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THE MEDICAL ACT AND THE MEDICAL COUNCIL.
643
Hospital as a criterion of the progress of the outbreak, it would appear that between Sept. 1862 and Sept. 1864 the beds occupied ranged from 60 to 200. Since the latter month the number of patients in the hospital from week to week was Fever
fl.ra
follows:-
--.-
19f
5a
., v e
ft
There is little doubt that the majority of these eases suffered from true typhus. Maculae and petechiæ were common ; but there was less cerebro-spinal disturbance than is usually observed. The number of deaths during the present year has been below the rate of the London Fever Hospital during a period of ten years. An inquiry into the progress of the epidemic has been instituted by the medical department of the Privy Council, and is now being carried out by Dr. G. Buchanan, one of the physicians of the London Fever Hospital. It is to be hoped that, following the excellent example of Preston in 1862, and warned by the experience of 1847, the local authorities will take such steps as will speedily arrest the further development of the disorder. THE LAVIES DINNER.
of the Association removed responsibility from the executive of the Medical Council, to whom the profession, not unreasonably, looked for a vindication of the provisions of the law. Be this as it may, the fact is not the less to be regretted that an Association which had accomplished much good, and which might have been made available for the protection of the profession, at present exists merely in name. The necessity for its revival is each day becoming more manifest, inasmuch as notwithstanding the several professional trials which have throughout the last year been made public, there is at present no organization of professional men from which might be derived advice and support in case of a renewa of such infamous actions as those to which we refer. It may be that the coming session of Parliament will witness such additional powers vested in the Medical Council as will enable them to take the initiative in carrying out the provisions of the Medical Act, rather than leave it, as at present, to be the plaything of every self-constituted prosecutor. Even if this be so, the necessity for some Association similar to that to which we allude would be scarcely diminished, inasmuch as it would bring to bear for the redress of medical grievances or the protection of medical rights the advice and aid of organized professional opinion. It is to purposes such as this that the British Medical Association might usefully devote its spare cash-if it had any. There is one statement of Mr. Fergusson’s which we heard with regret-namely, that the Association is indebted to Mr. Lavies in a considerable sum of money, advanced by him on its behalf. This state of things should not be permitted to continue. It is a matter of honour, if not of duty, for every member of the profession to see that this debt be at once discharged.
operations
barmedical
A FEW weeks since five hundred members of the English met together in the time-honoured hall of the Middle Temple to entertain, at a) public banquet, M. Berryer, the most distinguished of French advocates. To many of those present on
THE MEDICAL ACT AND THE MEDICAL COUNCIL.
WE would remind the profession that the question of the interesting occasion, the illustrious guest was only known I propriety of asking Government for an amendment of the Mediby personal reputation. His name was, however, familiar to cal Act in the course of next session is now under consideration all as that of one who, throughout a long and not uneventful by the Executive Committee of the General Medical Council. public career, had consistently maintained the independence, No decision has yet been arrived at, and the adjourned meeting is and upheld the honour, of his profession. It is with feelings of fixed for an early day. Meantime, it is evidently the moment unfeigned pleasure we advert to a not less significant, though at which the various societies, bodies, and individuals anxiously it may be a less public manifestation of admiration and respect claiming amendment of the Act, especially its 40th clause, which, on the part of the members of the medical profession, has should press upon the Council the necessity for such amendment. been rendered to Mr. Lavies, whose life has been similarly deWe should be glad to see a great pressure put upon the Council voted to the maintenance and promotion of its best interests. from without at this moment with that end in view. The It must have been in the highest degree gratifying to that Medico-Ethical Society of Manchester have petitioned to this gentleman to find so many of the most distinguished physicians effect ; and if in the course of the next few weeks petitions were and surgeons assembled for the purpose of tendering to him to pour in, and suggestions and letters from individuals feeling their personal esteem and of recording their professional admiaggrieved and able to point out particular instances in which ration. To the well-disciplined mind we know of no tribute the Medical Act has failed to confer powers to protect the pubmore gratifying. It is not possible for all to equally attain lic and to frustrate the devices of medical impostors, and from to the honours or the emoluments of but it is that
professional life,
