202 MEDICAL REFORM MEETING IN SUFFOLK. "pures" hardly ever come forward in any which existed when the present distinctions public capacity without making fools of originated. The general practitioner did not wish to reduce the position of the physi. themselves, and reflecting discredit on their cian. Superior talent must always raise one profession and on medical science! The class of men above another, and the general without to that in courts of the state- practitioner, wishing destroy opinions given law, distinction which merit must always create, ment of medical cases that come before the was desirous, for the respectability and honour of his to base it a public, the bulletins issued in such cases, are, profession, upon sound and rational foundation. The subject for the most mere exhibitions of imbe- part, of medical reform was so ably treated in a cility. We have lately taken upon us to re- pamphlet which he held in his hand in a letter from Sir James Clark to Sir James commend a considerable variety of studies to Graham, and all the arguments upon the the "heads" of the profession ; we now strenu- subject were so clearly and succinctly laid in that he the of ously advise them to cultivate common sense, down it, would take liberty it to the as it was very as of all useful reading meeting, the basis attainments, and of short, and contained all that in his opinion the efficient discharge of all public duties. could be said upon the subject. Mr. Bullen then read the pamphlet, which was received continued marks of the SUFFOLK BRANCH OF THE with approbation by meeting. Having concluded the letter he PROVINCIAL MEDICAL AND SUR- ° moved, " That, under present circumstances, GICAL ASSOCIATION. it is advisable, without delay, to petition both Houses of Parliament on the contem- A MEETING of members of this society, and plated legislation respecting the medical of the profession generally, residing in the profession, and that the following petition be county of Suffolk, convened by advertise- adopted :- was held at the Head ment, King’s Inn, " To the Hon. the Commons, &-c, Stowmarket, on Friday, the 28th of April, to discuss the necessity of petitioning Parlia- "The humble petition of the undersigned ment on the subject of medical legislation, practitioners of medicine, surgery, and and to consider the best means of promoting midwifery, or, as they are usually those changes in the constitution of the pro- called, general practitioners of medi. fession which its present position demands. cine,’ residing in the county of Suf. The meeting was attended by gentlemen re- folk, siding at Ipswich, Beccles, Newmarket, " Showeth, That your petitioners having Stow market, Needham Market, Botesdale, understood that measures are in contempla. Gislingham, Gedding, &c. Dr. BECK, of tion for regulating and reforming the medi- Ipswich, was unanimously called upon cal profession, they beg leave to represent to to take the chair, and Mr. BREE, of your honourable House their strong convic- Stowmarket, was requested to act as hono- tion, that as the general practitioners havee rary secretary. gradually become the actual medical ad. The CHAIRMAN having briefly opened the visers of by far the largest portion of aii meeting by stating its objects, ranks of the population, no reform can be Mr. BULLEN, senior surgeon of the East satisfactory to the public, or to the profes- Suffolk Hospital, rose and said,—I am sion, which does not provide for the due aware, Gentlemen, that many erroneous opi- qualification, efficiency, and respectability of nions are held on the subject of medical re- so numerous and so useful a class of medical form, and that such opinions have prevented practitioners. some of the profession from attending this " Your petitioners, therefore, pray that meeting. It is thought by these individuals your honourable House would delay any that the object of the general practitioner is legislative measures which might lead to the to level those distinctions in the profession granting new charters to the Colleges of which long custom has established. This Physicians and Surgeons until inquiries view of the case is entirely erroneous. The have been made into the present state of the general practitioner desires, in the first place, medical profession, more especially with rea that a sound system of education should be ference to the general practitioners (about established, and that the only distinction twelve thousand in number), and until the existing in the profession should be based whole subject of medical regulation and re- upon superior merit, or a higher order of form has been thoroughly investigated by a ability and experience. It would be allowed committee of your honourable House, and by all that the position of the general prac- has undergone adequate discussion in Par- titioner had materially changed’ during the liament." last twenty or thirty years, His education Dr. BEDINGFIELD seconded the resolution was of a much better character than formerly, with great pleasure. He had prepared some and his position was very different from that resolutions which he had wished to propose, 203 but the letter of