789

the poor? Would exciting and embitter-ing partizan warfare in the board-room,be amongst his means -of promoting theinterests of the charity? Would vilifica-tion of most of the principal officcrs of thecharity ? Would a true friend to the ne-cessitous sick of Lower Westminster belikely to throw out in print offensive in-sinvations, or utter slanderous assertionsagainst several of the most active and use-ful trustees of the Westminster Hospital,at a moment when the united exertions ofall the supporters of the charity will cer-tainly riot be more than sufficient to set itafloat in its enlarged form, in a condition,as to pecuniary resources and general ef-ficiency, adequate to the wants of the

vicinity, and to the wishes, if not expec-tations, of the benevolent? One wordmore. Anonymous writing is, with a fewexceptions (THE LANCET, in its editorial

department, amongst the exceptions), thepractice of the British periodical press;but it is, I am convinced, a bad practice.If it often serve as a protecting veil totimid honesty and talent, it serves equallyas a dark lantern to the literary stabber,and as a lion’s mouth to the malicious ac-cuser. I, for my part, have knowingly I,wronged no man, and therefore fear none, Iand shall, for the future, leave the anony- ,,mous to those that need a mask. I am, ISir, your obliged servant, CLENDINNING.- JOHN CLENDINNING.- Wimpole Street, Sept. 5, 1833. ’

JOHN CLENDINNING.

THE LANCET.

London, Saturday, September 14, 1833.

’ANATOMY TAX.—THE SHEFFIELD DISPENSARY.

WHEN it was proposed, a few monthsback, to provide for the expenses arising’out of the execution of the ANATOMY

ACT, by a levy of an annual tax on medi-cal students, we condemned the sugges-tion, as being founded on a bad principle,and a wholly mistaken policy.Having at that time stated that the

Act in question had stipulated for the

provision of all the pecuniary contingen-cies, by a payment out of the consolidatedfind, we adverted to the proposed changeas a retrograde movement, and declaredit to be our decided opinion that the

change would give rise to a feeling of

great dissatisfaction among the medicalstudents belonging to our public and pri-vate schools.

’

Strongly impressed with these opinionsat that period, and still retaining themwith equal force, we rejoice at having the

opportunity of stating, that Earl GREY

and his colleagues have resolved on mak-

ing no alteration in the Stamp Act whichshall operate to the pecuniary disadvan-tage of those gentlemen who were exi-

gaged in the study of medicine.

WE hesitate not to predict, that, at nodistant period, the evils, we might say theatrocities, of the hospital, the infirmary,and the dispensary system, will be ren-

dered conspicuously apparent to the

public mind.But in order that the catastrophes which

are to be developed should produce a sa-lutary tone ef feeling, it is necessarythat medical gentlemen, whose knowledgeon the subject must precede that of allother individuals, should exert themselves

unceasingly in the beneficial work of dis-

closure.We refer with feelings of indignation tothe details contained at page 785 of our

present No. The memorial of the thirty-

, three physicians and surgeons of Sheffield,presented to the Governors of the SheffieldPublic Dispensary, has been REJECTED bythose charity mongers,—has been cast backinto the very teeth of the gentlemen, with-out whose skill, generosity, and aid, it wouldbe utterly impossible to render useful tosociety any institution having for its objectthe relief of the sick poor. With the ex-

ception of the insult recently offered tothe medical practitioners of Aylesbury, hythe appointment of a surgeon belonging tothe fallen, degraded, hospital of the lateTHOMAS GUY, we cannot bring to mind

any insult offered to a large body of re-

spectable gentlemen, at all to be COm- .

790 THE ALDERSGATE-STREET DISPENSARY.

pared with the one now under considera-tion.

Surely, however, the point to which

submiasion can reach, has been attained!The thirty-three practitioners of Sheffieldcannot, will not, sit down quietly underthe atrocious insult which has been

offered to them, but will cordially and re-

solutely unite in defence of their own in-terests, and of the respectability and utilityof the profession. Are there to be found

any medical practitioners who will con-tinue to be the servants of men who

have thus gratuitously bearded the entirebody to which they belong? Impossible.Should the medical men continue to re-

tain office in such an establishment, whatwill the governors constituting the dis-

pensary, or anti-medical association, beinduced to exclaim ? " Behold ! We have

" have nothing to fear from this disjointed" body ; because there is no uniformity of"action in it. See; we have scouted.

" spurned, despised, the petition of the" whole medical fraternity of Sheffield," and yet some of the most respectable of" them bow before us, obsequiously smile

" upon us, crouch at our feet, and seem"to pray for a continuance of our buf-

" fetings, as the highest honour and re-" ward which they can be entitled to re-" ceive."

Since the foregoing remarks were writ-ten, we have seen in the Times of Thurs-

day last, a report of the proceedings ata meeting of the Governors of the Alders-gate-street Dispensary, held on Wednesday.At this meeting the whole of the medicalofficers, physicians and surgeons, resignedtheir offices. Why ? Because the Gover-

nors, in the opinion of these medical

officers, showed a wanton disregard of the

respectability of the profession, and thewelfare of the sick poor.Now then ; the medical profession of

Sheffield will see what the medical prot’es4sion of London will do on such an occasion.

