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Proposal to Incorporate the Eighteen Thousand Licentiates of the Hall into a Royal College ofApothecariesAuthor(s): James ColeSource: Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal (1844-1852), Vol. 8, No. 37 (Dec. 11, 1844), pp.578-579Published by: BMJStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25498279 .

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578 ..ROYAtL -OC1EY OF *APOTHECAREIR *c-ls. t, r f wry ; th .- . * D

I coif(e nyyeOff po to,bhae patience to disprove; the formIe bi top Svidetly contradicted by all experi ence of the past and present, and the latter principle being no moreinfridgd by protecting medical arrange mentd than by any othet penal regulation. The object is nota to interfere with each man doctoring himself as

hemay. judge best, nor to prevent those frequently

injurious efforts of the unskilful benevolent for the

relief or cure of disease; but to put an end to open

trading in physic, to expose an individual to easily imposed pains and penalties who is convicted of so

doing, and to withdraw all open Government sanction and facilities for the tInqualified practice of medicine.

Let remunerative practice of the unlicensed be treated

as a common misdeuaeasaor; abolish all stamp and

patent medicines, except such whose composition is known, and their value ascertained; and block up the

av e odf the press to announcements which are not

consistent with the popular welfare, and not sanctioned

by the Central Board. Let district officers be appointed to notice offences against medical regulations, and let

the qualified, at least, practise with the outward sem

blance of legaliity in their favour. As to the loss of

revenue, we can supply it by a taxa.pon ourselves, but

if not, we are bound to protest in behalf of the public and 'ourselves, against the removal of existing protec

tion, and to demand more stringent and efficient mea

surest These are some of my thoughts very hurriedly stated,

but I have seemed it right thus far to express my

opinions, thewwhole subject being one of great public and

profesonal importance. Tile Asociaition ii now by far the' most influential

medical Iody in existence, and the members must be

most icatious in receding in the least from that full

amount of requirement which the interests of all most

im'peratively 'demand. We had better postpone the

day df reform, than'hasten its approach by half mea

sures and undue compliances.

Believe me, my dear Sir, Yours very truly,

CHARLES COWAN. To Dr. Streeten.

PROPOSAL TO INCORPORATE THE EIGHTEEN

THOUSAND LICENTIATES OF THE HALL

INTO A ROYAL COLLEGE OF APOTHECA

RIES. TO THE EDITOR.OF THE PROVINCIAL MEDICAL AND

SURGICAL JOURNAL.

SIR,

-The contemplated degradation and ruin of the sur

geon-apothecary, by the proposed enactments of Sir

James Graham's Bill, are so palpable and so generally

acknowledged, that it appears quite superfluous to

attempt the establishment of a case. Whether this

impending degradation and ruin he accidental, (which it is barely possible to believe,) or intentional, it is of

little, moment to enquire, the fact is all with which at

the present juncture we have anything to do, and that

doeasno appear to admit of doubt; I will, however, for

satiflcio'; sake, briefly. se; down- what is contem

plated for the. i urgCo-apothecary, by the impending law.

1st. All restriction upon unqquaified practitioners is removed.

2nd. -He is virtually deprived of the power of educa,

ting his own class.

3rd. The law takes from him his present titles and

gives him nothing, or as good as nothing, in exchange.

For he finds himself excluded from the council, excluded from any share in determining the education or influencing the character of the examination of his own class, without any real participation in the exami

nation itself; andas regards the future licentiate, after his education and examination have been directed by the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, the bill secures him no admission into either of these bodies.

There is a point in medical practice alike familiar to

all, which occurs when the practitioner has made him

self master of the case, and the point is this-what is

to be done ? That the case before us admits of an

easy and certain remedy, I have no doubt. Tat

remedy is Incororation. Dr. Webster, Mr. Rn, and an anonymous writer in the Lancet, propqse.in

corporation of the general practitioners into a " Royal

College of Medicine and Surgery." With all deference

to these respectable individuals, I am decidedly of

opinion that any and every attempt to establish such a

body would fail-utterly fail; the attempt was made,

vigorously made, more than thirty years ago, and

failed. The Apothecaries' Act was indeed the con

sequence of that movement, and the only consequence. The great impediment to the enterprise wai' the

same which exists at the present time, with the excep. tion that it is infinitely more formidable and .iuis.pi. nable. The proposed institutions would be a ris,>f o

the Royal College of Surgeons. 'Who canp or amo

rfient doubt the influence of this body; who can doubt

:but that that influence, would be vigorously applied; who in the present state of our affairs can doubt but

that that influence would be sufficient to defeat the

utmost endeavours of its enemies to ruin its establish

ment ?

In my humble opinion this is not the remedy--but with your leave I will now tell you in what the remedy does really consist, against which no such opposition need be apprehended; the sure and certain effect of

which, is such as not to be questioned; 'dnich is so

reasonable, so just, and so especially suited' to the

case, that not even the framers of the bill (I was about

to write the accursed bill) shall be found to have

courage to refuse, if vigorously sought and applied for without delay.

