1235ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF LONDON.

the interests of the medical profession by urging upon theGeneral Medical Council the necessity for a new MedicalAct, in which provisions should be made: (1) for theestablishment of State Examinations in Medicine of a highstandard compulsory on all entering the profession; (2) thesuppression of the numerous methods of unqualified practicethat now obtain; in return for which the licensed practi-tioners should pay an annual fee to the State during theyears they should be in practice; (3) increased representa-tion of the profession on the General Medical Council.

I am, Sirs, yours very truly,HENRY LANGLEY BROWNE.

Moor House, West Bromwich, IOct. 18th, 1906.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.SiRs,-May I ask the three scrutineers of votes given at

a meeting of the Wandsworth division to complete theirstatement by giving the number of votes which theyscrutinised and the proportion which this number bears tothe total of those practising in the district ? 7

I understood that the Representative Meeting of theBritish Medical Association decided in July last to remainimpartial in this election. Why, then, are the parts doingwhat the whole decided against ? 7 Supposing that eachdivision nominates three different names (as may easily bethe case) what can the result be but chaos ? 7

I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,Putney, S.W. W. G. DICKINSON.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.SiRs,-In THE LANCET of Oct. 27th, p. 1165, Dr.

McManus says, " I do not quite follow Mr. Harford’sletter." Well, I do not think it is at all difficult tofollow. I said the Battersea Provident Dispensary was a

huge organisation with a membership of over 20,000,that it publicly advertised its fees by painting themin large letters on the outside of its premises, that itwas grossly abused, that householders paying high rentswere members of it, that it was in unfair competition withoutside practitioners in the locality daily taking patientsfrom them who were well able to pay better fees than ld.a week, that some members of its privileged staff hadbetween 6000 and 7000 patients on their lists and received aremuneration of over £ 600 a year, and that Dr. Leonard

Strong McManus was one of the most influential members ofthe said medical staff. And now Mr. H. Nunan Collier, whosays my remarks are mild, asserts in THE LANCET of Oct. 27th,p. 116, that disguised or undisguised " touting " is carried onby its collectors, and that this "charity," able to afford to paysuch large salaries to its medical officers, actually receives agenerous contribution from the King’s Hospital Fund, andsubscriptions from private firms in the neighbourhood I Tothis indictment Dr. McManus replies that the Dispensary"is worked on absolutely correct lines." Such a reply willbe, I think, Sirs, unsatisfactory to the common-sense of yourreaders. I am, Sirs, your obedient servant,Wandsworth-road, S.W., I0Ct. 29th, 1906. M. S. HARFORD.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.SlRS,—I beg to inform you that at the general meeting of

the Swansea Medical Society, held on Oct. 23rd, the inclosedresolution was unanimously adopted :-That this general meeting of the Swansea Medical Society cordially

approves of the candidature of Dr. Latimer and Dr. McManus, andpledges itself to support their election to the General MedicalCouncil.

I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,F. DE COVERLY VEALE,

Honorary Secretary.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OFLONDON.

A COMITIA was held on Oct. 25th, Sir RICHARD DOUGLASPOWELL, Bart., K.C.V.O., the President, being in the chair.The following gentlemen having passed the required exa-

mination were admitted Members of the College :-CharlesHenry Benham, M.D. Lond., L.R.C.P. Lond. ; William HaigBrodie, M.D. Edin. ; Peter Kevin Byrne, M.D. Lond.,L.R.C.P. Lond. ; Ernest Nicholson Cunliffe, M.D. Vict. ;Henry Devine, M.B. Lond., L.R.C.P. Lond. ; John McCrae,M.B.Toronto, L.R.C.P. Lond. ; Carlton Oldfield, M.D. Lond.,L.R.C.P. Lond. ; and Alexander Corsar Sturrock, M.D. Edin.

Licences were granted to 122 gentlemen who bad passed therequired examinations.

