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FEES FROM LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANIES.
684
examining boards, who are entrusted with irresponsible power, and who have used this power rather for the purpose of aggrandizing themselves and for their own benefit, than for the welfare of their members. That these powers have been entrusted to the above bodies, not only for the good of the medical profession, but also for the advantage of the public, by preventing ignorant and illiterate persons from practising physic. That so far from this end being obtained, there never was a period in the history of our country where the ignorant, the illiterate, and the unexamined, could practise physic with so much impunity, as is proved by the fact that. more than 300 persons, ascertained to be totally unqualified, besides chemists and druggists, calling themselves physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries, are at this moment practising in London alone. That it would therefore, on all accounts, be desirable that the examining boards and councils of our medical institutions should be responsible to the government, at least until such time as measures can be taken to make the executive of our various medical institutions responsible to the members whom they ought
to
represent.
That the medical profession, although governed by seventeen institutions, is not protected from the injury which they sustain from ignorant and unqualified persons being allowed to practise all branches of the profession; and that the public is thus exposed to the dangerous consequences which result from no restraint being placed on the practice of persons falsely calling themselves physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries. That although the members of the different medical institutions are registered in their respective colleges, &c., yet, from the want of a proper publication of the registers, but more especially from the want of a summary power of prosecution vested in the magistracy, to be necessarily enforced against all persons practising without possessing any licence or diploma of the United Kingdom, no broad line of distinction is drawn between the educated practitioner and the
ignorant pretender. That the public opposition to the Medical Registration Bill has eminated chiefly from a body who have already memorialized her Majesty’s government on the subject of medical
under the title of the Council of the National Institute of Medicine, Surgery, and Midwifery. That amongst your memorialists are several members of the said Institute, who do not feel themselves represented in this respect by their council, and who have protested against their opposition to this Bill; and who, in the course of a very short period, obtained the permission of more than seventv other members of the Institute to attach their names to a Protest against
reform,
occasions of wrong, make a forcible appeal to the public for good of the profession. It is from this motive that I now address you. I was called upon, some time ago, by a gentleman, (as. I supposed,) the mayor of a provincial city; and was consulted by him many times respecting a patient, (a beneficed clergyman of S2000 a year,) in regard to whose pecuniary matters he was agent, (for he was an attorney.) The questions wereWhether his client was insane, and-What course should be taken for his welfare. Besides many consultations with this gentleman in town, I was thrice directed by him to proceed the distance of fifteen miles to visit his client; and I was twice authorized by him to take another physician with memaking five journeys of thirty miles each, amounting in all to 150 miles. For moderate fees for all this I have applied to this attorney in vain. He refers me to another gentleman into whose hands the patient’s affairs have passed, but of whom I know nothing, except that he, at the first, refused to pay the just account of a medical gentleman to whose house this same patient went, but who was not to be so trifled with; a writ having been served, the thing was soon settled. But, Sir, what is a physician to do under these circumstances ? His fees are a debt of honour. The appeal on the plea of honour is made in vain. Can he not, even at common law, demand at least his expenses and the value of his time? For I must add that we have never been reimbursed even our actual expenditure! I must also add, that I have appealed to the successor in the mayoralty of the attorney to whom I first alluded, and to the daughter of the patient, (a lady of forty,) whom I saw with her father, equally in vain. I hope, Sir, you will deem this a proper subject for publicity, and allow me, on some early day, to address you upon it again more in detail. Well might Sir C. M. Clark say, "Mankind care little for the profession" ! It may also be said, with too much truth,that, when the law is out of the question, they care little for their own honour. What is left, but an appeal to the public ? I am, Sir, your obedient servant, M.D. London, June 13th, 1847.
the
to
FEES FROM LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANIES. To the Editor of THE LANCET. Uxbridge, June 14th, 1847.
