911

WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL.Sept. 8, 1840.

MEETING OF GOVERNORS-NEGLECT OF THE

OUT-PATIENTS OF THE HOSPITAL BY THE

SURGEONS. >".

AFTER some preliminary business, chieflyin reference to the reception of accounts, themain business of the day was entered upon,notice having been given by Mr. Bicknell,at the last quarterly meeting, to the follow-ing effect:- I" That, at the next quarterly board, heshould move that No. 38 of the Rules andRegulations of the Westminster Hospital bealtered, so far as it is thereby declared thatthe establishment shall consist of three phy-sicians and three surgeons ; in order that itmay be considered, and, if expedient, re-solved, That an addition be made to thenumber of medical officers of the hospital,to such extent as shall be considered ad-visable."The worthy governor proceeded to say,

that much canvassing had taken place withregard to his motion, governors being askedwhether they would vote against it or for it,without their having formed the slightestidea of the nature of the resolution itself, orof the grounds upon which it had originated,He did not expect, on the present occasionthat his motion would be carried ; but he Iwas convinced that when the grounds upon Bwhich it was founded were generally known, Iit would be carried ; or, at least, such stepswould be taken, as would lead to the esta-blishment of a remedy for that of which he,Mr. B.,, had to complain. He would takecare that a circular should be addressed to

every governor, stating the facts upon whichhis motion had originated. Mr. Bicknellthen proceeded to read two or three of theby-laws of the corporation, in which it isenacted that the hospital medical staff shouldconsist of three physicians and three sur-geons, and that these officers should see allthe out-patients on so many days duringevery week. Now, he would make no per-sonal allusions in his observations; but hewould make this general statement, foundedon his own personal knowledge, namely,that the surgeons never saw an out-patient atall, except when particular cases were selectedby the house- surgeon for their inspection. Hewould not go into the question as to whetherthe surgeons should see all the out-patients,but he would press for the alteration of alaw which had never been carried into effect.The out-patients’ cases were often of a verygrave character, and should not be left tothe house-surgeon’s care, as they were atpresent, however competent snch officermight be. The physicians’ out-patientswere not so left. Mr. Bicknell then readhis motion, which was seconded by Mr.WOOD, who stated that complaints werefrequently made by out-patients, to whom

he had given letters, to the effect, that 14 theyhad no attendance but that of boys."

Mr. SHEPHERD thought further inquiryshould be made previous to the passing ofsuch a resolution. He moved that a com-mittee be appointed to inquite into thesubject.

Mr. LYNN had made an arrangement withthe other surgeons to attend for the purposeof seeing the out-patients on certain days.He had always attended on his days, butcould get no out-patients.* He regrettedthis, as there were often interesting cases

among them.Dr. BURNE has long known that the sur-gical out-patients had been in the entire" possession" of the house-surgeon. Themedical officers had long known it, and

some time since had formed a plan to re-medy the evil, but this had signally failed.

Mr. EDWARDS bore testimony to the factof the surgical out-patients being entirelyunder the care of the house-surgeon. Thehouse-surgeons, during the five years hewas connected with the hospital, werenone of them qualified. Mr. Edwards thenforcibly advocated the appointment of apaid resident surgeon, as a necessary ap-pendage to the hospital.The amendment was carried.The Board then passed another resolu-

tion, agreeing to the necessity of establish-ing a school of medicine in connection withthe hospital.BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

MEETING OF COUNCIL,Exeter Hall, September 1, 1840.

Dr. WEBSTER, President, in the chair.THE minutes of the last meeting were

read and confirmed.Read a letter from the Glasgow Medical

Association, which the President is re-

quested to answer.A letter from - Hawes, Esq., M.P., on

the subject of Medical Reform, was readand considered.

Letters on the same subject were alsoread from Dr. Maunsell of Dublin, andJ. Bedingfield of Stowmaket.Some conversation having taken place

respecting Poor-Law Medical Relief, it wasResolved, That a letter be addressed tothe Poor-Law Commissioners, requesting toknow WHEN they propose to carry intoeffect the recommendations in their Reportrelative to Medical Relief."The other business of the evening was

confined to making arrangements for theapproaching anniversary.

This is a curious statement, as con-

nected with the fact that, in 1839, therewere 7993 out-patients ! Is Mr. Lynn a

favourite with the patients ?