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sure that the appointment of a permanentmedical secretary would be of great advan-tage to Section E,-some one who wouldknow where to look for valuable communi-

cations, and make arrangements so as to

keep the interest of the section unabated.This appointment might easily be madewithout trenching on the province of the

general assistant secretary, whose duties aremuch too onerous to admit of his attendingto the particular sections. It is due to Pro-fessor Phillip to say that in this city he hasmerited the highest praise, both for his greaturbanity of manner, and the admirable dex-terity with which he managed the unwieldydetails of so great a meeting; but I need ap-peal to no other argument to show the ad-

vantage of a branch secretary than his ownsection, which is second in effect to none ofthe others. I would also wish to notice anerroneous impression which may operate un-favourably to Section E, viz., that a papercannot be received without the presence of

the author. Now, as members of our pro-fession have not the same latitude in going Ifrom place to place that others possess, such

I

an opinion must be peculiarly injurious to

the Medical Section.I would wish, in conclusion, to state that

at the recent meeting in Cork many of thephysicians of this locality who could havegiven valuable communications to the sectionwere deterred from writing by a hospitablewish to allow their highly-gifted brethrenwhom they expected both from the sister

country and their own, to occupy the publicattention. Our disappointment, then, wasgreat when we found, at the eleventh hour,that our invited guests were unable to come.If, then, any marks of haste are to be foundin the proceedings, I am sure that they willbe kindly excused. I am happy to say thatthe greatest good feeling everywhere existed,and that in this city the good effects of thelate meeting of the British Association willbe long visible. Independently of the grati-fication arising out of the extension of know-ledge, there is another reason, peculiar to usas Irishmen, for which we shall look backwith pleasure to the year 1843, namely, thatit was the date of many a new friendship,and the revival of many a valued association,which we shall long cherish among the re-collections of the past. With much respect,I have the honour to remain, Sir, your mostobedient servant,

JOHN POPHAM, M.D.,One of the Secretaries of Section E.

Cork, October 9, 1843.

JOHN POPHAM, M.D.,One of the Secretaries of Section E.

CHARTEROF THE

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONSOF ENGLAND.

(GRANTED SEPTEMBER 14, 1843.)

VICTORIA, by the Grace of GOD, of theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire-land, Queen, Defender of the Faith, to allto whom these presents shall come greeting,Whereas the Body Politic and Corporate ofthe Royal College of Surgeons in Londonwas incorporated or re-established under orby virtue of a certain Charter or LettersPatent, bearing date at Westminster, thetwenty-second day of March, in the fortiethyear of the reign of King George the Third,or otherwise, as in such letters patent men-tioned or referred to, and the said college isnow regulated and governed by and accord.ing to the provisions of such charter or letterspatent, and a certain other or supplementalcharter, granted by letters patent bearingdate at Westminster, the thirteenth day ofFebruary, in the third year of the reign ofKing George the Fourth, and also by or ac-cording to certain by-laws and ordinancesmade by the said college for its regulationand better government.And whereas the body politic and corpo-

rate of the said college at present consists ofpersons created members of the said col-

lege by the said first mentioned charter, orconstituted such members by letters testi-monial, under the common seal of the said

college, of the respective qualifications ofsuch persons to practise the art and scienceof surgery. And the governing body of thesaid college consists of a council of twenty-one of the members of the college, ten ofthem being also examiners of surgeons forthe college, and one of such ten personsbeing also the president and two of them thevice-presidents of the college and the twoprincipal serjeant-surgeons to us and to ourheirs and successors and the surgeon.gene-ral to the forces, of us, our heirs, and suc-cessors, provided they shall have been chosenmembers of the council, have at present apreference of being admitted examiners ofthe said college before all other personswhenever vacancies happen in the court ofexaminers of the college.And whereas, in order more effectually to

promote and encourage the study and prac-tice of the said art and science of surgery,it appears to us expedient that a new classof members of the said college, to be called

fellows, should be created, and (with theexception of the first fellows hereinafternamed and directed and authorised respec-

tively to be appointed), be required, in orderto obtain the diploma of their fellowship, tohave attained a greater age than is at pre’sent necessary in the case of ordinary memo

bers of the said college, and to have com-plied with such rules and regulations, and