SIR,—In your number of last week you draw attention to the Legal and Commercial Assurance Office, and its directors, and quoted an extract from the Address in their circular, dated February, 1847, showing their extremely liberal conduct the course of opposition which the council of that body towards the medical profession, &c. have thought fit to pursue towards the Medical Registration As I am desirous that you, as well as my medical brethren, Bill. should fully understand their position with this liberal office, That your memorialists, having carefully considered the I subjoin copies of a correspondence I have had with these details of the Medical Registration Bill now before the House worthies, through their Secretary, and merely remark, that of Commons, believe that it is well adapted to remedy the I intend to finish the affair by issuing a summons to the evils to which they have referred, and they trust that her County Court, under the Small Debts Act, held at Uxbridge, Majesty’s advisers will see the necessity and advantage of ’, for the remainder of my fee.-I remain, Sir, your obedient giving their unqualified support to that measure, which your I servant, WILLIAM RAYNER.
memorialists feel assured is
as
much calculated to confer
a
great boon upon the community at large, as it is to elevate the character and promote the interests of the medical pro-
fession.
Freemasons’ Tavern, June
EDWIN LANKESTER, Chairman. JAMES RHODES} W. DT. POWELL, ij a
JAMES RHODES, } Hon. Secs.
P.S.—You will perceivea good profit is attached to this scheme of demanding two guineas for expenses, and paying the doctor ten shillings and sixpence, making a clear profit of one guinea and a half by every application. I should observe, the assurance, as might be expected, was not effected.
l6th, 1847.
Correspondence.
(COPY.)
Uxbridge, Nov. 1st, 1846. I few returned to SIR,—A your office the answers days ago, to the several queries contained in your letter respecting Mr. Hall, together with a statement that my fee for the same was one guinea. To this I have had no reply. I therefore shall defer answering any more questions until my fee is remitted, and remain. Sir, your obedient servant. To J. C. Hardy, Esq., WILLIAM RAYNER. and Commercial Assurance Society. The questions above referred to related to another party, was also about to insure.
ON MEDICAL FEES. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—The profession are deeply indebted to Mr. Henry Smith for his just and independent efforts to set at rest the question of fees to medical gentlemen to whom the Insurance Offices apply for their professional and confidential opinion on the eligibility for insurance of a given life or lives. Oblique and distorted must that vision be which does not (COpy.) now see this question in its fair and upright position. Legal and Commercial Assurance Society, The profession are not less indebted to Sir C. M. Clark, Bart., London, Nov. 7th, 1846. for his candid and generous statement, (now that he has left SIR,—In reply to yours of the 1st instant, I beg to state that our ranks,) quoted in THE LANCET, p. 631. Let us " help our- the fee allowed by this Office, for Medical Reports, is ten selves and each other." An excellent motto, verily! Let no shillings and sixpence, as by the second form you received, one view his own case as isolated; but let one and all, on all you will perceive, and in no instance has a greater sum been ’
I Legal who
.
685 your claim for one guinea cannot, therefore, be acceded In pursuance of our usual course, I forward you, however, an order for the amount I have named, and shall be happy to receive your report in the second case referred to you, on the same terms. With many apologies for not having previously answered vour note. I am. Sir. vour obedient servant. J. C. HARDY, W. Rayner, Esq.
paid; to.
Secretary.
(COPY.) Uxbridge, Nov. 8th, 1846.
