265 THE LANCET. LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1848. CONFERENCES OF THE CORPORATIONS—THE ODIOUS INCOME-TAX. THE first published result of the late conferences between a few of the officials of the London colleges and the " head and home" gentry, is a document, which will be found in the following page. The intriguers appear to be as destitute of sense as they are of honesty of purpose on the subject of medical legislation. What will be the feelings of thousands of mem- bers of the College of Surgeons, when they observe the pro- posals which are contained in paragraphs 9,10, 13, and 18, and which have received the sanction of the Council of the College to which they belong ? Thus it is seen, that unless a member of the College of Surgeons of England submit to the degrada- tion of being enrolled as a general practitioner, he is to be deprived of the right of recovering at law for any just charges which he may make for the performance of his professional duties. But we are really too indignant to write on the sub- ject. The miserable plotters of the moribund Institute will, we believe, receive from the profession the severest condemna- tion which it is in their power to bestow. —————————— LORD JOHN RUSSELL has given way before the simultaneous expression of the hatred felt by the middle and professional classes against any addition to the Income Tax, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer must set about concocting another Budget. In our last we dwelt upon the peculiar unfairness with which this always obnoxious impost falls upon medical men; whether the tax be three per cent. or five per cent., whether the amount be small or great, the unjust principle according to which it is levied is the same. Ministers have been most unwise in mooting a point so certain to excite attention to the principle of the income tax, and of taxation in general. Never was scrutiny more intensely directed to the principles of taxation, than during the past ten days; and the result is, an unanimous conviction that the professional classes of this country are most unfairly burdened, while the propertied classes are most unfairly favoured. We trust this conviction will sink so deeply into the minds of the community, as to ensure a complete and radical revision of our entire system of taxation, and, in the end, to place the saddle upon the right horse. No class in the community are so deeply interested in this subject as the medical men. All the recent discussions prove that the income impost falls with fearful weight upon all the professional classes. A very brief consideration will show that the medical profession is far more unfortunately circumstanced than either of the other professions. It behoves medical men, therefore, if they do not wish the con- tinuance of this injustice to themselves and their families, to join with zeal in the agitation against the abominable income tax. In divinity, the functionaries of the church, from the bishop down to the small vicar with .E150 a year, can, if they are ill, provide curates, and still preserve the great bulk of their incomes. The curates are mostly exempt from the income tax altogether, their incomes not reaching z’ E120 per annum. They, the rich churchmen, may be in- ’, valided for years, or live to become childish, or even idiotic, and yet preserve their revenues. In the law, too, there are plenty of official posts and retiring pensions, which enable a host of lawyers to live and thrive, whether they are well or ill; barristers can take fees when they are unable to attend cases, and solicitors and attorneys are able to get through much of the labours of legal practice by clerks; and legal practice is much more hereditary and capable of transmission or sale to a successor than medical practice. In medicine, the physician, surgeon, or general practitioner, can derive very little aid from the assistance of others. All the labour of practice is of a personal kind. A week, a month, or a year of illness, is a casualty of the most serious kind, and often injures an excellent practice beyond all chance of re- covery. No curate or clerk can be had to do the work, and the medical man, permanently disabled in health, generally sinks into the deepest distress. There are no pensions or sinecures in medicine; all success depends upon personal labour, and this upon personal health. Nor can the succession to medical practice be sold on the same advantageous terms as the succession to a benefice. When a medical man dies or retires, his patients, to a very great extent, exercise their right of selecting their future medical attendant, so that it is only under peculiar circumstances that a practice can be well and profitably sold. Indeed, there is something repugnant to the nature of the profession itself, in making it a matter of general barter. Such are some of the disadvantages under which medical incomes labour, as compared with the professions of law and physic; yet the time and capital invested in medical education, before it becomes profitable to the medical man, are no whit less than in the other learned professions. As regards trades, the comparative position of the medical man is equally unfavourable. The money invested by the merchant or trader is not, like the capital of the medical man, invested in their own persons; it is invested in tangible articles, not depending upon such precarious circumstances as personal life and health for their preservation. If the trader dies, his capital still lives ; his business is a property, and can be carried on by his successors, or realized without loss. But when the medical man dies, all the capital of time, money, and labour, invested in his ,education, suddenly dies with him ; his knowledge is incommunicable to any other person. Unless he has realized property, the whole investment of his life is at once extin- guished. The medical man, as compared even with other professions and trades, is very much like a man having invested money in an annuity terminable with his own life, while they have the advantages of both annuity and capital. Nor can the medical man do otherwise, having to deal with that perishable article, personal skill and prepossession, unless he insures his life at an immense sacrifice. In many other particulars the medical man stands at an immense disadvantage under this form of taxation. The out- lay incidental to his profession, much of which will not be recognised by the Income-tax Commissioners, is heavier than in other occupations and professions. His house-rent, horse, or carriage, bad debts, &c., are proportionably greater. The clerk with X140 a year is a rich man compared with the struggling professional man with X160 or .E200. To succeed in his profession, society requires that he should be a married man, and incur the expenses of a family. In law and divinity
Transcript
265
THE LANCET.
LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1848.
CONFERENCES OF THE CORPORATIONS—THE ODIOUS INCOME-TAX.
THE first published result of the late conferences betweena few of the officials of the London colleges and the " headand home" gentry, is a document, which will be found in thefollowing page. The intriguers appear to be as destitute of senseas they are of honesty of purpose on the subject of medicallegislation. What will be the feelings of thousands of mem-bers of the College of Surgeons, when they observe the pro-posals which are contained in paragraphs 9,10, 13, and 18, andwhich have received the sanction of the Council of the Collegeto which they belong ? Thus it is seen, that unless a member
of the College of Surgeons of England submit to the degrada-tion of being enrolled as a general practitioner, he is to bedeprived of the right of recovering at law for any just chargeswhich he may make for the performance of his professionalduties. But we are really too indignant to write on the sub-ject. The miserable plotters of the moribund Institute will,we believe, receive from the profession the severest condemna-tion which it is in their power to bestow.
LORD JOHN RUSSELL has given way before the simultaneousexpression of the hatred felt by the middle and professionalclasses against any addition to the Income Tax, and theChancellor of the Exchequer must set about concoctinganother Budget. In our last we dwelt upon the peculiarunfairness with which this always obnoxious impost fallsupon medical men; whether the tax be three per cent. or
five per cent., whether the amount be small or great, the
unjust principle according to which it is levied is the same.
Ministers have been most unwise in mooting a point so
certain to excite attention to the principle of the incometax, and of taxation in general. Never was scrutiny moreintensely directed to the principles of taxation, than duringthe past ten days; and the result is, an unanimous convictionthat the professional classes of this country are most unfairlyburdened, while the propertied classes are most unfairlyfavoured. We trust this conviction will sink so deeply intothe minds of the community, as to ensure a complete andradical revision of our entire system of taxation, and, in theend, to place the saddle upon the right horse.No class in the community are so deeply interested in this
subject as the medical men. All the recent discussions provethat the income impost falls with fearful weight upon allthe professional classes. A very brief consideration will
show that the medical profession is far more unfortunatelycircumstanced than either of the other professions. It
behoves medical men, therefore, if they do not wish the con-tinuance of this injustice to themselves and their families,to join with zeal in the agitation against the abominableincome tax. In divinity, the functionaries of the church,from the bishop down to the small vicar with .E150 a year,can, if they are ill, provide curates, and still preserve the great bulk of their incomes. The curates are mostly exemptfrom the income tax altogether, their incomes not reaching z’
E120 per annum. They, the rich churchmen, may be in- ’,
valided for years, or live to become childish, or even idiotic,and yet preserve their revenues. In the law, too, there are
plenty of official posts and retiring pensions, which enable ahost of lawyers to live and thrive, whether they are well orill; barristers can take fees when they are unable to attendcases, and solicitors and attorneys are able to get throughmuch of the labours of legal practice by clerks; and legalpractice is much more hereditary and capable of transmissionor sale to a successor than medical practice.In medicine, the physician, surgeon, or general practitioner,
can derive very little aid from the assistance of others. All
the labour of practice is of a personal kind. A week, a month,or a year of illness, is a casualty of the most serious kind, andoften injures an excellent practice beyond all chance of re-covery. No curate or clerk can be had to do the work, andthe medical man, permanently disabled in health, generallysinks into the deepest distress. There are no pensions orsinecures in medicine; all success depends upon personallabour, and this upon personal health. Nor can the succession
