LOCAL MEDICAL REGISTRARS.

586 A suppression of truth, and a suggestion of the reverse, charac- the moment, this assertion (which I believe, Sir, to be itself a terizes the report in the Association Journal which I complain mere theory), suppose a man has acquired a thorough book of; and I would suggest that unless the reports of the future knowledge of medicine and the collateral sciences, but has meetings are more in accordance with what really takes place, neglected to cultivate that close, bedside acquaintance with it would be more conducive to the well-being of the Associa- disease so essential to form a good practitioner, yet is he not tion and the honour of the profession if they were discontinued in a much more favourable position than the man alike igno. rant of theory and practice? and has he not much more chance altogether. of recognising and properly treating disease, when brought I am, Sir, yours obediently, into with it, than the man who has never troubled WILLIAM O’CONNOR. his head about the matter? Those who are generally loudest Upper Montagu-street, Montagu-square, May, 1854. in their denunciations of the prize system are the would-be "practical men"-usually men who, feeling that their only chance of maintaining a character for knowing anythingat all THE PRIZE-MEN AND PRIZE SYSTEM. consists in claiming a knowledge not easily scrutinized and To the Editor of THE LANCET. judged of by their fellow-students, loudly proclaim their " pracSIR,—I have been sorry to see the frequency with which, of tical" abilities, which perhaps, in a great many instances, late, attacks have been made in your pages upon the prize would be found, were they put to the test, to about equal systems and prize-men of the medical schools, inasmuch as I their theoretical knowledge. "Oh," says the practical man, think it should be an object with all those who are interested speaking of a successful prize-man, "its all very fine, but he in the development of "young medicine" to stimulate as much would not know a case of measles if he saw it, in spite of all as possible that useful emulation which prompts each man to his theory." This may possibly be true, if the man in question endeavour to raise himself above his neighbours. Many letters had never seen a case of the kind, which his being a prize-man, have been published, apparently with the sole object of proving however, does not at all necessitate; but even admitting it, if that those who get prizes are those who least deserve them, you show him a single case of measles, he is just in as good a and that the real action of the prize system is to rear a position as regards this as the " practical man" himself, and race of bookworms, destined to become neither useful nor has all his scientific knowledge in addition. ornamental. Unquestionably, were a man, for the sake of But from what I myself have seen, I believe, Sir, that the gaining a prize in a particular branch of study, to neglect prize-men do not consume the whole of their time in reading to cultivate the rest, he might become a proficient in that merely, but that they are also the most diligent in the disone whilst a dunce in every other department-a result against secting-room, and in attendance in the hospital wards, (a fact which we are warned session after session, and by one lec- upon which it would be interesting and useful if the various turer after another, in addition to the grave cautions on the medical teachers would record their experience in your journal;) same subject which you yourself generally offer us at the be- and that when the energies of such men become wholly devoted ginning of each medical year; but is not even this evil preferable to the practice of the science which they have already well to the case of the soi-disant students, who, as ignorant as this studied in all its branches, they will become of much more imaginary prize-man upon every other subject, has not his service to their profession and to society at large, than those merit of being well informed even upon one ? Of what is the who, priding themselves on their practical acquirements, do so class of medical students generally made up ? As far as my for the purpose of blinding their own eyes, as well as those of experience has led me to form an opinion, they consist, first, others, to their lamentable deficiencies. The motives of the of those who spend nearly the whole of their period of student- complainants are, in some instances, amusingly apparent; ship, to within about two or three months of their examinations, thus, your correspondent " Res Facta" evidently invokes your in a continued round of dissipation, barely attending so many thunder against the system because a friend of his happened lectures as will suffice to get them their schedules signed, to be disappointed in obtaining a certificate, in consequence of which, by the bye, in some of the larger and more lax schools, some arrangement which he asserts to prevail at his particular scarcely requires the waste of more than two or three hours school, but which, so far as I know, exists nowhere else. upon an entire course,) and for obtaining their diplomas, put- True, he takes up the hacknied cry about the inutility of ting their faith partly in Providence, and partly in Messrs. reading without experience-a thing which, not being conPower, Hind, Barron, Steggall, &c., et omne hoc genus. Then tested, scarcely requires such repeated affirmations; but, in there is another class of men who probably attend lectures, making the comparison of a week at the bedside, and a month but with the most placid contentment, until the time comes at books, let it not be forgotten that not even bedside expe. also for them to "grind," and when they, too, have to put rience will teach a man who is not prepared to observe the their noses to the stone, and work " for dear life." And then symptoms which are presented to him, and who, when he sees we have a class of men who feel that they have entered upon them, knows not what they portend. In fact, Sir, I believe, their studies at a medical school for a very different purpose, and that in fighting against an imaginary danger, those who have who, from the first, work diligently to prepare themselves, not written in condemnation of the prize system have been causing merely for their examinations, but that they become also fully real mischief by discouraging the industrious and lulling the qualified to practise their profession scientifically and faithfully idle into a false self-complacency; and let me earnestly beg of afterwards. Of these, all, it is true, do not compete for prizes, you, Sir, to beware how you encourage this (I fear) too prevalent but from them certainly are the prize-men taken. feeling by sanctioning it in your pages; not that I would preAgain, with regard to the prize system, that possibly may sume to attempt to dictate to you the course to be pursued, be faulty in leading the energies of the students in a wrong but I, being a student, am therefore in some degree capable of direction, making their success too much dependent upon mere bearing witness to the feelings of students in general; and I book knowledge, and in not instituting those practical tests to can for myself declare that, although I have had even more which the candidates for the fellowship of the English College than. an average share of success in competing for prizes, I of Surgeons, for instance, are now subjected; but in this have ever held their acquisition as merely secondary to the respect the higher examinations which the student has subse- other more important purposes for which I study. As you have admitted so much into your pages in the way quently to undergo are liable to exactly the same animadversions, as it is a well-known fact that three months’ hard work of accusation, I hope that, in accordance with your excellent will enable a man of the most ordinary capabilities to get the motto " audi alteram partem," you will also give insertion to college membership diploma, although he has never in his life this attempt at a defence, weak and imperfect as it may seem. The reason, probably, that the cudgels have not been preseen a surgical case treated, or had his nose offended by the foul effluvia of the dissecting-room; and especially, with regard viously taken up by abler hands than mine, is, that prize-men to the latter, it is notorious that as long as a man pays for his generally think that " they may laugh who win." " A PRIZE-MAN. London, May, 1854. proper number of parts," there is not the least necessity for the cutting of his fingers with his dissecting-knives. risking And moreover, Sir, I maintain that those who usually compete LOCAL MEDICAL REGISTRARS. for prizes are animated by an ambition which would equally To the Editor of THE LANCET. aid them, were the character of the examinations changed; that they are in fact, men of action whose love of pre-eminence The suggestion contained in the note from SiR, will be gratified whatever labour may be necessary in order to "M. R. C. S.,"in your last paper, appears to me well worthy obtain that gratification; and that, consequently, those who of attention. Living at a distance from London, I can only are the prize-men now, would be prize-men were the system learn through THE LANCET, the nature and progress of the altered. But why are the recipients of prizes attacked? various Medical Bills before the House, but the subject is " They are," it is said, " mere theorists." Well, granting, for deeply interesting to me in common with the profeesion. If the

