Report from the Select Committee on Pharmacy bill : together with the proceedings, minutes of evidence and index.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Pharmacy Bill.
Date:
1852
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report from the Select Committee on Pharmacy bill : together with the proceedings, minutes of evidence and index. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    means of carrying on their business more efficiently in relation to the public and the medical profession. 2733* Objections have been urged against raising the status of a chemist by- giving him a better education, although, at the same time, we have been told that some education is requisite ; could you suggest any means by which a chemist could have the requisite amount, of education, without acting injuriously to the profession or the public by raising his status?—No, I cannot conceive such an objection to have been made ; 1 should fancy the objection that is made is to raising his status towards that of a medical man, not as a chemist and druggist; the fear that has been felt has been that by raising his status in one particular direction you may lead him to practise medicine; but I would suggest that you might increase his status still more without any objection on the part of the profession, provided it is put out of his power to practise as a medical man. 2734. If the Bill be so worded as to exclude everything that could by pos- sibility bear a medical construction, would not that limit the status of the chemist ?—Certainly ; some parties I think have raised an objection to the words which are used, and my object has been to show how their objections might be obviated, without interfering with the real efficiency of the Pharma- ceutical Bill. 2735. Then your object is simply to remove objections which you think are unfounded, merely for the purpose of getting rid of opposition ?—I do not think there is any real objection to a course called materia medica or toxicology; 1 have no fear about it myself, but others have; and therefore I have suggested a mode by which I think their fears might be allayed. Merc vrii, 12° die Mali, 1852. MEMBERS PRESENT; Mr. Jacob Bell. Mr. Ewart. Mr. Bouverie. Sir W. G. Craig. Sir H. Willoughby. Mr. Wakley. Mr. Deedes. Mr. Hindley. Mr. Jackson. Mr. Fairer. Mr. Wyld. Lord Burghley. JACOB BELL, Esq., in the Chair. George Stilwell, Esq., called in ; and Examined. 2736. Chairman.] YOU reside at Epsom ?—Yes. 2737- And are in general practice?—Yes. 27jb. Have you any observations to make to the Committee respecting the education of chemists and druggists ?—I have thought a good deal upon the subject, and I have informed my mind a little upon it. 2739- Ho you think it desirable that they should be educated and examined? -Yes, 1 think it is desirable that they should be educated, but certainly not in the manner this Bill provides. J 2'4°- ln ^at manner would you have them educated and examined? —I think it would be quite sufficient, it their education extended so far as to enable Hem to read physicians’ prescriptions, and to know the nature of the druo-s which they compound. & 2741- To what part of the education stated in the Bill do you object?—I object 0 the centralising character of the Bill, and to the great power which is given by it to the Board. 1 & j 2742. Do you object to the chemists and druggists being constituted one body ? — 1 tliink tuere is no necessity for it whatever. J. Pereira, bbq. M. I). 7 May 1852. G. Stilwell, Esq 12 May 1852. 2743* Do