• The members of the British Medical Association held their
annual sleeting on Monday evening, at the Freemason's Tavern,—Dr, Webster, President of the Association, in the chair. The Secretary read the re- port. It contained a gratifying account of the progress and extension of the Association, of the correspondence maintained by its council with various 'medical establishments throughout the empire, and of the adoption of its principles in various parts of Scotland and of Ireland. It then proceeded to announce, that at a meeting of the Council of the Association, a report of a Sub-Committee appointed to take into consi- deration the preamble and clauses of a bill for carrying into effect a general measure of medical reform for Great Britain and. Ireland, having been read and discussed at length the following were ttnani • Inausly declared to be the principles on which such a bill ought to be founded- " That it is expedient and necessatv to unite all the legally qualified mom- tiers of the medical profession of the `British dominions into one faculty, to be entitled 'The British Faculty of Medicine.' " That this faculty shall have the power to elect periodically, by ballot, a governing body, to be called The General Medical Senate,' consisting of a innate in London, Edinburgh, and Dublin, to be elected by the respective embers of the faculty in each country. That these National Senates (of England, Scotland, and Ireland), elected as Aforesaid, shall each be subject to the same regulations ; and that thew mom- hers, or a part of them, shall meet from time to time ta consult together and act unitedly as the General Medical Senate, in framing and administering all fteceseary laws for the government and protection of the faculty.
That the General .Medical Senate, so constituted, shall aline have power 4,ndauthinrity to frame, adopt, and promulgate an necessary by-laws, for- , ." 1. Regulating the said faculty. 2. Defending the respective rights and privileges of the members. ". 8. 'Superintending the medical police ot the country.
43. Advising her Majesty's Government on all subjects connected with the public health. • " That the members of Councils or Boards of the several existing medical corporate bodies in England, Scotland, and Ireland, shall be invited- to take patt in the preliminary steps towards the tbrmation of the first General Medical &nate..
That all future candidates for practice in the healing art shall be examined Iff.a. Board, elected under such regulations as the General Senate shall enact for that purpose. —a.That an uniform high qualification—the result of an extended course preliminary and professional education—shall be required of all the (math- &tes, Ad be tested by one or more public examinations, thcoretieal and prac- tical.
" That all persons examined and recognized by the Senates, and admitted at members of the theidty, shall receive the :ante title or denomination, enjoy equal rights or privileges, and alone have the power to exercise any or all the branches of the healing art in any part of the British dominions; subject to such regulations as may or shall be established by the General Senate for the interests, welfare, and respectability of the profe5sion.
"That no member of the British Faculty of Medicine' shall be permitted to sell drugs, or compound medicines., unless prescribed by himself or by others in consultation with him, and for his own patient or patients, except in rural ilistricts, and by special licence from the Senates. "That members of the fitculty who may continue to wish to act RS general practitioners, and supply their own patients with medicines, shall be authorized to charge for their at tetdanee, in addition to the cost of medicine so supplied. . " That, in future, all p,rsous purposing to exercise the calling of chemist mid druggist, or compoun.:ers and sellers of medicines (to whorl.' the title of v shall liezeforth be limited) shall undergo a suitable examinatiou before a Board appointed by the Gcn,:ral Senate, and he licensed accordingly, exception being made of persons already so engaged. " hat a general and continuous register ot all persons who are now legally practising, or who shall in future be legalized to practise the healing art, shall i be kept n each of the Three Kingdoms, under the direction of their respective Senates ; as also of those who are now allowed, or who shall in future be licensed to act as chemists and druggists, or compounders and sellers of me- dicines; and that such general registers shall be the only great public documents to be referred to, in order to establish the legality of any medical practitioner, chemist and druggist, or compouuder and seller of medicines."
The Council has made out a list of the enipiries practising in this country. It was announced that the Association was free front debt, and had a balance of cash in hand. Dr. Farr delivered the "annual oration" on the history and efficacy of medicine, and on the necessity of reforming the medical institutions of the United Kingdom.
After the business of the day was over, about sixty gentlemen dined together ; and speeches were delivered by Professor Grant, Dr. It. D. Thompson, Mr. R. Grainger, Dr. Marshall Hall, and the Chairman, Dr. Webster; who mentioned an instance of the necessity of reforming the medical profession— Some practitioners had absolutely joined with their profession the business of grocers, lie saw the other day in Manchester the following announcement in the window and on the door of a licensed medical man. Ile would not state his name' but adopt a legal cognomen. "John Doe, Dispensing Apothecary. Horse and Cattle medicines of all kinds prepared with genuine drugs. Cigars. Medical advice ,gratis, by Mr. Doe, Licentiate of the Worshipful Company of Apothecaries, London. Prescriptions accurately Prepared. Teeth Extracted. Chemist and Druggist. Dee, Apothecary and Druggist. Genuine Drags on the lowest terms. Patent Medicines and Perfumery. Strong Pickle Vinegar. London Pickles. Fish Sauces' &c. Soda Water. Lemonade. Beat's-grease, 4d. per pot. Congreve Matches, ld. per box 2 boxes, lid. Wax and Store Candles. On the door.post was written, "Doe, Surgeon." lie entered the shop, and found Mr. Doe civil, obliging, and anxious to answer inquiries. He asked him if he was a member of the College of Surgeons; to which he replied in the negative. It was the man's poverty and not his will which induced him to pursue such a course in order to gam a livelihood. The state of the la* permitted chemists and druggists to compete with legally-educated medical ma, and thus quackery became rampant.
The Governors, Committee, and supporters of the Royal Free Hos- pital, Greville Street, met on Tuesday, to receive the report of their medical officers, and to transact tome routine business. It appeared
that during the year :ending 28th February 1809;c8,000 pcwsons had been relieved by tbe. seeiev. • Of the:patients, 0,210 were 411.00. With Malignant and contagious disorders; 980 died," under treatment," and 150' at their Own homes. . The persons diseharged as " cured or re,. hewed" were 6,870. It was mentioned that the late Mrs, Kichuan, of Margate, had left the Hospital 5001., free of legacy-duty ; that althouA a house, adjoining the premises, had been purchased for 8001., there was still a balance in hand of 3001., and the funds were rapidly la. creasing.
Measures are in progress for remodelling the United Service Be, nevolent Institution, with a view to render it snore extensively .useful by putting it on the footing of a " friendly society,' receiviug. sg scriptions from and granting annuities and allowances to members.., The conductors of King's College have opened a class of ." Jima. facturing art and machinery," designed for the instruction of youths intending to become civil engineers. Mr. Edward Cowper is IL: lecturer.
Previous page