Sir James Clark,, and the pointed to wait on members of the House of petition just read, rendered them u,nneces- Commons on the subject of medical reform. sary. A letter was also read from Mr. Upton,, Mr. CROWFOOT, of Beccles, proposed (cor- clerk to the Apothecaries’ Company, on the dally supporting the objects of the meeting), same subject. On the same occasion a com- 99 That CoL Rushbrooke, M.P., be respect- munication was received from Dr. Tucker, fully requested to present the petition to the of Market Lavington, Wilts, on medical House of Commons, and the other members reform ; after which the report of the com- of the county of Suffolk be requested to mittee of the Taunton and West Somerset favour the petitioners with their support on Medical Association was read and approved, the occasion, and that a copy of Sir James the council strongly recommending the fol- Clark’s letter be forwarded to each member, ’lowing extract to the attention of all medical with an intimation from the honorary secre- reformers :- In bringing their report to a tary that it embodied the principles the close, your committee are anxious to impress meeting wished to have carried out." most emphatically upon you the apparent Mr. HARRIS, of Botesdale, seconded the hopelessness of any longer trusting either to resolution. a Government scheme of medical reform or Dr. DURRANT proposed (seconded by Mr. to such overtures of amendment or alteration DAVY, of Beccles), and carried unanimously, as may be forced from the existing medical That Lord Brougham be requested to pre- corporations, believing, as they do, that no sent the petition to the Lords, and that a plan will ever emanate from either of these copy of Sir J,. Clark’s letter be sent to him. sources which shall so interfere with the Mr. PECK, of Newmarket, proposed (se- present exclusive character of existing insti- conded by MT. PENNINGTON, of Needham- tutions as to meet the wishes and wants of market), and carried unanimously, That the the great body of general practitioners. On best thanks of the meeting be presented to the other hand, your committee would Sir James Clark for his two letters on medi- earnestly recommend to you the propriety of cal education and polity, addressed, to Sir at once enrolling your names and combining James Graham, at the same time recom- yourselves with the members of the British mending those letters to the perusal of every Medical and other medical associations for medical man in the kingdom. the purpose of forming a general league or Mr. FREEMAN (seconded by Mr. WARD) council of the profession under the title of proposed, " That the annual meeting of the the Faculty of Medicine of Great Britain.’ Suffolk members of the Eastern Branch of the That by uniformity of proceedings and moral Provincial Medical and Surgical Association force of numbers you may convince the Go- be held at Stowmarket on the llth of vernment and the medical corporations that August next, in pursuance of the resolution as members of an enlightened and highly passed at the general meeting held at useful profession. you are worthy of, and de- Ipswich last year." termined to obtain, that consideration and Thanks having been voted to the chair- protection, and that equality of rights and man, the party dined together, and spent a privileges to which you are fully entitled." most social and agreeable evening. Before the separation of the council, Tuesday, the 9th of May, was fixed for the half yearly general meeting of the as- BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. sociation. AT the last meeting of council at Exeter- hall (Dr. Webster in the chair), communica- LICENCE OF DEBATE tions were read from Sir James Graham to AT THE the president, from Mr. Dale, secretary to MEDICO-CHIRURGICAL SOCIETY. the East London Medical Association, and Mr. Morrah, of Sloane-street, Chelsea, the To the Editor of THE LANCET. latter being part of a correspondence that SIR,—I read last February, I think, a had been opened by the president with Mr. letter or two in THE LANCET., complaining of Morrah on some proceedings of the Society I the rambling conversations indulged in at of Associated Apothecaries. The reports of the Medico-Chirurgical Society, and sug- the deputation appointed to wait on the Poor- gesting to the incoming president the pro. law Commissioners and the Society of Apo- priety of a more vigilant control over them thecaries, were also read, and a deputation as chairman of the meetings. How far the was appointed to wait on some members of views of your correspondents agree with Parliament on the subject of the Medical those of Mr. Stanley on this subject I have, Bill which Sir James Graham was about to of course, no means of knowing; bnt I cer- bring into the House of Commons. tainly think that some new limit should be At the last of the meetings Sir James assigned to the discussions. It is not desir- Clark’s second letter to Sir James Graham able that every man should be at liberty to, was laid on the table, and Dr. Webster re. help himself to as large a slice of the hour ported the interview of the deputation ap- and a half as he pleases. Indeed I think