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THE COLLEGE OF DENTISTS AND THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.
Frederic Farre and Thomas H.
Wakley, Esq.,
were
then pro-
drunk with much enthusiasm, and responded to by Dr. Farre, on behalf of himself and colleague, in appropriate
posed,
terms.
Several other toasts followed, and the eluded until a late hour.
meeting was not
Correspondence.
con-
THE COLLEGE OF DENTISTS AND THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. (LETTER FROM MR. S. L. RYMER.) 2’o the Editor of THE LANCET.
SiR,-For more than three years past the dental profession has been divided in opinion as to the best means of organizing its members into something like a compact body;and this division of opinion has naturally delayed indefinitely the common
object.
The tirst successful movement towards a reform of the profession was made in 1856, when several meetings, open to all alike, aud called by public advertisement, were held. POOR-LAW MEDICAL REFORM ASSOCIATION. dentists This movement resulted in the establishment, without a disTo the Editor of THE LANCET. sentient voice, of the College of Dentists of England, possessa constitution founded on the principle that dentists should ing me to inform the shall feel SIR,-I obliged by your allowing be an independent body-that dentists were capable of im. was unable officers that Mr. Poor-law medical although Pigott instruction to pupils, and of superintending examito bring forward the Bill on the evening first intended, in con- parting nations as to proficiency, independently of any other instiof the on the new tariff so much discussion sequence occupying tution. time, he assures me he will take the earliest opportunity of Whiie these proceedings were being conducted thus openly, doing so. In a letter I received this morning from him is the eighteen dentists who were of opinion that a dental certificate this it We lose :-" nothing by delay; gives oppor- from the College of Surgeonswould following meet the requirements of the tunity for talking it over with members." It is possible that profession (as I did myself until an independent existence was before this letter reaches you leavemay have been given to shown to be possible), instead uf attending the general meetings, introduce the Bill; be this as it may, I strongly advise the some of which consisted of more than two hundred practitioners, medical officers to continue to send to the House their petiand stating their views in a straightforward manner, as they the time about have of which to tions, present sixty only up had the opportunity of doing, chose to ignore the public moveI also them to write to of the been presented. each urge upon ment altogether, although they knew it to be " a fact." They members of Parliament with whom they are acquainted, and to hold no arguments with their brethren in pracendeavour to obtain his support of the measure when intro- determined that to them alone should be entrusted considered tice ; they duced. Two hundred gentlemen have sent me their siibscripof the profession. So, to endeavour to stay the legithe interests tions this year, but this is a very small proportion of the three thousand. Surely gentlemen can hardly be aware that if this timate movement without delay, a meeting of the eighteen gentlemen was called, a memorial to the College of Surgeons measure be carried in the shape proposed, upwards of 200,000 embodying their ideas was " hastily prepared" and signed, a year will be added to the incomes of the Poor-law medical officers as a body. Two or three o’Sicers have written to me and at once forwarded to the Council of that institution. From within the last few days, forwarding subscriptions, but saying this secret conclave, and " hastily prepared" memorial, the determination of the Council of the College of Surgeons to they will not be benefited by the measure; in each of these grant dental certificates has been arrived at. cases I have proved to them that their incomes will be doubled I shall not now stay to show why the memorial was the three elements of alone, by payment omitting altogether the gain which will accrue by other clauses in the Bill. The hastily prepared, as I have the authority of one who signed it to prove that it was. Suffice it to say, two parties exist in the great object of my obtaining money is that I may be enabled dental profession-one advocating the cause of independence, to give every possible publicity to our complaints and the mode as represented by the College of Dentists; the other, the cause of redress. I am at this time writing a commentary on each section of the Bill, which I intend to send to the members of of dependence, as represented by the Odontological Society: Parliament as soon as it is fairly before the House, in order the origin of each being borne in mind. Up to this time there has been much unnecessary warmth of that the necessity for each clause may be thoroughly underexhibited in coutroversy; but not more, perhaps, than feeling made the and that reference be to stood, easy may arguments is common to reformatory movements carried on without unain support of it. Everything at present looks propitious; and if the Bill should not be carried this session, it will be mainly nimity. The controversy, however, was for the most part confined to the profession, until Tuesday last, when the oppoewing to the apathy of the profession. nents of the College of Dentists committed themselves in a I am, Sir, yours respectfully, manner which, I think, will open the eyes of the world to the RICHARD GRIFFIN. March 1860. 