contact

-

587

registration (a matter of the first importance) is to be made dependent on the voluntary information of the practitioners themselves, especially if they are required to pay a fee, however trifling, at the same time, this part of the system will be most inefficiently carried out. In such a matter, no body of

could be relied on, certainly not that body to which the Medical Bill specially applies. In place of this your correspondent suggests that the registrars of births and deaths should also be made local registrars of medical men. These gentlemen are in every district, and witnesses to all the changes taking place in their localities, without any personal interest in the matter-any professional jealousies or piques that would prevent the proper discharge of their duties. Their lists might be periodically made and corrected, and transmitted to a central office, where they could be collated, and from whence copies could be returned to the districts, to be open for reference or proceedings. The registrars themselves could hardly object to the imposition of these new duties, since by bringing them in repeated contact with the profession, it gives them fresh opportunities of performing their own duties. It occurred to me at first that these gentlemen, not being professionally educated, would hardly be capable of judging who possessed the necessary qualification for insertion on the list. But this difficulty would be easily got over if our new bill clearly defines (and I hope this will be done) what constitutes a qualification. The comparison of diplomas, &c., might then be safely left (with opportunities of referring to the central authority, if necessary) to a body of men who have proved themselves a very intelligent, and, what in such a matter is of great importance, whose habits of business and industry might be depended upon. Yours, &c., ANOTHER SURGEON. Gravesend, May, 1854. men

THE COMMITTEE OF THE ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL AND MR. GAY. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—I have to thank you for acceding to my request with respect to the publication of the letter of Lords Grosvenor and

Ebrington. Until I

saw

your

comment, I did not know but that Lord

Ebrington had made a request to the authorities of the Royal Free Hospital, similar to that of Lord Grosvenor; but with assurance to the contrary, I will take care to omit that of my statement from any future reference to the circumstances under which that letter was written. I am, Sir, yours obediently, JOHN GAY. Finsbury, May, 1854.

your

part

THE

WAR.

MEDICAL INTELLIGENCE. THE DANUBE.—The health of the troops in and around Schumla is excellent. There are 45,000 men in Schumla, and of these only 1800 are in the hospitals, the wounded included.

any of the hospital cases are serious. There are no This is good news for our own troops, too, who, whenever they shall march, are likely to march upon Schumla, where, it is said, that the allied troops will have their head-

Scarcely

epidemics.

quarters.

SICKNESS AMONGST THE RUSSIAN SOLDIERS.—The Augsburg Gazette, generally well informed, estimates that the epidemic. has already put hors de combat 18,000 Russians since their

occupation of the Dobrudscha.

