metropolis, held, in pursuance of public advertise- 
 ment, at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen Street, 
 Lincoln's Inn Fields, on Monday, the 5th day of March 
 
 18ir,, 
 
 Mr. HFDSON in the chair.
 
 THE CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS OPPOSE THE BILL. til 
 
 The following are the principal clauses of the report which 
 was presented by the Committee : * 
 
 ; ' Your Committee, in reporting their progress since the 
 last general meeting, have to acquaint you, that the Society 
 of Apothecaries have procured a bill to be brought into the 
 House of Commons, entitled, ' A Bill for enlarging the Charter 
 of the Society of Apothecaries in the City of London, granted 
 by His Majesty King James the First, and for better regu- 
 kitiug the Practice of Apothecaries throughout England and 
 Wales ; ' and such bill appears to your Committee to be 
 equally objectionable as the former bill presented by the 
 Associated Apothecaries, and as injurious to the Chemists, 
 Druggists, and to the public at large. 
 
 " On ifonda/y, the 16th May, 1814, a Sub-Committee was 
 appointed to confer with a Sub-Committee of the Associated 
 Apothecaries, on the bill proposed to be brought into Parlia- 
 ment, ' For enlarging the Charter of the Society of Apothe- 
 caries,' etc., and to report to the Committee the result of such 
 conference. In answer to the letter proposing a conference, 
 the following was received : 
 
 " "Bloomsbury Square, May \8tJt, 1814. 
 
 " Sin, In answer to your favour of yesterday, permit me 
 to remark, that I apprehend your application is made to me 
 under the impression that the bill about to be introduced to 
 Parliament is a bill formed by the Committee of Associated 
 Apothecaries, and that they carry it into the House. 
 
 " For the information of yourself and the gentlemen acting 
 with you, permit me also to say, that it is arranged by the 
 Society of Apothecaries, in conjunction with the College of 
 Physicians, that it has been submitted for the remarks of 
 the Committee to which I belong, and received, after some 
 amendments are made which were proposed, the approbation 
 of a general meeting of Apothecaries, held last Thursday, to 
 take the bill into consideration. 
 
 " I have the honour to be, Sir, 
 
 " Your obedient humble Servant, 
 
 " W. B. Hudson, Esq." " G. M. BURROWS. 
 
 * At a meeting of the Committee, held at the Globe, on the 2nd of 
 March, 1814, Mr. Westwood, of Newgate Street, and Mr. Butterfield, of 
 the Strand, were added to the Committee.
 
 Gl! I'KOCEEDINGS OF THE CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS. 
 
 " On Thursday, November 24th, 1814, the accounts of sub- 
 scriptions and disbursements were audited and approved, 
 whereby it appeared that 550 five per cent, annuities were 
 standing in the names of the Trustees, which cost the sum of 
 502 Is. 6d., and that a balance of 36 4s. remained in the 
 hands of the Treasurer; and it was resolved, that a circular 
 letter should be sent to all the Chemists and Druggists in 
 town and country, informing them of the proceedings of the 
 Committee since the last general meeting. 
 
 "Resolved unanimously, That the report now read be re- 
 ceived and approved. 
 
 "The Chairman then informed the meeting that the 
 Apothecaries' Bill was now to be submitted to the meeting. 
 The bill having been read and discussed, it was 
 
 " Resolved, That it is the opinion of the meeting that the 
 bill now read contains much matter highly injurious to the 
 Chemists and Druggists and the public at large, and that 
 therefore it ought to be opposed. 
 
 " Resolved, That a petition be presented to the House of 
 Commons against the aforesaid bill, and that a petition for 
 this purpose be now read. 
 
 " Resolved, That the petition now read be approved, und be 
 signed by the Chemists and Druggists of the metropolis. 
 
 " Resolved, That the Committee be empowered to take mea- 
 sures to have the petition presented to Parliament, and to 
 employ such other means as they shall think fit, and may be 
 necessary for opposing the said bill. 
 
 " Resolved, That the resolutions be advertised in the Times, 
 Morninff Chronicle, and Conner. 
 
 "W. B. HUDSON." 
 
 On the 17th of April, Mr. Ofifford was added to the Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 At a general meeting of the Chemists and Druggists in 
 the metropolis, held at the Globe Tavern, Fleet Street. 
 London, on Friday, the 21st day of April, 1815, in 
 pursuance of advertisements, 
 
 Mr. HUDSON in the chair. 
 
 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. 
 
 "Your Committee, in reporting their progress since the 
 last general meeting, have to acquaint you that, in order to
 
 OlttGIN OF THE PROTECTIVE CIAUiC. bo 
 
 carry into execution the resolutions of the general meeting of 
 the 6th day of March last, relative to the bill brought into 
 Parliament by the Society of Apothecaries, they met together 
 the next day, Avhen a Sub-Committee, consisting of the Chair- 
 man, Mr. Smith, Mr. Allen, Mr. Cole, and Mr. Savory, was 
 appointed to confer \vith the Committee of the Society of 
 Apothecaries on the subject of the said bill, and that any two 
 of them should be competent to hold such conference, and 
 report the result thereof. 
 
 "Monday, the loth of March. The Chairman reported from 
 the Sub-Committee, that he had written to the Master of the 
 Society of the Apothecaries' Company, requesting a conference 
 with the Committee of the said Society, on the subject of the 
 said Bill ; and that he had received a letter from their Secre- 
 tary appointing Wednesday next, at one o'clock, to receive 
 the deputation. 
 
 " Wednesday, 'the loth of March. The Chairman reported 
 that Mr. Smith, Mr. Savory, and himself had waited upon the 
 Society of Apothecaries that day, according to their appoint* 
 ment, and that the Society declared it to be their intention 
 not to interfere at all with the Chemists and Druggists by 
 their bill now in Parliament, and they offered to prepare a 
 clause to that effect, to be added to the bill, for the satisfac* 
 tion of the Chemists and Druggists. 
 
 " Monday, the '20th of Match. The Chairman reported that 
 he had received the following letter from the Solicitors to the 
 Society of Apothecaries, inclosing a clause proposed to be 
 added to their bill, now pending in Parliament, for exempting 
 the Chemists and Druggists from the provisions and effect of 
 the said bill. 
 
 * : SIR, We are instructed by the Committee of the Society of 
 Apothecaries to forward to you the clause which they propose, at 
 the requisition of the Committee of your body, to introduce into 
 the Act noiu before the House of Commons, and which, tee trust : 
 will meet the wishes of the parties whom you represent. 
 
 "The Committee of the Society of Apothecaries see roith con- 
 cent that misrepresentations have been made of their object, which 
 is the improvement of their branch of the prrfesnion in medical 
 knowledge. To this their vieivs are so entirely directed, that 
 they have no disposition to insist on any clause which is not 
 essentially connected with it. If the power euablim/ tlieni t
 
 64 THE PROTECTIVE CLAUSE. 
 
 purchase land (a power which ivas asked fur only because the, 
 opportunity of obtaining it ivithout expense presented it-self J be a 
 clatise u-hich excites any jealousy, and of which the am/tenon 
 would conciliate the Chemists and Druggists, they have 'no hesita- 
 tion in stating, that they shall recommend it to the Court of 
 Assistants not to press its insertion. 
 
 " We are, SIR, your obedient Servants, 
 
 "PLADGATE AND NEELD. 
 " Essex Street, 17th of March, 1815." 
 
 The clause proposed : 
 
 ''Provided always, and be it farther enacted, That nothing in 
 this Act contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to pre- 
 judice, or in any way to affect the trade and business of a Chemist 
 and Dmggist ; but all persons using or exercising the said trade, 
 or who shall or may hereafter use or exercise the same, shall and 
 may use, exercise, and carry on the same trade in such manner 
 and as fully and amply to all intents and purposes as they might 
 hace done in case this Act had not been made" 
 
 " Your Committee directed that the charter of the Apothe- 
 caries, the new bill in Parliament, with the proviso above 
 proposed, and the letter of the solicitors of the Apothecaries' 
 Company, should be submitted to the consideration of counsel 
 as to the effect the same might have on the Chemists and 
 Druggists, and that the Secretaries should lay the same before 
 counsel with proper instructions accordingly. 
 
 " Monday, 17th April. The Secretaries laid before the Com- 
 mittee the case submitted to counsel on behalf of the Chemists 
 and Druggists, with the charter and bill in Parliament, and 
 counsel's opinion thereon ; also the proviso proposed by the 
 Solicitors of the Society of Apothecaries, as settled by counsel. 
 And it was resolved, that the following clause should be 
 recommended to the general meeting, to be added to the bill 
 now pending in Parliament ; and that it be also recommended 
 to the general meeting to request the Society of Apothecaries 
 to withdraw the clause introduced into their bill for enlarging 
 their powers of purchasing lands." 
 
 Amended clause : 
 
 " Provided ahvaijs, and be it further enacted, That nothing in 
 this Act contained shall extend or be construed to extend to pre- 
 judice, or in any way to affect the trade or business of a Chemist
 
 THE DRUGGISTS WITHDRAW OPPOSITION. C5 
 
 and Druggist, in the buying, preparing, compounding, dispensing, 
 and vending drugs and medicinal compounds, tuholesale and 
 retail ; but all persons using or exercising the said trade or 
 business, or wlio shall or may hereafter use or exercise the same, 
 xhv.ll and may use, exercise, and carry on the same trade or 
 business, in such manner and as fully and amply to all intents 
 ami purposes as the same trade or business was used, exercised, 
 or carried on by Chemists and Druggists before the passing of 
 
 tkis Act:' 
 
 " Resolved unanimously, That the report now read be re- 
 ceived. 
 
 " Resolved unanimously. That on the insertion of the last 
 stated clause in the bill of the Society of Apothecaries now 
 pending in Parliament, and on the withdrawment of the 
 clause in the said bill for the enlargement of the power of 
 the Society to purchase lands, the Chemists and Druggists do 
 withdraw their opposition to the bill. 
 
 " Resolved unanimously, That the last resolution be sent, 
 with a copy of the amended clause, to the Society of Apothe- 
 caries." 
 
 At a general meeting of the Chemists and Druggists in 
 the metropolis, held in pursuance of public advertise- 
 ments, at the Globe Tavern, Fleet Street, London, on 
 Friday, the llth day of August, 1815, 
 Mr. HUDSON, in the chair, 
 The following report of the Committee was read : 
 
 "Your Committee have now the pleasure to report to you 
 the termination of their labours on the Apothecaries' Bill. 
 The clause to protect the Chemists and Druggists from the 
 operation of the bill, which, received the sanction of tlie last 
 general meeting, was agreed to without alteration by the 
 Society of Apothecaries, and subsequently approved by the 
 Committee of the House of Commons on the bill ; the Chair- 
 man attended the Committee with the Counsel and Secretary, 
 and they had the satisfaction to find that the Counsel for the 
 College of Physicians was also well satisfied with the clause. 
 
 "The earnest desire your Committee had to make some 
 decision on the subject, that the trade might be relieved of 
 the great expense and trouble heretofore experienced, led 
 them to adopt every possible means to obtain a perfect under-
 
 66 
 
 STATEMENT OP ACCOUNTS. 
 
 standing of the charter of the Society of Apothecaries, in 
 order to form a clear idea of their own duty. This, and the 
 necessary attendance of the bill before the Committee of the 
 House of Commons, has necessarily brought on a considerable 
 expense of Counsel not before incurred ; the result, however, 
 has fully equalled their expectations, and they trust will be 
 satisfactory to those whose interests they have been endea- 
 vouring to protect and support. 
 
 " The state of the f ands since the last audit is as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 1815. s. d. 1815. s. 
 
 d. 
 
 Balance then Paid Postages, 
 
 
 in hand . . 36 4 1814 ... 7 17 
 
 11 
 
 April Divi- Advertisements 
 
 
 dends ... 12 7 6 
 
 and Room . 1G 18 
 
 8 
 
 Subscriptions . 18 12 Printing. . . 34 
 
 6 
 
 August Divi- Now due, Ex- 
 
 
 dends ... 12 7 G penses of 
 
 
 Counsel . . 57 18 
 
 
 
 
 Agents of both 
 
 
 
 Houses of 
 
 
 
 Parliament . 23 3 
 
 G 
 
 
 Secretary's Bill, 
 
 
 
 including 
 
 
 
 Printing, 
 
 
 
 Advertise- 
 
 
 
 ments, Post- 
 
 
 
 ages, and 
 
 
 
 Attendances. 95 4 
 
 -> 
 
 
 204 G 
 
 9 
 
 s. cl 
 
 
 Balance now in hand .... 51 9 11 
 
 
 Navy 5 per Cents. 
 550, worth about . 
 
 hand 
 
 Sterling. 
 
 " Some further expenses of printing, postages, &c., will be 
 necessary to convey a circular letter of information to the 
 subscribers.
 
 THE TERMINATION OF THE CONTEST. 67 
 
 " The Committee have only to observe in conclusion, that 
 they beg to recommend to the consideration of this general 
 meeting, that the surplus of the fund should remain in the 
 Xavy 5 per cents., in the names of the present Trustees, to 
 be appropriated to any purpose of trade for the benefit of 
 the subscribers which shall be sanctioned by a general meet- 
 ing, and that future subscriptions shall not be less than Two 
 Guineas c/t.cli." 
 
 "Resolved unanimously, That the report now read be re- 
 ceived and approved. 
 
 " liesolved unanimously, That the surplus of the fund, after 
 defraying the expenses, do remain in the Navy 5 per cents., 
 in the names of the present Trustees, to be appropriated to 
 any purpose of trade for the benefit of the subscribers which 
 shall receive the sanction of a general meeting, and that 
 future subscriptions shall not be less than Two Guineas 
 each. 
 
 " Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of this meeting be 
 presented to the Right Honourable Lord Lascelles, for pre- 
 senting the Petition of the Chemists and Druggists to the 
 House of Commons, and for his constant attention to their 
 interest. 
 
 " Second- Resolution, Reconsidered and amended, and carried 
 unanimously. 
 
 " Resolved unanimously, That the substance of the resolu- 
 tions of the general meetings be printed under the direction 
 of the Committee, and sent to all subscribers to the fund, iii 
 town and country. 
 
 "Resolved unanimously, That the cordial thanks of this 
 meeting be presented to the Committee for their unwearied 
 and successful services in ^securing to the Chemists and 
 Druggists the free and undisturbed exercise of their trade 
 and business. 
 
 The Chairman having left the chair, 
 
 Mr. Hume was voted to it. 
 
 li Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of the meeting be 
 given to the Chairman for his attention to the business of the 
 day." 
 
 An account of the proceedings of the Associated Apothe- 
 caries, in reference to the Act of 1815, is contained in the 
 Transactions of that body, a volume published in the year
 
 68 IMPERFECTIONS OF THE ACT OF 1815. 
 
 1823, and also in the London Medical Repository of 1814 aud 
 1815. 
 
 The above brief outline is introduced for the purpose of 
 connecting into one concise history the principal circum- 
 stances of the controversy, and the policy adopted by the 
 various parties concerned, in order that we may benefit by the 
 experience of our predecessors. 
 
 The avowed object of the Act was to protect the public 
 from the dangers resulting from the ignorance of unqualified 
 practitioners, to improve the character and respectability of 
 the educated Surgeon Apothecary, to establish a school of 
 Medicine and Pharmacy, and to secure to qualified persons a 
 fair remuneration for professional skill. The result is em- 
 phatically described in the Transactions of the Associated 
 Apothecaries (Introductory Essay, page Iviii.) . 
 
 ' ; That it was very unsatisfactory may be seen, by compar- 
 ing the Apothecaries' Act as it is with the bill as first pro- 
 jected by the Association. Shorn, indeed, is the latter of its 
 fair proportions ! The practice of medicine is doubtless placed 
 under certain but very inadequate restrictions ; but, whilst 
 that of Surgery and Midwifery is still open to every unprinci- 
 pled pretender, the Druggists are neither prevented from 
 making up Physicians' prescriptions, nor even from practising 
 medicine ; no provision is made for secnring a supply of quali- 
 fied assistants ; and lastly, while the public are thus denied so 
 many and such great advantages, not only is the general 
 practitioner not relieved from his burdens, but he is subjected 
 to new and vexatious restrictions." 
 
 Gray, in his supplement to the Pharmacopeia, makes the 
 following observations on the subject : 
 
 " This Act has had the singular fortune of being violently 
 opposed, as insufficient, by those who wei'e its oi*iginal pro- 
 moters ; of being esteemed a burden by many of those whom 
 it was meant to benefit; and of being looked upon with indif- 
 ference by those against whom it was intended to act ; since the 
 Act was altered and restricted to those who practise as Apothe- 
 caries, with an express declaration that it did not extend to 
 the Chemists and Druggists, whose shops are in general con- 
 founded with those of the Apothecaries, and whose business 
 differs no otherwise than that with the dispensing Physician 
 or modern Apothecary medical practice is the principal
 
 THE ASSOCIATION OF APOTHECARIES. 60 
 
 object, retail and dispensing the secondary : while, with the 
 Chemist and Druggist, or old Apothecary, retail and dispen- 
 sing are principal, and medical practice mostly confined to 
 the counter, or to a few personal acquaintance ; a fortiori, the 
 midwives, herbalists, cuppers, barbers, electricians, galvani- 
 zers, dentists, farriers, veterinary surgeons, village wisemen, 
 and cow-leeches, are left in full possession of their ancient 
 practice, and may be consulted by those who place confidence 
 in them, as they cannot be confounded with Apothecaries, 
 though the Chemist and Druggist may." 
 
 Dr. George Mann Burrows continued his exertions as 
 Chairman of the Committee of Associated Apothecaries until 
 August, 1817, and pointed out a variety of defects in the bill, 
 which the Committee submitted to the notice of the Court of 
 Assistants of the Society of Apothecai'ies. But it was found 
 impossible to induce that body to take the needful steps for 
 rectifying these defects, and although proposals were enter- 
 tained for applying to Parliament for an amendment of the 
 Act, no decisive result ensued. 
 
 The Association continued to meet periodically for some 
 years, their chief attention being directed to the suppression 
 of irregular and unqualified practitioners, but their efforts 
 were not seconded by the medical bodies, and although the 
 Association comprised upwards of 3,000 members, their 
 labours in this particular ended where they began. 
 
 The formation of so large an association of Apothecaries, 
 distinct from the chartered Society of Apothecaries, especially 
 as many of the members belonged to both bodies, is an 
 anomaly the object of which it is not easy to comprehend ; it 
 appears that this Association was, in fact, a revival of that 
 which was formed in the year 1794, and which was also un- 
 connected with the three constituted medical bodies ; but as 
 its attention was directed to a new object, namely, that of 
 ensuring the competence of Medical and Pharmaceutical 
 practitioners of all ranks, and establishing a fair system of 
 remuneration, the result ought to have been more successful 
 than it was. But the want of unity in the profession itself, 
 and the party spirit which prevailed throughout the contro- 
 versy, diverted the influence into so many channels that a 
 partial failure was the natural consequence. The Chemists 
 and Druggists, on the contrary, who had already acquired a
 
 70 MEETING OP DRUGGISTS ON THE SALE OF POISONS. 
 
 standing as dispensers of medicine, by uniting their strength 
 on the occasion, secured to themselves a continuance of all 
 their former privileges, although they did not at that time 
 aspire to the scientific improvement which they have now 
 undertaken to bring about. Their Committee retained the 
 powers which had been confided in them, and kept a watchful 
 eye on any proceedings or events which appeared likely to 
 influence the welfare of their body, or in which their credit as 
 Pharmaceutists was concerned. In the year 1819 they called 
 a public meeting, of which the following is the report: 
 
 At a general meeting of Chemists and Druggists, in 
 the metropolis and its neighbourhood, held in pur- 
 suance of public advertisement, at the Globe 
 Tavern, Fleet Street, on Thursday, the 24th day of 
 June, 1819, 
 
 Mr. HUDSON in the chair, 
 
 The following report was presented by the Committee : 
 
 " Your Committee have called you together on the present 
 occasion to lay before you some information respecting a bill 
 which was brought into Parliament during the present ses- 
 sion, entitled 'A Bill for establishing Regulations for the 
 Sale of Poisonous Drugs, and for better preventing the mis- 
 chiefs arising from inattention or neglect of persons vending 
 the same.' 
 
 "Your Committee procured copies of the bill as soon as it 
 was printed, and met to consider its provisions, some of which 
 appearing to them ' likely to embarrass the dispensing of 
 medicines, and not calculated to effect the object intended,' 
 they prepared a petition to that effect, which was presented 
 to the House of Commons. They were subsequently favoured 
 with a hearing before the Committee of the Hquse, to whom 
 the bill was referred, and the bill was shortly after with- 
 drawn. 
 
 "Your Committee, however, being deeply sensible of the 
 importance of the subject, and anxious to employ every possi- 
 ble means to attain the object intended by the bill, beg to 
 recommend to the Chemists and Druggists, and all others 
 who vend poisons or poisonous substances, the adoption of the 
 following regulations in their shops : 
 
 "First That no arsenic, oxalic acid, or corrosive sublimate,
 
 THOMSON'S LONDON DISPENSATORY, 71 
 
 be issued by any vendor, without a printed label of the name 
 of the article, and the word ' POISON ' being affixed to every 
 wrapper, box, bottle, or other vessel containing the same. 
 
 " Secondly That on every wrapper or vessel containing 
 any drug or preparation likely to produce serious mischief, if 
 improperly used, the name of the article be affixed in a legible 
 form ; and as many persons can read print who cannot read 
 writing, they would recommend that printed labels be used 
 where possible, in preference to written ones. 
 
 " Thirdly That no person be allowed to serve poisons, 
 who is not of sufficient age and experience to judge of the 
 importance of the great caution necessary in avoiding the sale 
 of them to improper or ignorant persons. 
 
 " Resolved unanimously, That the report now read be 
 received and approved, and that the same be printed and 
 circulated as widely as possible among the Chemists and 
 Druggists and all other persons who vend poisons or poisonous 
 drugs throughout the United Kingdom." 
 
 In the year 1824 another edition of the London Pharmaco- 
 poeia was published, and Sir George Tuthill produced the 
 English translation. On this occasion Mr. Phillips, instead 
 of repeating his strictures on the work of the College, gave 
 a specimen of his own performance in " A Translation, with 
 Notes and Illustrations," which he published shortly after 
 that of Sir George Tuthill. The merit of this work was 
 appreciated by the College, as would appear from the subse- 
 quent appointment of Mr. Phillips as the official translator of 
 the Pharmacopoeia of 1836. 
 
 Dr. A. T. Thomson's " London Dispensatory " appeared in 
 the year 1814, and has undergone a succession of improve- 
 ments and amplifications up to the present time. The fame 
 and merits of the work are too well known to require any 
 particular notice ; it comprehends in one volume a sufficiently 
 ample account of all the substances comprised in the Materia 
 Medica, a very useful explanation of the science of Chemistry, 
 as applied to Pharmacy, a compendium of the three]Pharma- 
 copceias, with copious notes, and a list of substances incom- 
 patible with others in extemporaneous prescriptions. The 
 tenth edition has lately been announced. 
 
 The Committee of the Druggists'.' Association of 1802 met 
 in the year 1829, in consequence of the vexatious proceedings
 
 72 ASSOCIATION OF CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS, 1829. 
 
 of the Commissioners of Stamps, aided by common informers, 
 in reference to the Medicine Act. Numerous penalties were 
 inflicted on individuals in various parts of the country for 
 selling lozenges and other articles, by weight, -without a stamp, 
 which had hitherto been considered legal, provided printed 
 directions for their use were not affixed. The injustice of 
 these proceedings became so glaring, that it was considered 
 necessary to take some steps for protecting the trade. Ac- 
 cordingly a meeting was called on the 31st of December, 1829. 
 The following resolutions are inserted, as they show the 
 disposition which prevailed at that time to form a permanent 
 society : 
 
 " That the individuals composing this Society disclaim all 
 motive of opposition to any act of the legislature. They 
 declare their sole object in associating to be the concerting, 
 in unison, the fair means of protecting themselves and the 
 trade from the losses and annoyance in business to which 
 they are subjected, on the part of the stamp-office, by pro- 
 secutions for penalties, under what they honestly conceived 
 to be, and are legally advised, is a misconstruction of the 
 Medicine Stamp Act. 
 
 " That a Society be formed, to be intituled ' The General 
 Association of Chemists and Druggists of Great Britain,' for 
 the purpose of obtaining a judicial construction of the Medicine 
 Stamp and Licence Acts, by assisting those who have been 
 improperly prosecuted to bring their cases before a court of 
 justice, and, if the Acts should be there held to have been 
 rightly construed, for the further purpose of obtaining a re- 
 vision of them by the legislature. 
 
 " That a Committee of twelve, with liberty to add to their 
 number, be chosen annually five to form a quorum : the 
 Committee to meet once in every month. 
 
 " That a general meeting of the Association to be called by 
 advertisement, and by circulars to all the members, be held 
 twice in each year (viz. May and November), at which meet- 
 ings the Committee shall report its proceedings. 
 
 "That the Committee be empowered to convene special 
 general meetings, when any circumstances shall ai-ise to 
 render such meetings desirable. 
 
 "That every member shall pay a yearly subscription of 
 twenty shillings, and in default of payment, after two months'
 
 CCTLES OP THE ASSOCIATION. 73 
 
 notice from tlic Secretary, ho shall be excluded the Society, 
 and debarred from all privileges and advantages. 
 
 " That every member claiming protection from the Society, 
 shall lay before the Committee a fall and fair statement, in 
 writing, of all the circumstances of the case upon which he 
 grounds such claim. 
 
 " That the Committee shall have power to receive, examine, 
 find consider any claim for protection, and decide thereon : 
 and if the case be defensible at law, the expenses of such 
 defence shall be defrayed out of the funds of the Society. 
 
 " That the Committee be authorized to obtain, such legal 
 advice as they may deem necessary. 
 
 " That no money be paid by the Treasurer without an order, 
 in writing, from the Committee. 
 
 " That at any general meeting bye-laws may be enacted, 
 which shall be as binding as the original rules ; but that no 
 bye-law to alter or rescind any of the original rules shall be 
 passed, unless notice be given in the circular calling such 
 general meeting. 
 
 " That Auditors (not being members of the Committee) be 
 elected annually, to examine and pass the Treasurer's ac- 
 counts, which accounts are to be exhibited at the two named 
 general meetings. 
 
 " That all the offices, except the Secretary of the Society, be 
 honorary : That the officers be elected annually, by the mem- 
 bers of the Society, at one of the general meetings, and that 
 they be eligible to re-election." 
 
 This Association flourished for several months ; Dr. Eeece, 
 Messrs. Midgley, Ancell, Gifford, Gray, Waagh, "Watts, 
 Binge, and Winstanley, were among the most active mem- 
 bers. Petitions were drawn up and ready for presentation 
 to Parliament, when an alteration took place in the law, the 
 evil was at an end, and the Association was broken up. Mr. 
 Hudson, the treasurer of the Association of 1812, declined to 
 hand over the balance of subscriptions, as it appeared, on 
 maturely considering the subject, that the objects of the two 
 Associations being different, he was nob justified in amalgam- 
 ating the funds. 
 
 About the year 1830 another attempt was made to intro- 
 duce a reformation in the practice of Pharmacy in this 
 country, and for this purpose it was proposed to address the
 
 74 ATTEMPT TO INTRODUCE A REFORM IN PHARMACY. 
 
 government on the subject, petitioning for an ACT which, 
 should regulate those who follow this department. Mr. John 
 Savory took the lead on this occasion, and his efforts were 
 seconded by the late Mr. Hudson and Mr. Butler. The 
 memorial which was prepared contained a brief and appro- 
 priate exposition of the importance of Pharmacy to the health 
 and life of his Majesty's subjects ; the necessity of education 
 and integrity in those whose duty it is to carry into effect 
 the instructions of medical men ; the prevalence of ignorant 
 and incompetent persons calling themselves Chemists and 
 Druggists, and the frequency of injury to the public from 
 this source ; the difficulty of detecting adulterations and the 
 necessity of proper qualification in Pharmaceutists, in order 
 to enable them to perform their duty in this respect ; the 
 advantages resulting from Pharmaceutical education in 
 foreign countries ; the danger arising from the uncontrolled 
 sale of poisons by ignorant persons ; and, finally, the absolute 
 necessity of some sanitary regulations for the elevation of this 
 department in the profession, and the protection of the public. 
 Mr. Savory waited on a considerable number of the Chemists 
 and Druggists in London, soliciting signatures to this me- 
 morial ; but so little encouragement was given to the pro- 
 posed measure of reform that the project fell to the ground. 
 A notion appeared to prevail, that the trade had been so 
 often attacked, that it was hazardous to court a repetition of 
 former annoyances by introducing so delicate a subject, and 
 thus giving the cue to parties who might be interested in 
 bringing about a destructive revolution. It was also con- 
 sidered by many to be a chimerical scheme on account of the 
 want of unanimity in the trade, and it seemed to be the 
 opinion of the majority that it was 
 
 ' ' Better to bear the ills we have, 
 Than fly to others that we know not of." 
 
 Accordingly the memorial proved abortive, not from any 
 doubt of its propriety or justice, but because the parties 
 concerned, who might have promoted its object, were not 
 disposed, in the absence of an exciting cause, to coalesce, and 
 embark in an undertaking which would have involved a 
 departure from the strictly defensive policy hitherto adopted 
 by the trade.
 
 THE PHARMACOKEIA OF MR. PHILLIPS. 75 
 
 The rapid progress of the science of Chemistry, and the 
 recent introduction of various substances and preparations 
 into medicinal use, had by this time thrown the Pharma- 
 copoeia of 1824 into the shade, and a new edition was an- 
 xiously anticipated. Some delay arose from the endeavour 
 to compile, " not as before, a London Pharmacopoeia, but one 
 which should include Scotland and Ireland with England," 
 for which purpose "it was requisite to consult with the 
 Fellows of both colleges ; and as, on account of the great 
 distance, this was with difficulty accomplished," the college 
 was " constrained to abandon the negotiation, which had 
 been commenced." * There was, however, another obstacle 
 to this project, namely, there was a considerable stock on 
 hand of the Dublin Pharmacopoeia, which must have been 
 sacrificed at a heavy loss to the publisher (or the college), if 
 the amalgamation had been carried into effect. It must also 
 be recollected, that at the time the "great distance" was 
 considered an insurmountable bar to the union, the railroads 
 and the penny postage had not come into operation. 
 
 In the year 1836 the London Pharmacopcoia was com- 
 pleted, and Mr. Phillips, who had been engaged in the 
 practical details of its compilation, was officially authorized 
 to publish the translation. Among the most important ad- 
 ditions, we may mention the alkaloids morphia, aconitina, 
 strychnia, and veratria ; several preparations of iodine ; hydro- 
 cyanic and phosphoric acids, and a few conventional formula), 
 such as pilula rhei composita, mistura spiritus vini Gallici, 
 etc., etc. 
 
 In this Pharmacopoeia an alphabetical arrangement is 
 adopted, from which however a few substances are excepted, 
 forming separate sections. Mr. Phillips, in his translation, 
 gives explicit instructions for testing the strength of prepara- 
 tions, and for detecting impurities. The known (or supposed) 
 constitution of the various compounds is explained by dia- 
 gi'ams and symbols, a list of synonyms is affixed to each 
 preparation, tables of equivalents and symbols are given in 
 addition to the other tables, and many valuable remarks and 
 directions are added, which make the work very complete 
 and voluminous. 
 
 Pharmacopoeia Lontlinensis, 1836, Phillips' translation, preface, p. 7.
 
 76 ALTERATION IN THE PINT MEASUKE. 
 
 The alterations in the nomenclatui-e have been so much 
 commented upon, that it is unnecessary to notice them in 
 detail. Our only cause for regret is, that the multiplication 
 of terms and synonyms has occasioned considerable am- 
 biguity, which is not unfrequently productive of inconve- 
 nience as well as mistakes. Some of the alterations in names 
 have little or no reference to scientific considerations ; as, for 
 instance, pilula saponis composita for pilula saponis cum 
 opio, tinctura eamphone for spiritus camphorae, mistura 
 acacia? for mucilago acacias, syrupus for syrupus simplex, 
 etc. These changes are of no importance, except in a few 
 instances, in which they occasion a little want of perspi- 
 cuity. 
 
 The adoption of the imperial measure, in conformity with 
 the Act of Parliament by which measures in general are 
 regulated, has given rise to some discussion. As the College 
 of Physicians is authorized by law to publish a Pharmacopoeia, 
 and to enforce its observance by those who compound and 
 prepare medicines, it may fairly be doubted whether that 
 body comes within the pale of the Act by which publicans 
 and wine-merchants are governed ; and as the medical pro- 
 fession has adopted, and continues to use " Apothecaries' 
 Weights," it cannot be denied that " Apothecaries' Measure " 
 might with equal propriety be allowed. In adverting to the 
 disadvantage of unnecessary changes of this description, we 
 may recur to Mr. Phillips' remarks on the libra, quoted page 
 43, which with a slight valuation would apply to the recent 
 change in the value of the term octarium. In the present 
 instance, however, it may also be observed, that the old pint 
 is more convenient than the new, as it admits of subdivision 
 to a greater extent without fractious, and is therefore better 
 adapted to the calculations of the Pharmaceutical Chemist. 
 Some medical men, in order to avoid the ambiguity which 
 now exists respecting the octarium, use the term 7/6ra (mean- 
 ing 16 oz.) ; but this is no less ambiguous, as the Apothecaries' 
 pound is 12 oz. and the fluid pound is obsolete. Others avoid 
 the use of the lerms pound and pint altogether, which indeed 
 is the only effectual method of avoiding confusion. 
 
 In t l ie jeir 1837, Dr. Collier published a caustic and acrid 
 pamphlet, in which he disputed the title of the College to 
 secure the copyright of the Pharmacopoeia to Mr. Phillips,
 
 MR. WARBURTOX'S PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY. 77 
 
 enumerating a number of instances in winch translations of 
 former Pharmacopoeias had been published without authority, 
 among others a ti-anslation by himself, in the year 1820, and 
 the one by Phillips in 1824. In this pamphlet he announced 
 his intention of again appearing in the field, and shortly 
 afterwards produced his translation of the Pharmacopoeia of 
 1830, with copious notes and comments. 
 
 The next event which we have to notice in the annals of 
 Pharmacy is the Parliamentary inquiry, instituted by a 
 Committee of the House of Commons, in 1839, of which Mr. 
 Warburton was chairman. The object of this Committee 
 was to revise all the laws relating to the medical profession, 
 to obtain authentic and satisfactory evidence in every de- 
 partment of the subject, and to reform any abuses which 
 might be found to exist. Every person who was supposed 
 to be likely to possess information of any importance was 
 examined, and the mass of evidence thus collected was, as 
 might have been expected, very voluminous. The fire which 
 took place at the House of Commons was an obstacle to the 
 completion of the work, as a portion of the evidence, includ- 
 ing that which related to Pharmacy, was burnt when on the 
 eve of publication. Sufficient materials, however, were col- 
 lected and preserved to enable Mr. Warburton, assisted by 
 Mr. Wakley and Mr. Hawes, to prepare a bill, entitled " A Bill 
 for the Begistration of Medical Practitioners, and for estab- 
 lishing a College of Medicine, and for enabling the Fellows 
 of that College to practise Medicine in all or any of its 
 branches, and hold any Medical Appointments whatsoever, 
 in any part whatsoever of the United Kingdom." This bill 
 contained no provision for the prosecution or punishment of 
 unqualified practitioners, but it provided for the registration 
 of those who had passed the requisite examinations, and who 
 were to pay an annual tax towards the expenses of the 
 establishment, in return for which they were to enjoy the privi- 
 leges of registration, and holding offices of emolument in the 
 profession. According to the principles advocated by Mr. 
 Warburton, the public were to be furnished with qualified 
 practitioners in every department, and ample means provided 
 for distinguishing between those who possessed the requisite 
 proficiency and others ; but no penalties were to be inflicted 
 on persons who presumed to practise without a qualification, it
 
 78 ALLEGED ABUSE OP PRIVILEGE. 
 
 being considered that the public are responsible for the results 
 of patronizing such persons. 
 
 The machinery of the plan proposed by Mr. Warburton for 
 registering medical and pharmaceutical practitioners was so 
 complicated, and the provisions of the bill so unsatisfactory 
 to those who advocated the restraint of unqualified practi- 
 tioners, and who constituted the bulk of the "Medical 
 Reformers," that the bill was withdrawn at an early stage : 
 those who had been engaged in the work divided themselves 
 into two or three parties, and other bills were prepared which 
 were destined to share a similar fate. But before entering 
 on the notice of these bills, it may be as well to advert to the 
 operation of the Apothecaries' Act, in reference to Chemists 
 and Druggists. In the evidence of Mr. Nussey, in the Par- 
 liamentary Committee, June 9, 1836, the following statements 
 were elicited : 
 
 34. The Act of 1815 reserves to Chemists and Druggists 
 whatsoever privileges they possessed at the time the bill 
 passed ; among which they reckon the privilege of prescribing 
 and dispensing in their own shops : does not this privilege 
 occasion medicine to be practised by a number of persons who 
 have not received any regular medical education ? Most 
 undoubtedly. 
 
 35. Why would you put down unqualified practitioners of 
 one description, when you maintain in possession of a right 
 to practise an unlimited number of persons of another de- 
 scription, who, for the most part, have received no medical 
 instruction whatever ? I do not admit that the Chemists 
 and Druggists have the power of prescribing. 
 
 36. Do they not contend that they have the right to pre- 
 scribe in their own shops, and do they not exercise that 
 right ? That may be, but the law is decidedly against them. 
 
 37. Has any prosecution been instituted by your society 
 against a Chemist and Druggist ? No. 
 
 38. Surely the Chemists and Druggists have exercised that 
 right since 1815 ? Yes ; but it is in private. We have no 
 means of getting information upon that point. 
 
 From this it appears, that during twenty-one years after 
 the passing of the Apothecaries' Act, no attempt was made to 
 restrain the Chemists and Druggists from prescribing in their 
 own shops, as they had previously been in the habit of doing.
 
 EQUIVOCAL CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS. 79 
 
 If the Apothecaries had the power of prosecuting in such 
 cases, it is remarkable that they enjoyed (?) it so long without 
 exercising it. 
 
 At the time the Act passed, it was fresh in the recollection 
 of those who framed it, that " it was their intention not to 
 interfere at all with Chemists and Druggists ; " * but after a 
 lapse of twenty-five years, it was found expedient to recon- 
 sider the words of the Act, in order to discover how far they 
 could be construed to meet certain cases in which its spirit 
 was said to have been violated. It had by this time become 
 notorious that persons who desired to establish a medical and 
 surgical practice, without incurring the expense of a proper 
 education, assumed the name of Chemist and Druggist in 
 order to come within the pale of the protective clause, while 
 they professed to act in every respect and to all intents and 
 purposes as medical practitioners. Some of these equivocal 
 " Chemists and Druggists " undertook to cure every disorder, 
 and performed surgical operations of all kinds, both minor 
 and capital, attracting a large number of patients by advertis- 
 ing the wonderful cures which they had performed. The 
 Apothecaries, in order to put a construction on their Act 
 favourable to themselves, and which had not been contem- 
 plated at the time it was passed, consulted the most eminent 
 lawyers, and all their ingenuity was directed to the task of 
 demolishing the privilege which had been abused. The words 
 were twisted in every variety of form, and conflicting opinions 
 were given. On one side it was urged, that the trade or busi- 
 ness of a Chemist was restricted in that clause to "the buying, 
 preparing, compounding, dispensing, and vending drugs and 
 medicinal compounds, wholesale and retail ; " and that the 
 woi'ds " recommending " or " prescribing " not being intro- 
 duced, the clause did not afford protection to them in exercis- 
 ing these functions. On the other side it was contended, that 
 the clause empowered all Chemists and Druggists " to use, 
 exercise, and carry on the same trade or business in such a 
 manner, as fully and amply, to all intents and purposes, as the 
 same trade or business was used, exercised, or carried on by 
 Chemists and Druggists before the passing of this Act." It 
 was well known that Chemists and Druggists were in the 
 
 * See page C4.
 
 80 NEW CONSTRUCTION IN 1841 OP THE ACT OF 1815. 
 
 habit of prescribing prior to 1815 ; * but so many years hav- 
 ing elapsed, it was not so easy as might at first have been 
 imagined, to obtain such evidence on this point as would be 
 received in a court of justice. On this, therefore, hinged the 
 chief difficulty of the question, and the first case which was 
 brought into court was decided in favour of the Chemist and 
 Druggist ; Mr. Justice Maule having considered that the pro- 
 tective clause entitled him to give advice as well as medicine. 
 But this decision was afterwards reversed by the Court of 
 Queen's Bench, a new trial having been granted. In allusion 
 to this case the Editor of TJie Lancet observes (Oct. o<., 
 1841) : 
 
 " The Act of 1815 has assumed a new form. Hitherto it 
 has been viewed by many as an useless document, or even as 
 an instrument of mischief. By several it has been felt to be a 
 law of oppression and injustice, and the earlier decisions of the 
 judges against Surgeons and Physicians, while the unquali- 
 fied Druggist was allowed to practise with impunity, were 
 regarded as offences against common sense and ji>stid', which 
 few honest hearts could tolerate. Men of rank and medical 
 education were prosecuted by the Company, while the unedu- 
 cated pretender revelled in success and luxury." 
 
 This then was the construction put upon the Act, which 
 had never been deviated from during the space of twenty-six 
 years, at the end of which period the Court of Queen's Bench 
 set the old words to a new tune. It must be clear to every 
 reflecting mind that the lawyers who framed the words per- 
 formed the task with consummate skill, since they obtained 
 credit from both parties at the time, and paved the way for a 
 rich harvest for the members of the legal profession. The 
 intention of the legislature was so well understood when the 
 law was passed, that the words were interpreted by all parties 
 in their true and literal sense, but it was policy in the lawyers 
 to have a double meaning in reserve for their own future 
 benefit. 
 
 On the 2ord of February, 1841, a meeting, convened by Mr. 
 Warington, for the purpose of taking into consideration the 
 formation of a CHEMICAL SOCIETY, was held in the rooms of 
 the Society of Arts. 
 
 * See pages 39, 4->. etc.
 
 THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY APOTHECARIES* HALL. 81 
 
 The meeting was attended by several professors and other 
 scientific men, and a society was established "for the advance- 
 ment of Chemistry, and those branches of science immediately 
 connected with it ; for the communication and discussion of 
 discoveries and observations relating to such subjects ; the 
 formation of a library of scientific works, and a museum of 
 chemical preparations and standard instruments." 
 
 On the 30th of March, Professor Graham was appointed 
 president; Professor Brande, J. F. Cooper, Esq., Professor 
 Dauiell, and R. Phillips, Esq., vice-presidents ; Arthur Aikin, 
 Esq., treasurer ; E. F. Teschemacher and Robert Wariugton, 
 secretaries. The council consisted of Dr. T. Clark, Professor 
 J. Gumming, Dr. C. Daubeny, T. Everitt, Esq., T. Griffiths, 
 Esq., W. R. Grove, Esq., H. Hennell, Esq., G. Lowe, Esq., 
 Professor W. H. Miller, W. H. Pepys, Esq., R. Porrett, Esq., 
 and Dr. G. 0. Rees. 
 
 At that time the members amounted to seventy-seven, and 
 the society has continued to increase and flourish. Its object 
 being purely scientific, it numbers among its members men in 
 various professions, who are devoted to the study of Chemis- 
 try, and embraces within its sphere every department of that 
 science. 
 
 The origin and progress of Apothecaries' Hall having been 
 noticed in general terms, it appears requisite to give a brief 
 description of the establishment in its mature condition. In 
 the 16th volume of the Quarterly Journal of the Royal 
 Institution, the desired information is contained, in an article 
 by Professor Brande, who has described the laboratories and 
 apparatus in terms so concise and perspicuous that the sub- 
 stance of it is annexed as a quotation. A few improvements 
 have subsequently taken place in some of the details, but the 
 following account will serve to give a sufficiently correct idea 
 of the extent and capabilities of the institution : 
 
 " The principal laboratory is a brick building about fifty 
 feet square and thirty high, lighted from above and sub- 
 divided by a brick wall into two compartments, the dimen- 
 sions of the larger one being fifty feet by thirty ; and of the 
 smaller fifty feet by twenty. The former may properly be 
 termed the chemical laboratory, all the open fires and fur- 
 naces being situated in it, and all operations requiring intense 
 heat being there conducted. The latter is usually termed the
 
 82 DESCRIPTION OP APOTHECARIES' HALL. 
 
 still-hoi(se, all distillations and evaporations being performed 
 there, exclusively by steam, which is furnished in a manner 
 afterwards to be described. Immediately connected with the 
 above mentioned building is a chemical warehouse for such 
 articles as are in immediate consumption in the laboratory, 
 above which is a small house for a clerk, the whole being 
 shut off from the laboratory by iron doors. The principal 
 entrance to the chemical laboratory is through the mortar- 
 room-, which is forty feet long and twenty-two broad, and 
 appropriated to mortars, presses, and generally speaking to 
 all mechanical operations performed by manual labour. At 
 its eastern extremity is a large drying-stove, heated by flues, 
 for the desiccation of those articles which cannot be dried con- 
 veniently at a temperature easily obtained by steam. At the 
 west end of this apartment a room twenty-two feet by fifteen 
 is divided off, in which is an apparatus for the production of 
 gas from oil, with which the hall and its various departments 
 both externally and internally are lighted.* Above the mor- 
 tar-room is a gallery fitted with shelves for various utensils 
 and apparatus, opening at one end into a room appropriated 
 to the use of the labourers, and at the other into the test- 
 room, a small laboratory fitted up with the requisite apparatus 
 for minute and delicate investigations, and in which che- 
 mical tests and other articles requiring peculiar attention and 
 cleanliness are prepared. Annexed to the f/as-room is a count- 
 ing-house, behind which a room, twenty-two feet square, 
 commonly called the magnesia-room, is appropriated to the 
 preparation of that article, and also to the manufacture of 
 the most common saline preparations. 
 
 " In a detached building there is a steam-engine of eight- 
 horse power, which is employed, with proper machinery, for 
 grinding, sifting, triturating, pounding, and a variety of other 
 operations. There are also connected with the establishment 
 suitable warehouses, shops, and all other requisite conveni- 
 ences for carrying on an extensive trade. 
 
 "In the construction of the new laboratory safety is 
 
 * In 1816, coal-gas was made on the premises for illumination ; in 
 1819, this was replaced by the oil-gas apparatus, which was discon- 
 tinued in 1838, the gas being laid on from without. In the same year, 
 a well (300 feet deep) was suuk, which supplies the establishment witli 
 water.
 
 FLUES, FURNACES, AND STILL-HOUSE. 83 
 
 insured by the whole being fire-proof, and it is ventilated by 
 a series of apertures in the roof, which may be opened or 
 closed at pleasure. The main chimney is erected in the 
 centre, and has opening into it below the pavement of the 
 laboratory four large flues, one of which enters upon each 
 side of its square base. The shaft is one hundred feet high 
 from the foundation, and is accessible in its interior from one 
 of the underground flues. The flues of the furnaces, which 
 are placed against the walls of the laboratory, are each sup- 
 plied with registers, and open into a common channel, which 
 surrounds the building, terminating in the chimney as already 
 described. Each of the four large flues has also a separate 
 register, which may be more or less closed or opened, accord- 
 ing to the operations which are going on in the various 
 furnaces connected with it. The furnaces thus arranged are 
 a subliming apparatus for ben zoic acid ; a furnace for the 
 preparation of sulphate of mercury ; a high pressure steam 
 boiler ; a reverberatory furnace ; a sand-bath ; an appar- 
 atus for muriatic acid; ditto for nitric acid; ditto for the 
 distillation of hartshorn, and a calcining furnace. There are 
 also a series of furnaces built against the sides of the main 
 chimney, and communicating directly with it by flues of their 
 own, which, as well as the common openings by which they 
 enter the chimney, are supplied with effectual registers, so 
 that when not in use they may be perfectly closed. Of these 
 furnaces four are chiefly employed for various sublimations 
 and fusions ; four more retort-pots. The third side of the 
 chimney is occupied by a powerful wind furnace, and the 
 fourth by a furnace for the sublimation of calomel. In this 
 laboratory there is, moreover, a very plentiful supply of water 
 both hot and cold ; and an engine hose and pipe is always 
 attached to the water-main in case of accident by fire, as well 
 as for the purpose of cleansing the pavement. Beneath the 
 building are extensive vaults for fuel, with which there is a 
 direct communication by steps descending in one of the 
 angles of the laboratory. 
 
 "The still-house contains six stills of various dimensions 
 and constructions, twelve pans or boilers, and a drying stove, 
 all of which are exclusively heated by steam supplied from 
 an eight hundred gallon copper-boiler placed in an annexed 
 building below the level of the still-house ; and the flue of
 
 Si STEAM APPARATUS AND STILLS. 
 
 which, passing under the pavement of the laboratories, enters 
 the main chimney already described. The boiler is calculated 
 to supply steam under a pressure of an atmosphere and a-half , 
 and is fed with hot water by a forcing pump kept in constant 
 operation by the steam-engine. 
 
 " The main steam pipes, after ascending from the boiler, 
 send off descending branches which ramify under the pave- 
 ment of the still-house in channels of brick-work, covered 
 by cast-iron plates. These send off a steam pipe, fitted with 
 a register cock, to each still and boiler, from which there 
 passes off an eduction or condensed water-pipe entering the 
 condensed water main, the ramifications of which accompany 
 the steam main and deliver their contents into a cistern, 
 whence the boiler is supplied with hot water. A large branch 
 of the steam-pipe circulates in five convolutions at the 
 bottom of the drying stove, so as to heat a current of air 
 which is made to pass through it ; and another branch arising 
 perpendicularly through the pavement is properly fitted with 
 cocks and screws for the occasional attachment of leaden or 
 other pipes, for boiling down liquids in moveable pans and 
 vessels. 
 
 " In this building one of the stills is of a distinct con- 
 struction and heated by high pressure steam, supplied from 
 the boiler already mentioned in the description of the labor- 
 atory. Another still together with its condensing pipe is 
 composed entirely of earthenware. The former is chiefly 
 used for the first distillation of sulphuric ether, and the latter 
 for that of spirit of nitric ether. The stills and vessels are 
 generally heated by the circulation of steam upon their ex- 
 terior, but sometimes serpentine pipes traversing the liquor 
 are employed. In the still-house all spirits and waters are 
 distilled ; extracts and plaisters are prepared, and all opera- 
 tions are carried on which involve risk by fire or in which 
 damage is likely to occur from excess of heat. The magnesia- 
 room contains proper vats and boilers for the production and 
 evaporation of saline solutions ; the apparatus for the preci- 
 pitation of carbonate of magnesia, and a series of vessels for 
 saturating alkalies with carbonic acid." 
 
 In the commencement of the year 1839, a commotion arose 
 among the Assistants of the Druggists and Apothecaries of 
 London, who held several meetings for the purpose of taking
 
 KARLY CLOSING MOVEMENT. 85 
 
 into consideration the hardships they suffered on account of 
 their close confinement during every day in the week, Sundays 
 included, and the want of that recreation which their bodily 
 health and mental improvement required. It was urged as 
 an anomaly which demanded an effectual remedy, that while 
 the Pharmaceutical Assistants were labouring to provide for 
 the health of the public, they were sacrificing their own ; and 
 that while they were engaged in an occupation in which the 
 cultivation of their minds in the study of Chemistry and 
 other sciences was essential, their whole time was occupied in 
 the mechanical drudgery of the shop, which precluded the 
 possibility of acquiring the needful education. A Committee 
 was appointed, and after several discussions had taken place, 
 a memorial was sent round to the Principals, respectfully 
 representing the grievances complained of, and requesting 
 them to call a meeting of the trade for the purpose of 
 providing a remedy. 
 
 Accordingly, a meeting was held on the 18th of February, 
 1839, at which the opinions on both sides of the question 
 were fully and fairly stated. Many of the masters advocated 
 warmly the expediency of adopting to a certain extent the 
 measures proposed by the Committee of Assistants, closing 
 the shops at an eai'lier hour every evening (except Saturday) 
 and keeping them entirely closed on Sundays. Others con- 
 sidered that, however expedient this regulation might appear, 
 it was nevertheless impracticable, on account of the impos- 
 sibility of compelling all parties to adhere to it, and also from 
 the difficulty of making any law in a case of this kind which 
 would be applicable to all parts of London, it being well 
 known that, in some localities, business in general is in the 
 height of activity at the time in the evening at which, in 
 other localities, almost every shop is closed. The hard- 
 ships detailed by the Assistants were admitted to be great 
 and pressing, and the desire to provide a remedy was only 
 equalled by the difficulty of finding one. 
 
 After a long debate it was decided, that the meeting had 
 not the power of enforcing the cessation of business at an 
 earlier hour in the evening ; but a general opinion prevailed 
 that this would be very desirable wherever it could be 
 effected. A resolution was unanimously passed, recommending 
 the entire closing of shops and the discouragement of all
 
 86 THE CLOSING OP SHOPS ON SUNDAYS. 
 
 business, except in cases of absolute necessity, on Sunday. 
 A Committee was appointed to carry out this resolution, and 
 bills were printed and circulated extensively among the trade, 
 containing a copy of the resolution, and a brief statement of 
 the facts which had led to it, which bills were designed to 
 obtain the concurrence of the public in the measure. A con- 
 siderable number of Chemists acted upon this resolution, 
 which came into operation on the first Sunday in March. 
 
 In some instances, however, the adherence to the regulation 
 was but ephemeral ; the Assistants, in several establishments, 
 complained of the darkness of the shop, and said that their 
 labour was considerably increased by the trouble of opening 
 the door for. every customer. They therefore requested that 
 the door-shutters might be removed, and the new regulation 
 was laid aside. In other cases the regulation was violated 
 without any reason being assigned, which gave offence to 
 many of those who had adhered to their resolution, some of 
 whom followed the example. The result was generally con- 
 sidered an illustration of the difficulty of legislating for a 
 large body of men, in a matter in which individual interests 
 and local circumstances are likely to interfere. A considerable; 
 number have continued, up to the present time, to close their 
 shops on Sundays, and have had no reason to regret so doing. 
 The credit of drawing the attention of the Assistants to the 
 subject belongs to Mr. Hewett, the secretary of the Com- 
 mittee, and Mr. Fuller, who acted as chairman. Mr. Payne, 
 Mr. Hallows, and the late Mr. Hudson, took an active part in 
 the proceedings. 
 
 In the year 1841, Mr. Hawes, Mr. Ewart, and Mr. Hutton 
 endeavoured to reform the profession by introducing a bill 
 which was printed in the beginning of February. It having 
 been generally understood that no material change would take 
 place in the Pharmaceutical department, the Chemists took 
 little or no interest in the measures in progress. 
 
 The Patent Medicine Venders had, however, already exerted 
 their influence in obtaining the insertion of a clause which 
 secured to them all their former privileges, and an exemption 
 from any interference ; but the Chemists and Druggists re- 
 mained inactive, until the bill had been published and. circu- 
 lated. It was then discovered that the contemplated measures 
 were very different from those which had been advocated by
 
 ANALYSIS OF ME. HAWEs' B1J.L. 87 
 
 the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee. Before re- 
 cording the proceedings of the Chemists and Druggists, it 
 may be as \vell to state briefly the grounds of their opposition 
 to the bill. 
 
 In the interpretation clause, it is stated, that 
 
 The words "Practising Medicine," shall be construed to 
 include within their meaning the recommending, prescribing, 
 or ordering, either directly or indirectly, any medicine, remedy, 
 or application whatsoever, for the relief or cure of any dis- 
 order, ailment, or illness of the body or mind, or any part 
 thereof, or performing any surgical operation, minor or capital, 
 or practising midwifery : and the words " Medical Practi- 
 tioner," shall mean a person qualified under this Act to practise 
 medicine : and that the words " Chemist and Druggist, "shall 
 mean a person who shall sell, deal in, mix, or dispense for sale, 
 any drug or medicine for the cure or relief of any bodily 
 disorder, ailment or illness, save and except such person as 
 shall have obtained a certificate to practise medicine. 
 
 It was provided (sec. 33), 
 
 That no male person whatsoever, on or after the 1st day of 
 February, 1842, be permitted to practise medicine for re- 
 muneration or gain, either directly or indirectly in any part 
 of the kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, unless such 
 person shall have obtained a certificate to practise the same 
 according to the provisions of this Act; nor shall any person 
 whatsoever, on or after the first day of December, 1842, be 
 entitled or permitted to carry on. the trade or business of a 
 Chemist and Druggist in any part of the United Kingdom of 
 Great Britain and Ireland, unless such person shall have ob- 
 tained a licence to carry on the said trade and business 
 according to the provisions of this Act. 
 
 The licence to be renewed annually on payment of a fee. 
 
 Sec. 48. Every person not being duly qualified according 
 to the provisions of this Act, who shall practise medicine for 
 remuneration or gain, either directly or indirectly, or who 
 shall carry on the trade and business of a Chemist and Drug- 
 gist, shall forfeit and pay for every such offence the sum of 
 Twenty Pound*. 
 
 The penalty for employing an Assistant, not duly qualified 
 according to the provisions of the Act, was stated at Ten 
 Pounds.
 
 OBJECTIONABLE PROVISIONS OF HAWES* BILL. 
 
 Sec. 51. In every case of the adjudication of a pecuniary 
 penalty under this Act, and non-payment thereof, it shall be 
 lawful for the magistrate to commit the offender to any gaol 
 or house of correction within his jurisdiction. 
 
 Coupling the definition of the term practising medicine with 
 the clauses inflicting a penalty or imprisonment, for practising 
 without a certificate, it is clear that a Chemist would be 
 liable to a penalty of twenty pounds for recommending ten 
 grains of rhubarb, strapping a cut finger, or explaining to 
 a customer the usual mode of taking any medicine, however 
 simple or innocuous, and that summary imprisonment (or 
 a ruinous law-suit) would be the result of non-payment. 
 
 The constitution of the governing body was also objection- 
 able : 
 
 A Council was to be elected in each kingdom every three 
 years, twenty Councillors for each. The several universities 
 and medical bodies to send each one member to their re- 
 spective Councils, the other members to be elected by ballot. 
 Every medical practitioner to have a vote. 
 
 Hence the general practitioners, the number of whom pre- 
 ponderates over all other medical bodies, would have a pro- 
 portionate majority of votes. 
 
 Each Council to elect three persons every five years to form 
 a medical senate. The senate to make bye-laws to regulate 
 the education of students and the examinations for diploma of 
 qualification to practise medicine, or to carry on the trade of 
 a Chemist and Druggist. The Council to appoint examiners 
 annually. 
 
 Chemists and Druggists therefore would be under the 
 jurisdiction of a body in which they were not represented, and 
 in the election of which the Apothecaries had the largest 
 number of votes. 
 
 Sec. 39. All pei'sons, being at present Chemists and Drug- 
 gists, or Assistants or Apprentices, claiming the exemption 
 within twelve months, to obtain licences, and not to be called 
 upon to renew them annually, unless they desire ; if they 
 renew them, their names are to be published in the respective 
 medical lists, and not otherwise. 
 
 Thus a Chemist and Druggist who claimed the exemption, 
 would lose his rank altogether, his name being omitted in the 
 list; and if he claimed to be registered, he would forfeit tie
 
 CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS TAKE THE ALARM. 89 
 
 only privilege to which he was entitled from having been in 
 business before the passing of the Act. 
 
 A few other objections of minor importance might have 
 been enumerated, bnt the above constituted the chief ground 
 of resistance on the part of the Chemists. 
 
 The credit of drawing the attention of the trade to this 
 bill is due to Mr. Farmar, Mr. G. W. Smith, and Mr. Baxter, 
 Avho met several times to consider the subject, in company 
 with a few of their friends. 
 
 The following is a report of one of the meetings held at the 
 house of Mr. Farmar : 
 
 At a meeting of Chemists and Druggists, held Feb. 10th, 
 1841, to take into consideration the draft of a Bill 
 recently proposed by Mr. Hawes, 
 
 Mr. FARMAR in the chair. 
 
 Moved by Mr. G. W. Smith, seconded by Mr. Baxter, and 
 resolved, 
 
 " That this bill having been introduced into the House of 
 Commons, and having for its object an entire change in the 
 present method of conducting the business of a Chemist 
 and Druggist, this meeting deems it expedient that a public 
 meeting of the members of the trade be forthwith held, to 
 take into consideration the tendency of the provisions of 
 the said bill." 
 
 Moved by Mr. Thomas Kent, seconded by Mr. S. M. Mayhew, 
 ii)id resolved, 
 
 " That a public meeting of the Chemists and Druggists 
 of the metropolis be held at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, 
 in the Strand, on Monday, the loth instant, at eleven 
 o'clock in the forenoon." 
 
 Moved by Mr. Warboys, seconded by Mr. S. Weatherby, and 
 resolved, 
 
 " That advertisements of the intended meeting be made 
 in the Times and Morning Chronicle newspapers, and also 
 that circulars be issued to as many of the trade as may be 
 practicable."
 
 A PUBLIC MEETING CALLED. 
 
 Moved by Mr. W. Lowe, seconded by Mr. Thomas Kent, and 
 resolved, 
 
 " That Mr. William Allen, of Plough Court, be requested 
 to preside at the meeting." 
 
 " GEO. W. SMITH, Secretary pro few." 
 
 Mr. Farmar and his friends lost no time in waiting on as 
 many of their brethren as possible, in order to obtain signa- 
 tures to the requisition calling a public meeting. Although, 
 they met with but little encouragement they succeeded in ob- 
 taining a sufficient number of names, and issued the following 
 circular : 
 
 " We, the undersigned, having seen with considerable alarm 
 some clauses in a bill recently introduced into the House of 
 Commons, and appointed for a second reading on Friday, 
 Feb. 19th ; such bill tending materially to injure the interests 
 of Chemists and Druggists, do hereby invite a public meeting 
 of the members of the trade, to be holdeu at the Crown and 
 Anchor Tavern, in the Strand, on Monday the loth instant, 
 at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, to take into consideration 
 the provisions of the said bill." 
 
 WM. ALLEX, HANBUKTS and 
 
 BARRY. 
 
 SAVORY, MOOBE & Co. 
 JOHN BELL & Co. 
 GODFREY & COOKE. 
 W. B. HUDSON & Sox. 
 CORBYN & Co. 
 PIGEON & Sox. 
 HERRING BROTHERS. 
 HORNER & Soxs. 
 ELLIS, LANGTON & Co. 
 BARROX, HAKVEY & BARRON. 
 
 J. GlFFORD. 
 
 FISHER & TOLLER. 
 CHARLES DIXNEFORD. 
 
 GEORGE GRINDLE. 
 JOSEPH SMITH. 
 JAMES STARKIE. 
 W. WILLMOTT. 
 R. YATB & Sox. 
 HODGKINSON, STEAD 
 
 TOXGE. 
 
 HOWARD & COLEMAX. 
 DREW, HEYWARD & Co. 
 THOS. MARSDEN & SONS. 
 EVANS & LESCHER. 
 JAS. METCALFE & SONS;. 
 BAISS BROTHERS & Co. 
 
 ED. WlNSTANLEY & SOX. 
 
 RICHARD BATTLEY. 
 
 It is a singular fact, that those whose names were attached 
 to the circular had taken 110 part in the proceedings, while 
 the names of the original movers and acting men were
 
 A PUBLIC MEETING HELD. 91 
 
 omitted. The object of this selection was to enlist in the 
 work those members, both of the wholesale and retail trade, 
 whose interest it was thought desirable at once to secure, 
 and whose names were extensively known throughout the 
 country. 
 
 It was in this manner that several of the members of the 
 Council of the PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY were induced to 
 embark in: an undertaking in which they had no desire to 
 take a prominent part, but having been called together by 
 the solicitations of others, and considering it their duty to 
 unite with their brethren in any measures which, to the 
 majority, might appear desirable, they found themselves 
 obliged to continue their exertions in a manner which they 
 had not at first anticipated. 
 
 At a large and influential public meeting of Chemists 
 and Druggists, held at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, 
 Strand, convened by advertisement, and held on Mon- 
 day, February 15th, 1841, for the purpose of taking 
 into consideration "A Bill to amend the Laws relating 
 to the Medical Profession of Great Britain and Ireland," 
 recently introduced into Parliament by Mr. Hawes, 
 
 Mr. GIFFORD in the chair, 
 
 A letter having been read from William Allen, of 
 Plough Court, excusing his absence, but sanctioning 
 his appointment as member of any Committee, it was 
 
 Moved by Mr. Bell, seconded by Mr. Keating, and resolved, 
 
 " That the provisions of this bill deeply injure the 
 interests and lessen the usefulness of Chemists and Drug- 
 gists, as well as affect the comforts and resources of the 
 poorer classes of society, whilst the immediate and pressing 
 wants of individuals would create a liability to inform- 
 ations, which would be a source of unceasing vexation." 
 
 Moved by Mr. Barry, seconded by Mr. Farrnar, and resolved, 
 
 " That it is the opinion of this meeting, that Benjamin 
 Hawes, as author of this bill, intituled ' A Bill to amend 
 the Laws relating to the Medical Profession in Great Britain 
 and Ireland,'' should be requested to defer for one month 
 the second reading, to enable the public and all parties in- 
 terested to form their opinion upon its merits."
 
 92 
 
 COMMITTEE OF CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS. 
 
 Moved by Mr. Walker, seconded by Mr.W. Ince, and resolved, 
 
 " That petitions be immediately presented to Parliament 
 against Mr. Hawes' bill, especially against that clause de- 
 priving Chemists and Druggists of their right to prescribe 
 and recommend medicines." 
 
 Moved by Mr. Wilkinson, seconded by Mr. Mayhew, and re- 
 solved, 
 
 " That the following be a Committee, with power to add 
 to their number, for the purpose of watching and opposing 
 the progress of this bill, viz. : 
 
 WILLIAM ALLEN, F.R.S. 
 JOSEPH GIFFOED. 
 JACOB BELL. 
 CHARLES DINNEFORD. 
 JOHN TOLLER. 
 JOSEPH SMITH. 
 RICHARD BATTLET. 
 JOHN T. BARRY. 
 JOHN ELLIS. 
 SAMUEL FODLGEI:. 
 WILLIAM LOWE. 
 CHARLES DAVY. 
 EDWARD HORNER. 
 RICH. HOTHAM PIGEON. 
 THROWER HERRING. 
 CHARLES BARRON. 
 THOMAS HERRING. 
 
 THOMAS WALKED. 
 THOMAS KEATING. 
 EDWARD WINSTANLEY. 
 GEORGE WAUGH. 
 THOMAS BUTLER. 
 SAMUEL M. MAYHEW. 
 ROBERT FARMAI;. 
 SAMUEL DE CASTUH. 
 SAMUEL GREEN. 
 EDWARD SIMKIN. 
 WILLIAM INCE. 
 EDWIN BRIGGS. 
 GEORGE BAXTER. 
 J. S. LESCHER. 
 G. W. SMITH. 
 RALPH STAMPER." 
 
 Moved by Mr. Dinneford, seconded by Mr. Austin, and re- 
 solved, 
 
 " That Mr. R. H. Pigeon be appointed treasurer, and 
 subscriptions solicited from all the Chemists and Druggists 
 of the United Kingdom." 
 
 Moved by Mr. Keating, seconded by Mr. Watts, and resoketl 
 
 " That a copy of these proceedings be printed, and sent 
 to every member of the drug trade in town and country, 
 and also be published in the newspapers."
 
 THE ONE CHAMPION OF T1IE BILL. 93 
 
 Moved by Mr. Herring, seconded by Mr. Farmar,* a/t(Z re- 
 solecJ, 
 
 " That the best thanks of this meeting be given to the 
 chairman, for the official performance of his duties." 
 
 The above resolutions gave rise to a very animated dis- 
 cussion, and, although on minor particulars a little difference 
 of opinion was occasionally expressed, there was but one in- 
 dividual present who stood up in support of the bill. This 
 gentleman had been deputed by Mr. Hawes to attend the 
 meeting, in order to explain any clauses in the bill which 
 might require elucidation, and the able manner in which 
 he performed the task deserves to be recorded. In a large 
 assembly, in which considerable agitation and enthusiasm 
 prevailed, in which the bill was denounced in no measured 
 terms, and each sally of criticism was followed by applause, 
 this champion stood up, unmoved, and in a calm and 
 temperate manner, expatiated on the various clauses, for 
 the purpose of proving that the bill, instead of being in- 
 jurious, was, in fact, intended as a boon to Chemists and 
 Druggists that it was calculated to raise their standing in 
 the profession, to increase their influence and extend their 
 business. The meeting listened with as much complaisance 
 as could be expected on such an occasion, under the impres- 
 sion that the speaker was the legal adviser of Mr. Hawes, but 
 no change of sentiment was the result, as the data on which 
 the chief arguments were founded were hypothetical, whilst 
 the objections against the bill were felt to be unanswerable 
 by all present, except the speaker. 
 
 Immediately after the meeting, the Committee assembled, 
 and resolved that 3,000 copies of the resolutions should be 
 printed and circulated, and the Report advertised. Mr. 
 Alderman Thomas "Wood was engaged as solicitor, and J. 
 Sidney Taylor, Esq., was retained as counsel. A circular 
 was drawn up to accompany the resolutions, calling upon the 
 members of the trade to unite in raising subscriptions, and 
 preparing a petition to Parliament. This appeal was 
 answered by a voluminous correspondence from all quarters, 
 accompanied by subscriptions from many places. The Com- 
 mittee met on the following day, February IGth, at the house 
 <>f Mr. Pigeon, in Throgmorton Street, when a letter from
 
 94 INTERVIEWS RELATING TO THE BILL. 
 
 Mr. Ewart was read, stating that the second i-eading of the 
 bill would not take place on the 19th. Mr. Pound was added 
 to the Committee, and a Sub- Committee was appointed to 
 draw up a petition, and also to wait upon Mr. Hawes. 
 
 An interview having been granted, the Sub- Committee 
 detailed their objections to the bill, requested that the second 
 reading might be delayed for at least a month, and that a 
 clause should be inserted exempting Chemists and Druggists 
 from the operation of the bill. Mr. Hawes introduced his 
 friend Mr. Cooper, whom the Committee recognised as being 
 the gentleman who had fought the battle so ably single- 
 handed at the public meeting, and who it appeared was not a 
 legal but a medical practitioner. Mr. Cooper acquiesced in 
 the propriety of delay, and Mr. Hawes offered to expunge 
 every clause in which Chemists were mentioned, but the 
 insertion of a new clause, similar to that in the Act of 1815, 
 was objected to. 
 
 At a meeting of the Committee on February 22, the 
 solicitor reported that Mr. Hawes had withdrawn his bill, 
 and also that the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, and 
 the Society of Apothecaries contemplated the introduction of 
 a bill for the regulation of the profession. A Sub-Committee 
 was appointed, which met on the 5th of March, and instructed 
 the Secretary to address the Colleges of Physicians and Sur- 
 geons, requesting an interview with each of those learned bodies. 
 The deputation waited on the College of Surgeons on the 
 9th of March, by appointment, and opened the discussion by 
 inquiring whether the College was opposed to the principles of 
 the bill of Mr. Hawes ? and whether the three medical bodies 
 were, as had been reported, preparing a bill in which the 
 interests of Chemists and Druggists were concerned ? The 
 President replied that the College had petitioned against Mr. 
 Hawes' bill ; but did not intend to take any active measures 
 on the subject of medical reform. It was their desire to con- 
 fine their proceedings to their own department pure surgery. 
 They declined interfering in any way with Pharmacy, which 
 they left in the hands of the Physicians, Apothecaries, and 
 Druggists. 
 
 In their official capacity as Surgeons they did not pretend to 
 be able to distinguish one drug from another, and trusted to 
 those whose duty it was to prepare their prescriptions.
 
 DEPUTATION TO THE COLLEGE OP PHYSICIANS. 95 
 
 On the 8th of March the General Committee met, and the 
 solicitor presented a copy of a modified bill just introduced 
 by Mr. Hawes. This bill was considered no less objectionable 
 than its predecessor ; for, although, the clauses relating to 
 Chemists and Druggists had been expunged, no provision 
 was made for the regulation of that body, and some parts of 
 the bill were indirectly prejudicial. The solicitor was, there- 
 fore, instructed to prepare a petition against the bill for pre- 
 sentation to both Houses of Parliament. Mr. Morson was 
 added to the Committee. 
 
 On the 10th of March the Sub-Committee adopted a form 
 of petition, which was prepared for signature, and the Secre- 
 tary was instructed to forward printed copies to every town 
 in the kingdom, for the signature of the Chemists in their 
 respective localities. 
 
 The Sub-Committee waited on the College of Physicians, 
 by appointment, on the 10th of March, and was informed that 
 the College had opposed the former bill of Mr. Hawes, and 
 intended to oppose the one then before the House. The 
 College had consulted with the Apothecaries' Company on 
 the subject of a bill, buthad not as yet come to any deter- 
 mination on the subject. The members of the College had 
 no wish to interfere with Chemists and Druggists. They 
 thought it evident that some adequate education and an 
 examination should be instituted, and proposed to form a 
 board in conjunction with the Apothecaries' Company for 
 that purpose. To this the deputation objected, stating that a 
 board composed of Physicians and Chemists would be mor 
 satisfactory. The Physicians replied, that they had no desire 
 to take an active part in the examination of Chemists, and 
 their only reason for proposing to join in it was that they 
 might satisfy themselves that it was efficiently conducted. 
 They inquired whether the deputation had any definite plan 
 to lay before them ; and being informed that the arrange- 
 ments were not yet matured, they expressed their willingness 
 to confer with the deputation at a futui'e time when they 
 were prepared with a definite proposition. 
 
 At a meeting of the General Committee, March 20, the 
 Chairman (Mr. Gifford) reported that the metropolitan 
 petition, with 604 signatures, had been presented to the 
 House of Commons by Mr. Alderman Thompson, and that
 
 96 NECESSITY FOR UNITED ACTION. 
 
 when the Speaker inquired whether any members had 
 petitions to present against the bill, above half the House 
 rose simultaneously, and a shower of petitions covered the 
 table. The House was afterwards counted out. The Com- 
 mittee instructed the solicitor to watch the further progress 
 of the bill. On the 2nd of April, Messrs. Savory, Squire, 
 Hudson, and Alsop, were added to the Committee and also to 
 the Sub-Committee. 
 
 During the numerous meetings of the Committee (of which 
 the above is a considerably abridged report) the propriety of 
 establishing a society was frequently suggested ; but it was 
 found impossible in an open committee to come to an 
 unanimous decision on the details of so important a 
 measure. 
 
 The subject, however, was not forgotten, and the members 
 of the Committee saw plainly that nothing short of a per- 
 manent Association could secure the trade against a recur- 
 rence of the inconveniences and annoyances which it had 
 from time to time experienced during the last half-century. 
 An opportunity was within their reach which might not 
 speedily occur again. A correspondence had been opened 
 with the Chemists in all parts of the country on a subject in 
 which all their interests were concerned ; in the excitement 
 occasioned by the threatened blow at their independence 
 minor considerations were forgotten ; and all appeared dis- 
 posed cordially to unite in promoting the general welfare. 
 So little intercourse had hitherto existed among the members 
 of the body, that a degree of coolness and distrust had been 
 unfortunately too prevalent ; and the failure of all former 
 attempts to form an efficient society had been, in a great 
 measure, occasioned by the division of that influence which 
 ought to have been united and directed with energy to this 
 one object. But in the present crisis, jealousy seemed to be 
 forgotten, and the necessity of union was so obvious that the 
 first step appeared to be accomplished. 
 
 The ground upon which the late attempts had been made 
 to interfere with Chemists and Druggists, had reference to 
 their amount of professional qualification, although the 
 arguments brought forward against them assumed a variety 
 of forms, and were in many cases unjust and intemperate. 
 However galling it might be to bear the taunts and impu-
 
 A PERMANENT SOCIETY PROPOSED. 97 
 
 tations, there was uo escape while the fact was notorious that 
 no institution existed in this country for the systematic edu- 
 cation and examination of Chemists and Druggists, and whilst 
 no proof could be advanced that each individual possessed the 
 needful qualification. 
 
 It was evident that Pharmacy must be placed on a more 
 scientific footing, and that some measures would speedily be 
 adopted for introducing an improved system of education. It 
 was, therefore, the policy of the Druggists to anticipate what 
 was about to take place, and instead of wasting their time in 
 fruitless controversy, to give a practical answer to all objec- 
 tions by establishing a system of government for themselves 
 which could admit of no reproach. 
 
 The prospect of attaining this object opened out a new field 
 of interest, and some members of the Committee who had 
 been in the first instance induced reluctantly to join it, by 
 the earnest solicitations of their brethren, entered into the 
 subject with increased spirit when the opportunity of raising 
 the professional character of their body presented itself. But 
 the task was one which required the most mature deliberation 
 and unwearied perseverance. The members of the Committee 
 were not unanimous either as to the details of the plan or the 
 mode of accomplishing it, and there was every reason to 
 anticipate still greater difficulty in amalgamating the various 
 opinions of the body at large on so intricate and momentous 
 a question. 
 
 On the 20th of March, 1841, several members of the Com- 
 mittee met at a Pharmaceutical tea-party, at the house of one 
 of their number (Mr. Bell, Oxford Street), and after having 
 discussed the subject in a friendly manner, agreed to a few 
 resolutions as the basis of the new society. Several other meet- 
 ings of this unofficial character took place, at each of which 
 other members were added to the number, until twenty- four 
 of the Committee were unanimous on the general principles 
 of the Association. During these deliberations it was found 
 difficult to decide what relation the society should bear to the 
 medical profession, and whether it should be a body entirely 
 independent, or in some degree connected with the College 
 of Physicians or the London University. Some of the lead- 
 ing members of the profession were consulted on these points, 
 but so great a difference of opinion was found to exist, that
 
 98 THE FORMATION OP A SOCIETY DECIDED ON. 
 
 the Committee abandoned the prospect of receiving any as- 
 sistance from the profession, and determined to create an 
 independent body. 
 
 The abstract principles of the Association having been 
 maturely considered by the Sub- Committee, the subject was 
 referred to the General Committee on the oth of April, and 
 the following resolutions were unanimously carried : 
 
 " 1st. That the permanent interests of Chemists and Drug- 
 gists require that they shall immediately form themselves into 
 a society. 
 
 "2nd. That this Society be forthwith formed under the 
 title of the PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 "3rd. That the Society consist, in the first instance, ot 
 such established Chemists and Druggists as shall voluntarily 
 come forward in aid of its objects and intentions. 
 
 " 4th. That the object of the Society be, To benefit the 
 public, and elevate the profession of Pharmacy, by furnishing 
 the means of proper instruction ; to protect the collective 
 and individual interests and privileges of all its members, in 
 the event of any hostile attack in Parliament or otherwise ; 
 to establish a club for the relief of decayed or distressed 
 members. 
 
 " 5th. That at a general meeting of Chemists and Drug- 
 gists, to be convened for the purpose of forming an outline 
 of the Society, a Committee be appointed to frame such laws 
 and regulations as may appear desirable for the attainment of 
 the objects intended, which laws, etc., shall be afterwards 
 discussed and completed at another general meeting of the 
 members." 
 
 In accordance with these resolutions a public meeting was 
 convened at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, on the 15th 
 of April, at which the Committee presented the following 
 report : 
 
 Your Committee, immediately upon their appointment, 
 opened a communication with the Chemists and Druggists 
 of every town in England, and of some towns in Ireland and 
 Scotland, requesting the co-operation of the members of the 
 trade, and soliciting subscriptions to enable them to offer the 
 most powerful and effectual opposition to Mr. Hawes's bill ; 
 and your Committee had the satisfaction of receiving, not
 
 PUBLIC MEETING ON THE SUBJECT. 9 ( J 
 
 only promises of support, but liberal subscriptions from 
 many places. 
 
 Agreeably \vitli the instructions [of the general meeting, 
 your Committee proceeded to the appointment of a deputa- 
 tion, for the purpose of conferring with Mr. Hawes, on the 
 subject of postponing the second reading of his bill ; to which 
 request Mr. Hawes readily acceded, and also undertook to 
 erase from the said bill every clause having special reference 
 to the Chemists and Druggists. 
 
 Upon the introduction of Mr. Hawes's second bill, your 
 Committee, acting under the advice of their counsel and 
 solicitor, determined to offer it their most powerful opposition, 
 as the provisions of the latter bill had an injurious power 
 over the interests of the Chemists and Druggists equal with 
 that of the former. 
 
 Your Committee, through their solicitor, thereupon re- 
 quired of Mr. Hawes that he should insert a protective and 
 explanatory clause, which should render the bill totally in- 
 operative upon the interests of Chemists and Druggists. To 
 this Mr. Hawes has assented ; and should the bill pass a 
 second reading the said clause will be duly inserted. 
 
 Your Committee, however, are bound by parliamentary 
 usage to offer an opposition to the second reading of the 
 bill, and they have caused a petition to be presented in the 
 House of Commons against the measure. 
 
 They have also sent a copy of the same to almost every 
 town in England, requiring the members of the trade, in the 
 various localities, to forward a petition, on their own parts, 
 against the bill, and to instruct their representatives in the 
 same opposition. Your Committee had the satisfaction of 
 finding that, upon the second reading of the bill being at- 
 tempted, a large number of petitions were presented against 
 it, and the House was " counted out." Your Committee, 
 though warranted in expressing an opinion that this bill will 
 not pass, are yet aware of the undiminished necessity of 
 watching any further attempts to accomplish that object. 
 
 In the progress of their proceedings your Committee as- 
 certained that the College of Physicians, the College of 
 Surgeons, and the Apothecaries' Company, had conjointly 
 proposed obtaining some legislative enactment, by which the 
 Chemists and Druggists were to be, for the future, placed
 
 100 PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OP GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 under the government aud control of these learned bodies, 
 more especially of the Society of Apothecaries. 
 
 A deputation from your Committee, therefore, sought and 
 obtained an interview with the College of Physicians and the 
 College of Surgeons, respectively, and received from the 
 former an official notification that it was their intention to 
 introduce into their proposed measures of medical reform, a 
 provision by which the Chemists and Druggists should 
 henceforth be placed under some legislative control ; and 
 your Committee have, therefore, again assembled you for the 
 purpose of receiving new instructions and enlarged powers to 
 meet present and future circumstances. 
 
 Your Committee having considered the subject, are of 
 opinion that the Chemists and Druggists are capable of self- 
 government ; they, therefore, recommend that the Chemists 
 and Druggists of the empire should immediately form them- 
 selves into a permanent Association, to be denominated the 
 " PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF G-KEAT BRITAIN," having for its 
 object the union of the members of the trade into one body, 
 the protection of the general interests, and the improvement 
 and advancement of scientific knowledge. As the basis of 
 such union, your Committee would 'recommend the adoption 
 of education, examination, registration, and representation as 
 involving beneficial results to the public in general, and to 
 the Chemists and Druggists in particular ; and offering to the 
 existing medical corporations, and to the medical profession 
 at large, a guarantee, that whilst the Chemists and Druggists 
 ai'e anxious to retain their present privileges, they are dis- 
 posed to afford every public evidence of their fitness to exercise 
 them. 
 
 JOSEPH GIFFORD, Chairman. 
 
 At a public meeting of the members of the trade, held at 
 the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in the Strand, on 
 Thursday, April 15th inst., 
 
 R. H. PIGEOX, Esq., in the chair, 
 the foregoing report having been read, it was 
 
 .Moved by Mr. Payne, seconded by Mr. Wilkinson, and re* 
 solved.
 
 THE COMMITTEE EJU'OWEREU TO 1>UA\V UP LAWS. 101 
 
 (i That this report bo received, and the best thanks of this 
 meeting be given to the Committee for their past exer- 
 tions." 
 
 Moved by Mr. Dinneford, seconded by Mr. Hudson, and re- 
 solved, 
 
 " That the report be printed, and circulated at the dis- 
 cretion of the Committee." 
 
 Moved by William Allen, P.B.S., seconded by John Bell, and 
 
 resolved, 
 
 " That for the purpose of protecting the permanent 
 interests, and increasing the respectability of Chemists and 
 Druggists, an Association be now formed under the title of 
 the ' PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN.' " 
 
 Moved by Mr. Morson, seconded by Mr. Davy, and resolved, 
 
 " That the present Committee be requested to frame laws 
 and regulations for the government of the society, to be 
 laid before the next meeting of the members for confirm- 
 ation and adoption." 
 
 Moved by Mr. Savory, seconded by Mr. Gifford, and resolved, 
 " That the thanks of this meeting be given to Richard 
 Hotham Pigeon, Esq., for the able and satisfactory per- 
 formance of the duties of Chairman ; and also for having 
 afforded every accommodation to the Committee in their 
 meetings at his house in Throgmorton Street." 
 
 Nearly 100 signatures were obtained at the close of the 
 meeting to a declaration which stated, that the undersigned 
 constituted themselves members of the PHARMACEUTICAL 
 SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 LIST OF COMMITTEE. 
 
 ALLEN, WILLIAM, F.R.S., Plough Court; ALSOP, ROBERT, 15, 
 Sloane Square, Chelsea ; BARRON, CHARLES, 6, Giltspur Street ; 
 BARRY, JOHN T., Plough Court ; BATTLEY, RICHARD, 32, Lower 
 Whitecross Street ; BAXTER, GEORGE, 144, High Holborn ; 
 BELL, JACOB, 338, Oxford Street ; BRIGGS, EDWIN, 48, Wig- 
 more Street ; BUTLER, THOMAS, 4, Cheapside ; DAVY, CHARLES, 
 100, Upper Thames Street; DE CASTRO, SAMUEL, 25, Great 
 St. George's Place, Knurhtsbridge ; DlHHBFQRB, CHABLES, 172,
 
 102 LIST OP THE ORIGINAL COMMITTEE. 
 
 New Bond Street ; ELLIS, JOHN, 225, Upper Thames Street ; 
 FARMAR, ROBERT A., 40, "Westminster Road ; FOULGER, 
 .SAML'EL, 133, Ratcliffe Highway; GIFFORD, JOSEPH, 104, 
 Strand ; GREKX, SAMUEL, 1, Harleyford Place, Kennington ; 
 .HAXBURY, DAXIEL B., Plough Court ; HERRING, THOMAS, 40, Al- 
 dersgate Street; HORNER, EDWARD, 20, Bucklersbury ; HUD- 
 sox, WILLIAM B., 27, Haymarket ; IXCE, WILLIAM, 31, South- 
 ampton Street, Covent Garden ; KEATING, THOMAS, 79, St. 
 Paul's Churchyard ; LESCHER, J. S., 4, Cripplegate Buildings ; 
 LOWE, WILLIAM, 47, Blackfriars' Road; MAYHEW, SAMUEL M., 
 Camberwell Green; MORSON, THOMAS, 19, Southampton Row; 
 PAYXE, CHARLES JAMES, 5, St. Martin's Court ; PIGEON, RICHARD 
 HOTHAM, 31, Throgmorton Street ; POUXD, MATTHEW, 198, 
 Oxford Street; SAVORY, JOHN, 143, Bond Street; SIMKIX, 
 EDWARD, 2, New Cavendish Street, Portland Place ; SMITH, 
 JOSEPH, 29, Haymarket; SMITH, GEORGE W., 125, Lower 
 Thames Street ; SQUIRE, PETER, 277, Oxford Street; STAMPER, 
 RALPH, 140, Leadenhall Street ; TOLLER, JOHN, 18, Conduit 
 Street ; WALKER, THOMAS, 48, Tooley Street ; WAUGH, GEORGE 
 177, Regent Street ; WIXSTAXLEY, EDWARD, 7, Poultry. 
 
 Immediately after the meeting, the Committee assembled, 
 and ordered 5,000 copies of the report to be printed and cir- 
 culated. Mr. G. W. Smith was appointed Secretary, con- 
 jointly with Mr. Farmar, and Mr. Payne was added to the 
 Committee. 
 
 The consideration of the laws was referred to the Sub- Com- 
 mittee, and, on the 27th of April, a draft of the same, which 
 had been prepared for discussion, was ordered to be printed : 
 frequent meetings took place, during which every clause was 
 discussed and canvassed in all its bearings ; a variety of 
 amendments were made, and, on the 25th of May, the LAWS 
 were submitted to the General Committee in their complete 
 state. 
 
 During the period in which the laws were in course of pre- 
 paration, .which occupied nearly two months, inquiries were 
 not nnfrequently made by those who were not on the Com- 
 mittee, respecting the progress of the Society, and surprise 
 was expressed at thn apparent cessation of the work which 
 had been undertaken. The excitement which had been oc- 
 casioned by Mr. Hawes's bill had in some measure subsided,
 
 DRAFT OP LAWS PRESENTED TO A PUBLIC MEETING. 108 
 
 when that measure was withdrawn ; the official correspond- 
 ence had almost ceased, and it was feared that an impression 
 might prevail that the project was falling to the ground. 
 
 In order to keep up the interest in what was going on, and 
 to promote the good feeling which had recently been evinced 
 by the members of the trade, a pharmaceutical meeting was 
 held on the llth of May, at 338, Oxford Street, to which 
 medical men as well as Chemists and Druggists were invited. 
 A paper, on the Constitution of the Pharmaceutical Society, 
 was read ; and, at the suggestion of several persons present, 
 a few copies were printed and circulated. An opportunity 
 was afforded on the above occasion of explaining the measures 
 which were in progress for the establishment of the Society, 
 and the favourable reception which this explanation met with, 
 together with the good attendance at the meeting, more than 
 realized the objects for which it was held ; and five other 
 meetings for the discussion of subjects relating to Pharmacy 
 were announced as an experiment, with a view to the per- 
 manent establishment of similar scientific assemblies by the 
 Society. 
 
 On the 25th of May, the General Committee having dis- 
 cussed and approved the laws which had been prepared by 
 the Sub- Committee, resolved to convene a public meeting of 
 the members, which was held at the Crown and Anchor, on 
 Tuesday, the 1st of June, and at which they presented the 
 following REPORT, together with the draft of the LAWS : 
 
 Agreeably with your instructions, and in conformity with 
 the principles laid down in the last report, your Committee 
 have prepared the fundamental laws of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society in such a manner as shall leave to every one, whether 
 Principal, Assistant, or Apprentice, all rights and privileges 
 enjoyed by his predecessors ; whilst regulations are proposed 
 which shall assure to the public and the profession the com- 
 petence of such Chemists and Druggists as shall be members 
 of this Society. 
 
 The unanimity which prevails among Chemists and Drug- 
 gists, upon the expediency and necessity of establishing an 
 Association for the purpose of protecting their interests, 
 induces the Committee to hope that the same unity of senti- 
 ment will prevail in carrying out the details of this important
 
 104 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. 
 
 The influence which Chemists and Druggists possess as a 
 body when their efforts are combined, has been demonstrated 
 in a manner which affords every encouragement to persever- 
 ance. It is equally manifest, that if they relax in their exei-- 
 tions, or allow any minor considerations to interfere with the 
 zealous and harmonious performance of the duty which they 
 owe to themselves, they will inevitably sacrifice their inde- 
 pendence and be deprived of many of their existing privileges, 
 by becoming subject to extraneous jurisdiction. It must be 
 recollected that the Society is of a PUBLIC nature, and involves 
 the prosperity of Chemists and Druggists as a body through- 
 out the kingdom. It is only by the combined and continued 
 efforts of individuals that a scheme so comprehensive and 
 laborious can be effected ; and these efforts, to be successful, 
 must be supported by all those who are interested in its ac- 
 complishment. 
 
 In drawing up the fundamental regulations of the Society, 
 your Committee have carefully guarded against the possibility 
 of those abuses which have often arisen in similar institutions; 
 and while they have vested in the Council sufficient powers to 
 render their services effective, they have made them entirely 
 responsible to, and to be elected by, the members at large. 
 
 To Chemists and Druggists now established, this Society 
 offers the means of extending pharmaceutical knowledge by 
 the establishment of a recognised medium through which dis- 
 coveries and improvements may be promulgated ; whilst the 
 institution of a School of Pharmacy the development of 
 scientific acquirements, and the exhibition of existing talent 
 will tend to confirm the confidence of the public, and remove 
 our apparent deficiency as pharmacopolists, when compared 
 with other nations. 
 
 To Assistants it will afford the means of practical improve- 
 ment, and an opportunity of obtaining honorary distinction. 
 
 To Apprentices the Society offers an immediate recognition 
 of their admission to the trade, and holds out a sufficient in- 
 ducement for industrious and studious habits, by affording the 
 prospect of participation in the elevated position and charac- 
 ter which will hereafter appertain to those who practise 
 Pharmacy. 
 
 The course of education proposed embraces only such sub- 
 ccts as should be known by every person presuming to dis-
 
 EDUCATION AND EXAMINATION. 105 
 
 pense prescriptions ; and though at the outset it would not be 
 stringently enforced, it will be the duty of the Council to 
 extend the examination as circumstances may require. 
 
 By the regulations under the head of Education and Exam- 
 ination, all existing Chemists and Druggists have the oppor- 
 tunity of escaping any restriction or ordeal which may be 
 imposed upon their successors ; and in order to enjoy this 
 exemption, nothing is demanded from them but that they 
 shall unite in supporting an institution which the protection 
 of their interests has rendered necessary. 
 
 The establishment of an examination in the classics for all 
 future Apprentices, will ensure the possession of that pre- 
 liminary education which is essentially necessary for the 
 creditable performance of their duties, and their ultimate 
 success as pharmaceutists ; and the inci'eased importance and 
 respectability which will be conferred upon Pharmacy by 
 means of this Society will induce many of the more wealthy 
 classes to devote themselves to its pursuit. 
 