3rd, Royal-terrace, Weymouth, unjustifiable spirit of bitterness with which the College has had to contend, and with which it has contended, and will, in A MEETING of students was held in the anatomical theatre all probability, continue to contend successfully. I refer, Sir, of Guy’s Hospital, on the 2nd instant, for the purpose of deter- to an advertisement in The Times of Tuesday, the 28th ult., mining what steps should be taken in order to co-operate with in which attacks and statements are made, which might have the other metropolitan schools in favour of Poor-law Medical been passed over if published through a legitimate medium, Reform. The chair having been taken by A. E. DURHAM, but which must now be regarded by every honourable man as Esq., the following resolutions were proposed and carried :those who would wish to be looked upon entirely unbecoming and seconded by Mr. MERCER,— with respect. Proposed by Mr. FAGGE, That this meeting sympathizes with the movement in favour I believe this proceeding will recoil upon its projectors with of Poor-law Medical Reform."" threefold force, for the gauntlet having been thrown down in Proposed by Mr. GAYLEAED, and seconded by Mr. MEGGY,- the presence of the public, in the presence of the public it must " That this meeting is willing to co-operate cordially with the be taken up; and, for my own part, I have no doubt as to tho other medical schools in promoting the objects of the Assoif open conduct and sound principle are more in accordresult, " ciation. ance wiLh the views of than surreptitious actions Proposed by Mr. ATWELL, and seconded by Mr. MAY,- and doubtful policy. Englishmen That two delegates be sent from this school to concert meaI am, Sir, your obedient servant, sures with the representatives of the other schools." S. L. RYMER. North-end, Croydon, March, 1860. Proposed by Mr. GALTON, and seconded by Mr. CANN,is of That this meeting opinion that separate petitions from the different medical schools will further the cause more than HOMŒ0PATHY. any general meeting of students." To the Editor of THE LANCET. Amendment proposed by Mr. MEGGY, and seconded by Mr. to communicate to you the following fact, leave GAYLEARD,-"That an aggregate meeting of the students of SIR,-I beg the several medical schools should be called, at which further which I witnessed with my own eyes :measures might be deliberated upon." Some time ago, a friend of mine, a firm believer iii homceoMr. WOODMAN, and seconded by Mr. TURNER, pathy, provided himself with a medicine chest, supplied to Proposed —" That this meeting pledges itself to defray, by subsequent him by the famous chemist in the neighbourhood of Hanoversubscriptions, any incidental expenses which may arise in the square, well stocked with globules of all sorts. He went abroad, " course of the proceedings." and I used to meet him frequently at the house of a mutual C) JOHN THOS. MERCER, friend. One eveninghe was exhibiting his medicine chest and MERCER, Hon. Sec. "Audi alteram
partem."
by
256
Wakley, Esq.,
were
then pro-
drunk with much enthusiasm, and responded to by Dr. Farre, on behalf of himself and colleague, in appropriate
posed,
terms.
Several other toasts followed, and the eluded until a late hour.
meeting was not
Correspondence.
con-
THE COLLEGE OF DENTISTS AND THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. (LETTER FROM MR. S. L. RYMER.) 2’o the Editor of THE LANCET.
SiR,-For more than three years past the dental profession has been divided in opinion as to the best means of organizing its members into something like a compact body;and this division of opinion has naturally delayed indefinitely the common
object.
The tirst successful movement towards a reform of the profession was made in 1856, when several meetings, open to all alike, aud called by public advertisement, were held. POOR-LAW MEDICAL REFORM ASSOCIATION. dentists This movement resulted in the establishment, without a disTo the Editor of THE LANCET. sentient voice, of the College of Dentists of England, possessa constitution founded on the principle that dentists should ing me to inform the shall feel SIR,-I obliged by your allowing be an independent body-that dentists were capable of im. was unable officers that Mr. Poor-law medical although Pigott instruction to pupils, and of superintending examito bring forward the Bill on the evening first intended, in con- parting nations as to proficiency, independently of any other instiof the on the new tariff so much discussion sequence occupying tution. time, he assures me he will take the earliest opportunity of Whiie these proceedings were being conducted thus openly, doing so. In a letter I received this morning from him is the eighteen dentists who were of opinion that a dental certificate this it We lose :-" nothing by delay; gives oppor- from the College of Surgeonswould following meet the requirements of the tunity for talking it over with members." It is possible that profession (as I did myself until an independent existence was before this letter reaches you leavemay have been given to shown to be possible), instead uf attending the general meetings, introduce the Bill; be this as it may, I strongly advise the some of which consisted of more than two hundred practitioners, medical officers to continue to send to the House their petiand stating their views in a straightforward manner, as they the time about have of which to tions, present sixty only up had the opportunity of doing, chose to ignore the public moveI also them to write to of the been presented. each urge upon ment altogether, although they knew it to be " a fact." They members of Parliament with whom they are acquainted, and to hold no arguments with their brethren in pracendeavour to obtain his support of the measure