SIR,-In reply to yours of this morning, enclosing a postoffice order for ten shillings and sixpence, I beg again to state that my fee is one guinea, and that I decline to answer any to any other party, until my entire fee is questions relative remitted. I cannot allow the Society to assume to itself the power of determining what amount of fee I am to receive, nor can I see its justice in offering so paltryand pitiful a sum,
1842? I answer no. At this date he could only have been for three months surgeon to the Infirmary, as Dr. Pagan was in office up to the 30th of April, when his time would expire, and Dr. Lawrie, on the 1st of May, would take charge of the wards. I was acquainted with Osborne in Glasgow in the session of 1844-45. 1 knew him as a first-year’s student; indeed, he told me so himself; also that his father had predated the indentures, to enable him to go up for examination at the Hall, by the curriculum prior to 1835. I am quite confident that he did not attend the Glasgow Infirmary in the session 1843-44. I am not able to sav when he entered to the Infirmary, but the register kept the superintendent will show the date of his admission, were the house committee applied to from an official quarter. I may add, that by the rules of the Glasgow Infrmary, each surgeon has charge of half the surgical wards for two years. On the first of May, every year, the senior goes out of office, and is succeeded by another gentlemen: (1842, Mr. Lyon and Dr. Buchanan; 1843, Drs. Buchanan and Pagan; 1844, Drs. ’
by
when it has previously obtained from the party desirous to insure, no less a sum than two guineas, for the express purpose of paying the expenses of an inquiry. I have therefore to request a further remittance of ten shillings and sixpence, Pagan and Hannay,-were surgeons.) I trust that, after all we have read on the late nefarious which I shall enforce, if not complied with immediately; and I beg the Society to understand, that I shall expect the fee ofproceedings, the attention of the Council will be drawn to this case by remonstrance from the members of the College. one guinea (the sum I receive from every other office) in any I am, Mr. Editor, yours truly, future transactions with the Society, and remain, Sir, your coutti snieios, June, 1847. J. S. DENHAM, M.R.C.S.E. obedient WILLIAM RAYNER. To J. C. Hardy, Esq., Legal and Commercial Assurance Society. ASSISTANT-SURGEONS IN THE NAVY. To the Editor of THE LANCET. (COPY.) is 1846. Nov. 9th, 68, Cheapside, SIR,—It unnecessary to allude to our professional qualificaMr. Hardy has to inform Mr. Rayner of his having received tions, further than to state, that we are all members of some of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons, and many of us, in addition, Mr. Rayner’s letter of yesterday’s date. have obtained the degree of doctor of medicine. Previous to our admission into the service, we are compelled to submit to CASE OF MR. W. H. OSBORNE. another examination before our talented director-general, Sir To the Editor of THE LANCET. William Burnett. We are then sent on board ship, and thrust into a filthy, dark den, called the midshipmen’s berth, name mentioned in the letters SIR,-My being frequently a set of noisy, half-educated school-boys. We are among and paragraphs which have appeared in " THE LANCET"refrom the ward-room mess, and denied the use of garding " Mr. Osborne’s Case," I think it due to myself and excluded the Medical School of Glasgow to state what I know of his cabins, not being deemed suitable company for second-lieutenants of marines and naval schoolmasters, and who, strange certificates. Some months ago Mr. Belfour enclosed the copies of the as it may appear, nominally rank below us in the service. Let me now contrast our degraded position with that of our certificates which Mr. Osborne had procured for attendance more fortunate brethren in the army, &c. They have all on and for in the on my lectures surgery, hospital attendance apartments, and mess with the field-officers and Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and begged to be informed if they comfortable I replied that the certificate of attendance on captains of their respective regiments. were correct. Why, then, are these marked distinctions allowed to exist was correct, but that the hospital certifilectures my surgical in our service ?Z Will any one be rash enough to say, that cate was false, and had either been falsified or obtained on false pretences. To this letter I had no answer, and not the medical officers of her Majesty’s navy are in any respect inferior to those the army, &c. ? Our greatest enemies having seen the schedule, I am not in a position to say which dare not say so. of of these suppositions is correct. We are told, indeed, that there is no place to put up cabins T am. Sir. verv obedientlv yoursfor us: then why and where is there space found for the J. A. LAWRIE. Moore-place, Glasgow, June, 1847. cabins of the gunner, boatswain, carpenter, and engineer, in All these officers are non-commis’ all ships and steamers. 