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sions which took place at the publicmeetings that were held, that the Councilabandoned any of the regulations thatwere complained of?"-" I believe not."

492. ’‘ To whose neglect was the de-struction of the Hunterian manuscriptsattributable? .. -" I do not know that

neglect was attributable to anybody. I donot know that those manuscripts were everthe property of the public. I think nobodycould have suspected that Sir EverardHome, under such circumstances, woulddestroy the manuscripts."

493. " Putting aside the legal question,as to whom the propet ty of the manuscriptswas vested in, does not great hlame attach ito any person who destroyed the manu-- scripts?"-" There cannot be two opinionson that subject."494. " Are ten members more than

enough for the court of examiners?"-" I think they are, if they only examineone person at a time."

495. " If men of sufficient eminencecould be found younger than thirty-six,should you see any objection to their beingexaminers?’=" None at all. Many com-petent examiners might, I think, be foundbetween the age of twenty-five and thirty-six."

496. " Does the election of the medicalofficers of hospitals by the siibscril)ers tothe hospitals, lead to any evil ?"-" I donot know what other mode of electioncould be adopted ; and I am not aware thatit does lead to any evil."

497. " Should you approve of limitingthe choice of hospital surgeons to thosemembers of the profession who belongedto the higher grade in surgery .?’’-" Un-doubtedly, I think that ought to be so.

But it would rest with the governors whe-ther they would restrict themselves in thatwav or not."

498. " In electing to the offices of phy-sician to the metropolitan hospitals, do thefellows of the College of Physicians possessany advantages over the licentiates of thatCollege?’=" I have understood that thefellows of the College of Physicians gene-rally act in a body, and give their supportto some one individual of their number. Idoubt whether the licentiates act under thesame discipline."

499. "Do you maintain the opinionwhich you expressed in 1826, that thereare peculiar advantages belonging to small

hospitals ?"—" I made some remarks uponthat in the publication before referred to;but I should not insist upon the validity ofthose remarks."

500. " Is the number of students at thelarge hospitals so great as to diminish thepower of making minute and accurate ob-servation ?"—" Not generally."

501. "Do not the country hospital,from the smaller number of students, ad-mit of their observing the cases withgreater accuracy?" -" 11 Unquestionably;but there is a very inferior field of ob-servation in small hospitals."

502. "To whom ought the recognitionof hospitals and schools to be entrusted ?"-" To the examining board or boards."

503. "Would you have any appeal incase of improper judgment ?"-" No, Iwould not."

504. " What steps, if any, would youadvise to be taken, to put down irregularpractitioners ?"-" The distinction I shouldmake, would be to prevent all unqualifiedpersons from following medicine, as a

gainful occupation. You cannot preventthe head of a family, or a neighbour, fromgiving advice, or administering a dose ofmedicine. But I think a person oughtnot to be allowed to exercise the medical

profession, as a calling, and for the pur-poses of gain, under the pretext of pos-sessing a knowledge which he does not

I possess. In fact, as patients may chooseeducated practitioners, perhaps it mightnot be worth while to interfere with igno-rant pretenders."

505. " Would you advise any steps tobe taken respecting the qualification ofdruggists ?"-" I think if they are to prac.tise medically, as they do now, they oughtto be educated and examined as medicalpersons."

506. " You believe that, to a great ex-tent, they do practise medically ?"-" Aperson stands behind the counter in most

druggists’ shops, from whom patients get

advice, and they buy the medicine he or-

ders."507. " Ought the general practitioner

to be allowed to charge for attendance,instead of medicine ?"-" I think it rea-sonable. At present I do not know thathe can recover anything for attendance.I should be very sorry myself to pay ac-cording to the physic, if I was ill."

508. " Is there any other point that youwish to state to the Committee ?"—" Ihave nothing to offer. I did not come asa volunteer, but upon summons."

DUBLIN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.

ON the 3rd of August, being the first

Monday in the month, the Dublin Collegeof Surgeons held a " chartered quarterlymeeting."

