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STATE OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
667 which I had when nine years old, in ingenious, though unjustifiable, a hunting out the naughty Victima; crossing corn -field which had just been but I must tell him, that although he made reaped, a grain of corn was in some manner extensive inquiry, it was neither universal or other forced deeply into its inner surface What the " peculiar advan- near the external canthus, where it soon benor effectual. tages"are which "this hospital affords came encysted, and will, 1 have no doubt, between three and four o’clock in the after- be found in good preservation. It is quite noon, I have yet to learn. But the humbug perceptible to the touch, is not attended of this part of the" Reply"is truly ridi- with the slightest inconvenience, and has
upon his method of
full
"
matter is, that i retained the same form and size for the last Dr. Davies’s extensive practice will not thirty years. It may be asked why I leave my body to allow him to lecture at that hour. The quotation with which I concluded my letter a college which is only in embryo, and was intended to apply to hospitals collec- which has not even professors appointed to tively, and not in particular to the London it yet. My reasons are these :First. Because, though possessing a Hospital. I am rather intimately acquainted with Dr. Davies, and although a silent and feeble and broken-down constitution, I humble, 1 am an ardent, admirer of that hope, barring accidents and the cholera, to gentleman’s brilliant talents as a practitioner live to see students flock in hosts to the and teacher. The other lecturers I am notLONDON COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. at present so well acquainted with, but I Secondly. Because it is based on prinshall, as occasion may offer, " stir up their ciples far more liberal and enlightened than pure minds by way of remembrance."-1 those of any of the present existing medical institutions in Great Britain. am, Sir, your obliged, VICTIMA. Thirdly. Because it requires from canJan. 30th, 1832. didates for its honours actual proofs of the possession of a thorough knowledge of everything relating to the profession, and, unlike the institutions now in existence, A THE BODY TO BEQUEST OF wisely disregards the schools in which such LONDON COLLEGE OF MEDICINE candidates study, as well as the number of certificates they possess,-things which FOR THE PURPOSES OF DISSECTION. afford no evidence whatever of students’ acquirements, and which some of the greatTo the Editor of THE LANCET. est blockheads possess in very great abunSIR,-I agree with you entirely respect- dance. I am, Sir, ingwhat should be the basis of an anatomy Your very obedient servant, bill, as well as in your condemnation of the A. COURTNEY, COURTNEY, Surg. Surg. R. N. system pursued by the surgeons of the Broadstairs, January lst, 1831. London hospitals in their post-mortem examinations, and am moreover of opinion that every person who has the welfare of society STATE OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. at heart, and is a friend to science and humanity, ought to bequeath his body for disTo the Editor of THE LANCET. section ; holdingthis opinion, 1 hereby authorise you to make known through the Sm,-The study of my profession having medium of your Journal, that I this day cost upwards of 500L ere I could designate bequeath my mortal remains to the LONDON myself a 11 general practitioner," indepenCOLLEGE OF MEDICINE, to be dissected for dent of the extreme mental anxiety ever the instruction of the students of that insti- attendant on presenting for examination, I tution, whoever they may be; and after dis- returned home in expectation of meeting section the bones to be used for the purpose with that success in practice which such of teaching the rudiments of anatomy. My an enormous expenditure of money demands. example will I trust be followed, 1’eligentem Shortly afterwards I commenced business, esse oportet, religioSll111 nefas. Nay, some have having several highly-respected surgeons already led the way, both here and else- to cope with, long established in the pracwhere. Surely it is a far more rational mode tice of their profession. To this class of of thus disposing of our bodies for the practitioners I bow with extreme gratitude, benefit of the living, than to have them and earnestly wish to continue the honourcommitted to the earth to be eaten by able struggle of obtaining, by fair means, worms,-to me it seems more in accordance any portion of public confidence. Gentlewith the spirit of the Christian religion. men possessed of independent and honourThe examination of the upper eyelid of able principles in the practising of their the left eye I begmay be conducted profession can never be considered as barwith great care, because in consequence of riers, or stumbling blocks, to the well"
