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Army and Navy Medical Services' HistoryAuthor(s): W. P. Brookes and Howard DouglasSource: Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal (1844-1852), Vol. 14, No. 18 (Sep. 4, 1850), pp.503-504Published by: BMJStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25501410 .

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MEMORIAL OF THE MANCHESTER MEDICO-ETHICAL ASSOCIATION. 503

object of its institution, an object far more likely to be

beneficial than all its efforts to promote Reform by

legislative enactments The papers alluded to will doubtless be published,

and I will occupy space no further than by expressing a hope that the publications of the Association will ever

be found to reflect and encourage, even more fully than

they have hitherto done, this spirit of scientific investi

gation which has been shown to animate a large section of its members.

I am Sir,

AN ATTENTIVE HEARER AND READER.

MEMORIAL OF THE MANCHESTER MEDICO

ETHICAL ASSOCIATION.

To the Editor of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal.

SIR,-We are instructed by the Council of the Man chester Medico-Ethical Association to request that you

will publish the accompanying memorial to the Poor Law Board in the columns of your Journal.

We are, Sir,

Your obedient servants,

JOHN AIKENHEAD, 1 . W. C. WILLIAMSON. Hon. Secs Manchester, August 24, 1850.

To the Honourable the Poor-Law Board.

The Council of the Manchester Medico-Ethical Asso ciation beg respectfully to request the attention of your

Honourable Board to a resolution recently come to by the Manchester Board of Guardians, involving certain

medical regulations of an objectionable character. It is proposed that a very widely-scattered district,

containing at least 50,000 inhabitants, shall be assigned to one medical officer, whose remuneration shall be ?150 per annum, out of which all medical and surgical appliances shall be supplied, he being at the same time debarred from private practice; and further, that no extra fees shall be allowed for midwifery cases or for

surgical operations, except one shilling and sixpence for each successful case of vaccination, which latter -the Council have been informed will probably not realize more than ?50 yearly.

There is reason for assuming that an annual average of more than 2000 cases of sickness will have to come under the treatment of the medical officer.

Under such circumstances the Council submit that the salary proposed will not defray the necessary outlay in medicines and leeches, and as no other source of income will be available, (private practice being pro hibited,) the conclusion is certain that the pauper patients will sustain the wrong.

The Council would further submit, that the physical capabilities of one man, whose means will neither enable him to employ a dispenser of medicines, to use a con

veyance, nor to engage the occasional services of an authorized substitute, will be utterly unequal to the conscientious discharge of the duties imposed upon him.

For the foregoing reasons, amongst others that might be advanced, the Council of the Manchester Medico Ethical Association most respectfully call upon your Honourable Board to withhold your sanction to the resolution in question, as being one which must inflict certain hardships upon the poor, and involve the degra dation of an honourable profession, should any one be found unscrupulous enough to accept the appointment upon the terms proposed.

Signed on behalf of the Council, J. L. BARDSLEY, President. JOHN AIKENHEAD, 1Hon. Se

W. C. WILLIAMSON. I on' Sec. Manchester, August 23, 1850.

INQUIRY ON CHOLERA.

To the Editor of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal.

SIR,--I beg to express, through the medium of the

Journal, my acknowledgment of the kindness and

courtesy received from Mr. Hunt, and all members of the Association who have favoured me with letters on the subject of cholera, and I request those gentlemen to accept my best thanks for their valuable assistance.

I remain, yours faithfully, P. HENRY WILLIAMS, M.D.

Worcester, August, 1850.

ARMY AND NAVY MEDICAL SERVICES' HISTORY.

PROPOSED SUBSCRIPTION FUND.

To the Editor of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal.

SIR,-I am anxious to raise a fund, by a subscription of one guinea each, to assist in the publication of a

history of the services of the medical department of the army and navy during the present century, with a

brief account of the educational qualifications and duties of medical officers, together with anecdotes and

biographical sketches of those who have distinguished themselves, either by their heroic deeds or professional services. Such a work would be read with great interest

by the public, as well as by the profession, and would

rescue from oblivion many a noble action performed by medical officers who fell on the field of battle, or who still survive, af are perhaps unnoticed by their country.

The editor of such a work would doubtless receive much valuable information and assistance from expe rienced military and naval surgeons still living, and

would bequeath to posterity a history of services and reminiscences which would shed a lustre on the profes sion, and establish incontestably the claims of military and naval surgeons to military honours.

In order fully to carry out the foregoing suggestion, it would be desirable that a select committee, consisting of military and naval surgeons, and others who may feel an interest in the matter, should be formed in

London, with auxiliary committees in the provincial towns, who would not only aid in collecting subscrip

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504 MISCELLANEOUS.

tions, but information also, for the work in question, and who might communicate with the general com.

mittee in London.

Previously to the formation of such a committee, I

should be happy to receive subscriptions and hints for the furtherance of the object in view, and should

feel grateful if you will give your support to the pro

posed undertaking, and the use of the Journal for the

announcement of subscriptions as occasion may require. I would further observe, that the following gentlemen

to whom the above proposal has been mentioned, have

intimated their desire to become subscribers:

Sir FRANCIS LAWLEY, Bart., Middleton Hall, War

wickshire.

