The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-18 00:00:00

BM, to show that there were the most ample grounds
for calling on Parliament to interfere on the part of the
Government, and create some new body, with new
powers, for the benefit of the profession. The extracts
read from the pamphlet by the Hon. Gentleman, went
to show that the College of Surgeons knew that the
young men, proposing themselves as candidates for di..
plomas, were improperly and imperfectly educated—
that they were crammed with words, but knew nothing
of their business. That state of things lasted during
thirty years of Sir C. Bell's experience. It had been
suggested that it would be a more advisable course to
reform the existing corporation ; but if he attempted
to do so, he should be just as strongly opposed. Ha did
not propose to affect existing corporations.—(Hear,
hear.) He had turned' to the evidence given be-
fore the Committee that sat in 1834, to look
for principles and authorities by which he could shape
his course. H-e" would refer to a high authority in fa-
vour of a General Board (that of Dr. Kidd), which
was decidedly in favour of the plan embodied in his
Bill. Was it to be supposed his plan was unsup-
ported up to this time? Even in 1834, Sir Benjamin
Brodie had givee ev?dence before the Committee in fa-
vour of a General Board. Mr. Green, who had re-
cently published pamphlets on the subject, which were
entitled to great attention, gave similar evidence in fa-
vour of this measure. He could also quote the names
of Drr. Elliotson, Arnott, and others, as entertaining
similar opinions. No one would contend that there
should not be a well qualified body of medical practi-
tioners, or that the present system was calculated to
create or maintain such a body. To show that at pre-
seat there was not such a body, he would state that out
of 1,330 who had been engaged under the new Poor-
law Act, there were 900 who possessed no regular qua-
lification.—( Hear.) He had referred to high autho-
rities, Brodie, Elliotson, Cooper, and others, by whom
his measure was supported. There had been no
petitions against this Bill as a Medical all. Some
medical corporations were opposed to it, because they
would be placed under surveillance if it became law.
But the great corporations in England, Scotland, and
Ireland had not disapproved of it. With respect to the
chemists and druggists, he never had any intentioa of
interfering with their trades ; and to guard against the
Bill having an injurious effect upon them a clause pre-
pared by the solicitor to that body had been introduced
into the Bill. He proposed, instead of the nineteen
self-elected corporations which at present had the whole
government of the profession, this Bill should constitute
one council, to be elected by the whole of the profes-
sion. He regretted that the measure had not been
taken up by abler hands, but as there was no Bill on
the sul)jeet before the House, he was induced to un-
dertake the introduction of oue. In conclusion, he
could only say, that it received t►.e approbation of the
greatest part of the medical profession in Great Britain
and Ireland, and now moved the second reading of the
Bill.

Mr. E WART seconded the motion. Whoever
looked at the state of the medical profession must see
that it was in a state of disorder, and that it required
the at endincaL that would be supplied by the present
Bill.

Mr. DARBY was 'surprised that the lion. Member
for I,!,mbeth, in quoting the opinions of eminent
authorities, should have overlooked the provisions of his
own Bill. The Bill, as it stcod at present, would only
affect professional men connected with public institu-
tions. Its provisions differed widely from its preamble.

HON. MEMBER here said he was sorry to inter-
rupt the lion. Member, but he begged to move that
the house be counted.

Strangers were, accordingly, ordered to withdraw,
when there being only thirty-three Members present,
the House adjourned at a Quarter to Eight o'Ciock.