THE DISCUSSION ON THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE PRIZES.

77

practitioners were members, voluntarily, not by compulsion, of given to understand, by a national representation, that they are the Royal College of Surgeons, when examined before a commit- now disfranchised, as members of the Royal College of Surgeons, tee of the House of Commons on Medical Education, stated, under the late charter; that their total annihilation is contemwhen asked his opinion as to the prohibition and punishment of plated by the proposed Bill, opening, as it does, the arena of prounqualified practitioners, that " he would not interfere with the fessional practice to any one. I remain, Sir, your very obedient servant, right of individuals to employ whom they pleased," and added, H. B. C. HILLIER, M.R.C.S.L., L.S.A., &c. - that it was hard if he could not employ a quack doctor, if he

I

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enough to wish it."* From such evidence as the 85, Gower-street, Bedford.square, Jan. 14, 1845. and emanating from such high professional authority, are we to be surprised that a Bill should be framed by the legislature which would encompass such sentiments, even though detrimental to the interests of twenty-five thousand general pracGOVERNMENT MEDICAL BILL.—THE IPSWICH titioners ; and hence we have in the preamble of this precious Bill, MEETING. the absolute repeal of so much of any act or charter as prohibits To the Editor of THE LANCET. ;any person from practising physic or surgery in any place withSIR,—When the members of the eastern branch of the Medical out such licence as is mentioned in such act or charter respecAssociation, met, a few weeks since, at Ipswich, to Provincial tively, or as imposes any restriction on the practice of physic and take into consideration the provisions of Sir James Graham’s Bill, surgery other than is contained in this Act," thus throwing open I was the only person present who ventured to expose its inthe doors of professional practice to all classes of her Majesty’s tendencies; and to denounce it as a measure alike designed subjects, and placing the profession in the same position, in point jurious of law, as it was in the reign of Henry the Eighth; for in the to destroy the honour, interests, and independence of the medical" but I spoke as to those who " have ears and hear not." thirty-fourth year of that monarch’s reign an Act passed with simi- profession, Since that period, you, Sir, have so successfully and completely lar effects. If her Majesty’s Secretary of State sought advice of physicians manipulated and. unravelled the convolutions and contortions of the cerebrum, or rather cerebellum, of the Secretary of State for on the subject of medical legislation, they would tell him that Home Department, that I am willing to hope that the eyes of they were anxious to possess more power over the medical pro- the fession generally; that their present laws were insufficient to sup- at least some of my auditors may be now open to the real danger of their situation. If any such there be, let me exhort them not port the dignity of their college; that they were compelled to grant to delay one moment longer to throw off their manacles, and their licences to practise to any person who demanded to be admitted to examination with a diploma in his hand from any, to add their names and unite their efforts to that glorious metropolitan phalanx, whose energies are concentrated upon procuring even a foreign university; and that they also could not interfere within their jurisdiction, to the detriment of the legally-qualified for themselves, and their brethren, a new charter, and an incorporation to which it will not be disgraceful to belong. They may physician and the general practitioner. Therefore the Royal be assured that they must now " awake ! arise ! or be for ever to of no the proposed College Physicians will, doubt, according legislative measures, merge into the proposed °° Council of Health fallen." I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,J. BEDINGFIELD. and Medical Education." Stowmarket, Jan. 15, 1845. If the general practitioners had been consulted by the minister previous to the issue of the present iniquitous and unjust Bill, they would have told him *’ that they were 25,000 in number, most of them members of the Royal College of Surgeons, or THE DISCUSSION ON THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE Licentiates of the Worshipful Company of Apothecaries, (having PRIZES. .strictly conformed to the provisions of the Act of 1815,) many of the Editor To of THE LANCET. them possessing diplomas from the Edinburgh, Dublin, or and not been for the who from their it universities, in, SIR,—Had could, position amusing communications that Foreign and constant intercourse with society, have given such infor- have lately appeared in THE LANCET, and which your wellmation as to what was really required to improve the state of known good nature and willingness to oblige have induced yon the medical profession, that the minister might have drawn in- to insert, I should not have troubled you with the few remarks ferences, and formed just ideas and conclusions, as to what was I think it right to make respecting prizes and prizemen, stripabsolutely necessary to be done to enable him to carry out his in- lings and veterans, in the study of medicine at University Coltentions, and to bring in such a Bill as would ensure safety to the lege. It does not, however, require any profound investigation public, by guaranteeing the professional capability of the medical of the subject to refute those statements, or prove the inconpractitioner, whilst, at the same time, it would have severely sistency and crudeness of the views of those young gentlemen who punished the empirical aspirant to professional fame. But, alas! have before addressed you on the subject. the general practitioners were not consulted,-and why? Was it Now, the curriculum of study in the present day is very judibecause, as a body, they attempted to stand on their own merits? ciously expanded over from three to five years. The subjects or because of their rapid advancement in professional attainments treated of in that period are multifarious ; some suited to the under the Apothecaries’ Act of 1815, so judiciously carried out taste or perceptions of certain individuals, others less so. The by the Society of Apothecaries ?-or was it because, being registrations at the different examining boards must be complied general practitioners, they did not come under the denomination with. May not the student defer the consideration of certain of either physicians or surgeons? I do not believe that any of subjects more congenial to him, to a later or more leisure year, the foregoing reasons prevented their being consulted by the instead of being obliged to 11 cram " for three or four classes, and minister; but I concur in opinion with the hon. member for write an indifferent paper after all, in each, at the end of the sesFinsbury, the able and zealous advocate of medical reform, who, sions ? Surely the subject ought to be handled by the competing in his place in the House of Commons, told her Majesty’s Secre- student in his own way, instead of following the example of a set tary of State " that he had been earwigged by some member of of young and inexperienced apprentices, (as they have been the profession." Was it by the pure physician or the pure pleased to yclept themselves,) who, gudgeon-like, grab at anysurgeon? But a pure physician or a pure surgeon is but a high- thing, no matter what, as to kind or quantity. sounding name; for the physician often practises surgery, (and I Again : if in his first two years a student has wits enough to have been present at, and witness to, the adroitness with which have gained his diploma from the College of Surgeons, is he to such operations have been performed by him;) the pure surgeon be considered unworthy, or his success detrimental to his credit, often attends on, and prescribes for, medical cases, and many when, in his last year, he seeks to reap the fruit of his exertions such have come to my knowledge. But if a pure physician or with his contemporaries that have not passed any of the boards? surgeon does exist, (in the full acceptation of the term,) let him To my mind, it rather redounds to his credit. By this means, stand boldly forward and declare it: but I feel convinced he does also, his subjects are much better got up, superior and better dinot. Let me therefore ask, whether these pures are not identified gested papers written, and science advanced. with the general practitioner? if so, why has the general pracThirdly. " Medical Practitioners " is a phrase used by one of titioner not been consulted by the minister? Had he been con- your correspondents. Why, the very appellation is absurd. The sulted, the present Bill would not have tended to disgrace so large fact disproves it. How can a man visit patients and receive fees, and respectable a body, whose members have always obeyed the while he attends lectures and takes notes ? The idea is preexisting professional laws of the State, and who therefore justly eminently juvenile. claim to be protected in their rights and privileges by the Crown; Once more. An inconsistency still more glaring exists. These and no doubt they will be so protected, when the legislature is ever " successful" antagonists seem terribly afraid of any inquiry concerning their bonâ jide knowledge of the subjects lectured on * See Sir B. Brodie’s evidence in the House of Commons, on Medical during the week-of all systems, perhaps the very best to sift the amount of information a student has obtained. Doubtless Education, 1843. was

