The Sun.
London, England, 1839-01-05 00:00:00

MEETING AT THE LONDON UNIVERS TY—
RESIGNATION OF DR. ELLIOTSON.
Yesterday a meeting of the Members of the London Uni-
versity Medical Society, composed of late and present stu-
dents, was held in the Medical Theatre of the University, to
take into consideration the circumstances which had caused
the resignation of Dr. Elliotson, as Professor of the Theory
and Practice of Medicine—the consequent suspension of the
Medical Lectures—and the course which it might be advis-
able for the students to adopt in the present state of their class.
At one o'clock, Mr. M'Kenzie was called to the Chair,
when there were not less than 200 students present.
The CHAIRMAN having explained the objects of the meeting
and pointed out their importance, pledged himself to conduct
the proceedings with perfect impartiality, and called upon his
fellow-students to support in maintaining order and in obtain-
ing for every gentleman, who might offer his opinions, a pa-
tient and impartial hearing.
Mr. CROFT, who was received with applause, then rose and
said that the objects for which the present meeting had been
called, had been already fully stated by the gentleman whom
the wishes of his assembled fellow-students bad placed in the
chair. Before he proceeded to propose any resolution for
their consideration, be must beg their patience for a few
minutes whilst he attempted to turn their attention to the
merits and character of the valuable instructor, of whom recent
circumstances were likely to deprive them.—(Applause.)
Dr. Elliotson's character--whether he was regarded as a man
ofscienee, a gentleman, or, he trusted he might be permitted
to say, as a friend--(Cheers)—would alike bear the strictest
scrutiny.—( Great applause.) In the light of a scientific
man, who, ho would boldly ask, had done more towards sim-
plifying the practice of medicine, and establishing it upon
sound and rational bases ?—( Applause.) Dr. Elliotson had
perhaps exerted more influence upon the science, than any
other man of the present age.—(Cheers.) Regarding him as
lecturer—let them consider that when he commenced his pro-
fessional duties in that institution, his class consisted of only
ninety-seven pupils, whereas it numbered at present nearly
two hundred.—( Great applause.) To his exertions, they
were mainly indebted, for the establishment of the University
College Hospital; where those rules of practice which he
had been accustomed to teach in that theatre were so
beautifully illustrated, and their value confirmed.—( Cheers.)
His instructions in the school were in every word important.
(Hear, hear.) Everysentence contained some just, practical,
information. No vague theories were mingled with his doc-
trines, nor was anything omitted which the present state of
medical knowledge could supply.—( Hear, hear.) If any
point required explanation, that explanation was always sure
to be supplied in the kindest and most gentlemanly manner ;
and, if illness required his professional attendance for his
pupils themselves, or for their relations, whom could they find
more kind, more liberal, or more attentive than Dr. Elliot-
son?—( Hear, hear.) It was not for the present meeting to
discuss the causes which had led to his resignation, or the cor-
rectness of certain views entertained by him, as those views
never formed part of the Professor's lectures.--( Mingled dis-
approbation and applause.) With the sentiments which he
(Mr. Croft) believed he entertained, in common with his fel-
low-students around him, be begged leave to propose the fol-
lowing resolution :—" That the students of medicine, of Uni-
versity College, duly appreciating the high professional ac-
quirements of Dr. Elliotson, and the inestimable value of his
services here, do most sincerely regret the circumstances
which necessarily led to his resignation as Professor of the
principles and practice of medicine in the College, and as
physician to the Hospital."
Mr. ROBINSON rose to second the resolution. He need not dwell
upon the importance of any matter which could have led to the
resignation of Dr. Elliotson; nor was there one of his pupils who
would not declare his resignation to be one of the greatest ca-
lamities that could befal the University and the Hospital at-
tached to it.—( Applause. ) They would all agree that, in
one department at least, the interests both of the pupils and
of the Institution, were seriously damaged by the removal of
one of the strongest pillars and brightest ornaments of the
College—nay, of the whole medical profession.—( Hear,
hear.) Every pupil who had heard Dr. Elliotson in the chair
of that theatre, or had followed him through the sick wards
of the hospital, must coincide in that opinion ; and he (Mr. R.),
had never attended the Professor five minutes without deriving
important instruction from his remarks and his practice.
He ( Mr. R.) had no intimacy with Dr. Elliotson, or any
other professor, but as a pupil ; but lie admired him as an
upright man—as:a profound, reflecting, and talented physician,
full ofjudgment and goodness —( Applause)—gifted with strong
powers for the minutest observation and inquiry—coupled
with a facility for communicating instruction—for laying down
the principles of practice, in the plainest, simplest, and most
lucid manner. Were they to be deprived of his services be-
cause he stood forth, in spite of all prejudice—(Disapproba-
tion and applause)—the champion of what appeared to him a
new science ?—( Renewed disapprobation and great applause.)
There was no pretence for saying that the Institution had been
injured by the course which Dr. E., in his regard for truth
and science, bad thought it his duty to pursue. On the con-
trary, the number of pupils had greatly increased since his
appointment,—(Hear.) Ile (Mr. R.) would not discuss the
merits of Animal Magnetism, but rather would advise all who
took part in the proceedings of the day to abstain from the
discussion. He contended, however, that when Dr. E. re-
ceived the resolutions of the Council, ordering the dismissal of
one of his patients from the hospital, and forbidding the con-
tinuance of a particular course of practice, which he as senior
physician was pursuing, had no alternative but to resign.—
(Cries of " No, no," and applause.) Would it be at all con-
sistent for any man whose whole soul was bent upon fully in-
vestigating any part of science, and who was anxious to avail
himself of any remedy that might present itself for the benefit
of suffering humanity, should allow his mind to be so shackled
in its efforts for the public good ?—( Applause.) He (Mr. R. )
conscientiously thought that it wes not ; and therefore D. E.
had no other alternative but to resign.—(Applause and some
disapprobation.)
