371UNION SALARIES.-ETIQUETTE AT BOULOGNE.-NEW CHARTER.

for the medical attendance and medicines required by 2600human beings ! That is the way in which medical service is

valued, and medical men are remunerated, by the State inthe most arduous and exhausting field of professional labourin which the medical man can be engaged. The income-taxhas been called a revolutionary tax; with far more justicemay the laws and regulations relating to medical poor-lawofficers be termed revolutionary. They cannot fail to createin the minds of those who suffer from them, as medical menmust and do suffer, disgust with the social and legislativeinstitutions of the country. We can imagine no man morediscontented, and that upon the justest grounds, than thepoor-law medical officer, with a moderate private practice,ground down, on the one hand, by poor-law guardians; on theother, by the income-tax.We now beg the special attention of the profession to the

various items in our second extract from the Western Times:-

"TAVISTOCK UNION.-To MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS.-Gentle-men of this profession willing to undertake the medical reliefof the poor, in the several districts of the Tavistock Union, atthe salaries (to be paid quarterly) for each district under-mentioned, for one year from the 25th day of March, 1848,are requested to send to me, free of expense, sealed tenders,accompanied by testimonials of qualification, &c., on or beforethe 20th day of March next.

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"The gentlemen elected will be expected to supply allmedicines, &c., and to attend all paupers (whether settled ornot) and their families in the Workhouse, and at their severaldwellings in each district, in every case requiring medical orsurgical advice or assistance; to vaccinate all persons willingto be vaccinated, at 2s. per case successfully performed, out ofthe Tavistock District; and in that district and the Work-house, at Is. 6d. per case, under such regulations as to timesand stations as the guardians may settle and direct. And toattend and give evidence for any parish in the Union, beforethe magistrates in Tavistock at 5s., and at Jump and Lifton10s. for each occasion; the Lifton medical officer being onlypaid 5s. for such attendance in Lifton. Each medical officerwill be paid extra, cost price for trusses only, and for mid-wifery cases 10s. each ; and each district officer in surgicalcases at the rates and subject to the regulations contained inarticle 177, and following articles of the general order issuedby the Poor-law Commissioners, on the 24th of July, 1847,these rates including the supply of all kinds of apparatus andsplints.

" ’* ’* No medical man will be allowed to take more than onedistrict, except Tavistock and the Workhouse, and eachcandidate will be expected to attend the election on the 21stof March, at the Board-room. JOHN PHYSICK, Clerk."

The next extract, and the one with which we shall closeour remarks, shows the different estimate put even uponschoolmasters and schoolmistresses as compared with medicalmen. Six medical men are required for six medical districts i

of twenty-five parishes, in the aggregate, at salaries of about,on the average, £ 20 a year a-piece; but the highest of which,with seven parishes, amounts to 1:35 a year; the lowest, withfive parishes, to only £ 14 a year or less than ae3 for each

parish. The schoolmaster, on the other hand, is offered 1:35per annum, and the schoolmistress .S25; while the one has tofind drugs and medicines, the others are found in lodgings,washing, coal, and candles. The advertisements of the

Southmolton, Holsworthy, and Tavistock Unions, truly offeragreeable pictures of the position of the poor-law medicalman - such as should kindle the indignation, and awakenthe sympathies and exertions, of every man in the professioa,whether concerned or not in union medical practice :-

"SouTml0LTO:N UxioN.—Wanted immediately two singlerespectable persons as resident Schoolmaster and School-mistress, whose province will be to instruct the children whoare inmates of the Union workhouse in reading, writing, and

, arithmetic, and the principles of the Christian religion, and to. perform such other duties as are required by the rules and·

regulations of the Poor-law Board. The following salarieswill be paid:-The Schoolmaster, X35 per annum ; the School-mistress, j625 per annum. In addition to which, each of thesewill be allowed lodgings, washing, coals, and candles. Strict

