Medicine and the public / by S. Squire Sprigge.

  • Squire Sprigge
Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medicine and the public / by S. Squire Sprigge. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    are almost certain to object to any one-portal system as taking away from them their most valuable privilege (the President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland has just taken exactly this line), there is no reason why, as time goes on, and particularly as the numbers of their pass-men drop off, they should not come to regard the one-portal system as actually constituting their safety. There can be no doubt that the competition for the diplomas of the Royal Colleges, especially in England, has already abated, and this shrinkage cannot go on without being felt. A return of the medical students to London in great numbers will make no difference, for it will only be brought about by an arrangement of the curriculum that will offer the London student a fair chance of obtaining a doctorate: an accession of medical students to London will not increase the demand for the diplomas of the Conjoint Board. All the Colleges have past histories of which they may be proud. They have done, and are doing, good work —everyone allows this who knows anything about them, and the line of general abuse that is followed by some ardent reformers will never be followed by the well informed. The English Royal Colleges, for example, have placed their laboratory at the disposal of the Cancer Research Fund, and in so doing are helping in a practical way medical work of the first importance to the community. If the numbers of the colleges go down—and some believe that the competition of the provincial uni¬ versities may bring down their numbers very quickly —they may be depended upon not to let them¬ selves die without an effort. If their rank and file
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