161LAST ORDINANCES OF THE APOTHECARIES’ COMPANY.

"sional duties of such charities would

" raise the character of provincial sur-

’ gery and greatly reduce parochial ex-

° penditure." The character of provin-cial surgery is in a very low condition

indeed if it can be raised by such means.

Still, the institution of these establish-

ments would greatly reduce parochial ex-penditure. But to whose loss ? Why,necessarily, that of the medical practi-tioners who are no2v paid for their servicesto the poor. The labours of medical men

go ill rewarded enough already, and wecan assure Mr. COLEY that acting uponthis new device would inflict a very seri-

ous injury on many hundreds of his pro-fessional brethren who practise in the

country.With regard to the medical contract

system, it is quite certain that it cannotbe abolished ; but it is equally certainthat it can be placed on a new footingwhich will make it quite as advantageousto the profession and protective to the

poor. It is under the existing system ofcontracts that the principle of competition,although not taking an improper direc-tion, has been allowed to be carried to amost injurious extent-an abuse whichcannot be remedied without the inter-

ference of the legislature.

THE circular of the disinterested rc-

fo,mers of St. Bartholomew’s has been fol-

lowed, pretty speedily, as we expected iL

would be, by a new batch of regulationsfrom Rhubarb Hall. This is the twentieth

year that the members of the WorshipfulCompany have been exercising their func-tions under an Act of Parliament, and

yet they continue annually to furnish newspecimens of their legislatorial wisdom.They have at length screwed up their

plan of extortion to the very last turn, andnow that the machine is about to snapNo. 609,

into a thousand pieces, that identical mo-ment the Worshipful Company select for

congratulating themselves on the com-

plete success of their enterprize. Con-

sidering what is in store for them, we byno means envy them their present enjoy-ment.

’Ve here insert all that is of present im-

portance in the copy of the Regulationswhich has been forwarded to our office by

the Worshipful Company :-

REGULATIONS TO BE OBSERVED BY

STUDENTS

INTENDING TO QUALIFY THEMSELVES TO

PRACTISE AS

APOTHECARIES

IN ENGLAND AND WALES. 1835.

Apothecaries’ Hall, London,April 23, 1835.

THE Court of Examiners of the Society

of Apothecaries of London have witnessedwith great satisfaction the benefits derived! from the course of study enjoined by. them, in the increased acquirements ofthe candidates who present themselves forexamination ; and being assured that thetime is arrived when it behoves them to

complete the scheme which they have

long had in view, and to which they haveadvanced by successive and cautious steps,! they now publish an extended course ofstudy, which, although it may perhaps re-; quire hereafter some modification in thedetails, may be considered, both in extentand duration, as final.

In prolonging the period of study, theCourt feel confident that they are consult-ing the interests of the public, and thatI they are also acting in accordance withi the wishes of the profession generally,.!and ii-,ore especially of the enlightenedbody of gentlemen engaged in teachingmedicine and the various sciences con-

nected therewith, who have, for some time. past, expressed their sense of the greatadvantages which would result from a sys-

, teruatic arrangement of the Sessions at theMedical Schools, and of the particular sub-jects of study appropriate for the winter! and summer seasons. The Court will besolicitous to lessen whatever inconvenience

, may, in the first instance, be attendantupon this important change; and theywill be ready to pay attention to the casesof such students as may be prevented by

162

peculiar circumstances from commencing sively in practical pharmacy. The Courttheir attendance at the schools in the early are desirous of impressing upon parentspart of October, the period of the year at the necessity of preventing this waste ofwhich it is most especially desirable that time, by making such arrangements withsuch attendance should, in future, com- practitioners with whom they place theirmence. sons, as may enable the young men toThe liberality of the physicians of the commence their attendance upon lectures

London Hospitals in promptly acceding to in the course of the third year of their ap-the wishes of the Court, that students prenticeship.might have afforded to them a more ex- The Court renew their recommendationtended opportunity of studying practical that

the apprenticeship should not beginmedicine without any augmentation of ex- until the youth has attained his seven-pense, has enabled the Court to require teenth year, that he should previouslyan attendance of the student for eighteen havc received a sound classical education,months at an hospital instead of twelve ; have been instructed in the elements ofand to this boon the physicians would add a mathematics and natural philosophy, andyet more essential service by inducing the have acquired a knowledge of the Frenchgovernors of the hospitals with which they and, if possible, the German languages.are connected, to reorganize their respec- The period of apprenticeship is by notive out-patient establishments, and afford means to be considered as of small im-to students an opportunity of studying portance; during that time it is incum-large and important classes of disease, bent upon the master to take care thatwhich are very rarely admitted within the his apprentice keeps up and extends, by awards of an hospital.* regular course of reading, both his classi-The great advantages which Students cal and general knowledge; it is also his