 In order to establish among the Chemists and Druggists of 
 the empire a substantial and permanent bond of union, and 
 also to supply a deficiency which has hitherto existed, your 
 Committee recommend the foundation of a fund for the relief 
 of the distressed, the widow, and the orphan ; and, taking 
 encouragement from the example and success of other bodies, 
 they trust that this collateral object of the Society will obtain 
 universal support. 
 
 The Committee have the satisfaction of stating, that a com- 
 munication has been received from Paris, intimating a desire 
 on the part of some of the leading members of the Society of 
 Pharmacy in that city, to establish a scientific correspondence 
 with "THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN;" and 
 overtures of a similar character have been made on behalf of 
 the College of Pharmacy in Philadelphia. The Chemists and 
 Druggists of Scotland and Ireland have also expressed con- 
 siderable interest in the undertaking. 
 
 Your Committee, therefore, congratulate you on the cir- 
 cumstance, that, although the Chemists and Druggists of 
 Great Britain united in the first instance merely for the 
 purpose of self-defence, in support of their acknowledged 
 rights, that union has resulted in the creation of a National 
 Institution for the advancement of Pharmacy, which will be
 
 106 THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY FOBHED. 
 
 enabled to carry on a correspondence with similar institutions 
 throughout the world. 
 
 The establishment of such correspondence, the formation 
 
 of this Institution, and the successful i-esult of the opposition 
 
 to the bill of Mr. Hawes, will ever be regarded by your 
 
 Committee as a gratifying recompense for their past exertions. 
 
 JOSEPH GIFFORD, Chairman. 
 
 R. H. PIGKON, Esq., took the chair, 
 And the report of the Committee having been read, it was 
 
 Moved by Mr. Savory, seconded by Mr. Morson, and resolved 
 unanimously, 
 
 " That the report now read be adopted and printed for 
 circulation." 
 
 The Laws of THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY having been 
 submitted to the meeting, it was 
 
 Moved by William Allen, F.R.S., seconded by John Bell, and 
 resolved unanimously, 
 
 " That the Laws now read be passed under their separate 
 heads." 
 
 Moved by Mr. Keating, seconded by Mr. Dinneford, and 
 resolved unanimously, 
 
 "That the Laws now read and passed be adopted as the 
 Laws of ' THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN.' " 
 
 Moved by Mr. Hulse, seconded by Mr. Yarde, and resolved 
 unanimously, 
 
 " That the several members of the Committee be the tii'st 
 Council of the Society, and do continue in office, exercising 
 all the functions and duties provided by the Laws of the 
 Institution, until the general meeting in May, 1842 ; from 
 which period the Council shall consist of twenty-one 
 members only, to be elected according to the Laws." 
 
 Moved by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Butler, and resohal 
 unanimously, 
 
 " That Messrs. Hallows, Redwood, Yarde, F. J. Bell, and 
 Edwards be appointed Auditors."
 
 PAMPHLET ADDRESSED TO THE SOCIETY. 107 
 
 Moved by Mr. Hallows, seconded by Mr. Edwards, and re- 
 solved unanimously, 
 
 " That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Metro- 
 politan Committee, for their earnest and successful exertions 
 in support of the privileges of Chemists and Druggists, and 
 especially for having laid the foundation of a National In~ 
 stitution for the elevation and advancement of Pharmacy." 
 
 Moved by Mr. Thomas Herring, seconded by Mr. Wilkinson, 
 
 and resolved unanimously, 
 
 " That the thanks of this meeting be given to Richard 
 Hotham Pigeon, Esq., for his efficient performance of the 
 duties of Chairman." 
 
 R. A. FAEMAR, ) c , , . 
 
 ' [- Secretaries. 
 Gr. W. SMITH, ) 
 
 On the 17th of June a pamphlet was published, entitled 
 OBSERVATIONS addressed to tUe Chemists and Druggists of Great 
 Britain on the PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY, ly Jacob Bell. This 
 was intended as a general answer to inquiries and animad- 
 versions daily received by the anthor, in consequence of an 
 extensive correspondence which he had opened on the subject ; 
 and above 2,000 copies were transmitted to various parts of 
 the country during the interval between the appointment of 
 the Council and the publication of their first official address. 
 
 Early in July the Council issued their first address to the 
 Chemists and Druggists of Great Britain, of which upwards 
 of 5,000 copies were circulated, and fresh members were daily 
 added to the Society. In this, as on former occasions, the 
 want of an authentic list was found to be a great disadvantage, 
 as many Chemists and Druggists in the country, especially in 
 small towns, received no intimation of what was going on, 
 while several hundred letters were returned, the parties having 
 left business, or the directions being incorrect. This is an 
 additional proof of the advantage of a complete registration 
 of the members of the body, which will, it is to be hoped, 
 result from the formation of the Society. 
 
 The Address of the Council is inserted, as it completes the 
 chain of documents connected with the subject, and may pro- 
 bably be referred to with some degree of interest at a future 
 time.
 
 108 FIRST ADDRESS OF THE COUNCIL. 
 
 ADDRESS. 
 
 In entering on their official duties, the Council of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society are most anxious to draw the attention 
 of the Chemists and Druggists of Great Britain to the 
 immediate necessity of uniting their strength and influence 
 to meet the emergencies of the present crisis. They consider 
 that in having successfully opposed the bills lately brought 
 before Parliament, they have only commenced the duty which 
 they are called upon to perform, and that the fear of injury 
 on the one hand, and the prospect of substantial improvement 
 on the other, ought to stimulate all their brethren to assist 
 them in the important work which they have undertaken. 
 
 Chemists and Druggists have long had reason to regret the 
 want of a union of their influence for mutual benefit and pro- 
 tection, and of a uniform education and internal government 
 among themselves, as a means of substantiating their claim 
 to public confidence ; being conscious that as long as these 
 defects exist, they may expect to be assailed by obnoxious 
 imputations on the part of those medical reformers who are 
 endeavouring to enforce a system of extraneous restrictions 
 and supervision. 
 
 If "the trade" is to be protected merely as a trade, and 
 Acts of Parliament professedly designed for its reformation 
 are to be opposed solely on the ground of self-interest, the 
 task of self-defence will be endless, and probably unsuccessful, 
 while the exertions wasted on such struggles can reflect no 
 credit on the spirit or integrity of those who are thus en- 
 gaged ; but if, aware that some regulations may be required, 
 we endeavour to supply the deficiency which is urged as a 
 pretext for hostile proceedings, we shall secure ourselves 
 against the possibility of persecution. 
 
 The importance which Chemists and Druggists have ob- 
 tained as a branch of the medical profession, the reputation 
 which many among them have acquired individually in their 
 own department, and the great accession of numbers which 
 now swells their ranks, demand the establishment of some 
 judicious regulations which shall place them in a safe and 
 creditable position as a body. 
 
 Those among us who take a real interest in our scientific 
 art, rejoice at the opportunity which is now afforded of
 
 OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE SOCIETY. 109 
 
 placing the "trade" of a Chemist and Druggist on a profes- 
 sional footing, and effecting a union of our scattered forces 
 for mutual benefit and advancement. By these means talents 
 which have hitherto lain dormant will be excited into action, 
 a harmonious intercourse will take the place of reciprocal 
 jealousy and distrust, and all the collective influence we 
 possess will become available in attaining the desired improve- 
 ment among ourselves, and resisting encroachments or inter- 
 ference on the part of others. 
 
 The Council are particularly desirous of overcoming the 
 impression, that a voluntary society cannot effect these 
 objects. They consider that it will, in the first place, concen- 
 trate their power of self-defence, and be the means of dis- 
 tinguishing those who aspire to a high standard of qualification 
 from the careless and indifferent ; and, secondly, that by 
 introducing a system of government conducive to the welfare 
 of the public, it will form a basis for any legislative measures 
 which may hereafter be adopted. 
 
 The Council wish also to call the attention of Assistants 
 and Apprentices to the advantages which they will ultimately 
 derive from the establishment of a society which will give 
 increased importance, character, and respectability to all its 
 members, which is especially calculated to advance and elevate 
 the rising generation, and which will give Associates increased 
 facilities in obtaining situations. 
 
 As a collateral but very important object of the Society, 
 the Council must particularly advert to the Benevolent Fund, 
 which, in their estimation, claims the support of every 
 Chemist and Druggist in the kingdom. In a body so 
 numerous as we have now become, and among whom we 
 must calculate upon the existence of a proportionate amount 
 of distress, or even destitution, the absence of any specific 
 means of mitigating the sufferings attendant on such cal- 
 amities is indeed to be deplored : and those who are duly 
 impressed with the uncertainty of worldly prosperity, and a 
 desire for the welfare of their fellow-creatures, will rejoice to 
 see Science and Benevolence going hand in hand in the great 
 Work of improvement which is before us. 
 
 In conclusion, the Council recapitulate the general ad- 
 vantages contemplated in the Society ; namely, the union of 
 all the members of the body, for the purpose of self -govern-
 
 110 MEETING OP SUBSCRIBERS TO THE FUND OP 1815. 
 
 ment and self- protection ; the establishment of a uniform 
 system of education, which will promote the advancement of 
 science and the elevation of the profession of Pharmacy ; the 
 restraint which will be placed upon the incompetent for the 
 benefit of the public ; and, lastly, the alleviation of the suffer- 
 ings of the unfortunate. In appealing to their brethren for 
 assistance in the prosecution of this comprehensive under- 
 taking, the Council are especially anxious to draw attention 
 to the important fact, that although the growth of the Society 
 to maturity may be gradual, the rapidity of its progress is 
 entirely dependent upon the number and assiduity of its 
 supporters. 
 
 On Monday, November 1st, 1841, a meeting of the sub- 
 scribers to the fund of 1814-15 was held at the Crown and 
 Anchor in the Strand ; Mr. Gifford in the chair. Among the 
 subscribers present were Messrs. William Allen, Butterfield 
 and "Westwood. Several communications from the country 
 were read, suggesting the propriety of presenting the balance 
 in hand to the Pharmaceutical Society, and the following 
 resolution was moved by Mr. Butterfield, seconded by Mr. 
 Savory, and unanimously adopted : 
 
 " That the original object of this fund being the protection 
 and advancement of the interest of Chemists and Druggists, 
 this meeting of subscribers, convened by circulars and also 
 by public advertisement, desires to recognise in the establish- 
 ment of the PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY of Great Britain a 
 permanent and legitimate means of accomplishing such 
 object; namely, by a general union and organization for the 
 protection of present privileges and the education and im- 
 provement of the future members of the trade. They, the 
 said subscribers, do hereby authorize and instruct their sole 
 surviving trustee, William Allen, Esq., Plough Court, to 
 transfer to the Council of the said PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY 
 of Great Britain, the whole of the funds he now holds in 
 trust, to be used and appropriated by them, in such manner 
 as shall be deemed best calculated to advance their noble and 
 useful design." 
 
 The sum thus transferred, which had been accumulating 
 during the last twenty-five years, amounted to 862 18s. 2(7. 
 This transfer connected the present association of Chemists 
 and Druggists with that which had been for some time in a
 
 DEPUTATION TO THE COLLEGE OP PHYSICIANS. Ill 
 
 dormant state, but -which had originated from circumstances 
 similar to those which had led to the formation of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society. 
 
 Although the objects of the two associations were the same, 
 the manner in which it was proposed to attain these objects 
 was, in some respects, different. On the former occasion the 
 proceedings of the trade were directed to a defensive re- 
 sistance of threatened encroachments, and contemplated 
 merely the preservation of accustomed rights and privileges 
 by legal means and parliamentary influence. In the establish- 
 ment of the Phai'maceutical Society a more extended view of 
 the subject was taken, and the more immediate source of 
 alarm having been successfully combated, the extension of 
 pharmaceutical knowledge and the further improvements in 
 the qualifications of the trade individually and collectively, 
 became the basis of the defence which was set up against 
 future innovations or restraint. 
 
 Soon after the confirmation of the general laws of the 
 Society, at the meeting of the members, the Council sent a 
 copy of the same to the College of Physicians, with a letter 
 requesting the favour of a conference. It was some time 
 before a reply to this communication was received, and it was 
 evident from this circumstance, as well as from an answer 
 received on a former occasion, that the College was not 
 anxious to take an active part in the regulations relating to 
 Chemists and Druggists. It was desirable, however, that 
 such measures should be adopted as would be likely to receive 
 the sanction of that body, more particularly in reference to 
 the mode of conducting the examination of members and 
 associates, which was one of the most important duties under- 
 taken by the Society, and one in which the experience of the 
 members of the medical profession might have been a con- 
 siderable advantage. 
 
 On the 18th of November, 1841, a deputation of the Phar- 
 maceutical Society had an interview with a Committee of the 
 College of Physicians, and explained, in general terms, the 
 nature of the regulations for educating and examining Che- 
 mists and Druggists, which were under consideration, and in 
 the completion of which it had been thought desirable and 
 right to confer with the College. The Committee appeared 
 to concur in the opinion, that the course adopted by the
 
 112 EXAMINEES APPOINTED. 
 
 Chemists and Druggists was calculated to benefit tlie pro- 
 fession and the public, and undertook to take the sense of the 
 members of the College, at an early meeting of that body, and 
 to report the result to the Council of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society. On the 27th of November the following communi- 
 cation was received : 
 
 " College of Physicians, Nov. 27, 1841. 
 
 "The Royal College of Physicians of London has received 
 from the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society an address 
 and an outline of a plan for the education and examination 
 of Chemists and Druggists, etc. 
 
 "The College is sincerely desirous that Chemists and Drug- 
 gists, on whom such large responsibilities rest, should not 
 dispense medicines without being previously examined ; but 
 the College must have further time to consider how this may 
 be best effected, with due attention to the privileges conferred 
 by charter upon other bodies ; at the same time, having the 
 most earnest wish to assist the Chemists and Druggists for 
 the general good of the profession and the public. 
 
 " In conclusion, the College begs to add, that the Com- 
 niittee charged with the duty of conferring with other pro- 
 fessional bodies is proceeding with the inquiries and negotia- 
 tions in which it has been engaged, and hopes, at no distant 
 period, to be in a position to answer more fully. 
 
 (Signed) " FRANCIS HAWKINS, M.D., Registrar.' 1 
 
 It having been ascertained that the College was not likely, 
 at present, to co-operate or interfere in the matter, the 
 Council appointed a Committee to prepare a draft of the 
 regulations for the examinations, and, after mature delibera- 
 tion, resolved, that the Board of Examiners should consist of 
 Dispensing Chemists, and that the College of Physicians and 
 the London University should be invited to depute respect- 
 ively a representative to attend as a visitor. 
 
 To this invitation the College of Physicians sent a verbal 
 reply, through the medium of Dr. Frederick Farre, to this 
 effect: That while the College cordially approved of the 
 educational improvement contemplated in the formation of 
 the Pharmaceutical Society, and had watched with consider- 
 able interest the progress of that institution, the College
 
 PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS. 110 
 
 could not, without exceeding the powers conferred by its 
 charter, officially depute any of its members to take a part in 
 the proceedings of another society in the manner proposed. 
 At the same time, the College would not object to the ap- 
 pointment of any of its members, in his or their individual 
 capacity, to such office. 
 
 It having been intimated to the Council of the Pharmaceu- 
 tical Society that the Senate of the London University was 
 not likely officially to co-operate in the proposed examinations, 
 the Council proceeded to the appointment of Examiners 
 and made the needful arrangements for commencing opera- 
 tions. 
 
 During the fh-st few months after the establishment of the 
 Society, the proceedings were observed with some degree of 
 distrust and suspicion by the members of the medical profes- 
 sion ; and this is not at all surprising, when we consider the 
 nature of the controversies which have prevailed in times past, 
 and which are briefly noticed in this epitome. But this preju- 
 dice appeared gradually to subside, as the object and tendency 
 of the institution became more generally understood and ap- 
 preciated. The scientific meetings, which were attended by 
 many medical men, served to give a favourable impression, 
 by demonstrating the advantage likely to result from the dis- 
 cussion of subjects relating to Pharmacy, in a mixed assembly 
 nf that description, and also affording an opportunity of 
 defining the province of the Pharmaceutical Chemist in such 
 discussions. The subjects introduced were generally of a 
 practical nature, comprising the various operations of the 
 laboratory and dispensary, and having no reference to medical 
 and surgical practice, or to questions of a political character. 
 The pharmaceutical meetings, therefore, enjoyed the sanction 
 of the medical profession, and those who attended them ex- 
 pressed much satisfaction at the course of proceeding which 
 had been adopted, and the spirit with which it was carried on. 
 The introduction of these scientific assemblies, and the estab- 
 lishment of a school for the education of Pharmaceutical 
 Chemists, may be considered as an important event in the 
 history of Pharmacy, from Avhich we may anticipate a great 
 advantage. 
 
 The establishment of the Pharmaceutical Journal was an 
 accidental circumstance. The first number was printed for
 
 114 T1IE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. STATE PROTECTION. 
 
 gratuitous circulation, for the purpose of making known the 
 object of the scientific meetings, and five other numbers were 
 announced as an experiment. It very soon became evident 
 that a periodical of this description was much required, and 
 the only doubt which ajose was, whether the Council should 
 undertake the publication of a Journal, or sanction that which 
 had been projected. It was thought by some members that 
 the work should be conducted officially by the Society, or a 
 committee appointed by the Council, but no definite plan 
 having been matured for carrying this into effect, the work 
 proceeded as before, with a few modifications in the arrange- 
 ment, the Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society being 
 kept distinct from the other portions of the Journal. 
 
 In December, 1841, the Council of the Society, having 
 been informed that the subject of Medical Reform was likely 
 to come before Parliament during the ensuing session, thought 
 it right to address the Secretary of State on the subject, 
 requesting the favour of an interview. After some corres- 
 pondence between Sir James Graham and the President, an 
 appointment was made : a deputation attended at the Home 
 Office, and was allowed the opportunity of explaining the 
 grounds upon which the Society claimed the protection of 
 the Government, and the circumstances which had led the 
 Council to seek an interview. Sir James Graham stated, that 
 the Government had not yet determined what course to 
 pursue in reference to the medical profession, the subject 
 being one on which it was not easy to legislate, and inquired 
 whether the Society desired a royal charter of incorporation ? 
 The deputation replied, that it was the intention of the 
 Council to apply for this favour when their plans were more 
 fully matured ; but they thought it right to wait until they 
 were in a position to prove, by an appeal to facts, that the 
 measures which they proposed to carry out, in reference to 
 their body, were calculated to promote the public welfare, and 
 that, in granting a charter to the Society, her Majesty would 
 benefit the community at large, no less than the parties to 
 whom it was granted. The leading object of the Society 
 being to regulate the education, and ensure the competence, of 
 those who compound medicines, it was contended, that as 
 soon as it could be shown that the means adopted were calcu- 
 lated to attain the end in view, the Council might, on public
 
 POSITION OP BRITISH PHARMACY. 115 
 
 (/rounds, petition for the sanction and protection of her 
 Majesty and the Government. The arrangements of the 
 Society being as yet incomplete, the immediate object of the 
 deputation was to solicit the privilege of being communicated 
 with as the representatives of the Chemists and Druggists, in 
 the event of any measures affecting that body coming before 
 the Government. The subject having been fully and fairly 
 discussed, Sir James Graham engaged that nothing should be 
 done, in reference to the subject in question, without timely 
 notice being given to the President of the PHARMACEUTICAL 
 SOCIETY. 
 
 It has hitherto been considered a necessary consequence of 
 the education of a Chemist that he becomes a medical practi- 
 tioner. Our predecessors, the original Apothecaries, who 
 were merely corapounders of medicine, possessed very limited 
 advantages in respect to education, and in proportion as they 
 advanced in intelligence and knowledge they encroached on 
 the Physicians, until they became to all intents and purposes 
 medical men. When they established a Hall, and laid down 
 a regular course of study for their apprentices, they were not 
 content with instructing them in those sciences which relate 
 to the compounding of drugs, but included in their curri- 
 culum surgery, physiology, anatomy, the practice of medicine 
 and midwifery. By this means they supplied the public with 
 a very useful class of medical practitioners, whose services 
 are called into requisition by a large proportion of those 
 patients whose situation in life does not admit of the regular 
 employment of Physicians and Surgeons. But, by the same 
 course, they left a gap to. be filled up by another class of 
 cornpounders of medicine. 
 
 From the foregoing account of the origin of Chemists and 
 Druggists, it is evident that this result was brought about by 
 the wants of the public, and, on reviewing the circumstances 
 of the case, we are naturally led to the consideration of the 
 position which Pharmacy occupies, or ought to occupy, as u 
 branch of the medical profession. 
 
 Among the ancients the medical profession was divided 
 into three classes. The first related chiefly to Diet and the 
 treatment of disorders by regimen; the second was the 
 Pharmaceutical department, relating to the use of medicines ; 
 the third comprehended the manual opei'ations which come
 
 116 THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE PROFESSION. 
 
 within the province of tfiinjcnj. These offices occasionally 
 merged into each other, and were also subdivided, giving rise 
 to various grades in rank as well as classification of labour. 
 For instance, there were Ap^irfKroi'tKol, or consulting Physicians; 
 Ar//Aior/)yoi, executive or Junior Physicians; Pharmacopolie, 
 vendors of drugs who did not prepare them, some of whom 
 were also called TrepioSerroi, or ayi'/mu, charlatans; Pharma- 
 ceutribse, compouudcrs and vendors of drugs, who did not 
 administer them ; TravTOTrwAcu, KaOoXiKol and /uy/xaroTrtoAat, 
 wholesale vendors of drugs, colours, perfumery, dyes, i'tc. : 
 /nord/Aot, cutters of roots ; ftoraviKol, collectors of herbs. The 
 cutting of roots was often performed with superstitious 
 ceremonies, and those who followed this department were 
 termed airoQiJKat. There were also barbers, corn-cutters, p(t!- 
 noners, and other pretenders to medical art, whose separate 
 functions it is unnecessary to particularize. 
 
 Although this classification differs from that which obtains 
 at the present day in this country, it presents an analogy in 
 some particulars. We have the first grand division into three 
 classes, representing, in ordinary language, Physic t Surgery, 
 and Pharmacy. Physicians and Surgeons are subdivided 
 according to their rank, or the particular line of practice each 
 individual embraces, but these details are foreign to our 
 present subject. We have also a variety of grades and offices 
 comprised in the third grand division, which is denominated 
 Pharmacy. 
 
 This department merges into the other two in the case of 
 the general practitioner, and it indeed appears impossible to 
 maintain rigidly an absolute separation ; but it is our present 
 object to discuss the merits of PHAEMACT in its isolated state, 
 distinct from the practice of Medicine and Surgery, and com- 
 prehending every office or operation relating to the prepara- 
 tion and sale of medicines. 
 
 Although the preparation and compounding of drugs is 
 considered a subordinate office, it is quite as important as any 
 other office in the profession. This is so obvious as to require 
 no demonstration, since remedies are the tools which the 
 Physician employs, and on the efficacy of which he is depen- 
 dent for success. Pharmacy in the present day embraces so 
 many sciences, and has become so complicated from the dis- 
 coveries which have recently been made, especially in Che-
 
 THE MERn-S OF PHARMACY CONSIDERED. 117 
 
 nristry, that a complete knowledge of the subject can only be 
 acquired by those who devote their exclusive attention to the 
 pursuit. The science of Chemistry is alone sufficiently com- 
 prehensive to engage the whole time of those who are 
 desirous of becoming acquainted with all its details. Whether 
 we consider the simple elementary bodies (according to the 
 present state of our knowledge), the mineral kingdom, and 
 the endless combinations of the metals, or turn our attention 
 to the more abstruse and mysterious peculiarities of organic 
 structure, we are confused by the multitude of facts and the 
 complication of theories which crowd upon us. 
 
 Explanations of phenomena are at one time universally 
 received as plausible and satisfactory, and are afterwards 
 proved to be entirely fallacious, while mysteries which have 
 puzzled philosophers for ages, are sometimes unravelled by 
 the discovery of a principle of nature which had been over- 
 looked. These revolutions in chemical science give rise to 
 changes in nomenclature, and improvements in the processes 
 of the laboratory, which innovations involve the study of 
 Pharmacy in increasing difficulty, and confer on the pursuit 
 the character of a philosophical profession. It is the province 
 of the Pharmaceutical Chemist to apply the various dis- 
 coveries which are made in this science to his own peculiar 
 department, and although it may not be necessary for every 
 Chemist and Druggist to be practically acquainted with the 
 details of ultimate analysis, the principles of Chemistry 
 should be understood by every person who undertakes to 
 prepare a prescription, and in many of the daily operations of 
 Pharmacy a profound knowledge of the science is indispens- 
 able. 
 
 The range of the Materia Medica is too extensive to be 
 embraced in the mind without a systematic study of all its 
 minutiae in the first instance, followed up by constant appli- 
 cation. The variations in the quality of drugs, and the 
 sophistications to which they are liable, increase the respon- 
 sibility of the Druggist, and demand the utmost vigilance. 
 In reviewing the history of Pharmacy in all ages, we find that 
 fraud has always prevailed to a remarkable extent in this 
 kind of traffic, which circumstance may chiefly be attributed 
 to the facility of eluding detection, from the imperfect ac- 
 quaintance possessed by the public of the nature and pro-
 
 118 THE NECESSITY OF PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION. 
 
 perties of drugs. The detection of adultei'ations is, there- 
 fore, one of the most onerous duties of the Pharmaceutical 
 Chemist, and it is one which requires, besides chemical know- 
 ledge, a practical acquaintance with the sensible properties of 
 all the substances used in medicine. 
 
 The science of Botany, although to a great extent com- 
 prised in the Materia Medica, alone affords occupation for the 
 whole life of those who are ambitious of attaining proficiency ; 
 and even that amount of knowledge which every Chemist 
 ought to possess of the plants which are used in medicine 
 cannot be acquired without many years of study. 
 
 It is needless to enumerate the collateral branches of science 
 which might be comprised in a complete pharmaceutical edu- 
 cation ; enough has been stated to prove, that PHARMACY is 
 deserving of a separate and distinct place in the arrangement 
 of the medical profession, and that it is not likely to advance 
 as a science, and keep pace with other sciences, unless it be 
 followed by a class of persons who devote themselves ex- 
 clusively to it. That Pharmacy is worthy of this exclusive 
 attention cannot be disputed, when we consider its object 
 namely, the preparation of remedies for the relief of human 
 suffering and also the mental acquirements which the per- 
 formance of this office demands. 
 
 One of the disadvantages under which the art and science 
 of Pharmacy has hitherto laboured in this country, is the 
 false position which it occupies, and the prejudice which has 
 degraded it to the level of a mere trade. From this pre- 
 judice has arisen the notion, that the necessary result of 
 improving the character and education of the Chemist and 
 Druggist would be to convert him into a medical practitioner. 
 It has been shown that the system of education adopted 
 by the Apothecaries was Medical and Surgical, rather than 
 Pharmaceutical ; and it is obvious, that the odium which 
 rested on Pharmacy as a TRADE, induced thern^ to aspire to 
 medical practice as a PROFESSION. 
 
 But if proper encouragement were given to the followers of 
 pure Pharmacy ; if this pursuit were held in the estimation 
 which it deserves, and which it enjoys in other countries ; if 
 the same professional credit were attainable in this field of 
 labour which is within the reach of the members of other 
 professions, the inducement which now exists to encroach on
 
 SUBDIVISIONS OP DEPARTMENTS IX PHAEMACT. 119 
 
 the medical practitioner would be greatly diminished, or cease 
 altogether, and the science of Pharmacy might be expected to 
 flourish. 
 
 It is scarcely necessary to observe, that this division of 
 labour cannot be carried to the same extent in all localities. 
 Many small towns and villages could neither support a Phy- 
 sician nor a Surgeon, and a Chemist and Druggist could not 
 live without uniting some accessory business to the sale of 
 drugs. In this respect the position of small towns in tho 
 present day resembles that of the country in general in 
 ancient times, when all persons connected with the medical 
 profession were General Practitioners. In the metropolis, and 
 some other large cities, not only are the three grand divisions 
 observed in the case of many individuals, but each "genus" 
 is subdivided into a number of " species ; " for instance, in 
 Pharmacy, we have Operative Cltemists, Dispensing Chemist.--, 
 Manufacturing Chemists, Wholesale Druggists, Saline Chemists, 
 Chemists and Druggists who give their attention to particular 
 classes of preparations ; others who cultivate the sale of horsa 
 and cattle medicines ; others who are between wholesale and 
 retail, and supply Apothecaries with drugs. The nature of 
 the retail trade also varies according to neighbourhood and 
 the rank of the customers. Under these circumstances there 
 is some scope for classification, and with reference to such a 
 state of things, the medical profession in its broadest extent 
 should be considered. The division of labour having been 
 regulated accordingly, the example may be followed in smaller 
 towns to such an extent as is compatible with the amount of 
 the population and the wants of the public. 
 
 The question which has always caused the greatest agitation 
 in the profession is that which relates to the suppression of 
 uneducated practitioners, and the prohibition of " counter- 
 practice " among Chemists and Druggists. Notwithstanding 
 the loud protestations respecting the " welfare of the public," 
 and the " credit of the profession," it is too evident that the 
 controversies which have hitherto taken place have not been 
 altogether disinterested, and that the desire to prevent en- 
 croachments on the one hand, and to escape restrictions on the 
 othei', has been the chief stimulus to action. It cannot be 
 denied that the public ought to be provided with highly quali- 
 fied practitioners in every department; but whether the public
 
 120 COUNTER-PRACTICE. 
 
 should be allowed to employ unqualified persons or not, is a 
 question on which opinions are divided. 
 
 Those "who advocate the protection of the profession and 
 the public by stringent laws, contend that no person should 
 be allowed to practise in any department without having had 
 a regular education, and passed an examination ; and support 
 this opinion by stating, that in justice to those who have 
 been at the expense of passing this ordeal, they should possess 
 the exclusive right of enjoying the emolument to be derived 
 from it, and that by no other means can the public be secured 
 against the danger and suffering which may result from 
 ignorance in unqualified pretenders. 
 
 It is argued, on the other side, that it is 'tinpo^ille to sup- 
 press quackery by law ; that the public have the option of 
 selecting such practitioners as they prefer ; and that provided 
 no person be allowed to assume a title or rank which does 
 not fairly belong to him, the responsibility of trusting to those 
 who are not worthy of confidence rests with the patients 
 themselves. It is argued, that from time immemorial, em- 
 pirics have been encouraged and supported not only by the 
 ignorant and unwary, but also by persons of rank and educa- 
 tion * : and that the endeavour to restrain or put down an 
 impostor or unqualified practitioner generally has the effect of 
 giving him notoriety and increasing his practice. The repu- 
 tation of St. John Long continued to increase until several of 
 his patients died, under circumstances which exposed the 
 fallacy of his theory and 'the recklessness of his practice ; and 
 this circumstance tended more to explode his theory than all 
 the opposition which the medical profession could have offered, 
 or the rigour which the law could have inflicted. It is also 
 urged by those who oppose restrictions, that many of the 
 remedies now in use and sanctioned by our Pharmacopoeia 
 have been derived from empirics. 
 
 The arguments which have been advanced in favour of 
 restricting Chemists and Druggists from giving advice, apply 
 more or less to the case of quacks and the proprietors of patent 
 medicines, as it would obviously be absurd to prohibit the 
 Chemists from recommending an aperient draught or a di- 
 gestive pill to a patient who describes his symptoms, and at 
 
 Seepages 4, 5 ami <;.
 
 QUACKERY, H01KEOPATHY, HYDROPATHY. 121 
 
 the same time to sanction the sale of secret medicines, with 
 printed directions, announcing them as infallible specifics 
 against a long list of disorders. It would be unjust to punish 
 a man for recommending five grains of compound rhubarb 
 pill of the London Pharmacopoeia, while lie might with im- 
 punity prescribe a box of Morison's pills or a bottle of Daffy's 
 elixir. It is therefore necessary to view the subject in all its 
 bearings, and to consider not only the responsibility attached 
 to the practice of medicine, but the practicability and con- 
 sistency of any measures which may be proposed for guard- 
 ing against the evils complained of. 
 
 The Chemist is not supposed to possess the advantage of a 
 medical education ; but he is and ought to be acquainted with 
 the properties and doses of medicines, and the ordinary mode 
 of administering them. In this capacity his opinion is some- 
 times asked, in simple cases, and however unwilling ho may 
 be to interfere in any degree in medical practice, he cannot 
 avoid occasionally giving his advice, without incurring the 
 imputation of ignorance and losing the confidence of his cus- 
 tomers altogether. It cannot be denied that this practice is 
 sometimes carried beyond the limits which ought to be ob- 
 served, but which it is impossible to define, and in some cases 
 time may be lost while urgent symptoms are gaining ground 
 for want of regular medical treatment. 
 
 It may happen that a patient suffering under an acute 
 disorder consults a homoeopathic doctor, who denouncing deple- 
 tion under any circumstances, trusts to the imagined efficacy of 
 an infinitesimal dose of charcoal or of pulsatilla, and neglects 
 to resort to that treatment which the experience of the medical 
 profession would dictate. The disorder increases : another 
 globule is administered and repeated once or twice in the 
 day. The patient dies, and the doctor attributes this event 
 to some accidental circumstance which had interfered with 
 the action of the medicine. Other medical men, not homceo- 
 pathists, would probably take a very different view of the 
 case. 
 
 Again: A patient of a delicate constitution consults a 
 hydropathist, and dies of consumption, in spite of the damp 
 sheets and drenchings of cold water, from which a cure was 
 anticipated. In this case, also, opinions may differ as to the 
 proximate cause of death.
 
 122 ADVERTISED NOSTRUMS. THE CHOLERA. 
 
 Other patients, caught by a plausible advertisement in the 
 newspaper, resort to some "infallible drops" or "vegetable 
 pills," "which they take according to the printed directions. 
 Some of them may become worse, or even die, notwith- 
 standing the " infallibility " of the medicine. It is sometimes 
 said, in such cases, that the nostrum was the cause of death > 
 but this cannot always be proved, and is of course denied 
 by the promulgators of the specific. 
 
 The science of medicine (which has been termed the " m-g 
 conjecturalis ") is involved in so much mystery, that even 
 doctors occasionally disagree ; and a patient, worn out by an 
 obstinate disorder, is not unlikely to be attracted by the pro- 
 fessions and promises of those who propose a new system, or 
 advertise, as a wonderful discovery, a remedy which they 
 describe as a specific. Sometimes a paragraph in the news- 
 paper creates a great sensation, and induces hundreds of 
 persons to undertake their own cure, according to the direc- 
 tions laid down. 
 
 At the time the cholera first appeared in England, this w;is 
 the case to a remarkable degree. A paragraph was published, 
 recommending, as a certain cure for this formidable disorder, 
 a poultice of mustard and linseed meal to the feet, an em- 
 brocation of camphorated spirit to the pit of the stomach, 
 and twenty or thirty drops of oil of Cajeput, Peppermint, or 
 Cloves, in a glass of water, at stated intervals internally. 
 Accordingly it was recommended that every person should 
 keep in the house, in case of emergency, 
 
 1 Ib. linseed meal, 
 
 1 Ib. mustard, 
 
 Half a pint of spirit of camphor, 
 
 1 oz. of one of the oils. 
 
 Orders flocked in from all quarters, and the Chemists were 
 scarcely able to supply the demand. The price of Cajeput 
 oil rose to about twenty shillings an ounce, the other oils 
 advanced, though not in the same ratio. Some Chemists 
 kept cases ready put up, containing " A complete set of all 
 the articles required for Cholera," which were sold as fast 
 as they could be filled. Various other remedies were recom- 
 mended in the newspapers, each of which had its day ; and 
 while the doctors were discussing the mysterious nature of 
 the disorder, the public eagerly bought whatever remedy was
 
 INFLUENZA. MORISOX's TILLS. KING'S EVIL. 123 
 
 recommended. In fact, any person who happened to have a 
 stock of an article on hand which could be made available, 
 found it the best plan to advertise it as a remedy for cholera. 
 
 The circumstances attending the influenza on a previous 
 occasion were somewhat similar, although the treatment was 
 perhaps rather better understood. The remedies usually 
 applied for were, a calomel pill and black draught, and a 
 cough mixture. These articles were often demanded by 
 patients, who, when advised by the Chemists to whom they 
 applied to call in a medical man, persisted in doctoring them- 
 selves, and described the kind of medicines which they re- 
 quired. 
 
 A few years ago, the fame of Morison's pills extended 
 thi'oughout the kingdom. They were recommended for almost 
 every disorder, and the circumstance of twenty or thirty pills 
 being prescribed for a dose, was a novelty which gave 
 additional notoriety to the Morisonian system, and threw the 
 doctors into the shade. Some patients who had previously 
 suffered from obstinate constipation, found benefit from this 
 active treatment, and recommended it to their friends, and 
 many others followed the fashion under the idea that the 
 pills would purify their blood, and that because they cured 
 one person they could not fail to be beneficial to another. 
 At length, however, the traffic arrived at its zenith, several 
 victims died of hypercatharsis, resulting from an excessive- 
 indulgence in the specific ; Morison himself was among the 
 number on whom it failed to produce the desired effect, and 
 with him died his fame. Morison's "college of health" still 
 exists, but it has lost its Morison. 
 
 In an article in the Quarterly Review of December, 1842, 
 several other cases were noticed, in which certain fashions in 
 medicine and pharmacy have sprung iip, each in succession 
 creating a considerable sensation, until the bubble burst. 
 
 The first delusion adverted to, is that respecting the king's 
 evil, in which case royalty was implicated in the assumption 
 of the magical power of cui'ing scrofula by a touch, and this 
 practice was sanctioned by some members of the medical pro- 
 fession. Care was taken, however, to try the efficacy of the 
 charm only in cases in which a tendency to recover had mani- 
 fested itself. 
 
 King George the First discontinued the practice altogether
 
 124 BRANDY AND SALT. ST. JOHN LONG. HOMEOPATHY. 
 
 Tar water, Mrs. Stephens 's cure for the gravel and stone, 
 Perkins's metallic tractors, and mustard-seed, successively 
 enjoyed an ephemeral reputation, and in turn gave place to 
 other fashions. Brandy and salt was extensively recom- 
 mended as a specific in a great variety of disorders, by Mr. 
 Lee and Mr. Vallance, who were so disinterested in their 
 practice as to give away a considerable quantity of this in- 
 valuable mixture. The proportions used were six ounces of 
 salt in a pint of French brandy, and it was used internally or 
 externally, or both, according to circumstances. 
 
 The embrocation of St. John Long has already been alluded 
 to ; it was supposed to consist of a mineral acid, mixed with 
 spirit of turpentine. Some said it contained arsenic ; but 
 this is only conjeetui-e, as St. John Long did not trust it out 
 uf his own hands. Near the end of the year 1830 a Miss 
 Cassian, who had symptoms of consumption, died while under 
 the influence of this application, and her sister, who had not 
 shown symptoms of the disorder, was brought to St. John 
 Long, who recommended the same treatment by way of 
 prevention. A severe wound was established in her back, her 
 strength declined, violent sickness and other alarming symp- 
 toms ensued. Sir Benjamin Brodie was called in, but un- 
 fortunately too late to avert the fatal result. These cases, and 
 a few others which terminated unsuccessfully, shook the 
 reputation of St. John Long, but he continued to practise as 
 an infallible consumption doctor until he fell a victim to 
 consumption himself. 
 
 The system which has acquired the greatest notoriety is 
 Homoeopathy, which, in its relation to Pharmacy, deserves a 
 few remarks. The founder of this system, Dr. Hahnemanu, 
 was a Physician in Dresden, and being unsuccessful in his 
 practice, and also in literary pursuits, to which he resorted 
 in order to make ends meet, turned his attention to the study 
 of human nature, and promulgated a theory which was 
 destined to make him a great man. We are told that 
 a secret was suddenly revealed to him, by '' the star of truth," 
 on which he founded his method of curing diseases. The 
 law of nature, to the discovery of which he lays claim, is 
 this " Similia siinilibus curantitr," which being interpreted 
 reads thus : A medicine which has the power of producing 
 any disease, will cure that disease, if it already exist in the
 
 HOMEOPATHIC ATTENUATIONS. 125 
 
 system. As two similar diseases caunofc exist together, the 
 artificial disease drives out the other, and then spontaneously 
 subsides. Thus ipecacuanha is given to allay sickness, jalap 
 to arrest diarrhoea, etc., etc. But the most remarkable 
 feature in this mode of practice consists in the administration 
 of doses so inconceivably small as to be invisible by the naked 
 eye, and incomprehensible to the human understanding. 
 Gi'eat importance is also attributed to the manipulation of 
 the remedies. The Pharmacopoeia Homeeoptt&tica, by Dr. 
 Quin (183 i), contains explicit directions on this subject, and 
 each article is described separately ; with the dose, the anti- 
 dote, and the duration of the effect. No compounds are 
 introduced, each medicine being administered in its isolated 
 state, sugar of milk or spirit being selected as the menstruum, 
 on account of their possessing no medicinal properties which 
 conld interfere with the desired effect. Porcelain or glass 
 mortars are recommended, and some descriptions of stone or 
 marble are prohibited, because they are said to contain a 
 portion of magnesia, or other substance, which might be 
 injurious. 
 
 Each substance is directed to be prepared in various degrees 
 of attenuation. To produce the first attenuation, one grain is 
 to be triturated for six minutes in a mortar, with thirty-three 
 grains of sugar of milk, it is then to be detached from the 
 mortar, and again triturated for four minutes. Each of these 
 operations is to be repeated a second time. To this powder 
 thirty-three grains of sugar of milk are to be added, and the 
 friction repeated in the same manner ; after which a third 
 portion of thirty-three grains is to be added, and the ceremony 
 having been repeated, the first attenuation is attained. To 
 produce the second attenuation, one grain of the above is to be 
 triturated in the same manner with ninety-nine grains of 
 sngar of milk. This process is continued with strict attention 
 to all its details until the thirtieth attenuation is produced, 
 each attenuation occupying half an hour, and reducing the 
 product to one hundredth of the strength of the former 
 attenuation. The exact period and method of trituration is 
 considered to exercise an important influence on the efficacy 
 of the remedy : according to Dr. Hahnemann " the brute 
 matter of medicines becomes spiritualized by friction and 
 concussion." Liquids are prepared in the same proportions.
 
 126 THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF HOMCEOPATHY. 
 
 one drop of the juice of a plant, or solution of a substance, 
 being agitated with ninety-nine drops of the menstruum, which 
 dilution is carried on to the requisite number of attenuations. 
 
 One of the most interesting preparations in the Homoeo- 
 pathic Pharmacopoeia is the Tincture of Sulphur, which is 
 prepared as follows: five grains of sulphur having been 
 washed with spirit of wine and dried, are shaken in a bottle 
 with a hundred drops of spirit of wine. The bottle is allowed 
 to stand twenty-four hours, that the sulphur may subside. 
 One drop of the supernatant fluid is added to ninety-nine drops 
 of alcohol. This constitutes the first attenuation, and the pro- 
 cess of dilution is repeated thirty times. Dose, one, two, or 
 three drops of the thirtieth attenuation. Duration of the effect, 
 thirty, forty, or fifty days. Antidotes, camphor, pulsatilla, 
 sepia, nux voinica. 
 
 Another interesting preparation is Graphites or Plumbago. 
 This substance is purified by washing, first with water, then 
 with nitric and muriatic acids, and is diluted secundum artein. 
 The dose is two or three globules of the twenty-second, 
 twenty-fourth, or thirtieth attenuation; the duration of the 
 effect, forty. eight days; the antidotes, arsenic, nux vomica and 
 wine. 
 
 In some instances globules of sugar of milk, prepared by 
 the confectioner, are wetted with very attenuated solutions of 
 active substances, and afterwards dried. By this means it 
 may be supposed that a considerable degree of subdivision 
 is attained. When one of these globules is dissolved in a 
 tumbler of water, and a teaspoonfut taken for a dose, it can 
 scarcely be expected that an antidote would be required. It 
 is indeed surprising that any efficacy should be attributed to 
 these inconceivably minute doses, but when we see instruc- 
 tions gravely and explicitly laid down in a Pharmacopoeia, 
 with the doses, effects, and antidotes, how can wo doubt the 
 fact ? 
 
 According to the homoeopathic system, bleeding, and indeed 
 depletion of any kind, is prohibited ; perfumes, coffee, aro- 
 matics, fermented liquors, spirits, and many other articles are 
 denounced ; and in any case in which a substance is admin- 
 istered homceopathically, the patient is enjoined to take par- 
 ticular care that none of that substance is taken in the diet. 
 For instance, if salt (chloride of sodium, or unit-inn ntnri-
 
 HOMOEOPATHIC SYMPTOMS. 127 
 
 aticum, as it is called homceopathically) be the remedy 
 employed, it is said that salt taken in the usual way would 
 interfere with its action ; if charcoal be prescribed, charcoal 
 tooth-powder must be avoided, lest a few particles should 
 accidentally be swallowed. Particular instructions are also 
 given respecting regimen, exercise, etc., which are said to be 
 essential to the proper action of the homoeopathic remedies. * 
 
 Dr. Hahnemann tried the efficacy of bis system on himself, 
 his family, and friends, and performed a variety of experi- 
 ments, which occupied above twenty years, before he fully 
 developed his valuable secret to the public. As the result of 
 these investigations, he details the various symptoms pro- 
 duced by the remedies employed, and this statement is truly 
 astonishing. We are told that charcoal produces upwards of 
 600 symptoms, sulphur 1000, pulsatillallOO, nux vomicalSOO, 
 etc. These symptoms are minutely described in the works 
 which have been published by Dr. Curie and others on the 
 subject. 
 
 The following is a specimen: 
 
 Graphites, according to " The Star of Truth," relieves f 
 
 " A buzzing in the head, eruption of crusts behind the ears, 
 confused noise and tingling in the ears, ulceration in the 
 corners of the mouth, dry crusts in the nose, dislike for baked 
 food, weight in the stomach, blowing up of the lower part of 
 the belly, escape of wind in too large quantity, false voice in 
 singing, night cough, gout knotty in the fingers, cold feet in 
 the night in bed, burning heat in the feet, suppuration of the 
 toes, cramps in the ham, tendency to sprain the loins, pluck- 
 ing pain in the limbs, drowsiness at night, foolish dreams in 
 sleep, ill-humour, aversion to work, and many other symp- 
 toms." 
 
 The Lycopodium is said to euro J 
 
 * It may not be out of place to notice the Sympathetic Powder of Sir 
 Kenelm Digby, which had great reputation for curing wounds, and which 
 was eulogized in a discourse before a learned assembly at Montpelier 
 (1658). The weapon which had inflicted the wound was anointed with 
 ointment, and sprinkled with the powder several times a day. The 
 wound itself was directed to be brought together, carefully bound up, 
 and not disturbed for seven days, at the end" of which time, provided the 
 powder had been regularly applied to the weapon, the cure was generally 
 effected in the wound. 
 
 t Dr. Curie's Practice of Homoeopathy, p. 287. J P. 203.
 
 128 HOMOEOPATHIC EESEAECHES. 
 
 " Attacks of tearing pain in the top of the head, in the 
 forehead, temples, eyes, and nose; head-ache in the exterior 
 of the head during the night ; piercing and scraping pain ; 
 suppuration from the eves ; disagreeable impression produced 
 by organ-music ; warts in the nose ; ulcerated nostrils ; re- 
 pugnance for brown bread ; risings of fat ; canine appetite ; 
 dry snoring cough ; nocturnal pain in the elbows ; cramps ; a 
 turning back of the toes in walking ; itching ; old ulcers of 
 the legs ; painful plucking of the limbs ; thoughts preventing 
 sleep ; a capricious and irritable temper ; morose, unsteady 
 mind ; a tendency to seek quarrels," etc., etc. 
 
 Among the symptoms to be relieved by Carbonate of Am- 
 monia are * 
 
 "Hardness of hearing, with suppurations and itchings in 
 the ears ; pain in the nape of the neck ; chronic unsteadiness 
 of the teeth ; swelling of the interior of the mouth ; asthma ; 
 cough, with shooting pains in the sacrum ; pain, in a wrist 
 which had been injured a long time previous ; cramps in the 
 feet; great weakness in the limbs; sweating; anxiety," etc. 
 
 Muriate of Soda is given to relieve f 
 
 " Head-ache, in which it seems there are strokes of a ham- 
 mer ; crusts on the scalp ; button-like eruption on the fore- 
 head ; pain as of internal ulceration of the jaws in chewing ; 
 sour risings ; contraction of the throat, with flow of water 
 into the mouth ; immoderate appetite for dinner and supper ; 
 perspiration in the face while eating; empty risings after 
 having eaten ; jolting in the head ; incapability of thinking ; 
 splitting, tearing, and lancinating head-ache ; plucking pains 
 in the forehead ; shutting of the eyes in the morning ; whirl- 
 ing in the stomach ; noises in the left side of the belly ; pain, 
 like that caused by a dislocation of the hip; inconvenience 
 from eating bread ; irritability, disposing to anger ; sadness : 
 great propensity to take alarm ; leanness ; a tendency to twist 
 the loins," etc., etc. 
 
 The above is a very scanty selection from the prodigious 
 list of symptoms produced (and therefore cured) by some 
 very simple remedies. 
 
 On pursuing this extraordinary catalogue of sensations and 
 sufferings, the reader is naturally led to inquire, How was so 
 
 * J)r. Curie's Practice of Homoeopathy, p, 267. t F. 303.
 
 METHOD OF INVESTIGATION. 129 
 
 wonderful a discovery made ? by what process of reasoning, 
 induction, or experiment, was the connection between cause 
 and effect established ? It was in the attainment of this end 
 that Hahnemann, his family, and his friends, Franz, Hornberg, 
 Stapf, etc., sacrificed about twenty years of their lives in a 
 series of tedious experiments, the mode of conducting which 
 is thus described by Dr. Carie : 
 
 " The essential conditions of these experiments are : that 
 the experimenters be in perfect health ; that they scrupulously 
 adhere to diet which is merely nutritious, and in no way 
 pathogenic ; that they carefully avoid the use of fermented 
 liquors, wine, spirits, spices of every kind, coffee, strong tea, 
 acid fruits, all vegetables, except those of a farinaceous and 
 mild description : that they shun all fatigue, bodily and men- 
 tal, all excess, and even excitement ; and that they previously 
 note every habitual symptom by which they are affected." * 
 
 These conditions being implicitly observed, every symptom 
 or sensation which follows each dose is recorded, and, accord- 
 ing to the law " similia similibiis curantur," the statement is 
 taken to represent the therapeutic action of the remedy. 
 When we see how numerous and distressing these symptoms 
 are, it is clear that the ordeal through which the enthusiastic 
 experimenters passed, must have been such as few constitu- 
 tions could have outlived. 
 
 The action of these minute doses on the nervous system 
 when administered therapeutically is thus described, in con- 
 tradistinction to the " violent and dangerous operation " of 
 medicines administered in the ordinary way : 
 
 " By the homoeopathic method, those medicaments for 
 which the system has the greatest aptitude are brought into 
 contact with the papilla) of the tongue, which is found to be 
 sufficient in all cases to produce the desired effect ; and in 
 some, smelling alone is enough. They thus touch directly the 
 sentient roots of that nervous tree, through which their power 
 is conveyed to the whole system."f 
 
 It is a rule in Homoeopathy never to administer more than 
 two kinds of medicine in a day, as it is considered that all 
 substances act better in a simple state, and that the effects of 
 any remedy would be materially impaired or modified by ad- 
 
 * Curie's Principles of Hornceopathy, page 104. t Page 154. 
 
 K
 
 130 THE SUCCESS OP HOMCEOPATHY. 
 
 mixture. It is usual to give a dose every four or five hours, 
 but in acute cases as often as every two hours. 
 Dr. Curie informs us that * 
 
 " Homceopathv, which may appear easy of attainment at 
 first, because it is founded on a few clear and simple principles, 
 presents increasing difficulties as the student advances in his 
 career, because, in proportion as he advances, the difficulties 
 are more clearly defined, and because the choice of the exact 
 remedy for each individual case requires a serious study, to 
 which the routine practitioner of the old school is unaccus- 
 tomed." 
 
 He observes that " Allopathy," namely, the common or es- 
 tablished practice, " has long been known to the world by its 
 acknowledged want of all principle in the administration of 
 medicine, its utter uncertainty, its excessive costliness, its 
 hazards, and its failure ; " f and that " Homoeopathy forms a 
 new era in medical science, destined to dispel the dark- 
 ness, errors, and uncertainty in which therapeutics have been 
 hitherto enveloped ; its principle is a law of nature, unerring 
 and immutable a principle on which alone can be estab- 
 lished the future progress and improvement of the healing 
 art." J 
 
 The promulgation of this extraordinary doctrine by Dr. 
 Hahnemann was followed by grievous persecution on the part 
 of the medical profession in Germany, which had the effect of 
 giving him notoriety, and his cause was espoused by the Duke 
 of Anhalt Cothen. By degrees the system gained ground, not 
 only in Germany, but in other nations in Europe, and in 
 course of time it was imported into England, where it is ex- 
 tolled as infallible by many votaries. The system has also 
 been introduced into Veterinary practice, and we are told 
 that it is infallible in curing the Distemper in Puppies. 
 
 The circumstance that every theory, however puzzling to 
 reason and common sense, has its supporters, is thus accounted 
 for by Dean Swift : 
 
 " Let us therefore now conjecture how it comes to pass, 
 that none of these great prescribers do ever fail providing 
 themselves and their notions with a number of implicit dis- 
 
 * Curie's Principles of Homoeopathy, page 159. t Page 12. 
 
 t Curie's Practice of Homoeopathy, page vi.
 
 DEAN SWIFT. HYDROPATHY. 131 
 
 ciples. And I think the reason is easy to be assigned, for 
 there is a peculiar String in the harmony of human under- 
 standing, which, in several individuals, is exactly of the same 
 tuning. This, if you can dexterously screw up to its right 
 key, and then strike gently upon it, whenever you have the 
 good fortune to light among those of the same pitch, they will 
 by a secret necessary sympathy strike exactly at the same 
 time. And in this one circumstance lies all the skill or luck 
 of the matter, for if you chance to jar the string among those 
 who are either above or below your own height, instead of 
 subscribing to your doctrine, they will tie you fast, call you 
 mad, and feed you with bread and water." * 
 
 But Homoaopathy, Pharmacy, and indeed the science of 
 medicine in all its branches, has lately been threatened with 
 entire extinction by the discovery, on the part of Priessnitz, 
 of Graeffenberg, of the virtues of cold water, which is recom- 
 mended as a panacea. In addition to the internal administra- 
 tion of vast quantities of this beverage, it is applied externally 
 in a great variety of ways. Damp sheets were formerly 
 avoided with the most scrupulous care. It is now discovered 
 that patients may sit in a cold-bath for a considerable time, 
 envelope themselves in wet sheets, and retire to a dripping 
 bed, not only with perfect safety, but with a very beneficial 
 effect ! These ablutions are directed to be repeated more or 
 less frequently, and are either topical or general, according to 
 the circumstances of the case. The symptoms of a crisis are 
 severe boils and eruptions in all parts of the body, which, 
 although troublesome at the time, are said to be indicative of 
 approaching convalescence. This system is practised by 
 persons who are not medical men, and who, in fact, have little 
 or no pretensions to medical knowledge, but who nevertheless 
 undertake the treatment of any patients who may happen to 
 pi'esent themselves. Large establishments are fitted up in 
 different parts of the country, and the speculation is found to 
 be particularly profitable. 
 
 The conductor of one of these mansions was formerly a 
 Chemist and Druggist, who having thrown cold water on his 
 creditors a few years ago, evaporated for a time, and re- 
 appeared in the capacity of a water- doctor in another part of 
 
 * Tale of a Tub. 7th edit., page 115. A.D. 1727.
 
 132 THE SCIENCE OP HEALING. MESMERISM. 
 
 the country. Several other persons have visited Graeffenberg 
 for the purpose of acquiring a knowledge of this new system, 
 and following in the wake of the inventor, who has risen from 
 the station of a peasant to that of an oracle. 
 
 In giving an historical account of the theories and systems 
 relating directly or indirectly to Pharmacy, it would be foreign 
 to the purpose to enter minutely into the merits of each. ; but 
 it may perhaps be allowable to quote one other passage from 
 The Quarterly Review, as it explains in a few words the com- 
 parative value of remedies in general : 
 
 " The union of a broken bone, and the healing of a simple 
 wound, are the results of a natural process. The recovery 
 from many internal complaints is the result of a natural 
 process also. Under such circumstances, the best evidence 
 of the skill of the physician or surgeon is, that he merely 
 watches what is going on, taking care that nothing may 
 obstruct restoration, and avoiding all further interference. 
 But it is his duty also to learn what unassisted nature can 
 do and what she cannot do, and, where her powers are 
 insufficient, to step in to her assistance and act with 
 promptness and decision. It is just at this point that 
 danger arises from faith in pretended remedies. If they 
 have the virtue of being iu themselves innocent, no harm 
 can result from their use where nothing is wanted or nothing 
 can be done ; but it is quite otherwise on those occasions 
 which call for active and scientific treatment ; and we have 
 good reason to say that many individuals have lost their lives 
 from trusting to their use under these circumstances." * 
 
 There is another subject, which, although not exactly 
 connected with Pharmacy, is as much in place in a 
 pharmaceutical treatise as in any other, inasmuch as it 
 relates to one of the most powerful " sedatives " with which 
 we are acquainted. The subject alluded to is Mesmerism. 
 This science, art, or mystery, having been roughly handled 
 on the continent, has taken refuge in this country, and is 
 cultivated by a considerable number of philosophical investi- 
 gators. We may pass over the conjuring tricks with mes- 
 merized water, nickel, and sovereigns ; the development of 
 phrenological indications by mesmeric "passes," the power of 
 
 * Brandy and salt, Homctopatlay, Hydropathy, page 103.
 
 SEDATIVE EFFECTS OF MESMERISM. 133 
 
 reading with the forehead and elbows, and other marvellous 
 exhibitions which have astonished a section of the public. 
 The only part of the subject which comes within our pro- 
 vince, is the sedative effect of mesmeric manipulations, thrusts, 
 or "passes," which are said to have the power of tranquilising 
 more effectually than any preparation of opium, producing an 
 entire insensibility to pain, and thus disarming surgical opera- 
 tions of their usual torture. 
 
 On a recent occasion, the Medical and Chirurgical Society 
 admitted for discussion at one of their meetings the case of 
 a man whose leg had been amputated while he was " in a 
 mesmeric trance," * and who afterwards declared that he had 
 been unconscious of the operation. The subsequent dressing 
 of the part affected was performed under similar circum- 
 stances, and with the same success. This was primd facie a 
 strong case ; but some of the mesmerists present, as if afraid 
 of gaining a victory, launched out into the phenomena of 
 mesmerized water, and the faculty of reading with various 
 parts of the head, whiph feats were said to have been per- 
 formed in the presence of THREE ARCHBISHOPS. This of course 
 produced laughter, and weakened the main argument. 
 
 The anti-mesmerists on the other hand (with two or three 
 exceptions) seemed scarcely disposed to give the case fair play, 
 expressed regret that it had been admitted for discussion, re- 
 jected the evidence of the patient in reference to his insensi- 
 bility to pain, and treated it as an attempt at imposition. At 
 the same time they cited, in illustration of their remarks, the 
 cases of other patients in which sensation was lost or impaired 
 in morbid states of the system, forgetting that the evidence of 
 this insensibility was derived from the declarations and conduct 
 of these patients, which, in the case of the mesmeric patient, 
 they would not admit as evidence at all. This mode of treat- 
 ing the question tended to impress the audience more favour- 
 ably towards mesmerism than the defence of the mesmerists 
 themselves. 
 
 Within a day or two of this discussion a pamphlet appeared 
 in print, containing a full, true, and particular "Account of a 
 
 * A lawyer officiated as mesmerist on the occasion, whilst a surgeon 
 amputated the limb, and the paper was the joint production of the two 
 operators.
 
 134 DIFFERENCES OF OPINION IN THE PROFESSION. 
 
 case of SUCCESSFUL AMPUTATION OF THE THIGH, during the MKS- 
 MERIC STATE, without the Immvledge of the patient, read to the 
 KOYAL MEDICAL AND CHIRURGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON on Tues- 
 day, the 22nd of November, 1842." 
 
 One great obstacle to the advancement of science is the pre- 
 judice which prevails in favour of preconceived opinions on one 
 side, and new theories on the other, which conflicting influence 
 frequently divides the scientific world into opposing parties, 
 and checks that dispassionate investigation and discussion, 
 which would be more in accordance with a candid desire to 
 arrive at the truth. 
 
 When a new remedy is introduced to the notice of the pro- 
 fession, it generally has " a run " in the first instance. Those 
 who are prone to be sanguine in such matters, probably attri- 
 bute to it more merit than it deserves, and are too indiscrimi- 
 nate in its employment. Disappointment in the effect ensues 
 in some cases, and the fame of the medicine subsides. Those 
 who are averse to innovation, instead of giving it a trial, note 
 down the instances in which it has been unsuccessful, and 
 condemn it. In this manner many articles in the Materia 
 Medica have at various times been almost discarded by the 
 profession, simply because they failed to realize the expecta- 
 tions which had been raised, and having fallen into disrepute, 
 their actual merit or value has not been correctly estimated. 
 
 The theory of the action of remedies on the system is not 
 sufficiently understood to enable us to predicate what will be 
 the effect of a substance hitherto unemployed, and therefore 
 recourse must be had to experiment in most cases, in order to 
 determine the value of new remedies. In this respect quacks 
 possess an advantage over regular practitioners, since, having 
 no character to lose, they are not subject to the same pruden- 
 tial restraint, and, therefore, although they may often do 
 mischief, they occasionally make discoveries which are ulti- 
 mately beneficial to the profession. 
 
 Even regular medical men sometimes incur the persecution 
 and reproaches of the profession, when they adopt a more bold 
 and speculative practice than their neighbours, of which the 
 case of Dr. Greenfield will serve as an illustration. The 
 following are the leading particulars, taken from a work by 
 the doctor himself, which was written in Latin, and translated 
 by John Marten, surgeon (1706). The dispute arose from
 
 DR. GREENFIELD ON CANTHAKTDES. 135 
 
 the employment of Cantharides, by Dr. Greenfield, as an in- 
 ternal remedy in " iscuries, stranguries, ulcers of the bladder," 
 etc., which was considered by his brother practitioners to be 
 Mala Praxis. The doctor informs us, that among other re- 
 searches on the subject, he tried the effect of the medicine on 
 dogs, in the presence of the President and Censors of the 
 College ; and he states 
 
 " To one of which dogs I had administered Cantharides 
 alone, and to the other corrected with Camphir ; besides I 
 undertook to produce as evidence of the wonderful vertue 
 and effects of Cantharides, women (of whom I have very 
 many) cured with the use of it, as also Physitians of our own 
 College, who were eye-witnesses of the same, but it was 
 preaching to a dead wall, all was to no purpose, they refuse, 
 reject, and disdain, all that could be offered in my defence, 
 
 And since no reason could be brought, 
 "With private fraud they make it out ; 
 
 for they gave a particular and pleasing attention and credit 
 to the railings and calumnies of three women, sworn clan- 
 destinely and privately in my absence, and denied me the 
 liberty to hear their examination, or to make any reply thereto, 
 though often requested : but sent me away wholly ignorant of 
 what was done. But about fourteen days after, committed 
 me to NEWGATE, the common gaol for THIEVES and ROGUES, by 
 vertue of a certain warrant under their hands and seals, 
 charging me guilty of MALE PRACTICE." 
 
 After his liberation Dr. Greenfield wrote the work from 
 which the above extract is taken, which is entitled a TREATISE 
 of the safe, internal use of CANTHARIDES in the Practice of 
 PhysicJc. The author describes the virtues of the remedy, 
 quotes various ancient authorities in its favour, and points 
 out the effect of Camphor in moderating the irritant property 
 of Cantharides. The translator, in a poem which precedes 
 the Preface, commends the doctor in these words : 
 
 " Justly the conqueror's proud bays he claim'd ; 
 The small but dread CANTHAEIDES he tam'd ; 
 Taught the cool CAMPHIRE'S well-mixed sovereign balm 
 The fierce CANTHARIDES' hot rage to calm." 
 
 Although the internal employment of Cantharides, by Dr
 
 136 THE DUBLIN PHARMACOPOEIA. 
 
 Greenfield, at that period, exposed him to much obloquy and 
 persecution, the remedy is now in frequent use, and the 
 tincture is ordered in the Pharmacopoeia and other works on 
 medicine, with directions respecting the dose and mode of 
 administration. 
 
 Prom the facts above stated, relative to the various modes 
 of practice which are allowed and sanctioned by law, the 
 great discrepancy in the notions and practice of medical men, 
 and the disposition of the public to resist any restraint upon 
 individual judgment in the matter, it is obvious that the line 
 of demarcation between the regular and irregular practitioner 
 is by no means clearly defined, and consequently that " the 
 protection of the public and the profession against the effects 
 of ignorance," by legislative measures, is extremely difficult. 
 
 Reverting to the subject of the PHARMACOPOEIAS, we ought 
 to notice that of the Dublin College, which is of less ancient 
 origin than those of London and Edinburgh. A Specimen 
 Pharmacopceles was published in 1794, and another in 1805, 
 which were circulated among the members of the College 
 only, and the first Dublin Pharmacopoeia was printed for 
 general circulation in 1807. This work, which had been 
 several years in course of preparation, was chiefly compiled 
 by the late Dr. Percival, who was then Professor of Chemistry 
 in the University, and who acted under the siirveillance of a 
 Committee of the College. About six years afterwards Dr. 
 Percival commenced a series of experiments preparatory to 
 the production of a new edition : in this task he was assisted 
 by Mr. Donovan, who is now well known as a Professor in 
 Dublin, but after the lapse of two years, Dr. Percival finding 
 the undertaking onerous at his advanced period of life, aban- 
 doned it, and was succeeded by Dr. Barker, who had come 
 into office as Professor of Chemistry. A committee was 
 appointed to assist Dr. Barker, but the new edition did not 
 appear until the year 1826. Shortly afterwards, Dr. Barker 
 published an English translation, with notes and commen- 
 taries on the several processes. This, however, only embraced 
 the Chemical department, and a second part containing the 
 Galenical portion was produced by Dr. Montgomery. The 
 Dublin Pharmacopoeia is but little if at all circulated in 
 England, but the processes are quoted in Thomson's Dispen- 
 satory, which is familiar to most Chemists in this country.
 
 MODERN WORKS ON PHARMACY. 137 
 
 Dr. Christison's Dispensatory was published in the year 1842. 
 In this work the plan of other dispensatories is essentially 
 deviated from. Instead of its subjects being divided into 
 several parts, and each topic treated of under several distinct 
 heads, every special topic is exhausted under a single head, so 
 that the observations on any one article of the Materia Medica 
 constitute, as it were, a complete treatise. Thus, for in- 
 stance, that portion of the work which, in the Pharmacopoeia, 
 is classified as " The Preparations" is distributed in different 
 parts of the volume, each formula being given under the article 
 in the Materia Medica which forms its basis. The several 
 substances are arranged alphabetically. 
 
 Gray's Supplement to the Pharmacopoeia has enjoyed con- 
 siderable reputation as a book of reference. The first edition 
 was published in 1818, the sixth in 1836. It contains a notice 
 of almost every substance used in medicine, the preparations 
 of the Pharmacopoeias, patent medicines, etc., and although 
 each subject is treated of in general terms, and with very 
 little detail, the Chemist seldom has occasion to refer to the 
 work without finding some allusion to the article on which he 
 desires information. 
 
 Among other works on Pharmacy may be noticed Dr. 
 Paris's Pharmacologia, of which the first edition was pub- 
 lished in 1812, and the ninth is just published. This is a 
 very useful book, both to the Medical Practitioner and the 
 Pharmaceutical Chemist ; and we need no further proof of its 
 value than the number of editions which have been required 
 by the profession. 
 
 Thomson's Elements of Materia Medica and Therapeutics ; 
 Rennie's Supplement to the Pharmacopoeia ; Brando's Manual 
 of Pharmacy, and the Dictionary of Materia Medica, by the 
 same author; Dr. Christison's Treatise on Poisons; Dr. Kane's 
 Elements of Practical Pharmacy ; Dr. Stephenson's Medical 
 Botany; Dr. Lindley's Flora Medica; Dr. Alexander Ure's 
 Compendium of Materia Medica, Dr. Lane's Compendium, 
 and Dr. Belliugham's Materia Medica, are among the most 
 important works which have been produced in Great Britain. 
 
 But the most remarkable work which has appeared in this 
 country in the department of Pharmacy is Dr. Pereira's 
 Materia Medica. It comprises 1900 closely printed pages, 
 and contains a scientific and explicit description of every
 
 138 MODERN WORKS ON PHARMACY. EDUCATION. 
 
 article in the Materia Medica, with 365 woodcuts, and innu- 
 merable references to other works, both British and foreign. 
 The chemical constitution of substances, the botanical char- 
 acters of plants, the therapeutic action of remedies, the history 
 of every variety of drug, and the various opinions and theories 
 on each subject, are detailed in a manner which indicates 
 complete practical knowledge, as well as the most laborious 
 scientific research. 
 
 It is worthy of remark, that until lately we have had no 
 periodical devoted to the subject of Pharmacy. The first work 
 of this description was The Chemist, which was commenced in 
 1839. The Pharmaceutical Journal originated at the time of 
 the establishment of the Pharmaceutical Society in 1841 ; 
 since which period the Annals of Chymistry and Practical 
 Pharmacy and the Chemical Gazette have appeared. 
 
 From the circumstance of four journals of a Pharmaceutical 
 character having sprung up and met with encouragement 
 within so short a space of time, we may infer that the desire 
 for information is extending itself in the profession, and we 
 may hope that this periodical diffusion of knowledge will be 
 attended with a beneficial result. 
 
 It is quite clear that the advantage of improved education 
 and scientific intercourse among Pharmaceutical Chemists 
 cannot be too highly appreciated, and in order to understand 
 the manner in which an attention to measures of this descrip- 
 tion affects the general interests of our body, it is only neces- 
 sary to observe the change in our position and prospects 
 which appears to have been effected since the establishment 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society. 
 
 At the time that Mr. Hawes undertook to set the profession 
 in order, he was supported and urged forward by the advo- 
 cates of a system, liberal on the one hand and restrictive on 
 the other. According to the plan laid down, a new order of 
 medical men was to be raised up on the basis of the general 
 practitioner, and although Mr. Hawes did not contemplate the 
 annihilation of the existing medical institutions, his measures 
 were calculated indirectly to undermine their influence, and 
 reduce their power, by creating another channel open to all, 
 by which professional rank and honour might be attained. 
 "While the profession was to be thus thrown open, and purged 
 from what are termed its "corruptions," it was also to be
 
 THE PROGRESS OP PHARMACY. 139 
 
 protected, by means of stringent prohibitions against unquali- 
 fied practitioners, enforced by heavy penalties. 
 
 These latter measures were chiefly levelled against the 
 Druggists ; and were designed, among other objects, to settle 
 the knotty question respecting " counter practice," which has 
 been a subject of dispute from the time of the Apothecaries of 
 the sixteenth century to the present day. It was not supposed 
 that the Druggists could make any effectual resistance on the 
 occasion, as it was considered proverbial that they were a dis- 
 united body that they had no representative government, or 
 means of concentrating their influence. On the other hand, 
 Mr. Hawes and his party were backed by a large and 
 influential association, the ramifications of which extended 
 throughout the empire, and which had the means of creating 
 a sensation by directing the power of the members into one 
 channel, when a simultaneous effort was found desirable. A 
 notion prevailed to a considerable extent in the profession, that 
 the interests of the two parties were at variance, that in order 
 to elevate and protect the Medical Practitioner, it was neces- 
 sary to subdue and restrain the Druggist. This prejudice had 
 been handed down during nearly two centuries, and the 
 jealousy which existed on both sides had been a bar to any 
 mutual accommodation or dispassionate argument between the 
 two parties. The medical journals, and even the daily papers, 
 were constantly advocating some effectual legislative measures, 
 and quoting cases illustrative of the ignorance and misdeeds 
 of the Druggists. Although these arguments were frequently 
 one-sided, and the cases highly coloured, they were seldom 
 answered, except, perchance, in an occasional anonymous 
 letter, the pungency of which was taken out during its passage 
 through the press. 
 
 Pharmacy stood in a precarious condition. Its real repre- 
 sentatives those on whom had devolved the chief respon- 
 sibility of preparing and compounding medicines, were 
 calumniated on every hand, and threatened with extraneous 
 control, and a variety of restrictions. Even their right to 
 dispense prescriptions was called in question,* and they held 
 their other privileges on an uncertain tenure. Yet they 
 possessed no means of defence or representation, and although 
 
 * Lancet.
 
 140 BRIGHTER PROSPECTS OP PHARMACY. 
 
 they were all sensible of the disadvantages of their anomalous 
 position, none felt called upon to act for the general welfare. 
 
 In this state of affairs, the bill of Mr. Hawes came before 
 Parliament, and the Druggists suddenly roused themselves 
 from their state of apathy, and arranged a plan of defence. 
 The effect of this vigorous movement has already been de- 
 scribed ; but when they had warded off the immediate cause 
 of alarm, the Druggists did not fan the flame of opposition, by 
 keeping up an acrimonious controversy and raising a political 
 faction. They endeavoured to trace the evil to its source, 
 and having discovered that their weakness proceeded chiefly 
 from the want of regular education, as well as the absence of 
 unity among themselves, they turned their attention to the 
 intellectual improvement and organization of the members of 
 their body. 
 
 In proportion as these measures advanced, the opposition 
 subsided ; a more harmonious feeling sprung up, not only 
 among the Druggists themselves, but between the Druggists 
 and the medical profession. We have now (1843) almost com- 
 pleted our arrangements for the education of our members, 
 the examinations have commenced, a form of representative 
 government is in operation, and our right to regulate the 
 concerns of our own body is undisputed. 
 
 This change of circumstances naturally leads us to conclude, 
 that the professional and scientific improvement of the Phar- 
 maceutical Chemist is not incompatible with the interest or 
 friendly relation of the Medical Practitioner ; in fact, we have 
 reason to hope that a continuance of the line of conduct which 
 has hitherto been attended with success, will promote an 
 increase of harmony among all parties, and thus prevent a 
 recurrence of those mercenary and political controversies 
 which disgraced the profession during the last century. 
 
 When the Council of the PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY had 
 brought their arrangements to a state approaching to comple- 
 tion, and felt prepared to prove, by what had been already 
 done, that much public benefit might be expected from the 
 plan which the Society had laid down, they drew up a petition 
 to Her Majesty, which was presented on the 5th of November, 
 1842, praying for a Royal Charter of Incorporation. Sir 
 James Graham undertook to give the subject his mature 
 attention, and intimated that he should consult some of the
 
 THE ROYAL CHARTER OP INCORPORATION. 141 
 
 leading members of the profession, and take other means for 
 forming his opinion as to the public utility of the PHARMACEU- 
 TICAL SOCIETY, before he could give a definite answer. 
 
 On the 1st of December, the Secretary of the Society 
 received an official communication from the HOME OFFICE, 
 requiring his attendance, and was informed that the petition 
 having been favourably received, the draught of the proposed 
 charter might be prepared in due form for the consideration 
 of the Secretary of State. No time was lost in taking this 
 step, and the charter having been prepared by Mr. Alderman 
 T. Wood, and Mr. Serjeant Talfourd, was approved by Sir 
 James Graham, and also by the Attorney and Solicitor 
 Generals, with a trifling and unimportant alteration. It 
 appeared, however, that a " CAVEAT " had been lodged by some 
 party who suspected that the Society would apply for a 
 charter, and who was desirous of opposing it.* But the 
 twelve months during which period such caveat remains 
 valid had just expired, and, as it had not been renewed, it 
 fell to the ground ; and, on the 18th of February, 1843, the 
 PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN became a COR- 
 PORATE BODY. 
 
 This event is important being the first public recognition 
 of the Chemists and Druggists as the representatives of Phar- 
 macy. It cannot henceforth be said that the Chemists and 
 Druggists have no political existence ; and, consequently, in 
 the event of any legislative enactments being proposed in 
 which their interests are concerned, they may now claim not 
 only to be heard, but to be consulted. By virtue of their 
 charter, they possess the power of regulating the education 
 and admission of members, and thus providing the public with 
 qualified practitioners in Pharmacy, while they establish an 
 ostensible distinction between the members of their body and 
 
 * It is not improbable that this was the result of the following sugges- 
 tion contained in the leading article of the Lancet, of December 4th, 
 1841, p. 333: 
 
 " The Privy Council should be admonished of the application which 
 may be made for a charter by the Chemists and Druggists ; and, finally, 
 they (the Apothecaries) should pray to be heard, by counsel, before such 
 a charter receives the sign-manual of the QUEEN." 
 
 It happened, however, that the Council of the PHARMACEUTICAL 
 SOCIETY were aware that the proper time for applying for a charter had 
 not then arrived.
 
 142 THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 unqualified persons. In case of any grievance affecting the 
 individual members in any district, or in any part of the 
 country, and rendering an appeal to the legislature desirable, 
 there is an effective and efficient channel through which such 
 appeal can be made ; and it may be supposed that the Council 
 of an incorporated Society, representing so large a body as the 
 Chemists and Druggists of the United Kingdom, would 
 possess the advantage of an amount of influence which might, 
 on a great variety of occasions, be beneficially exerted. We 
 have seen, by the specimens already quoted, what would, in 
 all probability, be the nature of a medical bill brought into 
 Parliament by parties who have no community of interests or 
 circumstances with Chemists and Druggists, and who have, on 
 former occasions, endeavoured to introduce measures of a 
 stringent and oppressive character. We have seen that about 
 twelve months ago measures were taken to restrain the 
 progress of that body, and to impede the acquirement of 
 that political influence which a charter would afford. And 
 we need no stronger proof of the propriety and policy of 
 the course which the Chemists and Druggists have lately 
 adopted, than the fact, that although it must have been clear 
 to every one that, in the natural course of events, application 
 would be made for a Royal Charter, and although any 
 individual might, at a trifling expense, have lodged a fresh 
 caveat, and thus, to a certain extent, thrown an obstacle in 
 the way of its being granted, yet the proceedings of the 
 PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY having been confined to the improve- 
 ment and regulation of the Chemists and Druggists, and 
 divested of any political or party spirit, there was not in the 
 whole medical profession one man, within the last twelve 
 months, whose conscience would allow him to oppose a 
 measure the tendency of which was so obviously beneficial to 
 the public and creditable to the profession. 
 
 In conclusion, it may be as well to recapitulate the moral 
 which may be drawn from our past history, namely, that 
 political controversies and mercenary disputes are injurious to 
 the interest and character of all parties that the most effectual 
 method lohich any class of men can adopt for securing their 
 political rights, and advancing their professional standing, consists 
 not in disputation and warm argument, but in a steady and per~ 
 severing attention to intellectual improvement, and the establish-
 
 CONCLUSION AND EE-COMMENCEMENT. 143 
 
 ment of [such regulations as are calculated to ensure collective 
 privileges by increasing the amount of individual merit. 
 
 The members of the PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY are following 
 in the footsteps of the original Apothecaries. We have the 
 opportunity of profiting by the experience of our predecessors, 
 taking advantage of their example where the result has shown 
 its wisdom, and avoiding any errors into which they may have 
 fallen. Those who are sincere in the desire for the advance- 
 ment of our own legitimate profession, which is pure PHAR- 
 MACY, will perceive the importance of confining our attention 
 as much as possible to that pursuit, by which course we shall 
 not only be more likely to attain the object in view, but shall 
 also conciliate the other branches of the profession, and estab- 
 lish an amicable and harmonious relation among all parties. 
 
 [END OF THE FIRST PART.] 
 
 THE PROGRESS OF PHARMACY, FROM 
 1841. 
 
 IN tracing the progress of pharmacy in this country from 
 the time at which it became a separate occupation, first in the 
 hands of the apothecaries, and afterwards of chemists and 
 druggists, the author of the foregoing Historical Sketch has 
 depicted some of the various phases of the practice and ad- 
 ministration of medicine, including pharmacy, during a period 
 of about three centuries, prior to, and including the early 
 steps which were taken towards, the establishment of. the 
 Pharmaceutical Society. 
 
 Another period, of shorter duration, but not less productive 
 of important changes affecting the cultivation and progress oi 
 pharmaceutical knowledge, and the interests of those engaged 
 in its application, has since elapsed, and it has fallen to the 
 lot of another author to record the events of this period of 
 about a third of a century, during which the Pharmaceutical 
 Society has passed through its early development and has 
 finally been established on a permanent basis by legal enact- 
 ment.
 
 144 FIRST STEPS TOWARDS FORMING A SOCIETY. 
 
 The circumstances which led to the association in 1841 of 
 the leading chemists and druggists of London and most of the 
 provincial towns of Great Britain, have already been described. 
 Called together for the purpose of self-defence, they became 
 sensible, while successfully warding off the danger with which 
 they were then threatened, of causes which exposed them 
 unnecessarily to aggression from without, and of sources of 
 internal weakness by which they were deprived of much of 
 the usefulness and influence which rightly belonged to those 
 engaged in the exercise of their profession. 
 
 The committee who, by their active exertions, had pro- 
 vented the passing of Mr. Hawes's bill, taking advantage of 
 a concurrence of favourable influences, succeeded in laying the 
 foundation of a Society of Chemists and Druggists the record 
 of whose proceedings will comprise the most important part 
 of the history of British Pharmacy during the period to which 
 we are referring. Some of the events attending the founding 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society have been narrated, but to give 
 distinctness and continuity to this part of our Historical 
 Sketch, we purpose briefly to recapitulate the leading facts, 
 and to accompany them with reflections the expression of 
 which has been justified by subsequent events and the lapse 
 of time. 
 
 The first formal step towards the establishment of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society was taken at a meeting of the mem- 
 bers of the trade on the loth of April, 1841. On that occa- 
 sion the committee, consisting of forty of the leading chemists 
 and druggists of the metropolis, who had been appointed two 
 months previously, to watch and oppose the progress of 
 Hawes's Medical Bill, or at least such parts of it as injuriously 
 affected the interests of chemists and druggists, presented 
 their report, in which they described the successful result of 
 their efforts as far as related to the bill in question ; but at the 
 same time they explained that other legislative measures were 
 in contemplation, and had received the sanction of the Colleges 
 of Physicians and Surgeons and of the Society of Apothecaries, 
 which would place the chemists and druggists under the 
 government and control of those bodies and especially of the 
 Society of Apothecaries. Under these circumstances the 
 committee recommended the immediate formation of a Society 
 of Chemists and Druggists, to be called the Pharmaceutical
 
 THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY FOUNDED. 145 
 
 Society of Great Britain, having for its object the union of 
 the members- of the trade into one body, the protection of 
 their general interests, and the improvement and advance- 
 ment of scientific knowledge. The committee recommended 
 that education, examination, registration, and representation, 
 should be made the basis of such union, as involving beneficial 
 results to the public in general, and to the chemists and 
 druggists in particular ; and offering to the existing medical 
 corporations and to the medical profession at large, a guarantee 
 that whilst the chemists and druggists were anxious to retain 
 existing privileges, they were disposed to afford every public 
 evidence of their fitness to exercise them. 
 
 The report of the committee was cordially received by the 
 meeting, and a resolution, moved by William Allen, F.R.S., 
 of Plough Court, and seconded by John Bell, of 338, Oxford 
 Street, was unanimously adopted, to the effect, "that for the 
 purpose of protecting the permanent interests, and increasing 
 the respectability, of chemists and druggists, an Association 
 be now formed under the title of the Pharmaceutical Society 
 of Great Britain." 
 
 The same committee was requested to frame laws and 
 regulations for the government of the society, to be submitted 
 to a subsequent meeting for confirmation and adoption. 
 Within a fortnight after the date of this meeting a draft of 
 the proposed laws, which had been drawn up by a sub- 
 committee and frequently discussed, was submitted to a 
 public meeting of the members of the society on the 1st of 
 June, and the laws, then finally settled, were adopted as the 
 laws of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. In 
 accordance with these laws the society was to be governed by 
 a council, consisting of twenty-one members, to be elected 
 every year in May, but a special resolution was passed ap- 
 pointing the forty members of the committee who ' had 
 already performed so much good service members of the first 
 council, with authority to act as such until the following 
 May. William Allen was elected president ; Charles James 
 Payne, vice-president ; Richard Hotham Pigeon, treasurer ; 
 and George Walter Smith and Robert A. Farmar, joint 
 honorary secretaries of the society. 
 
 From this date, namely the 1st of June, 1841, the society 
 was fully organized, and we may here briefly review the 
 
 L
 
 146 THE PRIME MOVERS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS. 
 
 means and influences which had contributed to this result. 
 The movement from which the suggestion to form a society 
 of chemists and druggists originated, was that connected with 
 the opposition to Mr. Hawes's bill. The prime movers in 
 that opposition were Mr. Kobert A. Farmar, of 40, Westmin- 
 ster Road ; Mr. George Baxter, of 244, High Holborn ; and 
 Mr. George Walter Smith, at that time an assistant to a 
 wholesale druggist. The meeting at Mr. Farmar's house, on 
 the 10th of February, 1841, has been noticed in an earlier 
 part of this history. Those who took part at that meeting, 
 and especially the three gentlemen just named, undertook the 
 duty of calling on the more prominent and influential mem- 
 bers of the trade, both wholesale and retail in London, and 
 trying to interest them in the subject. The three active 
 pioneers in the agitation thus commenced, although origi- 
 nators of the movement, made no attempt to put themselves 
 into a more prominent position than that of zealous agents 
 and assistants, ready to perform the time-consuming work so 
 requisite and yet so unproductive of distinction, in movements 
 of this description. By their means men of higher mark and 
 greater influence were induced to take the foremost ranks in 
 the powerful array of well-known members of the trade who 
 formed the London committee. The character of this com- 
 mittee, and the disinterestedness of those who brought the 
 members of it together and stimulated them to action, con- 
 tributed much to the successful result of their operations. It 
 was important that the measures adopted should have the 
 sanction and support of all the leading drug-houses, both 
 wholesale and retail, and accordingly we find among the 
 requisitionists of the first public meeting, held at the Crown 
 and Anchor, on the 15th of April, the names of Allen, Han- 
 bury & Barry ; Savory, Moore & Co. ; John Bell & Co. ; 
 Godfrey & Cooke ; Corbyn & Co. ; Hudson & Son ; Fisher & 
 Toller ; Winstanley & Co. ; Eichard Battley ; Charles Dinne- 
 ford; George Grindle; Joseph Gifford, and other old estab- 
 lished retail firms ; and those of Pigeon & Son ; Herring. 
 Brothers ; Homer & Sons ; Ellis, Langton & Co. ; Barren, 
 Harvey & Co. ; Baiss, Brothers & Co. ; Evans & Lescher ; 
 Hodgkinson, Tonge & Stead; Drew, Hey ward & Co, and 
 other wholesale houses. These were names that could not 
 fail to carry weight, but the names of those who called the
 
 FAEMAR AND SMITH. JACOB BELL. 147 
 
 requisitionists into action do not appear in the list. They 
 were satisfied to give the benefit of their labour in carrying 
 out the dry details of organization, while those who inherited 
 or had created great reputations, lent the influence of their 
 names as an efficient motive power to put the machinery into 
 action. 
 
 Credit was especially due to Farmar and Smith for having 
 discerned and called attention to the true import of events 
 that were occurring at this time in connection with the 
 practice of pharmacy, and for having judiciously turned some 
 of those events to account in furthering the attainment of 
 objects which many of their brethren, whose easy circum- 
 stances made them less disposed for agitation, were no less 
 anxious than they were to see accomplished. But mere 
 assent to the propositions made, unquestionable as these 
 might be, and great as might be the influence of those who 
 gave the sanction of their approval to them, would have 
 failed to accomplish what was required, notwithstanding all 
 that a few active workers were doing, had it not been for the 
 enthusiastic devotion of the best energies of a man endowed 
 with the qualifications of wealth, position, a cultivated mind, 
 and sound judgment, who made the establishment of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society, and the elevation of chemists and 
 druggists to the highest rank of pharmaceutical chemists, the 
 object of his life's work. 
 
 Jacob Bell, the eldest son of the founder and proprietor of 
 one of the largest dispensing establishments in London, had 
 recently become a partner in his father's business, the sole 
 management of which was passing into his hands. He occu- 
 pied a position, with regard to the character of the business he 
 had come into, which left nothing that he could desire in that 
 respect. He had taken advantage of all available means to fit 
 himself by study and practical work for the exercise of the 
 responsible duties he had undertaken. He commanded the 
 confidence of the medical profession and the public, and as far 
 as he was individually concerned there was no prospect of any 
 advantage resulting from the measures contemplated for 
 raising the qualification of the body of chemists and druggists. 
 In this respect he and others with whom he was associated 
 could not have been actuated by selfish or personal motives, 
 yet all joined in promoting what was considered to be for tho
 
 148 VOTE OP THANKS TO J. BELL. CERTIFICATE OP MEMBERSHIP. 
 
 general good. At the first meeting of the first council of the 
 society a vote of thanks was passed " to Mr. Jacob Bell, of 
 Oxford Street, for his zealous exertions in establishing the 
 Pharmaceutical Society," and this was ordered to be en- 
 grossed on vellum. But with a modesty characteristic of the 
 man, he at once declined to accept so formal a recognition of 
 his services, and in place of the engrossed vote of thanks to 
 himself he suggested and carried into effect the issuing of an 
 engraved certificate of membership, to be supplied to those 
 who joined the new society. He was authorized to obtain a 
 design for this certificate, his known taste for the fine arts 
 and acquaintance with several of the most eminent artists of 
 the day, fitting him especially for such a duty, and the 
 design which was subsequently approved and adopted was 
 executed by his friend, Mr. H. P. Briggs, R.A. 
 
 With a president who was not merely a chemist by name, 
 but a successful cultivator and teacher of the science and 
 practice of chemistry, and who was known throughout the 
 civilized world, and admitted to personal communication with 
 men of the highest rank and position, as an esteemed promoter 
 and patron of benevolent and educational institutions ; with a 
 vice-president of sterling worth and more than average ability, 
 who was respected by all who knew him, and plaqed in the 
 foremost rank among his compeers as a zealous and talented 
 advocate of their cause ; with councilmen comprising the 
 most influential members of the drug trade, representing every 
 department of the business ; and lastly, with two secretaries 
 who had well merited the position they occupied, it might be 
 thought that the society was provided with an efficient staff of 
 officers equal to the carrying out of all its objects. But no 
 just estimate could be formed of the requirements in those 
 days for effecting such a social revolution as was contem- 
 plated, by a reference only to the better mutual understanding 
 that has since arisen among the same class. Prior to the 
 establishment of the Pharmaceutical Society there was no 
 social or professional intercourse among chemists and drug- 
 gists, no medium of communication, no common principle 
 of action, or bond of union. Trade jealousies, suspicion and 
 distrust, prevailed to such an extent as to render it difficult 
 to bring the members of the trade together or to induce them 
 to join in any common object. It required a man of indepen-
 
 THE PHARMACEUTICAL TEA PARTY. 149 
 
 dent means, disinterestedly devoted to the work, with tact, 
 temper, and powers of persuasion, to overcome the difficulties 
 of the undertaking, and such a man was Jacob Bell. 
 
 Although possessed of the means to some extent of mixing 
 in fashionable society, for which at an earlier date he had 
 manifested a disposition, he was not inclined to throw off 
 his business connections or to despise the shop which had 
 made him, in a pecuniary sense, what he was. He had formed 
 the acquaintance of many artistic, literary, and scientific men, 
 including some of the celebrities of the day in those depart- 
 ments, and especially among medical men and artists. Bat 
 he also cultivated the acquaintance of his pharmaceutical 
 brethren. On the 25th of March, 1841, he gave what he 
 called a pharmaceutical tea party at his house of business, 
 338, Oxford Street, to which he invited chemists and drug- 
 gists, and medical men ; and the desirability of establishing 
 a Pharmaceutical Society was talked of on that occasion as 
 it also had been previously. In the discussion of this subject, 
 whenever it occurred in his presence, Jacob Bell took a promi- 
 nent part, and manifested the deep interest he took in the 
 project. Until the foundation-stone of the new society had 
 been laid on the loth of April, the name of Jacob Bell ap- 
 peared less frequently than that of his father in connection 
 with the proceedings of the associated chemists and druggists ; 
 but the son having now identified himself as leader of this 
 movement, the father, who was retiring from active participa- 
 tion in business, left to his more energetic partner all future 
 action in connection with the establishment and operations of 
 the Pharmaceutical Society. 
 
 Henceforth, when the name of Bell occurs in this historical 
 account, unless otherwise distinguished, it will relate to Jacob 
 Bell, who had become a moving spirit, originating, actuating, 
 or organizing measures tending to the furtherance of the 
 general interests of the body to which he belonged, and of the 
 association which had been formed of the members of that 
 body. 
 
