If the candidate elects to proceed from the preliminary scientific examination to the pharmaceutical chemist qualifying examination, then he must be trained for at least 2,000 hours in a pharmacy or hospital and have attended an approved systematic course of at least 1,60o hours in botany, chemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmacy and forensic pharmacy. The statutory examinations in these subjects are conducted by the Pharmaceutical Society.
Thus, whereas in 192o there was no compulsory curriculum of any kind, the entrant into pharmacy now has to undergo what is practically a two years' approved systematic course of training for the lower qualification and a three years' for the higher ; in addition, if he has matriculated, university degrees are open to him. This achievement places the pharmaceutical student in Great Britain on a level with those of most other countries.
Sale of Poisons.—Since the passing of the British Poisons and Pharmacy Act in 1908 the number of substances brought within the range of Part I. of the schedule (those which may not be sold to any person unknown to the seller unless introduced by a person known to both parties and of which the sale must be duly registered) has been much increased. It now includes: Aconite, aconitine and their preparations ; all poisonous alkaloids not specifically named, and their salts and all poisonous derivatives of alkaloids ; arsenic and its preparations ; atropine and its salts and their preparations; belladonna and all preparations or admixtures (except belladonna plasters) containing o.i % or more of belladonna alkaloids; cannabis (the dried flowering or fruiting tops of the pistillate plant of Cannabis sativa) and the resins prepared therefrom. Cantharides and its poisonous derivatives ; coca, any preparation or admixture of, containing o.i% or more of coca alkaloids; corrosive sublimate; cyanide of potassium and all poisonous cyanides and their prepara tions; diamorphine (also known as heroin) and all preparations or admixtures containing o.i% of diamorphine ; diethyl-barbituric acid and other alkyl, aryl or metallic derivatives of barbituric acid, whether described as veronal, proponal, medinal or by any other trade name, mark or designation ; and all poisonous urethanes and ureides •' digitalin and all other poisonous constituents of digitalis ; ecgonine and all prep arations or admixtures containing o.i% of ecgonine ; emetic tartar and
all preparations or admixtures containing 1% or more of emetic tartar ; ergot of rye and preparations of ergots ; lead in combination with oleic acid or other higher fatty acids, whether sold as diachylon or any other designation (except machine-spread plasters) ; nux vomica and all preparations or admixtures containing 0.2% or more of strychnine ; opium and all preparations or admixtures containing 0.2% or more of morphine ; picrotoxin ; prussic acid and all prepara tions or admixtures containing o.i% or more of prussic acid ; savin and its oil and all preparations or admixtures containing savin or its oil ; strophanthin and all other poisonous constituents of strophanthus; tobacco, any preparations or admixtures of (other than tobacco pre pared for smoking and snuff), containing the poisonous alkaloids of tobacco.
By the Dangerous Drugs Act 1920-23 further restrictions have been placed upon the sale of morphine, cocaine, ecgonine, dia morphine, heroin and their respective salts and medicinal opium. Generally stated, these drugs may, with certain exceptions, be supplied only to physicians' prescriptions and a record must be kept of the quantities bought and sold.
The Labelling of Poisons Order, which came into force in Great Britain on Jan. 1, 1926, imposed further conditions upon the sale of poisons (whether contained in Part I. or Part II. of the sched ule). This Order and the Act under which it is made require that, in general, every preparation containing as an ingredient any poison to which the Pharmacy Act 1868, as amended, applies shall bear on the label a statement of the proportion which such poison bears to the total ingredients of the preparation. The Federation Internationale Pharmaceutique is endeavouring to formulate a scheme for the uniform treatment of such preparations by all the states included in it.
Education.—The total number of pharmacy schools in the United States is between 7o and 8o, the majority of which are enrolled in an organization known as the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. This organization, since its establishment in 1900 has had a great influence in raising the standards of pharmaceutical education by voluntary co-operation, as there are no national or State laws covering the subject in a general way.