9’o the Editor of THE LANCET. sioned, except the engineer; whilst we are commissioned offiSIR,—Iaddress you on the subject of John Henry Os- cers, and rank with lieutenants in the army. The first borne, at the suggestion of Mr. Fosbrooke, with whom I have engineers have lately been very deservedly admitted to the communicated on this matter. ward-room. May I ask, what are we inferior to them ? Is The object I have in view is to render the deception in not our education superior to theirs in every respect, except Osborne’s case more apparent. Now I first became aware of mechanics ? his being a member of the College of Surgeons last week from Such partiality would be most unaccountable, were it not the pages of THE LANCET. On looking over the schedule as too well known that a deep-rooted prejudice exists against published in THE LANCET, I observed two falsehoods-viz., our oppressed class throughout the service. We are envied Mr. Lyon’s certificate for a course of lectures on surgery in our paltry pay of seven shillings and sixpence per diem, and the summer of 1844. I am aware of a course of surgical lec- exposed to the low scurrility of every parish boy who finds Situated as tures delivered in May, June, and July, 1842, by Mr. Lyon; his way into our service as clerk’s-assistant, &c. and also I am aware that Mr. Lyon advertised in April, 1845, we are, without a cabin, where we can retire for study, we a course on surgery, to be given between the months of May can make no farther progress in our profession, so far as books and August of the same year, if a sufficient number of students are concerned; we must make up our minds to close them for came forward. Now it is a little remarkable that Osborne ever, and of necessity forget much of that valuable informashould have attended these lectures in 1844. tion which we have toiled so hard to acquire. As to the hospital attendance from November, 1843, until We are allowed a chest of three feet six in length, and this August, 1845, the signatures of the surgeons who were able to must serve for library, wardrobe, and toilet, &c. If we are attest the truth are wanting. I allude to the circumstance ofsick during the day, we may sleep on the lid of it, if we can. In this state of things, it may appear strange, that any Drs. Buchanan and Pagan being in office, jointly, until May, 1844, when Dr. Hannay succeeded Dr. Buchanan. This is six young medical man of spirit would enter the navy; nor would months after the apparent commencement of Osborne’s they, if they only knew half the indignities they have to endure. attendance at the Infirmary. It may be a trifling affair to’ In conclusion, allow me to entreat you, and every concertify for six months more than a surgeon is aware of, but. ductor of the medical press of Great Britain, to urge the great surely twenty-one months’ attendance on the practice of a6body of the profession to call on Government to place us on hospital ought to be certified by the surgeons attending that. a perfect equality with assistant-surgeons in the army, &c. We will never be content with less. hospital. Was Dr. Lawrie in a position to do so on the 1st of August,, AN ASSISTANT-SURGEON R.N.
servant,
,
.
examining boards, who are entrusted with irresponsible power, and who have used this power rather for the purpose of aggrandizing themselves and for their own benefit, than for the welfare of their members. That these powers have been entrusted to the above bodies, not only for the good of the medical profession, but also for the advantage of the public, by preventing ignorant and illiterate persons from practising physic. That so far from this end being obtained, there never was a period in the history of our country where the ignorant, the illiterate, and the unexamined, could practise physic with so much impunity, as is proved by the fact that. more than 300 persons, ascertained to be totally unqualified, besides chemists and druggists, calling themselves physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries, are at this moment practising in London alone. That it would therefore, on all accounts, be desirable that the examining boards and councils of our medical institutions should be responsible to the government, at least until such time as measures can be taken to make the executive of our various medical institutions responsible to the members whom they ought
to
represent.