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testimonials as to character and ability will be expected.i- Persons wishing to undertake the above situations are desired:f to send their proposals (free of expense) to me, on or before,t the 13th day of March next, and to appear at the weekly’- meeting of the Board of Guardians, on Tuesday, the 14th of3, March, on which day the election will take place.s, " J. E. JACKSON RICCARD, Clerk of the Union :’

TnE correspondence published in the present number OfTHE LANCET, respecting professional etiquette at Boulogne,exposes a system about which complaints have very oftenbeen made to us, and which, we suppose, could hardly exist inany place in the world, except that Anglo-Gallican watering-place. Professional men canvassing for patients; employingtouters, just like the hotel keepers; pandering to the lowestportion of the newspaper press; engaging in left-hand partner-ships with chemists and druggists, and even with the under-takers ; are circumstances not likely to give the Frenchphysicians and surgeons a very exalted notion of Englishprofessional conduct. The doings of some portions of theEnglish press at Boulogne, if it deserves the name, is espe-cially disgraceful. Some of these prints are open to the mostnefarious puffs and trumpetings. The only remedy for honour-able men lies in the public exposure of those medical personswho misconduct themselves in their intercourse with patientsand brother practitioners. Such an exposure should be con-

, tinued fearlessly and unremittingly, and it must either cure

the evil or abate it. Dr. Ross must meet the sympathy ofevery right-minded man.

THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS,LONDON.—THE PROJECTED CHARTER.

VICTORIA, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom orGreat Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith:To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: whereasthe commonalty or fellowship of the Royal College of Physi-cians in London have, by their petition, humbly representedunto us, that the said college was incorporated by letterspatent, bearing date the 23rd day of September, in the10th year of the reign of King Henry the Eighth; whichletters patent were confirmed by an Act passed in the sessionof Parliament holden in the 14th and 15th years of the reignof King Henry the Eighth, intituled, The Privileges andAuthority of Physicians in London;" and that by such Act ofParliament, certain other powers and privileges were grantedto the said commonalty: and whereas the said college has alsorepresented unto us, that since the making of the said letterspatent divers other charters have been granted to the saidcollege: and whereas the said college has also representedunto us, that by an Act of Parliament made and passed inthe present year of our reign, intituled," An Act making

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provision for the granting a New Charter to the College of foreign university, to be from time to time recognised by thePhysicians," after reciting as or to the effect hereinbefore said corporation, and who shall have attained the age of

stated, and that it was expedient that certain changes should twenty-six years, and shall not be engaged in the practice ofbe made in the constitution of the said college, and particu- pharmacy, and shall have gone through such course of studies,larly that new regulations should be made for the election of and who shall have passed such examination before the censorsthe officers of the said college, and that the present number of the said corporation, touching his knowledge of medicalof the fellows of the said college should be increased; it was and general science and literature, and complied with suchenacted, that it should be lawful for the said corporation to other regulations as are or shall be required by the by-laws ofsurrender all the charters which had heretofore been granted the said corporation, shall be entitled to become an asso-to them, other than and except the said charter of King date of the said corporation without being subject to anyHenry the Eighth; and also so much and such part of the other election.last-mentioned charter as should be in anywise inconsistent 7. That there shall be 200 fellows of the said corporation,with, or repugnant to, any new charter to be granted to them and that such number shall be hereafter regulated in suchby us; and that it should be lawful for us to grant, and for manner as hereinafter stated.the said corporation to accept, from us a new charter, which 8. That the present fellows of the said corporation shallcharter might make such alterations as should be deemed by continue to be fellows of the said corporation, and that pre-us expedient in the constitution of the said corporation, and viously to the 25th day of June,-,a a meeting, or several meet-might, if we should so think proper, change the name of the ings of the fellows and associates of the said corporation shallsame corporation. And further, that when and so soon as the be holden, at which so many fellows as will make up thesaid corporation, under their then present common seal, should number of fellows to 200 shall be elected, and that such fel-have accepted any new charter so to be granted as aforesaid, lows shall be elected out of the list of associates who arethe acceptance thereof should operate as a surrender of all hereby admitted, or shall hereafter be admitted associates ofthe other charters of the said corporation, except the said the said corporation, all of whom shall be eligible to be fel-charter of King Henry the Eighth, and should also operate lows; and that, on the 25th day of June, -, and on theas a surrender of the said charter of King Henry the Eighth, same day

