SIGNAL FAILURE OF THE ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH A "SELF-SUPPORTING DISPENSARY" IN SOUTHWARK.

878 The

manner in which it has been the parish), and on the left by Dr. HODGKIN,; in France is demonstrated by of Guy’s Hospital, and Mr. HULBERT, surappreciated the fact of a large edition having been ex- geon. The room was crowded to excess, and, on a fair computation, about 300 practihausted in the space of two years ; and its’ tioners were present. The chairman having success in other countries has been as great stated the objects of the meeting, several as the favour it has received at’ home, for’ gentlemen enquired how it was that Mr. the Be’gian booksellers have done the m-. HAWF.s,M.P.,had " deserted his post " as a letter was read from thor the honour of pirating his work, which chairman, whereopon that gentleman, stating, that a previous enhas, moreover, been translated into two’ gagemcnt prevented his attendance. Ve foreign languages. Those who have usedI have reason to hope that Mr. HAWEs has this volume during courses of surgical oper-been undeceived since Wednesday last. TheRev. Mr. C17RI.ING rose to make an ations, can, we know, speak in highterms; of the accurate and highly practicrcl mannerobservation respecting what he called " an attack made on him in a vile publication, in which the various operations are dehe understood was the of the scribed. Without any of the bibliographi-opposition part," in a report organ of the procal parade which encumbers the work ofceedings of the last meeting. In TilE LANM. Velpeau, the author has contrived to be. C!;T it was stated that he (Mr. C.) had attended for the purpose of degrading the just as useful, quite as clear, and muchL medical profession. Now, no one had à more intelligible, while not a single point of that profession than himhigher opinion that can be of use to the student, or even to self, and lie had uttered nothing against it; the more advanced practitioner, has beentherefore the report in THE LANCET was a neglected. The portion descriptive of the! mis-statement.* Respecting these Dispenmanual operations employed in surgery is, saries, he did think they were highly useful and important means of raising the indealthough comprised within the limits of a pendence of the poor, and doing good to " manual," ample and perfect, while theparishes, and that a mechanic who was fnrsurgical anatomy is given in a more com-iiislied with medical attendance, by paying plete manner than in any other work of theone penny per week, would become a more kind. In short, we recommend M. Mal- moral, industrious, temperate, economical, and religious character. Whether such an gaigne’s manual as a production which will establishment was necessary in Southwark, fully answer the purpose of students and he must say that, although there were twoo surgeons, and support the reputation of thelarge Hospitals and several Dispensaries in the borough, there was yet room for an instiauthor as a writer. tution of this kind. It might be said, " there will not be found patients for a selfsupporting Dispensary," but he was sure SIGNAL FAILURE OF THE ATTEMPT TO there would be abundance of them, without ESTABLISH A "SELF-SUPPORTING DIS- infringing on the numbers ’which daily received rdief at the charitable institutions PENSARY" IN SOUTHWARK. around. Several eminent physicians and ADJOURNED MEETING. surgeons were favourable to these self-supThe MeetiHg which was adjourned or porting Dispensaries. ("Name !" name!") Wednesday week at the School-Room ir Dr. Hodgkin! (groans) Mr. Callaway! Newington, was subsequently appointed tc (" No !" "no!" " He has taken warning in be held at the Three 3’uze.s Tarern in the time; he has cut you !") He trusted that Borough, on the 14th Îust" in consequence the medical men present would shew their of the refusal of the trustees of the formet Christian feeling, honesty, and benevolence, building to allow its further use for the by voting in favour of the proposed estapurposes contemplated by the movers of the blishment. question ; and we have to record, as the reMr. RENDLE detailed at great length his stilt, the complete frustration of the efforts opinion of the arrangements of the Dispenof the little knot of persons who have so assary, and the character of the patients,siduously laboured to construct, in South- persons who are above want, receiving about wark, one of those engines for destroyiug the respectability of the profession, and the * Not n syHable was reported in ThE LANCET as been uttered by the reverend gentleman, just rewards of medical labour, which have having’ who was simply stated to have been present among been devised by Mr. SIfIT11 of Southam. those who were quite ready on this occasion On the present occasion, the chair was to lendpersons a helping’ hand to degrade their brethren of taken by the Rev. Mr. ORTON, of the parish another profession. Before the close of the meetof St. George, Southwark, on the right of ing, 300 medical men affored Mr. Curling’ the opportunity ot ascertaining that their opinion of the whom was stationed the T2ev.. Mr. CuRjjNG labours of himself and his coadjutors was in accordaud 11,r. Rrs.sELt. (late au overseer of Mice with that of THE LANCET.

guage.

which

879

15s per week.

