Part 3

Mr. Watters reported that along with Mr. Petrie he had been to the office of Messrs. Edgar & Malone, barristers, and saw the former regarding the case of Mr. Pearen. Mr. Edgar thought the correction made in the books was necessary in the interests of the young men.

Mr. Watters, therefore, seconded by Mr. Petrie, moved the following resolution:

“Mr. Pearen not having complied with the request of this Council to appear before the Board to explain the irregularities with which his name has been associated, acting on legal advice it is deemed unadvisable to take any further action in the matter, and it is hereby resolved that no further action be taken.”

A communication from Messrs. Edgar and Malone, barristers, was filed along with the resolution stating that in the action of Mr. Pearen, in regard to the apprenticeship of Mr. John A. Dunbar, there was no evidence to sustain an action against him under the Pharmacy Act, and further, that such being the case, no action could be taken under Section 20, looking to have his name erased from the register, and that the firm thought it unwise to press matters against Mr. Pearen.

The resolution was carried.

Mr. A. D. Weeks, chemist, Uxbridge, handed in a letter and an application on behalf of Mr. T. C. Nicholls, B.A., Uxbridge, claiming clemency of the O.C.P. The Chairman, after Mr. Weeks had been heard, told him that as was usual in such cases, the application would be considered by a committee.

An application from John J. Watson, for time served in Hazelton was then lodged and also remitted to the committee.

The following notice of motion was made: Moved by Mr. John J. Hall, seconded by Mr. L. T. Lawrence,--

“That the mover hereby gives notice of motion that he will be at the next semiannual meeting, bring in a by-law to carry out the provisions of sub-section 3 of section 1 of the amendments in the Pharmacy Act, passed March, 1887, providing for the holding of the elections to this Council by districts, and to amend No. 10 in accordance therewith.”

Mr. Slaven moved, and Mr. McKenzie seconded,--

“That the reports of the Executive and Finance Committees be adopted. Accounts amounting to $56.35 were passed for payment.”

H. W. Watters moved, Wm. Lawrence seconded, the following resolution:--

(_Continued on page 10_)

SHOP-WINDOW CURES.

“If drugs and physic could but save us mortals from the dreary grave,” the Registrar-General’s return of mortality would be reduced to _nil_. For, in addition to the swarms of doctors, male and female, in London, licensed to kill or cure, a vaunted remedy for almost every disease flesh is heir to may be bought in nearly every street. Addison said of doctors:--“This body of men may be described like the British army in Cæsar’s time. Some of them slay in chariots and some on foot. If the infantry do less execution than the charioteers, it is because they cannot be carried so soon into all the quarters of the town and despatch so much business in so short a time.”

But in our days the vendors of “certain cures” do their business much more easily by staying at home and allowing customers to come to them. They do not even trouble to emulate Cotgrave’s poor doctor of physic, Pulsefeel, who was accustomed to harangue the public that he could “clarifie your blood, surfle your cheeks, perfume your skin, tinct your hair, enliven your eye, and heighten your appetite.” Doubtless vendors of medicines, patent or not patented, find it a profitable business. For one of the characteristics of the true-born Briton is an innate love of physic. Often the most nauseous is esteemed the best, although it may be admitted that the taste for nasty medicine is rather dying out. “To quack of universal cures” has ever been a facile path to public approbation and fortune. Brown wrote:--“Saltimbancoes, quacksalvers, and charlatans deceive the vulgar;” and Burton said, “Many poor country vicars, for want of means, are driven to their shifts to turn mountebanks, quacksalvers and empyricks.” Civilization and progress, instead of leading to a diminution of medicines not recognized in the Pharmacopœia of the Royal College of Physicians, has resulted in an opposite effect. For a number of maladies, or, perhaps, it should be said, names of maladies, have been called into existence unknown to our sturdy forefathers. For instance, we have half-a-dozen new designations for what our great grandmothers would have called a “fit of the spleen.” And for every new name which is devised by the ingenuity of nosologists at least half-a-dozen remedies appear with mushroom rapidity. Even the medical journals teem with advertisements of so-called remedies not admitted into the Pharmacopœia. Bromidia, “the hynotic which does not lock up the secretions;” elixir of cascara, “laxative, palatable, reliable;” pumiline, “for bronchitis, throat and chest affections, fully recognized by over 500 testimonials;” vinolia, “which will relieve the intensest itching from any cause whatever;” liquor cascara suavis, “registered,” are a few among many similar articles advertised in a recent medical journal. Now when orthodox medical journals insert advertisements of the kind they might with grace refrain from, as they sometimes do, calling the lay press to account for the insertion of advertisements of patent medicines. For to the lay mind there really does not appear very much difference between the advertisement of medicated bonbons, “protected by Royal letters patent,” in a medical journal, and advertisements of a like character in a daily newspaper.

