NAVAL SURGEONS.

61 1792. He gave cases, and an engraving of rary talents and endowments as periodical his plan, in vol. xi. of the Medical and Phy- writers, and hold a respectable and influensical Journal. The various reports relative tial station in society in this metropolis, apto this remedy differ, probably, in conse. pear hitherto to have been perfectly passive quence of the experimenters not having in this matter. It cannot, surely, be ima. been able to disèriminate between deafness gined that these gentlemen are so entirely arising from remediable and irremediable occupied in the selfish enjoyment of their causes, and some having applied it to present stations that they are forgetful of wholly unfavourable, and others to wholly all the more generous impulses, and the favourable, cases. Also, its influence may ties of former associations, and meanly suchave been very much affected by the degree cumb to the existing state of things. Even of attention given to the constitutions and in a prudential point of view, so far as it may general health of the patients. I conceive relate to themselves, one would have supthat there should be some preparation pre- posed they would have been moved to acviously to galvanism. The constitution, as tion. It cannot, however, be passed over, Mr. Abernethy says, " should be put into that the surgeons of the Navy, for these few good order," to ensure its full effect. In- years past, have suffered, with the most creased action of the vessels of the head, stoical indifference, numerous degradations and of the ears themselves, should be re- and insults to their corps. If, however, they moved before its application ; and caution are not dead to every feeling of proper selfshould be observed with such a stimulus in esteem and generous feeling, as everything relating to their time of servitude, full pletlioric habits. I may remark, that no sort of credit is due and half pay, respectability of station, &c., to the interested statements of medical gal- is so much behind that of their brethren in the Army, it behoves them to come forvanists by trade. ward, as llTr. Hume earnestly advised them a few nights ago at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, and have a proper petition, regularly and properly drawn up, praying to be NAVAL SURGEONS. placed on an equality of footing, and in all to be assimilated with, the medical respects WE have received a communication from staff of the Army. There is reason to think, an excellent and worthy physician, holding from the rather liberal constitution of the rank in his Majesty’s Navy, on the subject Board of Admiralty, that such a proceeding of the late exclusion of naval surgeons from might be acceptable ; especially as it is unnew regulations are in Court, their present condition, and the dis- derstood that some Such a measure might go contemplation. advantages under which they labour from to strengthen their hands ; and I can hardly which the surgeons of the army are free. suppose that the corps will continue regardThe length of the paper prevents us from less of this proposition-calmly and silently inserting so much of it as refers to pointsregardless of their humiliation, notwiththat have already been discussed in this standing the sympathy so loudly expressed in their and to which owe the Journal ; but we, with much pleasure, print partial favour, of the recentthey abrogation insulting rethe following appeal to naval surgeons resistriction. dent in London. I inclose you a list of surgeons in the who are practitioners in London, disNavy * * In thus trespassing on you, I can- tinguished country practitioners, &c. not avoid saying that it is that: And am, Sir, very respectfully, the medical profession in general, but more Your obliged and obedient liumlble servant, especially that part of it whose grievances

impossible

T. T. L. gave rise to the recent proceedings, can. ever feel sufficiently the extent of ttieir obNaval Surgeons in Practice itt Town. ligations to you individually, for the spirited, manly, and independent course youGeorge Vance (retired), Sackville Street. adopted, in conjunction with the gentle- Dr. Benj. Y. Outram, surgeon, It. A., Hamen before alluded to (and to whom the nover Square. warmest acknowledgments are also due), inEdward H. Brien. coming forward on an occasion in which youiDr. James Johnson, physician extraordinary and they could have no personal interest, to the King. farther than the support of the honour andIIticii. Hinds, 13, Henrietta Street, Brunswick Square. respectability of the medical character. Att the same time it cannot but appear extraor-. John Gibbs, Russel Street. dinary that the corps itself, a majority off Alex. Copland Hutchinson (retired) Duke whom are known to the press for high liteStreet, Great Portland Place. ___

’

,

.

