The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-06 00:00:00

ORN ING

EDITTON
Strangers were then ordered to vsithdraw, and the
Howe ided, whcn the numbers were—

For the motion 45
For the amendment

3Nority. 7
MEDICAL PROFESSION.
Mr. HAWES tneved for leave to bring in a Bill
" to amend the laws relating to the Medical Profession."
The Hon. Member that as he understood the mo-
tion would not he opposed, he would oct then entLr
into any details with regard to the provisions of his
measure.

Mr. FOX MAULE did not intend to oppose the
motion. lie thought that some reform with respect to
the laws relating to the medical profession in this cenn-
try was certainly desirable ; and he believed that in
stating that opinion he expressed the feeling of the
three great medical bodies in the country—the College
of Ph3s:cians, the College of Surgeons, and the Com-
pany of Apotheceries.
Mr. IS' AKLEY said, that if the Hoe, Gecth men
who had last addressed the House were only prepared
to support such a measure of medical reform as would
have the sanction of the three bodies he alluded to, it
would not give satisfaction to the profession or the pub-
lic. The ft was, tlrose oodles had given to the public
the greatest pcssiblo amount of dissatisfaction, and it
was lrom that dissatisfaction that the desire for a reform
which so generally prevailed had arisen.
Mr. WARBUItTON concurred in the remarks of
the lion. Gentleman who had just sat down. He
thought that a reform in the three great bodies them-
selves, and their statutes would be desirable. lie
would not now go into details, but ha hoped his lion.
Friend would be more successful in pleasing the pro-
fession with his Bi.l than lie (Mr. WarCurton) had been
with the one which he had introduced at the close of
last Session. He felt bound to state that he should
feel it his duty to oppose any Bill which sought by cc-
ercion to put down irregular practitioners quite as
strenuously as he had opposed the Copy right Bill. He
. . •
would net cr consent to any provisions autnores• ng Cor-
porations to drag an in-egu'ar practitioner heroics a single
Magistrate, with a view of putting I itn down. 'coat
was not the method by which irre:uer practice was to
to be preventad. The principle had been tfied over
and over again, and had failed, and he shankd oppose
any Bill embodying such a principle.
Lard JOHN RUSSELL said his Hon. Friend, the
Under-Secretary of State, had b: en misunderstood.
He had not said that the GoVernment could not agree
to any measure of reform Out did not meet with
the saection of the three medical corporation:. What
he had stated was, that the Corporations themselves
acknowledges! that some medical reform was necessary.
Its would not now give any opinio i on the general sub-
ject, bat would cement by saying that he
thought it desirable that sonic mare effectual method
should be taken to ascertain the qualifications of me-
dical practitioners, than was taken at present.
Mr. HALFORD challenged the liin. Member for
Finsbury to prove any charge of corruption against the
medical bodice ; and he should like to know to which
of then: the lion. Member alluded in bringing forward
his charge, and when the corruption had taken place.
Mr. FiTZSTEPHEN FRENCH regretted that
the Government had not taken up the question of me-
(heal reform.

Sir R. INGLIS said the Hon. Member for Finsbury
had accused the Medical Corporations of mismat4e-
ment and corruption. The question of mismanagement
was one that might be fairly discussed, but he should as
soon think of charging the Noble Lord opposite with
corruption as the College of linysicians. 110 had sat
on the M'Alical Committee, and as far a; he recollected
❑o charge of corruption had been brought forward, cer-
tainly none had been substantiated.

111 r. 11U ME sail the fauft was not in the men, but
i❑ the system. Medical rferm was a great national
objet', and the question ought to he talon up by the
Government.

Mr. WAK LEY explained that he had n't meant to
attribute corruption to any individual. He did not
mean to say that any individual ba,l b,en dipping his
hand into the pubbe purse. What he did mean by charg-
ing the Medical Corporations with corruption was this—
tle meant to say, and he now did distinctly charge
them, that in exercising the authority conferred upon
them by Acts of Parliament, and by charters, they had
legislated diAloncstly—that is, that they had legislated
for their o►vn benefit, and not for the good of the pro-
fession and the public. If any doubt existed upon the
mind of the Han. Baronet, ha would hold himself re-
sponsible when the Bid was read a second time, or
when be brought in his WI, which► he hoped shortly to.
be enabled to do—(Hear, hear)—to make goad the
charge he had made.

111 r. II AWES then brought in the Bill, which was
read a first tiino, and ordered to be read a second time
that day fortniht.
IRISH REGISTRATION BILL.
Lord NIORPETII brought in the Irish Registra-
tion Bill, which was read a first, and ordered to be read
a second, time that day fortnight.
The Houso adjourned at a Quarter before Eight
o'Clock to Monday.