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

Act had separated prescribing and dispensing. He wished to know whether
―… doctors will not be allowed to keep a qualified dispenser?‖ 12 Mr E.
Elford, who was studying for the assistant‘s certificate at the Westminster
College of Pharmacy, had been talking to ―two or three chemists.‖ They had
told him that the certificate ―… would not be worth the paper it is written
on ….‖ He was in doubt about what he should do, as taking the examination
would be pointless unless the resulting certificate would secure him a
living. 13
Charles Turner, the Director of the Manchester College of Pharmacy,
wrote on behalf of his students to ask about their future prospects under the
new Insurance Bill. He was sure that the Society of Apothecaries would be
taking some action and wished to reassure his students. 14 E. Griffiths was
an elderly infirm chemist with two daughters who were apothecaries‘
assistants. One was employed as a dispenser in a doctor‘s surgery while the
other worked in her father‘s shop. He wished to know how they might
become registered as chemists, as the Insurance Act would make one
redundant and the other homeless on his death. 15 What a terrible outcome
for a father who had taken the trouble to provide for his daughters.
Nora Gabb was a dispenser employed by a doctors‘ practice and had
been told by them that dispensing was to be transferred to the chemists.
She thought that it was time for action because ―… a great many dispensers
12
Society of Apothecaries Archive, Box 10, E/4/4/2/1, Letter, S. Wright to F. Hayden, Secretary to the
Court of Examiners, 8 May 1911.
13
Society of Apothecaries Archive, Box 10, E/4/4/2/1, Letter, E. Elford to Secretary of the Court of
Examiners, 21 Aug. 1911.
14
Society of Apothecaries Archive, Box 10, E/4/4/2/1, Letter, C. Turner to Society of Apothecaries, 9
Dec. 1911.
15
Society of Apothecaries Archive, Box 10, E/4/4/2/1, Letter, E. Griffiths in „Editorial Notes‟, British
and Col. Druggist, (9 Jun. 1911).
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