The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-14 00:00:00

THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION BILL,

The following objections to the Medical Registration
Bill of Mr. Brady were drawn up by the committee ap-
pointed by a meeting of the profession, held at the Free-
masons' Tavern on 3d of March, and were presented to
Lord Palmerston by,a deputation from that committee
on March 21 :

I. Because it leaves all the existing acts of Parliament
which refer to the medical profession unrepealed, thus add-
ing to rather than diminishing the present confused state
of legislation on the subject.
2. Because it gives no legal title to practise to those re-
gistered under its provisions, but leaves every medical
practitioner exactly as he at present stands; whereas, one
of the chief objects of medical reformers has always been
the retrospective registration, with an unquestionable
title, of all who are now properly qualified to practice.
3. Because, as a consequence of the two preceding errors
it aims to perpetuate the existing anomalies in medical
,tualification, by recognising the conflicting claims of eleven
out of twenty-one licensing bodies, and by denying to any
one of them the power of licensing throughout the whole
of the United Kingdom. As an instance, it may be men-
tioned that the right of the members of the Royal College
of Surgeons of England to register under the bill is very
doubtful ; and the right to register of graduates in surgery
of the University of Dublin, and of the graduates in medi-
cines of the Universities of London, Durham, Edinburgh,
Glasgow, Aberdeen, St. Andrew's, Dublin, and the Queen's
University in Ireland, is not recognised.
4. Because it affords no guarantee to the public or the
profession, that those persons who may be registered under
its provisions shall have been properly educated, or even
educated at all, for their duties ; and yet it proposes to in-
vest these Persona with exclusive privileges, and with the
sole right to practise medicine.
5. Because it perpetnates the appellation of apothecary,
which has become
profession. unsuited to designate any class of the
6. Because it ignores that principle of xyciprocity of
practice between the different portions of the United
,om, for which medical reformers have so long
striven.
T. Because its effect would be to perpetuate and legalise
the a
anomalous and irrational condition of the l
by
which the medical profession is at present inconvenienced
and injured.
at gru bafo
it
r
~would S. Because, even were it a perfect and efficient, instead
oat faulty and unsatisfactory
registration
of ain
tudform an unworthy termination to a long
medical reform of more than twenty years' duration, and
would carry back the question to the point where it Was
left many years ago.
9. Because the reform committee of the Provincial Medi-
ral and Surgical Association have, after three years of
persevering exertion, framed a comprelaen-
Five measure a laborious and pe
medical
rse
reform, the principles of which,
including full anefficivnt registration, have received the
majority of the profession.
support of it great -
Under these circumstances, and for the foregoing rea-
-1
eons,
any measure of partial legislation, like the bill of
31. r. Brady, is unnecessary, and would even be injurious.

LORD ST. LEONARDS AND THE LAW WRITZII9.—Last
evening a very crowded meeting of law stationers and
others interested in the matter was held in the theatre
of the London Mechanics' Institution, for the purpose
of adopting some active measures in order to obtain a
apeedy:and effective redress of the grievances under which
tkey labour, founded upon the operation of Lord St.
Leonards' order of the 10th of November, 1352. Mr.
Robert Taylor presided, and stated that a memorial
from the law stationers had been presented to the present
Lord Chancellor, complaining of the injustice of the
order, but his lordship had declined to interfere in the
matter. Several gentlemen addressed the meeting, and
resolutions were adopted in accordance with the object
for which they had met, after which the proceedings ter.
tainated.