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PRECEDENCE OF VOLUNTEER SURGEONS

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Page 1: PRECEDENCE OF VOLUNTEER SURGEONS

336

that no wiser measure, or one more worthy of a serious andobserving statesman, has been enacted than that introduced byMr. Gladstone, for, among other purposes, facilitating the im-portation into this country of the lighter wines of the Con-tinent, and so displacing the absurdly strong drinks in whichit is our national custom to indulge.

THE LATE THOMAS ALEXANDER, C.B., DIRECTOR-GENERAL, ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.

A STATUE of the late Mr. Alexander, erected by subscriptionin his native place, Preston Pans, was inaugurated at the com-mencement of the present month with due ceremonial by LordElcho, who pronounced a, well-deserved eulogium on his cha-racter and exertions. To these exertions it has been trulystated that the improved sanitary condition of the BritishArmy, as well as the elevation in rank and consideration of itsmedical officers, are in no small measure due. His professionalattainments were of the highest order, and he brought to theservice of his country rare administrative powers and untiringenergy. These qualities were observable throughout all hiscareer, but they shone out conspicuously in the Crimea; andin the alleviation of the sufferings of his division there, in thesubsequent reformation of the Department, and in the sub-stantial accomplishment of the new plans, he rendered serviceswhich cannot be over-valued. It is pleasant to read of the

public recognition of these services, and to know that, short aswas his tenure of office, it sufficed to fix his memory indeliblyin the minds of those who watched his conduct. Miss Night-ingale has afforded a testimony too valuable to be lost; we putit upon record here; it fitly crowns the memorials which wehave given and which have been elsewhere raised to the

honour and perpetual recollection of this able man and public-spirited benefactor of his order. She writes:-

" I can truly say that I have never seen his like for direct-ness of purpose, unflinching moral courage, and honesty. Thesewere the qualities which made his loss a public disaster. His

independence, his high disinterestedness, were undoubted. Henever sought advancement for his own ambition-never exceptto carry out the public service ; and when he had obtained it,he never used it except to do the highest service he was capableof. Throughout the whole of the Russian War his publishedcorrespondence shows that he cared for no man or thing, ifeither stood in the way of the public interests. He might havegone on smoothly enough in his routine duties, would he buthave let ill alone. But that was not his character. Every-where-at Gallipoli, where he seized the blankets for his sick ;in Bulgaria, where he fought such a fight for his men in thatopening prologue to the Crimean tragedy; and, again, through-out the Crimean tragedy itself, he showed the same fearlessdevotion, incurring thereby a serious personal responsibility inorder that his men might not perish. Most able in the dis-

charge of his own professional duties, he at the same timeknew that the army medical officers were not dealt with asthey ought to have been, and he was looked up to as the re-presentative of all the best of them, and of their wishes andambitions. Even in the Crimea, his character had pointed himout to all observers for the highest position in his deptrtment.When the Royal Commission on the Sanitary State of theArmy’ was issued, Mr. Alexander’s service on it was consideredso necessary that he was sent for from Canada,. He afterwardsserved on a no less important, though less well-known Com-mission, for drawing up the new ’ Army Medical Regulations,’which gave our army medical officers sanitary powers and aposition of usefulness which no army medical officers in Europehave but ours. In all these, he showed the same clearness ofsight in discerning, the same directness of course in bearingdown on his object. On the retirement of his chief, Lord Pan-mure called him to be Director. General; and in the short timehe occupied the office, he showed high administrative ability,as well as his old firmness and honesty-his great charac-teristicp. He had great difficulties, but he manfully breastedthem all: doing the work personally of nearly his whole office,lest any failure at so critical time should ensue. At this timehe used to keep medicines beside him in the office to relieve theeffects of hard work, which no inducement would make himlay aside, because he was convinced that it was in the way of

I his duty. As was predicted more than once to him, he fell atthis post, as true a sacrifice to duty as if he had fallen on thefield. His death caused a regret extending far beyond thelimits of his own department; for the public instinctively knewthat it had lost one of its best servants."

SECRET POISONING.

THE unhappy aberration of mind in the Marquis Wielopolski,the Governor of Warsaw, consequent upon recent attempts onhis life, has given ground for the renewal of fables popular inthe days of the Borgias, and which have still a firm hold of thepublic mind. Secret poisoning by flowers exhaling a deadlybut sweet-scented odour; by gloves highly decorated, butmore fatal than the robes of Dejanira; by tapers which extin.guished life as they burnt to the socket ;-these were the me.thods attributed to mediaaval poisoners, and of which the tradi-tions still linger. In this instance the Marquis had received ananonymous epistle, warning him of fresh dangers. This soaffected his imagination that he fell ill, and said that his headhad ached while he read it. The statement gained currency,that while deciphering the extremely small characters in whichthis letter was written, he had inhaled a deadly poison where.with the paper was impregnated. The letter was carried with

many precautions to Dr. Watansen and a chemist named

Chichocki, who took the superfluous pains of analyzing it, anddeclared it perfectly harmless. The fact is that these fancifulmethods of poisoning have no existence ; they are purely fabu-lous. The secret poisoning of the middle ages was of the coarsestand most inartificial character, and was only secret becausethe art of chemical analysis was then very imperfect. It must,however, be admitted, since the murder of the children of

Taylor at Liverpool, that it has not risen to the height of itstask, since these children were murdered by means consideredindiscoverable.

