The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-05-27
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

CORRESPONDENCE.
Several weeks ago, in commenting upon the action
Of the Board of Health in the case of a person who
had been allowed to practice medicine here for a
number of years, with (as it subsequently appeared)
the sole qualification of the possession of a diploma,
we mentioned the fact that another gentleman had
arrived here from abroad with the intention of estab-
fishing himself in the practice of medicine, but that
he had been refused a license by the Board. We
have since been requested to print the following CORES
pondence on the subject, which we readily do, on the
ground that we are opposed most decidedly to the
antiquated red-tape idea that the possession of a dip
Iona is a sine qua non in the profession of medicine.
Farther, we are of the opinion that it should be the
policy, as it is the duty of those in authority to en-
courage instead of opposing the settlement in the
country of respectable men, who in the pursuit Of
their lawful avocations, may add to the material
wealth and progress of the body polite.
[COpy of a letter written by w. c. Michel to the Board of
Health, in making application for a license to practice medi-
cine, complying with the suggestion OF Dr. H~utchison1 .
No-1I HONOLULU, April 5th, 1871.
GENTLEMEN II have the honor to submit for your inform
alton a statement of the experience l have had in reference to
the practice of physic, during a period Of upwards of seven
teen years, with a view of obtaining a license to practice
medicine in this Kingdom.
/ duly served an apprenticeship of five years with Mr.. Henry
Doble, surgeon, 16l Old Gravel-Iane, St Georges. London.
which terminated on November Soth, 1859. Afterwards. 1
was an assistant with Messrs. Miller & Co. chemists, Mount
Ephraim, Tonbridge Wells, England, for one year and seven
months then with Messrs. Page a. Tibbs, chemists, IL Black
friars Road, London, for a period of five months and lastly.
with Mr.. Maitland, 10 Chester Place, Hyde Park Square, with
whom 1 renamed upwards of six years, the last three of
which 1 was manager My first knowledge of medicine was
gained under the instruction of a legally qualified medical man
in England, and then had great experience at Tonbridge
Wells, that town being much resorted TO by invafds of the
upper classes in England after which, at Blackfriar's, l was
and lastly, with Mr.. Maitland, 1 became intimately acquainted
with the treatment of diseases as adopted by the leading
1868, l was for some time with Messrs. Cook & Ross, Christ
last, for a period of fifteen months anterior 10 that date, had
been practicing medicine at Coromandel, Auckland, New Zea-
land.
1 arrived here in the steamer City Of Melbourne. and may
state that during the voyage from Auckland L had about thirty
patients,@a gratuitous work on my PARTIAL of whom made
the most marked and satisfactory progress and in the event
OF Captain Granger paying another visit, L feel assured that
happy to submit my testimonials for your inspection, amongst
to the firms mentioned above, as well as Drs. j. B. Allen, John
Morgan. C. A. Aicken, J. Rushforth and }. G. Forbes, all of
Any information herein omitted l shall be happy to supply,
and if an examination is deemed requisite, l shall be ready to
present myself upon any day which you may be pleased to
appoint. Trusting you may give my case your favorable con-
lam, gentlemen, your obedien. servant,
WILLIAM COwLING MICHEL.
To the Hon. members Of the Board Of Health.
No. q DEPARTMENT OF TIRE INTERIoR,)
BUREAU OF PUBLIC HEALTH, :
Honolulu, april l7th, ISL }
Board of Health to say that your letter of the 5h instant,
applying for a license to practice as a physician in Honolulu,
instant, and duly considered, but under the circumstances,
they did not feel justified in granting your request.
l have the honor to be your obedient servant.
CHARLES I. GULICK,
Secretary OF the Board of Health.
To ". C. Michel, Esq. -
No. 81 HONOLULU April 21st. 1871.
instant, in which you intimate that having duly considered !"
my application for a Incense to practice medicine, at a meet
ing held on the 18th instant, you refuse TO grant my request.
l write this in order to point out that l am willing TO undergo
my communication of the 9TH instant which fact may have
been overlooked. Also l may state that at Mr.. Maitland's
annualy-written by the foremost men of the day-and that
annual rate was maintained 1 ne during The h whole period Of oyer ~ 7
have been engaged in the practice of physc without any inter-
mission ever since the year 1854, my knowledge Of medicine
must claim some attention at your hands.
have the honor to be. gentlemen, your Obedlent servant,
To the Hon.. Members of the Board Of Health.
NV. c. Michel had an interview with ]. II. WodehOuse
Esq on April 25th, when he left with him the copies of the
two letters sent to the Board of Health, also Mr.. Gulick,
letter. Mr.. Wodehouse promising to write to the Minister o
Foreign Affairs (His Excellency c. c. HarTis) on the question
On May 9th Mr.. Wodehouse requested W.. c. Michel to writ
him a formal letter stating his grievance, but to be very bie
in doing 50, and not to mention anything about references, a
there was no question of his respectabiityl
NOD THE HOME. HONOLULU, May 9th, 1871.
British subject, and applied by letter on April 9th 10 the BoarC
of Health in Honolulu for a license to practice medicine, which
has been refused. Being willing to comply with the law o
the Hawaiian Kingdom in reference to the practice of medicine
rience, l appeal to you with a view OF obtaining a redress o
my grievance. Trusting you may give this your earliest con
| SluefdtlOn.
1 have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
To James Hay WOdehOuse, Esq. W. C. MICHEL.
No. 81 NUUANU VALLEY, May nth, 1871.
SIR Il have the honor to transmit to you the copy of
letter which | have received from His EXcellency the Minister
Of Foreign Affairs, in reply 10 a note which L addressed to him
Board of Health to be allowed to practice in this Kingdom as
"A physician or surgeon. You viii observe that the Board is o
opinion that you have not given satisfactory evidence of YOU
professional qualifications; and further that, in the absence o
such credentials as are afforded by a diploma, the Board does
not see any occasion to go into a personal examination.
l have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
JAMES Ii. WoDEHoUsE.
To ". C. Michel, Esq.
No. 81 DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, !
HONOLULU, May 18th, 1871. )
SIR The undersigned begs to acknowledge the receipt o
your note of May Sth, covering a communication from Mr.. W
G. Michel to yourself, under date May 9th, current year.
Immediately communicated them to the Minister of the Int
rior, who yesterday sent me a note in explanation, to the efec
that Mr.. Michel forwarded a memorial to the Board of Health
ON April 5h, asking for q license TO practice medicine, and
setting forth his experience The Minister informs me ina
Mr.. NJ. presented to himself his = testimonials" which wert
merely certificates of good service with certain chemists anC
druggists in London, and other places i'll England, as well 4.
in New Zealand. MIR. VI. says that at a MI. Maitland's. be
tween four and five thousand new prescriptions were COPIED
annually, written by the foremost men of the day, and iha
annual rate was maintained for over six years" MIR. M
makes no claim whatever to have received a medical and sur
gical education. but has evidently been brought up al a chemls
and druggist,-a mere dispenser Of medicines, which would moi
in his own country entitle him to prescribe medicines and trea
the Board did examine his claims, and at a meeting he'd OF
the 18th of April refuse his request, and communicated Iha
refusal to him, through their secretary. l am informed fur
ther that the Board has in no instance granted a license L
practice medicine to persons coming from abroad, unless the.
produced a diploma from some institution legally authorized {
grant such diploma in the country where such institution il
personal examination when such credentials are wanting
Hoping that this will he satisfactory to you,
l am, MIR. Commissioner, as always,
, Your very obedient servant.
CHAs. G. HARRIS