654 THE CASE OF OSBORNE.—THE REGISTRATION COMMITTEE.

matter; the profession consider, that after the decision of theCouncil in expelling BLAKE, there can be no excuse for aclose examination into the more reprehensible case of Os-BORNE. We’ have no doubt that time was a very great ele-ment in the different decisions of the Council upon the two

cases brought before them by Mr. FosBROOKE and Dr. Woon-.FOP.DE. ’Ve have good reason to know that our own exer-tions in setting forth the state of the profession, had some-what aroused the College in the interval, and we have littledoubt that were the case to happen again, OsBORNE wouldbe unmade as promptly as BLAKE. The Council ought to

have an opportunity of re-considering the matter, or rather, ofconsidering for the first time; for it does not appear that anyvery energetic means were taken by the Council to sift thecorrectness of OSBORNE’S certificates. Is there no branch of

the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association at Not-

tingham who would take the matter up after the manner ofthe Taunton branch? If not, then some independent mem-bers of the College ought to take the necessary steps, and me-morialize the Council. With the facts of the case brought outso clearly as they have been, the Council could not refuse toentertain such a memorial, unless, indeed, they desire to

bring the College diploma into utter contempt. Now the

facts are known, no squeamishness ought to prevent partieswho are desirous of upholding the respectability of the Col-lege and the profession from acting in such a manner as toensure justice. The party offending has merited the mostsevere punishment which the profession can award, and tosuffer him to go unscathed is winking at fraud and forgery;it is holding out the reward of immunity to all others whohave acted, or who may in future act, after the same manner.

It is but fair and just that we should point out the differentcircumstances of the Hall and the College in this case. OSBORNE

had already obtained the College diploma, the applicationwas made to the College just before their vacation, and whenthere was some difficulty in coming to an immediate decision,in consequence of the absence of Dr. KNox from this country.But the case was laid before the authorities at the Hall longbefore he presented himself for examination; they had plentyof time for the investigation, and they were bound, in honourand duty, by their own Act of Parliament, and their obliga.tions to their own licentiates, to have taken care that OSBORNEshould not present himself at the examination table until hishands were cleared from all lie stood charged with. The.result exhibits them as wilfully breaking the provisions of i

their own Act of Parliament, and, more than this, as declaringthat they reserve to themselves a right to do so whenever itmay suit their convenience.

As regards the College of Surgeons, and the proceedingswhich may be expected to take place, it is right that weshould recapitulate the evidence against the truth and honestyof OsBORNE’s schedule. That schedule contains certificates

that OSBORNE was serving an apprenticeship with his father,and attending lectures by KNox at the same time; whileother, and, we believe, more credible evidence, testifies thathe was at this time a boy at school. It contains certificate

of his attendance on surgical lectures and hospital practice atGlasgow, respecting which other evidence testifies most

-strongly that the surgical lectures were never delivered; andthat DZessrs. HANNAY and LAWRIE were not surgeons to the

Glasgow Infirmary at the time they certify for; and, more-

over, direct evidence is adduced to prove that he was at LongClawson, in Leicestershire, during the greater part of thewhole of his pretended attendance in Glasgow ; and that hewas not in Glasgow at all during the whole period in whichthe surgical lectures were signed for by Mr. LYON. That

schedule also exhibits a certificate of hospital practice inNottingham for many months, during which it can be provedhe was acting as an assistant at Chesterfield.

Surely these facts are grave enough to arrest the attentionof the most careless. We should not have done our duty, ifwe had not seconded the exertions of Mr. FOSBROOKE to the

utmost of our ability, and the authorities will fall short of

theirs, unless, not only Mr. OSBORNE, but every man who has

signed a suspicious or notoriously false certificate upon hisschedule, be brought to a full account.

MEDICAL REGISTRATION COMMITTEE, & SECES-SIONS FROM THE INSTITUTE.

Tnis Committee held a meeting last Monday at the Free-masons’ Tavern. A report was handed in, which showed thatthe work of petitioning was going on with the most gratifyingsuccess. A large number of cominunications were read fromtown and country, expressing a hearty approbation of theRegistration Bill, and indignation at the opposition of thecorporations, and of the Council of the National Institute.As regards the latter body, the following letters, out of manysuch addressed to the sub-committee, will show the feeling ofdisgust and outraged confidence general amongst its members,and also prove, that if the constitution of the National Insti-tute were well examined into, their number, though appa-rently considerable, would be found reduced to a few inte-rested individuals.

