The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-25 00:00:00

LONDON MEDICAL REFORM.

Last evening the second meeting of the committee
appointed to promote the passing into law of the proposed
bill for the better regulation of the medical profession was
held at the Freemason's Tavern, Great Queen street, Lin-
coln's-inn-fields, Dr. LANKESTEN in the chair.
Various letters were read making applications for forms
of the petition to be presented to the houses of parliament,
praying the legislature to take such immediate measures as
might be deemed expedient for the accomplishment of the
object in view.
The following memorial to Lord Palmerton was then
introduced by the chairman:—
"My Lord,—On behalf of a committee appointed at a
meeting of medical men, held in London on the 18th of
May, 1853, to promote the passing into law of the proposed
bill for the better regulation of the medical profession, pre-
pared by the Provincial 31edical and Surgical Association,
and presented by that body to your lordship, we lug to
submit the following statement to your notice :—The pre-
sent condition of the medical profession imperatively
demands the immediate in:erference of the legisla-
ture. And for there, amongst other reasons: First,
the utter want of uniformity which at present
exists in professional qualification, there being no
lees than nineteen different sources from which licences
to practice can be obtained. Secondly—The hardahip by
which highly educated men are restricted in their practice
tonne particular portion of the kingdom; a pies-itioner
who is legally qualified in England being unqualified in
Scotland or Ireland, and tire recurs. Thirdly—The want
of a system of registration ty which men who have been
properly educated, and who poaseas a lcg-.l qualification.
may be distinguished from ignorant end dishonest pre-
tenders. We would point out to your lordship that these
evils affect the public no less than the profession, because
they may at times deprive the sick and suffering of the best
medical assistance, and because they continually place thi in
at the mercy of uneducated and unscrupulous men. An
example of the pernicious consequences that flaw from the
present defects in the law, is afforded ny a recent case in
a pubic court of the metropolis, where two individuals
have been charged with the off nee of criminally procuring
abortion. These persons are described as medical men,
and appear to have been practis ng as such ; thou.th there
is no ground for believing that they have any legal preten-
sions to the title. We are convinced that the propased bill
prepared by the Proviacial Medical and Surgical Associa-
tion is a wise and salutary measure, and one well calculated
to remedy the evils of which we complain. We think this,
because it provides for one common examination, through
which every candidate for practice must pass ; Dec.:use it
gives to every one thus examined an equal right to prac-
tise throughout the United Kingdom; and because it es-
tablishes au efficient registration. We know that it is sup-
ported by a very large majority of the medical profession
throughout the kingdom. We know that many petitions
have already been presented, and that many more will shortly
oe forwarded, to parliament in its behalf. We have reason
to believe that a considerable number of the members of the
House of Commons have expressed their determination to
support the measure, should it be introduced into parliament.
'We therefore consider that the present moment is eminently
favourable for the settlement of a question which is of great
importance to the medical profession, and to the whole com-
munity, which has been long agitated, and which will as-
suredly not be suffered to rest till it has been brought to a
satisfactory solution. We therefore earnestly entreat your
lordship at once to take up the question, and to pass into
law the bill now in your hands, during the present session.
In conclusion, we may state that we are entirely uncon-
nected with the Provincial Medical lied Surgical Association,
and are only desirous of the enactment of the measure
above-mentioned because we believe it to be one that will
prove beneficial to the public and equitable for the whole
profession. We have the honour to remain, your lordship's
obedient servants, (Signed)
" EDWIN LANKESTER, M.D., Chairman.
J. DALSTON JONES, M.D.
)1 Secretaries."
IV . M. Powau.
The memorial was adopted, and an opinion was expressed
that it was highly desirable that an effort should be made to
increase the number of the committee as speedily as poi-
! Bible.

A resolution was then passed, that the chairman be re-
quested to write to Lord Palmerston, begging his lordship
to receive a deputati• n of the committee. It was subse-
quently stated, in addition to subscriptions announced at
the last meeting, a cheque for five guineas had been re-
ceived from Sir Charles Ilastings towards the expenses of
the monument, and the chairman stated that he hoped this
example would be followed by other members of the
medical profession who were in a position to assist the com-
mittee in carrying out their object. A strorg feeling was
expressed that the proposed bill was deserving of the sup-
port of the profession, cud the chairman intimated that
another meeting of the committee would take place at an
cagy day.
The proceedings then terminated.