That the medical profession, although governed by seventeen institutions, is not protected from the injury which they sustain from ignorant and unqualified persons being allowed to practise all branches of the profession; and that the public is thus exposed to the dangerous consequences which result from no restraint being placed on the practice of persons falsely calling themselves physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries. That although the members of the different medical institutions are registered in their respective colleges, &c., yet, from the want of a proper publication of the registers, but more especially from the want of a summary power of prosecution vested in the magistracy, to be necessarily enforced against all persons practising without possessing any licence or diploma of the United Kingdom, no broad line of distinction is drawn between the educated practitioner and the
ignorant pretender. That the public opposition to the Medical Registration Bill has eminated chiefly from a body who have already memorialized her Majesty’s government on the subject of medical
under the title of the Council of the National Institute of Medicine, Surgery, and Midwifery. That amongst your memorialists are several members of the said Institute, who do not feel themselves represented in this respect by their council, and who have protested against their opposition to this Bill; and who, in the course of a very short period, obtained the permission of more than seventv other members of the Institute to attach their names to a Protest against
reform,
occasions of wrong, make a forcible appeal to the public for good of the profession. It is from this motive that I now address you. I was called upon, some time ago, by a gentleman, (as. I supposed,) the mayor of a provincial city; and was consulted by him many times respecting a patient, (a beneficed clergyman of S2000 a year,) in regard to whose pecuniary matters he was agent, (for he was an attorney.) The questions wereWhether his client was insane, and-What course should be taken for his welfare. Besides many consultations with this gentleman in town, I was thrice directed by him to proceed the distance of fifteen miles to visit his client; and I was twice authorized by him to take another physician with memaking five journeys of thirty miles each, amounting in all to 150 miles. For moderate fees for all this I have applied to this attorney in vain. He refers me to another gentleman into whose hands the patient’s affairs have passed, but of whom I know nothing, except that he, at the first, refused to pay the just account of a medical gentleman to whose house this same patient went, but who was not to be so trifled with; a writ having been served, the thing was soon settled. But, Sir, what is a physician to do under these circumstances ? His fees are a debt of honour. The appeal on the plea of honour is made in vain. Can he not, even at common law, demand at least his expenses and the value of his time? For I must add that we have never been reimbursed even our actual expenditure! I must also add, that I have appealed to the successor in the mayoralty of the attorney to whom I first alluded, and to the daughter of the patient, (a lady of forty,) whom I saw with her father, equally in vain. I hope, Sir, you will deem this a proper subject for publicity, and allow me, on some early day, to address you upon it again more in detail. Well might Sir C. M. Clark say, "Mankind care little for the profession" ! It may also be said, with too much truth,that, when the law is out of the question, they care little for their own honour. What is left, but an appeal to the public ? I am, Sir, your obedient servant, M.D. London, June 13th, 1847.
the
to
FEES FROM LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANIES. To the Editor of THE LANCET. Uxbridge, June 14th, 1847.
SIR,—In your number of last week you draw attention to the Legal and Commercial Assurance Office, and its directors, and quoted an extract from the Address in their circular, dated February, 1847, showing their extremely liberal conduct the course of opposition which the council of that body towards the medical profession, &c. have thought fit to pursue towards the Medical Registration As I am desirous that you, as well as my medical brethren, Bill. should fully understand their position with this liberal office, That your memorialists, having carefully considered the I subjoin copies of a correspondence I have had with these details of the Medical Registration Bill now before the House worthies, through their Secretary, and merely remark, that of Commons, believe that it is well adapted to remedy the I intend to finish the affair by issuing a summons to the evils to which they have referred, and they trust that her County Court, under the Small Debts Act, held at Uxbridge, Majesty’s advisers will see the necessity and advantage of ’, for the remainder of my fee.-I remain, Sir, your obedient giving their unqualified support to that measure, which your I servant, WILLIAM RAYNER.
memorialists feel assured is
as
much calculated to confer
a
great boon upon the community at large, as it is to elevate the character and promote the interests of the medical pro-
fession.
Freemasons’ Tavern, June
EDWIN LANKESTER, Chairman. JAMES RHODES} W. DT. POWELL, ij a
JAMES RHODES, } Hon. Secs.
P.S.—You will perceivea good profit is attached to this scheme of demanding two guineas for expenses, and paying the doctor ten shillings and sixpence, making a clear profit of one guinea and a half by every application. I should observe, the assurance, as might be expected, was not effected.
l6th, 1847.
Correspondence.
(COPY.)
Uxbridge, Nov. 1st, 1846. I few returned to SIR,—A your office the answers days ago, to the several queries contained in your letter respecting Mr. Hall, together with a statement that my fee for the same was one guinea. To this I have had no reply. I therefore shall defer answering any more questions until my fee is remitted, and remain. Sir, your obedient servant. To J. C. Hardy, Esq., WILLIAM RAYNER. and Commercial Assurance Society. The questions above referred to related to another party, was also about to insure.
