Who are the men that are intent upon promoting the improvement of medical science? Are they to be found amongst the élite; amongst the favoured"Fellows" of the " Royal College?" No, indeed. Is Arnot, Niel Arnot of Bedford-Square, that terra incognita, a "celebrity" doctor? Is Southwood Smith, is Forbes, or Prout, or Wilson Philip, or young Hawkins, are any of these able and industrious men known in "the circles," or on a par with Dr. Macmichael, who has just been appointed a physician to the King? Not a bit of it! Let them work on: let them wear themselves out in discovering good, to benefit mankind, but let them never expect to gain "celebrity," except in the estimation of those, whose only acknowledgment will be a proper recognition of their utility, and a due appreciation of their worth. They must not expect more; for the "celebrity" men, they of the "circles," and the College, will take especial good care, that no propagator of real knowledge shall ever thrust his nose "between the wind and their nobility." It is quite enough for such meritorious, hard-working gentlemen, to have the merit of curing paupers; they must not intrude upon the sacred precincts of "celebrity;" for there they would be altogether out of their element.

Alas! that an honourable, useful, almost a divine art, should be so profaned as it is, by motives the most mean and mercenary! Alas! that those, who are formally and legally delegated to watch over its best interests, should so pervert and misuse their prerogative, as to make it subservient to the most glaring and unseemly selfishness! But so it is, and so it will be, so long as the Royal College exists unreformed and unpurified.

Among other doings there are certain Conversazioni, which are held by this august and sapient body: and thereby hangs a tale, which we shall forthwith proceed to unfold.

Some three or four years ago, and just after the New College, in Pall Mall East, was completed, the active members had fallen into bad odour with the profession, in consequence of certain absurd proceedings which had been instituted against Dr. Harrison, for daring to practise in London without a proper diploma from the Royal College, he having only an Edinburgh Degree, as the certificate of his acquirements and capability. Now, every one knows, that in Edinburgh the examination for admission is three times as arduous as it is in London; but this mattered not. Dr. Harrison was practising in London contrary to law-for he had not paid his fees in Pall Mall East. And so the College instituted proceedings against him, while it left unmolested about half a dozen notorious quacks, who practised, and still practise, under the very nose of the learned College. As Harrison was an accomplished and most liberal man, always willing to afford relief wherever he could, and as his prosecution turned only upon a piece of fusty etiquette, the profession resented it, and the -patricians of the Royal College began to look blue.

It will be necessary, here, to enter a leetle into the particulars of medical consultation, in order to explain how this resentment of the profession generally, was likely to affect the "Fellows" of the College, or, to use our favourite phrase, the "celebrity" doctors, in particular; it will expose a precious system, and may, perhaps, afford some people a useful hint or two.

When a person is taken ill, he generally sends, in the first instance, for the family apothecary, or, if the patient be too fashionable to employ an apothecary, he sends for his physician. If the case.be but trifling, a few mixtures, draughts, and pills, will put all to rights. But suppose the case should become serious, a fever, internal inflammation, or any malady likely to last for some time, and to be attended with alarm and peril, a friend-for the person most interested, namely, the patient, is a mere cypher in the business-a friend, then, or the practitioner in attendance, suggests the propriety of "further advice," and this, in most instances, is left to be arranged by the medical attendant. Now then occurs a fine piece of strategy. The apothecary or the physician, as it may be,

considers himself invested with a sort of patronage, which he is extremely solicitous to exercise for his own advantage. That physician, therefore, is called in, who is best capable-not of treating the complaint, this being a secondary consideration-but of advancing the interests of the practitioner by whom he is consulted. In those instances, where the physician is known merely by his name, he answers the purpose extremely well; for the uninitiated have no means of judging of his qualifications, and he can scrawl a prescription as illegibly as his brethren, Mr. Tomkins, who has attended the family from its foundation, being of course, in a manner, responsible for his ability. Now, then, comes the farce of consultation, and a very pretty farce it is. The physician, who has (frequently) never seen the patient before in his life, knows nothing of his constitution, habits, occupation, or illness, except the brief sketch afforded by the aforesaid Mr. Tomkins, as he ascends the stairs to the sick chamber: the physician, thus qualified, enters the room with the solemnity of an inquisitor, asks a few questions, draws out his watch, and carefully counts the pulse, looks at the tongue, hopes the patient will soon be better, and descends into the drawing room to chat, foribus clausis, with Mr. Tomkins, and write a prescription, leaving the treatment unaltered, and so paying "his friend T." a great compliment, which is returned by Mr. T., wishing him to pay the patient another visit, and get another fee!