Assistant Secretary HARRISON gallopedthrough the reports from the severalstanding committees, treasury, fmance,library, and museum, dwelling with par-

640

ticular emphasis on that from " MuseumC.," which conveyed the gratifying intel-ligence that all the bottles had been

neatly painted, and that several prepara-tions in natural history, which had longpresented an anonymous aspect, had beenduly christened and smartened for the in-’spection of the British Association, beforewhich the school designed to cut a figure.He devoted an equal portion of eloquenceto the no less gratifying part of the " Li- brary Report," which informed the en-chained auditors that, from the same desireof display, all the lent books had beencalled in, and put in their places at home,where they might perform the brilliant

part of fixed stars, instead of pursuingthe erratic course of erratic planets. Notone word, however, did the report sayconcerning the just-achieved expulsion ofthe independent portion of the medical

press from the library of the College-thatpress which, single-handed, has combatedand beaten into the region of utter disgraceand weakness the fellow College in London,backed though it was by every influenceacquired during a long course of iniquity,and every aid that corruption could com-mand--that press which has reduced toits just dimensions the English College ofPhysicians, surrounded as it was by theincrusting and protecting antiquities offour hoary centuries of existence-thatpress which has shaken the medical mo-nopolies of the universities to their verybases,-which has untied, exposed, andbroken to pieces, the impudently fabri-cated bonds with which the Company ofDrugsellers in Blackfriars had surroundedand crippled medical science,-and whichnow has unveiled and disrobed from the

obscurity in which distance and neglecthad enveloped it, that fastness of mono-poly and corruption, the College of Sur.geons in Dublin, the usurping inhabitautsof whose walls now quailing for safety,think by removing one tube of the ten-thousand-barrelled " terrible machine"from the library of their secret cham-bers, to save from destruction the place ofunjust power and the hall of professionaliniquity ! B Vain thought! The efforts ofa thousand corporators cannot hinder theprofession from possessing free institli..tions, and opening to merit the widestfield for exertion and reward. What thencan an Irish biblio-chirurgical brigadeeffect, though headed by such knights aswe find in the persons of the redoubtedheroes, WILLIAMS the brave, and BARKERthe valiant ?Mr. HARRISON next brought forward

his motion for the foundation of a pro-fessorship of medical botany. He thoughtthe time had come for such a thing;

there was a demand for botany tickets bythers

was a demand for botany tickets bythe Apothecaries’ Halls, and the Armyand East India Boards, &c. He did thinkthe College should consider the conveni-ence of its pupils, and not send them outof doors for their tickets. At the sametime he did not wish to legislate in a

hurry, but wishing to be quite candid andfair with the College, he would not pressthe election of a professor until June next.

Dr. JACOB seconded the motion.Mr. PORTER would not, of course, offer

any opposition thereto, but wished merelyto put Mr. Harrison in possession of someinformation on the subject. He held a

professorship on this subject in ParkStreet, and when applying to have thetickets received, he was met with the

question, " What means have you of de-monstrating the subjects ? Have you abotanical garden ?" He made the bestanswer he could, and said a great dealabout laortus siccus, but in vain. Two in-stitutions declined his tickets; one he

thought was the Hall, and the other heforgot at the moment. Let the Collegetake care that the same thing did not hap-pen to that institution.Mr. HARRISON did not think that any

one could use the College so ill, after

they had put forth their manifesto. Be-sides, a garden was scarcely necessary, forthere was only one in all London, andthat was at Chelsea, and yet there wereseveral lecturers on botany in London.Mr. WRIGHT thought that the Royal

Dublin Society would afford the use oftheir gardens.A MEMBER. " Yes, if you appoint their

professor."Mr. HARRISON intimated that he had

been consulted, but that he would not

accept the useless office; the foundationwas regularly laid, and a salary given,which the College could not do.