G. J. GUTHRIE, ESQ., F.R.S., Berkeley Street, London.

HENRY JOHNSON, Esq., M.D., Shrewsbury. JOHN DICKEN, Esq., F.R.C.S., Shrewsbury.

W. J. CLEMENT, Esq., F.R.C.S., Shrewsbury. T. PIDDUCK, Esq., Surgeon, Shrewsbury. R. THURSFIELD, Esq., Surgeon, Bromley. A. G. BROOKES, Esq., Surgeon, Cressage.

W. P. BROOKES, Esq., Surgeon, Wenlock.

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, W. P. BROOKES.

Much-Wenlock, Aug. 28, 1850.

P.S.-Since writing the above, I have received the annexed letter from Sir Howard Douglas.

(Copy.) " London, August 26, 1850.

" Sir,-I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter forwarding to me the Journal of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, containing a copy of a Memorial addressed to Lord John Russell, on the subject of the claims of military and naval

surgeons to military honours; and communicating to me the vote of thanks of that learned body for my endeavours to procure for that learned and distinguished class of officers the honorary distinctions to which many are so well entitled.

"I request you will assure the gentlemen of the Association, that I cordially wish their memorial may prove successful, and that I am fully sensible of the honour they have done me by their vote of thanks.

"I have the honour to be, Sir, " Your faithful Servant,

"HOWARD DOUGLAS." W. P. Brookes, Esq."

BENEVOLENT FUND. We are requested to state that Dr. Cotton, of Lynn,

has accepted the office of Local Secretary to the above Fund, for his own town and neighbourhood.

DEVON AND EXETER HOSPITAL. There is a vacancy in the office of physician to this

hospital, by the resignation of Dr. Pennell. Dr. Samuel Budd, Dr. Elliott, and Dr. Drake were candidates; but the last-named gentlemen have resigned, finding that their opponent had every prospect of success. The 109th anniversary of the institution was celebrated on the 27th instant.

ABORIGINES OF SOUTH AFRICA.

Mr. Cowood informs us he has received by the Jane, Captain Gale, from Algoa Bay, on the 12th of this

month, three aboriginal natives of South Africa, viz., Caffre man, Zoolu man, and Aurapondo woman, which he is now exhibiting at the Cosmorama Rooms, 209, Regent Street. These strangers may perhaps aptly illustrate the works on Race, just published by

Dr. Hall, of Sheffield, Dr. Latham, and Dr. Knox. Lancet.

THE APOTHECARIES' COMPANY v. SKOULDING.

In this case (tried at the County Court, Wymondham, on the 9th of August) an action was brought to recover a penalty of ?20, incurred by the defendant, a chemist and druggist, at Wymondham, for practising as an

apothecary, without first obtaining a certificate of quali fication, as required by the Act of 55th George III., cap., 194. It appeared that the present defendant had for some years carried on a respectable business as a chemist and druggist at Wymondham, and for the last two or three years he had been in the habit of visiting patients and dispensing medicines, in Wymondham and its neighbourhood, as an apothecary, without the quali fication by law required. It appeared that a corres

pondence had taken place between Mr. Mendham, the

attorney for the Company, and Mr. Drake, of Dereham, as attorney fo the defendant, the result of which was, that defendant had consented to a judgment for the

penalty sought to be recovered. The learned Judge gave judgment accordingly.

SOCIETY OF APOTHECARIES.

Gentlemen admitted Members on Thursday, August 15th, 1850:-Joseph Dixon, Reigate, Surrey; David Philbrick Morris, Colchester, Essex; Benjamin Ward

Richardson, Somerby, Leicestershire; Henry Ward, Northampton.

Gentlemen admitted Members on Thursday, August 22nd, 1850:-James Hurdis Black, Dysart, Fife,

N. B.; Charles Anderson Dalgairns, Guernsey; John

Rigby, Preston, Lancashire; Claudius Galen Wheel

house, Leeds.

OBITUARY.

August 11th, at 2, Priory Parade, Cheltenham, James Williamson, M.D., late H.E. I. C. Bengal Service, in his 82nd year.

Aug. 28, Hugh Francis Burman, M.D., Henley-in Arden, in the 35th year of his age. The deceased was a member of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association.

August 19th, at 90, Oxford Terrace, Dr. R. C.

Edwards, member of the Royal College of Physicians, in the thirty-eighth year of his age.

Aug. 30, at his residence, Friar Street, Reading, in the 76th year of his age, John Bulley, Esq., surgeon.

Lately, from cholera, at Berlin, Professor Marchand.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. Communications have been received from Mr. Ewen,

Mr. Kempson, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Williams, Mr. King, Mr. Humphrey, and Mr. Salter.

It is requested that all letters and communications connected with the Editorial department be sent to J. H. Walsh, Esq., Foregate Street, Worcester. Parcels and books for review may be addressed to the care of Mr. Churchill, Princes Street, Soho.

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