OF THE TIGER AT ODESSA.-On the 12th of May, the of 1275 tons burden, and mounting 16 guns, which stranded at seven wersts from Odessa, was obliged to surrender. Her captain (Gillard) had one leg blown off, a midshipman both, and five men wounded; 226 prisoners were taken. Mr. J. H. Domville, surgeon, and Mr. Edmund Lawless, assistantsurgeon, were also made prisoners. SURGEONS FOR THE EAST.-The following surgeons have sailed for the seat of war in the East, since the 13th instant :Mr. Tippetts, assistant-surgeon of the 7th Foot, in the Paramatta, transport-ship, No. 52; Mr. W. R. Grylls, assistantsurgeon of the 19th Foot, in the Asia, transport-ship, No. 53; Mr. H. J. Wilkin, assistant-surgeon on the staff, in the Glendalough, transport-ship, No. 55; Mr. W. Dumbreck, surgeon of the 1st Foot (Royals), in the War-Cloud, transport-ship, No. 56; Mr. J. B. St. C. Crosse, assistant-surgeon in the Tyron, transport-ship, No. 57;and Mr. Read, Staff-surgeon in the Panola, transport-ship, No. 71; Mr. Atkinson, assistant-surgeon of the 1st Royals (Foot) has arrived at Southampton to embark for Malta; Mr. Risk, assistant-surgeon of the 23rd Foot, has proceeded to Cork, for embarkation to the Mediterranean ; Mr. H. Downes, surgeon, and Messrs. Sinclair and Bryson, assistant-surgeons, in charge of the 42nd Regiment of Foot. APPOINTMENTS.-Dr. Allen Bryson, has been appointed assistant-surgeon to the 97th Reg. of Foot; Dr. James Brown Gibson, has been promoted from the 17th Lancers, to be Staffsurgeon of the first class; Mr. W. Mills Dowding, assistantsurgeon, has been promoted from the 36th Foot, to be Staffsurgeon of the second class, in the room of Mr. Massey, promoted to the l7th Light Dragoons; Mr. Alexander Woodcock (1844) has been appointed surgeon to the Indefatigable, fitting out at Devonport; Dr. Hampden H. Massey, Staffsurgeon of the second class, has been appointed surgeon to the l7th Light Dragoons (Lancers); Mr. Henry Turner, has been appointed assistant-surgeon in the Scots Fusilier Guards; Mr. Thomas Stevenson Zeevan, has been appointed assistantsurgeon, in the 27th Reg. of Foot; Dr. Thomas Massett Webb, has been appointed assistant-surgeon to the 36th Reg. of Foot.

Loss

Tiger,

MEDICAL RELIEF TO THE POOR. To the Editor of THE LANCET. LANCET of the 22nd ult. has just been placed in SIR,—THE my hands, and a letter pointed out, signed " M. R. C. S.,"referring to the Risbridge Board of Guardians, of which I have the honour to be chairman. If your anonymous correspondent will attach his name to the charges contained in the above letter it shall be duly answered. The guardians of the Risbridge Union will not deign to reply to scurrilous and groundless charges made under ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONs.—The following gentlean anonymous signature. men, having undergone the necessary examinations for the WM. HENRY SAMS. Clare, Suffolk, May, 1854. diploma, were admitted Members of the College at a meeting * It is scarcely necessary to state that the communication of the Court of Examiners on the 19th inst. :referred to by Mr. Sams was authenticated.—SUB-ED. L. BARRY, JAMES SARSFIELD, Royal Navy. CARPENTER, SMITHWICK, Dublin. COLSTON, CHARLES KELWAY, Plymouth. GRASEJ’rIANS, CHRISTIAN EDWARD, Canonbury-villas,

Medical News.

House

of Commons.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24. GRADUATES’ (UNIVERSITY OF LONDON) BILL. MR. BELL moved the second reading of this Bill. Mr. MOWBRAY did not object to the second reading, but he should at a future stage move for the extension of the Bill to the University of Durham. Mr. COWAN said he should claim the same privilege on behalf of the universities of Scotland.-Read a second time. MEDICAL

DUBLIN HOSPITAL GRANTS COMMITTEE.—Dr. COMMITTEE. Hargrave, President of the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, was sum-

moned to attend this committee.

Islington.

i

HAWORTH, JAMES, Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire. POLLARD, JAMES, Totness, Devon. ROBERTS, JOHN, Cricieth, Carnarvonshire. ROSE, FREDERICK HENRY, Preston, Lancashire. ROWLAND, EVAN, Llangeitho, Carnarvonshire. WOOD, GEORGE JACOB,John-street, Bedford-row. APOTHECARIES’ HALL.—Names of gentlemen who passed

their examination in the science and practice of Medicine, and received certificates to practise, on-

Thursday, May 18th, 1854. ARTHUR, JOSEPH, Shadwell.

HALFORD,

GEORGE

BRITTOX, London.