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MEDICAL REFORM.
763 Mr. DERMOTT agreed with Mr. Wakley to the propriety of the present committee being merged in an aggregate meeting, and as to the necessity of union amongst medical reformers, but there was one point on which he differed from him. Mr. Wakley had on other occasions contended for the establishment of one faculty, a perfectly impracticable measure. (Cries of 11 order.") Mr. Mr. WAKLEY rose to explain. Dermottwa3 unintentionally misrepresenting him. He had not at any time advocated the destruction of the existing corporations, but had contended for the establishment of another, in which the public examinations would be so superior and practical that those now existing would fall into disrepute from the operation of an honourable rival"y. as
that us ;in fine, you remind I thereagainst is medical party in either house. In are
us
no
just and noble that to be espoused it needs but to be known, many in surprise 11 Wherein does the immensity of may ask, the task consist?" Where, but in dispelling ignorance, on the part of the members of both Houses of Parliament? Shall it be said that the advocates of such a cause shall plead in vain before a British Legislature, every member of which has been put in full possession of all the leading features, if not the details, of present abuses, and proposed amendments? Are we to believe of our representatives, selected and hereditary, that, with their minds enlightened, and their sympathies invoked by us, they are likely to be the dupes of selfish and designing men, who, to prevent the loudly called for remodelling of their (Cheers.) Mr. COOPER was strongly in favour of the antiquated and (now) baneful institutions,proposed plan. As it designed the admis- a remodelling suited to, and imperatively sion of all the members of the profession at demanded by, the exigencies of the present a merely nominal fee, it would try the sin- age,łmanoeuvre to gain time, and exhaust, cerity of men who complained of the present temporarily, the energies of their more honest state of medical law and the practices of opponents, by imploring them to desist, and quacks and quackery. It was the duty of affecting so hypocritically at the same time, the committee to take immediate steps to a readiness to remodel themselves ? Our secure an aggregate meeting of the profes- uplifted voices, Sir,-and with due deference to your opinion be it said,-have, at last, rung sion. (Cheers.) Mr. DERMOTT inquired whether Mr. so loudly in the ears of our corporationWakley would support any measure in the mongers, as to screw from them an unwilling House of Commons which would introduce but unequivocal admission that ABUSES DO the representative principle into the existing EXIST in our corporations, and that THESE institutions. ABUSES MUST AND SHALL BE CORRECTED withMr. WAKLEY. Most undoubtedly. (Cheers.) but delay; and does it not seem reasonable Mr. ANCELL withdrew his amendment. to expect that thoroughly informing our parliamentary representatives, and the intelligent (Applause.) The resolution was carried unanimously, portion,if the community at large, on the suband the hearty thanks of the gentlemen pre- ject of medical reform, is all that we require, sent having been voted to the chairman, the as it is all that we have to look to? Why is it that discussions on medical reform, as on meeting was dissolved. on pathology, or therapeutics, and unlike MEDICAL REFORM. ecclesiastical or other reforms, should be limited to the profession more immediately To the Editor of THE LANCET. concerned? Why not admit intelligent lay SIR,-In the spirit-stirring 11 leader" ofmembers into our various associations, your number for the 10th of this month, you since medical men cannot ultimately have state, very truly, 11 the profession, although to decide the question, and have avowedly so armed with the most righteous cause thatsmall weight with those who have ? Or, perhaps ever nerved a great body of scientficwhat objection could be urged against our men, produces no feeling ( ? ) of fear or ap- borrowing a hint from other divisions of the prehension in the minds of its enemies;" themovement party," by appropriating a portion cause of which you state to be our want ofof the funds of our several associations to the unanimity ; that the profession is not truepublication of our grievances, and their proto itself, but, on the contrary, is disunited posed corrections, on the 14 tractat-ian prinby petty jealousies." So far good ; let usciple?" The adoption of one or the other, or add, however, because also of our being un-of both, of these plans, would seem to hold represented and uninfluential in high quar-out a well-grounded hope, even yet, of our ters, where, in truth, the natural enemies ofF defeating, most signally, our unworthy and reform, or rather of improvement, of every ruthless oponents. In the sincere wish that description, reign uncontrolled. You remindI the above hints may prove useful, be it only us that the contest is, of course, and only, toby eliciting some other, and perhaps better take place in the two houses of Parliament ;; plan for improving 11 the materials with that Government, with its host of supporters,, which, and upon which, the profession has may be said to be hostile ; that the opposi-to work." I remain, Sir, yours respectfully, tion party cannot be said to be friendly toI A MEMBER OF A MEDICAL REFORM our cause; and that all who are not with us COUNCIL. a cause so