culous ; for the truth of the
-
668
newly-commencing practitioners. departed, and about two hours after, I re1 discovered in the per- ceived,-tl1e ’following note:- 1’ Sunday evening (8th Jan., 1832). son of a chemist and druggist (though assuming the garb of a regularly-educated " My dear Sir,-I have been thinking man) an individual who, by mean artifices, much about the female patient whom I saw stratagems, and reports, hath cleverly cir- last, down stairs, and I cannot get over the culated in the town and neighbourhood impression that she is affected with epidethat he ia a doctor --good and bold. mic cholera. Yours very truly, Believe me, Sir, he prescribes and mixes (Signed) W. REID CLANNY." Doctor Miller (who has been in Asia) up more physic than any medical man in town; he hath long pursued this career. Two I was visiting some patients with me at the doing Ere
of
long, however,
"
prescribed, termi. time I received the above ; he went and saw the other week. Such events Elizabeth Taylor, and declared that her fatally frequently take place. A highly-respectedI complaint did not bear any resemblance to medical gentleman was called in to one of cholera. Doctor Clanny, when he found his late cases. On his arrival he found the he was unable to induce me to report it as patient, a young lady, sitting on a chair, cholera, informed the Board of Health, Sun. with her arm and head reclining on a table, derland, that I was withholding cases that On his occurred in my practice. This I allowed to on which a pillow was placed. touchingher arm he was shocked at feeling pass, as Doctor Miller, a member of the it cold and pulseless. Alas ! she was dead Board of Health, had attended all the cases -quite dead !1 The chemist had never with me. Shortly afterwards I was favoured visited her ! She was in the last stage of with a note from the Board of Health, refever, petechias had begun to make their questing my attendance to answer a charge appearance, and her daily allowance con- laid against me by Dr. Clanny, member of their Board. I attended at the time resisted of dry toast, gruel, and cold water. I am acquainted with two or three other quested, but to my disappointment Doctor cases equally glaring in ignorance. Such Clanny was not present to substantiate his instances are horrible to relate. To think charge. I repeated to the gentlemen pre. that a beautiful young lady, who a very sent what I had said to Doctor Clanny, and shot period before was in the meridian of the conduct he had been pursuing. With and good feelingof gentlemen, happiness, should thus beallowed to die, the dignity without one effort being made on the part they said I had been misrepresented,, tnd of a regularly-educated medical man to that they were satisfied. Now, Mr. Editor, was it proper or pro. snatch her from the jaws of death ! How for Doctor Clanny to send a per. long must such practices be continued ?1 fessional private patients without my They are of no rare occurrence in the coun- son to visit my Is there no law-no protection against knowledge or consent; to compel me to such dreadful consequences1 Are our di- neglect my professional duties by comingaa distance to the place appointed plomas only waste paper and our profession considerable for explanation, and then not to make his a bug-bear1 I am, Sir, yours truly, appearance? Mr. Editor, the late noble-minded and W. H. liberal Doctor Armstrong had to grapple Jan. 1832. with this Doctor Clanny. 1 would not have made an allusion to the much-lamented Dr. Armstrong, had it not been that the paCHARGE OF UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT tient whom Dr. Clanny wished to designate AGAINST DR. R. CLANNY. as labouring under cholera, occupied the room in which Dr. A. was born, and where he first devoted his attention to the study of To the Editor if THE LANCET. medicine. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, SIR,-I submit the following to your WM. CANDLISH. 27th January, 1832. judgment :Doctor Clanny of Sunderland visited a Ayres Quay, near the Quarantine Station, Sunderland. patient of mine, with me, named Hannah 13zirnes, who was labouring under epidemic *.* Prudential motives have induced cholera. In the same house resided Elizaus to omit two or three passages which beth Taylor, who was unwell from a stomach were contained in the foregoing communiDr. requested Clanny permiscomplaint. sion to see her ; I granted it. Immediately cation. The parts omitted were scarcely he saw her, he Eaid her disease was epide- essential to establish the chief points of tha mic cholera. I remonstrated, and informed narrative.-ED. L. him Doctor Brown had seen the patient, cases, for which he alone
nated
try.
