RAILWAY MEDICAL CLUBS.

514 There Preissnitz is raised to the dignity of a "practitioner." this supplemental demand; and impolitic, since it must offend, The cold-water quackery is the " Preissnitzian era." Claridge, and press hardly upon, some, whose enrolment as original Wilson, Lane, Johnson, and the other calumniators of members has been prevented by accident or other excusable the profession, are "Preissnitzian writers," while medical cause; seemingly exclusive, inasmuch as it may repel many men are nicknamed " drug-doctors," and described with a who would otherwise have combined to promote and prohost of " drug diseases" in their train. Will the profession mulgate thestudy of morbid anatomy; and possibly extortionate, because, breathing the expiring spirit of monopoly, and calcutamely submit to such degradation. *..* We have no sympathy with " witty doctors" at the lating upon the common instinct of association felt by indiexpense of their profession. If this be a true account of the viduals following a kindred pursuit, it arbitrarily imposes, for practice of the reviewer in " chronic dyspepsy," and of its precisely the same advantages, a greater tax upon the results, we have no surprise that his patients should flee to secondary, than upon the first, contributors to the general hydropathy; but we repudiate it altogether, in so far as it pre- fund. Under all or any of these circumstances, the decision tends to be a faithful picture of the practice or failure of the of the council, restricting, as it probably will, the full development of their highly laudable plans, seems unworthy the profession generally in such cases.-ED. L. pure and comprehensive principles of real science, whose paths should be freely open to all, unobstructed by partial THE PROFESSION TAKING THE LAW AGAINST pecuniary limitations. ILLEGAL MEDICAL PRACTICE INTO ITS OWN Finally, as practical pathologists, let the members of the HANDS. Society be advised, that the votaries of their own science, To the Editor of THE LANCET. feebly manifesting the tendencies of the hæmorrhagic diaSIR,—I beg to second the proposition of "Exterminator," thesis, are but indifferently disposed to bleed: Your exSILEX. contained in the last number of THE LANCET, which, I doubt sanguine servant, 1846. November, carried if would be nemine the whole not, contradicente, body of legally-qualified medical practitioners will give to it their attention. A very small sum from each would be necessary RAILWAY MEDICAL CLUBS. for the object if all the 20,000 performed this duty, and a To the Editor of THE LANCET. very small sum indeed would suffice, if contributed annually SIR,—A question has been mooted whether or not twountil our object was accomplished. "Exterminator" says that pence per week, per man, ill or well, belonging to a railway " twelve months will do it;" probably it would; but having club, is too small a sum for a medical practitioner to receive " It is understood that the once exterminated" the vermin, it would still be necessary for advice and medicine, &c. to mount a constant guard against their re-appearance. Sound patient is to wait upon the surgeon, if able. The labourers coming from all parts of the kingdom to work at some railprophylactic treatment is unquestionably preferable to the way, have been necessitated by the state of the law to necessity for a cure, and a goodly sum " constantly on hand," subscribe for their sick and wounded on the undertaking. would be by far the most effectual threat to hang in terroreni, The following instance came under my own notice. An excavator arrived from a distance to obtain work; just as he was over their devoted heads, to drop upon and crush them the moment they" put in an appearance." As school-boys we about to get it he became ill with English cholera. The first for a roof over him during the read of the 11 retreat of the 10,000." As men, let us hear of the question was, who must pay and for the few necessaries that he would require? treatment, advance of the 20,000; and such an array, headed by THE Upon applying to the relieving officer, the man was directly LANCET, would, I will answer for it, speeedily lay open all the sent home, outside of a coach, sixteen miles distant. As he burrowing sinuses which these purulent vermin have estab- would have been well, probably, in a few days, despite the ride,he would then have his walk to make over again. It was to avoid lished for the execution of their nefarious projects. Will you, Sir, enlist recruits ? The ranks, I know, will fill; such vexatious treatment as this that the men began at once, all over the (where railways were being constructed,) and, when disciplined "by you, will boldly follow and liberally to deposit socountry, much every pay-time for the " sick," a close imisupport you in every charge:’-I beg to subscribe myself, tation (excepting that government does not get a bite out of the Sir, with great confidence, contributions) of the proceedings of those wealthier persons A RECRUIT. who insure their lives and property. Out of the money thus raised, the labourers were to bury their dead, and give someto the widows and families. But, for many reasons, this MORBID APPEARANCES IN THE PATHOLOGICAL thing did not do of itself; so they then agreed to pay a surgeon oneSOCIETY. third of the whole money collected, the interest of that gentle1’0 the -Editor of THE LANCET. man being to get the men well as soon as possible, (much the Emperor’s physicians;) for while the SIR,—Only a fortnight since, you proclaimed, in humorous same as with the Celestial he is diminishing the doctor’s salary; the phrase, the first inspirations of the "Pathological Society of patient is on hand, also presenting a check against lazy impostors, London," and accompanied the announcement with some very arrangement who would feign to be sick to get 12s. a week, unless some pertinent suggestions on the wisdom (?) of that economy which competent person had to decide on the truth. Twenty more continues to provide, in a succession of hungry treasuries, such reasons exist why a surgeon should be thus appointed, and numerous receptacles for the scanty guineas of scientific men. almost as many that his salary should be what it is. The men on an average, only 13s. or 14s. a week. These men, Already, within a month,-" a little month,"-the council of obtain, at home, in their parish, would be entitled to claim the Union this infant, but vigorous, Society has (perhaps with more surgeon’s attendance. In France, an English surgeon attends haste than prudence) resolved on taking a step, which, as for exactly the same pay, although he cannot have any private opposed to the spirit of your recorded opinions, will assuredly practice as well. The Union surgeons are paid, I believe, in meet with some reprobation at your hands. many cases, only 1¼d. per head, per week, covering a surface The original subscription for the first year being a guinea, of ground which obliges the surgeon to traverse twenty miles or more of hard road, for days in succession, and to pay turnthe Society (though its respiration be yet puerile) has deterfind medicine, &c. Innumerable clubs pay only 4s. a pikes, future candiits council, to demand of every mined, through year, per member, to the surgeon. date for admission a similar additional sum, as an entrance After considering the amount of pay received by many honourable men for attending the sick, under government, in fee. in mines, in manufactories, and in sick clubs, am I, Now, Sir, it does seem to me, amongst others, that this unions, under doing anything that I ought to existing capricious exercise of authority, by so immature a body, is be ashamed of, circumstances, the or which is likely more deeply to unreasonable and impolitic, if not exclusive and extortionate,the 2d. per man, per week, or about accepting by profession, unreasonable, as one cannot even pretend that, at so early a 8s. 6d. a year each 1-1 am, Sir, your obedient servant, H. N. R. period, any commensurate benefit can be offered to justify October, 1846. -

disgrace