ENGLISH PHYSICIANS IN FRANCE.
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72 A few such cases as this under the care of some of the more imaginative Frenchmen, would doubtless cause quite a sen- sation, for with all due deference to the many great qualities of our jockeys at home, our brethren beyond the channel can beat them to nothing. M. Piorry is an admirable jockey; but he does not ride on the same course as M. Malgaigne. One day, in going the rounds of La Pitie, I was much amused with one of M. Piorry’s feats, to which my attention was directed by my friend Mr. Septimus Lowe of Lincoln. M. Piorry had got a patient with enlarged spleen, over which he percussed and marked out the boundaries, and then directed a dose of quinine to be admi- nistered ; but before the magical essence of cinchona had well reached the stomach, he declared the spleen to have shrunk half an inch in its transverse measurement! So much for the actual cautery and quinine in the hands of the Parisians. T am air* vmir humble servant D. MACKINDER. ENGLISH PHYSICIANS IN FRANCE. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-In a recent number of your journal, I observed a state- ment from Dr. Moffat, an English gentleman residing here, and a few editorial remarks from you on the same subject. Dr. Moffat finds that the subject is very imperfectly under- stood, and humbly endeavours to show matters in their true light; in the furtherance of this object, I will endeavour to assist him, and trust to your never-failing impartiality for publicity. Having resided here many years, and holding a Parisian diploma, I may be allowed to offer a few remarks on the claims urged by Dr. Moffat ; and as I cannot be accused of partiality, as I do not exercise my " humane profession" either amongst my " own countrymen" or foreigners; although re- peatedly requested to do so by " several persons of distinction, I refuse to visit any patient whatever," as I am not so appre- I, hensive that our countrymen will be neglected for the want of " purely English physicians" as Dr. Moffat is, for I can assure him there are already more here than can make a living, and no impediment is placed in the way of their visiting their countrymen. If Dr. Moffat is so very solicitous in their be- half, and mentions the subject merely to show that no " purely English physician" is allowed to visit an Englishman (which is an error), why does he not sacrifice a little amour propre, and instead of courting notoriety by means of the press, conform to the laws of the country he resides in, and take our ambas- sador’s advice; being a foreigner, and M.D. of Edinburgh, he will find the board of examiners most impartial, both as regards his professional acquirements, or any defects in the French language; but should this be an obstacle, Latin might be sub- stituted for the French. Surely he cannot urge that it is dero- gatory on his part to submit to this formality-if so, I should be inclined to think he has something more at heart than the 41 humane" sentiments he expresses for the welfare of his coun- trymen. Perhaps Dr. Moffat is not aware that the Ministre de l’Intérieur, and the Faculty of Medecine are well acquainted with the class of foreigners who take refuge in Paris, having diplomas from all quarters of the globe; (I trust Dr. Moffat will not think I am alluding to him in the slightest degree, for I believe him to be a most honest, worthy, and candid gentle- man.) Perhaps a sample or two (I could furnish many) of some of these "purely" English physicians, who take refuge here, and their (to say the least of it) unprofessional practices, are not unworthy of note; they rival well some of your homcoopathists for whose exposure in THE LANCET the pro- fession are so much indebted to you. A short time since, a "purely" English physician, after living here in a man- ner that not only reflects discredit on our profession, but on the very name of an Englishman, was compelled to leave, and almost immediately after arrested in London by officers of the Mendicity Society, and forwarded to Dover on a more serious charge, where a warrant for his apprehension had been issued some time previously. Another English M.D. was convicted and sentenced here (a short time since) to im- prisonment for fraud, and obtaining money under false pre- tences, but he had the good luck to escape in time, no