in every subsequent year, (except when the sameand as a repeal of the first-mentioned Act of Parliament, so shall fall on a Sunday, and then on the 26th day of June,) afar as the same should be inconsistent with, or repugnant to, meeting shall be holden of the fellows and associates of thesuch new charter. And further, that from and after such said corporation, for filling up vacancies which shall haveacceptance of such new charter, the said charter of Henry occurred in the fellowship since the last election of fellows,the Eighth should stand, and be ratified and confirmed, except so as to make up the number of fellows to 200; and that ifso far as the same should be so surrendered as aforesaid; on the day of holding any such meeting as last aforesaid theprovided always, that nothing therein contained should extend number of fellows and associates of the said corporation shallto authorize us to create any new restriction in the practice exceed the number of fellows and associates on the 5th dayof physic, or to grant to the said corporation any new powers of June, ——, then and in every such case so many addi-or privileges contrary to the common law of the land; and tional fellows shall be elected at such meeting as will makethat no such new charter, whether the name of the corpora- up the entire number of fellows to a number bearing thetion should be changed or not, should in anywise prejudice, same proportion to the number of fellows and associates foraffect, or annul any of the existing statutes or by-laws of the the time being, as the said number of 200 fellows shall havesaid corporation, further than should be necessary for giving borne to the existing number of fellows and associates on thefull and complete effect to the alterations which should be 12th day of June, ——, or as near thereto as circumstancesintended to be effected by such new charter in the constitu- will permit, the new fellows being always elected out of thetion of the said corporation. Now know ye, that we, taking list of associates for the time being of the said corporation;the premises into our Royal consideration, of our especial but no new fellow shall be elected so long as the entiregrace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, have granted, de- number of fellows shall bear a larger proportion to theclared, ordained, and appointed, and by these presents, for us, number of fellows and associates for the time being thanour heirs and successors, do grant, declare, ordain, and appoint, the said number of 200 fellows shall have borne to the exist-in manner following; to wit: ing number of fellows and associates on the 25th day of

1. That the said corporation shall henceforth be styled, June,——.* The Royal College of Physicians in England." 9. That the fellows and associates shall have an equal right2. That the said corporation shall consist of fellows and of voting in the election of fellows; and the fellows to be

associates, including a president and council, four vice-presi- elected shall be elected by ballot, either by lists or otherwise,dents, four censors, a treasurer, and a registrar. as the said corporation shall from time to time determine by

3. That all the present licentiates of the said corporation their by-laws.shall be associates of the said corporation. 10. That if it shall at any time hereafter appear that any

4. That each of the present extra-licentiates of the said present or future fellow or associate of the said corporationcorporation shall be admitted an associate of the said corpo- shall have obtained admission to the said corporation by anyration, on the production to the said censors of the said cor- fraud, false statement, or imposition, or that he shall haveporation, of testimonials of character and professional qualifi- violated any by-law, rule, or regulation of the said corpora-cation which shall be satisfactory to the said censors, and on tion, then and in every such case, and after such previouspassing such examination before the said censors as shall be notice to and such hearing of such associate or fellow asrequired by, and shall be satisfactory to, the said censors, and under the circumstances the president and censors of theon his paying to the said corporation a fee of .S25, exclusive said corporation shall think proper, it shall be lawful for a.of the stamp duty. majority of the fellows present at a meeting of the fellows to

