372

and unmerited a space these grievanceshave existed ; their prayer still remains un-redressed. I am, Sir, your obedient ser-vant, A NAVAL SURGEON.May, 1838.’"-;" The documents which accompanied

this letter shall be sent to our correspon-dent in whatever way he may wish. Wehave not room for the whole of them, andabstracts of their contents, the views whichthey express being almost universally en-tertained, would be useless. The excellentletter which we have printed will suffici-

ently serve to draw attention to the subjectat this moment.

ATTENDANCE OF

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTS ATINQUESTS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR :-Am I to understand from your re-

plies in THE LANCET of April 21st, that nonebut legally qualified medical practitionerscan be called in or examined scientificallyin cases of inquest ? because, although nota medical man, I am generally referred to inthis part of the country in cases of supposedmurder or suicide by poison, and I am by nomeans desirous of incurring the responsibilityof giving such evidence as may be the meansof depriving individuals of life (as in thecases of Mary Ann Burdock and SophiaEdney), if the Legislature has intended toremove the ouerous and unpleasant dutyfrom those who are only analytical or toxi-cological chemists. I am, Sir, your obedi-ent servant, WILLIAM HERAPATH.Old Park, Bristol, May 13th, 1838.

There is no law to prevent the testi-mony which Mr. Herapath is capable of

giving, in such cases as he has mentioned,from being received at a coroner’s inquest,or afterwards, where the accused party wastried criminally. The testimony of the ana-lytical chemist might be received in supportof that of the medical practitioner who hadmade the post-mortem examination. Whenthe surgeon himself can make the analysishis evidence alone might be deemed suffi-cient ; but certainly, when the life of a hu-man being is at stake, the corroborative tes-timony of two witnesses would be far moresatisfactory than the unsupported evidenceof one. Mr. Herapath certainly is not re-

quired by any existing law to undertakesuch an analysis, in the absence of a previ-ous stipulation for adequate remunerationfor the time and labour which may be de-voted to the performance of such duties.It rests with himself, therefore, whether hewould or would not give an account of ananalysis at a coroner’s inquest, or at a trial,where a capital punishment might be theresult of the inquiry.

THE LANCET.

London, Saturday, June 9th, 1838.

IRISH MEDICAL CHARITIES BILL.

THE Irish Medical Charities Bill has

reached a third edition. The alterations

have proceeded so rapidly as scarcely toleave the public time to understand them.Notwithstanding the interpolation of clausesA and B, C, D, E, F, and G, and innume.rable verbal changes, all the essential vicesof the measure remain uncorrected. The

Bill has been a very Proteus in the hands

of Mr. FRENCH, and has undergone all its

transformations without changing aught ofits original nature. It is still animated bythe subtle, reptile spirit of the CollegeParty ; and only reflects a tinge from thejobbers who are anticipating places underits enactments.

The qualification clauses of the Bill to

which we so strongly objected have appa.rently undergone an entire change. The

words are different; they have assumed aflourish of liberality, but the sense and

practicai enect remain preciseiy tne same

as in the first draft of the measure. The

clauses 16-20 are drawn up so as to ex-

clude from office in the infirmaries every

practitioner in Ireland who has not been

educated under the regulations of the RoyalCollege of Surgeons in Dublin. The 16th

clause, indeed, enacts that " every person

" shall be capable of being elected surgeonto any infirmary, &c., who shall have pre-

" viously obtained a surgical diploma from the Colleges of Surgeons of Dublin, Edin-burgh, London, or any College or Univer-" sity in the United Kingdom, duly autho." rised to grant diplomas in surgery." So

far appears fair ; but the clause concludes," Provided such person shall prove to the" satisfaction of the Commissioners that he

" has pursued such course of education and‘ been subjected to such examinations at the« lea.st as are specified in the schedule Ban-" nexed to this Act." Schedule B professesto specify the Qualifications required for

373IRISH MEDICAL CHARITIES.

Candidates for the appointment of Sur- very well known. Educated in the bosom

" geon to any Hospital, Asylum, Infirmary, of the College School, and possessing ex-49 our Dispensary, or other Medical Charity, traordinary facilities, in office, for the culti-" in Ireland." God forbid that we should vation of medicine, their names are not atdescend to criticise aNew Curriculum,—one all familiar in the records of that science.

of those imbecilities of which the age should The College-lighted candles have clearlybe ashamed. But the 11 Qualifications" here been burning under a bushel. The county

are, of course, not distinct, unequivocal surgeons have too long " blushed unseen,"proofs of medical skill, but proofs of " at- and " wasted their sweetness on the desert

tendance" (of fees paid) at the Hospitals air." The information we have invited will

and Schools with which the gentry who rescue them from oblivion and obscurity. It

manufacture Curricula are connected; and will furnish many interesting additions to thesuch proof of " attendance " as the framers evidences of their excellent conduct collect-

of the clause know very well thatfive-sixths ed by the Medical Commissioners. The

of the Irish practitioners cannot give. For " Address " itself is a striking proof of theirfew Irish practitioners, however highly qua- transcendant talents, honesty, temper, andlified, could furnish proof of " attendance surpassing ’qualifications! The simpletons"for at least 21 months upon a Hospital or have let out the secret of their imbecility.Hospitals in which Clinical Instructiora is The Address which they have requested us" CONSTANTLY proceeding," or produce the "to preserve for future reference," furnishesother certificates absurdly called in the Act distinct documentary evidence of their in-