to medical practice be sold on the same advantageous termsas the succession to a benefice. When a medical man dies or
retires, his patients, to a very great extent, exercise their rightof selecting their future medical attendant, so that it is onlyunder peculiar circumstances that a practice can be well and
profitably sold. Indeed, there is something repugnant to thenature of the profession itself, in making it a matter of generalbarter. Such are some of the disadvantages under whichmedical incomes labour, as compared with the professions oflaw and physic; yet the time and capital invested in medicaleducation, before it becomes profitable to the medical man,are no whit less than in the other learned professions.As regards trades, the comparative position of the medical
man is equally unfavourable. The money invested by themerchant or trader is not, like the capital of the medical man,invested in their own persons; it is invested in tangiblearticles, not depending upon such precarious circumstancesas personal life and health for their preservation. If
the trader dies, his capital still lives ; his business is
a property, and can be carried on by his successors, or
realized without loss. But when the medical man dies,all the capital of time, money, and labour, invested in
his ,education, suddenly dies with him ; his knowledge is
incommunicable to any other person. Unless he has realized
property, the whole investment of his life is at once extin-
guished. The medical man, as compared even with otherprofessions and trades, is very much like a man having invested
money in an annuity terminable with his own life, while theyhave the advantages of both annuity and capital. Nor can
the medical man do otherwise, having to deal with that
perishable article, personal skill and prepossession, unless heinsures his life at an immense sacrifice.
In many other particulars the medical man stands at animmense disadvantage under this form of taxation. The out-
lay incidental to his profession, much of which will not berecognised by the Income-tax Commissioners, is heavier thanin other occupations and professions. His house-rent, horse,or carriage, bad debts, &c., are proportionably greater. The
clerk with X140 a year is a rich man compared with thestruggling professional man with X160 or .E200. To succeed inhis profession, society requires that he should be a marriedman, and incur the expenses of a family. In law and divinity
266 THE ROYAL SOCIETY.-" HEAD AND HOME" PROJECT.
there is no requirement of this kind. Viewed from a thousand
points, the income-tax is most obnoxious to the profession.We are convinced that, in the great majority of cases, theCommissioners lay on what tax they think proper, and medicalmen pay it to avoid exposure, for to none is the exposure of
poverty or a diminished income more galling and injurious.These are some of the considerations which should urge
medical men to join in the present agitation against theincome-tax. There is nothing so peculiar or advantageous intheir emoluments that they should tamely submit to be
pressed upon harder by the tax-collector than any othermembers of the community. If the income-tax is to continue,those who are robbed by it should at least insist that its leviesbe fairly and equitably distributed. Another point raisedduring the present discussion is the unfairness of excusingIreland and Irish property and income from a fair proportionof the income-tax. In applying this to medical men, the un-fairness is very striking. ’Why should Sir PHILIP CRAMPTONor Dr. GRAVES be excused from paying a tax mulctedfrom Sir BENJAMIN BRODIE and Dr. CHAMBERS, or from Dr.CHRISTISON and Sir J. I;<1LLIN(iALL 1 We shall not be
suspected of any unfairness to our Irish brethren; whatwe contend for is, that justice should be dealt alike to
England, Ireland, and Scotland. Nothing ought to satisfythe people of this country, but the abolition of the
income-tax, or the just and equitable adjustment of the
income-tax upon property and income of various kinds.
Honesty need not fear that such an adjustment could bemade, and nothing less ought to be accepted during the con-tinuation of this tax. Medical men in all parts of the king-dom, unless they wish to be trampled on, should immediatelypetition Parliament, and they should point out, in the
strongest terms, the unjust and peculiar pressure of this formof taxation upon them and upon their families.
