- Email: [email protected]
MEDICAL HONOURS FOR INDIA.
THE BATTLE OF THE CLUBS.
116
so it was shrewdly suspected that they had been induced to come to Nottingham by the insurance companies. These institutions seem to have imagined that,. as a medical union had been formed, a strike against the medical aid companies would ensue at an early date, and they were anxious to have medical practitioners on the spot who could take up the work abandoned by the unionist medical men. In any case the new men arrived within a month of the formation of the union Of course, the union officials waited upon them as soon as they arrived, explained the situation, and urged that if they had not come in opposition to the interests of the medical profession they would join the union. One of the medical men in question did so at once, but three others absolutely refused, and the remainder hesitated. The first action taken by the Nottingham Medical Union was with regard to the two great life insurance companiesthe London and Manchester Industrial Assurance Company, Limited, and the Liverpool Victoria Legal Friendly Society, Limited. The former of these two insurance companies does a large business in Nottingham. It advertised its medical officers and sent out agents to tout for them. Well-to-do private patients were induced to insure their lives and obtain medical aid for which the medical men were paid only 4s a year when they had been accustomed to receive the usual MEDICAL HONOURS FOR INDIA. fees.3 These matters were discussed by the committee of To the Editors of THE LANOET. the medical union, and one of the medical officers in the SIRS, -Among the deserving members of our profession service of the London and Manchester Industrial Assurance who were decorated by the Queen on the occasion of her Company offered to write on his own account, but with Diamond Jubilee there was one who by an oversight was the assent and approval of the medical union, to that. omitted from the list published by THE LANCET and by company. In his letter he explained the various objections every other medical journal of this great metropolis. I refer entertained by the profession and asked for alterations. to His Highness Sir Bhagvat Sinhjee, K C.LE., M.D., In response the company sent one of their principal agents. F.R C.P,, LL.D., Thakore Saheb of Gondal, Kattiawar, the or inspectors down to Nottingham, and a conference was held He was between the members of the medical union committee and most enlightened of all the princes of India. created a Grand Commander of the Indian Empire, a reward this agent. The agent explained the methods and policy of most well deserved for his unswerving loyalty to the British the London and Manchester Industrial Assurance Company, Crown and his beneficent rule over a contented, happy, and and sought to demonstrate that they were actuated by philanthropic motives, and that they worked for the benefit prosperous State. of the medical profession. Of course, it was objected that I am, Sir, yours faithfully, as they advertised and canvassed for a few medical men, to ANGLO-INDIAN. London, July 4th, 1897. the exclusion and detriment of all the others, they could not be taken as working for the advantage of the profession The members of the medical union committee as a whole. further complained that the medical officers in the service THE BATTLE OF THE CLUBS.1 of the London and Manchester Company only received a penny (FROM OUR SPECIAL COMMISSIONER.) a week for the persons insured, though the latter paid three(Continued from p. 54.) halfpence per week. Something might be taken for the cost of collecting and managment, but a third of the total subscribed was too large a proportion, particularly as the money paid for NOTTINGHAM. life insurances, in which the medical officers were in nowise Strength of the Medical Union.-Negotiations with Insurance interested, was collected at one and the same time. It might Companies.-The Establishment of a Four-shilling Mini- therefore be considered that a profit was sweated out of. the m2cma.-Fzcture Policy. work done by the medical officers, both directedly-namely, IT will be remembered that in the spring of last year the the halfpenny per week per member-and indirectlyNottingham Medico-Chirurgical Society took the initiative namely, the money made by the life insurances which the in forming a local medical union so as to deal with the services of the medical officers enabled the company to effect. Then all persons insured for a sum not exceeding question of club practice and other ethical and econo- f.20 were admitted without medical examination. The 2 A little more than a year has now mical problems. company is careful to guarantee itself against any serious elapsed since the union was constituted, and it is satis- loss through the ill health of its subscribers, but its medical factory to report that great progress has been accom- men are in nowise protected, and in effect they are obliged to who are obviously in bad health, so long as plished. Out of 105 practitioners in and about Nottingham acceptdopersons not insure for more than £20. This entails a great they 85 are in union. Nor does this mean that the remaining amount of work on the medical officers, for which the penny 20 will act in hostility to the union. At least half of the week paid cannot be considered anything like an per twenty are in nowise opposed to the objects of the union. adequate compensation. They do not care to be attached to an association and to In answer to these complaints the agent of the London and submit to its discipline. One or two have an objection-a Manchester Industrial Assurance explained that political objection-to what appears to them in the light of though members were