HOSPITAL CLAIMS.

AN application is spoken of to the Royal Commissioners bythe Governors of St. George’s and St. Mary’s Hospitals to ex-tend the opening of the Exhibition for one day longer thanthat contemplated by their recent decision, and to permit theproceeds to be applied on behalf of the funds of these charities.The grounds upon which the Governors feel themselves justifiedin making this appeal are-the large number of cases of acci-dents received, and the great expense entailed upon them

thereby, throughout the progress of the Exhibition, and inconnexion with the erection of its building. It is usual and properfor all large companies and employers of labour, whose servantsare benefited by the operations of public hospitals, and greatlyprofit by their wards and out-departments, to contribute towardsthe funds thus heavily taxed; and we trust that the Commis-sioners, and especially also the contractors, will see the pro-priety of recognising this claim in some substantial form, evenif difficulties should exist to prevent the concession of the pri.vilege thus asked. Some kind of pecuniary appropriation is

clearly required. The following remarkable statement showsthe number of patients from the Exhibition treated at St.

George’s Hospital during the progress of the building, &c.:-In-patients, 73. Largest number of out-patients admitted anyone day, 10; ditto any one week, 25; total number of out-patients, about 930. One of the in-patients drank eight gallonsand a half of brandy during the time he was in the house, andhis cost for instruments and other things amounted to about £60.Surely these facts cannot be passed over.

PRECEDENCE OF VOLUNTEER SURGEONS.

A VOLUNTEER SURGEON has addressed to us a letter concern-

ing the precedence of his order, which sets forth a complaintthat volunteer surgeons are not fairly treated in this matter.By the Warrant of October 1st, 1858, her Majesty conferred

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the relative rank of Major upon staff and regimental surgeons,and ordered that such relative rank shall carry with it all pre-cedence and advantages attaching to the rank with which itcorresponds. The writer complains that the position grantedto surgeons by this Warrant is systematically withheld onoccasion of public volunteer entertainments at his station-Liverpool. In a marked instance referred to, all field-officersof volunteers, except surgeons, were in a place of honour, al-though there were surgeons present whose commissions weresenior to every volunteer major, except one, present. All the

surgeons were below the salt: etiquette and the Queen’s War.rant were thus disregarded. It is well that surgeons shouldnot be over-punctilious in respect to honours accorded to com-batant officers; but it is also right that they should have a dufregard to the privileges of their rank and order, and that 2general and fair understanding should be maintained on thi,subject. At other stations volunteer surgeons have had n(reason to complain; but these are, we understand, in the

minority.

SESSION 1862-63.

REGULATIONS

OF

UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, AND MEDICALEXAMINING BOARDS IN SCOTLAND

AND IRELAND.

UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH.

Chancellor-Lord Brougham.Vice.-Chancellor-Principal Sir David Brewster, K,T.Rector-The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone.Dean of the Faculty of Medicine-Professor J. H. Balfour.University Court-The Rector, the Principal, Dr. Alex.Wood, Dr. J. Brown, Mr. E. F. Maitland (Advocate), theLord Provost, Bailie Grieve, Professor Christison.

Secretary and Registrar-Alex. Smith, Esq.The introductory address will be delivered by Dr. J. Matthews

Duncan on Monday, November 3rd, at eleven o’clock.

ABSTRACT OF STATUTES RELATIVE TO GRADUATION IN MEDI-

CINE, DATED FEBRUARY 4TH, 1861.

1. Three medical degrees are conferred by the University ofEdinburgh-viz., Bachelor of Medicine (M. B.), Master in Sur-gery (C.M.), and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) The degree ofMaster in Surgery is not conferred on any person who does notalso at the same time obtain the degree of Bachelor of Medicine.

2. The preliminary branches of extra-professional educationare English, Latin, Arithmetic, the Elements of Mathematics,and the Elements of Mechanics.

3. No candidate is admitted to a professional examinationwho has not passed a satisfactory examination on at least twoof the following subjects, in addition to the subjects mentionedabove :-Greek, French, German, Higher Mathematics, NaturalPhilosophy, Logic, Moral Philosophy.

4. A degree in Arts (not being an honorary degree) in anyone of the Universities of England, Scotland, or Ireland, or inany colonial or foreign University, specially recognised for thispurpose by the University Court, exempts from all preliminaryexamination.