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passed such examination as hereinafter men- names of all such persons, so declared fel-tioned ; that the number of the members of lows, shall be contained and set forth in athe council of the said college should be in- schedule to such general diploma. Andcreased, and that all future members of the such general diploma shall also, within twocouncil be chosen from the fellows of the calendar months after the seal of the saidcollege and hold their office for a limited college shall have been affixed thereto, beperiod only, instead of for life, and that the enrolled in our High Court of Chancery.right of electing members of the council be 4. That it shall also be lawful for thetransferred from the council (with whom council of the said college, at any time orsuch right now resides) to the body of such times after the expiration of the said threefellows; that alterations be also made as re- calendar months and before the expirationgards the election and admission and con- of one year from the date hereof, by diplomatinuance in office of the future examiners of or diplomas under the seal of the said col-the college, and that certain further powers lege, and in such form as the said counciland privileges should also be granted to the shall think fit, and without any fee, to ap-saidcollege. Now know ye, that we, of our point any other person or persons (being aespecial grace and mere motion, at the hum- member or members of the said college) toble petition of the said Royal College, have be a fellow or fellows of the said Royalwilled, ordained, constituted, and declared College of Surgeons of England.and granted, and by these presents for us, S. That, except as hereinbefore mentioned,our heirs, and successors, do will, ordain, no person shall become or be admitted a fel-constitute and declare, and unto the said low of the said college until after he shall

Royal College of Surgeons in London do have attained the age of twenty-five years,grant, in manner following, to wit :- and shall also have complied with such rules

1. That from henceforth the corporate and regulations as the council of the saidname or style of the said college shall be- college shall from time to time consider ex-The Royal College of Surgeons of England, pedient, and by a by-law or by-laws direct,and that a portion of the members of the said nor unless he shall have passed such specialcollege shall be fellows thereof by the name examination by the examiners of the saidor style of the Fellows of the Royal College college, as the council shall from time to

of Surgeons of England. time think fit, and by a by-law or by-laws2. That the present president and two direct, that candidates for a fellowship of the

vice-presidents, and all other the present said college shall undergo ; but every fit andmembers of the council of the said college, proper person having attained such age, andand also such several other persons, not complied with such rules and regulations,being less than two hundred and fifty, nor and passed such special examination, shallmore than three hundred in number, and be entitled to be admitted a fellow of thebeing members of the said college, as the said college.

.

council of the said college, at any time or 6. That the admittance of every such newtimes before the expiration of three calendar fellow as last mentioned, shall be by diplomamonths from the date hereof, shall elect and under the seal of the said college, in suchdeclare to be fellows in manner hereinafter form as the council of the college shall fromdirected, together with any such other per- time to time think fit and direct; and thatsons as the council of the said college, after every person so admitted a fellow of the saidthe expiration of the said three calendar college, and not being already a membermonths, and within one year from the date thereof, shall also, by virtue of such his ad-hereof, shall think fit and shall appoint in mittance as a fellow, become and be consi-manner hereinafter authorised, shall be fel- dered admitted as a member of the saidlows of the said college. college.

3. That the council of the said college, 7. That the fee to be paid on the admit-with all convenient speed after the date of tance of every such new fellow as last afore-these our letters patent, and before the ex- said (over and besides the stamp duty on hispiration of three calendar months from the admittance or diploma), shall be any suchdate hereof, and in such manner as the said sum not exceeding the sum of thirty-onecouncil shall deem best, shall elect to be pounds ten shillings, as the council of thefellows of the said college any such number said college shall from time to time think fit,of persons, being members of the said col- and by a by-law or by-laws direct.lege, and not being in the whole less than 8. That where several diplomas shall betwo hundred and fifty, nor more than three granted on the same day (whether to suchhundred, as the said council shall think new fellows as last aforesaid, or to any fel-proper ; and also shall, before the expiration lows to be created after the said first threeof such three calendar months, by one gene- calendar months, and within the first yearral diploma, under the seal of the said col- from the date hereof as aforesaid), suchlege, and in such form as the council shall diplomas shall be numbered under such re-think fit, declare, or cause such persons to gulations as the council may think fit, inbe declared fellows of the Royal College of order to show the order and priority of suchSurgeons of England accordingly ; but the diplomas among themselves.

