870

THE LANCET.

LONDON: SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 1876.

THE GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL.

OUTSIDERS, if asked what in their opinion was the most

important business of the General Medical Council, wouldsay, without much variation, that the promotion of a bettersystem of medical education, and of the unification of

licensing boards in the different divisions of the kingdom,were conspicuously the two prime objects on which theCouncil should spend the strength of the early days of its

session; and they would unanimously share the hope ofDr. ANDREW WOOD, expressed in the last hour of the sessionof this year, that when another meeting comes round, theymay be able to

" go on with their own proper work, and not

devote themselves to Parliamentary Bills: ’ We have onlyto name the subjects that were brought before the Councilon the last two days of the session to see how dangerous isthe system that gives precedence to the work of criticisingBills before Parliament. These subjects were the Report ofthe Committee on Visitations; the answers of the LicensingBodies to the criticisms of Visitors; the defective pre-

liminary education of candidates at the commencement oftheir professional studies; the disastrous results to candi-

dates of the professional examinations, as at the College of

Surgeons of England, where 256 were rejected at the firstexamination last year and 511 passed; at the joint ex-amination of the College of Physicians and College of

Surgeons of Edinburgh, where 45 were rejected and 50passed; of the College of Physicians of Edinburgh and theFaculty of Glasgow, where 34 were rejected and 35 passed;at the College of Surgeons of Ireland, where 62 were rejectedand 119 passed; at the Queen’s University, where 60 were

rejected and 77 passed. These subjects touch the veryobjects for the attainment of which the Council exists. As

Sir WILLIAM GULL said, the very purpose for which he andhis colleagues come together year by year is to raise to the

highest character, consistently with the public interests,the minimum education of the country. No truer words

were spoken in the course of the sitting than some

other words of Sir WILLIAM’S—viz., that the student

now is so harassed with regulations, and with examinationsof this body and the other body, that he is concerned, notwith learning his profession, but with getting through hisexaminations. When he has got through his examination-which, by the way, is too often only after a period of dis-

couraging and humiliating rejection-he begins to study hisprofession, and has to practise for the first few years inpainful consciousness of the many things that he has notlearnt as a student. Such were the kind of subjects that byan unfortunate arrangement of business were left to the

last. Of course they could not be entertained. All that was

possible was to promise that they should have precedenceanother year. But, as Dr. STORRAR suggested, anotheryear will bring its own set of Parliamentary Bills, and itsown temptations to evade and postpone these difficult but

fundamental questions on the right solution of which thereputation of the Council and of the profession itself

depends.We said last week that a disheartening discussion was

going on on the subject of conjoint schemes. The result

was more satisfactory than could have been anticipated,though it was easy to perceive in the words of many of the

speakers indications that they were not sanguine of seeing,even in England, a true and thorough Conjoint Board-thatis, a conjunction of all bodies, universities and corporations- to constitute one sole licensing board, individual bodieswithholding their qualifications from all who have not

passed this board. Fifteen of the Council, however, not includ-ing one Scotch member, voted loyally for Sir WILLIAM GULL’Smotion expressing regret that no scheme for a ConjointBoard for England, Ireland, or Scotland, has yet been putin operation, and urgently pressing the matter upon thebodies.

Few things would give students more sensible relief thana unification of the examining bodies, or leave them moreinexcusable for not doing better at their examinations. The

Scotch members of the Council boast of having establisheda conjoint examination at which a large and increasing pro-portion of rejections takes place. But it is a conjunction ofcorporations only. This is immensely better than no con-

junction, though it lacks the support and strength which the

presence of universities gives. A strong point was made byProfessor HUMPHRY, in arguing for conjunction of bodies,when he showed the inequality of the proportions of rejec-tions of different examining bodies, as the College of Sur-

geons of England and the Apothecaries’ Hall. While the

former body at its first examination for the membershiprejected about half as many as it passed, the latter rejectedonly a sixth part. At the second examination the Collegerejected 129, and passed 369, while at the Hall only 9 wererejected, and 226 passed. Mr. BRADFORD’S explanation ofthe small number of rejections at the Hall was ready andingenious, but scarcely satisfactory. He justified the smallnumber of rejections by saying that the Army Board is re-jecting scarcely any candidates. But the cases are not