It is, however, of shop-window cures we now discourse. So profitable does this branch of business seem to have become, that it has overflowed its legitimate position in the chemist’s and druggist’s mart, and invaded the premises of other tradespeople. Every vendor of sweets, and many grocers, seems to find it profitable to have a special medical agent for sale. In a climate such as this, where coughs, colds, throat and chest affections so prevail, all who sell anything in the way of medicines have certain cures for such prevalent maladies. The number of so-called remedies is legion, and consists of pills, syrups, emulsions, mixtures, tinctures, lotions and potions _ad nauseam_. But there is one called “cough balsam,” unblushingly described as the “only known cure for cough, asthma and consumption.” Now as cough may depend upon at least fifty different causes, and as consumption kills thousands annually, this must be a very wonderful medicine indeed, and doctors should hide their diminished heads. It is really very stupid of people to go on coughing when they can precure a remedy for a few pence; and quite unnecessary for asthmatics or consumptives to go to the Riviera in the winter when they have a remedy at home. So say the vendors of chest affection cures. The giver of good advice rarely receives his due, otherwise we might say “Don’t” to anyone disposed to trust these cures.

Corns and bunions demand a good deal of attention. There are many kinds of corn plasters and several “miraculous cures,” which are all “painless, simple and speedy,” and which secure “ease, comfort and good temper.” One proprietor of a miraculous cure is so enthusiastic that he breaks out into doggerel--

If corn or bunion trouble you, of this you may be sure, That free from pain you soon will be by using ----’s cure.

After this the man who merely advertises a corn rubber is nowhere. We were, however, under the impression that corns originated from pressure or friction, and that the only radical cure was removing that pressure or friction after the corn, if very large, had been taken out. Toothache, being so common, has, of course, a number of cures. A sufferer would dare a good deal to appease the hideous throes of toothache, and when plaintively asked, “Why sutler from toothache when you can cure it by using the toothache pencil?” would certainly try this, that or the other remedy before facing the dentist. But, alas! the dentist’s chair is the ultimate fate of the person with an aching tooth, and he may be happy if on leaving the dentist he carries his tooth--in his jaw--along with him. Nervous debility seems almost as responsible as toothache or corns for certain cures. Among the hundreds o’ medicines devoted to nervous debility there are “best brain tonics,” “botanic pick-me-ups,” “golden medical discoveries,” “damiana wafers,” and “syrups” of all kinds. Liver complaints and digestive imperfections are also well supplied. “Candies” and “jujubes,” _cum multis aliis_, are all very good for liver and digestion--at least so say the proprietors. There is one advertiser who, having announced, “Remove the cause and the effect will cease,” soars boldly above his compeers, and announces, “Head, stomach and liver pills!” It is, however, in the domains of surgery that shop-window cures are most pronounced. “Another leg saved!” “Another hand saved!” “Another toe saved!” by a certain ointment and pills is boldly announced. If all is correctly stated with reference to this new ointment and pills, Professor Holloway is outdone. Cancers are exhibited, diseased bone is shown, and corns are produced, all cured by this wonderful ointment. Bills are also distributed purporting to be the history of cures. One begins, “A boy threw a stone and hit him on the finger over six years ago.” The remainder of the account may be transferred into, “Affliction sore long time he bore, physicians were in vain,” until he was cured by the pills and ointment. Now this was evidently a case of scrofulous disease of the bones, always most tedious, and recovery _post_ is not _propter_. We close the list by mentioning first “Oriental pills.” Why they are called Oriental pills we do not know, and what they are for we cannot ascertain. The name is curious, for pills in the East, unless introduced by Europeans, are as rare as snakes in Iceland. And, secondly, a cure for chilblains called “Chimethloplastron!” What it means we do not know. And we do not take to it--for the word does not come trippingly from the tongue like the blessed Mesopotamia.

It has been said that faith in the doctor is half the battle. Shop-window cures, however, require more than faith; they demand credulity. Nothing catches a man more than a pretended confidence; and of this among vendors of medicines, patent or not patented, there is no lack. It is astonishing how one is able to persuade oneself into a belief in accordance with one’s wishes. Barnum’s definition of a humbug was, “A man who gives you your money’s worth, but induces you to deal with him by some plausible tale connected with his goods.” Shakespeare asked, “Can’st thou not cleanse the stuffed bosom of that perilous stuff which bears upon the heart?” This is not to be done by nostrums, and not always by doctors. Notwithstanding the vigorous declarations of vendors of nostrums, they do not appear quite sure of themselves. For the names of eminent medical men are freely used--among others, those of Brodie, Blundell, Jenner, Clark. This recalls to mind an anecdote of the Duke of Wellington and Dr. Locock. Meeting one day the Duke said, “Confound you, Locock! I’ve almost poisoned myself by taking your pulmonic wafers!” “Ah!” answered Locock, “and I have lamed myself by wearing Wellington boots!”--_Globe in C. and D._

CANADIAN TARIFF CHANGES.