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9. That the council of the said college 11. That the present members of the coun.shall cause the name of every fellow for the cil of the said college shall be and continuetime being of the said college, and if thought life members thereof as heretofore, and thatfit by the council, together also with the the number of the members of the councilplace of residence of every such fellow, to shall, in the manner hereinafter mentioned,be entered according to their several seniori- be increased from twenty-one to twenty-four,ties (in the manner and to be determined or and that all future members of the councilascertained respectively as hereinafter men- shall be elective, and be elected periodically,tioned), in a book or register to be kept for in the manner and subject to the regulationsthat purpose at the hall of the said college, hereinafter mentioned and directed.or such other place for the time being as the 12. That upon the first Thursday in thesaid council shall direct ; and such book or month of July in the year one thousand eightregister of fellows, at such times and subject hundred and forty-four, or within one calen-to such reasonable and proper regulations dar month afterwards, and in the manneras the council for the time being shall think hereinafter mentioned, three fellows of thefit and direct, shall be open to the inspection said college shall be chosen to be additionalof any member of the said college (whether members of the council of the said college ;fellow or not), at the hall of the said college, and that upon the first Thursday in July inor other place appointed for the time being every succeeding year, for ever thereafter, orfor the custody of the same. And the senio- within one calendar month afterwards, andrity of such fellows to be entered in such in the manner hereinafter mentioned, threebook or register as aforesaid, shall be and fellows shall be chosen to be members of thebe determined or ascertained respectively council; and in every such succeeding yearas follows, that is to say, the present presi- in which there shall be no vacancy, or lessdent shall be entered first, the two present than three vacancies among the life membersvice-presidents, according to their respective of the council, three of the elective membersseniority, next after him, and then all the of the council, or such less number of suchother present members of the council accord- elective members as, with the number ofing to their respective seniorities; and im- vacancies in that year among the life mem-mediately after such the present members of bers, will make up the number three, shallthe council; the fellows to be elected within go out of office upon the day whereon suchthree calendar months from the date hereof three fellows shall be chosen to be membersas hereinbefore directed, according to the as aforesaid, so that the number of the conn-order and priority of their names, as the cil shall at no time exceed twenty-four;same shall be contained and set forth in the and in every such succeeding year in whichschedule to such general diploma, whereby there shall be three or more than threethey shall be so declared fellows as herein- vacancies among the life members, none ofbefore directed ; and, with respect to all the elective members shall go out of office inother fellows, their names shall be entered that year, and three fellows, and three only,according to the dates of their respective shall be chosen to fill up three of such va-diplomas ; and when the diplomas of any cancies among the life members, and thefellows shall bear date on the same day, then remaining vacancy or vacancies of that yearas regards or between such fellows according (if any) shall be considered and treated as ato the order and priority in which the di- vacancy or vacancies among the life mem-plomas shall be so numbered, as hereinbefore bers in the following year or years, as thedirected, case may be or require. But from and after

10. That from henceforth no member of the period when the number of the electivethe said college, who shall not also be a fel- members of the council shall be completedlow of the same, shall be eligible as a mem- and made up to twenty-four, three of theber of the council of the said college ; nor members of the council shall go out of office(but subject and without prejudice to the every year, upon the day whereon three newvalidity of any election to be made as herein members shall be elected, as aforesaid. Butafter directed) shall any fellow be so eligible in all cases fellows going out of office shallwhilst practising midwifery or pharmacy, or notwithstanding be eligible for nominationwho shall have practised midwifery or phar- and immediate re-election, and, continuingmacy at any time during the five years next eligible in other respects, their names shallpreceding the day of election, nor unless he be announced to the meeting accordinglyshall reside and bona fide practise his pro- in the order and manner hereinafter di-fession of surgeon within five miles by high- rected.

way or road from the General Post-office in 13. That the elective members of theSt. Martin’s-le-Grand. And if any member council, who shall from time to time go out ofof the council shall at any time after his office in the manner hereinbefore mentionedelection practise midwifery or pharmacy, or and directed, shall be those who shall haveshall cease to reside and bona fide practise been longest on the council without re.elec.his profession of surgeon within five miles tion ; and in the case of fellows elected uponof the General Post-office, as afoiesaid, he the council in the same year, those shall firstshall be liable to removal from the council. go out of office whose names stand lowest

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(among those elected of the same year) on respect to adjournments of such meetings inthe book or register of the fellows of the case of the business thereof not being con-college. cluded as aforesaid.

