DUBLIN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.

639

place at the public 501. "Do not the country hospital, that were held, that the Council from the smaller number of students, adabandoned any of the regulations that mit of their observing the cases with were complained of?"-" I believe not." greater accuracy?" -"11 Unquestionably; 492. ’‘ To whose neglect was the de- but there is a very inferior field of obstruction of the Hunterian manuscripts servation in small hospitals." attributable? .. -"Ido not know that 502. "To whom ought the recognition neglect was attributable to anybody. I do of hospitals and schools to be entrusted ?" not know that those manuscripts were ever -" To the examining board or boards." the property of the public. I think nobody 503. "Would you have any appeal in could have suspected that Sir Everard case of improper judgment ?"-" No, I Home, under such circumstances, would would not." 504. " What steps, if any, would you destroy "the manuscripts." 493. Putting aside the legal question, advise to be taken, to put down irregular as to whom the propet ty of the manuscripts practitioners ?"-" The distinction I should was vested in, does not great hlame attach i make, would be to prevent all unqualified to any person who destroyed the manu- persons from following medicine, as a - scripts?"-" There cannot be two opinions gainful occupation. You cannot prevent on that subject." head of a family, or a neighbour, from 494. " Are ten members more than giving advice, or administering a dose of enough for the court of examiners?"- medicine. But I think a person ought " I think they are, if they only examine not to be allowed to exercise the medical one person at a time." profession, as a calling, and for the pur495. " If men of sufficient eminence poses of gain, under the pretext of poscould be found younger than thirty-six, sessing a knowledge which he does not should you see any objection to their being I possess. In fact, as patients may choose examiners?’=" None at all. Many com- educated practitioners, perhaps it might petent examiners might, I think, be found not be worth while to interfere with ignobetween the age of twenty-five and thirty- rant pretenders." six." 505. " Would you advise any steps to 496. " Does the election of the medical be taken respecting the qualification of officers of hospitals by the siibscril)ers to druggists ?"-" I think if they are to prac. the hospitals, lead to any evil ?"-" I do tise medically, as they do now, they ought not know what other mode of election to be educated and examined as medical could be adopted ; and I am not aware that persons." it does lead to any evil." 506. " You believe that, to a great ex497. " Should you approve of limiting tent, they do practise medically ?"-" A the choice of hospital surgeons to those person stands behind the counter in most members of the profession who belonged shops, from whom patients get to the higher grade in surgery .?’’-" Un- advice, and they buy the medicine he ordoubtedly, I think that ought to be so. ders." " But it would rest with the governors whe507. Ought the general practitioner ther they would restrict themselves in that to be allowed to charge for attendance, instead of medicine ?"-" I think it reawav or "not." 498. In electing to the offices of phy- sonable. At present I do not know that sician to the metropolitan hospitals, do the he can recover anything for attendance. fellows of the College of Physicians possess I should be very sorry myself to pay acany advantages over the licentiates of that cording to the physic, if I was ill." 508. " Is there any other point that you College?’=" I have understood that the fellows of the College of Physicians gene- wish to state to the Committee ?"—" I rally act in a body, and give their support have nothing to offer. I did not come as to some one individual of their number. I a volunteer, but upon summons." doubt whether the licentiates act under the sions which took

meetings

the

druggists’

same

discipline."

499. "Do you maintain the opinion which you expressed in 1826, that there DUBLIN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. are peculiar advantages belonging to small hospitals ?"—"Imade some remarks upon ON the 3rd of August, being the first that in the publication before referred to; Monday in the month, the Dublin College but I should not insist upon the validity of of Surgeons held a " chartered quarterly those remarks." meeting." 500. " Is the number of students at the Assistant Secretary HARRISON galloped large hospitals so great as to diminish the through the reports from the several power of making minute and accurate ob- standing committees, treasury, fmance,

servation ?"—" Not

generally."