THE correspondence which we publish between the Marquisof NORTHAMPTON, Dr. ROBERT LEE, and Mr. CHRISTIE, showsthat the flagrant wrong committed in the award of the lastRoyal Medal in Physiology has not yet sunk to rest, and,probably, it never will, until something like substantial
justice be done. There is almost a poetical justice in theresults to the principal actors. It is now more currentlyreported than ever at the clubs, and amongst the Fellows ofthe Royal Society, that the Marquis of NORTHAMPTON hassignified to the Council the necessity of their being providedwith another name for the Presidency next Saint Andrew’sday. If this be true, we venture to say that nothing can sobecome the Marquis as scientific privacy. If he has no such
intention, these rumours are signs of what the scientific thinkhe ought to do. Than Dr. RoGET’s position nothing can bemore pitiable, reduced, as he is, to the necessity of using ashis organ the lowest publication in the kingdom. That to
him must, we should imagine, be a greater infliction than eventhe resignation of his long-cherished secretaryship.
THE Athenaeu1n of Saturday last announced the intention ofthe Marquis of NORTHAMPTON to resign or abdicate at theRoyal Society. This is quite in accordance with the facts weh av from time to time laid before the profession. But even
the resignation of the President and Senior Secretary will not
be sufficient to purify this institution. What with cliques inthe Council, secret committees, and secret reports upon papers,there is no hope for British science at Somerset House, unlessthe whole affairs of the Society are remodelled. The whole
thing is musty and rotten to the core, and nothing short of re-construction can rescue it from contempt. The presenthumiliating position of the Society, as compared with its
proud and audacious bearing two years ago, shows how
effective the flood of light let in by a fearless and uncom-promising press is in dispelling the mists of e17or, and ex-posing wrong doers. The Royal Society and its defendersare only powerless now because they have been irretrievably inthe wrong.
THE RESULT OF THE CONFERENCES, OR THE NEWPROJECT FOR THE HEAD AND HOME."
"1. That a charter of incorporation should be granted to thesurgeon-apothecaries of this country, under the title of’ The RoyalCollege of General Practitioners of England.’
"2. That a council should be established to superintend theregistration of all medical and surgical practitioners, and for thegeneral control of medical education and practice.
"3. That the couneilshould consist of one of her Majesty’s Prin-cipal Secretaries of State, in right of his office (who should also bepresident of the said council, with power to appoint a vice-presi-dent), and that the other members of the council (of whomnot less than two-thirds should be registered members of themedical profession) should be such persons, not more than twelve,whom her Majesty, with the advice of her Privy Council, shoulddeem fit to be members of the said council.
"4. That the council should be empowered, with the approval ofthe Secretary of State, to appoint a principal secretary, and localsecretaries for Scotland,and Ireland, and clerks, messengers, &c.;and that the members of the council, the secretaries, cterks, &c.,should receive such salaries as the Lords of the Treasury shouldthink proper to allow.
"5. That a register should be made and published by the saidcouncil, as soon as conveniently may be, of all persons entitled,as after explained, to be registered as physicians, surgeons, orgeneral practitioners, and who shall apply to be so registeredwithin one year if residing in any part of the United Kingdom,or within two years if resident abroad, for which a fee of tenshillings shall be paid by each person so registered ; and that to’the register should afterwards be regularly added the names ofall persons who shall receive letters testimonial, as after explained,of their fitness to practise as physicians, surgeons, or generalpractitioners, and that for such registration should be paid thesum of five pounds in the case of a physician or surgeon, and oftwo pounds in the case of a general practitioner. All such fees-should be applied towards defraying the expenses of this Act.
" 6. The register to be formed on the plan of a specimen sub-mitted to the committee of the House of Commons in 1847 by theregistrar of the College of Physicians.
