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And, Sir, let me ask you is such a crib the place for anassistant-surgeon to study in ? Is the companionship of somefive or six sick sailors and marines that which would be suit-able to the habits and tastes of an educated professional man ;but even the sick bay, such as it is, and 1’ecormnended,though it be, by Admiral Berkeley, only exists im line-of-battleships, in all other classes the assistant-surgeon has no suchsanctuary to resort to ; and, Sir, how do you think a militaryassistant-surgeon would like to be told that his proper placefor study is amongst the sick in one of the wards of his

hospital.With reference to the facetiousness in which the Admiral

indulged on the subject of helping the lady’s-maid into a ham-mock. I am satisfied that, on such an occasion, there is notan assistant-surgeon in the service having a cabin in the shipin question, who would not (with the proverbial devotednessof our profession to the softer sex) most willingly have sharedit with the fair fille de chambre.As to the anxiety expressed by Admiral Berkeley that the

assistant-surgeons should be well accommodated, I can onlysay that, in my opinion, if the feeling be real, the old

adage will be very apposite, ’’ Where there’s a will there’sa way." "

Sir James Graham is reported to have said, " I most em-phatically deny that the qualifications for assistant-surgeonshave been diminished."Un mis point i beg to reter you to the Admiralty circular

116, datecllst -March, 1853, and I think you will, by a com-parison of it with the regulations till then in force, be of opi-nion that the qualifications have been diminished, and that, atpresent, all the qualification required for a naval assistant-surgeon is, not that he shall be a duly qualified medical man,but merely that he shall be a certified medical student ; thequalification which is now considered sufficient to entitle aman to enter the navy as an assistant-surgeon ivould not beconsidered as giving him an eligibility for an appointment to adispensary in this country under the Poor-law ; nor would he,by virtue of it, be allowed to receive an appointment to anunion workhouse. And yet, the qualification which wouldnot here be considered high enough to entitle a man to be themedical attendant of a destitute pauper is, by their lordshipsof the Admiralty, considered good enough for the seamen andmarines of Her Majesty’s navy (now that we are possibly on I

the eve of a naval battle)! Proh pudor, my lords ! Perhaps,Sir, you are not aware that the examination of these "

cer- ’

tified students" has been taken out of the hands of the physi-cian-general of the navy, Sir William Burnett, who is wellknown to be favourable to a high standard of qualification forassistant-surgeons, and also to their being received into theward-room on entering the service. If, Sir, you will refer tothe order 116, you will find that candidates for the navy arethenceforth to be " examined by a board of medical officersto be named by their lordships ;" and, Sir, this most im-

portant duty of examining these candidates had for severalyears previously to order 116 been performed by Sir William.Will Sir James Graham say why Sir William Burnett, thehighest medical officer in the navy, was superseded in this,one of the most important of his functions ? I am fearful,Sir, that I have trespassed at an unreasonable length uponyour time and attention, and yet I am very far from havingexhausted my subject, I have but commenced it, and I couldadd very much to what I have said. I could shew, beyondmistake, to every right-thinking mind the injustice done thenaval service by the treatment inflicted upon the assistant-surgeons, (I believe through a sort of blind and misty predilec-tion for the prejudices of bygone days.) I could shew that,in ninety-nine out of one hundred instances, the young menwho enter the naval service do so because they have failed inobtaining any other means of livelihood, and I know thatsome have, like myself, left it in disgust. But, Sir, I shallconclude : my object in writing to you is a hope, that, shouldan opportunity offer, you would be prepared to offer a rejoin-der to the observations made by Admiral Berkeley on theletter you read, a letter which, I repeat, is, in my opinion,substantially true. The writer of that letter is, I presume,still in the service, and hence probably you withheld hisname for obvious reasons. I, Sir, care nothing for the frownsor the displeasure of the Lords of the Admiralty. I have,thank God ! long ago emancipated myself from their tram-mels, and, should the claims of the naval assistant-surgeons bein the least served by giving publicity to this letter, you areperfectly at liberty to give the name of the writer. I needscarcely say that I have no personal interest in these claims, ’,though I have for years taken an active part in the asser-

tion of them. I stated the grievances of these officersfrom a practical knowledge of their reality. I suffered themin my own person, and I gave up a service in which my pros-pects were as good as those of any of my contemporaries,because I could not, and would not, submit to the manifoldindignities and humiliations to which a naval assistant-sur.geoncy subjected me.