5. That every person now practising as a physician in Eng- declare such fellow or associate to be expelled from the saidland or Wales, and who shall have taken the degree of doctor corporation; and thereupon every such associate or fellowin medicine at any university in the United Kingdom of shall cease to be an associate, or an associate and fellow ofGreat Britain and Ireland, after regular examination, (pre- the said corporation, as the case may be, accordingly; and allviously to the 1st day of January, -,) and who shall have the privileges granted to such associate, or associate andattained the age of thirty years, and who shall not be engaged fellow, as the case may, be, shall cease and be extinguished.in the practice of pharmacy, shall, at any time within twelve 11. That the present president of the corporation shallcalendar months from the acceptance of these our letters continue to be president of the said corporation until a newpatent by the said corporation, in the manner mentioned in president shall be actually appointed in his place; and thatthe Act of Parliament hereinbefore stated to have been passed upon the day next after Palm Sunday, in the year --, andin the present year of our reign, be admitted an associate of on the same day in every subsequent year, a new president ofthe said corporation, without any examination, on the produc- the said corporation shall be elected, at a meeting of thetion to the censors of the said corporation of his diploma, and fellows of the said corporation; but the retiring presidentOf such testimonials of character and professional qualifica- shall always be capable of being re-elected; and every presi-tions as shall be satisfactory to such censors; and on his dent shall remain in office until the actual election of theproving himself to be of the said age, and on his assuring new president.such censors that he is not engaged in pharmacy, and on his 12. That at the meeting of the fellows held for the electionpaying to the said corporation a fee of ;S25, exclusive of the of the new president, the council of the said corporationstamp duty. shall, out of the first fifty fellows in the list of fellows of the

6. That any person who, after regular examination, shall said corporation, nominate some one of such fifty fellows tohave taken a degree in medicine at any university in the be proposed to the fellows of the said corporation, to be by. ill e Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or from any them elected president; but if the fellow so nominated shall

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not be elected president by a majority of the fellows present continue to be treasurer of the said corporation until a newat such meeting, another fellow shall in like manner be nomi- treasurer shall be actually elected in his place; and that onnated by the council, out of the first fifty fellows in the list of the day after Palm Sunday, in the year --, and on the samefellows to be proposed as aforesaid, and so on, until a president day in every subsequent year, the president shall nominateshall have been elected. The election of president shall be one of the fellows, to be elected by the fellows as treasurer,taken by ballot; and in case of any difference in the council, in the same manner in all respects as is before appointed forconcerning their selection of a president, the president nomi- the election of censors by the fellows; and the treasurer shallnated by the majority shall be proposed to the fellows; and in be re-eligible. And every treasurer shall remain in cfficecase of an equality of votes in the council, the senior fellow until a new treasurer shall be actually elected in his place.so nominated shall be so proposed. 24. That in case of the death or resignation of the treasurer

13. That in case of the death or resignation of the president for the time being, a new treasurer shall, with all convenientfor the time being, a new president shall with all convenient speed, be elected in his place, such election to be made in allspeed be elected in his place, such election to be made in all respects in the same manner as is provided by the last pre-respects in the same manner as is provided by the last pre- ceding regulation.ceding regulation. , 25. That the present registrar of the said corporation shall

14. That at any time before or at the meeting of the fellows continue to be the registrar of the said corporation, untilof the said corporation, after the meeting of the fellows at a new registrar shall be actually elected in his place; and thatwhich the president of the said corporation shall have been on the day after Palm Sunday, in the year, and on theelected, the president so elected shall appoint four fellows out same day in every subsequent year, the president shall nomi-of the first fifty on the list of fellows, which four fellows shall nate one of the fellows to be elected by the fellows as regis-be called vice-presidents, any one of whom may act as pre- trar, in the same manner, in all respects, as is before appointedsident in the temporary absence of the president, upon such for the election of censors by the fellows, and the registrarpresident expressing his desire to such eff’ect to any such shall be re-eligible; and every registrar shall remain in officevice-president, in writing, or to the registrar: and in case until a new registrar shall be actually elected in his place.of the death of the president, the first vice-president for the 26. That in case of the death or resignation of the registrartime being in the list of vice-presidents shall act as president for the time being, a new registrar shall with all convenientuntil a president shall have been appointed; and the present speed be elected in his place, such election to be made, in allpresident of the said corporation shall, at the meeting of the respects, in the same manner as is provided by the last pre-fellows of the said corporation next after the granting of ceding regulation.these our letters patent, appoint four vice-presidents for the 27. That the president, council, censors, treasurer, andpurposes aforesaid. registrar, shall be considered as remaining in office during