have derived from a regular course of pe- duty to ascertain, by occasional examina.riodic examinations, in the schools in tions, that his pupil is acquiring the ele-which this system has been adopted, asso- ments of professional knowledge; andciated with a systematic and combined that he becomes acquainted with the no-.course of reading and oral instruction, menclature of the profession, the mani-induce the Court again to press this sub- pulations of pharmacy, and the elementsject especially upon the attention of teach- of osteology ; whilst opportunities shoulders. The use of a class-book also, for. be afforded him of watching the progresseach particular branch of study, would! of disease, and of noticing the effects ofbetter enable the student to reduce into rertedies.order the numerous facts placed before, The Court have reason to believe, thathim, and to refer again and again to such students would in many instances gladlypoints as require a sustained exercise of avail themselves of an opportunity ofthe powers of reasoning, for their full and passing their Latin examination uponclear comprehension. the commencement of their studies at theThe Legislature having made an ap- medical schools ; the Court have, there-

prenticeship of five years imperative upon fore, arranged a plan fr that purposeall students, and having permitted them which may be adopted at the option of theto present themselves for examination at’ student, at the time of registering his firstthe age of twenty-one, obviously intended attendance upon lectures. After this pre-that the greater part of their medical liminary examination in Latin has beeneducation should be included within that! satisfactorily passed, the student will not

period; and the Court have great pleasure be subjected to any farther examinationin stating, that in very many instances ! in Latin metlical classics.students have actually completed their The Court of Examiners have only tocourse of study, and have been admitted add, that they have framed the followingto an examination, within a few weeks course of study with especial reference toafter the termination of their apprentice- ; the surgical as well as medical duties

ship. It is, however, to be regretted that which devolve upon the general prac-this advantage has frequently been lost titioner when engaged in practice, and

sight of, and that a great proportion of this with the knowledge that students, withvaluable time, and not unfrequently the few exceptions, pass an examination inwhole term of it, has been passed exclu- surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons,- as well as one in medicine at the Hall :

* It appears by- the Parliamentary Tables, that the Court have, therefore, taken care tomote than one-half of the deaths which annnaUy afford every facility for a strict conformitytake place, are those of children under five, and ot with the regulations of the College, asthe aged, above seveuty years of age. The di v,ell as with those which they have them-eases of these two classes, and those of women in the pregnant and pnerperal state, cannot be studied setves enjoined. The Court exhort stu.at hospitals, as they are now constituted. dents not to rest satisfied with a mere

163

formal compliance with the injunctions of wifery, with attendance on cases; medicalauthority, but to be actuated by still practice of an hospital or dispensary.higher motives, and to find in these an in- The student is required to attend thecentive to a zealous and generous devo- medical practice of a recognised hospital,tion of their time, their labour, and their from the commencement of the Secondbest faculties, to the acquisition of an ac- Winter to the termination of the Secondcurate and comprehensive knowledge of Summer Session, and from that time tothe principles of the healing art. the end of the Third Winter Session, at an

hospital, or recognised dispensary.Every candidate for a certificate to prac- The sessional course of instruction in’

tise as an apothecary, will be required each respective subject of study, is to con-to produce testimonials,—1. Of having sist of not less than the following numberserved an apprenticeship of not less than of lectures, viz.: 100 on chemistry; 100five years to an apothecary :*- 2. Of hav- on materia medica and therapeutics; 100ing attained the full age of twenty-one on the principles and practice of medicine;years:† - 3. And of good moral con- 60 on midwifery, and the diseases of womenduct.‡—Students whose attendance on lec- and children; 50 on forensic medicine; 50’tures shall commence on or after the 1st on botany.of October 1835, will also be required to I The number of lectures on anatomy andproduce proof of having attended, during physiology, and of anatomical demonstra-three winter and two summer sessions, tions, must be in conformity with the re-lectures in the following order, and me- gulations of the Royal College of Surgeonsdical practice from the commencement of of London, on these subjects. The lcc-the second to the termination of the third tures required in each course respectivelywinter session. must be given on separate days. Students,

when they present themselves for exami-The Winter Medical Session is to be un- nation, must bring testimonials of having

derstood as commencing on the 1st of received instruction in practical chemistry’October, and terminating in the middle of during their attendance upon the lecturesApril, with a recess of fourteen days at on chemistry, materia medica, or forensicChristmas ; the Summer Session as com- medicine : and also of having attended amencing on the 1st of May, and ending full course of clinical lectures, and suchon the 31st of July. instruction in morbid anatomy as may be