doubt to practise his " humane profession" in some other quarter, where probably he will excite the sympathy of some, if interfered with in the success of his undertakings. Other "purely" English physicians, not quite so far advanced in the scale of degrada- tion, are contented by offering fifty per cent. to the chemists on the fees they receive from patients that they send them. Such, Mr. Editor, are the practices of some of these itinerant and ill-used M.D.’s, that are a disgrace to the profession; and is it to be wondered at, that the Faculty should find it a very difficult and delicate undertaking, to decide which diplomas they should favour in preference to others, either as tests of morality or professional acquirements? Dr. Moffat states there are several English medical practitioners here-implying by that, they are exceedingly scarce; but should he wish it, I will undertake to give him the names of at least thirty, some having French diplomas, others " purely" English physicians with per. mission topractise,and others "tolerated" (as the French M.D.’s are in London); one of these, a most talented physician (purely English) and perfect gentleman, has not been interferred with, although practising here nearly twenty years, until the late attempts have been made by Dr. Moffat " to throw light on a subject so imperfectly understood." Fearing I have already trespassed too much on your valuable space, allow me to subscribe myself Paris, July 1851. A LovER OF TRUTH. Medical News. ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS.-The President and Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians have named Wednesday, the 30th inst., for their second soirée, to be held at the College, Pall-mall East, for the reception of distin. guished and scientific foreigners, and other visitors. ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.——The following gentlemen, having undergone the necessary examinations for the diploma, were admitted Members of the College, at the meeting of the Court of Examiners, on the llth inst.:- BRINGLOE, CAPEL, Beceles, Suffolk. CHAPMAN, JOHN, Leith, Mid Lothian. DAY, FRANCIS, Uckfield, Sussex. DILLON, PATRICK, Ennis, County Clare. DOBBYN, WILLIAM AUGUSTUS, Dublin. ELSOM, JOSEPH FREDERICK, Limehouse. MARTYN, SAMUEL, Brook-street, Grosvenor-square. MERRYwEATHER, JAMES, Brook-street, Grosvenor-square. MILLAR, GEORGE COCHRANE, Clifton-street, Finsbury-square. RENZY DE, AnNESLEY CHARLES CASTROIT, Hon. East India Company’s Service, Bengal. VIVIAN, JOHN FRED., Alladullha, near Sydney, Australia. WILKIN, HENRY JOHN, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. At the same meeting of the Court, Mr. FRANCIS HENRY BLAXALL passed his examination for naval surgeon. This gentleman had previously been admitted a member of the college, his diploma bearing date July 26, 1847. The following were admitted on the 14th inst. :- BAINES, JOHN, Falcon-square. BREEZE, CHARLES, Belfast. BYNE, HENRY THOMAS LUCAS, Hammersmith. GAGEN, ROBERT TnoMAs, Crown-row, Mile-end. HICHENS, JAMES STACEY, Redruth, Cornwall. JONES, SAMUEL WALL, Ludlow, Salop. O’REGAN, CHARLES, New Orleans. PuGHE, DAVID WILLIAM, Carnarvon. RITCHIE, JOHN JAMES, Tean, Staffordshire. SHAW, HENRY THOMPSON, Ballynahinch, Co. Down. SMITH, FREDERICK MOORE, Much Hadham, Herts. The annual election of officers of this institution took place yesterday, on which occasion Mr. John Flint South, surgeon to St. Thomas’s Hospital, was elected President of the College, in the vacancy occasioned by the retirement in the prescribed order of Mr. Arnott; and Messrs. Caesar Henry Hawkins, sur- geon to St. George’s Hospital, and James Luke, surgeon to the London Hospital, were elected vice-presidents for the ensuing year. It is stated that the latter gentleman has been reo quested to deliver the annual oration in memory of the im- mortal Hunter, and that he has complied with such request. . At the same meeting Messrs’. Coulson and Dalrymple took their seats as members. APOTFIECARIES’ HALL.-Names of gentlemen who passed their examination in the science and practice of medi. cine, and received certificates to practise, on Thursday, July 10th, 1851. ! GREENWAY, HENRY, Plymouth. HEADLAND, FREDERICK WILLIAM, Guildford-street, RusseU’ square. MACKINTOSH, JOHN, Inverness. ’ d TAYLOR, THOMAS HENRY, Henbury, near Bristol.
Transcript of ENGLISH PHYSICIANS IN FRANCE.
