CORRESPONDENTS
1
82 on the walls of this town and in the surrounding counties ex- tensively, and circulating hand-bills, styling himself " A Licen- tiate of the College of Physicians, London, and Member of the College of Surgeons, London." If this imposition pass unno- ticed, of what value is its diploma, or the licence of the College of Physicians, when an illiterate pretender can assume those titles with impunity, and reap the, emoluments arising from a knowledge of the profession Will you, sir, in the next number of your truly valuable journal, inform your readers whether there is any power, by either body, to stop this imposition; or whether there is any law than can reach it ? I remain. Sir. vours resnectfullv. Birmingham, Dec. 26, 1845. *#’* In the existing state of the law, the colleges and the pro- fession are alike incapable of inflicting any punishment on such impostors-ED. L. THE STATE OF THE APOTHECARY TRADE IN LONDON. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SiR,—There is an advertisement in the Times, Jan. 8,1846, " Wanted a surgery lad, by a gentleman in private practice, one who can dispense neatly, and is willing to make himself generally useful. For address, apply at Arnolds, 72, Berners- street, Oxford-street." Did ever you see such a disreputable attempt to lower the character of the general practitioner in the eyes of the public ? What opinion can the public have of medical men, when they see them commit their prescrip- tions to the care of an uneducated surgery lad ? Incompetent he must be; for none other, unless a pauper, or a charity-boy, would take such a situation. Pray call the attention of the profession to this public announcement of their beggary. It is indeed time that there should be a divorce between the profession of medicine, and the trade in drugs. Jan. 9, 1846. AN ASSISTANT. GRIFFIN’S PROBLEMS. To the Editor Of THE LANCET. Sir,-The Medico-Chirurgical Reviewer notices the disgrace- ful printing of Griffin’s Physiological and Medical Problems.. There is something yet more disgraceful: Part 1st of the work was published in 1839-no second part is advertised, but the unhappy purchaser is obliged, in order to complete his work, to pay again for part first. Nothing so dishonest has yet oc- curred with regard to medical publications, and such conduct in publishing will effectually damn all works in "parts." A SUBSCRIBER. THE LONDON MEDICAL DIRECTORY FOR 1846. THE spirited editors of the LONDON MEDICAL DIRECTORY have just issued a new edition of their extremely useful work. In addition to a carefully revised list of the various classes of practitioners resident in London, and within a range of five miles, along with what may be termed a brief professional biography of each individual, we find this year: an Obituary, containing a full account of the lives and writings of the prin- cipal members of the medical profession who have died during the past twelve months; a list of the medical referees of the Metropolitan Assurance Companies; a copious and accurate British and Foreign Bibliography; the regulations of the Universities, Colleges, East India Company, Army and Navy Medical Services; a list of the Metropolitan Hospitals, Dis- pensaries, and Medical Societies, and of their various office- bearers, with the hours of attendance or meeting, &c., &c. The mass of interesting medical information thus comprised in the compass of a small octavo volume will, no doubt, soon cause it to find a place on the study table of every medical practitioner in the metropolis. We cannot but congratulate the editors on the enterprising spirit which they have shown, and on the great improvements which they have introduced in their work. We have given the Directory our support from the first, because we thought that a work of the kind was much wanted, and because we also thought that it was edited in a spirit of fairness and impartiality, which entitled it to the support of the profession. Not only is the book, as we have already said, an extremely useful and valuable work’of reference, but we think it calculated to do great good, both in a social and in a professional point of view. When medical men find their scientific position thus laid bare to public scrutiny, they will shrink from practising without proper qualifications, even in the absence of penal laws. EXCLUSION OF "ADVERTISEMENTS" FROM THE BOUND VOLUMES OF THE LANCET. AFTER the present week, the price. of the numbers of " THE LANCET" will be, unstamped, Sevenpence, stamped, Eightpence. In connexion with this trifling addition to the present price of the enlarged journal, " advertisements" will be altogether excluded from the bound volumes. We certainly shall endeavour, for a time, at least, thus to comply with the requests of numerous correspondents, who have repeatedly and urgently addressed us on the subject, but we certainly cannot pledge ourselves to a permanent adoption of this arrangement. Should we be obliged, after a short trial, to relinquish the practice of excluding the advertisements from the bound volumes, the present price of the journal will be restored. The supplements and indexes will be published without any additional charge. NEWS OF THE WEEK. BARON LIEBIG AND THE FRENCH CHEMISTS.