The remedy I have to propose, is the incorporation of the eighteen thousand Licentiates of the Hall, into a "Royal College of Apothecaries," and to

change the name of the trading company, into the

"Worshipful Company of Chemists and Druggists.". By this simple means we obtain what is clearly wanting, a third estate in the medical institutions of the

country; not the anomalous mongrel kind of thing proposed to be created by the bill in the"persoi. f

the Licentiates in Medicine 'and SunreY, f whoe

education, the provisions-of that billN Ar 0 .so ue

and unsatisfactory; but a clearly defined, well, and

throughly educated body of Medical 'Practitioners, to whom the community are accustomed, whpIlith or

without the additional qualification of being Memr

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SB. JAMES GRAHAM'S MEDICAL BILL.- - 579

bers of the Royal Coaege of Surgeons, shall be in

every ,ay worthy of the respect of theircolleagues and

of public confidence. This Royal College of Apothe caries must have identically the same power and con

trol over the education of their class as is enjoyed by the other institutions; they must have a voice in the

Council of Health, and in every respect be placed on

the same footing as the Royal College of Surgeons.

They must have a Council and a Court of Examiners, all the present licentiates must be members, and all

eligible to be elected to fill the offices of the institu

tion. Candidates having passed their examination, to

be entitled to membership and the required "letters

testimonial.", This yal College of Apothecaries being established,

the medical institutions of the country would stand

thus

The Royal College of Physicians.

Surgeons. Apothecaries.

,, Chemistry. The chemists have already obtained a Royal Charter

of Incorporation. Would the list be improved by erasing the Apothecaris ? What have the Apothecaries done

that they should be s0 signally victimised? The public cannot do without them; and though the Apohecarie' Act be repealed, apothecaries will still

continue, though a degraded order. Let them be

incorporated as I have suggested, and then the work of

legislation will be comparatively easy; at any rate the

gresatjdcradation and impending ruin with which we

are obfetrilly threatened, would be averted, and the

condition of our order greatly improved. Should the

licentiates of the hall (for it is to them that I more

particularly address myself) be of the same opinion, I

say, let us earnestly co-operate for the attainment of

our object. The instititutlon I propose, accomplishes, or may 'be 'iade to accomplish, every purpose. It

makes the profession complete; it supplies all the wants of the public; it makes the apothecary respect able; and gives to the general practitioner a double

claim to the confidence of the community. It leaves

the province of pure surgery open to those who choose

to follow it, and the doctor of medicine altogether unmolested.

It may be urged that I have laid the foundation of

a feud with the " Society of Apothecaries," by pro

posing to change the title of their Company. I know

not how that may be, for I have had no correspondence with them; but if they are sincere in the last paragraph of fihir able and lucid exposition of the bill, which has

only'been in my hands a few days, and which it is the

bounden duty of every one of their licentiates to read, and the perusal of which, has given rise to this letter,

they will not vexatiously oppose any plan affecting themselves in so slight a degree, that is calculated to

promote the general good. The Society of Apothecaries, rightly considered, are

only a company of wholesale and retail chemists and

druggjst and in sober honesty should have no objection

to t~ clalge proposed. The change is important, as

theepby!ti title of apothecary is made more respectable, and the anomaly of a Royal College of Apothecaries, and a trading Apothecaries' Hall, existing simultaneously, could not otherwise be got rid of,-the one being, as

before' itat d, a trading company, the other an institu

tioi especially devoted to the promulguti of; m4 l

science. .. ; . . . .. I have studiously confined myself po e. "g al

principle; I might otherwise have extemde4d my .testr

already long, to a length inconvenient to yourt~pge .

I am aware that the proposition will eom w it,

shape of a novelty. It is, however, no novelty with

me; the idea has prevailed in my mind since the first

publication of" The Bill." I am Sir,

Your obedient servant.

JAMES COLE. Member of the Royal College of Surgeons,

and Licentiate of Apothecaries' Hall.

Bewdley, Worcestershire.

SIR JAMES GRAHAM'S' MEDICAL BILL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THB PROVINCIAL MXZPdLAL A

SURGICAL JOURNAL.

SIR, It is curious to observe how the opinions of vedicl

men differ with respect to the Medical Bill, ns pr-. 6psed by Sir James Graham, and with what different

spirit different parties in the profession express their

opinions on it. I have looked on without taking apy active part in the strife, and I may say, confusion; and

I think, had the profession taken more time to deli

berate upon the important question before they

decided, there would have been more uniformity in the

opinions of all those who do not delight in opposition. r am very much mistaken if the senior, more relecting and better informed of general practitioners, will note, before the bill comes under the consideration oF het

Senate, view the measure as beneficial to the profm

sion, with the exception of the omission of. penalties for irregular practice. I do not see how the billcan

be fairly objected to; I have seen no argument against

it that I consider valid; I have seen plenty that I

think the reverse. The only penal clause that is, in

my opinion, possible to be enforced, must be for

practicingfor reward, gratuitous practice cannot be touched. Yet, rather than lose the bill, I wouldtake

it entire, and try it. It will not be like the laws of the

Medes and Persians.

My opinion is, perhaps, of little impOrtanceto the profession, but such as it is, if you think it work of

notice, perhaps you will favour it with a place in yelr excellent journal.

I am, Sir, yours respectfully, JOSEPH HOULTON,

General Practitioner; Thirty-three years Member of the Royal College of Surgeons.

London, November 28, 1844.

SIR JAMES GRAHAM'S MEDICAL BILL.

MANCHESTER MEETING.

At a general meeting of Medical Practitioners, of

Manchester and its neighbourhood, held at the Towa hall, on Wednesday, November 6th, for the purpose of considering the provisions of Sir James (Graham's

Medical Reform Bill; Dr. Bardsley,. sea., in th

chair; the following resolutions were adopted :- . , Moved by Thomas Turner, Esq., F.R.C.S;, and

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