THE DELICATE FEELINGS OF MEDICAL MEN. [TO THE EDITOR OF
THE "SPECTATOB..] SIR,—In your excellent article on the above subject, in your last issue, there are some little inaccuracies which it might be well to rectify. You there speak of Mrs. Hoggan's "no doubt irregular election by the Committee," and add that, "at the time of her election she was not properly qualified for membership by regis- tration," both statements being inaccurate, and therefore mis- leading, the terms of the Association's bye-law for ordinary membership being, "Any qualified medical practitioner," quali- fied being generally held to mean the possession of a reputable degree ; and such certainly was the degree then held by Mrs. Hoggan, the M.D. degree of the University of Zurich.
As a matter of fact, registration has nothing whatever to do with qualification for membership, seeing that a large number of the members of the British Medical Association are not registered—e.g., the Editor of the journal of the Association. Nor is the possession of a registrable degree necessary,--e.g., Dr. Sims, of America, and several others I could name. Besides all this, Mrs. Hoggan had held the position of member after she had been registered as the holder of a British diploma. But the Council and the majority had determined to act in direct defiance of justice, legality, and of common honesty, and it still remains to be seen how far they can do this with imptmity.—I am, Sir, &c., AN HONEST MEMBER OF THE B. M. ASSOCIATION.
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