Wentworth, June lIth, 1847.

GENTLEMEN,—I should have had great pleasure in allowingyou to append my name to the protest against the conduct ofthe Council of the National Institute, with regard to theMedical Registration Bill now before Parliament; but I amhappy to say I have not wasted my money by paying thesubscription, and therefore do not consider myself a member.

I am, Gentlemen, your obedient servant,To Messrs. Jones, Bowman, and O’Shea. ERASMUS STONE, Jun.

Buckworth, Newcastle.on-Tyne, June 5th, 1847.SIR,—Some eighteen months ago I became a member of

the National Institute, and paid one subscription. Sometime after observing in one of the resolutions of that body apretty clear premonitory indication of the grasping monopolywhich they now more openly evince, I sent a note to requestthat my name as a member be forthwith cancelled. Fromdocuments,however,subsequently received from head-quarters,I have reason to believe that my name is still retained onthe list of members; but be this as, it may, you may restassured that no more subscriptions of mine shall go to thepromotion of any such hollow-hearted purposes. To Mr.Wakley, for his almost perfect measure of the RegistrationBill, the thanks and lasting gratitude of the liberal-mindedof the profession are due. Let all therefore who woulddesire to see the destruction of the arch-fiend Monopoly,rally round our great medical reformer with their generoussupport.

I have been in the field petitioning for some time past, andhave not yet done.In the fervent hope that your labours may receive the

crown of your wishes, I remain, Sir, your most obedientservant, R. CRAICi, Surgeon.

J. D. Jones, Esq, Freemasons’ Tavern, London.

10, Union-street, Ardwick, June llth, 1847.

GENTLE6IEn,-Yours came to hand this morning; and I canassure you it would have given me much pleasure to haveallowed you to append my name to the Protest; but as I amno longer a member of that body, it would not be fair orhonest to do so.

1 wrote to Mr. Ross a few days ago, requesting he woulderase my name from the list of members; but I have con-sidered myself dead to them almost since the commencementof the miscalled National Institute of Medicine, &c. I think

655

they have evidently shown they uo not care for their consti- Btuents, otherwise they would ]Cave asked their opinions pre- Iviouslyto deciding to oppose the Bill. The Bill was printed inthe first number of THE LANCET for January, consequentlythey had plenty of time to have called for the individualopinion of their members upon its merits, and then decidedeither to petition in its favour or against it. Had they doneso, I think they would have found nearly all their membersin its favour, not as a perfect Bill, but as a step in the rightdirection, which would not have to be repeated in the eventof another being passed, possessing larger and more definedpowers towards settling this long-agitated question-medicalreform.The conduct of the Council towards Mr. Wakley is of so

shameful a nature, that I think it will prove their own down-fall ; and I now begin to see, that instead of adding to ourlicensing boards, we could very well dispense with some wealready have.—I am, Gentlemen, yours obediently,

JOSHUA ROWBOTTOM, M.B.C.S.E. & L.A.S.L.To Messrs. Jones, Bowman, & O’Shea.

- -

Tring, June loth, 1847.

GENTLEMEN,—Having seen a Protest, numerously signed bymembers of the National Institute of Medicine, Surgery,and Midwifery, against the Address of the Council of thatbody, I should have much pleasure in having my name affixed,did I consider myself still a member. The truth is, on thebreaking up of the National Association of General Practi-tioners, and previous to having seen Mr. Wakley’s Reg istra-tion Bill, I assented to the enrolment of my name as a mem-ber of the Institute; but disapproving, as I have done, almostab initio, of the proceedings of the Council, I have omitted tosend in my subscription, and therefore feel that I could not,with propriety, sign the Protest, with the sentiments of whichI nevertheless most cordially concur. I have forwarded toone of our county members, a petition in favour of theMedical Registration Bill, and I would suggest to youthe expediency of, in addition to our petitions to Parliament,at once getting up a Memorial, addressed to the Right Hon.T. B. Macaulay, and to the other members of Mr. Wakley’sCommittee, in favour of his Bill, as I firmly believe that byit, not only the profession, but also the public, will best obtainthat protection against the horde of infamous quacks andignorant pretenders that is so much to be desired. Ve shallthen do very well without either " the head or home," andbe able to effect much more good by our own individual effortsand influence, than by the formation of any " Assembly,"" Association," or " Institute" whatev er.-I have the honourto be, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

EDWARD POPE, M.R.C.S.E.Messrs. Jones, Bowman, & O’Shea.