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that us ;in fine, you remind I thereagainst is medical party in either house. In are
us
no
just and noble that to be espoused it needs but to be known, many in surprise 11 Wherein does the immensity of may ask, the task consist?" Where, but in dispelling ignorance, on the part of the members of both Houses of Parliament? Shall it be said that the advocates of such a cause shall plead in vain before a British Legislature, every member of which has been put in full possession of all the leading features, if not the details, of present abuses, and proposed amendments? Are we to believe of our representatives, selected and hereditary, that, with their minds enlightened, and their sympathies invoked by us, they are likely to be the dupes of selfish and designing men, who, to prevent the loudly called for remodelling of their (Cheers.) Mr. COOPER was strongly in favour of the antiquated and (now) baneful institutions,proposed plan. As it designed the admis- a remodelling suited to, and imperatively sion of all the members of the profession at demanded by, the exigencies of the present a merely nominal fee, it would try the sin- age,łmanoeuvre to gain time, and exhaust, cerity of men who complained of the present temporarily, the energies of their more honest state of medical law and the practices of opponents, by imploring them to desist, and quacks and quackery. It was the duty of affecting so hypocritically at the same time, the committee to take immediate steps to a readiness to remodel themselves ? Our secure an aggregate meeting of the profes- uplifted voices, Sir,-and with due deference to your opinion be it said,-have, at last, rung sion. (Cheers.) Mr. DERMOTT inquired whether Mr. so loudly in the ears of our corporationWakley would support any measure in the mongers, as to screw from them an unwilling House of Commons which would introduce but unequivocal admission that ABUSES DO the representative principle into the existing EXIST in our corporations, and that THESE institutions. ABUSES MUST AND SHALL BE CORRECTED withMr. WAKLEY. Most undoubtedly. (Cheers.) but delay; and does it not seem reasonable Mr. ANCELL withdrew his amendment. to expect that thoroughly informing our parliamentary representatives, and the intelligent (Applause.) The resolution was carried unanimously, portion,if the community at large, on the suband the hearty thanks of the gentlemen pre- ject of medical reform, is all that we require, sent having been voted to the chairman, the as it is all that we have to look to? Why is it that discussions on medical reform, as on meeting was dissolved. on pathology, or therapeutics, and unlike MEDICAL REFORM. ecclesiastical or other reforms, should be limited to the profession more immediately To the Editor of THE LANCET. concerned? Why not admit intelligent lay SIR,-In the spirit-stirring 11 leader" ofmembers into our various associations, your number for the 10th of this month, you since medical men cannot ultimately have state, very truly, 11 the profession, although to decide the question, and have avowedly so armed with the most righteous cause thatsmall weight with those who have ? Or, perhaps ever nerved a great body of scientficwhat objection could be urged against our men, produces no feeling ( ? ) of fear or ap- borrowing a hint from other divisions of the prehension in the minds of its enemies;" themovement party," by appropriating a portion cause of which you state to be our want ofof the funds of our several associations to the unanimity ; that the profession is not truepublication of our grievances, and their proto itself, but, on the contrary, is disunited posed corrections, on the 14 tractat-ian prinby petty jealousies." So far good ; let usciple?" The adoption of one or the other, or add, however, because also of our being un-of both, of these plans, would seem to hold represented and uninfluential in high quar-out a well-grounded hope, even yet, of our ters, where, in truth, the natural enemies ofF defeating, most signally, our unworthy and reform, or rather of improvement, of every ruthless oponents. In the sincere wish that description, reign uncontrolled. You remindI the above hints may prove useful, be it only us that the contest is, of course, and only, toby eliciting some other, and perhaps better take place in the two houses of Parliament ;; plan for improving 11 the materials with that Government, with its host of supporters,, which, and upon which, the profession has may be said to be hostile ; that the opposi-to work." I remain, Sir, yours respectfully, tion party cannot be said to be friendly toI A MEMBER OF A MEDICAL REFORM our cause; and that all who are not with us COUNCIL. a cause so
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