library, and

museum,

dwelling with par-

640 ticular

emphasis

on

that from " Museum

C.," which conveyed the gratifying intel-

there

was a

thers

demand for

botany tickets by

the Apothecaries’ Halls, and the Army He did think ligence that all the bottles had been and East India Boards, &c. neatly painted, and that several prepara- the College should consider the convenitions in natural history, which had long ence of its pupils, and not send them out presented an anonymous aspect, had been of doors for their tickets. At the same duly christened and smartened for the in- time he did not wish to legislate in a ’spection of the British Association, before hurry, but wishing to be quite candid and which the school designed to cut a figure. fair with the College, he would not press devoted an equal portion of eloquence the election of a professor until June next. He Dr. JACOB seconded the motion. to the no less gratifying part of the " Library Report," which informed the en- Mr. PORTER would not, of course, offer chained auditors that, from the same desire any opposition thereto, but wished merely of display, all the lent books had been to put Mr. Harrison in possession of some called in, and put in their places at home, information on the subject. He held a where they might perform the brilliant professorship on this subject in Park part of fixed stars, instead of pursuing Street, and when applying to have the the erratic course of erratic planets. Not tickets received, he was met with the " one word, however, did the report say question, What means have you of dethe concerning just-achieved expulsion of monstrating the subjects ? Have you a the independent portion of the medical botanical garden ?" He made the best press from the library of the College-that answer he could, and said a great deal press which, single-handed, has combated about laortus siccus, but in vain. Two inand beaten into the region of utter disgrace stitutions declined his tickets; one he and weakness the fellow College in London, thought was the Hall, and the other he backed though it was by every influence forgot at the moment. Let the College acquired during a long course of iniquity, take care that the same thing did not hapand every aid that corruption could com- pen to that institution. mand--that press which has reduced to Mr. HARRISON did not think that any its just dimensions the English College of one could use the College so ill, after Physicians, surrounded as it was by the they had put forth their manifesto. Beincrusting and protecting antiquities of sides, a garden was scarcely necessary, for four hoary centuries of existence-that there was only one in all London, and press which has shaken the medical mo- that was at Chelsea, and yet there were nopolies of the universities to their very several lecturers on botany in London. Mr. WRIGHT thought that the Royal bases,-which has untied, exposed, and broken to pieces, the impudently fabri- Dublin Society would afford the use of cated bonds with which the Company of their gardens. A MEMBER. " Yes, if you appoint their Drugsellers in Blackfriars had surrounded and crippled medical science,-and which professor." Mr. HARRISON intimated that he had now has unveiled and disrobed from the obscurity in which distance and neglect been consulted, but that he would not had enveloped it, that fastness of mono- accept the useless office; the foundation poly and corruption, the College of Sur. was regularly laid, and a salary given, geons in Dublin, the usurping inhabitauts which the College could not do. of whose walls now quailing for safety, Dr. JACOB was not to be scared by trithink by removing one tube of the ten- fles ; he said the professorship ought to thousand-barrelled " terrible machine" be established, and he was quite sure that from the library of their secret cham- some one would be found willing to lecbers, to save from destruction the place of ture for the honour of the thing (cries of unjust power and the hall of professional " Would you do so ?"). The professor’s exin the iniquity !B Vain thought! The efforts of penses would most likely be defrayed " certificates." a thousand corporators cannot hinder the first year by the sale of his profession from possessing free institli.. He would not recommend the College to tions, and opening to merit the widest create a botanical garden, because it would field for exertion and reward. What then cost too much money- 2001. a year.* But can

an

Irish

biblio-chirurgical brigade

effect, though headed by such knights

as

find in the persons of the redoubted heroes, WILLIAMS the brave, and BARKER the valiant ? Mr. HARRISON next brought forward his motion for the foundation of a professorship of medical botany. He thought the time had come for such a thing; we

spare the funds of the College catcntated to create a and utility gratification to the great body of members, and misht be rendered materially subservient to the purposes of science, on the part of one who draws double the sum, in one shape or another, from the same pnblic purse, to defray the expenses of his and Mr. Harrison’s (lernonstratiotis of the human body before any persons but the and members of the College!

iu

* Strange anxiety to a

matter which is well

source

of

l licentiates

641 the individual who might be appointed could easily take a bit of ground, and perform the duty sufficiently well, for 251. per annum. Only let the professor be appointed, and the requisites would soon follow. Mr. HARRISON again wished to be open and fair with the College, which he did not want to cheat. He would candidly say, that he had in contemplation to move also, that the certificate of botany should be made incumbent or compulsory on their

they, instead of destroying the and justly,having question, actually made law a

on

the subject. It should be remembered, that the Court had liberty to institute pro-

bationary lectares. Mr. ELLIS felt bound to oppose the as it would be in his mind an illegal on the College funds. Dr. T. BEATTY was quite satisfied that