I have the honour to be, Sir, your very obedient servant,MICHAEL HEALY, M.D., Edinburgh, F.R.G.S., Ireland,

M.R.C.S., England.MICHAEL HEALY, M.D., Edinburgh, F.R.C.S., Ireland,

M.R.C.S., England.

THE CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE OF ASSISTANT-PHYSICIAN AT ST. BAPTHOLOMEW’S.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—From the brief paragraph which appeared in THE

LANCET of April the 15th, I infer that you are already awarethat Dr. Hue’s son, a very young man-at this moment Ibelieve the physician to the Dreadnought -has been put forwardas a candidate for the vacant assistant-physicianship at thishospital. During a long series of years, in many of which thepupils have had just and well-founded causes of complaint, Iam not aware-and I speak from long experience-that soscandalous an insult as this, has ever before been offered to theSchool of St. Bartholomew’s. You are well cognizant, Sir, ofthe injuries under which we have recently laboured, and Ibelieve you, like ourselves, admire the eloquent and consistentadvocate that has written on our behalf; but with all yourlong and extensive knowledge of public life and public vice,you cannot half conceive the colossal injustice which is nowattempted.

’ Sir, when our now famous " Student," nearly eighteenmonths ago, asserted with all the force and earnestness andforesight which distinguished all his observations, that thereexisted other and more complex reasons that urged Dr. Hue tocontinue still to retain his appointment at this hospital, thanthose which appeared evident to superficial or casual observers,this opinion was laughed at by some, derided by othersamongst us, and considered by the generality of the pupils tobe either a cold-blooded calumny or a spiteful insinuation.Well, with the Editor of THE LANCET’S habitual courtesy,and with rigid adherence to the noble maxim which I cull fromyour pages, "Audi alteram partem," as you inserted theobservation concerning Dr. Hue to which I have referred, so ina subsequent number you published a refutal. Perhaps I shallnot weary your readers if I venture to cite the two passages infull. Admire the matured thought, the elaborate foresightwhich prompted the utterance of the following remarks, nearlyeighteen months ago! After a passing allusion to the remark-able fact that Dr. Hue was in the enjoyment of several hundredsper annum, for actually depriving students of more than one-third of their adv antages and privileges, " The Third-Year’sStudent" says, " And Dr. Hue is permitted to do this, because,neglecting the excellent example set him by his late colleagueMr. Vincent, that ablest of practical surgeons!-who, wheninfirmity and age were increasing upon him, considered himselfno longer able to discharge his arduous duties with satisfaction,and so resigned his appointment. Dr. Hue I say is permittedto do this, because he believes by retaining an appointment heis quite incapable of satisfactorily, nay efficiently performing,with whatever injustice to junior colleagues and students, heshall thus gradually ensure an opening into the hospital for amember of his own family." And then our advocate continued,"Sir, I appeal to you, to the profession, to every candid andimpartial person, and I ask, is this not a scandalous and cryinginjustice? Ought men of such eminent abilities and extensivelearning as Drs. Jeaffreson, Baly, and Kirkes, to be doomed tofritter away their best days in unimportant positions, whenso important, so responsible a post as that of the senior-phy-siciancy of this noble hospital is being thus prostituted to theends of private intrigue."What was the reply of Dr. Hue’s stolid partizan and favorite

adherent to this grave and weighty and severe accusation?Hear the refutation of the unfortunate " Quivis"-a man whohas reaped immortality in your columns! "But, Sir," saysthis correspondent, the grave charge against Dr. Hue is that heretains la-is post for a familly intrigue. If Dr. Hue retained hispost for that purpose, then indeed he would be most culpaùle;but the charge is a mere assumption. Does it reflect any crediton the heart of the inventor? Sir, I pity him!"Let us investigate the tactics of "the patriarch" of St.