14. That whenever any vacancy or vacan- 17. That such previous notice or noticescies shall take place among the elective of every election of a member or members ofmembers in any other way than by their the council shall be given as the council

going out of office by rotation as aforesaid, shall from time to time think fit, and shall bysuch vacancy or vacancies shall be filled up a by-law or by-laws determine and appoint,by the election (upon some early and conve- and that, subject only to the regulations andnient day to be fixed by the council for that restrictions in these our letters patent men-purpose) of a substitute member or members tioned or contained, the election of membersin the room of the person or persons whose of the council shall be conducted in such

place or places shall have so become vacant ; way and manner as the council shall fromand every person so elected to fill up any time to time think fit, and shall by a by-lawsuch vacancy shall hold such office until the or by-laws also determine or regulate andtime when the person in whose room he shall appoint, but such election shall always be byhe chosen would have been liable to go out ballot, and be decided by a majority of ballsof office, and he shall then go out of office or votes, and every fellow who shall be eligi-accordingly, but shall notwithstanding be ble to be elected according to the regulationseligible for nomination and immediate re- and restrictions contained or mentioned andelection, and, continuing eligible in other authorised in or by these our letters patent,respects, his name shall be announced to the shall be announced to the meeting as a fellowmeeting accordingly in the order and manner eligible in the order and according to thehereinafter directed. priority in which his name shall stand in the

15. That the members of the council of the book or registry of fellows ; and if he shallcollege shall hereafter be elected by the be thereupon nominated in such mode as thefellows of the said college, including the council shall by by-law or by-laws providemembers of the council as such; and such for the general nomination of members atfellows, whether members of the council or elections, he shall be balloted for accord-not, shall be allowed to vote in person only ingly, but not otherwise.and not by proxy ; and that any number of 18. That when any eligible fellow shallfellows (not being less than fifteen present) at have been passed by for want of any sucha meeting convened for the purpose of elect- nomination as aforesaid, or having been bal-ing a member or members of council, shall loted for shall not be elected a member ofbe competent to proceed to such election. the council, he shall cease to be eligible to

16. That the chair at every such meeting be elected, except upon such special termsshall be taken by the president of the said of nomination as shall by the council by by-college, or in his absence by one of the vice- law be for the time being provided for suchpresidents, or in case also of their absence, cases, and upon such special terms any fel-then by the senior members of the council of low so passed by or not elected, may be re-the said college then present. And if it nominated for and be elected a member ofshall so happen that from any cause the busi- the council, but if he shall be on such secondness of the day cannot be concluded upon occasion either passed by or not elected, hesuch the day fixed for election as aforesaid, shall for ever thereafter cease to be eligiblethen and in every such case an adjournment for election upon the council.of the meeting shall take place to the next 1U. That no fellow whatever shall be eli-day, at an hour to be named by the chairman gible to be a member of the council unless(Sundays, Christmas-days, and Good Fri- at the time of his nomination for election asdays, excepted, and being passed over when such there shall also be produced and deli-occasion shall require), and so from day to vered in, in such way and manner and inday (except as aforesaid) until the business such form as the council shall from time toof the meeting shall be completed; but no time think fit, and by by-law regulate andother business shall be discussed or attended appoint accordingly, a certificate in writingto at any such meeting besides the election signed by such number of fellows as by suchof a member or members of the council, for by-law shall be required, that, or to the effectwhich the same shall have been convened, that such fellow so nominated is a fit andProvided also, that if upon the day fixed for proper person to be a member of the council,any such election there shall not be fifteen and particularly that he does not practise,or more fellows assembled and continuing and has not within five years practised mid.together for the purpose of such election, wifery or pharmacy, and that he resides andthen at any time after the space of one hour bonâfide practises his profession of a sur-after the time of day fixed for such election, geon within five miles by highway or roadthe chair may be taken as aforesaid, and it from the General Post-oflice in Saintshall be lawful for the chairman to adjourn Martin’s-le-Grand, and such nomination andthe meeting to the next day, and so from day certificate being delivered in the manner re-to day (except as aforesaid) if necessary, in quired, the same (as regards the matters orthe manner hereinbefore mentioned with particulars so to be certified as aforesaid,

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but no further) shall be final and conclusiveas to the right of such fellow to be ballotedfor as a member of the council, and also tobe elected such member if upon the ballot heshall be so elected.

