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IMPROVEMENT IN THE PROFESSION.
152 OCTRAGE
BY MESSES. COOPER AND AT
To the
KEY,
GUY’S.
Editor of
THE LANCET.
duced
to
ofer
subject, as I
am
one or
two remarks on the
fully convinced that iacott.
tion in the medicnl profession is absolutely necessary for its ultimate stability ; while I say this,I would entreat the reformer to b-ar in mind the motto, " Ne quid nimis," not that I am under the apprehension of eny such danger at present, but I consider it advisable not to lose sight of possible evils; for if not, when too late, the reformer may find, to his surprise and mortification, that he has defeated the object of his labours, and that he has raised, as a remedy, a disease as fatal as that which he was undermining. To you, Sir, we are much indebted for bar. ing laid the foundation stone of so important a building as reform. When I look around me, and view the vast changes that have occurred both in London and in the country, since THE LANCET made its debtu, I am lost iu
SIR,-Having read in your publication an accouatof the disturbance at Mr. Key’s " Introductory Lecture" at Guy’s Hospital, I beg leave to offer a few remarks on the conduct of some of the persons concerned. The in ’ dependent spirit which prompted the gentleman to express publicly his disapprobation of the dishonourable conduct of the lecturer must be admired by ali. I will not make any comment on the pitiful thing termed an apology, made by Mr. Key, as there can be but one opinion on the subject. - He speaks of the insult offered to the chair; it seems he has yet to learn, that it is the du ty of a chairman to studv to fill the chair with honour to himself and satisfaction to those surprise. When I contemplate the reform who support it. I pity the intellects of the that has taken place within the walls of the man who looks upon his equals in rank as College of Surgeons, in the Apothecaries’ his inferiors, because they liappened to be Hall, in hospitals, in infirmaries, in anatomiborn rather later in the season than himself. cal and in many other medical instischools, The ruffianly behaviour of Bransby Cooper tutions, and look back with an unjaundiced has lowered him conaiderably in the eyes eye to the origin of these improvements, I of those whose opinion he ought to value. discover them, to my firm conviction, to he The pupils who, when the cup was given if not wholly, owing to you, who, greatly, him, from regard to his private worth, so Sir, for having enforced and obtained these strenuously exerted themselves to uphold benefits, have been taunted with the worst him through " evil report," in his public of epithets. It is a satisfaction to know that character, and to remove the odium incur- such treatment has already met with ita red by his professional failure, had a claim reward. If then the efforts of one have done to better treatment at his hands. Let not so much, what might we not expect froma the surgeons talk of want of generosity in combination of forces1 As an united body, the students, while they are so palpably des- we should speedily bring the edifice of in. titute of it themselves. The pupil who so -tolerance and monopoly to the ground ; con. properly signalised himself in this uffuir has vinced am I that its foundation is sandy, and since been suspended; and the cowardice if but once the floods of reform descend displayed by his fellows in not appealing upon it from all quarters, it must be brotea against such an unjust decision, proves their asunder, and its ruin be inevitable: such, degeneracy. Those who support despots indeed, will one day or other be its fate. must expect to feel the bitterness of tyranny;’, Heform, I am happy to say, is commencin; they strengthen the’ fetters by their abject here. A few weeks since, a memorial was submission, aud will ultimately be made to presented to the governors of our infirmary, ’ kiss the chains that bind them. The sur- by the express desire of mo=t of the respectresident practitioners, prayingthat the geons, countenanced by a certain degree of power. foolishly imagine they can force their election of medical oflicers to the institution followers to submit ; but they will, by the should be periodical ;and that all profes- ’ diminution of their revenue, be informed, sional men, being governors, should be a]how far their actions are approved ; for sure- lowed to witness operations, as a matter of ly no gentleman will enter to this Hospital, right. A medical society has likewise been while there is another 10 existence, to be recently set on foot, fr the purpose of f ’rtreated as a bondsman and a slave. recting existing evils. Thes.’ examples,I A Po PIL AT GUY’S. trust, will be imitated by other country I am, Sir, towns. October 1829. 16, Borough,
I able
.
Your obedient servant, A DERBY SURGEON.
IMPROVEMENT IN THE PROFESSION.