It was announced that the Jenks scholarship had beenawarded to Mr. Godfrey Alan Walker.The PRESIDENT announced that he had nominated the

following Fellows to act as adjudicators for the next Weber-Parkes prize and medals : Dr. J. F. Payne, Dr. H. W. G.Mackenzie, and Dr. A. Newsholme.The following communications were received : 1. From

the trustee of the will of the late Sir G. T. Michael O’Brien,K.C.M.G., informing the College of a bequest by the testatorof the reversion of 1000 to a hospital for the treatment ofthe blind, and of a like bequest to a hospital for thetreatment of cancer, the hospitals to be selected by thePresident of the College. The funds of the trust, how-ever, are not likely to be available for some time. 2. Fromthe clerk of the Privy Council, August 20th, announcingthe further postponement for a year of the InternationalCongress on Gynaecology at St. Petersburg, which was fixedfor September, 1906. 3. From the secretary of the RoyalCollege of Surgeons of England, reporting certain proceed-ings of its Council on July 26th last and on Oct. 17th.4. From Mr. Jonathan Hutchinson, F.R.S., thanking theCollege for the honour which it conferred on him byawarding to him the Moxon medal. 5. From Mr. Thomas

Hodgkin, D.C.L., of Bermoor Castle, offering for the

acceptance of the College a photo-engraving of a portrait ofhis uncle, the late Dr. Thomas Hodgkin of Guy’s Hospital, aLicentiate of the College of 1825. The gift was acceptedand the thanks of the College were ordered to be given tothe donor.

Dr. NoRMAN MooRE was re-elected a member of the com.mittee of management.

I After some further formal business the PRESIDENT

dissolved the Comitia.

BRITISH MEDICAL BENEVOLENT FUND.

AT the recent meeting of the committee 14 applicationswere considered and sums amounting to .6139 voted in relief.The deaths of two annuitants were reported and the vacanciesso created filled by the appointment of two of the selectedcandidates. Appended is a short abstract of the cases towhich grants were made.Widow, aged 43 years, of M.B., C.M. Aberd., who practised in

Worcestershire and abroad. Small means at husband’s death havebeen exhausted in educating the children who are still barely self-supporting. Applicant endeavours to maintain herself by nursing butfinds great difficulty in obtaining work just at present. Recommendedby Dr. A. H. Vassie. Voted £ in one sum.Daughter, aged 70 years, of late L.S.A., who practised in a London

suburb for many years. Unprovided for at father’s death, 20 yearsago, and has maintained herself until the present time by takingboarders. Recommended by Mr. George Eastes. Voted ,c12 in 12instalments.Widow, aged 63 years, of M.R.C.S., L.S.A., who practised for 44 years

in Oxfordshire. Applicant nursed husband through a long illness whichended in death two years ago and the proceeds of an insurance policywere swallowed up by debts. No income; no children. Is endeavour-ing to obtain a post as housekeeper or companion. Recommended byDr. J. F. Goodhart (vice-president). Voted ;E12 in 12 instalments.M.D. Edin., aged 69 years, who practised in Lancashire but for the

last few years has been very infirm and is now dependent on thekindness of neighbours. Recommended by Sir Patrick Heron Watson.Voted B12 in 12 instalments.Daughter, aged 62 years, of late L.S.A. who practised in a London

suburb for 40 years. Applicant and a sister have supported themselvessince father’s death, 15 years ago, by taking boarders but have recentlydone very badly and are unavoidably in arrears with the rent.Recommended by Dr. E. Baxter Forman. Voted .E12 in 12 instalments.L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S.Edin., aged 70 years. Qualified late in life but

never had any means to practise on his own account and has beenobliged to devote his savings as assistant to his mother and sisters.LTnable to obtain work on account of his age. Recommended by Dr. G.Halley, honorary local secretary. Voted £ 12 in 12 instalments.M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., aged 57 years, who practised in Essex and

Hampshire. Was incapacitated by a serious accident more than twoyears ago and has exhausted all his means. Three children, onedependent, the others unable to help. Recommended by Dr. F. T.Roberts, vice-president. Voted £ 10 in two instalments.Daughter, aged 57 years, of late M.D. Lond., who practised in

Harley-street. No income; endeavours to support herself by knitting,but is frequently incapacitated by ill-health. Relieved twice, JE24.Recommended by Mr. A. Pearce Gould, vice-president. Voted ,c12 in12 instalments.Widow, aged 46 years, of late L.R.C.P. Edin.,’who practised in Japan.