 The pharmaceutical tea party of the 25th of March was 
 followed by a series of monthly meetings at Mr. Bell's house, 
 the first of which was held on the llth of May; and as 
 the new society had now been founded, these were ostensibly 
 meetings of the society, to which the members, together with
 
 150 MR. BELL'S PHARMACEUTICAL MEETINGS. 
 
 medical and other scientific men who took an interest in the 
 subject, were invited for the purpose of reading and discuss- 
 ing papers relating to the'practice of pharmacy. Although in- 
 stituted and conducted by Mr. Bell on his sole responsibility 
 and at his expense, these meetings were designed and intended 
 as an experiment, for the purpose of illustrating the advan- 
 tage of scientific discussion, and as a starting point for meet- 
 ings of a similar description which it was hoped the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society would carry out, with the twofold object of 
 bringing the members of the society together, and of inducing 
 them to communicate and discuss matters of practical or 
 scientific interest relating to their daily occupations. At the 
 first meeting Mr. Bell read a paper " On the Constitution of 
 the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain." This sketch 
 was followed at the next meeting, on the 9th of June, by papers 
 " On the Rise and Progress of Pharmacy," by Mr. Morson ; 
 " On Hippuric Acid and its Tests," by Dr. Alexander Ure ; 
 and " On the Preparation of Medicinal Extracts," by Mr. 
 Redwood. 
 
 These first meetings sufficiently indicated the probable 
 success of the experiment. Mr. Bell's rooms were crowded, 
 and men pursuing the same occupation in the same street or 
 neighbourhood, who had never before exchanged a friendly 
 greeting, were here hustled together, brought face to face and 
 warmed into recognition, at the meetings or in the refreshment 
 room of their generous host. 
 
 But the ' question arose, what was to be done with the 
 papers read at these meetings ? There was no journal devoted 
 to pharmacy in which they could be published, and by means 
 of which the beneficial influence of the social gatherings in 
 Oxford Street might be extended to districts beyond the reach 
 of Mr. Bell's invitations, and to numbers greater than his 
 house, though not his liberality, could entertain. It was seen 
 from the first, that some channel for the publication of the 
 proceedings at the pharmaceutical meetings was much wanted ; 
 and with the view of providing for this requirement, and also 
 of furnishing a medium of communication between the mem- 
 bers and others interested in the society, Mr. Bell started a 
 monthly publication, the first number of which appeared in 
 July, 1841. It contained the papers read at the first two 
 meetings, and was entitled "The Transactions of the Pharma-
 
 ORIGIN OP THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 151 
 
 ceufcical Meetings." Subsequent meetings furnished matter, 
 but not sufficient matter, for succeeding numbers of this pub- 
 lication. In the second number, which appeared on the 1st 
 of August, the title was changed to " Pharmaceutical Transac- 
 tions : " other papers besides those produced at the July 
 meeting were introduced, and the work now began to assume 
 more of the character of a scientific journal. 
 
 Mr. Bell was not only the proprietor of this publication, but 
 took the position of editor, for which he possessed consider- 
 able aptitude. In his early youth, while at school, he had 
 manifested much fertility of imagination and readiness and 
 power of expressing his ideas, qualifications which developed 
 themselves in successful literary competitions with his school- 
 fellows, and also in the establishment and maintenance for 
 some time, principally by the use of his pen, of a manuscript 
 school journal, devoted to the humorous treatment of school- 
 boy incidents, which were often cleverly illustrated with pen- 
 and-ink sketches. This tendency to indulge, and power of 
 excelling, in graphical representations of events, was evidenced 
 during his apprenticeship in the production of an illustrated 
 journal or diary, in which daily events were recorded ; but 
 unfortunately this artistic representation of trivialities was 
 destroyed by him at a later period when his attention was de- 
 voted to subjects of greater importance. 
 
 The establishment of a journal devoted to the interests of 
 pharmacy and the Pharmaceutical Society was an object that 
 could not have failed, under any circumstances, to enlist the 
 zealous advocacy and assistance of Mr. Bell. The proposition 
 for such an undertaking, however, had originated with him- 
 self, and he was prepared to find the means of submitting it 
 to a fair and ample trial. With no small qualification for the 
 purpose, he undertook the duty of editor, and the leaders 
 were all, or nearly all, written by him, while other parts of 
 the journal were under the immediate management of the 
 feub-editor, Mr. Redwood, who acted in that capacity from the 
 commencement of the work until at Mr. Bell's death a change 
 was made, when Mr. Redwood took a more prominent part 
 as editor. 
 
 It had been proposed by Mr. Bell that the monthly pharma- 
 ceutical meetings should be held at his house until the society 
 had a habitation of its own, and this arrangement was adhered
 
 152 NO. 17, BLOOMSBURY SQUARE, TAKEN BY THE SOCIETY. 
 
 to. The first of these meetings having been held on the llth 
 of May, 1841, they continued to be similarly held at 338, 
 Oxford Street, until the 12th of January following. 
 
 The meetings of council and of committees were mean- 
 while held at the houses of members of council, and especially 
 at the house of business of the treasurer in Throgmorton 
 Street, where the Defence Committee had been originally 
 accustomed to meet. 
 
 But a fixed residence for the society had now become neces- 
 sary, and numerous inquiries for such resulted in the selection 
 of 17, Bloomsbury Square, where there were vacant rooms 
 affording the requisite accommodation. In December, 1841, 
 the council, on the recommendation of a committee, agreed 
 to take this house at a rent of 240 a year, subject, however, 
 to the occupation of some of the rooms by two tenants, who 
 were jointly to pay the society 60 a year for them. 
 
 The first meeting, a meeting of council, at which the presi- 
 dent was present, was held in the newly acquired premises on 
 the 6th of January, 1842, and arrangements were made for 
 holding an evening meeting of the society there on the 12th 
 of January, at which the president was to deliver an address. 
 
 The premises in Bloomsbury Square, although in the first 
 instance only taken from year to year, with the option of 
 having a lease, seemed likely to afford the required accom- 
 modation for carrying out the contemplated operations of the 
 society. But the step thus taken engendered other arrange- 
 ments. In the place of two honorary officers who had hitherto 
 performed the secretarial duties, Mr. George Walter Smith 
 was appointed resident secretary at a salary. Alderman 
 Thomas Wood had already been appointed solicitor for the 
 society. 
 
 Thus provided with a house and executive officers, the 
 business of the society was promptly entered upon. An 
 address from the president, who was unable to attend per- 
 sonally, was read at the evening meeting held on the 12th of 
 January, in which he remarked that the arrangements re- 
 lating to the establishment of the School of Pharmacy, the 
 regulation of examinations, and the appointment of examiners, 
 had for some time claimed the attention of the council. These 
 appear to have been looked upon at that early stage of the 
 society's operations as among the most important of the
 
 PROFESSORS AND EXAMINERS APPOINTED. 153 
 
 means by which the objects of the association were to be 
 attained. While, as the president remarked, the council were 
 thus " concerting measures for the early adoption of a com- 
 plete and well digested plan " of education and examination, 
 evidence was afforded of their earnestness in promoting this 
 object by the commencement at once of a series of evening 
 lectures introductory to the subjects on which it was proposed 
 to establish and maintain courses of systematic instruction. 
 On the 16th of February Dr. Anthony Todd Thomson de- 
 livered an introductory lecture on Materia Medica, which 
 was followed by lectures on the 2nd of March, by Dr. 
 Andrew Ure, on Chemistry ; on the 16th of March, by 
 Mr. Redwood, on Pharmacy ; on the 30th of March, by 
 Dr. Pereira, on modern discoveries in Materia Medica ; on 
 the 20th of April, by Mr. Fownes, on Organic Chemistry ; 
 and on the llth of May, by Dr. A. T. Thomson, on Botany. 
 
 During the time that these preliminary lectures were 
 being delivered, arrangements were made for commencing 
 courses of systematic instruction in Botany, Materia Medica, 
 Chemistry, and Pharmacy, and professors were appointed in 
 each of those subjects, Dr. A. T. Thomson in Botany, Dr. 
 Pereira in Materia Medica, Mr. Fownes in Chemistry, and 
 Mr. Redwood in Pharmacy. Dr. Thomson commenced his 
 course on Botany on the 17th of May. The other courses 
 were commenced in the following October. 
 
 A board of examiners was appointed, and the College of 
 Physicians and the University of London were consulted as 
 to the best arrangements for conducting the examinations ; 
 but these bodies, although invited to do so, declined to send 
 representatives to be present as visitors at the examinations. 
 The society was as yet too young and undeveloped to justify 
 the expectation of recognition and assistance in such form 
 from those bodies. Encouragement to proceed was, however, 
 offered by many distinguished members of the medical pro- 
 fession and other scientific men. 
 
 A deputation from the council waited on Sir James 
 Graham, the Home Secretary, to explain the objects and pro- 
 ceedings of the society, and point out the claims it would 
 have, when its plans were brought into full operation, for the 
 countenance and support which the Government might afford 
 by granting a charter of incorporation.
 
 154 ME. BELL VISITS THE PROVINCES. 
 
 While the council was thus laying the foundations of the 
 society on a broad basis, and actively promoting its develop- 
 ment, it was obviously necessary to provide a constituency 
 that should, give it moral and substantial support adequate to 
 the carrying out of all the contemplated objects in an efficient 
 manner. It was only by such means that the society could 
 be established in popular favour, and that it could obtain the 
 looked-for assistance from Government and the legislature. 
 The object sought, however, was not easily to be accomplished 
 among a class of men hitherto unorganized and unaccustomed 
 to combined action. One of the objects which had been con- 
 templated in starting the Pharmaceutical Journal was that of 
 providing a medium of communication among chemists and 
 druggists, and a means by which they could be appealed to 
 and corresponded with on subjects affecting their common 
 interests. But even journalism was then in its infancy ; the 
 penny postage-stamp and newspaper had not yet created such 
 an appetite for a knowledge of passing events as would en- 
 sure attention to appeals in this form. A personal appeal 
 was necessary, and Mr. Bell, at his own cost, undertook the 
 duty of making such appeal. He visited different parts of 
 the country, for the purpose of bringing the members of the 
 trade together, in towns where such meetings had rarely or 
 never before occurred, and where, as in London, druggists 
 were accustomed to look upon each other with jealousy and 
 distrust. The mere act of bringing them together and in- 
 ducing them to discuss questions affecting their interest was 
 an important step towards the social improvement of tbe 
 body. They could hardly refuse to assemble when invited to 
 meet one of their brethren, a man well known by name, who 
 had come from a distance on such a mission. 
 
 Soon after the society was started, in 1841, Mr. Bell made 
 a flying visit to towns in the south-west of England, the 
 result of which he summed np as follows : " In every place 
 there are a few who take a lively interest in the advancement 
 of our profession ; there are a few who are satisfied with our 
 present state of mediocrity, and axe indifferent about any 
 improvement; but the majority appear to hesitate on the 
 threshold, unwilling to come to a hasty decision, but con- 
 vinced of the necessity of some regulations, and only waiting 
 to see a commencement before they enter the field."
 
 FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOCIETY. 155 
 
 Similar visits were subsequently made to other parts of the 
 country ; in fact, wherever it was thought that good could 
 bo done by such means, Mr. Bell was ready to devote himself 
 to the work ; and the unostentatious and disinterested zeal 
 he manifested on these occasions gained for him a cordial 
 welcome and attentive consideration of the subject of his 
 mission. 
 
 The progress made in obtaining members was by no means 
 unsatisfactory, although it scarcely realized the anticipations 
 of some of the most sanguine promoters of the movement. 
 Thus the number of members and associates, which in Sep- 
 tember, 1841, was 450, and at the end of that year was about 
 800, had increased to 1958 when the first annual meeting of 
 the society took place in May, 1842. When it is considered 
 that a member's subscription was then two guineas and an 
 associate's one guinea a year, it will be admitted that strong 
 inducements must have been brought to bear upon the body 
 of chemists and druggists throughout the country to cause 
 within a few months so great an accession of subscribers to a 
 new and as yet imperfectly developed association. The rapid 
 growth of the society was no doubt mainly due to the pre- 
 valence of a consciousness, among those to whom the appeal 
 was made, of the existence of professional weakness for 
 which a remedy was required, and to a feeling of confidence 
 in the capabilities of those who had undertaken to provide 
 and apply the remedy. 
 
 On the 17th of May, 1842, the first anniversary meeting of 
 the society was held at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, with 
 the president, William Allen, F.R.S., in the chair. The 
 council presented what was considered to be a very satis- 
 factory report, showing a balance in hand of 1026, and 
 3000 stock invested. Some progress had been made towards 
 fitting and furnishing the house in Bloomsbury Square, but 
 much yet remained to be done in that direction. The library 
 and museum were not formed, and the requisite provisions 
 for the School of Pharmacy were incomplete. The regulations 
 which the council had adopted for the examinations, which 
 were to come into operation on the 1st of July of that year, 
 were submitted to the meeting. The Board of Examiners 
 was to consist of the president and vice-president of the 
 society with eight dispensing chemists ; a physician and a
 
 156 DEFICIENCY OP SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION. 
 
 professor in some department of medical science -were to be 
 invited to attend as visitors. There was to be a minor ex- 
 amination for associates, and a major examination for members. 
 Every person presenting himself for examination was required 
 to produce testimonials of having been apprenticed to or regu- 
 larly educated by a vendor of drugs or dispenser of medicines. 
 The text book of examination was to be the Pharmacopoeia 
 of the London College of Physicians, and questions were to 
 be submitted with reference to Chemistry, Materia Meclica, 
 Botany and Pharmacy, as embodied in that work. The can- 
 didate was required to translate medical prescriptions, and to 
 demonstrate his acquaintance with practical pharmacy. 
 He was also required to know the antidotes for common 
 poisons. There was a preliminary examination for apprentices 
 to be passed previous to the execution of their indentures. 
 
 In all these proceedings the prominence given to provisions 
 for promoting and extending pharmaceutical education might 
 be considered to indicate what was felt to be the prevalent 
 feature of weakness in the then existing body of chemists and 
 druggists. There were very few members of the body who 
 were not sensible that their professional acquirements were 
 in some respects imperfect ; yet it could not be said that the 
 duties performed by chemists and druggists in the preparation 
 and sale of medicines were in general badly performed. In 
 every district where a demand for such existed there were 
 men who had grown with the occasion, and who were filling 
 as best they could the positions for which their natural and 
 acquired abilities adapted them ; but in most cases these were 
 self-educated men, their knowledge was practical rather than 
 scientific, it related to the special requirements of their 
 particular positions, and having been picked up as wanted 
 was liable to fail them when new requirements arose. They 
 necessarily took much on trust, and were not unfrequently 
 imposed upon ; they knew as much as appeared to be required 
 for their daily occupations, but if taken beyond that on any 
 subject in materia medica, chemistry, or pharmacy, they 
 would speedily break down. They were conscious of their 
 own shortcomings, and as fitting occasions presented them- 
 selves they were generally ready to fill up the most prominent 
 gaps in their educational curriculum. When they had entered 
 the business there were no schools at which they could
 
 EICHAED PHILLIPS ON THE STATE OF PHAEMACY. 157 
 
 obtain systematic instruction in subjects directly bearing 
 upon the practice of pharmacy, and feeling now the loss 
 they had sustained through that deficiency, they were an- 
 xious not only to provide better means of instruction for 
 those who were to follow them, but to do so in such a way as 
 to offer at the same time facilities for extending their own 
 qualifications. 
 
 Among the stimulants to these proceedings might be men- 
 tioned one which, emanating as it did from no unfriendly 
 quarter, added to the general feeling that there was room 
 for improvement. A series of articles appeared in the Phar- 
 maceutical Journal, entitled " Illustrations of the state of 
 Pharmacy in England," written by a man who had for some 
 time held a prominent position in the almost nnoccupied 
 field of pharmaceutical literature. The author, Mr. Richard 
 Phillips, had sprung from the rank of chemists and druggists, 
 but, having devoted himself to the study of chemistry, had 
 attained to the position of lecturer on that subject at St. 
 Thomas's Hospital. He had given a good deal of attention 
 to the subject of the adulteration of drugs, and had offered 
 some evidence on this subject before a committee of the 
 House of Commons in 1834. Previously to that date he had 
 distinguished himself by the publication of severe criticisms 
 upon the London Pharmacopoeia, but he was afterwards 
 engaged by the College of Physicians, to prepare subsequent 
 editions of the work, a translation of which he published 
 with explanatory notes. The purport of his communications 
 to the Pharmaceutical Journal was to show that medicines 
 sold by London druggists frequently did not correspond in 
 strength and composition with those under the same names 
 ordered in the Pharmacopoeia. To enable him to do this he 
 collected samples from different shops and published the 
 results of his examination, without however giving the names 
 of those who had supplied them. The mineral acids, the 
 alkalies, sweet spirit of nitre, salvolatile, and other medicines, 
 were thus tested, and the results certainly did not appear to 
 reflect much credit on the state of pharmacy even in the 
 metropolis. There was obviously room for improvement, 
 and it was the object of the originators of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society, and the tendency of the educational arrangements 
 adopted by them, to effect such improvement.
 
 158 PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION IN THE PROVINCES. 
 
 Movements in the direction of education were not confined to 
 London. In several provincial towns attempts were made, by 
 means of lectures or in some other way, to afford to members 
 as well as apprentices or junior students means for acquiring 
 or extending a knowledge of some of the branches of science 
 included in a sound pharmaceutical education. Bath appears 
 to have taken a prominent part, soon after the starting of the 
 society, in promoting the cultivation of pharmaceutical know- 
 ledge, by the formation of a branch association, for discussing 
 subjects relating to pharmacy, and providing lectures for 
 students. Similar arrangements were also made at Man- 
 chester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, Norwich, 
 Newcastle and elsewhere. 
 
 The examinations for the admission of members and 
 associates were to have come into operation, according to the 
 regulations of the council, in July, 1842, but no candidates 
 presented themselves until nearly the end of the year. On 
 the loth of November, the first associate by examination 
 was admitted, and another was similarly admitted on the 
 20th of December. There were as yet no candidates for the 
 major examination, nor did any pass until February, 1844. 
 
 The society was now in full operation, and its promoters 
 having obtained for it an adequate amount of support to 
 justify the conclusion that it fairly represented the views 
 and objects of the members of the trade throughout the 
 country, the time was thought to have arrived when a fur- 
 ther important step might be taken. 
 
 On the 5th of November, 1842, the council presented a 
 petition to the Queen praying that she would be graciously 
 pleased to grant to the Pharmaceutical Society a charter of 
 incorporation ; and in less than a month, on the 1st of 
 December, the secretary of the society was requested to 
 attend at the office of the Secretary of State, where he was 
 informed that the draft of a charter might be submitted for 
 consideration. 
 
 Something more than a mere flutter of agitation was created 
 among the officials in Bloomsbury Square by this announce- 
 ment. No time was lost in preparing the required document, 
 which after a few conferences and due legal revision received 
 the sanction of the Government and the authorization of the 
 Crown.
 
 THE EOYAL CHARTER OF INCORPORATION. 159 
 
 The date of the charter is February 18th, 1843. This 
 forms an important epoch in the history of the Pharmaceuti- 
 cal Society ; for although the charter gave no legal power to 
 the society that was not previously possessed, it greatly 
 increased its influence by showing that its objects, and the 
 means by which they were proposed to be attained, were 
 approved of and sanctioned by the Government. And even 
 beyond this the objects of the society and the means of attain- 
 ing them were denned and limited, which gave a character of 
 stability to a body otherwise subject to change. The charter 
 sets forth in the preamble that the society was established 
 " for the purpose of advancing chemistry and pharmacy, and 
 promoting an uniform system of education of those who should 
 practise the same ; and also for the protection of those who 
 carry on the business of chemists and druggists ; and that it 
 is intended also to provide a fund for the relief of the dis- 
 tressed members and associates of the society, and of their 
 widows and orphans." The denned objects of the society 
 are therefore threefold ; namely, education and protection for 
 all, and relief to the unfortunate and distressed. 
 
 As soon as the charter was obtained, farther progress was 
 made towards completing and issuing the engraved certificate 
 of membership, the design for which had some time previously 
 been made by Mr. Briggs, R.A. As this document was in- 
 tended to partake of the character of a diploma, it was im- 
 portant that it should proceed from a publicly recognised and 
 incorporated body, and the filling in of the terms in which the 
 society should be described in it was therefore deferred until 
 the granting of the charter. 
 
 The society had something now to present to its members 
 in return for the support they had so liberally afforded. In 
 this respect the granting of the charter and issue of the 
 diploma came opportunely at a time when there was a tendency 
 to a little reaction from the feeling of enthusiasm which had 
 brought members together under the apprehension of danger. 
 Threatened attacks upon the interests and independence of 
 the trade were no longer heard of. A body had been organized 
 capable of resisting such if they should again appear. There 
 was a sense of relief from danger which, following the excite- 
 ment of action, caused some to relapse into their wonted in- 
 difference, and others to view with critical if not unfriendly
 
 160 SOME MQEMURS OF DISCONTENT. 
 
 disposition the proceedings of the council. Some thought 
 the subscription to the society unnecessarily high, and objected 
 to be called upon to provide the means of investing capital as 
 well as defraying the expense of creating an educational 
 establishment, the benefits of which would be experienced by 
 their successors more than by themselves. There were a few 
 even who took exception to the position occupied by Mr. Bell 
 as proprietor and editor of the Pharmaceutical Journal, the 
 organ of the society, while he was at the same time a member 
 of council. But although there were murmurs of discontent, 
 they neither spread nor did they assume a definite form. In 
 fact, the council consisted of men who were held in such high 
 respect throughout the trade and among those outside the 
 trade who took an interest in pharmacy, that their influence 
 and the confidence placed in their judgment were sufficient to 
 prevent any public expression of dissatisfaction with the policy 
 adopted. 
 
 It would probably be within the truth to say that the drug- 
 gists of London, wholesale and retail, who at this time formed 
 the council of the Pharmaceutical Society, have never, either 
 before or since, been surpassed among the same class in the 
 power and influence they possessed. This might, perhaps, be to 
 some extent ascribed to the prevalence of defective professional 
 education among the body to which they belonged. As there 
 had been no regular system of education among chemists and 
 druggists, there was much professional ignorance or incom- 
 petency, and the few who through superior natural abilities 
 or exceptional means had overcome the difficulties caused by 
 the want of proper systematic training, acquired high reputa- 
 tions and obtained especially the confidence of the medical 
 profession. The council of the society at this time consisted 
 entirely of London druggists, and mostly of those who occupied 
 prominent positions. It was important at the starting of the 
 society that its representatives should have influence outside 
 the body to which they belonged, and a council consisting of 
 known London men was therefore appointed ; but with a view 
 to the carrying out of the important object of raising up a 
 class of educated and qualified pharmacists, capable of efficiently 
 performing the duties required of them in every town through- 
 out the country, it was necessary to ensure the support and 
 enlist the co-operation of a large country constituency, and this
 
 PROSPECT OF A MEDICAL BILL. 161 
 
 could only be done by extending representation to country 
 districts. 
 
 At the second annivcrsaiy meeting, held in May, 1843, a 
 financial report was presented, which showed an income of 
 more than five thousand a year, and an invested capital of 
 nearly six thousand pounds. Some allusion was made to the 
 annual subscriptions paid by members and associates to the 
 society. The council in their report say they " do not think 
 it necessary to recapitulate the arguments which have "been so 
 often stated, biit they still adhere to their original opinion, after 
 another year's experience, and are satisfied that all the com- 
 prehensive objects of the society cannot possibly be carried 
 out if any modification beyond that which the bye-law com- 
 mittee have suggested be at the present time insisted on, 
 particularly in the prospect of very considerable expense being 
 incurred in watching the progress and provisions of the forth- 
 coming Medical Bill." No explanation appears to have been 
 given or asked for with reference to the allusion thus made 
 to a modification of the annual subscription, but it may be 
 assumed that the bye-law committee were chiefly influenced 
 by the feeling frequently expressed that the subscription 
 was unnecessarily high, and that they had therefore sug- 
 gested a modification such as was adopted two years after- 
 wards. 
 
 At this meeting two country members were elected into the 
 council. 
 
 It was understood that Sir James Graham, the Secretary 
 of State, intended to introduce a bill into Parliament for 
 effecting certain reforms in the medical profession. Attempts 
 had been repeatedly made by those connected with different 
 branches of the profession to initiate legislation for the 
 removal of admitted evils ; but unfortunately the profession 
 was divided against itself, and no sooner was a measure intro- 
 duced by one party than it was opposed and defeated by another. 
 The Government, it was thought, might be more successful in 
 satisfying the wants without exciting the jealousies and fears of 
 the various parties interested. This position of the question 
 had tended to allay much of the alarm previously existing 
 among chemists and druggists, and there was therefore a great 
 absence of excitement on the subject and a corresponding 
 diminution in the ardour of some of those who had been
 
 162 DR. PEREIRA ON POLARISED LIGHT. 
 
 induced to support the society as a means of defence against 
 aggression. 
 
 Almost the only grievance at this time, originating from 
 without, was that caused by a few prosecutions for the sale 
 of spirit of wine. It had become so much the practice for 
 the public to apply to druggists for small quantities of spirit 
 when required for burning in lamps or for other domestic 
 purposes, and these sales had been so long passed unnoticed 
 by the excise, that those engaged in them were taken by sur- 
 prise when they found that by every such transaction they 
 subjected themselves to a heavy penalty. The council readily 
 undertook to intercede with the authorities at Somerset House 
 on behalf of those who had been informed against, and subse- 
 quently they applied to the Government on the same subject. 
 All, however, that could be done was to get a reduction of 
 the penalties incurred, for the law was clear and its infraction 
 undoubted. 
 
 While there were indications of some falling off in the en- 
 thusiasm which had previously brought members together, 
 this was by no means general, and it chiefly affected those 
 who viewed the society as a political agent. There were 
 still evidences of much zeal manifested in the measures 
 that were adopted for promoting the study of pharmacy and 
 branches of science bearing upon its advancement. Thus, in 
 addition to the ordinary educational lectures, a course of even- 
 ing lectures was commenced in the early part of this year, on 
 Polarised Light, by Dr. Pereira. These lectures were published 
 in the Pharmaceutical Journal, and afterwards in a separate 
 form. The subject was one which at that time was rarely 
 studied by and had received but little attention from chemists. 
 It was looked upon as an abstruse subject which admitted of 
 few if any important practical applications, and was considered 
 therefore more suited for those engaged in abstract philoso- 
 phical research than for practical chemists and pharmacists. 
 But Dr. Pereira, in his usual lucid style, while he made the 
 subject intelligible and popular, showed and illustrated its 
 various useful applications, and demonstrated the importance 
 of its study to the scientific pharmacist. 
 
 The lectures in Bloomsbury Square were attended by 
 classes ranging in number from seventy to ninety, and often 
 including members as well as associates of the society. Those
 
 SCIENCE AT A DISCOUNT. 163 
 
 who thus availed themselves of the instruction provided were 
 small in number as compared with those to whom it was 
 offered, nor could it be said that they consisted of such as 
 most required instruction. In fact they came from the better 
 class members of the trade. With many, perhaps the major- 
 ity, of those who had entered the business, it was not merely 
 scientific or professional knowledge that was wanted, but also 
 the very rudiments of school knowledge, and persons in this 
 position were disinclined to enter the lists with better trained 
 competitors. A feeling also appeared to prevail, and consider- 
 ing all the circumstances it could not be wondered at, that 
 the instruction the Pharmaceutical Society was providing for 
 its students was in excess of what was required. The majority 
 of those who called themselves chemists and druggists had no 
 just claim to the former of these appellations, nor could they 
 in the full sense of the term be called pharmacists ; they were 
 dealei's in drugs and chemicals just as grocers are dealers in 
 tea, sugar, and vinegar, without knowing anything of the 
 real nature of the articles in which they dealt. It might be 
 said of most of them that they rarely saw a physician's pre- 
 scription, and therefore had little occasion for a knowledge 
 of dispensing. There were the great dispensing establish- 
 ments to which physicians were in the habit of recommending 
 their patients, where dispensing was understood, and it was 
 among these and the higher class of chemists and druggists 
 that pharmaceutical education was most appreciated. All 
 honour to the worthy band of distinguished pharmacists who 
 laid the foundation for an educational system which, bringing 
 the required knowledge equally within the reach of all, was 
 calculated to undermine the pre-eminence of the great 
 historic houses. 
 
 Even books and periodical publications, conveying educa- 
 tional knowledge in the department of pharmacy, were at 
 this time wanting. The Pharmacopoeia, published as it was 
 in Latin, would have been a sealed book to many who were 
 supposed to use it, if it had not been, for an English transla- 
 tion. This, together with Gray's Supplement, which gave 
 brief information on many subjects, including the means of 
 adulterating drugs, and two or three works on Materia Medica 
 and the Practice of Medicine, often constituted the professional 
 library of a first class establishment where apprentices were
 
 164 DEATH OF WM. ALLEN, P.E.S. 
 
 trained for the business. Truly the study of pharmacy under 
 such circumstances was the pursuit of knowledge under diffi- 
 culties. Yet a few men with minds cast in a peculiar mould, 
 after groping in this abyss, succeeded in working out an 
 education of their own, and these, rising above the common 
 level, assumed prominent positions in various parts of the 
 country. 
 
 There were two journals, the ^Lancet and the ^ledical Times, 
 devoted to the interests of the medical profession, which occa- 
 sionally admitted articles relating to pharmacy, and a journal 
 which had been started about a year or two before the com- 
 mencement of the Pharmaceutical Society, under the title of 
 The Chemist, regularly devoted some of its pages to the sub- 
 ject of pharmacy ; but there was but little sympathy manifested 
 in any of these publications with the promoters of the great 
 work undertaken by the pharmaceutical body. Fortunately 
 this body possessed within itself and among its members an 
 amount of power and influence equal to the accomplishment 
 of its objects. Of its best men, however, it was destined to 
 lose one at the close of this year, 1843. 
 
 On the 3rd of January, 1844, at a meeting of the council, 
 the following minute was passed : 
 
 " That the council desires to record its deep and unfeigned 
 regret at the loss which the society has sustained on the de- 
 cease of the late revered president, William Allen, F.E.S. 
 
 " Formed as the society was for the public benefit generally, 
 and for the welfare of that branch of the profession of medi- 
 cine of which he was so distinguished a member, it was by 
 universal consent that he was solicited to allow himself to be 
 place^d at the head of it, that under his wise and kindly super- 
 intendence its scientific and benevolent designs might be 
 carried out. 
 
 " The council is anxious to bear testimony to the zeal he 
 ever manifested in all the concerns of the institution, to the 
 encouragement it has derived from his advice, whenever his 
 health and numerous avocations enabled him to afford his pre- 
 sence or opinion ; and it sincerely trusts that the same harmony 
 which his beneficent spirit could not fail to infuse, will ever 
 continue to pervade its own meetings, and the general inter- 
 course amongst the members." 
 
 William Allen was the son of Job Allen, a member of the
 
 MEMOIR OF WILLIAM ALLEN. 165 
 
 Society of Friends, and a silk manufacturer in Spitalfields. 
 Having shown a taste for chemical and other pursuits con- 
 nected with medicine, he was placed in the pharmaceutical 
 establishment of Joseph Gurney Bevan, in Plough Court, 
 Lombard Street, where he served an apprenticeship, and sub- 
 sequently succeeded to the business. He attended several 
 courses of lectures delivered at the medical schools on subjects 
 relating to chemistry and pharmacy, and devoted much time to 
 the study of these subjects by rising very early in the morning. 
 After succeeding to the business he was joined by Luke Howard, 
 the title of the firm being Allen & Howard. In addition to 
 the retail business in Plough Court, they established a labora- 
 tory at Plaistow for the manufacture of chemicals, but at the 
 expiration of the partnership the business in Plough Court 
 reverted again to William Allen, and Luke Howard took the 
 manufacturing business, which has since become the well 
 known concern of Howards of Stratford. At a later period, 
 and for more than a quarter of a century, William Allen occu- 
 pied the position of lecturer on Chemistry and Experimental 
 Philosophy at Guy's Hospital, having been associated in the 
 chemical part of the course first with Dr. Babington, and at 
 subsequent periods with Drs. Marcet and Bostock. During 
 the period of his connection with Guy's Hospital, he accepted 
 the chair of Experimental Philosophy at the Royal Institu- 
 tion, which he held for several years. He thus became 
 intimate with Sir Humphry Davy; but his most intimate 
 associate and friend was William Haseldine Pepys, with whom 
 he was for several years engaged in chemical investigations, 
 some of which were communicated to the Royal Society, of 
 which learned body he became a fellow in 1807. The first of 
 the papers communicated by Allen and Pepys to the Royal 
 Society related to the quantity of carbon in carbonic acid 
 (C 2 ), and to the nature of the diamond. Their experiments 
 tended to establish the accuracy of Lavoisier's previous state- 
 ments with reference to the former subject, and to confirm 
 Smithson Tennant's results in regard to the latter. As opposed 
 to the representation of Guyton de Morveau, who assumed 
 that carbonic acid gas contained 17 "88 per cent, of carbon, 
 they showed that the proportion of carbon was 28' 6 per cent. 
 They also arrived at the conclusion that the diamond was pure 
 carbon. Subsequent papers gave the results of investigations
 
 166 NEW BYE-LAWS OP THE SOCIETY. 
 
 relating to respiration, in which, some points previously 
 unknown were determined. These investigations afforded 
 evidence that the authors were careful experimenters, who 
 carried out their researches in a truly philosophic spirit. 
 
 But much of William Allen's time was occupied in the 
 pursuit of objects other than those of experimental philosophy. 
 He was a great philanthropist engaged in promoting and 
 extending religion, charity, education, and civil liberty through- 
 out the world. It was in connection with his labours in this 
 direction that he acquired the world-wide reputation which 
 rendered his services to the Pharmaceutical Society when 
 struggling into existence of so much value. 
 
 As it now became necessary to elect a new president, the 
 council at once proceeded to raise Mr. Charles James Payne, 
 the late vice-president, to that position, and at the same time 
 made Mr. John Savory, of Bond Street, vice-president. 
 
 The subjects which particularly claimed the attention of the 
 council after this change, were the preparation of new bye- 
 laws, rendered necessary by the granting of the charter, and 
 the much debated question of what the annual subscription 
 to the society should be. There was much and increasing 
 dissatisfaction with the regulation that required the same 
 payment from London as from provincial members, and 
 imposed a subscription of a guinea a year on associates and 
 apprentices. The committee who were engaged in revising 
 the bye-laws had recommended an alteration of these terms, 
 but it was not proposed to bring this into operation immedi- 
 ately. It was obvious that there would be considerable expense 
 incurred in Bloomsbury Square in fitting up and extending 
 the library, museum, and various provisions for teaching, so 
 as to make them creditable to the institution and adequate to 
 the carrying out of the objects contemplated. There was 
 therefore a strong feeling entertained by leading members 
 of the council that something ought to be laid by while the 
 higher subscription continued, which might be drawn upon 
 afterwards if the income should fall off. Already there were 
 two new sources of expenditure talked of ; namely, a labora- 
 tory for practical instruction for pharmaceutical students, and 
 an Act of Parliament to strengthen the hands of the society. 
 The council therefore, and especially the president, who was 
 indefatigable in his attention to the business of committee and
 
 RESIGNATION AND DEATH OP ME'. PAYNE. 167 
 
 other meetings, had several perplexing questions before them. 
 After some deliberation it was decided, in addition to the 
 educational lectures, to fit up a small laboratory in which to 
 give practical instruction to a few of the students who were 
 anxious to have the means, while studying at the school, of 
 filling up the whole of their time. There were schools on the 
 continent, such as that under Professor Liebig at Giessen, 
 where this kind of instruction in chemistry and pharmacy 
 was given, to which English students sometimes resorted, but 
 hitherto there had been no similar school in this country, and 
 the attempt now made to establish one was quite an experi- 
 ment. Accommodation was provided for ten students, and the 
 full number speedily presented themselves as applicants for 
 admission. The laboratory was opened in October, 1844, 
 under the direction of the Professor of Pharmacy. 
 
 This year had commenced with the announcement of the 
 loss of the first president of the society, a loss which could 
 not have been otherwise than severely felt by a young institu- 
 tion, but the members thought they were fortunate in having 
 a man so well able to fill the vacant place as Mr. Payne was 
 admitted to be. This opinion was fully justified as long as 
 the new president had health and strength enough to fulfil the 
 duties of the office, but before many months had elapsed his 
 health so completely gave way that he felt it his duty to 
 resign the presidency, an event that was soon followed by his 
 death. The society thus lost the services of its first two 
 presidents within the short space of a year. 
 
 Charles James Payne was born on the 28th of January, 
 1794, at the house of his maternal grandfather, an apothecary, 
 in Titchfield Street, Oxford Street. He was an only child, 
 and lost his father at an early age ; but was placed by his 
 mother under the care of the Rev. Dr. Hamilton, of Hemel 
 Hempstead, with whom he remained from the age of seven 
 until he had completed his fifteenth year. At fourteen he was 
 apprenticed to Mr. Burkitt, of Fleet Street, but did not com- 
 mence his London life until a year afterwards. In this situation 
 he remained six years. He attended the usual routine lectures? 
 among which were those of Abernethy, and he obtained the 
 Botanical prize in 1811. 
 
 At the age of twenty- one he took up his freedom, and be- 
 came a member of the Apothecaries' Company : after which
 
 168 ME. PAYNE'S SERVICES TO THE SOCIETY. 
 
 he went to Mr. Winstanley in the Poultry, where he remained 
 for two years and a half. 
 
 In May, 1817, Mr. Payne opened a chemist's shop in St. 
 Martin's Court, Leicester Sqnare. He could not be said to 
 have ever practised as an apothecary, although he had the 
 necessary qualification. He considered and represented him- 
 self to be a chemist and druggist, and acted as such. 
 
 The first occasion on -which Mr. Payne united with his 
 brethren in any public proceedings was in the year 1839, when 
 meetings of the chemists and druggists were held for the 
 purpose of promoting the closing of shops on Sundays. 
 Having adopted this custom himself ever since the year 1826, 
 and having had satisfaction in doing so, he was anxious to 
 prevail upon others to act in the same way. 
 
 At the meeting of the trade, which was held at the Crown 
 and Anchor Tavern on the 15th of February, 1841, a gentle- 
 man made some observations which were received with appro- 
 bation by all present, and which showed that the speaker was 
 an eloquent and zealous advocate of the independence and 
 established privileges of chemists and druggists. The clear 
 sound reasoning and judgment evinced in those remarks made 
 a deep impression, and although few present were aware at 
 the time who the speaker was, he was soon discovered to be 
 Mr. Payne, of St. Martin's Court. A short time afterwards 
 he was induced to allow his name to be placed on the com- 
 mittee then acting on behalf of the chemists and druggists, 
 and from that time until the state of his health obliged him 
 to retire from office, he was one of the most indefatigable 
 members of the committee and afterwards of the council. 
 The estimation in which he was held by his brethren is forcibly 
 expressed in a testimonial, engrossed on vellum, which is 
 suspended in the council-room of the society, and a copy of 
 which was presented to his daughter, an only surviving child. 
 The testimonial is as follows : 
 
 " PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY 
 
 OF 
 
 GREAT BRITAIN, 
 
 17, BLOOMSBURT SQUARE, LONDON. 
 
 " At a meeting of the Council held on the 6th November, 
 1844, it was unanimously resolved that the Council wishes
 
 THE COUNCIL'S MEMORIAL OP MR. PAYNE. 169 
 
 strongly to express its deep sense of the loss the Society has 
 sustained by the decease of 
 
 MR. CHARLES JAMES PAYNE, 
 
 whose unremitting zeal, indefatigable and disinterested exer- 
 tions, urbanity of manners, judgment, and moral worth, so 
 eminently manifested in the discharge of the several offices of 
 president, vice-president, and member of the Council, conferred 
 on the Institution a lasting and substantial benefit. Mr. 
 Payne was ever the advocate of the cause of the Chemists and 
 Druggists, and in an especial manner interested in the welfare 
 of the less fortunate naembers of the body. 
 
 " In the arduous labours attending the establishment of the 
 
 PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY, 
 
 in laying the foundation of the Benevolent Fund, and in pro- 
 moting the 
 
 EDUCATIONAL OBJECTS OF THE INSTITUTION, 
 the extent of his zeal would only be fully estimated by those 
 who were associated with him. To perpetuate the recollection 
 of the debt of gratitude the Society owes to so valuable a 
 member, the Council has directed that this MEMORIAL, en- 
 grossed on vellum, be presented to his daughter, and a copy 
 of the same be suspended in the Council room." 
 
 After the resignation of Mr. Payne, Mr. John Savory had 
 been elected to the presidency, and Mr. Thomas N. R. Morson 
 was made vice-president of the society. 
 
 The most important subject of discussion at this time in 
 medical circles was the bill recently introduced in Parlia- 
 ment by Sir James Graham, for regulating the practice of 
 medicine and the qualifications of those engaged in it. This 
 was a measure of a very sweeping nature, which was based 
 upon the recognition of a new principle in medical legislation. 
 It was assumed by Sir James Graham that quackery cannot 
 be prevented by Act of Parliament, and that the prosecution of 
 unqualified practitioners is impolitic and unavailing. The 
 new bill proposed to repeal the Apothecaries' Act, and every 
 other enactment which empowered any authorities to inflict 
 penalties for irregular practice. There was to be free trade in 
 medicine to the fullest extent, and the public were simply to 
 judge for themselves whether they should employ qualified or 
 unqualified practitioners. But at the same time inducements
 
 170 THE NEW MEDICAL BILL, 
 
 were to be offered for the acquirement of qualifications by 
 granting to qualified men the exclusive privileges of holding 
 certain appointments and filling official positions of honour and 
 profit, as well as' of recovering professional charges by legal 
 process. Only qualified men also were to be exempted from 
 liability to serve on juries. A system of registration of 
 qualified practitioners was to be established, and penalties 
 imposed on those who assumed titles implying qualifications 
 they did not possess. These regulations, as well as those for 
 insuring efficient medical education and examination, were 
 to be placed under the control and management of a Council 
 of Health and Medical Education. 
 
 There was nothing in this bill calculated to interfere with 
 the privileges of chemists and druggists, or in any way to affect 
 the practice of phai-macy. It was not therefore likely to excite 
 alarm or induce opposition among the pharmaceutical body ; 
 but it was far otherwise with the medical profession, among 
 whom a strong opposition was manifested. It soon became 
 evident that the bill could not pass without considerable 
 alteration. Even chemists and druggists hardly viewed with 
 satisfaction the extreme free trade principles upon which the 
 measure was based, principles which, if applied to pharmacy, 
 would destroy the hopes of those, a daily increasing number, 
 who were looking to the prospect of future legislation for 
 protection from the encroachments of unqualified dealers in 
 drugs and dispensers of medicines. For the present, at any 
 rate, druggists were allowed to pursue their course undis- 
 turbed, and they wisely continued with increased energy to 
 carry out the system which had been introduced for educating 
 and improving the qualifications of the members and students 
 of their body. It was in this way only that they could either 
 expect to retain an independent position free from the exercise 
 of control by one of the other medical corporations, or to obtaiu 
 increased power and privileges. 
 
 In addition to the lectures and the ordinary scientific meet- 
 ings, which had been successfully established, a laboratory for 
 practical instruction in chemistry and pharmacy was about to 
 be opened in Bloomsbury Square, and now the council, on the 
 recommendation of Dr. Pereira, also appointed a scientific 
 committee for the promotion of pharmacological knowledge. 
 The immediate object contemplated in the formation of this
 
 A SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE APPOINTED. 171 
 
 committee was the elucidation of the natural history and 
 origin of substances used in medicine. " Many points," said Dr. 
 Pereira, " remain to be settled, questions to be answered, and 
 uncertainties to be resolved, with reference not only to exotic, 
 but even to indigenous products ; not merely to rare, but also 
 to some of the commonest drugs ; not simply to modern, but 
 also to some of the oldest articles of the Materia Medica." 
 
 " No country in the world," he said, " possesses so many 
 facilities for carrying on inquiries such as those to which I 
 here allude, as Great Britain. Her numerous and important 
 colonies in all parts of the world, and her extensive 
 commercial relations, particularly fit her for taking the lead 
 in investigations of this kind. Moreover she is peculiarly 
 interested in such inquiries. From her extensive possessions 
 in different parts of the world, we draw a very large portion 
 of the substances now used in medicine. By the establish- 
 ment of a committee on pharmacology in the mother country, 
 an opportunity would be obtained of bringing into notice the 
 various medicinal substances produced in the different portions 
 of this great empire. In this way substances now unknown 
 to, or little employed by us, might be brought into use, and in 
 some instances, perhaps, the produce of our own colonies 
 might be advantageously substituted for that of other 
 countries. Furthermore, in those cases in which British 
 products are inferior to those of other countries, this com- 
 mittee might be able to ascertain the causes of the inferiority 
 and suggest the means of removing them. In these and 
 other ways then, I apprehend that such a committee would 
 prove useful in a commercial, as well as a scientific point of 
 view. It might be made the means of declaring to the re- 
 motest part of our colonial possessions the wants of the mother 
 country, and conversely, of making known to England the 
 capabilities of the different portions of the British Empire." 
 
 This appeal from so eminent a professor induced the 
 council at once to appoint a committee, consisting of the 
 following members of the society : 
 
 JOHN SAVORY, President. \ T. N. R. MORSON, Vice-Pres. 
 
 ROBERT ALSOP. 
 JACOB BELL. 
 HEXRY DEANE. 
 DANIEL HANBURY. 
 
 THOMAS HERRING. 
 EDWARD HORNER. 
 ROBERT HOWARD. 
 WILLIAM IXCE. 
 
 J. S. LESCHER. 
 R. H. PIGEON. 
 PETER SQUIRE. 
 GEORGE WAUGH.
 
 172 SUBSCRIPTION TO THE SOCIETY REDUCED. 
 
 And of the following honorary members and other scientific 
 
 JAMES S. BOWERBAXK, F.R.S. 
 
 W. T. BRANDE, F.R.S. 
 
 J. F. DANIELL, F.E.S. 
 
 F. J. FARBE, M.D. 
 
 GEORGE FOWNES, Ph.D., F.R.S. 
 
 THOMAS GRAHAM, F.R.S. 
 
 J. E. GRAY, F.R.S. 
 
 T.HORSEFIELD, M.D., F.R.S. 
 RICHARD OWEN, F.R.S. 
 JONATHAN PEREIRA, M.D., 
 
 F.R.S. 
 
 RICHARD PHILLIPS, F.R.S. 
 J. F. ROYLE, M.D., F.R.S. 
 A. T. THOMPSON, M.D., F.R.S. 
 
 T. REDWOOD, Hon. Secretary. 
 
 The first meeting of this committee took place on the 2-jth 
 January, 1845, when sub- committees were appointed for 
 carrying ont the several objects contemplated. 
 
 It was evident that the scientific and educational pro- 
 ceedings of the society were being actively promoted. The 
 laboratory for practical instruction had proved so successful 
 that a proposition for building a new laboratory on a larger 
 scale in the basement of the premises was entertained by 
 the council and ultimately adopted. But while a consider- 
 able outlay was thus being incurred, the income derivable 
 from subscriptions was at the same time curtailed by the 
 operation of a new bye-law which came into operation 
 this year, 1845, in accordance with which the subscription 
 of London members was reduced to one guinea and a half, 
 and that of country members to one guinea, while the sub- 
 scriptions of associates were lowered to half a guinea in 
 town and country. By this change a source of much dis- 
 content among the supporters of the society was removed ; 
 and it was at the same time hoped that the number of 
 members and associates would be increased so that the 
 income of the society should not fall off to any serious 
 extent. It was not thought prudent, however, by the council 
 to continue the usual annual grant to the Benevolent Fund 
 until the effect of lowering the subscriptions was known. 
 Some of the members took exception to this, and thought 
 the council were economising in the wrong direction. 
 
 Attempts were made to induce chemists to shorten the 
 hours of business by closing their establishments at an 
 earlier hour in the evening, and especially by closing on the 
 Sunday. Some reference was made to this subject at the
 
 FURTHER MEDICAL INTERFERENCE THREATENED. 173 
 
 annual meeting in 1845, but here and elsewhere the move- 
 ment met with but little sympathy. The argument adduced, 
 that it was desirable to afford assistants and apprentices 
 time for study, was not generally appreciated ; indeed, there 
 was much indifference manifested, both by employers and 
 employed, in acknowledging the necessity for, or even the 
 benefits of, the education that was being provided at so much 
 expense. Those who witnessed at that time, and who after 
 a lapse of many years, and from higher ground, can look 
 back at the listless state of contented ignorance that prevailed, 
 are alone able to estimate the difficulties that had to be 
 contended with in introducing and maintaining an efficient 
 system of sound practical and scientific training for students 
 in pharmacy. 
 
 The most efficient stimulant to movement among the dry 
 bones was the prospect of interference from without. When- 
 ever this presented itself there were evidences of some vitality, 
 and indications of a desire, to become what most intelligent 
 men considered that a chemist and druggist ought to be. 
 But since the introduction of Sir James Graham's bill the 
 fear of legislative interference with druggists had died away, 
 and a feeling of undue confidence in the intentions of the 
 Government, and in the tendencies of the legislature, had 
 induced a partial return to that sense of security and state 
 of inaction which had originally prevailed before 1841. 
 
 Meanwhile the three modical corporations were disputing 
 the claims to support of Sir James Graham's Medical Bill. 
 The general practitioners were mostly opposed to it, but 
 even among this class there were great differences of opinion, 
 and there seemed to be little chance of even the Government 
 being able to carry a measure that should be satisfactory to 
 themselves and to the bulk of the medical profession. This 
 was the state of the question when a sudden change took 
 place in the Government bill. To appease the outcry of the 
 apothecaries a clause was introduced into the bill which 
 was more completely restrictive than anything contained 
 in the old Apothecaries' Act of 1815. It was to the following 
 effect : 
 
 "And be it enacted, that every person who, after the 
 passing of this Act, shall act or practise as an apothecary 
 in any part of England or Wales, without having been re-
 
 174 . THE MEDICAL BILL WITHDRAWN. 
 
 gistered by the said Council of Health as a General Prac- 
 titioner in Medicine, Surgery, and Midwifery, shall for every 
 such offence forfeit and pay the sum of twenty pounds, to be 
 applied to the use of the said College, to be recovered by 
 action of debt in any of her Majesty's Courts of Eecord in 
 "Westminster." 
 
 This soon brought the Chemists together again at a public 
 meeting held at the Crown and Anchor, at which Mr. T. N. 
 R. Morson presided. Resolutions were passed strongly 
 objecting to the bill in its modified form, and calling upon 
 chemists and druggists throughout the country to petition 
 against it. A deputation from the council appealed to the 
 Home Secretary, and received assurances of a somewhat 
 satisfactory nature. The obnoxious clause, it was found, 
 had originated with the Apothecaries' Company, but a pro- 
 mise was given that it should be reconsidered. Petitions 
 were now pouring into Parliament against this attempt again 
 to interfere with the -rights and 'privileges of chemists and 
 druggists, but the result of the reconsideration of the subject 
 by the Home Secretary in communication with the solicitor 
 of the Apothecaries' Company, was that *a further clause was 
 introduced exempting chemists and druggists from the effects 
 of the Act, in the same way as this had been done in 181o. 
 
 This was considered satisfactory, and further opposition 
 to the bill was withdrawn as far as chemists and druggists 
 were concerned. But greater difficulties than those arising 
 from the opposition offered by the Pharmaceutical Society 
 stood in the way of medical legislation. The members of the 
 different sections of the medical profession were still at 
 variance on this subject ; and after many attempts had been 
 made at reconciliation or compromise, all of which proved 
 abortive, the Government bill was withdrawn without any 
 prospect being held out that further efforts would be made in 
 the same direction. 
 
 Medical legislation having thus collapsed, the question came 
 to be frequently asked among chemists and druggists, why 
 is there no attempt made to get an Act for regulating the 
 practice of pharmacy ? While the Medical Bill was before 
 Parliament, it was understood that if the Government suc- 
 ceeded in carrying their measure, they would probably follow 
 it up with another bill relating to pharmacy ; but there was
 
 CHEMICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL LABORATORIES. 175 
 
 now but small chance of such a result. The question of the 
 desirability of promoting a Pharmacy Bill was considered in 
 the council, but it was decided that the time for making 
 any public movement had not yet arrived. While the society 
 was steadily pursuing its legitimate objects of training and 
 organizing a body of qualified pharmacists who should fill 
 with credit the positions assigned to them in connection with 
 the administration of medicine, it was preparing the way in 
 the most efficient manner for any steps it might be thought 
 desirable to take towards increasing by means of legislation 
 the power and usefulness of the body it represented. 
 
 Among the means adopted by the society for promoting 
 pharmaceutical education was the extension of laboratory 
 instruction, and with this view the new laboratory had been 
 constructed which was opened at the commencement of the 
 session in 1845. It afforded accommodation for twenty- 
 one students, and every place was almost immediately filled. 
 The arrangements of this laboratory, and the accommodation 
 provided in it for students, were far superior to those of the 
 laboratory used throughout the previous session. It was still 
 limited in extent, but was otherwise all that could be desired 
 for the purpose for which it was intended. Indeed it was 
 adopted as the pattern from which the Birkbeck laboratory 
 in University College was shortly afterwards fitted up. 
 
 The Pharmaceutical Society is entitled to the credit of 
 having been the first institution in which provision was made 
 in this country for carrying out a system of instruction in 
 chemistry and pharmacy by practical operations in which 
 the students were engaged throughout the day under the 
 instruction of a professor. The example thus set was shortly 
 afterwards followed by the commencement of a class in con- 
 nection with the College of Chemistry in temporary premises 
 in George Street, Hanover Square, under Professor Hofmann, 
 and this was followed by the opening of the Birkbeck labor- 
 atory under Professor Fownes. 
 
 The Scientific Committee of the Pharmaceutical Society 
 was doing some good work, chiefly through the personal con- 
 tributions or exertions of Dr. Pereira. At the pharmaceutical 
 meeting held in July, 1845, four papers emanating from the 
 committee were read : on the Manufacture of Palm Sugar in 
 India, by Mr. Stevens ; on the Origin of Samovey Isinglass,
 
 176 RESULTS OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE. 
 
 and on the Circular Polarisation of several Terebinthinate 
 Substances, by Dr. Pereira ; and on Some Vegetable and 
 Mineral Productions of New Zealand, by Mr. W. Brown. 
 At a subsequent meeting an interesting paper was read, on 
 the Cultivation of Rhubarb for Medicinal Purposes at Ban- 
 bury, by Mr. W. Bigg. 
 
 A paper on the Formation of a National Pharmacopoeia, read 
 at one of the meetings of the society by Mr. Peter Squire, 
 serves to show what the direction of opinion was at that time 
 on an important subject relating to pharmacy. The attention 
 of the medical profession had, as Mr. Squire pointed out, 
 been for many years directed to the desirability of having a 
 national Pharmacopoeia for Great Britain and Ireland, in 
 place of the three separate pharmacopoeias issued by the 
 London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Colleges. Some efforts had 
 been made to attain this object by the London College pre- 
 viously to the publication of their Pharmacopoeia in 1836, but 
 in that attempt they had not succeeded. The discrepancies 
 existing between the three British pharmacopoeias had been 
 pointed out, and these individually had often come under dis- 
 cussion, but still they were allowed to exist, each college 
 acting in accordance with the judgment formed by itself and 
 its advisers, without reference to what was done by the other 
 colleges. The consequence was that medicines bearing the 
 same name as ordered in the three pharmacopoeias sometimes 
 differed in composition and strength to a sufficient extent, in 
 the case of powerful medicines, to be a source even of danger. 
 Mr. Squire, with the view of forcibly impressing upon those 
 interested in the subject the importance of providing a remedy 
 for this evil, set out the formulae of the three pharmacopoeias 
 in columns, side by side, so as to show how far they agreed 
 or differed. The time had not yet come for the fusion of the 
 three pharmacopoeias into one, but Mr. Squire's labours aided 
 those who ultimately effected the much wished-for result. 
 
 Excise informations and prosecutions were sources of fre- 
 quent trouble to members of the trade in different parts of 
 the country. At one time it was for evading the payment of 
 stamp duty on medicines that required to be stamped ; at 
 other times, for selling small quantities of spirit of wine for 
 other than medical purposes, without having a licence for 
 doing so. In these cases fortunately there were officials in
 
 PROSECUTIONS 1'OH SELLING SPIRIT OF WINE. 177 
 
 Bloomsbury Square ready to help unfortunate delinquents 
 where help was right and available, and there were also, for- 
 tunately, sometimes cases in which the society by affording 
 aid was enabled to justify its claim to support. The officers 
 of excise appeared to be more active than they had usually 
 been in endeavouring to ascertain the extent to which spirit 
 was sold and used by chemists and druggists, and on this 
 account complaint was made to the authorities at Somerset 
 House of what was considered to be unnecessary interference 
 with transactions which had hitherto passed unnoticed and 
 were looked upon by most druggists as tacitly sanctioned, if 
 not strictly legal. Inquiry into the state of the law relating 
 to the sale of spirit showed, indeed, that strictly speaking a 
 druggist subjected himself to a penalty by selling spirit of 
 wine, whatever the purpose might be for which it was re- 
 quired, and although proceedings were not generally instituted 
 when only small quantities of a few ounces were sold, or when 
 it was sold for strictly medical purposes, yet even in these 
 cases the Inland Revenue Board retained the power of 
 inflicting the penalty if there were reasons for suspecting that 
 the indulgence afforded was being abused. There were pro- 
 bably suspicions at this time that some unfair dealings were 
 taking place, and this may have caused increased activity 
 among the detective officers, some of whom made an impor- 
 tant discovery in July, 1845. It was then discovered that a 
 complete and extensive illicit distillery existed in one of the 
 suburbs of London, where large quantities of spirit had for 
 years been produced, most if not all of which was sold by 
 chemists and druggists in the form of sweet spirit of nitre. 
 Seizures of large quantities of spirit in all its stages of pro- 
 duction and conversion into spirit of nitre were made in 
 different localities both in. town and country, from which it 
 was evident that the public revenue had been defrauded to 
 a great extent. There was no evidence to prove that the 
 druggists through whose hands this illicit spirit was supplied 
 to the public, excepting perhaps a few wholesale dealers, knew 
 anything of the history of the spirit of nitre they were selling, 
 but the circumstances were sufficient to excite suspicion, and 
 to justify the adoption of precautionary measures for protect- . 
 ing the revenue. 
 
 About the middle of the following year, 1846, a bill was 
 
 N
 
 178 LAW EELA.T1NG TO THE USB OP STILLS. 
 
 introduced into Parliament which, if passed, would have had 
 the effect of placing the chemists and druggists under the 
 inspection of the excise in a way that was considered highly 
 objectionable. By this measure it was proposed that every 
 person keeping or using a still or retort, and every wholesale 
 dealer in spirit mixtures, should be required to take out a 
 licence and pay two guineas annually, or in default of doing 
 so they would be subject to a penalty of fifty pounds. The 
 sale of spirit mixtures in quantities of more than a quart 
 would constitute wholesale dealing. The rooms or buildings 
 in which spirit mixtures were kept were to be specially 
 licensed for the purpose, and were to be subject at all times 
 to the inspection of excise officers. Druggists in fact, by this 
 measure, would have been brought as completely under the 
 inspection of the excise as public-house keepers are. It was 
 felt that such an infliction would have been degrading and 
 intolerable, and a strong opposition was therefore offered to 
 the measure, in which both wholesale and retail dealers took 
 part. The result was that the Government at last gave way, 
 and the bill was cut down to one for licensing the use of 
 stills and retorts for distilling spirit mixtures. The duty 
 payable for such licence was reduced to ten shillings, and the 
 authority for excise officers to enter and inspect premises was 
 omitted. Provision was also made for the use of stills and 
 retorts for experiments in chemistry, without payment of 
 duty, on permission being obtained ; and stills used exclusively 
 for other purposes than that of distilling spirit mixtures were 
 exempted from the operation of the proposed regulations. 
 
 In this modified form the measure was considered to bo 
 as little objectionable as it could be made without entirely 
 destroying its efficacy, and further opposition to it ceased. 
 After the passing of the bill, however, it was found, in the 
 practical working of the Act, that the concessions made in 
 passing it had been carried rather too far, and in 1861 an Act 
 was passed by which the excise were empowered at any time 
 to visit the premises of persons licensed to keep or use stills 
 or retorts, with the view of ascertaining the purposes for 
 which they were used. 
 
 Although there was a considerable number of chemists and 
 druggists throughout the country who sincerely and zealously 
 advocated and supported the objects of the Pharmaceutical
 
 rHAKMACEUTICAL LEGISLATION CONTEMPLATED. 179 
 
 Society in promoting the cultivation and general advancement 
 of pharmaceutical knowledge, yet it cannot be denied that a 
 much larger number were indifferent to these objects, and 
 that even among the members of the society, who never con- 
 stituted more than about a third part of the entire body of 
 chemists and druggists, there were many, perhaps the majority, 
 who, except on political grounds, were but lukewarm advo- 
 cates of the cause. By these the question was frequently 
 asked, What do I gain by subscribing to the Pharmaceutical 
 Society ? When any danger threatened the craft, or difficul- 
 ties assailed individuals, under circumstances in which the 
 efforts and influence of an organized association could render 
 efficient aid, the advantage of belonging to the Pharmaceutical 
 Society was acknowledged ; but when the danger had passed, 
 and there was no immediate prospect of a recurrence of 
 troublesome questions affecting trade interests, the force of 
 attachment to a society which entailed annual payments 
 gradually diminished, and there was an increased tendency to 
 find fault with the way in which the institution was managed. 
 
 Then among the better informed members of the trade, in- 
 cluding those who had now become thoroughly educated, it 
 was felt that without some legislative protection in the exer- 
 cise of their professional duties, against the interference of 
 such as had no claims to qualification, they were unable to 
 realize the substantial advantage to which they were entitled 
 
 Under these circumstances the difficulty of maintaining the 
 society was becoming a matter of serious consideration, and 
 the importance of strengthening its position by an Act of Par- 
 liament was acknowledged by its best friends. The council 
 began to think that a movement in the direction of pharma- 
 ceutical legislation might be made with advantage. Mr. Bell 
 especially advocated this view, and made attempts at a defini- 
 tion of what the kind of legislation was that being attainable 
 would be efficacious. 
 
 The sort of measure that was most desired was thought to 
 be unattainable. It was considered to be inconsistent with 
 the principles of modern legislation that the same corporate 
 body should be an educating and an examining body, with the 
 power of granting degrees or diplomas giving legal authority 
 for the performance of professional duties. This opinion was 
 in great measure founded on the knowledge of what had
 
 180 A COLLEGE OP PHARMACY SUGGESTED. 
 
 occurred "with reference to the London University in Gower 
 Street. That institution was originally intended not only as 
 a college for educational purposes, but also as an examining 
 body for granting degrees. But when application was made 
 for a charter it was decided that one of these offices must be 
 relinquished, and the founders accepted a charter for it as an 
 educational body, resigning the office of granting degrees to 
 the University of London, which was created for that purpose, 
 while the name of the institution in Gower Street was changed 
 to University College. It was assumed that the objection 
 urged in that case would equally apply to the case of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society if an attempt were made to obtain 
 legal authority to combine the two functions of education and 
 examination. 
 
 It was represented that the difficulty might be overcome by 
 either of two methods : first, the society might confine its 
 functions to those of examining candidates and granting 
 diplomas, while a new body, under the title of the College of 
 Pharmacy, might be established as an educating body; or, 
 secondly, the society might continue to be an educating body, 
 and resign the functions of examination, etc., to the College 
 of Pharmacy. The latter alternative appeared to be the pre- 
 ferable one, and accordingly a bill was drafted embodying that 
 object. 
 
 By this bill it was proposed to found a College of Pharmacy, 
 which was to be limited in its operation to England and 
 Wales. The Secretary of State was in the first instance to 
 appoint a provisional council consisting of five or more 
 chemists and druggists for carrying the Act into operation, 
 and this council was to appoint a provisional registrar. Then 
 every person who within one year after the passing of the Act 
 should produce a certificate signed by two magistrates stating 
 that such person was at the time of granting the certificate 
 engaged in business as a chemist and druggist in some part 
 of England or Wales, and every person who should produce a 
 certificate from the council of the Pharmaceutical Society 
 stating that he was a member of that society, would be 
 entitled to be registered by the provisional registrar as a 
 pharmaceutical chemist and druggist, and all pei-sons so 
 registered would become members of the said College of 
 Pharmacy. At the end of the twelve months allowed for
 
 THE COLLEGE OP PHYSICIANS CONSULTED. 181 
 
 effecting this registration the list of persons registered would 
 be published, and the constituency thus formed would be 
 called upon to elect from among themselves a council consist- 
 ing of twenty-one members, who would be the council of the 
 College of Pharmacy. This council, one-third of whom would 
 go out of office, but might be re-elected, every year, would 
 have the appointment of a board of examiners for conducting 
 examinations in classical knowledge, botany, materia medica, 
 pharmaceutical and general chemistry, and toxicology, and no 
 person thereafter would be entitled to be registered as a phar- 
 maceutical chemist and druggist, or to be admitted a member 
 of the College of Pharmacy, unless he produced a certificate of 
 competent skill and knowledge from such board. Then there 
 was to be a provision that any person in future who should 
 prepare, compound, or dispense any medicine for sale or gain, 
 unless he could prove that he was engaged in business as a 
 chemist and druggist before the passing of the Act, or was 
 registered under the Act, would be subject to the payment of 
 a fine of not exceeding ten pounds. 
 
 This arrangement would not interfere with any of the 
 rights and privileges of those who were already in business, 
 nor was it intended to interfere with the Pharmaceutical 
 Society, excepting with regard to its power of examining 
 candidates, and granting certificates of examination. 
 
 The draft bill was submitted to the fifth annual meeting of 
 the society, in 1846, and although some doubts were expressed 
 as to whether the proposed new institution, the College of 
 Pharmacy, would not injuriously affect the interests of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society, no serious objection was raised to the 
 measure. 
 
 A deputation from the society subsequently waited on a 
 committee of the College of Physicians with the view of 
 ascertaining the opinion entertained by the College respecting 
 the bill, a copy of it having been previously sent them. 
 At this interview it was stated that the College would per- 
 haps be disposed to favour the appointment of a joint board 
 of examiners, partly nominated by the College of Physicians 
 and partly by the College of Pharmacy. This raised a 
 new and important question in relation to the subject 
 which could not be determined without mature delibera- 
 tion. A second interview took place about a month afterwards,
 
 182 THE INHALATION OP ETHER. 
 
 when the subject was again discussed, especially with refer- 
 ence to the name and functions of the proposed College of 
 Pharmacy, the constitution of the board of examiners, and 
 the manner of enforcing the provisions of the Act so as to 
 ensure the efficient performance of the duties of pharmacists. 
 The suggestion which had been made for the appointment 
 of a joint board of examiners seemed likely to be a source of 
 some difficulty in coming to a final arrangement that should 
 be satisfactory to the parties immediately interested. 
 
 In the year 1846 great interest was excited among medical 
 men and pharmacists, as well as generally among the public, 
 by the introduction of a method of producing insensibility to 
 pain while important surgical operations were being performed. 
 This was effected in the first instance by the inhalation of 
 the vapour of ether. Drs. "Warren and Morton, of Boston, 
 United States, introduced this method of operating in the 
 year above named, and it was adopted in this country towards 
 the latter end of that year, among others by Mr. Listen, the 
 eminent surgeon of University College Hospital. An oppor- 
 tunity was thus afforded for chemists to exercise their in- 
 genuity in devising the best method of vaporising the ether 
 so as to bring it into a suitable state for inhalation. Mr. 
 Squire was one of the first to devote attention to this part of 
 the subject, and to construct an efficient apparatus for the 
 production and administration of the vapour. The ether, of 
 course, was vaporised by diffusion into atmospheric air, and 
 for the production of the best anaesthetic effects it was found 
 necessary to have the air fully charged at a temperature not 
 too low. This was introduced into the lungs by the mouth, 
 while the simultaneous introduction of air through the nose 
 was prevented by compression of the nostrils. Mr. Squire's 
 apparatus was used with perfect success by Mr. Listen in the 
 first capital operation performed under the influence of ether 
 vapour in this country, but in some subsequent cases the 
 effects were not so satisfactory, in consequence of due care not 
 having been taken to prevent the admixture of air with the 
 vapour. It was found that if too much diluted with air, the 
 ether vapour produced excitement unattended by complete 
 insensibility to pain. 
 
 Pure washed ether was used in these experiments ; but the 
 use of ether was soon afterwards superseded by that of
 
 THE INHALATION OP CHLOUOFORM. 183 
 
 chloroform, a substance previously almosb unknown, so much 
 so indeed that some difficulty was experienced, when it was 
 first proposed to be used for this purpose, in ascertaining how 
 it was to be produced, and what its physical and chemical 
 properties were. A solution of it in spirit had been previously 
 used in medicine tinder the name of chloric ether, and this 
 had been tried as a substitute for ether in the production of 
 an anaasthetic vapour, having been first suggested and sup- 
 plied for that purpose by Mr. Jacob Bell ; but in this diluted 
 form it had but little effect. When subsequently the com- 
 position of chloric ether was made known, and pure chloro- 
 form was produced by a process just then published in a new 
 edition by Mr. Redwood of Gray's " Supplement to the 
 Pharmacopoeia," it was used with great success by Dr. Simp- 
 son, of Edinburgh, and was preferred in many respects to 
 ether. Several other agents, resembling chloroform in com- 
 position, have been tried for producing anaesthesia, but none 
 of these has superseded chloroform. 
 
 In the introduction of the practice of applying anaesthetics 
 in the form of vapour, by inhalation, we have the commence- 
 ment of a new era in practical surgery, which has been cha- 
 racterized by the cessation and avoidance of a great amount 
 of human suffering previously contingent upon most surgical 
 operations of importance. 
 
 It was the duty of the qualified pharmacist to seek out and 
 prepare the best chemical compounds for the production of 
 these anresthetic effects, and it was not inconsistent with his 
 position that he should assist in producing and applying the 
 vapour, as these involved the exercise of some amount of 
 chemical knowledge and manipulative skill ; but his taking 
 part in such operations was liable to excite suspicion among 
 members of the medical profession, who might suppose that 
 it indicated an intention or desire to interfere with the legi- 
 timate duties of the apothecary. Thus we find the Lancet at 
 this time insisting on the necessity of limiting the education 
 of those engaged in pharmacy to strictly pharmaceutical 
 knowledge, and defining the province of the pharmaceutical 
 chemist to be "materia rnedica, the knowledge of all the 
 articles it contains, or the raw material of physic, in all that 
 relates to purity, preservation, and preparation ; the know- 
 ledge of the pharmacopeias, or of the modes in which the
 
 184 SUGGESTED LIMITS OF PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION. 
 
 raw materials are combined according to the judgment of the 
 official bodies who preside over its construction ; and the 
 perfect comprehension of prescriptions ; these, with improve- 
 ments or even discoveries in pharmacy." 
 
 In the article in which this representation was given of the 
 legitimate province and scope of the professional education of 
 the chemist and druggist, objection -was taken to the fact of 
 toxicology being openly grafted on the pharmaceutical courses 
 of chemistry, botany, and materia medica as provided by the 
 Pharmaceutical Society. It was further objected that the 
 parties -who supplied "this kind of partial information this 
 little knowledge, which in medicine, so pre-eminently, is but 
 a dangerous thing," were physicians, public lecturers, who were 
 teaching the same thing at the same time to medical students. 
 The answer to these objections was that a certain amount of 
 the knowledge of therapeutics and toxicology was required 
 by the qualified pharmacist, and that only this amount was 
 taught at the lectures in Bloomsbury Square. It was hardly 
 to be wondered at, however, nor can it now be regretted, that 
 the proceedings of this society and of its promoters were 
 closely and jealously watched and frequently criticised. 
 
 At a much later period, in 1859, Dr. George Wilson, of 
 Edinburgh, a good authority on such subjects, took a very 
 different view from that expressed in the Lancet. In treating 
 of the education of pharmaceutical chemists, he represented 
 the following three things as essential in the knowledge 
 required by the qualified pharmacist : 
 
 " 1st. A thorough familiarity with the appearance and 
 sensible properties, such as odour, colour, taste, and the like, 
 of every important drug or medicine, natural or artificial, 
 whether derived directly or indirectly from the mineral, 
 vegetable, or animal kingdom. 
 
 " 2nd. A knowledge, the greater the better, of the chemical 
 nature or composition of all the important drugs or medicines. 
 
 " 3rd. A general acquaintance with the physiological action 
 or influence on the living body of the chief medicines in use. 
 
 " This last requirement," Dr. Wilson said, " may seem to 
 some less justifiable than the others. None however, I 
 imagine, will deny that he cannot be considered an educated 
 pharmaceutical chemist, or even a safe dispenser of drugs, 
 who does not clearly understand why certain of them are
 
 TEE SOCIETY'S COURSE WAS RIGHT. 185 
 
 grouped together as narcotics, others as diaphoretics, others 
 as anaesthetics, and so on." 
 
 It may farther be stated that the founders of the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society had at an early date in its history insisted on 
 the importance of a knowledge of the action of the antidotes 
 for, and the means of detection of, poisons as qualifications for 
 the educated pharmacist ; and they were only deterred from 
 prominently representing this department of knowledge as 
 forming a distinct feature in the instruction given in their 
 school from a fear of appearing to grasp at too much and 
 trenching in any way upon the province of the medical prac- 
 titioner. That the course pursued by them from the beginning 
 has been right, is evidenced by the fact that no alteration has 
 at any time been required to be made in it, and all opposi- 
 tion or objection has gradually died out. What the supporters 
 of the society had chiefly to contend with, was not so much 
 opposition from those outside their domain, as indifference 
 and dissatisfaction among the body of chemists and druggists 
 for whom so much was being done, and even among the mem- 
 bers and associates of the society itself. The attendance at 
 the lectures fell far short of what had been expected, and it 
 was partly made up of men who had long been established 
 in business, but who, during their pupilage, had no means 
 afforded them for obtaining scientific instruction in the 
 branches of knowledge appertaining to their professional 
 occupation. Men of this description formed bright examples ; 
 they were the backbone of the society, by which alone it was 
 supported and enabled to withstand the dispiriting effect of 
 cold indifference through a long period of struggling existence. 
 While this was going on, complaints were frequently made of 
 the cost of the educational department of the institution, but 
 the council persisted in keeping up the character of the school 
 by the employment of eminent professors. The most suc- 
 cessful part of the teaching arrangements was that conducted 
 in the laboratory for practical instruction, this department 
 being generally full, and testimony being repeatedly afforded 
 by the board of examiners and others to the value of the 
 instruction thus supplied to pupils. The time, however, had 
 now arrived when there were other laboratories conducted on 
 principles similar to those adopted in Bloomsbury Square, as 
 regards the method of conveying laboratory instruction.
 
 186 COLLEGE OP CHEMISTRY AND BIEKBECK LABORATORY. 
 
 The new laboratories of the College of Chemistry, in 
 Oxford Street, were completed in 1847, when the school was 
 transferred there from the temporary apartments it had 
 previously occupied in George Street, Hanover Square. The 
 College of Chemistry was founded in July, 1845, under exten- 
 sive aristocratic patronage, with Prince Albert as president. 
 It was designed to occupy a position distinct from that of the 
 school of the Pharmaceutical Society, its objects being much 
 wider, comprising the applications of chemistry to the arts and 
 manufactures generally, and therefore including its application 
 to pharmacy. But although it met some of the requirements 
 of a pharmaceutical education, they were not provided for in 
 other respects. At first starting, and during several years of 
 its early existence, the College had to contend against many 
 difficulties, arising in great measure from injudicious official- 
 ism and the adoption of too florid a representation of the 
 benefits that were said speedily to flow from its operations. 
 When it was found that these were not likely to be realized, 
 notwithstanding the matchless genius and talent of its profes- 
 sor, and the good work done by students, its original supporters 
 fell off, while heavy debts accumulated, and at length the 
 institution had to be kept up by a subsidy from Government. 
 
 Great and frequent as were the complaints of want of 
 adequate support afforded to the Pharmaceutical Society, 
 there was at least the satisfaction of finding that its school was 
 as well attended as other similar schools, and that instead of 
 accumulating debts, the society was yearly increasing its in- 
 vested capital. 
 
 At University College, the Birkbeck laboratory, which was 
 started about the same time as the College of Chemistry, was 
 placed under the direction of Mr. Fownes, who was appointed 
 Professor of Practical Chemistry. Mr. Fownes had for some 
 time been suffering from incipient disease of the lungs, which 
 had latterly rendered lecturing painful and difficult to him ; 
 and after receiving his new appointment he was advised to 
 relinquish lecturing ; accordingly, in 1846, he resigned the 
 professorship of chemistry to the Pharmaceutical Society. 
 This necessitated a new appointment in Bloomsbury Square, 
 and Mr. Redwood undertook the duties previously performed 
 by Mr. Fownes, the lectures on chemistry and pharmacy being 
 united into one course.
 
 NEW IDEAS OP PHARMACEUTICAL LEGISLATION. 187 
 
 The years 1847-48 were prolific in speculation and dis- 
 cussion on the subjects of both pharmaceutical and medical 
 legislation, but no real progress -was made in the substantial 
 furtherance of either. The council of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society met with little encouragement to persevere in pro- 
 moting the formation of a College of Pharmacy, the 
 prevailing opinion being, that it was unnecessary and un- 
 desirable that the idea under which it had been suggested 
 was a mistaken one, and that all the objects contemplated 
 might be effected through the medium of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society. Endeavours had been made to modify the Pharmacy 
 Bill as first drawn, so as to meet the views of those who had 
 objected to some of its provisions, and especially for the 
 purpose of introducing the suggested arrangement of a joint 
 board of examiners in which the College of Physicians should 
 take part ; but while on the one hand serious difficulties 
 stood in the way of adopting this latter suggestion, so there 
 appeared to be equally serious objections to the provisions 
 of the bill which contemplated the formation of a new 
 institution, the College of Pharmacy. These features of the 
 bill had been proposed under the impression that such an 
 arrangement would be less likely to meet with opposition 
 than one by which the Pharmaceutical Society should be 
 made the sole medium of carrying out a system of education 
 and examination connected with the granting of certificates 
 giving exclusive privileges. But in addition to the prevail- 
 ing opinion among members of the Pharmaceutical Society 
 that the establishment of a second institution, for no other 
 purpose than that of doing part of the work which the 
 society was authorized by its charter to perform, would be 
 detrimental to the interests of the society, there was found 
 to be a very general feeling among those unconnected with 
 the society, including the College of Physicians, in favour 
 <5f leaving the arrangements both of education and exami- 
 nation in the hands of the Pharmaceutical Society. 
 
 Under this view of the subject another bill was drafted, 
 which was submitted to the members of the trade, and to 
 others interested in it. This bill resembled the former one 
 in most particulars. It provided for the registration of all 
 persons who were then engaged in business as chemists and 
 druggists, and for the examination and registration of those
 
 188 A PHARMACY BILL DRAFTED. 
 
 who should be entitled to commence business after a certain 
 date. The clauses restricting the practice of pharmacy to 
 those who had either passed an examination, or had been 
 in business before the passing of the Act, and imposing 
 penalties for infringing these regulations, were the same as 
 those contained in the previous bill. In fact, the only 
 essential difference was, that by this bill the Pharmaceutical 
 Society, unaided by any other institution, was to be made 
 responsible for the carrying out of the required objects, 
 subject, however, in some respects, to the approval of the 
 Secretary of State. 
 
 In drafting this and also the previous bill, the chief object 
 had been to reduce crude ideas to a definite form, so that 
 those who discussed the subject might have a specific 
 proposition with all essential details before them. There 
 was no immediate prospect of its being brought before 
 Parliament, for although attempts had been made to interest 
 members of Parliament in its favour, no one had been found 
 who seemed disposed to take it up. The general public had 
 not had their attention directed to the subject ; the medical 
 profession as a whole were not fully cognisant of all its 
 bearings, or were fearful of its tendencies ; and members of 
 Parliament, as well as the Government, required to be 
 stimulated from without before they would move in a subject 
 they did not thoroughly understand. It was necessary, there- 
 fore, as far as possible to create an interest among all these 
 parties in the promotion of the contemplated object. 
 
 The machinery of a well organized society was put into 
 action for accomplishing what was required. The local 
 secretaries throughout the country were set to work to get 
 petitions signed by various classes of the public, in which 
 the necessity for a systematic training of those engaged in 
 preparing and dispensing medicines was expressed, together 
 with a desire that some means might be adopted for iusur^- 
 ing the qualification of all persons engaged in dealing with 
 dangerous drugs. Petitions to this purport were soon poured 
 into Parliament, some of which were signed by the highest 
 medical authorities, including the president, censors and 
 consiliarii of the College of Physicians, and the president 
 and council of the College of Surgeons. 
 
 In pursuing this course advantage was taken of the ex-
 
 DEPUTATION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE. 189 
 
 citemcnt caused by the occurrence of some fatal accidents 
 which had been caused by the administration of medicines 
 by incompetent men. Attention had also been repeatedly 
 directed to the incautious manner in which poisons were 
 often supplied to the public. 
 
 In November, 1847, a deputation from the council of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society had an interview with Sir George 
 Gray, the then Secretary of State, in which they pointed out 
 the evils resulting from the want of any legislative provision 
 for insuring a safe and efficient exercise of the important 
 duties required to be performed in the sale and preparation 
 of medicines, and endeavoured to obtain a recognition from 
 the Government of the desirability of legislating in that 
 direction. No reference was made to any particular measure, 
 but a hope was expressed that the Government would be willing 
 to assist in furthering the object which the Pharmaceutical 
 Society was endeavouring to carry out; and to this extent 
 they received an encouraging assurance, although unfortu- 
 nately it was coupled with a statement that pharmaceutical 
 legislation should follow, not precede, medical legislation. 
 
 The difficulties which had for many years been experienced 
 in the attempts to carry any satisfactory measure of medical 
 reform acted as a discouragement to members of Parliament 
 to take up the subject of pharmaceutical legislation ; and 
 there seemed but little prospect, therefore, of any effective 
 movement being soon made towards the passing, or even the 
 introduction, of a bill for that purpose. 
 
 Mr. T. N. B. Morson was president and Mr. Peter Squire 
 vice-president at this time. 
 
 Thus, with relation to pharmacy, ended the year 1848. 
 The following year commenced with a register of deaths 
 among some of the early promoters and scientific officers of 
 the Pharmaceutical Society. John Bell, the founder of the 
 celebrated house of John Bell & Co., of 338, Oxford Street, 
 and George Fownes, F.B.S., the first Professor of Chemistry 
 to the Pharmaceutical Society and author of the well-known 
 and popular manual of chemistry which still bears his name, 
 both died in January, 1849 ; and a few months afterwards 
 the same unsparing messenger summoned away another of 
 the professors of the school of pharmacy, Dr. Anthony Todd 
 Thomson.
 
 190 DEATH AND MEMOIR OP JOHN BELL. 
 
 The life of John Bell was one from which some useful 
 lessons may be gleaned, although there was nothing of a very 
 striking character presented in its incidents. The worthy 
 founder of a great house and parent of a distinguished son 
 owed his success in business to the strict integrity which 
 characterized all his transactions, and the firmness with 
 which he persisted in carrying out the dictates of his con- 
 scieutious convictions. He was not a man of great talent, 
 and he was mistrustful even of the powers he possessed. But 
 he had a fixed determination to do what he believed was 
 right. During his apprenticeship he liad gained an insight 
 into practices which were then of frequent occurrence among 
 druggists, and which he determined to discountenance at any 
 sacrifice. He opened his shop in Oxford Street with a small 
 capital, and many doubts as to his means of making a 
 business and keeping out of debt. He was naturally cautious 
 and very timid, so that difficulties and slight reverses easily 
 discouraged and alarmed him j but nothing could induce him 
 to swerve from a firm adherence to the principles which 
 guided his conduct, and which, as they became known, 
 gained for him the confidence of the public and insured his 
 success. The shop Avas opened in 1798. On the first day 
 his receipts amounted to ten shillings, but in giving change 
 he was cheated out of half a guinea, a result which so dis- 
 couraged him that at night he would not light his lamps 
 until a friendly neighbour came in and consoled him. The 
 balance of accounts at the end of the first year showed a loss, 
 but then came a steady succession of years of increasing 
 prosperity. There was no longer any occasion for the shop- 
 boy, John Simmons, to find occupation at the back of the 
 shop in pounding a dusting-cloth in the bell-metal mortar in 
 order to maintain a semblance of business activity, and at the 
 same time to inform passers-by, through the ringing sound of 
 the mortar, that physic was compounded there. The shop- 
 boy grew to be the laboratory man, who has since been 
 immortalized by Hunt's water-colour drawing of " The 
 Laboratory," engraved by J. G. Murray and published by 
 McLean, and the master became one of the most successful 
 dispensing chemists in London. John Bell was married in 
 1804, and his eldest surviving son, Jacob, was born in 1810. 
 
 Allusion has already been made to the interest taken by
 
 DEATH AND MEMOIS OP PROFESSOR POWNES. 191 
 
 John Bell in the proceedings connected with the establish- 
 ment of the Pharmaceutical Society. He died at his re- 
 sidence at Wandsworfch, at the age of seventy-five. 
 
 George Fownes was the son of a glover in Coventry Street, 
 Leicester Square. He was born on the 14th of May, 1815. 
 Having received his education, first with Dr. May, of Enfield, 
 and afterwards at Bourbourg, near Gravelines, he was appren- 
 ticed to his father and remained in that capacity until he 
 attained the age of twenty-two. But for many years previously 
 he had shown a liking for the study of chemistry, and together 
 with Mr. Everett, the lecturer on chemistry at Middlesex 
 Hospital, Mr. Henry Watts, who has since distinguished 
 himself in scientific literature, and Mr. Robert Murray, for 
 many years associated with Newman, the philosophical in- 
 strument maker of Regent Street, he contributed to form 
 a philosophical class at the Western Literary Institution in 
 Leicester Square, where he cultivated the talent he had mani- 
 fested for pursuing scientific researches, and was encouraged 
 by his associates to look to scientific pursuits as affording 
 him more congenial occupation than that in which he was 
 engaged in the glover's shop. On the recommendation of 
 Mr. Murray, his father was induced to place him under the 
 tuition of Mr. Everett at Middlesex Hospital, where he re- 
 mained for two years, with the exception of three months 
 spent at Giessen under Professor Liebig. He afterwards 
 became assistant to Professor Graham at University College, 
 and remained there for twelve months, or until he undertook 
 the appointment of lecturer at the Charing Cross Hospital. 
 His health had never been strong, and close confinement to 
 investigations and studies in a badly ventilated laboratory at 
 Charing Cross contributed no doubt to hasten the develop- 
 ment of disease in his lungs, which ultimately terminated his 
 life. With an active and intelligent mind, however, and a 
 sound judgment, although often ailing, he was enabled to do 
 much good work. He frequently lectured at the Royal 
 Institution, and on the retirement of Mr. Everett from the 
 chair of chemistry at Middlesex Hospital, Mr. Fownes suc- 
 ceeded to it, perhaps imprudently, for at the same time he 
 was lecturing at Bloomsbury Square, and so much exertion 
 of the voice often severely taxed his strength. 
 
 As a lecturer he was clear, methodical, and painstaking ;
 
 192 NOTICE OP PllOPESSOK FOWNEs's WOKK. 
 
 but his reputation was chiefly founded on the successful 
 results of his researches in connection with the artificial pro- 
 duction of the alkaloids, for which the Royal Society awarded 
 him their gold medal. He was elected a fellow of the Royal 
 Society in 1845. 
 
 In 1844 he published the first edition of his " Manual of 
 Chemistry." which, as a text-book for chemical students, was 
 at that time the most explicit, concise, and yet complete work 
 in the English language ; and to this its great popularity may 
 be ascribed. He had previously gained the Acton prize for 
 his essay entitled "Chemistry as exemplifying the wisdom 
 and beneficence of God." 
 
 He relinquished his duties as lecturer partly in 1845 and 
 wholly in 1846, still retaining his position of Professor of 
 Practical Chemistry in the Birkbeck laboratory at University 
 College. But the state of his health becoming worse he was 
 advised to try the effect of a sea voyage, and he accordingly 
 went to Barbadoes in 1847. This proved of no avail, and 
 after his return he gave up work entirely, and patiently sub- 
 mitted to the inevitable result of his malady. He was thus 
 cut off in the thirty-fourth year of his age. 
 
 An incident or two may be mentioned here. Mr. Fownes 
 was introduced and recommended as professor to the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society by Mr. Morson, who had formed the acquaint- 
 ance, and entertained a high opinion of the talents, of this 
 young but as yet unknown chemist. Mr. Morson's house 
 was the resort of many men of rising and also of mature 
 talent, who were accustomed to hold a sort of scientific service 
 there on Sunday evenings. It was on the occasion of a visit 
 paid by Mr. Fownes to the house of his friend in Southamp- 
 ton Row that he observed among some chemical curiosities 
 in a cupboard a bottle labelled " oil of bran " ; and being told 
 that it had been prepared by distilling bran with sulphuric 
 acid and water for a speculative gentleman whose expecta- 
 tions in reference to it had not been realized, he expressed a 
 desire to have some of it for examination. His wish was 
 complied with, and from this he produced his furfurine, one 
 of the best defined of the artificial alkaloids. 
 
 Many scientific foreigners when in London, being either 
 known to or introduced to Mr. Morson, were often at his 
 house, and this was especially the case about the period to
 
 DE. ANTHONY TODD THOMSON. 193 
 
 which we are referring. Liebig, Mitscherlich, Rose, Guibourt, 
 Robiquet, Cap, and other celebrities were guests at Mr. Mor- 
 son's house, and were taken by him to the Pharmaceutical 
 Society, in which they were induced to take a lively interest. 
 
 The influence which these visits, and the resulting favour- 
 able opinions expressed both here and abroad, were calculated 
 to exert on the prosperity of a young institution may be more 
 correctly estimated now than they were at that time. Some 
 of the former students of the school may look back with 
 interest to the visits of Professors Liebig and Rose, who went 
 through the laboratories and conversed with the students on 
 the various operations in which they were engaged. Liebig 
 especially left his mark behind, for two or three of the pro- 
 cesses usually conducted by students in the laboratory were 
 modified at his suggestion, and in that form, were kept up 
 for many years afterwards. 
 
 Dr. Anthony Todd Thomson, F.L.S., died in July, 1849. 
 He was born in Edinburgh in 1778, and received his education 
 there, principally in the Edinburgh College. Having acquired 
 the qualifications for a general practitioner he came to London, 
 passed an examination at the College of Surgeons, and com- 
 menced practice in Sloane Street. This was in the early part 
 of the present century, and prior to the passing of the Apothe- 
 caries Act of 1815. While he was thus engaged as a general 
 practitioner he took an active interest in promoting the adop- 
 tion of an improved system of education among apothecaries, 
 and in seeking legislation to aid that object, in which he was 
 associated with Burrows, Kerrison, and Mason Good, who, in 
 common with himself, were then general practitioners, but 
 afterwards became physicians. Dr. Thomson's name appears 
 frequently in connection with those proceedings in the earlier 
 part of this Historical Sketch. In 1826 he removed from 
 Sloane Street to Hinde Street, Manchester Square, and he 
 then became a member of the College of Physicians. Shortly 
 afterwards, in 1828, University College, then called the 
 London University, commenced its operations, and Dr. 
 Thomson was appointed Professor of Materia Medica and 
 Therapeutics. He was a man of infinite labour, and endowed 
 with a great capacity for work. In his early morning hours 
 as well as at night he found time for literature, while through- 
 out the day he kept up a large medical practice.
 
 194 DE. THOMSON'S EFFICIENT AID. 
 
 He \vas the author of the " London Dispensatory," which 
 in its day had a great circulation, and of the " Conspectus of 
 the Pharmacopoeia," the circulation of which was still greater. 
 But these were not his only literary productions ; he published 
 a mass of scattered papers, chiefly, but not entirely, of a 
 medical character. Botany had been a favourite study with 
 him, and as far back as 1810 he was lecturing on Medical 
 Botany, his being the only course on that subject in London 
 at that time. 
 
 Reference has already been made to Dr. Thomson's 
 appointment as Lecturer to the Pharmaceutical Society, but 
 we should fail to do justice to the memory of this distinguished 
 professor if we did not more fully represent the benefits he 
 conferred on the society, and we do so in the words used 
 by the present writer when the circumstances were fresh in 
 his recollection. 
 
 Approving of the objects for which the society was founded, 
 and being enthusiastic in the cultivation of those sciences 
 which form the basis of a pharmaceutical education, Dr. 
 Thomson came forward in the most kind and liberal manner 
 at a time when the infant institution stood most in need of 
 such encouragement. He attended the meetings, contributed 
 original papers, took an active part in the scientific dis- 
 cussions, delivered lectures gratuitously, and lost no oppor- 
 tunity that presented itself of promoting an undertaking in 
 the probable success of which even the originators were not 
 sanguine, and which was considered by some members of the 
 profession to be a project almost chimerical. 
 
 Dr. Thomson, with that energy and penetration which 
 characterized him through life, disregarded obstacles and 
 difficulties, and keeping his eye steadily fixed on the ultimate 
 object, threw his tact and experience into the scale, inspired 
 the founders of the society with increased confidence, and 
 stimulated them to persevering exertion. The society was 
 indebted to many professional friends for cordial support and 
 encouragement at that period, but the name of Dr. Thomson 
 stands high on the list of those who may truly be designated 
 as "friends in need," and who may be compared to sheet- 
 anchors in rough weather. 
 
 When the School of Pharmacy was founded, Dr. Thomson 
 accepted the office of Professor of Botany, which he retained
 
 BOTANICAL LECTURES. MURMURINGS OP COMPLAINT. 195 
 
 until the time of his decease. By means of his influence he 
 obtained for the students the privilege of admission to the 
 gardens of the Royal Botanic Society, in the Regent's Park, 
 where most of the lectures were delivered. In addition to 
 the lectures officially comprised in the course, he voluntarily 
 devoted the intermediate mornings to demonstrations or 
 peripatetic lectures in the gardens, thus more than doubling 
 the number of lectures, and contributing greatly to their prac- 
 tical utility. This early walk in the gardens he considered 
 a recreation rather than a toil ; and nothing appeared to give 
 him greater satisfaction than the appeals of his pupils for infor- 
 mation, evidencing their interest in his favourite subject. 
 