Alizarine, blood albumen, arseniate, bi-arseniate, chlorate and stannate of soda, tannic acid, tartar emetic, chlorate of potash crystals, gum gedda, gum barberry, grey tartar, fustic extract and quercitron or extract of oak bark, when imported by the manufacturers of cotton and woolen goods for use in their own factories only; and grey tartar, fustic extract, and quercitron or extract of oak bark, for the manufacture of colours, are admitted free of Customs duty until the end of the next session of Parliament.

Sulphate of alumina and alum cake, used as a substitute for alum by paper-makers, are placed on the list of articles that may be imported into Canada free of Customs duty.

Sumac, when imported to be used for dyeing or tanning purposes, i.e., manufacturing purposes, not further manufactured than crushed or ground, is placed on the list of articles that may be imported into Canada free.

Camwood, when imported to be used for dyeing or tanning purposes, i.e., manufacturing purposes, not further manufactured than crushed or ground, is also placed on the list of free articles.

A HANDSOME DRUG STORE.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever, and we hope Mr. E. D. Martin, of Ottawa, will long enjoy a successful business in the new premises he has just removed to at the corner of Rideau and Cumberland Streets.

Mr. Martin is one of Ottawa’s most enterprising and successful druggists and in the fitting up of his new store he has displayed great taste.

The front store is 50×30 and has two entrances and is lighted by three large plate-glass windows; the ceiling is of polished wood, the floor of granolithic tiles of mosaic pattern; the fixtures are walnut; the counters, two in number, each eighteen feet long, are embellished with show cases, and the handsome show cases on tables occupy positions in the centre of the store. At the further end of the store standing in the centre of an arch ten feet wide is a very fine dispensing case behind which is the dispensing room fitted up with two sets of dispensing scales and in duplicate all the appurtenances necessary for the carrying on of this important part of his business, and though we did not see any of Dr. Brown Sequard’s Elixir of Life, we can imagine the grim “Old Reaper” giving his scythe an extra whet when he sees Mr. Bray, the genial assistant, hand out a bottle of medicine to an invalid on whom he has fixed his eye.

Adjoining the dispensing room is Mr. Martin’s private office where he deliberates over his books--day, ledger, bank, and wants,--and we hope the two last will always be in a state of congestion. It is here, too, he has a vacant chair, not always vacant, however. I notice it is a little worn already, for the ubiquitous traveller in search for orders he always welcomes cordially, and as his trade is a large one, he usually has the satisfaction of seeing a grateful smile suffuse the countenance of that “noble Bohemian” as he wishes him good-bye.

ON TIME.

A want of punctuality is a fault in a business man that cannot be offset by any other good qualities. It will be constantly causing serious loss of time, money and temper to those who deal with him, and will naturally lead them to look elsewhere for their supplies. Nothing short of an utter impossibility should cause one to neglect the fulfilment of an engagement, or to be behindhand in filling an order.

When the great warehouses of an extensive provision merchant were smoking in ruins, he at once made out a circular and sent it to all who were expecting orders filled, stating that a fire on the premises had caused a delay, but that the next day they expected to dispatch all the goods ordered. It required all the energies of a masterly mind to accomplish the task, and all the hands he could bring to bear upon the business, but it was done, and his many customers had the inconvenience of but a day’s delay. It was a part of the man’s religion, as well as his business science, to keep no one waiting. That was but one of his many strong points, but they were all of the same reliable character. No wonder he rose to a true and substantial greatness in his chosen line. It is very hard turning over a new leaf in this particular, so it is a good plan to begin right. Prompt, punctual boys are apt to make the same kind of men, and vice versa.

You know that you “boys” are to be the future merchants of the land, however small the chances seem for it now. “The posts of time run swift,” and soon one and another will be dropping a line to this department, telling of their small start in business on their own hook. They will be sure of congratulations and good wishes all around, which will be cheering and inspiring, and so far real help to the worker. The habits he is forming while a clerk will, however, decide more than anything else his future success or failure.

If one has fallen into careless, unmethodical habits in any of his affairs, the only safe course is to “right about face.” The earlier, the easier. Self-interest alone would prompt such a course as well as honesty towards his employer.--[American Grocer.

