royal college of surgeons of england

1652 ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.-LOOKING BACK.

resist lawfully constituted authority with violence. If thosewho represent the law, on the other hand, transgress theirconduct can be complained of in the proper manner.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OFENGLAND.

THE ELECTION TO THE COUNCIL,As we have already announced, on Thursday, July 2nd,

the Fellows of the College will elect four Fellows to fill thevacancies on the Council. Every year three members ofCouncil retire and those due to retire this year are Mr.J. Ward Cousins, Mr. A. Pearce Gould, and Mr.W. Harrison Cripps. Mr. F. Howard Marsh has resignedtwo years before the termination of his period of officeand therefore there will be four vacancies to be filled.Mr. Ward Cousins was first elected in 1895 as a substitutemember, again as a substitute member in 1897, and againin 1900. Mr. Pearce Gould was elected in 1900 and is acandidate for re-election. Mr. Harrison Cripps was electedin 1905 as a substitute member, and he also will no doubtapply for re-appointment. Other candidates are Mr. W.Arbuthnot Lane, Mr. J. Lynn Thomas, Mr. GeorgeEastes, and Mr. William Frederick Haslam. It is probablethat Mr. C. B. Lockwood will also be a candidate. At the

forthcoming election the successful candidate who receivesthe smallest number of votes will serve as substitute memberfor Mr. Howard Marsh and will retire in 1910. The followingtable gives the dates at which the several members of theCouncil will retire.

In 1909.-Mr. W. Watson Cheyne, first elected 1897.Mr. A. W. Mayo Robson, first elected 1893.Mr. R. Clement Lucas.

In 1910.-Mr. J. H. Morgan.Mr. H. H. Clutton.

In 1911.-Mr. H. T. Butlin, first elected 1895.Mr. Clinton C. Dent.Mr. G. H. Makins.

In 1912.-Mr. F. S. Eve, first elected 1904,Mr. A. A. Bowlby.Mr. G. Barling.

In 1913.-Mr. Rickman J. Godlee, first elected 1897.Mr. Edmund Owen, first elected 1897.Mr. C. H. Golding-Bird.

In 1914.-Mr. H. Morris (President), first elected 1893.Mr. F. Richardson Cross, first elected 1898.Mr. G. A. Wright.

In 1915.-Mr. C. W. Mansell Moullin, first elected 1902.Mr. W. Bruce Clarke.Mr. Charters J. Symonds.

BRITISH MEDICAL BENEVOLENT FUND.

AT the May meeting of the committee 22 cases were

considered and grants amounting to .6166 were made to 17 ofthe applicants. A vacant annuity was filled by the electionof an approved candidate. Appended is an abstract of thecases relieved -

Widow, aged 64 years, of L.F.P.S. GIasg. Since husband’s death,after a long illness, about a year ago, applicant has endeavoured tosupport herself by letting lodgings. No children. Voted .85, withleave to apply again in six months if necessary.Widow, aged 57 years, of L.F.P.S. Glasg. Left quite unprovided for

at husband’s death about 10 years ago. Nine children who do all thatis possible. Relieved nine times, .S125. Voted J65.

Daughter, aged 37 years, of late M.D. Glasg. Is a daily comnanionto an invalid lady. but earnings are insufficient for her own mainten-ance and a little help she is obliged to give her mother. Relieved fourtimes, ;E22. Voted ;E5.Daughter, aged 66 years, of late M.R.C.S. Has supported herself for

many years but is now dependent on relations and is a candidate forthe Epsom pension. Voted ;E5.M.R.C.S., aged 67 years. Is incapacitated by hemiplegia and

dependent on a son whose earnings are small. Voted .e5.M.R.C.S., L.S.A., aged 68 years. For some time past has been quite

incapacitated by paralysis and heart disease. Eight children, of whomonly three are entirely self-supporting. Has a small pension from aboard of guardians but it is quite inadequate for unavoidable expenses.Relieved six times, J390. Voted .E12.Daughter, aged 76 years, of late M.R.C.S. Has a small annuity and

hopes shortly to be elected to a U.K. B.A. pension, but requires a littlehelp meantime. Relieved once, JE12. Voted .E5.Daughter, aged 52 years, of late M.R.C.S., L.S.A. No income and

regular work impossible owing to bad health. Relieved twice..B20.Voted JE10.

