On scientific medicine, and its relations to, and claims upon, society at large : being an address read before ... the North of England Medical Association ... 1840 / by William Elliot.

Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On scientific medicine, and its relations to, and claims upon, society at large : being an address read before ... the North of England Medical Association ... 1840 / by William Elliot. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    tliat uniform arrangements should he enforced throughout every part of the empire; and if this principle be conceded, there will be no incon- siderable difficulty in proving the necessity for entrusting their direction to a number of different, and (according to their own statements) of con- flicting institutions. It has been said, if education were assimilated, and a high standard of proficiency were required, rural and thinly-peopled districts would be unprovided with medical attendants; but such an ar- gument is untenable, and might easily be disproved. “ The appointment of a uniform test as the qualification for a license to exercise any or every branch of the healing art, need not prevent the licentiate from still further prosecuting his studies in a recognized Uni- versity or School, or whilst engaged in actual practice; nor (it is conceived) can any valid objection be raised against the conferring of appropriate distinctions or titles, as the reward of well-ascertained superiority in either case. ******* “Under a new arrangement of the profession, the duties of examining and licensing would perhaps no longer devolve on those institutions by which they are at this time performed. * * * “ Medical Reformers are not desirous to destroy any existing College or Corporation ; but, on the contrary, they are anxious to secure to it ade- quate resources for the fulfilment of every object which, from its nature and constitution, it is fitted to promote, at the same time that they are endeavouring to obtain, for the general superintendence of the whole pro- fession, an efficient and comprehensive governing Council. If it be asked, in what manner finances sufficient for both purposes are to be provided, it may be answered, that the admission fees of licentiates would raise an income which would afford a surplus after the disbursements required for the support of existing establishments should have been made ; and if this were inadequate to cover the expenditure of a National College, it might be augmented by the exaction of a small annual registration-fee from each member thereof, independently of the claim which the sendees of such a College would give it upon the public revenue. * * * * “Medical Reform is asubject which presents strong claims to the atten- tion of men of all shades of political opinion, for all are equally interested in the benefits it would confer. The designs of its advocates will bear the most searching investigation. They are neither selfish nor exclusive. They aim at placing the profession in the position it ought to occupy as a branch of national polity, and rendering it eminently conducive to the welfare and happiness of mankind.” CARLISLE: PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF SAMUEL JEFFERSON.