- Email: [email protected]
INJUSTICE OF THE VACCINATION ACT.
682 is not that, nor is it so entitled. It is called the " Female Medical Society," and, if we mistake not, sometimes also the "Female Medical College.""’ Now we have no objection to see women aspire to a complete medical education, if they soberly think the medical career at all suited to their sex or their prospects and position in life : points on which we entirely differ from those who do entertain such an opinion. But we have a great objection to whitewashed medical shams, and this is one of the most egregious we have met with. We should, on the other hand, applaud any efforts to improve the information of the practical midwives trained at our lyingin charities.
Correspondence. "Audi alteram
INJUSTICE OF THE VACCINATION ACT.
of THE LANCET. SIR,—The remark in a paragraph in your last week’s number, in reference to the hasty smuggling of a Bill through Parlia ment for the purpose of compelling private medical practitioners to give certificates of successful vaccination to district regisTo the Editor
trars, induces
THE MEDICAL ACT AMENDMENT BILL. WE may state with confidence that it is not the intention of the Government to assume any responsibility in respect of this Bill during the present session. It is understood that opposition to it will arise from various quarters, and especially in connexion with the exclusion of the Bachelorship of Surgery of the University of London from the Register, and with the stated rights of certain of the colonial universities. It is not probable that sufficient progress could have been made with the opposed Bill to afford a prospect of legislation this year, and we can only hope that next year the difficulties anticipated may be satisfactorily smoothed away. The present position of affairs is in the highest degree unsatisfactory, since the Register affords little protection either to the public or the
profession.
____
A RETIRING COUNCILLOR. IT is with regret we learn that an injudicious friend of Mr. Quain has forwarded a sort of circular canvassing letter, urging the re-election of that retiring Councillor. This step may have been taken without his knowledge; but we feel bound to characterize it as most injudicious and highly undesirable as a precedent. Its effect must be the opposite of what is intended, for it can hardly fail to annihilate any chances which might have been possessed by the gentleman in whose interest it is written. Such a letter certainly could not aid in enlightening the profession on the subject of which it treats, while the general adoption of such means of aiding an election to the Council would be greatly to be deprecated. We feel assured that this proceeding will be generally disapproved and re-
partem."
an observation or two upon the subI ject. place would notice that the Act in question is a complete failure, as well as an unjust one. To prove this latter statement : I have been in practice more than twenty years, and since the expiration of the year in which the above Act was introduced, I have ceased to charge my private patients from 3s. 6d. to 7s. 6d. for vaccination, in consequence of the frequent annoyances I experienced in being told by a parent that Mr. So-and-so had his child vaccinated on the parish account, or gratuitously, and that he should expect the same. And I believe I am right when I say the law entitles all, from the lowest to the highest, to receive vaccination gratuitously; nay, I think a special clause was introduced to prevent this parochial relief interfering with the vote of its recipients at our general and other parliamentary elections. After ceasing to charge for private patients for vaccination, I then, as a public vaccinator, charged the parish for the same, at Is. 6d. per case, until the guardians ceased to contract with me and a brother practitioner, because, ctftei- obeying their orders to revaccinate in our district where small-pox was raging, we would not compound with them at the rate of 9d. instead of Is. 6d. per case, the latter of which sums the Poor-law Commissioners advised them to pay us, and which we ultimately received, together with a polite intimation that our contracts would not be renewed. So that I now receive no remuneration for vaccination, but perform the operation in self-defence, merely to as far as I can, the intrusion of other vaceinators. Now I would ask whether Sir George Grey contemplates compelling medical men in my position to visit a gratuitously vaccinated child on a certain day, however inconvenient, for the purpose of escaping his 40s. fine, while, in addition, I am to be mulcted, through the private pique of guardians, of the legal fee for a certificate with which I am to be compelled to furnish the registrars ? Is this the proper way of inviting the co-operation of medical men to carry out an important
me
to offer
In the first
prevent,
object ?