motion,

infringement the measure

were

was

incorporated

perfectly legal. They to

teach; therefore

to

pay for teaching ; and therefore to pay for own pupils. elucidating the most approved mode of Mr. PORTER objected to throwing so teaching. The thing was quite evident much occupation on the time of the stu- -quod erat demonstrandum. dent : so also did two or three more speakDr. SMALL must oppose the motion on ers. the very grounds on which Dr. Evanson Dr. SMALL thought it would be very had advocated it; he did not think that inconsistent in the College to provide any benefit was likely to arise. The subject merely for a foreign market: if it was of the concours was now, in fact, quite thought fit to found the professorship, hacknied, and sufficiently understood : the the other motion ought certainly to go on College had spoken their mind freely enough on it by a recent proceeding ; in pari passu. It was then agreed that the bill should fact, they had assumed that they were well be forwarded a stage, and lie over for informed on the matter, and had, as the future consideration. However, another assistant secretary had stated, made a law In short, he could not view the post and source of patronage may be conmatter either as "useful" or judicious ; sidered as complete-for Park Street. Mr. WRIGHT postponed, until next nor, in fact, as " legal." If the College quarter day, his motion for premiums to purse was to be opened, let it be in favour be paid out of the College funds for prize of something likely to confer general essays, which are to be considered as the advantage. " Transactions of the College." Mr. WILLIAMS took quite an opposite Mr. EVANSON (who closely rivals Mr. view, and considered that incalculable HARRISON in eloquence, and is by some benefit would arise from pursuing the thought even to surpass him in the vox-et- proposed course. On no other subject preterea-nihil department-in English call- were the wisest heads more divided, and ed "rigmarole ") next brought forward his was the best, in fact the only way to motion for the grant of 501. for the best solve the question. essay on the Concours. He did so merely to The motion was then passed, and the his show own and in

thereon.

this

consistency sincerity introduce real reform into me- committee revived. Dr. BRENAN having now entered the dical institutions, and to confer their honours on the most deserving persons. room, begged (in order to maintain his This he believed to be the feeling of the own consistency in not having protested outlay of any College money majority of the members, notwithstanding againsta the view to aid the College school) to all aspersions to the contrary. With this view he brought forward his former mo- move an instruction to the Committee, they be directed to consider and retion, the fate of which all of them remembered. It had, in fact, fallen to the ground, port how the College school can be made though an increased committee had been useful in any way to the members at large. Dr. EVANSON.—Sir, I must oppose any appointed to consider the question; but as it involves an insult to the they had seized on the infant of his loins, such motion, and, with excess of fostering care, had professors in the school, and of course to strangled the child. To give further proof the College. of his sincerity and consistency, he moved, Dr. BRENAN begged of the individual in conclusion, for the revival of the child- who had just bounced up, to be a little killing committee, to consider the best’ more guarded in his expressions. Nothing means of putting his motion into execu- was further from his wish than to insult that meeting or any other assembly; he tion. Mr. HARRISON seconded the motion, was as little capable of being guilty of an and agreed in all that the °° learned Doc- insult, as the honourable gentleman who tor"had said, except on the subject of the i had just sat down; he would even say murder, which he must deny, the Com- less so. mittee having acted candidly, sincerely,I Assistant-secretary HARRISON insisteia wishing to

with

that

642 that Mr. Evanson was right, and that the such thing, but he was at liberty to imagine such a case. motion could not be entertained. Dr. JACOB, uttering loud cries of "hear," Dr. JACOB rose, and with much fury spoke of attacks and side-wind blows on " hear," suggested, that he (Dr. J.) might the school. He was at length, however,just as well give notice of motion to make ducks and drakes of the Peter-street School, pulled down and held by some friends. Several of the tail here also opposed the in order to render it useful to members. motion. proceeded to launch into the trouDr. BRENAN said he would be guided bled waters upon which he so frequently flounders, but was called to order by the by the chair. Dr. SMALL begged, before the chair president. Mr. HARRrzsoN resumed, and insisted ruled on the subject, to remark that it had always been boasted by gentlemen on the again on his three precedents, and protested other side, but with what degree of ac- against the motion in any shape; besides, curacy lie would not pretend to say, it was useless, for the committee would that the College was formed on the mo- report most probably before the instrncdel of the House of Commons; if so, the tion could reach them ; what was to bequestion could be easily determined by comeof it then ? EvANSON rose to speak against the knowing the rule of Parliament : his opinion was, that it was competent for any motion a second time, but was called to order by Mr. Small. member to move instruction to a tee without first entering a notice thereon. Dr. DRENAN, in reply, thanked Dr. He did not, however, pretend to be quite Jacob for the parallel he had attempted to au fait on the subject of parliamentary draw between his private school in Peterorder ; but he was certainly a little asto- street, and Dr. Jacob’s school in the Colnished to hear gentlemen insist on the lege, hut he apprehended that there was necessity of notice of instruction to a com- no analogy between them. Peter-street mittee given, and appearing in print School was private property, and supported in the summons, when until this moment itself, but the College School was, or ought there had not been a single word said to be, public property, as it was sustained .about the committee itself. If that com- entirely by public money. In conclusion, mittee was instituted according to "order," he begged to say, that when he proposed he did think that the instruction to it must his resolution, he did so, not in the hope that it would pass, but merely to preserve also be regular. Mr. HARRisoN said it was quite true his own consistency, by recording his opthat their proceedings were based on those position to what he conceived to be a great of the House of Commons,* and the rule and an unjust evil. As that resolution was in the House was, that no instruction could said to he irregular, he had altered it to the be. moved without notice to that effect : he form of a notice of motion, and he respecthad often seen notices posted on the pillars fully offered it to the chair: it was for the chair to decide whetherit could be refused; in the lobby of the House of Comrnons, A MEMBER here suggested to Dr.Brenaii he was ready at all times to abide by the to put his resolution in the form of notice judgment of the president. Mr. HARRISON again objected; but the of a future motion. Dr. EVANSON opposed the notice being president said that as he was placed there received even in that shape, because it as the organ of the College, it was his duty, as it was also his wish, to perform his funcwas insulting. A MEMBER doubted if a notice of motion, tions with courtesy and justice to all parties : he did not see how he could refuse the properly worded, could be refused, Mr. HARRISON said it was quite proper, notice of motion; the motion itself might be disposed of as the College should think and in the power of the College, and sonabic, to refuse to have the motion ; he fit. The notice was accordingly filed. remembered three precedents for it : noA conversation then ensued on the meetthing .could be more proper than that the College should have the power of refusing, ingof the British Association, during which for a member might put the most absurd the president inquired what arrangements thing in his notice. Far be it from him to the committee had made, and whether a suppose that the gentleman would do any list of the company bad been provided for him (the president) to invite, as the time was short, and he wished to be as accom’ have a constant in the ho-