15. That the vice-presidents shall cease to be vice-pre- the whole of the day on which their successors shall besidents when a new president shall have been appointed in elected.the place of the president by whom they were nominated. 28. That the said corporation may, from time to time, by a

16. That there shall be sixteen fellows on the council of the by-law, change the day hereby appointed for any election tosaid corporation. take place; and if, from any cause whatsoever, any election

17. That the present council of the said corporation shall shall not take place on the day hereby, or by any by-law,continue to be the council of the said corporation until a new appointed for that purpose, the same shall take place on somecouncil shall have been actually elected in their place; and other day appointed for that purpose by the said corporation.that on the 22nd day of December next, four fellows shall be 29. That proxies shall not be allowed at any election.elected to make up the number of the council to sixteen; and And we do hereby, for us, and our heirs and successors,that on the 22nd day of December, --, and on the same day further grant, that the duties, powers, and privileges of, andin every year, (except when the same shall fall on a Sunday, incident to, the said respective offices, shall, except so far asand then on the 23rd day of December,) four of the council the same are varied by these presents, and subject to anyshall go out of office, and four fellows shall be elected of the variations therein which may be made by the said corporation,council; but the fellows going out of office shall not be re- continue to be the same as the duties, powers, and privilegeseligible until they have been one year out of office; and the of the same offices respectively now are.fellows to be elected as aforesaid shall remain in office until And we do hereby, for us, and our heirs and successors,others shall have been actually elected in their place, and further grant, that it shall be lawful for the said corporationthat on the same day, other fellows shall be elected to the to admit as an associate of the said corporation any personcouncil, to fill up vacancies occasioned by death or resignation who shall have exceeded the age of forty years, on the pro-since the last election, duction to the censors of the said corporation of such testi-

18. That the council shall be elected by the fellows out of monials of professional education as shall be satisfactory totheir own body by ballot, either by list or otherwise, as the such censors, and on passing the usual examination before thesaid corporation shall from time to time determine by the censors; and such person shall, after such his admission as anby-laws. associate of the said corporation, be entitled to have and use

19. That in addition to the sixteen fellows so elected, the the degree or designation of doctor of medicine.president, censors, and treasurer of the said corporation shall, And we do hereby, for us and our heirs and successors,ex officio, be of the council of the said corporation. further give and grant unto the said corporation, full and

20. That the present censors of the corporation shall con- lawful power and authority to hold, possess, and enjoy, for thetinue to be the censors thereof until new censors shall have use and benefit of the said corporation, all manors, messuagesabeen actually elected in their place; and that on the day after lands, tenements, rents, services, possessions, or hereditamentsPalm Sunday, in the year --, and on the same day in every whatsoever, (whether the same are or shall be holden of us,subsequent year, four new censors shall be elected ; and our heirs and successors, or of any other person or personscensors going out of office shall be re-eligible; and the censors whatsoever,) already given, granted, sold, aliened, assigned,.to be elected as aforesaid shall remain in office until other disposed of, devised, or bequeathed unto or to the use of or incensors shall actually have been elected in their place. trust for the said corporation, and to have, hold, take, pur.21. That on the day for electing censors, the council shall chase, receive, possess, and enjoy, for the use of the saidnominate four of the fellows of the said corporation to be corporation, any other manors, messuages, lands, tenements,proposed to the fellows, to be by them elected censors; but if rents, services, possessions, or hereditaments whatsoever,any fellow or fellows so nominated shall not be elected a (whether the same are or shall be held of us, our heirs andcensor or censors by a majority of the fellows present at the successors, or of any other person or persons whomsoever,) someeting, another fellow or fellows shall be nominated at such as that such other manors, messuages, lands, tenements, rents,.meeting by the council, to be proposed by the fellows, and so services, possessions, or hereditaments hereinafter to be had,on, until four censors shall have been elected. The election holden, taken, purchased, received, possessed, or enjoyed byof censors shall be taken by ballot. In case of a difference in the said corporation, shall not at any one time exceed in valuethe council concerning the nomination of censors, the censors the clear yearly value of S2000 above all reprises, accordingnominated by the majority shall be proposed to the fellows; to the value thereof, when respectively acquired by the saidand in case of an equality of votes in the council, the president corporation.shall have a casting vote. And we do hereby, for us and our heirs and successors,