Some of that class

might bo

such a club, but the proposers Induced to joinscheme

knew literally nothing of the present of the state of the borough,—none of them having been in practice there for any length of time-. He considered that no necessity existed in that district for any such establishment.

Mr.RUSSELL B ELL said, that in consequence of the medical " cabal" of last Wednesday, he was prevented from entering properly into the subject, but he now would contend that a Self-supporting Dispensary would be an admirable institution in Southward. Persons in the middle working-classes were continually being ruined by doctors’ bills. He had possessed many opportunities, as overseer of St. Saviour’s parish, of witnessing lamentable instances of this ; and to prevent their recurrence, he should support the proposed Dispensary. That medical men would be injured by it was no reason against its formation. Mr. BELL then read two cases in which N. N. and 0. 0. had been miraculously enabled, by subscribing one penny per week to the North-Western Self-supporting Dispensary, to rise from a state of miserable indigence to affluence.

tion with poverty of argument or proofs, since they who contended that these clubs would be beneficial, had advanced neither in support of their assertions. They had, it was true, talked of professional tyranny and oppression, but not one case had been adduced to show the public value of the selfsupporting system. On the contrary, he would prove that the North-Western Institu. tion, which had been so lauded by every speaker on the other side, was not self-sup-

ported, but a " charity." The secretary was present, and he called

on

him to read to that

large and respectable assembly the report of the institution, and the account of its funds, three-fourths of which came from honorary subscribers, who gave tickets of admission of 40s. per Out of 1,700 members, not a fourth contributed to its treasury, as a little calculation would prove.-Loud calls from all parts of the meeting at last brought up the secretary, who, in much alarm, amid deafening cheers from the opposition, read the followingstatement :to

people

week.

who

were

in

receipt

(" Hear, hear.")

(Laughter.)

Mr. BRADY said that the pseudo-philanwho were attempting to establish this fraud, consisted of two classes of persons A letter was then read from Dr. Twee- those who came there as emissaries of the Poor Law Commissioners, (of whom he inti- dale of Lynn, who said that in spite of the mated that Mr. Bell was one,), and those opposition of Mr. "WAKLEY, his medical club who wished to get a picking out of the penny had been completely successful at Lynn, subscriptions. He contended, that if these and would still prosper in spite of THE clubs were established, the sympathy ex- LANCET.—A young’ man named WYLIE then istingbetween medical men and the poor, advanced to the table, but the meeting now so general, would cease. It was most would not hear him in ; revenge for which he a disturbance, but endeavoured to cause the last to medical for speaker unjust charge men with being guilty of acts of oppression unsuccessfully. Mr. B. and tyranny. No other class of persons did surgeon, of Trinity-street, so much for the poor without reward, or an old inhabitant of the borough, said he were ever so ready to attend to the call of could speak from experience respecting the i medical attendance on the distress. poor; no district Mr. GAZELEE, (vtho said he was a medical could be better or more faithfully served by man, but from the character which he gave the parish surgeons ; there were many memen in the neighbourhood, and several, of the profession, the statement was doubted in the meeting,) contended that these Dis- of course, who wanted to push themselves pensaries would elfect vast good. Very into practice, and perhaps the promoters of many persons required their aid. As for the this club were of that number. He could much-vaunted charity of medical men, he tell this meeting, that the Self-supporting demanded of the assembly, whether medical Dispensarysystemhadjustmetwith a deathmen did not sometimes oppress the poor? blow, in a neighbouring parish (Camber(No, no.) Were they accustomed to " wipe well.) After a most dispassionate discussion ufi bills " when the patient was too poor to among the medical every medical man pay? (Yes, yes.) He contended that they there, except a Mr. MANICO, who expected did not, and be felt that the present opposi- to be secretary, shrunk from the scheme. tion was unjust and factious,—wholly raised The friends of the present meeting had by medical men, and that it did no honour striven hard to effect their object, even Mrs. to them. They had advanced no proof that Hulbert having been round the parish, from medical clubs would be injurious to them, house to house, solicting support for it. nor any arguments that they were not wanted She had called at his (Mr. Evans’s) house one night as late as 10 o’clock for that purby the poor. (Groans.) Mr. CLARKE said, that it was 7-infitir for the pose, and she stated that she had been proposers of the plan to charge the opposi- walking all day on the same errand. The

thropists

EvANS,

(Cheers.)

