The Express.
London, England, 1868-11-14 00:00:00

THE VILLAGE DOCTOR.

trans the Legislature interfere the inhabitants
of villages and outlying country districts of Eng-
land, and especially of Scotland, may be deprived
of a large portion of the services of that =obtru-
sive, charitable, and indispensable gentleman, the
village doctor. With this year he loses the power
of legally supplying rich or poor with medicine
from his open shop or surgery unless he happen
to be • qualified apothecary. Ile may be a
member or even Fellow of the Royal College of
Surgeons, a Licentiate of the Royal College of
Phya►caans--nay, possess the diploma of • Doctor
of Medicine of the Universities of London, Ox-
ford, or Cambridge, and have prepared
medicine for his patients for the past
twenty years ; all is unavailing if he be
not a licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries.
Many English and most Scotch medical practi-
tioners are without the latter qualification, hence,
after the 31st of December, are practically de-
barred from supplying the public with physic;

for under the IMb and leth °lames of the now
I liarnmey Act any person selling certain medi-
cines termed poisons, or keeping an open shop for
feuding, dispensing, or compounding such medi-
cines is liable to a penalty of unless be.4ll*,*
iLanosomstical chemist, chemist and dr.4sist,
legally qualified apothecary, or member of the
Rpyal College of Veterinary Burgeon. Neigh-
bourhooda too poorly or thinly populated to sup-
port a chemist and draggle! have hitherto hid
tLeir medicinal wants supplied at the dootor's
forgery, but on and after New Tear's Day this
Ftato of things is to °ease. The doctor
may sell his advice and give away hie physic, bat
not give advice gratis and charge for the medi-
cine. At present every medical man possesses the
power—it cannot always be a privilege--or per-
funning the office of acheadet and druggist when-
ever circumstances of locality demand of him such

a function, but with 1868 tide power ceases ; for
he Cannot legally do what all the druggists are
now doing, namely, register himself as a chemist
under the act. Nor can ho got over the difficulty
by employing as an assistant a registered chemist
and druggist, for sales effected by a servant are in
law the actions of his master. How has all this
arisen ? The act ea originally promoted by the Phar-
maceutical Society saved the rights of " duly quell-
" Bed medical practitioners." Who altered these
words to " legally qualified apothecary "1' It is said
that the change was effected by Lord RODENT
MONTAGU, at the instance of the Privy Council;
hut by when' was that body thus advised?
Medical men in high places may consider it un-
dignified that the hand which pens a prescription
should ptepare pills; but what is to be done when
Simple Simon cr his master is ill, and the nearest
druggist ie ten miles distant? Of course, the
practitioner will not comply with the requisition
of the Act in this respect, and no ono will pro 33-
cute him ; but that is a position in which the
en( mlx rs of a learned profession should not be
placed. The ohnozious restriction ought, rather,
prcuiptly to he repealed.

OUR CONTENII'ORARIES.

(THIS DAY.)

The Daily News cursorily reviews some of the
BIM p►omiat at of the election events which are fixed for
the early fait of the ensuing week. With respect to the
mettepolitan ecnstitusecies our contemporary says that
though accident may do something for the conservatives,
it may be doubted whether, by any sinister aids and cir-
cumstances, they will gain a single seat. London owes a
good example to the country, of which it is the head and
Mart. The Daily News again issiste that political honour
and fidelity ought to compel the retirement of those
whose persistence only endangers the can of which they
motets to be champion..
Commenting upon Lord Stanley's speech at Lynn yes-
terday, the Times obiorves that, although his lordship
goes to the poll on the general •s platform" of conserve-
there is enough in his address to show that his indi-
vidual liberalism still strongly tinges his hereditary and
official traditions.—The releyreph mays that if the House
of C.,mmons would lose much by the shoince of Lord
Stanley, so would the imperial business of the nation;
and it is with satisfaction that the country well knows
that his appearance in the new house is matter of cor-
tiXnty.

Referee: to the conference held at at. Petamburg on
the subj. ct of the use of :plosive shell, in warfare, the
Peat remarks that although probably no grid practice/
tenant will be derived from the assaisoree thst may b
agreed upon, one advantage has already been obtained.
The great powers of Europe have been induced to consider
how the awful honors of war may be mitigated ; and from
this to entertaining the idea of how war may be rendered
more and more infrequent ie bat a step, if a bag one.
The Star, eranaing the truth of a report to the effect
that the Bishop of London is to be appointed to the
vacant primacy, rays that the public would view such an
appointment with satisfaction.
The Herald point. out that one of the Ant and moat
noticeable fruits of the popularisation of the franchise hes
been an immense increase in the number of candidates
coming from the most open, the most learned, and the
most laborious of the professions—that of the law. If
only a fair proportion of the.. gentlemen should get re-
turnai, the new parliament will be in no lack of legal
lichts to guide it in its endeavour towards practioal u gin.
latioo ; but whether the very abundance of illumination
may not lead it astray the Herald ventures not to pre-
Om].