The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7174 710-713
17 November 2001

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Letters to the Editor

The Society (3 letters)

Our scientific and social heritage

From Mrs D. N. Smalley, MRPharmS, and Mr P. E. G. Smalley, MRPharmS

We write to express our strongest possible objection to the Council's decision to withdraw funding for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's museum (PJ, 20 October, p579).

We owe it to the public, students and many others to keep the museum as a living reminder of our great scientific and social heritage.

No doubt many of the museum's exhibits are unique. This places the Society under an even greater obligation to make them accessible to those who are interested in our great and glorious history. This decision must be reversed.

Dominique Smalley
Philip Smalley
Little Walsingham,
Norfolk

Withdraw museum decision

From Mr T. D. Turner, FRPharmS

The decision of Council significantly to reduce the funding for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's museum and to withdraw financial support for the British Society of the History of Pharmacy is unacceptable and should be withdrawn at the earliest opportunity.

Previous correspondents have drawn attention to the importance of the museum as a prime international source for information about the history of our profession and to the BSHP as an instrument for developing the study of the profession's history in schools of pharmacy. An additional reason for maintaining the availability of the museum to the general public as well as fellow professionals is the public relations factor.

Pharmacy requires a higher profile in the public eye and the Council must be unaware of the popularity of the exhibitions and demonstrations which have been created over the years by admirable staff under the direction of the curator.

A recently opened exhibition in the National Botanic Garden of Wales is directed at the practice of the ancient Physicians of Myddfai and includes a rebuilt Victorian pharmacy. This pharmacy, although markedly inferior to our Society's museum, has attracted over 16,000 visitors since April of this year. The enthusiasm of the visitors for this exhibition is demonstrated by their continuous questioning of the guides.

The public is curious and wants their curiosity satisfied. Our Society's museum serves this purpose admirably and will not be able to continue to do so with the financial constraints suggested by Council. It would be a tragedy to reduce such an unique resource, developed from a single, small room in Bloomsbury Square in 1842 and with 160 years of contributions and commitment by members of the profession. One feels the bones of the first curator, Theophilus Redwood, twitch in his grave at the Council's recommendation and his protests would be felt particularly in the Redwood Building of Cardiff University, the home of the Welsh School of Pharmacy, which, encouraged by the BSHP, offers a history of pharmacy course to its undergraduates and houses its own small museum.

The Council should be aware that it is meddling with the heritage of the membership and, thereby, it will not be remembered kindly by future generations of pharmacists if its recommendation is implemented.

T. D. Turner
Cardiff

History is important

From Dr T. M. MacLeod, FRPharmS

I too, am appalled by the Council decision to reduce funding and thus curtail the activities of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's museum (PJ, 20 October, p579).

History is an important facet of civilisation and is ignored at our peril. Such a valuable and unique resource as the museum gathered over many years should be available for research and education to members, students, and the public. The decision to withdraw funding is narrow minded and damaging to the image of pharmacy.

This action will discourage further contributions and is in marked contrast to the attitude taken by other learned societies, which are proud of their heritage.

It is also symptomatic of "modern" thinking. "Original" papers come regularly to conclusions that large numbers of pharmacists are dissatisfied and uncertain about the future. Similar expressions of woe and doom and gloom pervade the correspondence columns of The Journal, as indeed they did 50 years ago when I was a student.

The future has always been uncertain. Pharmacists in past generations have met the challenge of change with enthusiasm and kept the profession at the forefront of modern medicine because of their vision and dedication.

Their contributions must continue to be an inspiration to new members through the work of the museum and to remind us all that men and women today are only giants "because they stood on the shoulders of giants".

I would join the many members who are calling on the Council to think again.

T. M. MacLeod
Dundee

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