.
and
agreed with me in opinion.
Dr.
Clanny
upon his method of
full
"
matter is, that i retained the same form and size for the last Dr. Davies’s extensive practice will not thirty years. It may be asked why I leave my body to allow him to lecture at that hour. The quotation with which I concluded my letter a college which is only in embryo, and was intended to apply to hospitals collec- which has not even professors appointed to tively, and not in particular to the London it yet. My reasons are these :First. Because, though possessing a Hospital. I am rather intimately acquainted with Dr. Davies, and although a silent and feeble and broken-down constitution, I humble, 1 am an ardent, admirer of that hope, barring accidents and the cholera, to gentleman’s brilliant talents as a practitioner live to see students flock in hosts to the and teacher. The other lecturers I am notLONDON COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. at present so well acquainted with, but I Secondly. Because it is based on prinshall, as occasion may offer, " stir up their ciples far more liberal and enlightened than pure minds by way of remembrance."-1 those of any of the present existing medical institutions in Great Britain. am, Sir, your obliged, VICTIMA. Thirdly. Because it requires from canJan. 30th, 1832. didates for its honours actual proofs of the possession of a thorough knowledge of everything relating to the profession, and, unlike the institutions now in existence, A THE BODY TO BEQUEST OF wisely disregards the schools in which such LONDON COLLEGE OF MEDICINE candidates study, as well as the number of certificates they possess,-things which FOR THE PURPOSES OF DISSECTION. afford no evidence whatever of students’ acquirements, and which some of the greatTo the Editor of THE LANCET. est blockheads possess in very great abunSIR,-I agree with you entirely respect- dance. I am, Sir, ingwhat should be the basis of an anatomy Your very obedient servant, bill, as well as in your condemnation of the A. COURTNEY, COURTNEY, Surg. Surg. R. N. system pursued by the surgeons of the Broadstairs, January lst, 1831. London hospitals in their post-mortem examinations, and am moreover of opinion that every person who has the welfare of society STATE OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. at heart, and is a friend to science and humanity, ought to bequeath his body for disTo the Editor of THE LANCET. section ; holdingthis opinion, 1 hereby authorise you to make known through the Sm,-The study of my profession having medium of your Journal, that I this day cost upwards of 500L ere I could designate bequeath my mortal remains to the LONDON myself a 11 general practitioner," indepenCOLLEGE OF MEDICINE, to be dissected for dent of the extreme mental anxiety ever the instruction of the students of that insti- attendant on presenting for examination, I tution, whoever they may be; and after dis- returned home in expectation of meeting section the bones to be used for the purpose with that success in practice which such of teaching the rudiments of anatomy. My an enormous expenditure of money demands. example will I trust be followed, 1’eligentem Shortly afterwards I commenced business, esse oportet, religioSll111 nefas. Nay, some have having several highly-respected surgeons already led the way, both here and else- to cope with, long established in the pracwhere. Surely it is a far more rational mode tice of their profession. To this class of of thus disposing of our bodies for the practitioners I bow with extreme gratitude, benefit of the living, than to have them and earnestly wish to continue the honourcommitted to the earth to be eaten by able struggle of obtaining, by fair means, worms,-to me it seems more in accordance any portion of public confidence. Gentlewith the spirit of the Christian religion. men possessed of independent and honourThe examination of the upper eyelid of able principles in the practising of their the left eye I begmay be conducted profession can never be considered as barwith great care, because in consequence of riers, or stumbling blocks, to the well"
culous ; for the truth of the
-
668