No income; children only able to give very slight assistance; en-deavours to maintain herself by nursing but for the last 18 months hasbeen incapacitated by a serious illness. Relieved 12 times, 2120.Recommended by Dr. C. Muirhead. Voted ;E12 in 12 instalments.Daughter, aged 56 years, of late M.D. Lond., who practised in

Sussex. No income ; lets lodgings but does not earn sufficient for main-tenance ; sight failing. Relieved 23 times, J3178. Recommended byDr. W. Rosser, honorary local secretary. Voted .E6 in six instalments.

1236 ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.

Daughter, aged 64 years, of late:M.R.C.S., who practised in Hamp-shire. For many years has acted as companion to mental cases but is Inow unable to obtain such a post; hopes shortly to be elected to a

pension from a benevolent society. Relieved twice, 215. Recommendedby Mr. E. East. Voted £ in one sum.Widow, aged 67 years, of L.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., who practised in Herts.

Unprovided for at husband’s death; children only able to give slighthelp; indifferent health for last three years. Relieved 14 times, .B144.Recommended by Mr. J. Roche Lynch. Voted E12 in 12 instalments.Widow, aged 49 years, of L.R.C.P, L.R.C.S. Edin., who practised in

London. Quite unprovided for at husband’s death two years ago andunable to obtain employment on account of bad health. Relievedtwice, .B17. Recommended by Dr. J. Mitchell Bruce (vice-president).’Voted 25 in one sum.

Daughter, aged 59 years, of late M.R.C.S., L.S.A., who practised inSussex. Receives a pension from the Kent Medical Benevolent Society,but income is insufficient for maintenance on account of slight mentaldleficiency which necessitates applicant being placed in rooms where- she can be looked after. Relieved ten times, .E96. Recommended by.Mr. A. S. Bostock. Voted 12 in 12 instalments.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OFENGLAND.

. ANNUAL REPORT.

THE Council of the Royal College of Surgeons of EnglandTias just issued its annual report, which is to be laid before-the yearly meeting of the Fellows and Members on

Nov. 15th. The meeting will be held in the College at:3 P.M. The report is an exposition of the year’s work and"contains items of considerable importance.

The length of the medical curriculum has been carefullyconsidered and a committee of the two Royal Colleges in:England was appointed to report upon the following pro-posals : (1) to treat chemistry, physics, and biology as sub-jects of preliminary education and to require that an examina-tion in them should be passed before the recognition of the’commencement of medical studies ; and (2) to adopt a firstyear’s curriculum of professional study from the date ofpassing the preliminary science examination. With regard tothese questions the committee was unanimously of opinion:(1) that it is undesirable to treat chemistry, physics, andbiology as subjects of preliminary education ; (2) that it is’undesirable to require an examination in chemistry, physics,:and biology to be passed before the recognition of the com-mencement of medical studies; and (3) that it is therefore,undesirable that the Royal Colleges should approach theuniversities and other examining bodies with a view to

adopting a five years’ curriculum of professional study from,the date of passing the preliminary science examination.’The report contains the reasons why the Council has

-adopted the opinions as set forth above.The regulations for the Fellowship have been under con-

sideration on account of a report received from the court ofexaminers recommending the alteration of the clause in theregulations requiring a candidate before admission to the’jirst examination for the Fellowship to produce a certificate" of having been engaged in the acquirement of professionalknowledge at a recognised medical school subsequent toTegistration as a medical student during a period of not lessthan three winter sessions."

The court pointed out that the 18 months’ dissectionsrequired for the Fellowship could be completed in two winterand two summer sessions, but that, while those candidateswho had studied the early subjects of the medicalcurriculum-viz., chemistry, physics, and biology amedical school could count such study as part of the courserequired for the Fellowship, those who had studied thesesubjects at a non-m’edical school could not do so but wereobliged to complete another winter session at the medicalschool.The Council having appointed a committee to consider the