While upon this subject, I may add that the guardians alluded to have mulcted me of about £127, chiefly in consequence of my not submitting to a deduction from my UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. salary of four or fiveshillings for cod-liver oil, purchased their orders by their own relieving officer from a drugthrough THE Chair of Midwifery at University College, and the officei of the town, at a time when the guardians of the adjoingist of Obstetric Physician at University College Hospital, which ing union were providing their poor with it, the same being we believe goes with the Professorship, are now vacant by the allowed, too, by the auditor who audits the accounts of both new law of limitation in reference to poor-law resignation of Dr. Murphy. We understand that Dr. Graily districts. The Hewitt is a candidate, and no more distinguished physician or ’, debts being statute-run at the end of a year has enabled the to injure me to the above amount; and they are now more able lecturer could be desired by any institution. Dr. guardians their poor not only with cod-liver oil, but quinine providing Hewitt has, by the combination of great industry and research &c. into the bargain. with natural ability, succeeded in establishing himself, at an I hope Sir George Grey will consider the labourer as worthy unusually early period of life, as a standard literary authority of his hire, and that, if certificates of vaccination are to be compulsory, and qualified medical men be expected to give on the subject of diseases of women and children, and on obthem, they will be paid for the same. Do the other two stetric subjects generally; and, whether as a skilful practical liberal professions transact as much business for nothing as. obstetrician, an accomplished lecturer, or a colleague of the the medical.? most amiable personal qualities, it would be difficult to find any I enclose my card, and remain, Sir, yours &c., JUSTITIA. one who combines more excellent qualifications for the post. June, 1865.
gretted.
MR.
already
ADAMS,
OF
DUBLIX,
AT THE
SURGICAL SOCIETY
PARIS.—This eminent surgeon lately repaired to Paris and presented in person, at the meeting of the 14th inst. of the Surgical Society, his work on rheumatic diseases of joints. The president informed the members of the presence of the Irish surgeon, and took occasion to pass the most courteous and touching eulogium on our countryman. Mr. Adams made a very appropriate answer, and nothing could be more satisfactory than this interchange of courtesies. OF
LARYNGOSCOPY. To tl1e Editor of THE LANCET. have SIR,—I recently been reading, with much pleasure, Dr. M’Kenzie’s interesting treatise on Laryngoscopy. I feel some hesitation in adding anything my small experience of laryngoscopy may suggest to that of so close an observer as Dr. M ’Kenzie, but neither he nor any other writer I have seen I’on the subject seems to haveused glycerine on the mirror to
Correspondence. "Audi alteram
INJUSTICE OF THE VACCINATION ACT.
of THE LANCET. SIR,—The remark in a paragraph in your last week’s number, in reference to the hasty smuggling of a Bill through Parlia ment for the purpose of compelling private medical practitioners to give certificates of successful vaccination to district regisTo the Editor
trars, induces
THE MEDICAL ACT AMENDMENT BILL. WE may state with confidence that it is not the intention of the Government to assume any responsibility in respect of this Bill during the present session. It is understood that opposition to it will arise from various quarters, and especially in connexion with the exclusion of the Bachelorship of Surgery of the University of London from the Register, and with the stated rights of certain of the colonial universities. It is not probable that sufficient progress could have been made with the opposed Bill to afford a prospect of legislation this year, and we can only hope that next year the difficulties anticipated may be satisfactorily smoothed away. The present position of affairs is in the highest degree unsatisfactory, since the Register affords little protection either to the public or the
profession.
____
A RETIRING COUNCILLOR. IT is with regret we learn that an injudicious friend of Mr. Quain has forwarded a sort of circular canvassing letter, urging the re-election of that retiring Councillor. This step may have been taken without his knowledge; but we feel bound to characterize it as most injudicious and highly undesirable as a precedent. Its effect must be the opposite of what is intended, for it can hardly fail to annihilate any chances which might have been possessed by the gentleman in whose interest it is written. Such a letter certainly could not aid in enlightening the profession on the subject of which it treats, while the general adoption of such means of aiding an election to the Council would be greatly to be deprecated. We feel assured that this proceeding will be generally disapproved and re-
partem."