He then

commit-

Mr.

being

rea-

-

-

If so, we nourable g(,ntleiiian

anomaly

liiiiiself, who, being assistant-

is nevertheless a hot partisan speaker, rising five or six times on every" qnesin tion ;" fact, he is ever oil his legs," and creates more diaortlerly and discourteons interrnption to other speakers, than any two other persons.

secretary,

or

clerk,

Triodating as possible. This gave that busy Syntax, Dr. EVANSON, an opportunity of talking once more, oi an of selfduring, whieh he set his organ selfduring which and its result, self-prmse, in ener-

[esteem,

ELECTION AT CHRIST’S HOSPITAL.

getic motion. Heconcluded with a lec- may arise, from pursuing a course in opon politeness, remarkable alike for to such a plain rule of justice, or the modesty and good taste which it disof maintaining the prerogative of choice, played, recommending his brethren to behave themselves decently at the coming; where the frequent exercise of the privientertainment. Where the gentleman graof selecting may prove of so much duated in politeness, whether during his> lege . value to the interests of the children. in ofMunthe western wilds youthful days ster, or while a miserable scholar in Trinity The existence of ringworm in Christ’s College, or in the palmy days of successful has become the subject of con. toadyism, we know not: but the lecture ofHospital ture

’

643

position

the " Professor of Politenesswas treated versation and complaint,

the meeting with some involuntary smiles and sneers, and then the assembly departed. We hope they will be glad to find their proceedings so fully reported. We have reports before us of some other College discussions, but we expect that it will not be possible to find room for their publication this week.

’by

not

only

in the

metropolis but throughout the country ; equally true that the governors of the hospital are charged with having neglected their duty in not having provided the medical department of the hospital and it is

efficient shareof energy and public that hundreds of boys within the last twenty years have, through the existence of this THE LANCET. malady in the establishment, been deprived of the benefits which it was hoped they London, Saturday, August 15, 1835. would derive from receiving a first-rate classical education. This is an evil of AN exceedingly energetic canvass is pro- frightful magnitude, and has brought down ceeding for the vacant medical office in upon the governors of this respectable, Cltrist’s Hospital. Numerous are the can- useful, and wealthy institution, the heavy didates, various are their pretensions, and reprobation of all classes of the commu. zealous are their friends. The governors, nity. Have not these gentlemen sufficient however, have but a single duty to dis- strength of mind or honesty of purpose charge, and that a simple one. They are to shake off from the medical department bound by their oath, and by every consi- of Clarist’s Hospital, its festering and deration of humanity, to elect the man cankering connexion with that of St, who brings with him to the poll the great- Bartholomew ? Take the whole run of est quantity of experience and medical Mr. ABERNETHY’S services, and the serskill ; a man of established reputation- vices of all his colleagues,-take the laif such a person can be found-in the bours, also, of all their protegés,—and treatment of diseases of the skin; and, as what has been accomplished by these a precaution, whatever may he the preten- persons for the suffering children of sions of the successful candidate, he ought Christ’s Hospital ? Literally nothing. All have failed to accomto be elected for a period not exceeding in one year. This suggestion may be dis- plish the object view,-that (to use the " pleasing to many persons who believe that phraseology of Mr. LLOYD) of eraditheir friend will obtain the vacant seat; cating " the ringworm from Christ’s Hoswith

skill.

a more

It is well known to the

the appointments

but, inasmuch as we are conscious that the pital. It would not only be disgraceful, but welfare of the children demands such an exercise of prudence, we cannot refrain almost a CRIME, therefore, to seek for from making the suggestion, or of pointing further aid amongst those persons who out to the governors, how much mischief have received their entire medical educa-