This is the manner in which nine" consultations" out of ten are conducted in London; for to one physician of judgment and humanity, there are about fifty, whose sole and earnest object is the fee! and who take as much interest (beyond this) in their patient, as the tailor or coach-maker would, and no more. How then, it may be asked, do such persons obtain practice? By a much easier course than that adopted by their more competent brethren; by feasting the apothecaries, and by playing other pranks similarly calculated ad captandum. We know several flourishing M. D's, whose gaudy carriages are seen flying about all parts of the town, who bestow infinitely more pains upon the arrangement of their dinner-parties, than upon the advancement of medicine, or the welfare of their patients. These parties are exclusively devoted to the entertainment of apothecaries, &c., in good general practice, this alone being the honourable passport to such festivity. Who can withstand such bribery? Truly not your apothecary, who, as one of a genus, is, at the present day, noted for his gormandizing propensities, and a very different person indeed from the wretched" anatomie" of Shakspeare. “Dr.- is a good fellow, and gives excellent dinners, so I may as well call him in here; he can do no harm at any rate." Thus argues the apothecary, while the favoured physician thus responds: "Tomkins is in capital practice, and calls me in sometimes; I'll ask him to dinner."-Worthy disciples of the divine Esculapius! Admirable examples of learning and humanity! Eat, drink, and be merry,-we shall no further disturb your orgies for the present!

One of the great and pressing evils attendant upon the employment of the physicians just mentioned, is the difficulty of getting rid of them when once they have been introduced. It is not to be supposed that the patient, or his friends, or even Mr. Tomkins himself, should know better than the Doctor, as to the necessity of his attendance. There may be latent sparks of mischief smoldering in a remote corner of the lungs or liver, which no one but the experienced physician can detect, or even suspect. There may be some other obnoxious cause retarding convalescence, and rendering necessary a few more fees; so long, at least, as these same fees are nimbly forthcoming. At all events, the Doctor may think so, and who dare gainsay him? When, however, Mr. Tomkins is requested (no very pleasant task, by the way, to either party) to inform the Doctor that his further attendance can be dispensed with, there is nothing more

to be said about the business, excepting that the physician, if he have any grace at all, will insist upon paying an occasional "friendly" (gratuitous) visit, during the convalescence of the patient.

That we have nothing exaggerated, nor set down aught in malice, touching the unseemly greediness of some physicians, the following fact will prove :-An old and esteemed friend of ours, worn out with age and infirmity, was dying; this she well knew, as did every member of her family. But affectionately anxious to alleviate, as much as possible, the last sufferings of an excellent parent, no means were left untried to obtain the best advice. Unfortunately, the patient lived in a fashionable part of the town, and the general practitioner in attendance being consulted as to the physicians to be called in, recommended a brace of fashionable " celebrity" doctors, of whom, we shall here observe, that Sir Henry Halford was not one. As the practitioner in attendance happened to be a clever man, the only object of this accession of advice was, a hope that something might be thought of, to smooth the pillow of the dying patient; but, will it be believed, that these men called twice a day as long as the poor creature lived (which was some five or six days) and received their consultation fees of two guineas each, every time they called! And this, too, from a family by no means wealthy, or presuming to be so! And yet these two medical vultures are amongst the most fashionable physicians of the day, having attained the highest pitch of Dr. Macmichael's "celebrity." It is by such dirty, avaricious deeds as these, committed by men of sounding reputation, that the medical profession is sullied and scandalized, and always will be, while these "Fellows" are so exclusively protected.

Let us neutralize the acrimony of these remarks by the relation of another "fact," illustrative of the conduct of a good man and a most intelligent physician. The eldest daughter of a perforiner at one of the minor theatres was attacked by typhus fever. She was the hope of the family, and had been educated with great care and at considerable sacrifice, for a singer, to which branch of the profession she promised to be a conspicuous ornament. She was already attended by one physician, and two general practitioners, who paid the greatest attention to her case. Almost despairing of her recovery, it was suggested that a consultation with the late Dr. Armstrong might be of use, and eight o'clock in the evening was fixed upon as the hour. The patient lived more than a mile from Armstrong's residence, but he was punctual in his attendance. He came, as he always came, prepared to give his whole attention to the afflicted person, and after a very minute and prolonged examination, the doctors retired into another room to deliberate. In the course of conversation, the domestic circumstances of the family happened to be mentioned, and Armstrong heard that the poor player had a family of eight children. He made no remark, but went on with his observations on the case, and devoted nearly an hour to its consideration. On his departure the anxious father eagerly inquired his opinion; and he gave it, cheeringly, but cautiously; bade him bear up, and hoped his daughter might weather through it, which she eventually did. The father held out his fee, but the good-hearted physician refused it." I never take fees from professional men," he said, smiling, "and if I can ever be of any service to you, let me know; I will always come to you."

Armstrong was at this time in bad health, had himself a large and an increasing family, yet he refused his fee, because his patient was poor and in trouble! and came to visit her, at an hour when rest would have been most acceptable to his wearied frame. Si sic omnes! Let the reader contrast this conduct with that of the vultures previously mentioned, and then see who was the "good Samaritan." We could multiply these comparisons "an hundred fold;" but neither our limits, nor our inclination, will permit us to dwell any longer upon such circumstances.