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A few such cases as this under the care of some of the moreimaginative Frenchmen, would doubtless cause quite a sen-sation, for with all due deference to the many great qualitiesof our jockeys at home, our brethren beyond the channel canbeat them to nothing.M. Piorry is an admirable jockey; but he does not ride on
the same course as M. Malgaigne. One day, in going therounds of La Pitie, I was much amused with one of M. Piorry’sfeats, to which my attention was directed by my friend Mr.Septimus Lowe of Lincoln. M. Piorry had got a patient withenlarged spleen, over which he percussed and marked out theboundaries, and then directed a dose of quinine to be admi-nistered ; but before the magical essence of cinchona had wellreached the stomach, he declared the spleen to have shrunkhalf an inch in its transverse measurement! So much for theactual cautery and quinine in the hands of the Parisians.
T am air* vmir humble servantD. MACKINDER.
ENGLISH PHYSICIANS IN FRANCE.To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,-In a recent number of your journal, I observed a state-ment from Dr. Moffat, an English gentleman residing here,and a few editorial remarks from you on the same subject.
Dr. Moffat finds that the subject is very imperfectly under-stood, and humbly endeavours to show matters in their truelight; in the furtherance of this object, I will endeavour toassist him, and trust to your never-failing impartiality forpublicity. Having resided here many years, and holding aParisian diploma, I may be allowed to offer a few remarks onthe claims urged by Dr. Moffat ; and as I cannot be accused ofpartiality, as I do not exercise my " humane profession" eitheramongst my " own countrymen" or foreigners; although re-peatedly requested to do so by " several persons of distinction, I refuse to visit any patient whatever," as I am not so appre- I,hensive that our countrymen will be neglected for the want of" purely English physicians" as Dr. Moffat is, for I can assurehim there are already more here than can make a living, andno impediment is placed in the way of their visiting theircountrymen. If Dr. Moffat is so very solicitous in their be-half, and mentions the subject merely to show that no " purelyEnglish physician" is allowed to visit an Englishman (which isan error), why does he not sacrifice a little amour propre, andinstead of courting notoriety by means of the press, conformto the laws of the country he resides in, and take our ambas-sador’s advice; being a foreigner, and M.D. of Edinburgh, hewill find the board of examiners most impartial, both as regardshis professional acquirements, or any defects in the Frenchlanguage; but should this be an obstacle, Latin might be sub-stituted for the French. Surely he cannot urge that it is dero-gatory on his part to submit to this formality-if so, I shouldbe inclined to think he has something more at heart than the41 humane" sentiments he expresses for the welfare of his coun-trymen. Perhaps Dr. Moffat is not aware that the Ministrede l’Intérieur, and the Faculty of Medecine are well acquaintedwith the class of foreigners who take refuge in Paris, havingdiplomas from all quarters of the globe; (I trust Dr. Moffat willnot think I am alluding to him in the slightest degree, for Ibelieve him to be a most honest, worthy, and candid gentle-man.) Perhaps a sample or two (I could furnish many) of someof these "purely" English physicians, who take refuge here,and their (to say the least of it) unprofessional practices,are not unworthy of note; they rival well some of yourhomcoopathists for whose exposure in THE LANCET the pro-fession are so much indebted to you. A short time since, a"purely" English physician, after living here in a man-
ner that not only reflects discredit on our profession, buton the very name of an Englishman, was compelled to leave,and almost immediately after arrested in London by officers ofthe Mendicity Society, and forwarded to Dover on a moreserious charge, where a warrant for his apprehension had beenissued some time previously. Another English M.D. wasconvicted and sentenced here (a short time since) to im-
prisonment for fraud, and obtaining money under false pre-tences, but he had the good luck to escape in time, no doubtto practise his " humane profession" in some other quarter, whereprobably he will excite the sympathy of some, if interferedwith in the success of his undertakings. Other "purely" Englishphysicians, not quite so far advanced in the scale of degrada-tion, are contented by offering fifty per cent. to the chemistson the fees they receive from patients that they send them.