 In the summer of 1848 Dr. Thomson, both in mind and 
 body, seemed to be as strong as ever. 
 
 He was accustomed to rise at six in the morning, walk up 
 to the Botanical Gardens in the Regent's Park, deliver his 
 lecture to the students of the Pharmaceutical Society at seven 
 o'clock, then return and see patients till half- past twelve. At 
 one o'clock he went to the hospital, and at three lectured on 
 medical jurisprudence (this was during the summer months). 
 After this lecture he visited patients till a late hour, when he 
 returned home to dinner. Nor was his work yet over; for 
 after dinner he devoted several hours to literature. In 
 January, 1849, he caught a severe cold, the effects of which 
 he never threw off entirely. Two attacks of bronchitis were 
 followed by pneumonia and finally pleurisy, from the effects 
 of which he died, in his seventy- second year. 
 
 The society at this time could ill afford to sustain such 
 losses as had recently occurred among those who had largely 
 contributed by active -work and the influence of their repu- 
 tation to promote its advancement. An uneasy feeling ap- 
 peared to exist among many of the members, and there were 
 frequent murmurings of complaint, although it rarely assumed 
 any definite form or open expression. Sometimes it was, that 
 nothing was being done towards getting an Act of Parliament, 
 without which the society could be of no real benefit to those 
 who were contributing to its support ; sometimes, that there 
 was useless expenditure of the society's funds in rearing up 
 a class of young men who were inspired with high-fangled 
 notions that placed them above their occupations ; sometimes, 
 that the council, being principally drawn from the great drug
 
 196 PHARMACEUTICAL SCHOOL DINNER. 
 
 houses of London, had little knowledge of, or sympathy with, 
 the requirements of country trade ; sometimes, that the Journal, 
 the official organ of the society, was exclusively tinder the 
 control of one member of the council. In common with most 
 other similar institutions, the society, in fact, began to en- 
 counter the difficulties arising from internal dissension, which 
 seemed to increase with the growth of substantial pros- 
 perity. 
 
 Even the educational department was suffering from de- 
 pression, and statements were sometimes made to the effect 
 that young men, after incurring the expense of studying in 
 Bloomsbury Square and passing the examinations there, 
 found it difficult to obtain situations, and were often objected 
 to by employers because they were thought to be conceited 
 and disposed to set themselves above their masters. 
 
 But there was no possibility of retreating from the system 
 of education and examination which had been established as 
 the recognised fundamental principle of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society. 
 
 Some of the past and present students of the school, think- 
 ing that it might be desirable to endeavour to infuse increased 
 interest into the cause, suggested the holding of a Pharma- 
 ceutical School Dinner, which was approved of by the Pre- 
 sident and members of the council, and supported by friends 
 of the society, both members and non-members. 
 
 Mr. Squire was at this time the President of the society, 
 having been elected after the anniversary meeting in May, 
 and Mr. William Ince was Vice-president. 
 
 Dr. Thomson's last illness having commenced while the 
 Botanical lectures were being delivered, in the summer of 
 1849, and his death having occurred before their termination, 
 Mr. Bentley, who was at that time Lecturer on Botany at the 
 London Hospital, undertook to finish the course ; and he was 
 afterwards appointed to fill the vacant office of Professor of 
 Botany. He had been a student in Bloomsbury Square 
 when the society commenced, and from his early youth he 
 was an enthusiastic botanist. 
 
 The professors, of course, were among those who strongly 
 favoured the projected dinner, which was held on the 17th of 
 July, at the London Tavern, and proved a great success. 
 Dr. Copland, F.R.S., occupied the chair.
 
 AN ANONYMOUS CIRCULAE. 197 
 
 An incident occurred at this time which served to show 
 that while dissatisfaction existed among some of those con- 
 nected with the society, it did not pervade the student class, 
 or those who, having been in that capacity, were now reaping 
 the satisfaction of feeling that they were entitled to command 
 the confidence of the public as qualified and examined phar- 
 macists. A testimonial engrossed on vellum, and accompanied 
 by a handsome tea-service of plate, was presented by seventy- 
 two students of the laboratory to the Professor of Chemistry 
 and Phai'macv, " as an expression of the high estimation in 
 which he is held by those pupils who have pursued their 
 studies under his superintendence." 
 
 These were among the evidences of the existence within 
 the society of feelings of approval of what was being done 
 and of a desir to aid in promoting the good work ; but at 
 the same timt, there were evidences of a less satisfactoiy 
 nature. An anonymous circular, purporting to emanate from 
 a committee, the composition and location of which were kept 
 secret, alluded to and dealt with the proceedings of the 
 council and the management of The Pharmaceutical Journal 
 in a spirit of decided hostility, tainted with indications of an 
 acrimonious feeling. 
 
 In this as in previous cases in which a disposition had been 
 manifested to get up an opposition party, there was a want of 
 sufficient manliness on the part of those who propagated 
 disparaging statements affecting the management of the 
 society, to avow themselves openly and substantiate or de- 
 fend their allegations. Still it was evident that there 
 were troubled spirits abroad who were capable of fomenting 
 discord. 
 
 The question was often asked, How are we to allay this 
 chronic irritation ? The best means of overcoming any slight 
 amount of dissatisfaction within the society, when there was 
 no obvious cause for it other than impatience of delay in the 
 realization of expected benefits, had usually been found to 
 consist in proving the value of association, by the successful 
 defence of the body or its members from some real or threatened 
 attack from without ; or by making a further advance towards 
 the attainment of the much-desired object of getting a bill 
 introduced into Parliament for regulating the practice of 
 pharmacy. But in neither of these directions was there any
 
 198 THE GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1851. 
 
 present opening for a movement. The Medical Defence 
 Association, which had formerly been a source of alarm, was 
 dying for want of occupation ; and the Legislature, after many 
 vain attempts to regulate the practice of medicine, was indis- 
 posed to meddle further with physic. Both the medical and 
 pharmaceutical bodies were therefore reduced to a state of 
 constrained inaction as regarded legislation. Attempts had 
 repeatedly been made to find some member of Parliament 
 who would undertake to bring a Pharmacy Bill before the 
 Legislature, but without success. Mr. Warburton, who had 
 taken an interest in the subject, and was looked to as the 
 most likely person to become champion of the cause, was no 
 longer in Parliament, and nobody could be found to take his 
 place. The medical profession had a member of their own 
 body, Mr. Wakley, to act as their advocate in the House, and 
 it was felt that if pharmacy had as zealous and able an 
 advocate inside as it undoubtedly had outside the House of 
 Commons, there would be some chance of accomplishing what 
 was required. Who could be found, with means, talent, and 
 a chance of success, to seek a seat in Parliament as the cham- 
 pion of pharmacy ? This was a question in many mouths, 
 but one not easily answered. 
 
 Among subjects which occupied the attention of the public, 
 and more or less prominently v thatof the pharmaceutical body, 
 in the years 1850-51, there were especially two that call for 
 notice here one as showing the weakness, and the other as 
 indicating the means of strengthening, the bond of union 
 among chemists and druggists. First, there was the design 
 for holding an International Exhibition in London; and 
 secondly, there was the alarm which had been created by 
 the occurrence of numerous cases of poisoning and especially 
 of poisoning with arsenic. The Great Exhibition of 1851, 
 with its Crystal Palace, which sprang up like a vision in fairy- 
 land, and the crowds of visitors from every quarter of the 
 globe, which gave to London for a time an unusually cosmo- 
 politan character, together with the success of the undertak- 
 ing in every respect, have become matters of history which 
 many look back to with interest, and some with a mixture of 
 satisfaction and partial regret, for it could not be said that 
 British pharmacy was well represented there. This result 
 was principally caused by the difficulty experienced in getting
 
 PEOPOSALS TO RESTRICT THE SALE OP ARSENIC. 199 
 
 those who were able to contribute articles for exhibition to 
 act in concert and to co-operate in carrying out a general 
 plan for the display of such a collection of chemical and 
 pharmaceutical products and drugs as might have been credit- 
 able to English pharmacy. The occasion afforded a favour- 
 able opportunity for showing to other nations what British 
 commerce and manufacturing skill could produce in this 
 department ; but unfortunately it was not turned to the best 
 account. 
 
 The questions relating to the sale of poisons more nearly 
 affected the interests of pharmacy and more deeply engaged 
 the attention of pharmacists than did the exhibition of phar- 
 maceutical products. The subject was occupying the atten- 
 tion of the Government, of the medical profession, and the 
 public generally. It appeared from the Registrar General's 
 reports that a large number of deaths occurred annually 
 from poisoning, and that more than one-third of these were 
 caused by the use of arsenic. In 1849 the subject was 
 brought under the notice of the Provincial Medical 
 and Surgical Association by Dr. Tunstall, of Bath ; and 
 the Association petitioned Parliament to the following 
 effect : 
 
 1. That no druggist or shopkeeper be allowed to sell arsenic 
 without a licence, under a penalty. 
 
 2. That no person be allowed to sell small quantities of 
 arsenic unless combined with some material, the administra- 
 tion of which with food would be at once detected by the 
 appearance or taste. . 
 
 3. That no person be allowed to purchase arsenic unless 
 accompanied by a witness. 
 
 4. And that the vendor do keep a book, in which he should 
 make an entry of every sale of arsenic, to which the purchaser 
 and his witness should affix their names and places of abode, 
 and that this should be attested by the vendor. 
 
 Afterwards, the subject was submitted to the Pharmaceu- 
 tical Society towards the end of 1849, and after being dis- 
 cussed at a meeting of the society, it was referred to the 
 council, who immediately appointed a committee with a view 
 to its further investigation. The committee drew up a series 
 of questions, which were sent to every member of the society, 
 together with the following circular :
 
 200 QUESTIONS ON SALE OF POISONS. 
 
 " LONDON, November I3th, 1849. 
 
 "SiR, The accompanying questions are issued by a com- 
 mittee of the Pharmaceutical Society, appointed by the coun- 
 cil to take into consideration the ' Sale of Poisons,' especially 
 of arsenic, with a view of ascertaining whether any means 
 could be adopted for preventing accidental and criminal 
 poisonings. 
 
 " The questions are addressed to the members of the society 
 generally; and the committee will feel obliged if you will 
 favour them with answers to such of the questions as may 
 come within the scope of your experience or knowledge. The 
 committee will be glad also to receive information on any 
 other points relating to this important subject. 
 
 " An early answer is particularly requested, as the com- 
 mittee will meet again before the expiration of this month. 
 " GEORGE WALTER SMITH, Secretary. 
 
 11 QUESTIONS ON SALE OP POISONS. 
 
 " Do you sell arsenic ? 
 
 " Under what regulations do you sell it ? 
 
 " For what ostensible objects is it usually demanded? 
 
 " By what class of persons ? 
 
 " For what trades or manufactures is it required by your 
 customers in small quantities ? 
 
 "Is it sold by oilmen, grocers, and general dealers in your 
 town? 
 
 " How many cases of poisoning by arsenic in your neigh- 
 bourhood have come to your knowledge during the last twelve 
 months, whether criminal or accidental ? 
 
 " In what manner do you send it out in paper, bottles, or 
 jars ; and is it always labelled ' Poison ' ? 
 
 " Are you aware of any accidents attending the use of arsenic 
 as sheepwash ? 
 
 " Are you aware of any accidents resulting from its use in 
 steeping wheat ? 
 
 "Are poisons generally sold by oilmen, grocers, and general 
 dealers in your neighbourhood ? " 
 
 At a meeting of council held on the 12th of December, 
 1849, Peter Squire, President, in the chair, the Committee on 
 the Sale of Poisons presented the following "preliminary 
 report " on the answers received in reply to the list of ques-
 
 THE SALE OP ARSENIC. 201 
 
 tions proposed by the committee, in reference to the SALE OF 
 POISONS, especially of AESEXIC. 
 
 " In the sale of small quantities of arsenic, the practice of 
 obtaining an indifferent witness is adopted by a large majority 
 of vendors. In many cases a written entry is made in a 
 register, and signed by all the parties. The word ' Arsenic ' is 
 invariably put on the inner paper, and ' Poison ' on the outer, 
 or vice versa; and sometimes both words are placed on each 
 paper, either in writing or by printed labels. In many cases 
 the principal of the shop only supplies the demand, but does 
 not admit any of his own people as witnesses. It is sold 
 usually to well-known customers. It is often coloured, or 
 mixed with lard, soft soap, tar, etc. In some instances, where 
 strong grounds of suspicion have existed, cream of tartar has 
 been given with all the formality used in supplying arsenic, 
 by which substitution suicides have been prevented. Many 
 lives have also been saved by other precautions on the part of 
 chemists to whom application has been made for poison. 
 
 " The ptincipal purchasers of arsenic are colour and chemi- 
 cal manufacturers, farmers, flock-masters, veterinary surgeons, 
 shipwrights, glass manufacturers, candle makers, and dyers . 
 These employ it largely ; but the smaller or retail quantities 
 are demanded by braziers, white-smiths, bird-stuffers, game- 
 keepers, gardeners, grooms, whitewashes, painters, firework 
 makers, and by rat-catchers, housekeepers, and others of all 
 classes, for the destruction of vermin of all kinds. 
 
 " By many druggists in the country, arsenic is kept in one 
 pound and half-pound packets, weighed, wrapped, and labelled ; 
 and it would be delivered to any shepherd or farmer's servant 
 in any quantity, on application by written order ; or a pound 
 or more would be sold, with the usual precautions, to any 
 known customer connected either with farming or flocks, with 
 whose requirements the seller was fully acquainted. Arsenic 
 is used in dipping sheep, and it requires about forty pounds of 
 arsenic for every 1000 sheep. Some dippers number 40,000 
 sheep. Many druggists sell upwards of one ton of arsenic 
 per annum. 
 
 " The dippers are subject to serious affections of the hands. 
 The death of one is reported from Braintrce. Deaths among 
 the sheep are frequent ; but these are attributed to the care- 
 lessness of the operators.
 
 202 THE SALE OP POISONS. 
 
 " Arsenic is largely employed in steeping wheat. Persons 
 in drilling the wheat so prepared have been seriously affected, 
 although this is attributed by some to the lime necessarily 
 used with it. Accidents have also occurred from the subse- 
 quent use of vessels in which the arsenic had been prepared. 
 Many deaths have been known to occur amongst the stock 
 from eating this prepared wheat, viz., horses, calves, pigs, and 
 fowls ; and also coveys of partridges, pheasants, and many 
 small birds. With regard to calves thus poisoned, one lot 
 can be shown to have been sent to the London market. 
 
 "In many districts sulphate of copper has superseded 
 arsenic in the preparation of wheat. This process possesses 
 the advantage of not requiring lime. In other parts the 
 use of arsenic for this purpose seems to be unknown. Other 
 substitutes for arsenic are proposed for washing sheep. 
 Poisoning appears to have resulted, in some cases, from the 
 purloining of arsenic by farm servants ; in others from the 
 facility with which it may be procured from the village shops. 
 The care observed by the druggists in obtaining a witness 
 and labelling the parcel is often of no avail, for the suicide 
 and the murderer have respectively accomplished their deter- 
 mined purposes notwithstanding every precaution. Oxalic 
 acid and laudanum are extensively used." 
 
 A supplementary digest of the correspondence on the sale 
 of poisons was subsequently published by the committee, in 
 which many interesting facts, too voluminous to be inserted 
 here, relating to the sale of poisons, are mentioned.* 
 
 In March, 1850, a correspondence having taken place be- 
 tween the committee of the Provincial Medical and Surgical 
 Association and the committee of the Pharmaceutical Society, 
 a meeting of the two committees took place, at which the 
 propositions which had been made for regulating the sale of 
 poisons were disciTSsed ; and it was finally determined that a 
 memorial should be forwarded to the Secretary of State, 
 embodying the following propositions : 
 
 " The sale of arsenic by retail should be restricted to 
 medical men and chemists and druggists. 
 
 " Arsenic should only be sold to male adults, known to the 
 vendor, personally, or on production of their written order. 
 
 * Pharmaceutical Journal, ix. 352.
 
 EFFORTS TO OBTAIN A PHARMACY BILL. 203 
 
 " The vendor should enter the sale in a book, with the 
 date, and the object for which it is required, to which the 
 applicant and a witness (one or the other being known to the 
 vendor) should sign their names, unless a written order is 
 brought, in a handwriting known to the vendor, which order 
 should be pasted in the book." 
 
 The Secretary of State soon afterwards gave notice in the 
 House of Commons of his intention to introduce a bill for 
 regulating the sale of arsenic ; but the session was then so far 
 advanced that its introduction was deferred until the next 
 year, 1851, when it was passed without any serious opposi- 
 tion. 
 
 The passing of the Sale of Arsenic Act was an important 
 step towards further legislation affecting the practice of phar- 
 macy. It was found impossible in the then existing state of 
 the law to limit the sale of arsenic to a class of men possess- 
 ing a knowledge of its properties, because there was no legal 
 definition of the terms chemist and druggist or pharmaceu- 
 tical chemist ; but in framing the Act and passing it through 
 Parliament, it was felt that in this respect it was less efficient 
 than it would have been if some such limitation as was recom- 
 mended by the medical and pharmaceutical bodies could have 
 been adopted. Something was gained, however, by the atten- 
 tion of the Legislature having been directed to this point in 
 connection with the sale of poisons ; and the opportunity 
 was not allowed to pass without representing the importance 
 of this feature of the case. 
 
 It was now felt that it was a favourable time for making 
 further efforts to get a Pharmacy Bill introduced into Parlia- 
 ment. The Pharmaceutical Journal, taking a cheerful view of 
 the prospects which pharmacists had before them, said, " The 
 grand principle is now generally recognised, that the business 
 of a chemist and druggist is something more than a mere 
 trade, and that protection, respectability, and success are 
 directly connected with professional qualification. 
 
 " Although we have no Lord Advocate espousing our cause 
 in the House of Commons, although there is no parliamen- 
 tary committee endeavouring to persuade us to improve our 
 condition, yet our prospect is bright and cheering. Whether 
 an Act of Parliament be obtained next session, or whether it 
 be delayed for a few years, is a question which ought not to
 
 204 
 
 influence our proceedings or regulate our hopes. The society 
 is gaining strength every year ; it is acquiring a character 
 which will reflect increasing credit and respectability on all 
 its members ; and when the paralysing effect of the late medi- 
 cal squabble has subsided, advocates will not be wanting in 
 the houses of Parliament. 
 
 " In the meantime we must be our own advocates every 
 member and associate should put his shoulder to the wheel 
 and do what he can, whether much or little, to promote the 
 objects for which the Pharmaceutical Society was founded, 
 recollecting that union is strength, and Heaven helps those 
 who help themselves." 
 
 The writer of these sentences was one who not only had 
 put his shoulder to the wheel, but had done more than any 
 one else towards urging it forward ; and now, for the further 
 advancement of this object, he was prepared to enter a new 
 arena and undertake new duties. Tired of seeking in vain 
 for a member who, "with an adequate knowledge of the 
 subject, would undertake to pilot a Pharmacy Bill through 
 Parliament, Mr. Bell signified his intention of trying to get a 
 seat in the House of Commons, so that he might himself 
 undertake that duty. It was not long before an opportunity 
 presented itself. In November, 1850, a vacancy occurred in 
 the representation of St. Albans, through the death of Mr. 
 Raphael ; and Mr. Bell offered himself 3s a candidate in the 
 Liberal interest, while Alderman Sir Robert Garden was 
 opposed to him as a Conservative candidate. The constitu- 
 ency of St. Albans was known in parliamentary circles to be 
 not entirely above the influence of the sovereign ; but this 
 was a little weakness of which one who had never dabbled in 
 politics might well be ignorant, as also of the right method of 
 dealing with it. Mr. Belt left the management of the contest 
 to his agents, who merely wanted to be supplied with the 
 usual means, without which a contested election could not be 
 conducted ; and being supplied, he was returned by a good 
 majority. It cannot be said that his brethren were enthusi- 
 astic on the occasion. There were, no doubt, very mixed feel- 
 ings experienced by those who, having been accustomed to 
 associate with the new member for St. Albans on terms of 
 social equality, and, having never dreamt of his aspiring to 
 or being peculiarly qualified for his present position, hardly
 
 THE NEW DUBLIN PHARMACOPEIA. 205 
 
 kne\v whether to view the step he had taken as a piece of 
 rash presumption or of spirited devotion to the cause with 
 which he had been so long identified. 
 
 He was now a member of the House of Commons, and it 
 remained for him to establish his character there. Unfor- 
 tunately his title to his seat was almost immediately called 
 in question by a petition against the return on the ground of 
 bribery. The charge was fully established against the electors 
 and agents, but he himself was exonerated. The borough 
 was disfranchised, but the member retained his seat to the 
 end of that Parliament. 
 
 In 1850-51, new editions of two of the Pharmacopoeias, 
 which constituted the official standards of authority with 
 reference to the composition of medicines in this country, 
 were published. 
 
 First appeared the Dublin Pharmacopoeia, of which this 
 was the third edition, its long-lived predecessor having 
 maintained its position since 1826. The previous editions 
 had been issued in Latin ; but this appeared in English, its 
 authors, the Dublin College of Physicians, following in this 
 respect the example which had been set by the Edinburgh 
 College in 1841. There was another important change made 
 in this edition of the work a new system of weights having 
 been introduced which was a complete innovation. In place 
 of the long- established apothecaries' weights, a system was 
 adopted consisting of the troy grain, the avoirdupois ounce 
 and pound, and a new scruple and drachm differing in value 
 from any previously used. 
 
 Mr. Peter Squire, who had given a great deal of attention 
 to subjects connected with the Pharmacopoeias, was the first 
 to appear as a commentator on the new work. In a paper 
 read before the Pharmaceutical Society he referred to the 
 changes which had been introduced in it, some of which 
 accorded with suggestions he had previously made; but he 
 regretted that other suggestions of his had not been adopted. 
 
 Mr. Squire had long been trying to induce an assimilation 
 in the strength and composition of all medicines ordered 
 under the same names in the three Pharmacopoeias of the 
 English nation. He had also advocated the equalization in 
 neutralizing power of the diluted acids. The latter of these 
 suggestions had been adopted by the Dublin College ; but, as
 
 206 ME. EICHABD PHILLIPS. 
 
 pointed out by Mr. Squire, discrepancies previously existing 
 between this and the other Pharmacopoeias, had in several 
 instances been increased rather than diminished. In the 
 discussion of Mr. Squire's paper, Professor Redwood showed 
 that the change which had been made by the Dublin College 
 in the weights directed to be used -was unauthorized by the 
 law, and that the use of such weights would be illegal. 
 
 The new London Pharmacopoeia was brought out in 1851. 
 It had been prepared by Mr. Richard Phillips, by whom an 
 authorized translation with copious notes was in course of 
 preparation when death put an end to his literary labours. 
 
 A brief notice of this distinguished chemist and pharmacist 
 will be appropriate here. 
 
 Richard Phillips was the son of a well-known printer in 
 Lombard Street, who, being a member of the Society of 
 Friends, placed his son with his near neighbour and associate 
 William Allen, of Plough Court. Under the tuition of this 
 distinguished chemist and pharmacist young Phillips acquired 
 a taste for science and made some progress in its cultivation. 
 The family indeed appear to have had a tendency towards 
 scientific pursuits, for the elder brother, William, who suc- 
 ceeded his father as a printer, acquired a good reputation as 
 a mineralogist, and both brothers took part with others in 
 founding the Geological Society. 
 
 On leaving Plough Court Richard established himself in 
 business as a chemist and druggist at No. 29 in the Poultry. 
 In the pursuit of science he naturally devoted himself prin- 
 cipally to the study of chemistry, and especially to that depart- 
 ment of it which related to the preparation of medicines. 
 
 In 1811, while still carrying on the business of a pharmacist, 
 he published a small work entitled " An Experimental Exam- 
 ination of the Last Edition of the Pharmacopoeia Londinensis, 
 with Remarks on Dr. Powell's Translation and Annotations," 
 which brought him prominently into notice among medical 
 men. In this work he showed by the results of a series of 
 experiments that the Pharmacopoeia of 1809, which had been 
 brought out by a committee of members of the College, aided 
 by advice and assistance from Apothecaries' Hall, was in 
 many respects very defective and insufficient for the guidance 
 of those engaged in the preparation of medicines. His 
 criticisms were found to be generally correct, and their effect
 
 MR. PHILLIPS, CRITIC, LECTURER AND EDITOR. 207 
 
 was greatly to damage the reputation of the Pharmacopoeia 
 to which they referred. The credit of the College of Phy- 
 sicians and Apothecaries' Hall was at stake, for they had 
 undertaken, but had failed, to produce a Pharmacopoeia that 
 should satisfy the requirements of those for whom it was 
 intended to be a ready guide and medium of communication. 
 It was felt that something should be done to wipe off the 
 stigma thus cast on the only two corporate bodies in England 
 to whom the production of a Pharmacopoeia could be referred. 
 Accordingly arrangements were made for reprinting the work 
 with corrections. But before doing this the operative depart- 
 ment of Apothecaries' Hall was placed under the superinten- 
 dence of an eminent Professor of Chemistry, William Thomas 
 Brande, F.R.S., of the Royal Institution, whose assistance 
 was thus obtained by the College in preparing the " Editio 
 Altera " of 1815. 
 
 This edition, in which important changes had been made 
 with the object of correcting previously existing defects, soon 
 called forth another criticism from Mr. Phillips of even a 
 more caustic nature than the previous one. 
 
 The pharmacist had thus proved that he was no mean 
 chemist ; and he thus acquired sufficient reputation as such 
 to enable him in the following year to obtain the appointment 
 of Lecturer on Chemistry at the London Hospital. He had 
 now become engrossed with scientific and literary occupations, 
 to which he devoted the whole of his time, relinquishing his 
 business engagements. Besides the appointment at the 
 London Hospital he was at different times Chemical Lecturer 
 at the Government Military College at Sandhurst, at Grain - 
 ger's School of Medicine in South war k, and at St. Thomas's 
 Hospital. 
 
 In 1821 he conducted the Annals of Philosophy ; and when, 
 at a subsequent period, this publication was merged into The 
 London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philosophical Magazine, he 
 became one of the editors, and remained so till his death. 
 
 In 1822 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. He 
 joined the Chemical Society from its commencement, and 
 occupied the position of President during two years. 
 
 Although his criticisms on the Pharmacopoeia gave offence 
 to some members of the College of Physicians, they tended to 
 gain for him a reputation even among medical men, as a
 
 208 PETITION TO THE HOUSE OP COMMONS. 
 
 sound chemist and good practical pharmacist. In fact, he 
 was looked upon as an authority on pharmaceutical subjects ; 
 and when the next edition of the London Pharmacopoeia was 
 brought out, in 1824, he became the authorized translator of 
 the work. Subsequently he assumed a more responsible 
 position with reference to the work, as editor as well as 
 translator and commentator, in which capacities his name is 
 associated with the editions of 1836 and 1851. 
 
 In 1839 he was appointed Curator of the Museum of Prac- 
 tical Geology, which was then established, under the Govern- 
 ment, in Craig's Court, Charing Cross, and subsequently 
 removed to Jermyn Street. 
 
 Mr. Phillips had been actively engaged in preparing for the 
 opening of the new premises in Jermyn Street, when, after a 
 short illness, he died at his house in Camberwell, on the llth 
 of May, 1851, the day before that on which Prince Albert 
 opened the new Museum. He had reached the 75th year of 
 his age. 
 
 At the anniversary meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society 
 which next followed after Mr. Bell's election for St. Albans, 
 a resolution was passed that a petition from the society be 
 presented to the House of Commons, to the following effect: 
 " The humble Petition of the undersigned Members of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, 
 
 " Showeth, 
 
 " That in almost all civilized countries, those persons who 
 prepare prescriptions and sell medicines are regularly edu- 
 cated in chemistry and other bi'anches of knowledge and pass 
 an examination. 
 
 " That in Great Britain no such provision is required by 
 law, consequently uneducated and unqualified persons may, 
 and frequently do, perform these responsible duties, by which 
 means your petitioners have good ground for believing that 
 the public sustain injury. 
 
 "That the Pharmaceutical Society was established in 1841 
 for the purpose of providing a remedy for this evil, by the 
 introduction of a regular system of pharmaceutical education 
 and an examination. 
 
 " That the arrangements adopted for this purpose have 
 been attended with as much success as could be expected 
 from such efforts on the part of a voluntaiy society ; and
 
 BILL TO EEGULATE THE PRACTICE OP PHARMACY. 209 
 
 your petitioners are persuaded from their experience, that 
 the sanction of the Legislature is necessary in order to ensure 
 the accomplishment of that reform which the safety of the 
 public requires. 
 
 " Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray that your hon- 
 ourable House will be pleased to pass an Act for regulating 
 the qualifications of pharmaceutical chemists." 
 
 The petition was signed by fifty-six members who were 
 present at the meeting, and it was presented by Mr. Bell on 
 the same afternoon. 
 
 On the 12th of June, 1851, Mr. Bell moved in the House 
 of Commons for leave to introduce a bill to regulate the 
 qualifications of pharmaceutical chemists, and for other pur- 
 poses in connection with the practice of pharmacy. Some 
 opposition was offered to the motion by Mr. Henley; but 
 leave was granted to bring in the bill, which was read the 
 first time on the following day. 
 
 The purport of the bill, as introduced, may be gathered 
 from the following concise outline of its clauses : 
 
 Clause I. confirms the charter of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society, except such parts as are altered or repealed in this 
 Act. 
 
 Clause II. The Council to appoint a Registrar and other 
 
 Clause III. The Registrar to prepare, from time to time, 
 a list of all Pharmaceutical Chemists, their assistants, and 
 apprentices, or students, respectively. 
 
 Clause IV. Registrar to keep books, etc. 
 
 Clause V. Certificate of Registrar to be good evidence in 
 the absence of the contrary. 
 
 Clause VI. All members and associates of the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society to be registered, also every other person, 
 within one year, on his producing evidence that he was exer- 
 cising the business at the time of passing this Act. 
 
 Clause VII. Assistants, apprentices, and students to be 
 registered. 
 
 Clause VIII. The Board of Examiners of the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society recognised. 
 
 Clause IX. The Council empowered to make and alter 
 bye-laws, subject to the approval of one of her Majesty's 
 principal Secretaries of State.
 
 210 ANALYSIS OP THE PHARMACY BILL. 
 
 Clause X. Every person examined and having obtained a 
 certificate to be registered. 
 
 Clause XI. Power to suspend or modify examination in 
 the case of persons apprenticed before the date of the Act. 
 
 Clause XII. After one year from the passing of the Act it 
 shall not be lawful for any person not duly registered to 
 exercise the business, or to assume or use the name of Pharma- 
 ceutical Chemist, etc., or any name, sign, token, or emblem 
 implying that he is registered under this Act, under a penalty 
 not exceeding 20 nor less than 2. Penalties recoverable 
 in the county courts, etc. 
 
 Clause XIII. No proceedings to be taken after the ex. 
 piration of two months from the commission of the offence. 
 
 Clause XIV. Penalties to be forfeited to the Crown. 
 
 Clause XV. Eegistrar liable to penalty for the falsifica- 
 tion of any register, etc. 
 
 Clause XVI. Penalty for procuring certificate of registry 
 by fraudulent means. 
 
 Clause XVII. Act not to extend to or interfere with the 
 rights, etc., of legally qualified medical practitioners. 
 
 Clause XVIII. Provided they do not take or use the name 
 of Pharmaceutical Chemist, or Chemist and Druggist, etc. 
 
 Clause XIX. Exemption in favour of drysalters, vendors 
 of patent medicines, horse and cattle medicines, or chemicals, 
 etc., used for other than medicinal purposes, such parties not 
 using any name, title, etc., implying that they are registered 
 under this Act. 
 
 The second reading of the bill was moved by Mr. Bell on 
 the 2nd of July, but it was not allowed to pass without opposi- 
 tion. Mr. Hume and Mr. Henley were among the opponents 
 of the measure ; and the Secretary of State, Sir George Grey, 
 expressed a decided opinion that the bill, as introduced, was 
 not likely to give general satisfaction, that it required much 
 consideration, and ought to be before the public a considerable 
 time before proceeding with it. He thought also that it was 
 a measure that ought to accompany or follow, not to precede, 
 one relating to the general practice of medicine. Finally, he 
 suggested that the bill might be read a second time pro 
 form.it, with an understanding that it should not be pro- 
 ceeded with any further that session. 
 
 Mr. Bell consented to adopt the suggestion of the Secretary
 
 CERTAIN AMENDMENTS INTRODUCED. 211 
 
 of State ; and with that understanding the bill was read a 
 second time. 
 
 Two days afterwards Mr. Wakley, speaking strongly in 
 favour of the bill, tried to induce the House to alter the 
 arrangement that had been previously made, and to proceed 
 with the appointment of a select committee to which the bill 
 might be referred, so as to admit of its being passed that 
 session. This, however, was not complied with. The subject 
 was brought forward again on two or three subsequent oc- 
 casions. Mr. Bell was allowed to introduce some amend- 
 ments with which the bill was printed, and it was then left 
 to stand over till the following session. 
 
 While these proceedings were taking place in the House, 
 558 petitions, with 15,264 signatures, were presented in fa- 
 vour of the bill, and two petitions were presented against 
 it, one from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, 
 and one from the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons for 
 Glasgow. 
 
 The amendments that had been introduced were for the 
 purpose of ensuring the appointment of a Board of Examiners 
 for Scotland, to meet in Edinburgh ; of enabling members of 
 the Pharmaceutical Society living in the country to vote by 
 proxy or by post ; of exempting assistants and apprentices 
 already in the trade from the necessity of passing the exami- 
 nation ; and of making registration permissive instead of 
 compulsory with regard to those in business before the pass- 
 ing of the bill. 
 
 The result of this first attempt at legislation with reference 
 to pharmacy was not considered to be discouraging. The 
 objections raised in the House were, first, that the bill would 
 interfere with free-trade principles by creating a monoply ; 
 and, secondly, that it would tend to convert chemists and 
 druggists into medical practitioners by giving them a pro- 
 fessional education ; but these were not felt to be serious 
 objections, especially as the second had no foundation in fact. 
 The point with reference to which objection had been antici- 
 pated and was most feared, namely, that it was intended to 
 make the Pharmaceutical Society both an educating and 
 examining body, was never alluded to. This was so far 
 satisfactory. 
 
 On the 10th of June, 1851, the society sustained anotb e
 
 212 ME. EICHAKD HOTHAM PIGEON. 
 
 loss from death, by which it was deprived of its Treasurer, 
 Eichard Hotham Pigeon, to whose valuable services in con- 
 nection with the rise and early development of the association 
 we have repeatedly alluded. 
 
 Mr. Pigeon was a wholesale druggist in Throgmorton 
 Street. He had been apprenticed to Messrs. Fynmore and 
 Palmer, in the house in which he afterwards became a 
 principal, and in which he carried on a prosperous business. 
 He was one of the most respected members of the old Whole- 
 sale Druggists' Club, a commercial association established 
 for the purpose of discussing matters affecting the interests 
 of the wholesale trade, the members of which were in the 
 habit of meeting on 'Change, and occasionally of settling 
 knotty points over a city dinner. He had been Treasurer of 
 the Pharmaceutical Society from its commencement, and was 
 also Treasurer of Christ's Hospital, where he had conferred 
 great benefits through the tact and zeal he manifested in the 
 performance of his duties. Mr. Pigeon was a regular attend- 
 ant at the meetings of the Pharmaceutical Society, and he 
 often contributed by his gentlemanly tone and conciliating 
 manners to maintain the regularity and dignity of the pro- 
 ceedings on such occasions. Mr. Pigeon died in the 63rd 
 year of his age. 
 
 During the official year, 1850-51, Mr. William Ince, the 
 representative of the old-established house of Godfrey and 
 Cooke, was President, and Mr. George Waugh, of Regent 
 Street, Vice-president of the society. 
 
 In June, 1851, when a further change took place, Mr. 
 Waugh having declined to take the office of President, it 
 was conferred on Mr. Thomas Herring, wholesale druggist 
 Mr. Henry Dearie being at the same time appointed Vice- 
 president. 
 
 The son and namesake of the late Treasurer, Mr. Richard 
 Hotham Pigeon, succeeded his father in that appointment. 
 
 Comparing the position and prospects of pharmaceutica 
 chemists at this time with what they had been ten years 
 previously, there was no reason to be dissatisfied with the 
 aspect of affairs. The well- united band of zealous promoters 
 of pharmaceutical progress had worked steadily and success- 
 fully. Yet it was not all smooth sailing and sunshine. There 
 were dark clouds floating about, and sudden squalls arose
 
 THE SPIRIT OP DISCORD. 213 
 
 now and then. A few clever, active, but dissatisfied members 
 were ever trying to find out weak points in the management 
 of affairs. It had been made a subject of complaint, that the 
 government of the society -was kept too exclusively in the 
 hands of the same set of men, -who, with the officers, formed 
 a sort of happy family, in which differences seldom arose, but 
 in which a minority of the constituency, who differed in 
 opinion, was not represented. There is a tendency in societies 
 to get into such a condition as this, and there may have 
 been some justification for the complaint in this instance. The 
 ease and comfort of sliding in a groove are generally preferred 
 to rough jolting over the stones. But at least there was a 
 disposition among those in authority to do what was thought 
 to be most conducive to the welfare, and, if possible, the satis- 
 faction, of the whole constituency; and therefore, when advo- 
 cates of reform appeared openly in the field, instead of hiding 
 themselves behind anonymous circulars, some of these had no 
 difficulty in finding seats in the council. The usual effect 
 of putting grumblers into office, however, was not realized in 
 this instance, the result being that much unseemly contention 
 and obstruction to business were imported into the meetings 
 of the council, and continued as long as the new elements 
 remained there. The spirit that actuated these proceedings 
 extended even to the lecture room, where much annoyance was 
 caused to Dr. Pereira, by some members of his class supplying 
 garbled reports of his lectures to an opposition journal, which 
 had the bad taste to publish them in a form calculated to give 
 a very erroneous idea of their value. The Professor, to put a 
 stop to this offensive conduct, suspended his lectures and ap- 
 pealed to the council to protect him against such an unusual 
 and unlawful proceeding. The lectures were at that time 
 free to all members, associates, and apprentices of the society, 
 and it is due to the two latter classes to say that they pre- 
 sented a memorial to the Professor exonerating themselves 
 rom any participation in what had taken place, while members 
 not only of the society but of the council who were attend- 
 ing the lectures refused to join in this memorial. A suitable 
 assurance, however, was afforded to the Professor that there 
 would be no repetition of the practice he had complained of, 
 and the lectures were resumed, but not without a wound 
 having been inflicted, which no doubt contributed to cause
 
 214 DOUBTFUL STATE OP POLITICAL AFFAIRS. 
 
 the resignation of his appointment by this distinguished Pro- 
 fessor, who had the misfortune, in the eyes of an opposition 
 party, to be a warm supporter of the society, its council, and 
 its journal. 
 
 Soon after the conclusion of the session ending in July, 
 1851, Dr. Pereira having resigned his appointment, an ar- 
 rangement was made with reference to materia medica and 
 botany similar to that previously made in the case of chemis- 
 try and pharmacy, the two courses being united into one. 
 
 In accordance with this arrangement Mr. Bentley was 
 appointed Professor of Materia Medica and Botany. 
 
 The council, under a pressure that was brought to bear 
 upon them from without, were endeavouring to economize as 
 far as possible the cost of keeping up the School of Phar- 
 macy ; but in doing this it was considered important to avoid 
 the semblance of anything like a pecuniary advantage being 
 derived by the society from that source, and therefore all 
 persons connected with the society were admitted to the 
 lectures without payment of fees. 
 
 We are now entering upon the year 1852, in which the 
 first Pharmacy Act was passed. The state of political affairs 
 seemed unfavourable to the prospects of pharmaceutical legis- 
 lation. The year commenced with a change of ministry, and 
 the prospect of a speedy dissolution of Parliament. At first 
 it was considered doubtful whether an opportunity would be 
 afforded in the then existing Parliament for renewing the 
 attempt made in the previous session to get a Pharmacy Bill 
 into the House. Sir George Grey, as Secretary of State, 
 had been replaced by Mr. Walpole, of opposite politics ; and 
 although a Conservative Government might have been ex- 
 pected to be less tied to the maintenance of free-trade prin- 
 ciples than its predecessor, the opinion of the new ministry, 
 and the disposition of the House on the eve of a dissolution 
 had yet to be ascertained. 
 
 It was thus under doubtful circumstances that Mr. Bell, on 
 the 12th of February, moved for leave to introduce his bill, 
 which was not granted without some opposition. The bill 
 was essentially the same as that of the previous session, 
 although a few further amendments had been introduced, to 
 meet some of the objections urged against the measure. 
 
 The Master and "Wardens of the Society of Apothecaries
 
 DIFFICULTIES OF PHARMACEUTICAL LEGISLATION. 215 
 
 strongly objected to the introduction of toxicology among the 
 subjects of examination for the certificate of a pharmaceutical 
 chemist, on the ground that a knowledge of that subject 
 involved the medical treatment of cases of poisoning, which 
 was out of the province of the pharmaceutical chemist. The 
 terms used in the bill to denote the subjects in which candi- 
 dates were to be examined were, " In the Latin language and 
 classical knowledge, in botany, in materia medica, and in 
 pharmaceutical and general chemistry, and toxicology." This 
 last term was intended to represent a knowledge of the 
 chemical nature and the appropriate antidotes of poisons, which 
 it was considered every qualified chemist and druggist ought 
 to possess ; but as the former of these significations of the term 
 was comprised nnder the head of general chemistry, and as 
 objection was taken to the use of the term under the latter 
 signification because it referred to a branch of medical prac- 
 tice, it was agreed that toxicology should be struck out of the 
 bill. 
 
 The College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and the Faculty of 
 Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow had opposed the bill 
 under the impression that it would interfere with the rights 
 and privileges of those bodies, the members of which were 
 authorized to practise pharmacy; but amendments having 
 been made that removed the objections previously existing in 
 those quarters, the opposition was withdrawn. 
 
 The provision for establishing a separate board of examiners 
 for Scotland also contributed to remove some objections to the 
 bill, and to obtain for it several warm supporters in that part 
 of the kingdom, among those who were previously indifferent 
 or mistrustful. 
 
 Other amendments which were agreed to be made in the 
 bill at this stage of its progress were of a trifling nature and 
 need not be specified here, as much more important and radi- 
 cal changes were subsequently made, which gave a new cha- 
 racter to the Act in the form in which it was passed. 
 
 On the 17th of March the bill was read a second time, and 
 referred to a select committee, where a considerable amount of 
 evidence was taken from physicians, surgeons, and general 
 practitioners, connected with the several colleges and corpora- 
 tions in London and Edinburgh, and from representatives of 
 the Pharmaceutical Society. Evidence was also taken on
 
 216 NEED FOE LEGISLATION. PROTECTED INTERESTS. 
 
 the laws relating to pharmacy in France, Germany, Sweden, 
 Finland, Mauritius, etc. 
 
 The tendency of this evidence was to show that the culti- 
 vation of pharmaceutical knowledge had been much neglected 
 in this country until it was promoted by the Pharmaceutical 
 Society ; that the success of medical practice depends to a 
 great extent on the knowledge, skill, and judgment of those 
 engaged in the selection and preparation of medicines ; that 
 the interests of the public are deeply involved in the adoption 
 of such regulations as may best ensure a supply of qualified 
 pharmaceutical chemists ; that in Continental countries these 
 regulations are made subject to legal enactment, but that 
 in this country they have been disregarded by the Legisla- 
 ture. 
 
 It thus appeared that there was room and some need for 
 legislation on the subject of pharmacy, and to this extent the 
 committee was prepared to go with the promoters of the bill ; 
 but as a first measure of pharmaceutical legislation it was 
 thought that something short of what was asked for would 
 suffice ; and in fact what was done was considerably short of 
 what was asked for. 
 
 The bill, as submitted to the committee, gave a legal sanc- 
 tion and authority to the charter of the Pharmaceutical So- 
 ciety, and to the bye-laws made by the society. It provided 
 for the appointment of a Registrar who was to make and main- 
 tain a register of all such persons as should apply for regis- 
 tration, and should furnish evidence of their having been 
 engaged or employed as pharmaceutical chemists at the time 
 of the passing of the bill, or should otherwise prove that they 
 were entitled to be registered. It provided that all persons who, 
 at the time of the passing of the Act, should be members or 
 associates of the Pharmaceutical Society, and all other persons, 
 not being members of the medical profession, who should, 
 within one year after the passing of the Act, apply for regis- 
 tration and be able to prove that they were employed as 
 pharmaceutical chemists in Great Britain at the time of the 
 passing of the Act, should be entitled to be registered without 
 the payment of any fee. It provided that all persons who, at 
 the time of the passing of the Act, were engaged or employed 
 as students, apprentices, or assistants to any pharmaceutical 
 chemist in Great Britain, and who, within one year after the
 
 FURTHER PROVISIONS OP THE BILL. 217 
 
 passing of the Act, should apply for registration, -would be 
 entitled to have their names entered in a list of students, 
 apprentices, or assistants ; and the persons so registered would 
 be entitled to be registered as pharmaceutical chemists on 
 their commencing business on their own account. It provided 
 that the society should appoint a board of examiners for Eng- 
 land, and also for Scotland, to conduct examinations " in the 
 Latin language and classical knowledge, in botany, in materia 
 medica, and in pharmaceutical and general chemistry," and to 
 grant or refuse certificates of qualification to carry on the 
 business of pharmaceutical chemist, or to be engaged or 
 employed as students, apprentices, or assistants; and all 
 persons obtaining such certificates would be entitled to be 
 registered accordingly. Then it provided that after the passing 
 of the Act it should be unlawful for any person, unless he were 
 registered under the Act, or unless he had been in business 
 before the passing of the Act, to exercise the business or calling 
 of a pharmaceutical chemist in any part of Great Britain, or 
 to assume any other name, title, sign, token, or emblem, im- 
 plying that he was registered under this Act ; and that any 
 infringement of this provision would cause a penalty to be 
 incurred of not exceeding five pounds. Finally, it provided 
 that " the term pharmaceutical chemist, used in this Act, 
 should be construed to include chemist and druggist, dispens- 
 ing chemist, and every other term denoting a dispenser of 
 medical prescriptions and vendor of medicines, not being a 
 member of the medical profession, or practising under a 
 diploma or licence of a medical or surgical corporate body." 
 
 It soon became evident that the bill was not likely to pass 
 the committee without considerable modification. The ex- 
 clusive powers sought to be obtained, by which only qualified 
 and examined persons would be allowed to dispense medicines 
 and carry on business as chemists and druggists, were held 
 to be incompatible with the principles of free-trade, and 
 wholly at variance with the views which prevailed in the 
 Legislature and had been recognised by Government in bills 
 which had been introduced for regulating the practice of 
 medicine. 
 
 At the same time the committee were not averse to giving 
 the Pharmaceutical Society increased powers for the purpose 
 of promoting its object of improving and extending the quali-
 
 218 THE PHARMACY ACT OF 1852. 
 
 fication of chemists and druggists. They were willing to 
 afford the means of securing to qualified men who had passed 
 the requisite examinations a title or titles by which they 
 might be distinguished as such. But anything of a system of 
 trade monopoly was strongly objected to; and those parts of 
 the bill, therefore, which restricted the exercise of the duties 
 of chemists and druggists to examined men were struck out 
 leaving it a bill for confirming and extending the powers 
 previously conferred on the Pharmaceutical Society by its 
 charter of incorporation. The committee were also careful to 
 guard against the liability of educated pharmacists doing 
 what the apothecaries had formerly done, in gradually be- 
 coming a class of medical practitioners. Already toxicology 
 had been struck out from the list of subjects on which exami- 
 nations were to be conducted, and now it was further speci- 
 fied that such examinations should " not include the theory 
 and practice of medicine, surgery, or midwifery." 
 
 With these and some other modifications, the bill, which was 
 expected to have become a powerful lever in the hands of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society for promoting the advancement of 
 pharmacy and the interests of those engaged in its pursuit, 
 became the well-known Act of 1852. Its promoters were dis- 
 appointed ; but still it was felt that something was gained, 
 although much less than had been looked for. 
 
 The Act was passed on the 30th of June, 1852, and one of 
 its provisions was that the then existing bye-laws should con- 
 tinue in force " until the next annual meeting of the society, 
 to be held in the month of May, 1853." Meanwhile the 
 Council of the Pharmaceutical Society were empowered to 
 alter or amend the bye-laws and to make such new or 
 additional bye- laws as they should deem necessary for the 
 purposes contemplated by the charter of the society or by 
 the Act; but all such original bye-laws, and all altered, 
 amended, or additional bye-laws, were requii'ed to be confirmed 
 and approved by a Special General Meeting of the members 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society, and by one of her Majesty's 
 principal Secretaries of State. 
 
 There were some important points to be determined with 
 reference to the construction of the provisions of the Act and 
 charter relating to the bye-laws, the settlement of which 
 entailed a long course of litigation
 
 LIBEEAL INTERPKETATION OP THE ACT. 219 
 
 In the first place, a question arose on the interpretation of 
 the Act and the charter relating to the admission of chemists 
 who commenced business on their own account after the date 
 of the charter and before the passing of the Act. The coun- 
 cil desired to admit into the society all such on production 
 of satisfactory evidence that they were duly qualified, without 
 obliging them to pass the ordeal of the board of examiners. 
 This desire to put a liberal construction on the Act was in 
 accordance with the opinion of members of the society very 
 generally expressed at meetings specially convened in London 
 and most of the large towns throughout the country. 
 
 At a Special General Meeting of the society held in Blooms- 
 bury Square on the 4th of August, 1852, it was resolved, 
 
 1. " 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 
 Kingdom." 
 
 2. " That this meeting recommends the council to adopt a 
 liberal construction 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." 
 
 3. " 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 en- 
 couragement and facility to their assistants and apprentices 
 for preparing themselves to pass the examination." 
 
 4. " That the thanks of the society be given to Mr. Jacob 
 Bell for his energetic exertions in promoting the passing of 
 the Pharmacy Act through Parliament." 
 
 Meetings having a similar tendency were held at Liverpool, 
 Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Norwich, Bristol, Glas- 
 gow, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh. 
 
 At the Bristol meeting Mr. G. F. Schacht suggested the 
 establishment of annual meetings for scientific objects con- 
 nected with pharmacy, which should circulate through the 
 chief towns in the provinces somewhat upon the model of 
 those of the Provincial Medical Association. He thought 
 such meetings would stimulate provincial members to a more
 
 220 THE NORTH BRITISH BRANCH. 
 
 active co-operation -with the Pharmaceutical Society, and that 
 they might be made highly instructive by selecting as the 
 places of meeting towns which presented peculiar objects of 
 manufacturing interest. This appears to have been the first 
 publicly expressed idea from which originated the British 
 Pharmaceutical Conference. 
 
 In Scotland the society had not hitherto made much 
 progress, for although a Committee, with President, Vice- 
 president, Treasurer, and Secretary, had from an early period 
 existed in Edinburgh, the members in North Britain were 
 not numerous, and the North British Branch would probably 
 have hardly been kept together if it had not been for the 
 zealous advocacy of the Honorary Secretary, Mr. Mackay. 
 The granting of a separate Board of Examiners for Scot- 
 land did much to remove difficulties previously existing to 
 progression there ; but it was not until after the trade had 
 been brought together at public meetings, -which Mr. Bell 
 attended, in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen, that the 
 Pharmacy Act could be said to have been adopted in Scot- 
 land. A Society of Chemists and Druggists, for mutual 
 improvement, had existed in Aberdeen since 1839, and this 
 was now merged into the Pharmaceutical Society. 
 
 Strengthened by the general expression of opinion among 
 members of the society as to the best mode of bringing the 
 Pharmacy Act into operation, the council, with the view of 
 giving effect to those opinions, prepared two new bye-laws, 
 which were to the following effect : 
 
 " Chemists and Druggists who commenced business on their 
 own account after the date of the charter, and prior to the 
 passing of the Act 15 and 16 Viet. c. 50, 30th June, 1852, and 
 who shall, before the 1st of May, 1853, apply to be admitted 
 as members by certificate of qualification according to the 
 terms of the charter, shall, on production of certificates satis- 
 factory to the council, be registered as ' Chemists and Drug- 
 gists certified to be duly qualified for admission as members 
 of the society.' The register on which the names of such 
 chemists and druggists shall be entered, shall be closed on 
 the day of the Annual Meeting of the said society in the 
 month of May, 1853, when the existing bye-laws will cease to 
 be in force, after which time the persons so registered shall 
 be admitted as members of the society on payment of the
 
 NEW BYE-LAWS PASSED. 221 
 
 entrance fee and the subscription for the current year. No 
 person whose name is not included in the said register, unless 
 an associate coming within the terms and meaning of the 
 next following bye-laws, shall, after the period aforesaid, be 
 admitted as a member of the society, except in the manner 
 provided in the 10th section of the Act." 
 
 " Associates of the society who were admitted as such 
 prior to the 1st day of July, 1842 (mentioned in the present 
 bye-laws, section 1), shall be admitted as members of the 
 society, on the production of certificates satisfactory to the 
 council." 
 
 It was proposed, in accordance with the former of these bye- 
 laws, that a certificate signed by two members of the society 
 and countersigned by the local Secretary, to the effect that 
 the applicant commenced business on his own account as a 
 dispensing chemist before the passing of the Pharmacy Act, 
 June 30th, 1852, and that he was a desirable person to be 
 admitted as a member of the Pharmaceutical Society, accom- 
 panied by a statement of where he had served his apprentice- 
 ship or pupilage, might be ta*ken as a satisfactory certificate 
 to entitle him to be placed on the register of chemists and 
 druggists. 
 
 It was also proposed that those not in business on their 
 own account should be admitted for a limited time to a lenient 
 examination on which they might receive a pass certificate. 
 
 A special general meeting of the society was held on the 
 8th of December, 1852, Mr. Joseph Gifford, President, in the 
 chair, for the purpose of confirming or rejecting the foregoing 
 bye-laws. Their adoption was moved by Mr. Bell, who ex- 
 plained the grounds on which they were required to enable 
 the council to give effect to the resolutions passed at the pre- 
 vious meeting. Mr. Dickinson seconded the resolution, and 
 it was carried unanimously. 
 
 The position taken by Mr. Dickinson on this occasion 
 offered an. agreeable contrast to that which he had usually 
 occupied at meetings of the society. He now appeared as the 
 advocate of an important proposition emanating from the 
 council, and he warmly commended the liberal course they 
 were adopting with reference to the admission of members. 
 He expressed a hope that the society would ultimately com- 
 prise in its ranks all the respectable chemists and druggists in
 
 222 NEW BYE-LAWS CONFIRMED. 
 
 the kingdom ; but he would have been glad if the annual sub- 
 scription could have been dispensed with, and he hinted that 
 the society had no legal power to enforce payment of the sub- 
 scription by those who were once registered as pharmaceutical 
 chemists. He hoped, however, that the society would be sup- 
 ported, and that three important improvements would be in- 
 troduced ; first, the discontinuance of the annual subscription ; 
 secondly, the retrenchment of all needless expenditure in the 
 School of Pharmacy; and thirdly, the publication of trans- 
 actions by the society, under a publishing committee, with an 
 independent editor. 
 
 Had Mr. Dickinson continued temperately and consistently 
 to advocate these views, notwithstanding the fact that they 
 were in several respects opposed to those of the council, he 
 would probably have become the leader of a formidable oppo- 
 sition party ; but he appears to have very soon changed his 
 opinion with reference to the admission of members into the 
 society, and the liberal course of proceeding which he com- 
 mended at the meeting on the 8th of December, became the 
 subject of a long and bitter contention in which he repudiated 
 the validity of the bye-law the adoption of which he had 
 seconded. 
 
 The two new bye-laws having been confirmed by the 
 society, and also by the Secretary of State, afforded available 
 means for bringing a large number of chemists and druggists 
 and their assistants prospectively within the precincts of the 
 society ; but their formal admission could not be effected until 
 after the meeting of the society in May, 1853. 
 
 Mr. George Walter Smith, the Secretary of the society, 
 had been appointed Registrar under the Act, and his duties 
 were now coming into operation. 
 
 Dr. Pereira, who had resigned his duties as Lecturer on 
 Materia Medica, was requested by the council to accept the 
 appointment of Honorary Professor of Materia Medica to the 
 society, which he acceded to. He had previously transferred 
 a large number of his materia medica specimens from the 
 London Hospital to the Museum of the Pharmaceutical Society, 
 and they were allowed to remain there for his and the 
 society's use. 
 
 Mv. Bell, having induced the late William Allen, F.R.S., 
 while he was President of the society, to sit for his portrait
 
 SUPPLY OP MEDICINES TO EMIGRANT SHIPS. 223 
 
 to Mr. H. P. Briggs, R.A., and a very successful likeness 
 having been produced, which was sent by Mr. Bell for exhibi- 
 tion in the society's rooms, he now presented this valuable 
 painting to the society, to be suspended in the council-room 
 with a view to its forming the first of a series representing 
 distinguished Presidents and officers of the society. 
 
 In the early part of this year, 1852, the council being 
 desirous of extending the usefulness of the collection of books 
 which had been gradually accumulating in the library of the 
 society, decided to allow them to circulate among the 
 members and associates, under certain regulations and re- 
 strictions. 
 
 The subject of the adulteration of food and drugs was 
 brought prominently under the notice of the public about this 
 time, through a series of articles which appeared in the Lancet 
 and the Medical Times. The articles in the Lancet com- 
 menced in January, 1851, and purported to emanate from an 
 " Analytical Sanitary Commission ; " but it subsequently 
 appeared that they were chiefly from the pen of Dr. Hassall, 
 and in substance they have since been reproduced in Dr. 
 Hassall's work on " Adulterations." The articles in the 
 Medical Times commenced in January, 1852. 
 
 In these articles, unlike those published in the Pharmaceu- 
 tical Journal in 1843 by Mr. Richard Phillips, the names are 
 given of the parties from whom the substances analysed were 
 obtained. 
 
 A good deal of dissatisfaction had arisen among chemists 
 and druggists at some of the seaports in connection with the 
 supply of medicines to emigrant vessels. It had hitherto 
 been the general practice for medicines, together with other 
 stores required on board these vessels, to be supplied by 
 contract ; and it was found that very inferior and sometimes 
 worthless medicines were thus often provided. Her Majesty's 
 Land and Emigration Commissioners, who were responsible 
 for the carrying out of proper regulations, having received 
 numerous complaints of the bad quality of the medicines, 
 issued an order that they should in future be obtained from 
 Apothecaries' Hall. Chemists and druggists were thus 
 excluded from a branch of trade which some of them had 
 been in the habit of carrying on in a creditable manner and 
 with satisfaction to those who had employed them. The new
 
 224 SUDDEN DEATH 01? DE. PEKEIEA. 
 
 regulation was felt to be a stigma upon the body of chemists 
 and druggists, and deputations from the trade waited on the 
 Land and Emigration Commissioners to represent their view 
 of the case, in which it was suggested that there should be 
 inspectors appointed, capable of judging of the quality of the 
 medicines supplied. The Commissioners however, could not 
 undertake this responsibility ; and the question having been 
 referred to Professors Brande and Faraday for their opinion, 
 it was decided that the best safeguard for the interests of the 
 class of emigrants was to obtain the medicines from an ac- 
 credited establishment such as Apothecaries' Hall. 
 
 In the early period of the year 1853, the Pharmaceutical 
 Society sustained a great loss, and the medical and scientific 
 world a shock, by the sudden and melancholy death of Dr. 
 Pereira, who was carried off while still in the prime of life and 
 the full vigour of his mental faculties. This sad event, al- 
 though not immediately following, was indirectly caused by 
 an accident which happened to the Professor while pursuing an 
 investigation in his usual energetic way ; and it may be added 
 that the investigation was one arising from his connection 
 with the Pharmaceutical Society and its journal. A sub- 
 stance had made its appeai'ance in the drug market under 
 the name of " isinglass from Para," which, as it differed 
 entirely in its characters from any known varieties of true 
 isinglass, excited some curiosity. A sample of it was sent to 
 the Museum of the Pharmaceutical Society, and was described 
 and figured in the Pharmaceutical Journal, vol. xii. p. 343. 
 Pereira was endeavouring to ascertain the source of this 
 remarkable substance, which appeared to consist of the dried 
 ovaries of some large fish. Searching among specimens at 
 the College of Surgeons, and having occasion to descend a 
 winding stair to explore some of the treasures of the Hun- 
 teriaii Museum, he slipped when near the bottom, and falling 
 on to his knees ruptured the rectus femoris muscles of both 
 legs. This accident confined him to his room for some time, 
 but did not appear to have affected his general health. He 
 was still daily engaged in his usual literary occupations, and 
 was just then preparing a new edition of his great work on 
 materia medica. There was every prospect of his speedily 
 recovering from the effects of the accident, but he was still 
 confined to two rooms, and to locomotion in a wheel-chair.
 
 MEMOIR OF DE. PEREIRA. 225 
 
 la this comparatively helpless condition he was in the act of 
 transferring himself from the chair to his bed, when the 
 severe strain in doing so caused a rupture of one of the 
 vessels connected with the heart. Three medical men were 
 quickly in attendance ; but he knew from the first what the 
 fatal nature was of the mischief he had sustained, and de- 
 claring that nothing could be done for him, desired only to 
 be allowed to draw his last breath in quietness. And thus 
 within a few brief minutes the great Professor of Materia 
 Meclica passed from vigorous life to sudden death. 
 
 Jonathan Pereira, M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., was born on May 
 22nd, 1804. His preliminary education was not in accord- 
 ance with the position he was destined to occupy in after-life ; 
 his father, who was a London merchant, having been reduced 
 from affluence to comparatively straitened circumstances. At 
 fifteen years of age he was articled to Mr. Latham, a navy 
 surgeon. He passed through his student's career with suc- 
 cess, and obtained the vacancy which occurred in the office 
 of Apothecary at the Aldersgate Street Dispensary. To 
 gain this place he passed the examination for the licence of 
 the Society of Apothecaries, and in the nineteenth year of his 
 age was elected without opposition to the coveted post. Soon 
 after, he established a class of pupils, to whom he gave private 
 instruction preparatory to their examination. He was eminently 
 successful; and in furtherance of his object he published a 
 translation of the London Pharmacopoeia of 1824, with a 
 scientific description of the prepai'ations, their reactions and 
 decompositions. A little but invaluable work followed, called 
 " Selecta e Prtescriptis." Afterwards he published " A Manual 
 for the Use of Students," and " A General Table of Atomic 
 lumbers, with an Introduction to the Atomic Theory." On 
 June 3rd, 1825, he became a member of the College of Sur- 
 geons, and being appointed Lecturer on Chemistry at the 
 Aldersgate Dispensary, gave an introductory address on the 
 rise and progress of the science, which comprised a notice of 
 the latest discoveries. 
 
 In the winter of 1832 he became Professor of Materia Medica 
 in the New Medical School in Aldersgate Street, and at the 
 same period Lecturer on Chemistry at the London Hospital. 
 At the persuasion of Dr. Cummin, who was the editor of the 
 Medical Gazette, Pereira allowed his lectures to be published 
 
 Q
 
 226 PEREIRA'S GREAT WORK ON MATERIA MEDICA. 
 
 in that journal. They contributed greatly to raise his reputa- 
 tion abroad as well as in this country. 
 
 His class at the Aldersgate School became so numerous 
 that he deemed it expedient to build a new theatre, which he 
 did at an expense of about 700. His friends advised him 
 to pause before sacrificing so large a proportion of his income 
 (1000 a year) in a building in which he could have only a 
 temporary interest; but, without regard to minor considera- 
 tions, he completed the theatre. He was invited to join 
 St. Bartholomew's Hospital as Professor of Chemistry and 
 Materia Medica ; but the bye-laws requiring that all professor- 
 ships in other institutions should be relinquished, Mr. Pereira 
 could not accede to that arrangement. 
 
 Messrs. Longman were now desirous of launching the 
 " Elements of Materia Medica," the first volume of which 
 appeared in 1839 ; and the entire edition was sold before 
 the appearance of the second volume, in 1840. The second 
 edition of the work was published in 1842. 
 
 The prospect of a vacancy in the office of Assistant Phy- 
 sician to the London Hospital presented itself. In order to 
 become a candidate, it was necessary that he should be a 
 licentiate of the College of Physicians, and an examination 
 was about to take place in a week or ten days from the time 
 that the vacancy at the Hospital was made known. He waited 
 on the President of the College, Sir Henry Halford, to 
 ascertain the latest day on which he could be allowed to 
 present himself, and an indulgence of two or three days was 
 granted. He laboured night and day to refresh his memory 
 on the details of the various subjects; and he passed with 
 flying colours. His examiners declined to question him on 
 the subject of materia medica. He applied for a degree at 
 Erlangen, and received his diploma a few weeks after he had 
 become licentiate of the College of Physicians. 
 
 On March 3rd, 1841, he was elected Assistant Physician at 
 the London Hospital. He was appointed Examiner in Materia 
 Medica at the London University in the year 1839. 
 
 Prior to the opening of the School of Pharmacy in 
 Bloomsbury Square several Professors delivered introductory 
 lectures with a view of promoting the undertaking. On 
 March 30th, 1842, Dr. Pereira delivered one of these, and 
 selected for his subject, "The Modern Discoveries in Materia
 
 HIS CONNECTION WITH THE PHAKMACEUTICAL SOCIETY. 227 
 
 Medica." The completeness of the illustrations and the 
 style of the delivery made a great impression, and it was 
 recognised at once that the lecturer would be an invaluable 
 acquisition to the school, and that every effort must be made 
 to prevail on him to become one of its Professors. This plan 
 could not be immediately adopted, but in the months of 
 August and September he delivered two lectures, which 
 afterwards were greatly amplified and published as a 
 " Treatise on Food and Diet." Subsequently he gave several 
 lectures on " The Polarization of Light," a subject in which 
 he took a special interest. 
 
 In 1843 Dr. Pereira became Professor of Materia Medica 
 to the Pharmaceutical Society, and delivered his introductory 
 discourse in the month of September. His lectures were 
 unrivalled for the amount of information conveyed, and the 
 brilliance of the style in which they were delivered. His 
 large correspondence, his powers of original research, his 
 constant application of the microscope, and his unusual 
 facility in explanation, invested the subject with the deepest 
 interest. As a referee he was an inexhaustible source of 
 knowledge, and he was always ready to give farther informa- 
 tion at the close of his lecture to any inquiring student. His 
 time at this period was abundantly occupied in lecturing and 
 in his professional duties. In 1845 he was elected a Fellow 
 of the Eoyal College of Physicians, and almost immediately 
 afterwards he became a member of the Pharmacopoeia Com- 
 mittee of the College. As Curator of its Museum he dis- 
 covered some curious manuscripts relating to materia medica. 
 On resigning his office as Professor of Materia Medica at the 
 London Hospital, he transferred the most important specimens 
 of his museum, nearly 500 in number, to Bloomsbury Square. 
 These specimens afterwards became the property of the 
 society. He did not, however, cease to prosecute his re- 
 searches ; and fresh acquisitions continued to come in from 
 foreign correspondents and other sources. The list of his 
 separate communications was extraordinary, and he was a dili- 
 gent contributor to the pages of the Pharmaceutical Journal. 
 
 Dr. Pereira died on January 20th, 1853, aged 49. 
 
 To perpetuate his memory, a marble bust was placed in the 
 New College of the London Hospital, and a fund was raised 
 by subscription, with which a prize was established in the
 
 228 DEATH OP MR. WILLIAM INGE. 
 
 form of a medal, called the Pereira medal, to be awarded 
 annually by the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society to the 
 candidate who should succeed at a competitive examination 
 in the subject of materia medica. All candidates for this 
 prize are required to have been associates of the society, and 
 to have passed the major examination during the session in 
 which the competition takes place. 
 
 On the 26th of March, 1853, another of the original 
 members, a Councillor and late President, of the society, 
 Mr. William Ince, was carried off by death. Mr. Ince had 
 long occupied a prominent position as the representative of 
 one of the oldest and most celebrated of the pharmaceutical 
 establishments in London. He took an active part in the 
 formation of the Pharmaceutical Society, had been a member 
 of council from the commencement, was Vice-President of 
 the society during the official year 1849-50, and President in 
 1850-51. In early life Mr. Ince had to contend with the 
 difficulties which at that time stood in the way of the 
 acquirement by students of even an elementary knowledge of 
 the sciences appertaining to pharmacy. That he made some 
 progress during his apprenticeship in a country town, in the 
 acquirement of a knowledge of chemistry and other branches 
 of science, was due to a strong innate desire to rise above 
 mediocrity, and to the possession of a spirit of industry and 
 determination. 
 
 On coming to London to seek his fortune, he soon suc- 
 ceeded in getting into the house of Godfrey & Cooke, in 
 Southampton Street, Covent Garden, where he remained for 
 the rest of his life, and where he acquired a high reputation 
 for the qualities required in the successful management of a 
 first-class pharmaceutical establishment. Mr. Ince had never 
 been a man of strong health, and of late years he had 
 become much enfeebled. He died at his residence in Ken. 
 sington, in the 59th year of his age. 
 
 The Pharmacy Act, which passed in June, 1852, provided 
 that during a period of nearly twelve months the then 
 existing bye-laws of the Pharmaceutical Society should 
 remain in force, together with any new bye-laws that might 
 be formed and duly confirmed in the interim. Two new bye- 
 laws had already been brought into operation, and as the 
 time for holding the annual meeting in 1853 approached, it
 
 NEW BYE-LAWS CONFIRMATION OPPOSED. 229 
 
 was found that another was required for the purpose of 
 defining the method by which members residing more than 
 five miles from the General Post Office might vote for the 
 election of officers through the post. This was submitted 
 by the council to a special general meeting, held on the 
 6th of April, and having been confirmed there received final 
 confirmation by the Secretary of State. 
 
 The council were also, and had been for some time, 
 engaged in preparing the new code of bye-laws which was to 
 come into operation at the next anniversary meeting. While 
 performing this task it was found that Mr. Dickinson and his 
 friends were shifting their ground of opposition, or rather 
 that they were taking up new ground on which to oppose the 
 proceedings of the council. Hitherto the Dickinson party 
 had adopted the extreme liberal policy of desiring to bring 
 all existing chemists and druggists on to the register of 
 pharmaceutical chemists on easy terms, stating at the same 
 time that no person whose name had been once entered on the 
 register could be legally called upon to pay an annual sub- 
 scription as the condition on* which the name would be 
 retained there. It is obvious that if this had been sound 
 law, there would have been comparatively small inducement 
 for those who were registered to become members of the 
 society, and it would have been impossible to maintain the 
 institution in Bloomsbury Square in the form in which it had 
 hitherto existed ; but when it was found that it was doubtful 
 law, and therefore an unsafe ground to proceed upon, another 
 was discovered which was thought to be more tenable, 
 although less liberal in its nature. It was now asserted that 
 it was illegal to place any person on the register of pharma- 
 ceutical chemists after the passing of the Act, unless they 
 had previously been members of the society, or had passed 
 an examination as specified in the loth section of the Act. 
 
 As the new bye-laws recognised the legality of electing as 
 members, and therefore of placing on the register of pharma- 
 ceutical chemists, all those, about 800 in number, who had 
 been registered as " chemists and druggists certified to be 
 duly qualified for admission as members of the society," this 
 bye-law was opposed by the Dickinson party, first at a special 
 general meeting of the society held on the llth of May for 
 the purpose of confirming ifr, when there woi'e only four
 
 230 QUALIFIED CONFISCATION OF BYE-LAWS. 
 
 dissentients to the confirmation, and afterwards before the 
 Secretary of State, when the dissentients succeeded in inducing 
 the Minister, Lord Palmerston, to give only a qualified confir- 
 mation in the following terms : 
 
 " I hereby certify my confirmation and approval of the 
 annexed bye-laws, confirmed and approved at a special general 
 meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, held 
 on the llth ult., for the space of one year from this date, and 
 subject to the decision of a court of law upon the legal ques- 
 tions which have arisen or may arise in reference to any of 
 them. PALMEBSTON." 
 
 " Wliiteliall, Vltli June, 1853." 
 
 The process of electing members under the new bye-laws 
 now proceeded rapidly, and among the names added to the 
 register were those of John Abraham, William Murdock, and 
 John Wright. But the legality of this proceeding was soon 
 challenged by Mr. Dickinson. 
 
 On the 24th of November, 1853, in the Court of Queen's 
 Bench, Sir Fitzroy Kelly (wi^h whom was Mr. H. Lloyd) 
 moved for a rule calling upon the Registrar of the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society to show cause why a mandamus, should not 
 issue commanding him to remove the names of certain parties, 
 namely, those above given, from the register of the society. 
 This was the commencement of a long course of litigation, 
 the details of which, being of a technical nature, would be 
 uninteresting and difficult of comprehension. The whole 
 gist of the case is admirably summarized by Lord Campbell, 
 before whom it was heard, in the judgment he delivered on 
 the 26th of January 1855, as follows : 
 
 " The question raised by the special verdict is, whether the 
 registrar did his duty in placing on the register of pharma- 
 ceutical chemists, made in November, 1853, the names of 
 William Murdock and John Abraham ? The name of John 
 Wright is also mentioned on the record ; but as his title to be 
 registered is the same as John Abraham's, he need not be 
 further noticed. It is found that neither Murdoch nor Abra- 
 ham were members of the Pharmaceutical Society on the 30th 
 of June, 1853, when the Act of Parliament of the 15th and 
 16th of Victoria, chapter 56, passed, nor had either of them 
 been examined under that Act ; but each was in business on. 
 his own account as a chemist Murdoch before the 18th of
 
 LOKD CAMPBELL'S JUDGMENT, ON THE APPEAL. 231 
 
 Januaiy, 1843, the date of the charter of incorporation, and 
 Abraham before the 30th of June, 1852, the date of the pass- 
 ing of the Act above mentioned. Each had obtained a certifi- 
 cate of this fact and of being qualified for admission as a mem- 
 ber of the Pharmaceutical Society. Thereupon Murdoch's 
 certificate was approved by the council, and he was elected a 
 member of the society ; and Abraham, having been registered 
 as certified and qualified for admission according to certain 
 bye-laws made in November, 1852, was afterwards elected a 
 member of the Pharmaceutical Society, under bye-laws made 
 in May, 1853. Both names were afterwards placed on the 
 register of pharmaceutical chemists of November, 1853, 
 above mentioned. Each was registered on the ground that 
 he was a member of the society. The title of each to be a 
 member is derived in part from the charter, and in part from 
 the bye-laws, and the matter to be decided, is, whether the 
 title of each was valid ? By the charter, the society consisted 
 of members of four classes : first, those who were chemists on 
 their own account at the date of the charter ; secondly, those 
 who should have been examined as the council should have 
 deemed proper ; thirdly, those who should have been certified 
 to be duly qualified for admission ; and, fourthly, those who 
 should be elected as Superintendents by the council. Murdoch 
 claimed to be in the first class, that is, a chemist on his own 
 account at the date of the charter ; Abraham claimed to be 
 in the third class, that is, to have been certified to be duly 
 qualified for admission ; and as the charter is declared by 
 the first section of the Act to be in full force, except such 
 parts as are so varied and repealed thereby, and as the provi- 
 sions of the charter relating to these two classes of members 
 are not varied or repealed by the Act, that part of the title of 
 each claimant which depends on the charter is made good. 
 The Legislature intended an examination to be, in general, the 
 condition on which the members were to be admitted ; but 
 some other classes had been made admissible by the charter 
 to prevent the displacement of existing interests, and the 
 admissibility of the same classes was continued by the Act on 
 the same principle, leaving the extent to which it should be 
 carried to be regulated by bye-laws, to be made under proper 
 precautions. The remainder of the title of each of these 
 claimants depended on the bye-laws, Murdoch claiming under
 
 232 
 
 the bye-laws made tinder the charter before the statute, and 
 Abraham claiming under bye-laws made after the statute. 
 The bye-laws under which Murdoch claims, are clear from any 
 doubt. They were valid according to the charter, and their 
 validity was expressly continued by the second section of the 
 Act, and under them Murdoch was admitted as a member, 
 therefore his registration was right ; the bye-laws under 
 which Abraham was admitted as a person certified to be duly 
 qualified for admission, were -made after the passing of the 
 Act, that is, in November, 1852, and May, 1853, and their 
 validity depends on Section 2 of the Act, empowering the 
 council of the society to alter the bye-laws of the society 
 made under the charter, and to make new bye-laws for the 
 purposes contemplated by the charter or the Act, subject to 
 the proviso that the new bye-laws and the altered bye-laws 
 should be confirmed by a special general meeting and the 
 Secretary of State, and subject to the proviso that the existing 
 bye-laws should continue in force until the annual meeting 
 of May, 1853. As the bye-laws under which Abraham 
 claimed were new bye-laws, and not alterations of the 
 existing bye-laws, and as they were duly made and confirmed, 
 we think they were valid under the powers granted by the 
 Act, and were not restricted by the proviso continuing the 
 existing bye-laws until the annual meeting in 1853. Under 
 these Abraham is found to have been duly admitted. Thus 
 he also became a member of the society, and, if a member, 
 therefore entitled to be registered; for the Act makes no 
 distinction between different classes of members in respect of 
 registration, the registrar being bound by Section 5 from 
 time to time to make a complete register of all persons being 
 members of the society, that is, members at the time the 
 register is made. The meaning of the term ' Pharmaceutical 
 Chemist ' was the subject of some discussion, and the Act does 
 not give any definition of it. The Oth section implies that a 
 pharmaceutical chemist is a generic term under which u 
 member of the society is comprised as a species. The 10th 
 section implies that a person who has passed his 'examination 
 without being elected a member is another species, and these 
 two species or classes are expressly declared by the Act to be 
 entitled to be on the register of pharmaceutical chemists, any 
 person not on that register being prohibited by the Act from
 
 FURTHER LITIGATION AND ITS EFFKCT. 233 
 
 using the title either of pharmaceutical chemist or member 
 of the society. To this extent the statute is clear, and this 
 is sufficient for the decision of the present case. For these 
 reasons we think that' the registrar is shown by the verdict 
 to have done his duty, and judgment therefore must be for 
 the defendant." 
 
 It might be thought that this very lucid explanation of the 
 case, together -with the decisive judgment pronounced by so 
 eminent a judge, would have been sufficient to satisfy the in- 
 stigators of the pi'oceedings and put a stop to farther litiga- 
 tion and useless expense. Reasonable men were asking, what 
 is the object of all this contention ? Is it a case in which a 
 society of men who have acquired wealth and power, conferred 
 upon them for public purposes, are trying to keep all the 
 benefits of their position to themselves, and to exclude those 
 of their brethren who are equally qualified with them from 
 participating in benefits intended for the common good ? Is 
 the Pharmaceutical Society a monopoly, and Dickinson the 
 advocate of popular rights ? Or, is it a case in which the 
 society is trying to perpetuate ignorance, while Dickinson 
 appears as the promoter of education, and the advocate of 
 rapid advancement in professional qualification ? Who are 
 these men whose names are objected to ; are they not men of 
 equal standing in every respect with the best members of the 
 society ? These were questions in the mouths of most of 
 those who took an interest in the subject ; and as the only pos- 
 sible answers appeared to leave no excuse for renewing the 
 contest by carrying the case to a higher court, it was hoped 
 that those whose attention had been for some time almost ex- 
 clusively engrossed with the details of an unprofitable dispute, 
 might now unite in furthering more worthy objects. But, 
 alas for human nature ! There was one man who was dis- 
 satisfied with the decision of the Court of Queen's Bench, and 
 who, having two or three avowed, and an unknown number 
 of nameless abettors, signified his intention of carrying the 
 case to a Court of Appeal. 
 
 All this harassing litigation produced, as might be supposed, 
 a very prejudicial influence on the advancement of the society. 
 It was repeatedly repi'esented by the best friends of the 
 association that a society divided against itself could not 
 make satisfactory progress. All the opposition at this time
 
 234 PRONUNCIATION OF THE WORD PHARMACEUTICAL. 
 
 experienced by the Pharmaceutical Society originated with 
 and was supported by its own members, and the ill effects of 
 this opposition were greatly enhanced by the mystery in which 
 the names and numbers of the opposing parties were enshrined, 
 and the difficulty experienced by most persons, who had not 
 carefully studied the subject, in understanding the real merits 
 of the questions in dispute. 
 
 While the case was being argued before Lord Campbell, on 
 the 22nd of June, 1854, an interesting discussion arose with 
 reference to the pronunciation of the word " pharmaceutical," 
 which was reported as follows : 
 
 Lord Campbell said there appeared to be a vexed question 
 which he would like to have decided, namely, the proper pro- 
 nunciation of the word "pharmaceutical," for some of the 
 gentlemen pronounced the " c " in the word soft, while others 
 pronounced it hard. He would ask the Attorney- General what 
 he said it was. 
 
 The Attorney- General said, in his opinion it was soft. It 
 no doubt came from the Greek ; but when it became English 
 it was subject to the English rules. He had been cautioned 
 by some of his learned friends as to the mode of pronouncing it. 
 
 Sir Fitzroy Kelly said, of course he should bow to the 
 opinion of his learned friends, who were so much superior to 
 him in learning as in everything else. 
 
 The Attorney- General said, that was rather too bad, as Sir 
 Fitzroy Kelly had himself cautioned him. 
 
 Sir Fitzroy Kelly said, whatever his Lordship should say it 
 was, that would be the mode to be adopted. 
 
 Lord Campbell. Then let it be soft. Be it so. 
 
 Although suffering under the depression caused by internal 
 dissension, the society continued to maintain its position, to 
 promote the furtherance of its objects, and to grow in public 
 estimation. It had already established a character for persis- 
 tently confining its attention to its own proper business, that 
 of advancing the study and improving the practice of phar- 
 macy, and it was thus gaining confidence among members of 
 the medical profession and others interested in the attainment 
 of those objects. If any doubt or suspicion had at any time 
 existed among members of the higher grade of medical men, 
 that the cultivation of science by chemists and druggists 
 might cause them to despise the shop and seek a professional
 
 THE PHARMACOPOEIA. THE SOCIETY'S AID REQUIEED. 235 
 
 character by following in the footsteps of the apothecaries of 
 old, ten years' experience had tended to allay such apprehen- 
 sions. It was seen that pharmacy afforded a sufficiently wide 
 and honourable field for the exercise of talents and the appli- 
 cation of much scientific knowledge ; and as pharmacists con- 
 tinued to cultivate this field, medical men, who had previously 
 occupied some of the ground, showed a disposition to resign 
 merely pharmaceutical duties to those' to whom they more 
 legitimately belonged. 
 
 Hitherto pharmacists as such had never ostensibly taken 
 part in the preparation of the Pharmacopoeia. The editor of 
 the last two editions of the London Pharmacopoeia, it is true, 
 had originally been a chemist and druggist, and his practical 
 acquaintance with pharmacy was no doubt the principal cause 
 of his having been selected for the appointment he so credit- 
 ably filled ; but Mr. Phillips, when he undertook the duty of 
 editing the Pharmacopoeia, had long ceased to be engaged in 
 the practice of pharmacy ; and he was perhaps better known 
 for his general scientific and literary attainments than for 
 special pharmaceutical knowledge. Since the death of Richard 
 Phillips, in 1851, no one had appeared to take his place; but 
 he had left, in the Pharmacopoeia itself, a permanent record of 
 the value of services which had been obtained from one who 
 had been educated as a practical pharmacist. 
 
 The College of Physicians was now again looking forward 
 to the preparation of a new edition of the Pharmacopoeia ; and 
 with the view of obtaining the requisite assistance, applica- 
 tion was made to the Pharmaceutical Society. After some 
 correspondence on the subject, it was arranged that the society 
 should appoint a committee of their members, from whom in- 
 formation on questions relating to 'the Pharmacopoeia might be 
 obtained by the Pharmacopoeia Committee of the College of 
 Physicians. It was suggested by the college that their com- 
 munications should be addressed to the Chairman of the 
 Pharmacopoeia Committee of the Pharmaceutical Society, who 
 also should be requested to attend at meetings of the Phar- 
 macopoeia Committee of the College of Physicians when they 
 might require his assistance. 
 
 On the 2nd of August, 1854, the Council of the Pharmaceu- 
 tical Society appointed as a Pharmacopoeia Committee the 
 whole of the members of their board ; and at the same time it
 
 236 COMMITTEE TO ACT WITH COLLEGE OP PHYSICIANS. 
 
 was resolved that there should be a working sub-committee 
 consisting of not less than seven members, with power to 
 request assistance from time to time from sucli members of 
 the society as might be disposed to promote the object in view. 
 
 The sub-committee, which was appointed on the 17th of 
 August, consisted of Henry Deane, Chairman, Jacob Bell, 
 J. T. Davenport, T. 1ST. R. Morson, Peter Squire, William 
 Hooper, and Felix R. Garden. To this sub-committee Pro- 
 fessor Redwood was appointed Secretary. Messrs. Sandford, 
 Waugh, Herring, and Hills were afterwards, at different times, 
 added to the committee. 
 
 It was resolved that it be the duty of the sub-committee to 
 consider and report upon any proposed alterations referred 
 to them by the Pharmacopoeia Committee of the College of 
 Physicians, and also to collect information respecting drugs 
 and preparations not in the Pharmacopoaia, which were in 
 use in private practice, together with improved processes or 
 formulae to which it might be considered desirable to invite 
 the attention of the college. 
 
 A printed list was prepared of all the materia medica and 
 preparations contained in the London, Edinburgh, and Dublin 
 Pharmaeopaeias, for circulation among the members of the 
 society. This list was extracted, by permission, from the very 
 useful book which had been published by Mr. Squire, entitled, 
 " The Three Pharmacopoeias," and 1500 copies of it were 
 circulated. It was sent out accompanied with the following 
 letter : 
 
 " PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN, 
 
 " 17, BLOOMSBURY SQUARE, February, 18oo. 
 
 " The Pharmacopoeia Committee of the Royal College of 
 Physicians having been in communication Avith the Council of 
 the Pharmaceutical Society on the subject of the Pharma- 
 copoeia, a committee of the society has been appointed to 
 co-operate in the revision of the work. 
 
 " The following list has therefore been prepared for circula- 
 tion, with a view of obtaining practical information. 
 
 " The Pharmacopoeia Committee of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society request your attention to the same, and will thank you 
 to send at your earliest convenience answers to tho following 
 questions :
 
 PROCEEDINGS OP THE PHARMACOPOEIA COMMITTEE. 237 
 
 " 1. Are there any preparations or articles of materia medica 
 used in your neighbourhood that are not contained in the 
 accompanying list ? If so, please to add them. 
 
 "2. Be so good as to prefix letters to each of the articles, 
 indicating the frequency of their use, or otherwise, as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 R. Rarely. 
 
 V. R. Very rarely. 
 
 N. Never. 
 
 F. Frequently. 
 
 V. F. Very frequently. 
 
 " 3. Do you find difficulty or confusion to arise from the 
 nomenclature of the present Pharmacopoeia ? If so, name 
 the instances. Signed, "HENRY DEANE, Chairman." 
 
 The carrying out of the method thus adopted by the 
 committee for obtaining information necessarily occupied a 
 good deal of time. A large number of the printed lists of 
 materia medica, which had been sent to members of the 
 society in every part of the country, were returned with 
 marks attached to many of the articles in accordance with the 
 desire which had been expressed ; but, with this exception, 
 very little information was elicited through the circulation of 
 the lists. The marked lists were collated, and it was found 
 that many of the articles in the Pharmacopoaia were so rarely 
 used in medical practice that they might without any disad- 
 vantage be omitted. The most important work, however, 
 which had to be performed, namely that of suggesting altera- 
 tions in the processes described in the Pharmacopoeia, was 
 left almost entirely in the hands of the working committee. 
 
 On the 2nd of April, 1856, the Pharmacopoeia Committee 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society presented their first report to 
 the College of Physicians. They described the steps they 
 had taken for putting themselves in communication with 
 practical pharmacists in various parts of the country, with 
 the view of ascertaining what medicines were used in medical 
 practice. While this process was still in operation they had 
 commenced a review of the alphabetical list of the articles 
 described in the Pharmacopoeia and had recorded their 
 opinions on some of those contained in the early part of the 
 list, which they proceeded to bring under notice. They 
 suggested the recognition in the Pharmacopoeia of acetic acid
 
 238 SOME GOOD WORK DONE. 
 
 in three different states with regard to strength, namely, 
 those which were subsequently adopted and are still retained 
 in the British Pharmacopoeia. They suggested also that the 
 diluted mineral acids, namely, hydrochloric, nitric, phos- 
 phoric, and sulphuric, should be of one uniform strength. 
 It was at first thought that equal volumes of these diluted 
 acids should contain the same quantity of the real or of the 
 anhydrous acids ; but this opinion was afterwards modified 
 in favour of the suggestion of Mr. Peter Squire, that they 
 should all have the same neutralizing power. Several 
 articles the names of which came into the early part of the 
 alphabetical list were recommended to be introduced into the 
 Pharmacopoeia, among which were acetic ether, chloric ether, 
 oxide of antimony, and oxide of silver. 
 
 The committee having thus given evidence that they were 
 actively carrying out the wishes of the College of Physicians, 
 continued to work assiduously in the same direction. They 
 issued another circular to members of the society throughout 
 the country, asking for information and suggestions with 
 reference to the following preparations, the introduction of 
 which into the Pharmacopoeia had been suggested ; namely, 
 benzoate of ammonia, phosphate of ammonia, iron alum, 
 citrate of iron and quinine, jalapine, a blistering fluid, 
 sedative solution of opium, and fluid extract of taraxacum. 
 
 Several of the members of the committee were active 
 workers, who undertook the practical investigation of sub- 
 jects that came under discussion, and some valuable results 
 were thus obtained which deserved greater publicity than 
 was accorded to them. Of course differences of opinion 
 frequently arose, and conclusions which had been arrived at 
 were sometimes reversed when the subjects were reviewed 
 and new light thrown upon them. Those only who have 
 had occasion to discuss the details of pharmaceutical pro- 
 cesses with persons who profess to be familiar with them, 
 can fully appreciate the difficulty of obtaining a concurrence 
 of opinion even in a small committee. The materials operated 
 upon in such processes, and the products obtained, are often 
 so variable and indefinite in composition and properties that 
 it is difficult to form a judgment founded on any fixed and 
 reliable principles. 
 
 The proceedings of this committee, of which there were
 
 PHYTOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL DISCUSSION CLUBS. 239 
 
 frequent meetings, extended over a period of six years, 
 during part of which time official communication was kept 
 up with the College of Physicians ; but on the passing of the 
 Medical Act of 1858 the duty of preparing a British Pharma- 
 copoeia which should supersede the three Pharmacopoeias 
 previously in use and having authority in England, Scotland, 
 and Ireland, having been conferred upon the Medical Council, 
 the Pharmaceutical Society was requested to keep up its 
 Pharmacopoeia Committee in connection with the Pharma- 
 copoeia Committee of the Medical Council. This latter part 
 of its proceedings will come under notice further on. 
 
 The Pharmaceutical Society was fortunate in having had 
 so favourable an opportunity as the appointment and opera- 
 tions of the Pharmacopoeia Committee afforded for proving 
 t'o the outside world, as well as to its own members, that 
 notwithstanding the weakening influence of internal dissen- 
 sion the society as a body continued to enjoy the confidence 
 of the highest medical authorities. 
 
 It is satisfactory also to be able to record the rise and 
 active operations, during this gloomy period of our history, 
 of an association, mostly of associates and junior members of 
 the society, who styled themselves the Phytological Club of 
 the Pharmaceutical Society, and whose object was the exten- 
 sion of the study and application of the science of Botany. 
 Professor Bentley was the president of this useful little 
 association, which was founded in 1853 and was kept up 
 until 1860. 
 
 Another association having a similar constitution, but the 
 object of which was the encouragement of the study of 
 chemistry and its allied sciences, was established in 1858 
 under the title of the Chemical Discussion Association of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society. Professor Redwood was president of 
 this association, which continued in active operation until 1866. 
 
 Having thus adverted to some of the favourable aspects 
 which the progress of pharmacy at this time presented, we 
 must return to the narrative of the law proceedings that 
 were still pending. 
 
 The judgment delivered by Lord Campbell in the Court of 
 Queen's Bench having been appealed against, as already inti- 
 mated, the case came on for hearing before the Judges in the 
 Exchequer Chamber on the 24th of April, 1855, when an
 
 210 JUDGMENT OF EXCHEQUER COURT ON BYB-LA.WS. 
 
 application was made for an adjournment until the next sitting, 
 and this was granted ; but while it was under consideration a 
 discussion took place again on the pronunciation of the word 
 pharmaceutical, when the following remarks were made : 
 
 Lord Chief Justice Jervis. Why do you call it the Pharma- 
 sutical Society ? 
 
 Sir Fitzroy Kelly. There was a discussion on that point 
 in the Court of Queen's Bench, as to the question of philology. 
 Their Lordships were unanimously of opinion that it was to 
 be called Pharmaszttical. 
 
 Lord Chief Justice Jervis. I thought it was always known 
 as lieu. 
 
 Sir Fitzroy Kelly. There was a great difference of opinion 
 at the bar ; but the Bench as usual prevailed, and it is Phar- 
 maszttical now under authority. 
 
 Lord Chief Justice Jervis. Then it is decided in the Court 
 of Queen's Bench that it is ceu. 
 