22. That in case of the death or resignation of either of the further give and grant unto every subject or subjects whatso-censors for the time being, a new censor shall, with all con- ever of us, our heirs and successors, whether incorporated orvenient speed, be elected in his place, such election to be made not incorporated, special licence, power, faculty, and authorityin the same manner as is provided by the last regulation. to give, grant, sell, alien, assign, dispose of, devise, or bequeath,

23. That the present treasurer of the corporation shal unto the said corporation, for the use and benefit of the said.

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corporation, any manors, messuages, lands, tenements, rents,services, possessions, or hereditaments whatsoever (whetherthe same are or shall be holden of us, our heirs and successors,or of any other person or persons whatsoever,) so as that thesame do not at any one time exceed in the whole the clearyearly value of X2000 above all reprises, according to thevalue thereof respectively, when acquired by the said corpora-tion.And we do hereby, for us and our heirs and successors,

further grant, that all the said provisions in the said Act ofParliament of our present reign, shall be, and the same are,hereby expressly confirmed in such and the same manner, toall intents, constructions, and purposes, as the same mighthave been by being herein repeated; but this present provision shall not be deemed in any way to weaken, control, oraffect the provisions of the same Act of Parliament, or any ofthem.And we do hereby, for us, our heirs and successors, further

grant unto the said corporation and their successors, thatthese our letters patent, or the enrolment or exemplificationthereof, shall be, in and by all things, good, firm, valid,sufficient, and effectual in the law, according to the trueintent and meaning thereof, notwithstanding the not fully orduly reciting the said letters patent, or the date thereof, orany other omission, imperfection, defect, matter, cause, or

thing whatsoever to the contrary thereof in anywise notwitli-standing. In witness whereof we have caused these our

letters to be made patent. Witness ourself, at our Palace atWestminster, this day of in the yearof our reign.

Correspondence.THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION COMMITTEE AND

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—I, with many others, have taken much interest in theprogress of the Medical Registration Bill; nor has the evidenceweekly reported in THE LANCET escaped attention ; it is,therefore in reference to this latter point that I wish to directattention. This evidence, as it now stands, is not only cal-culated to injure greatly the character and respectability ofthe institutions which have been the object of misrepresenta-tion and abuse, but also falls equally severe upon all in con-nexion with them, both professors and pupils. As we havehad the evidence of parties whose interest it appears to be tobenefit themselves at the expense of others, let us have theevidence also given in the pages of THE LANCET of the pro-fessors connected with those universities which have been mostunjustly slandered, and also of disinterested parties who arewell acquainted with the curricula of study, and the nature ofthe examinations instituted in each; and I doubt not for amoment that the Lincoln’s Inn and Pall-mall Colleges will verygreatly sink from their present position, when compared withthe others, and fall even considerably below mediocrity. Injustice to the profession, it is your duty to give opposing facts,only to be elicited from the professors themselves, withoutwhich your present printed statements will be partial, andtherefore most unsatisfactory. It is true you have pointedout in italics some of the contradictions, and the selfish motivesof the Council of the College is evident; still something morethan this is required, before the committee or profession canbe satisfied, that an equitable measure of reform can be broughtabout. Does the Registration Committee still continue itslabours, or is it defunct ? When I look at the energy and per-severing talent of its originator, I think it may be safely leftin his hands for a successful termination; yet, on the otherhand, when we see a disgraceful combination of the Colleges ofSurgeons and Physicians, Apothecaries and the National In-titute, making a paltry attempt at reform, it may influencesome to look at all things as being now completely and finallysettled. But this can never be. This last measure appears to bethe most abject piece of buffoonery and insult that has yetshown itself in the shape of a solution of the evils under whichthe medical profession has long groaned. I should like toknow who constitute the National Institute of General Prac-titioners ? About twenty names were forwarded from thisNeighbourhood, in the first instance, but I do not think thereis one, or more than one, who has paid his last subscription;do let us have the number of the members of this so mis-named Institute. Is the name of the president a satisfactoryassurance that the great body of general practitioners approveof this most futile measure eform I think not, indeed.

