THE ANALYST. APRIL, 1884. AMONG the many attempts at amateur legislation frequently made by private member8 of Parliament, probably few haw been so thoroughly futile 8s the Bill introduced by Mr. Wartori to regulate the sale of patent niedicines which has been so ignominiously thrown out by the House of Commons. Every now and then we hear af persons dying from poisons, purehased under the giiise of universal remedies for all the ills that flesh is heir to, and it is admittedly an anomalous thing that, while the sale of, (say opium) as opium, is forbidden by any but qualified druggilsts, yet the very same drug can be purchased under the name of 44So-and-So’s cough elixir or soothing powders” at any general dealing grocer’s shop. But there is a danger on the &her hand of being led into foolishness in the desire to remedy the evil, and this is likely to be the case if such a Bill as Mr.Warton’s were even to become law. By thismeasure the sale of patent medicines was to be restricted to such as have been analysed and found to con- tain no poison, and the duty of analysing the same was to be entrusted-to whom ? of course any sensible person would reply, To a representative board of scientific chemists appointed for the purpose ; but no, it was to be put upon the shoulders of the Pharma- ceutical Society ! We do not for a moment dispute the standing of this Society in its own place, andadmit that, by its examinations, it has done much to raise the status of those engaged in selling drugs; but, me ask, Where is its means of carrying out the duties thus proposed to be thrust upon it 3 True, it has a laboratory and a school, not to mention a staff of professors ; but the manufaoture and sale of proprietory remedies is a business in which large numbers of persons are interested, and immense sums of capital are invested, and any interference with such interests should be made by a commission of the highest chemical talent in the land.Passing away from this part of the happily defunct Bill, let us glanoe at the ooncluding piece of nonsense, evident at once to the understanding of all, in the hope of raising a warning mark for future would-be legisla- tors. The proprietory article having heen analysed by the Pharmaceutical Society, and found innocuouqis to have ti certificate to that effect, and may forthwith be sold as a re- liable and innocent nostrum for evermore.What then will be more simple than €or pro- prietors to omit all poisons from their articles until the certificate is obtained, and then, under cover of this guamntee, put in and sell what they choose. No, if a Bill is to be of any use whatever, provision must be made for the appointment of a board of experts who shall be empowered to analyse and regulate the sale of patent medicines. The analyses being made not once for dll but periodically, the ’samples being purchased in a similar manner to those under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, as is done in Paris. As to the sale of powerful poisons under a Government stamp, it is agreed on all hands that something should be done to put a stop to a~ evil which is rapidly becoming-in a aimilar way to alco%ol-a national calamity.In common fairness therefore to the pharmaceutical chemist who is not allowed to sell poisons except under stringent regulations, we think that Parliamentary interferenoe is oalled for to mpervise the retailing of any compound as a patent medicine, but; the m0asure must be prepared and brought forward by persons who have a full knowledge of the subject in all its bearings. An excellent opportunity be found when the projected amendment of the Sale of Food and Drugs Ad is brought in, and we commencl this occasion to Nr. Warton and those who act with him,PR,OCEEDINGS OF TCRE 8OCIETY O F PUBLIC ANALYSTS. AN ordinary meeting of this Society mas held at Burlington House, Piccadilly, on Wednesday the 19th March. In the absence of the President the chair mas taken by Dr.Muter, The minutes of the previous &meting were read and confirmed, Mr. Harland and Mr. Fox were appointed scrutineers to examine the ballot papers, and reported that the following gentlemen had been elected as members:-’Mr. T. Boverton Redwood, F.C.S., F.I.C., of London, Chemist to the Petroleum Association j Mr. E. W. Martin, of New York, Analytical Chemist ; Mr. J. Laker Macmillan, F.C.S., of Calcutta Analytical Chemist. The following gentleman was proposed as a member, and mill be balloted for at the next meeting :-Mr. F. Woodland Toms, F.C.8., F.I.C., of St. Heliers, Jersey, Oficial Analyst to the States of Jersey. The following papers were read and discussed :- ‘ I On the Analysis of Butter,” by J.A. Wanklyn and W. Fox. (‘ On the Analysis of Condensed Mares’ Milk,’’ by Dr. P. Vieth. The meeting mas then made special in order to consider certain alterations in the rules referring to Associates of the Society. THE CHAIRNAN said that, in laying before the meeting the ideas of the Council upon the subject in hand, he would first call their attention to page 1 0 of the rules of the Society relating to Associates where would be found the following words :-{‘ Asso- ciates shall be recommended to the Society by the c‘ouncil and shall be elected in the same manner as members, but for a period of three years only, at the expiration of which time they may be again recommended for election.’’ This clause appeared to the Council to require alteration, as one could not easily understand why a gentleman corn- petent to be admitted as an Associate should not be still more so after he had held that position for three years.It was therefore considered by the Council to be advisable that in future thisre-election should be aboliahed, and indeed as a matter of fact no re-election had ever practically taken place. Associates entering business on their own account should also in future be elected members as a matter of course. Another point the Council desired to reconmend to the Society was that the Associate’s mbscription should be raised from 5s. to 10s. 6d. The present small amount did not even cover the cost of an Associate to the Society. They had all theprivileges of members, except voting, and received all pyoceedings and secretarial communications, and he did not doubt that their Associates would willingly consent to this small increase, Having thus laid the matter before them for discussion he left the reat in the hands of those present.Mr. ALLEN suggested an addition to the proposed alteration, which would make Associates of a certain standing eligible for membership, as it seemed hard that a really competent chemht could not become a member merely because he was not in busi- ness for himself, but-THE ANALYST. 56 The Chairman ruled that to be a question as to the status of members, and the point before them was limited to that of Associates, Mr. JOHNSTONE thought it would be a breach of faith towards the old Associates to alter the rules, and their consent to pay the increased subscription should first be obtained.Mr. STEWART (one of the oldest Associates) said that he for one had never been re-elected an Associate, and therefore he supposed that, legally, he was not one now, although the Secretary had just taken his subscription of 5s. (Laughter.) He thought it waa exceedingly unfair that Associates should be asked to double their subscriptions, and then be told that they had no vote upon the matter, and he considered that to be taxation without representation. However, he for one would not personally object to pay the increased subscription, as the Associates did not want to be considered as paupers upon the funds of the Society. He would earnestly press upon the Council the advisa- bility of letting Associates of three years’ standing be proposed and elected as members.Some further discussion having ensued :- MR. ALLEN moved, and DR. VIETH seconded, that all the words after ( I but ” in the last paragraph but one on page 10 of the rules of the Society be struck out, and the following inserted in their place, viz, ; ‘( shall cease to be Associates on entering into practice on their own accounts.’’ Hr. STOKES rlloved, and Mr, Fox seconded, as an amendment, l 4 That the Council consult, by circular, the Associates, and with the replies take into consideration the whole question of the statzts of both Associates and hlcembers.” The CBJI~RMAN, howeyer, ruled that this was no amendment, but a totaUy fresh proposition. Mr. HEHNER remarked that Associates might be satisfied with the assurance that the whole question of membership would shortly be considered, whereupon :- Mr. Stokes moved and Mr. Fox seconded, ‘ I the previous question,” which amend- ment was put to the meeting and negatived by a majority of 4, and Mr. Allen’s proposal having been put as a substantive motion was carried. Dr. VIETH moved and Mr. HEHNER seoonded, that the words (‘ five shillings )’ in the last paragraph on page 10 be altered to ten shillings and sixpenoe, whereupon :- Mr. ALLEN moved and Mr. JOHNSTONE seconded, as an amendment, that the entire paragraph be omitted and the following inserted : All Associates elected or re-elected after the 19th March, 1884, shall pay an annual subscription of ten shillings and sixpence.” On being put to the meeting this amendment mas cetrried, and afterwards confirmed as a substantive motion. Many Associates mere present, but by the rules of the Society took no part in the voting. The next meeting of the Society of Public Andysts will be held at Bul.lington House, on Wednesday, the 16th April. A special meeting will also be held to con&m the alterations in the rules as approved by the meeting just reported,