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warded to the charge of Aaron Chapman, Esq. M.P. for the ’borough, with copies also to the members of the North Riding,respectfully requesting their support of its prayer. As the reso-lutions and petition of this meeting refer chiefly to the evilswhich would result, both to the profession and the public, bythrowing open the practice of medicine and surgery to uneducatedand unqualified persons, so frequently discussed elsewhere, it isunnecessary to occupy our space by a more detailed notice.

COLCHESTER.

A MEETING of the members of the medical profession resident inColchester and the eastern part of the county of Essex, took placeat the Three Cups Hotel, on Tuesday, Oct. 15, to take into con-sideration the provisions of Sir James Graham’s Medical ReformBill. Among those present we observed-Messrs. Partridge,Waylen, Dr. Williams, Dr..Chambers, Messrs. Philbrick, Morris,Churchill, Blair, Bewick, Johnson, Dr. Clarke, A. J. Partridge,J. Partridge, and Taylor, of Colchester; Osmond of Thorpe;Thompson, Manningtree; Rodick, Coggeshall; Daniell (2), ofNayland; Manthorp, Thorpe; Gilson, Halsted; Symmons, Bures;Meadowcroft, Bentley; Norman, Mersea; Bidwell (2), Dedham;Tomkin, Witham; Cocke, Chappel; and others.ALDERMAN PARTRIDGE, Esq. of Colchester, was unanimously

called to the chair.Dr. WiLLiAMS submitted the first resolution to the meeting,-" That the great variation existing among the numerous

bodies for licensing medical practitioners in the United King-dom, in respect of the standard of qualification, demands legis-lative interference, in order to control them, and render uniformmedical education. That this meeting considers A billfor the better regulation of Medical Practice throughout theUnited Kingdom,’ as proposed by Sir James Graham, inadequateto the purposes proposed, and, moreover, highly objectionable,because it deprives the medical practitioner of all protection, andthereby discourages the scientific study of medicine, by placingthe uneducated and incompetent pretender in direct rivalry withthe educated practitioner: thus legalizing quackery, and subject-ing the public to the incalculable evils of rash and dangerousempiricism.

Mr. DANIELL, of Nayland, seconded the resolution, which wascarried, as were all the others, nem. con.

Mr. OSMOND, of Thorpe, moved, and Dr. CHAMBERS, of Col-chester, seconded, the third resolution :-

" That this meeting, viewing with satisfaction the benefitalready experienced, not only by the profession, but also by thepublic, from the extended qualification required of candidates forthe apothecaries’ licence; and considering that the general prac- Ititioner possesses no other protection than the Act of 1815 againstthe competition of the ignorant and unqualified, most stronglyprotests against its repeal, unless an equivalent protection be sub-stituted, and an uniform elevated standard of professional educa-tion be enforced."Mr. GILSON, of Halsted, moved, and Mr. BLAIR, of Colchester,seconded, the fourth resolution,-

" That the Council of Health, as constituted by this bill, is de-cidedly objectionable, because it places too much patronage at thedisposal of a minister of the crown, without providing a guaranteefor its right distribution ; because of the entire exclusion of

general practitioners; and because of the absence of any clauserequiring its members to belong to the medical profession. Thatthe proposed system of registration is unjust, because it takes

away the protection afforded by the Apothecaries’ Act, withoutfurnishing an equitable substitute, and throws the expense ofmaintaining an obnoxious law upon those who will be directlyinjured by its enactments."Mr. MORRIS said he had been requested to move the adoption

of a petition to both houses of parliament, embodying the sub-stance of the resolutions now passed by the meeting. Before

proceeding further, he would, with the permission of the chair-man and the meeting, read a copy of the petition. It was asfollows :-

" To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdomof Great Britain and Ireland, in parliament assembled.

" The petition of the undersigned Physicians, Surgeons, andApothecaries of Colchester and the surrounding districts,SHEWETH,-

" That your petitioners are legally-qualified practitioners ofmedicine and surgery, resident in Colchester and its neighbour-hood..