First Winter Session.-Chemistry; aua- afforded them during their attendance attomy and physiology; anatomical demon- an hospital. Every student will be re-strations ; materia med. and therapeutics. quired to produce proof of having dis-

First Summer Session.—Botany; and sected the whole of the body once at least.such other branches of study as may im- prove the student’s general education. Students whose attendance on lectures

Second Winter Session.-Anatomy and commenced prior to the 1st of February,physiology; anatomical demonstrations ; 1828, will be admitted to examination indissections ; principles and practice of conformity with the regulations publishedmedicine; medical practice of an hospital, in September, 1826, viz. after an attend-Second Summer Session,-Botany, if not ance on one course of lectures on chemis-

attended during the first Summer Session; try: one course of lectures on materia

midwifery and diseases of women and chil- medica: two courses of lectures on ana-(lren; forensic medicine; medical prac- tomy and physiology: two courses of lec-tice of an hospital. tures on the theory and practice of medi-

Third IVinter Session. - Dissections; cine ; and six months’ physician’s practiceprinciples and practice of medicine; mid- at an hospital, or nine months at a dis-

, pensary.* No gentleman practising as an apothecary in

England or TI’ales can give his apprentice a legal Those who began to attend lectures sub-title to to practise unless he is himself legally sequently to the 1st of February 1828,qualified to practise as an apothecay, either by having been in practice prior to or on the 1st of and previously to the 1st of October ofAugust 1815, or by having received a certificate of the same year, in conformity with the re-his qualification from the Court of Examiners. gulations of Se ptember 1827, viz. after anAn apprenticeship for not less than five yeats to surgeons practising as apothecaries in Scotland and attendance on one course of lectures onIreiand, gives to the apprentice a title to be ad- chemistry : one course of lectures on ma-mitted to examination. teria medica and botany : two courses oft As evidence of age, a copy of the baptismal ’

. ,

register will be requiieV in every case whete it’ can lectures on anatomy and pliysiology: twopossibly be procured. courses of lectures on the theory and

A testimonial of moral character from the practice of medicine; these last havinggentleman to whom the cnnditlate has been an been attended subseq 2centlt to the leetul’esappretice, will always be more satisfactory than

from any other person, on chemistry and materia. medica, and to

164

one course at least of anatomy : and six Midwifery, and the Diseases of Wommlmonths, at least, physician’s practice at an’and Children:-Two courses.hospital, or nine months at a dispensary; I Forensic Medicine:-One course-to besuch attendance having commenced sub- attended during the second year.sequently to the termination of the first Students are likewise earnestly recom-course of lectures on the principles and mended to avail themselves of instructionpractice of medicine. in morbid anatomy.

The candidate must also have attended,Those whose attendance on lectures for twelve months at least, the physician’s

commenced in October 1828, must have practice at an hospital containing not lesscomplied with the regulations of Septem- than sixty beds, and where a course ofber 1828, viz. by having attended two clinical lectures is given ; or for fifteencourses of lectures on chemistry: two months at an hospital wherein clinicalcourses of lectures on materia medica and lectures are not given; or for fifteenbotany: two courses of lectures on anatomy months at a dispensary connected withand physiology; two courses of anatomical some medical school recognised by thedemonstrations : two courses of lectures Court. No part of this attendance can beon the theory and practice of medicine; entered upon until the termination of onethese last having been attended subsequently entire year from the commencement ofto one course of lectures on chemistry, ma- attendance on lectures, nor until one

teria medica, and anatomy. And six course of lectures, at least, on chemistry,months, at least, the physician’s practice at materia medica, anatomy, and the prac-an hospital (containing not less than sixty tice of medicine, have been attended inbeds) or nine months at a dispensary; such the order prescribed by the regulations.attendance to have commenced subse-

quently to the termination of the first course Examination.— Every person offeringof lectures on the principles and practice himself for examination must give noticeof medicine. in writing to the clerk of the Society on

or before tne Monday previously to theAll students who began to attend lec- day of examination, and must also at the

tures in January 1829, are required to same time deposit all the required testi-have attended the physician’s practice at monials at the office of the beadle, wherean hospital for nine months, or at a dis- attendance is given every day, exceptpensary for twelve months, and also to Sunday, from nine until two o’clock.have attended two courses of lectures on The examination of ths candidate for amidwifery, and the diseases of women and certificate of qualincation to practise aschildren. an apothecary, will be as follows :-In

translating parts of Celsus de Medicina,Students whose attendance on lectures and Gregory’s Conspectus Medicinst The-

commenced on or after January 1831, oreticæ:* in lthysicians’ presctiptions, andmust adduce proof of having devoted at the Pharmacopœia Londinensis : in che-least two years to an attendance on lec- mistry: in materia medica and therapeu-tures and hospital practice, and of having tics : in botany : in anatomy and physi-attended the following courses of lec- ology : in the principles and practice oftures : - medicine.!