foolish

foregoing,

78 are averse to impart an iota of their wisdom, for fear the older in the field should discover the clue to the golden fleece for which they are panting. Or are they too chicken-hearted to face their professor and their fellow-students? With regard to the former, in all matters of examination their urbanity is

the Castle, to present to him a green staff, and a copy vellum of the resolution of the court upon his becoming a governor of that foundation, which the Prince accepted. The deputation were most graciously received, and were invited to partake of a luncheon in the Castle.

they

ness at on

proverbial.

In conclusion, sir, every one must be aware that when civil breaks out in a college, men get disaffected, science stagnates, celebrity vanishes. Of late it has been a frequent remark, not only with the older students, but also with the professors, that a petty jealousy prevails among not a few members of the University and Hospital, that a love of finding fault has supplanted the thirst for information. On the points that I have ventured to criticize, I am sure those gentlemen could not have pondered, or else they have been entirely overlooked by them, from some cause which it is unnecessary to guess; but in order to set right the minds of our young friends on the subject, I beg you to insert these remarks in your interesting and valuable periodical, and so close your columns against this war. I am, sir, your obedient servant, AN OLD STUDENT. University College, Nov. t844. war

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

COUNTER-PRACTICE.—To the Editor.-SIR,-The following " passage is extracted from a leading article on Counter Practice" in the December number of the Pharmaceutical Journal :" It must be admitted that chemists are sometimes successful in their practice, and sometimes otherwise. If their success preponderates over their failures, the public derive the benefit, and the members of the profession suffer a hardship in being deprived of a share of the remuneration to which they are entitled, as qualified practitioners who have undergone an expensive education. If, however, the failures of the chemists preponderate over their success, and slight ailments are aggravated by them into serious maladies, the members of the profession have no right to complain, as their harvest is thereby increased." Compare this with the letter of the Liverpool chemist and druggist, at page 91 of THE LANCET for November, 1844, and with the recommendation of the Medical Gazette, that " Chemists and druggists should be admitted to a certain amount of medical practice," and the profession must, I am sure, admire the logic of both editors. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, A PROVINCIAL SURGEON. HOSPITAL FOR NATIVES OF GERMANY.-We are authorized answer to a correspondent in last week’s LANCET, that there is a German hospital now in active progress of formation, the Chevalier Bunsen, Prussian Ambassador; Chevalier Hebeler, Prussian Consol; the Rev. Dr. Kuper, of the German to state, in

Chapel, St. James’s; the Rev. Dr. Steinkopf, of the German Chapel, Savoy; Mr. Huisch, and many other influential and charitable gentlemen resident in London, being members of the committee; that a suitable house, with a garden attached, has been purchased at Dalston, and that there is every prospect of the institution being brought into operation in the course of the

