POOR-LAW MEDICAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.

of the Association was to aid in carrying out the Act of Parlia- POOR-LAW MEDICAL REFORM ASSOCIATION. ment in its integrity, and in a manner which would make it a boon to the public as well as to the medical profession. 12, Royal-terrace, Weymouth, Jan. 26th, 1859. Dr. KIRBY remarked on the necessity for his brother practiDEAR have much SIRS,-I pleasure in laying before you the tioners of St. Pancras to join in the movement now being made, and to become members of this Association. We have now for annexed letter from the President of the Poor-law Board. the first time a Medical Council, and the Government is pre-. From the numerous communications I daily receive, very many of which contain remittances, I am convinced that the medical pared to listen to the representations of that Council, which officers as a body are satisfied with the efforts the Association would be materially aided in furnishing information to the Government by the labours of the Association. If a powerful is now making, and I hope you will send in your returns as as possible. I have already forwarded a large number body were formed by the concurrence of most of the medical quickly to the Poor-law Board. the such a would throughout metropolis, body practitioners I am, dear Sirs, yours, &c., have considerable influence in the future formation of the MePoor-law RICHARD IiICA 4RD GRIFFIN. To the Medical Officers. dical Council, and weight with it and with the Government. The CHAIRMAN said that unless steps weie taken to make St. Leonard’s, Jan. 21st, 1859. the Legislature carry out the provisions of their own Act, the DEAR SiR,—I have to thank you for sending to me a copy illegal practitioners would sleep with as much quietude as the of the resolutions adopted at the meeting at Freemasons’ Tavern old apothecaries of fifty years ago. (Hear, hear, tnd cheers.) The resolution, like all the succeeding ones, was carried on the 14th of this month. I am much satisfied and pleased with the business-like manner in which my Scheme has been without a dissentient voice. considered at that meeting, so far as I can judge from your Dr. ROUTH moved the second resolutions I shall give a, dispassionate attention to the " That in the opinion of this meeting it is highly desirable to printed report. and suggestions contained in that paper; with a sinremarks augment the numbers and influence of the members of the cere desire to arrive at such a practical conclusion as shall London Medical Registration Association, so as to enable it to effect a reasonable adjustment of the question before us. effectually carry out its objects, and to give weight to its proI have received other and different proposals in great variety ceedings with the Medical Council, and this meeting pledges from numerous quarters. I cannot enter upon any attempt at itself to use every exertion to secure that end." until a sufficient period shall have elapsed to The speaker said that when we had heard of fifty persons reconciling these, allow me to conclude that those who desire to offer an opinion practising illegally having been already discovered by the have Iia(l full opportunity of doing so; but I reckon that at Association, he had no doubt that the number of fraudulent any time after the middle of February, the Board will be ready persons cheating the profession, and doing injury to the public, to attend to any application for an interview with your Asso-He believed that few persons was upwards of a thousand. ciation. knew of the number of black sheep by whom they were mediI am, dear Sir, yours truly, cally defrauded. When a number of gentlemen united togeR. txrifEn, Esq. T. SOTHERON ESTCOURT. ESTCOURT. ther for the express purpose of putting down fraud, the symof honest man with he was and them, thought that, pathy every as honest men, legally-qualified medical practitioners ought POOR-LAW MEDICAL REFORM. actively to support such an Association. Dr. HILLIER, in a speech of much ability, seconded this motion. AT a meeting of the medical profession, held at Norwich on Mr. BOTTO-ILEY stated that he felt an interest in addressing the 19th inst., Dr. Ranking in the chair, the following resoluthe meeting on the improved prospects of the medical profes- tions were carried unanimously :sion, he having been one of the Committee formed by the BriProposed by W. P. NicHOLLS, Esq., and seconded by J. tish Medical Association for the purpose of originally framing COOPER, Esq.,-" That the subject of medical relief for the poor the new Medical Act. is one of interest to every member of the profession, and it is Dr. KNAGGS moved, and Mr. MoTT seconded, the third reso- the duty of all to assist the Poor-law medical officers in obtainlution :ing a satisfactory arrangement of this much-vexed question." " That this meeting recognises the exceeding importance of Proposed by G. W. W. FiRTH, Esq., seconded by J. B. PITT, obtaining and submitting to the London Medical Registration Esq.,-" That the thanks of the meeting be given to the Right Association all possible information concerning persons prac- Honourable the President of the Poor - law Board for the tising medicine illegally in the parish of St. Pancras, both by ’ opportunity afforded of expressing our opinions on his Scheme." the individual efforts of all present, and, if advisable, by the Proposed by Dr. COPEMAN, seconded by - STAFFORD, Esq., formation of an independent committee of practitioners in the -" That all medical appointments should be permanent, and " that to deprive the present officers of appointments to which neighbourhood." In his observations on this motion, Mr. LAVIES said that the most of them have been appointed for life under the authority profession had to congratulate itself that a Medical Council of a general order of the Poor-law Board would be most unjust, had been at last appointed. The Registrar under that Council especially so at the moment there is a prospect of better remuhad already listened to some suggestions from this Association. neration for their services." The principal point urged upon the Registrar and the Executive Proposed by J. G. JOHNSON, Esq., seconded by D. DALCommittee by this Association was, the necessity of a declara- RTMPLE, Esq.,-"That the appointment of two medical officers tion to be made by the person intending to register, to be attested to each parish would be unwise as well as unjust to our profesby a credible witness. A similar declaration was imperative sion, the poor, and the public.-To our p1’ofe88ion, because it upon all persons applying for civil offices under the Govern- would subject us to a kind of pauper patronage, would, in the ment : how much more, then, was an attestation of fitness and majority of instances, diminish the emoluments of the medical identity necessary in the medical profession, the members of officer, and would revive that unfair rivalry which recent which had charge of the lives of the community. Mr. Lavies enactments have so much diminished. To t7te poor, because it then commented on the necessity of union amongst medical would give rise to incessant difficulties in procuring prompt practitioners at the present juncture, and also of attention to the medical attendance or medicine in cases of emergency, and interests of the public, by whom the medical profession are lead to constant errors as to the commencement and terminasupported, and whose welfare ought to be attended to by them tion of medical attendance. To the public, because it would fail to secure that efficient medical aid which is their chief accordingly. Dr. KiFy,in a very vigorous speech, proposed the fourth object, prove a frequent source of unfair and degrading resolutions practices for an increase of the emoluments of the medical "That, in the opinion of this meeting, the mode of registra- officer."" tion as at present conducted is quite inefficient for the purposes Proposed by - EVANS, Esq., seconded by R. J. TUNNALY, contemplated by the Act, and does not afford sufficient protec- Esq. ,-"That this meeting does not approveof the system of tion against unqualified persons becoming enrolled upon the salaries proposed in the Scheme, but prefers the system of payMedical Register." ment per case, with mileage for every distance beyond one This was seconded by Mr. W. ADAMS, and carried unani- mile from the residence of the medical officer, and is willing to leave the arrangement of the amount of the payment to the mously. Thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Mr. LAVIES and se- Poor-law Board on the part of the public, and to the Medical conded by Mr. BoTTOMLEY, terminated the proceedings. Council on the part of the profession." At the conclusion of the meeting, numerous subscriptions Proposed by T. W. CROSSE, Esq., seconded by J. G. JOHNwere paid, and new members added to the Association. sox. Esa..—" That it is the opinion of this meeting the Poor.

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