an observation or two upon the subI ject. place would notice that the Act in question is a complete failure, as well as an unjust one. To prove this latter statement : I have been in practice more than twenty years, and since the expiration of the year in which the above Act was introduced, I have ceased to charge my private patients from 3s. 6d. to 7s. 6d. for vaccination, in consequence of the frequent annoyances I experienced in being told by a parent that Mr. So-and-so had his child vaccinated on the parish account, or gratuitously, and that he should expect the same. And I believe I am right when I say the law entitles all, from the lowest to the highest, to receive vaccination gratuitously; nay, I think a special clause was introduced to prevent this parochial relief interfering with the vote of its recipients at our general and other parliamentary elections. After ceasing to charge for private patients for vaccination, I then, as a public vaccinator, charged the parish for the same, at Is. 6d. per case, until the guardians ceased to contract with me and a brother practitioner, because, ctftei- obeying their orders to revaccinate in our district where small-pox was raging, we would not compound with them at the rate of 9d. instead of Is. 6d. per case, the latter of which sums the Poor-law Commissioners advised them to pay us, and which we ultimately received, together with a polite intimation that our contracts would not be renewed. So that I now receive no remuneration for vaccination, but perform the operation in self-defence, merely to as far as I can, the intrusion of other vaceinators. Now I would ask whether Sir George Grey contemplates compelling medical men in my position to visit a gratuitously vaccinated child on a certain day, however inconvenient, for the purpose of escaping his 40s. fine, while, in addition, I am to be mulcted, through the private pique of guardians, of the legal fee for a certificate with which I am to be compelled to furnish the registrars ? Is this the proper way of inviting the co-operation of medical men to carry out an important
me
to offer
In the first
prevent,
object ?
While upon this subject, I may add that the guardians alluded to have mulcted me of about £127, chiefly in consequence of my not submitting to a deduction from my UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. salary of four or fiveshillings for cod-liver oil, purchased their orders by their own relieving officer from a drugthrough THE Chair of Midwifery at University College, and the officei of the town, at a time when the guardians of the adjoingist of Obstetric Physician at University College Hospital, which ing union were providing their poor with it, the same being we believe goes with the Professorship, are now vacant by the allowed, too, by the auditor who audits the accounts of both new law of limitation in reference to poor-law resignation of Dr. Murphy. We understand that Dr. Graily districts. The Hewitt is a candidate, and no more distinguished physician or ’, debts being statute-run at the end of a year has enabled the to injure me to the above amount; and they are now more able lecturer could be desired by any institution. Dr. guardians their poor not only with cod-liver oil, but quinine providing Hewitt has, by the combination of great industry and research &c. into the bargain. with natural ability, succeeded in establishing himself, at an I hope Sir George Grey will consider the labourer as worthy unusually early period of life, as a standard literary authority of his hire, and that, if certificates of vaccination are to be compulsory, and qualified medical men be expected to give on the subject of diseases of women and children, and on obthem, they will be paid for the same. Do the other two stetric subjects generally; and, whether as a skilful practical liberal professions transact as much business for nothing as. obstetrician, an accomplished lecturer, or a colleague of the the medical.? most amiable personal qualities, it would be difficult to find any I enclose my card, and remain, Sir, yours &c., JUSTITIA. one who combines more excellent qualifications for the post. June, 1865.
gretted.
MR.
already
ADAMS,
OF
DUBLIX,
AT THE
SURGICAL SOCIETY
PARIS.—This eminent surgeon lately repaired to Paris and presented in person, at the meeting of the 14th inst. of the Surgical Society, his work on rheumatic diseases of joints. The president informed the members of the presence of the Irish surgeon, and took occasion to pass the most courteous and touching eulogium on our countryman. Mr. Adams made a very appropriate answer, and nothing could be more satisfactory than this interchange of courtesies. OF
LARYNGOSCOPY. To tl1e Editor of THE LANCET. have SIR,—I recently been reading, with much pleasure, Dr. M’Kenzie’s interesting treatise on Laryngoscopy. I feel some hesitation in adding anything my small experience of laryngoscopy may suggest to that of so close an observer as Dr. M ’Kenzie, but neither he nor any other writer I have seen I’on the subject seems to haveused glycerine on the mirror to