20. That there shall be ten examiners ofsurgeons for the said college, and the presentexaminers shall be and continue such exa-miners for life as heretofore. But that thetwo principal serjeant-surgeons to us and toour heirs and successors, and the surgeon-general to the forces of us, our heirs, andsuccessors, or any of them, and althoughthey may be chosen members of the councilof the said college, shall no longer have anypreference of being admitted examiners ofthe said college before other persons; andthat all future examiners of the said collegeshall be elected by the council of the college,either from the members of the council orfrom the other fellows of the said college, or Ifrom both or either of them ; and that allfuture examiners of the said college shallhold their office of examiners during thepleasure of the council, and so long only asthe council of the college shall think fit.

21. That the president and vice-presidentsof the said college shall no longer be chosenexclusively from or out of the examiners ofthe said college, but from or out of all themembers of the council indifferently, andwhether examiners of the college or not.And that any number of examiners of thecollege, not being less than six, shall be suf-ficient to form a court of examiners, and withor without the president or vice-presidentsof the college, or any of them (and whetheror not the president or vice-presidents, orany of them, may be examiners).

22. That if it shall at any time hereafterappear that any present or future member,or any fellow of the said college, to be ap-pointed or admitted at any time after the ex-piration of the said first three calendarmonths from the date hereof, shall have ob-tained his letters testimonial or his diplomarespectively by any fraud, false statement,or imposition, or that either before or afterobtaining such his letters testimonial or

diploma, he shall have violated any by-law,rule, or regulation of the said college, thenand in every such case, and after such pre-vious notice to, and such hearing of, suchmember or fellow as, under the circum-stances, the council of the said college shallthink proper, it shall be lawful for suchcouncil to recall and to declare the letterstestimonial or diploma respectively of suchmember or fellow to be void, and thereuponevery such member or fellow shall cease tobe a member, or a member and fellow of thesaid college, as the case may be accord-ingly.And we do further declare our will and

pleasure to be, that except in the respectshereby altered, the said college and thecouncil of the same shall continue to have

all such and the same jurisdiction, powers,authorities, and discretions, for and with re-spect to the government of the said collegeand the election and choice of the officers ofthe same, as well as the admission and ex.pulsion of members and fellows, and for themaking, ordaining, confirming, annulling, orrevoking by-laws, ordinances, rules, and

constitutions, and transacting and ordainingall other matters and things whatsoever forthe regulation, government, and advantageof the said college, as such college and thecouncil thereof respectively now have underor by virtue of the said two several herein.before recited or mentioned charters or letterspatent, or either of them respectively, or inany other lawful manner.And we do hereby for us, our heirs, and

successors, grant and confirm unto them allsuch jurisdictions, powers, authorities, anddiscretions accordingly ; provided always,and it is our further will and pleasure, thatno by-law or ordinance hereafter to be madeby the said council shall be of any force untilour approval thereof shall have been signi-fied to the said college under the hand of oneof our principal Secretaries of State, or thesame shall have been otherwise approved insuch manner as shall be directed by us, withthe advice and consent of the Lords Spiritualand Temporal and Commons of our Realm,in Parliament assembled.And we do hereby for us, our heirs, and

successors, further grant unto the said col-lege, that these our letters patent, or the en.rolment or exemplification thereof, shall bein and by all things good, firm, valid, suffi.cient, and effectual in the law, according tothe true intent and meaning thereof, notwith-standing the not fully or not duly recitingthe said several letters patent, or the datesthereof, or any other omission, imperfection,defect, matter, cause, or thing whatsoever,the same or any rule or law to the contrarythereof in anywise notwithstanding. Inwitness whereof we have caused these ourletters to be made patent. Witness ourselfat our Palace at Westminster, this fourteenthday of September in the seventh year of ourreign.

By Writ of Privy Seal,EDMUNDS.

MEDICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.

Monday, October 16, 1843.

MR. PILCHER, President.CASE OF POISONING WITH THE FUMES OF

ARSENIOUS ACID. DISCUSSION ON POISON-

ING AND THE EFFECTS OF REMEDIES.

DR. G. BIRD related the following case, notaltogether for its novelty, but for theanxiety and difficulty which were often ex-perienced in forming an opinion respectingcases of insidious poisoning. This wasoften the case with respect to insidious poi-