" That your petitioners consider the great difference existingamong the numerous irresponsible medical corporations demandslegislative interference, in order to control them and rendermedical education uniform.

" That your petitioners believe that the Bill for the betterregulation of Medical Practice throughout the United Kingdom,’introduced into parliament by Sir James Graham, is inadequateto such an end, and view it with dissatisfaction and disappoint-ment, because, while professing to protect the public health andthe medical profession, they believe its tendency to be grievouslydestructive of both, since it offers direct encouragement toempiricism, with its enormous and incalculable evils, and tends todegrade the educated and legalized practitioner, and to retard anddiscourage medical science.

" That your petitioners view with satisfaction the benefit whichthe public and the profession have derived from the great im-provement which has taken place in the qualifications of thegeneral practitioner under the Apothecaries’ Act, and consider itunjust that, by its repeal, they should be subjected to the openand unrestricted competition of the uneducated, after havingsubmitted to the expensive and prolonged course of study re-quired under that law.

" That your petitioners deem the Council of Health, as pro-posed by the bill, exceedingly defective and objectionable, becauseof the predominance it gives to the minister of the crown inappointing its members; because of the great proportion of non-professionals in its constitution; and because the largest body ofthe medical profession, the general practitioners, are not repre-sented in it; and that they consider the proposed system ofregistration unjust, since it offers no equivalent commensurate

’ with the protective clause of the Apothecaries’ Act, and compelsthose who are injured by its operation to maintain the expense ofan obnoxious enactment.

" Your petitioners therefore respectfully and earnestly pray yourhonourable house, that the above-mentioned bill may not pass intoa law, and that your honourable house will withhold its sanctionfrom any other bill, introduced with a like intention, which doesnot provide for uniformity in medical education, with protectionto the profession and the public, by extinguishing empiricism;and affording an easy and summary mode for punishing un-qualified practitioners.

" And your petitioners will ever pray."Mr. BIDWELL, of Dedham, seconded the motion; and, with a

verbal alteration, suggested by Mr. Churchill, the petition wasunanimously adopted.

It was then moved by Mr. TOMKIN, and seconded by Mr. J. S.NORMAN,-

" That Messrs. Partridge, Waylen, Morris, Dr. Williams, andthe Secretary, be appointed a deputation to wait on the membersfor the northern division of the county, and for the borough ofColchester, to request them to attend in parliament and supportthe prayer of the petition; and that every person here presentpledges himself to exert any influence he may possess to obtainthe opposition of members of the legislature to Sir James Graham’sbill."

Mr. MANTHORP, of Thorpe, moved the following resolution:-" That an association be formed to watch the progress of the

bill, and to act as circumstances may require; that every memberof the profession contributing 5s. be a member; that Mr. Blairbe Treasurer, and Mr. Philbrick, Secretary; and that Messrs.Partridge, Waylen, Nunn, Morris, Dr. Williams, and Dr. Cham-bers, constitute the committee, with power to add to their numbers :’

Dr. CLARKE seconded the resolution.Mr. H. BIDWELL, of Dedham, proposed,-" That the thanks of this meeting are due, and are hereby

given, to the editors of THE LANCET, Provincial Medical andSurgical Journal,’ Times Newspaper,’ I Chelmsford Chronicle.’and Essex Standard,’ for their consistent and powerful advocacyof the cause of the medical profession, especially with reference tothe proposed bill."On the motion of Mr. WAYLEN, of Colchester, seconded by

Mr. DANIELL, jun., of Nayland, the thanks of the meeting weregiven, by acclamation, to the Honorary Secretary, Mr. S. Phil-brick, of Colchester, who returned thanks.On the motion of Mr. RODICK, of Coggeshall, seconded by Mr.

CHURCHILL, a similar compliment was passed to the Chairman,Mr. Partridge; after which the meeting broke up.

