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ABUSES IN THE COLLEGE OFSURGEONS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR Are we, as individuals and mem-bers of a liberal profession, whose objectis to elevate and support the best inte-rests of society, to remain quiet specta-tors of the corruptions of our College ?-to see its intentions polluted, its advan-tages engrossed by a set of malignant oldwomen, who are too imbecile properly toappreciate the treasures it contains ? Isit not time for the Members to combine injust indignation against the despicablefaction which has plundered us of ourrights? Have we not contributed towardsthe snpport of this Royal Institution, andare we not entitled to a free inspection ofthis our joint property ?Parliament granted a certain sum to

the Corporation of Surgeons to purchaseMr. Hunter’s Museum, to be consideredfrom thence the property of the public,for their use and benefit; but I shouldbe glad to know how the Members of thisCorporation, or the public, are to be be.nefited by the contemplation of the la-bours of this distinguished anatomist, inthe cursory mode of observation adoptedm the Royal Museum. One might as wellendeavour to scan an epitaph on a tomb-stone in a rapid coach as to understandthe points of display in such innumerablepreparations. And these are epitaphs tothe name of Hunter, on which the studentmicht dwell with increasing pleasure andincreased instruction; every successivefootstep presents volumes of useful know-ledge. But the Council have placed me-dical men under an interdict, in visitingthese cloisters, not to purloin, steal, orpettylarcenize any notes of useful or

practical information. How different isthe state of other nations: in France,Germany, Holland, and other seats ofscience, liberality exists in full vigour;all their museums and collections of curi-osities are open to the inquiring stranger" from night till morn, from morn tilldewy eve." Every opportunity is thusafforded him to examine such reposito-ries, and every civility is shown him inhis tour. But as for England. her insti. Itutions are obscured, and their purposesdiverted by the overbearing tyranny ofpetty aristocracies, nursed up even in thelap of science. Let us hail, then, with ap-plause, the dawning of continental libe-rality, especially manifested in the cour-teous behaviour of some of our juniorliospital surgeons.

One would expect, that the certificatesonly of the most eminent anatomists andsurgeons would be received by the Courtof Examiners ; but this also is carried onwith the same plan of partiality whilstthe certificates of men with scarcely anypretensions to accurate knowledge andminute anatomy are received, many ofthe most celebrated men have toiled invain through a long series of academicalexertion, in the hope of their certificatesbeine acknowledged bv this Court.

Such is the state of corruption in ourcouncils, and such are the deputies ofthis Court; in them our interests are re-posed, and by them should the 9’es medicorbe properly regulated. Bnt every thinghas become as weak and decrepid as lux-ury and years can make it ; and every op-portunity of raising up monopolies is stu-diously observed ; breaking through allties of primitive abjuration, in glory tothe molten god. Abuses like these callaloud for a general voice of dissatisfac-tion from the whole medical republic,whose interests and whose privileges arealmost entirely rescinded.

I amYour obedient Servant and

CONSTANT READER.CONSTANT READER.

MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.? SIR,-As it is your professed object to) direct your attention to every species oft corruption connected with public Hospi-I tals, I beg to call your attention to theproceedings of the Weekly-board andSurgeons of Middlesex Hospital. The- circumstance of a poor surgery-man beingdismissed and prosecuted with relentlessrigour, for imitating a superior servant oftlrat institution, by drawiny, a few teeth; from a deceased patient, must be within, the recollection of your readers. In that

’ case, investigation immediately followed,and the unprotected man was brought tothe gates of a prison, where however,fortunately, the matter terminated. LordRobert Seymour, who has been so great abenefactor to the institution, will, I trust,explain to the public the proceedings inquestion.

If there be a law against removing anypart of the body of a dead patient,Mr. Bell has been guilty of a violation ofit, and is as much entitled to punishmentas the person alluded to ; if, on the con-trary, no such law exist, why prose-cute an under servant, while his su.

perior is permitted to promote his interestor gratification with impunity ? This spe-