MEDICAL SERVICE IN REMOTE SCOTLAND
1
1618 assumed when I had exposed his falsehood about the Society of Apothecaries. I showed that when Mr. Horsley wrote that I was elected by the master and wardens, and ,that they had received no medical examination, he all the time knew that I was elected by the court and that most’ - of the members of the court were on the Medical Register, although some’ (who had retired from practice) were not. He said in reply that he had been informed at the office of the Society’ that practically’ (whatever that may mean) I was elected by the master and wardens and that at that - time [at what time ?] the master and wardens were not on the Medical Register.’ Is it even conceivable that Mr. Horsley ever received any such information ? If he will ;give the date of his inquiry at the office of the Society’ and will mention the official with whom he was in communica- tion we shall be in a position to follow this matter to its source. I had said that for 43 years from 1815 the Society had carried on its work without reproach from either the public or the profession; and I specified the period of time because it came down to the passage of the Act of 1858, under which the work of the Society, like that of "other examining bodies, has been subject to a more definite - control than that of either public or professional opinion, the control of the Medical Council itself. Mr. Horsley - endeavoured to whittle away the effect of his reluctant but enforced apologies to the Society by saying that its examina- tions are not now carried on in a way of which the Council would approve and by quoting, in support of this assertion, the views of some unnamed medical students who had been ’Under his tuition. Mr. Horsley’s students must belong to "one of three categories. They must be students who have never gone up for the Society’s examination, in which case ’they would know nothing about it ; or they must have .gone up and passed, in which case 1 bey would not be likely to belittle it; or they must have gone up and -failed, in which case their opinions would hardly be con- firmed by their experience. The merits of the examination do not rest upon the views of students but upon the report officially made to the Council by its inspectors and visitors ’that it is, in the language of the Medical Acts, I sufficient’ to satisfy their requirements. I did not wish to occupy the time of the Council with merely personal matters and it therefore was not worth my while to notice Mr. Horsley’s contention, which he said I had not met,’ that I am not the representa- tive of the whole body of the Licentiates of the Society. If I were I should have no claim to a seat in the Council and "the contention is utterly absurd. The legislature has not provided for any such representative. It has provided for the representation, not of the Licentiates, but of the licensing <body. The licensing body is the Society of Apothecaries .and the Society of Apothecaries can only take corporate action through its authorities appointed by Royal Charter. I am, and have always claimed to be, the representative of I, -the Society of Apothecaries.’ j "If I may refer for an instant to your issue of June 3rd which I did not see until my attention was called to it last week by a correspondent) and to your reference to it on the 2nd inst. it would be to repeat my opinion that it is not legitimate journalism to comment editorially upon any part of a reported speech which is not included in the report, and - also altogether to disclaim the bitterness’ which you have been pleased to attribute to me. I believe I did say that the term medical society’ was somewhat indefinite and might be used to include not only large societies, primarily ethical -or political in their character, but also small ones, primarily social, such as chess-clubs and book-clubs; and I believe I .-also expressed the scepticism naturally produced by the Teceipt of resolutions couched in identical terms and pro- fessedly coming from different sources. I make no secret of my entire disapproval of any proposal to increase the direct representation in the Council, but this disapproval rests upon - such humble efforts at reasoning as fall within my capacity ; and if it is to be removed the removal will have to be - effected by reasoning and not by resolutions,’ no matter what may be the source from which they proceed. " Finally, Sir, I should like to express my deep and - sincere gratitude for the absolutely overpowering compliment paid to me in your last issue. It is so overpowering that, although none the less highly gratified, I cannot venture in any way to accept or appropriate it; and, at the same time, I am almost shocked by the exaggerated modesty by which -it has been dictated. You say that my eloquence has been -subjected to a process of Bowdlerisation.’ The word was invented by the late General Perronet Thompson in order to express what was done to the works of Shakespeare and Gibbon by a well-meaning but not very wise physician, who thereby (absit onzen) rendered himself a laughing-stock for all future generations of men. I am more than content with the company in which yoa have placed me, and sincerely trust that you may not share the fate of the model with whom you have elected to compare yourself. " I have the honour to be, Sir, "Your moat obedient servant. " Harley-street, Dec. 4th.’ ’R. BRUDENELL CARTER. A SAD AND URGENT CASE. 1’0 the Editors of THE LANCET. SIRS,-May I through your columns draw the attention of brother practitioners to a most sad case with which I am personally acquainted and which is in most urgent need of some help and assistance ? An Irish practitioner, for some years holding a good practice in the north of London, con- tracted rectal trouble and had two operations performed upon him. This and the consequent long lying up so deteriorated his practice that he was obliged to relinquish it, his health being greatly shattered. After a time he tried to establish himself in a comparatively poor suburb, but again his health broke down, and with a young family of five children he was reduced to sheer poverty. Still, rather than abandon his wife and children to want by going into hospital he con- tinued to work, often in great agony, and, despite of his disease, succeeded in getting about him anew connexion. Of late, however, his health has been so completely shattered that he could not continue to do his work and he has been forced again to go into hospital. By interest some provision has been made for a few of his children, but now the insurance on his life will be sacrificed and all his furniture sold unless some help is forthcoming for him imme- diately. I feel certain, Sirs, that you will help in this melancholy case, and I would, through your columns, ask on behalf of this poor fellow and his half-starving family some aid at the hands of his fellow-practitioners. Any sum, however small, will be accepted gratefully. T am Cira yours faithfully 131, Harley-street, W., Dec. 3rd, 1899. , yours faithfully, H. MACNAUGHTON-JONES. 