We must now return to the subject of the College conversazioni. When the new College in Pall Mall East was opened, the presidents, treasurers, censors, electors, registrars, and all the other officers incident to so eminent an establishment, deemed it requisite to institute certain conversazioni,* to which such practitioners were to be invited as were considered worthy of so extraordinary an honour, either by the extent of their practice, or the "celebrity" of their standing. By whom the lists of the invited were made out we do not exactly know, but we have a slight notion that our worthy biographical Registrar was mighty active in the business. However, it so happened, that among the first batch of these distinguished guests, were several honest gentlemen who had publicly denounced the proceedings against Dr. Harrison. People stared, and asked"What does this mean ?" They were answered thus "Why this prosecution has brought the magnates into disgrace, and general practitioners will not call them in to consultation; therefore, they (that is, the magnates) have made a virtue of necessity, and given them an invitation to their conversazioni, by way of concession, and a virtual though tacit acknowledgment of an egregious blunder and most unwarrantable act of oppression." The conversazione went on, and Sir Henry Halford, or some one else, edified the visitors with an account of the late king's illness,-how patiently he swallowed his physic, and how meekly he afterwards betook himself to prayer. The majority were mightily pleased; they soon forgot Harrison's prosecution, and patronized, as usual, the celebrity" doctors, who had so cleverly gulled them!

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And these are the men that Dr. Macmichael eulogizes as the "Ornaments" of the medical profession; as the legitimate and worthy disciples of a science, which yields to none in real dignity-to none in true and comprehensive utility! Is the honour of the profession to be frittered away and ridiculed by a parcel of foppish and fashionable "Fellows," who meet together, within the walls of a splendid "College" once a week, and there amuse, or stultify, each other by a formal representation of a pseudo-scientific display? The whole affair is too contemptible to require serious condemnation. Those who have attended a College conversazione will know what we mean; those who have not are happy in their exemption, and we congratulate them accordingly.

Somewhat similar to these assemblies are the meetings of "The Anatomical Club," of the Royal College of Surgeons. This club comprises the aristocracy of the surgical part of the profession, and upon its members alone do the good things of the College descend. We could point out several "pure surgeons," who ought, by seniority, to be now members of the Court of Examiners; but as they did not belong to the Club, they have been superseded by younger men. We indulge the hope however, that these and similar abuses are about to be destroyed by the success of Reform.

BOARD OF HEALTH.-Since the preceding article was sent to press, the Government, after consulting the oracle in Pall Mall East, has despatched medical commissioners to Riga, to inquire into the phenomena of cholera, and has instituted a Board of Health for the adoption of the measures best calculated to protect Great Britain from its ravages. Had not the chance of coming pestilence made merriment unseasonable, we should have been much amused at recognizing among the chiefs of "The Board," Sir Henry Halford, Dr. Macmichael, and other "celebrities." Where they acquired a knowledge of Indian cholera, we are at a loss to conceive. Their associates in the commission are Sir James MacGregor, and one or two public officers conversant with nautical affairs.

THE MAGDALEN.

BY A MODERN DRAMATIST.

UNDER certain circumstances there is always a danger in a young man's playing the benefactor towards the other sex, in his own person. A thousand times better do it by a second hand-engage the services of some kind aunt or female cousin. You cannot extend protection without taking an interest in the object whom you benefit, and there is no telling where the interest which we take in a woman-how slight soever it may seem to be at first-may terminate. Many a man who has entered upon a speculation of the kind, perfectly free, has presently found himself embarrassed by entanglement, beyond the possibility of voluntary extrication. But this is only one half of the question, and not the more important half. If in such a case there is danger to you, there is another who stands in still more imminent peril; a being, in whose heart, gratitude, like every other virtue, when once it takes root, grows strong; and, where the more tender affections have not been previously excited, not unfrequently undergoes transmutation, and changes into love-a result, with a rather remarkable illustration of which I am about to present you.

Returning from a party one night about eleven o'clock, in the autumn of 1810, an unfortunate female accosted me. In reply to a remark which I made, declining her company, she uttered a sentiment which would have done credit to one who had never forsaken virtue. I was struck by it. "A pity," said I, "that a woman who feels as you do, should follow an occupation so degrading!" In reply, she told me, it was necessity; that she was unhappy; that she would give worlds to be rescued from her present mode of life. I perceived at once that she was a girl who had received an education, and her manner convinced me that she spoke from her heart. The idea of the Magdalen Hospital occurred to me. I asked her if she would avail herself of the refuge which that institution offered to persons of her description. She declared her readiness to do so; and to put her sincerity to the proof, I proposed that she should instantly abandon her present abode, and take up her residence in mine; where I would place her under the care of a prudent and kind old woman who waited upon me. She looked up inquiringly in my face; and, for a couple of minutes, at least, neither of us spoke a word. "Are you serious, Sir?" she at length exclaimed. I felt that I had acted rashly; but something prevented me from profiting by the opening which her question afforded me for retraction. "Yes," said I, "my girl, my roof shall shelter you till you can be admitted into the Magdalen.' She made no reply. Unresistingly she allowed me to draw her arm within mine-it was the least suspicious way of walking with her-and in a quarter of an hour she was sitting in my parlour.

I had now leisure and opportunity to observe her. She was an uncommonly beautiful creature. Her eyes were full, and of a deep blue; her eyebrows, two unbroken regular arches, surmounted by an open