 Mr. Baron ParJce. It is called Cicero, but in the Greek it 
 is Kikero. 
 
 Sir Fitzroy Kelly. That is not one of the points in error 
 on which we ask your Lordship's judgment. 
 
 The case was then allowed to stand over until the 26th of 
 May, when it was further adjourned to the 30th of May, 1855, 
 on which day it was finally decided in a full court before the 
 following judges : 
 
 Lord Chief Justice Jervis, Lord Chief Baron Pollock, Mr, 
 Baron Alderson, Mr. Justice Maule, Mr. Justice Cresswell, 
 Mr. Baron Platt, Mr. Baron Martin, and Mr. Justice Crowder, 
 each of whom delivered his judgment at length. It is suf- 
 ficient here to say that the decision was unanimous, the eight 
 judges affirming the judgment of the Court of Queen's Bench.* 
 
 After this decision the bye-laws of the society were con- 
 firmed by Sir George Grey, Secretary of State, in the follow- 
 ing terms, which were attached to a printed copy of the 
 bye-laws : 
 
 " I hereby certify my confirmation and approval of the 
 annexed bye-laws of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great 
 Britain. G. GREY." 
 
 " Whitehall, June, 1855." 
 
 * For a fall report of the judgments see Pharm. Journ., vol. xv. p. 5.
 
 EXTENSION OP THE SOCIETY ANTICIPATED. 241 
 
 There was very little anxiety or excitement manifested on 
 the occasion of this concluding trial. So confident were 
 those members who had watched the proceedings as to the 
 final issue, that in anticipation of the result they were specu- 
 lating on the best means of providing for an enlarged sphere 
 of action of the society. At the anniversary meeting held on 
 the 15th of May, the President, Mr. Henry Deane, suggested 
 the purchase of a freehold building to comprise within its 
 walls all the requisites for carrying on the educational and 
 other business of the society in a manner consistent with the 
 importance which the institution was assuming. He esti- 
 mated the cost at not less than 15,000, of which he thought 
 a portion, probably 5000, might be raised by a voluntary 
 subscription, while the remaining 10,000 might be raised on 
 the principle of a tontine in shares of 5 or 10, for which 
 the society should guarantee four per cent, interest, equal to a 
 rental of 400. This was obviously a question not calling 
 for immediate action, and it was left for consideration. 
 
 One of the duties which the society, through its registrar, 
 was required by the Pharmacy Act to perform, was that of 
 preparing and maintaining a complete list of its members 
 and as many who had been admitted into the society had 
 ceased to comply with the terms of membership, it became 
 necessary to ascertain whether and on what grounds the 
 names of such were to be omitted from the list. In doing 
 this about 600 letters were sent to defaulters, and the result 
 of these applications afforded evidence of the vicissitudes 
 occurring among this class of the population within a period 
 of ten years. About two-thirds of those to whom application 
 was thus made were found to have disappeared, some from 
 death, some from emigration, retirement from the business, 
 or other cause. 
 
 A corrected list of members and associates was ordered to 
 be published in January, 1856, and another with further 
 corrections in the month of July following, and also in the 
 same month in each future year. 
 
 It was the duty of the society to protect the interests of 
 registered pharmaceutical chemists by enforcing the pro- 
 visions of the Act which prohibited the use of certain titles 
 by unregistered persons, and they had occasion to exercise 
 the power vested in them with respect to two chemists and
 
 242 CASES OP CRIMINAL POISONING. 
 
 druggists who had issued labels on which, was engraved a 
 copy, in miniature, of the certificate of membership, contain- 
 ing the words, " Members of the Pharmaceutical Society of 
 Great Britain." The parties had never been registered as 
 pharmaceutical chemists, and were not members of the so- 
 ciety ; they were therefore liable to a penal action ; but ample 
 apology being offered, ulterior proceedings were allowed to 
 drop. 
 
 In 1855 and following year, a succession of cases of 
 criminal poisoning occurred which greatly agitated the public 
 mind, and forcibly called attention to the unguarded manner 
 in which poisons were supplied to those who desired to use 
 them, whether legitimately or otherwise. 
 
 In " the slow poisoning case at Burdon," the death of a 
 lady, Mrs. Wooler, appeared to have been caused by long- 
 continued administration of small doses of arsenic ; but the 
 attempt to prove by whom or how the administration had 
 been effected, failed. The lady had been an invalid, and 
 under medical treatment, for some time before suspicions of 
 poisoning were entertained, and even then no decisive opinion 
 was formed until the death of the patient, which took place 
 about seven weeks after the suspicions symptoms first ap- 
 peared. The medical evidence was distinctly that death was 
 caused by arsenic. This poison was found in the urine before 
 death, and in various parts of the body after death. It was 
 not in the medicines, nor could it be traced to the food. 
 Everything taken by the patient was administered by those 
 in attendance, and principally by the husband and a female 
 attendant. Suspicion finally fell on the husband, who was 
 put on his trial, but acquitted by direction of the jndge. This 
 case occurred in June, 1855. 
 
 Another case of poisoning that caused considerable sen^ 
 sation occurred in February, 1856. The body of Mr. John 
 Sadlier, late M.P. for Sligo, was found on Hampstead Heath, 
 with evidence of death having been caused by poisoning with 
 essential oil of almonds. A bottle that had contained the 
 poison was found by the side of the deceased. There were 
 also papers found from which it was evident that this was a 
 case of suicide. 
 
 The trial and conviction of Palmer for poisoning his friend 
 Cook with strychnia followed soon after, and excited a much
 
 TRIAL OF PALMER FOR POISONING. 243 
 
 greater amount of public interest than the preceding cases. 
 Both Palmer and Cook had been largely engaged in betting 
 transactions, and there were reasons why the former might 
 have wished to get rid of his friend. He had previously, it 
 appeared, got rid of his wife by similar means. The evidence 
 went to show that Cook had been first treated with antimony, 
 by which he was greatly debilitated, and that finally he was 
 killed with strychnia. All the symptoms attending the death 
 were those of poisoning with strychnia, but this poison was 
 not found in the body. Antimony was found, but this could 
 not be shown to have been the cause of death. The scientific 
 evidence was clearly at fault, and this defect was turned to 
 account by the witnesses for the defence. The prisoner was 
 convicted on the medical and circumstantial evidence, the 
 judge passing some severe strictures on the character of the 
 scientific evidence, which he represented as partaking more 
 of the nature of professional advocacy than of the impartiality 
 that ought to characterize the evidence of witnesses in a 
 court of justice. 
 
 The failure in this case to prove by chemical means the 
 presence of strychnia, although it was obvious from collateral 
 circumstances that repeated doses had been administered 
 shortly before death, tended to shake the confidence of the 
 public in chemical analysis. 
 
 A controversy afterwards arose as to whether strychnia 
 disappeared as such when it exerted its poisonous action in a 
 living body, or whether it remained after death, and could 
 with certainty be detected by chemical reagents. The dis- 
 cussion which took place, although unduly acrimonious, 
 cleared up much that was previously doubtful, and con- 
 tributed to place the detection of strychnia among processes 
 of extreme delicacy and practical certainty. 
 
 Rarely if ever has a case of poisoning excited so intense 
 and wide-spread an interest as was manifested in connection 
 with Palmer's trial.* Although at the time it conferred no 
 honour upon the professors of chemistry, it was not without 
 its influence upon the practice of their profession; and it 
 probably tended also to exert an ulterior influence upon the 
 practice of pharmacy. 
 
 * For details of the case see Pharm. Journ., vol. xvi., p. 5.
 
 244 LORD CAMPBELL ON FREQUENCY OP POISONING. 
 
 The frequent occurrence of cases of poisoning drew 
 serious attention to the subject. The crime had become not 
 only common, but to a certain extent scientific. While science 
 was increasing the facilities for the detection of poisons, the 
 diffusion of such knowledge, and especially public discussions, 
 such, as had recently occurred, enabled the criminal to make 
 choice of the means least easily discovered. The extension of 
 this knowledge, moreover, imposed great responsibility upon 
 those who dealt in poisonous substances. 
 
 Again another case. In July, 1856, William Dove, of Leeds, 
 was put on his trial at York, and convicted of poisoning his 
 wife with strychnia. The symptoms were marked and charac- 
 teristic, leaving no doubt as to the cause of death, while it 
 was equally evident by whom the poison had been adminis- 
 tered. The evidence in Palmer's case appeared to have in- 
 duced a belief by the culprit that strychnia could not be 
 easily detected ; but the chemists in this case were enabled 
 to obtain satisfactory proof of the presence of the poison in 
 the dead body. 
 
 A sense of alarm pervaded the public mind, which called 
 for the application of some reassuring measure of protection 
 against accidental or criminal poisoning. 
 
 On the 10th of July, 1856, Lord Campbell, in the House of 
 Lords, said he rose to put a question to his noble and learned 
 friend on the woolsack upon a subject of great importance. 
 He would not then advert to the facts which had been dis- 
 closed during the trial of a recent case which had occupied 
 the attention of all Europe ; but he was shocked to say that 
 for several years past the crime of poisoning had become re- 
 markably common, and in his opinion some new law was im- 
 peratively required for the regulation of the sale of poisons. 
 Many crimes of that kind had been caused by the institu- 
 tion of burial societies, the members of which had, in several 
 instances, been proved to be accessory to the death of their 
 own offspring. Another class of those cases arose out of the 
 present system of life insurance. Persons caused insurances 
 to be effected on the lives of others in whom they had really 
 no interest whatever, with the premeditated intention of com- 
 mitting murder ; and he knew from his own experience that 
 murder was frequently committed in consummation of that 
 intention. Until lately no restriction whatever had been
 
 THE LORD CHANCELLOR'S EXPLANATION. 245 
 
 placed upon the sale of poisons ; it was possible to purchase 
 arsenic as easily as Epsom salts, and the consequence was that 
 cases of poisoning by arsenic became alarmingly common, 
 especially in Essex and Norfolk. By a Bill introduced by the 
 Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, a check had been put upon the 
 sale of arsenic. That poison was now therefore out of fashion, 
 but another poison, nux vomica, had taken its place. Any 
 one might go to any chemist in England, and buy a penny- 
 worth of nux vomica by merely stating that he intended to 
 use it for poisoning rats. Nux vomica, although not as 
 powerful as strychnia, produced the same fatal effects ; but 
 even strychnia might easily be obtained. In some places 
 people were not allowed to bathe except with a rope round 
 their waists. That was carrying precaution to an extreme, 
 but there certainly ought to be some restraint placed upon 
 the sale of poisons. 
 
 The Lord Chancellor said the result of the investigation 
 entered into by the Government five years ago was, that the 
 measure then introduced was confined to arsenic. He under- 
 stood that difficulties of a serious nature presented them- 
 selves in defining the different sorts of poisons; but he could 
 not but think that a number of other poisons might be put in 
 the same category as arsenic. He knew, however, it was the 
 opinion of one of the most eminent medical men in London, 
 that a great deal of mischief might be done by publishing the 
 fact that there were seventeen or eighteen other articles quite 
 as deadly as arsenic. He was informed that his right honour- 
 able friend Sir G. Grey had promised to give the subject his 
 best consideration during the recess. 
 
 The question of legislation against poisoning became a chief 
 topic of the press, and every imaginable shade of opinion was 
 expressed. While this was being publicly discussed, there 
 was another important matter in a more advanced state for 
 legislation, which also affected the interests of pharmacy. 
 
 The means adopted by the Lancet, in 1851, for directing 
 public attention to the adulteration of food and drugs through 
 the publication of a series of reports in which the results of 
 the analyses of various articles were given, together with the 
 names of the tradesmen from whom they were obtained, led to 
 the appointment of a committee of the House of Commons for 
 the further investigation of the subject. This committee, of
 
 246 PAELIAMENTAKY COMMITTEE ON ADULTEKATIONS. 
 
 which Mr. Scholefield was chairman, commenced its sittings 
 in July, 1855, and after examining a great number of wit- 
 nesses, comprising men of various grades of scientific attain- 
 ment, as well as men whose practical knowledge as dealers 
 pointed them out as capable of giving valuable information, 
 they reported the results of their inquiry to the House in 
 July, 1856. 
 
 The evidence put before the committee was of a very mixed 
 character, and as some of the witnesses appeared to speak 
 from hearsay knowledge or from what they had picked up 
 from books, which notoriously repeat each other and thus per- 
 petuate statements which have long ceased to represent exist- 
 ing facts, there was a great tendency to exaggeration. There 
 was also generally a want of the discriminating distinction 
 which ought to be observed between impurities and adulter- 
 ations, the former being often necessarily present in articles 
 which are produced at prices which alone admit of their being 
 used for certain purposes where the impurities are unobjec- 
 tionable or of no material importance. 
 
 The council of the Pharmaceutical Society, in their report 
 for 1856, observe with reference to the proceedings of this 
 committee : 
 
 " The appointment of a parliamentary committee to inves- 
 tigate the adulteration of food and drugs has brought promi- 
 nently under the notice of the public many fraudulent prac- 
 tices, as well as various imperfections in the quality of com- 
 modities arising from accident or negligence. The attention 
 of the society has always been directed to these abuses ; and 
 examples of impurity, with the means of detection when 
 practicable, have been among the regular subjects of discus- 
 sion at the Pharmaceutical meetings. A considerable improve- 
 ment has taken place in the quality of drugs and chemicals 
 in consequence of these efforts of the society, a circumstance 
 overlooked by most of the witnesses before the parliamentary 
 committee. The sweeping and indiscriminate charges which 
 have been brought against the entire body of chemists, and ex- 
 tensively circulated by the press, have caused no less surprise 
 than annoyance to those who have been for many years suc- 
 cessfully using all their endeavours to bring about an improve- 
 ment. The statements, which have been industriously circu- 
 ated with a view of exciting alarm, are in most instances
 
 EEEONEOUS STATEMENTS COEEECTED. 247 
 
 greatly exaggerated, and simply calculated to mislead the 
 public." 
 
 At the time this statement was published the parliamentary 
 committee had not presented their report, but they did so 
 shortly afterwards. Looking at the composition of the com- 
 mittee it could hardly be expected that they should have been 
 able to sift the evidence and rightly estimate the respective 
 values of the contradictory statements contained in it. On 
 the whole, however, the report was considered to give a toler- 
 ably fair view of the subject ; and, with reference to the adul- 
 teration of drugs, it referred to what had been done by the 
 Pharmaceutical Society in terms decidedly complimentary to 
 the institution. 
 
 " It has been shown," it said, " that much good has arisen 
 from the establishment of the Pharmaceutical Society, the 
 members of which, being specially educated in the knowledge 
 of drugs, are better able than heretofore to make proper 
 selections and to detect adulterations." 
 
 The council of the Pharmaceutical Society thought this a 
 suitable time to endeavour to counteract the effect of erro- 
 neous statements which had been circulated through the 
 press reflecting on the manner in which chemists and drug- 
 gists generally conducted their business. A paper was drawn 
 up in the form of a circular, which was intended for general 
 circulation and for insertion in the public papers. It was 
 entitled " On the Education of Dispensers of Medicine and the 
 Sale of Poisons." It recounted some of the prominent facts 
 connected with the establishment of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society, showing the efforts that had been made to introduce 
 an efficient system of education, and an examination for the 
 future members of the body. It referred to the incorporation 
 of the society by Royal Charter, and to its being subsequently 
 recognised by an Act of Parliament which conferred upon the 
 members the title of Pharmaceutical Chemist, which title in 
 the future would only be conferred on examined or qualified 
 men. It represented the efforts which had been made by the 
 society ever since its formation to improve the quality of 
 medicines and prevent their adulteration, and the services 
 it had rendered in collecting valuable statistical information 
 relating to the sale of arsenic, which had facilitated the framing 
 of the Arsenic Act. It pointed to the ^assistance the society
 
 248 PEOVISIONS AGAINST ACCIDENTAL POISONING. 
 
 could afford in promoting practicable and efficient legislation 
 with reference to the sale of poisons ; but at the same time it 
 urged the importance of extending the means by which the 
 scientific character and social position of chemists and drug- 
 gists might be raised, as affording the best remedy for and 
 security against the evils which had been complained of in 
 connection with the preparation of medicines and the sale of 
 poisons. The address concluded as follows : " The object of 
 the above statement and remarks is, to direct attention to the 
 fact that the reformation which recent events have shown to 
 be required, and towards which the force of public opinion is 
 tending was projected more than fifteen years ago by the Phar- 
 maceutical Society, that great progress has already been made 
 by its voluntary and unassisted agency, and that all that 
 remains to be done may be effected by means of the society, if 
 armed with more extended powers and assisted by the public." 
 
 There is reason to believe that the circulation of this docu- 
 ment contributed largely to the removal of erroneous im- 
 pressions which had been produced among a portion of the 
 public, while at the same time it showed that there was still 
 room for improvement in the regulations relating to the dis- 
 pensing of medicines and the sale of poisons. 
 
 Various methods were suggested for guarding against 
 accidents in dealing with poisonous substances, and among 
 these the use of angular bottles and other vessels gave rise to 
 much animadversion. 
 
 In a supplement to the Dublin Pharmacopoeia, which was 
 issued in September, 1856, it was 
 
 " ORDERED, 
 
 " 1. That angular bottles or vessels, and none others, be 
 employed in the dispensing of all medicines intended for 
 external use. 
 
 " 2. That round bottles or vessels, and none others, be em- 
 ployed in the dispensing of all medicines intended for internal 
 use. 
 
 " 3. That all the articles of the materia medica and prepara- 
 tions included in the list which is hereto appended, be kept in 
 shops or warehouses in angular bottles or vessels ; and also 
 that the same shaped bottles or vessels be employed in the case 
 of such medicines and preparations being sold or delivered.
 
 POISON REGULATIONS OF DUBLIN PHARMACOPOEIA. 249 
 
 " 4. That all the articles of the materia medica and pre- 
 parations not included in the list appended, be kept in shops 
 or warehouses in round bottles or vessels ; and also that the 
 same form of bottle or vessel be employed in the case of their 
 being sold or delivered. 
 
 " 5. That a similar rule be observed with reference to other 
 medicines, which, though not in the list of this Pharmacopoeia, 
 may be kept by apothecaries or druggists, namely, that those 
 poseessed of dangerous qualities should be invariably kept 
 and sold or delivered in angular bottles or vessels." 
 
 The list comprised 33 articles of the materia medica and 
 130 preparations. 
 
 These regulations, which, it will be observed, applied only 
 to Ireland, were enunciated with the apparent authority of 
 an Imperial law, and in terms that would seem to indicate a 
 confident reliance in their efficacy. Those in that country to 
 whom they were addressed were struck with the boldness of 
 the appeal, but were not inspired with a belief in the practi- 
 cability of carrying them into general effect, or the usefulness 
 of their imperfect application. Practical men were impressed 
 with the rashness manifested by the Dublin College of Phy- 
 sicians in issuing such important regulations, affecting all the 
 dispensers of and dealers in medicines throughout Ireland, 
 without consulting or generally advising with those most 
 seriously affected by them. 
 
 The appearance of the Irish poison regulations naturally 
 attracted a good deal of attention among English pharmacists, 
 and the subject was discussed at a meeting in Bloomsbury 
 Square, at which all the speakers concurred in disapproving 
 of the scheme, which was represented as visionary and im- 
 practicable. 
 
 A question arose about this time respecting the stamping 
 of grain weights used in dispensing. Several pharmacists, 
 residing within the city of Westminster, were summoned for 
 using grain weights that were not stamped, the law being 
 considered to apply to these, as troy or bullion weights, 
 although it did not apply to other apothecaries' weights. 
 As proceedings had never before been taken in similar 
 cases, and the weights in question were only used for dis- 
 pensing and not for selling drugs, a defence was offered on 
 these grounds, and the Court having taken time to consider
 
 250 STAMPING OP GEAIN WEIGHTS. ARMY DISPENSING. 
 
 the case, a decision was given on the 8th of May, 1856, at a 
 Court of Burgesses at Westminster, in the following terms : 
 
 " That it is the opinion of the Court that the weights used 
 by chemists must be tested and stamped according to the 
 standard of weights in use in Westminster, from one grain 
 upwards : that as the question is now presented to the Court 
 for the first time, it is their opinion that the fines already 
 imposed on chemists should not be enforced: that the 
 chemists are required to get their weights stamped within 
 three months from this judgment, after which they will be 
 liable to have fines imposed on them, if found using un- 
 stamped weights." 
 
 A question also arose with reference to the dispensing of 
 medicines in the army. Some serious accidents having oc- 
 curred through mistakes made which were ascribed to the 
 employment of incompetent dispensers, the subject was 
 referred to a select committee of the House of Commons. It 
 appeared that sergeants, and other men who had had no 
 regular training for this duty, were often employed to dispense 
 medicines. This practice was considered highly objection, 
 able, and the committee recommended that no one should be 
 considered eligible for employment until he had given proof 
 before a Board in an examination, that he might, with safety 
 to the sick soldiers, be permitted to dispense. The terms of 
 this recommendation being indefinite, it was suggested that 
 an examination, such as that of the Pharmaceutical Society, 
 ought to be required, and this suggestion was to some extent 
 adopted. At the time of the Crimean war it had been in- 
 timated that, in the appointment of dispensers, those holding 
 certificates from the Pharmaceutical Society would have a 
 preference given them; and subsequently, in 1857, when a 
 large number of dispensers was required for service in India, 
 the Director-General of the Army Medical Department refused 
 to engage any candidate who could not produce the certificate 
 of the Board of Examiners in Bloomsbury Square. 
 
 The Pharmaceutical Society had now been in existence 
 for fifteen years, during which time most of the leading 
 pharmacists in London, with one marked exception, had 
 filled the office of President. The exceptional case was that 
 of the man who of all others had taken the most prominent 
 part in advancing the interests of the society. Mr. Bell had
 
 ME. BELL ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY. 251 
 
 hitherto refused to take office ; but in 1856 he was induced 
 to allow himself to be placed at the head of the institution he 
 had so largely contributed to establish. It is probable that a 
 feeling of declining health and strength, which rendered him 
 less capable of undertaking some of the numerous duties he 
 had hitherto performed for the society, may have led to his 
 accepting the office of President. It cannot be said, however, 
 that Mr. Bell, as President, relinquished any of the work he 
 had been accustomed to do for the society. He had made 
 two or three unsuccessful attempts to regain a seat in Parlia- 
 ment, and the anxiety and fatigue attendant on canvassing 
 and addressing large constituencies had brought on a disease 
 of the larynx which induced great debility, partly by prevent- 
 ing him from taking proper nourishment. 
 
 In July, 1857, Mr. Bell, as editor of the Pharmaceutical 
 Journal, wrote as follows : " There is a manifest improve- 
 ment and tendency to progress in the rising generation of 
 pharmacists at this time. The School of Pharmacy was never 
 so well attended as it has been during the present session, and 
 the number of candidates for examination appears to be on 
 the increase. The study of botany, which has hitherto been 
 too much neglected, is gradually acquiring that amount of 
 importance which it deserves, as a branch of the education 
 of the pharmaceutical chemist. Upwards of eighty students 
 have entered the class during the present session, and the 
 regularity of the attendance indicates a growing interest in 
 the subject. At this season of the year the study of botany 
 is an agreeable pursuit ; and the lectures, being delivered in 
 the gardens of the Royal Botanic Society in the Regent's 
 Park, afford an opportunity for combining fresh air and 
 exercise with professional improvement. The chemical class is 
 also well attended, and the number of pupils in the laboratory 
 has been greater than during any previous session. In some 
 instances, however, the period of study has not been so long 
 as to ensure a competent knowledge of the principles and 
 practical details of the science ; and it is a mistake to suppose 
 that this object can be attained by merely working in the' 
 laboratory during two or three months. This short time may 
 be sufficient to initiate the student in the elementary prin- 
 ciples, and to awaken his interest in the science ; l>ut those 
 who desire to obtain a complete qualification for their pro-
 
 252 DEATH OP DE. ANDREW UKE. 
 
 fession, and tQ enjoy a favourable position for success in after 
 life, must make themselves familiar with the entire range of 
 the subject, including organic and inorganic chemistry, and 
 especially the manipulations of the pharmaceutical laboratory. 
 
 " On taking a review of the last sixteen years, the gradual 
 but steady progress of pharmacy in this country is very satis- 
 factory, considering that the acquirement of this branch of 
 education is entirely voluntary, and has enjoyed little or no 
 encouragement on the part of the Legislature. In fact, the 
 only inducement held out to the student as a stimulus to his 
 industry has been the prospect of an honorary title. 
 
 " Recent events, and the notoriety of the deliberations which 
 which have taken place respecting the sale of poisons, the 
 dispensing of medicines, and the prevention of accidents, have 
 led to a prevailing impression that some legislative enactment 
 will shortly place pharmacy in a position which it has not 
 hitherto occupied in this country. The natural tendency of 
 such a prospect has been observable in the increasing activity 
 among pharmaceutical students, the frequent inquiries re- 
 specting the books which should be read, the lectures to be 
 attended, and the best course to be pursued by those who are 
 dependent entirely on their own resources for improvement, 
 and who, in country towns remote from the advantages of a 
 school or college, are desirous of qualifying themselves for 
 passing the examination. The voluntary system has effected 
 a very marked improvement, but it is in the power of the 
 Legislature to multiply these advantages tenfold." 
 
 The society was progressing, but at the same time it was 
 losing some of its early supporters and friends. Among the 
 number of these was Dr. Andrew Ure, F.R.S., who died on the 
 2nd of January, 1857. Dr. Ure was born in Glasgow in 1778, 
 and he pursued his studies in the Universities of that city and 
 of Edinburgh, where he took the degrees of Master of Arts and 
 Doctor of Medicine. In 1830 Dr. Ure came to live in London, 
 and in 1834 he was appointed Chemist to the Board of 
 Customs. He had previously, in 1821, published his Dictionary 
 of Chemistry, and subsequently, in 1837, he brought out his 
 most important work, " The Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, 
 and Mines." He was largely consulted as one of the chemical 
 authorities of the day, and especially by manufacturers and 
 those requiring analyses in relation to technical subjects.
 
 CHANGE OF SECRETARIES. POISON BILL INTRODUCED. 253 
 
 During the last thirty years of his life he was in the habit 
 of performing most of his analyses by means of standard 
 solutions of most of the reagents, according to a system on 
 which he based his method of alkalimetry. Dr. Ure was a 
 man of indefatigable industry, and he pursued with enthusi- 
 asm the laborious researches in which he was professionally 
 engaged. For the last three or four years of his life he was 
 obliged from the state of his health to retire from the more 
 active professional exertions in which he had for many years 
 been engaged. He died at the age of seventy-eight. 
 
 An event that calls for special notice here, was the illness 
 of Mr. George Walter Smith, the Secretary of the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society, which necessitated the resignation of his 
 appointment by this important officer, who had performed so 
 much good service to the Society. Equally deserving of very 
 special notice was the appointment of Mr. Elias Bremridge as 
 the new Secretary, by whom the affairs of the society have 
 been and still are so ably conducted. Mr. Bremridge was 
 elected in March, 1857. 
 
 Attempts were still made, and had been so almost con- 
 tinuously, to frame a medical Bill that should satisfy the bulk 
 of the medical profession ; but as yet reformers in this direc- 
 tion appeared to be as far as ever from the attainment of 
 their object. Two Bills were before Parliament, namely, those 
 with which the names of Mr. Headlam and Lord Elcho were 
 respectively identified, but there was strong opposition to 
 both, and no likelihood that either would pass. 
 
 In May of this year (1857), a Bill was brought into Parlia- 
 ment, " to restrict and regulate the sale of poisons," which 
 called forth a vigorous opposition from the pharmaceutical 
 body. This Bill provided that no poison should be sold 
 unless the sale was made to a person of full age and in the 
 presence of a witness of full age who was known to the person 
 selling the poison and to whom the purchaser was known, 
 and unless there was produced and delivered to the seller a 
 written certificate signed by the clergyman of the parish, or a 
 legally qualified medical practitioner, or a justice of the peace, 
 justifying the use for which the poison was required. Pro- 
 vision was made for keeping a record of all the circum- 
 stances attending the sale. Provision was also made that 
 all colourless poisons should be coloured with soot, or indigo,
 
 254 THE POISON BILL OPPOSED. 
 
 or archil, and if contained in paper that there should be an 
 outside wrapper of tin foil with a label of " POISON" in con- 
 spicuous letters. Dealers in poisons and medical men who 
 used them were required to keep all poisonous substances 
 in a closet set apart for that purpose under lock and key. 
 Then with reference to the dispensing of medicines it was 
 provided that all liquid medicines intended for external use, 
 and all medicines containing any poison, should be supplied 
 in quadrangular blue glass bottles, labelled in conspicuous 
 capital letters, white on a black ground, " POISON," or " FOR 
 EXTERNAL USE," the word " POISON," or the words "FOR 
 EXTERNAL USE," being also cast or moulded in raised letters 
 in the glass on the four sides of the bottle. 
 
 Mr. Bell, in an article in the Pharmaceutical Journal, said 
 with reference to this Bill, " Although it cannot be supposed 
 for a moment that the Bill is at all likely to be passed in its 
 present form, yet the principle displayed in it may be taken 
 as an indication of the direction in which legislation is 
 tending; and the experience of those who are practically 
 conversant with the subject must be brought into requisition 
 to expose the absurdities of the measure, and to point out the 
 boundary line between the sublime and the ridiculous." 
 
 Immediate steps were taken by the Council of the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society to elicit an expression of opinion on this 
 measure. A public meeting was appointed to be held in 
 Bloomsbury Square, which all those interested in the subject 
 were invited to attend. This was held on the 3rd of June, 
 and resolutions were unanimously passed representing the 
 effects of imposing unnecessary restrictions, which would 
 defeat the object contemplated, and augment rather than 
 remove the evils which had led to this injudicious attempt at 
 legislation. 
 
 On the 6th of June a deputation from the society waited 
 On Lord Grranville at the Council Office in Whitehall, and 
 strongly urged upon him the necessity of greatly modifying 
 the provisions of the Bill. The subject was fully discussed, 
 but without any very apparent result. 
 
 On the 8th of June a communication was received from 
 the House of Lords, requesting the attendance of two mem- 
 bers of the deputation to give evidence before a committee 
 to which the Poison Bill had been referred. This was com-
 
 PROPOSAL TO LICENSE DEALERS IN POISON. 255 
 
 plied with : several meetings of the committee took place, 
 evidence was given by London and also provincial pharma- 
 cists, and suggestions were made for modifying the Bill so as 
 to render it practicable and capable of effecting the objects 
 in view. The committee made several important alterations 
 in the measure, the general tendency of which may be 
 inferred from the following observations by Mr. Bell on 
 the amended Bill when it reappeared in the House. " To 
 those," says Mr. Bell, " who are practically conversant with 
 the subject, it will be obvious, after a few moments' con- 
 sideration of the alterations, that the last state of the Bill 
 is worse than the first. The Bill, as originally drawn, would 
 have been simply impracticable, and therefore inoperative. It 
 would, in the first instance, have caused some inconvenience ; 
 but by degrees it would have become, like the Ecclesiastical 
 Titles Act, a dead letter, defied and disregarded by those 
 whom it was intended to restrain, and merely serving to 
 expose the impotence of legislators when they get out of 
 their depth. In the Bill as altered, the intended precau- 
 tionary provisions are considerably impaired ; and. while tbere 
 is a pretence of adopting the suggestions offered to the 
 committee in regard to the qualifications of persons dealing 
 in poisons, it is proposed to attain this object by annihilating 
 the legitimate source of pharmaceutical improvement, and 
 substituting a superficial examination, to be performed by a 
 mixed Board, consisting of six persons, under four indepen- 
 dent jurisdictions, remunei'ated according to the number of 
 candidates, and invested with irresponsible and inquisitorial 
 powers." 
 
 The provision, in the amended Bill, for granting licences 
 to persons who were to be allowed to sell poisons, was as 
 follows : 
 
 " After the day of no person other than a 
 
 legally qualified medical practitioner shall sell any poison 
 without a licence to vend drugs granted under this Act. 
 
 " For the granting of licences and the examination of 
 persons desirous of obtaining licences under this Act, six 
 examiners shall be appointed from time to time, three of 
 whom shall be appointed by Her Majesty under her sign 
 manual, and the College of Physicians of London, the 
 Society of Apothecaries of London, and the Pharmaceutical
 
 256 INTRODUCTION OP METHYLATED SPIRIT. 
 
 Society of Great Britain shall severally appoint one of the 
 remaining examiners ; and every examiner appointed by her 
 Majesty shall hold office during her Majesty's pleasure, and 
 every other examiner shall hold office for such term as the 
 body by whom he is appointed shall think fit and direct." 
 
 In November, 1857, the Council of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society drew up and circulated among the members a series 
 of questions with the object of obtaining statistical informa- 
 tion as to the real or principal sources of danger in the sale 
 of poisons. This elicited some valuable information which 
 the committee embodied in a report,* a copy of which was 
 sent to Lord Granville with a request for an interview. On 
 the day before this was to have taken place, however, the 
 ministry resigned, and further proceedings with reference to 
 their Sale of Poisons Bill were suspended. 
 
 While the foregoing events relating to the sale of poisons were 
 transpiring, another subject affecting the interests of pharmacy 
 was brought prominently under notice. The Government 
 had been induced, on the i-ecommendation of a commission 
 appointed at the instigation of the Board of Inland Revenue, 
 and consisting of Professors Graham, Hoffmann, and Redwood, 
 to authorize the use of duty-free spirit for certain purposes in 
 the arts, if mixed with ten per cent, of purified wood spirit, 
 or methylic alcohol. The addition thus made to spirit of 
 wine was found to render it unfit for human consumption as 
 a beverage, without materially impairing it for the greater 
 number of the more valuable purposes in the arts to which 
 spirit is usually applied. The mixed spirit was called methyl- 
 ated spirit, and it was made and supplied under excise 
 regulations and inspection. It had not, however, been con- 
 templated, nor was it intended, that it should be used in the 
 preparation of medicines, except in cases in which none of it 
 would remain in the product ; as, for instance, in the extrac- 
 tion of alkaloids for the preparation of their salts. The 
 objects which had been contemplated in the introduction of 
 methylated spirit were to benefit the manufacturing arts in 
 which spirit might with advantage be used, and to lessen the 
 temptation to produce spirit by illicit distillation. It had 
 well fulfilled those objects ; but it had recently been found 
 
 * Pharm. Journ. vol. xvii. pp. 300, 346, 445.
 
 USE OP METHYLATED SPIRIT IN MEDICINES. 257 
 
 that in some instances it had been used in pharmacy for the 
 preparation of tinctures, with the view of cheapening their 
 production. This unauthorized use of methylated spirit was 
 brought under the notice of the Pharmaceutical Society, at 
 their meetings in October and November, 1857. It appeared 
 that a sort of implied sanction had been given to its use 
 in pharmacy in consequence of orders having been sent to 
 Apothecaries' Hall from the Army Medical Board for soap 
 liniment, and some other preparations intended for external 
 application, to be made with methylated spirit. The in- 
 structions to adopt this method of preparation being im- 
 perative, authority was obtained from the Inland Revenue 
 Board to comply therewith, and this authority was afterwards 
 extended to other pharmaceutical preparations. As soon as 
 this became known to the Council of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society, the President communicated with the College of 
 Physicians on the subject, and the licence, which had been 
 unadvisedly given, and which, if not promptly objected to, 
 would have opened the door to a great abuse, was speedily 
 withdrawn. 
 
 The two following minutes were prepared by the President 
 and Censors of the College of Physicians, the former for 
 publication in the Gazette and in the medical journals, and the 
 latter for transmission to the Board of Inland Revenue. 
 
 " ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, 
 
 "Nov. 25th, 1857. 
 
 " The Censors of the Royal College of Physicians, having 
 learned that in the manufacture of tinctures and some other 
 preparations of the Pharmacopoeia, it has latterly become the 
 practice of certain druggists and manufacturers to use me- 
 thylated in the place of pure spirit, hereby declare their dis- 
 approval of such an unauthorized departure from the instruc- 
 tions laid down in the Pharmacopoeia." 
 
 " ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, 
 
 "Nov. 25^, 1857. 
 
 "The President and Censors of the Royal College of 
 Physicians, having had their attention called to an un- 
 authorized departure from the instructions of the Pharma- 
 copoeia in the manufacture of tinctures and other prepara- 
 tions, by the use of methylated instead of pm*e spirit, have
 
 258 COLLEGE OP PHYSICIANS AND BOARD OF INLAND REVENUE. 
 
 found it necessary publicly to express their disapproval of 
 such departure, and beg to call the attention of the Board of 
 Inland Revenue to the fact that an assumed authority for 
 this deviation from the rules of the Pharmacopoeia is said to 
 have been derived from an order or minute of the Board of 
 Inland Revenue, giving a general permission to use methyl- 
 ated spirit in the preparation of medicinal tinctures and 
 extracts." 
 
 These proceedings were followed shortly afterwards by a 
 communication from the Board of Inland Revenue, addressed 
 to the Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society, enclosing a 
 copy of the minutes they had received from the College of 
 Physicians, and stating : 
 
 " INLAND REVENUE OFFICE, LONDON, W.C. 
 "February, 1858, 
 
 "So,- 
 
 " I am directed by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue 
 to send you the accompanying minute of the Censors' Board 
 of the Royal College of Physicians of London, and to state 
 that the Commissioners have ascertained that the Colleges of 
 Edinburgh and Dublin concur in the desire of the London 
 College to dissipate the impression that a departure from the 
 rules of their Pharmacopoeia has been countenanced by the 
 legalization of methylated spirits. 
 
 " Such an impression can only have arisen from very 
 erroneous views of the powers and intentions of this Depart- 
 ment ; but, since it appears to prevail, it is necessary that the 
 Commissioners should distinctly warn all persons using the 
 methylated spirits in medicinal preparations, that the per- 
 mission granted by this Department conveys no authority to 
 apply the spirits in any manner not sanctioned by the Colleges 
 of Physicians. 
 
 "I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 " THOMAS DOBSON, Assistant Secretary" 
 
 The action thus taken by the College of Physicians and the 
 Board of Inland Revenue, checked the further progress of 
 the objectionable practice which had commenced with refer- 
 ence to the pharmaceutical use of methylated spirit. 
 
 A good deal of discussion took place at this time with refer- 
 ence to the use of paper-hangings which had been coloured
 
 ARSENICAL PAPER- HANGINGS. THE DENTISTS. 259 
 
 with arsenical pigments. Statements were published, which 
 appeared to be supported by strong evidence, to the effect that 
 serious injury to health frequently occurred to persons who 
 occupied rooms in which arsenical papers were used. But on 
 the other hand chemists failed to detect in the atmosphere 
 of such rooms the slightest trace of arsenic, except in some 
 instances where the pigment, or the coloured surface of flock 
 paper, had been mechanically removed and remained suspended 
 in the air. The balance of evidence, however, went to show 
 that the injury caused was not confined to cases of the latter 
 kind. 
 
 The dentists had lately been in a state of excitement, which 
 to some extent affected chemists and druggists, for among the 
 occupations in which the latter occasionally engaged, were 
 those of extracting teeth and performing some other operations 
 of dentistry. In this country dentists had hitherto occupied a 
 position similar to that of the chemists and druggists prior to 
 the year 1840. They were not recognised by the medical pro- 
 fession ; and, having no distinct separate existence, it was diffi- 
 cult to define what their occupation and qualifications consisted 
 or ought to consist in. There were men among them who 
 possessed the requisite qualifications, surgical, medical, and 
 mechanical, to enable them to deal with the teeth under all the 
 conditions in which the services of a dentist are required ; but 
 there were some with little or no qualification. Recently at- 
 tempts had been made to introduce some organization in this 
 heterogeneous body, to sift the good from the bad, to establish 
 a regular system of education and examination, and to indicate 
 qualification by a title. The dentists were fifteen years behind 
 the chemists and druggists in commencing this movement, 
 but the spirit of reform was now actively fermenting. Some 
 of the leading and best qualified men among those engaged in 
 the practice of dentistry formed an association called the Odon- 
 tological Society, while another more numerous class estab- 
 lished the College of Dentists on principles less exclusive than 
 those of the other association. Both societies were aiming 
 at the same object, namely that of securing for the public the 
 services of men, recognisable by certain titles, who should be 
 qualified to perform the various operations connected with 
 the treatment, extraction, and supply of teeth. The leaders 
 among them could not agree upon any proposed method of
 
 260 EXTENDED LEASE OF 17, BLOOMSI3UEY SQUAEE. 
 
 amalgamating the two institutions, and therefore both con- 
 tinued to work independently, and not without good effect. 
 
 Chemists and druggists, although not wholly a united 
 body, were not divided in the same way as the dentists were. 
 There was but one organization formed for the purpose of 
 educating and bringing into fellowship a class of men to 
 whom the duties of pharmacy might be safely entrusted. The 
 organized pharmacists were a comparatively small section of 
 the whole body of chemists and druggists, and they had not of 
 late years been increasing in numbers ; but the important work 
 committed to them was being steadily and effectively carried 
 out. The various departments of the establishment in Blooms- 
 bary Square were gradually expanding and their operations 
 were becoming more important, so that it was evident that more 
 accommodation than the premises hitherto occupied could 
 afford, would soon be required. As already intimated, a pro- 
 position had been made to obtain, by purchase or otherwise, a 
 freehold building for the use of the society ; but the address in 
 Bloomsbury Square had become so identified with the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society that the council were easily induced to extend 
 the accommodation there in preference to seeking premises 
 elsewhere. An opportunity for doing so had now occurred, 
 the lease of two adjoining houses, 72 and 73 Great Russell 
 Street, being offered, together with an extension of that of 
 17, Bloomsbury Square. These together formed a block of 
 buildings which had originally been united as a nobleman's 
 mansion ; and the whole was now secured by the society for 
 a period of ninety years. The newly-acquired part of the 
 premises was at present occupied by tenants, but it could be 
 appropriated for the use of the society when required. 
 
 Whilst the society was thus extending the means by which 
 it was carrying out its objects, it was at the same time sus- 
 taining the loss of some of the wise heads which had con- 
 tributed so much to its establishment on a sound foundation 
 and which had subsequently directed its councils during a 
 period of distraction and difficulty. The year 1857 did not 
 close without adding to the list of the early Councillors and 
 past Presidents who were now numbered with the dead. Mr. 
 Joseph Gifford, of the Strand, was one of these. The position 
 he occupied among his bi-ethren, as an old member of flic 
 trade, may be gathered from the fart thai at HIP meetim- of
 
 DEATH OF MR. JOSEPH GIPFORB. 261 
 
 chemists and druggists held at the Crown and Anchor on 
 the 15th of February, 1841, for the purpose of considering Mr. 
 Hawes's Bill, he was called to the chair. He was an active 
 member of the committee appointed on that occasion to watch 
 and oppose the progress of the Bill, and from the foundation 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society until the year in which he died 
 he had been a member of the council. During the official 
 year 1852-3 he filled the presidential chair. He died on tho 
 7th of September, 1857, in the 77th year of his age. 
 
 The position of British pharmacists and of chemists and drug- 
 gists at this time could not be said to be all that might have 
 been desired. The Pharmaceutical Society had its charter and 
 an Act of Parliament, giving to its members certain privileges 
 and imposing certain duties upon them as a body ; but the 
 advantages resulting from all they had gained in these respects 
 were not generally felt to be of a substantial nature. Phar- 
 macists were carrying out objects for the benefit of the public, 
 but in what way were the originators and supporters of the 
 costly arrangements by which a better- qualified class of phar- 
 macists was supplied to the public, themselves benefited? 
 "Was it by raising up competitors in trade with qualifications 
 of a more demonstrable nature than their own ? Questions 
 such as these could not fail to occur to the minds of many ; 
 and although they were often answered to the satisfaction of 
 the conscience, and although many also felt that in promot- 
 ing the education of others they were advancing their own 
 education, still there was an anxious looking for a more 
 profitable investment than had hitherto been made in the 
 Pharmaceutical Society. Nor was it merely the retrospective 
 view that failed to satisfy. Prospectively there was a dark 
 mist and obscure vision of medical legislation and a Poison 
 Bill with threatened innovations which were calculated to 
 undermine what had already been done by the Pharmaceutical 
 Society and to destroy the hope of further beneficial legislation 
 for the body of chemists and druggists. It was well that 
 good men were still found in the council chamber, and that 
 these were supported by a yearly increasing phalanx of men 
 of the rising generation who owed to the society and the 
 cause with which it was identified the proud position they 
 occupied as educated and examined men. 
 
 We are entering now on the year 1858. Jacob Bell was
 
 262 MEDICAL REFORM AND SALE OP POISONS BILL. 
 
 President of the Pharmaceutical Society, with W. L. Bird as 
 Vice-President, Daniel Bell Hanbury as Treasurer, and Elias 
 Bremridge as Secretary and Registrar. The parliamentary 
 session opened with the prospect of ample work for the 
 officials of the society. 
 
 Attempts at medical legislation had so frequently proved 
 abortive and yet were so constantly renewed, that agitation 
 on the subject began to be looked upon as a chronic disease 
 for which there was no remedy. Year after year Bills had 
 appeared in Parliament, been discussed, opposed, and finally 
 withdrawn. Still it was admitted by all those who inquired 
 into the subject that there was much need for medical reform. 
 Lord Elcho, Mr. Headlam, and Mr. T. Buncombe had respec- 
 tively tried their hands at it, and now gave it up in despair, 
 but not without an implied promise from the Government that 
 they would once more try to settle this difficult question. 
 
 Lord Palmerston's ministry, with the resignation of which 
 the progress of the Poison Bill had been suspended, having 
 been succeeded by that of the Earl of Derby with Mr. Walpole 
 as Home Secretary, the two subjects of medical reform and 
 the regulation of the sale of poisons were undertaken by them. 
 The report of the committee of the Pharmaceutical Society, 
 which, as already stated, had been submitted to Lord Gran- 
 ville, was now laid before Mr. Walpole, and an intimation was 
 received that the society would be made acquainted with the 
 purport of any measure the Government purposed introducing. 
 The council drew up a Bill, based on that of the previous 
 session, but modified so as to meet the views of pharmacists 
 generally, which was submitted to the Government and by 
 them to the College of Physicians. Practically, however, the 
 Bill taken up by the new ministry was that of their predeces- 
 sors, and it still contained some very objectionable provisions 
 to which it was incumbent on the society to offer a strenuous 
 opposition. It had been introduced in the House of Lords, and 
 now Lord Derby had charge of it. Suggestions were made 
 by the council for removing the grounds of the strong ob- 
 jection they had to parts of the measure, and hopes were at 
 one time entertained that these would be acceded to. Some 
 modifications were made, but there was one point on which 
 the Government and the society were still at issue, as the 
 following correspondence will show :
 
 3IR. BELL ON SALE OF POISONS BILL. 263 
 
 "15, LANGHAM PLACE, 
 
 June 7, 1858. 
 " My Lord, 
 
 "I regret the necessity of troubling your Lordship on the 
 subject of the Sale of Poisons Bill, but I think it better at this 
 early stage to point out any provisions that appear to be ob- 
 jectionable, instead of deferring it to a later period. The pro- 
 vision to which I chiefly refer is the proposal to supersede the 
 Pharmaceutical Society by the appointment of a new Board 
 of Examiners, to examine candidates for the distinction of 
 " Licensed Druggist." For about eighteen years the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society has been endeavouring to introduce a regular 
 education and examination of all chemists and druggists. 
 During nearly the whole of this time, very little encourage- 
 ment has been obtained from the Legislature or the Govern- 
 ment ; the efforts of the society having been met either with 
 indifference or opposition, and the necessity for education 
 and examination having been scarcely admitted to exist. It 
 is now generally acknowledged that some qualification in 
 those who dispense medicines, including poisons, is necessary 
 for the safety of the public, and it is also acknowledged that 
 the Pharmaceutical Society has done service to the public in 
 promoting this object, for which its establishment is expressly 
 designed. Yet in carrying the principle into practice, it is 
 now proposed to appoint another Board of Examiners, the 
 tendency of which would be to divert candidates from the 
 channel of education and examination provided by the society, 
 substituting a qualification which must of necessity be inferior 
 to that of a pharmaceutical chemist, and frustrating the 
 endeavours of the society to raise the standard of education. 
 The distinction between a pharmaceutical chemist and a 
 licensed druggist would scarcely be recognised by the public ; 
 and as the examination for a licensed druggist would be 
 attended with the smallest amount of trouble and expense, 
 the Pharmaceutical Society would be superseded. I have 
 seen the President of the College of Physicians, and some 
 other influential members of the college, who, I have reason 
 to believe, are favourable to the views of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society on this subject. I therefore most respectfully and 
 earnestly request that the further progress of the Bill may be 
 deferred until an opportunity has been afforded for a conference
 
 264 LORD DERBY AND MR. BELL ON POISON BILL. 
 
 with the representatives of the College of Physicians and of 
 the Pharmaceutical Society. I may also observe that the 
 opinion which was received by your Lordship as that of the 
 Royal College of Physicians, was in fact the opinion of a 
 deputation consisting of physicians and others. I should be 
 able, if favoured with an interview, to explain more fully the 
 facts of the case, and also to point out other objections to the 
 constitution of the proposed Board of Examiners. 
 " I have the honour to remain, my Lord, 
 
 " Your Lordship's obedient servant, 
 
 "JACOB BELL." 
 " To the Right Hon. the Earl of Derby." 
 
 The following reply was received the same day : 
 
 " DOWNING STBEET, 7th June, 1858. 
 " Sir, 
 
 " I am directed by Lord Derby to acknowledge the receipt 
 of yonr letter of this day's date, relative to the Sale of Poi- 
 sons Bill, and to acquaint you that the Bill in question is to 
 be committed pro forma to-night, to allow of amendments 
 being printed. His Lordship will send you a copy ; but he 
 cannot admit the validity of your objections to the proposed 
 Board of Examiners. 
 
 " I have the honour to be, Sir, 
 
 " Tour most obedient servant, 
 
 "MAUBICE DRUMMOXD." 
 " To Jacob Bell, Esq." 
 
 This was immediately acknowledged as follows : 
 
 " My Lord, 
 
 "I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 Lordship's favour of this day. I regret that your Loi-dship 
 does not admit the validity of the objections to the pro- 
 posed Board of Examiners, as upon that question the 
 Pharmaceutical Society will* stand or fall. I am obliged to 
 leave town on business for three days, on my return I look 
 forward to receiving a copy of the Bill as amended. 
 " I have the honour to be, etc., etc. 
 
 "JACOB BELL." 
 
 "To th9 Right Hon. the Earl of Derby."
 
 THE POISON BILL PASSED IN THE LORDS. 265 
 
 An interview was to have taken place between Lord Derby 
 and a deputation from the society ; but this was prevented by 
 his lordship's indisposition. The deputation had a satisfactory 
 interview with the College of Physicians, and communicated 
 the result of this to the Government. Another attempt was 
 made to get an interview with Lord Derby, but without avail ; 
 and the third reading of the Bill in the House of Lords was 
 appointed for the 8th of July. On this day the Poison 
 Committee met, and arranged to attend at the House of Lords 
 to hear the fate of the Bill. A reporter was retained, with 
 instructions to furnish a verbatim report of the debate. 
 Several noble lords went down to the House, prepared to 
 support amendments which it was expected would be proposed. 
 While the parties interested in the question were waiting for 
 the debate to commence, the words, " Read a third time," and 
 " Bill do pass," pronounced at the table, were indistinctly 
 heard. A noble lord said, " That was the Poison Bill which 
 passed." Another said, "No; it has not come on yet." But 
 upon inquiry it was ascertained that the Poison Bill had 
 actually passed, sub silentio, and without any of the amend- 
 ments which the Committee had hoped to have succeeded in 
 getting introduced. 
 
 What was now to be done ? The committee, greatly annoyed 
 and somewhat bewildered, retired from the House, beaten 
 but not disheartened. Trusting to the strength of their cause, 
 they had hitherto hoped to be able to convince the Govern- 
 ment of the reasonableness of their proposed amendments. 
 Up to the present time, six o'clock p.m. on the 8th of July, 
 no attempt had been made to stir up an active opposition to 
 the Bill among the members of the trade generally. For nearly 
 a month, however, copies of the Bill had been circulated 
 through the country, and much correspondence had taken 
 place between the council and the members, which showed 
 that a strong feeling of opposition to the measure existed 
 among the entire body of chemists and druggists. It had 
 now become necessary to turn this to account as a means of 
 influencing the House of Commons, where the ultimate fate of 
 the Bill rested. 
 
 Within two hours from the time at which the third reading- 
 of the Bill had been so quietly carried by the Lords, circulars 
 were in the printer's hands, convening a meeting of members
 
 266 POISON BILL WITHDRAWN. MEDICAL BILL PASSED. 
 
 of the society in London. Circulars were also prepared, 
 informing the local secretaries of the failure of the efforts of 
 the council, with a short statement describing the provisions 
 of the Bill as passed by the Lords, and suggesting means fox- 
 opposing it in the Commons. In twenty-four hours the 
 symptoms of a coming storm were manifest. Petitions began 
 to come in, Members of Parliament received earnest letters 
 from their constituents, and in the course of two or three days 
 the entire House of Commons was sensibly influenced by the 
 pressure brought to bear upon it. Deputations from the 
 country and members of the council clustered in the lobby 
 of the House, to meet their representatives and to convey 
 their sentiments, directly or indirectly, to Mr. Walpole, who 
 invited them to form a deputation to attend at the Home 
 Office to discuss the question. This interview was arranged 
 to take place ; but on the previous evening Mr. "Walpole stated 
 in the House, that communications had been sent to him from 
 every quarter, almost from every village, stating that the 
 chemists had serious objections to the Poisons Bill ; and 
 although he did not quite agree with all of them, yet, as he 
 thought the Bill required great amendment, he proposed not 
 to proceed with it that session. The Bill was therefore 
 withdrawn. 
 
 This was looked upon as a great victory gained by the 
 society, for the Government had evidently, at one time, 
 determined to carry this measure notwithstanding the oppo- 
 sition offered to it by the council. They had not then learnt to 
 estimate the power which the society was capable of exerting 
 by means of its organization throughout the country. 
 
 But although the Government had failed in their attempts 
 at legislation respecting the sale of poisons, they succeeded 
 in carrying their Medical Bill, and this result was a matter of 
 even greater general surprise than the other. 
 
 The Medical Act of 1858 was the means of bringing about 
 important changes in the medical profession, and at least one 
 important change in relation to pharmacy. 
 
 The duty was assigned to the General Council of Medical 
 Education and Registration, of causing "to be published 
 under their direction a book containing a list of medicines 
 and compounds and the manner of preparing them, together 
 with the true weights and measures by which they are to be
 
 MEDICAL COUNCIL AND THE PHARMACOPOEIA. 267 
 
 prepared and mixed, and containing such other matter and 
 things relating thereto as the General Council shall think fit, 
 to be called 'British Pharmacopoeia;' and the General Council 
 shall cause to be altered and republished, such Pharmacopoeia 
 as often as they shall deem it necessary." And by a subse- 
 quent Act it was provided that the British Pharmacopoeia 
 should supersede the Pharmacopoeias of London, Edinburgh, 
 and Dublin. The Colleges of Physicians were thus relieved 
 from the responsibility of preparing new Pharmacopoeias, this 
 duty being transferred to the representatives of those and other 
 medical corporations in the Medical Council. 
 
 The London college, as we have previously noticed, had for 
 several years been making preparations for a new edition of 
 their Pharmacopoeia, and in doing so had requested the 
 assistance of the Pharmaceutical Society. Some valuable 
 information had been collected through the combined action 
 of the pharmacopoeia committees of the college and the 
 society ; and it was anticipated, although no specific arrange- 
 ment had yet been made for the production of the British 
 Pharmacopoeia, that the matter which had been thus prepared 
 would be made available for use in the new work. The 
 committees, therefore continued their labours. 
 
 In the North there was evidence of increased activity. The 
 Edinburgh College of Physicians now followed the example 
 which had been set by the Pharmaceutical Society some years 
 before, as the following circular, addressed to medical prac- 
 titioners and chemists in Scotland will show : 
 
 " ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, EDINBURGH, 
 " llth August, 1858. 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 " A committee of this college is at present engaged in col- 
 lecting such information as it is presumed the new Medical 
 Council will expect from the royal colleges, before a national 
 Pharmacopoeia is published -under their auspices. 
 
 "lam instructed by the committee to request from you 
 any information which you can supply on the following 
 heads : 
 
 " 1. Articles of materia naedica frequently prescribed, but 
 not included in the last edition of the Edinburgh Pharma- 
 copeia.
 
 268 COLLEGES OP PHYSICIANS AND PHARMACOPOEIA. 
 
 " 2. Changes in any of the processes of the Edinburgh 
 Pharmacopoeia which you consider desirable. 
 
 " 3. New processes which you follow, or are inclined to 
 suggest, for the preparation of any article in the Pharma- 
 copoeia. 
 
 "Any communication on the above subjects, if made tome, 
 will be highly valued, and duly acknowledged by the com- 
 mittee, 
 
 " I am, sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 " WILLIAM ROBERTSON, M.D., 
 "Secretary of Pharmacopeia Committee. 1 " 
 
 As chemists in Scotland had previously received a ciixmlar 
 similar in purport to the foregoing, from the Pharmacopoeia 
 Committee in London, some doubt existed as to whether they 
 wei'e expected to communicate with the Edinburgh or the 
 London committee, or with both. This question was raised 
 at a meeting of the committee in London, and drew forth the 
 following letter : 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 " At a meeting of the Pharmacopoeia Committee, held Oct. 
 20th, a letter having been read from Mr. Deane, Chairman of 
 the Pharmacopoeia Committee of the Pharmaceutical Society 
 of Great Britain, enclosing a circular issued by the College of 
 Physicians of Edinburgh to the pharmaceutical chemists of 
 that city, and inquiring with which college the members of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society in Edinburgh should in future com- 
 municate on the subjects mentioned in that circular, Mr. 
 Redwood being also present by invitation on the part of Mr. 
 Deane, who was unable to attend, 
 
 " It was resolved, That, in the opinion of this committee, it 
 is desirable that the members of the Pharmaceutical Society 
 of Edinburgh should be left at liberty to reply individually, 
 according to their own experience, to the inquiries of the 
 'College of Physicians of Edinburgh ; but in order that the 
 London and Edinburgh colleges may receive the same re- 
 commendations, and to further the production of a national 
 Pharmacopoeia, it is desirable that the members of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society in Edinburgh should, as a body, 
 communicate with the Pharmaceutical Society in London,
 
 THE 1'HAEMACOKEIA COMMITTEES. 269 
 
 and that the London society should communicate their final 
 conclusions and recommendations to both colleges. 
 
 " I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient Servant, 
 
 " FRED. J. FARRE, M.D., 
 
 " Chairman of the Pharmacopoeia Committee" 
 " To the Chairman of the Pharmacopoeia Committee 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain." 
 
 Evidence having been thus afforded that the Colleges of 
 Physicians and the pharmaceutical chemists were disposed 
 and prepared to render all the assistance they could in the 
 production of the new Pharmacopoeia, it remained for the 
 Medical Council to organize the necessary arrangements for 
 carrying this important object into effect, nor were they long 
 in doing so. Pharmacopoeia committees were appointed in 
 England, Scotland, and Ireland. 
 
 At a meeting of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society 
 specially convened on the 15th of December, the following 
 letter was read : 
 
 " 8-1, HARLEY STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE, 
 
 " lOtf* Dec., 1858. 
 " Sir, 
 
 " The British Pharmacopoeia Committee is desirous that 
 the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society should appoint a 
 member to co-operate with the London sub-committee in the 
 preparation of the British (national) Pharmacopoeia, and the 
 committee is desirous that such appointment should be made 
 with as little delay as possible. 
 
 " I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 " A. B. GARROD, M.D., tiecrdcnj. 
 " To the President of the Pharmaceutical Society." 
 
 After some discussion, it was resolved, 
 
 " That Mr. Squire be appointed a member to co-operate 
 with the London sub-committee in the preparation of the 
 British Pharmacopoeia." 
 
 A further correspondence relating to the Pharmacopoeia 
 took place a few days later, as follows 
 
 " ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, 
 " Dec. 16th, 1858. 
 
 "Sir, 
 
 " I have the honour to enclose yon a copy of resolution
 
 270 MR. SQUIRE, THE PHARMACEUTICAL DELEGATE. 
 
 passed at the Comitia Majora held at the Royal College of 
 Physicians on Saturday the llth instant. 
 
 " I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, 
 " HENET A. PITMAN, M.D., Ileyisiraf" 
 " To the President of the Pharmaceutical Society." 
 
 " Resolved, That the thanks of the College be given to the 
 Society of Apothecaries and to the Pharmaceutical Society, 
 for the valuable assistance afforded by them to the Pharma- 
 copoeia Committee of the College." 
 
 This communication having been duly acknowledged, the 
 correspondence and co-operation which had been maintained 
 since 1854 between the London College of Physicians and 
 the Pharmaceutical Society respecting the Pharmacopoeia was 
 terminated. It soon appeared, however, that the services of the 
 Pharmacopoeia Committee of the Pharmaceutical Society were 
 not yet to be dispensed with, as the following correspondence 
 will show : 
 
 " HARLEY STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE, 
 
 " My dear Sir, 
 
 " The Pharmacopeia Committee requests the Pharmaceu- 
 tical Society to continue their committee and to communi- 
 cate through their delegate, Mr. Squire, any information 
 on subjects relating to the British Pharmacopoeia. One 
 point upon which they are now desirous of obtaining in- 
 formation, is the extent to which the drugs and preparations 
 are employed, as this concerns the list of materia medica 
 which will form the first portion of the work. 
 
 "Believe me, dear Sir, yours very truly, 
 
 " A. B. GrARROD, 
 
 " Secretary to the Pharmacopoeia Committee 
 
 of the Medical Council." 
 "To Jacob Bell, Esq." 
 
 Proceedings similar to the foregoing were taking place at 
 the same time in Edinburgh. At a meeting of the Council of 
 the North British Branch of the Pharmaceutical Society in 
 Edinburgh, the Secretary read a letter which he had received 
 from Professor Christison, as convener of the sub-committee 
 of the committee to which the General Medical Council of 
 Education and Registration had entrusted the preparation and
 
 ARRANGEMENTS FOE PREPARING THE PHARMACOPOEIA. 271 
 
 publication of a national Pharmacopoaia, requesting that the 
 Edinburgh Branch of the Pharmaceutical Society would have 
 the goodness to appoint two of its members to be associated 
 with the existing Pharmacopoeia sub-committee, and lend their 
 valuable services in assisting to prepare the new Pharmacopoeia. 
 
 After some deliberation it was resolved, " That J. F. Mac- 
 farlan, of 17, North Bridge Street, and James Robertson, 
 present President of the society here, be appointed repre- 
 sentatives of the Pharmaceutical Society at the board of said 
 committee ; and it was also further resolved that the Council 
 should strongly recommend to the sub-committee to admit 
 Dr. Douglas Maclagan as representing the honorary members 
 of the society in Scotland." 
 
 These proceedings on the part of the Pharmacopoeia Com- 
 mittee of the Medical Council were justified by resolutions 
 which had been passed at the first meeting of the General 
 Council of Medical Education and Registration held in the 
 hall of the Royal College of Physicians, London, on the 23rd 
 of November, 1858, which were to the following effect : 
 
 " 1. That the following gentlemen be appointed a commit- 
 tee to prepare and publish the national Pharmacopoeia with all 
 convenient speed : Dr. Christison, Dr. Thomas Watson, Sir 
 James Clark, Bart., Mr. Green, Dr. Apjohn, Mr. Syme, Dr. 
 Williams, Dr. Andrew Wood, Mr. Nussey, Dr. Leet, with 
 power to add to their number ; Dr. Christison to be convener. 
 
 " 2. That this Committee shall have full power to commu- 
 nicate with the three Colleges of Physicians, and to request 
 their co-operation in preparing the Pharmacopoeia, and to beg 
 them for that purpose to appoint Fellows of the several 
 Colleges to be associated with the committee of the General 
 Medical Council. 
 
 "3. That the committee shall have power to communicate 
 with the Pharmaceutical Society for the same purpose. 
 
 "4. That the committee shall have power to appoint a che- 
 mist or chemists, to carry on such chemical and pharmaceu- 
 tical researches as may be found necessary, and to pay those 
 gentlemen such remuneration as the committee of the Gene- 
 ral Council may think advisable. 
 
 " 5. That a sum of 500 be voted by the General Council, 
 from the registration fees of existing practitioners, in order to 
 defray the cost of preparing the Pharmacopoeia for printing."
 
 -1 2 PHARMACOPOEIA WOEK TO BE DONE. 
 
 It \va.s also resolved, 
 
 " That it be au instruction to tlie Pharmacopceia Committee 
 that tlie Phai'macopceia be published in the English language, 
 with the list of the materia mediea and compounds in the 
 Latin language." 
 
 It could not have been otherwise than gratifying to the 
 Pharmaceutical Society to find that ifc was thus placed in so 
 prominent and honourable a position by the Medical Council in 
 relation to the one subject on which it claimed to possess an 
 amount of practical knowledge superior to that of medical 
 men who were not engaged in pharmacy. It was the highest 
 public recognition that could have been given, by the most 
 competent authority in the kingdom, that the subject of 
 pharmacy was being and had for a series of years been, 
 cultivated, advanced, and practised, legitimately, consistently, 
 and with effect, by those who were now invited to assist in 
 the compilation of a national Pharmacopceia. The compli- 
 ment was gracefully paid to those who were thought to 
 have deserved it. But it was felt that no small amount of 
 responsibility was thus thrown on to the representatives of 
 British pharmacy ; and the President of the society was fore- 
 most in expressing an anxious solicitude for the credit of his 
 brethren. Mr. Bell knew that for four or [five years the 
 society had been invited by the College of Physicians to per- 
 form a similar service ; and, with the exception of what had 
 been done by some three or four members of the London 
 committee, little if anything had been contributed. It was 
 indeed hardly to be expected that very much should have 
 been elicited under the circumstances. If the appeal was 
 intended to be made to members of the society generally, or 
 to the body of chemists and druggists, the subject, or at any 
 rate the mode of dealing with it, was so perfectly new to them, 
 that a sense of diffidence would in most cases have deterred 
 those who may have had a knowledge of facts worth com- 
 municating from putting them forward. Then the circum- 
 stance that there was a committee of pharmacists, and also 
 other committees, engaged on the work, would be considered 
 by the members generally to have relieved them of respon- 
 sibility on the subject. The several committees in London 
 and elsewhere were nsked to confine their attention to certain 
 specified suhjpcH, and their i*e]>oiis were to lie submitted to a
 
 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES FOE THE PHARMACOPEIA. 273 
 
 subsequent revision by the general committee. This division 
 of labour and responsibility could not be considered favourable 
 to a successful result of the undertaking, and yet on this 
 occasion it could not well have been avoided. The British 
 Pharmacopoeia work, however, was in active operation. 
 
 In carrying out this important work, one of the questions 
 that appeai'ed to present considerable difficulty in the way of 
 its being satisfactorily settled, was that of the system of 
 weights and measures to be recognised in the Pharmacopoeia, 
 for use in prescribing and dispensing as well as preparing 
 medicines. This subject had already been discussed at 
 meetings of the Pharmaceutical Society, and considerable 
 difference of opinion was found to exist, not only among 
 members of the society, but among scientific and practical 
 men outside the society, who had devoted much attention 
 to the subject. Prior to the year 1850, the three Colleges of 
 Physicians in the United Kingdom had agreed in adopting 
 the same weights, namely apothecaries' weights, in their 
 Pharmacopoeias; but in that year the Dublin College, in 
 bringing out a new Pharmacopoeia, adopted a new system 
 of weights, previously unknown, and still unrecognised by 
 law, in which the avoirdupois pound and ounce were used 
 with the troy grain, but with a new drachm and scruple. In 
 this system the avoirdupois ounce was divided into 8 drachms, 
 each representing 54' 68 troy grains ; and the drachm was 
 divided into 3 scruples, each representing 18"22 troy grains. 
 The principal object in adopting this system was, to do away 
 with the inconvenience and source of error arising from the 
 use of two sorts of weights, one for buying and selling drugs, 
 and the other for prescribing and dispensing them. But the 
 Irish system had the grave defect that two of the weights, 
 the drachm and scruple, were illegal, and that the grain was 
 not an integral part of either the ounce, drachm, or scruple. 
 The system did not meet with approval in this country. 
 
 Several propositions were made for removing the difficulties 
 which stood in the way of having one common system of 
 weights and measures alike applicable and suitable for buying 
 and selling, prescribing and dispensing medicines ; or at least 
 of having weights suitable for prescribing and dispensing 
 medicines, that were integral parts of those used in ordinary 
 commercial transactions.
 
 274 SUGGESTED SYSTEMS OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 
 
 There were many persons, especially among those whose 
 pursuits had taken a scientific turn, who were favourable to 
 the adoption of the French metrical system; but public 
 opinion was not yet prepared for so great a change as this 
 would have involved. Others, although doubting the feasi- 
 bility of introducing the metrical system in this country, yet 
 approving of a decimal arrangement of weights, suggested 
 certain modifications of one or other of our existing systems, 
 with the view of giving them a decimal character. 
 
 Mr. "Warder, at a meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society 
 held in December, 1858, suggested a decimal division of the 
 avoirdupois pound, into 10 ounces, 100 drachms, 1000 scruples, 
 and 10,000 grains. This was a radical change, which was 
 scarcely considered worth a consideration. 
 
 Mr. Abraham, of Liverpool, at an earlier date, in 1855, in dis- 
 cussing the subject of weights and measures, maintained that 
 a decimal system was much to be desired; and that, although 
 the time was probably far distant when the Legislature would 
 compel the general use of a decimal system of weights, he 
 thought something might be done to lessen the inconvenience 
 experienced in the use of existing systems in this country. 
 He suggested that in all pharmacopoeial formulae only two 
 denominations of weight should be specified, namely the 
 troy grain and the avoirdupois pound of 7000 grains ; that 
 quantities less than a pound or some aliquot part, should be 
 expressed in grains, and that sets of grain weights should be 
 kept, consisting of 6000, 3000, 2000, 1000, 600, 300, 200, 100 
 grains, and the small weights commonly used in dispensing. 
 
 Mr. Griffin, at a meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society 
 in March, 1855, proposed a decimal system of weights and 
 measures which at least possessed the merit of completeness. 
 This system cannot be more concisely or better described 
 than in the terms used by Mr Griffin on the occasion referred 
 to. " He considered that the change might be effected without 
 much difficulty, because a decimal relation already existed 
 between the avoirdupois pound, our standard for weights, and 
 the gallon, our standard for measures. Ten avoirdupois 
 pounds of water, at 60 Fahr., make an imperial gallon. One 
 pound of water is sixteen fluid ounces, or four-fifths of a pint. 
 Its volume is a decigallon, or the tenth part of a gallon. If 
 the avoirdupois pound were divided into 1000 units of weight,
 
 SUGGESTED SYSTEMS OP WEIGHTS AND MEASUBES. 275 
 
 and the decigallon into 1000 units of measure, we should 
 have a decimal system as perfect as that of France, a system 
 in which there would be a strict correspondence between the 
 weights and measures, and yet without interference with the 
 existing legal standards. The unit of weight in the proposed 
 system would be equal to 7 imperial grains. The cor- 
 responding unit of measure would be of the bulk of 7 grains 
 of water. It would be necessary to give different names to 
 these units, in order to distinguish the weight from the 
 measure. The weight might be called a Baro, and the 
 measure a Barim. 1000 baros would be equal to a pound, 
 and 1000 barims would be equal to a decigallon. Weights 
 intermediate between the pound and baro would be obtained 
 by taking the ounce at the tenth, part of the pound, and the 
 drachm at the tenth part of the ounce. The measures would 
 be subdivided correspondingly. The formula 1'525 pound 
 would then represent 1 pound, 5 ounces, 2 drachms, and 5 
 baros. The French decimal system is exactly similar to this, 
 for 1'525 k. is read 1 kilogramme, 5 hectogrammes, 2 deca- 
 grammes, and 5 grammes. It has, however, been found in 
 France that the denominations existing between the kilo- 
 gramme and the gramme are too cumbrous for popular use, 
 so that the formula 1'525 k. is commonly read 1 kilogramme, 
 and 525 grammes, omitting the intermediate denominations. 
 The same result would, no doubt, to some extent occur with 
 us, and the formula T525 Ib. would be read as 1 pound and 
 525 baros. The weights and denominations of ounce and 
 drachm would nevertheless be highly useful, for the formula 
 525 would be 5y ounces, and '025 would be 2^ drachms." 
 " The proposed decimal ounce would contain 700 of our 
 present grains, and would bear to the avoirdupois ounce the 
 relation of 70 to 43| or 16 to 10, and to the troy ounce the 
 relation of 70 to 48, or nearly of 3 to 2. Being divisible into 
 10 drachms, and into 100 barims, and also, if required, into 
 halves and quarters, it offers as many subdivisions as are 
 likely to be required for any purpose of science or commerce. 
 " The term grain could disappear, unless it were thought 
 fit to retain it for the unit instead of adopting the word baro. 
 The term pint would also disappear, unless retained to denote 
 the decigallon, instead of denoting, as it now does, the octo- 
 gallon. Such terms as fluid ounce and fluid drachm are too
 
 276 SUGGESTED SYSTEMS OP WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 
 
 clumsy to be worth retaining. It is expedient to have terms 
 that will at once distinguish between a measure and a 
 weight." 
 
 " The barim = 7 grains of water, is a very convenient unit 
 volume for liquid measures. The French centimetre cube = 
 1 gramme of water, contains 2'2 barims; but in practice this 
 unit has been found to be inconveniently large, and in con- 
 sequence nearly all scientific instruments are graduated to 
 half centimetre cubes, a division that bears to the barim the 
 relation of 1-1 to I'O." 
 
 When the Pharmacopoeia Committees in connection with 
 the Medical Council had entered on their work, and it be- 
 came necessary to decide what weights and measures should 
 be used in describing the processes, some further suggestions 
 were made bearing on the subject. 
 
 Dr. Charles Wilson, of Edinburgh, submitted a proposition 
 to the Edinburgh Committee which was favourably received 
 there in the first instance. It was to the following effect : 
 that the troy grain should be reduced to O91145 of its re- 
 cognised weight, in which case the grain weight would cor- 
 respond with the weight of a minim measure of distilled 
 water. Then, 20 such grains representing the scruple, 60 
 such grains representing the drachm, 480 representing the 
 ounce, which would coincide with the avoirdupois ounce, 
 and 7680 representing the pound, coinciding with the avoir- 
 dupois pound, would form a system in which the pound and 
 ounce would correspond with the standard imperial weights 
 of those denominations established by law, while the sub- 
 divisions of the ounce into drachms, scruples, and grains 
 would bear the same relations to the ounce that the apothe- 
 caries' drachm, scruple, and grain bear to the troy ounce. 
 This proposition was freely discussed both in Edinburgh and 
 London, but the prevailing opinions were unfavourable to 
 its adoption. 
 
 Propositions were also made by Mr. Peter Squire and by 
 Mr. Robert Warington. 
 
 Mr. Squire objected to the introduction of the avoirdupois 
 weight for use in the Pharmacopoeia, and strongly urged the 
 retention of the apothecaries' weight. He recommended that 
 in all formulae in which weights are used, in addition to giving 
 the apothecaries' weight there should be a separate column in
 
 ADULTERATION OF FOOD BILL. POISON BILL. 277 
 
 which the quantities should be represented according to the 
 metric system, the latter being expressed in approximate 
 equivalents, which, as he pointed out, could be easily done in 
 whole numbers. 
 
 Mr. Waringfcou's proposition was in the same direction as 
 Mr. Griffin's, but not worked out to the same extent. He 
 suggested that the pound avoirdupois of 7000 grains should 
 be taken as the unit, and decimated for the lower denomi- 
 nations down to 70 grains, the extreme of the scale being one 
 grain. 
 
 There were thus ample materials put before the General 
 Committee of the Medical Council, from which to choose a 
 system of weights and measures ; but the great diversity of 
 the propositions made, and the differences of opinion expressed 
 with reference to them, probably tended as much to perplex 
 as to convince the committee, and the result was that no one 
 of the propositions was adopted. 
 
 Mr. Bell, although suffering in health from the effects of a 
 chronic affection of the larynx, which rendered the use of his 
 voice and even the swallowing of food painful and difficult 
 operations, was unremitting in his endeavours to stimulate 
 his fellow -members to a creditable display of what pharma- 
 cists, after eighteen years' training, could do towards the pro- 
 duction of a Pharmacopoeia. He wrote a paper which was 
 read at a Pharmaceutical meeting on the 3rd of February, 
 1859, on some of the processes of the Pharmacopceia which 
 he thought required revision. But although he could thus 
 use his pen, he was at this time unable to read his paper, or 
 even to be present at the meeting. 
 
 Two subjects which had previously occupied the attention 
 of the Legislature and called forth a good deal of discussion 
 among pharmacists, were now again brought prominently into 
 notice by the introduction of Bills into Parliament "for pre- 
 venting the adulteration of articles of food and drink," and 
 " for regulating the keeping and sale poisons." A recent ac- 
 cident which had proved fatal to the lives of many persons, 
 had contributed to keep up the excitement which had existed 
 for several years in the public mind with reference to the latter 
 of these subjects. 
 
 A manufacturer of cheap peppermint lozenges at Bradford, 
 had, through the mistake of a druggist's assistant, put white
 
 278 AKSENIC IN PEPPERMINT LOZENGES. 
 
 arsenic instead of sulphate of lime into his lozenges, and 
 these had been sold at a stall in the public market. The 
 result was that twenty persons who ate some of these lozenges 
 died, and about two hundred others suffered more or less 
 severely from the effects of the poison. 
 
 This happened in the latter end of October, 1858. The 
 case served to illustrate the effects of adulteration as often 
 practised, and of the careless and unrestricted way in which 
 poisons were kept and sold. It appeared that the lozenge- 
 maker, in the production of his cheap lozenges, was in the 
 habit of substituting sulphate of lime (gypsum) for part of 
 the sugar, and to prevent those employed in the manufacture 
 from knowing what the adulterant was, it was called " daff," 
 under which name it was kept and sold by druggists. 
 
 Having occasion to prepare a batcli of lozenges in readiness 
 for market day, the lozenge-maker sent to a druggist for 
 twelve pounds of " daff." The druggist was ill in bed, and 
 his assistant, who had been with him only a few weeks on trial 
 with a view to his being apprenticed, having no previous 
 knowledge of the business, and not knowing where the "daff" 
 was kept or what it was, went to his master's room to inquire. 
 He was told it was a white powder in a cask in a corner of 
 the attic ; but was not informed that close by the cask con- 
 taining the " daff" there was another cask containing white 
 arsenic, and that there was no visible label on either of them. 
 The lad, finding a cask as described with a white powder in it, 
 which proved to be arsenic, took the quantity required, and 
 having supplied it to the customer, it was made into lozenges 
 with sugar and oil of peppermint. These were supplied in 
 the market next day at less than a penny an ounce. Each 
 lozenge contained about ten grains of arsenic. 
 
 The parties implicated in this transaction were put on their 
 trial for manslaughter, and acquitted, the druggist being 
 merely censured for not having the arsenic cask properly 
 labelled. 
 
 It was no matter of surprise to find, after the occurrence of 
 this dreadful accident, that the Government were again pre- 
 pared to introduce their Poison Bill. The council, in antici- 
 pation of this result, had prepared the draft of a Bill such as 
 they could assent to, and this was submitted to the Home 
 Secretary, Mr. Walpole, who, on the 3rd of February, 1859,
 
 THE POISON BILL OPPOSED AND WITHDRAWN. 279 
 
 introduced the Government Bill. The most objectionable 
 provisions of the Bill of the previous session were omitted in 
 this ; but still it could not be allowed to pass without modifi- 
 cation or opposition. A deputation from the council waited 
 on the Home Secretary and urged their views ; further con- 
 cessions were made by the Government ; and the Bill was 
 ultimately so far emasculated that it was not thought to be 
 worth any further attempts to carry it, and it was accordingly 
 withdrawn. 
 
 The Bill for preventing the adulteration of food and drink 
 also failed to pass, although, after the discussions and criti- 
 cisms it had undergone, it began to assume a more practicable 
 character. In one respect, however, a great step was now 
 taken towards the prevention of the adulteration of drink, by 
 the adoption by the Government of a method of diverting the 
 sewage of London from parts of the Thames from which 
 water was drawn for domestic use. Powers for carrying on fc 
 the Main Drainage of London were given to the Metropolitan 
 Board of Works, which had been constituted in 1855, the year 
 in which Professor Faraday, by dropping his card from a 
 steamer into the muddy river and representing the rapidity 
 with which it became invisible, so forcibly drew attention in 
 the Times newspaper to the highly polluted state of this great 
 sewer. 
 
 Several communications were made through the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society which appeared to have originated in a desire 
 to assist those who were engaged in preparing the British 
 Pharmacopoeia. Mr. Henry Deane had been experimenting 
 on the preparation of soap liniment, and contributed some 
 valuable suggestions for preventing its gelatinization in cold 
 weather. Mr. Giles, of Clifton, originated a lengthy discus- 
 sion on spermaceti ointment, in which he took exception to 
 the frequently occurring practice of using bleached olive oil 
 in its preparation. Numerous short notes on pharmacopreial 
 processes were contributed by Mr. B. S. Proctor, of New- 
 castle ; Mr. Thomas Southall, of Birmingham ; Mr. Boucher, 
 of Bristol; Mr. C. R. C. Tichborne, and Mr. Muskett, of 
 Dublin. Mr. Haselden and Mr. Bell furnished papers on 
 concentrated infusions and fluid extracts ; Mr. T. H. Hills 
 on the preparation of lard, and on extract and fluid extract 
 of taraxacum; and Professor Bentley, on the best time for col-
 
 280 SERIOUS STATE OF MR. BELI/S HEALTH. 
 
 lecting and on the constituents of taraxacum root. These and 
 other contributions served to show that there was not only 
 the disposition but the power to render valuable assistance in 
 compiling the important work with the production of which 
 the Medical Council was entrusted. 
 
 In some respects the position of pharmacy and of those 
 who were making its cultivation and improvement the objects 
 of their exclusive professional pursuit, may be said to have 
 been susceptible at this time of a very favourable comparison 
 with what they had been in times past. There was now a 
 well-organized body of what might be called pharmacists 
 proper of men whose special pursuit was that of pharmacy. 
 They were recognised by law, appealed to and consulted by 
 the highest medical authorities in the country on purely phar- 
 maceutical subjects, and, through the influence of a well- 
 sustained system of professional education, were acquiring the 
 power of efficiently fulfilling what was required in this de- 
 partment of medical practice. There was room for congratu- 
 lation in reviewing the past, room for satisfaction in many 
 respects in the contemplation of the present, but ground for 
 some uneasiness even now, and still more for apprehension in 
 regard to the immediate future. Great as were the benefits 
 conferred upon the cause of pharmaceutical progress by the 
 almost exclusive devotion to its interests of the energies of a 
 man of superior abilities, who had enlisted all the means at 
 his command in the furtherance of this cause, there was 
 reason to fear that so much had been left to be carried out 
 by those individual exertions, that should they unfortunately 
 fail, the advancement of the cause must sustain a severe 
 check. 
 
 With loss of health Mr. Bell's effective exertions were now 
 failing. For many months he had been losing strength, 
 while the disease which preyed on his physical powers, having 
 resisted all efforts to subdue its ravages, assumed a chronic 
 form and threatened the speedy destruction of its victim. 
 Those who were brought into personal communication with 
 Mr. Bell were not unprepared for the fatal issue now impend- 
 ing, nor was the sufferer himself less sensible than his friends 
 were of the serious nature of his malady. In concluding the 
 eighteenth volume of the Pharmaceutical Journal, after briefly 
 reviewing the objects and results of his editorial labours, he
 
 DEATH OP JACOB BELL. 281 
 
 concluded by saying, " The Editor, having been for a con- 
 siderable time suffering from a pulmonary disorder, attended 
 with debility and loss of voice, feels that it will be necessary 
 for him at no distant period to relinquish the responsibility 
 of the management of the Journal. Should his anticipation 
 in this respect be realized, it is his intention to place the 
 Journal more directly under the control of the Council, and 
 aiTangements have been made with this object." 
 
 This sentence was written at the end of May, and published 
 ostensibly on the 1st of June, 1859. It contains the last 
 editorial words contributed to the Pharmaceutical Journal by 
 the man who for eighteen years had been its editor and pro- 
 prietor. 
 
 Practically the printing and issuing of the Journal bearing 
 date the 1st of June, took place some days before that date ; 
 and on the 1st of June there was a meeting of council, at 
 which Mr. Bell presided. On this occasion the President 
 expressed his intention of presenting the copyright of the 
 Journal to the Society, coupling this statement with an ex- 
 planation of his views and desires as to its future manage- 
 ment. 
 
 Before another number of the Journal appeared, the remains 
 of Jacob Bell had been consigned to their last resting-place. 
 After trying the effects of change of air at Hastings and other 
 places, the atmosphere of Tunbridge Wells was found to suit 
 him best, and here he had been staying for a short time before 
 his death, which took place on the 12th of June, 1859. 
 
 The announcement of this sad event was a source of un- 
 feigned grief to a wide circle, not only of personal friends but 
 of those who merely knew Mr. Bell by name and were accus- 
 tomed to consider him an almost essential advocate and sup- 
 porter of the good work in which the Pharmaceutical Society 
 was engaged. His short life had been devoted to the one 
 chief object of his ambition, the union of the whole body of 
 chemists and druggists in association, for the establishment 
 of a sound and comprehensive system of pharmaceutical 
 education, for the attainment of parliamentary recognition 
 and support in securing to a body of qualified pharmacists 
 the privileges to which they were entitled, for elevating the 
 professional status of such a body, and for generally advanc- 
 ing the interests of pharmacy. He had seen the fulfilment of
 
 282 BELL'S EARLY LIFE AND APPRENTICESHIP. 
 
 much ofhis object, and died in the faith that others who had 
 hitherto co-operated with him would live to see the more 
 complete accomplishment of the work. 
 
 Jacob Bell was the eldest surviving son of John Bell, and 
 was born at 338, Oxford Street, in the parish of St. James, 
 Westminster, on the 5th of March, 1810. His early education 
 was provided at home. At twelve years of age he was sent 
 to the school of his uncle, Frederick Smith, at Darlington, 
 where he remained four years, and received a good general 
 and classical education, such as was considered suitable for the 
 business occupation for which he was intended. Frederick 
 Smith's school had been established for supplying a superior 
 education to the children of wealthy members of the Society 
 of Friends. It acquired a good reputation as a classical 
 school. The progress that young Bell made there was con- 
 sidered satisfactory. In some respects he took a prominent 
 part among the scholars, and was especially distinguished for 
 the facility with which he wrote essays, composed facetious 
 dialogues in Hudibrastic style, and illustrated them with very 
 clever pen-and-ink sketches. In connection with a school- 
 fellow he contributed to the maintenance for some time of 
 a humorous manuscript periodical which was devoted to 
 school news and chit-chat. 
 
 On leaving school Jacob Bell took the position of an 
 apprentice in his father's business. His father at that time 
 had two partners, one of whom, Thomas Zachary, resided on 
 the premises ; and the young apprentice was put under the 
 immediate control of this partner and was made to submit 
 to all the regulations to which apprentices and junior assist- 
 ants were subjected. The early closing movement had not 
 then come into operation. A senior assistant, with one or 
 two juniors, commenced their duties at eight o'clock in the 
 morning, and were actively engaged in the shop until eleven 
 o'clock at night, when the door was finally closed, the shutters 
 having been put up, when practicable, at nine o'clock. Other 
 assistants were in attendance in the evening on half-duty, 
 ready to be called upon if necessary. None were allowed 
 to leave the premises in the evening without special per- 
 mission ; but those off duty were free to go out in the morn- 
 ing before breakfast. The evening hours of those not on 
 duty were either spent in the counting-house at the back of
 
 AN ASSISTANT'S LIFE IN OXFORD STREET. 283 
 
 the shop or in the bed-rooms, where each assistant had a desk 
 and a few shelves on which to keep such books as he was 
 enabled to provide for himself, and where the studious oc- 
 cupied themselves to their great benefit. At breakfast and 
 tea time conversation was not allowed, as all were engaged 
 in reading. There was a book- case in the room containing a 
 few books, mostly religious, with " Thomson's Dispensatory," 
 " Thomas's Practice of Physic," and a few other works of that 
 sort. But most of the reading done was in general literature, 
 and the books either belonged to the readers or were obtained 
 from public libraries. No light literature was admitted, and 
 systematic scientific study was but rarely pursued by chemists' 
 assistants at that time. The writer of this notice having been 
 associated with Jacob Bell during his apprenticeship, and 
 being in fact his most intimate associate, the reading and 
 studies of these two were carried on to a great extent in 
 unison, and took after a time a distinctly scientific turn. In 
 an establishment in which there were, as here, several assist- 
 ants, all kept under strict discipline and all occupying their 
 leisure time with studies of one sort or another, but without 
 tiny definite curriculum being imposed, there was naturally 
 some diversity in the studies adopted. There was poetical 
 Watson, logical Jones, classical Hodgson, commercial Nelson, 
 and especially Alsop, who made chemistry and chemical 
 analysis chief subjects of his study, and the influence of whose 
 example was not unimportant. 
 
 The writer has often looked back with satisfaction to the 
 great benefit he derived from the regular half -hourly readings 
 at breakfast and tea time every day during seven years of his 
 early life spent at 338, Oxford Street. It was the practice to 
 take books of substantial information and read them through 
 in this way. No better system of study by reading could be 
 devised. The mind was never wearied, nor was the continuity 
 of the subject too much broken up. Fortunately there were 
 no cheap serial publications then, and newspaper reading 
 was not allowed to engender a taste for idle gossip or frivolous 
 excitement. 
 
 The young apprentice, Bell, now began to take a better 
 position in the house. He attended lectures on chemistry 
 at the Royal Institution, and on the practice of physic at 
 King's .College. He was relieved from the shop-duties of an
 
 284 THE HABITS OP THE YOUNG MASTER. 
 
 apprentice, and allowed to take out-door exercise on horse- 
 back. This was his favourite recreation, and he became an 
 accomplished horseman. Nor were his studies confined to 
 subjects appertaining to pharmacy. He had always manifested 
 a taste for the fine arts, and especially for drawing. He 
 attended the morning classes at Sass's drawing-school, and 
 took lessons iu oil-painting from his friend Mr. H. P. Briggs, 
 R.A. Daring his apprentice days he recorded in a journal 
 the incidents of his business life, in which he introduced a 
 large number of pen-and-ink sketches, some of which possessed 
 considerable merit. Various members of the household, in- 
 cluding even some of those in authority, if their exercise of 
 discipline clashed with the laxer ideas of the young master, 
 figured in some caricature representations, in which, however, 
 the supremacy of law was always maintained. He became 
 after a time the occupant of a larger bedroom than that which 
 in the first instance sufficed for him, and this was soon made 
 into bedroom, sitting room, and laboratory. A chemical 
 furnace was fixed in it, and many of the experiments were 
 imported here from the lectures at the Royal Institution. 
 Even the roof of the house was converted into a laboratory, 
 and there also processes of dissection in connection with com- 
 parative anatomy were conducted . 
 