70, Northumberland-street, Liverpool, June, 1847.

GENTLEMEN,—I cannot too strongly express my disappro-bation of this act of the Council of the National Institute,without previously communicating with and obtaining thesanction of its members; and I much regret that my guineasubscriptions to that Institute should have been applied inopposing a measure so decidedly, in my opinion, to thegeneral interest of the profession. ROBERT FIDLER.

P.S.—You may depend on my strenuous support.-R. F.To M. K. O’Shea, Esq.

Castle House, June, 1847.Another gentleman, in giving authority to append his name,

says:-" that is, if I can fairly be considered a member

of the Institute, never having been foolish enough to sub-scribe to its funds. WILLIAM THOMAS BORTHWICK.To M. K. O’Shea, Esq.

_____

To the Editor of Ttm LANCET.SIR,—As the Council of the National Institute of Medicine

&c. have given their opposition to the Medical Bill introduced I,by you, and which the general practitioners appear to be verydesirous to see passed into a law, may I be permitted to suggestto you whether the favourable opportunity, by the power ofcompelling parties to produce evidence possessed by themedical committee, should not be taken to ascertain thenumber of legally-qualified medical practitioners who belongto the National Institute, whether there are in reality a greaternumber than the so-styled Council. I was a member of theNational Association, but your exposé of the close connexionbetween the working or managing parties and the Apotlie-

caries’ Hall prevented me from placing any further expecta-tion of good resulting from such a source, and I did not jointhe Institute.-I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

A SUBSCRIBER TO THE LANCET, AND ONE OF THEJune 14th, 1847. PETITIONERS IN FAVOUR OF THE BILL.

Copy of Letter to G. Ross, Esq.Whitby, June 12th, 1847.

SIR,—I beg to withdraw my name from the National Insti-tute of Medicine, Surgery, and Midwifery, and to express myshame and vexation at having been induced to join such a.concern, whose chief object appears to have been, to counter-act one of the best and soundest measure that was ever broughtforward for the profession—I mean, the Medical Registration

Bill.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant,G. MERRYWEATHER, M.D.

To George Ross, Esq., 294, Regent-street.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.Horsham, June 1st, 1847.

SIR,—I think that, as such opposition is made to theMedical Registration Bill, by the Council of the NationalInstitute of Medicine, Surgery, and Midwifery, it behoves allwho approve of that measure to get their names erased fromthe list of members of that Society, or they may find them-selves anomalously placed, both pro and con, which will defeattheir intentions respecting the Bill, and the Council of theInstitute should consider those only as members who havepaid their subscriptions.-I remain, your obedient servant,

J. S. BOSTOCK, Surgeon.TACTICS OF THE INSTITUTE.

17, Mount-street, Lambeth, June 2nd, 1847.SIR,—As it may be useful, at the present juncture, to ac-

you with the logic (?) and internal arrangements of theNational Institute, I herewith send you copies of a letteraddressed by me to Mr. G. Ross, with the secretary’s answerthereto.

(COPY.)SIR,—In an Address to the members of the Institute, pub-

lished in the Transactions, bearing date 25th March, 1847, thefollowing passage occurs:"The National Association, consisting of upwards of four

thousand general practitioners, still exists as a body which canbe called together when the voice of the profession is demandedon any great emergency. And it would be the duty of theCouncil of the Institute to summon, upon any such emergency,-the Committee of the Association, consisting of a hundredindividuals, and as a medical convention."As a member of the Institute, permit me respectfully to ask

whether the Council have, in accordance with the said expressedduty, called the said convention, or whether they intend doingso in the present emergency ?Perhaps you would do me the favour of also informing me

what mode, if any, exists for calling a general meeting of theNational Institute?And as I perceive, on the 2nd of December, 1846, at a

meeting of the Council, that a committee was appointed todraw up a code of by-laws for the government of the Insti-tute, may I further inquire if such by-laws have beenenacted; and if so, may I request the favour of a copy, in orderthat I may understand the nature of my obligations to theInstitute?Or not having had any such copy of by-laws transmitted

to me, as a member of the Institute, am I to take it for grantedthat none such exist?Expecting the courtesy of an early reply, I remain, &c.,

your obedient servant, M. K. O’SHEA.To G. Ross, Esq., See.