,proposal of the court, it was pointed out that the suggestedalteration of the regulations did not reduce or alter in anyway the course of study then required for the Fellowship.The main object was to make the conditions of admission tothe first examination fair for all classes of candidates.Under the conditions then in force two candidates mighthave pursued the same course of study and yet one might be-admissible and the other not. Thus a candidate who hadstudied chemistry, physics, and biology at a medical schoolfor 18 months was admissible to the examination, but acandidate who had studied chemistry, physics, and biologyelsewhere than at a medical school for six months and haddissected at a medical school for 18 months was notadmissible to the examination, although the study of

chemistry, physics, and biology at non-medical schools wasrecognised and approved by the College. It was to removesuch inequality of treatment that the alteration of the

regulations was designed. The committee, having con-

sidered the question of altering the by-laws, arrived at thefollowing conclusion-viz., that it is inadvisable to alter

By-law Section 20, Clause 3, so as to make it necessary for acandidate for the first examination for the Fellowship todissect for three winter sessions.With regard to the suggested diplomas in tropical medicine

a report has been received from the visitors appointed by thetwo Colleges to inquire into, and to report on, the arrange-ments made by other institutions for the study of tropicalmedicine and examination therein. The committee of visitorsadmitted that the schools of tropical medicine haveopportunities of research in a ceitain number of diseaseswhich are much greater than those possessed by most generalhospitals in the British Isles ; and that a knowledge of thesediseases is eminently desirable in the case of medical menpractising in the tropics, but not by any means equallynecessary for medical men practising at home. It isimpossible for the Royal Colleges to ignore the existenceof this important branch of knowledge or the followingfacts : (1) that it is not at present adequately provided forat the ordinary medical schools ; and (2) that it is providedfor at Liverpool, the London School of Tropical Medicine,and the Navy and Army Medical Colleges. They may well,therefore, consider whether, in extension of the functionsthey already possess of giving diplomas in medicine, surgery,obstetric medicine, and State medicine, they should not alsogive diplomas or certificates which would implicitly or

expressly guarantee a knowledge of tropical medicine.The question of varicocele as an impediment to military

service has been considered owing to the Council having beenconsulted by the Director General of the Army Medical Serviceas to whether, and, if so, to what extent, varicocele shouldbe regarded as a disqualincation for military service. TheCouncil replied that in cases where candidates are otherwisephysically fit, varicocele, unless present in a severe degree,need not disqualify them from service in the army.Regarding College scholarships, Mrs. Macloghlin, whose

munificent proposal to bequeath to the College a sum of.f.l0,OOO for the endowment of scholarships in memory ofher husband, the late Mr. Edward Percy PlantagenetMacloghlin, M.R.C.S., was recently announced, intends toincrease the value of her bequest. She now proposes furtherto bequeath to the College the residue of her estate to formthe "Eliza Macloghlin Bequest," the income arising there-from to be applied for the purpose of increasing the valueof the Macloghlin scholarships.With regard to the financial state of the College, the gross

income for the past year amounts to 0825,361, being £ 394less than the gross income. for the previous year. Thebalance of income over expenditure amounts this year to082329.

___

THE CALENDAR—NEW FEATURES.’

THE present issue of the College Calendar contains manynew features. In addition to an historical summary there isa concise account of the foundations of the College lecturesand prizes. As not the least important among the improve-ments of the Calendar may be noted the revision of the list ofMembers. Much time and attention have been devoted tomake the list as complete and as accurate as possible.Only about one-half of the list has at present been revisedbut it is intended to complete the revision in time for thenext issue of the Calendar. There are now on the College roll1363 Fellows, of whom 1311 obtained the Fellowship byexamination; 27 were elected as "Members of 20 years’standing" ; one is a Fellow elected ad e2cndena; and of theoriginal Fellows by election only 24 now remain. There are17,414 Members, 2C46 Licentiates in Dental Surgery, and 578Diplomates in Public Health.

The College endo)v?7ient3.-For the first time there appearsin the Calendar a succinct account of the College endow-ments, beginning with the Hunterian Oration which datesback to the year 1813. In this year Dr. Matthew Baillieand Sir Everard Home, Bart., executors of John Hunter,"being desirous of showing a lasting mark of respect tothe memory of the late Mr. John Hunter," gave to theCollege the sum of 081684 4s. 4d. 3 per cent. consolidatedbank annuities for the endowment of an annual oration tobe called the Hunterian Olation and to be delivered in thetheatre of the College on Feb. 14th, the birthday of John