To the Editor of TiiLANCET. SIR,—Reform is the cry of the kingdom, and t being one of its vociferators, am in-
Derby,
October 12th, 1329
BY MESSES. COOPER AND AT
To the
KEY,
GUY’S.
Editor of
THE LANCET.
duced
to
ofer
subject, as I
am
one or
two remarks on the
fully convinced that iacott.
tion in the medicnl profession is absolutely necessary for its ultimate stability ; while I say this,I would entreat the reformer to b-ar in mind the motto, " Ne quid nimis," not that I am under the apprehension of eny such danger at present, but I consider it advisable not to lose sight of possible evils; for if not, when too late, the reformer may find, to his surprise and mortification, that he has defeated the object of his labours, and that he has raised, as a remedy, a disease as fatal as that which he was undermining. To you, Sir, we are much indebted for bar. ing laid the foundation stone of so important a building as reform. When I look around me, and view the vast changes that have occurred both in London and in the country, since THE LANCET made its debtu, I am lost iu
SIR,-Having read in your publication an accouatof the disturbance at Mr. Key’s " Introductory Lecture" at Guy’s Hospital, I beg leave to offer a few remarks on the conduct of some of the persons concerned. The in ’ dependent spirit which prompted the gentleman to express publicly his disapprobation of the dishonourable conduct of the lecturer must be admired by ali. I will not make any comment on the pitiful thing termed an apology, made by Mr. Key, as there can be but one opinion on the subject. - He speaks of the insult offered to the chair; it seems he has yet to learn, that it is the du ty of a chairman to studv to fill the chair with honour to himself and satisfaction to those surprise. When I contemplate the reform who support it. I pity the intellects of the that has taken place within the walls of the man who looks upon his equals in rank as College of Surgeons, in the Apothecaries’ his inferiors, because they liappened to be Hall, in hospitals, in infirmaries, in anatomiborn rather later in the season than himself. cal and in many other medical instischools, The ruffianly behaviour of Bransby Cooper tutions, and look back with an unjaundiced has lowered him conaiderably in the eyes eye to the origin of these improvements, I of those whose opinion he ought to value. discover them, to my firm conviction, to he The pupils who, when the cup was given if not wholly, owing to you, who, greatly, him, from regard to his private worth, so Sir, for having enforced and obtained these strenuously exerted themselves to uphold benefits, have been taunted with the worst him through " evil report," in his public of epithets. It is a satisfaction to know that character, and to remove the odium incur- such treatment has already met with ita red by his professional failure, had a claim reward. If then the efforts of one have done to better treatment at his hands. Let not so much, what might we not expect froma the surgeons talk of want of generosity in combination of forces1 As an united body, the students, while they are so palpably des- we should speedily bring the edifice of in. titute of it themselves. The pupil who so -tolerance and monopoly to the ground ; con. properly signalised himself in this uffuir has vinced am I that its foundation is sandy, and since been suspended; and the cowardice if but once the floods of reform descend displayed by his fellows in not appealing upon it from all quarters, it must be brotea against such an unjust decision, proves their asunder, and its ruin be inevitable: such, degeneracy. Those who support despots indeed, will one day or other be its fate. must expect to feel the bitterness of tyranny;’, Heform, I am happy to say, is commencin; they strengthen the’ fetters by their abject here. A few weeks since, a memorial was submission, aud will ultimately be made to presented to the governors of our infirmary, ’ kiss the chains that bind them. The sur- by the express desire of mo=t of the respectresident practitioners, prayingthat the geons, countenanced by a certain degree of power. foolishly imagine they can force their election of medical oflicers to the institution followers to submit ; but they will, by the should be periodical ;and that all profes- ’ diminution of their revenue, be informed, sional men, being governors, should be a]how far their actions are approved ; for sure- lowed to witness operations, as a matter of ly no gentleman will enter to this Hospital, right. A medical society has likewise been while there is another 10 existence, to be recently set on foot, fr the purpose of f ’rtreated as a bondsman and a slave. recting existing evils. Thes.’ examples,I A Po PIL AT GUY’S. trust, will be imitated by other country I am, Sir, towns. October 1829. 16, Borough,
I able
.
Your obedient servant, A DERBY SURGEON.
IMPROVEMENT IN THE PROFESSION.
To the Editor of TiiLANCET. SIR,—Reform is the cry of the kingdom, and t being one of its vociferators, am in-
Derby,
October 12th, 1329