A GENTLEMAN whose name we did not learn, in opposing
the resolution (as we understood), was proceeding to enter
upon a discussion of the subject of Animal Magnetism, when
The CHAIRMAN said that the subject could not be then en-
tertained, except in so far as it bore upon the matters before
the meeting, namely, the resignation of Dr. Elliotson, and the
Resolutions of the Council, which had led thereto.
The GENTLEMAN said that it had long been known to every
one present that nine-tenths of the Council disapproved of the
practices adopted in the Hospital, in respect to Mesmerism;
and it was evident from the manner in which the Resolutions
of the Council had been communicated to Dr. Elliotson, that
his resignation was not " necessarily compelled" by them._
(Hisses and great confusion.) The Council did not wish to
accept of the Professor's resignation, provided that he would
give up the practice of Animal Magnetism in the hospital.—
( Hisses.)
Mr. JEFFERSON said that in point of fact the resignation had
not yet been accepted ; nor could it be until to-morrow (this
day), when the Council would meet for the first time since
the resignation had been sent in.
After a desultory conversation, the resolution was carried.
Mr. WARREN then said he rose with great pleasure to move
a second resolution. He agreed with every thing which had
been said by his friends Mr. Croft and Mr. Robinson, respect-
ing the character and attainments of Dr. Elliotson. But ho
wished to mention a few facts, which might not be known to
some of his junior fellow-students. To Dr. Elliotson be-
longed the merit of having established the use of the stetho.
scope. When he first adopted it, he was treated by his then
colleagues, in the Hospital of St. Thomas, with ridicule, and
by others with silent contempt.--( Hear, hear.) For years
after he had published his work upon Prussic acid, few would
employ it; and be was condemned for his report on Quinine,
which was the first treatise upon the subject that was published
in this country. Nay, he had been set down as a fool, for
having administered large doses of carbonate of iron in chorea,
when small ones failed. He displayed the use of sulphate of
copper in chronic diarrhoea; and when he made the discovery
that glanders occurred in the human subject, he was smiled at
for his credulity.—(Laughter and applause.) Besides, he had
undergone a long course of sneers and attacks for his discoveries
of the powers of creosote.—( Hear.) In fact, there was not
a single medicine upon which he had published a report that
bad not been the occasion of ridicule in the first instance ; but
yet they had all been subsequently established, and adopted
in general practice.—( Great applause.) Knowing, there-
fore, as all present knew, the circumstances which had led
to that Professor's resignation, would they quietly sit down,
and coolly put up with the election of another member of the
profession to supersede his place as their instructor?—(Great
applause, mingled with laughter and expressions of disappro-
bation.) They could not suppose that lie had resigned
willingly, although it had been objected to in the first resolu-
tion, that it contained the words that his resignation was com-
pelled. He might still have been lecturing, if he had com-
plied with the commands of the Council. But if he had done so
he must have disavowed all faith in the truth of his own doc-
trines.—( Cheers.) The recalling of Dr. Elliotson depended
wholly on the pupils themselves. He hoped—he believed
that, at their request, the Council would withdraw their re-
solutions.—( Laughter and cheers.) It had been reported
on the preceding day in that room, that Dr. Elliotson
would return if the Council would withdraw their resolutipns,
which ordered the expulsion of' one of his patients, without
consulting him, and forbad the practice of Mesmerism in the
hospital. Wby then should the students, whose interests
were so much involved in the matter, look on idly ? Why
should they not reqnest the Council to withdraw the resolu-
tions ? Would any lecturer (now to be appointed) be to them so
acceptable as Dr. Elliotson ?—(Cheers.) They wanted him
back—literally, they wanted him back.—(Cheers.) They
wanted his instruction as a lecturer, and his practice as a phy-
sician.—(Much cheering.) Mr. W. concluded by reading
the following resolution :—" That the students of the Uni-
versity College do most earnestly and strenuously, though re-
spectfully, entreat the Council to adopt such measures as shall
ensure the return of our esteemed Professor."
Mr. MoLINES seconded the resolution. Although he had
heard that objections had been made to the present meeting
of the students, he could not believe that they would not be
allowed to express their opinions upon a matter in which their
feelings and interests were so deeply concerned.—( Hear,
hear.) At a previous meeting a gentlemanino office had
stood up amongst them, and had gravely informed them that
he disapproved of their intention to hold a meeting for the
present purpose.--(A laugh.) He (Mr. M.) hoped,
that the Council would take into consideration the feeling
which had been manifested there that day. It had been said
that the students would suffer but little inconvenience from the
postponement of the lectures. But was it not an inconvenience,
much greater than that of the delay, that their course should,
be commenced by one lecturer and concluded by another
( Hear.) Were they, when they had commenced under a
Professor in whom they had perfect confidence, to put up with
any one who might be foisted upon them.—(Cheers.) He
called upon them, as they valued the interests of the Institution,
their own advancement in the knowledge of their chosen pro-