62

Harper Gamble, Great Duke Street,

Port. GOOD FEELING OF HIS MAJESTY TOWARDS land Place. NAVAL SURGEONS.—BAD FEELING OF CERTAIN COURTIERS AGAINST THEM. S. L. Hammick (retired), Cavendish Square. Dr. J. Clark, Great George St., Hanover Sq. Dr. F. C. Carter. (With others unknown at To the Editor of THE LANCET. present. SIR,-Your talents and exertions are so Influential and distinguished Physicians distinguished, and so beneficial to your in Country Towns. fellow-creatures and to science, .that I can. not but express my regret that any article Dr. George Magrath, Plymouth. so improper, and indeed so untrue, as the Dr. C. Thomas, ditto. of your correspondent A. C. R:’ letter Dr. Physicians totbe in the pages of such a wellDr. J. M.Garogher, do. New Infirmary. should appear ’ conducted and very influential Journal as Dr. Richard W. Coley, Cheltenham. THE LANCET. In consideration of the power Dr. Benjamin Lara, Portsea. you so unquestionably pessess, pray, my Dr. John Somers Down, Southampton. be inculcated upon Dr. Denmatk (phys. to the Fleet), Torquay. good Sir, let caution that you can Dr. E. Robertson, physician to the Noith- your aids (for it is impossible look to every line yourself), and do not ampton Infirmary. Dr. David Baird, ditto, Liverpool Infirmary. allow your sfaield to give cover to the spite and malice of any scnbbler that may chance Naval Surgeons employed officially in Dock to write with the gall of a bad heart. The Alarine Duke of Clarence, as Lord High Admiral, Yards, Yachts, and in the paid as much attention to the medical offi. Corps. cers of the fleet, as to any officer in the ser. Greenwich Hospital: vice. They were admitted to personal inDr. W. Beaty, physician. terviews whenever they had business of Dr. Wm. Gladston, 2nd ditto. sufficient importance that could warrant Richard Dobson, lst surgeon. such an intrusion. I could mention many, James Domville, 2nd ditto. both physicians, surgeons, and assistantWilliam Price, surgeon and dispenser. surgeons, for whom his Royal Highness Portsmouth Dock Yard : showed the greatest regard, and whose David Cowan, 1st surgeon. interests were promoted by him to the ut. John Crocket, assistant. most of his power; and I will venture to affirm that whether as a prince of the blood Yard: Plymouth Richard Jones, surgeon. royal, as lord high admiral of the seal, or as king of Great Britain, his Majesty has George Proctor, assistant. entertained, and ever will entertain, " every Deptford Yard: kind feeling" towards the medical officers Matthew Kent, surgeon. of his fleet. It -too often happens that a Woolwich Yard: kind master is imposed upon by his serRobert Dunn, Surgeon. and particularly when servants are vants, Chatham : new in their places, and have as yet to David Rowlands, surgeon. learn in a great measure their duties. I Sheerness Yard: shall not say from what cause the obnoxious William Warden, surgeon. order which your kind and meritorious exerPembroke Yard: tion,4. have got rescinded, originated, though Richard Tobin, surgeon. I have my suspicions; but of this I am cQnIlaslar Hospital: it never originated with the King. vinced, John Mortimer, surgeon. I would pledge my life upon this, and it is Dr. James Scott, 2ud ditto. proper the world should be made aware of Dr. H. Henderson, dispenser. the truth. It so happens, and I would add most unfortunately (for so I think), that Plymouth Hospital: Dr. Robert Armstrong, surgeon. Sir Henry Halford has got now the comYachts: plete management of the King’s health, and has become his Majesty’s privy counsellor George Roddam, Royal George. James Prior, Royal Charlotte. on all medical matters. I count Mr. ApoRoyal Marines: thecary Davis as only the shadow of the Dr. J. Richardson, surg., Chatham division baronet-to maintain his influence, and seJ. Rickman, Portsmouth division. cure his interests while absent. Now, this Sir Henry for a long time, and ever since Henry Parkin, Woolwich. he came into power, has acted upon a most D. D. Quarrier, Marine Artillery. Isaac Ryall, Plymouth division, it. Marines absorbing and contracted principle. The licentiates of the College were to be de-

J.Forbes,Chichester

Royal

.

.

-

pressed

and excluded from all

places of