 It will be readily conceived that a young master endowed 
 with these exuberant tendencies for the cultivation of art and 
 science, would be calculated at times to disturb the equanimity 
 of the ruling authority in a quiet quaker family. But Jacob 
 .Bell, although possessed of a lively imagination, sensitive to 
 the pleasures derived from the study of objects of art, and 
 ever active and enthusiastic in all he undertook, had judgment 
 and discretion enough to enable him to distinguish between 
 what was admissible in connection with business occupations 
 and what might be legitimately indulged in by those who 
 were relieved from such responsibilities. His love and ap- 
 preciation of art had enabled him to form numerous acquaint- 
 ances among artists and the patrons of art, and he was thus 
 led into a kind of society widely different from that of the 
 families among whom he had been educated. He threw off 
 all appearance of quakerism, and entered with much spirit 
 into the enjoyments of fashionable society. Being a good 
 rider and accustomed to ride good horses, he became fond of
 
 HIS LITERARY AND ARTISTIC ASSOCIATES. 285 
 
 hunting, but had the discretion to avoid bringing his hunting 
 attire into the house of business. He relinquished this occu- 
 pation, when he found that his father took it greatly to heart, 
 and was grieved to think that his son could engage in such 
 cruel sport. But Jacob was no hypocrite, and never tried to 
 pass for anything better than he was. He entertained to the 
 last a strong belief in some of the leading principles fo 
 quakerism, but did not include among these the necessity or 
 desirableness of adopting what are called the qnaker pecu- 
 liarities of dress or language. Nor did he consider the 
 higher influences of music sensual in any objectionable 
 sense, or the cultivation of high art calculated to degrade or 
 corrupt rational and well-educated human beings. At the 
 period at which the Pharmaceutical Society was founded, John 
 Bell's partners had left the business and Jacob was taking 
 their place. He had now assumed the position of master in 
 the establishment, and having an ample income, he shortly 
 afterwards took a house for his private residence in Langham 
 Place. Reference has already been made to the pharma- 
 ceutical meetings held at the house of business in Oxford 
 Street. That was before the house in Langham Place had 
 been taken. Among the acquaintance which Jacob Bell had 
 formed at this time were the Landseers, especially Edwin, 
 -afterwards Sir Edwin, Briggs, Frith, Ward, Cooper, Stone, 
 Hunt, and other eminent artists of the day ; Charles Dickens, 
 Thackeray, Talfourd, and other literary celebrities ; numerous 
 musical performers, and a host of medical and other scientific 
 men. There were brilliant parties in Langham Place, to which 
 Mr. Bell was accustomed to invite several of his pharma- 
 ceutical friends ; but these were not pharmaceutical meetings 
 such as had previously been held at 338, Oxford Street. 
 Those meetings had been transferred to Bloomsbury Square, 
 where the Pharmaceutical Society was now in full operation. 
 Frequent reference has been made throughout the latter 
 part of this Historical Sketch to the active part which Mr. 
 Bell took in all the proceedings of the society. None of his 
 labours, however, were more serviceable to the society than 
 those which were expended on the Pharmaceutical Jouriml. 
 After the hours of business were ended journal work usually 
 commenced, and from eight or nine o'clock in the evening 
 until often past midnight, two or three times a week, or some-
 
 286 HIS EDITORIAL ASSOCIATES. 
 
 times oftener, the editor and sub-editor were associated 
 in editorial work, or in conference on questions affecting 
 the interests of the cause to the furtherance of which the 
 Pharmaceutical Society and its Journal were devoted. Not 
 unfrequently these conferences were relieved or enlivened by 
 an adjournment to her Majesty's Theatre, where Mr. Bell 
 usually had a box throughout the opera season, or to some 
 other place of amusement. Very soon after the appointment 
 of Dr. Pereira as Professor to the Society, he was induced to 
 render valuable service in the selection of articles on Materia 
 Medica for the Journal, and to superintend the translation of 
 such as were taken from foreign journals. Once a month the 
 editor and sub-editor spent an evening at Dr. Pereira's house 
 in Finsbury Square, to arrange the matter for a forthcoming 
 number, and provide for the future. Those meetings con- 
 tinued up to the time of Dr. Pereira's death, after which a 
 new arrangement was made, by which assistance was obtained 
 from Professor Bentley, Mr. Daniel Hanbnry, and Mr. Joseph 
 Ince. It might be confidently said that none of those who 
 were thus associated with Mr. Bell in editorial work were 
 otherwise than impressed with the feeling that they had a 
 leader who was worthy of the position, who never gave them 
 the slightest ground for thinking that their services were 
 under-valued, or who was accustomed to over-estimate his. 
 own powers. Mr. Bell was not above asking advice from 
 those he thought most capable of assisting him in judiciously 
 treating the subjects referred to in leading articles, in the 
 Journal. A vast deal of time was thus often occupied in con- 
 sulting members of council and others, and trying, at least, 
 to reconcile the opinions offered with those he might consider 
 it his duty to express. 
 
 For some years before Mr. Bell's death, Mr. John Barnard 
 had acted as his private secretary, and in that capacity had 
 rendered great service in connection with journal work. 
 
 It was no easy matter at times to satisfy members of the 
 society that all was being done that ought to be dono towards 
 obtaining for the society and its members the much desired 
 legislative recognition, together with the concession of some 
 exclusive privileges. There was an ever-recurring murmur 
 of complaint that without an Act of Parliament the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society could not be of any great service to those
 
 HIS ELECTION FOE ST. ALBANS. 287 
 
 who were contributing to its support. Mr. Bell had been in 
 frequent communication with those members of the House 
 of Commons who were thought to be most likely to take up 
 the subject of pharmaceutical legislation, with a view of in- 
 troducing a Bill into Parliament. Warburton, "Wakley, Dun- 
 combe, and others were tried, but they were either indifferent 
 or lukewarm, or not prepared to advocate the required 
 principles. There was much ignorance among members of 
 Parliament generally of the qualifications required for the 
 practice of pharmacy, and it was felt that it would be a 
 dangerous experiment to introduce a Bill into Parliament 
 unless it were in charge of a member fully conversant with 
 all the circumstances under which legislation was required. 
 In connection with medical legislation, advantage had been 
 experienced by the general practitioners in having a man 
 like Mr. Wakley in the House, who, when the subject was 
 discussed, had a knowledge of all its bearinga, and could 
 advocate the cause of that section of the medical profes- 
 sion to which he was attached. It had been repeatedly 
 asked, " Why cannot pharmacy have its representative and 
 advocate in the House of Commons ? " No man was known, 
 more likely than Mr. Bell, to be induced to undertake, if it 
 were possible for him to obtain, so important a position. 
 Although sensible of the difficulty of attaining to it, Mr. Bell 
 was not unwilling to undertake the duties of the position. 
 The project had not been much discussed, except among a 
 few of Mr. Bell's friends, who favoured the proposition, when 
 an opening presented itself at St. Albans, caused by the death 
 of Mr. Raphael, in November, 1850. Mr. Bell determined to 
 offer himself as a candidate for the vacant seat. He was now 
 entering the arena of politics, and so little had he been ac- 
 customed to take part in political questions, that at first he 
 hardly knew which party he belonged to, but he soon found 
 that the tendency of his early associations had been to give 
 him a bias in favour of Liberal principles. He was, therefore, 
 the Liberal candidate for St. Albans, and after a sharp contest 
 with Alderman Garden, the Conservative candidate, was 
 returned by a good majority. His proceedings in Parliament, 
 the partial success of his endeavour to carry his Pharmacy 
 Bill, his disappointment with the result in that respect, and 
 his still further disappointment and mortification at finding
 
 288 THE CONTEST FOU MARYLEBONE AND ITS EFFECT. 
 
 that, through the unprincipled conduct of the agents employed 
 at his election, the borough of St. Albans was disfranchised, 
 and he was practically deprived of a constituency, although 
 allowed to retain his seat to the end of the Parliament all 
 this has already Jbeen noticed. 
 
 Mr. Bell's object in seeking a seat in Parliament was simply 
 that of promoting the passing of a law for regulating the 
 practice of pharmacy. He succeeded in getting a law passed, 
 but not the law that was desired, and further legislation was 
 therefore still wanted. He had not yet accomplished his 
 object, and as the Parliament to the end of which he retained 
 his seat was dissolved on the 1st of July, 1852, the day after 
 that on which the Pharmacy Act received the royal assent, 
 he had to seek a new constituency or leave to others the 
 accomplishment of the task he had undertaken. He had 
 not been implicated in the unlawful proceedings by which 
 his agents brought discredit on his election for St. Albans, 
 but the notoriety which the transaction had acquired, left a 
 sort of stigma, which was never entirely removed, and this 
 no doubt stood in the way of his getting another seat. He 
 contested Great Marlow at the election which took place in 
 the autumn of 1852, but was unsuccessful. At a later period, 
 in 1854, a vacancy having occurred in Marylebone, the 
 borough in which he resided, he became a candidate in 
 opposition to Viscount Ebrington, and although again unsuc- 
 cessful, he polled a greater number of votes than the suc- 
 cessful candidate had obtained at the previous election. In 
 this contest Mr. Bell received the cordial support of those of 
 his pharmaceutical brethren who resided in the borough, 
 showing that a prophet may have honour among his own 
 kinsmen. It was at this election he appears to have laid the 
 foundation of the disease which ultimately proved fatal to 
 him. Having occasion to address large assemblages in dif- 
 ferent parts of the extensive borough, and being at the same 
 time unmindful of the requirements of nature in the way of 
 sustenance, he overtaxed his physical powers, and by unduly 
 straining his voice, contracted an ulceration of the larynx, 
 from which he never recovered. That his devotion to the 
 interests of pharmacy continued undimmished has been 
 shown by the frequent reference we have had occasion to 
 make to his services in that direction up to the time of his
 
 LAST VISITORS AND FUNERAL. 289 
 
 death. His friend and partner, Mr. T. H. Hills, and his 
 friend and frequent adviser in cases of doubt or difficulty, Mr. 
 T. N". R. Morson, were his last visitors at Tnnbridge Wells, 
 where he died on Sunday, the 12th of June, 1859. He had 
 selected a spot for his interment in the Tunbridge Wells 
 Cemetery, close to the grave of his former friend, Dr. Golding 
 Bird. The instructions he left for his funeral were consis- 
 tent with his unostentatious deportment through life ; but 
 although the arrangements for the ceremony were directed 
 to be confined to his immediate relations, the Council and 
 officers of the Pharmaceutical Society could not be restrained 
 from following the last earthly track of him with whom 
 they had so long laboured harmoniously, and to whom they 
 were accustomed to look, as to one capable of fulfilling the 
 parts both of counsellor and leader. 
 
 The loss of one who had filled so important a position as that 
 which Jacob Bell occupied among the members of the pharma- 
 ceutical body, was felt to be a serious blow to the interests 
 of the cause with which he had been so intimately associated, 
 but at the same time it was hoped that this misfortune might 
 stimulate others who, although perhaps equally zealous, had 
 hitherto been less energetic, to increased activity. It was 
 obviously important, at any rate, that the depressing influence 
 of the loss of a leader should not be allowed to paralyse the 
 exertions of those whose duty it was now to fill up the ranks. 
 Meetings of the Council were held on the 14th and 16th of 
 June, and again on the 6th and 20th of July. Mr. T. N. R. 
 Morson was elected President, and Mr. Peter Squire, Vice- 
 President. Mr. Adolphus F. Haselden was also elected to fill 
 the vacancy in the Council. 
 
 At the meeting of Council on the 6th of July, the following 
 minute and resolutions were passed : 
 
 " The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, on this its 
 first meeting after the death of its President, Mr. Jacob Bell, 
 desires to record its grateful sense of the invaluable services 
 rendered by him to this society, from its earliest commence- 
 ment to the day of his death, and of the total self-abnegation 
 in which those services were ever given. 
 
 " In order to give permanence to this expression of grati- 
 tude : 
 
 !i 7iV.W?w?, That a committee be appointed to take the 
 
 u
 
 290 THE MEMORIAL AND THE BEQUEST. 
 
 requisite steps for forming a Capital Fund, out of which one 
 or more scholarships, bearing the name of Jacob Bell, may be 
 established in connection with the society. 
 
 " Resolved, That the following be appointed a committee 
 for carrying out the preliminary arrangements connected 
 with the above resolution: President, Vice-President, and 
 Treasurer; Messrs. Deane, G. Edwards, Lescher, Sandford, 
 and Waugh, with power to add to their number ; and that 
 they report to a special meeting of the Council." 
 
 At this meeting of Council the following communication 
 was received : 
 
 " 25, CAVENDISH SQUARE, W., 20th June, 1859. 
 " GENTLEMEN, 
 
 " By the direction of Mr. James Bell and Mr. Thomas 
 Hyde Hills, the executors of the late Mr. Jacob Bell, I for- 
 ward to you an extract of his will, whereby the sum of 2,000 
 is bequeathed to the trustees of the Pharmaceutical Society. 
 "I have the honour to be, gentlemen, 
 
 "Your very obedient servant, 
 
 " To the Council of the Pharmaceutical " GEO. BKACE. 
 
 Society of Great Britain." 
 
 "Extract of the Will of Jacob Sell, deceased, late of No. 15, 
 Lanr/ham Place, and No. 338, Oxford Street. 
 
 " I give and bequeath the sum of two thousand pounds to 
 the trustees for the time being of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society of Great Britain, which two thousand pounds are to 
 be paid exclusively and in priority to other legacies out of 
 such part of my personal estate as is by law applicable to 
 such payment, and to be expended in establishing or other- 
 wise increasing the efficiency of a School of Pharmacy, or in 
 promoting pharmaceutical education, in such manner as the 
 Council of the said society may deem expedient, but so that 
 the receipts of the trustees shall be good discharges to my 
 executors." 
 
 It was thereupon resolved, 
 
 " That the Council gratefully acknowledge the announce- 
 ment of the bequest of 2,000 by their late highly respected 
 President, Mr. Jacob Bell, to the Pharmaceutical Society, 
 and pledge themselves faithfully to carry out his expressed 
 wishes in the disposition thereof, to the best of their ability."
 
 THE JACOB BELL SCHOLARSHIPS. 291 
 
 The President, Mr. Morson, informed the Council that Mr. 
 Bell had, in his presence, executed the transfer of the copy- 
 right of the Pharmaceutical Journal to the society, and that 
 the document was in the hands of the executors. 
 
 At a subsequent meeting of the Council, a communication 
 was received from the solicitor, Mr. Brace, to the effect that, 
 acting under instructions, he had made the requisite entry of 
 the Pharmaceutical Journal and Transactions in the Registry 
 book of the Stationers' Company, on behalf of the Phar- 
 maceutical Society. 
 
 At a special meeting of the Council, held on the 20th of 
 July, the following report was received and adopted: 
 
 The committee appointed to consider the preliminary steps 
 to be taken for carrying out the proposed establishment of 
 Pharmaceutical Scholarships as a memorial of the late Mr. 
 Jacob Bell, report : 
 
 1. That they deem it desirable, if the amount subscribed be 
 sufficient, to establish two or more scholarships, to be in the 
 gift of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society for the 
 time being. 
 
 2. That they recommend that one or more of these scholar- 
 ships be open to registered apprentices, and associates of 
 the society who are under 21 years of age, and who shall be 
 considered to have established their claim thereto by capa- 
 bility, industry, and general good conduct : and that in 
 addition to these there be others of a higher grade to be 
 offered, with the view of encouraging the further prosecu- 
 tion of scientific study, to associates under 24 years of age 
 who have passed the major examination. 
 
 3. That they propose the following form of circular to be 
 sent to the members, associates, and registered apprentices 
 of the society : 
 
 " Many members of the Pharmaceutical Society and friends 
 of the late Mr. Jacob Bell, having expressed a desire that 
 some monument or testimonial should be erected to the 
 memory of their late President and friend, as a proof of their 
 high estimation of his disinterested exertions in promoting 
 the advancement of pharmaceutical knowledge, thereby 
 elevating those engaged in the practice of pharmacy to the 
 social position occupied by their brethren in other countries, 
 and also his activity in defending them from injurious legis-
 
 292 THE APPLICATION OF THE BEQUEST. 
 
 lation, the Council have resolved that no more appropriate 
 mode of accomplishing this object, nor one more in accordance 
 with the expressed opinions and wishes of the man they 
 desire to honour, could be adopted than the establishment, 
 by a general subscription, of scholarships, to be called ' The 
 Bell Memorial Pharmaceutical Scholarships,' which shall be 
 awarded, under suitable regulations, to industrious, well-con- 
 ducted, and competent registered apprentices and associates 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society. 
 
 " The details, including the extent of the proposed scholar- 
 ships, and the conditions on which they shall be awarded, 
 must necessarily depend . on the amount of subscriptions 
 obtained ; but the Council feel assured that such a sum will 
 be subscribed, as will enable them to establish not only minor 
 scholarships for young men less favoured by fortune than by 
 industry, but also one at least for the advancement of high 
 scientific attainments, so that there may thus be two classes 
 of scholarships tending to advance the reputation and dignity 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society." 
 
 The response to this address was both general and liberal. 
 Within a few months subscriptions were received amounting 
 to nearly two thousand pounds, which was invested in the 
 names of trustees, and this sum enabled the Council to found 
 two scholarships of the value of thirty pounds a year each. 
 These scholarships, which are held for one yeai m , are awarded 
 to students in the society's school. 
 
 "White this memorial was being founded, the Council were 
 considering the most suitable application to make of Mr. 
 Bell's bequest of two thousand pounds ; for although it could 
 only be used for the promotion of pharmaceutical education, 
 the precise mode of applying it had not been defined. Those 
 who had control over the fund knew pretty well what Mr. 
 Bell's desire would have been with refei'ence to it, and they 
 were anxious, as far as possible, to act in that direction. 
 They knew that nothing would have been farther from Mr. 
 Bell's desire than the disconnection of the school and the 
 society. There was, however, a proposition for the removal 
 of the laboratory from 17, Bloomsbury Square, to other pre- 
 mises ; and as this seemed to present a means by which the 
 school might be enlarged, and much additional accommoda- 
 tion at the snme time obtained for other purposes for whioh
 
 
 THE PROPOSED NEW LABORATORY. 
 
 the society required more house-room, the Council favoured 
 the plan, and gave instructions that inquiries should be made 
 for premises in the neighbourhood. Contiguous premises in 
 the rear of the society's house had been vacant some time 
 previously, which would have answered the purpose, but they 
 were not now to be had, nor could any others that were eligible 
 be found. The difficulty thus experienced arose partly from 
 the fact that all the property in the neighbourhood, with the 
 exception of that which the society occupied and had a lease 
 of, belonged to the Duke of Bedford, and the Duke's agent 
 was unwilling 1 to allow a chemical laboratory to be established 
 on the Bedford estate. The society had obtained a long lease 
 of the block of building forming the corner of Bloomsbury 
 Square and Great Russell Street, which had formerly been a 
 nobleman's mansion, but had subsequently been divided into 
 three houses. The house, 17, Bloomsbury Square, which was 
 first taken by the society, was one of these. The whole 
 block formed an exceptional instance of an isolated building, 
 belonging to another ground landlord, in the midst of the 
 Bedford property. 
 
 But even this building in its then existing state, although 
 capable of affording all the accommodation otherwise re- 
 quired for the use of the society, seemed to offer no facility 
 for the construction of a laboratory. After it had been de- 
 cided that the society should occupy the whole of the build- 
 ing, and a suggestion was made that a suite of laboratories 
 might be erected at the top of the house, extending over the 
 whole area, which would afford the required accommodation, 
 this was thought to be a feasible arrangement, and the 
 opinion of an architect was obtained, which fully justified 
 the suggestion. Plans were then prepared for extensive 
 alterations of the premises, and these were carried into effect 
 at a cost of several thousand pounds. 
 
 Another important matter which occupied the attention of 
 the Council was the adoption of suitable arrangements con- 
 nected with the editing of the Pharmaceutical Journal. As 
 the work had now become the property of the society, it 
 became necessary to consider what position it should occupy 
 with regard to the opinions expressed in it editorially. It 
 was difficult to lay down any precise rule for the guidance of 
 those entrusted with its management; but it seemed obvious
 
 294 NEW EDITORS OF THE JOURNAL. 
 
 that, under the altered condition of proprietorship, it would 
 be desirable to impose a greater amount of restraint upon 
 the expression of opinion than had previously been exercised 
 or required. Three editors were appointed, each taking a 
 special department ; namely, Professor Redwood, for Chem- 
 istry and Pharmacy; Professor- Bentley, for Botany and Mate- 
 ria Medica ; and Mr. John Barnard, for Commerce. There 
 was also a committee appointed by the Council, consisting of 
 the President of the society for the time being, Mr. T. N. R. 
 Morson, and Mr. Daniel Hanbury, who conferred with the 
 editors once a month. 
 
 We have now entered upon the year 1860, which was 
 characterized by the absence of any great excitement or 
 activity in the pharmaceutical world. Within there was no 
 hot contention or open discord on matters social or political, 
 and without there was no attempt to interfere by legislation 
 with the interests of pharmacy. Several papers were pub- 
 lished on pharmaceutical subjects, but they were mostly brief 
 notices of experiences in the preparation or use of medicines 
 either ordered in, or proposed to be introduced into, the 
 Pharmacopoeia, and originating in a desire to assist the 
 Pharmacopoeia Committee in the work they had in hand. 
 There was, however, one marked exception to the general 
 character of the papers published, in the case of a series of 
 papers which were commenced at this time by Mr. Daniel 
 Hanbury, on " Chinese Materia Medica." These papers, al- 
 though of slight practical importance, possessed considerable 
 literary and pharmacological interest. Among works of a 
 more substantial character may also be mentioned, Professor 
 Bentley's "Manual of Botany," a book worthy to take its 
 place by the side of Fownes's " Manual of Chemistry." The 
 Chemical Neivs (with which was incorporated the Chemical 
 Gazette) commenced its career at this time. 
 
 In Bloomsbury Square, the house of the society was sur- 
 rounded by scaffold-poles, and the arrangements of the estab- 
 lishment were in a state of disorder and reorganization. 
 Students were working at chemical and pharmaceutical 
 operations, not in their accustomed places, but wherever 
 unoccupied space could be found for them, and especially in 
 the room that has since become the library. It might be 
 said that the Pharmaceutical Society was moving under the
 
 DEATH OF SMITH AND FARMAR. 295 
 
 influence of a subdued tone at low tension and gathering 
 up its strength for future operations. 
 
 That a renewal of strength was necessary was made evident 
 by the breaches which death was repeatedly making in the 
 ranks of those who had been foremost in the fight. The 
 leader had gone, and with him, before him or after him, had 
 departed many of his able coadjutors, whose places were not 
 yet filled up. 
 
 Mr. George Walter Smith, the first Secretary and Registrar 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society, died on the 24th of May, 
 1860. We have had occasion to allude to the active part 
 Mr. Smith took in the formation of the society in 1841, and 
 subsequently. As Secretary, and afterwards as Registrar, he 
 continued to discharge his duties with untiring energy and 
 great ability, until the end of the year 1856, when declining 
 health obliged him to give up all active pursuits. His latter 
 years were spent in retirement at Brighton, where he died. 
 
 In the short space of little more than a month afterwards, 
 one who had been most closely associated with Mr. Smith in 
 the work of establishing the Pharmaceutical Society was 
 called to follow him. 
 
 Mr. Robert Adolph Farmar died at his residence in Mount 
 Street, Lambeth, on the 29th of June, 1860. We have 
 already so fully referred to the valuable services rendered by 
 Mr. Farmar in conjunction with Mr. Smith, when the society 
 was first started, that it is only necessary here to say, that he 
 continued to take a warm interest in the society's proceedings 
 up to the time of his death. 
 
 Scarcely had this same year expired when another very 
 able, active, and influential member of the society and of its 
 Council followed in the same inevitable track, leaving a gap 
 not easily filled. Mr. J. F. Macfarlan, of Edinburgh, died 
 on the 20th of February, 1861. In early life, Mr. Macfarlan 
 had obtained the diploma of the Royal College of Surgeons 
 of Edinburgh, and for a short time he practised medicine, 
 but he afterwards devoted himself exclusively to the business 
 of a chemist and druggist and manufacturing chemist, in 
 which he was highly successful. He took great interest in 
 public affairs, whether political, religious, social, moral, or 
 economic. When the Municipal Reform Bill first became law 
 in 1833, his fellow-citizens marked their appreciation of the
 
 296 MACFARLAN AND THE NORTH BRITISH BRANCH. 
 
 value of his services by placing him at the head of the poll. 
 He was also elected one of the magistrates, and he worthily 
 administered judgment from the bench of the police court. 
 On the formation of the Pharmaceutical Society he became 
 one of the members, and for many years was the represent- 
 ative of the North British Branch at the London Council 
 Board. The early adhesion to the society of a man of so 
 much influence as Mr. Macfarlan had acquired, was of con- 
 siderable importance to the interests of the cause in Scotland. 
 The Pharmaceutical Society did not in the first instance make 
 much progress there. So much was this the case, that when 
 the Pharmacy Bill was first drafted, its operation was con- 
 fined to England ; and even in 1858, Mr. Bell, in writing on 
 the subject of the North British Branch, said : " The Pharma- 
 ceutical Society is not yet fully established in Scotland. 
 Some of the leading chemists of Edinburgh joined it at or 
 near the commencement, and have been steadfast in their 
 endeavours to extend its influence, and commend it to the 
 favourable notice of their neighbours ; but it was difficult to 
 overcome the prevailing impression, that it was a London 
 society, and could confer but little benefit on members at a 
 distance. Consequently it made slow progress in the North, 
 and for several years it was doubtful whether any success 
 would attend the endeavour to establish an effective branch in 
 Scotland." A committee in connection with the Bloomsbury 
 Society had been in existence in Edinburgh for several years, 
 but it was not until shortly before the passing of the Pharmacy 
 Act, in 1852, that a separate board of examiners was appointed 
 there. In 1858 an attempt was made to get increased support 
 for the Pharmaceutical Society in North Britain, and a meet- 
 ing was held in Dundee, at which Mr. Mackay, the active 
 Secretary to the society at Edinburgh, read a paper on "The 
 past and present state of pharmacy ; with a special reference 
 to the origin and progress of the Pharmaceutical Society." 
 
 It is to the steady, persistent exertions of Mr. Mackay 
 that we must chiefly ascribe the successful establishment and 
 active operations of the North British Branch of the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society. After the death of Mr. Macfarlan, Mr. 
 Mackay was elected a member of the London Council Board. 
 
 Notwithstanding what was done by the Chemical and 
 Pharmaceutical Societies, it appeared that there was need
 
 ALCHEMY IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. 297 
 
 for a further diffusion of the knowledge of chemistry, for 
 at this time (1860), in and about the City of London, there 
 were intelligent men, merchants, clergymen, and men of 
 position, who could be induced to believe in some of the 
 wildest assumptions of alchemy. Evidence of this was 
 afforded by the short public career in London of a Hunga- 
 rian refugee, named Nicholas Papaffy, who represented that 
 he had an invention by which he could convert base metals 
 into standard silver. He did not aspire to gold. But he was 
 anxious to join with some men of capital who might be 
 satisfied with making silver by his invention for his and their 
 common benefit. He wanted some bismuth, aluminium, and 
 a few other ingredients ; a crucible, a furnace, and men willing 
 to advance capital. All these were placed at his disposal, 
 and he proceeded to manipulate in the presence of Barnett, 
 Cox, Cole, and Company. From the crucible a mass of silver 
 of some ten pounds weight was produced, and confidence was 
 established. Capitalists were induced to join in the under- 
 taking. The members of the new company took offices at 
 104, Leadenhall Street, and began trading. The inventor was 
 to receive 12 a week as his share of the profits, and having 
 drawn about 600 in advance, and raised, it was said, about 
 10,000 on bills drawn in the name of the company, he 
 quietly decamped, leaving the furnace and crucible to liqui- 
 date the debts, while he pursued his travels in search of new 
 victims, and further discoveries in alchemy. 
 
 The year 1860 must not be passed over without noticing 
 a law which came into operation in this year, " For prevent- 
 ing the adulteration of articles of food or drink." This was 
 the first Adulteration Act, which was passed on the 6th of 
 August, 1860, as the result of a lengthened inquiry which 
 took place on the subject before parliamentary committees, 
 and originating with the investigations made chiefly by Dr. 
 Hassall, and published in the Lancet in 1851, and subse- 
 quently. The Act applied exclusively to the adulteration of 
 food and drink, and did not therefore affect pharmacy. 
 Even with regard to food and drink, its action was not very 
 stringent or likely to be effective. It enacted that, " Every 
 person who shall sell any article of food or drink with which, 
 to the knowledge of such person, any ingredient or material 
 injurious to the health of persons eating or drinking such
 
 298 ADULTERATION OP FOOD ACT. DANDELION COFFEE. 
 
 article, lias been mixed ; and every person who shall sell 
 expressly warranted as pure and unadulterated any article of 
 food or drink which is adulterated or not pure, shall, for 
 every such offence, forfeit and pay a penalty not exceeding 
 five pounds, nor less than five shillings, together with the 
 costs of conviction." For carrying the law into effect, local 
 authorities were empowered to appoint analysts for their 
 respective districts, but this appointment was left optional 
 with them. Then the analysts were to possess " competent 
 medical, chemical, and microscopical knowledge" which was 
 generally so construed as to require a medical qualification. 
 Practically, the law remained a dead letter. 
 
 A question had more than once arisen with reference to the 
 sale of an article called "Dandelion Coffee," which had come 
 into use in some districts, and consisted either of the torrefied 
 root without admixture, or of the simply ground dry root 
 mixed with a certain proportion of coffee. This latter pre- 
 paration seemed to fall within the provisions of the excise law, 
 which required a licence to be taken out for the sale of coffee, 
 and at the same time sanctioned no other mixture than that 
 of chicory. In 1852, Mr. Bell had asked the chairman of 
 the Board of Inland Revenue whether this preparation was 
 included among the prohibited mixtures of coffee, and if it 
 were, how chemists should act when medical men prescribed 
 dandelion coffee for their patients. In reply, it was stated 
 that the Board would not interfere if the dandelion coffee 
 were used as medicine. As this was not considered a satis- 
 factory settlement of the question, Mr. Brady, of Newcastle, 
 in 1860, on behalf of himself and others, induced the Council 
 to make a further application, the reply to which was that 
 the sale would not be interfered with provided the articles 
 were found free from any admixture of coffee. In order to 
 legalise the sale of a mixture of dandelion with coffee, three 
 conditions were to be fulfilled : 1. The dealer must have a 
 licence. 2. The mixture must be sanctioned by the Board 
 of Inland Revenue. 3. It must be stated on the label, This is 
 sold as a mixture of coffee and dandelion. 
 
 A suggestion having been thrown out that the difficulty 
 might be overcome by substituting cocoa for coffee, it being 
 supposed that no licence was required for the sale of cocoa, 
 the following letter was received bearing upon that point :
 
 LICENTIATES OF THE COLLEGE OP PHYSICIANS. 299 
 
 " INLAND REVENUE OFFICE, LONDON, 
 Jan. 14th, 1860. 
 
 "SIR, 
 
 " The excise licence under which cocoa is saleable, is for 
 the sale ,of tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, and pepper. A 
 licence is not required for the sale of vinegar. It is clear 
 that the Board could not authorize the mixture of dandelion 
 with cocoa, or the sale of an article called dandelion cocoa, 
 for the law imposes a penalty of 100 and a forfeiture of 
 the goods upon any cocoa dealer keeping any vegetable sub- 
 stance as an imitation of, or substitute for cocoa, or calling 
 any such substance by ' any name of cocoa.' The law in 
 this respect is exactly the same as with respect to coffee, the 
 difference being that the mixture of chicory with coffee, 
 under certain restrictions, has been allowed by authority of 
 the Treasury, while no similar authority exists regarding 
 cocoa. 
 
 " THOS. DOBSON, Assistant Secretary." 
 
 A rather important regulation was adopted by the Royal 
 College of Physicians in April, I860, which seemed likely to 
 operate beneficially for the interests of the pharmaceutical 
 body. It was decided to create a third class of medical men 
 connected with the college, who, in regard to the nature of 
 their practice, would occupy a similar position to that of the 
 apothecaries or general practitioners, but with a restriction 
 that they should dispense medicines only for their own 
 patients. The two previously existing grades recognised by 
 the college, under the designations of Fellows and Members, 
 were restricted from dispensing medicines, and they only, 
 under the new regulation, would be recognised as physicians. 
 The members of the new grade were to be designated Licen- 
 tiates of the College of Physicians. They would not be 
 entitled to the appellation of Doctor, but would virtually be 
 general practitioners, holding a licence from the College of 
 Physicians, and having authority to dispense medicines to 
 their own patients, but not being allowed in any other way to 
 engage in the sale of medicines. 
 
 It might have been inferred at this time, from some 
 surrounding circumstances, that the interests of members of 
 the Pharmaceutical Society, as well as of the whole body of 
 those engaged in the practice of pharmacy, were in a satis-
 
 300 UNITED SOCIETY OF CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS. 
 
 factory state of progression towards substantial improvement. 
 Bat the appearance of quiet prosperity, caused by the absence 
 of threatened interference from without, and of active opposi- 
 tion within, which had prevailed for nearly two years, was 
 rather delusive than real. The spirit of opposition to the pro- 
 ceedings of the society in Bloomsbury Square had never died 
 out, and only required some active agent, capable of instilling 
 life into the elements and of inducing their organization, to 
 cause them to become again a source of trouble. Nor was it 
 long before a movement was made in that direction. 
 
 In 1861 a society was formed called "The United Society 
 of Chemists and Druggists," the objects of which were thus 
 represented : 
 
 " The society is based upon the principle of co-operation, 
 as essential to the strength and progress of chemists and 
 druggists as a trading community, with the following ob- 
 jects : 
 
 " 1. The establishment of a Benevolent Fiind for the assis- 
 tance of members in sickness, destitution and death. 
 
 " 2. To carry out, by distinct meetings and combined action, 
 any improvement that may be deemed necessary for the 
 welfare of the trade. 
 
 " 3.. To promote early and Sunday closing. 
 
 " 4. To watch the progress of, and support or oppose any 
 legislative enactment that may affect the interests of chemists 
 and druggists as a trading community. 
 
 " 5. To answer any legal questions relating to the trade 
 rights of members, free of cost. 
 
 " 6. To keep a register of the transfer of businesses, required 
 partnerships, and situations for assistants, and to be the 
 general excipient and exponent of any other trade require- 
 ment." 
 
 The committee in their first report stated that they wished 
 to place the society upon a broad numerical basis, and to 
 enable them to do so successfully they determined that the 
 admission fee should be within the means of the poorest 
 member. It was fixed accordingly at five shillings, and the 
 payment of this fee constituted the only condition of member- 
 ship. 
 
 It could hardly be said, as regarded the Phai'inaceutical 
 Society, tha* the new association was either an opposing
 
 FINANCIAL PROSPECTS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY. 3UI 
 
 or a competing body. The objects of the two societies 
 were to a great extent different, and the parts of the trade 
 to which they respectively appealed were also different ; 
 but as they had some objects in common, and as the same 
 members of the trade were not likely to subscribe to both, 
 there was naturally a little jealousy between them. At a 
 later date, however, the United Society took up a position of 
 direct antagonism to the Pharmaceutical Society. 
 
 In some respects the appeai-ance in the field of an associa- 
 tion having even the semblance of a competitvie character was 
 calculated to produce a beneficial effect on the older society, 
 by stimulating those at the head of affairs to more active ex- 
 ertions, and possibly, also, by inducing them to consider how 
 far their proceedings, and the institution itself with which 
 they were connected, were based upon sound principles, and 
 afforded adequate security for a continuance of the prosperity 
 they had hitherto enjoyed. 
 
 In the early part of the year 1861, Mr. Haselden, a member 
 of the Bloomsbury Council, and a frequent contributor to the 
 Pharmaceutical Journal, started the question, " Are we pro- 
 gressing ? " which raised a lengthy discussion on several 
 matters of deep import to the welfare of the society and the 
 cause in which it was engaged. The question opened several 
 distinct considerations, but that which assumed the most 
 serious aspect related to the financial prospects of the Phar- 
 maceutical Society. It appears that to some extent this view 
 of the subject originated the discussion, and it is due to the 
 Secretary of the society to say that he was mainly responsible 
 not only for the suggestion, but for the practical form -which 
 the subject officially assumed. In the report of the Council 
 presented at the anniversary meeting in May, 1861, reference 
 was made to the bye-laws in the following terms : " Upon a 
 careful examination of the provisions of the bye-laws, and a 
 reference to the practical working of the existing regulations, 
 relating to the encome of the society, your Council have come 
 to the conclusion that some alteration should be made in the 
 terms of contribution as applied to those hereafter to be ad- 
 mitted into the society, in order to ensure a permanent income 
 adequate to the maintenance of the institution in a fully 
 efficient state." 
 
 The data on which this statement was founded had boon
 
 b02 UNEQUAL TEEMS OF MEMBERSHIP. 
 
 previously given in a leading article in the Pharmaceuficnl 
 Journal, in which reference "was made to the present and 
 prospective sources of income to the society. Referring to 
 the financial statements which were annually presented at the 
 anniversary meetings, including that which had been then 
 prepared, it was asked, " Does the financial statement afford 
 a correct indication of the strength of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society with regard to numbers ? And the answer to this 
 question will be in the negative. Those who now enter the 
 society by examination are not called upon by the lye-laws to 
 pay an annual subscription, as the fee of five guineas, paid on 
 admission, entitles them to the privileges of membership for life ; 
 and according to the existing regulations they continue to receive 
 tJie Journal of tlie Society ivithout any further payment. These 
 members, as well as associates and registered apprentices by 
 examination, do not, with the exception of those admitted 
 during the current year, in any way appear in the financial 
 statement. We cannot, therefore, estimate the numerical 
 strength of the society from this document. The members 
 and associates may be classed under several different heads. 
 Thus we have : 
 
 " 1. Members who have paid a composition fee of twenty 
 guineas, under the original bye-laws. 
 
 "2. Members who have paid a composition fee of ten 
 guineas, under the existing bye-laws (1861). 
 
 " 3. Members paying an annual subscription of one guinea, 
 admitted before 1853. 
 
 "4. Members who have paid a composition fee of five 
 guineas, admitted by examination since 1852. 
 
 " 5. Associates paying an annual subscription of half a 
 guinea, admitted before 1853. 
 
 " 6. Associates who have paid the examination fee of three 
 guineas if previously registered, or of five guineas if not regis- 
 tered, admitted since 1852. 
 
 " 7. Registered apprentices paying an annual {subscription of 
 half a guinea, admitted before 1853. 
 
 " 8. Registered apprentices who have paid the registration 
 fee of two guineas, admitted since 1852. 
 
 "Of these several classes, only 3, 5, and 7 appear from year to 
 year in the financial statement, and the numbers representing 
 them are necessarily ^decreasing, as no fresh additions can
 
 REQUIRED ALTERATION OF BYE-LAWS. oU3 
 
 now be made, and their ranks are annually thinned by death 
 and other causes." 
 
 It was obvious from this view of the subject, that under the 
 then existing regulations the income of the society must 
 continue to fall off year by year, and that the society would 
 at no distant period die a natural death, unless its current 
 expenses were reduced to the very limited amount derivable 
 from the interest on capital, together -with the small number 
 of fees paid on admission by examination, if these should be 
 included. That an alteration was required in the terms on 
 which members, associates, and apprentices, who became such 
 for the future, should be enabled to partake of the benefits 
 conferred by the society, was admitted by all. But in con- 
 sidering what these changes should be, it was suggested by 
 some persons that a further attempt should be made to en- 
 large the boundaries of the society by admitting old estab- 
 lished chemists and druggists into membership, if they pro- 
 duced satisfactory certificates of qualification, and were willing 
 to pay an entrance fee and annual subscription. This was the 
 point on which the discussion principally turned, and with 
 reference to which much difference of opinion was found to 
 exist. Strong objections were urged against relaxing the 
 terms of admission in favour even of old established chemists 
 who had failed to take advantage of the opportunities pre- 
 sented to them at and before the passing of the Pharmacy 
 Act. Pains were taken to ascertain the opinions of members 
 throughout the country on this point, and they were found to 
 be so far adverse to the proposal that it was entirely relin- 
 quished. Other changes, however, were adopted almost unani- 
 mously, the most important of which consisted in the sub- 
 stitution of annual subscriptions for the fees previously paid 
 by members, associates, and apprentices on their admission 
 into the society. Members were required to pay an annual 
 subscription of a guinea, and associates and apprentices of 
 half a guinea each. 
 
 The new bye-laws by which these and other slight changes 
 were effected were passed at a specially convened meeting of 
 the society held on the 15th of January, 1862, subject to some 
 slight alterations which the Council agreed to make for the 
 purpose of more clearly specifying that the door should not 
 again be opened for the admission of members Avithont exam-
 
 o04 INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF 1862. 
 
 ination. Another meeting was held on the 16th of April, to 
 receive the final amendments introduced by the Council, and 
 it was then moved by Mr. Sand ford, Vice-President , seconded 
 by Mr. Breton, of Brighton, and carried unanimously, " that 
 the said code of bye-laws, as amended, be confirmed and 
 approved as the bye-laws of the society, and take effect from 
 the date of confirmation thereof by one of Her Majesty's prin- 
 cipal Secretaries of State, and that all other bye-laws of the 
 society be abrogated." .The sanction of Her Majesty's Secre- 
 tary of State to these bye-laws was given on the '23rd of 
 June, 1862. 
 
 The arrangements for the International Exhibition were 
 now occupying much public attention, and several leading 
 pharmacists were conferring together for the purpose of en- 
 suring a creditable exhibition of the materials, both raw and 
 manufactured, that were employed in medicine in this coun- 
 try. A committee was formed consisting of the whole of the 
 Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, the professors of the 
 society, and Messrs. Allchin, Barnes, Bastick, Brewer 
 Cracknell, Darby, Hanbury, Horner, R. Howard, S. Howard, 
 T. Morson, jnn., and E. Warington, with T. H. Hills, 
 Treasurer, John Garle, Honorary Curator, and Elias 
 Bremridge, Honorary Secretary. It was resolved, 
 
 " 1. That it is desirable to ensure, as far as possible, at the 
 International Exhibition of 1862, such an exhibition of sub- 
 stances used in medicine as shall fairly represent the existing 
 state of pharmacy in this country. 
 
 " 2. That the formation of a collection of drugs and pharma- 
 ceutical preparations, contributed by different exhibitors, but 
 arranged systematically in one large group, comprising, if 
 possible, all the substances used in medicine in this country 
 would tend to fulfil the object contemplated in the foregoing 
 resolution." 
 
 It was considered desirable to adopt, as far as possible, one 
 uniform method of displaying the articles exhibited in this 
 joint pharmaceutical collection ; also that the articles' should 
 not be enclosed in glass cases, but arranged on shelves, so 
 that they might be examined by the public under the super- 
 vision of an attendant. A subscription was started for de- 
 fraying the expenses incurred in carrying out these arrange- 
 ments.
 
 SUCCESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 305 
 
 The Council, in their annual report, presented at the meeting 
 of the society in May, 1862, referring to this exhibition 
 stated, 
 
 " The Pharmaceutical Society having been called on to 
 illustrate the present state of pharmacy in the International 
 Exhibition, the Council endeavoured, by the formation of a 
 committee, to enlist the assistance of the members generally 
 and others, that it might appear worthily on so important an 
 occasion. 
 
 " The result has been that an extensive collection of drugs 
 and preparations used in medicine has been formed, and 
 placed under the care of an attendant. It has been a prin- 
 cipal object in making this collection to obtain specimens from 
 a great number of sources, so that a fair representation may 
 be afforded of the materia medica of this country, arranged in 
 one group, and exhibited in such a way that those who take 
 an interest in this subject may have the means of thoroughly 
 examining the specimens and comparing them with similar 
 substances exhibited in the foreign depai-tment." 
 
 The collection was considered very creditable to those who 
 united in getting up this joint exhibition of British drugs and 
 medicines ; and not only this part, but the whole of the Ex- 
 hibition of 1862 proved a success, notwithstanding the adverse 
 influence produced by the death of the Prince Consort, with 
 whom the undertaking had originated. 
 
 It had been intended, if the British Pharmacopoeia had 
 been published in time, to have included a collection of all 
 the articles described in it as a separate department within 
 the joint pharmaceutical collection at the Exhibition ; but un- 
 looked-for delay in the preparation of the work completely 
 frustrated that object. The prospect had been held out by 
 the Pharmacopoeia Committee that the work would probably 
 be issued during the winter of 1861 ; and a meeting of the 
 English, Irish, and Scotch committees took place in September 
 of that year, at which it was expected that final arrangements 
 for publication would be made ; but new difficulties arose and 
 more work had to be done. 
 
 In the years 1856-7 a new regulation was introduced by 
 the Director- General of the Army Medical Department with 
 reference to the evidence of qualification required in the per- 
 sons appointed to dispense medicines for the army. In some
 
 306 DISPENSERS FOE THE ARMY. 
 
 instances candidates for the appointment had been required to 
 produce certificates of having passed the examination of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society; but the regulation was not then 
 acted upon uniformly. In 1862 it assumed a more definite 
 character, as indicated by the following letter : 
 
 " ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, 9th January, 1862. 
 " Sm, 
 
 " In acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 2nd in- 
 stant, I have the honour to inform you that no gentleman can 
 be appointed to a Dispensorship in the army whose age is 
 more than twenty-six or less than twenty-one years ; and no 
 name can be placed on the list of candidates until the appli- 
 cant produces evidence of bearing a good moral character, of 
 having passed the examinations of the Pharmaceutical Society 
 of London, and of having been duly registered as a pharma- 
 ceutical chemist. 
 
 " I have the honour, etc., 
 
 " J. H. GIBSON, Director- General." 
 
 The improvements which had been for some time in pro- 
 gress at the house of the Pharmaceutical Society had provided 
 greatly increased accommodation for the operations connected 
 with the various departments of the establishment. The 
 library and museums, the rooms for examinations, the 
 Secretary's offices, and council and committee rooms, were 
 all re-arranged and extended. A tolerably good lecture 
 theatre was provided, and above all, forming the uppermost 
 story of the enlarged premises, there was a suite of well- 
 lighted and ventilated laboratories, capable of accommodating 
 a large number of students. All this extension of facilities 
 for carrying out the objects of the society had not been 
 effected without the expenditure of a large sum of money, 
 and the members naturally looked for some return in the way 
 of an extension of the amount of work accomplished. In one 
 respect, however, the provisions made were defective. En- 
 larged museums and library called for more exclusive and 
 efficient services of a curator for the one and a librarian for 
 the other. It had become the practice for many years past, 
 with a view to economy, to heap many duties on to the 
 shoulders of a few officers, and this was especially the case 
 with regard to the departments alluded to, and to the la-
 
 NEW LABOEATOEY APPOINTMENT. 307 
 
 boratory, lectures, and scientific committees. Formerly the 
 laboratory had been almost always full to overflowing; but 
 now that its accommodation was more than doubled, it was 
 found that in order to keep it in the same satisfactory 
 condition, more undivided attention was required from the 
 professor, and it was therefore decided to appoint a teacher 
 for this special duty. 
 
 In 1862 Mr. John Attfield was appointed, under the title 
 of Director and Demonstrator of Chemistry and Pharmacy, 
 to take the entire management of the practical classes in the 
 laboratory, with the understanding that he was to devote 
 himself entirely to the work. At a subsequent period the 
 title of the office was changed to that of Professor of Practical 
 Chemistry ; and the professor, in addition to this title, took 
 the degree of Ph.D. The Pharmaceutical Journal of October, 
 1862, remarked : " The laboratory and the lectures were es- 
 tablished and are maintained for the benefit of pharmaceutical 
 students, whose special requirements have been studied in the 
 educational arrangements which have been made. These 
 arrangements have been recently revised and improved by 
 the Council, and a new programme is issued, which may be 
 obtained from the Secretary. If the efforts thus made to 
 render the school of pharmacy fully efficient should be re- 
 sponded to by pharmaceutical students as they ought to be, 
 and as we trust they will be, the present session may prove 
 the commencement of a new era, in which the provisions for 
 education so liberally made and maintained for many years, 
 will be not only received, but sought after, and not only 
 recognised, but appreciated and duly acknowledged by young 
 men who, in their turn, will become creditable members of the 
 pharmaceutical body, and active promoters of pharmaceutical 
 education." 
 
 During the session of the School of Pharmacy which had 
 just passed, a number of former and present students of the 
 school presented a handsome testimonial to Professor Bentley, 
 consisting of a silver tea service and an illuminated address 
 on vellum. 
 
 In July, 1862, the first "Act for the Safe Keeping of 
 Petroleum" was passed. Subsequent Acts relating to the 
 same subject have been passed in 1868, 1871, and 1879. 
 
 A very important subject, affecting the interests of the
 
 308 CLAIM FOR FREEDOM FROM JURY SERVICE. 
 
 Pharmaceutical Society and of its members individually, came 
 before the notice of Parliament in 1862, in connection with a 
 Bill relating to the mode of summoning juries. Hitherto the 
 only privilege which the Legislature had conferred on members 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society was the exclusive right to use 
 a title which might be understood to imply a professional 
 qualification. This, although a privilege of some value to 
 those who had a sound justification for its use, was by many 
 thought but little of, and something of a more substantial 
 nature was looked for which might act as a stimulus to the 
 work by which alone the title could be fully justified. An 
 opportunity presented itself, in connection with the Juries Bill, 
 for obtaining a concession to pharmaceutical chemists which 
 was acknowledged to be a material benefit. Professional men 
 had long been exempted from the duty of serving on juries. 
 This was conceded to medical men on the ground that their 
 professional services were required by the public who employed 
 them, and that to take them away from the performance of 
 such duties might be the means of inflicting serious injury on 
 their patients. It was considered that a somewhat similar 
 ground for exemption existed in the case of chemists and 
 druggists, and advantage was taken of the passage of the 
 Juries Bill through Parliament to make a claim on their 
 behalf. There were, however, two difficulties in the way of 
 promoting the claim on behalf of the whole body of chemists 
 and druggists, first, that there was no sufficient means of 
 defining who was a chemist and druggist, and secondly, that 
 if all who assumed the name were exempted, it would seriously 
 diminish the jury lists and increase the difficulty already 
 experienced in getting the duty of juryman efficiently per- 
 formed. An exaggerated statement which had been put 
 forth by the United Society of Chemists and Druggists, to 
 the effect that there were about forty thousand chemists and 
 druggists in the country, strengthened the influence of the 
 latter objection and rendered the claim of the whole body 
 quite untenable. The difficulty was overcome by confining 
 the claim to registered pharmaceutical chemists ; and a clause 
 was prepared, to the effect that " All persons duly registered 
 as pharmaceutical chemists according to the provisions of an 
 Act intituled, an Act for Kegulating the Qualifications of 
 Pharmaceutical Chemists, shall be and are hereby absolutely
 
 THE PEOSPECTS OF SUCCESS. 309 
 
 freed and exempted from being returned and from serving 
 upon any juries or inquests whatsoever, and shall not be 
 inserted in the lists to be prepared by virtue of the principal 
 Act or of this Act." This clause was proposed to be intro- 
 duced into the Bill while passing the committee in the House 
 of Commons; but although from the promises of support given 
 there was every prospect of its being accepted without oppo- 
 sition, it was at last opposed by Sir George Grey, on the 
 ground that, as the Bill related ostensibly to the mode of 
 summoning juries, this was not the proper occasion for exempt- 
 ing persons from serving on juries, and that if pharmaceutical 
 chemists ought to be exempted, this should be effected by a 
 Bill introduced for that purpose. In the face of this opposition 
 the motion was not pressed to a division, and the Bill there- 
 fore passed the Commons without the proposed clause. It 
 was discovered afterwards, however, that although the House 
 of Commons had rejected the clause for exempting pharma- 
 ceutical chemists, they had at the same time introduced a 
 clause for exempting the "managing clerks to attorneys, 
 solicitors, and proctors," which seemed inconsistent with the 
 statement made by Sir George Grey. The result of the 
 efforts which had thus been made on behalf of pharmaceutical 
 chemists was entirely unexpected, and appeared to have 
 originated either in a misapprehension or in the exercise of 
 some unseen influence. 
 
 When the Bill went into the House of Lords a petition was 
 presented from the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society 
 praying their lordships to extend to pharmaceutical chemists 
 the privilege for which they had in vain asked the Commons. 
 The justice of the claim having been admitted by several 
 noble lords, including Lord Chelmsford and Lord Portman, 
 who had charge of the Bill in the upper House, a clause 
 similar in effect to that previously proposed in the House of 
 Commons was introduced in the Lords' Committee, and this 
 was passed through the House without any opposition. The 
 exemption, however, was now made to comprise veterinary 
 surgeons as well as pharmaceutical chemists. 
 
 As no opposition to these exemptions was in the slightest 
 degree hinted at during the progress of the Bill through the 
 House of Lords, it was hoped the Commons would accept the 
 Bill in the form in which it was returned to them, especially
 
 310 OPPOSITION IN THE HOUSE OP COMMONS. 
 
 as they had already sanctioned the introduction of exemptions 
 by exempting lawyers' clerks. 
 
 A petition was presented to the House of Commons as had 
 previously been done to the House of Lords, and interest was 
 made with members of the House through local secretaries 
 and others throughout the country. But unfortunately the 
 objection of the Secretary of State was not removed, and the 
 ground of his objection had, in one respect, been strengthened 
 by the addition of a new class of men, namely, veterinary 
 surgeons, for whom exemption was now asked. Sir George 
 Grey therefore again appeared in opposition to the clause 
 introduced by the Lords, and having moved its non-confirma- 
 tion, the numbers on a division were equal, namely fifty-three 
 on each side. The Speaker had therefore to give the casting 
 vote, which he did in favour of Sir George Grey's motion. 
 
 The Commons having thus rejected an amendment which 
 had been introduced by the unanimous decision of the House 
 of Lords, it became necessary to return the Bill to the Upper 
 House for their reconsideration. This took place on the 28tn 
 of July, when Lord Wensleydale, after reading the second 
 clause of the Bill, said their Lordships had amended it by 
 adding words which exempted the registered pharmaceutical 
 chemists from serving on juries, and he thought it a wise alter- 
 ation of the law. Physicians and surgeons had, in consequence 
 of their being often required in cases of great emergency, been 
 exempted from these duties ; and he could not see any reason 
 why the members of the Pharmaceutical Society, which con- 
 sisted of only about 2000 members, should not be placed in 
 the same category. These gentlemen were employed in very 
 responsible and delicate duties, in making up prescriptions, 
 and it was desirable that they should not be called away 
 from those duties to attend at distant places as jurymen. 
 There were, he said, about 40,000 persons* employed as 
 chemists and druggists, who no doubt made up prescriptions, 
 but those gentlemen did not undergo any examination, nor 
 were they members of a registered society. It was not 
 intended to apply the exemption to them. He then moved 
 
 * This statement was obviously founded on the erroneous assertion 
 emanating from the United Society of Chemists and Druggists, to which 
 allusion has been previously made.
 
 THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS. 311 
 
 that the alterations made in the Bill by the Commons, so far 
 as they affected or concerned the registered pharmaceutical 
 chemists, be not agreed to, but that the amendments made in 
 that respect by their Lordships be insisted upon. 
 
 The question was then put, " That all the words which 
 related to the pharmaceutical chemists be retained in the 
 Bill," and it was declared that the "contents " had it. 
 
 Lord Denman then begged to move that the amendments 
 made by the Lords in favour of exempting veterinary sur- 
 geons, who were much fewer in number than pharmaceutical 
 chemists, and who often rendered service in saving the lives 
 of animals, should be insisted upon. On this question being 
 put, the " non-contents " had it. 
 
 This result was considered favourable to the prospect of 
 obtaining the consent of the House of Commons to the exemp- 
 tion of pharmacists, for, as veterinary surgeons were now 
 excluded, the Commons could with better grace give way. 
 
 The question came again before the Commons on the 31st 
 of July ; and as Sir George Grey had intimated his intention 
 of not offering any further opposition to the Lords' amend- 
 ment in its altered form, it was hoped the difficulty had been 
 overcome. But although the Home Secretary appeared to 
 have been appeased, opposition arose from another quarter. 
 Mr. Edward Craufurd moved, " That this House doth insist 
 upon its disagreement to so much of the Lords' amendment 
 in page 1 line 13, as their Lordships insist upon." On the 
 question being thus again raised, Sir George Grey and Sir 
 G. C. Lewis expressed their intention to support the motion. 
 This was an exciting moment. The Lords were with us, but 
 ministers in the Lower House were against us. On a previous 
 occasion the Commons had been equally divided. How will 
 the division be now ? Motion put, that the Lords' amend- 
 ment be rejected. Ayes 12 Noes 45. 
 
 The]Secretary and a few members of the Council, who had 
 been anxiously watching the proceedings and waiting the 
 result, retired, and went on their homeward way rejoicing. 
 
 It must not be supposed that this very satisfactory result 
 was obtained without great exertions being made to secure 
 it. The Council, with the Secretary in London and the local 
 secretaries and members throughout the country, were 
 actively engaged in urging upon Members of Parliament the
 
 312 ARE WE PROGRESSING ? 
 
 importance of the question and the true merits of the claim 
 made on behalf of the pharmaceutical body. It is very certain, 
 that without the vigilance, promptness, and energy displayed 
 at head- quarters, and chiefly by the Secretary, without the in- 
 fluence brought to bear when and where it was most required, 
 and without the support derived from the soundness of the 
 principles upon which the claim was urged, the battle would 
 not have been won, and the Council in Bloomsbury Square 
 would, at least for that year, have been deprived of the satis- 
 faction of congratulating themselves and their constituents 
 upon the triumph achieved through the influence of organiza- 
 tion, registration, and qualification. 
 
 The importance of the attainment of this result was ad- 
 mitted by all who were capable of discerning the influence it 
 would exert on the position and prospects of the Pharmaceu- 
 tical Society. The Lancet, in an article headed " The Drug- 
 gists' Franchise," did full justice to the claims of those who 
 by a course of training had acquired a character to which, as 
 well as to the nature of their occupation, they were indebted 
 for this acquisition of privilege. 
 
 The year 1862 forms one of the epochs of our history. Two 
 decades had elapsed since the starting of the society in 
 Bloomsbury Square, the commencement and ending of each 
 of which was signalized by an important event ; the granting 
 of the Charter in 1842, the passing of the Pharmacy Act in 
 1852, and the attainment of enfranchisement, or freedom from 
 service on juries, in 1862. These may be represented respec- 
 tively as the epochs of recognition, of designation, and of en- 
 franchisement. 
 
 To the question "Are we progressing?" a satisfactory 
 answer might now have been given. The laws and bye-laws 
 the passing of which had tended to confirm the stability and 
 promote the success of the Pharmaceutical Society, served at 
 the same time to represent the progress of pharmaceutical 
 knowledge and the advancement of pharmacy, for it was only 
 as these results occurred and could be traced as practical out- 
 comes of the society's operations, that recognition and aid 
 could be obtained from the Government and Legislature. 
 
 Evidences of the state of pharmaceutical knowledge among 
 pharmacists have been afforded in the references we have had 
 occasion to make to work done and duties undertaken and
 
 THE WORK DONE, AND BY WHOM. 313 
 
 efficiently performed. That much of this work was not of a 
 highly scientific character is not surprising. Scientific train- 
 ing was required for scientific work, and it would have been 
 unreasonable to look for the latter before the former had 
 produced its required effect. Those who contributed to the 
 advancement of pharmacy in the early stages of the operations 
 in Bloomsbury Square, wisely, if not necessarily, confined their 
 attention principally to the practical details of pharmaceutical 
 processes and operations. In this direction a good deal of 
 useful work had been done. Processes for the preparation of 
 tinctures, infusions, extracts, pills, ointments, and other forms 
 of medicine had been submitted to experimental investigation 
 or commented upon and freely discussed. This in fact 
 formed the most useful kind of matter that could have been 
 furnished at the pharmaceutical meetings at that time ; and 
 indeed at all times it must form much of what is available for 
 such occasions. Among the class of pre-existing pharmacists 
 who chiefly contributed to keep up a supply of papers for the 
 meetings and Journal, may be mentioned Deane, Morson, 
 Squire, Bell, Savory, Barry, Ince, Southall, Haselden, Alsop, 
 Bastick, Barnes, Greenish, Sandford, Smith, Donovan, Mackay, 
 Hooper, Bland, Whipple, etc. To these may be added the 
 professors in the Bloomsbury school who were outside the class 
 of pharmacists, and the professors who had sprung from that 
 stock and might therefore be included in the class. Then 
 there was a class of younger men who were becoming every 
 year more prominent and the record of whose work was to be 
 found in the transactions of local associations in various parts 
 of the country, as well as in that of the parent Society. These 
 were mostly the offspring of the system of education which 
 had originated with the Pharmaceutical society. Some of 
 them had been for several years guiding spirits to whose in- 
 fluence the good work done in promoting the cultivation of 
 scientific as well as practical pharmacy was due, especially 
 in provincial districts. Thus we have John Baker Edwards 
 and Henry Sugden Evans at Liverpool, Eichard Reynolds at 
 Leeds, Henry B. Brady and Barnard S. Proctor at Newcastle, 
 G. F. Schacht and R. W. Giles at Bristol, Charles Ekin at 
 Bath, T. B. Groves at Weymouth, Edward C. C. Stanford 
 at Worthing and afterwards at Glasgow, Daniel Hanbury, 
 Benjamin H. Paul, Joseph Tnce, Michael Carfceighe, Samuel
 
 314 USE OF METHYLATED SPIRIT IN PHARMACY. 
 
 Gale, Charles Umney and others in London and elsewhere, 
 who were exercising important influences upon the present 
 and future condition of British pharmacy. 
 
 The unauthorized use of methylated spirit in pharmacy was 
 brought again prominently under notice in 1862, by Mr. 
 Richard Reynolds, of Leeds, Mr. H. B. Brady, of Newcastle, 
 and others. The attention, not only of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society, but also of the College of Physicians, had been directed 
 to this subject several years previously, in 1857, and it was 
 then thought that the practice complained of had been sup- 
 pressed; but it now appeared that a much more extensive use 
 than was then made of methylated spirit for medical and other 
 illegal purposes, had subsequently arisen. The spirit was 
 purified and used for making tinctures and other preparations, 
 and in some instances it was sold as an intoxicating beverage. 
 Such a result might have been anticipated as a natural conse- 
 quence of the leniency adopted by the Excise authorities as 
 indicated by the following communication : 
 
 " INLAND REVENUE OFFICE, LONDON, July 29^, 1862. 
 " SIR, In reply to your inquiry of the 22nd instant, I am 
 desired to acquaint you that the Board do not object to the 
 manufacture and sale of any strictly pharmaceutical prepara- 
 tion made with methylated spirit, so long as it appears that 
 such preparations are used for medical purposes, and not 
 made a cover for such spirit being used as a beverage. I am 
 to add, that a licence is not required for the sale of any medi- 
 cinal preparations made -with methylated spirit. 
 
 " THOMAS DOBSON, Secretary." 
 
 It was felt that under these circumstances it became an 
 imperative duty on the part of the Pharmaceutical Society, to 
 adopt the most efficient means they could to check a practice 
 which, if continued, would be highly injurious to the interests 
 of pharmacy, by causing a depreciation and debasement of 
 drugs, and a loss of character among druggists. At a meet- 
 ing of the Council held on the 4th of February, 1863, the 
 following protest was entered in the minutes, and ordered to 
 be published in the transactions of the society : 
 
 " The attention of the Council having been directed for 
 some time past to the use in pharmacy of methylated spirit, 
 in the place of pure spirit of wine, they think it incumbent
 
 FJiOTEST OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY. 315 
 
 upon them, as the representatives of a society founded for the 
 promotion of pharmaceutical science in this country, to declare 
 their opinion that such substitution is highly undesirable. 
 
 " Methylated spirit is a compound of pure spirit of wine, to 
 which one-tenth of its volume of imperfectly purified wood- 
 naphtha has been added, the object of such addition being 
 that of rendering the mixture impotable through its offensive 
 odour and taste. This spirit, being sold duty free, can be 
 employed by the chemical manufacturer as a solvent in many 
 processes, for which, from its greater cost, duty-paid spirit 
 would be commercially inapplicable. But, in the preparation 
 of those medicines which contain spirit as the vehicle or 
 menstruum by which more active substances are administered, 
 the employment of a compound so uncertain and offensive as 
 methylated spirit, is, in the opinion of the Council, highly im- 
 proper, and by no means to be justified upon the plea of its 
 lower cost. 
 
 " The Council desire to draw the attention of pharmaceuti- 
 cal chemists to these facts, and earnestly request their co- 
 operation in discountenancing such a substitution." 
 
 This was all that appeared to be practicable for the further- 
 ance of the proposed object while the law remained as it was. 
 In process of time, however, changes were effected in the law, 
 and also in the regulations which the Board of Inland Revenue 
 was authorized to impose on those who used methylated spirit. 
 Laws were passed in 1865 and 1866, by the former of which 
 methylated spirit, if purified, was made subject to the same 
 duty as ordinary spirits, and by the second the use of methyl- 
 ated spirit was prohibited, under a severe penalty, from being 
 used in the preparation of any medicine for internal use, except 
 sulphuric ether and chloroform. In accordance with the 
 altered state of the law, the Board of Inland Revenue, on the 
 9th of August, 1866, issued a " General Order " to the effect 
 that " The use of methylated spirit or any derivative thereof in 
 the manufacture or preparation of tinctures, medicated spirits, 
 hyponitrous ether, or other pharmaceutical preparations, or in 
 the manufacture or preparation of any other article or sub- 
 stance capable of being used as a beverage, or internally as a 
 medicine, is now illegal, and the sale or possession thereof by 
 any person is also illegal. 
 
 " Should any chemist desire to use methylated spirit in any
 
 316 BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
 
 process necessary for the production of substances used in 
 medicine, and in which no spirit or derivative thereof shall 
 remain after the completion of such process, special applica- 
 tion must be made to the Commissioners for leave to use the 
 methylated spirit for such purpose." 
 
 A subsequent order in 1870, stated "that chemists be allowed 
 to use methylated spirit in the production of a new medicine 
 termed hydrate of chloral, as being an article within the scope 
 of the 5th paragraph of the General Order of the 9th of 
 August, 1866, viz., one in which no methylated spirit or deri- 
 vative thereof, remains after completion of the process of 
 manufacture." 
 
 In the year 1863 an important fresh development of British 
 pharmacy took place, which resulted in the formation of a new 
 association, the chief object of which was the encouragement 
 of scientific inquiry and research among those engaged in 
 the practice of pharmacy. At an earlier period, in 1852, Mr. 
 Schacht, of Clifton, at a meeting of chemists and druggists 
 held for the purpose of considering the provisions of the 
 Pharmacy Act, had suggested the establishment of annual 
 meetings for scientific objects connected with pharmacy, which 
 should circulate through the chief towns in the provinces, 
 somewhat upon the model of the Provincial Medical Associa- 
 tion. He thought that meetings of this character, held annu- 
 ally in different localities, would have the effect of stimulating 
 the provincial members to a more active co-operation, and 
 that they might often be made highly instructive by selecting, 
 as the places of meeting, towns which presented peculiar 
 objects of manufacturing interest. Mr. Schacht contemplated 
 making these peripatetic meetings a department of the Phar- 
 maceutical Society. The idea, however, was not further 
 worked out at that time, and the state of the society was not 
 then such as to favour its being carried into effect. After 
 ten years of incubation it began to show symptoms of 
 active vitality. Mr. Reynolds, of Leeds, resuscitated the 
 scheme in a slightly modified form, proposing to establish an 
 institution independent of the Pharmaceutical Society ; and 
 this being supported by Mr. Brady, of Newcastle, received the 
 concurrence of Mr. Schacht, although he still rather held to 
 his original opinion. It was decided to call the association 
 the British Pharmaceutical Conference. Its first meeting
 
 ORANGE QUININE WINE AND THE EXCISE. 317 
 
 was lield at Newcastle on the 2nd of September, 1863, Mr. 
 Henry Deane occupying the chair. At this meeting the 
 association was organized and its officers appointed. From 
 the small gathering which met on this occasion the Conference 
 has grown to be an important institution, from which much 
 good work has emanated. 
 
 Concurrent with the proposition for the establishment of 
 the Pharmaceutical Conference, and emanating to a great 
 extent from the same source, was a design for instituting 
 local examinations in different parts of the country, in con- 
 nection with the Pharmaceutical Society. This subject was 
 considered by the Council, but no further action was taken 
 with reference to it. 
 
 Excise interference was a frequent source of trouble to 
 druggists, and some new cause for such interference was con- 
 tinually arising. At this time it was the sale of a medicine 
 called orange quinine wine. A case was brought under the 
 notice of the Council which led to the following corre- 
 spondence on this, subject : 
 
 " 17, BLOOMSBURT SQUARE, November 10th, 1863. 
 
 " To the Honourable 
 
 The Commissioners of the Inland Revenue. 
 
 " G-ENTLEMEN. I beg very respectfully to draw your atten- 
 tion to, and to solicit information on, a subject of much im- 
 portance to the public generally, but of especial consequence 
 to pharmaceutical chemists and other retailers of medicine 
 the sale of medicated wines. 
 
 " It may be convenient that I should state that this matter 
 has recently been brought before your honourable board by 
 Mr. George S. Woolley, of Manchester, and that a reply has 
 been sent to him, signed Wm. Corbett, Secretary. 
 
 "Mr. Woolley is therein informed that it is, by law, neces- 
 sary that he should take out a ' sweets licence,' for the sale 
 of his ' orange quinine wine ; ' but that the board will not 
 insist on his doing so ' if the wine be sold under the patent 
 medicine licence, and have a stamp on each bottle.' 
 
 " I cannot say whether there was any special circumstance 
 in Mr. Woolley's case, in the wording of his label or other- 
 wise, which made him liable to the licence or stamp, or that 
 rendered the one avoidable by the adoption of the other ; but
 
 318 EXCISE STAMP AND LICENCE REGULATIONS. 
 
 I beg most respectfully, on behalf of the pharmaceutical 
 chemists of Great. Britain, whom this society represents, to 
 ask, whether the sale of medicated wines, prepared either 
 with British or foreign wine, does really involve the necessity 
 to the vendor to possess a licence of any kind ? 
 
 " I may submit to you that for centuries wine of various 
 kinds has been used as a menstruum for medicinal sub- 
 stances, and instance as familiar examples, aloes, antimony, 
 colcMcum, ipecactianha, rhubarb, and steel, these are com- 
 pounds of foreign wines ; but more recently advantage has 
 been taken of the acid and aromatic properties of orange wine 
 to use it as a solvent of quinine, the particular preparation 
 now brought in question. 
 
 " All these articles are used as medicine and medicine only. 
 By the admixture of drugs they are entirely taken out of the 
 category of beverages, and, whether by special exemption or 
 common understanding I know not, they have always been 
 sold without licence by chemists. 
 
 " Teeling assured that your honourable board can have no 
 wish to throw impediments in the way of medical science, or 
 of trade, I venture to hope that you will kindly vouchsafe me 
 the information now sought, and subscribe myself with all 
 respect, 
 
 " Your most obedient servant, 
 
 " GEORGE W. SANDFORD, 
 "President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain." 
 
 " INLAND REVENUE OFFICE, 3rd December, 1863. 
 
 " SIR. I am desired by the Commissioners to inform you, 
 in reply to your letter of the 10th ult., respecting the sale of 
 ' medicated wines,' that they are advised that whenever the 
 articles are held out by label or advertisement as beneficial 
 to persons suffering from any ailment affecting the human 
 body, they can only legally be sold under a * patent medicine 
 licence,' and with a stamped label on each packet ; and also, 
 in strictness, under an Excise foreign or British wine licence, 
 according to the character of the wine. 
 
 "The board, however, have instructed me to add that, 
 except in cases where there may be reason to believe that a 
 beverage is being sold under colour of a medicine, they will 
 not interfere with the sale, without an Excise licence, of medi-
 
 POISONED GRAIN BILL IN PARLIAMENT. 319 
 
 cated wines of the description adverted to, provided that such 
 medicines do not fall under the category of patent medicines. 
 " I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 "WM. CORBETT." 
 " G. W. SANDFORD, Esq." 
 
 This case serves to illustrate the way in which Excise in- 
 terference is sometimes caused, for it was found, on farther 
 inquiry, although not with reference to Mr. Woolley, that 
 orange quinine wine was sometimes sold containing so little 
 quinine that three or four glasses of it might be taken at any 
 time. In such instances the introduction of the quinine 
 might be construed as a colourable pretext for evading the 
 law. 
 
 It will be observed from the foregoing correspondence, that 
 Mr. Sandford was now President of the Society; Mr. T. fl. 
 Hills was at the same time Vice-president. The former con- 
 tinned to fill the presidential chair until after the passing of 
 the Pharmacy Act, 1868, in which he took so deep an 
 interest. 
 
 The session of Parliament of 1863 was fertile in small 
 attempts at the passing of laws which more or less affected 
 pharmacy. The Bills on their way were subject to so many 
 alterations, as was usually the case, that the committee ap- 
 pointed by the Council was kept in an equal state of watch- 
 fulness and uncertainty. 
 
 The Council, at a meeting specially convened on the 13th of 
 May, to consider " A Bill to Prohibit the Sale and Use of 
 Poisoned Grain an certain Cases," decided to petition Parlia- 
 ment against some of its provisions. They pointed out " that 
 this Bill is probably intended to prevent the destruction of 
 small birds ; but your petitioners humbly submit, that in effect 
 it will go much further, and render it penal to sell or use any 
 poison for the destruction of rats, mice, or other vermin, or of 
 any cat, dog, or other domestic animal which it may be de- 
 sirable to destroy speedily and easily : that it will also render 
 the advantageous and now almost universally adopted process 
 of dressing seed-wheat (prior to sowing) with poisonous salts 
 for the prevention of smut, at all times liable to penal mis- 
 construction." In consequence of these and similar repre- 
 sentations the Bill was so far modified as to render it unob- 
 jectionable, and in that form it passed.
 
 320 PROPOSED INTERFERENCE BY MEDICAL COUNCIL. 
 
 An " Exhibition Medals Bill," for preventing fraudulent 
 claims to distinction, in connection with public exhibitions, 
 
 A Bill for decimalizing weights and measures went through 
 a second reading and then disappeared. 
 
 A Bill for preventing accidental poisoning was introduced 
 by Lord Raynham ; but it came to an untimely end, being 
 summarily rejected. 
 
 Towards the latter end of 18G3, a new and very important 
 cause of excitement arose among chemists and druggists, con- 
 nected with the subject of legislation. A committee of the 
 Medical Council had been considering the provisions of the Act 
 under which the Medical Council was appointed, with a view 
 to its amendment, and in their report, now presented, they re- 
 commended that application should be made to Parliament for 
 a new Medical Act, embodying all the principal provisions 
 of the Act of 1858, but with some material alterations and 
 additions, involving questions of vast importance to the phar- 
 maceutical body. It was proposed that the new Bill should 
 include pharmacy among the departments of medical practice 
 over which the Medical Council should exercise control. In 
 this respect, therefore, the proposed measure would supersede 
 part of the duty of the Pharmaceutical Society ; but while it 
 would thus relieve the society of part of its responsibility, it 
 would at the same time accomplish objects which the society 
 contemplated and desired but had not been able to realize, and 
 it would leave the society to carry out its system of education 
 and examination under a control similar to that exercised 
 over the medical colleges and licensing boards. 
 
 The propositions, as far as related to pharmacy, that were 
 comprised in the draft Bill which had been prepared by the 
 committee and sent by the Medical Council to the corpora- 
 tions whose interests were involved, for the purpose of ob- 
 taining an expression of opinion, were as follows : 
 
 1. The establishment of a general system of education and 
 examination, to be regulated by the Medical Council. 
 
 2. The registration of all persons qualified to practice phar- 
 macy, as tested by such examinations. 
 
 3. The restriction of the right to dispense or compound 
 the prescriptions of physicians or surgeons, to qualified prac- 
 titioners in pharmacy, and the imposition of a penalty upon
 
 DIFFERENT OPINIONS EXPRESSED. 321 
 
 those who should keep open shop for compounding medicines 
 without having passed the required examination. 
 
 4. The appointment by the Medical Council of inspectors, 
 whose duty it should be to see that the provisions of the Act, 
 affecting pharmacy, were duly carried into effect. 
 
 5. The prohibition of the sale of all secret remedies, and 
 the imposition of a penalty for selling any patent or quack 
 medicine, unless a sworn certificate of the composition of such 
 medicine were exposed for inspection in the shop or place 
 where it was sold. 
 
 The opinion thus conveyed by the committee of the Medical 
 Council, through their report, that further legislation was 
 required with reference to the practice of pharmacy, and 
 especially the indication afforded by the same high authority 
 as to what the general nature of that legislation should be, 
 was calculated greatly to strengthen the hands of those 
 members of the Pharmaceutical Society and of its Council who 
 had long been seeking the attainment of some of the objects 
 specified. At the same time it was not likely that the pro- 
 posal, as made, would be acceded to by the druggists, or that 
 any modification of it could be effected that would satisfy 
 both them and the Medical Council. The subject could not 
 fail to elicit a good deal of discussion among medical men as 
 well as chemists and druggists ; and of the latter there were 
 the two classes, one represented by the Pharmaceutical Society 
 and the other by the United Society of Chemists and Drug- 
 gists, whose opinions might not coincide. In the Medical 
 Council itself remarks were made which showed that, although 
 there was a general concurrence of opinion in favour of 
 restricting the practice of pharmacy to qualified and ex- 
 amined men, there was a disinclination to undertake the duty 
 of regulating the system of education and examination that 
 should be adopted. Dr. Sfcorrar, the representative of the 
 University of London, said, " Nothing could certainly be more 
 unsatisfactory than the state of pharmacy in this country ; 
 but it would be an unfortunate act of the Council to embroil 
 itself with the druggists. The Council should drop pharmacy 
 and encourage the Pharmaceutical Society to go on with an 
 independent measure." Dr. Sharpey, one of the Secretaries of 
 the Royal Society, and a member of the Council nominated by 
 the Government, was in favour of independent legislation for 
 
 T
 
 322 THE KEY-NOTE TO PHARMACEUTICAL LEGISLATION. 
 
 pharmacy ; and other members expressed a similar opinion. 
 Dr. Christison " disapproved of any attempt to introduce 
 pharmacy into the Medical Act. The present state of the 
 practice of pharmacy was a disgrace to the country and to the 
 Legislature. He hoped, however, that the Council would not 
 meddle with the subject, except by offering its aid and in- 
 fluence to any body which should take up the subject of 
 legislation in regard to pharmacy ; and he thought that this 
 could be entrusted to no better persons than the pharmaceu- 
 tical chemists of the country." 
 
 The Medical Council, after an expression of opinion similar 
 to the foregoing, which was perhaps partly caused by a little 
 growling outside, relinquished the idea of attempting to legis- 
 late for pharmacy, but passed the following resolution : 
 
 " That a communication be addressed to the Secretary of 
 State for the Home Department, drawing his attention to the 
 present defective state of the law regarding the practice of 
 pharmacy, nnder which any person, however ignorant, might 
 undertake it, and expressing the opinion of the General Medical 
 Council, that some legislative enactment was urgently called 
 for to ensure competency in persons keeping open shops for 
 dispensing medicines and for the compounding of physicians' 
 and surgeons' prescriptions." 
 
 This was the key-note to pharmaceutical legislation ; but 
 who was to undertake the leadership in the performance ? 
 The subject was left by the Medical Council in a state in which 
 it was ripe for further action, and the Pharmaceutical Society 
 was clearly pointed to as the most suitable body to organize 
 and execute future proceedings. 
 
 But it soon appeared that Bloomsbury Square was not to 
 have it all its own way. The growl to which we have alluded 
 as having probably helped to discourage the Medical Council 
 from taking further action in reference to pharmacy, ema- 
 nated chiefly fromtheUni ted Society of Chemists and Druggists. 
 It was not unnatural that this should be so ; for to those out- 
 side the pale of the Pharmaceutical Society there was more 
 cause for alarm than there was to registered and examined 
 men. The Bloomsbury Society being incorporated by Royal 
 Charter and protected by Act of Parliament, its members were 
 comparatively safe from farther interference, unless it might 
 be that of the suggested inspectors, which all would object to.
 
 THE UNITED SOCIETY IN OPPOSITION. 323 
 
 Bloomsbuiy therefore maintained its equanimity, and waited 
 the result of the decisions to be arrived at by the medical 
 licensing bodies, and, founded on these, the decision of the 
 Medical Council. 
 
 While this was occurring, and very soon after the report of 
 the Committee of the Medical Council was made public, the 
 United Society of Chemists and Druggists got up meetings in 
 different parts of the country to oppose and prevent " the un- 
 warrantable interference of the Medical Council with the rights 
 of dispensing chemists." 
 
 Hitherto the United Society had not done much to justify 
 its existence. It had an office in ISTew Ormond Street, and an 
 active secretary who appeared to be almost ubiquitous ; but 
 it had neither library, museum, lecture room, nor any means 
 for imparting knowledge to, or testing the qualifications of, its 
 members. The value of scientific qualification for the practice 
 of pharmacy appeared indeed to be held at small account 
 in New Ormond Street, although some qualification was 
 found to be necessary in order to obtain recognition for the 
 members of the Society. This fact was forced upon the atten- 
 tion of the United Society on the occasion of the passing of the 
 Juries Act, when it failed to obtain for its members the ex- 
 emption granted to pharmaceutical chemists ; and the cause of 
 that failure was referred to in the following resolutions passed 
 by the Manchester committee in October, 1862. 
 
 " 1. This meeting regrets that the praiseworthy exertions 
 made by the executive committee of the United Society of 
 Chemists and Druggists, to get the clause exempting members 
 of the trade from serving on juries, were not crowned with 
 success. 
 
 " 2. That in the opinion of this committee, the principal 
 cause of failure arose from the difficulty of defining, to the 
 satisfaction of Her Majesty's Government, the qualifications 
 of a chemist and druggist. 
 
 " 3. That, to obviate this difficulty, it is desirable some 
 qualification should be named, upon which future legislation 
 may be based ; and this committee, in correspondence with 
 the central committee, pledges itself earnestly to consider 
 this subject before the next meeting of Parliament." 
 
 The reference thus made to "the meeting of Parliament," 
 would seem to indicate that at that time, and arising from
 
 324 ERRONEOUS REPRESENTATION OF NUMBERS. 
 
 their experience in connection with the passing of the Juries 
 Act, the members of the United Society felt that " some 
 qualification," together with legislative or other recognition, 
 was necessary to enable them to obtain the position to which 
 they aspired. But still, no real progress was made in that 
 direction; and after the expiration of another year, when 
 a fresh stimulus was afforded by the proceedings in the 
 Medical Council, we find the following resolutions passed 
 by the Central Committee of the United Society, in August, 
 1863. 
 
 " 1. That the proposal of the Medical Council to forcibly 
 dispossess upwards of 30,000 chemists and druggists of their 
 practice, to dispense medicine, is an unwarrantable interference 
 with their civil rights and trade interests, and would be 
 attended with danger and injustice to the entire community. 
 
 " 2. That to protect the chemists and druggists from un- 
 necessary legislative restriction, and the public from incom- 
 petent dispensers, a complete registration is necessary ; and 
 that this can best be secured by the general act of incorpo- 
 ration of the trade, as proposed by the United Society of 
 Chemists and Druggists, based as it is upon a recognition of 
 existing rights, and the inexpensive and effective mode of 
 securing the practical knowledge required." 
 
 There was here again, as previously, a vague allusion made 
 to the qualification contemplated by this section of the, so- 
 called, 30,000 druggists of the country, and to " the in- 
 expensive and effective mode " contemplated for " securing 
 the practical knowledge required." 
 
 On the 27th of November, 1863, a meeting of the trade 
 was convened by the United Society, and held at 20, New 
 Ormond Street, with Mr. Alderman Dakin in the chair. This 
 may be taken as a meeting of the United Society, for those 
 who took part in the proceedings were men identified with 
 that body. The following resolutions were passed : 
 
 " 1. That the chemists and druggists now assembled 
 recognise the desirability of giving all possible encouragement 
 to scientific and educational qualification for the trade of a 
 chemist and druggist ; but they consider themselves, in 
 common with their brethren, quite competent to accomplish 
 all needful reform in their own body, and repudiate the oGth 
 and r>7th clauses of the proposed Act of the Medical Council,
 
 THE PHARMACEUTICAL COUNCIL APPEALED TO. oliO 
 
 as being unjust in principle and an unwarrantable attempt 
 to interfere with their rights as independent citizens." 
 
 " 2. That an act of incorporation, based upon a recognition 
 of existing rights, and subjecting every future candidate for 
 the trade to an educational test, as suggested by the United 
 Society of Chemists and Druggists, is most desirable ; and 
 this meeting would urge upon the trade the necessity of a 
 combined and determined effort for its attainment." 
 
 It might now be considered that the United Society was 
 pledged to a course of action having for its object the in- 
 corporation of some hitherto undefined body, and the require- 
 ment of some proof of undefined qualification from all who 
 should in future become chemists and druggists. Certainly, 
 anything less specific than this it might have puzzled the 
 authorities in New Ormond Street to devise or suggest. 
 
 Although the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society had 
 taken no immediate action with reference to the proceedings 
 in the Medical Council, a course which might be ascribed to 
 the strong impression entertained by them that the clauses 
 in the proposed measure, which had created so much alarm 
 among chemists and druggists, would never be passed in the 
 form in which they were introduced there, yet it could not be 
 said that the members of the society were quite at ease on 
 this point ; in fact, there was a general feeling that something 
 ought to be done, if not to oppose, at least to supersede 
 legislation on pharmacy by the Medical Council. This feeling 
 became stronger when it was found that the Medical Council 
 was disposed to drop the subject of pharmacy, and leave 
 pharmaceutical legislation to be worked out by pharmacists 
 themselves. 
 
 In the early part of 1864, a requisition, signed by upwards 
 of 300 members, was presented to the Council of the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society, to the following effect : 
 
 " GENTLEMEN, 
 
 " We, the undersigned, believing that it is highly desirable 
 for the protection of the public that all future chemists and 
 druggists should undergo a due professional examination 
 before commencing business, hereby request you to convene 
 a general meeting of the members of our society, for the 
 purpose of considering the expediency of an immediate appli-
 
 326 MEETING IN BLOOMSEUKY SQUARE. 
 
 cation to Parliament for an amended Pharmacy Act, by which 
 (following the precedent of the Apothecaries' Act) the legiti- 
 mate interests of those already in business should be protected, 
 and proper provision made for rendering the examinations 
 of future chemists by your board a compulsory instead of an 
 optional proceeding." 
 
 In compliance with this requisition a special general meet- 
 ing of the society was held on the 17th of March, 1864. 
 The President, Mr. G. W. Sandford, in opening the meeting, 
 said, "We must all of us have observed the agitation which 
 has been going on of late on this subject ; and we cannot shut 
 oar eyes to the fact that the proposition of a committee of 
 the Medical Council to bring pharmacy within the scope, and 
 pharmaceutists under the control, of that Council, has tended 
 greatly to bring matters to a climax, I look up to the 
 Medical Council with all honour and respect, as the power 
 destined hereafter to take cognizance of all matters connected 
 with the medical profession ; and I at once thank them for the 
 opinion they enunciate, that dispensing chemists, on whom 
 the public so much depend, and on whose ability and care 
 the physician must so much rely in seconding his efforts, 
 should be an educated body, and should not be allowed to 
 exercise their calling without first giving proof of their 
 qualification. I thank them too, for the tribute they pay to 
 this society, in acknowledging its certificate to be sufficient 
 evidence of a man's fitness to dispense ; but I believe firmly 
 that the Medical Council have really no wish to interfere in 
 pharmacy." The subject was fully discussed by members from 
 various parts of the country ; and although some thought the 
 time had not arrived for requiring compulsory examinations, 
 and an opinion even was expressed that if legislation were 
 required it would be the wisest course to leave ifc in the hands 
 of the Medical Council, ultimately the following resolution 
 was carried by a large majority : 
 
 " That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable for the 
 protection of the public, that all future chemists and druggists 
 should undergo a due professional examination before com- 
 mencing business ; and it is highly expedient that the Phar- 
 maceutical Society make early application to Parliament for 
 an amended Pharmacy Act, by which the legitimate interests 
 of persons already in business (whether as principals or
 
 TWO PHARMACY BILLS PRODUCED. 327 
 
 assistants) should be protected, and proper provision made 
 for the compulsory examination of those who intend to com- 
 mence hereafter." 
 
 At a meeting of Council held 19th of April, 1864, the pro- 
 posed Amended Pharmacy Bill, which had been drafted by 
 Mr. Flux was considered, and after some discussion was 
 ordered to be printed in the ensuing number of the Pharma- 
 ceutical Journal. It was again fully discussed at the Anni- 
 versary meeting in May, 1864 ; and the motion, " that this Bill 
 be received and adopted," was carried unanimously, although 
 an amendment to the effect, " that under an amended Phar- 
 macy Act, it is desirable that the Pharmaceutical Society 
 should include amongst its members all duly qualified dis- 
 pensing chemists throughout the kingdom, and that provision 
 for admitting such persons to membership should be made ac- 
 cordingly," was moved and seconded, but finally withdrawn. 
 
 At a later period in the same year the United Society also 
 produced a Bill which was to be put in competition with that 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society. 
 
 The two Bills, when submitted to Parliament, were called 
 " the Chemists' and Druggists' Bills," that from the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society being No. 1, and the other No. 2. Their 
 essential features may be thus briefly described : 
 
 Bill No. 1 provided, that after a certain date it should be 
 unlawful and subject to a penalty for any person to use certain 
 titles and carry on the business of a chemist and druggist in 
 the keeping of open shop for the compounding of the pre- 
 scriptions of duly qualified medical practitioners in any part 
 of Great Britain, unless such person should be a pharmaceu- 
 tical chemist, or a duly registered chemist and druggist ; and 
 that no person should be registered as a chemist and drug- 
 gist unless he should have been engaged in business on his 
 own account as a chemist and druggist, or as an assistant to 
 a chemist and druggist, before a certain date, or should have 
 passed an examination and received a certificate of competent 
 skill and knowledge in accordance with the regulations of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society. And that in future the benefits of 
 the Benevolent Fund of the Pharmaceutical Society might be 
 applied for the relief of all distressed persons who either are 
 or have been members or associates of the Society, and their 
 widows and orphans.
 
 328 THE BRITISH PHARMACOPEIA PUBLISHED. 
 
 Bill No. 2 provided that all persons, except those registered 
 under the Pharmacy Act, 1852, keeping shop or store for the 
 retailing of drags, and all persons who should be in any 
 manner engaged in retailing or dispensing dangerous drugs, 
 simple or compound, should be required, under a penalty, to 
 have been examined by duly appointed examiners, and certi- 
 fied to possess " a competent knowledge of drugs and 
 medicines in general use, with their doses, and to be able 
 to read physicians' prescriptions with ease and accuracy," 
 and to have been registered as chemists and druggists, and 
 to employ none but registered assistants ; but that all persons 
 who at the time of the Act coming into operation were en- 
 gaged in business as chemists and druggists, or as assistants 
 or apprentices to such, and no others, might be registered 
 withottt examination ; and that no person who was required 
 to be registered under this Act should be entitled to recover, 
 in any Court of Law or Equity, any charge accruing from 
 the sale of any dangerous drugs or active poisons (as per 
 schedule), unless he should be able to prove by the produc- 
 tion of a certificate that he was duly registered ; and further, 
 that in the sale of active poisons certain specified regulations 
 should be observed. Moreover, all persons registered under 
 this Act were to be exempt from serving on juries. 
 
 Before tracing the further progress of these two Bills refer- 
 ence must be made to other events which occurred about this 
 time. 
 
 In the early part of 1864 the British Pharmacopoeia was 
 published ; and its first appearance, as might be supposed, 
 attracted a great deal of attention. Probably no similar 
 work had ever been looked for with so much interest as this, 
 or with such various anticipations of the extent to which it 
 would fulfil the requirements of those for whose use it was 
 intended. There had been a great and unusual combination 
 of talent engaged in the preparation of the work, which had 
 induced some persons to expect a Pharmacopoeia far superior 
 ' to any previously produced. But although, in some respects, 
 the committees to whom the preparation of the work had 
 been entrusted were favourably circumstanced, in others they 
 laboured under great disadvantages. Each of the three pre- 
 viously existing Pharmacopoeias had its representatives, and 
 might be supposed to have had its advocates, engaged on the
 
 UNFAVOURABLE OPINIONS EXPRESSED. 329 
 
 network; but these being located respectively in London, 
 Edinburgh, and Dublin, were too far removed from each 
 other to admit of their working thoroughly in concert ; yet 
 their concurrence in what was done was necessaiy, and this 
 had involved many compromises which were unfavourable in 
 their influence upon the character of the work. Such -a 
 result had been foreseen by many, and the predictions of a 
 successful issue were therefore not unmixed with serious 
 misgivings on the part of those well acquainted with the 
 circumstances of the case. 
 
 When the book appeared, it was submitted to the criticisms 
 of practical men in every department of medicine ; and al- 
 though there was evidence of a desire to bring its good 
 rather than its bad qualities prominently into view, the 
 general opinion formed was not favourable. That it had 
 many good qualities was generally admitted ; but unfortu- 
 nately there were some serious defects both of omission and 
 commission, which seriously affected its usefulness for the 
 purposes of the physician. Medical men failed to find in it 
 medicines which they were in the habit of prescribing ; or, if 
 retained there by name, such medicines were often so altered 
 in composition and properties that new experiences of their 
 effects were required to justify their use. The consequence 
 was, that physicians very generally directed the medicines 
 they prescribed to be prepared according to pre-existing phar- 
 macopoeias ; and the British Pharmacopoeia, which was to have 
 superseded all others, was itself superseded and practically 
 unused. The Medical Council were aware of the failure of 
 this fii-st attempt to produce a Pharmacopoeia the use and 
 authority of which could be enforced and maintained through- 
 out the kingdom, and they decided to bring out a new edition 
 at as early a period as possible. 
 
 Mr. Peter Squire, who had acted as representative of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society on the London Pharmacopoeia Com- 
 mittee of the Medical Council, almost immediately after the 
 new Pharmacopoeia appeared, brought out a book called " A 
 Companion to the British Pharmacopoeia," which proved a 
 useful guide to medical practitioners, and acquired a great 
 circulation. 
 
 Losses through death were still being sustained by the 
 Pharmaceutical Society from among those who had been
 
 330 NOTICES OF W. H. BUCKLEE AND T. HERRING. 
 
 active workers in the Council or occupied prominent positions 
 among its members. Of these the following may be noticed 
 here, 
 
 Mr. W. H. Bucklee, of 86, New Bond Street, had been an 
 active member of, and a regular attendant at, the Council board 
 for thirteen years. He died on the 3rd of October, 1863. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Herring, wholesale druggist, was one of the 
 oldest members of the drug trade, an original promoter and 
 a very active and zealous supporter of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society. He was born in Norwich, in 1785, was apprenticed 
 to Mr. George Sothern, of that city, in 1801, came to London 
 and entered the house of Messrs. Kirk, Hearon & Co., of 
 Bishopsgate Street, in 1806, married, and commenced business 
 at No. 8, Barbican, in 1808, as wholesale druggist. His brother, 
 Thrower Buckle Herring, having joined him, they moved in 
 1815 to more extensive premises, at 40, Aldersgate Street. 
 The firm was brought prominently into notice by the intro- 
 duction of vegetable and other powders of very superior 
 quality, for the production of which they had fitted up very 
 powerful and efficient drug-grinding apparatus. It was a 
 new thing at that time for a wholesale druggist to have a 
 drug-mill on the premises, capable of producing all the vege- 
 table and other powders on a large scale. Such work had 
 been invariably done by a class of men called " drug-grinders," 
 who were not particularly noted for the production of good 
 and genuine powders. Herring's vegetable powders, such as 
 rhubarb, jalap, bark, ipecacuanha, etc., while they were gua- 
 ranteed to be genuine, were very different in appearance from 
 any powders previously supplied for use in medicine. They 
 were fine, soft, impalpable, bright-looking powders, such as 
 could not be produced with the pestle and mortar. Mr. 
 Herring was elected a member of the first Council of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society, and continued to serve the society 
 in that capacity up to the time of his death. He was a 
 regular attendant at the meetings, and took a warm interest 
 in the proceedings. In 1851 he was elected President of the 
 society ; and about this time he gave evidence before a Com- 
 mittee of the House of Commons in favour of Mr. Bell's 
 Pharmacy Bill. He died 011 the 27th of September, 1864, 
 in his eightieth year. 
 