accepted whoCompany insured for less than £20 trades unionism, but they are nevertheless strongly in favour without any medical examination, still these subscribers had of the reforms which the union strives to accomplish, and to a declaration to the effect that they were in good sign will not do anything to thwart its action. Thus, out of the health when they first subscribed. If any medical officer 20 outsiders about half may be considered as friends, though could that this declaration was not true then the prove they are not adherents ; but, on the other hand, it must subscriber’s premium would be struck off. The agent also be recognised that some are actuated solely by interested declared that if the medical officer denounced anyone a& It was a remarkable fact that no sooner had motives. too rich to belong to the society, such a person would being the union been constituted than several young prac- likewise be struck off the lists. Finally, the agent promised titioners mysteriously made their appearance in Nottingthat the names of the medical men printed on the back of ham. It is alleged that they had no friends in the the company’s handbills which were circulated broadcast 1 A reprint of the previous articles on the above subject has been pub- would be removed. The distribution of these handbills conlished in book form entitled, "The Battle of the Clubs," and can be stituted an advertisement, not only of the company, but also
failures which I have never seen offered, but which must be patent to all teachers of experience. Contrary to the custom with regard to the examinations for the Membership, no evidence of further study is required from candidates who have failed for the primary Fellowship before they are allowed again to present themselves for that examination. Hence we have the recurring failure of men who never go near a medical school from one examination to another, but who continue to present themselves in the hope, the forlorn hope, that by luck or by their exceeding importunity they may some day come safely through the ordeal. All teachers must know instances of such men, and all will agree that they are precisely the sort of persons who ought not to obtain the diploma of Fellow. In conclusion, may I suggest to your correspondent that he should take the trouble to visit the examination next November ? If he does I venture to prophecy that he will come away with a very different opinion of it, and of those who present themselves for it, from that which he now holds. I must apologise for the length of my remarks-an answer is proverbially longer than its provocation. I am, Sirs, your obedient servant, ANATOMIST. July 5th, 1897.
town,
Y
______________
-
.
-
obtained from THE LANCET Office, price 1s. 2 See THE LANCET, March 21st, 1896, or the the Clubs."
reprint of "The Battle of
3 See for full details THE LANCET, of the Clubs" reprint.
April 4th, 1896, and the "Battle
116
so it was shrewdly suspected that they had been induced to come to Nottingham by the insurance companies. These institutions seem to have imagined that,. as a medical union had been formed, a strike against the medical aid companies would ensue at an early date, and they were anxious to have medical practitioners on the spot who could take up the work abandoned by the unionist medical men. In any case the new men arrived within a month of the formation of the union Of course, the union officials waited upon them as soon as they arrived, explained the situation, and urged that if they had not come in opposition to the interests of the medical profession they would join the union. One of the medical men in question did so at once, but three others absolutely refused, and the remainder hesitated. The first action taken by the Nottingham Medical Union was with regard to the two great life insurance companiesthe London and Manchester Industrial Assurance Company, Limited, and the Liverpool Victoria Legal Friendly Society, Limited. The former of these two insurance companies does a large business in Nottingham. It advertised its medical officers and sent out agents to tout for them. Well-to-do private patients were induced to insure their lives and obtain medical aid for which the medical men were paid only 4s a year when they had been accustomed to receive the usual MEDICAL HONOURS FOR INDIA. fees.3 These matters were discussed by the committee of To the Editors of THE LANOET. the medical union, and one of the medical officers in the SIRS, -Among the deserving members of our profession service of the London and Manchester Industrial Assurance who were decorated by the Queen on the occasion of her Company offered to write on his own account, but with Diamond Jubilee there was one who by an oversight was the assent and approval of the medical union, to that. omitted from the list published by THE LANCET and by company. In his letter he explained the various objections every other medical journal of this great metropolis. I refer entertained by the profession and asked for alterations. to His Highness Sir Bhagvat Sinhjee, K C.LE., M.D., In response the company sent one of their principal agents. F.R C.P,, LL.D., Thakore Saheb of Gondal, Kattiawar, the or inspectors down to Nottingham, and a conference was held He was between the members of the medical union committee and most enlightened of all the princes of India. created a Grand Commander of the Indian Empire, a reward this agent. The agent explained the methods and policy of most well deserved for his unswerving loyalty to the British the London and Manchester Industrial Assurance Company, Crown and his beneficent rule over a contented, happy, and and sought to demonstrate that they were actuated by philanthropic motives, and that they worked for the