1899. MEDICAL SERVICE IN REMOTE SCOTLAND. To the Editors of THE LANCET. SIRS,-Will you kindly state, through the medium of THE LANCET, whether you favour the movement which is now in progress in the highlands of Scotland to induce the Local Government Board (Scotland) to grant to their medical officers in remote parishes the privilege of a paid substitute during an annual holiday, a like privilege having been already granted by the Irish Board to their medical officers in the outlying districts of Ireland ? I may add that I have had experience in a remote dispensary district in Ireland which would compare very favourably-as regards expenses-with my present position as parish medical officer in a wild district of the Scottish Highlands. - - M.. OM- I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, Nov. 28th, 1899. PAROCHIAL. ’" * * Certainly.-ED. L. LIVERPOOL. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Liverpool School of Tropical Diseases: Recognition by the Colortial Office. THE Colonial Office have consented to give official recognition to the Liverpool School of Tropical Diseases. The recognition of the Liverpool School (the earliest in point of foundation) by the Government, although tardy, is nevertheless welcome. There can be no doubt that, with its staff, appliances, and material, the Liverpool School, under the able supervision of Professor Boyce and Major Ross, I.M.S., willprove a valuable means for training colonial medical officers. Mr. Alfred Jones, who took a leading part in the foundation of the school, has been indefatigable in his efforts to obtain from Mr. Chamberlain that official
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Transcript of MEDICAL SERVICE IN REMOTE SCOTLAND
1618
assumed when I had exposed his falsehood about theSociety of Apothecaries. I showed that when Mr. Horsleywrote that I was elected by the master and wardens, and,that they had received no medical examination, he all thetime knew that I was elected by the court and that most’- of the members of the court were on the Medical Register,although some’ (who had retired from practice) were not.He said in reply that he had been informed at the office ofthe Society’ that practically’ (whatever that may mean) Iwas elected by the master and wardens and that at that- time [at what time ?] the master and wardens were not onthe Medical Register.’ Is it even conceivable that Mr.
Horsley ever received any such information ? If he will;give the date of his inquiry at the office of the Society’ andwill mention the official with whom he was in communica-tion we shall be in a position to follow this matter to itssource. I had said that for 43 years from 1815 the
Society had carried on its work without reproach from eitherthe public or the profession; and I specified the period oftime because it came down to the passage of the Act of1858, under which the work of the Society, like that of"other examining bodies, has been subject to a more definite- control than that of either public or professional opinion,the control of the Medical Council itself. Mr. Horsley- endeavoured to whittle away the effect of his reluctant butenforced apologies to the Society by saying that its examina-tions are not now carried on in a way of which the Councilwould approve and by quoting, in support of this assertion,the views of some unnamed medical students who had been’Under his tuition. Mr. Horsley’s students must belong to"one of three categories. They must be students who havenever gone up for the Society’s examination, in which case’they would know nothing about it ; or they must have.gone up and passed, in which case 1 bey would not belikely to belittle it; or they must have gone up and-failed, in which case their opinions would hardly be con-firmed by their experience. The merits of the examinationdo not rest upon the views of students but upon the reportofficially made to the Council by its inspectors and visitors’that it is, in the language of the Medical Acts, I sufficient’ tosatisfy their requirements. I did not wish to occupy the timeof the Council with merely personal matters and it thereforewas not worth my while to notice Mr. Horsley’s contention,which he said I had not met,’ that I am not the representa-tive of the whole body of the Licentiates of the Society. IfI were I should have no claim to a seat in the Council and"the contention is utterly absurd. The legislature has notprovided for any such representative. It has provided forthe representation, not of the Licentiates, but of the licensing<body. The licensing body is the Society of Apothecaries.and the Society of Apothecaries can only take corporateaction through its authorities appointed by Royal Charter.I am, and have always claimed to be, the representative of I,-the Society of Apothecaries.’ j
"If I may refer for an instant to your issue of June 3rd which I did not see until my attention was called to it lastweek by a correspondent) and to your reference to it on the2nd inst. it would be to repeat my opinion that it is not
legitimate journalism to comment editorially upon any partof a reported speech which is not included in the report, and- also altogether to disclaim the bitterness’ which you havebeen pleased to attribute to me. I believe I did say that theterm medical society’ was somewhat indefinite and mightbe used to include not only large societies, primarily ethical-or political in their character, but also small ones, primarilysocial, such as chess-clubs and book-clubs; and I believe I.-also expressed the scepticism naturally produced by theTeceipt of resolutions couched in identical terms and pro-fessedly coming from different sources. I make no secret of
my entire disapproval of any proposal to increase the directrepresentation in the Council, but this disapproval rests upon- such humble efforts at reasoning as fall within my capacity ;and if it is to be removed the removal will have to be- effected by reasoning and not by resolutions,’ no matterwhat may be the source from which they proceed.