" 7. And all persons desirous of being continued on the registershould be required to send their names and residences to thecouncil annually, but without the payment of additional fees.8. The register to be received as evidence in courts of law.9. That those persons should be entitled to be registered
as general practitioners who shall be enrolled as members of theRoyal College of General Practitioners within one year from itsfirst incorporation, according to the provisions of a charter whichhas been prepared for that college ; and that those persons shallafterwards be entitled to be so registered who, having attainedthe age of twenty-two years, shall have received letters testimo-nial of their fitness to practise as general practitioners, from theexamining board of the Royal College of General Practitioners,and who shall also have been examined and admitted as membersof the Royal College of Surgeons.
" 10. That those persons should be entitled to be registered assurgeons who shall have been examined and admitted as fellowsor members by the Royal College of Surgeons. But, after the
passing of the Act, those who shall be admitted as members shallbe also examined and admitted by the Royal College of GeneralPractitioners, and registered as general practitioners.
° 11. That those persons should be entitled to be registered asphysicians who shall have been admitted as members of the RoyalCollege of Physicians, according to the provisions of a new char-ter which has been prepared for the College of Physicians, and
267"HEAD AND HO1IE" SCHEME.-THE ROYAL aSOCIETY. __
has also been submitted to the Government, which charter it isexpedient should be granted to the College of Physicians.
" 12. That the cases of persons who have been engaged in practiceprior to the passing of the Act, without being members of any cor-porate body in the profession, should be referred to the college ofthe department in which they have practised respectively, forspecial investigation of their claims to be admitted to register.
" 13. That the members of each class of the profession, resi-dent in each of the three kingdoms respectively, should be en-titled to be registered and to practise reciprocally in either of thethree kingdoms as physicians, surgeons, or general practitioners,as the case may be, provided the education and examinations ofeach class respectively be assimilated and regulated by a certainstandard common to each class; and provided that, previous toregistration, they be enrolled in the college appropriated to theirclass, in the country in which they practise.
" 14. That the council shall be empowered to allow or dis-allow any new bye-law which shall be made by either of the col-leges.
" 15. Also, to cause a register to be made of medical and surgicalstudents, and to make such dispensing regulations as shall seemfit in favour of those students who shall have commenced theirprofessional studies before the passing of the Act.
" 16. Also to call for returns respecting examinations, and feesfor letters testimonial and admission into the respective colleges,and to take such other measures as may be necessary in order toassimilate, as nearly as possible, the education, examinations,and fees for each class of the profession, respectively, in each ofthe three kingdoms. And that the council should be empowered,in any case in which it should appear to be necessary, in order tosecure efficiency and uniformity of the examinations, to deputeone or more of its members to be present at the examinations ofany of the colleges, provided the members of the council so de-puted be medical practitioners, and of the same class in the profes-sion as the college to be visited ; and if, upon the report of suchvisitor, or otherwise, the council should be of opinion that its re-gulations are not complied with by any examining body, that itshould be lawful for the council to refuse to register, upon thetestimonials of the body so in default, until the same be amendedto the satisfaction of the council.
" 17. That the council should be empowered to strike from theregister the names of any persons who shall be proved to have ob-tained the registry of their names by any fraud or false certificate,or who shall have been convicted of felony, or of having wilfullyand knowingly given any false certificate in any case in whichthe certificate of a medical practitioner is required by law ; also, z,the names of any persons who shall have been expelled fromeither of the colleges, according to the terms of their respectivecharters, provided such expulsion shall have been approvedand allowed by the council, as before required, respecting bye-laws.
" 18. That no one who is not registered should be judgedcapable of performing any act which is required by law to bedone by a medical practitioner; nor should any but a registeredperson be appointed to any office which is deemed by the councilto be a public medical or surgical office; nor should any but re-gistered general practitioners be entitled to demand or recoverfees for medical and surgical advice and attendance, or for medi-cines prescribed or administered.
" 19. That penalties should be imposed by summary processon all unregistered persons practising medicine or surgery.
"20. Also, on all unregistered persons falsely pretending to beregistered.
"21. Also, on all persons assuming any professional name ordesignation to which they are not by law entitled, or which impliesthat they belong to a class in the register in which they are notregistered, or that they are members of a college in which theyare not enrolled.