Is there a legally-qualified member of anyone of the Colleges or Halls, who will sodebase himself-who will so insult all his

professional brethren -who will be so readyto proclaim his own infamy-as to acceptan office in a medical institution, the

Governors of which have already declaredthat such office is OPEN TO SALE, and maybe held by the highest bidder ?Good God ! How repeatedly have we

declared that these dispensaries may bedenominated " human slaughter-houses."And here, in confirmation of our state-

ment, it is announced, THAT MULTI-PLIED CONTRIBUTIONS OF ONLY

A FEW DAYS STANDING, MAY SE-CURE THE LEGAL IMPUNITY OFDESTROYING THE WRETCHED

BEINGS WHO SEEK FOR A MITI-

GATION OF THEIR SUFFERINGS,UNDER THE MUCH-ABUSED NAME

OF " CHARITY."

Not having seen the report in the Timesuntil a late period of the week, and just aswe were going to press, we have neithertime nor space for a more explanatorycomment. But we implore, most earnestlyimplore, every member of the professionwho places the slightest value on the re-

spectability and usefulness of that profes-sion, or who is desirous of preserving hisown peace of mind, or who would regardwith feelings of deep emotion the wantonimmolation of his fellow-creatures on the

already blood-stained altar of CHARITY,to approve, by his voice and actions, thenoble resolution of those medical officerswho have abandoned an important station,rather than witness the sacrifice of a priii-ciple in which the maintenance of theirown honour and the welfare of the sickpoor are alike involved.

Should any unprincipled Fellow, Mem-ber, or Licentiate, of the legitimate medical

, body, think proper to occupy one of these

791ONE OF SIR A. COOPER’S CERTIFICATES.

offices in order to MAKE HIMSELF KNOWN,his object, we promise him, shall be fullyattained. He shall be known. Verily, heSHALL be known!

SIR ASTLEY COOPER is becoming as

wonderful a man as Sir HENRY HALFORD.

The great bulletin-signer, like the fe-

line species, can see where " obscurityis doubly obscure," and could make hissovereign GEORGE the Fourth, "better"on one day, and " worse" on another,

without, apparently, the exercise of any ofthose gifted talents with which he has beenendowed by nature. "His Majesty is

better," exclaimed the courtly physician." His Majesty is worse," marks the goose-quill wand. Worse than what? ? Than

" better," to be sure. And better than

4f what?" Why than " worse." Thusdid this courtly magician, by his oracularincantations, in two words, mystically an-tithesized, lull the anxieties and suspicionspf the British public, until that public wasfairly admitted to a view of the witches’

caldron, and the machinery which was

kept in motion by secret influence. But

Sir HENRY is not without a rival. Sir

ASTLEY CooprR, the " consulting sur-

geon" of Guy’s Hospital, bids fair to be- ’,come the coroneted MERLIN. This wor-thy baronet, who is advertised as "con-

sulting surgeon" to a hospital where hevery rarely indeed goes to be consulted, can, of course, discharge all his hospitalduties while reposing on a couch in Con- iduit-street, or in his pastures at HemelHempstead; and this without difficulty ;for mark the great surgeon’s attestationsin the following " certificate," presentedabout three weeks since, by Mr. THOMASCox BucHANAN, M.R.C.S., on the occur-rence of a vacancy in the office of surgeon

to the Gloucester Infirmary :- ; " London, February 24th, 1833.This is to certify, that Mr. THOMAS

Cox BUCHANAN has studied Anatomy and I

Surgery with great diligence at Guy’sHospital, and has since further qualifiedhimself by attendance on the Hospitalsin Paris for the best performance of hisprofessional duties. Mr. B. has alsostudied in Dublin, and he has passed hisexamination at the Royal College of Sur.geons in London.

ASTLEY COOPER."

In this brief document is to be seen vo-

lunteer evidence of four facts of the ut·

most importance to the governors of theGloucester Infirmary ; ’ yet the last-men-tioned of the set is the only one of whichhe Sir ASTLEY could be regarded as a

competent witness ! But we suppose that

the higher order" of BATS, both medicaland surgical, are privileged in this re-

spect,-not merely in making the asse-verations to be found in commendatorynotes and certificates, but also in speakingwhilst under the solemn obligation of anoath.

We are tempted, on this occasion, to

quote the evidence of Dr. ROGET on thetrial of COOPER versus WAKLEY :-

" Sir JnMES SCARLETT. (Examination forthe plaintiff).—Have you, in the course ofyour practice, had frequent opportunitiesof seeing Mr. B. Cooper ?

" Dr. ROGET.—I have, professionally." Sir JAMES SCARLETT.—In cases where

the presence both of a surgeon and aphy-sician has been necessary?

