Page 16 - Pharmacy History 29 Nov 2006

endures in large measure today, despite the onset of
rampart materialism.
For a period Mayhew held the dual roles of Society President and Council Registrar, but his anxiety for the welfare of the Society saw him retire as President as well as divesting himself of all his business interests
He joined the staff of Perth Technical College in 1903 as its lecturer in Botany and Materia Medica to pharmacy students, and he also lectured to dental students on the drugs and chemicals necessary for their work.
Sometime prior to this he had decided to acquire some form of academic recognition by seeking membership
of suitable or professional learned societies.
He became a member of the Society of Chemical Industry, Fellowship of the Chemical Society and the highest accolade was his award of a Fellowship of the Linnean Society of London in
1888.
He combined the roles of teacher and Registrar until his death in 1933,
at the age of 78.
During his time as the Society Registrar he represented Western Australia at many interstate conferences, and he was well respected by colleagues nationally.
He was a member of the Perth Mounted Artillery and later became the commanding officer of the Fremantle Artillery.
For a number of years he served as consular officer in Western Australia for the United States of America.
Mr Mayhew was intimately associated with many of Western Australia’s public men, and he was a friend of Lord Forrest and
Sir Winthrop Hackett.
At his funeral in January 1933, which was attended by many pharmacists and other dignitaries, the President of the Pharmaceutical Society,
Mr FP Gulley, described Edward Mayhew as a ‘loyal, diligent and lovable man, and the profession and the State are much poorer by his death’.
Other tributes referred to ‘his long and busy life – a life spent mainly in the service and interest of others’.
He was affectionately known by students and colleagues, simply
as Teddy!
He was survived by four daughters and three sons.2
References
1. EP Walsh, The Mayhew Inheritence, 1922.
Privately published.
2. Australasian Journal of Pharmacy,
February 28, 1933:154-156. Australasian Pharmaceutical Publishing Company, Melbourne, Victoria.
Song of the mortar and pestle
All hail to that vessel, our mortar and pestle which Galen’s disciples have used
Where, for centuries past, in our history vast ingredients were pounded and bruised
With this bowl, deep and rounded,
where cures were compounded
the druggist would practice his part
Using knowledge and skill, he formed potion or pill with dedication which came from the heart
In these complex days we’re aware of the praise of the noblest of arts – that of healing
We may not still wrestle with mortar and pestle but we echo the same depth of feeling
And whate’er may befall we’ll respond to the call which in pharmacy’s heart long will nestle
Yes, let the toast ring, and long may we sing
in praise of the MORTAR AND PESTLE!
16 ■ Pharmacy History Australia
volume 3 ■ no 25 ■ March 2005