The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-17 00:00:00

n parliament, Mr. BULLER will be let off by the
silence of one, and the apathy of the other.
And yet, we cannot say that Lord ASHLEY'S reso-
lutions were either rationally. conceived or wisely
arranged. His first resolution had the great
fault of all Lord ASHLEY'S efforts at legislation.
It starts with a humane principle, and exaggerates
it into the extravagant. The resolution pro-
posed to provide every woman, who might claim
assistance, the best medical advice and attend-
ance at her first childbirth, at the national expense.
Such a sweeping act of obstetric generosity' not con-
fined to paupers, would indeed be munificent, but
scarcely tells within the scope of a poor-law. Of
couree, it was rejected ; its exaggeration and combo•
qucnt defeat flinging obloquy on some of the subse-
quent resolution., however just in their nature, and
however called for by existing abui•es.
The next resolution debated was altogether of a
very questionable character. It proposed to ap-
point medical inspectors, one to each district,
to 'which an assistant Poor-law Commissioner
is attached. The duties were ,to inspect and re-
port, on the medical treatment, and on the fitness
of the medical men in the unions ; to inquire
into the treatment of the sick poor ; to report on
the diet and health of the poor in the union houses ;
and perform such other sanitary duties as may be re-
quired of him. There can be no doubt that the ap-
pointment of such an officer would be attended with
many good results; but when it is considered of what
materials the medical profession of this country is
composed, it will, we think, be found that the duties
of the medical inspector would be of the most delicate
kind, and we should anticipate that there would be
few candidates for such an office. The salary of 400/.
a ytar would sot procure a fit person for the task,
whilst at the same time the expense of the system
would be great.
Another point in these resolutions was the de-
finieF the nature of the qualifications of the
medical officer. We should have been glad to
find this resolution confirmed by the legislature,
as it admits one of the great principles we
have been contending for in medical reform, the
necessity of recognising in all parts of the empire the
licenses and diplomas which bestow a legal right to
practise in any other part. The union medical offi.er
is to possess " a diploma in surgery, and a degree,
diploma, or license in physic, from one or other of the
universities or colleges of physicians or surgeons, or
societies of apothecaries of the United Empire."
Although we shall be glad to see the time • hen the
government itself will institute one efficient examina-
tion, or compel each licensing body to do so, so that
one license will be sufficient to entitle a medical man
to practise every branch of his profession,
. we sup-
pose that at present we must rest satisfied with the
double demands made in Lord MULCT'S resolution.
Connected with this resolution there is a curl-
ous exception, and that is, that "if under any
circumstances it should be found necessary to
employ unqualified persons," such persons are
to have the special permission of the poor-
law commissioners. This exception appears to us
quite unnecessary, and open to great abuse. Although
the Archbishop of CANTERBURY has the power of
making doctors, and has occasionally used his privi-
lege where a great man has been afraid of risking
his reputation before the jealous censors of Pall-mall,
we do not see that this is any reason for conferring
the 'same power on the Poor-law Commissioners.
No ; the only reason for government interfering with
medical education at all, is its duty to protect the
public health and life. To allow a board of Com-
missioners to abrogate laws made for this purpose is
absurd, and likely to lead to very injurious prac-
tices.

One of the most important and beneficial of
the changes recommended, and which alone would
diminish much of the hardship of the present
system, as far u the poor are concerned, is
that which relates to the obtaining orders for
the attendance of the medical officer. At present
the poor person is obliged to procure an order from
the relieving officer, or ovgrsetr, before he can obtain
medical relief. The result of this system is, that the
medical officer, however ill the person may be, fre-
quently refuses to afford his attendance till the order
is obtained ; or it he commeaces to attend the patient,
se in the case at Croydon, ho refuses to continue his
aid when he finds the order is not forthcoming.
Under these circumstances, much human life has

been sacrificed. Instead of this plan, Lord Asir-
LEY proposed that the Poor Law Commis-
',loners shall cause to be made out a list
in every parish of all persons entitled to
medical relief,and that such persons shall beat liberty
to require the attendance of the medical officer, with-
out previously applying to the relieving officer ;—such
attendance, however, only to be given for twenty-
four hours, unless an order were received from the re-
lieving or other authorised officer of the board of
guardians. The same rule also to apply to casual
poor—those who are not on the former list, and whom
the medical officer may refuse to attend, if they are
not 'able to procure an order. This plan had the merit
of getting rid entirely of the monstrous requirement of
the present system, that when persons are dying they
may have to send from ten to twenty miles in one
direction for an order, and, as many miles in another
direction for the medical attendant, before they can
obtain assistance.

The result of last night's proceedings will give rise
to regret. The first four of Lord ASHLEY'S proposi-
tions were rejected by the House of Commons ; and
this rebuff induced him to withdraw the remainder.
Thus the useful and the impracticable were sacrificed
together, and another session must apparently pass by
without any emendation of the admitted defects of
our system of poor-law medical relief.

GERMANY.