dical

men,

880

fact was, that like all other dispensaries

The amendment was then put, to the efthat Self-supporting Dispensaries were some persons who believed in the maxim, neither useful nor necessary; and on a show that " Charity begins at home." Some facts of hands, the numbers appeared to be, For the amendment,..... about 300 regarding the Southam club were not altoAgainst it, .................. 16 gether very honourable to it. That also, Thanks were then voted to the chairm.’ was not a self-supporting club, but was chiefly supplied by contributions, like other and carried by acclamation, his conc dispensaries. Such an institution in South- having been in every respect impartial an wark would not catch in its net the impro- honourable. vident artizan, who would still be improvident, and the provident man did not require TO CORRESPONDENTS. it. Besides, it was not right to attempt to A COMMUNICATION, extending over eleven create general providence among the poor at pages of closely-written foolscap, has been the expence of medical men. (Cheers). Mr. JOHN ELLIS thought the meeting had forwarded to us by Mr. P. BENNET LUCAS been too personal; he did not care whetherlate demonstrator of anatomy at the medica’ medical men supported the cause or not; school of Charing-cross Hospital, relating to controversy which is now raging be. they had conducted themselves badly thatthe tween certain persons who are and who have he must that Mr. evening, though say, Gazelee had not treated his brethren well. been connected with the "Hospital," a reply to the statements and( It was wrong to charge them, as he did, constituting Mr. G. JONES. In its remarks of with want of humanity, and his observations it is impossible that the communicagenerally were personal and offensive ; he shape, tion can be inserted in our pages. If Mr.’ thought, indeed, that medical men not living LUCAS would embody such facts as he may in the district were intruders at this meethave to state, within one quarter of the spac< ing. (Laughter.) For himself, he should act which his writing now occupies, we would as he pleased, in spite of any body. find a place for them in the coMr. FALL (a gentleman of fortune, as we willingly We have puf’ lumns of our understand, residing in Southwark), made aside his paper publication. with feelings of regret, bu’ some observations on the speech of the Rev. we cannot find room for documents of sucl= Mr. CURLING. He did not think it was the extreme length. province, or becoming the dignity, of a ChrisTHE present number of THE LANCET will tian minister to make such observations as some of those which had been used by him conclude the volumes of the journal for 1835-36. There remain, however, four (Mr. C.), especially with the advice on his the admirable lectures of Professor BRO lips to medical men, to show their "honesty SAIS for publication, and, in order that tL and Christianity" by voting for this meaIt implied that all men who voted whole of the lectures may be included i, sure. against it were dishonest, and infidels. Was this volume, and that the readers of the this Christian charity? The fact was, that journal may not be subjected to the disadthe Poor Law Commissioners were endea- vantage of having those discourses divided sets of volumes, of two distinct vouring, but in vain, to establish a club in into two this district, as in all other districts through- years, the four lectures yet unpublished will’ out the country. Would medical men seal be printed in a supplementary form, and istheir own degradation, by joining in such a sned with the current numbers of the journal fraud ? For the honour of the profession, he within a few weeks from this time. In the Index a brief reference is made, under th trusted that they would not. The Rev. Mr. CuRLING said, he meant no proper head, to the part of the volume where oflence to the profession, and feared that his the supplemental lectures are to be introobservations were mistaken. ( No, No !") duced by the binder. OUR correspondent at page 871 is correct, Loud calls for a division now arose on the former resolution and amendment, in the both with reference to the object we had in course of which it was stated that Mr. CAL- view and the amount of the fees. At an early LAWAY now disapproved of the club system, period, the guinea fee will be obsolete. Meand would not attend; that Dr. Roberts dical witnesses will find it impossible to would have nothing to do with it, and that give satisfactory evidence without a postMr. Hawes had abandoned it. Dr. HODG- mortem examination. KIN then attempted to address the meeting, AT least a dozen correspondents, who (to but his opening sentence, " that he was use the words of one writer) " considered ashamed of the medical men present," pro- that the extraordinary lecture lately deliver ’ duced such marks of excitement, that he ed at the Westminster Hospital was sim- suddenly retired to his seat, amid evidence a quiz," think that the confirmation of of much contempt on the part of the meet- authenticity supplied last week, justifies ing, and cries of " You say you are ashamed host of comments on Mr. Guthrie’s clinica’ of us ; we have more cause to be ashamed eccentricities, but we have not room for even of you !" one of their communications. this

was

designed

to serve the purpose of feet

w

,

and;

present’

’