" 22. In thus laying down the principles on which a Bill shouldbe framed for regulating the whole medical profession, the com-mittee has entered into particulars only as regards the professionin England ; but under the fifth head, respecting reciprocity ofpractice in the three kingdoms, it has assigned the conditionswhich are clearly indispensable for the attainment of that desir-able object.
" 23. The committee is aware that some variations from the planwhich is here drawn out for England may be rendered advisableor necessary by local circumstances and the rights of existing in-stitutions, in Scotland and Ireland.
"24. And the committee is contented that such variations shouldbe made, provided the principle be not contravened, that equalityof education and qualifications in each class respectively of theprofession in the three kingdoms should be first obtained, in orderthat the right of reciprocal practice may be justly allowed."
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE MARQUIS OFNORTHAMPTON AND DR. ROBERT LEE.
ROBERT LEE.
To the Marquis of Northampton, President of the Royal Society.4, Savile-row, Burlington-gardens,
December 22nd, 1847.My LORD MARQUis,—The illegal and unjust transactions
which took place in the Council and Committee of Physiologyof the Royal Society, in 1845, have thrown a deep stain onthe moral character of the Society, which must be wipedaway. It is impossible that any institution can prosper wherethe purposes for which it was originally founded have beenso grievously perverted.You are, my Lord Marquis, the president and guardian of
the honour of the Royal Society, and are fully impressed, Iam persuaded, with the necessity of preserving this great andvenerable tribunal of science pure and unspotted in the eyesof all nations. As a fellow of the Royal Society, and boundby the same solemn obligation as your lordship " to promoteits good," I once more beseech you to unite with the Council,.and at its first meeting restore to the council-book of theSociety the minutes which were unlawfully erased, after con-firmation, in the month of November, 1845, and to rescindthe resolutions passed by the Council on the 30th of Octoberand the lst of December, 1845, relative to the award of theRoyal Medal in Physiology, which award was made in directviolation of the regulations established by her Majesty, QueenVictoria, for the award of Royal Medals, as announced in thePlzilosophiccal Transaction.3.His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex declared from the
chair which your lordship now occupies, that the results ofthe labours of men of science would not pass unnoticed andunrewarded at the Royal Society, and assured them thatthere exists "a tribunal to which they may appeal, andbefore which they may appear, whose decision is always forhonour." If your lordship and the Council refuse to restoreto the council-book the erased minutes, which had been con-firmed, and to rescind the illegal award, the Royal Societywill cease to be regarded by men of science " as a tribunal towhich they can appeal, and before which they can appearwithout incurring the danger of having " the most importantdiscoveries or series of investigations completed and madeknown to the Royal Society," and published in the Philo-sophical T),a22sactions, rewarded with injustice and dishonour.
It is my earnest desire that a public inquiry into the wholeof the proceedings may be avoided. Will your lordship havethe goodness to inform me, at your earliest convenience,whether you determine to recommend the Council to grantor to reject my earnest and just request.-I am, my LordMarquis, your faithful and obedient servant,To the Most Honourable the Marquis of ROBERT LEE.
Northampton.
The 3farquis of Northampton to Dr. Lee.S1R,-I do not feel certain whether I ever answered your
letter of the 22nd of this month. I write this in case I didnot do so.
If you wish me to do so, I will certainly lay your letterbefore the Council of the Royal Society, at their next meeting,and they must decide on the propriety of complying withyour request, or of not doing so.
I cannot, however, undertake to recommend them to dothat which is not, in my opinion, within their power-viz., torescind the vote of a medal by a former council, although Iquite admit that that vote was come to under a mistake as tothe regulations of the royal donor.
I confess I do not see why you should be anxious to restorea resolution, for the purpose of rescinding it. Still I am
ready to lay your letter before the Council, if you wish me todo so. I am, Sir, your humble servant,
Allsop, December 30th, 1847. - NORTHAMPTON.
Dr. Lee to the AI arquis of Northampton.London, 4, Savile-row, Dec. 31st, 1847.