The National Institute of Medicine, Surgery, and Midwifery-Office, 4, Hanover-square, May 27th, 1847.

SIR,—I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the25th instant, requesting to know whether the Council of theNational Institute have called together the members of theCommittee of the National Association, as a medical conven-tion, in the present emergency of medical affairs; and alsowhether the by-laws of the National Institute have yet beenenacted’?

I can inform you, in reference to your first question, thatthe Council agreed unanimously to the objections which theyhave published against the Medical Registration Bill; andtherefore, I apprehend, would not consider that there can be,at present, such an emergency as would require them to calltogether the Committee of the National Association, at a

656

great inconvenience to those gentlemen, for the sake of ob-taining their opinions.The House of Commons has also appointed a Special Com-

mittee to inquire into the general question of medical reform,during which time the proceedings in Parliament, in referenceto the Medical Registration Bill, will, of course, be sus-

pended.The fact of the sitting of this Committee removes every

emergency such as you assume to exist; but it may be pre-sumed, that if this Registration Bill were vigorously pushedin Parliament, and there were a chance of its injurious pro-visions being enacted into a law, the Council of the Institutewould take some decisive steps in the manner you desire.In reference to your second question, I can assure you that

the by-laws have been the subject of frequent consideration,and are nearly prepared for publication.

I have no doubt that but a short time will elapse beforethey are submitted to the members, and in a state to beacted on.

I trust that you will find this explanation satisfactory toyou; and am, Sir, your most obedient servant,To M. K. O’Shea, Esq., Lambeth. GEORGE Ross, Secretary.

SELECTIONS FROM THE PETITIONSIN FAVOUR OF THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION AND MEDICAL LAW

AMENDMENT BILL, AND AGAINST THE CONDUCT OF THE COR-

PORATIONS IN OPPOSING THE MEASURE.

To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain and Ireland,in Parliament assembled,—

The humble petition of Henry William Sandell, residingat Potton, Bedfordshire, member of the Royal Collegeof Surgeons of England, showeth,-

That your petitioner is of opinion, that the Medical Regis-tration and Medical Law Amendment Bill, now before yourhonourable House, will, if enacted into a law, prove not onlya boon to the profession, but to the public at large, and willgreatly tend to arrest that tampering with human life, whichrecent events have so painfully testified, resulting from theunlimited practice of unqualified persons. Your petitioner isalso of opinion, that the opposition emanating from theLondon Medical and Surgical Corporations, to the aforenamedmeasure, is not prompted by any wish to serve or exalt theprofession, but to perpetuate to themselves that monopolizingand tyrannical power which they have invariably wielded tothe benefit of their own selfish and exclusive interests. Yourpetitioner, therefore, confidently looks to your honourableHouse for protection, and fervently hopes that the said Billwill be passed into a law in the present session of Parliament.

And your petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray.HENRY WILLIAM SANDELL.

yo the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of GreatBritain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled.

The petition of the Governor and Company of the

Apothecaries’ Hall of Ireland, humbly showeth,-That your petitioners view with satisfaction a Bill intro-

duced into your honourable House " for the Registration ofLegally Qualified Medical Practitioners, and for Amendingthe Law Relating to the Practice of Medicine in GreatBritain and Ireland." That your petitioners look forward tothat Bill, if carried out into law, as the base from which ageneral system of medical reform, calculated to prove benen-cial to the profession, and advantageous to the public, mayproceed, your petitioners attributing the failure of all at-

tempts hitherto made to legislate for the medical professionto the want of an enlarged foundation, such as the presentBill proposes to lay. Your petitioners therefore pray thatit will be the pleasure of your honourable House to pass theBill into a, law in the present session of Parliament.And your petitioners will, as in duty bound, ever pray,

(Signed,) CHARLES H. LEET, M.D.,Dublin, June 12th, 1847. Sec. to the Company.

