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whether we are this year in a position to demand a scientificand radical reform of our profession; or whether the empi-rical system of palliatives and placebos must be continued afew years longer, you, Sir, are much better able to tell than Iam. I believe, however, that it cannot be denied the presenttime is peculiarly fitted for condemning the latter system, andgiving every possible support to the former.

If it be deemed advisable, and I for one firmly believe it is,that the government of a country should, as far as in it lies,protect those of its subjects who are incapable of protectingthemselves from the malapraxis of impostors and ignorantpretenders, then a council, such as that proposed in "the prin-ciples," might be well employed in examining candidates whowish to become legal practitioners of medicine. And a second,but less important duty, might devolve on this council-viz.,that of superintending the registration of all such medical andsurgical practitioners. The result of this would be a registerreally useful, not one of classes, but of all legal practitioners.As to the proposed class registration, however, I think the

weakest minds must detect subterfuge on the face of some ofthe reasons given for it. It is not usual for persons desiringto consult eminent men in any particular department of learn-ing, to go to a blue book for the necessary information; theyare guided, and with much greater safety, by some livingoracle. Fancy a country bumpkin searching the law list forthe qualifications of the attorney-general ! And yet graveauthorities have thus argued in favour of class registration;but the results of such arguments are only a part and parcelof class legislation.

Trusting the day is not distant when the profession of medi-cine shall be universally acknowledged to be one and indi-visible ; and when the lawgivers of this honourable callingshall be chosen from amongst its ranks by the free voices of its.intelligent members, I remain, Sir, yours obediently,Upper Southwick-street, Hyde Park, 1848. WILLIAM ROBINS.WILLIAM ROBINS.

THE COLLEGE OF SURGEONS AND ITS CHARTER.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—In the new charter the College of Physicians haveattended, as they ought to have done, to the propositionsmade by the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association.How different have the Royal College of Surgeons behavedto the members admitted prior to obtaining their charter!It would be but the amende honorable to make a new list offellows, following the example of the Royal College of Phy-sicians, electing those only who are not in general practice.This would be considered a great boon by many holdingpublic appointments-the fear of being rejected, and, conse-quently, ruined in their profession, debarring them from tryingfor the fellowship.—I have the honour to be, Sir, yours veryobediently, A CONSTANT SUBSCRIBER.

May, 1848.

LONDON HOSPITAL.—PRIZES NOT GIVEN FORCLINICAL REPORTING.

A correspondent complains that this hospital is the onlyone in the metropolis which offers no stimulus to its pupils inthe investigation of the ailments of its patients, or for recordsof the accidental lesions of those entering it in so great anumber annually. No honours are conceded for hospitalreports, either medical or surgical. Really (he adds) atten-tion to the inquiry into disease is as necessary as several sub- jects in which the student is goaded to assiduity by the ulti-mate prospect of having his diligence rewarded with a prize.Instead of being in the rear, encouragement in this depart-ment should stand foremost in the rank, for however dis-tinguished a practitioner may be, as a physiologist, botanist,or chemist, his profound knowledge of these sciences does notnecessarily aid him in the discrimination of disease. He whohas neglected his clinical studies is tedious in seeking thenature of a malady, and his questions have but a remoterelation to it; whilst he who has devoted zeal to clinicalmedicine generally has his queries met by a reply in theaffirmative, which makes an impression on, and inspires theconfidence of, the afflicted patient, who, surprised at theirpertinence, forms an early and accurate opinion of theefficiency of his surgeon. The utility of studying medicalscience at the bedside does not rest here, for, from the varia-tions diseases afford, meditation is requisite to explain thecircumstances under which they occur; this arouses the dor-mant mental powers of those who are astonished and pleasedat what they have accomplished, and at the acumen of which

they find themselves possessed. Many whose lives wouldhave been adorned with the excellence of their intellectualdeeds, never give evidence of their talents ; these oftenremain unknown to themselves, for lack of circumstancesconspiring to elicit them. I hope that the teachers of theLondon Hospital will not longer withhold that inducementfor reflection, which may be the starting-point of a brilliantcareer to many of their pupils. It is built on the stablefoundation of " experience."

