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THE NEW DEGREE OF C.M.
1
90 Physicians in 1518. This venerable institution is, as the learned author points out, ’’ the precursor and exemplar of all the other medical corporations in the United Kingdom." A chrono- logical series of biographies of the successive members of that corporation must therefore comprise or illustrate a large portion of the history of Medicine in this country. Beginning the Roll of the College of Physicians with Chambre and Linacre, its founders, we have to go back to that period when Medicine was still so closely linked with Theology, that the transition from the practice of healing men’s bodies to that of the cure of souls was an event of common occurrence. Both these learned men died not simply in the odour of sanctity, but surrounded by all the dignity that sinecure pluralities can bestow. Learn- ing, Medicine, and the Church all claim a share of Linacre. Passing on, we trace the career of the illustrious Harvey, the greatest physiologist that ever lived, and one who, beyond the priceless legacy of his undying name, is besides the most sub- stantial benefactor of the College. We read with pleasure a brief account of the life of Ent, the amiable and true friend of Harvey, the man who persuaded him to give to the world his famous work on the " Generation of Animals." " We learn something of the career of Sir William Petty, one of the founders of the Royal Society. The life of the medical noble, the Marquis of Dorchester, who became a Fellow of the College out of esteem for the learning of the professors of physic, and at the request of Harvey, arrests our attention. Coming to the life of Sydenham, the modern Hippocrates, Dr. Munk, after adverting to the singular paucity of information as to his per- sonal history, successfully vindicates the College from the charge made against them by Dr. Lettsom, of having excluded him from the Fellowship through jealousy or neglect. Dr. Munk tells us that the name of Sydenham is never mentioned in the contemporary annals of the College but in terms of deep respect. We pass by many great names, those of Sir Thomas Browne, his son, Dr. Willis, Dr. Croone, Grew, Sibbald, Ra,d- cliffe, Sloane, Blackmore, and Musgrave, all interesting bio- graphies ; we close the volume with Garth, the poet, and scourge of the apothecaries, and Hugh Chamberlen, the discoverer of the obstetric forceps. The volume records something of the lives of about seven hundred physicians, many of whom were conspicuous in their age for learning as well as for professional skill, and for the part they bore in affairs of public moment. It would be an interesting labour to extract from these sepa- rate biographies, connected chiefly by the sequence of time, a consistent sketch of the history of Medicine during the two centuries ending with 1700. This we cannot undertake. But the casual reader, taking up the volume for relaxation’s sake, will gather many instructive facts. He will perceive that during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, although there was even then an intimate association between the College of Physicians and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, the great seats of medical learning to which English physicians resorted for study were abroad. The most eminent men gra- duated at Padua, Pisa, and Leyden. In the eighteenth century Edinburgh rose and culminated. In the present one, London, Paris, and Vienna, the great centres of population and scien- tific energy, have taken the lead. Formerly Medicine partook more of doctrine; it was the expression of the studies and thoughts of individual philosophers. Now Medicine is essen- tially clinical, and flourishes where abound human beings who are the heirs of disease. This admirable and entertaining work (of which we now close the first volume, but not for long-it clings to our desk, a cherished companion) is conspicuous for scrupulous accuracy, simplicity of style, and elegance of language. Dr. Munk has evidently in this labour of love spared no pains that earnest research and perfect scholarship, employed under the most favourable conditions, can bring to the production of a work at once full and authentic. We have alighted only on one or two errors, and those of an unimportant kind. In his life of Dr. Paget, he describes him as " the intimate friend of Milton, and cousin to the poet’s fourth wife, Elizabeth Minshall." Milton had but three wives, of whom Elizabeth Minshall, recom. mended to him by Dr. Paget, was the last. As the present volume brings down the Roll to the year 1700 only, our readers will be glad to know when the continuation may be expected. We are informed that the Second Volume is actually in the press, and may be looked for in the course of the year. Dr. Munk has laid the College and the profession at large under deep and lasting obligations. This result of his immense research and industry he has freely given to the College. The College has undertaken the grateful charge of publication. To the author remains the recollection of having achieved a great task, commenced probably without a full conception of it magnitude and difficulty, but continued and carried through rom a growing sense of duty. But self-devotion so great few men can afford; perhaps it cannot be requited. Dr. Munk deserves some recognition beyond that of self-approval. On Acute Ophthalmia, as it occurred