wheat growers, and the cattle breeders, not only the power of casting the cultivator of potatoes into prison, and of examining his qualifications if he desired to grow wheat, but of limiting their own numbers? What would be the effect of an Act which gave the proprietors of a railway company, each of whom had one carriage of his own, the power of suppressing every mode of travelling, of putting down horses, asses, dogs, carts, gigs, coaches, canals, everything but the railway; and at the same time gave them the power of admitting other carriages to run on the train? The Acts conferring monopolies in medicine had precisely these characters, and produced the anticipated results," &c. "How much is it to be regretted that the government did not endeavour to suppress quacks by the substitution of educated physicians ? and that the College of Physicians was not constructed upon liberal principles, including among its fellows all the medical practitioners in the kingdom? Then quackery may have been suppressed."* But it is of no avail to reflect on what might have been done; the question is what has been done by the College of Physicians, with all its privileges and powers? what have been its effects? and does it deserve such comparisons as have been quoted ? The following table will show at a glance how far the numbers provided were adequate for the need of * Farr's 'Med. Prof.,' pp. 175-6. the public, as we have elsewhere shown how scantily even these were furnished with the means of cure, or the knowledge of disease, in its entirety. In the year 1575 the College consisted of Fellows 20 That such numbers, so partially fitted for the various duties of their office, were ineffectual to accomplish the purpose for which the charter was granted," inscientiam temeritatemque deterrere," is too evident; they might indeed prosecute unlicensed practitioners, which they failed not to do, "per leges nuper editas;" but what could such a course avail, their places not being supplied with those more worthy, and more efficient for the public need ? Hence it was that the third great usurpation of the * A lower grade, called Permissi-Licentiates-admitted at this period; such were Sydenham and Sir T. Browne ! ! Physician's office, or some of a similar character, must of necessity have ensued. They who were the depositories of powers and privileges such as had never been conferred on any corporate body in this kingdom, annihilated those powers, and abused those privileges, by illegal and suicidal by-laws, which contracted their body in numbers and functions, so as to render it powerless for its intended purpose. To The periods of time especially deserving attention in the two following centuries are those of the rise, struggle, and success of this third invasion, or the intervals between 1618-1696-1704-1815. each of these a separate, though short, consideration may be given. It was during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, that a method was adopted by physicians and apothecaries, of substituting the latter for the former, in the less lucrative and important parts of their office, too much like, both in its origin and in its effects, to the system which had previously obtained between the priest and barber in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The one was the cause of the first, as was the other of the second great division of the Physician's office. The history of the division effected in the former period, so graphically described by Dr. Barlow,* with a few alterations in the dramatis persona, may, * Edin. Med. and Surg. Journal,' vol. xiv, p. 3. too truly depict that of the latter, and may be thus paraphrased. In the Twelfth and Thirteenth "The disadvantages immediately resulting from the restrictions imposed on the Monks they obviated as much as possible, by suitable expedients." "Thus when prohibited by a Papal Bull from leaving their cloisters for the purpose of attending the sick, they gave advice at home to those who consulted them, forming their judgments oftentimes on the reports made by the friends and relations of the sick, and by inspection of the various excrements submitted to their examination. "When manual assistance was required, they sent their servants to officiate, who were also their barbers, and hence arose a class of practitioners afterwards sufficiently celebrated throughout Europe, the barber-surgeons. Seventeenth and Eighteenth The disadvantages immediately resulting from the restrictions imposed on the number and functions of the Fellows and Licentiates of the College of Physicians in England, they obviated as much as possible, by suitable expedients. Thus when prohibited by the excessive number of their patients, from leaving their homes for the purpose of attending the sick, they gave advice at home, to those who consulted them, forming their judgments oftentimes on the reports made by the friends and apothecaries of the sick, and by inspection of the various excrements submitted to their examination. When menial assistance was required, they sent their subordinates to officiate, who were also their apothecaries, and hence arose a class of practitioners, afterwards sufficiently celebrated throughout England and Wales, the modern apothecaries, or apothecary-physicians. "In the forenoon, apothecaries used to come to him, at Tom's, near Covent Garden, with written or verbal reports of cases, for which he prescribed without seeing the patient, and took half-guinea fees." "The history of this period is peculiarly interesting, and it is highly instructive to trace the various struggles which successively take place, more especially in France, between the ecclesiastical and lay practitioners in physic, between the physicians and regular surgeons of the Parisian College, and between these latter and the barber-surgeons, with whom, however, they were finally obliged to unite." "It must suffice, however, in this place to remark, that throughout the whole period a uniform tendency is manifested on the part of the public to disregard all collegiate rights and restrictions, and to employ those whom they found most suited to their purposes; namely, the general practitioners, or those who combined the several departments most completely in their own persons." "Remote as were the periods and distant the scenes now alluded to, they have, nevertheless, had an influence on the state of medical science and medical practice in these countries, which is sensibly felt even at the present day. "They hence acquire an interest which, as mere matters of curiosity, they would not be entitled to. "It is easy to trace this in The history of this period is peculiarly interesting, and it is highly instructive to trace the various struggles which successively take place in England and Wales, between the licensed and unlicensed practitioners in physic, between the College of Physicians and Society of Apothecaries, and subsequently between these latter and the retail chemists and druggists. It must suffice, however, in this place to remark, that throughout the whole period a uniform tendency is manifested on the part of the public to disregard all collegiate rights and restrictions, and to employ those whom they found most suited to their purposes; namely, the general practitioners, or those who combined the several departments most completely in their own persons. Remote as were the periods, NOT distant the scenes now alluded to, they have, nevertheless, had an influence on the state of medical science and medical practice in these countries, which is sensibly felt even at the present day. They hence acquire an interest which, as mere matters of curiosity, they would not be entitled to. It is easy to trace this in. |