" Finally, Sir, I should like to express my deep and- sincere gratitude for the absolutely overpowering complimentpaid to me in your last issue. It is so overpowering that,although none the less highly gratified, I cannot venture inany way to accept or appropriate it; and, at the same time,I am almost shocked by the exaggerated modesty by which-it has been dictated. You say that my eloquence has been-subjected to a process of Bowdlerisation.’ The word wasinvented by the late General Perronet Thompson in order to
express what was done to the works of Shakespeare andGibbon by a well-meaning but not very wise physician, whothereby (absit onzen) rendered himself a laughing-stock forall future generations of men. I am more than content withthe company in which yoa have placed me, and sincerelytrust that you may not share the fate of the model withwhom you have elected to compare yourself.
" I have the honour to be, Sir,"Your moat obedient servant.
" Harley-street, Dec. 4th.’ ’R. BRUDENELL CARTER.
A SAD AND URGENT CASE.1’0 the Editors of THE LANCET.
SIRS,-May I through your columns draw the attention ofbrother practitioners to a most sad case with which I ampersonally acquainted and which is in most urgent need ofsome help and assistance ? An Irish practitioner, for someyears holding a good practice in the north of London, con-tracted rectal trouble and had two operations performed uponhim. This and the consequent long lying up so deterioratedhis practice that he was obliged to relinquish it, his healthbeing greatly shattered. After a time he tried to establishhimself in a comparatively poor suburb, but again his healthbroke down, and with a young family of five children he wasreduced to sheer poverty. Still, rather than abandon hiswife and children to want by going into hospital he con-tinued to work, often in great agony, and, despite of hisdisease, succeeded in getting about him anew connexion. Oflate, however, his health has been so completely shatteredthat he could not continue to do his work and he hasbeen forced again to go into hospital. By interest someprovision has been made for a few of his children, but nowthe insurance on his life will be sacrificed and all hisfurniture sold unless some help is forthcoming for him imme-diately. I feel certain, Sirs, that you will help in this
melancholy case, and I would, through your columns, askon behalf of this poor fellow and his half-starving familysome aid at the hands of his fellow-practitioners. Any sum,however small, will be accepted gratefully.
T am Cira yours faithfully
131, Harley-street, W., Dec. 3rd, 1899.
, yours faithfully,
H. MACNAUGHTON-JONES.1899.
MEDICAL SERVICE IN REMOTE SCOTLAND.To the Editors of THE LANCET.
SIRS,-Will you kindly state, through the medium ofTHE LANCET, whether you favour the movement which isnow in progress in the highlands of Scotland to induce theLocal Government Board (Scotland) to grant to theirmedical officers in remote parishes the privilege of a paidsubstitute during an annual holiday, a like privilege havingbeen already granted by the Irish Board to their medicalofficers in the outlying districts of Ireland ? I may add thatI have had experience in a remote dispensary district inIreland which would compare very favourably-as regardsexpenses-with my present position as parish medical officerin a wild district of the Scottish Highlands.
- - M.. OM-
I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,Nov. 28th, 1899. PAROCHIAL.
’" * * Certainly.-ED. L.
LIVERPOOL.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
Liverpool School of Tropical Diseases: Recognition by theColortial Office.
THE Colonial Office have consented to give officialrecognition to the Liverpool School of Tropical Diseases.The recognition of the Liverpool School (the earliest in pointof foundation) by the Government, although tardy, isnevertheless welcome. There can be no doubt that, with itsstaff, appliances, and material, the Liverpool School, underthe able supervision of Professor Boyce and Major Ross,I.M.S., willprove a valuable means for training colonialmedical officers. Mr. Alfred Jones, who took a leading partin the foundation of the school, has been indefatigable inhis efforts to obtain from Mr. Chamberlain that official
