A Respectable Occupation: - University of Hertfordshire Research ...

himself as ‗A Dispenser of Thirty Years‘ Standing‘. He pointed out that it
was usual practice when formulating a Bill, where restrictions were to be
put on the ability of a particular group to earn a living, to include a ‗no
prejudice‘ clause. This had not been done in the case of the National
Insurance Bill. He also deplored the fact that the byelaw mentioned in the
Poisons and Pharmacy Act (1908), that could have registered apothecaries‘
assistants, had not been introduced as a solution to the problem. 220
Dr F. Wynne thought that most of the doctors that he knew would be
prepared to give up dispensing providing, ―it did not involve too heavy a
pecuniary loss.‖ 221 Dr R. Russell thought that, while many medical men
would be pleased to give up dispensing, as it would make them appear more
professional, it was likely to lose them many patients. He believed that the
public would copy doctors‘ prescriptions and use them to obtain medicine for
members of their families who were displaying the same symptoms. 222 Mr
Chas Faull felt that to allow apothecaries‘ assistants equal status to
pharmacists would devalue the pharmacists‘ qualification. There was a
notable difference in the skill and educational levels of the two
qualifications and there would be ample opportunity for the assistants to
work in pharmacies, under supervision, for better salaries than they were
currently earning. 223 Despite these objections, the Act became law and the
Pharmacists were satisfied with the outcome.
220
„Letters to the Editor National Insurance Bill‟, Pharmaceutical Journal’, series 4, 87,33, (29 Jul.
1911) 192-193.
221
„Prescriber and Dispenser‟, British Medical Journal, (11 Dec. 1909) 1714.
222
„Dispensing and the Insurance Bill‟, British Medical Journal, (28 Oct. 1911) 1139.
223
„National Insurance Bill‟, Pharmaceutical Journal, series 4, 87,33, (5 Aug. 1911) 223.
280