5. No one is admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Medicineor Master in Surgery who has not been engaged in medical andsurgical study for four years.

6. Every candidate for the degrees of M. B. and C.M. mus’give sufficient evidence by certificates-1. That he has studie(each of the following departments of medical science-viz.Anatomy, Chemistry, Materia Medica, Institutes of Medicin,or Physiology, Practice of Medicine, Surgery, Midwifery an(Diseases of Women and Children, and General Pathology, eac]during courses including not less than 100 lectures ; PracticaAnatomy, six months ; Practical Chemistry, three monthsPractical Midwifery, three months; Clinical Medicine and Clinical Surgery, each during courses of six months; Medical Juris

prudence, Botany, Natural History, including Zoology, duringcourses including not less than fifty lectures. 2. That he hasattended, for at least two years, the medical and surgical prac-tice of a general hospital which accommodates not fewer thaneighty patients. 3. That he has been engaged, for at leastthree months, by apprenticeship or otherwise, in compoundingand dispensing drugs. 4. That he has attended, for at least sixmonths, by apprenticeship or otherwise, the out-practice of anhospital, or the practice of a dispensary, physician, surgeon, ormember of the London or Dublin Society of Apothecaries.

7. The studies of candidates for the degrees of Bachelor ofMedicine and Master in Surgery are subject to the followingregulations : - 1. One of the four years of medical and sur-

gical study required by Section 5, must be in the University ofEdinburgh. 2. Another of such four years of medical and sur-gical study must be either in the University of Edinburgh, orin some other university entitled to give the degree of Doctorof Medicine. 3. Attendance during at least six winter monthson the medical or surgical practice of a general hospital, whichaccommodates at least eighty patients, and, during the sameperiod, on a course of Practical Anatomy, may be reckoned asone of such four years. 4. One year’s attendance on lecturesin the hospital schools of London, or in the school of the Col-lege of Surgeons in Dublin, or of recognised teachers of medi-cine ’in Edinburgh, or elsewhere, may be reckoned as one ofsuch four years. 5. Candidates may, to the extent of four ofthe departments of medical study required by Section 6, sub-section 1, attend in such year or years of their medical andsurgical studies as may be most convenient to them. 6. Allcandidates, not students of the University, attending the lec-tures of extra-academical teachers in Edinburgh must, at thecommencement of each year of such attendance, enrol theirnames in a book to be kept by the University for that purpose.

8. Every candidate must deliver, before the 31st day ofMarch of the year in which he proposes to graduate-1. A de-claration, in his own handwriting, that he has completed histwenty-first year, and that he will not be, on the day of gra-duation, under articles of apprenticeship to any surgeon orother master. 2. A statement of his studies, as well in Lite-rature and Philosophy as in Medicine, accompanied with propercertificates. 3. A thesis composed by himself, to be approvedby the Medical Faculty.

9. Each candidate is examined, both in writing and vivâ

voce,-1st, on Chemistry, Botany, and Natural History; 2ndly,on Anatomy, Institutes of Medicine, and Surgery; and 3rdly,on Materia Medica, Pathology, Practice of Medicine, ClinicalMedicine, Clinical Surgery, Midwifery, and Medical Juris-prudence.

10. Students who profess themselves ready to submit to anexamination on the first division of these subjects at the end oftheir second year may be admitted to examination at that time.

11. Students who have passed their examination on the firstdivision of these subjects may be admitted to examination onthe second division at the end of their third year.

12. The examination on the third division cannot take placeuntil the candidate has completed his fourth annus medicus.

13. If any candidate at these examinations be found unqua-lified, he cannot be again admitted to examination unless hehas studied during another year two of the prescribed subjects,either in the University or in some other School of Medicine.

14. After the candidate has satisfied the medical examiners,he will be summoned, on the 31st day of July, or if that daybe Sunday, then on the preceding day, to defend his thesis;and finally, if the Senate think fit, he will be admitted on the1st day of August to the degree.

15. The degree of Doctor of Medicine may be conferred onany candidate who has obtained the degree of Bachelor ofMedicine, and is of the age of twenty-four years, and has beenengaged, subsequently to his having received the degree ofBachelor of Medicine, for at least two years in attendance onan hospital, or in the Military or Naval Medical Services, orin medical and surgical practice, provided always that thedegree of Doctor of Medicine shall not be conferred on anyperson unless he be a Graduate in Arts of one of the Univer-

! sities of England, Scotland, or Ireland, or of such other Uni-L versities as are above specified, or unless he shall, before or at, the time of his obtaining the degree of Bachelor of Medicine, or. within three years after, have passed a satisfactory examinationi in Greek, and in Logic or Moral Philosophy, and in one at leastof the following subjects-namely, French, German, Higher Mathematics, and Natural Philosophy.; 16. Persons who began their medical studies before the 4th- of February, 1861, are entitled to graduate under the system- in force before or after that date.


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