" Dr. RoGET.-In mixed cases, wheresurgical and medical attendance was

necessary." Sir JAMES SCARLETT.-Now I beg to

ask, What is the opinion you have formedof him ?

" Dr. RoGET.-As far as those opportu-nities have gone, I have formed a highopinion of his skill and judgment.

" Sir JAMES SCARLETT.—I beg to askyou, as a medical man, whether the re-

port in THE LANCET is such as shouldhave come from any surgeon or profes-sional man whatever ?

" Dr. ROGET.—Certainly not.

! " (Cross-examined by Mr. WAKLEY.)! " Mr. WAKLEY.—What cases have youattended with Mr. B. Cooper ?

" Dr. ROGET.—Cases of a mixed nature,in which surgical operations were required.

" Mr. WAKLEY.—Will you be kindenough to state one or two of them.

792 ANTI-REFORM MEDICAL CONGRESS.

"Dr. ROGET.—Not capital operations;’t operations of minor importance.

’

" Mr. WAKLEY.—What were the medi-cal cases? I" Dr. ROGET.—Inflammatory cases, for

instance. :

" Mr. WAKLEY.—Did Mr. Cooper pre- scribe medically ?

" Dr. ROGET.—He did not." Mr. WAKLEY.—Can you describe any

operation you saw him perform? II" Dr. ROGET.—I don’t recollect that Tie

prescribed. We consulted together. I don’t Irecollect his having written any prescrip- Ition.

" Mr. WAKLEY.—Can you recollect any I,operation he performed? ,

" Dr. ROGET.—I can." Mr. WAELEY.—Name it." Dr. ROGET.—Consulted together as to I

the medicine. " Mr. WAKLEY.—Do you believe you

can form an accurate opinion of the man- ner in which a report should be written, iunless you saw the operation respecting which it was written?

" Dr. ROGET.—I think I can."Mr. WAKLEY.—How, then, would you i

have written this report, not having seen tlte operation ?

" Dr. ROGET.—I cannot say how I shouldhave described it."

[Laughter throughout the Court, in which JLord TENTERDEN heartily joined.) f

Dr. ROGET was a "very great" manwhen he first got into the witness box, but lhe gradually diminished asthe cross-exami-nation proceeded, until, at last, he was,almost imperceptible, and at his depar-ture 5.unk, it was thought, through one ofthe chinks in the floor.

Now let us call up Sir ASTLEY, and asktlie worthy Baronet three plain ques-tions :-

" How do yon KNOW that Mr. Buchanansizidied anaomy and surgery with greatdiligence at Guy’s Hospital?"

Sir ASTLEY.—"Mr. Buchanan toldme so."

" How do you know that he has since

further qualified himself by attendance on;the hospitals in Paris ?"

Sir ASTLEY.—" Mr. Buchanan toldme so."

" How do you know that Mr. Buchananalso studied in Dzcblin ?"

Sir ASTLEY.—" Mr. Buchanan told meso."

" You may go down, Sir."

INTERCEPTED LETTERS.

THE CONGRESS.

" My DEAR CHAMBERS.—Here am I !And now, according to promise, I will giveyou a sketch of our " meeting," thoughyou would not condescend to join thisjovial party. I do assure you the wholething was well got up, and I only hopethat all our good resolutions may be aswell got down. This is an excellent cha-teau, and is in a beautiful country. The

eating and drinking part is admirablymanaged, and requires no superintend-ance of Doctor PARIS to regulate the dietand regimen " of the company. The Pre-sident, our generons host, is iii highspirits, lives like a prince, and acts on themaxim, which he himself, in his jocosemanner, originated, that it is better to

live rich than to die rich. The whole

menàye speaks well for the success of thefee’trade in former days. The baronethas something very fascinating about himfor both sexes,-has something pleasantto say to everybody, and, like a true disci-ple of the old school, never teases one withpainful truths, but makes life quite a co-medy. No man bends more to circumstances,or with so good a grace. He is, like Paul," all things unto all men." We all like this,i and it fits him most particularly to take thelead in the public matters of our college.WARREN, with his caustic manner and

ironical grin, or MATON, with his par-I sonified simplicity, would neither of them

do at all for the present times." Various matters have already beenbrought under notice of the congress, andmore still are to come before it. One im-portant point discussed relates to thenature and terms ot the alliance. It maybe expedient to make common cause withthe Council of the College of Surgeonsand the gentry of Rhubarb Hall. Wecannot conceal that the surgeons hateus as a body, though, in fact, the greaterpart of that practice which ought, le-gitimately, to be in our hands, -is intheirs, most of them absolutely practisingas physicians. This may be in accord-ance with the spirit of free-trade and goodfor the public, but it is pernicicus to ourinterests, and quite inconsistent with thevested rights of a corporation. The

Council can and will assist us, and we, inreturn, must help them. It is only amongthat select body that you can find puresurgeons. The Council are as desirous aswe can be to keep things as they are, andin all things relative to the obtaining oflarge sums of money from students, inorder to keep the profession respectable,