Dr. JACOB was not to be scared by tri-fles ; he said the professorship ought tobe established, and he was quite sure thatsome one would be found willing to lec-ture for the honour of the thing (cries of" Would you do so ?"). The professor’s ex-penses would most likely be defrayed in thefirst year by the sale of his " certificates."He would not recommend the College tocreate a botanical garden, because it wouldcost too much money- 2001. a year.* But

* Strange anxiety to spare the funds of the Collegeiu a matter which is well catcntated to create asource of utility and gratification to the great bodyof members, and misht be rendered materiallysubservient to the purposes of science, on the partof one who draws double the sum, in one shape oranother, from the same pnblic purse, to defray theexpenses of his and Mr. Harrison’s (lernonstratiotisof the human body before any persons but the

l licentiates and members of the College!

641

the individual who might be appointedcould easily take a bit of ground, and per-form the duty sufficiently well, for 251.per annum. Only let the professor beappointed, and the requisites would soonfollow.Mr. HARRISON again wished to be open

and fair with the College, which he didnot want to cheat. He would candidlysay, that he had in contemplation to movealso, that the certificate of botany shouldbe made incumbent or compulsory on theirown pupils.Mr. PORTER objected to throwing so

much occupation on the time of the stu-dent : so also did two or three more speak-ers.

Dr. SMALL thought it would be veryinconsistent in the College to providemerely for a foreign market: if it wasthought fit to found the professorship,the other motion ought certainly to go onpari passu.

It was then agreed that the bill shouldbe forwarded a stage, and lie over forfuture consideration. However, anotherpost and source of patronage may be con-sidered as complete-for Park Street.Mr. WRIGHT postponed, until next

quarter day, his motion for premiums tobe paid out of the College funds for prizeessays, which are to be considered as the" Transactions of the College."Mr. EVANSON (who closely rivals Mr.

HARRISON in eloquence, and is by somethought even to surpass him in the vox-et-preterea-nihil department-in English call-ed "rigmarole ") next brought forward hismotion for the grant of 501. for the bestessay on the Concours. He did so merely toshow his own consistency and sincerity inwishing to introduce real reform into me-dical institutions, and to confer theirhonours on the most deserving persons.This he believed to be the feeling of themajority of the members, notwithstandingall aspersions to the contrary. With thisview he brought forward his former mo-tion, the fate of which all of them remem-bered. It had, in fact, fallen to the ground,though an increased committee had beenappointed to consider the question; butthey had seized on the infant of his loins,and, with excess of fostering care, hadstrangled the child. To give further proofof his sincerity and consistency, he moved,in conclusion, for the revival of the child-killing committee, to consider the bestmeans of putting his motion into execu-tion.Mr. HARRISON seconded the motion,

and agreed in all that the °° learned Doc-tor" had said, except on the subject of the i

murder, which he must deny, the Com-mittee having acted candidly, sincerely, I

and justly, they, instead of destroying thequestion, having actually made a law onthe subject. It should be remembered,that the Court had liberty to institute pro-bationary lectares.Mr. ELLIS felt bound to oppose the

motion, as it would be in his mind an illegal

infringement on the College funds.Dr. T. BEATTY was quite satisfied thatthe measure was perfectly legal. Theywere incorporated to teach; therefore topay for teaching ; and therefore to pay forelucidating the most approved mode ofteaching. The thing was quite evident-quod erat demonstrandum.

Dr. SMALL must oppose the motion onthe very grounds on which Dr. Evansonhad advocated it; he did not think thatany benefit was likely to arise. The subjectof the concours was now, in fact, quitehacknied, and sufficiently understood : theCollege had spoken their mind freelyenough on it by a recent proceeding ; infact, they had assumed that they were wellinformed on the matter, and had, as theassistant secretary had stated, made a lawthereon. In short, he could not view thematter either as "useful" or judicious ;nor, in fact, as

" legal." If the Collegepurse was to be opened, let it be in favourof something likely to confer generaladvantage.Mr. WILLIAMS took quite an opposite

view, and considered that incalculablebenefit would arise from pursuing theproposed course. On no other subjectwere the wisest heads more divided, and

this was the best, in fact the only way tosolve the question.The motion was then passed, and the

committee revived.Dr. BRENAN having now entered the

room, begged (in order to maintain hisown consistency in not having protestedagainst the outlay of any College money

with a view to aid the College school) tomove an instruction to the Committee,that they be directed to consider and re-port how the College school can be madeuseful in any way to the members at large.