benefit prosperous State. of the medical profession. Of course, it was objected that I am, Sir, yours faithfully, as they advertised and canvassed for a few medical men, to ANGLO-INDIAN. London, July 4th, 1897. the exclusion and detriment of all the others, they could not be taken as working for the advantage of the profession The members of the medical union committee as a whole. further complained that the medical officers in the service THE BATTLE OF THE CLUBS.1 of the London and Manchester Company only received a penny (FROM OUR SPECIAL COMMISSIONER.) a week for the persons insured, though the latter paid three(Continued from p. 54.) halfpence per week. Something might be taken for the cost of collecting and managment, but a third of the total subscribed was too large a proportion, particularly as the money paid for NOTTINGHAM. life insurances, in which the medical officers were in nowise Strength of the Medical Union.-Negotiations with Insurance interested, was collected at one and the same time. It might Companies.-The Establishment of a Four-shilling Mini- therefore be considered that a profit was sweated out of. the m2cma.-Fzcture Policy. work done by the medical officers, both directedly-namely, IT will be remembered that in the spring of last year the the halfpenny per week per member-and indirectlyNottingham Medico-Chirurgical Society took the initiative namely, the money made by the life insurances which the in forming a local medical union so as to deal with the services of the medical officers enabled the company to effect. Then all persons insured for a sum not exceeding question of club practice and other ethical and econo- f.20 were admitted without medical examination. The 2 A little more than a year has now mical problems. company is careful to guarantee itself against any serious elapsed since the union was constituted, and it is satis- loss through the ill health of its subscribers, but its medical factory to report that great progress has been accom- men are in nowise protected, and in effect they are obliged to who are obviously in bad health, so long as plished. Out of 105 practitioners in and about Nottingham acceptdopersons not insure for more than £20. This entails a great they 85 are in union. Nor does this mean that the remaining amount of work on the medical officers, for which the penny 20 will act in hostility to the union. At least half of the week paid cannot be considered anything like an per twenty are in nowise opposed to the objects of the union. adequate compensation. They do not care to be attached to an association and to In answer to these complaints the agent of the London and submit to its discipline. One or two have an objection-a Manchester Industrial Assurance explained that political objection-to what appears to them in the light of though members were accepted whoCompany insured for less than £20 trades unionism, but they are nevertheless strongly in favour without any medical examination, still these subscribers had of the reforms which the union strives to accomplish, and to a declaration to the effect that they were in good sign will not do anything to thwart its action. Thus, out of the health when they first subscribed. If any medical officer 20 outsiders about half may be considered as friends, though could that this declaration was not true then the prove they are not adherents ; but, on the other hand, it must subscriber’s premium would be struck off. The agent also be recognised that some are actuated solely by interested declared that if the medical officer denounced anyone a& It was a remarkable fact that no sooner had motives. too rich to belong to the society, such a person would being the union been constituted than several young prac- likewise be struck off the lists. Finally, the agent promised titioners mysteriously made their appearance in Nottingthat the names of the medical men printed on the back of ham. It is alleged that they had no friends in the the company’s handbills which were circulated broadcast 1 A reprint of the previous articles on the above subject has been pub- would be removed. The distribution of these handbills conlished in book form entitled, "The Battle of the Clubs," and can be stituted an advertisement, not only of the company, but also
failures which I have never seen offered, but which must be patent to all teachers of experience. Contrary to the custom with regard to the examinations for the Membership, no evidence of further study is required from candidates who have failed for the primary Fellowship before they are allowed again to present themselves for that examination. Hence we have the recurring failure of men who never go near a medical school from one examination to another, but who continue to present themselves in the hope, the forlorn hope, that by luck or by their exceeding importunity they may some day come safely through the ordeal. All teachers must know instances of such men, and all will agree that they are precisely the sort of persons who ought not to obtain the diploma of Fellow. In conclusion, may I suggest to your correspondent that he should take the trouble to visit the examination next November ? If he does I venture to prophecy that he will come away with a very different opinion of it, and of those who present themselves for it, from that which he now holds. I must apologise for the length of my remarks-an answer is proverbially longer than its provocation. I am, Sirs, your obedient servant, ANATOMIST. July 5th, 1897.
town,
Y
______________
-
.
-
obtained from THE LANCET Office, price 1s. 2 See THE LANCET, March 21st, 1896, or the the Clubs."
reprint of "The Battle of
3 See for full details THE LANCET, of the Clubs" reprint.
April 4th, 1896, and the "Battle