Chemistry:—Two courses-each course By the 22nd section of the Act of Par-consisting of not less than forty-five lec- liament, no rejected candidate for a certi-tures. ficate to practise as an apothecary, can heMateria Medica and Therapeutics :- re-examined until the expiration of six

Two courses-each course consisting of months from his former examination; andnot less than forty-five lectures. no rejected candidate as an assistant untilAnatomy and Physiology :-Two courses. the expiration of three months.

Anatomical Demonstrations: Two courses. The Court meet in the hall every Thurs-Of the same extent as required by the day, where candidates are required to

Royal College of Surgeons of London. attend at A QUARTER. BEFORE FOLrRPrinciples and Practice of Medicine:- O’Cl,OCK.

Two courses each course consisting of _________________________not less than forty-five lectures, to be «= Students may undergo their Latin examina-attended subsequently to the termination tion in these works at the commencement of their

Of the first course of lectures on chemistry studies in London, by giving notice to the beadle,. ,.. , ., at their first registration, of their wish to du so.matena medica, and anatomy and phy- And students who are already registered will be

siology. admitted to this examination on making an appli-Botany :-One course-consisting of not cation to the Court.† This branch ot the examination embraces anless than thii-tv lectures, to be attended inquiry into the diseases of pregnant and pnerperal

between April 1 and October 31. women ; and also into the diseases of children.

165

Mr. H. W. DEWHURST, taking to him-self the reference made in the note signed" Inquisitor," in the last number of THELANCET, has addressed a very long letterto us for publication, with a view to re-move the impression which the note of" Inquisitor " was calculated to create.

We refrain, however, from inserting the

letter, because it does not answer the

charge of misconduct made and impliedin the note, viz., that the Mr. Dewhurst

has adopted a title, and given to himselfa station, in the pages of a publication de-

signed for extensive circulation, which

he was totally unwarranted in assuming.There is a system of quackery making its

appearance in medical literature, in Cy-clopædias, Medical Journals, Newspapers,and Twopenny Magazines, which must

and shall be crushed, as it is most oifeii-

sive to good taste, detractory from the

fame of the really learned, and designed to

puff into a pseudo-reputation, the profes-sional character of men who ought to bescouted, not so much probably for their in-

capacity as for their impudent dishonesty.

THE letter of Mr. CosTELLO on the sub-

ject of a case noticed in the note signedthe " Shade of LE DRAN," and on the

utility of lithotrity generally, is unavoid-

ably postponed, from the press of matter,until next week. It is high time that the

question of lithotrity and lithotomy, as

regards the superiority of the one or theother as a mode of relieving patients fromthe affiiction of stone in the bladder,should be definitively settled. So far as

our own observations and inquiries haveextended, we are inclined to believe, thatif lithotrity were to be taught generallyin the schools, and brought into ordinaryuse amongst practitioners, the cuttingoperation for stone would in a very few

years become olasolete ; became the fa-

cility with which small stones could be

crushed, would leave no large calculi to

require the use of the knife.

VACCINATION AND INOCULATION.

The latter part of the following letterdiscloses some very important and appal-ling facts. That small-pox is becomingmost virulent again in many places is

quite certain, and, unfortunately, it is

equally true that many surgeons have

shown extreme culpability in spreadingthe disease, when it should be their inva-riable object to establish, by every possiblemeans, the introduction of vaccination.

If the legislation do not interfere, andthat speedily, we fear that the most cala-mitous results will ensue. Inoculation

for small.-pox must be altogether inter-

dicted, under very heavy penalties, or

never be allowed except in those caseswhere the vaccine matter has been first

tried with effect. It is, however, every-where admitted by practitioners of expe-rience that vaccination is losing much ofits power over the constitution, in conse-

quence of neglect in taking the matterfrom the original source, the.cow. The

means of protection against small-poxare placed so thoroughly within our reachthat it is criminal in the highest degreeto subject the public to the greatest of allpossible dangers by neglecting to employthem.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—At a time when small-pox is fear-fully prevalent in many parts of the coun-try, it cannot be too moch impressed enthe minds of all persons, that vaccination

has realized our most sanguine expecta-tions, in all cases where a fair trial hasbeen given to it, but as in some cases

failnre has occurred, I propose verybrielly stating the leading causes of suchfailure. In doing so, my object is to show

to our non-medical friends (and in par-t:cular to seveial very excellent country

clergymen who invariably read THE LAN-