MEETING OF PHYSICIANS IN YORKSHIRE.AT a meeting of physicians practising in York and the West

Riding of Yorkshire, held at Normanton, on Thursday, the17th of October ult., for the purpose of adopting a petition to par-liament on the subject of Sir J. Graham’s Medical Reform Bill,-Dr. BELCOM13F. of York, the President of the Association, in thechair,-it was determined,

" That the following petition be presented to each house ofparliament."

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The Petition of the undersigned Physicians of York and theWest Riding of Yorkshire, adopted at a special meeting,held at Normanton, on the l7th of October ult.,HUMBLY SBTEWETH,—

That your petitioners received with the liveliest satisfactionthe announcement that a bill had been introduced into yourhonourable house, under the powerful auspices of her Majesty’sgovernment, for the better regulation of medical practice through-out the United Kingdom.

That your petitioners highly approve of those parts of the billwhich recognise the preservation of the different classes ofmedical practitioners, and which at the same time provideuniformity of qualifications, and equality of privileges, amongstall practitioners of the same class in the three kingdoms.They also fully admit the necessity, in any scheme of medical

reform, of some central and controlling body, as the proposed46 Council of Health," for the responsible government and har-monious operation of the several medical establishments..- That your petitioners concur with that principle of Sir JamesGraham’s bill, which secures the integrity of existing medicalinstitutions, but does not preclude such future changes in theirinternal government and organization as may adapt them to theincreased intelligence and just requirements of the profession.

That believing that the universities of the United Kingdomare fully competent to ascertain the amount of scientific know-ledge and professional acquirements of those who are candidatesfor medical degrees, they pray that you would withdraw thatclause of the proposed bill which renders it imperative that allpersons who have graduated in medicine in one of the univer-sities of the United Kingdom, should also be examined by acollege of physicians, such requirements unnecessarily compli-cating, without affording greater certainty to the tests of pro-fessional competence, diminishing the real value and respect-ability of the honours conferred by the universities, and involvingan undue concession to the several colleges of physicians.

That in order to secure the advancement of the professionalqualifications of that class of practitioners to which your peti-tioners belong, they pray that all candidates as physicians forregistration, should be required to give satisfactory proof of theirhaving applied themselves to medical studies during at leastseven years, and of having attained the age of twenty-seven.

. That your petitioners approve of all legislative discountenanceof illegal practice, but humbly suggest that an inquiry be madeinto the operation of the laws now enforced against such practicem foreign countries and in the United Kingdom.

That your petitioners respectfully pray that you would intro-duce such other modifications in the details of the proposed mea-sure, more especially with reference to the " Council of Health,"which your deliberative wisdom may suggest, and which mayrealize the reasonable wishes of the practitioners of the UnitedKingdom, may augment the efficiency of the proposed bill, andsecure from ultimate defeat a legislative effort, made with thehonest desire of obviating the injurious anomalies of a professionin whose honour and ability are deeply involved the interests ofevery subject of these realms. And your petitioners will everpray.

H. S. BEMOMBE, President.BEVERLEY R. MORRIS, Secretary.

York, October 23, 1844.

*** We should like to receive some account of the practitionerswho adopted this most extraordinary petition.-ED. L.

HERTFORD.A MEETING of the medical practitioners residing in the county

of Hertford, who object to Sir James Graham’s Medical ReformBill, was held in the Council-chamber of the Shire-hall, on Fri-day, the 18th of October, RI[CHARD SHILLITOE, Esq. in thechair; at which resolutions were adopted expressive of the dis-approbation of those clauses in the bill which relate to the consti-tution of the Council of Health, and to the amount of protectionafforded to the qualified practitioner; and it was agreed that apetition to both houses of parliament, founded on those resolu-tions, should be prepared by a committee chosen for thatpurpose.

GRAVESEND.A MEETING of the legally-qualified medical practitioners of

Gravesend and neighbourhood was held at the Literary Institu-tion, Harmer-street, on the 18th, and by adjournment on the25th ultimo.The following gentlemen were present :-

Brs. Hawkins and Sanders, Messrs. Warren, Armstrong, Jones,Heather, Humpage, Gould, Whitcombe, and Ridge.