in the Left Wing of Her l’rIajesty’s 37th Regiment during 18,51-52, whilst stationed at Colombo, in Ceylo)z. By J. C. FLEMING, F.R.C.S.E., and Surgeon to the Regiment. London: Renshaw. THIs brief but interesting brochure seems to us to contain precisely the kind of information of which the Commissioners on the sanitary improvement of our Army in India are in quest. The disease Mr. Fleming had to treat in such a climate was formidable as regarded the efficiency of the regi. ment. His practice was eminently successful, and his sta- tistics are authentic and official. Some valuable pathological observations will be found towards the close of the memoir. THE NEW DEGREE OF C.M. To the Editor of THE LANCET. Sm,-Can you spare me a corner in your valuable journal for the following lines ? Now that the new degree of Master of Surgery is about to be granted in all the Scottish Universities, I consider it would be only fair to those gentlemen who have already graduated to admit them to this degree, if they wish to take it, without undergoing another examination. I find, from Dr. Christison’s late pamphlet, that the Senate of the University of Edinburgh are of opinion that a year or two’s grace should be given to enable past M.D.s to take this degree; and Dr. Christison suggests the propriety of petitioning the Scottish Universities Commission to that effect. As a Scottish graduate myself, I would urge upon all my fellow-graduates the importance of at once petitioning the Scottish Universities Commissioners, now sitting at 36, Moray-place, Edinburgh, to admit them to this new degree on the ground of their having been already exa- mined in Surgery, and found competent to practise it. If each graduate makes a separate petition, so much the better. I believe there will be no difficulty in securing the above object if the numerous Scotch graduates will stir themselves at once; but no time should be lost, as the Commission may cease to exist at the beginning of next year.-Yours obediently, July, 1861. A SCOTTISH GRADUATE. ** If it be proper suddenly to confer a double virtue, or duplicate power, upon a single degree for the benefit of new graduates, it must be equally just to extend the benefit to the older graduates. Here seems to be a new case for an ’’ act of grace." Why should not the Scotch Universities imitate the profitable example set them in this respect by the Colleges ? 2 It must appear remarkable that whilst Universities which have not hitherto been distinguished for exacting any specially ex- tensive knowledge of Surgery from candidates for their degrees, are to unite the degree of C.M. with that of M.D., the Univer- sity of London, which has from its foundation placed Surgery upon a level with Medicine in its curriculum, still shows no sign of claiming the privilege which northern enterprise has so eagerly grasped. -ED. L.
Transcript of THE NEW DEGREE OF C.M.
90
Physicians in 1518. This venerable institution is, as the learnedauthor points out, ’’ the precursor and exemplar of all theother medical corporations in the United Kingdom." A chrono-logical series of biographies of the successive members of thatcorporation must therefore comprise or illustrate a large portionof the history of Medicine in this country. Beginning the Rollof the College of Physicians with Chambre and Linacre, its
founders, we have to go back to that period when Medicinewas still so closely linked with Theology, that the transitionfrom the practice of healing men’s bodies to that of the cure ofsouls was an event of common occurrence. Both these learnedmen died not simply in the odour of sanctity, but surroundedby all the dignity that sinecure pluralities can bestow. Learn-
ing, Medicine, and the Church all claim a share of Linacre.
Passing on, we trace the career of the illustrious Harvey, thegreatest physiologist that ever lived, and one who, beyond thepriceless legacy of his undying name, is besides the most sub-stantial benefactor of the College. We read with pleasure abrief account of the life of Ent, the amiable and true friend ofHarvey, the man who persuaded him to give to the world hisfamous work on the " Generation of Animals." " We learn
something of the career of Sir William Petty, one of thefounders of the Royal Society. The life of the medical noble,the Marquis of Dorchester, who became a Fellow of the Collegeout of esteem for the learning of the professors of physic, andat the request of Harvey, arrests our attention. Coming to thelife of Sydenham, the modern Hippocrates, Dr. Munk, afteradverting to the singular paucity of information as to his per-sonal history, successfully vindicates the College from thecharge made against them by Dr. Lettsom, of having excludedhim from the Fellowship through jealousy or neglect. Dr.Munk tells us that the name of Sydenham is never mentionedin the contemporary annals of the College but in terms of deeprespect. We pass by many great names, those of Sir ThomasBrowne, his son, Dr. Willis, Dr. Croone, Grew, Sibbald, Ra,d-cliffe, Sloane, Blackmore, and Musgrave, all interesting bio-graphies ; we close the volume with Garth, the poet, and scourgeof the apothecaries, and Hugh Chamberlen, the discoverer ofthe obstetric forceps.The volume records something of the lives of about seven
hundred physicians, many of whom were conspicuous in theirage for learning as well as for professional skill, and for thepart they bore in affairs of public moment.
