An account of the proceedings at the sixth anniversary meeting of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, held at Bath, on Wednesday and Thursday, July 18th and 19th, 1838.

  • Provincial Medical and Surgical Association. Meeting 1838 : Bath)
Date:
[1838]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of the proceedings at the sixth anniversary meeting of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, held at Bath, on Wednesday and Thursday, July 18th and 19th, 1838. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    QUACKERY SECTION opinion among’ honest medical men ; but he could not suppose there was any reflecting person who really believed that any act of the legislature could enforce, or that the wit of man could devise, effectual remedies for suppressing or preventing it. Quackery took so many forms, that it was im- possible to define it; and the public, profoundly ignorant of medicine, are led continually to have recourse to quackery, in some shape or other, not- withstanding all that regular practitioners might do to put it down. By noticing quackery, therefore, and going in form before Parliament to complain of it, the members of the Association would be merely shevving a feeling of irritation, without effecting any good. The better course for the Association would be, steadily to continue its useful career; giving encouragement to the investigation of all branches of medical enquiry, and patiently waiting until the public were sufficiently instructed to know that the ])rinciples of therapeutics were only to be safely carried into practice by men of good professional education. Dr. Hastings thought it desirable something.should be done, if it were only to satisfy those members who were so strenuous iu requesting that a Section should be formed for the purpose. Dr. Barlow agreed with Dr. Conolly in thinking the suppression of quackery to be impracticable; but still he thought the present was a harmless pro- ceeding, and would satisfy many of their members. After some further conversation it was thought desirable to pass the resolution, leaving the ap- pointment of the Section to the Secretaries and Worcester Council.