SiR JAMES GRAHAM’S PROTEGES.—We last week published a letter from Mr. UPTON, secretary to the Society of Apothecaries. in reply to a communication addressed to him by a general practitioner. The latter gentleman has subsequently addressed the following letter to the editor of the Times, which we reproduce as a " sign of the Times :"" SIR,—Under the above head, you did me the honour, on the 4th instant, to publish a letter I had received from the clerk to the Apothecaries’ Society, in reply to my letter calling their attention to, and begging their protection from, the successful competition of an unqualified practitioner, wherein was intimated the determination of the company not to prosecute any person practising illegally pending the fate of Sir James Graham’s Medical Reform Bill. " The history of this unqualified man’s practice and appearance before the public is somewhat curious, and will shew Sir James Graham and the public what we may expect from his frightful and murderous bill, should it ever (as it is proposed) unlimitedly allow all persons to practise our profession. " This young man (reputed to have served three or four yeaM1 in a druggist’s shop) commencedaa school for young children,’ some four or five years ago, at the other end of the parish I reside in, he and his wife sharing the tender duties assigned to them. From the side of his dwelling gradually grew out a little shop,coloured bottles walked into the window, and a druggist he of the rod became! " Worm-powders, rheumatic pills, spasmodic drops, bleeding, tooth-drawing, and lancing gums, became matters of his daily calling. Midwifery offered her attractions, and the five-shilling fees made agreeable work for him. Smellie and Conquest were read; and an old she-midwife (for the distinction is necessary) in the neighbourhood aided him in comprehending the rudimental part of the art. " The children had convulsions. Who was applied to ?-The empiric’! The rheumatism in others was agonizing, and had reached the heart. Who was applied to ? The spasms were inflammatory. The bleeding arm could not be stopped. The parturient woman became ill, and puerperal inflammation ensued. Who, in any of these untoward events, would be summoned, they having been his own cases ? The empiric, and I rejoice that I am not the chronicler of his homicides. " Dabbling in medical practice led to some notoriety among the poor, and, unhappily for me, in the higher class also. His wife is a native of this parish, and extensively related to the tradesmen and minor farmers, who recommend him on all occasions, and find ready excusesfor his errors. Under these auspices, he soon began to walk abroad to see his patients. Lady --’s maid was in an hysterical fit. I (the usual medical attendant) had administered sal-volatile, was sent for-so was he. Lady and shortly after he arrived-and long before I did-the patient recovered, and he got the credit. She had another fit in a few days ; my friend only was this timecalled in,’ living so much He booked the case. I lost it. Lady ——’s nearer than I. little boy was convulsed in the night, having eaten unripe fruit. The empiric was sent for by the head nurse, (who had already administered calomel and the hot bath), and arrived before the mistress knew anything about the matter. The child recovered just after the schoolmaster arrived, but he got the credit, and he now attends the family ! " Almost all the persons who let lodgings hereabout are his wife’s aunts, or second, third, or sixth cousins, and aid my opponent most substantially. A lady brought her daughter here with ovarian disease. The landlady was asked who was the most skilful medical man in the neighbourhood ? She named, of course, my friend, the professor of the rod! (Though of late he had thrown aside the toga academic, and assumed the tunica medicalis alone.) He mistook the abdominal enlargement for pregnancy ; and during the patient’s dreadful sufferings actually administered ergot of rye to urge on labour! The mother, disgusted and in agonizing despair, rushed off with her daughter in a fly to London, there to mourn over the tortures of her barbarously -

ensuing spring or summer. THE PUBLIC MEDICAL CHARITIES —Mr. George Harvey, of Castle Hedingham, in discussing the mischievous consequences that would follow the passing of Sir James Graham’s Medical Bill, observes-" Indeed, I apprehend that the most disastrous consequences may be the result of the present scheme. What, for instance, with the proposed powers and overwhelming majority which any Home Secretary would command in the Council of Health, would prevent his seizing upon the revenues of the whole of our great hospitals throughout the kingdom, and subjecting every one of those charities to the control of the Poor-Law Commissioners ? What would then become of the liberal allowances and admirable management of these noble institutions, at present the pride of England, and the admiration of the whole civilized world? They would be remembered for a few years, - they would be talked of as wonders,-they would vanish as a dream!"

maltreated daughter!

" PRINCE ALBERT A GOVERNOR OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S This, Sir, is the illegal practitioner whom I represented to HOSPITAL. It appears that the authorities of St. Bartholo- the Apothecaries’ Company ! I published, through your kind mew’s Hospital have followed the example of the Borough medium, their reply ; they decline to assist me, (one of their Hospital, and elected Prince Albert a governor. On Tuesday, licentiates,) or to protect the public with those weapons which Jan. 7th, the treasurer of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, and the law has placed in their hands, and which they are morally three governors (a deputation from the hospital), attended by bound to use till the law is actually altered, and are equally bound Mr. W. Wix, the clerk, had an audience of his Royal High- not to recognise as affecting their sacred duties any contemplated -