First and second reports from the Select Committee on Medical Registration and Medical Law Amendment : together with the minutes of evidence and appendix.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Medical Registration and Medical Law Amendment.
Date:
1848
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: First and second reports from the Select Committee on Medical Registration and Medical Law Amendment : together with the minutes of evidence and appendix. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

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    [ ' ] MINUTES OF EVIDENCE. Martis, 29° die Februarii, 1848. MEMBERS PRESENT : Sir Robert H. Inglis. Mr. Grogan. Mr. Lascelles. Mr. Wakley. THE LORD ADVOCATE, in the Chair. Sir Thomas Birch. Colonel Mure. Sir H. Halford. George James Guthrie, Esq., F.R.S.; Examined. 1. Chairman.] YOU are a member of the College of Surgeons ?—I am. 2. How long have you been a member of the College ?—Since 1801. 3 Are you now a fellow, and of the Council?—I have been a Councillor since 1824; I have been Examiner since 1828; I have been twice President; I am the third member by seniority of standing in the Council, and the tenth in point of age. 4. Mr. Wakley.'] You have seen the evidence which was given before the Committee on Medical Registration last Session?—I saw it then ; I have not seen it since. 5. Did you make an application to be examined before the Committee towards the close of last Session?—Yes, and I petitioned the House afterwards upon the subject, which petition I now have in my hand, praying that I might be heard upon certain points to which 1 particularly objected in the charter granted to the College of Surgeons, which inquiry I thought necessary for the due administration of justice previously to any general legislation taking place. I have a letter here, saying that the Committee will be pleased to hear such evidence as I may wish to offer on the subject of the inquiry. There are only two or three points upon which I wish to make any observations; but I will beg leave to add, that although there have been great differences of opinion in the Council of the College of Surgeons on several points, all believe they have acted solely with a view to the best interests of the public, and for no private pur- poses ; under these circumstances, all parties are willing that the facts and points of difference should be understood by this Committee and the Legislature. 6. Chairman.] Will you state, in the first instance, any observations which you desire to offer upon the evidence that was given relative to the College of Surgeons in last Session ?—I will state what I wish to say, but I cannot pro- mise to answer on all the points, because I have not lately read the papers. The College of Surgeons did not apply for any charter whatever ; the year before the present charter was granted, I saw Lord Nonnanby, and afterwards Mr. Fox Maule, upon the subject of a charter, with Mr. Vincent, the President, in consequence of various allegations which had been made previously by different gentlemen, all of which were very incorrect, whatever places they happened to be made in, and the Secretary and Under Secretary of State pointed out and were desirous of a certain change which they thought the Council of the College would not be likely to accede to. The change had reference to what was called, perhaps improperly, self-election. It is a very important fact for the Com- mittee to know, that so far from the Council having any desire to retain what is called self-election, though, I believed then, and I believe now, that it is by far the best way of electing the Council, they felt it so painful to their feelings, and so disagreeable in many ways, that they were desirous of giving it up. Mr. Vin- cent, who was then President, and myself, the senior Vice President, stated, both to Lord Normanby and to Mr. Fox Maule, that we were perfectly ready to make 500 electors, if they wished, and even to make 1,000 if Government desired it; 210. a at G. J. Guthrie, Esq. F. R. S.