Dr. EVANSON.—Sir, I must oppose anysuch motion, as it involves an insult to theprofessors in the school, and of course tothe College.Dr. BRENAN begged of the individual

who had just bounced up, to be a little’ more guarded in his expressions. Nothingwas further from his wish than to insultthat meeting or any other assembly; hewas as little capable of being guilty of aninsult, as the honourable gentleman whohad just sat down; he would even sayless so.

Assistant-secretary HARRISON insisteia

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that Mr. Evanson was right, and that the such thing, but he was at liberty to imaginemotion could not be entertained. such a case.

Dr. JACOB rose, and with much fury Dr. JACOB, uttering loud cries of "hear,"spoke of attacks and side-wind blows on " hear," suggested, that he (Dr. J.) mightthe school. He was at length, however, just as well give notice of motion to makepulled down and held by some friends. ducks and drakes of the Peter-street School,

Several of the tail here also opposed the in order to render it useful to members.motion. He then proceeded to launch into the trou-

Dr. BRENAN said he would be guided bled waters upon which he so frequentlyby the chair. flounders, but was called to order by the

Dr. SMALL begged, before the chair president.ruled on the subject, to remark that it had Mr. HARRrzsoN resumed, and insistedalways been boasted by gentlemen on the again on his three precedents, and protestedother side, but with what degree of ac- against the motion in any shape; besides,curacy lie would not pretend to say, it was useless, for the committee wouldthat the College was formed on the mo- report most probably before the instrnc-del of the House of Commons; if so, the tion could reach them ; what was to be-question could be easily determined by come of it then ?knowing the rule of Parliament : his opi- Mr. EvANSON rose to speak against thenion was, that it was competent for any motion a second time, but was called tomember to move instruction to a commit- order by Mr. Small.tee without first entering a notice thereon. Dr. DRENAN, in reply, thanked Dr.He did not, however, pretend to be quite Jacob for the parallel he had attempted toau fait on the subject of parliamentary draw between his private school in Peter-order ; but he was certainly a little asto- street, and Dr. Jacob’s school in the Col-nished to hear gentlemen insist on the lege, hut he apprehended that there wasnecessity of notice of instruction to a com- no analogy between them. Peter-streetmittee being given, and appearing in print School was private property, and supportedin the summons, when until this moment itself, but the College School was, or oughtthere had not been a single word said to be, public property, as it was sustained.about the committee itself. If that com- entirely by public money. In conclusion,mittee was instituted according to "order," he begged to say, that when he proposedhe did think that the instruction to it must his resolution, he did so, not in the hopealso be regular. that it would pass, but merely to preserveMr. HARRisoN said it was quite true his own consistency, by recording his op-

that their proceedings were based on those position to what he conceived to be a greatof the House of Commons,* and the rule and an unjust evil. As that resolution wasin the House was, that no instruction could said to he irregular, he had altered it to thebe. moved without notice to that effect : he form of a notice of motion, and he respect-had often seen notices posted on the pillars fully offered it to the chair: it was for thein the lobby of the House of Comrnons, chair to decide whetherit could be refused;A MEMBER here suggested to Dr.Brenaii he was ready at all times to abide by the

to put his resolution in the form of notice judgment of the president.of a future motion. Mr. HARRISON again objected; but the

Dr. EVANSON opposed the notice being president said that as he was placed therereceived even in that shape, because it as the organ of the College, it was his duty,was insulting. as it was also his wish, to perform his func-A MEMBER doubted if a notice of motion, tions with courtesy and justice to all par-

properly worded, could be refused, ties : he did not see how he could refuse theMr. HARRISON said it was quite proper, notice of motion; the motion itself might

and in the power of the College, and rea- be disposed of as the College should thinksonabic, to refuse to have the motion ; he fit.remembered three precedents for it : no- The notice was accordingly filed.thing .could be more proper than that the A conversation then ensued on the meet-

