VISCOM AND LIBERALITY OF THE OLD HAGS.

531 VISCOM AND LIBERALITY OF THE OLD HAGS.

To the Editor

buta

regular reformation

and

nothing

ever

suppress them.

can

I am, Sir,

of THELANCET. ,

SIR,—As a constant reader of your valuable Journal, I have often observed, with feelings of satisfaction, the high and universal estimation in which it is held over all other periodical publications, for it has carr.ru the power of even-handed justice so far, as to be able to check the hole-and-

Your obedient servant, STUDENS. 27. Dec. 27. London, Dec. London,

SURGICAL REFORM.

To the Editor of THE LANCET. proceedings carried on in most of I and coincide hospitals ; SIR,—I was about to apologise for address. may safely with many other subscribers, in asserting that ing you on a subject which has been so rethere is no medical Journal equal to THE peatedly and so ably discussed in the leading

corner" our

LaacEr in useful information and extensive articles of your truly meritorious and useful circulation. I will take the liberty, like many journal ; but when I consider that it is enothers,tomake a few remarks on the defective tirely at your option either to receive or and highly injurious state of the regulations reject, I think it unnecessary, more espe.

of the Royal College of Surgeons and Apothe- cially as my only object is that of contribut· canes’ Company in London ;and for fear I ing my mite towards the benefit of that pro, should occupy too much of the valuable pages fession to which I am enthusiastically deof your Journal, I shall state as briefly as voted, and of which I am an humble mem-.

possible the

communication that I intend to make to you. It is generally understood that every man who intends to become a .eneral practitioner, must pass the examinations of both College and Hall. It is of no consequence whether you have passed the College of Surgeons or not; if you pass, you are necessarily authorised to practise as a :urgeon ; but if you present yourself at the Hall, a few days perhaps after having the College diploma in your pocket, it is lamentable,to say, those wiseacres, lately better inown by the name of Old Hags of Rhubarb Hall, have it in their power to reject an indiliJual for not knowinganatomy, of which themselves. they know such a small It is not at all improbable but there are some of them who would actually faint, if they were brought perchance in sight of a

her.

The injustice and oppressive tendency of the legislative enactments relating to the medical profession—the absurdity of the certificate trade, and the consequent necessity for a thorough reformation, are now .become so apparent, even to non-medical persons, as to render it utterly superfluous for me to offer any comment upon the sub-

ject.

I have read with avidity each number of THE LANCET since the first announoement of the British College of Surgeons, hoping that it would have elicited remarks from some of your numerous correspondents, more competent than myself to point out the advan. tages or disadvantages of such an institu· tion. My professional brethren, however, either from a consciousness of its utility, or (what is more probable) from a reluctance dissected subject. A short time ago, that pedantic body re- to bestir themselves in a course which does jected an individual who had passed the not immediately bear upon their own inte. College previous to making his appearance rests, having been altogether tacit upon the to be examined on drugs at Rhubarb Hall, subject, I cannot resist this opportunity of because he did not know some of their ana- offering my humble, though sincere, opinion tomical questions. If a person answers all of such an institution, and also of medical their questions in pharmacy, chemistry, and policy in general. botany, and with the same breath, telling It will, I believe, be admitted by all, that them that he has already been examined in no advantages are to be derived from becoma:;atomy at the College where he obtained ing a member of the Royal College of SurL,a diploma, why is this not sufficient togeons,and that there is no law to preventper’ curb their illegal restraints on a person who’sons of the smallest intellectual calibre, from lerally should be their superior, in point off practising as surgeons without a diploma. rank, in the _profession ?They should not: Hence it follows, that the majority of pracbe so severe on persons who passed the Col-titioners commence the important and serious lege previous to trying to become a memberduties of their profession, immediately after the Apothecaries’ Hall. It would be veryr having passed the ordeal of the Apotheca’" t for them to act this unnecessary part onries’ Company, a body notorious for their ; persons whom they may suppose to be igno-- ineapability of ascertaining whether their rant of anatomy, and without having passed1 candidate possesses a sufficient knowledge the College of Surgeons. All these imper-to practise upon the lives of his Majesty’s fections must give rise to many grievances,, subjects. It is true there area few students,

portion