Bartholomew’s; we shall find in them much to censure. Mostundoubtedly the senior physician’s original intention was, and

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has been for some years, to retain his present appointment untilhis young son should have come-if I may use the expression-to "full man’s estate." During the many years which Dr.Hue has been connected with this hospital, he has necessarilyformed a urge eircle-I should not like to say of friends, butperhaps of intimates-which through collateral circumstancesmight be interested in supporting his schemes; and by meansof these persons, the veteran physician intended by-and-byto instal his son amongst the hospital staff. These plans arenot to be frustrated by the excellent resolution at which theauthorities have arrived. Dr. Hue would have wished, perhaps,that the governors had waited a year or two longer beforethey made this alteration, for by that time the juvenilephysician would, I have no doubt, "grown in grace." Butthen, argues Dr. Hue with much modesty and justice, "whyshould the elaborate and well-planned schemes and intentionsof several years be foiled and frustrated merely because theauthorities of St. Bartholomew’s choose to arrive at a prematureand rash determination? Why should I sacrifice my boy tothe good of the hospital? Can this either be anticipated orrequired, or demanded at my hands? The ,lab01[1’ of a life shallnot be lost 2eitlao2ct a stntggle!"What, then, was the course open to Dr. Hue ? Sir, I pray

you admire his master-stroke of policy! Though he knowsthat he has lost the support of nearly all his colleagues, thisdetermined and resolute gentleman is not daunted. No! heenergetically set all his adherents to work, and beardingall the authorities, actually has entered upon a canvass

on behalf of his son, and with the bitterest mockery defies thegovernors of the hospital, his brother officials, or the press,either to eject him from his present post, or prevent his youngson from being appointed as his colleague! What think you,Sir, of this ? Why the " decrepit veteran," "the Great Un-known," as he has been reproachfully termed, has outwittedall his opponents! two .SMf’s,. Ao!Cet’6r, are too much eve2z forSt. Ba1.tJwlomew’s. It is fortunate for the senior physicianthat this is the recess; for if the pupils were about the hos-pital, the school would be in an uproar, and the students inarms.

Now the ludicrous-if anything in this lamentable crisis canbe ludicrous-part of the business is, that Dr. John Hue, thepractitioner whose claims are thus arrogantly thrust upon thegovernors, is a young and very quiet and estimable personage,and I have hardly a doubt that the " proposed celebrity" him-self appeals against the ambitious tactics of his too zealousparent. But against whom, after all, is this unscrupulous war-fare waged,-a contest into whose vortex Dr. Hue has contrivedto whirl every adherent that flimsy promise could lure,-andbeneath whose banner even female beauty has unhesitatinglyarrayed itself? Why, Sir, it is the old war of "Age andruse/j’e" against genius and merit. Dr. Hue and son arraythemselves upon one side; Drs. Baly and Kirkes defendthemselves upon the other.In comparison with these latter competitors Dr. John Hue

has not a single claim to the consideration of the authorities.Who are the gentlemen that support the combatants uponeither side ? With the exception of two relatives, Dr. Hue hasnot either the sympathy and encouragement-nay, has the i

positive and direct opposition of all his brother officers, save ealways a "self-opinionated" one, who, -with that artful in-solence which is the notorious characteristic of his uncouthtemperament-with all the bashful obsequiousness of remunera-tive servitude, has again raised his blatant voice in behalf of"the Hue family," his admiring patrons and staunchestfriends!The other two gentlemen, on the contrary, both men of well-

known, wide-spread and established reputations, are warmlysupported and sincerely encouraged. They are cheered on bythe sympathy of united colleagues ; they are animated by theendeavours of warm adherents. They battle in a good cause.With stout hearts and firm resolves they are about to do theirbest in a mighty struggle-the struggle of brilliant genius andacknowledged talent against established mediocrity. I assumethat, as the battle wages, Dr. Kirkes, as the YOlmger, may pos-sibly waive his claims, for the sake of his elder rival, and thenthe medical world will, with anxiety and attention, watch themarvellous contest of a youth, backed, supported, and upheldby unscrupulous and wealthy influence, contending, in defianceof all justice, against an estimable and much-esteemed phy-sician, who, in advancing his great claims upon the attention ofthe governors, has to rely entirely upon a character which isexalted, and a reputation which is European.