Such, Mr. Editor, are the practices of some of these itinerantand ill-used M.D.’s, that are a disgrace to the profession; andis it to be wondered at, that the Faculty should find it a very
difficult and delicate undertaking, to decide which diplomasthey should favour in preference to others, either as tests ofmorality or professional acquirements? Dr. Moffat states thereare several English medical practitioners here-implying bythat, they are exceedingly scarce; but should he wish it, I willundertake to give him the names of at least thirty, some havingFrench diplomas, others " purely" English physicians with per.mission topractise,and others "tolerated" (as the French M.D.’sare in London); one of these, a most talented physician (purelyEnglish) and perfect gentleman, has not been interferred with,although practising here nearly twenty years, until the lateattempts have been made by Dr. Moffat " to throw light on asubject so imperfectly understood."
Fearing I have already trespassed too much on your valuablespace, allow me to subscribe myself
Paris, July 1851. A LovER OF TRUTH.
Medical News.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS.-The Presidentand Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians have namedWednesday, the 30th inst., for their second soirée, to be heldat the College, Pall-mall East, for the reception of distin.guished and scientific foreigners, and other visitors.ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.——The following
gentlemen, having undergone the necessary examinations forthe diploma, were admitted Members of the College, at themeeting of the Court of Examiners, on the llth inst.:-
BRINGLOE, CAPEL, Beceles, Suffolk.CHAPMAN, JOHN, Leith, Mid Lothian.DAY, FRANCIS, Uckfield, Sussex.DILLON, PATRICK, Ennis, County Clare.DOBBYN, WILLIAM AUGUSTUS, Dublin.ELSOM, JOSEPH FREDERICK, Limehouse.MARTYN, SAMUEL, Brook-street, Grosvenor-square.MERRYwEATHER, JAMES, Brook-street, Grosvenor-square.MILLAR, GEORGE COCHRANE, Clifton-street, Finsbury-square.RENZY DE, AnNESLEY CHARLES CASTROIT, Hon. East IndiaCompany’s Service, Bengal.
VIVIAN, JOHN FRED., Alladullha, near Sydney, Australia.WILKIN, HENRY JOHN, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park.At the same meeting of the Court, Mr. FRANCIS HENRY
BLAXALL passed his examination for naval surgeon. Thisgentleman had previously been admitted a member of thecollege, his diploma bearing date July 26, 1847.The following were admitted on the 14th inst. :-
BAINES, JOHN, Falcon-square.BREEZE, CHARLES, Belfast.BYNE, HENRY THOMAS LUCAS, Hammersmith.GAGEN, ROBERT TnoMAs, Crown-row, Mile-end.HICHENS, JAMES STACEY, Redruth, Cornwall.JONES, SAMUEL WALL, Ludlow, Salop.O’REGAN, CHARLES, New Orleans.PuGHE, DAVID WILLIAM, Carnarvon.RITCHIE, JOHN JAMES, Tean, Staffordshire.SHAW, HENRY THOMPSON, Ballynahinch, Co. Down.SMITH, FREDERICK MOORE, Much Hadham, Herts.
The annual election of officers of this institution took placeyesterday, on which occasion Mr. John Flint South, surgeonto St. Thomas’s Hospital, was elected President of the College,in the vacancy occasioned by the retirement in the prescribedorder of Mr. Arnott; and Messrs. Caesar Henry Hawkins, sur-geon to St. George’s Hospital, and James Luke, surgeon to the
London Hospital, were elected vice-presidents for the ensuingyear. It is stated that the latter gentleman has been reo
quested to deliver the annual oration in memory of the im-mortal Hunter, and that he has complied with such request.
. At the same meeting Messrs’. Coulson and Dalrymple tooktheir seats as members.
APOTFIECARIES’ HALL.-Names of gentlemen whopassed their examination in the science and practice of medi.cine, and received certificates to practise, on
Thursday, July 10th, 1851.! GREENWAY, HENRY, Plymouth.
HEADLAND, FREDERICK WILLIAM, Guildford-street, RusseU’square.
MACKINTOSH, JOHN, Inverness.’ d TAYLOR, THOMAS HENRY, Henbury, near Bristol.