Medical News.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—The following gentlemen,having undergone the necessary examinations for the diploma,were admitted members of the College at the meeting of thecourt of examiners, on the 12th instant-viz., Messrs. JosephSalter Rimington, Peckham, Surrey ; Joseph Delves, Tun-bridge Wells; Robert Wailes, Leeds; John Manley, Boulogne.sur-mer ; William Dyer Jagoe, Bandon, Cork; EdmundCarver, Melbourn, Cambridgeshire; Robert Hagyard, Hoving-ham, Yorkshire; Henry Spicer, Clapham-road; John JamesWilliams, Pimlico; James Hinton, Bartholomew-close; andSoorjoocomar Goodeve Chuckerbutty, Calcutta. This gentle-man is one of the Hindoo students sent over to this countryby the Council of Education, to pursue their medical studiesat the University College, under the superintendence of Dr.Goodeve, of the Hon. East India Co.’s Service. Dr. Goodevestated, some time back, in his official report to the MedicalCollege of Bengal, that Surjee Coomar Chuckerbutty had, byhis zeal and attention, so completely won the regard andapprobation of Dr. Grant, the distinguished professor of com-parative anatomy, that he made him the frequent companionof his leisure hours, thereby affording him the most valuableopportunities of learning this branch of science. He alsoaccompanied the professor to Paris, where he, in six weeks,obtained a good knowledge of the French language; and injustice to this gentleman, it should be stated that he passed asevere examination before the court on Friday evening.

APOTHECARIES’ HALL.-Names of gentlemen who passedtheir examination in the science and practice of medicine,and received certificates to practise, on Thursday, May 4th,1848:-Francis Yeates Toms, Bamfield House, Kingsbridge;Robert Twenlow Spark, Newcastle-under-Lyne; Joseph King,Lewes, Sussex; Henry Coleman, St. Martin’s Priory, Dover,Kent; William Edward Jefferys, St. Peter’s Port, Guernsey;Alexander Somers, Thame, Oxon; Thomas Thrush Frankland,Northallerton, Yorkshire; William Hyde Cooke, The Green,Stockton, Worcestershire. - On Thursday, May 11th:-Richard William Broster, Poole, Dorset; Charles AlexanderBissett; Charles James Bennetts, Mylor, Cornwall; RobertOke Clark, Farnham, Surrey; Francis Philip Francis, Col-chester, Essex; William Maltly, Southwell, Notts; DannettAsbury, Enfield, Middlesex; Maurice Levett Manthorp, Thorp,Colchester,Essex; Martin Wales Bedell Coulcher,Downham,Norfolk; George Wallis Berkeley Calcott, Clifton, Bristol;Arthur Goodchild, St. John’s Wood, R. Hagyard, Hoving-ham, Yorkshire.DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES AT KING’S COLLEGE.-The annual

distribution of prizes in the medical department of King’sCollege took place on Saturday, May 6th, at three o’clockp.M. His grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, the visitor ofthe college, occupied the chair. There were also present theBishops of Winchester and Lichfield, Earl Howe, Sir RobertInglis, the Hon. Mr. Gladstone, and other noblemen and gen’tlemen.The Dean of the Medical Department, Dr. BuDD, read the

annual report, which appeared highly satisfactory; after whichthe scholars and prizemen of the year were presented to theprimate. The third year or the senior scholarship was notawarded, being still open for competition. The second-yearscholarship, of X30 per annum for two years, was awarded toMr. John Wood, one of the junior scholars in the precedingyear. The three first-year or junior scholarships were severallygiven to Mr. George May, A.B. Lond.; Mr. Edward Simp-son, and to Mr. Charles Pardey. The Daniell scholarship,founded in honour of the late respected Professor Daniell,for proficiency in analytical chemistry, was presented to 31r.Frederick Vaux.The class prizes were awarded as follows :-Anatomy: prize, Mr George A. K. Lake; certificates, lir.

J. W. Wakens, and Mr. T. C. Beale.-Physiology: prize,Robert C. R. Jordan; certificate, Mr. G. A. K. Lake.-