newly-commencing practitioners. departed, and about two hours after, I re1 discovered in the per- ceived,-tl1e ’following note:- 1’ Sunday evening (8th Jan., 1832). son of a chemist and druggist (though assuming the garb of a regularly-educated " My dear Sir,-I have been thinking man) an individual who, by mean artifices, much about the female patient whom I saw stratagems, and reports, hath cleverly cir- last, down stairs, and I cannot get over the culated in the town and neighbourhood impression that she is affected with epidethat he ia a doctor --good and bold. mic cholera. Yours very truly, Believe me, Sir, he prescribes and mixes (Signed) W. REID CLANNY." Doctor Miller (who has been in Asia) up more physic than any medical man in town; he hath long pursued this career. Two I was visiting some patients with me at the doing Ere
of
long, however,
"
prescribed, termi. time I received the above ; he went and saw the other week. Such events Elizabeth Taylor, and declared that her fatally frequently take place. A highly-respectedI complaint did not bear any resemblance to medical gentleman was called in to one of cholera. Doctor Clanny, when he found his late cases. On his arrival he found the he was unable to induce me to report it as patient, a young lady, sitting on a chair, cholera, informed the Board of Health, Sun. with her arm and head reclining on a table, derland, that I was withholding cases that On his occurred in my practice. This I allowed to on which a pillow was placed. touchingher arm he was shocked at feeling pass, as Doctor Miller, a member of the it cold and pulseless. Alas ! she was dead Board of Health, had attended all the cases -quite dead !1 The chemist had never with me. Shortly afterwards I was favoured visited her ! She was in the last stage of with a note from the Board of Health, refever, petechias had begun to make their questing my attendance to answer a charge appearance, and her daily allowance con- laid against me by Dr. Clanny, member of their Board. I attended at the time resisted of dry toast, gruel, and cold water. I am acquainted with two or three other quested, but to my disappointment Doctor cases equally glaring in ignorance. Such Clanny was not present to substantiate his instances are horrible to relate. To think charge. I repeated to the gentlemen pre. that a beautiful young lady, who a very sent what I had said to Doctor Clanny, and shot period before was in the meridian of the conduct he had been pursuing. With and good feelingof gentlemen, happiness, should thus beallowed to die, the dignity without one effort being made on the part they said I had been misrepresented,, tnd of a regularly-educated medical man to that they were satisfied. Now, Mr. Editor, was it proper or pro. snatch her from the jaws of death ! How for Doctor Clanny to send a per. long must such practices be continued ?1 fessional private patients without my They are of no rare occurrence in the coun- son to visit my Is there no law-no protection against knowledge or consent; to compel me to such dreadful consequences1 Are our di- neglect my professional duties by comingaa distance to the place appointed plomas only waste paper and our profession considerable for explanation, and then not to make his a bug-bear1 I am, Sir, yours truly, appearance? Mr. Editor, the late noble-minded and W. H. liberal Doctor Armstrong had to grapple Jan. 1832. with this Doctor Clanny. 1 would not have made an allusion to the much-lamented Dr. Armstrong, had it not been that the paCHARGE OF UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT tient whom Dr. Clanny wished to designate AGAINST DR. R. CLANNY. as labouring under cholera, occupied the room in which Dr. A. was born, and where he first devoted his attention to the study of To the Editor if THE LANCET. medicine. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, SIR,-I submit the following to your WM. CANDLISH. 27th January, 1832. judgment :Doctor Clanny of Sunderland visited a Ayres Quay, near the Quarantine Station, Sunderland. patient of mine, with me, named Hannah 13zirnes, who was labouring under epidemic *.* Prudential motives have induced cholera. In the same house resided Elizaus to omit two or three passages which beth Taylor, who was unwell from a stomach were contained in the foregoing communiDr. requested Clanny permiscomplaint. sion to see her ; I granted it. Immediately cation. The parts omitted were scarcely he saw her, he Eaid her disease was epide- essential to establish the chief points of tha mic cholera. I remonstrated, and informed narrative.-ED. L. him Doctor Brown had seen the patient, cases, for which he alone
nated
try.
.
and
agreed with me in opinion.
Dr.
Clanny