MY LORD MARQ.uis,—In a letter of the 22nd instant, Irequested your lordship, in a respectful and earnest manner,to recommend to the Council of the Royal Society to restoreto the council book the confirmed minutes which were erasedin November, 1845, and to rescind the illegal resolutions of £the 30th of October and 1st of December, relative to theaward of the royal medal in physiology.
I regret extremely to learn, from your lordship’s letter ofthe 30th instant, which I had the honour to receive thismorning, that you decline complying with my request, andthat you should have felt so little interest in the honour of
268
the Royal Society, as to have forgotten, in eight days, whetheror not you had answered my letter.-I am, my Lord Marquis,your obedient servant, ROBERT LEE.To the Most Honourable the Marquis of Northampton.
The Marquis of Northampton to Dr. Lee.have received your letter of the 31st of last month,
and by it I see that something that I said in my former lettermust have given you offence, which I did not intend. I donot, however, see why you should accuse me of want of dueregard to the honour of the Royal Society, on account of mynot feeling sure whether or not I had answered your letter.You do not say whether you wish me to lay your applicationbefore the Council of the Royal Society, but as you do notsay anything to the contrary, I presume that you do desire it,and I shall therefore think it my duty to bring it before them,and they must decide whether they think it right to accedeto your request.
I have already told you that in my opinion it is not com-petent for them to over-rule the award of a medal by a formercouncil, but they may be of a different opinion. Howeverthat may be, you have a right to have your application laidbefore them.
I think it right to mention to you, as I understood fromyou at our meeting that you intended to contradict theerroneous statement in THE LANCET, that I heard, some littletime ago, that no such contradiction had appeared there.Perhaps it may have been inserted since, or possibly theeditor may not have received your letter.
I am, Sir, your humble servant,Castle Ashby, January 3rd, 1847. _- NORTHAMPTON.
Dr. Lee to the JJfarquis of Northampton.London, 4, Savile-row, January 4th, 1848.
My LORD MARQUis;—I am anxious that my letter of the22nd,of December should be read to the Council of the RoyalSociety at the first meeting, and I beg leave to suggest toyour lordship the propriety of consulting the attorney andsolicitor general on the legality of erasing minutes, whichhad been confirmed from the council-book of the Society, andon the power of the Council to rescind resolutions passed bya former council, which were at variance with the regulationsfor the award of medals, framed by the Council, and esta- !blished by the Queen.Before the Council enters upon the consideration of the
request contained in my letter, the opinions of the law officersof the Crown ought certainly to be taken, and if the Councildoes not, I myself shall be forced to do so.In a printed paper extensively circulated among the fellows
of the Royal Society, by Dr. Roget, at the Special GeneralMeeting held on the llth of February, 1847, it is stated:-"October 30th. The Council adopted this recommendation,
and resolved that this award be made."N.B.-The resolution to that effect was not confirmed at
the next meeting, November 6th, and was accordingly orderedto be erased from the minutes."Your lordship is fully aware that this statement is incorrect,
and that the resolution of the 30th of October was confirmed,and remained confirmed on the 17th of November.
I sent the contradiction to the medical journals immediatelyafter my interview with your lordship, and I shall send itagain.-I am, my Lord Marquis, your Lordship’s faithful andobedient servant, ROBERT LEE.To the Most Honourable the Marquis of Northampton.
The Marquis of Northampton to Dr. Lee.SiR,-I have received your letter of the 4th of January,
and will, in compliance with your request, lay before the nextmeeting of the Council of the Royal Society your letter ofthe 22nd of December, and also your suggestion respectinglegal opinion.-I am, Sir, your humble servant,Jan. ?th, 1848. NORTHAMPTON.Not having access, at present, to the books of the Society, I
Can say nothing on the subject of confirmation and erasure.
Pg-ofesso2- Christie to Dr. Lee.Royal Society, Somerset House, Jan. 20th, 1848.