 Mr. John Thomas Bari'y was a member of the firm of
 
 NOTICES OF j. T."BAKRY AND LUKE HOWARD. 331 
 
 Allen, Hanburys, and Barry, of Plough Court, Lombard 
 Street. He -was born in 1789, and belonged to a family 
 several members of \vhich were distinguished for talent. He 
 entered the house in Plough Court -when about fifteen years 
 of age, and had not been there very long before he took an 
 active part in the management of the business. He intro- 
 duced the method of evaporation in vacua for the preparation 
 of medicinal extracts, having adopted a method of producing 
 a vacuum by means of steam. Mr. Barry also, at an early 
 period, about 1814, adopted the method of nsing angular 
 bottles for keeping such poisonous substances as were re- 
 quired to Le kept among other preparations employed in 
 dispensing, and of keeping the more active poisons in a com- 
 partment devoted exclusively to them. 
 
 When the Pharmaceutical Society was started, Mr. Barry 
 took an active interest in its proceedings ; and although he 
 rarely attended the meetings, he continued to render valuable 
 assistance by his advice and co-operation whenever such aid 
 was required. Much of his time was devoted to philanthropic 
 objects, and especially to that of abolishing capital punish- 
 ment. Some years before his death he retired from business and 
 lived a secluded life near Hornsey, where he ended his days, in 
 March, 1864. 
 
 Mr. Luke Howard, although never connected with the 
 Pharmaceutical Society, nor latterly with the practice of 
 pharmacy, except as a manufacturing chemist, yet, as one of 
 the oldest pharmacists in the country, deserves a brief notice 
 here. He was originally engaged in business with William 
 Allen in Plough Court, Lombard Street, where, in 1796, they 
 attempted to bring science, such as it then was, into connection 
 with the preparation of medicines. They jointly entered upon 
 the foundation of a laboratory for the supply of the trade at 
 large with the chemicals then in use. This was first at Plais- 
 tow; but Mr. Howard, afterwards separating from Mr. Allen, 
 removed to Stratford, where the business of a manufacturing 
 chemist has been carried on ever since, by him or members 
 of his family, and has acquired a great repiitation. As a 
 scientific man, Mr. Howard devoted himself principally to the 
 study of meteorology. He had long withdrawn from active 
 participation in commercial pursuits, when, at the great age of 
 92, he ended a prosperous career on the 21st of March, 1864.
 
 332 APPOINTMENT OF LOCAL SECRETARIES. 
 
 A new system bad recently been adopted by the Council of 
 the Pharmaceutical Society in the appointment of local sec- 
 retaries. The value of these officers of the society had long 
 and frequently been felt, especially when there was any 
 measure affecting pharmacy before the Legislature. But on 
 all occasions there was much important assistance which could 
 be rendered by the active co-operation of local secretaries in 
 the working of the society, and it was felt to be very desirable 
 that the appointments should be made with the concurrence 
 of the members for whom they acted. This was the object of 
 the new arrangement introduced in 1863, which consisted 
 in sending, with the voting papers for the election of council, 
 a paper requesting the voter to insert the name of a person 
 he wished to be appointed local secretary in his district. 
 The working of this system appeared to be satisfactory. 
 
 A new system was also adopted in 1864, in connection with 
 the examinations for the admission of chemists and druggists 
 already in business on their own account, as members of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society. The door had been closed to the 
 admission of members without examination, and yet, in the 
 prospect of further legislation there were many chemists of 
 long standing and good repute who had hitherto stood aloof, 
 but would now join the society if they could do so without 
 the necessity of going through a special course of study to 
 prepare them for the required examination. If on no other 
 account, many of these would object to present themselves to 
 the ordeal together with young men of the class of their ap- 
 prentices or assistants, but would submit to a separate examina- 
 tion if it should be of a more practical nature than that usually 
 adopted. With the view of promoting this object, the Council, 
 on the 6th of June, 1864, passed the following resolution : 
 
 " That separate examinations be instituted for chemists and 
 druggists engaged in business on their own account, provided 
 always that such persons have either been in business for five 
 years, or are thirty years of age. 
 
 " That the first of such examinations be held in October, 
 and that due notice thereof be given in the Journal and 
 Transactions." 
 
 This resolution was speedily carried into effect, and an ex- 
 amination was held in October of that year, when seventeen 
 candidates presented themselves, fourteen of whom passed.
 
 EXAMINATION FOR CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS IN BUSINESS. 333 
 
 The examination comprised the following outline of pro- 
 ceedings : 
 
 PRESCRIPTIONS. 
 
 1. Heading. 
 
 2. Translating. 
 
 3. Methods of dispensing the prescription. 
 
 4. Detection of unusual doses. 
 
 MATERIA MEDICA. 
 
 1. Recognition of drugs. 
 
 2. Names of plants and animals yielding them. 
 
 3. Habitats and whence imported. 
 
 4. Preparations into which they enter. 
 
 5. Indications of the commercial characters and qualities 
 
 of drugs. 
 
 PHARMACY. 
 
 1. Recognition of preparations. 
 
 2. Description of their composition and proportions of active 
 
 ingredients. 
 
 3. Description of pharmacopceic processes. 
 
 CHEMISTRY. 
 
 1. Recognition of chemical substances used in medicine. 
 
 2. Processes for their preparation. 
 
 3. Chemical composition and decomposition. 
 
 4. Detection of such impurities as are ordinarily met with. 
 
 5. Antidotes for poisons. 
 
 G. Nature and method of taking specific gravities. 
 
 BOTANY. 
 
 1. Recognition of important indigenous medicinal plants 
 
 from fresh or dried specimens. 
 
 2. Distinctive character of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, 
 
 fruits, seeds, and their parts. 
 
 3. Functions of roots, stems, and leaves. 
 
 The second meeting of the British Pharmaceutical Con- 
 ference was held at Bath in September, 1864, under the 
 presidency of Mr. Henry Deane. It was attended by about 
 fifty members from different parts of the country ; and a con- 
 siderable number of papers on subjects relating to pharmacy 
 were read.
 
 334 DEPUTATIONS TO THE HOME SECRETARY, 
 
 Returning now to tho progress of the two Pharmacy Bills. 
 On the 22nd of November, 1864, a deputation of the Council 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society, consisting of Sandford (Pre- 
 sident) Hills (Vice-President) Hanbury (Treasurer), with 
 Squire, Morson, Waugh, Orridge, Edwards (members of 
 Council), Flux (Solicitor) and Bremridge (Secretary), had an 
 interview with Sir George Grey, at the Home Office, for the 
 purpose of explaining the provisions of the Pharmacy Bill 
 No. 1, and, as far as possible, of enlisting the interests of the 
 Government in its favour. No decided expression of opinion, 
 however, was elicited from the Home Secretary ; but the 
 Council felt themselves sufficiently encouraged by opinions 
 expressed elsewhere to indnce them to proceed with their Bill. 
 They had endeavoured, by means of the local secretaries 
 throughout the country, to ascertain the opinions of the trade 
 with reference to their proposed measure ; and in many of the 
 principal towns a large proportion, in some cases all the 
 chemists, had signed a declaration approving of the Bill of 
 the Pharmaceutical Society. 
 
 In these proceedings the Bloomsbury Council were in ad- 
 vance of the United Society, who, on subsequently pursuing 
 a similar course, were annoyed to find that some of their 
 members had been induced to sign the declaration in favour 
 of Bill No. 1. A good deal of acrimonious feeling was thus 
 engendered, which was manifested at meetings and in corres- 
 pondence in the trade journals ; and this, together with exag- 
 gerated statements, founded perhaps on imperfect knowledge 
 of facts, tended to weaken the influence and the prospects of 
 success of both parties. On one side there was too much of 
 an assumption that all the best part of the trade was registered 
 at Bloomsbury Square, while on the other hand there were 
 repeated and uncorrected statements made, that the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society comprised but a very small proportion of the 
 whole body of chemists and druggists. 
 
 In contradiction to this, an appeal had been made in the 
 Pharmaceutical Journal to the census returns published by 
 the Registrar General, from which it appeared that in 1861 
 the total number of persons employed in chemists' and drug- 
 gists' establishments in England and Wales was 16,026, 
 including assistants and apprentices. But of these, 3,388 were 
 under twenty years of asre, and might be taken to have been
 
 FROM THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY AND UNITED SOCIETY. 335 
 
 apprentices, leaving 12,633 as the number of principals and 
 assistants. It was estimated, that probably about 6,000 would 
 be the number of those engaged in business on their own ac- 
 count ; and as there were upwards of 2,000 members of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society, these would constitute about one- 
 third of the chemists and druggists actually in business on 
 their own account. Prominent members of the United 
 Society had frequently stated that there were about 40,000 
 chemists and druggists in the country. This number was 
 afterwards reduced to 30,000, and again, at a recent interview 
 of a deputation of the United Society with Sir George Grey, 
 it was put at 18,000. The interview alluded to took place in 
 the early part of March, 1865, when a deputation, consisting 
 of Henry Matthews (Vice-President) ; Slugg, of Manchester ; 
 Stead, of Leeds ; Manby, of Southampton ; Toogood, of Hull ; 
 Mayger, of Xorthampton ; Blain, of Bolton ; Smith, of Rye ; 
 Barnaby, of Rochester; Miller, of Blackheath; with D'Aubney, 
 Wade, King, Tidman, Boor, Baumgarten, Cawdell, Heppell, 
 etc., were accompanied to the Home Office by Sir John Shel- 
 ley, M.P. ; Sir Morton Peto, M.P. ; Sir Robert Clifton, M.P. ; 
 Harvey Lewis, Esq., M.P. ; Salisbury Butler, Esq., M.P. ; 
 William Cox, Esq., M.P. ; G. S. Beecroft, Esq., M.P. ; and 
 Charles Forster, Esq., M.P. Sir John Shelley, in introducing 
 the deputation, alluded to a statement, said to have been made 
 by a deputation from the Pharmaceutical Society, to the effect 
 that they had the support of the trade; but this, he said, the 
 present deputation, who represented a larger society than the 
 other, repudiated as entirely erroneous. He suggested that 
 the Bills of both the societies should be referred to a select 
 committee of the House of Commons. Sir George Grey, 
 after inquiring how many members the Pharmaceutical 
 Society had, and how many chemists there were in the 
 United Kingdom, said the Pharmaceutical Society had ob- 
 tained an interview with him some time previously, and had 
 wished him to take charge of their Bill ; but he had an idea 
 that they did not represent all sections of the trade, and he 
 had therefore requested them to give him some proof that 
 they did. He had declined to take up their Bill, expecting 
 that other interests would come forward. Finally, he pro- 
 mised to look over the Bill which this deputation left with 
 him, and said he thought the course suggested by Sir John
 
 336 REPORT OP COMMITTEE OP MEDICAL COUNCIL. 
 
 Shelley, of referring both Bills to a select committee, a very 
 good one. 
 
 The two Bills were now before Parliament, and they came 
 on for second reading in the House of Commons on the 29th 
 of March, 1865. Bill No. 1 was introduced by Sir Fitzroy 
 Kelly, and Bill No. 2 by Sir John Shelley. The subject of 
 the Bills was pretty fully discussed, not only by their respec- 
 tive movers, but also by Dr. Brady, Mr. Kinglake, Mr. Roe- 
 buck, Lord Elcho, Mr. Beecroft, and Sir George Grey. It 
 was generally admitted that there ought to be a compulsory 
 examination for chemists and druggists, and that such 
 examination could not be in better hands than those of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society. Both Bills were read a second 
 time, and referred to a select committee. 
 
 An important report of a committee of the Medical Council 
 on the Pharmacy Bills was opportunely issued at this time, 
 as follows : 
 
 "The committee appointed on April 7th, 1865, to report 
 whether the Medical Council is charged under the Medical 
 Act with any duty in relation to medical and surgical prac- 
 tice by chemists and druggists, and also to consider and 
 report on the two Bills relating to pharmacy now before Par- 
 liament, report as follows : 
 
 " In 1864, the General Medical Council represented to her 
 Majesty's Government the necessity of regulating by statute 
 the practice of pharmacy by chemists and druggists through- 
 out the kingdom. The committee are of opinion that this 
 necessity continues as -cogent as ever, and that the Council 
 ought to encourage and support any approved measure for 
 effecting such legislation. 
 
 " Two Bills for the purpose have been introduced into the 
 House of Commons during the present session, one promoted by 
 the Pharmaceutical Society, the other by chemists and druggists 
 not belonging to that body. The Bill of the latter is confined 
 to England and Wales, that of the former to Great Britain. 
 
 " After carefully considering both Bills, the committee are 
 of opinion that the preferable mode of legislation is that 
 which adopts the Pharmaceutical Society with the Pharmacy 
 Act of 1852 as a basis. They think the Bill promoted by the 
 society well fitted to attain various important objects, and 
 reasonable in its demands for powers and privileges.
 
 KEPOP.T OF COMMITTEE OF MEDICAL COUNCIL. 337 
 
 " The main objects of the Bill are to form a register of 
 legally qualified pharmaceutical chemists; to prohibit the 
 use of certain pharmaceutic titles by persons not on the 
 register ; to confine to those registered the privilege of exe- 
 cuting the prescriptions of medical practitioners, subject to 
 the provisions hereinafter named, but not to restrict the sale 
 of medicines asked for in any other manner. 
 
 " The committee desire to bring before the Council certain 
 defects which it appears to them necessary to correct before 
 the Bill becomes law. 
 
 " 1. The Bill should be altered so as to apply to Ireland as 
 well as to England and Scotland. They are not aware that 
 any state of things exists in Ireland to render the regulation 
 of pharmacy by the State less necessary there than in 
 Britain. 
 
 " 2. The committee are of opinion that a clause should be 
 inserted in any Pharmacy Bill, rendering it imperative on 
 chemists and druggists to follow, in compounding prescrip- 
 tions, the formularies of the British Pharmacopoeia, unless 
 otherwise directed by the prescriber. 
 
 " 3. The committee consider that the promoters of the Bill, 
 probably from a desire to disarm opposition, propose to ad- 
 mit, on too easy terms, into their society practising chemists 
 and druggists not now belonging to it. The proposal is to 
 admit all who offer themselves for examination, or who pro- 
 duce a certificate from a qualified medical practitioner that 
 they have been in the practice of dispensing medicines from 
 the presciiptions of medical men before January 1st, 1866. 
 The latter alternative implies a facility of entrance which will 
 be apt to lead to abuse. The committee are of opinion that, 
 more satisfactory evidence of qualification should be required. 
 
 " 4. The last important defect in the Bill which the com- 
 mittee have to notice is, that no adequate provision has been 
 made towards preventing registered pharmaceutic chemists 
 from converting themselves into unqualified medical prac- 
 titioners. 
 
 " Looking to the history of medical practice in this country 
 the committee see great danger to the interests of the public 
 and of the medical profession from the body which will be 
 constituted by the Bill, should it become an Act in its present 
 shape. The General Medical Council, in carrying out the 
 
 z
 
 338 REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF MEDICAL COUNCIL. 
 
 objects of the Medical Act, have raised, and it is hoped, may 
 further raise, the qualifications of legally qualified medical 
 practitioners. But their labours will be in vain should the 
 creation of a new race of unqualified practitioners be inadver- 
 tently encouraged by an Act of Parliament. It is well known 
 that many existing chemists and druggists, both members of 
 the Pharmaceutical Society and others, practise medicine, al- 
 though unqualified by law and not competent by education. 
 To a limited extent this practice may be inevitable, and at 
 all events cannot be prevented. But the existence of it gives 
 peculiar facilities and temptations to the pharmaceutic 
 chemist to embark largely in irregular medical practice as an 
 unqualified practitioner. 
 
 " The committee have considered whether the clanger here 
 indicated might not be averted by extending the jurisdiction 
 of the General Medical Council, so as to include control over 
 pharmacentic chemists as well as over practitioners in medi- 
 cine. But they believe that such a plan is at present attended 
 with difficulties. 
 
 "By Clause 55 of the Medical Act, chemists and druggists are 
 expressly exempted from the provisions of the Act, so far as the 
 ' selling, compounding, and dispensing medicines' is concerned. 
 Nor is there any provision in the Act which gives the Medical 
 Council any greater power to prevent chemists and druggists 
 from practising medicine also, than the Act enables the 
 Council to exercise over all other unqualified medical prac- 
 titioners. It is plain, therefore, that the Act did not contem- 
 plate the exercise by the Medical Council of any control over 
 chemists and druggists ; and the committee consider that it 
 would be unwise to seek to alter the existing relations 
 between the Medical Council and chemists and druggists. 
 
 "The committee have further considered whether the 
 danger they have pointed out might be averted by some 
 simple provision in the Pharmacy Bill. By Section 17 of the 
 Bill of the Pharmaceutical Society, it is declared that 
 ' Nothing in this Act contained shall extend, or be construed 
 to extend, to lessen or prejudice, or in any wise to interfere 
 with, any of the rights, privileges, and immunities heretofore 
 vested in and exercised and enjoyed by any duly qualified 
 medical practitioner.' 
 
 " This clause sufficiently protects medical practitioners in
 
 REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF MEDICAL COUNCIL. 339 
 
 such right of practising pharmacy as they have hitherto 
 enjoyed ; but it does not attempt to prevent pharmaceutic 
 chemists from practising medicine. Considering their pecu- 
 liar temptations to practise it, however, some check seems 
 desirable. The committee suggest that this object may be 
 attained, in some measure, were the following clause to be 
 added to Section 17, viz. 
 
 " ' Or to entitle any person registered under this Act to 
 practise medicine or surgery, or any branch of medicine or 
 surgery.' 
 
 " The members of the Pharmaceutic body would thus have 
 constantly before them the sentiments of the Legislature as to 
 the principles on which the Pharmacy Act was founded. 
 
 " The committee have reason to believe that the present 
 Council of the Pharmaceutical Society have every desire to 
 Discourage the practice of medicine by its members. They, 
 therefore, apprehend that no opposition would be made to the 
 addition of such a clause. 
 
 " The committee call attention to the fact that the Bill 
 proposes to confer on the whole body of chemists and drug- 
 gists the right of dispensing and selling medicines without 
 any control on the part of the Government, except such as is 
 exercised under the Pharmacy Act over registered pharma- 
 ceutical chemists. The medical profession has not been so 
 dealt with in the Medical Act. The Medical Council is 
 properly restricted in its action by the medical corporations 
 and Universities, and is also controlled by the Privy Council. 
 They submit that the whole profession of pharmacy ought to 
 be subjected to some control. 
 
 " The committee recommend that the above observations 
 should be laid by the President before the Secretary of State 
 for the Home Department, and the Chairman of the select 
 committee on the two Bills. 
 
 " Signed on behalf of the committee, 
 
 "HENRY W. ACLAND, Chairman." 
 
 At the meeting of the select committee of the House of 
 Commons, to which the two Pharmacy Bills were referred, 
 evidence was given by Dr. Alfred S. Taylor, Mr. Simon, Dr. 
 Quain, and Dr. Wilson, who all agreed in advocating the 
 necessity for an educational qualification for dispensers of 
 medicine, and also in commending the regulations adopted by
 
 340 REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF HOCSE OF COMMONS. 
 
 the Pharmaceutical Society for testing by examination the 
 qualifications required. Evidence was also given by Mr. John 
 Mackay, of Edinburgh, to show what the general opinion of 
 the trade in Scotland was with reference to Bill No. 1. But 
 as part of the evidence went strongly to favour the adoption 
 of restrictions on the sale of poisons, and the views of the 
 committee appeared to accord with the opinions expressed in 
 this direction, while no provision was made in Bill No. 1 
 for regulating the sale of poisons, this Bill was not con- 
 sidered to fulfil what was required ; and as Bill No. 2, although 
 it dealt with that part of the subject, involved much that 
 the committee was not prepared to entertain, it also was not 
 proceeded with. Finally the committee reported as follows : 
 
 " Your committee have examined witnesses on the general 
 questions raised by the provisions contained in the two Bills 
 committed to them, and have also heard evidence in support 
 of the Chemists' and Druggists' (No. 1) Bill. 
 
 " 1. Your committee then passed the following resolu- 
 tions : 
 
 " ' 1st. That no compulsory examination or registration 
 under the Bills referred to the committee should be required 
 of persons now carrying on the trade of chemists and 
 druggists.' 
 
 " ' 2nd. That the Bill do provide that no other person shall, 
 after a day to be fixed by the Bill, sell certain dangerous 
 drugs, to be scheduled in the Bill, unless he be examined and 
 registered.' 
 
 " 2. By the adoption of the second resolution, as an amend- 
 ment to a proposal that persons compounding medicines from 
 the prescriptions of medical men should also be examined, 
 your committee decided against the principal provision con- 
 tained in the Chemists' and Druggists' (No. 1) Bill, and they 
 accordingly resolved to proceed with the Chemists' and 
 Druggists' (No. 2) Bill. 
 
 " 3. After several of the clauses of the Bill were passed, 
 considerable difficulty arose in providing for the first 
 formation of the council to which the duty of regulating the 
 examination of chemists and druggists was to be entrusted ; 
 and your committee, considering the advanced period of the 
 session, were compelled to abandon the expectation of any 
 useful result from a further consideration of the Bill.
 
 BETTS* PATENT METALLIC CAPSULES. 341 
 
 " 4. Having therefore disposed, pro forma, of the remaining 
 clauses, they came to the following resolution : 
 
 " ' That, inasmuch as there appears to be little prospect of 
 any satisfactory termination to the labours of the committee 
 in the present session, it is desirable that the evidence, so far 
 as it has been already taken, and the proceedings of the 
 committee, be reported to the House, accompanied by a 
 recommendation that the Government should, early in the 
 new Parliament, bring in a Bill on the subjects referred to the 
 committee.' 
 
 " 5. Your committee have in conclusion to report, that, in 
 their opinion, it is not expedient to proceed further with 
 either of the Bills which have been committed to them." 
 
 This result could not be viewed as otherwise than a source 
 of some mortification to the promoters of Bill No. 1 ; for while 
 the principle of this Bill was rejected by the committee, that 
 of Bill No. 2 was to a certain extent approved. There was 
 some satisfaction, however, in knowing that the Bill of the 
 Pharmaceutical Council was approved by the highest medical 
 and other authorities, and that it comprised a principle which 
 would have restricted the dispensing of medicines to qualified 
 men without shackling them with burdensome conditions. 
 
 It was now the end of the session, and nearly the end of 
 the Parliament ; therefore any further attempts at obtaining 
 the desired legislation would have to be made under some- 
 what altered circumstances. 
 
 The failure of their attempt at legislation was not the only 
 trouble the pharmaceutical body had now to contend with. 
 The proprietor of a patent for the manufacture of metallic 
 capsules for covering the mouths of bottles, having been en- 
 gaged for several years in expensive litigation, by which he 
 finally established his exclusive right to the manufacture, after 
 spending 30,000 in doing so, thought he might perhaps re- 
 coup himself for some of his expenses by taking legal proceed- 
 ings against the numerous class of chemists and others who 
 were, and had for some time been, unconsciously infringing 
 his patent. Accoi'dingly in July, 1865, a large number of 
 chemists in different parts of London received notice that suits 
 in chancery were about to be commenced against them, for 
 having infringed the patent rights of Mr. Betts, by selling 
 articles capped with metallic capsules not made by him nor
 
 342 QUININE WINE. BENEVOLENT FUND. 
 
 with his sanction. This of course caused a good deal of ex- 
 citement and alarm. Meetings were held, and lawyers con- 
 sulted, and as several of the parties implicated were members 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society, the advice and assistance of the 
 Council and officers of the society were sought and obtained. 
 Previous to this, however, some of the defendants, fearful of 
 incurring ruinous expenses, had induced Mr. Betts' solicitor to 
 stop further proceedings against them by the payment of sums 
 of money. In one instance a widow had compromised her case 
 by the payment of 16, although she had never gained as 
 many pence by the capsules she had innocently sold attached to 
 proprietary articles. In another instance double that sum had 
 been paid under similar circumstances. At the conferences 
 that took place in Bloomsbury Square, and under the advice of 
 the society's solicitor, defendants were recommended not to 
 settle their cases in that way, and most of them joined in 
 forming a common fund, and acting together for their defence 
 if further proceedings should be taken. They were kept in 
 suspense for a long time, and a good deal of annoyance was 
 caused by the vacillating conduct of Mr. Betts and his agents, 
 but ultimately the patent died out and with it the fear of Mr. 
 Betts' chancery suits. 
 
 There were other sources of small troubles to chemists and 
 druggists, among which was the infringement of excise regu- 
 lations. Several cases of this kind occurred in connection 
 with the sale of quinine wine. A correspondence took place 
 with the Inland Revenue Board as to the quantity of quinine 
 required to ensure the exclusion of this preparation from the 
 category of beverages, and keep it in that of medicines, and 
 the question was not completely settled until a process was 
 given in which the strength and composition of quinine wine 
 was defined in the British Pharmacopoeia. 
 
 Additional attention had of late been directed to the Bene- 
 volent Fund. Hitherto only casual relief had been granted 
 out of the fund, and there had been an understanding that 
 no annuities should be granted until the invested capital had 
 reached the sum of 10,000. But at the time at which that 
 decision was come to, the subscriptions to the society were 
 higher than they subsequently became, and grants were then 
 frequently made from the funds of the society to the Benevo- 
 lent Fund, which was thus steadily increasing from year to 
 year.
 
 BRITISH PHARMACOPEIA, NEW EDITION. 343 
 
 Since the subscriptions had been reduced, the income of the 
 society had not admitted of such grants being made, and it 
 was considered necessary to adopt some method of getting 
 increased support for this important part of the society's 
 objects. It was thought that the best means of increasing the 
 capital of the fund would be to bring it into practical nse, and 
 with the view of doing so, the Council, on the 7th of June, 
 1865, "Resolved, that in accordance with the revised regula- 
 tions for the distribution of this Fund, an election of two 
 annuitants take place in October next, the annuities to be of 
 the value of 30 each." In the following month a grant of 
 one hundred guineas out of the Benevolent Fund was voted 
 for the purpose of purchasing an admission for the orphan 
 child of a late member into an orphan asylum. And then, on 
 the 27th of October, at a meeting specially convened for the 
 purpose, the first two annuitants, each to receive 30 a year 
 from the Benevolent Fund of the Pharmaceutical Society, were 
 elected. These active operations brought many new subscrip- 
 tions and donations to the fund. 
 
 The third meeting of the British Pharmaceutical Conference 
 was held at Birmingham, in September, 1865. There was a 
 larger attendance of members and a greater number of papers 
 read at this meeting than at either of the preceding ones. In 
 fact, the Conference was assuming a very important position. 
 Mr. Henry Deane presided at this as well as the two previous 
 meetings. 
 
 The committee to whom the Medical Council had entrusted 
 the preparation of a new edition of the British Pharmacopoeia, 
 having appointed Mr. Robert Warington, of Apothecaries' 
 Hall, and Professor Redwood, of -the Pharmaceutical Society, 
 as joint editors, these gentlemen were now actively engaged 
 in reconstructing the work in accordance with the plan which 
 the latter had suggested in a communication read at a meeting 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society. The discussion at meetings 
 and in the journals, of subjects relating to the Pharmacopoeia, 
 was invited and encouraged, and many of those who on pre- 
 vious occasions had taken an interest in such matters, afforded 
 valuable suggestions. Unfortunately, Mr. Warington's health 
 became so seriously impaired shortly after his appointment, 
 that he was obliged to relinquish active work and leave Lon- 
 don.
 
 344 REPORT OP THE UNITED SOCIETY 
 
 The disappointment resulting from the failure of the at- 
 tempts made by the two competing societies to induce the 
 Legislature to proceed -with either of the Pharmacy Bills sub- 
 mitted to them, greatly damped the energy previously mani- 
 fested by both parties, but it was more apparent in the sup- 
 porters of No. 1 than No. 2 Bill. The latter felt that they 
 had gained a partial success, and they were anxious to turn 
 this to the best account. Even before the select committee 
 had completed their deliberations on the two Bills, and imme- 
 diately after the first conclusion they arrived at was made 
 known, the Executive Committee of the United Society issued 
 the following statement addressed to the trade : 
 
 " The Executive Committee hasten to respond to the anxious 
 inquiry of the trade as to the progress of legislation affecting 
 their interests. 
 
 " The select committee appointed by the House of Com- 
 mons to consider the two Chemists and Druggists Bills, met 
 on the llth of May, and proceeded to hear evidence in favour 
 of Bill No. 1. Dr. Alfred Swaine Taylor, throughout an ex- 
 amination of two hours, sustained his unswerving conviction 
 that the sale of dangerous drugs and poisons should be subject 
 to legislative restriction. Mr. Simon, the Medical Officer of 
 the Privy Council, confirmed Dr. Taylor's evidence. 
 
 " On the second day's sitting, Dr. Quain gave similar evi- 
 dence to that of Dr. Taylor and Mr. Simon, and emphatically 
 denounced ' free trade ' in physic as dangerous to the public. 
 Dr. Wilson expressed his opinion to the same effect, and with 
 equal force and clearness. Mr. Mackay, Secretary of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society at Edinburgh, was then examined as 
 to the general feeling of the trade in favour of Bill No. 1. The 
 chemists and druggists of Scotland he said had petitioned for 
 it, and those of Edinburgh were unanimously in its favour, 
 but on the question being put to him by Sir John Shelley, 
 whether the chemists and druggists of Glasgow were in 
 favour of it, he was sorry to admit that Glasgow opposed it. 
 Just at this juncture the speaker's bell rang for prayers, and 
 the committee adjourned. 
 
 " Whilst the committee and the public were departing, Lord 
 Elcho collected some friends of the two societies around him, 
 and read a paper which he said he hoped would prove to be 
 the basis of a good understanding between them. Hurried
 
 ON PHARMACEUTICAL LEGISLATION. 345 
 
 expressions of readiness to make reasonable concessions were 
 ubtered on both sides, and eventually Lord Elcho's suggestion 
 for a conference was agreed upon. In accordance with this 
 arrangement, Messrs. D'Aubney and Wade, with Mr. Buott, 
 the Secretary, who were deputed on behalf of the United 
 Society, met the President and Vice-President with the Secre- 
 tary of the Pharmaceutical Society, on Wednesday, the 17th 
 May, at the Pharmaceutical Institution in Bloomsbury Square. 
 
 " After various remarks of a preliminary character on either 
 side, Mr. Buott observed that the object of the gentlemen 
 representing the United Society in coming there was to hear 
 any proposition in harmony with Lord Elcho's suggestions 
 which the gentlemen repi'esenting the Pharmaceutical Society 
 had to advance. The President said, ' We are quite willing to 
 learn what you object to in Bill No. 1, and to consider whether 
 any alteration can be made to meet your views.' Mr. D'Aub- 
 ney replied that that would be useless, because the whole Bill 
 was objected to as being upon a wrong basis, and Mr. Buott 
 added, that unless the Pharmaceutical Council had some 
 distinct proposition to make, the meeting might as well be 
 ended. 
 
 " Mr. Hills here stated, and was confirmed in his statement 
 by the President, that it was proposed to alter the 16th 
 clause in Bill No. 1, so as to give all chemists registered 
 under the Act a vote at the society's meetings. 
 
 "Mr. Wade said that would not meet the case. Unless 
 chemists of equal qualification were put upon an equal footing 
 with those who were members of the Pharmaceutical Society 
 by payment, the United Society could not support their Bill. 
 'You wish,' said he, ' to secure both registration a,nd exami- 
 nation, and you base your claim upon the machinery you 
 possess for such a purpose. These are the only points at 
 issue, and constitute the rights we claim for ourselves as 
 independent tradesmen. Can you suppose that we shall sur- 
 render them to a society which has failed in its objects, and 
 whose Council represents only the dispensing interests of the 
 trade, without an equivalent ? Concessions must be made 
 on both sides ; we are willing to concede even these important 
 rights, but every man placed upon the register must have a 
 voice in the nomination and election of the governing body.' 
 Mr. Wade then introduced the following propositions :
 
 346 REPORT OF THE UNITED SOCIETF 
 
 "'1. The Pharmaceutical Society to register at a certain 
 fee all [chemists and druggists in business at the time of the 
 passing of the Act as Phai-maceutical Chemists. 
 
 " ' 2. All future candidates for registration to be examined 
 by the examiners of the Pharmaceutical Society. 
 
 " ' 3. Those passing the minor examination to pay a fee of 
 not more than two guineas, and to be called chemists and 
 druggists, with the right to retail and compound articles 
 scheduled as dangerous drugs and poisons. 
 
 " ' 4. Those passing the major examination, at a fee of not 
 more than five guineas, to be styled pharmaceutical chemists. 
 
 " ' 5. All pharmaceutical chemists to be eligible for member- 
 ship of the Pharmaceutical Society. 
 
 " ' 6. Those now to be incorporated without examination to 
 pay a subscription of two guineas annually upon election to 
 membership, and to be entitled to all the privileges of old 
 members. 
 
 " ' 7. All interests to be represented on the Council, and 
 every pharmaceutical chemist to have a vote in the election 
 of Council.' 
 
 " The President and Mr. Hills saw no particular objection 
 to any of these clauses except No. 1, whicli proposed to make 
 common the title of Pharmaceutical Chemist, which was 
 secured to the present members by charter. 
 
 " Mr. D'Aubney and the Secretary urged the right of 
 representation with election ; and Mr. Buott wished it to be 
 distinctly understood that, in making the proposition, the 
 right of nomination must be considered as a siitf qua von, 
 because election without the right of nomination would be a 
 mockery. On separating, it was agreed that the conference 
 should be renewed on the following morning, when the 
 parties would meet at the House of Commons. Xo sooner, 
 however, had they met, than it was ascertained that the 
 Pharmaceutical repi'esentatives were disinclined to the inter- 
 pretation of clause 7, in the sense of nomination with repre- 
 sentation ; so the conference had no practical result. 
 
 " On the third day the committee consulted for more than 
 two hours with closed doors, and having examined Mr. Mackay 
 for a few minutes, they ordered the room again to be cleai'ed. 
 On our readmission the chairman read the following resolu- 
 tions :
 
 ON PHARMACEUTICAL LEGISLATION. 347 
 
 " ' 1. That no compulsory examination or registration 
 should be required of persons now carrying on the business 
 of chemists and druggists. 
 
 " ' 2. That no other person shall, after a day to be fixed, 
 sell certain dangerous drugs to be scheduled in the Bill, 
 unless he be examined and registered. 
 
 " ' 3. That the committee do proceed on this day week 
 with Chemists and Druggists Bill No. 2.' 
 
 " Not one of these three simple, brief, but conclusive reso- 
 lutions touched a single object aimed at by Bill No. 1, to give 
 it legislative life ; so, in parliamentary phraseology, the Bill 
 was thrown out. 
 
 " The day on which the above resolutions were adopted 
 was Thursday, the 18th May. 
 
 " Considerable excitement prevailed amongst the Metro- 
 politan chemists when the news, that the Bill of the Pharma- 
 ceutical Council -was lost, became known, each expressing his 
 joy or regret according to his individual bias. 
 
 " On the following Tuesday the members of the select 
 committee had a private consultation, and agreed to further 
 adjourn the consideration of Bill No. 2, from Thursday, the 
 25th May, to Thursday, the 1st June. 
 
 " The interest which had been excited by the announcement 
 of the Bill of the Pharmaceutical Council being thrown out, 
 might be supposed to have been almost extinguished by this 
 unexpected adjournment ; but at twelve o'clock on the 1st of 
 June, it was evident, from the crowded appearance of the 
 corridor of the House of Commons leading to Committee 
 Room No. 16, that something very much like a sensation had 
 been created amongst the chemists and druggists of London, 
 who, anxiously and patiently, but cheerfully and hopefully, 
 waited on the outside of the Committee Room from twelve 
 till half- past two o'clock, when all hopes and fears were alike 
 set at rest by the advent of Sir Fitzroy Kelly and Sir John 
 Shelley, who explained to their respective adherents the result 
 of the long deliberation which had taken place. Sir John 
 Shelley stated that the committee had agreed to the pre- 
 amble and first three clauses of the Bill No. 2. and recom- 
 mended that the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society and 
 the Executive Committee of the United Society should each 
 give in the names of ten gentlemen, who. together with three
 
 THE UNITED SOCIETY DISUNITED. 
 
 gentlemen to be nominated by Government, should be ap- 
 pointed under tbe Act to carry out its provisions. 
 
 " The Executive Committee furnish this simple narrative 
 of a long protracted and arduous struggle for independence, 
 without any comment of their own, believing that every 
 incident it records will prove of interest, not only to the 
 chemists and druggists now in business, but also to their 
 successors, and stand upon the page of history in bright 
 testimony to the persevering efforts which have been made to 
 elevate the trade, and to place their rights and privileges 
 upon a sound legislative basis for the future. 
 
 " By order of the Executive Committee, 
 
 " CYRUS BUOTT, 
 
 " Secretary. 
 
 "United Society of Chemists and Druggists, 
 " 20, New Ormond Street, W.C., 
 
 " June 10th, 1865." 
 
 The concluding report of the select committee (page 340), 
 the purport of which slightly differs in one respect from the 
 the foregoing, is not alluded to in Mr. Buott's statement, 
 and, no doubt, was not found to be quite so satisfactory to the 
 executives of the United Society as they expected it to be. 
 There was a good deal of discussion on the subject both in 
 London and throughout the country. At the discussions in 
 London, disagreements arose among leading members of the 
 United Society. Unseemly disputes occurred with the Secretary 
 at public and committee meetings. The President, Alderman 
 Dakin, resigned his appointment, and symptoms in several 
 respects of disorganization were manifested. But in some of 
 the provincial towns, and especially at Manchester, more 
 unanimity and a better spirit appeared to prevail. It was at 
 first proposed to make Alderman Bowker, of Manchester, the 
 new President, but as he did not respond to the invitation, 
 Mr. Henry Matthews, of Grower Street, an analytical chemist. 
 unconnected with pharmacy, was elected to the somewhat 
 difficult office of presiding over the disunited membei's of the 
 United Society. The advantage possessed by a well organ- 
 ized and incorporated institution, such as the Pharmaceutical 
 Society, was seen and admitted by all ; and although members 
 of the United Society were disposed to exult over their 
 neighbours in Bloomsbury, on the ground of the better
 
 THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST JOURNAL. 349 
 
 success of Bill No. 2 than that of No. 1, they could not fail 
 to perceive that the greater amount of influence and better 
 chance of success would lie on the side of any measure 
 introduced by the promoters of the latter. 
 
 The advantage of having a journal devoted to the interests 
 of the promoting body was also felt, and a proposition was 
 made for establishing a new journal to represent the United 
 Society, but this was not carried out. The proceedings of 
 the ' society had, from their commencement, been reported in 
 the Chemist and Druggist, a trade journal, which had started 
 some years previously in a small way, but was at this time 
 expanding to larger dimensions, and ultimately became a 
 popular, widely circulated, and influential publication. The 
 independent spirit manifested by this journal sometimes gave 
 offence to the leaders of the United Society, but no sufficient 
 grounds were adduced for discrediting its reports and com- 
 ments, which on the whole appeared to be true and fair. 
 
 It was evident to all candid observers that the only chance 
 of carrying a Pharmacy Bill through Parliament, would be 
 for the two societies to agree upon some measure, and direct 
 their united efforts towards getting it passed. 
 
 At a meeting of the Council in Bloomsbury Square on the 
 3rd January, 1866, a letter was read from Mr. Buott, enclosing 
 a resolution which had been passed at the Annual Meeting of 
 the United Society, on the 23rd November, 1865, and which 
 the meeting had directed to be sent to the Pharmaceutical 
 Council, as follows : 
 
 " That this annual meeting confirm the recommendation 
 of the Provincial Associations at Liverpool, Manchester, 
 Sheffield, Leeds, Hull, Bradford, Bristol, Oxford, Bolton, 
 Newcastle-on-Tyne, etc., to make the first seven clauses of 
 the Chemists and Druggists Bill No. 2, as approved by the 
 select committee of the House of Commons * the basis of 
 any future proceeding in the name of the United Society, in 
 case the Pharmaceutical Society decline to co-operate upon 
 
 * These clauses merely related to the proposed title of the Act, the 
 date at which it should take effect, and the constitution and mode of 
 election of the governing body or council. The next succeeding clauses 
 related to the incorporation of a constituency, which, the committee 
 say, presented considerable difficulty, on which account they relin- 
 quished the further consideration of the Bill.
 
 350 CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEX 
 
 tbe condition of the self-government of the trade being 
 secured by representative election." 
 
 The communication having been considered, the Secretary 
 was instructed to forward to the Executive Committee a copy 
 of the following resolution : 
 
 "That the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society have no 
 idea of recommending any measure to Government for the 
 regulation of chemists and druggists which shall not give to 
 all registered chemists and druggists a voice in the election of 
 the governing body." 
 
 At a later date, in March, a correspondence took place 
 between the Presidents of the two societies. A resolution 
 had. been passed by the Executive Committee of the United 
 Society, " That the President be requested to call upon or 
 write to the President of the Pharmaceutical Society, to 
 ascertain whether it is his opinion that the Council of that 
 society would be 'willing to co-operate with the Executive 
 Committee of the United Society in urging and assisting the 
 Government to introduce a Chemists and Druggists Bill into 
 Parliament, based upon the recommendations of the select 
 committee, and submitted to the Government at the close of 
 the last session." 
 
 To this Mr. Sanclford replied as follows : 
 
 "47, PICCADILLY, March l~th, 1SGO. 
 
 " Sir, In reply to your note of the 16th inst., asking my 
 opinion as to the willingness of the Pharmaceutical Society to 
 co-operate with your society in urging and assisting the 
 Government to introduce a Chemists and Druggists Bill into 
 Parliament, based upon the recommendation of the select 
 committee of last year, I beg to say that it is the unanimous 
 opinion of. the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, that 
 urging the Government at this time would be useless, unwise 
 and impolitic. The great press of matter before Parliament 
 just now, connected with reform, rinderpest, and Fenianism, 
 renders it almost certain that the ministry will not adopt the 
 recommendation of the select committee to introduce a Bill 
 on the subjects in which we are interested during the present 
 session. Should this expectation of delay, however, be in- 
 correct (and, for myself, I should much rejoice to find it so), 
 our Council will always be ready to assist the Government
 
 THE TWO SOCIETIES. 351 
 
 in arranging an efficient, and yet liberal, measure for the set- 
 tlement of the question. 
 
 " I say ' au efficient measure,' and I think you will agree 
 with me that a mere Poison Bill, fettering us with registra- 
 tion of sales and attendance of witnesses, prescribing a par- 
 ticular form of bottle in which poisons might be kept and 
 sold, and a particular corner in our shops in which they should 
 be placed, would be only an encumbrance to the statute-book, 
 inoperative as regards the public, and especially objectionable 
 to men who, if they bo properly qualified to deal in dangerous 
 articles, will each, according to the special circumstances of 
 his case, adopt precautions far more conducive to the public 
 safety. 
 
 " I have said also a ' liberal measure,' and on this point I 
 may add, that the Home Secretary is already in possession of 
 the views entertained by the Pharmaceutical Society, and I 
 believe no chemist and druggist, properly so called, could, 
 whether he be now a member of our society or not, fairly 
 object to those views. Our desire is to make the compulsory 
 parts of the Bill entirely prospective, and to give all persons 
 registered under it equally easy means of access to the society 
 which should regulate the examinations, etc. To suppose 
 that there will ever be two societies for the same object 
 established by law requires a stretch of imagination to which 
 I am not yet equal, and is a thing, I believe, entirely beyond 
 the hope nay even the desire of the best members of 
 your society. 
 
 " I fully recognise the right of all persons 'governed '(but 
 mincl, I think ' governed ' is a strong expression for the present 
 case) to have a voice in the governing body, and I would for 
 this reason carry the provisions of the Bill a little further than 
 I have yet stated. 
 
 " You know the select committee resolved that there 
 should be no compulsory registration for men already in 
 business. I would nevertheless have a voluntary registra- 
 tion ; and all able to bring the required certificate of their 
 having been chemists, properly so called, should be entitled 
 to that registration, and so have the same easy access I have 
 mentioned before to the society. 
 
 " These men would be in no way interfered with by the 
 proposed legislation, but, being engaged in the same trade, I
 
 352 CORRESPONDENCE AFFECTING 
 
 know many of them would like such a provision ; and beyond 
 that, I regard the union of all men of our calling as an im- 
 portant means for elevating the standing of the whole body. 
 
 " I have written rather fully on this matter, because I am 
 anxious to assure you that there is really no foundation for 
 the oft-repeated charge made against the society, over which 
 I have the honour to preside, of a desire to subjugate all 
 chemists and druggists throughout the country to their 
 authority ; and I trust you will agree with me in thinking 
 that the measure we desire to pass is one which would be 
 beneficial, and ought to be supported by the whole trade. 
 " I have the honour to be, Sir, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 " GEORGE W. SAXDFOKU. 
 " To HENRY MATTHEWS, Esq., 
 
 " President of the United Society of Chemists and Drug- 
 gists." 
 
 In the discussion which took place at the reading of this 
 letter before the Executive Committee of the United Society, 
 some exception was taken to the absence of information on 
 the point with reference to which a question had been asked, 
 and a resolution was passed, " That this meeting, while 
 acknowledging the courtesy with which the President of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society has answered the letter addressed to 
 him, regrets that he does not give any definite reply to the 
 question : ' Whether the Pharmaceutical Society would be 
 willing to co-operate with the United Society in urging 
 Government to pass a Bill for the incorporation of the trade, 
 based upon the recommendations of the Parliamentary Select 
 Committee ? ' " 
 
 With reference to this resolution, Mr. Sandford addressed 
 the following letter, 
 
 " To the Editor of The Chemist and Druggist. 
 
 " Sir, On page 52 of the last number of your paper, in 
 the transactions of the United Society of Chemists and Drug- 
 gists, you publish a letter which was addressed by me to 
 Mr. Matthews, and on page 53 a resolution of the Executive 
 Committee of the society appears, professing to state the 
 question to which my letter was a reply. 
 
 "It runs tlm.s 'Whether the Pharmaceutical Society
 
 THE TWO SOCIETIES. 353 
 
 would be willing to co-operate with the United Society in 
 urgiug Government to pass a Bill for the incorporation of Hie 
 trade, based upon the recommendations of the Parliamentary 
 Select Committee ? ' 
 
 " The question actually put to me, as I find by a reference 
 to Mr. Matthews' letter, and you may see in your March 
 number, was, whether in my opinion the Council ' would be 
 willing to co-operate with the Executive Committee of the 
 United Society in urging and assisting the Government to 
 introduce a Chemists' and Druggists' Bill into Parliament, 
 based upon the recommendations of the select committee, 
 and submitted to Government at the close of the last 
 session ? ' 
 
 " Now I think I have some reason to complain of the intro- 
 duction of the words, ' for the incorporation of the trade,' to 
 the question, after my answer had been considered ; inasmuch 
 as the expression in the last paragraph but one of my letter, 
 ' that I regard the union of all men of our calling as an important 
 means for elevating the standing of the whole body, 1 was neither 
 caused by anything which occurred in the question put to me, 
 nor by the recommendations of the Select Committee of the 
 House of Commons, which contains no mention whatever of 
 such an incorporation, but simply from an opinion I have 
 always held, and continue to hold, in common, I believe, with 
 all members of the society over which I have the honour to 
 preside. 
 
 " I have the honour to be, Sir, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 " GEORGE W. SANDFOBD. 
 
 " 47, Piccadilly, May lOth, 1866." 
 
 At nearly the same time the Secretary of the United 
 Society, under instructions from his Committee, sent the fol- 
 lowing letter, 
 
 " 20, New Ormond Street, W.C. 
 " London, May 5th, 1866. 
 
 gi rj At a meeting of the Executive Committee of this 
 society, held here yesterday, reference was made to a letter 
 of the President of the Pharmaceutical Society, dated March 
 17th, 1866, and addressed to the President of the United 
 Societv of Chemists and Druggists, in which the President of
 
 354 PROPOSED BASIS OF LEGISLATION. 
 
 the Pharmaceutical Society says, ' I regard the union of all 
 men of our calling as an important means for elevating the 
 standing of the whole body ; ' and in the PharmaceuticalJournal 
 for this month, in which this letter is printed, a hope is ex- 
 pressed ' that those equally and alike interested in the result 
 of legislation will not be found acting in opposition to each 
 other.' 
 
 " The sentiments thus expressed were reciprocated by the 
 meeting, and led to the unanimous adoption of the accom- 
 panying resolution. 
 
 " Waiting the reply of the Pharmaceutical Council to the 
 inquiry therein embodied, 
 
 " I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 " CYRUS BUOTT, Secretary. 
 
 " To ELIAS BREMRIDGE, Secretary. 
 
 "Resolution, That the Secretary be instructed to write to 
 the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, requesting a reph- 
 to the question, Will the Council of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society co-operate with the Executive Committee of the 
 United Society in promoting a Bill for the incorporation of 
 the trade, based upon the recommendation of the Select Com- 
 mittee of the House of Commons ? 
 
 " CYRCS BUOTT, Secretary." 
 
 In reply to this communication, the Secretary was instructed 
 to forward a copy of the following resolutions : 
 
 " 1. That the Council cannot find any expression referring 
 to the incorporation of the trade in the recommendation of 
 the Select Committee of the House of Commons on the 
 Chemists' and Druggists' Bills. 
 
 " 2. That the Council do not think it wise to take any 
 immediate steps towards legislation, but intend at present 
 to await the action of Government. 
 
 " 3. That whenever a Bill shall be brought into Parliament 
 affecting the interests of chemists and druggists, the Council 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society will be very glad to have the 
 co-operation of all concerned, whether of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society, the United Society, or the large number who are not 
 connected with either, to obtain a satisfactory and liberal 
 settlement of the question." 
 
 The United Society at this time had ceased to justify
 
 THE BLOOMSBURY COUNCIL ADDRESS THE GOVERNMENT. 355 
 
 its name. It had fallen into what the Chemist and Druggist 
 called an "incoherent state," in which "deplorable dissen- 
 sion" prevailed at the committee and other meetings. The 
 Secretary, a clever man with much persevering energy, 
 attempted to rale the proceedings in opposition to the Presi- 
 dent and a majority of the Executive Committee; and, backed 
 by country members, he succeeded at the anniversary meeting 
 in carrying his point, thus contributing to split up the society 
 and weaken its power for any effective work. It would be a 
 profitless task to attempt to follow this controversy through 
 all its details, which extended over many months and resulted 
 in some of the most influential members of the United Society 
 seceding, and either joining the Pharmaceutical Society or 
 holding themselves aloof from both societies. 
 
 The Bloomsbury Council considered that the time had not 
 yet come at which they could, with good effect, renew their 
 efforts in seeking legislation by any active means ; but with 
 the view of keeping the subject under the notice of the 
 Government, the Council in the early part of 1866 had sent 
 to the Home Office a brief outline of such a measure as they 
 thought would accord with the recommendation of the Select 
 Committee of the House of Commons, and at the same time 
 meet the views of the body of chemists and druggists. It 
 was to the following effect : 
 
 " 1. That in future all persons, before assuming the name 
 or title of Chemist and Druggist, or keeping open shop for the 
 compounding of medicines under physicians' and surgeons' 
 prescriptions, or for vending, dispensing or compounding 
 certain dangerous drugs, chemicals, and other poisonous sub- 
 . stances to be enumerated in a schedule, should undergo an 
 examination and be registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists, 
 or Chemists and Druggists. 
 
 " 2. The examination for Pharmaceutical Chemists should 
 be, as heretofore, that which is known as the major examina- 
 tion of the Pharmaceutical Society. 
 
 " 3. The examination for Chemists and Druggists should 
 be that which is known as the minor examination, and to 
 which persons hitherto registered as Assistants have been 
 subjected. 
 
 " 4. That all persons registered as Chemists and Druggists 
 should be eligible for election to membership of the Pharma*
 
 356 PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE MEETING. 
 
 ceutical Society, under the bye-laws thereof; but they should 
 not by virtue of that membership be entitled to registration 
 as Pharmaceutical Chemists, that title being strictly kept for 
 those only who pass the major examination. They should 
 have the right of nominating and voting for members of 
 Council, but the Council should consist only of members who 
 are Pharmaceutical Chemists. 
 
 " 5. All persons registered under the Bill as Chemists and 
 Druggists to be exempt from serving on juries. 
 
 " 0. Nothing in the Bill to interfere with, or curtail the 
 rights of, chemists already in business, or of persons of the 
 full age of twenty-one years who should, at a given date, be 
 assistants to chemists and druggists. Other necessary exemp- 
 tions to be made for apothecaries, veterinary surgeons, whole- 
 sale dealers, etc. 
 
 <; 7. That chemists and druggists already in business may, if 
 they choose, be placed on the register of chemists and 
 druggists, if within a certain time after the passing of the 
 Bill they make application, and produce to the Registrar 
 satisfactory evidence that they were actually in business on 
 their own account, and engaged in the compounding and dis- 
 pensing of medicines under physicians' and surgeons' prescrip- 
 tions, and vending, compounding, and dispensing the danger, 
 ous poisons as per schedule, prior to that date." 
 
 Having thus intimated their views and wishes to the 
 Government, the Pharmaceutical Society took no further 
 immediate action with regard to legislation, but they were 
 fully sensible of the importance of inducing, and anxious to 
 bring about, a union of the power and influence which could 
 be brought to bear in the interests of Pharmacy, when it 
 should be found practicable and expedient to make a fresh 
 appeal to Parliament. 
 
 A very successful meeting of the British Pharmaceutical 
 Conference was held at Nottingham this year, under the 
 presidency of Professor Bentley. The papers read were 
 numerous and interesting. One especially on Pharmaceutical 
 Ethics, by Mr. Joseph Ince, attracted considerable attention 
 both then and subsequently. There was a new feature intro- 
 duced into this Conference meeting which consisted of an 
 exhibition of objects relating to pharmacy. 
 
 Attempts were still being made to obtain increased support
 
 BENEVOLENT FOND DINNER. CHEMISTS' BALL. 357 
 
 for, and to extend the benefits of, the Benevolent Fund. This 
 was neutral ground on which all parties could meet ; and 
 while they were engaged in furthering the objects of the fund 
 by which charity was extended to others, there was room and 
 a fitting opportunity for the cultivation of a similar sentiment 
 among themselves. It was proposed to have a dinner in 
 support of the Fund, and this was promoted by many of 
 those called outsiders, who were now manifesting a disposition 
 to co-operate with Bloomsbury Square in furthering such 
 objects as could be mutually agreed to. 
 
 The Benevolent Fund dinner took place at Willis's Rooms, 
 on Wednesday, the 20th of February, 1867, and proved a 
 great success. It was the largest gathering of our pharmacists 
 which had ever met at a festive board. In all 264 sat down 
 to dinner, and subscriptions amounting to upwards of fifteen 
 hundred pounds were collected. 
 
 Scarcely less important in its beneficial influence was 
 another gathering of a social character which occurred in the 
 previous month, on the 30th of January, when 247 ladies and 
 gentlemen inaugurated the series of Chemists' Balls, which 
 have subsequently been kept up annually in the same rooms, 
 and have contributed to the promotion of friendly intercourse 
 and good feeling among those engaged in the same occupa- 
 tion. The Chemists' Ball originated in a praiseworthy desire 
 of a number of the younger followers of pharmacy, most of 
 whom were unconnected with the Pharmaceutical Society, 
 to do something which should show their sympathy in the 
 objects of the Benevolent Fund. On this occasion there was 
 a sm'plus of receipts beyond the expenditure amounting to 
 29 10s. Gd., which was given to the Benevolent Fund. 
 
 We have now entered upon the year 1867, when increased 
 activity was again manifested by the Bloomsbury Council 
 with regard to legislation. To some extent this was pro- 
 moted by external conditions and influences. 
 
 On the 2nd January, 1867, a communication was received 
 through Mr. Buott, acting for the Executive Committee of 
 the United Society of Chemists and Druggists, enclosing 
 resolutions passed at a public meeting held at the Clarence 
 Hotel, Manchester, November 23rd, 1866, Win. Bowker, Esq., 
 Ex-Mayor of Manchester, in the chair. These resolutions 
 were in accordance with the general views which had been
 
 3o8 THE COUNCIL CONFER WITH THE GOVERNMENT. 
 
 expressed by the Council in the paper left at the Home Office 
 in February, 1866, and the Secretary was therefore desired to 
 send a copy of that paper to the Executive Committee of the 
 United Society, with a request that it might be transmitted 
 to the Chairman of the Manchester meeting. The Pharma- 
 ceutical Journal, in publishing the Manchester resolutions, 
 remarked : " Looking to the year that has just departed, we 
 find there has been a lull in the action of our society in the 
 work which they promoted so earnestly in the preceding year. 
 We do not mean to imply that the Council has fallen off from 
 its duty, or failed to promote the great object commenced by 
 our founders ; but for certain reasons, which were set forth 
 some months ago in this Journal, 1866 was deemed an un- 
 favourable season for intruding pharmaceutical legislation on 
 a pre-occupied House of Commons." 
 
 A letter appeared in the Chemist and Druggist, signed by 
 Edmund Holt, Hon. Sec. United Society of Chemists and 
 Druggists, Manchester District, dated January 9th, 1867, 
 which was written in a very different spirit from that which 
 pervaded the Manchester resolutions alluded to. It discre- 
 dited, in every possible way the proposals and suggestions 
 put into the hands of the Government by the Pharmaceutical 
 Society. The discrepancy between this letter and the resolu- 
 tions previously received was so great and unaccountable that 
 inquiry was made into the matter, and it was found that 
 the first communication was a notice of resolutions passed 
 at an independent meeting of members of the trade in 
 Manchester and the districts for many miles round. These 
 resolutions had been sent to the United Society as the 
 best parties to represent them to the Pharmaceutical Boai-d, 
 as they had already communicated with that society. Since 
 that they had never seen the reply sent by the Council, 
 although it had been sent to the Local Committee for trans- 
 mission. The hostile resolutions were drawn up by the 
 District Committee of the United Society on their own respon- 
 sibility. 
 
 At an adjourned meeting of the Council of the Pharmaceu- 
 tical Society, held 9th January, 1867, Mr. Sandford, President, 
 in the chair, it was resolved that the Parliamentary Committee 
 be requested to confer with the Home Secretary on the subject 
 of legislation as regards an amended Pharmacy Act. An
 
 MEETING OF THE OUTSIDERS. -359 
 
 interview accordingly took place with the Under Secretary, 
 Earl Belmore, at the Home Office, on the 16th January. 
 
 On the 24th of January a public meeting of the trade -was 
 held at the London Coffee House, Ludgate Hill, to receive 
 and consider certain resolutions which the Executive Com- 
 mittee of the United Society had agreed to at a meeting held 
 by them on the 17th of that month. The President, Mr. 
 Henry Matthews was in the chair, and there were about 
 sixty persons present. 
 
 The Secretary, Mr. Cyrus Buott, having read the circular 
 convening the meeting, Mr. Anderson moved the first resolu- 
 tion, " That in relation to the first clause of the suggestions 
 of the Pharmaceutical Council for the incorporation of the 
 trade, viz., ' That in future all persons, before assuming the 
 name or title of Chemist and Druggist, or keeping open shop 
 for the compounding of medicines under physicians' and sur- 
 geons' prescriptions, or for vending, dispensing, or compound- 
 ing certain dangerous drugs, chemicals, and other poisonous 
 substances to be enumerated in a schedule, should undergo an 
 examination, and be registered as Pharmaceutical Chemists, 
 or Chemists and Druggists : ' This meeting has much pleasure 
 in according its concurrence therewith, and hopes that the 
 compulsory examination it sets forth, desired as it is by the 
 entire body of chemists and druggists, sanctioned by the 
 medical profession, and recommended by the Select Committee 
 of the House of Commons, will effectually secure the public 
 against the practice of incompetent druggists, and greatly 
 elevate and benefit the trade." The mover of the resolution 
 said they could adopt the suggestions of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society, as they were based upon the most liberal principles 
 so far as the trade was concerned. It was carried unanimously. 
 The second resolution, which was also carried unanimously, 
 was, " That as to the system of examination specified in 
 the 2nd and ord clauses, to the effect, ' that the examination 
 for Pharmaceutical Chemists should be, as heretofore, that 
 which is known as the major examination of the Pharmaceu- 
 tical Society, and the examination for Chemists and Drug- 
 gists should be that which is known as the minor examination, 
 to which persons hitherto registered as assistants have been 
 subjected, this meeting takes no exception to it." 
 
 The third resolution was the point of departure from con-
 
 360 PROPOSED CONFERENCE OF THE SOCIETIES. 
 
 currence with the recommendations of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society. It was to the following effect : " This meeting 
 concurs iu the desirability of limiting the title of Phar- 
 maceutical Chemist to those who may pass their major 
 examination ; but it is decidedly opposed to registered 
 chemists and druggists being subjected to election by the 
 Pharmaceutical Council as a condition for the exercise of 
 their right to vote upon the election of the members of that 
 Council ; and it is equally and decidedly opposed to the 
 Council of so large a body as the chemists and druggists 
 will be under an Act of general incorporation being limited 
 to those who are now, or may be hereafter, Pharmaceutical 
 Chemists." 
 
 Mr. Betty then moved the following resolution : 
 "That, as among the interests influencing the entire trade 
 of chemists and druggists, two elements, the educational and 
 the commercial, are inseparably connected, and as it is of vital 
 importance in maturing any form of government for the whole 
 trade that these two interests should, so far as practicable, be 
 blended, this meeting cherishes the hope that from the resolu- 
 tions it has adopted, the advantages of a mutual understanding 
 and combined action may be brought into operation, and 
 authorizes a deputation of the trade to wait in this spirit upon 
 the Pharmaceutical Council." This resolution was also passed 
 unanimously. For the purpose of carrying it into effect, Mr. 
 Wade moved : " That the deputation or committee consist of 
 twenty-one unincorporated chemists and druggists, comprising 
 ten members of the United Society and the President, and 
 ten unconnected with either society ; and that they be em- 
 powered to confer with the Council of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society for the purpose of framing an Act of incorporation, 
 based upon the foregoing resolutions." This raised a com- 
 plete storm, and gi'eat indignation was expressed at the 
 proposal to take the performance of this duty out of the hands 
 of the Executive Committee, which, it was said, had been in 
 existence for seven years, and had worked hard for the good 
 of the trade. Finally it was decided, " That the deputation 
 should consist of the Executive Committee of the United 
 Society of Chemists and Druggists, and any other gentlemen 
 willing to join them." 
 
 Application was made to the Pharmaceutical Council by the
 
 DEPUTATION RECEIVED IN BLOOMSBURY SQUARE. 361 
 
 President of the United Society, requesting them to receive 
 the deputation appointed at the London Coffee House ; and a 
 separate application for an interview was made by Mr. Wade, 
 on behalf of himself and other members of the trade not acting 
 with the United Society. Arrangements were made for re- 
 ceiving these deputations on the 19th of February. The first 
 to arrive was that headed and introduced by Mr. Henry 
 Matthews, the President of the United Society. Mr. Betty 
 opened the business of the deputation, and asked the Council 
 to take into consideration the conclusions arrived at by the 
 chemists and druggists at the London Coffee House. He 
 trusted some understanding would be come to by which the 
 trade would attain its proper influence, and keep pace with 
 the increasing educational requirements of the age. Messrs. 
 Anderson, Salter, Pass and Mercer, followed in a similar strain, 
 and explained the purport of the resolutions which had been 
 passed at their meeting, pointing out the objection which had 
 been taken to the constitution of the society and its Council 
 as suggested by the Pharmaceutical Society. 
 
 Mr. Sandford explained that as to the constitution of the 
 Society the mode of electing members hitherto in use was the 
 most simple ; that there was no reason to apprehend any op- 
 position to their admission, but that on the contrary it must 
 be the interest of the society to enlarge its borders and em- 
 brace if possible the whole trade ; that a man being eligible 
 had a positive right to admission, presuming always that there 
 was no disqualifying circumstance attaching to him, which 
 the Court of Queen's Bench as well as the Pharmaceutical 
 Society would recognise. 
 
 Mr. Betty. Do you object to substitute for the term ' eligible,' 
 the words ' shall have the right '? 
 
 Mr. Sandford. Certainly not. 
 
 Then with 1'egard to the constitution of the Council ; it 
 was necessary in order to retain the confidence of the 
 public that the society and its Council should be kept up to a 
 proper standard, and therefore it had been proposed to limit 
 the Council to Pharmaceutical Chemists, by which means 
 not only would the character of the Council be maintained, 
 but a greater inducement would be held out for passing the 
 major examination. That was the chief reason for the 
 restriction, but there might be other reasons, such as the
 
 362 SECOND DEPUTATION RECKIVKD. 
 
 accumulation of a large amount of property by the society, 
 and the expenditure of more than 100,000, collected entirely 
 from members of the society during a quarter of a century of 
 subscription, and very hard work on the part of the Council. 
 Still, remembering that the Pharmaceutical Society was estab- 
 lished to embrace all chemists and druggists in Great Britain, 
 the Council, animated by the desire that it should do so, pro- 
 posed that in the event of obtaining an Act of Parliament to 
 compel the examination of all men entering the trade in future, 
 those chemists in business at the time of the passing of that 
 Act, who might choose to become members of the society, 
 should be eligible for the Council, but that three-fourths, or two- 
 thirds,, of the Council should always consist of Pharmaceutical 
 Chemists. This would certainly give all the opportunity for 
 a fair representation, and the votes of the members would 
 regulate it. 
 
 Mr. Anderson expressed his entire satisfaction with the 
 explanations afforded by the Council, and proposed to take 
 a show of hands from the deputation as to whether they were 
 not all satisfied. 
 
 The Council retired from the room, and Mr. Matthews 
 having put the question, it was answered unanimously in 
 the affirmative. 
 
 Mr. Matthews and his friends having withdrawn, the second 
 deputation, consisting of chemists and druggists unrepresented 
 by any organized society, and therefore actual outsiders, WHS 
 introduced by Mr. Wade, when, after discussing the subject, a 
 satisfactory understanding was arrived at. 
 
 The differences of opinion and opposition of parties which 
 had hitherto existed in the trade, and had prevented the 
 carrying of any measure of pharmaceutical legislation, being 
 now happily removed, there appeared to be no further diffi- 
 culty in appealing to the Government as a united body. The 
 Council therefore, at their meeting on the 3rd of April, 
 resolved "that the Parliamentary Committee be requested 
 forthwith to take the necessary steps to introduce the pro- 
 posed Amended Pharmacy Bill into Parliament." But it was 
 soon found that there was still another party to some of the 
 questions which had arisen. A correspondence sprang up 
 regarding the concessions which had been made by the 
 Council to those outside the society, which were thought to
 
 APPEAL FROM MEMBERS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY. 363 
 
 be scarcely fair to examined men. The Council, viewed as 
 trustees, had no easy task to perform, and their difficulties 
 were by no means over. 
 
 At a special meeting of the Council, held on the 24th of 
 Api-il, 1867, a requisition was received to the following 
 effect : 
 
 "To the Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great 
 Britain. 
 
 " We, the undersigned members of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society of Great Britain, being of opinion that the proposed 
 ' Amended Pharmacy Act,' in reference to at least the 19th 
 clause, will operate unfairly towards present members, and 
 be inimical to the interests of the public, do hereby request 
 that the President of the said society be asked to convene 
 a special general meeting of the members, to be held at the 
 society's house in Bloomsbury Square, on some day between 
 the 6th and llth of May next, for the purpose of taking into 
 consideration aud the general discussion of the said Bill ; and 
 that the Council be requested to take no further steps -with 
 regard to the said Bill until it has received, either in its 
 present or some amended form, the sanction of the members 
 then assembled." 
 
 In compliance with this requisition a meeting was con- 
 vened, to be held on the 15th of May, at two o'clock p.m., 
 the day of the anniversary meeting. 
 
 The appearance of the requisition and notice of meeting 
 drew forth a counterstatement, which was published in the 
 Pharmaceutical Journal for May, 1867, as follows : 
 
 " To the Editor of the Pharmaceutical Journal. 
 " Sir, We understand that a circular has been forwarded 
 to some of our examined members, urging them to sign a 
 requisition to the Council to convene a special meeting for 
 the purpose of opposing that clause of the new Bill by which 
 ' chemists and druggists in business at the time of the passing 
 of the Act are made eligible for admission as members of the 
 society, under the bye-laws thereof,' but are not to use the title 
 of Pharmaceutical Chemist. The circular professes to repre- 
 sent the examined members as indignant at what is con- 
 sidered the injustice which will be done them if this Act 
 becomes law.
 
 OO4 A COUNTER APPEAL PROM EXAMINED MEN. 
 
 "We, the undersigned members of the Pharmaceutical 
 Society, Pharmaceutical Chemists by examination, beg to 
 protest against the views enunciated in this circular, and to 
 express our cordial approval of the liberal policy adopted by 
 the Council towards all chemists and druggists. Considering 
 the difficulties that have hitherto existed in the matter of 
 trade legislation, we believe the Bill framed by the Council 
 to be the best compromise that could have been effected 
 under the circumstances. We feel convinced that the sincere 
 desire of the vast majority of our members, whether examined 
 or not, is to consummate the wishes of the founder, and to 
 fulfil the object he had in view when the society was formed, 
 namely, the amalgamation of the whole trade, and the com- 
 pulsory examination of all persons entering it after a given 
 time. 
 
 " Our firm belief is, that this Bill will effectually accomplish 
 both these objects ; and we trust the Council will spare no 
 effort to pass it into law at the earliest possible opportunity. 
 
 " We are, Sir, yours respectfully, 
 CHARLES BOORNE, Bristol. JOSEPH INCE, London. 
 
 JOHN BOUCHER, Bristol. 
 ISAIAH BOURDAS, jnn., London. 
 W. H. BELL, London. 
 H. B. BRADY, Newcastle. 
 M. CARTE IGHE, London. 
 ROBERT ELLIOTT, Gateshead. 
 H. S. EVANS, Liverpool. 
 SAMUEL GALE, London. 
 R. W. GILES, Clifton. 
 W. H. HOLROTD, London. 
 WALTER HOLGATE, Liverpool. 
 
 JOHN MAYFIELD, Leeds. 
 C. R. Q CILLER, London. 
 RICHARD REYNOLDS, Leeds. 
 J. ROBBINS, London. 
 G. F. SCHACHT, GUfton. 
 W. SMEETON, Leeds. 
 C. SYMES, BirJcenhead. 
 F. TIBBS, London. 
 CHARLES UMNEY, London. 
 ALFRED UTLEY, Liverpool. 
 EDWIN B. VIZEH, London." 
 
 In the discussion of the subject at the special meeting, a 
 resolution was moved by Mr. Abraham, of Liverpool, and 
 seconded by Mr. Boyce, of Chertsey : " That the indiscrimi- 
 nate admission of chemists and druggists to the membership 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society would destroy the value of the 
 title ' Pharmaceutical Chemist ' ; that the chemists and drug- 
 gists, having had no part in gaining for the society the 
 reputation which it enjoys, have no claim to its honours ; and
 
 PUBLIC MEETING IN BLOOMSBURY SQUARE. 365 
 
 that ifc is not expedient to depart from the test of examination 
 which has so long prevailed in the admission of members of 
 the society." 
 
 To this an amendment was moved by Mr. J. E. Collins, 
 and seconded by Mr. Vizer, both of London : " That, in the 
 opinion of this meeting, the proposed amendment of the 
 Pharmacy Act is both wise and expedient, as by enlisting the 
 support of those members of the trade outside the pale of the 
 society the way is cleared for carrying into effect the primary 
 objects of the founders of the society, viz., the consolidation 
 of the whole trade, and legislative provision for the compul- 
 sory examination of all persons entering the same after a 
 given time. This meeting would farther express its entire 
 approval of the action taken by the Council, and pledges itself 
 to support by all possible means the passage of the Bill 
 through Parliament." 
 
 Both propositions were temperately and fairly advocated, 
 and finally the amendment was carried by a large majority. 
 
 A further resolution was then moved by Mr. Michael 
 Carteighe, seconded by Mr. Joseph Ince, and carried unani- 
 mously : " That it be a recommendation to the Council that 
 they arrange, if practicable, for assistants and apprentices at 
 the time of the passing of the Act not being made eligible for 
 membership without passing the minor examination." 
 
 The result of this meeting, and the conciliatory tone which 
 had pervaded its proceedings, were satisfactory to the pro- 
 moters of the Bill, which there was reason to believe all 
 chemists and druggists would either support or at least would 
 not actively oppose. The difficulties which stood in the way 
 of this Bill a month or two previously, were now apparently 
 removed, and if no fresh obstacles should arise, there seemed 
 a fair prospect of cai'rying such a legislative measure as would 
 satisfy all parties concerned. 
 
 The success which had thus far attended the efforts of the 
 Council in the pursuit of this object was mainly due to the 
 firm yet liberal and wise policy which had been adopted 
 throughout a lengthened controversy, and there was still 
 occasion for a continuance of the same judicious course of 
 proceedings while the consummation of the object remained 
 to be accomplished. 
 
 The Pharmaceutical Council were fully sensible of the
 
 366 RENEWED APPOINTMENT OF SANDFORD AS PRESIDENT. 
 
 importance of consistently maintaining the same policy they 
 had hitherto adopted, and with a view to its realization, at 
 their meeting on the 5th of June, when the officers for the 
 ensuing year were to be appointed, a paper was signed by 
 every member present, to the following effect : " That in 
 unanimously requesting Mr. George Webb Sandford to con- 
 tinue the onerous duties of President for another year, the 
 Council desire most earnestly to express their thanks for his 
 past services. They are conscious of the encroachment upon 
 his time that is necessitated by the appointment, but believing 
 that his continuance as President is important to the well- 
 being of the Pharmaceutical Society, request him again to 
 accept the office." 
 
 Mi*. Sandford had already occupied the position for four 
 consecutive years, during which he had been the leader and 
 prime-mover in what had been done in the direction of legis- 
 lation. He had become indeed so identified with the pro- 
 ceedings of the Council in this matter, was so familiar with all 
 . the details of the business, and so well acquainted with 
 Members of Parliament and the Government, whose interest 
 and influence it would be necessary to have, that it was felt a 
 change of presidency at this time would have seriously 
 weakened the prospects of success. 
 
 After appointing Sandford President, and Hills Vice-Presi- 
 dent, the Council received a deputation of members of the 
 trade residing at Stamford, Sleaford, Lincoln, Peterborough, 
 Norwich, and Gainsborough, with reference to the schedule 
 of poisons in the proposed Pharmacy Bill. 
 
 Members, examined and nnexamined, continued to discuss 
 some of the provisions of the Bill, and especially the one for 
 admitting chemists and druggists as members of the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society without examination. Gradually, however, 
 the objection to this provision was disappeai'ing. The Bill 
 had been prepared, but there was no prospect of its being 
 introduced into Parliament during this session which was now 
 far advanced. 
 
 The United Society of Chemists and Druggists, having 
 obtained certain concessions from the Pharmaceutical Society, 
 had not only withdrawn opposition from the proposed Phar- 
 macy Bill of the latter, but were prepared to co-operate with 
 them in promoting its acceptance by the Legislature. The
 
 NEW EDITION OP THE BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA. 367 
 
 annual festival of the United Society, for 1867, was trans- 
 ferred from London to Manchester, where it was held at the 
 Clarence Hotel, on the 26th of June, with Mr. Alderman 
 Bowker in the chair. It was stated in the official circular 
 convening this meeting, that it would "be specially devoted 
 to a commemoration of the good understanding now happily 
 established between the United Society and the Pharmaceu- 
 tical Society for the union of the trade by means of an 
 amended Pharmacy Bill." At the annual meeting, held at 
 the same place on the following day, Mr. E. P. Hornby, of 
 Sheffield, was elected President of the United Society, in the 
 place of Mr. Henry Matthews. 
 
 The new edition of the British Pharmacopoeia (1867) had 
 now come into circulation, and was favourably received. The 
 Pharmaceutical Journal of July, 1867, referring to it, says : 
 " Very strong testimony has been borne to the fact, that the 
 work has been carefully and well prepared, and that it is, on 
 the whole, a decided success. The testimony to this effect, 
 which has been given by the Medical Council, the Medical 
 Journals, and membei's both of the medical and phai'ma- 
 ceutical professions, whose qualifications to judge are above 
 suspicion, stands unchallenged, as far as we know, by any 
 adverse opinions." 
 
 The fifth meeting (fourth annual meeting) of the British 
 Pharmaceutical Conference was held in September, 1867, at 
 Dundee; Professor Bentley again presided at this meeting, 
 which proved no less successful than its predecessors. 
 
 An Act was passed, which came into operation on the 1st 
 October, 1867, by which the licence for the sale by retail of 
 methylated spirit was reduced from two guineas to ten 
 shillings a year. 
 
 Mr. Daniel Bell Hanbury, having resigned his office of 
 Treasurer of the Pharmaceutical Society, Mr. Thomas Hyde 
 Hills, the Vice-President, was appointed Treasure!-, and Mr. 
 Henry Sugden Evans was elected Vice-President. 
 
 As another session of Parliament was approaching, the 
 Pharmaceutical Council, sensible of the duty they had to 
 pei'form, resolved, at a meeting held on the 6th of November, 
 1867, " That steps be immediately taken to introduce into 
 Parliament an amended Pharmacy Bill, and that the Parlia-> 
 jnentary Committee be instimcted accordingly."
 
 368 THE HOME SECRETARY ON PHARMACEUTICAL LEGISLATION. 
 
 The Executive Committee of the United Society also, at a 
 meeting held on the 5th of December, resolved, " That the 
 Parliamentary Committee of the United Society of Chemists 
 and Druggists be at once re-appointed, to work iii union with 
 the Parliamentary Committee of the Pharmaceutical Society, 
 with similar power to act in order to secure an amended 
 Pharmacy Bill upon the basis already agreed upon." 
 
 As soon as Parliament met for the despatch of business, 
 application was made to the Home Secretary, Mr. Gathorne 
 Hardy, who consented to receive a deputation of members of 
 the Council of the Phai-maceutical Society, with whom were 
 associated the President of the United Society, and two other 
 gentlemen not belonging to the Phai'maceutical Society. A 
 copy of the Bill in the form agreed upon had been previously 
 left at the Home Office for considei'atiori. The result of this 
 interview was highly satisfactory. The Home Secretary said 
 that personally he approved of the propositions submitted to 
 him ; he entirely concurred in the necessity for an educational 
 qualification in persons who were entrusted to compound 
 medicines ; but that he saw no chance of proceeding with 
 legislation on the subject before Easter, and that he could not, 
 without consulting his colleagues, say whether or not the 
 Government would introduce a measure on the question. 
 
 The President had several interviews with Mr. Hardy after- 
 wards, and on the 18th of February he received the following 
 letter : 
 
 "February 18th, 18G8. 
 " To G. W. SANDFORD, Esq. 
 
 " Sir, I am not unwilling to support a Bill i*estricting the 
 title of ' Chemists and Druggists ' to 
 
 " 1. Those now in business as such. 
 
 " 2. Those to be examined for the future and passed by 
 proper examiners. 
 
 " 3. Pharmaceutical Chemists. 
 
 " 4. Medical practitioners under the Medical Act. 
 
 " No others to be allowed to sell certain drugs, etc., named. 
 I think this will be sufficient. 
 
 " Yours faithfully, 
 
 " GATHORXE HARDY." 
 
 As there appeared to be some doubt whether the word
 
 THE PHARMACY BILL AS INTRODUCED IN 1868. 369 
 
 "sell," as used above, was intended to include dispensing and 
 compounding drugs, Mr. Sandford communicated with the 
 Under Secretaiy, Sir James Fergusson, on this point, and 
 received the following reply : 
 
 " Home Office, 
 
 "19tfi February, 1868. 
 
 " Dear Sir, In answer to your question, whether the 
 words used by Mr. Hardy in his of the 18th February, ' no 
 other person to be allowed to sell certain drugs, etc., named,' 
 includes dispensing and compounding, a.nd whether Mr. 
 Hardy will accept the words in the first clause of the draft 
 Bill, ' it shall be unlawful for any person to keep open shop for 
 the purpose of retailing, dispensing, or compounding poisons'; 
 I beg to inform you that Mr. Hardy does intend the prohibi- 
 tion of selling dangerous drugs by unauthorized persons, to 
 include also dispensing or compounding for payment such 
 drugs as may be specified as ' dangerous ' or ' poisonous.' 
 "Believe me, yours faithfully, 
 
 "JAMES FBRGDSSON. 
 "G. W. SANDFORD, Esq." 
 
 The Bill referred to in this correspondence, which had been 
 agreed to by the Pharmaceutical Society, the United Society, 
 and others, and which was shortly afterwards submitted to 
 Parliament, was as follows : 
 
 A BILL TO REGULATE THE SALE OF POISONS 
 AND ALTER AND AMEND THE PHARMACY ACT, 
 
 1852. 
 
 (As introduced in tlie House of Lords on the \\tli of May, 
 1868.) 
 
 Whereas it is expedient for the safety of the public that 
 persons keeping open shop for the retailing, dispensing, or 
 compounding of poisons, and persons known as Chemists and 
 Druggists, should possess a competent practical knowledge of 
 their business, and to that end, that from and after the day 
 herein named all persons not already engaged in such business 
 should, btfore commencing such business, be duly examined 
 as to their practical knowledge, and that a register should be 
 kept as herein provided, and also that the Act passed in the 
 15th a,nd 16th years of the reign of hoi' present Majesty, 
 
 B B
 
 3/0 THE PHARMACY BILL AS INTRODUCED IN 1868. 
 
 intituled An Act for Begulatiug the Qualification of Pharma- 
 ceutical Chemists, hereinafter described as the Pharmacy Act, 
 should be amended : be it enacted, by the Queen's Most 
 Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the 
 Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present 
 Parliament assembled, and by authority of the same, as 
 follows : 
 
 1. From and after the 31st day of December, 1868, it shall 
 be unlawful for any person to keep open shop for retailing, 
 dispensing, or compounding poisons, or to assume or use the 
 title " Chemist and Druggist " or Chemist or Druggist in any 
 part of Great Britain unless such person shall be a Pharma- 
 ceutical Chemist, or a Chemist and Druggist within the 
 meaning of this Act. 
 
 2. The several articles named or described in the Sche- 
 dule A shall be deemed to be Poisons within the meaning of this 
 Act, and the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great 
 Britain (hei'einafter referred to as the Pharmaceutical Society) 
 may, from time to time, by resolution, declare that any 
 article in such resolution named ought to be deemed a poison 
 within the meaning of this Act ; and thereupon the Registrar 
 hereinafter named shall submit such resolution to the Medical 
 Council, and if the Medical Council shall resolve that such 
 resolution ought to be confirmed, the said Registrar shall 
 then submit the same for the approval of one of her Majesty's 
 Principal Secretaries of State, and if such approval shall be 
 given, then such resolution, confirmation, and approval shall 
 be advertised in the London Gazette, and on the expiration of 
 one month from such advertisement, the article named in 
 such resolution shall be deemed to be a poison within the 
 meaning of this Act. 
 
 3. Chemists and Druggists within the meaning of this Act 
 shall consist of all persons who, at any time heretofore, have 
 carried on, in Great Britain, the business of a Chemist and 
 Druggist, in the keeping of open shop for the compounding 
 of the prescriptions of duly qualified medical practitioners, 
 also of all Assistants and Associates duly registered under or 
 according to the provisions of the Pharmacy Act, and also of 
 all such persons as may be duly registered under this Act. 
 
 4. Any person who, for two years prior to the time of 
 passing this Act, shall have been apprenticed to, or who. at
 
 THE PHARMACY BILL AS INTRODUCED IN 1868. o7l 
 
 the time of the passing of this Act, shall be of full age and 
 shall have been actually engaged and employed in dispensing 
 and compounding prescriptions, as assistant to any Pharma- 
 ceutical Chemist, or any such Chemist and Druggist as 
 defined by clause 3 hereof, may, on transmitting to the 
 .Registrar, before the 31st day of December, 1870, certificates, 
 according to the Schedule B to this Act, be registered under 
 this Act. 
 
 5. Such of the Chemists and Druggists, defined by clause 3, 
 as may, on or before the 31st day of December, 1870, by 
 notice in writing, signed by them, and given to the Registrar, 
 request to be registered under this Act, shall, on production 
 of certificates according to the Schedules C and D to this 
 Act, be registered accordingly. 
 
 6. All such persons as shall from time to time have been 
 appointed to conduct examinations under the Pharmacy Act, 
 shall be, and are hereby declared to be examiners for the 
 purposes of this Act, and are hereby empowered and required 
 to examine all such persons as shall tender themselves for 
 examination under the provisions of this Act, and every 
 person who shall have been examined by such examiners, and 
 shall have obtained from them a certificate of competent skill 
 and knowledge and qualification, shall be entitled to be 
 registered as a Chemist and Druggist under this Act, and the 
 examination aforesaid shall be such as is provided under the 
 Pharmacy Act for the purposes of a qualification to be regis- 
 tered as Assistant under that Act, or as the same may be 
 varied from time to time by any bye-law to be made in 
 accordance with the Pharmacy Act, with the approbation of 
 one of her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State. 
 
 7. Such fees shall be payable upon every such examination 
 and registration as aforesaid, as shall from time to time be 
 fixed and determined by any bye-law, to be made in accord- 
 ance with the Pharmacy Act, with the approbation of one of 
 her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, and shall be paid 
 to the Treasurer of the said society, for the purposes of the 
 said society. 
 
 8. The Registrar appointed, or to be appointed, under or 
 by virtue of the Pharmacy Act, shall be Registrar for the 
 purposes of this Act. 
 
 y. The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society shall, with
 
 372 THE PHARMACY BILL AS INTRODUCED IN 1868. 
 
 all convenient speed, after the passing of this Act, and from 
 time to time, as occasion may require, make orders or regula- 
 tions for regulating the register, to be kept under this Act as 
 nearly as conveniently may be in accordance with the form set 
 forth in the Schedule B to this Act, or to the like effect, and 
 such register shall be called the Eegister of Chemists and 
 Druggists. 
 
 10. It shall be the duty of the Registrar to make and keep 
 a correct register, in accordance with the provisions of this 
 Act, of all persons who shall be entitled to be registered 
 under this Act, and to erase the names of all registered 
 persons who shall have died, and from time to time to make 
 the necessary alterations in the addresses of the persons 
 registered under this Act ; to enable the Registrar duly to 
 fulfil the duties imposed upon him, it shall be lawful for the 
 Registrar to write a letter to any registered person, addressed 
 to him according to his address on the register, to inquire 
 whether he has ceased to carry on business or has changed 
 his residence, such letter to be forwarded by post as a 
 registered letter, according to the Post-Office regulations for 
 the time being, and if no answer shall be returned to such 
 letter within the period of six months from the sending of 
 the letter, a second, of similar purport, shall be sent in like 
 manner, and if no answer be given thereto within three 
 months from the date thereof, it shall be lawful to erase the 
 name of such person from the register, provided always that 
 the same may be restored by direction of the Council of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society, should they think fit to make an 
 order to that effect. 
 
 11. Every Registrar of Deaths in Great Britain, on re- 
 ceiving notice of the death of any Pharmaceutical Chemist, 
 or Chemist and Druggist, shall forthwith transmit, by post, 
 to the Registrar under the Pharmacy Act, a certificate, under 
 his own hand, of such death, with the particulars of the time 
 and place of death, and on the receipt of such certificate, the 
 said Registrar under the Pharmacy Act shall erase the name 
 of such deceased Pharmaceutical Chemist, or Chemist and 
 Druggist, from the register, and shall transmit to the said 
 Registrar of Deaths the cost of such certificate and trans- 
 mission, and may charge the cost thereof as an expense of his 
 office.
 
 THE PHARMACY BILL AS INTRODUCED IN 1868. 373 
 
 12. No name shall be entered in the register, unless the 
 Registrar be satisfied by the proper evidence, that the person 
 claiming is entitled to be registered ; and any appeal from 
 the decision of the Registrar may be decided by the Council 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society ; and any entry which shall be 
 proved to the satisfaction of such Council to have been 
 fraudulently or incorrectly made, may be erased from or 
 amended in the register, by order, in writing, of such Council. 
 
 13. The Registrar shall, in every year, cause to be printed, 
 published, and sold, a correct register of the names of all 
 Pharmaceutical Cbemists, and a correct register of all persons 
 registered as Chemists and Druggists, and in snch registers, 
 respectively, the names shall be in alphabetical order, accord- 
 ing to the surnames, with the respective residences, in the 
 form set forth in Schedule B to this Act, or to the like effect, 
 of all persons appearing on the Register of Pharmaceutical 
 Chemists, and on the Register of Chemists and Druggists on 
 the 31st day of December last preceding, and such printed 
 registers shall be called " The Registers of Pharmaceutical 
 Chemists and Chemists and Druggists," and a printed copy 
 of such registers for the time being, purporting to be so 
 printed and published as aforesaid, or any certificate under 
 the hand of the said Registrar, and countersigned by the 
 President or two Members of the Council of the Pharmaceu- 
 tical Society, shall be evidence in all Courts and before all 
 Justices of the Peace and others, that the persons therein 
 specified are registei'ed according to the provisions of the 
 Pharmacy Act or of this Act, as the case may be, and the 
 absence of the name of any person from such printed register 
 shall be evidence, until the contrary shall be made to appear, 
 that such person is not registered according to the provisions 
 of the Pharmacy Act or of this Act. 
 
 14. Any Registrar who shall wilfully make or cause to be 
 made any falsification in any matter relating to the said re- 
 gisters, and any person who shall wilfully procui'e or attempt 
 to procure himself to be registered under the Pharmacy Act 
 or under this Act, by making or producing, or causing to be 
 made or produced, any false or fraudulent representation or 
 declaration, either verbally or in writing, and any person aid- 
 ing or assisting him therein, shall be deemed guilty of a mis- 
 demeanour in England, and in Scotland, of a crime or offence
 
 37-4 THE PHARMACY BILL AS INTRODUCED 13 18G8. 
 
 punishable by fine or imprisonment, and shall on conviction 
 thereof be sentenced to be imprisoned for any term not ex- 
 ceeding twelve months. 
 
 15. From and after the 31st day of December, 1868, any 
 person keeping an open shop for the retailing, dispensing, or 
 compounding poisons, or who shall take, use, or exhibit the 
 name or title of Chemist and Druggist or Chemist or Druggist, 
 not being a duly qualified Pharmaceutical Chemist or a Chemist 
 and Druggist, or who shall take, use, or exhibit, the name or 
 title Pharmaceutical Chemist or Pharmaceutist or Pharmacist, 
 not being a Pharmaceutical Chemist, shall, for every such 
 offence, be liable to pay a penalty or sum of 5, and the same 
 may be sued for, recovered, and dealt with in the manner 
 provided by the Pharmacy Act for the recovery of penalties 
 under that Act. 
 
 16. Nothing herein before contained shall extend to or in- 
 terfere with the business of any duly qualified medical practi- 
 tioner or of any member of the Royal College of Veterinary 
 Surgeons of Great Britain, nor with the making or dealing in 
 patent medicines, nor with the business of wholesale dealers 
 in supplying poisons in the ordinary course of wholesale deal- 
 ing, nor with the retailing of arsenic, oxalic acid, cyanide of 
 potassium, or corrosive sublimate, for use in manufactures or 
 photography ; and upon the decease of any Pharmaceutical 
 Chemist or Chemist and Druggist actually in business at the 
 time of his death, it shall be lawful for any executor, ad- 
 ministrator, or trustee of the estate of such Pharmaceutical 
 Chemist or Chemist and Druggist to continue such business 
 if and so long' only as such business shall be bontifide con- 
 ducted by a duly qualified assistant, and a duly qualified 
 assistant, within the meaning of this clause, shall be a Phar- 
 maceutical Chemist or a Chemist and Druggist registered by 
 the Registrar under the Pharmacy Act or this Act. 
 
 17. It shall not be lawful to sell any poison, either whole- 
 sale or by retail, unless the box, bottle, vessel, wrapper, or 
 cover in which such poison is contained be distinctly labelled 
 with the name of the article and the^ word poison, and with 
 the name and address of the seller of the poison ; and any 
 seller of any poison not so distinctly labelled shall, upon a 
 summary conviction before two Justices of the Peace in 
 England or the Sheriff in Scotland, be liable to a penalty not
 
 THE PHARMACY BILL AS INTRODUCED JN 1868. 375 
 
 exceeding 5 for the first offence, and to a penalty not ex- 
 ceeding 10 for the second offence, and for the purpose of 
 this clause the person. on whose behalf any sale is made by any 
 apprentice or servant shall be deemed to be the seller, but the 
 provisions of this clause, so far as regards the name and ad- 
 dress of the seller, shall not apply to articles to be exported 
 from Great Britain by wholesale dealers, and nothing in this 
 Act contained shall repeal or affect any of the provisions of 
 an Act of the Sessions holden in the fourteenth and fifteenth 
 years of the reign of her present Majesty, intituled " An Act 
 to regulate the Sale of Arsenic." 
 