I am, Sir, your faithful subscriber,April, 1854. SE3fPER IDEM.

GRIEVANCES OF SHIP SURGEONS.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SiR,—As your journal has always had by far the greatest cir-culation amongst the profession, I respectfully beg through itsmedium to call the attention of young medical practitionersabout to emigrate to a letter which appeared in its pages ofthe Sth instant, under the above heading. The subject isvery important to the profession at the present time, from thelarge number of passenger ships professing to carry " experi-enced surgeons" now about to proceed to Australia and otherparts.Your correspondent remarks upon the fact ef his being the

only unpaid person in the ship amongst officers and crew; hehad medical charge of upwards of five hundred individuals, andhe says that he was obliged, from the great number of surgeonsthen emigrating, to give his services as an equivalent for hispassage, without any other remuneration.Having been a ship surgeon myself, though I am glad to say

under far different circumstances, I venture to hope that thevaluable lesson he gives to medical men will not be thrownaway, though I do believe a great portion of his miseries tohave been deserved, inasmuch as they appear to have beenbrought about by his own want of management on board ship ;and, besides, when a man values his own services at ieil,how can he expect others to value them at a higherfigure ?

I wish to impress on medical practitioners that it will be en-tirelytheir own faults if ship-ow-ners obtain surgeons gratuitouslyin future, for ship surgeons are now very scarce indeed, especiallyif they are required to remain in the country ; and althoughclerks at shipping offices may say that they have " plenty ofapplicants," such is not the case; that story has been toldlately with regard to a vessel which, to my knowledge, adver-tised in The Times the next day, which advertisement wassix tioaes repecsted without success. No medical man shouldaccept a less sum than twenty guineas for the passage out. Thisis the fee now paid by respectable houses in town, but therecan be no doubt that higher sums will have to be given thissummer, or the owners will be obliged to pay their surgeons bythe month, putting their names on the ship’s books for the re-turn passage. The evil has latterly been, that medical menwere ready to run for the diggings, with the chance of suc-cess there; and even now some owners will keep their shipswaiting until the last moment, in hopes of obtaining one ofthese enterprising gentlemen, and saving the fee; but eventhis apparently inexhaustible store is failing now, so let youngship surgeons look out.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,April, 155. No GREENHORN.

MEDICAL REFORM.[LETTER FROM MR. W. P. BROOKES.]

yo the Editor of THE LANCET.

SiR,—I am so fully impressed with the difficulties which thepromoters of the Medical Reform Bill of the Provincial Medicaland Surgical Association have had to contend with, that

nothing but a sense of the duty I owe to the profession wouldhave induced me to express my dissent from certain parts ofthat measure, which will certainly fail to secure for the futuregeneral practitioner-the physician and surgeon of the middleand poorer classes-that uniformity of education and improvedstatus which are so much desired by the profession, and soimportant for the public. What is required from the legisla-ture, as far as the educational clauses of the Bill are con-

cerned, is a guarantee for a sound medical and surgical educa-tion, and such examinations as would entitle the successfulcandidate to a license to practise every branch of his profes-sion, leaving specialities of practice to his own free choice.What will the candidate who has passed the examining

board under the Bill obtain ? A license to practise? No.Merely a certificate of approval. This examination is to beconsidered merely a preliminary one. The candidate’s fitnessto practise medicine or surgery must afterwards be ascertained,either before the College of Physicians or the College ofSurgeons "by an examination," as remarked in the. eadingarticle on the subject in THE LANCET, of April 8th inst.," special in its nature, and particularly directed to that branchwhich he intends to pursue.’’ ’What are we to infer from this ? Why, that it is intended

that henceforth the general practitioner shall cease to exist,and that the profession will be divided into two classes of spe-cial practitioners,-viz., practitioners of medicine and practi-