DEAR SiR,-The President having read to the Council ofthe Royal Society a correspondence between yourself andhis lordship on the subject of the award of the Royal Medalfor Physiology, in the year 1845, am instructed to communi-cate to you the unanimous resolution of the President andCouncil:-" That it is inexpedient to re-open the question."
I am, dear Sir, yours very faithfully,S. HUNTER CHRISTIE.
ROBERT LEE.
S. HUNTER CHRISTIE.
House of Commons.Tuesday, Feb. 21st, 1848.
On the motion of MR. WAKLEY, a return was ordered,"from the Army Medical Board, of a Copy of any Reportreceived from Alexander Thom, Esquire, surgeon of herMajesty’s 86th regiment, relative to the causes, character, andtreatment of spasmodic cholera, as it occurred in her Majesty’s86th regiment at Kurrachee, in June, 1846:"
" Also, Copies of any Instructions which have been issuedby the Army Medical Board, to the Medical Officers of theArmy serving in India, relative to the medical treatment ofsoldiers attacked with cholera:"
" And, of any Regulations which may have been issued bythe Army Medical Board, to the Medical Officers of the Armyserving in India, with a view to the protection of the soldiersfrom attacks of the cholera."
INJUSTICE OF THE INCOME-TAX TOWARDSMEDICAL PRACTITIONERS.
To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain and Ireland,in Parliament assembled,-
The humble petition of the Council of the GloucestershireMedical and Surgical Association, acting in behalf of thatbody, showeth,-
That the members of the medical profession are at all times,and in many ways, called upon to give their time and services tothe public without remuneration. That most of the hospitals anddispensaries in the United Kingdom are served by medical menwithout any compensation whatever for their time and labour.That a large number of the medical body are compelled, by theexisting condition of the profession, to accept appointments underthe new poor law, not only without adequate recompence, butvery often at positive pecuniary loss; while their duties exposethem to serious risk of their lives, from fever and other infectiousdisorders. That while the members of the medical professionare required to expend a large amount both of time and money,in the acquisition of professional knowledge, the emoluments ofmedical practice are notoriously enjoyed to a great extent bypersons who have passed through no such preparatory studies,and are in no way qualified to undertake the treatment of disease.That the gains of the medical profession are generally so small,that an argument has been raised upon this fact, against enforcinguniversally a standard of medical education sufficiently high forthe welfare of the public at large. That, as a consequence ofthis state of things, the various corporate bodies which have beenentrusted with the power of granting licences and diplomas, areencouraged and enabled to undersell each other in their require-ments of candidates, and thus to create a supply of medical prac-titioners greater than the needs of society demand,-therebydiminishing, by excessive competition, the profits of the profes-sion, and, at the same time, endangering the lives of the com-
munity, for their own selfish and mercenary ends. That thenational revenue is already enriched at the expense of the medicalprofession, by the receipt of imposts upon patent medicines andindecent advertisements,-to the great injury of the public health,and the no less scandal of public morals. That the truth of theabove assertions has been established by abundant evidence beforecommittees of your honourable House. Your petitioners there-fore humbly pray, that, in consideration of these statements, yourhonourable House will be pleased to allow the professional in-comes of qualified medical practitioners to be exempted fromadditional taxation, at least, until such time as the legislatureshall see fit, by some comprehensive enactment, to remedy thepresent anomalous condition of the profession, and secure to itsmembers a reasonable share of those emoluments which are
derived from the public for services which they alone are com-petent to render.And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray for the
welfare of your honourable House.PARis THOMAS DicK, M.D., Gloucester, Licentiate
of the Royal College of Physicians of London;H. WYLDBORE RUMSEY, F.R.C.S., Gloucester,(with the exception of the sixth clause;) THOMASHICKES, Gloucester; C. CLUTTERBUCK, Glou-cester ; JOHN W. WILTON, F.R.C.S.E., Glouces-ter ; AUGUSTUS EvES, F.R.C.S., Cheltenham;WILLIAM CONOLLY, M.D., Cheltenham; THOMASWpiGHT, M.D., Cheltenham; G. F. COPLAND,Cheltenham; COLLINGS ROBINSON, M.D., Chel-tenham.