 18. Chemists and Druggists registered under this Act shall 
 be deemed to be within the provisions of the second section of 
 the Juries Act, 1862, in relation to the exemption from service 
 on juries. 
 
 19. Every person who, at the time of the passing of this 
 Act, is or has been in business on his own account as a Chem- 
 ist and Druggist as aforesaid, and who shall be registered as. a 
 Chemist and Druggist, shall be eligible to be elected and con- 
 tinue a member of the Pharmaceutical Society according to the 
 bye-laws thereof ; but no person shall, in right of membership 
 acquired pursuant to this clause, be placed on the register of 
 Pharmaceutical Chemists, nor, save as is hereinafter expressly 
 provided, be eligible for election to the Council of the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society. 
 
 20. Every person who is or has been in business on his own 
 account as a Chemist and Druggist as aforesaid at the time of 
 the passing of this Act, and who shall become a member of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society, shall be eligible for election to the 
 Council of the Pharmaceutical Society ; but the said Council 
 shall not at any time contain more than seven members who 
 are not on the register of Pharmaceutical Chemists, nor more 
 than seven members who shall not at the time of election bond 
 fide reside within twelve miles by highway or road from the 
 
 General Post Office in St. Martiu's-le- Grand. 
 
 21. Every Apprentice and Assistant, as described in Clause 4 
 of this Act, who shall cause his name to be registered as pro- 
 vided in that clause, and every person who shall have been 
 registered as a Chemist and Druggist under this Act, by reason 
 of having obtained a certificate of qualification from the Board 
 of Examiners, as provided in Clause 6 of this Act, shall be eligi
 
 376 THE PHARMACY BILL AS INTRODUCED IN 1868. 
 
 ble to be elected an Associate of the Pharmaceutical Society, 
 and every such person so elected and continuing as such Asso- 
 ciate, being in business on his own account, shall have the 
 privilege of attending all meetings of the said society and of 
 voting thereat, and otherwise taking part in the pi'oceedings 
 of such meetings, in the same manner as Members of the said 
 society, provided always that such Associates contribute to the 
 funds of the said society the same fees or subscriptions as 
 Members contribute for the time being under the bye-laws 
 thereof. 
 
 22. At all meetings of the Pharmaceutical Society at which 
 votes shall be given for the election of officers, all or any of 
 the votes may be given either personally or by voting papers, 
 in a form to be defined in the bye-laws of the said society, or 
 in a form to the like effect, such voting papers being trans- 
 mitted under cover to the Secretary, not less than one clear 
 day prior to the day on which the election is to take place. 
 
 23. And whereas, by the Charter of Incorporation of the 
 said Pharmaceutical Society, it is provided that the Council of 
 the said society shall have the sole control and management 
 of the real and personal property of the said society, subject 
 to the bye-laws thereof, and shall make provision thereout, or 
 out of such part thereof as they shall think proper, for the 
 relief of the distressed Members or Associates of the said 
 society, and their widows and orphans, subject to the regula- 
 tions and bye-laws of the said society : And whereas, for 
 extending the benefits which have resulted from the said pro- 
 vision in the said Charter of Incorporation, it is desirable that 
 additional power should be granted to the said Council : Be it 
 enacted, that from and after the passing of this Act, the said 
 Council may make provision out of the real and personal 
 property aforesaid, and out of any special fund, known as the 
 Benevolent Fund, not only for the relief of the distressed 
 Members or Associates of the said society and their widows and 
 orphans, subject to the said regulations and bye-laws, but also 
 for all persons who may have been and have ceased to be 
 Members or Associates of the said society, or who may be or 
 have been duly registered as " Pharmaceutical Chemists " or 
 " Chemists and Druggists," and the widows and orphans of 
 such persons, subject to the regulations and bye-laws of the 
 said society.
 
 THE PHARMACY BILL AS INTRODUCED IN 1868. 377 
 
 24. Persons registered under " The Medical Act " shall not 
 be or continue to be registered under this Act. 
 
 25. This Act may be cited as the Pharmacy Act, 1868. 
 
 SCHEDULE A. 
 
 Ai'senic and its preparations. 
 
 Oxalic Acid. 
 
 Prussic Acid. 
 
 Chloroform. 
 
 Cyanides of Potassium and Mercury, 
 
 Strychnine, and all poisonous vegetable alkaloids and their 
 
 salts. 
 
 Aconite and its preparations. 
 Emetic Tartar. 
 Corrosive Sublimate. 
 Belladonna and its preparations. 
 
 Essential Oil of Almonds, unless deprived of its Prussic Acid. 
 Cantharides. 
 Savin and its oil. 
 
 SCHEDULE B. 
 
 Name. 
 
 Residence. 
 
 Qualification. 
 
 A. B. 
 C. D. 
 E. F. 
 
 Oxford Street, London. 
 
 George Street, Edin- 
 burgh. 
 Cheapside, London. 
 
 In business prior to Phar- 
 macy Act, 1868. 
 Examined and certified. 
 
 Apprentice or Assistant 
 prior to Pharmacy Act, 
 
 1868. 
 
 SCHEDULE C. 
 
 Declaration l>y a person who was in business as a Chemist and 
 Druggist in Great Britain be/ore the Pharmacy Act, 1868. 
 
 To the Registrar of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great 
 Britain. 
 
 T. residing at , in the county of 
 
 hereby declare that I was in business as a Chemist and Drug-
 
 378 THE PHARMACY BILL AS INTRODUCED IN 1868. 
 
 gist in the keeping of open shop for the compounding of the 
 prescriptions of duly qualified medical practitioners at , 
 
 in the county of , on or before the day of 
 
 , 186 . 
 
 Signed (Name.) 
 Dated this day of , 18 . 
 
 SCHEDULE D. 
 
 Declaration to be signed by a duly qualified Medical Practitioner, 
 or Magistrate, respecting a person ivho was in business as a 
 Chemist and Druggist in Great Britain before the Pharmacy 
 Act, 1868. 
 
 To the Registrar of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great 
 
 Britain. 
 
 I residing at , in the county of 
 
 , hereby declare that I am a duly qualified 
 Medical Practitioner [or Magistrate], and that to my know- 
 ledge , residing at in the county 
 of , was in business as a Chemist and Druggist, 
 in the keeping of open shop for the compounding of the pre- 
 scriptions of duly qualified medical practitioners, before the 
 day of , 186 . 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 SCHEDULE E. 
 
 Declarations to be signed' by and on behalf of any Apprentice 
 or Assistant claiming to be registered under the Pharmacy 
 Act, 1868. 
 
 To the Registrar of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great 
 
 Britain. 
 
 I hereby declare that the undersigned , 
 
 residing at , in the county of , 
 
 had, before the passing of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, been em- 
 ployed in dispensing and compounding prescriptions, as an 
 Assistant to a Pharmaceutical Chemist or Chemist and Drug- 
 gist, and attained the age of twenty-one years [or had been
 
 A DIFFERENT BILL HAP BEEN DRAFTED. 379 
 
 apprenticed to a Pharmaceutical Chemist or Chemist and 
 Druggist, keeping open shop for the compounding of pre- 
 scriptions of duly qualified medical men]. 
 
 As witness my hand, this day of 186 . 
 
 A. B., duly qualified Medical Practitioner. 
 
 C. D., Pharmaceutical Chemist. 
 
 E. F., Chemist and Druggist. 
 
 G. H., Magistrate. 
 
 (To be signed by one of the four parties named.) 
 
 I hereby declare that I was an Apprentice to 
 of in the county of in the year 
 
 L. M., Apprentice. 
 
 I hereby declare that I was an Assistant to of 
 
 in the county of in the year , 
 
 and was actually engaged in dispensing and compounding 
 prescriptions, and that I had attained the full age of twenty- 
 one years at the time of the passing of the Pharmacy Act, 
 1868. 
 
 N. 0., Assistant 
 
 This Bill was drawn in accordance with the recommen- 
 dation of the Select Committee of 1865, and as all parties were 
 agreed in assenting to the principles comprised in its pro- 
 visions, it was considered undesirable to endanger the chance 
 of its passing, by including other provisions which might be 
 wished for if attainable, but which were not equally easy of 
 attainment. 
 
 The suggestion of the Committee of the Medical Council 
 had been, to restrict the dispensing or compoimding of all pre- 
 scriptions of physicians or surgeons to examined and qualified 
 chemists and druggists, and this had been made the basis of 
 the Bill adopted by the Pharmaceutical Council in 1865 ; but 
 the Select Committee of the House of Commons had rejected 
 that principle and proposed to limit the restriction only to 
 the sale or dispensing of poisonous substances. It was after- 
 wards thought by the Council that with the view of giving a
 
 380 THE PHAUMACY BILL IN PARLIAMENT. 
 
 broader basis to the proposed legislation both principles might 
 be included, and a Bill was drafted,* the first clause of which 
 provided that " it shall be unlawful for any person to keep 
 open shop for retailing, dispensing or compounding poisons, 
 or for compounding the prescriptions of duly qualified medical 
 'practitioners, etc.," " unless, etc.," but this was not persevered 
 with, for the reason already stated. 
 
 It was not until the llth of May, 1868, that the Council 
 succeeded" in getting their Bill into Parliament, but it was 
 then introduced under very favoui-able circumstances, and 
 there seemed a fair chance of its being carried. The Govern- 
 ment were not opposed to it ; in fact, the Home Secretary 
 was only deterred from taking charge of it by press of other 
 occupations; and while no obstruction was therefore likely 
 to arise in that quarter, a leading member of the opposite 
 party, Earl Granville, undertook the duty of submitting the 
 Bill to the House of Lords, where it passed a second reading 
 on the 28th of May, without opposition or even discussion. 
 On the 15th of June it passed through committee and was 
 discussed, but the only altei'ations suggested were, that it 
 should be extended to Ireland, and that provision should be 
 made for the use of angular bottles in dealing with poisons. 
 This latter proposition, although not pressed to a division on 
 that occasion, was renewed, but rejected, at the third reading 
 of the Bill on the 18th of June, when the measure was passed 
 by the Lords without alteration. In the Commons it met 
 with rougher treatment, but still no important alteration was 
 made, except that the clause by which it was proposed that 
 chemists and druggists should be exempted from serving on 
 juries was expunged. 
 
 The Bill passed through several hands in the House of 
 Commons : first, it was in charge of Mr. Headlam, but as he 
 was obliged to leave town before it had reached its final stage, 
 it was transferred to Lord Elcho ; and afterwards, as his lord- 
 ship was also called away, it was taken up by Mr. Ayrton, 
 under whose charge it finally received the sanction of both 
 Houses of Parliament, and became law on the 31st of July, 
 1868. 
 
 The passing of this Act was the fulfilment of one of the 
 
 * Pharmaceutical Journal, vol. ix. N.S. 435.
 
 FIFTH MEETING OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 381 
 
 prominent objects of ambition which had dwelt in the minds 
 and stimulated the exertions of those who for a quarter of a 
 century had been contributing, through the operations of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society, to render its realization possible. 
 For the future the chemists and druggists of Great Britain 
 would be a definable and recognised body. At no very distant 
 period they would all be examined and qualified members of 
 a fraternity possessing rights and privileges of acknowledged 
 value, which had been eagerly sought after, but which were 
 also accompanied by duties and responsibilities which some- 
 what detracted from the importance of the advantage gained. 
 This was especially the case with regard to the regulations 
 required to be observed in the keeping and sale of poisons, 
 for the carrying out of which, as well as for other purposes 
 connected with the application of the law, a new set of bye- 
 aws of the Pharmaceutical Society was required. Much 
 work, involving the exercise of considerable judgment, had 
 yet to be done by the Pharmaceutical Council, not only in 
 carrying out the letter of the law the execution of which had 
 been entrusted to them, but also in justifying the confidence 
 reposed in them by the Legislature, which had left to their 
 discretion the adoption or suggestion of any farther required 
 regulations connected with the keeping and sale of poisons. 
 This was an anxious duty in the performance of which it soon 
 became evident that much diversity of opinion and warmth of 
 sentiment were likely to be elicited. 
 
 The fifth annual meeting of the British Pharmaceutical 
 Conference was held at Norwich, in August of this year, 
 under the presidency of Mr. Daniel Hanbnry, F.B.S. Several 
 interesting papers were read, and among the prominent 
 subjects of conversation which the assembled pharmacists en- 
 gaged in was that of the recently passed Pharmacy Act which 
 so intimately affected their interests. This was in fact the 
 first subject publicly discussed at the opening meeting, after 
 the President's address had been delivered, and the following 
 resolutions were passed unanimously : 
 
 " 1. That the cordial thanks of this Confci-ence and the whole 
 profession, are due and hereby tendered to the President of 
 the Pharmaceutical Society, and those who laboured with 
 him, for those exertions in the cause of pharmaceutical educa- 
 tion which have resulted in the Pharmacy Act of 18G8.
 
 3*2 
 
 SANDFORD TESTIMONIAL 1'L-ND. 
 
 " 2. That it is desirable there should be some public recog- 
 nition of the services rendered to the cause of pharmaceutical 
 education, and the improvement of the status of the pro- 
 fession, by Mr. George Webb Sandford, President of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society, to whose careful and constant de- 
 votion the passing of the Pharmacy Act of 1868 is in great 
 measure due. 
 
 " 3. That the President of the Conference be requested to 
 address the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, request- 
 ing the use of the Society's house for the purpose of holding 
 a meeting ou Tuesday, the 6th of October next, with a view 
 to the carrying out of the foregoing resolutions." 
 
 Mr. Hanbury's letter embodying the above request was 
 laid before the Council at their meeting on the '2nd of Sep- 
 tember, and the desired permission was at once granted. 
 
 The meeting was held at 17, Bloomsbury Square, on the 
 6th of October, Mr. Daniel Hanbnry, F.R.S., in the chair, 
 when it was resolved : 
 
 " 1. That it is eminently desirable that a testimonial be pre- 
 sented to Mr. George Webb Sandford, President of the Phar- 
 maceutical Society, for his able and unremitting services in 
 promoting the passing of the Amended Pharmacy Act. 
 
 " 2. That the gentlemen now present do constitute a General 
 Committee for the purpose of carrying out the foregoing re- 
 solution, with power to add to their number. 
 
 "3. That Mr. Frederick Barren, of the firm of Drew, 
 Barron & Co., Bush Lane, be requested to act as Chairman 
 of the General Committee. 
 
 " 4. That Mr. Benjamin Brogden Orridge be requested to 
 accept the office of Treasurer, and that Mr. Michael Carteighe, 
 Mr. John Mackay (Edinburgh), and Mr. Henry Matthews, 
 be requested to act as Honorary Secretaries." 
 
 At a meeting of the Committee, held on the 13th of Octo- 
 ber, 1868, it was decided that the testimonial should be both 
 personal and commemorative, and that subscriptions should be 
 at once solicited for the " Sandford Testimonial Fund." 
 
 A meeting of the Committee was held again on the ll'th 
 of April, 1869, to decide on the manner of applying the 
 amount which had been raised. It had been previously 
 arranged, in the event of the fund being sufficient, that the 
 testimonial should consist of a portrait of Mr. Sandford,
 
 THE SANDFORD TESTIMONIAL FESTIVAL. 383 
 
 President of tbe Pharmaceutical Society, and a service of 
 plate, to be presented as a mark of the high appreciation 
 which had been formed of the valuable services which he had 
 rendered to the Society. The amount of the subscriptions 
 was found to be ample for the accomplishment of those two 
 objects, and a committee was therefore appointed to carry 
 them into effect at as early a period as possible. 
 
 On the 19th of May, 1869, after the anniversary meeting 
 of the Pharmaceutical Society, which was held on that day, 
 the subscribers to the " Sandford Testimonial Fund " met 
 iii the lecture hall of the Society, for the purpose of present- 
 ing to Mr. Saudford the first part of the testimonial, consisting 
 of an elegant assortment of plate, of the value of 200 guineas. 
 The remainder of the fund, which amounted in the whole to 
 upwards of 500, was devoted to the painting of a portrait 
 of Mr. Sandford, by J. P. Knight, R.A., Secretary to the 
 Royal Academy, which is suspended in the Council room of 
 the Pharmaceutical Society. In the evening a complimentary 
 dinner was given to Mr. Sandford at the Freemasons' Tavern. 
 On both these occasions Mr. Frederick Barrou presided, and 
 conveyed in most appropriate terms the sentiments not only 
 of those who were present, but of all who participated in the 
 prospective benefits of the Act which had been so long sought 
 for, and the attainment of which was largely due to the firm, 
 consistent, and persevering efforts of the President of the 
 Pharmaceutical Society. 
 
 This festival formed an appropriate sequel to a labour 
 which had thus far terminated successfully for the cause of 
 pharmaceutical progression. Henceforth we enter upon a 
 new era in Pharmacy.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Acts of Parliament. 
 
 Act of 1815. New construc- 
 tion of in 1841, 80. 
 Act, Adulteration (August 
 
 6, 1860), 297, 298. 
 Act appointing Physicians 
 and Surgeons (1511), 1. 
 Preamble, 2. 
 Act (1815), Associated 
 
 Apothecaries'. 
 Observations on by Gray, 
 
 68. 
 Ditto by Dr. George Mann 
 
 Burrows, 69. 
 Outline of Proceedings, 
 
 58-68. 
 Eesults, 68. 
 
 Act (1553), College of Phy- 
 sicians, 5. 
 
 Act, Copper Bars, Fraudulent 
 Bankrupts, Right of 
 Search (1727), 23. 
 Reasons against the Bill, 
 
 24. 
 
 Act, Ecclesiastical Titles, 255. 
 Act (1861), Excise, Right of 
 
 Inspection, 178. 
 Act, Medical (1858), 266. 
 
 Act, Medicine (1802), 40. 
 Act, Medicine, Stamp, and 
 
 Licence, 72. 
 
 Act, Pharmacy (1852), 218. 
 Bye-laws, 218. 
 Interpretation, 219. 
 Liberal Construction, 219. 
 Meeting Respecting, 219. 
 Passing of, 312. 
 Act, Pharmacy, July 31, 1868, 
 
 380. 
 
 Act (Oct. 1, 1867), Reduction 
 Methylated Spirit Li- 
 cence, 367. 
 
 Act, Safe Keeping of Petro- 
 leum, 307. 
 
 Act, Sale of Arsenic, 203. 
 Act, Searching Shops (1723), 
 
 21. 
 
 Act, Surgeons (1542), 3. 
 Address, First (Council) 
 
 107-110. 
 Adulteration Act (August 6, 
 
 1860), 297, 298. 
 of Food and Drugs Bill, 
 
 277. 
 
 Committee, 246, 247. 
 Adulterations (Dr. Hassall), 
 223.
 
 386 
 
 African Company, Royal, 
 
 21. 
 
 Alchemy in Nineteenth Cen- 
 tury, 297. 
 Alchymists, 11, 12. 
 Aldersgate Lecture Theatre, 
 
 226. 
 
 Allen, William, F.R.S. 
 Biography, 164-166. 
 Almonds, Essence of Bitter, 
 Poison by (Sadleir), 
 242. 
 Alteration of Bye-laws (Jan. 
 
 15, 1862), 303. 
 Ditto, Final Amendments 
 
 (June 23, 1862), 304. 
 of Subscriptions, 303. 
 of Terms of Membership, 
 
 303. 
 Amputation during Mesmeric 
 
 State, 134. 
 
 Analytical Sanitary Com- 
 mission, 223. 
 Anaesthetics (1846), 182, 
 
 183. 
 Chloroform, 183. 
 
 Ether, 182. 
 Angular Poison Bottles, 248, 
 
 249. 
 
 " Annals of Chymistry and 
 Practical Pharmacy," 
 138. 
 
 Annals of Philosophy, 207. 
 Anniversary Meeting, First 
 
 (May 17, 1842), 155. 
 Annual Festival. United 
 
 Society (1867), 367. 
 Meeting, United Society 
 
 (Nov. 23, 1865), 349. 
 Subscription, 166. 
 Ditto Changes of, 303. 
 
 Anthony, Francis (1602). 
 Antimony, 10. 
 
 Triumphant Chariot of, 9. 
 Apothecaries, 2. 
 Act (1815), 58-68. 
 Associated, 47. 
 Bill, 17. 
 Charges of, 17. 
 Charter (1617), 6. 
 Charter (?Act), (1748), 
 
 26. 
 
 Company, 6. 
 Exemptions of (1694), 
 
 14. 
 
 General Association, 36. 
 General Meeting, 34. 
 Society of, 13. 
 Apothecaries' Hall, 31. 81- 
 
 84. 
 Incorporated with Grocers 
 
 (1606), 6. 
 Weights stamped, 249, 
 
 250. 
 " Apothecaries' (the) Mirror " 
 
 (1790), 30. 
 
 " Apothecary (the) Dis- 
 played," 29. 
 
 Appeal against Lord Camp- 
 bell's Judgment, 239. 
 Decision, Final, 240. 
 (Counter) from Exam- 
 ined Pharmaceutical 
 Chemists, 364. 
 From Members of Phar- 
 maceutical Society, 363. 
 Apprentices, Classification of, 
 
 302. 
 
 Army Dispensers, 305, 306. 
 Qualifications, 306. 
 Dispensing, 250. 
 Arsenic, 199.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 387 
 
 Arsenic (Criminal Poisoning), 
 
 245. 
 in Peppermint Lozenges, 
 
 Bradford, 277, 278. 
 Poison by (Mrs. Wooler), 
 
 242. 
 
 Sale of, 199, 201. 
 Arsenical Paper-hangings, 
 
 258. 
 
 Arts, Manufactures, and 
 Mines, Dictionary of 
 (Ure), 252. 
 Assimilation of Medicines 
 
 (Squire), 206. 
 
 Associate, the first exam- 
 ined, 158. 
 Associated Apothecaries' Act 
 
 (1815), 58-68. 
 Association, 69. 
 
 Anomalous Position, 69. 
 Want of Union, 69. 
 Bill, Proposed (1813), 47. 
 Meetings Respecting, 48, 
 
 50, 55, 60. 
 Reports Presented, 50, 
 
 55. 
 
 Withdrawal, 55. 
 Conference with the 
 Chemists and Druggists, 
 63. 
 
 General Meeting (May 12, 
 1814), 58. 
 
 Associated Apothecaries 
 Meeting at Crown and 
 Anchor (May 26, 1814), 
 60. 
 
 Opposition by Chemists 
 and Druggists, 61, 62. 
 College of Physicians, 60. 
 by House of Lords, 60. 
 Protective Clause, 63, 64. 
 Ditto, Amended, 65. 
 Termination of the Con- 
 test, 67. 
 
 Withdrawal of Druggists' 
 Opposition to Apothe- 
 caries' Bill (1815), 65. 
 Associates, Classification of, 
 
 302. 
 
 Association, Chemical, Dis- 
 cussion, 239. 
 
 General of Apothecaries, 36. 
 (General) Chemists and 
 
 Druggists (1829), 72. 
 General Pharmaceutical,3 7. 
 Provincial Medical and 
 
 Surgical, 199. 
 
 Atomic Theory. Introduc- 
 tion to (Pereira), 225. 
 Attfield, Professor, Ph. D., 
 Director and Demon- 
 strator, 307. 
 
 Professor of Practical 
 Chemistry, 307. 
 
 B. 
 
 Balard, M., of Montpellier 
 
 (Bromine), 225. 
 Ball, Chemists', 357. 
 Barbers and Surgeons, 3. 
 
 Barim (Liquid Measure), 275, 
 276. 
 
 Barker, Dr. (Dublin Phar- 
 macopoeia), 136.
 
 388 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Barnard, Mr. John (Pharm. 
 
 Journ.), 286. 
 
 Baro (Unit of Weight), 275. 
 Barry, Mr. John Thomas, 
 
 330. 
 
 Basil, Valentine (1678), 9 
 Bate's Dispensatory (1691), 
 
 13. 
 Bath. Provincial Education, 
 
 158. 
 
 Baxter, Mr. George, 146. 
 Bell, Jacob, Mr., 280-289. 
 Constitution of the Society, 
 
 on, 150. 
 
 Copyright of Journal, 281. 
 Legacy to the Society, 
 
 290. 
 
 Ditto Application of, 292. 
 Marylebone Contest, 288. 
 Member for St. Alban's, 
 
 204, 287. 
 Memorial Scholarships, 
 
 291, 292. 
 
 Moves to Introduce Phar- 
 macy Bill, 209. 
 Observations on Pharma- 
 ceutical Society, 107. 
 Pharmaceutical Tea-Party, 
 
 1841, 97. 
 Pharmacopceial Processes, 
 
 on, 277. 
 President of the Society 
 
 (1856), 251. 
 
 Remarks on the Progress 
 
 of the Society, 251, 252. 
 
 Resolution on the death of, 
 
 289. 
 Bell, Mr. John. Biography, 
 
 190. 
 
 Benevolent Fund, 105, 109, 
 342. 
 
 Benevolent Fund 
 
 Dinner (Feb. 20, 1867), 
 
 357. 
 
 Practically Applied, 343. 
 Bentley, Professor. Address 
 and Testimonial, to, 307. 
 Elected to the Chair of 
 
 Botany, 196. 
 Materia Medica, and 
 
 Botany, 214. 
 Manual of Botany, 294. 
 President of Phytological 
 
 Club, 239. 
 Betts' Patent Metallic Cap- 
 
 snles, 341, 342. 
 Bibliography. 
 
 Annals of Chymistry and 
 Practical Pharmacy, 138. 
 
 Annals of Philosophy, 207. 
 
 Apothecaries' (The) Mirror, 
 30. 
 
 Apothecary (The) Displayed, 
 29. 
 
 Bate. Dispensatory. Phar- 
 macopoeia Bateana, 13. 
 
 Bell, Mr. Jacob. Observa- 
 tions on the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society, 107. 
 
 Bentley, Professor. Manual 
 of Botany, 294. 
 
 Bostock, Dr. Essay on No- 
 menclature, P. L., 42. 
 
 Chemical Gazette, 138. 
 
 Chemical News, 294. 
 
 Chemist, The (1839), 138, 
 164. 
 
 Chemist and Druggist, 349. 
 
 Christison's Dispensatory, 
 137. 
 
 Culpeper. Translation of 
 Pharmacopoeia, 7, 8.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 389 
 
 Curie, Dr. Principles of 
 
 Homoeopathy, 130. 
 Practice of Homoeopathy, 
 127, 130. 
 
 Dispensaries, Necessity and 
 Usefulness, 19. 
 
 Dublin Philosophical Maga- 
 zine, 207. 
 
 Dumas, M. Lefons Bur la 
 Philosophic Chimique, 
 12. 
 
 Education of Dispensers of 
 Medicine and the Sale of 
 Poisons, 247. 
 
 Fownes, Mr. George. Manual 
 
 of Chemistry, 192. 
 Chemistry as Exemplifying 
 the Wisdom and Bene- 
 ficence of God (Acton 
 Prize), 192. 
 
 Garth. Dispensary, 15. 
 
 Goodall, Dr. History of the 
 College of Physicians, 2. 
 History of the Proceedings 
 against Empirics, 4. 
 
 Gray's Supplement, 137. 
 
 Greenfield, Dr. (Cantharides), 
 134, 135. 
 
 Hanbury, Daniel. Chinese 
 Materia Medica, 294. 
 
 Hoefer, le Dr. Ferd. His- 
 toire de la Chimie, 12. 
 
 Lancet, The, 164. 
 
 Lewis, Dr. The New Dis- 
 pensatory, 30. 
 
 London Dispensatory, 71. 
 
 Medical Times, The, 164. 
 
 Memoirs of Botanic Garden, 
 Chelsea, 33. 
 
 Paris, Dr. Pharmacologia, 
 137. 
 
 Pereira, Dr. Elements of 
 
 Materia Medica, 226. 
 General Table of Atomic 
 
 Numbers, 225. 
 Manual for Use of Students, 
 
 225. 
 Polarization of Light, 162, 
 
 227. 
 
 Selecta e Prsescnptis, 225. 
 Treatise on Food and Diet, 
 227. 
 
 Pharmaceutical Journal, 138, 
 151. 
 
 Pitt, Dr. Craft and Fraud of 
 Physicians Exposed, 17, 
 19. 
 
 Poem, Quaint (1680), 10. 
 
 Powell, Dr. Translation of 
 Pharmacopoeia (1809), 
 41. 
 
 Quincy. New Dispensatory, 
 14. 
 
 Short Answers to Tentamen 
 Medicinale, 6. 
 
 Squire, Mr. Peter. Com- 
 panion to British Phar- 
 macopoeia, 329. 
 Three (the) Pharmaco- 
 poeias, 236. 
 
 Tentamen Medicinale, 19. 
 
 Ure, Dr. Andrew. Dictionary 
 of Arts, Manufactures, 
 and Mines, 252. 
 Dictionary of Chemistry, 
 252. 
 
 Valentine, Bazil. Triumphant 
 Chariot of Antimony, 9. 
 
 Wilson, George. Gaza Chy- 
 mica, 11. 
 
 Wisdom of the Nation 
 Foolishness, 10-16.
 
 390 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Bills. 
 
 Bill, Accidental Poisoning 
 
 (Lord Raynham), 320. 
 Bill, Adulteration of Food, 
 
 277. 
 Bill (1813), Associated 
 
 Apothecaries', 47. 
 Meetings respecting, 48, 
 
 50, 55. 
 Bill, Chemist and Druggist's, 
 
 No. 1, 327. 
 
 Deputation to Home Secre- 
 tary (Nov. 22, 1864), 
 324. 
 Bill, Chemist and Druggist's, 
 
 No. 2, 327. 
 
 Deputation to Home Secre- 
 tary (March, 1865), 335. 
 Bill, College of Pharmacy, 
 
 180. 
 Draft, presented (1846), 
 
 18L 
 Contemplated Provisions, 
 
 181. 
 Deputation to College of 
 
 Physicians, 181. 
 Joint Examination Scheme, 
 
 181, 182, 187. 
 Bill, Decimal Weights and 
 
 Measures, 320. 
 Bill, Exhibition Medals, 320. 
 Bill (Fourth Medical Body), 
 
 -46. 
 
 Bill, Sir James Graham (Prac- 
 tice of Medicine), 169. 
 Apothecaries' Act to be 
 
 Repealed, 169. 
 Deputation from Council, 
 
 174. 
 
 Exemption of Chemists 
 and Druggists, 174. 
 
 Bill- 
 Free Trade, 169. 
 
 Meeting respecting, at 
 Crown and Anchor Ta- 
 vern, 174. 
 
 Opposed by the Medical 
 Profession, 170, 173. 
 
 Restrictive Clause, 173. 
 
 Withdrawal, 174. 
 Bill (1841), Mr. Hawes, 86. 
 
 Deputation to the Colleges 
 of Physicians and Sur- 
 geons, 94, 95. 
 
 Interpretation Clause, 87. 
 
 Opposition by Chemists 
 and Druggists, 89. 
 
 Penalties, 87, 88. 
 
 Petitions against, 95, 96. 
 
 Provisions, 87, 88. 
 
 Withdrawal, 94. 
 Bill, Juries, 308-312. 
 
 Claim for Exemption, 308. 
 
 Craufurd, Mr. Edward, 
 Opposes, 311. 
 
 Denman, Lord, Defends 
 Veterinary Surgeons, 
 311. 
 
 Importance of Result, 312. 
 
 Petition to the Commons 
 and Lords, 309. 
 
 Prospects of Success, 309. 
 
 Rejection by the Commons, 
 309. 
 
 Secretary (Mr. Bremridge), 
 Invaluable Aid of, 311, 
 312. 
 
 Veterinary Surgeons' pro- 
 posed Exemption, 309. 
 
 Wensleydale, Lord, defends 
 Pharmaceutical Chem- 
 ists, 310.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 391 
 
 Bill, Medical (Lord Elcho), 
 
 253. . 
 Bill, Medical (Headlam), 
 
 253. 
 Bill, Medical Registration and 
 
 Practice, 77. 
 
 Bill, Pharmaceutical Examin- 
 ation and Registration, 
 187-189. 
 Deputation to Sir George 
 
 Grey, 189. 
 
 Restrictive Clauses, 188. 
 Bill, Pharmacy (1851), Clau- 
 ses, I.-X1X., 209. 
 Amendments, 211. 
 Petitions for and against, 
 
 211. 
 
 Second Reading, 210. 
 Bill, Pharmacy (1852). Evi- 
 dence on Pharmaceutical 
 Legislation, 216. 
 Passed (June 30, 1852), 
 
 218. 
 
 Bill, Poison (1859), 277. 
 Bill, Poisoned Grain, 319. 
 Bill (1857), Sale of Poisons, 
 
 253, 256. 
 Bill (1858), Sale of Poisons, 
 
 262-266. 
 
 Bill to Regulate Sale of 
 Poisons, and Alter and 
 Amend Pharmacy Act 
 (1852), 369-379. 
 As Introduced (May 11, 
 1868), Original Draft, 
 379, 380. 
 Passed (July 31, 1868), 
 
 380. 
 
 Results Involved, 381. 
 Bill (1846), Still and Spirit 
 Licence, 178- 
 
 Bills, The Two. Alterations 
 
 Suggested, 337-339. 
 Committee of Medical 
 
 Council, 336. 
 Discussion in the House 
 
 (March 29, 1865), 336. 
 Medical Evidence, 339- 
 
 344. 
 
 Opinion in Scotland, 340. 
 Report of Committee of 
 
 House of Commons, 340, 
 
 341. 
 
 Biography. 
 Allen, Mr. William, F.R.S., 
 
 164 
 Barry, Mr. John Thomas, 
 
 330. 
 
 Bell, Mr. Jacob, 282. 
 Bell, Mr. John, 190. 
 Bucklee, Mr. W. H., 330. 
 Farmar, Mr. Robert Adolph, 
 
 295. 
 
 Fownes, Mr. George, 191. 
 Gifford, Mr. Joseph, 260. 
 Herring, Mr. Thomas, 330. 
 Howard, Mr. Luke, 331. 
 Ince, Mr. William, 228. 
 Macfarlan, Mr. J. F., 295. 
 Payne, Mr. Charles James, 
 
 167. 
 Pereira, Dr. Jonathan, F.R.S., 
 
 224. 
 
 Phillips, Mr. Richard, 206, 
 Pigeon, Mr. Richard Hotham, 
 
 212. 
 Smith, Mr. George Walter, 
 
 295. 
 Thomson, Dr. Anthony Todd, 
 
 193. 
 Ure, Dr. Andrew, 252.
 
 392 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Birkbeck Laboratory, 175, 
 186. 
 
 Bloomsbury Square Premises, 
 
 152, 260. 
 Lectures at, 163. 
 
 Board of Examiners Ap- 
 pointed, 153. 
 Of Inland Revenue, 256. 
 
 Booffeat, John (Empiric, 
 1583), 4. 
 
 Books, Circulation of, 222. 
 
 Bostock, Dr., Essay on 
 Nomenclature of New 
 London Pharmacopoeia, 
 42. 
 
 Botanic Garden, Chelsea, 
 31-33. 
 
 Botany, Manual of (Professor 
 
 Bentley), 294. 
 Science of, 118. 
 
 Bradford Poisoning Case 
 (Peppermint Lozenges), 
 277, 278. 
 
 Brady, Mr. H. B. (Methyl- 
 ated Spirit), 314. 
 
 Brande, William Thomas, 
 
 F.R.S., 207. 
 
 Description of Apothe- 
 caries' Hall, 81-84. 
 
 Brandy and Salt (Lee and 
 Vallance), 124. 
 
 Bremridge, Mr. EHas. Elec- 
 ted Secretary, 253. 
 Services on Juries Bill, 
 311, 312. 
 
 Briggs, Mr. H. P. (Royal 
 
 Academician), 148. 
 Portrait of William Allen, 
 222. 
 
 Briscoe, Mr. (Apothecary, 
 1634), 6. 
 
 British Pharmaceutical Con- 
 ference, 316. 
 Bath, 333. 
 Birmingham, 343. 
 Dundee, 367. 
 Newcastle, 317. 
 Norwich, 381. 
 Nottingham, 356. 
 Proposal by Mr. Schacht, 
 
 316. 
 
 Scheme Modified, Mr. Rey- 
 nolds, 316. 
 
 British Pharmacopoeia, 267. 
 (1864). 328. 
 Ditto Unfavourable Recep- 
 tion, 329. 
 New Edition, 343. 
 (1867). 367. 
 Companion to. 
 
 (Squire), 329. 
 Pharmacy, Position of, 115. 
 Buck, Paul (Empiric, 1593), 
 
 5. 
 
 Bucklee, Mr. W. H., 330. 
 Buott, Cyrus. Report on 
 Pharmaceutical Legisla- 
 tion, 344-348. 
 Burdon, Slow Poisoning Case, 
 
 242. 
 Burial Societies (Criminal 
 
 Poisoning), 244. 
 Burrows, Dr. George Mann, 
 
 45. 
 Associated Apothecaries, 
 
 69. 
 Pharmaceutical Education, 
 
 46. 
 Bye-Law. Vote by Post, 
 
 229. 
 
 Bye-Laws, Alterations of 
 (Jan. 15, 1862), 303.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 393 
 
 Bye-La\ 
 
 .Final Amendments (Jane 
 
 23, 1862), 304 
 Confirmation of (Qualified), 
 
 230. 
 By Sir George Grey, 240. 
 
 Bye-Laws, New (1852), 220, 
 
 221. 
 Dickinson, Mr., Supports, 
 
 221. 
 Meeting respecting, 221. 
 
 C. 
 
 Campbell, Lord, Appeal 
 
 against Judgment, 239. 
 Decision, Final, 240. 
 Arsenic Poisoning, 245. 
 Burial Societies, 244. 
 Criminal Poisoning, 244, 
 
 245. 
 Judgment (Jan. 26, 1855), 
 
 230. 
 Capsules, Betts' Metallic, 341, 
 
 342. 
 
 Caveat lodged against Incor- 
 poration Charter, 141. 
 Census Returns, Chemists and 
 
 Druggists, 334, 335. 
 Certificate of Membership, 
 
 148. 
 Chamberlaine, Mr., Attack on 
 
 Druggists (1794), 34. 
 Charges of Apothecaries, 17. 
 Charter, Granting of, 312. 
 Of Corporation, 158. 
 
 Date of Charter, 159. 
 Objects contemplated, 159. 
 Petition for (1842), 140. 
 Chelsea Botanic Garden, 31- 
 
 33. 
 Memoirs of, 33. 
 
 Chemical Discussion Associa- 
 tion, 239. 
 Gazette, 138. 
 News, The, 294. 
 Society, 80, 81. 
 Chemist, The, 138, 164. 
 Chemist and Druggist Journal, 
 
 349. 
 
 Chemistry, Collegeof, 175,186. 
 Chemistry, Dictionary of 
 
 (Ure), 252. 
 The Science of, 117. 
 Chemists (1680), 10. 
 
 Ball, 357. 
 Chemists and Druggists, 
 
 Origin of, 20. 
 
 Chemists and Druggists' Bill, 
 
 No. 1, Provisions of, 327. 
 
 Bill No. 2, Provisions of, 
 
 327, 328. 
 General Association (1829), 
 
 72. 
 
 Cheyne, Lord (Chelsea Gar- 
 den), 32. 
 Chimie, Histoire dela,Hoefer, 
 
 (1842), 12. 
 
 Chinese Materia Medica 
 (Daniel Hanbury), 294.
 
 394 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Chloral Hydrate (Methylated 
 
 Spirit), 316. 
 Chloric Ether, 183. 
 Chloroform (Inhalation), 183. 
 Chloroform, Simpson, Dr. 
 
 (Edinburgh), 183. 
 Cholera, The, 122. 
 Christison, Dr., Dispensatory, 
 
 137. 
 Pharmaceutical Legislation, 
 
 322. 
 
 Chymical Medicines, 18. 
 Chymicals, 9, 13. 
 Classification of Apprentices, 
 
 302. 
 
 Associates, 302. 
 Medical Profession, 115, 
 
 116. 
 
 Members, 302. 
 Closing, Early, 85, 86, 173. 
 Club, Phytological, 239. 
 Cocoa, Dandelion, 299. 
 Coffee, Dandelion, 298. 
 Ditto, Legality of Sale, 298. 
 Cold-water Cure, 131. 
 College of Chemistry, 175, 
 
 186. 
 
 College of Dentists, 259. 
 Of Health, Morison, 123. 
 Of Pharmacy Bill, 180. 
 College of Physicians, 3. 
 (Act, 1553), 5. 
 Conference respecting Exa- 
 minations, 111. 
 Deputation to (Mr. Hawes' 
 
 Bill), 95. 
 Joint Examination Scheme, 
 
 181, 182, 187. 
 Licentiates, 299. 
 Refusal to co-operate offici- 
 ally, 112, 113. 
 
 College of Physicians, Edin- 
 burgh (Pharmacopoeia), 
 267. 
 Of Surgeons, Deputation to 
 
 (Mr. Hawes' Bill), 94. 
 University, 186. 
 
 BirkbeckLaboratory,186. 
 Collier, Dr., Copyright of 
 
 Pharmacopoeia, 76. 
 Ditto, Translation (1837), 77. 
 Commission, Analytical Sani- 
 tary, 223. 
 Commissioners, Land and 
 
 Emigration, 223. 
 Committee, Adulteration of 
 Food and Drugs, 246, 
 247. 
 
 Pharmacopoeia, 235, 268. 
 First Report, 237. 
 Letter from Dr. F. J. 
 
 Farre, 269. 
 Ditto, Dr. A. B. Garrod, 
 
 269, 270. 
 Ditto, Dr. H. A. Pitman, 
 
 270. 
 
 Representatives in Scot- 
 land, 271. 
 
 Squire, Mr., appointed 
 London Delegate, 269. 
 Sale of Poisons, 200. 
 Commons, Petition to the, in 
 favour of Pharmacy Act 
 (May, 1851), 208. 
 Companion to British Phar- 
 macopoeia (Squire), 329. 
 Conference, British Pharma- 
 ceutical, 316. 
 Bath, 333. 
 Birmingham, 343. 
 Dundee, 367. 
 Newcastle, 317.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 395 
 
 Conference, British Pharma- 
 ceutical 
 Norwich, 381. 
 Nottingham, 356. 
 Confirmation of Bye-Laws 
 (Sir George Grey), 240. 
 Qualified, 230. 
 
 Conspectus of the Pharmaco- 
 poeia (Dr. A. T. Thom- 
 son), 194. 
 
 Constitution of the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society, 103. 
 (Jacob Bell), 150. 
 Copper Sulphate (Wheat 
 
 Dressing), 202. 
 Copyright of Pharmacopoeia 
 
 (Dr. Collier), 76. 
 Correspondence between the 
 
 two Societies, 350-355. 
 Sandford, G. W., Mr., Let- 
 ters, 350-352. 
 Replies from United So- 
 ciety, 350-354. 
 Resolution of Council, 354. 
 Council, Address to Govern- 
 ment, 355, 356 (1866). 
 Confer with Government 
 
 (Jan. 16, 1867), 359. 
 First Address, 107-110. 
 Interview with Sir James 
 
 Graham, 114. 
 Promotes Amended Act of 
 
 Pharmacy, 367. 
 Council of Health and Medi- 
 cal Education, 170. 
 Council (General) Medical 
 Education and Registra- 
 tion, 266, 267. 
 Proposed Interference with 
 
 Pharmacy, 320. 
 Ditto, Draft Bill, 320. 
 
 Council 
 
 Recognition of the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society, 272. 
 Resolutions respectingPhar- 
 macopceia Committee, 
 271. 
 
 Undertakes British Phar- 
 macopoeia, 267. 
 Counter Practice, 119-121. 
 Courses, Systematic, 153. 
 Court of Queen's Bench, Elec- 
 tion under New Bye- 
 Laws, 230. 
 
 Ditto, Judgment, Lord Camp- 
 bell (Jan. 26, 1855), 230- 
 232. 
 Pharmaceutical Chemist, 
 
 Definition of, 232. 
 Title to Election, 230- 
 
 232. 
 Craft and Fraud of Physic 
 
 Exposed (1703), 17, 18. 
 Crimean War Dispensers, 
 
 250. 
 
 Criminal Poisoning, 242-245. 
 Arsenic Poisoning, 245. 
 Burial Societies, 244. 
 Life Insurance, 244. 
 Nux Vomica, 645. 
 Critique on New P. L (Richard 
 
 Phillips), 42, 45, 206. 
 Crown and Anchor Tavern 
 Meeting (Feb. 15, 1841), 
 91. 
 Meeting (Formation of a 
 
 Society), 98, 100. 
 Meeting (June 1, 1841), 
 
 103. 
 
 Meeting (Nov. 1, 1841), 
 [Trust Fund of 1815], 
 110.
 
 396 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Crown and Anchor Tavern 
 Meeting (Sir James Gra- 
 ham's Bill), 174. 
 
 Crystal Palace, 198. 
 
 Culpeper, Ridicule of Ancient 
 Pharmacy, 8. 
 
 Culpeper 
 
 Translation of Pharmaco- 
 poeia (1653), 7. 
 
 Curie, Dr. (Homoeopathy), 
 127, 129, 130. 
 
 D. 
 
 Dandelion Cocoa, 299. 
 Coffee, 298. 
 Legality of sale, 298. 
 Deane, Mr. Henry, Chairman 
 of Pharmacopoeia Com- 
 mittee, 237. 
 Tontine Scheme, 241. 
 Vice - President (1851), 
 
 212. 
 
 Defaulters on Register, 241. 
 Denman, Lord. 
 
 (Juries Bill), 311. 
 Dentistry, 259. 
 Dentists, College of, 259. 
 Deputation to Home Secre- 
 tary. 
 Bill No. 1 (Nov. 22, 1861-), 
 
 334. 
 
 Bill No.2 (Mar., 1865), 335. 
 To Sir James Graham, 153. 
 Deputations received. 
 (Feb. 19, 1867), 361. 
 Sandford, Mr., Explana- 
 tions by, 361. 
 The word " Eligible," 361. 
 Derby, Lord. 
 
 Correspondence "with Mr. 
 
 Bell, 264. 
 Dickinson, Mr. 
 
 Opposition Tactics, 229. 
 
 Dickinson versus Pharmaceu- 
 tical Society, 233. 
 Dictionary of Arts, Manufac- 
 tures, and Mines (Ure), 
 252. 
 
 Of Chemistry (Ure), 252. 
 Dinner, Benevolent Fund 
 
 (Feb. 20, 1867), 357. 
 Pharmaceutical School, 196. 
 To Mr. G. W. Sandford, 
 
 383. 
 
 Dipping Sheep (Arsenic), 201. 
 Discussion, Chemical Associa- 
 tion, 239. 
 
 Dispensarians and Apothe- 
 caries (1704), 19. 
 Dispensaries established, 
 
 (1697), 15. 
 
 Usefulness of (1702), 19, 20. 
 "Dispensary, The," Garth, 
 
 15. 
 Dispensary. 
 
 (Apothecaries, 1623), 7. 
 Dispensatory, Bate's (1691), 
 
 13. 
 
 Christison, 137. 
 London, 71. 
 
 Thomson, Dr. A. T. 194. 
 New, Dr. Lewis, 30. 
 Quincy, 14.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 397 
 
 Dispensers for the Army, 305, 
 
 306. 
 
 Ditto, Qualifications, 306. 
 Crimean War, 250. 
 Dispensers of Medicine, Edu- 
 cation of, 247. 
 
 Dispensing in the Army, 250. 
 Distillation, Illicit, 177. 
 Donovan, Professor. 
 
 (Dublin Pharmacopoeia), 
 
 136. 
 
 Dove, William (Leeds), 
 (Strychnia case), 244. 
 Druggist Dispensers, 45. 
 Druggists, Denunciation of, 
 
 35. 
 
 Franchise, 312. 
 Increase of, 38. 
 Prescribing, 39. 
 
 Druggists 
 
 Non-professional Standing, 
 
 156. 
 Dublin College. 
 
 Angular Poison Bottles, 
 
 248, 249. 
 Pharmacopoeia, 75, 136, 
 
 205. 
 
 Weights adopted, 205. 
 Weights and Measures,273. 
 Dumas, M. (Alchemy), 12. 
 Philosophie Chimiqne 
 
 (1837), 12. 
 Duncan, Dr., Dispensatory, 
 
 30. 
 
 Dundee, British Pharmaceu- 
 tical Conference (1867), 
 367. 
 Duty on Glass (1812), 45. 
 
 Early Closing Movement, 85, 
 
 86, 173. 
 
 Editio Altera (1815), 207. 
 Eemarks on (Phillips), 
 
 44. 
 Edinburgh College of 
 
 Physicians, (Pharmaco- 
 poeia), 267. 
 Education of Dispensers of 
 
 Medicine and Sale of 
 
 Poisons, 247. 
 Pharmaceutical, 163, 184, 
 
 185. 
 Wilson, Dr. George, 184. 
 
 Provincial, 158. 
 Elcho, Lord (Medical Bill), 
 
 253. 
 
 Elements of Materia Medica 
 
 (Pereira), 225, 226. 
 " Eligible," the word, 361. 
 Emigrant Vessels, Supply of 
 
 Medicines, 223. 
 Emigration and Land Com- 
 missioners, 223. 
 Empirics, 4-6. 
 
 Anthony, Francis (1602), 
 
 5. 
 
 Booffeat, John (1583), 4. 
 Briscoe, Mr. (1634), 6. 
 Buck, Paul (1593), 5. 
 Fairfax, Paul (1588), 5. 
 Grig (1552), 4. 
 Kennix, Margaret (1581), 
 4.
 
 398 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Empirics 
 
 Leigliton, Dr. Alexander 
 
 (1627), 6. 
 
 Lnmkin, John (1593), 5. 
 Rix, Ellin, 6. 
 Empirics, Proceedings against 
 
 (Dr. Goodall, 1684), 4. 
 Enquiries into Apothecaries' 
 
 Profits, 27. 
 Essay on Nomenclature, P.L. 
 
 (Dr. Bostock), 42. 
 Essence of Bitter Almonds, 
 Poison by (Mr. John 
 Sadleir), 242. 
 Ether, Chloric, 183. 
 Ether, Inhalation, 182. 
 
 Liston, Mr. (Operations), 
 
 182. 
 
 Squire, Mr., Inhaler, 182. 
 Drs. Warren and Morton, 
 
 182. 
 Ethics, Pharmaceutical (Mr. 
 
 Joseph Ince), 356. 
 Evelyn, Mr. (Chelsea Garden), 
 
 32. 
 
 Diary, 32. 
 
 Evening Lectures, 153. 
 Examination System, 111. 
 Examinations, The, 112. 
 
 Examinations 
 
 Apothecary's Licence, 19. 
 Joint Scheme, College of 
 Physicians, 181, 182, 187. 
 Local, 317. 
 
 Original Scheme, 156. 
 Refusal of Co-operation of 
 College of Physicians, 
 112, 113. 
 
 Separate for Chemists in 
 Business (June 6, 1864), 
 332. 
 
 Examiners, Board of, Ap- 
 pointed, 153. 
 Excise Act (1861). 
 
 Powers of Inland Revenue 
 
 Board, 177. 
 Prosecutions, 176. 
 Right of Inspection, 178. 
 Sale of Spirit of Wine, 177. 
 Sweet Spirit of Nitre, 177. 
 Stamp and Licence Regu- 
 lations, 318. 
 Exhibition, the Great (1851), 
 
 198. 
 
 International (1862), 304. 
 Pharmaceutical Com- 
 mittee, 304. 
 Exhibition Medals Bill, 320. 
 
 F. 
 
 Fairfax, Paul. 
 
 (Empiric, 1588), 5. 
 Faraday, Professor. 
 
 (Thames Water), 279. 
 Farmar, Mr. Robert A., 146, 
 295. 
 
 Excellent Services of, 90. 
 
 Festival, Annual, United 
 
 Society (1867), 367. 
 Financial Prospects of 
 
 Pharmaceutical Society 
 
 (1861), 301. 
 Food, Adulteration Bill, 
 
 277.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 399 
 
 Food and Diet, Treatise on 
 
 (Pereira), 227. 
 Food and Drugs, Adulteration 
 
 Committee, 246, 247. 
 Fownes, Mr. George, Biogra- 
 phy, 191. 
 
 Franchise, Druggists', 312. 
 " Frauds Detected," 26, 27. 
 
 Answer to Pamphlet, 27, 28. 
 Freedom from Jury Service, 
 
 (1862), 312. 
 
 Freehold Premises, Tontine 
 Scheme, 241. 
 
 Freemasons' Tavern Meeting. 
 (March 4, 1813), 48. 
 
 Address to the Country, 
 
 49. 
 
 (March 6th, 1815), 60. 
 Fund, Benevolent, 105, 109, 
 
 342. 
 
 Practically Applied, 342. 
 Dinner (Feb. 20, 1867), 
 
 357. 
 
 Fund (1815) Transferred, 
 110. 
 
 G. 
 
 Garden, Botanic, Chelsea, 31- 
 33. 
 
 Garth, The Dispensary, 15. 
 
 Gaza Chymica (1686), 11. 
 
 Gazette, Chemical, 138. 
 
 General Association of Apo- 
 thecaries, 36. 
 
 Pharmaceutical Associa- 
 tion, 37. 
 
 Geology, Practical Museum, 
 208. 
 
 Gifford, Mr. Joseph, Biogra- 
 phy, 260, 261. 
 
 Glass, Duty on (1812), 45. 
 
 Globe Tavern, Meetings, 50, 
 55, 62, 65, 70. 
 
 Godfrey, Ambrose (1680), 
 
 11. 
 
 Portrait of, by George 
 Vertue (1718), 11. 
 
 Good, Dr., History of Medi- 
 cine, 34-38. 
 
 Goodall, Dr., History of 
 
 Empirics (1684), 4. 
 History of College of Phy- 
 sicians, 2. 
 Goodwin, James (1721), 21, 
 
 22. 
 Graham, Sir James. 
 
 Bill (Practice of Medicine), 
 
 169-174. 
 
 Grain, Poisoned, Bill, 319. 
 Gray (Associated Apothe- 
 caries' Act), 68. 
 Gray's Supplement, 137. 
 
 (Chloroform), 183. 
 Greenfield, Dr. (Cantharides), 
 
 134, 135. 
 
 Grey, Sir George, Confirma- 
 tion of Bye-Laws, 240. 
 Griffin, Mr. 
 
 (Weights and Measures), 
 
 274. 
 Grig (Empiric, 1552), 4.
 
 400 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 H. 
 
 Hahnemann, Dr., 124. 
 (Homoeopathy), 129. 
 
 Hall, Apothecaries', vide Apo- 
 thecaries' Hall, 81. 
 
 Hanbury, Mr. Daniel, F R. S. 
 Chinese Materia Medica, 
 
 294. 
 
 President of British Phar- 
 maceutical Conference, 
 Norwich, 381. 
 
 Hanbury, Mr. D. B., Resigns 
 Office of Treasurer, 367. 
 
 Hanckwitz, Ambrose God- 
 frey (1680), 11. 
 
 Haselden, Mr. A. P., "Are 
 
 we Progressing?" 301. 
 Elected on the Council, 
 289. 
 
 Hassall, Dr., Adulterations, 
 223. 
 
 Hawes, Mr. (Bill, 1841), vide 
 
 Bill, Mr. Hawes. 
 (Medical Bills), 138-140. 
 
 Headlam, Mr. (Medical Bill), 
 253. 
 
 Herring, Mr. Thomas, Bio- 
 graphy, 330. 
 
 Hoefer, Le Dr. Ferd, 12. 
 
 Home Secretary on Pharma- 
 ceutical Legislation, 368, 
 369. 
 
 Homoeopathy, 121, 124-130. 
 
 Hornby, Mr. E. P., President 
 of United Society, 367. 
 
 House of the Society, 306. 
 Improvements effected, 306. 
 
 Howard, Mr. Luke, 331. 
 Plaistow Laboratory, 331. 
 Stratford Manufactory, 331. 
 
 Hydropathy, 121, 131. 
 
 Illustrations of the State of 
 Pharmacy in England, 
 157. 
 
 Ince, Mr. William. 
 Biography, 228. 
 Incorporation Charter, 158. 
 Date of Charter, 159. 
 Objects contemplated, 159. 
 Incorporation of Pharmaceu- 
 tical Society of Great 
 Britain, 141. 
 Influenza, The, 123. 
 
 Inhalation, Chloroform, 183. 
 
 Ether, 182. 
 Inland Revenue Board, 177, 
 
 256. 
 Insurance, Life (Criminal 
 
 Poisoning), 244. 
 International Exhibition 
 
 (1851), 198. 
 Ditto, (1862), 304. 
 Inquiry, Parliamentary (Mr. 
 
 Warburton), 77.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 401 
 
 J. 
 
 James, Dr. (1747), 30. 
 
 Pharmacopoeia Universalis, 
 
 31. 
 
 Jesuits' Bark (Evelyn), 32. 
 Journal, Chemist and Drug- 
 gist, 349. 
 Pharmaceutical, 113, 114, 
 
 138. 
 
 Originated, 151. 
 Special Editors, 294. 
 
 Journal, Pharmaceutical 
 Transfer of Copyright, 
 
 291. 
 Juries Bill, 308-312. 
 
 Claim for Exemption, 308 
 Secretary, Valuable Aid of, 
 
 in obtaining, 311, 312. 
 Ultimate Success of Phar- 
 maceutical Chemists, 
 311. 
 
 K. 
 
 Kennix, 
 
 4. 
 Kerrison, Eobert 
 
 Inquiry, 47. 
 
 Margaret (1581), 
 Masters, 
 
 King's Evil, 123. 
 
 Knight, J. P., R.A., Portrait 
 
 of Mr. G. W. Sandford, 
 
 383. 
 
 Laboratory, Apothecaries' 
 
 Hall, 13, 81, 82. 
 Bell's, 190. 
 Birkbeck, 175, 186. 
 College of Chemistry, 186. 
 Godfrey's, 11. 
 Pharmaceutical, 167, 175. 
 Enlargement, 307. 
 New Erection, 293. 
 Laboratory and Lectures, 
 
 307. 
 
 Lancet Journal, The, 164. 
 Adulteration of Food and 
 
 Drugs, 222. 
 
 Druggists' Franchise, 312. 
 Land and Emigration Com- 
 missioners, 223. 
 
 Laws of the Society, Original 
 
 Draft, 103. 
 Lectures at Bloomsbury 
 
 Square, 163. 
 Evening, 153. 
 Polarized Light, Pereira, 
 
 162. 
 Lee and Vallance, Brandy and 
 
 Salt, 124. 
 
 Legislation, Medical, 262. 
 Pharmaceutical, Home 
 
 Secretary on, 368, 369. 
 Pharmaceutical, Report 
 on, by United Society, 
 344-348. 
 
 Pharmaceutical and Medi- 
 cal, 187. 
 
 D D
 
 402 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Legislative Protection, 179. 
 Leighton, Dr. Alexander 
 
 (Empiric, 1627), 6. 
 Lewis, Rev. Dr., Dispensatory, 
 
 30. 
 Levit, Dr. (versus Goodwin), 
 
 21. 
 Licence and Medicine Stamp 
 
 Acts, 72. 
 Licentiates of College of 
 
 Physicians, 299. 
 Liebig, Professor, Visit to 
 
 the Laboratory, 193. 
 Life Insurance (Criminal 
 
 Poisoning), 244. 
 Light, Polarized, Lectures on, 
 
 Pereira, 162, 227. 
 Linacre, Thomas (1518), 3. 
 List of Members (1856), 241. 
 Listen, Mr., Ether Operations, 
 
 182. 
 Litigation (Mr. Dickinson) , 
 
 230. 
 
 Local Examinations, 317. 
 
 Secretaries, 332. 
 London Dispensatory (A. T. 
 
 Thomson), 71, 194. 
 Pharmacopoeia (1824), 71, 
 
 75. 
 Translation by Pereira, 
 
 225. 
 Phillips, Richard, 71, 
 
 75. 
 
 Tuthill, Sir George, 71. 
 
 Pharmacopoeia (1836), 75. 
 
 Translation by Dr. Collier, 
 
 77. 
 
 Mr. Phillips, 75. 
 "Weights and Measures, 
 
 76. 
 
 Pharmacopoeia (1851), 206. 
 London Repository, 47. 
 London University, 180. 
 Lulle, Raymond (1235), 12. 
 LumkinJohn(Surgeon,1593), 
 5. 
 
 M. 
 
 Macfarlan, Mr. J. P., Bio- 
 
 graphy, 295, 296. 
 
 Mackay, Mr. John (State of 
 Pharmacy), 296. 
 
 Magazine, Philosophical, 207. 
 
 Main Drainage, 279. 
 
 Mandamus (Nov. 24, 1853), 
 230. 
 
 Manual of Botany (Profes- 
 sor Bentley), 294. 
 
 Manual for Use of Students 
 (Pereira), 225. 
 
 Marten, John, Surgeon (1706), 
 134. 
 
 Materia Medica, Chinese 
 (Daniel Hanbury), 294. 
 
 Materia Medica, Study of, 
 117. 
 
 Matthews, Mr. Henry, Presi- 
 dent of United Society, 
 348. 
 
 Maule, Mr. Justice (The 
 Protective Clanse), 80. 
 
 Medal, Exhibition, Bill, 320.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 403 
 
 Medal, Pereira, 227, 228. 
 
 Medical Act (1858), 266. 
 
 Bill (Lord Elcho), 253. 
 
 (Headlam), 253. 
 Council Draft Bill, 320, 
 Medical Education and Regis- 
 tration, General Council 
 of, 266, 267. 
 
 Recognition of the Phar- 
 maceutical Society, 272. 
 Resolutions respecting 
 Pharmacopoeia Commit- 
 tee, 271. 
 Undertakes British Phar- 
 
 macopceia, 267. 
 Legislation, 262. 
 Medical Profession, Classifi- 
 cation of, 115, 116. 
 Registration and Practice 
 
 Bill, 77. 
 
 Medical Times, The, 164. 
 Adulteration of Food and 
 
 Drugs, 222. 
 Medicated Wines, Sale of, 
 
 317, 318. 
 
 Medicine Act (1802), 40. 
 Patent, Vendors, 86. 
 Stamp and Licence Acts, 
 
 72. 
 
 Medicines Supplied to Emi- 
 grant Vessels, 223. 
 Meeting, Anniversary (May, 
 
 1864), 327. 
 Annual, of United Society 
 
 (Xov. 23, 1865), 349. 
 Associated Apothecaries 
 
 (1814), 58. 
 
 (April 15, 1841), 144. 
 Constitution of the Phar- 
 maceutical Society (May 
 11, 1841), 103. 
 
 Meetings 
 
 Crown and Anchor Tavern 
 
 (Feb. 15, 1841), 91. 
 Formation of a Society, 
 
 98, 100. 
 
 (June 1, 1841), 103. 
 (Nov. 1, 1841), 110. 
 [Trust Fund of 1815.] 
 Funds Transferred, 110. 
 Sir James Graham's Bill, 
 
 174. 
 Mr. Farmar's (Feb. 10, 
 
 1841), 89. 
 Freemasons' Tavern (1813), 
 
 48. 
 Chemists and Druggists 
 
 (1815), 60. 
 
 Globe Tavern, 50, 62, 65, 70. 
 Circular to Members of 
 
 Parliament, 51-54. 
 Meeting, Public, in Blooms- 
 bury Square, 365. 
 Amended Pharmacy Act, 
 
 Discussion, 365. 
 Meeting of the Outsiders 
 
 (Jan. 24, 1867), 359. 
 Special General (March 17, 
 
 1864), 326. 
 
 Meetings, Monthly (Scien- 
 tific), 149, 152. 
 Pharmaceutical, 113. 
 Members, Classification of 
 
 302. 
 
 List of (1856), 241. 
 Unregistered, 241. 
 Members' Certificate, 148. 
 Membership, Altered Ar- 
 rangements, 303. 
 Unequal Terms (1861), 302. 
 Memoirs of Botanic Garden, 
 Chelsea, 33.
 
 404 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Memorial, Secretary of State 
 
 (Arsenic), 202. 
 Merret, Dr. (Falsifications), 
 
 10. 
 
 Mesmerism, 132-134. 
 Metallic Capsules, Bett's, 341, 
 
 342. 
 Methylated Spirit, 256, 314- 
 
 316. 
 Licence, Reduced (Oct. 1, 
 
 1867), 367. 
 Prohibited in Pharmacy, 
 
 257, 258. 
 Protest of Pharmaceutical 
 
 Society, 315. 
 Unauthorized Use, 257. 
 Use in Chloral Hydrate, 
 
 316. 
 
 Metrical System of Weights 
 and Measures, 274. 
 
 Miller, Mr. (Chelsea Gar- 
 dener), 33. 
 
 Modern Works on Pharmacy, 
 List of, 137. 
 
 Montgomery, Dr. (Dublin 
 Pharmacopoeia), 136. 
 
 Monthly Meetings, 149, 152. 
 
 Moral drawn from History, 
 142, 143. 
 
 Morison's College of Health, 
 
 123. 
 Pills, 123. 
 
 Morson, Mr. T. N. R, Elected 
 
 Vice-President, 169. 
 Intimacy with Fownes, 192. 
 Rise and Progress of Phar- 
 macy, on, 150. 
 Scientific Guests, 193. 
 
 Museum of Practical Geology, 
 208. 
 
 National Pharmacopoeia, 176. 
 Discrepancies in the three 
 British Pharmacopoeias, 
 176. 
 
 Squire, Mr. Peter, 176. 
 Navy, Supply of Drugs, 13. 
 New Bye-Laws (1852), 220, 
 
 221. 
 Dickinson, Mr., Supports, 
 
 221. 
 Dispensatory, Dr. Lewis, 
 
 30. 
 
 Remedies, 134. 
 Nitre, Sweet Spirit of, 177. 
 
 Nomenclature, New London 
 Pharmacopoeia (Bos- 
 tock), 42. 
 
 Norwich, Meeting of British 
 Pharmaceutical Confer- 
 ence (1868), 381. 
 
 Nostrums, Advertised, 122. 
 Empirical, 7. 
 
 Nussey, Mr., Evidence on 
 Alleged Abuse of Privi- 
 lege, 78. 
 
 Nux Vomica (Criminal Poi- 
 soning), 245.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 405 
 
 O. 
 
 Obituary. Vide Bio- 
 graphy. 
 
 Observations on the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society (Jacob 
 Bell), 107. 
 
 Obsolete Remedies, 8, 9, 24. 
 
 Odontological Society, 259. 
 
 Oil of Bran (Fownes), 192. 
 Cajeput, Remedy for Cho- 
 lera, 122. 
 
 Orange Quinine Wine, 317, 
 318. 
 
 Outsiders, Meeting of (Jan. 
 24, 1867), 359. 
 
 P. 
 
 Palace, Crystal, 198. 
 
 Palmer (Strychnia) Case, 
 243. 
 
 Palmerston, Lord, Qualified. 
 Confirmation of Bye- 
 laws, 230. 
 
 Papaffy, Nicholas (Alchemy), 
 297. 
 
 Paper-hangings, Arsenical, 
 258. 
 
 Paris, Dr., Pharmacologia, 
 137. 
 
 Parliamentary Inquiry (Mr. 
 
 Warburton), 77. 
 Session (1863), 319. 
 
 Patent Medicine Vendors, 86. 
 
 Payne, Mr. Charles James. 
 Biography, 167-169. 
 Meeting at Crown and An- 
 chor Tavern, 168. 
 
 Percival, Dr. (Dublin Phar- 
 macopoeia), 136. 
 
 Pereira, Dr. Jonathan, F.R.S. 
 Biography, 224-228. 
 Materia Medica, Elements 
 of, 137, 226. 
 
 Pereira,Dr.Jonathan,F.R.S. 
 
 Modern Discoveries in Ma- 
 teria Medica, 226. 
 
 Polarized Light, 162. 
 
 Prize Medal (Memorial), 
 227. 
 
 Scientific Committee for 
 Promotion of Pharmaco- 
 logical Knowledge, 170. 
 
 Testimonial (Memorial), 
 
 168. 
 
 Permanent (A) Society Pro- 
 posed, 97. 
 Persecution of Goodwin 
 
 (1724), 22. 
 
 Petition on behalf of Apothe- 
 caries, 39. 
 
 Apothecaries, Chemists, and 
 Druggists, 40. 
 
 House of Commons, to ob- 
 tain Pharmacy Act (May, 
 1851), 208. 
 
 Innumerable (Mr. Hawes' 
 Bill), 96. 
 
 For Royal Charter (1842), 
 140.
 
 406 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Petroleum, Safekeeping Act, 
 
 307. 
 
 " Pharmaceutical," Pronun- 
 ciation of Word, 234, 240. 
 Pharmaceutical, General As- 
 sociation, 37. 
 
 Failure of, 40. 
 Chemist, Meaning of Term, 
 
 232. 
 Education, 163, 184, 185. 
 
 Wilson, Dr. George, 184. 
 Ethics (Mr. Joseph Ince), 
 
 356. 
 Examination and Eegistra- 
 
 tion Bill, 187-189. 
 Journal, 113, 114, 138, 161. 
 
 Originated, 151. 
 
 Special Editors, 294. 
 Laboratory, 167, 175. 
 Legislation, Home Secre- 
 tary on, 368, 369. 
 Pharmaceutical and Medical 
 
 Legislation, 187. 
 Report on, by .United 
 
 Society, 344-348. 
 Reform, 74. 
 School Dinner, 196. 
 Scientific Meetings, 113. 
 Pharmaceutical Society of 
 
 Great Britain, 98. 
 Financial Prospects (1861), 
 
 301, 302. 
 Formation of, decided on, 
 
 98-100. 
 Meeting (April 15, 1841), 
 
 144. 
 Number of Members, 
 
 (1842), 155. 
 Objects of, 98, 104. 
 Observations on (Jacob 
 
 Bell), 107. 
 
 Pharmaceutical Society of 
 
 Great Britain 
 Original Members, 191, 
 
 192. 
 
 Royal Charter of Incor- 
 poration, 141. 
 Subscription, Original, 155. 
 Transactions, 150. 
 Pharmaceutical Society versus 
 
 Dickinson, 233. 
 Tea-party (Mr. Bell), 1841, 
 
 97, 149. 
 Pharmacologia (Dr. Paris), 
 
 137. 
 
 Pharmacological Knowledge, 
 
 Scientific Committee,! 70. 
 
 First Meeting (January 
 
 25, 1845), 172. 
 Pereira's Appeal, 171. 
 Pharmacopoeia. 
 First (1618), 7. 
 
 Subsequent Editions, 7. 
 (1721), 24. 
 (1746), 25, 26. 
 (1809), 41. 
 Pharmacopoeia Bateana 
 
 (1691), 13. 
 British, 267. 
 (1864), 328. 
 Unfavourable Reception, 
 
 329. 
 
 New Edition, 343. 
 
 (1867), 367. 
 
 Companion to. 
 
 (Squire), 329. 
 
 Pharmacopoeia Committee, 
 
 235, 268. 
 
 Representatives in Scot- 
 land, 271. 
 
 Squire, Mr., Appointed 
 London Delegate, 269.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 407 
 
 Pharmacopoeia, Conspectus of 
 (Dr. A. T. Thomson), 
 194 
 
 Dublin, 75, 136, 205. 
 Angular Poison Bottles, 
 
 248, 249. 
 
 Weights Adopted, 205. 
 Edinburgh (1699 et seq.), 
 
 30, 31. 
 Gray's Supplement to, 
 
 137. 
 
 Homoeopathic, 126. 
 London (1824), 71, 75. 
 Translation of by 
 Pereira, Dr., 225. 
 Phillips, R., 71, 75. 
 Tuthill, Sir George, 71. 
 London (1836), 75. 
 Translations of by 
 Dr. Collier, 77. 
 Phillips, R., 75. 
 Weights and Measures, 
 
 76. 
 
 London, (1851), 206. 
 National, 176. 
 
 Squire, Mr. Peter, 176. 
 Discrepancies in the 
 Three British Phar- 
 macopoeias, 176. 
 Pharmacopoeia Universalis 
 
 (1747), 31. 
 Pharmacopoeias, The Three, 
 
 Squire, 236. 
 
 Pharmacopoeia? Specimen, 42. 
 Pharmacopceial Processes 
 
 (Jacob Bell), 277. 
 Pharmacy Act (1852), 218. 
 Ditto Bye-laws, 218. 
 
 Passing of, 312. 
 Amended Act, Council 
 Promotes, 367. 
 
 Pharmacy, Ancient Practice 
 
 of, 1. 
 
 Pharmacy Bill (1851). 
 Clauses i.-xix., 209. 
 Amendments, 211. 
 Pharmacy BUI (1852), Evi- 
 dence on Pharmaceutical 
 Legislation, 216. 
 Passed (June 30, 1852), 218. 
 Pharmacy Bill as Introduced 
 
 (May 11, 1868). 
 Original Draft, 379, 380. 
 Passed (July 31, 1868), 
 
 380. 
 
 British, Position of, 115. 
 College of, Bill, 180. 
 Derivation of Word, 1. 
 A distinct Department, 
 
 116-118. 
 In England, Illustrations 
 
 of State of, 157. 
 At the Great Exhibition, 
 
 199. 
 
 Modern Works on, 137. 
 Rise and Progress (Mr. 
 
 Morson), 150. 
 In Scotland, 296. 
 School of, needed, 47. 
 Sub-divisions of into De- 
 partments, 119. 
 Phillips, Mr. Richard, 42-45, 
 
 157, 206. 
 
 Biography, 206-208. 
 Translation Pharmacopoeia 
 (1824), 71,75; (1836), 
 75. 
 
 Philosophical Magazine, 207. 
 Philosophic Chimique, Du- 
 mas (1837), 12. 
 Phosphorus, first Manufac- 
 ture, 11.
 
 408 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Physicians, College of, 3. 
 (Act), 1553), 5. 
 Conference respecting Ex- 
 
 animations, 111. 
 Deputation to (Mr. Hawes' 
 
 Bill), 95. 
 
 Gratis Medicines, 14, 15. 
 Joint Examination Scheme, 
 
 181, 182, 187. 
 Licentiates, 299. 
 Refusal to co-operate offi- 
 cially, 112, 113. 
 Physicians, College of, Edin- 
 burgh (Pharmacopoeia), 
 267. 
 Physicians, Quarrels with 
 
 Apothecaries, 16. 
 Phytological Club, 239. 
 Pigeon, Mr. Richard Hotham. 
 
 Biography, 212. 
 Pigeon, Mr. R. H., jun., Trea- 
 surer (1851), 212. 
 Pills, Morison's, 123. 
 Pitt, Dr. (1703), 17, 18. 
 Poison Bill (1859), 277. 
 Withdrawn, 279. 
 (Bottles, Angular), 248, 249. 
 Poisoned Grain Bill, 319. 
 Poisoning, Accidental (Lord 
 
 Raynham's Bill), 320. 
 By Arsenic, 199. 
 
 (Bradford Case), 277,278. 
 By Bitter Almond Essence 
 (Mr. John Sadleir), 242. 
 Criminal, 242-245. 
 Slow (Burdon), 242. 
 Poisons, Sale of, and Amended 
 Pharmacy Act (1852), 
 369-379. 
 
 (As Introduced May 11, 
 1868). 
 
 Poisons, Sale of, and Amended 
 
 Pharmacy Act (1868) 
 Original Draft, 379, 380. 
 Passed (July 31, 1868), 
 
 380. 
 Poisons, Sale of (Bill, 1857), 
 
 253-256. 
 Poisons, Sale of (Bill, 1858), 
 
 262-266. 
 Poisons, Sale of, Committee, 
 
 200. 
 
 Council Circular, 247. 
 Meeting (June 24, 1819), 
 
 70. 
 
 Questions on, 200. 
 Report, Preliminary, 200- 
 
 202. 
 Polarized Light Lectures, 
 
 Pereira, 162, 227. 
 Politics, State of (1852), 214. 
 Portrait of Godfrey by George 
 
 Vertue (1718), 11. 
 Sandford, Mr. G. W., 383. 
 Position of British Pharmacy, 
 
 115. 
 
 Postal Voting, 229. 
 Powell, Dr., Translation of 
 
 Pharmacopoeia (1809), 
 
 41, 42. 
 
 Premises of the Society, 260. 
 Prescribing Druggists, 39. 
 Priessnitz of Graeffenberg, 
 
 131. 
 Principles of Homoeopathy, 
 
 129. 
 Privilege, Alleged Abuse of, 
 
 78. 
 Professors, Appointment of, 
 
 153. 
 Progression, Work of, 312, 
 
 313.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 409 
 
 Pronunciation of Word 
 "Pharmaceutical," 234, 
 240. 
 
 Prosecutions, Excise, 176. 
 Illicit Distillation, 177. 
 Powers of Inland Revenue 
 
 Board, 177. 
 Spirit of Wine, 162, 177. 
 
 Prosecutions 
 
 Sweet Spirit of Nitre, 177. 
 Protection, Legislative, 179. 
 Protective Clause (The), 63, 
 
 64. 
 
 Provincial Education, 158. 
 Medical and Surgical Asso- 
 ciation, 199. 
 
 Quackery, 120. 
 
 Quarterly Review (Brandy 
 
 and Salt), 132. 
 Quack Remedies, 123. 
 Value of Remedies, 132. 
 Queen's Bench, Court of, 
 Election under New Bye- 
 Laws, 230. 
 
 Judgment, Lord Campbell 
 (Jan. 26, 1855), 230-232. 
 Pharmaceutical Chemist, 
 Meaning of, 232. 
 
 Queen's Bench 
 
 Title to Election, 230-232. 
 Questions, Pharmacopoeia 
 
 Committee, 237. 
 On Sale of Poisons, 200. 
 Quincy's New Dispensatory, 
 
 14. 
 Quinine Wine (Orange), 317, 
 
 318, 342. 
 
 Letter Respecting Sale, 
 Sandford, Mr. G. W., 
 317. 
 
 R. 
 
 Raynham, Lord, Bill, Acci- 
 dental Poisoning, 320. 
 Read and Jenkins (1595), 5. 
 Reasons Against the Bill 
 (1731), Right of Search, 
 23. 
 Redwood, Professor. 
 
 Appointed Lecturer on 
 Chemistry and Phar- 
 macy, 186. 
 
 Editor of British Pharma- 
 copoeia, 343. 
 
 Medicinal Extracts, On, 
 150. 
 
 Reform, Pharmaceutical, 74. 
 
 Regent's Park Gardens, Ad- 
 mission, 195. 
 
 Register, Defaulters on, 241. 
 
 Registration, Medical, and 
 Practice, Bill, 77. 
 
 Regulations, Excise Stamp 
 and Licence, 318. 
 
 Remarks on Editio Altera 
 P. L. (Phillips), 44. 
 
 Remedies, New, 134 
 Obsolete, 8, 9, 24. 
 Value of, Quarterly Review, 
 132.
 
 410 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Report, Parliamentary Com- 
 mittee on Adulterations, 
 247. 
 
 On Pharmaceutical Legis- 
 lation by United Society, 
 344-348. 
 
 Requisitionists, First, 146. 
 
 Reynolds, Mr. Richard (Me- 
 thylated Spirit), 314. 
 
 Rise and Progress of Phar- 
 macy (Mr. Morson), 
 150. 
 
 Robertson, Dr. William (Se- 
 cretary to Pharmacopoeia 
 Committee, Edinburgh), 
 268. 
 
 S. 
 
 Sadleir, Mr. John 
 
 Bitter Almonds), 242. 
 Sale of Arsenic Act, 199, 201, 
 
 203. 
 Sale of Poisons. Committee, 
 
 200. 
 
 Council Circular, 247. 
 Meeting (June 24, 1819), 
 
 70. 
 
 Questions on, 200. 
 Report, Preliminary, 200- 
 
 202. 
 Sale of Poisons Bill (1857), 
 
 253-256. 
 Sale of Poisons Bill (1858), 
 
 262-266. 
 
 Sale of Poisons, and Amended 
 
 Pharmacy Act (1852). 
 
 As Introduced (May 11, 
 
 1868), 369-379. 
 Original Draft, 379, 380. 
 Passed (July 31, 1868), 
 
 380. 
 Sale of Medicated Wines, 
 
 317, 318. 
 
 Ditto Spirit of Wine, 177. 
 Prosecutions, 162. 
 
 Sandford, G. W., Mr., Cor- 
 respondence on Legisla- 
 tion, 350-352. 
 Dinner to, 383. 
 Elected President by Re- 
 quest of Council, 366. 
 Receives Deputations from 
 United Society and Out- 
 siders, 362. 
 
 Testimonial to, 382, 383. 
 Sanitary Commission, Ana- 
 lytical, 223. 
 Savory, Mr. John, President, 
 
 169. 
 
 ElectedVice-President,166. 
 
 Scammony (Culpeper), 8. 
 
 Schacht, Mr. G. F., Annual 
 
 Scientific Meetings, 219. 
 
 British Pharmaceutical 
 
 Conference, 220. 
 Suggestion for ScientificRe- 
 
 search Association, 316. 
 Scholarships, Jacob Bell 
 
 Memorial, 291, 292. 
 School Dinner, 196. 
 School of Pharmacy Needed, 
 47.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 411 
 
 Science of Chemistry, 117. 
 
 Botany, 118. 
 
 Materia Medica, 117. 
 Scientific Committee for 
 
 Promotion of Pharmaco- 
 logical Knowledge, 170. 
 Committee, 171. 
 First Meeting (Jan. 25, 
 
 1845), 172. 
 
 Honorary Members, 172. 
 Papers Read, 175. 
 Pereira's Appeal, 171. 
 Scientific Meetings, Pharma- 
 ceutical, 113. 
 
 Scotland, Pharmacy in, 296. 
 Searching Shops, 6. 
 
 (1723), 21. 
 Secretary, First (Mr. G. W. 
 
 Smith), 152. 
 Secretaries, Local, 332. 
 Sedatives, 132, 133. 
 SelectaePra3scriptis(Pereira), 
 
 225. 
 Semple, R. H., M.D. (Chelsea 
 
 Botanic Garden), 33. 
 Separate Examinations for 
 Chemists in Business 
 (June 6, 1864), 332. 
 Outline of Proceedings, 333. 
 Session (1852), 214. 
 
 Parliamentary (1863), 319. 
 Shad well, Dr. (versus Good. 
 
 win), 21. 
 
 Sharpey, Dr. (Pharmaceuti- 
 cal Legislation), 321. 
 Sheep Dipping (Arsenic), 
 
 201. 
 Shops, Right of Search, 6. 
 
 (1723), 21. 
 
 Short Answers to Tentamen 
 Medicinale (1704), 6. 
 
 Similia Similibus Curantur, 
 
 129. 
 Simpson, Dr., Chloroform 
 
 Inhalation, 183. 
 Sloane, Sir Hans (Chelsea 
 
 Garden), 32, 33. 
 Statue of, 33. 
 Slow Poisoning Case, Burdon, 
 
 242. 
 Smith, Mr. George Walter, 
 
 146, 295. 
 
 Appointed Secretary, 152. 
 Registrar under the Act 
 
 (1852), 222. 
 
 Society, Chemical, 80, 81. 
 Odontological, 259. 
 Permanent, A Proposed, 97. 
 Pharmaceutical, of Great 
 
 Britain, 98, 100, 104. 
 Original Members, 191, 
 
 192. 
 
 Transactions, 150. 
 Society, United Chemists and 
 
 Druggists, 300. 
 Annual Festival(1867), 367. 
 Central Committee Resolu- 
 tions, 324. 
 Manchester Resolutions, 
 
 323. 
 Matthews, Mr. Henry, 
 
 chosen President, 348. 
 Meeting (Nov.23,1855), 349. 
 Ditto (Nov. 27, 1863), 324 
 Opposition to Medical 
 
 Council, 323. 
 Organization, 323. 
 Pharmacy Bill, 327. 
 Promotes Amended Act of 
 
 Pharmacy, 368. 
 Qualification Contemplated, 
 324.
 
 412 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Society, United Chemists and 
 
 Druggists 
 Report on Pharmaceutical 
 
 Legislation, 344-348. 
 Eeqnisition to Council, 325. 
 Signs of Disunion, 348, 355. 
 Society, Parent, Receives 
 Deputations (Feb. 19, 
 1867), 361, 362. 
 Explanations by Mr. 
 
 Sandford, 361. 
 Word "Eligible," 361. 
 Societies, Burial (Criminal 
 
 Poisoning), 244. 
 Societies, The Two, Corres- 
 pondence Affecting, 350- 
 355. 
 Solicitor, Official, Alderman 
 
 Thomas Wood, 152. 
 Specimen Pharmacopoeia, 42. 
 Spirit, Methylated, 256, 314- 
 
 316. 
 Prohibited in Pharmacy, 
 
 257, 258. 
 Protest of Pharmaceutical 
 
 Society, 315. 
 Reduced Licence (Oct. 1, 
 
 1867), 367. 
 
 Unauthorized Use, 257. 
 Use in Chloral Hydrate, 316. 
 Spirit of Wine, Sale of, 177. 
 
 Prosecutions for Sale, 162. 
 Spurious Drugs, 38. 
 Squire, Mr. Peter, Assimila- 
 tion of Medicines, 205. 
 Comments on Dublin Phar- 
 macopeia (1851), 206. 
 Companion to British Phar- 
 macopoeia, 329. 
 National Pharmacopoeia, 
 176. 
 
 Squire, Mr. Peter 
 
 President of the Society, 
 
 196. 
 The Three Pharmacopoeias, 
 
 236. 
 Weights and Measures, 2 76. 
 
 Stamp, Medicine, and Licence 
 Acts, 72. 
 
 Stamping Apothecaries' 
 
 Weights, 249, 250. 
 
 State of Politics (1852), 214. 
 
 State Protection, 115. 
 
 Steeping Wheat (Arsenic), 
 202. 
 
 Still and Spirit Licence Bill 
 (1846), 17& 
 
 Storrar, Dr. (State of Phar- 
 macy), 321. 
 
 Strychnia, Poison by (Palmer 
 
 and Cook), 243. 
 Poisoning by (William 
 Dove), 244. 
 
 Subscription, Annual, 166. 
 Changes of, 303. 
 
 Sunday Closing, 86. 
 
 Supplement, Gray's, 137. 
 
 Supply of Medicines to Emi- 
 grant Vessels, 223. 
 
 Surgeons, College of, Depu- 
 tation to (Mr. Hawes' 
 Bill), 94. 
 Forbidden to Practise 
 
 Medicine (1552), 5. 
 Ditto (1595), 5. 
 
 Sweet Spirit of Nitre, 177. 
 
 Swift, Dean (Faith in 
 Theories), 130. 
 
 Sympathetic Powder, Sir 
 Kenelm Digby, 127. 
 
 Syrups Simplified (1746), 25. 
 
 Systematic Courses, 153.
 
 IND2X. 
 
 413 
 
 T. 
 
 Table of Atomic Numbers 
 
 (Pereira), 225. 
 Talfourd,Mr. Sergeant, Char- 
 
 ter of Incorporation, 
 
 141. 
 Tea Party, Pharmaceutical 
 
 (March 25, 1841), 97, 
 
 149. 
 
 Tentamen Medicinale, 19. 
 Short Answers to (1704) 
 
 6. 
 Therapeutics in Pharmacy, 
 
 184. 
 Thomson, Dr. Anthony Todd, 
 
 46. 
 
 Biography, 193. 
 London Dispensatory. 71, 
 
 194. 
 Three Pharmacopoeias (The) 
 
 Squire, 236. 
 Tontine Scheme, Freehold 
 
 Premises, 241. 
 
 Toxicology in Pharmacy, 184. 
 Struck out of Pharmacy Bill 
 
 (1852), 215. 
 
 Transactions of the Pharma- 
 ceutical Society, 150. 
 
 Translation of Pharmacopoeia, 
 
 Collier, Dr. (1837), 77. 
 Phillips, Mr. (1836), 75. 
 
 Treasurer, Mr. T. H. Hills, 
 
 367. 
 
 Mr. D. B. Hanbury Re- 
 signs Office, 367. 
 
 Treatise on Food and Diet 
 (Pereira), 227. 
 
 Triumphant Chariot of Anti- 
 mony, 9. 
 
 Tuthill, Sir George (Pharma- 
 copoeia, 1824), 71. 
 
 Two Bills, the Discussion in 
 the House (March 29, 
 1865), 336. 
 
 Report of Committee of 
 House of Commons, 340, 
 341. 
 Report of Committee of 
 
 Medical Council, 336. 
 Ditto, Alterations Sug- 
 gested, 337-339. 
 
 U. 
 
 Unequal Terms of Member- 
 ship (1861), 302. 
 Union, Necessity of (Mr. 
 
 Hawes' Bill), 96. 
 United Society of Chemists 
 
 and Druggists, 300. 
 Annual Festival(1867) ,367. 
 Meeting (Nov. 23, 1865), 
 349. 
 
 United Society of Chemists 
 and Druggists 
 
 Central Committee Reso- 
 lutions, 324. 
 
 Letter (Manchester) from 
 Mr. Edmund Holt, 
 358. 
 
 Manchester Resolutions, 
 323.
 
 414 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 United Society of Chemists 
 
 and Druggists 
 Ditto, Resolutions of Inde- 
 pendentMembersof Trade 
 (tfov. 23, 1866), 357. 
 Matthews, Mr. Henry, 
 
 chosen President, 348. 
 Meeting(Nov.27,1863),324. 
 Resolutions Passed, 324. 
 Opposition to Medical 
 
 Council, 323. 
 Pharmacy Bill, 327. 
 Promotes Amended Act of 
 
 Pharmacy, 368. 
 Qualification Contemplated, 
 
 324 
 Report on Pharmaceutical 
 
 Legislation, 344-348. 
 Bill No. 1 Thrown out, 
 
 347. 
 
 Elcho, Lord, suggests 
 Mutual Concession, 
 345. 
 Representative Deputies, 
 
 345. 
 
 Scene at the House of 
 Commons, 347. 
 
 United Society of Chemists 
 
 and Druggists 
 Report on Pharmaceutical 
 
 Legislation 
 Wade, Mr. Objections, 
 
 345. 
 
 Ditto, Propositions, 346. 
 Requisition to Council, 
 
 325. 
 Signs of Disunion, 348- 
 
 355. 
 
 Society, Parent, receives 
 Deputations (Feb. 19, 
 1867), 361, 362. 
 Explanations by Mr. 
 
 Sandford, 361. 
 Word, " Eligible," 361. 
 Ultimate Result, 362. 
 University College, 186. 
 Ditto, Birkbeck Labora- 
 tory, 186. 
 
 University, London, 180. 
 Unregistered Members, 241. 
 Ure, Dr. Andrew, F.R.S. 
 Biography, 252, 253. 
 Dictionary of Arts, Manu- 
 factures, and Mines, 252. 
 
 V. 
 
 Valentine, Bazil (1678), 9. | Voting by Post, 229. 
 
 w. 
 
 Wade, Mr., Deputation to the 
 Council, 361, 362. 
 
 Wakley, Mr., Defends Phar- 
 macy Bill (1851), 211. 
 Medical Representative, 
 198. 
 
 Walsingham, Sir Francis, 4, 
 5. 
 
 Warburton, Mr., Parliamen- 
 tary Inquiry, 77. 
 
 War, Crimean, Army Dispen- 
 sers, 250.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 415 
 
 Warder, Mr. (Decimal 
 
 Weights), 274. 
 Warington, Mr. Robert, 
 British Pharmacopoeia 
 (New Edition), 343. 
 Weights and Measures, 
 
 277. 
 
 Warren and Morton (Bos- 
 ton), Ether Inhalation, 
 182. 
 Watch Committee (Mr. 
 
 Hawes' Bill), 92. 
 Waugb, Mr. George, Vice- 
 President (1850-51), 
 212. 
 Webster, Dr., Dispensatory, 
 
 30. 
 Weights, Apothecaries' 
 
 Stamped, 249, 250. 
 Dublin College, 205. 
 Unauthorized (Redwood), 
 
 206. 
 
 Weights and Measures (Phar- 
 macopoeia), 273-277. 
 System, Mr. Abraham, 
 
 "274. 
 
 Ditto, Decimal (Mr. Grif- 
 fin), 274-276. 
 Ditto, Decimal Division 
 
 (Mr. Warder), 274. 
 Ditto, French Metrical, 274. 
 Ditto, Irish, 273. 
 Ditto, Squire, Mr. Peter, 
 276. 
 
 Weights and Measures (Phar- 
 macopoeia) 
 Warington, Mr., 277. 
 Wilson, Dr. Charles, 276. 
 
 Wensleydale, Lord (Juries 
 Bill), 310. 
 
 Westminster, Stamped 
 
 Weights, 249, 250. 
 
 Wheat Steeping (Arsenic), 
 202. 
 
 Wilson, Dr. Charles (Weights 
 and Measures), 276. 
 
 Wilson, George, Philo-Chym, 
 11. 
 
 Wilson, Dr. George, 184. 
 Ditto Pharmaceutical Edu- 
 cation, 18, 1845. 
 
 Wine, Orange Quinine, 317, 
 
 318, 342. 
 
 Ditto, Letters Respecting 
 Sale, Inland Revenue, 
 317, 318. 
 Spirit of, Sale, 177. 
 
 Wines, Medicated, Sale of, 
 317, 318. 
 
 " Wisdom of the Nation Fool- 
 ishness " (1671), 10, 16, 
 17. 
 
 Wood, Alderman Thomas, 
 Charter of Incorporation, 
 141. 
 Official Solicitor, 152. 
 
 Wooler, Mr. (Poison by Ar- 
 senic), 242. 
 
 Butler & Tauuei. Tin Selwood Priuting Works, Frome. and Loudon.
 
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