- In the next number of THE LANCET there will appear, from the pen of PROFESSOR LiEBiG, an elaborate criticism on the state of Organic Chemistry in France. CHESTER.-Dr. M’EwEN, late House Surgeon to the Chester Infirmary, has been appointed surgeon to the County Gaol. APOTHECARIES’ HALL. LONDON. Names of gentlemen who obtained Certificates of Qualification to practise as Apothecaries, on Thursday, 8th January, 1846 :-Nicholas Henry Little- ton, Saltash, Cornwall; Allen Pering Schuyler, Plymouth, Devon; Alfred Lacey, Moxley, Derby. CORRESPONDENTS. To the Editor of THE LANCET.—SIR : I have been amusing myself these last few evenings by turning over the leaves of my diary in hopes of meet- ing with the date of the last volume issued by the Sydenham Society. I have carefully referred back, to goodness knows where ! but have not yet arrived at that entry. To gratify this very laudable curiosity, I have been stimulated to turn over an exceedingly huge number of old leaves; if the Council of the Society would set the example of turning over a new one, it would tend much to diminish the, at present, rapidly accumulating disgust of Commercial-road East, Jan. 9, 1846. A MEMBER. Senex.-The provision was in the first Bill. A Surgeon.-The medical practit;oner is not legally entitled to payment of his fee unless he is legally summoned. The members of the profession are often annoyed in such cases, owing to the stupidity of many of the con- stables. The Act of Victoria requires that the summons of the medical wit- ness should be signed by the coroner. A Surgeon (Leeds.)-The arrangement is partially adopted. The price of THE LANCET, before it was enlarged to double its previous size, was eight- pence, unstamped. The price of the enlarged LANCET, stamped, will be only the same amount. We hope to maintain the distinction of publishing "the cheapest and best medical journal now extant." We cannot undertake to continue to exclude advertisements from the " bound" volumes. The Report of the case of Chylous Urine, cured by the bark of rhizophora racemosa, shall be published in the next LANCET. P. J. T. (Newcastle upon Tyne.)-They are not exempted by the Militia Act. An Old Subscriber.-The announcement of the alteration in the price of the lIfedical Gazette appeared in that journal as a notice to correspondents on Friday, Dec. 26th :- , The " notice 11 was as follows :-" In commencing the Second Volume of the New Series, we beg to announce that the price of each number of the journal will be, in future, eightpence unstamped, and ninepence stamped." A Subscriber.-There would be no danger in postponing the time until May. ’ Communications have been received from Dr. J. Hall Davis, Mr. Meeson, Pheenix, A Bristol Apprentice, Medicus jun., Argus, A Practitioner, Dr. Henderson, Mr. Presbaw, A Country Surgeon, Mr. John Gray, Mr. Archi- bald Blacklock, Mr. Paterson.
Transcript of CORRESPONDENTS
82
on the walls of this town and in the surrounding counties ex-tensively, and circulating hand-bills, styling himself " A Licen-tiate of the College of Physicians, London, and Member of theCollege of Surgeons, London." If this imposition pass unno-ticed, of what value is its diploma, or the licence of the Collegeof Physicians, when an illiterate pretender can assume thosetitles with impunity, and reap the, emoluments arising from aknowledge of the profession Will you, sir, in the next numberof your truly valuable journal, inform your readers whetherthere is any power, by either body, to stop this imposition;or whether there is any law than can reach it ?
I remain. Sir. vours resnectfullv.Birmingham, Dec. 26, 1845.
*#’* In the existing state of the law, the colleges and the pro-fession are alike incapable of inflicting any punishment onsuch impostors-ED. L.
THE STATE OF THE APOTHECARY TRADE INLONDON.
To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SiR,—There is an advertisement in the Times, Jan. 8,1846," Wanted a surgery lad, by a gentleman in private practice,one who can dispense neatly, and is willing to make himselfgenerally useful. For address, apply at Arnolds, 72, Berners-street, Oxford-street." Did ever you see such a disreputableattempt to lower the character of the general practitioner inthe eyes of the public ? What opinion can the public haveof medical men, when they see them commit their prescrip-tions to the care of an uneducated surgery lad ? Incompetenthe must be; for none other, unless a pauper, or a charity-boy,would take such a situation. Pray call the attention of theprofession to this public announcement of their beggary. Itis indeed time that there should be a divorce between theprofession of medicine, and the trade in drugs.
Jan. 9, 1846. __ ________
AN ASSISTANT.
GRIFFIN’S PROBLEMS.To the Editor Of THE LANCET.
Sir,-The Medico-Chirurgical Reviewer notices the disgrace-ful printing of Griffin’s Physiological and Medical Problems..There is something yet more disgraceful: Part 1st of the workwas published in 1839-no second part is advertised, but theunhappy purchaser is obliged, in order to complete his work,to pay again for part first. Nothing so dishonest has yet oc-curred with regard to medical publications, and such conductin publishing will effectually damn all works in "parts."
A SUBSCRIBER.
THE LONDON MEDICAL DIRECTORY FOR 1846.
