The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-13
The Medical Profession in Great Britain,

Inc MeulCal ffOIeSSlOnl IN Great brltAtns
Notwithstanding the marked Improvement
In the average qualifications Of medical prac-
titloncrs in the Unitcd Kingdom during the
last quarter Of century. there is now an
urgent call for more rigorous and effective
measures Of supervision. A royal Commits
sion was not long ago engaged in examining
tho subject, and 1t is expected that two bills
will be laid before Parliament during the
present session for the purpose Of preventing
the future intrusion of black sheep into tho
medical profession. One OF these bills en-
bodies the suggestions OF q majority Of the
Commission; the other, We presume, will
represent tho simple and judicious plan ad-
vocated by Prof. HUXLEY.
It isnot, indeed, proposed that Parliament
should adopt the rule followed in some Con-
tinental countries, and confine the right to
practise medicine, surgery, or obstetrics to
the possessors OF certificates authorized by
law. Not that many do not believe 1t highly
desirable to hedge about the medical profess
sion with analogous restrictions to those
which circuMscribe the practice OF the law.
But 1t has long been generally admitted
that such course would be impracticable.
Accordingly. In the United Kingdom, as In
the State OF New York. no attempt Is made
to supervise tho relations OF self-styled ply
sicians to their patients beyond imposing
penalties for injuries inflicted through NAL
practice. As regards, however, the relations
Of medical practitioners to tho State. the i'm
perial legislature has already asserted con-
siderable regulative powers. By the act Of
1858 only those persons entered on the Medi-
cal Register are qualified to officially attest
the cause OF death, to offer expert testimony
In criminal and civil cases. or to hold medi-
cal officcs In any branch OF tho Government.
On this Medical Register, however, have
been entered the names Of all persons pro-
vided with certificates from tho bodies legal
ly empowered there are now nineteen OF
them to issue licenses to practise. Now,
such has been the expansion OF the scale OF
requirement by medical schools In recent
years that the great majority Of these GER
tihcates are undoubtedly conclusive vouch-
ers Of professional attainment. There are
some OF these licensing bodies, nevertheless,
which, clinglng to the traditional division OF
the profession, confer diplomas for pro-
Aciency in medicine or In surgery alone,
without reference to o candidates &C.
quirements In obstetrics. There are also
two or three bodies authorized to issue II.
oenses which have discredited the medical
fraternity by trading on their privileges and
selling their certificates without adequate
regard to an applicants qualifications. II
was with the aim OF erasing these blots upon
the present system Of State control In Great
Britain that the Commission above men
toned was created, and that further legisla
ton now demanded.
The BILL Introduced during the last session
and which, a. 1t failed to become law, will
soon again be pressed on the attention o.
Parliament. Is based on the majority repor
OF tho Commission. It proposes to transfer
the power OF licensing from oil the bodies
now authorized by law to single Board o.
delegates. By this Board periodical examl
nations would be conducted. and to thes'
| every applicant for . license to practise IL
the United Kingdom must submit. But Jus
as In France the compulsory civil marriaR'
| may be supplemented at the will OF the par
ties by areligious ceremony. 90 the possesso
Of o legsl license under the proposed Law
| would be st liberty TO seek tho credit at
taching to certificate from distinguishes
| medical school. Tho weak point Of till