ON MEDICAL FEES. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—The profession are deeply indebted to Mr. Henry Smith for his just and independent efforts to set at rest the question of fees to medical gentlemen to whom the Insurance Offices apply for their professional and confidential opinion on the eligibility for insurance of a given life or lives. Oblique and distorted must that vision be which does not (COpy.) now see this question in its fair and upright position. Legal and Commercial Assurance Society, The profession are not less indebted to Sir C. M. Clark, Bart., London, Nov. 7th, 1846. for his candid and generous statement, (now that he has left SIR,—In reply to yours of the 1st instant, I beg to state that our ranks,) quoted in THE LANCET, p. 631. Let us " help our- the fee allowed by this Office, for Medical Reports, is ten selves and each other." An excellent motto, verily! Let no shillings and sixpence, as by the second form you received, one view his own case as isolated; but let one and all, on all you will perceive, and in no instance has a greater sum been ’
I Legal who
.
685 your claim for one guinea cannot, therefore, be acceded In pursuance of our usual course, I forward you, however, an order for the amount I have named, and shall be happy to receive your report in the second case referred to you, on the same terms. With many apologies for not having previously answered vour note. I am. Sir. vour obedient servant. J. C. HARDY, W. Rayner, Esq.
paid; to.
Secretary.
(COPY.) Uxbridge, Nov. 8th, 1846.
SIR,-In reply to yours of this morning, enclosing a postoffice order for ten shillings and sixpence, I beg again to state that my fee is one guinea, and that I decline to answer any to any other party, until my entire fee is questions relative remitted. I cannot allow the Society to assume to itself the power of determining what amount of fee I am to receive, nor can I see its justice in offering so paltryand pitiful a sum,
1842? I answer no. At this date he could only have been for three months surgeon to the Infirmary, as Dr. Pagan was in office up to the 30th of April, when his time would expire, and Dr. Lawrie, on the 1st of May, would take charge of the wards. I was acquainted with Osborne in Glasgow in the session of 1844-45. 1 knew him as a first-year’s student; indeed, he told me so himself; also that his father had predated the indentures, to enable him to go up for examination at the Hall, by the curriculum prior to 1835. I am quite confident that he did not attend the Glasgow Infirmary in the session 1843-44. I am not able to sav when he entered to the Infirmary, but the register kept the superintendent will show the date of his admission, were the house committee applied to from an official quarter. I may add, that by the rules of the Glasgow Infrmary, each surgeon has charge of half the surgical wards for two years. On the first of May, every year, the senior goes out of office, and is succeeded by another gentlemen: (1842, Mr. Lyon and Dr. Buchanan; 1843, Drs. Buchanan and Pagan; 1844, Drs. ’
by
when it has previously obtained from the party desirous to insure, no less a sum than two guineas, for the express purpose of paying the expenses of an inquiry. I have therefore to request a further remittance of ten shillings and sixpence, Pagan and Hannay,-were surgeons.) I trust that, after all we have read on the late nefarious which I shall enforce, if not complied with immediately; and I beg the Society to understand, that I shall expect the fee ofproceedings, the attention of the Council will be drawn to this case by remonstrance from the members of the College. one guinea (the sum I receive from every other office) in any I am, Mr. Editor, yours truly, future transactions with the Society, and remain, Sir, your coutti snieios, June, 1847. J. S. DENHAM, M.R.C.S.E. obedient WILLIAM RAYNER. To J. C. Hardy, Esq., Legal and Commercial Assurance Society. ASSISTANT-SURGEONS IN THE NAVY. To the Editor of THE LANCET. (COPY.) is 1846. Nov. 9th, 68, Cheapside, SIR,—It unnecessary to allude to our professional qualificaMr. Hardy has to inform Mr. Rayner of his having received tions, further than to state, that we are all members of some of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons, and many of us, in addition, Mr. Rayner’s letter of yesterday’s date. have obtained the degree of doctor of medicine. Previous to our admission into the service, we are compelled to submit to CASE OF MR. W. H. OSBORNE. another examination before our talented director-general, Sir To the Editor of THE LANCET. William Burnett. We are then sent on board ship, and thrust into a filthy, dark den, called the midshipmen’s berth, name mentioned in the letters SIR,-My being frequently a set of noisy, half-educated school-boys. We are among and paragraphs which have appeared in " THE LANCET"refrom the ward-room mess, and denied the use of garding " Mr. Osborne’s