THE spirited editors of the LONDON MEDICAL DIRECTORY havejust issued a new edition of their extremely useful work. Inaddition to a carefully revised list of the various classes of
practitioners resident in London, and within a range of fivemiles, along with what may be termed a brief professionalbiography of each individual, we find this year: an Obituary,containing a full account of the lives and writings of the prin-cipal members of the medical profession who have died duringthe past twelve months; a list of the medical referees of theMetropolitan Assurance Companies; a copious and accurateBritish and Foreign Bibliography; the regulations of theUniversities, Colleges, East India Company, Army and NavyMedical Services; a list of the Metropolitan Hospitals, Dis-pensaries, and Medical Societies, and of their various office-
bearers, with the hours of attendance or meeting, &c., &c.
The mass of interesting medical information thus comprisedin the compass of a small octavo volume will, no doubt, sooncause it to find a place on the study table of every medicalpractitioner in the metropolis. We cannot but congratulatethe editors on the enterprising spirit which they have shown,and on the great improvements which they have introducedin their work. We have given the Directory our support fromthe first, because we thought that a work of the kind wasmuch wanted, and because we also thought that it was editedin a spirit of fairness and impartiality, which entitled itto the support of the profession. Not only is the book, as we
have already said, an extremely useful and valuable work’ofreference, but we think it calculated to do great good, bothin a social and in a professional point of view. When medicalmen find their scientific position thus laid bare to publicscrutiny, they will shrink from practising without properqualifications, even in the absence of penal laws.
EXCLUSION OF "ADVERTISEMENTS" FROM THEBOUND VOLUMES OF THE LANCET.
AFTER the present week, the price. of the numbers of " THELANCET" will be, unstamped, Sevenpence, stamped, Eightpence.In connexion with this trifling addition to the present priceof the enlarged journal, " advertisements" will be altogetherexcluded from the bound volumes.We certainly shall endeavour, for a time, at least, thus to
comply with the requests of numerous correspondents, whohave repeatedly and urgently addressed us on the subject, butwe certainly cannot pledge ourselves to a permanent adoptionof this arrangement. Should we be obliged, after a short trial,to relinquish the practice of excluding the advertisementsfrom the bound volumes, the present price of the journal willbe restored. The supplements and indexes will be publishedwithout any additional charge.
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
BARON LIEBIG AND THE FRENCH CHEMISTS.-In the next number of THE LANCET there will appear, fromthe pen of PROFESSOR LiEBiG, an elaborate criticism on thestate of Organic Chemistry in France.
CHESTER.-Dr. M’EwEN, late House Surgeon to theChester Infirmary, has been appointed surgeon to the CountyGaol.
APOTHECARIES’ HALL. LONDON.
Names of gentlemen who obtained Certificates of Qualification to practiseas Apothecaries, on Thursday, 8th January, 1846 :-Nicholas Henry Little-ton, Saltash, Cornwall; Allen Pering Schuyler, Plymouth, Devon; AlfredLacey, Moxley, Derby.
CORRESPONDENTS.To the Editor of THE LANCET.—SIR : I have been amusing myself these
last few evenings by turning over the leaves of my diary in hopes of meet-ing with the date of the last volume issued by the Sydenham Society. I
have carefully referred back, to goodness knows where ! but have not yetarrived at that entry. To gratify this very laudable curiosity, I have beenstimulated to turn over an exceedingly huge number of old leaves; if theCouncil of the Society would set the example of turning over a new one, itwould tend much to diminish the, at present, rapidly accumulating disgust of
Commercial-road East, Jan. 9, 1846. A MEMBER.
Senex.-The provision was in the first Bill.A Surgeon.-The medical practit;oner is not legally entitled to payment
of his fee unless he is legally summoned. The members of the professionare often annoyed in such cases, owing to the stupidity of many of the con-stables. The Act of Victoria requires that the summons of the medical wit-ness should be signed by the coroner.A Surgeon (Leeds.)-The arrangement is partially adopted. The price of
THE LANCET, before it was enlarged to double its previous size, was eight-pence, unstamped. The price of the enlarged LANCET, stamped, will be onlythe same amount. We hope to maintain the distinction of publishing "the
cheapest and best medical journal now extant." We cannot undertake tocontinue to exclude advertisements from the " bound" volumes.
The Report of the case of Chylous Urine, cured by the bark of rhizophoraracemosa, shall be published in the next LANCET.P. J. T. (Newcastle upon Tyne.)-They are not exempted by the Militia
Act.An Old Subscriber.-The announcement of the alteration in the price ofthe lIfedical Gazette appeared in that journal as a notice to correspondentson Friday, Dec. 26th :-, The " notice 11 was as follows :-" In commencing the Second Volume ofthe New Series, we beg to announce that the price of each number of thejournal will be, in future, eightpence unstamped, and ninepence stamped."A Subscriber.-There would be no danger in postponing the time until
May.’ Communications have been received from Dr. J. Hall Davis, Mr. Meeson,Pheenix, A Bristol Apprentice, Medicus jun., Argus, A Practitioner, Dr.Henderson, Mr. Presbaw, A Country Surgeon, Mr. John Gray, Mr. Archi-bald Blacklock, Mr. Paterson.