NECESSITY FOR DISCRETION.

Though occasionally it might prove to be of value for the commercial traveller to hint in an off-hand way that he has received orders from other firms in the same town, still it would be the height of stupidity to tell the fact right out, as many of the brotherhood are in the habit of doing, that Mr. John Smith, for example, has to-day bought goods at such or such a price, and mentioning all the particulars of the sale, with the addition that the man solicited, if he will give the order, shall get the same article at a much lower rate. Any one who has an eye to business can in a moment see what this talk means. Besides, the commercial traveller who adopts such mistaken measures in his attempt to do business, will certainly lose the confidence of the man addressed, for no sensible person can think otherwise than that the agent would say exactly the same thing to a third and fourth customer as to the first and second. Without doubt a customer has the right to feel sure that the amount of his order and the price he paid for goods will not be made known to any business competitor, and he certainly would be little disposed to give his orders to an agent who shows a readiness to gossip about the affairs of neighboring merchants.

The commercial traveller who is wise will either avoid talk about purchases made of him in the place where he is doing business, or will say very little, always avoiding in this case the mention of details. And this even when questions are asked about them, for, though they may be pleased for the moment at having their curiosity satisfied, people will, as a rule, look with suspicion upon the imprudent discloser of other people’s business, believing, and not unjustly, that such a man would manifest the same willingness to reveal their secrets to others. Discretion in business matters will probably have its reward in the esteem of others, which readily develops into their confidence.

“Your Committee appointed to examine the claims of W. R. Austin and others to apprenticeship registration under the Pharmacy Act of 1884, recommends that their request be granted, and that all similar requests addressed to the Registrar be similarly treated.”

Mr. A. Jeffrey moved, and Mr. McGregor seconded,--

“That in any case where the presence of the Executive or other members of this Council is required in Toronto or elsewhere to attend upon the work of the College, that they be paid their actual expenses out of the funds of the College.”--Carried.

The Principal of the College sent a communication acknowledging receipt of a quantity of apparatus and books from Henry Watters, Esq., Ottawa. On the motion of Mr. J. J. Hall, seconded by Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Watters was thanked for the donation.

The Council adjourned at 4.15 until 10 a.m. Thursday morning.

Thursday Morning.

The Council met at 10.30, Mr. John A. Clark in the chair.

A representative of the CANADIAN DRUGGIST, who was present, lodged with the registrar an application on behalf of Mr. Dyas, proprietor of that paper, for access to the various reports made at the semiannual meeting. The chairman stated the request to the meeting, and after a brief discussion the following resolution was, on the motion of Mr. A. B. Petrie, seconded by Mr. McKee, unanimously passed:--

“That the request of Mr. Dyas, of the CANADIAN DRUGGIST, to be allowed to obtain full reports of this meeting, be granted.”

The report of the By-laws and Legislation Committee was read, and, on the motion of Mr. Hall, seconded by Mr. McGregor, they were received.

The meeting adjourned at 11.30, until three o’clock.

Thursday Afternoon.

The Council met at 3.45, Mr. John A. Clark in the chair. All were present except Mr. G. S. Hobart. The Council went into committee of the whole on the motion of Mr. Clark, seconded by Mr. McKee, on the report of the By-laws and Legislation Committee, Mr. Lawrence in the chair.

On clause 1, Mr. Watters moved that the name of J. W. McEachern be inserted as employer.--Agreed. Clauses 2 and 3, dealing with applications, were passed without discussion. Clause 4 having been reached, the chairman read several letters from George B. Dingman, Buffalo, asking what had been done regarding his application for a diploma. In his first try Mr. Dingman had been successful in all subjects except dispensing, but had since passed in that subject. Mr. Sanders, at whose request the correspondence was read, thought the explanations made sufficient, and the clause was passed.

Discussion arose over clause 5, from the fact that the applicant, Mr. A. W. Caton, admitted having been out of business since 1887. Mr. D’Avignon thought Mr. Caton wanted to set his wife up in business, and by saying that on paying up his arrears he would be admitted was paramount to saying that his wife would not. The clause was passed. Clauses 6 and 7 were passed. On clause 8 Registrar Lewis stated that recently he had an application from an apprentice of Hargreaves Bros., of whom one member had not paid fees. Four dollars was still claimed for one of their branches.

Mr. Sanders thought the precedent in McGregor & Parks’ case should not rule.

It was explained that three of the Hargreaves had interest in one store and only two in another, and when they made this application they had three businesses.

After further discussion progress was reported, and, on the motion of Mr. Hall, the report, as also the report of the Committee on By-laws, was referred back for amendment. The following is the gist of the reports as finally adopted:--