Will the general practitioners, who are equally well qualifiedwith the physicians, tacitly submit to be degraded by paying

a lower fee for registration ? Is this measure satisfactory tothe members of the College of Surgeons, who have been in-sulted, grossly insulted, in the fellowships ? Are you not

aware, Sir, that some gentlemen have had the fellowship con-ferred who are not members, but simply because they werehospital surgeons ! Are these not the gentlemen at Bristolwho have been referred to by Sir B. Brodie in his evidence?Is this allusion satisfactory to those who have conformed tothe regulations required, and by having complied thus far,have succeeded in being degraded by the Council. Let me begof you to urge a committee to oppose this last measure. Whycannot the same committee take the question up, of whichDr. Lankester is the chairman ? The late proceedings of thiscommittee were most energetic, and they are the most suit-able men to take charge of the opposition to this measure.Nottingham, March, 1843. A COUNTRY PRACTITIONER.

THE LECTURES AT THE COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Professor Owen, much to his credit, has taken thehint you gave him in last week’s LANCET. His lecture to-daywas well delivered; and from his having followed your advice,so far as his physical powers permitted, he was easily heardall over the theatre.He sometimes relapses into a whispering delivery at the

close of the sentence, which is a great defect, having, too, theappearance of affectation; but I hope he has too much goodsense for that, and that he will overcome the habit. I wouldsuggest to the professor to mention more emphatically thenames of persons, animals, and things, important to be recol-lected. Abernethy, who was one of the best lecturers I everheard, used to do so, and even sometimes repeated them, toimpress them the more deeply on the student’s mind.

It is gratifying to me to see so many young men, appa-rently students, attending these valuable lectures. It is aproof that there is a progressive desire for philosophical in-formation in the rising generation of the profession, and thatpassing the College and Gallipot-Lodge is not the only objectthe student of the present day has in view, though such isthe allegation against him by the " heads of the profession"examined by your Committee upon Medical Registration. Asyou will never

know the writer of this, it is no flattery on hispart to say to you, that you are the author of this improved

spirit in the profession, especially as respects the general

practitioner. I, who have recollected the state of the profes-sion for five-and-thirty years, know well what your labourshave effected. The general practitioner owes you a debt ofgratitude that he cannot over-pay. Before your day, his mis-sion was to hold the candle whilst the physician or pure Sur-geon examined the patient, and prescribed; and then to walkaway, with the prescription in his pocket, to be dispensed athis shop.How different is his position now ! You forced the consti-

tuted authorities to institute a better system of medical edu-cation, and thereby elevated the status of the general prac-titioner ; so that he now ranks as a professional man, and agentleman.-I am, Sir, your obedient servant,London, March 25th, 1848. CHIRURGUS.

** We can bear personal testimony to the fact that Mr.Owen took considerable pains, last Tuesday, to make himselfheard, by visibly inflating his lungs forcibly, and addressinghimself to his auditors in the gallery-especially at the com-mencement of his lecture. We regret to learn that the

worthy professor complains he is not in such robust healthas formerly.-REP. L.

PROFESSOR OWEN’S LOUD SPEAKING AT THEROYAL SOCIETY.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SiR,-Had you or your correspondent " Chirurgus" beenpresent at the meeting of the Royal Society, on Thursdaylast, you would have been convinced that Professor Owen isquite capable of charging his lungs with air" when he thinksproper. Dr. Mantell’s memoir on " Belemnites," which wasread on that occasion, called forth all the energies of theHunterian Professor, and his voice was as stentorian as evenyou, Sir, could desire. He condemned, in no measured terms,the author, and the Royal Society, for allowing such acontemptible communication to be brought before it; a few