within the power of each one to so bear himself that, pure and without reproach, he may, like Mr. Levies, find a higher recompense than that which results from the mere rewards of a satisfied ambition. The observations of Mr. Fergusson, and his eulogy of Mr. Lavies’personal and professional character, we are convinced will find a cordial response from such of our readers as have even the most limited knowledge of that gentleman. The medical and surgical professions owe him much, not only for what he has accomplished, but for what he has suggested. It is true that the National Medical Registration Association, with which his name has been so honourably identified, must now be considered as for the present in abeyance. The reasons for this it is not necessary on the present occasion to discuss. It is enough to add, that all that personal energy and expenditure oftime and money could accomplish to preserve its working efficiency was freely contributed by Mr. Lavies. The subscriptions, however, fell off. partly owing to apathy on the part of its members, but principally in consequence of the conflicting decisions given as to the interpretation of the 40th secticn of the Medical Act, and to some vague impression that the
bodies feeling collectively the necessity for conferring greater powers for the purpose off preventing the imposture and personation which the present Act is wholly ineffectual to repress, it would greatly strengthen the hands of the Council, and confirm those who may be disposed to falter in the difficult pa,th of further reform. We commend the suggestion to all local societies, and to the branches of the British Medical Association, as worthy of their immediate adoption. It must be done quickly to be useful. THE
MISSING MINUTES.
we be thought intrusive if we once more inquire after the Minutes of the College of Surgeons ? It is known that weta.ke a sincere interest in those carefully nursed documents. We trust that the College authorities have no treasonable designs in their Councils. So far as wehave heard-and the proceedings of the Council chamberare really not the inestimable and carefully hidden treasures which might be supposed from the present coyness,-there is nothing in the Minutes ’K’hioh news ; make the Council fear for their heads.
SHALL
tenderly
Hospital as a criterion of the progress of the outbreak, it would appear that between Sept. 1862 and Sept. 1864 the beds occupied ranged from 60 to 200. Since the latter month the number of patients in the hospital from week to week was Fever
fl.ra
follows:-
--.-
19f
5a
., v e
ft
There is little doubt that the majority of these eases suffered from true typhus. Maculae and petechiæ were common ; but there was less cerebro-spinal disturbance than is usually observed. The number of deaths during the present year has been below the rate of the London Fever Hospital during a period of ten years. An inquiry into the progress of the epidemic has been instituted by the medical department of the Privy Council, and is now being carried out by Dr. G. Buchanan, one of the physicians of the London Fever Hospital. It is to be hoped that, following the excellent example of Preston in 1862, and warned by the experience of 1847, the local authorities will take such steps as will speedily arrest the further development of the disorder. THE LAVIES DINNER.
of the Association removed responsibility from the executive of the Medical Council, to whom the profession, not unreasonably, looked for a vindication of the provisions of the law. Be this as it may, the fact is not the less to be regretted that an Association which had accomplished much good, and which might have been made available for the protection of the profession, at present exists merely in name. The necessity for its revival is each day becoming more manifest, inasmuch as notwithstanding the several professional trials which have throughout the last year been made public, there is at present no organization of professional men from which might be derived advice and support in case of a renewa of such infamous actions as those to which we refer. It may be that the coming session of Parliament will witness such additional powers vested in the Medical Council as will enable them to take the initiative in carrying out the provisions of the Medical Act, rather than leave it, as at present, to be the plaything of every self-constituted prosecutor. Even if this be so, the necessity for some Association similar to that to which we allude would be scarcely diminished, inasmuch as it would bring to bear for the redress of medical grievances or the protection of medical rights the advice and aid of organized professional opinion. It is to purposes such as this that the British Medical Association might usefully devote its spare cash-if it had any. There is one statement of Mr. Fergusson’s which we heard with regret-namely, that the Association is indebted to Mr. Lavies in a considerable sum of money, advanced by him on its behalf. This state of things should not be permitted to continue. It is a matter of honour, if not of duty, for every member of the profession to see that this debt be at once discharged.
operations
barmedical
A FEW weeks since five hundred members of the English met together in the time-honoured hall of the Middle Temple to entertain, at a) public banquet, M. Berryer, the most distinguished of French advocates. To many of those present on
THE MEDICAL ACT AND THE MEDICAL COUNCIL.