It would be an interesting labour to extract from these sepa-rate biographies, connected chiefly by the sequence of time, aconsistent sketch of the history of Medicine during the twocenturies ending with 1700. This we cannot undertake. Butthe casual reader, taking up the volume for relaxation’s sake,will gather many instructive facts. He will perceive thatduring the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, although therewas even then an intimate association between the College ofPhysicians and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, thegreat seats of medical learning to which English physiciansresorted for study were abroad. The most eminent men gra-duated at Padua, Pisa, and Leyden. In the eighteenth centuryEdinburgh rose and culminated. In the present one, London,Paris, and Vienna, the great centres of population and scien-tific energy, have taken the lead. Formerly Medicine partookmore of doctrine; it was the expression of the studies andthoughts of individual philosophers. Now Medicine is essen-
tially clinical, and flourishes where abound human beings whoare the heirs of disease.
This admirable and entertaining work (of which we nowclose the first volume, but not for long-it clings to our desk, acherished companion) is conspicuous for scrupulous accuracy,simplicity of style, and elegance of language. Dr. Munk has
evidently in this labour of love spared no pains that earnestresearch and perfect scholarship, employed under the mostfavourable conditions, can bring to the production of a work atonce full and authentic. We have alighted only on one or two
errors, and those of an unimportant kind. In his life of Dr.
Paget, he describes him as " the intimate friend of Milton, andcousin to the poet’s fourth wife, Elizabeth Minshall." Miltonhad but three wives, of whom Elizabeth Minshall, recom.
mended to him by Dr. Paget, was the last.As the present volume brings down the Roll to the year 1700
only, our readers will be glad to know when the continuationmay be expected. We are informed that the Second Volumeis actually in the press, and may be looked for in the course ofthe year.
Dr. Munk has laid the College and the profession at largeunder deep and lasting obligations. This result of his immenseresearch and industry he has freely given to the College. The
College has undertaken the grateful charge of publication. Tothe author remains the recollection of having achieved a greattask, commenced probably without a full conception of it
magnitude and difficulty, but continued and carried throughrom a growing sense of duty. But self-devotion so great fewmen can afford; perhaps it cannot be requited. Dr. Munkdeserves some recognition beyond that of self-approval.
On Acute Ophthalmia, as it occurred in the Left Wing of Herl’rIajesty’s 37th Regiment during 18,51-52, whilst stationed atColombo, in Ceylo)z. By J. C. FLEMING, F.R.C.S.E., andSurgeon to the Regiment. London: Renshaw.
THIs brief but interesting brochure seems to us to containprecisely the kind of information of which the Commissionerson the sanitary improvement of our Army in India are inquest. The disease Mr. Fleming had to treat in such aclimate was formidable as regarded the efficiency of the regi.ment. His practice was eminently successful, and his sta-tistics are authentic and official. Some valuable pathologicalobservations will be found towards the close of the memoir.
THE NEW DEGREE OF C.M.To the Editor of THE LANCET.
Sm,-Can you spare me a corner in your valuable journalfor the following lines ?Now that the new degree of Master of Surgery is about to
be granted in all the Scottish Universities, I consider it wouldbe only fair to those gentlemen who have already graduatedto admit them to this degree, if they wish to take it, withoutundergoing another examination. I find, from Dr. Christison’slate pamphlet, that the Senate of the University of Edinburghare of opinion that a year or two’s grace should be given toenable past M.D.s to take this degree; and Dr. Christisonsuggests the propriety of petitioning the Scottish UniversitiesCommission to that effect. As a Scottish graduate myself, Iwould urge upon all my fellow-graduates the importance of atonce petitioning the Scottish Universities Commissioners, nowsitting at 36, Moray-place, Edinburgh, to admit them to thisnew degree on the ground of their having been already exa-mined in Surgery, and found competent to practise it. If eachgraduate makes a separate petition, so much the better.
I believe there will be no difficulty in securing the aboveobject if the numerous Scotch graduates will stir themselves atonce; but no time should be lost, as the Commission may ceaseto exist at the beginning of next year.-Yours obediently,
July, 1861. A SCOTTISH GRADUATE.
** If it be proper suddenly to confer a double virtue, orduplicate power, upon a single degree for the benefit of newgraduates, it must be equally just to extend the benefit to theolder graduates. Here seems to be a new case for an ’’ act of
grace." Why should not the Scotch Universities imitate theprofitable example set them in this respect by the Colleges ? 2It must appear remarkable that whilst Universities which havenot hitherto been distinguished for exacting any specially ex-tensive knowledge of Surgery from candidates for their degrees,are to unite the degree of C.M. with that of M.D., the Univer-sity of London, which has from its foundation placed Surgeryupon a level with Medicine in its curriculum, still shows nosign of claiming the privilege which northern enterprise hasso eagerly grasped. -ED. L.