parallel. Men presenting themselves for army appointmentsprepare specially for its examination. The fact to be ex-

plained is that at the examination of the Hall fewer candi-dates are rejected than at any examination with which itcan be properly compared. Either other examinations are

too exacting or this is not exacting enough. One other new

argument in favour of conjoint boards was well put in therecent debate-viz., the difficulty, in various respects, of

supervising satisfactorily nineteen examinations. There is a

growing conviction in the Council and out of it that if thebodies do not voluntarily agree to combine they will one daybe compelled to do so.

-

IN answer to questions put by Mr. WADDY in the Houseof Commons on the lst instant, important information was

given by the President of the Local Government Board, andthe Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Educa-

tion, as to the arrangements made in consequence of Mr.JOHN SiMON’s retirement. It would appear that Dr. EDWARD

CATOR SEATON succeeds Mr. SIMON, as medical officer of the

871THE RETIREMENT OF MR SIMON.—THE VIVISECTION BILL.

Local Government Board, but that the Privy Council does kind of unattached referee to the Government in matters

not contemplate appointing a medical officer, and that it relating to medical polity. The President appears to maintain

proposes to refer questions coming before it, which may need a very intimate relationship and to be in frequent com-a medical reference, to the Medical Department of the Local munication with the heads of Government departments, asGovernment Board. The double appointment held by Mr. well during the intervals of the Council sessions as duringSIMON will no longer be continued, and the Medical Depart- the meetings. This is with the approval of the Council, butment of the Local Government Board will become apparently this relationship seems to partake quite as much of anthe medical department for all Government purposes in which irregular as a formal character, and it may be questionedmedicine has relation to the civil administration of the State. whether it at all times is consistent with the dignity of theOther changes in the medical department following upon Council, to say nothing of the profession.the retirement of Mr. SIMON, betoken that the relationship Dr. SEATON, who succeeds Mr. SIMON, has, we believe,between the medical department and other sub-departments been a coadjutor of Mr. SIMON’S in the medical work of

of the Board will become closer than it has hitherto the Government since 1859. His work has been chieflybeen, to the diminution no doubt of friction in departmental directed to the superintendence of public vaccination, awork, whatever result the change may have on the influence work which he has carried out with eminent success; but

exercised by the medical department upon the public health he has also done much general public health work. He has

administration of the Board. Mr. SIMON held office under the reputation of an excellent administrator, and his largespecial circumstances, and during his incumbency under the official experience was shown to great advantage during theLocal Government Board the working arrangements of his International Sanitary Conference of 1874, at Vienna,, wheredepartment, as transferred from the Privy Council Office, he was one of the British representatives. Apart fromwere left undisturbed. Among these arrangements was a legal official reports, Dr. SEATON has not written much. In 1868

assistant, a post filled by Mr. J. F. ROTTON. Mr. ROTTON is he published a " Handbook of Vaccination," which is

now made an assistant secretary of the Board, as also Mr. probably the best work on the subject which exists in anyHuGH OWEN, Jun., long connected with the Poor-law Board. language. Dr. SEATON’S promotion, under existing circum-These gentlemen have both the reputation of great abilities. stances of public health administration by the Local Govern-The vacancy caused by Mr. FLEMING’S death is not to be ment Board, is certainly quite as much a matter for sympathyfilled up, the two assistant-secretaryships being created, and as for congratulation.Mr. LAMBERT will remain the sole permanent Secretary of

.

the Board. It is surmised that these different changes in- THE General Medical Council may, we think, be con-

dicate the formation of a proper sanitary sub-department of gratulated on their memorial in connexion with Lord

the Board, as distinct from the Poor-law Department. CARNARVON’S Bill. The memorial is founded on the able