College should have the power of refusing, ing of the British Association, during whichfor a member might put the most absurd the president inquired what arrangementsthing in his notice. Far be it from him to the committee had made, and whether asuppose that the gentleman would do any list of the company bad been provided for- him (the president) to invite, as the time

- ’ If so, we have a constant anomaly in the ho- was short, and he wished to be as accom-

nourable g(,ntleiiian liiiiiself, who, being assistant- Triodating as possible.secretary, or clerk, is nevertheless a hot partisan This gave that busy Syntax, Dr. EVAN-speaker, rising five or six times on every" qnes- SON, an opportunity of talking once more,tion ;" in fact, he is ever oil his legs," and creates during, whieh he set his oi an of self-more diaortlerly and discourteons interrnption to during which he set his organ of self-other speakers, than any two other persons. [esteem, and its result, self-prmse, in ener-

643

getic motion. He concluded with a lec-ture on politeness, remarkable alike forthe modesty and good taste which it dis-

played, recommending his brethren to be-have themselves decently at the comingentertainment. Where the gentleman gra-duated in politeness, whether during hisyouthful days in the western wilds ofMun-ster, or while a miserable scholar in TrinityCollege, or in the palmy days of successful

’

toadyism, we know not: but the lecture ofthe " Professor of Politeness was treated’by the meeting with some involuntarysmiles and sneers, and then the assemblydeparted. We hope they will be glad tofind their proceedings so fully reported.We have reports before us of some other

College discussions, but we expect that itwill not be possible to find room for theirpublication this week.

THE LANCET.

London, Saturday, August 15, 1835.

ELECTION AT CHRIST’S HOSPITAL.

AN exceedingly energetic canvass is pro-ceeding for the vacant medical office in

Cltrist’s Hospital. Numerous are the can-

didates, various are their pretensions, andzealous are their friends. The governors,

however, have but a single duty to dis-

charge, and that a simple one. They arebound by their oath, and by every consi-deration of humanity, to elect the manwho brings with him to the poll the great-est quantity of experience and medical

skill ; a man of established reputation-if such a person can be found-in the

treatment of diseases of the skin; and, asa precaution, whatever may he the preten-sions of the successful candidate, he oughtto be elected for a period not exceedingone year. This suggestion may be dis-

pleasing to many persons who believe thattheir friend will obtain the vacant seat;

but, inasmuch as we are conscious that thewelfare of the children demands such an

exercise of prudence, we cannot refrainfrom making the suggestion, or of pointingout to the governors, how much mischief

may arise, from pursuing a course in op-position to such a plain rule of justice, orof maintaining the prerogative of choice,

; where the frequent exercise of the privi-

> lege of selecting may prove of so much. value to the interests of the children.

The existence of ringworm in Christ’s

Hospital has become the subject of con.versation and complaint, not only in themetropolis but throughout the country ;and it is equally true that the governors ofthe hospital are charged with having neg-lected their duty in not having providedthe medical department of the hospitalwith a more efficient share of energy andskill. It is well known to the public thathundreds of boys within the last twentyyears have, through the existence of this

malady in the establishment, been deprivedof the benefits which it was hoped theywould derive from receiving a first-rateclassical education. This is an evil of

frightful magnitude, and has brought down

upon the governors of this respectable,useful, and wealthy institution, the heavyreprobation of all classes of the commu.

nity. Have not these gentlemen sufficientstrength of mind or honesty of purposeto shake off from the medical departmentof Clarist’s Hospital, its festering and

cankering connexion with that of St,

Bartholomew ? Take the whole run of

Mr. ABERNETHY’S services, and the ser-vices of all his colleagues,-take the la-bours, also, of all their protegés,—andwhat has been accomplished by these

persons for the suffering children of

Christ’s Hospital ? Literally nothing. All

the appointments have failed to accom-

plish the object in view,-that (to use the

phraseology of Mr. LLOYD) of " eradi-cating " the ringworm from Christ’s Hos-

pital.It would not only be disgraceful, but

almost a CRIME, therefore, to seek for

further aid amongst those persons who

have received their entire medical educa-