Case," I think it due to myself and excluded the Medical School of Glasgow to state what I know of his cabins, not being deemed suitable company for second-lieutenants of marines and naval schoolmasters, and who, strange certificates. Some months ago Mr. Belfour enclosed the copies of the as it may appear, nominally rank below us in the service. Let me now contrast our degraded position with that of our certificates which Mr. Osborne had procured for attendance more fortunate brethren in the army, &c. They have all on and for in the on my lectures surgery, hospital attendance apartments, and mess with the field-officers and Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and begged to be informed if they comfortable I replied that the certificate of attendance on captains of their respective regiments. were correct. Why, then, are these marked distinctions allowed to exist was correct, but that the hospital certifilectures my surgical in our service ?Z Will any one be rash enough to say, that cate was false, and had either been falsified or obtained on false pretences. To this letter I had no answer, and not the medical officers of her Majesty’s navy are in any respect inferior to those the army, &c. ? Our greatest enemies having seen the schedule, I am not in a position to say which dare not say so. of of these suppositions is correct. We are told, indeed, that there is no place to put up cabins T am. Sir. verv obedientlv yoursfor us: then why and where is there space found for the J. A. LAWRIE. Moore-place, Glasgow, June, 1847. cabins of the gunner, boatswain, carpenter, and engineer, in All these officers are non-commis’ all ships and steamers. 9’o the Editor of THE LANCET. sioned, except the engineer; whilst we are commissioned offiSIR,—Iaddress you on the subject of John Henry Os- cers, and rank with lieutenants in the army. The first borne, at the suggestion of Mr. Fosbrooke, with whom I have engineers have lately been very deservedly admitted to the communicated on this matter. ward-room. May I ask, what are we inferior to them ? Is The object I have in view is to render the deception in not our education superior to theirs in every respect, except Osborne’s case more apparent. Now I first became aware of mechanics ? his being a member of the College of Surgeons last week from Such partiality would be most unaccountable, were it not the pages of THE LANCET. On looking over the schedule as too well known that a deep-rooted prejudice exists against published in THE LANCET, I observed two falsehoods-viz., our oppressed class throughout the service. We are envied Mr. Lyon’s certificate for a course of lectures on surgery in our paltry pay of seven shillings and sixpence per diem, and the summer of 1844. I am aware of a course of surgical lec- exposed to the low scurrility of every parish boy who finds Situated as tures delivered in May, June, and July, 1842, by Mr. Lyon; his way into our service as clerk’s-assistant, &c. and also I am aware that Mr. Lyon advertised in April, 1845, we are, without a cabin, where we can retire for study, we a course on surgery, to be given between the months of May can make no farther progress in our profession, so far as books and August of the same year, if a sufficient number of students are concerned; we must make up our minds to close them for came forward. Now it is a little remarkable that Osborne ever, and of necessity forget much of that valuable informashould have attended these lectures in 1844. tion which we have toiled so hard to acquire. As to the hospital attendance from November, 1843, until We are allowed a chest of three feet six in length, and this August, 1845, the signatures of the surgeons who were able to must serve for library, wardrobe, and toilet, &c. If we are attest the truth are wanting. I allude to the circumstance ofsick during the day, we may sleep on the lid of it, if we can. In this state of things, it may appear strange, that any Drs. Buchanan and Pagan being in office, jointly, until May, 1844, when Dr. Hannay succeeded Dr. Buchanan. This is six young medical man of spirit would enter the navy; nor would months after the apparent commencement of Osborne’s they, if they only knew half the indignities they have to endure. attendance at the Infirmary. It may be a trifling affair to’ In conclusion, allow me to entreat you, and every concertify for six months more than a surgeon is aware of, but. ductor of the medical press of Great Britain, to urge the great surely twenty-one months’ attendance on the practice of a6body of the profession to call on Government to place us on hospital ought to be certified by the surgeons attending that. a perfect equality with assistant-surgeons in the army, &c. We will never be content with less. hospital. Was Dr. Lawrie in a position to do so on the 1st of August,, AN ASSISTANT-SURGEON R.N.
servant,
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