The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-05 00:00:00

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

On Tuesday a very numerous meeting of members
of the Royal College of Surgeons took place at Exeter-
hall, for the purpose of considering the course to be
pursued by the Council of the College in their refusal to
grant an interview to a deputation to present an address
signed by upwards of 1,000 members on the present state
of the medical profession.
Mr. J. B. Asbury, of Enfield, was at eight o'cloek
called to the chair, and was supported by Mr. Wilkley,
M.P., Dr. Carpue, Dr. Lamb, 1)r. Thompson, Dr. John-
son, Dr. Lynch, and a large number of medical practi-
tioners of considerable eminence.

The Cultr.mAN having explained the object of the
meeting, _ _

Dr. ExNcn proposed the first resolution, to the eff, et—
" That the refusal of the Council of the College of
Surgeons of England to receive a deputation with an
address most respectfully worded, and signed by up-
wards of 1,000 members of that College,- was a delibe-
rate insult offered to those members by 'the Council,
which stands without a parallel in the history of medi-
cine in this country." The Doctor proceeded at great
length to denounce the arbitrary power possessed by the
Council of the College of Surgeons under the new char•
ter recently granted them by Government, by which
they were enabled to elect Fellows indiscriminately,
without reference to merit or high and distinguished at-
tainments in physiology and anatomy, but solely through
private influence, self-interest, and wealth being exercised
in lieu thereof.

At this stage of the proceedings the room became 60'
densely crowded that an adjournment, to one of the larger
rooms of the hall was put and carried, and took place ac-
cordingly.
Dr..Lyreen again resumed, and called upon the meet-
ing in the language of the Times newspaper, to which
journal the profession were deeply indebted for it- able
advocacy—(Loud cheers)—" to fight the battle them-
selves and they would be sure to win."—(Cheers.)
Mr. Morr seconded the resolution, which, after some
few observations from Mr. Greville Jones, was put and
carried unanimously.
Mr. HOL3IES moved the next resolution—
" That the meeting considered, that inasuatich as the
authority of the Council was exercised- under the pro-
visions of charters which had been granted by the Crown
the commonalty of the College publicly demanded that
the names of those members of the Council who deter--
mined that -the deputation should not be received should
be published for the information of the members of the
College, and the medical profession generally."
Mr. HUTCHINSON, of Farringdon-street, seconded the
resolution, which was also put and carried nem. con.
Several other resolutions passed, admonishing the.
Council of the College of Surgeons that the power of
creating fellows, and thereby conferring the elective
franchise on the members, must permanently expire one
the 14th instant, and that the members of the College
would hold the Council to be responsible for an illiberal
or an invidious exercise of that authority.
Dr. Carpue, Mr. Cooper, and other gentletaen having
addressed the meeting,
Mr...lirext.ee M.P., in answer to loud and repeated
.callst.came forward, and was received with great ap-
,,plause. 'He said that not only the Council of the Collee
_of Stirgeons, but Parliament were watching with anxiety
the movements of the profession, and he was delighted
at the spirit which had manifested itself that evening.
(Cheers.) Eighteen years ago he had attended one of
the largest medical meetings ever held in London, to po-
tion that the elective franchise should be granted to the
members of the College. Petitions poured in time after
time, and at last the Executive Government had thought
proper to take a most unusual step by granting to the
Council, which had been denounced for the last twenty
years, the privilege of exercising that very power which
had been refused to the general body. The power to
grant that franchise was now vested in the Council, but
on Saturday next it would cease. Up to the present
time they had refused to give men equal in talent and
ability to themselves, the power to exercise that which
was their undoubted right.—(Hear, hear.) The con-
duct of the Council had placed the profession in a most
degrading position before Parliament, for they had re-
fused, having the power to grant the franchise, to intrust
it to the profession. He would ask if they still refused
to meet them as equals in the College gf Snrcreona.
ax,c.,,ries of " No, no.") This charter was,
in fact, a bill of pains and penalties against the members
of the College, for they could never become members of
the Council, because they were not fellows, unless they
were made such before the 14th of the present month.
Mr. Wakley, at much length, and in a most humo-
rous manner, described the effect of the new Bill intro-
duced by Sir James Graham, whom he designated as the
" Medicine, or Great Mystery Man," like a similar me-
dical gentleman brought over here by the loway Indians,
to advance quackery, and concluded by proposing a vote
of thanks to the Chairman.
Dr. CARPUE seconded the motion, which was car-
ried with loud acclamations, and the meeting separated
at a late hour.