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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    J. Propcrt, Esq, measure of reform being brought forward and carried out ; that is my firm conviction. 7 May 1852. 2570. Has that not been the case of almost every Session for years past-— No ; we never had any one who took it up with sufficient energy. Sir James Graham abandoned it. Sir George Grey told us that Mr. Rutherford was pre- paring a Bill which would be acceptable to the profession generally, and I have no hesitation in saying, that one of the clauses in such a Bill would be a clause prohibiting legally qualified medical men from keeping retail shops, and I certainly think that such a prohibition would lead to a much better under- standing between medical practitioners and chemists and druggists. 2571. Do you know what was the reason why that Bill was not brought forward r—Because those parties are gone out of office. 2572. Are you not aware that it was abandoned last Session ?—No; we were assured by Sir George Grey, long after that Bill was abandoned, that another was being prepared. I was present as one of the deputation to whom that Avas stated. 2573. Are you not aware that after that Sir George Grey stated that he despaired of success ?—I Avas not aware that he said so. 1 believe we saAv him after any discussion that occurred upon the subject in the House of Commons, and he assured me that Mr. Rutherford was going on preparing a Bill which he thought Avould be acceptable to the different classes of the profession. 2574. Is there any other statement which you wish to make ?—No; but to prove that what I have stated is correct, I may mention that the fellowship of the college Avas decidedly refused to anybody Avho kept anything bordering on an open shop. William O'Connor, Esq., called in; and Examined. W. O'Connor, Esq. 2575. Chairman.] ARE you a Member of the College of Surgeons?—No; I am a Licentiate of Apothecaries’ Hall. 2576. Are you in practice as a general practitioner?—Yes. . 2577. Have you paid any attention to the subject of medical reform and the education of chemists ?—Yes; I have paid considerable attention to it for some years past. 2578 Have you any observations to offer to the Committee upon that sub- ject?—Yes. I may state that I approve of a good deal of what I have heard stated to the Committee this morning by Mr. Ancell and by Mr. Propert on the subject of the Bill. I think that nothing is so essentially necessary at present as the better education of chemists and druggists, and I think that this Bill will, in a great measure, effect that object; but I think, at the same time, that the passing of it may possibly retard the progress of a better system of medical legislation, and I think that the absence of a clause in the Bill preventing the engagement of chemists and druggists in the practice of medicine, is a circum- stance which is sufficient to create in the minds of medical practitioners very great apprehension with regard to the ultimate effect of the Bill; and supposing that apprehension to be well founded, the effect of the Bill Avould be very pre- judicial, not only to the interests of duly qualified medical practitioners, but also to the health and welfare of the community at large. I think that all medical and surgical practice by chemists and druggists, whether counter practice, or visiting out of doors, should be strictly prohibited. I think there ought to be a clause to that effect. 2579. Have you had any communication with any one in Ireland with reference to the improvement of the laws there ?—Yes ; about 23 years ago it was proposed by^ some apothecaries in Ireland, at the head of Avhom Avas Pro- fessor Donovan, Avho has contributed very much to advance the knowledge of pharmacy, to establish a College of Pharmacy, and to educate a body of men properly in pharmaceutical chemistry, and in preparing chemicals and drugs solely for the purpose of their being prescribed by medical men, restricting the body entirely to that, and prohibiting them from engaging in the practice of medi- cine. A Committee of the House of Commons sat and heard eA’idence upon the subject about the year 1833 or 1834. Professor Donovan and some others were examined, but unfortunately all the evidence they gave was burnt at the time of the burning of the House of Commons. Since that time a medical congress sat
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