Page 11 - Pharmacy History 33 November 2007

Opportunities abound
A career of this length was certainly filled with lots of experiences and opportunities that were never imagined at the start. Whether it be as the pharmacist at the ANZUK Military Hospital in Changi, Singapore or
as the chairman of the international Quadripartite Working Party (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia) on Health Service Support, or attending the annual briefing in Washington DC of all the Chairmen, or being involved
in Defence Co-operation projects throughout Asia or, as Army’s Chief Pharmacist, representing Army and Defence nationally and internationally at military and pharmacy conferences, or undertaking postgraduate studies in health administration, each posting or appointment brought with it wonderful experiences, great memories and long standing friendships.
Check the
Expiry Date
David Bruce
In the late nineteenth century, a popular addition to most medicine cupboards in the Beechworth area of Victoria, was a preparation called “Indian Eye Drops”
The local Pharmacist, James Joseph Scott regularly advertised this and other remedies on the front page of the “Ovens and Murray Advertiser”
James Joseph Scott was registered as
a pharmacist in 1890 and as a dentist in 1893. The pharmaceutical register lists him in Ascot Vale between 1893 and 1895 shifting to Beechworth in 1896 where he took over the Camp Street Pharmacy remaining until 1901 when he moved to Terang in Western Victoria. Closer study of Newspaper articles of the day shows that he actually took over the Camp street pharmacy in Beechworth from W.Y. Nelson in February 1894.
Despite all his advertising and promotion of his own formulated household remedies, Scott’s business
The final chapter
These experiences were certainly invaluable in making the switch
after 22 years in the Regular Army
to the pharmacy organisation and administration world, initially as
the Assistant Director Professional Development with PSA, then a
series of appointments involving education, publications, including the Australian Pharmacist and professional development which culminated in the Deputy CEO role before moving to the current position as CEO of the Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy.
But one really never leaves the military and the opportunity, while working with PSA, to serve in a part-time Army Reserve role as the Colonel Consultant Pharmacist to the Army and then also Defence resulted in a further 10 years ‘in uniform’.
Shown actual size
was not to end well in Beechworth and in June 1901 he was declared insolvent with liabilities of almost £450 but assets of less than £90.
All of the remedies were manufactured in Scott’s Dispensary, including “INDIAN EYE DROPS”. Unlike the strict codes which would apply to such products today, the eye drops were packed in 2 Floz (60ml) turquoise coloured glass cork mouth bottles from the American glass manufacturer Whitall Tatum.
The actual bottles have become collector’s items and for ”bottloes”, this example would rank as very rare, with approximately 5 or 6 currently known.
Thanks to Dave Bruce and to Travis Dunn, editor of Australian Bottle Collector’s Review Vol 12 No 2 ,2007 for permission to use this article. You
So what did 32 years ‘in uniform’
mean. It meant being part of a military family and exposure to a camaraderie that’s hard to beat. It meant wonderful experiences, great memories and long standing friendships, and superb training and skills development that have complemented a pharmacy education and have proved invaluable in the pharmacy administrative and managerial roles that have followed.
Given my career over again, I’d be happy to have it determined by chance if I could guarantee a similar outcome.
Colonel Bill Kelly retired from the military in 2001 after 32 years Regular and Army Reserve service. He is currently the CEO of the Australian Association
of Consultant Pharmacy and also the Deputy President of the Pharmacy Board of the ACT. Though being based in the ACT for 25 years, he strongly defends his Queensland (and pharmacy) heritage.
can check out the colour of the bottle below on the ABCR website: www. abcreview.com.au
volume 4 ■ no 34 ■ February 2008
Pharmacy History Australia ■ 11