WE would remind the profession that the question of the interesting occasion, the illustrious guest was only known I propriety of asking Government for an amendment of the Mediby personal reputation. His name was, however, familiar to cal Act in the course of next session is now under consideration all as that of one who, throughout a long and not uneventful by the Executive Committee of the General Medical Council. public career, had consistently maintained the independence, No decision has yet been arrived at, and the adjourned meeting is and upheld the honour, of his profession. It is with feelings of fixed for an early day. Meantime, it is evidently the moment unfeigned pleasure we advert to a not less significant, though at which the various societies, bodies, and individuals anxiously it may be a less public manifestation of admiration and respect claiming amendment of the Act, especially its 40th clause, which, on the part of the members of the medical profession, has should press upon the Council the necessity for such amendment. been rendered to Mr. Lavies, whose life has been similarly deWe should be glad to see a great pressure put upon the Council voted to the maintenance and promotion of its best interests. from without at this moment with that end in view. The It must have been in the highest degree gratifying to that Medico-Ethical Society of Manchester have petitioned to this gentleman to find so many of the most distinguished physicians effect ; and if in the course of the next few weeks petitions were and surgeons assembled for the purpose of tendering to him to pour in, and suggestions and letters from individuals feeling their personal esteem and of recording their professional admiaggrieved and able to point out particular instances in which ration. To the well-disciplined mind we know of no tribute the Medical Act has failed to confer powers to protect the pubmore gratifying. It is not possible for all to equally attain lic and to frustrate the devices of medical impostors, and from to the honours or the emoluments of but it is that
professional life,
within the power of each one to so bear himself that, pure and without reproach, he may, like Mr. Levies, find a higher recompense than that which results from the mere rewards of a satisfied ambition. The observations of Mr. Fergusson, and his eulogy of Mr. Lavies’personal and professional character, we are convinced will find a cordial response from such of our readers as have even the most limited knowledge of that gentleman. The medical and surgical professions owe him much, not only for what he has accomplished, but for what he has suggested. It is true that the National Medical Registration Association, with which his name has been so honourably identified, must now be considered as for the present in abeyance. The reasons for this it is not necessary on the present occasion to discuss. It is enough to add, that all that personal energy and expenditure oftime and money could accomplish to preserve its working efficiency was freely contributed by Mr. Lavies. The subscriptions, however, fell off. partly owing to apathy on the part of its members, but principally in consequence of the conflicting decisions given as to the interpretation of the 40th secticn of the Medical Act, and to some vague impression that the
bodies feeling collectively the necessity for conferring greater powers for the purpose off preventing the imposture and personation which the present Act is wholly ineffectual to repress, it would greatly strengthen the hands of the Council, and confirm those who may be disposed to falter in the difficult pa,th of further reform. We commend the suggestion to all local societies, and to the branches of the British Medical Association, as worthy of their immediate adoption. It must be done quickly to be useful. THE
MISSING MINUTES.
we be thought intrusive if we once more inquire after the Minutes of the College of Surgeons ? It is known that weta.ke a sincere interest in those carefully nursed documents. We trust that the College authorities have no treasonable designs in their Councils. So far as wehave heard-and the proceedings of the Council chamberare really not the inestimable and carefully hidden treasures which might be supposed from the present coyness,-there is nothing in the Minutes ’K’hioh news ; make the Council fear for their heads.
SHALL
tenderly