(Sealed with the seal of the Company.)

To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain and Ireland, iin Parliament assembled. I

The humble petition of William Price Evans, residing atMile End, near Swansea, member of the Royal Collegeof Surgeons of England, showeth,-

That your petitioner views with interest the proceedings ofyour honourable House, in relation to " A Bill for the Regis-tration of Qualified Medical Practitioners, and for Amending

the Law relating to the Practice of Medicine in Great Britainand Ireland," and earnestly prays that this Bill may withoutdelay be passed into a law. Past history shows that irre-sponsible power has been corrupt and tyrannical, and presenthistory proves that it is a great curse. Your petitioner, there-fore, views the opposition of the London Medical Corporationswith feelings rather of scorn than regret, they are " followingtheir vocation,"-working out their own damnation with fearand trembling. When the whole mass of the professionunites to petition for a Bill so well adapted as the present, tosecure not only its own interests, but what is of even greaterimportance, the best interests of the community, it is inevit-able, that close and irresponsible Corporations should com-bine to oppose it; their craft is in danger: but your petitionerearnestly prays that their cunning may not deceive yourhonourable House, and thus prevent the passing of a Bill,without which, all sanatory regulations must prove lessefficient.

And your petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray.WILLIAIVI PRICE EVANS.

To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain and Ireland,in Parliament assembled.

The humble petition of Edward Arundel Verity, Clerk,L.D.C., Incumbent of All Saints, Habergham, in theparish of Whalley, dio. Chester, county of Lancaster,humbly showeth,-

That your petititioner has carefully examined the provisionsof a Bill now before a select committee of your honourableHouse, intituled " A Bill for the Registration of QualifiedMedical Practitioners, and for Amending the Law relating tothe Practice of Medicine in Great Britain and Ireland;" andyour petitioner anxiously hopes the said Bill may be passedinto a law in the present session of Parliament. That yourpetitioner has deeply deplored the want of an efficient systemof registration of qualified medical practitioners, by which thepublic can more easily distinguish the regularly educated frommere pretenders to the science of medicine. That your peti-tioner, in the discharge of his daily pastoral duties, has wit-nessed too evidently the sad effects and consequences arisingfrom the fraudulent and dangerous practices of designing men,who, without the smallest amount of medical knowledge, arein the habit of imposing on the public, and otherwise endan-gering the lives of her Majesty’s subjects. That the saidignorant pretenders oftentimes assume the characters andtitles of legally qualified medical men, and thereby deceivethe public, to their great injury, as also to the detriment of ahighly useful and honourable profession. That your petitionertherefore hails, with much satisfaction, the measure nowbefore your honourable House, insomuch as provision istherein made to restrain the false assumption of professionaltitles, as well as to punish the nefarious proceedings of un-qualified pretenders; and cannot but view with surprise andregret the fact that so excellently adapted a measure as thepresent should meet with the slightest opposition from theColleges of Physicians, Surgeons, and Apothecaries’ Hall,London, as it is considered more especially their province andduty to support every measure calculated to uphold andrespect the interests and welfare of those gentlemen who, atgreat sacrifice of time and money, have legally qualified them-selves for their profession.And your petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.

EDWARD ARUNDEL VERITY.

To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of GreatBritain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled.

The humble petition of the undersigned graduates inmedicine, extra-licentiates of the Royal College ofPhysicians of England, residing in the borough ofBristol, showeth,-

That your petitioners have observed, with much satisfaction,the introduction into your honourable House of a Bill for theRegistration of Legally Qualified Practitioners in Medicineand Surgery, which Bill, in the opinion of your petitioners, iscalculated to be of essential service to the medical professionand the public: to the former, by affording protection to itslegal members, and discouraging illegal practitioners; and tothe public, by protecting them from the evils which arise fromthe practice of medicine and surgery by persons who have notreceived the necessary medical education. Your petitionerstherefore pray your honourable House to pass the said Billduring the present session of Parliament.

And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.GEORGE ROGERS JOHN STAUNTONE. J. STAPLES H. A. P. ROBERTSON.