Apologies for absence, and approving of the objects of themeeting, were received from Messrs. Sanders and Russell.On the motion of H. WARREN, Esq., seconded by H. HFATumn,

Esq.,Dr. HAWKINS was unanimously called to the chair.H. WARREN, Esq. read the first resolution -"That this meeting approves those clauses of the Medical

Reform Bill that tend to secure a better education and a moreuniform scale of qualification for the profession. He cordiallyapproved of the expressions of the resolution he had just read,and with pleasure moved its adoption by the present meeting.

J. J. RIDGE, Esq. seconded the resolution, which was carriedunanimously.

J. HUMPAGE, Esq. moved the second resolution:-" That this meeting, while it approves those parts of the Bill

which seem likely to improve the position of the profession,regards with disapprobation the proposed repeal of the protec-tive clauses of the Apothecaries’ Act, as it will throw open theprofession to ignorant and unqualified men."- WHITCOMBE, Esq., begged leave cordially to second the

proposition.H. HEATHER, Esq. moved the third resolution :—

" That this meeting is fully convinced that the removal of allrestrictions on quackery will introduce into the practice of medi-cine and surgery a number of ignorant and unskilful pretenders,to the great danger of the lives of the public, and the seriousinjury of the educated and registered practitioner; and that itis absolutely necessary that some penal check, of easy and inex-pensive application, be provided ; and that it is also the firm con-viction of this meeting, that the system of inducement suggestedby Sir James Graham will not prevent the practice of unquali-fied persons."

’ J. E. JoNES, Esq. seconded the resolution.’, Mr. W. SANDERS, Esq. moved the fourth resolution, whichwas seconded by Mr. J. ARMSTRONG:-

" That this meeting views with dissatisfaction the proposed.appointment, as members of the Council of Health and Educa-tion, of six persons, (unconnected with the profession,) to assistin forming laws for the future regulation and guidance of theprofession; and that this meeting feels deep disappointment andregret that there is no provision for the representation in thecouncil of the interests of the numerous and important body ofgeneral practitioners."

Mr. J. J. RIDGE moved, and Mr. WHITCOMBE seconded-" That a committee be formed to embody these resolutions in

a petition to parliament, and that the members be requested totake charge of and support the same."Moved by H. WARREN, Esq. and seconded by H. HEATHEn,

Esq. :-" That a report of this meeting be forwarded to THE LANCET,

and that the thanks of this meeting be and are hereby given tothe Editor of T]aE LANCET, for his valuable assistance to theprofession on this occasion."The thanks of the meeting were then given to Dr. HAWKINS

for his able and courteous conduct in the chair.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.Gravesend, Oct. 26, 1844.

SiB,—We are requested to forward you a report of the meet-ings recently held here on the subject of Sir James Graham’sBill on Medical Reform, and to express a hope that you will giveit a place in your valuable journal, and at the same time totender you the sincere and warmest thanks of the meeting foryour able advocacy of the interests of the profession.

We are, Sir, your obedient servants,J. E. JONES, }J. ARMSTRONG, surgeons.

HULL.A MEETING of the medical gentlemen of the town and

neighbourhood was held on Tuesday, October 22nd, in the Board-room of the Hull General Infirmary, to take into considerationSir James Graham’s bill for the regulation of the medical profes-sion. About fifty practitioners assembled, comprising not onlyalmost all the medical men of the town, but also members of theprofession from various parts of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.Dr. ALDERSON, F.R.S., was unanimously called to the chair.Dr. Cooper officiated as Hon. Secretary. After an able addressfrom Dr. Alderson, the following resolutions were proposed an4agreed to :-

It was moved by Dr. HORNER, and seconded by Dr. FiE:LDlNC,—1. " Being fully convinced of the great importance of a uniform

scale of qualification in the respective grades of the pro&S8N&