Daughters. aged 47 and 45 years, of late M.R O.S.. L R.C.P. Noincome; endeavour to support themselves by letting lodgings in thesummer and by knitting in the winder. Relieved eight times, JE87.Voted 212.Daughter, aged 66 years, of late M.D. No income and only able to

obtain occasional employment. Relieved ten times. 291. Voted 212.Widow, aged 43 years, of L R.C.P., L.R.C.S. Edin. Quite unpro-

vided for at husband’s death several years ago and is in extremely badhealth. Is assisted by the Ladies’ Working Guild. Children unable tohelp. Relieved 13 times, JB148. Voted 212.Daughter, aged 51 years, of late L.R.C.P. Edin. No income. Is a

great sufferer from rheumatic gout and dependent for a home on twounmarried sisters who have to earn their own living. Relieved threetimes, :B26. Voted ;E10.Widow, aged 51 years. of L.R.C.P.I. No income and has not yet

recovered from the effects of a very serious operation. Relieved once,212. Voted 212.Daughter, aged 51 years, of late M.D.Lond. Income 220 a year

from the Home for Incurabtes. Has had a serious illness during thewinter and in consequence lost a lodger and is in arrears with rent.Relieved nine times, 281. Voted 210.Widow, aged 67 years, of M.D. Edin. Children unable to help and

is dependent on this fund and a little assistance given locally.Relieved four times..642. Voted :E15.Widow, aged 61 years, of L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. Edin. Has a small

ppnsion from a City company, but it is insufficient for bare necessitiesand children are unable to help. Relieved once, .E6. Voted 26.

Wife, aged 43 years, of L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. Edin., who is confined inan asylum. No income; dependent on a sum collected locally and nownearly exhausted, and earns a few shillings a week by fancy work.Two children, aged 15 and 12 years. Relieved once, JE15. Voted 215.

Looking Back.FROM

THE LANCET, SATURDAY, June 5th, 1830.

NON-APPOINTMENT OF SURGEONS TO TRADING VESSELS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SiR,-To me it has often been a subject of surprise, that

among the many laws which are enacted by our legislature,none has ever compelled merchant-vessels of a certaintonnage, and having on board a certain number of men, tocarry a surgeon. Such a defect in our maritime laws becomesstill more singular, when we call to mind the high mercantilecharacter of the British nation, and the consequent necessityfor protecting the health and lives of those employed in it.That a medical man ought to be numbered amongst the crewof all large ships bound to distant parts, is what the publichave a right to expect ; it is what the seamen, their relatives,and their friends, have a right to demand ; but that a south-seaman in particular, bound on a whaling voyage, should beallowed to sail from a British port without any medicalofficer on board, is a deep stain upon the humanity for whichEngland has ever been renowned. ’It is true a still heavierblame, amounting to criminality, is attached to the South-sea ship-owners individually, but experience teaches us weare not to depend upon the generous and benevolent feelingswhich ought to actuate those whom the labour of many poormen enriches. Such feelings are too often absent. A closeand lengthened application to a profitable business,frequently strips the heart of all that is noble, and renders itsensible to little but self-interest.

,

Whalers are generally from two to three years away fromEngland, and no class of vessels, whether merchantmen ormen-of-war, can, in time of peace, be exposed to one halfthe danger to which they are exposed. The crews are liableto every variety of malignant disease arising from vicissitudeof climate ; they are liable to innumerable accidents in thedangerous and frequently fatal employment of whaling ; theyare mostly in the habit of touching and refreshing at savageislands, where no medical attendance can be procured ; theyare, in fact, during these long, tedious, and hazardousvoyages, separated from the civilized world, having but littlecommunication with any, save with the semi-barbarousnatives of the South-sea islands.

These, Sir, I think, are forcible arguments in favour of anact of parliament, obliging all vessels, but more especiallywhalers, whose complement of men consists of-say twentyand upwards, to carry a surgeon. This would not be im-posing an unjust tax on poor merchants, as all who can fitout ships on whaling expeditions, must necessarily be con-siderable capitalists, and possess ample means of employingmedical men. In short, humanity towards our sailors, the