The appointment of Dr. SEATON to succeed Mr. SIMON Report of the Committee as amended in Council, and it is

suggests that the strictly medical work of his department judicial in tone as well as clear and forcible in reasoning.will be carried on as hitherto. But it is not easy to under- The Report of the Parliamentary Bills; Committee of thestand what are the subjects which may be referred to British Medical Association follows also very closely the samethis department from the Privy Council Office, and more line of reasoning as that adopted in the Report of the

precise knowledge on this matter is desirable. Mr. SIMON, Medical Council, and it appears to us that,. together, theseafter the transference of public-health duties from the Privy documents contain a number of suggestions which tho-Council Office to the Local Government Board, continued to roughly deserve the careful consideration of Government.advise the former body on questions relating to quarantine We have never sought to divest ourselves of a sense of

and the administration of the Medical Act. The exercise of responsibility in regard to the practice of vivisection, andMr. SIMON’S duties in regard to the Medical Act has always have always discussed the statements and arguments of itsbeen regarded by the Medical Council and medical corpora- opponents, so far as we believed these to have been sincere,tions with great jealousy, but the peculiar and special position even if exaggerated, with studious moderation; but it washeld by Mr. SIMON in the service of the State gave him a just impossible to shut our eyes to the fact that Lord CAR-

title to advise the Government on such matters relating to NARVON’s Bill was in excess of the requirements of the case.the medical profession as might be referred to him. Does If not modified, it will place scientific men in an anomalousthe Privy Council propose to consult Dr. SEATON on these if not derogatory position ; it will retard the progress of

matters ? Then, again, there is the question of the grant humanity and science, and probably even defeat the objectsfor scientific purposes which was administered by Mr. SIMON: the Government has in view. The very title of the Bill is

what is to be done with regard to it ? It would be a disgrace in itself a reflection and aspersion on a class of persons whoseto the Government if this comparatively petty grant were character and objects are essentially humane; and shouldwithdrawn. It is not easy to understand how the Privy the measure be strictly and logically carried out in its

Council will be able to do the work it has to do with refer- present form, researches for the prevention and treatmentence to the medical profession without a medical referee, but of the diseases of the lower animals themselves may be pro-it is equally difficult to understand, Mr. SIMON having been hibited. The General Medical Council, being charged bylooked upon with jealousy by the medical corporations, how law with the duty of superintending medical education, con-Dr. SEATON could act with advantage as the referee. Judging sider that they cannot be indifferent to any legislationfrom recent proceedings of the Medical Council, it would affecting physiological teaching and research, and theyseem as if that body held that its President should act as a regard animal experimentation as indispensable to the

872 THE DEATH OF THE EX-SULTAN.

advancement of physiological and medical knowledge.We have always contended that the statements made inregard to its practice in this country were enormouslyexaggerated, and we are glad to find the Council stating, inregard to these experiments, that they are not aware that" such abuses have existed in the British Islands as to

justify exceptional legislation restrictive of physiologicalstudy and research."Assuming, however, that legislation is about to be under-

taken, the Council trust that, while giving all reasonablesecurity against any possible abuse, it " shall be such as notto interfere with the progress of knowledge;" and with thisend in view suggestions are made to the Government forthe amendment of the Bill in question. That the word" animal" is nowhere defined in the Bill ; that the limitationof the performance of experiments in sub-clause 1, Clause 3,is directly at variance with the opinion of the Royal Commis-sioners, as expressed in their Report, and that the limitation ofall experiments to registered places, as proposed in sub-clause 2of the first division of Clause 3, would not only tend most

seriously to obstruct genuine scientific inquiry, but proveimpossible in practice, are pointed out; and the necessaryamendments in the wording of the Bill are suggested, bywhich these grave consequences would, in our opinion, beaverted, without at all compromising the spirit of the Bill.The Council evidently consider that the framers of the mea-sure are in advance of what is known in prohibiting theuse of urari as an anaesthetic, and they therefore indi-

cate that the exemption of dogs and cats from experi-ments of every kind would withdraw from investigationcarnivorous animals of great value for the purposes of re-search; indeed, it seems to us that the course of law and

justice might be seriously hampered if we were prohibitedfrom utilising these animals in some medico-legal cases. The