when intro- determined that to them alone should be entrusted considered tice ; they duced. Two hundred gentlemen have sent me their siibscripof the profession. So, to endeavour to stay the legithe interests tions this year, but this is a very small proportion of the three thousand. Surely gentlemen can hardly be aware that if this timate movement without delay, a meeting of the eighteen gentlemen was called, a memorial to the College of Surgeons measure be carried in the shape proposed, upwards of 200,000 embodying their ideas was " hastily prepared" and signed, a year will be added to the incomes of the Poor-law medical officers as a body. Two or three o’Sicers have written to me and at once forwarded to the Council of that institution. From within the last few days, forwarding subscriptions, but saying this secret conclave, and " hastily prepared" memorial, the determination of the Council of the College of Surgeons to they will not be benefited by the measure; in each of these grant dental certificates has been arrived at. cases I have proved to them that their incomes will be doubled I shall not now stay to show why the memorial was the three elements of alone, by payment omitting altogether the gain which will accrue by other clauses in the Bill. The hastily prepared, as I have the authority of one who signed it to prove that it was. Suffice it to say, two parties exist in the great object of my obtaining money is that I may be enabled dental profession-one advocating the cause of independence, to give every possible publicity to our complaints and the mode as represented by the College of Dentists; the other, the cause of redress. I am at this time writing a commentary on each section of the Bill, which I intend to send to the members of of dependence, as represented by the Odontological Society: Parliament as soon as it is fairly before the House, in order the origin of each being borne in mind. Up to this time there has been much unnecessary warmth of that the necessity for each clause may be thoroughly underexhibited in coutroversy; but not more, perhaps, than feeling made the and that reference be to stood, easy may arguments is common to reformatory movements carried on without unain support of it. Everything at present looks propitious; and if the Bill should not be carried this session, it will be mainly nimity. The controversy, however, was for the most part confined to the profession, until Tuesday last, when the oppoewing to the apathy of the profession. nents of the College of Dentists committed themselves in a I am, Sir, yours respectfully, manner which, I think, will open the eyes of the world to the RICHARD GRIFFIN. March 1860. 3rd, Royal-terrace, Weymouth, unjustifiable spirit of bitterness with which the College has had to contend, and with which it has contended, and will, in A MEETING of students was held in the anatomical theatre all probability, continue to contend successfully. I refer, Sir, of Guy’s Hospital, on the 2nd instant, for the purpose of deter- to an advertisement in The Times of Tuesday, the 28th ult., mining what steps should be taken in order to co-operate with in which attacks and statements are made, which might have the other metropolitan schools in favour of Poor-law Medical been passed over if published through a legitimate medium, Reform. The chair having been taken by A. E. DURHAM, but which must now be regarded by every honourable man as Esq., the following resolutions were proposed and carried :those who would wish to be looked upon entirely unbecoming and seconded by Mr. MERCER,— with respect. Proposed by Mr. FAGGE, That this meeting sympathizes with the movement in favour I believe this proceeding will recoil upon its projectors with of Poor-law Medical Reform."" threefold force, for the gauntlet having been thrown down in Proposed by Mr. GAYLEAED, and seconded by Mr. MEGGY,- the presence of the public, in the presence of the public it must " That this meeting is willing to co-operate cordially with the be taken up; and, for my own part, I have no doubt as to tho other medical schools in promoting the objects of the Assoif open conduct and sound principle are more in accordresult, " ciation. ance wiLh the views of than surreptitious actions Proposed by Mr. ATWELL, and seconded by Mr. MAY,- and doubtful policy. Englishmen That two delegates be sent from this school to concert meaI am, Sir, your obedient servant, sures with the representatives of the other schools." S. L. RYMER. North-end, Croydon, March, 1860. Proposed by Mr. GALTON, and seconded by Mr. CANN,is of That this meeting opinion that separate petitions from the different medical schools will further the cause more than HOMŒ0PATHY. any general meeting of students." To the Editor of THE LANCET. Amendment proposed by Mr. MEGGY, and seconded by Mr. to communicate to you the following fact, leave GAYLEARD,-"That an aggregate meeting of the students of SIR,-I beg the several medical schools should be called, at which further which I witnessed with my own eyes :measures might be deliberated upon." Some time ago, a friend of mine, a firm believer iii homceoMr. WOODMAN, and seconded by Mr. TURNER, pathy, provided himself with a medicine chest, supplied to Proposed —" That this meeting pledges itself to defray, by subsequent him by the famous chemist in the neighbourhood of Hanoversubscriptions, any incidental expenses which may arise in the square, well stocked with globules of all sorts. He went abroad, " course of the proceedings." and I used to meet him frequently at the house of a mutual C) JOHN THOS. MERCER, friend. One eveninghe was exhibiting his medicine chest and MERCER, Hon. Sec. "Audi alteram
partem."
by
256