"qnalifications:’ In the first draft of the capacity.Bill, it will be recollected, proof of an This comes of drinking asses’ milk and writing.

examination of two hours duration was de- No man, after this, can pretend that themanded, the clause thereby explicitly ex- education enjoined by the Royal College ofcluding the greater part of our Irish bre- Surgeons, Dublin, is equivalent to a directthren from office in the Infirmaries, Dispen- proof of scholarship: no Member of Parlia-saries, and other Charities, On this ground ment, less generous than Mr. FRENCH, canwe denounced, on their behalf, the Quali- now propose to give such eccentric curio-Scation Clause; and on the same grounds sities a perpetual monopoly in the Irish

the present clause deserves unqualified con- Infirmaries.

demnation. The number of Commissioners remains

The 20th clause saves the rights of exist- at sel:en, But three are to be "discreet and

ing Surgeons and Physicians; all now in office, proper persons," while four only are to beor in office on May 1st 1840, and eligible to 11 experienced Medical Men, well acquaintedoffice on May Ist 1840, are to retain their with the regulation and management of

"rights, privileges, and eligibilities." In Hospitals and Dispensaries." One of the

other words, none but Dublin Graduates Commissioners is to be paid, and for 5 theare to hold Office in the Infirmaries; and a Bill substitutes 4 Inspectors. Thf Commis.Bill that professedly, and on the face of it, sioners and Inspectors are to be paid salariesbreaks down, really confirms their mono- not exceeding £600 a year each, out of the

poly. Consolidated Fund. All our objections re-We have always been curious to know main untouched. The number of Inspec-

something of the Surgeons of the County tors is reduced to four, and one paidInfirmaries of Ireland. Last week, we had Commissioner is appointed ; but why didan opportunity of printing the names of the we argue that one Commissioner should betwenty-six qualified individuals who out- employed and paid? Was it not to bring allshine their brethren in all Ireland. It the responsibility home to that officer, andmust be confessed that the characters are not to make his salary dependant on his inte.

374 DR. DICKSON’S DOINGS AT CHELTENHAM.

grity, impartiality, and efficiency ? Now, proposed would be a person free from anyif the paid Commissioner concoct a job- overweening professional partialities; he

such jobs as are the order of the day in would, in fact, be a disinterested publicIreland-and bring the unpaid Commis- servant, well acquainted with the subjectsioners into it, they will take off the blame in all its bearings, unconnected with the

with that of any jobs of their own which Hospitals and Schools, devoted entirely tothey may think fit to transact. We shall not the duties of his office, and responsible torepeat our objections to these unpaid Com- the full extent of his character and salarymissioners. But we beg the Government to The other alterations in the Bill we shall

bear in mind that a board of not more than 8 not discuss. If it should become an Act of

unpaid Commissioners erected the County the Legislature we bid the Irish Govern.Lunatic Asylums in Ireland, and that these ment beware, in their appointments, of the

buildings cost seven times as much in propor- flocks of vagabond vultures, gathering fromtion to the number of inmates, as the work- all quarters of the heavens, in expectationhouses proposed to be established under the of a corrupt distribution of places for

Irish Poor-Law Act. It has been estimated which they have no other qualification, pre-that the cost of workhouses will amount to tension, or claim, than a ravenous appetite.£20 on each inmate; 10 District Lunatic ADAM SMITH proved, a long time ago, thatAsylums, built since 1821, cost ;1;251,583, Governments invariably doeverythingwhichand these 10 Asylums, we perceive from a they undertake worse than private indivi.

parliamentary return, contained last year duals : and it is a remarkable fact that places1692 patients, on an average. The expense under Government are the only places forof building for each patient was £149. The which all kinds and classes of unqualifiedCommission was of the same nature as the persons apply. A Fiddler would put in forCommission to be appointed under the Medi- an Inspectorship of Prisons under Govern-cal Charities Bill: it acted without 99 fee or ment, a Poet for a post in the Finance de.

salary," but no one with common sense will partment, a briefless Barrister for the Chan-

add without "reward." At £40 for each cellorship, a shallow Lord for a Colonelcyinpatient, 10 Asylums would have cost the Guards, a Novelist for a Colonial Go.

£67,680 ; but the unpaid, economical, gra. vernorship ; one of the 26 County Surgeons,tuitous Commission squandered away, in the greatest ass in all Ireland, for a placeaddition to this sum, f 183,903 of the money under the Medical Charities Bill: and it is

wrung from their impoverished countrymen. evident that everyone must have some chance,Let the Government take into consideration or why would so many put into the Official_this instructive instance, the tendency every- Lottery. -’If the Bill pass we shall have

thing in Ireland has to run into base jobs, great pleasure in pointing out the merits of

and the experience of the Army and Navy the appointed Inspectors and Commis.

Medical Boards, before they were re- sioners.

duced, and replaced by a single individualat the head ot each department, and we do ’====

not see how they can for a moment, withtheir eyes open, sanction this Medical Cha- RELATIVE to the war that has been ragingrities Commission. Mr. WARBURTON sug- at Cheltenham between the medical officers

gested that some of the Commissioners of the Dispensary, the Governors of that

should be laymen, and that the direction of Charity, and Dr. DICKSON, we have receivedthe Medical Charities should not be exclu- the following letter from Dr. DICKSON, assively confined to Medical Men. His objec- an explanatory commentary on the brief

tions only apply to Commissioners in actual article which appeared in THE LAKCET of

practice; the one Medical Commissioner we the 2nd inst. :-