provisions of Clause 9 appear to the Council beyond thenecessities of the case, and such as might be made vexatiousand oppressive, and they suggest modifications accordingly.It will be seen that other amendments are also suggested,some of which we regard as of an important character—as,for example, that the inspectors under the Act should be

scientifically competent to appreciate the nature and in-tention of such experiments as they may witness ; that thefrequent application for a certificate from persons in the

higher rank of science, engaged in special research, should bemodified, as it would seriously interfere with their labours;and they think that any licensed person who may feel him-self aggrieved by the judgment of a court of summary

jurisdiction should have the option of appealing to a superiorcourt, instead of the Court of Quarter Session. Without

adverting to the cruelties that are practised under the nameof sport, those persons who have so loudly and strenuouslyadvocated legislative interference in regard to animal experi-mentation have not been consistent with their own prin-ciples ; they have persistently shut their eyes to the fact,that if this Bill were a measure properly described as " forthe prevention of cruelty to animals," it should, of necessity,include in its scope that large class of agricultural andeven domestic operations by which farm labourers, farriers,and others inflict upon living animals sufferings which inall probability daily exceed in amount all that physiologists

are called upon to inflict on animals in the course of many

years. We are not, and never have been, opposed to all

reasonable restriction being imposed upon animal ex-

perimentation ; but we hold that many of the provisions inthe Bill, as it stands at present, are unreasonable, and

likely to bring about mischievous and vexatious results,and we therefore hope to see, as we believe we shall see,it modified before it comes into operation as the law of theland.

Annotations." Ne qtti:d nimis."

THE DEATH OF THE EX-SULTAN.

IT is stated that the official account of the death of AbdulAziz, the Ex-Sultan of Turkey, has been received with generalincredulity. This is scarcely astonishing. It is impossibleto deny that a determined suicide, or a maniac-as AbdulAziz is now represented to have been-might inflict suchwounds on his extremities as should cause death by haemor-rhage, but the success of such an operation is extremely im-probable ; so unlikely, in fact, that the world may be excusedfor hesitating to adopt the explanation offered in this case-aseminently unsatisfactory. We have no special claim, as aprofessional organ, to offer our opinion as to general con-siderations which seem to make the hypothesis propoundedalmost untenable. Suicide may be opposed to the pro-babilities arising out of the obligations of religion. Thecharacter sustained, until within the last few days, by AbdulAziz, as the visible leader of the Mohammedan faith, wouldundoubtedly have rendered death by his own hand a heinousoffence in his estimation ; and, if it be true that he was thevictim of delusions, looking to the recent acts of his life, andmore especially the final effort he made to protect himselfand his crown from the suspected treason of Murad, theconsciousness of his high dignity must have been ex-

aggerated rather than so diminished as to permit him to layviolent hands on himself. Then, again, the Ex-Sultan wasof a singularly inert temperament. Those who saw some-

thing of him when in England are not likely to be the first toaccept the story of his self-slaughter by the method alleged.He might, it will be contended, have taken poison if he couldhave procured it, but scarcely stabbed himself in the arms witha pair of scissors ! Setting these and many other considera-tions aside, it is difficult, we repeat, to conceive that suicide,by an act of this nature, is probable. We hear nothing ofany measures being taken to secure a free flow of blood fromthe opened veins, such as were familiar to the old-fashionedphlebotomists. There might even appear to be a sinisterintention in the statement that an ex-sultan, dying by hisown design, selected as an instrument an implement so ex-clusively the tool, or possibly the weapon, of a woman. Thesudden death, the strange story told in explanation, and thehasty interment, combine to make the whole affair a mystery.This is the impression produced by the story, and such arethe inferences derived from the general facts and circum-stances of the case. We are, however, confronted by a docu-ment signed by nineteen physicians of various nationalitiesdescribing the appearances, and attesting that in their judg-ment the case was one of suicide. Probably the meagre andhalting character of this second 11 omeial" statement may beexplained by the circumstance that it was drawn up and

signed under a heavy pressure of responsibility, and with aforegone conclusion and set purpose in view. Neverthelessthe obvious effort of the composition is so painful as to render

the act of submission to its authority an intellectual per-