796 TERROR OF THE DUBLIN COLLEGE MONOPOLISTS.

nature of the Report, because it is perfectlycertain that the just and humane people ofEngland will make an irresistible appeal tothe legislature for an alteration of the exist-ing law.

In the next LANCET we shall publish thenames of the Committee, in order that themembers of the profession may freely for-ward their communications to those mem-

bers of it with whom they may happen tobe privately or politically acquainted.

DUBLIN.

(From a Correspondent.)IT is in some degree satisfactory to wit-

ness at once the terror and the misrepresen-tations of Messrs. JACOB and HARRISON, atthe head of their school faction in the Irish

- College of Surgeons, in consequence of thestrictures wrung from an imperious sense ofjustice and of duty, which have lately ap-peared in the pages of THE LANCET. Their

fright and their whining evince that thoseobservations - have not only been in them-selves true, but that the simple and gallingtruths have in a measure told. As to their

misrepresentations, we doubt if there be anyso stupid as to be gulled by deceptions soflimsy and transparent: if we be mistakenon this point, certain it is that those indi-viduals must be so eminently dull, that it

would be idle to waste a single sentence inan endeavour to instruct them. At the sametime we do not deny that Messrs. JACOB andHARRisON may have some followers with

capacity for better things, for, alas ! in allcommunities there will ever be a few crea-tures always ready to suject their reason andtheir principle to what they conceive to betheir interest for the moment. It is scarcelyrequisite, then, in contradiction of the mis-statements of the faction, to assert, afterso many years of public experience, thatTHE LANCET does not wage war against theprofession of mere surgery. The practiceof surgery the writer has ever considered a

high and honourable calling; and it hasever been his laborious endeavour, as wellas his boast and honour, to promote its realinterests, and this in no selfish or contractedview, but in a large and liberal sense, byevery means within his power. Against the

College, however, used in the aense ;

which the school faction employ the term,-.for with them it is but a more convenitl.name for their school, of itself a cover t .

monopoly and intrigue,—THE LANCET is, undoubtedly, strenuously opposed, as it eve.

will be opposed against all monopolies, all

corruptions, all abuses, more especially those-which, like the parasitic nuisance in qUt’tion, possess not only the necessary intrinsmischiefs of monopoly, but the power of off’.;ing injury, injustice, and insult, to t6o;:interests which the college was ordained t.protect. Messrs. HARMsox andjAcoB,tLt"are assured that it will require a better

cause, talents more profound, and far highpprinciples than grace withal themselves andtheir train, to prevent the public from properly distinguishing between their narrowyselfish, and injurious proceedings, and thehonest, open, and evidently pro-bono-pubdelabours of the medical reformers.

The School (and we use the term designedly, as being the more comprehensive word,including the College itself, which has evebeen a complete nullity, and never morethan at the present moment), has now )mta full trial, having been, together with it,vaunted system of education, more than lalfa century in full and triumphant operation.From a system so loudly and pertinaciouslyinsisted upon as being so excellent in itsellas not to admit of a shadow of improvementor reform, extended over so lengthened aperiod of time, it is but reasonable to espeutmany and great general advantages; but

where are they to be found? Search the

records of knowledge; there is not a traceof a contribution to science from the college,No reports, no proceedings, no transaction’Easily may the college contest and can; 011

the palm from her " silent sister of Trinih."There is not even a single instance of htr er

fostering, encouraging, or rewarding, scienctin any one shape, direct or indirect; know-ledge is left to struggle as it may, as a thingwith which the college has nothing tu do.True it is, notwithstanding the anti-scientiphicgenius of the college, that some respectableindividuals have gained ephemeral celt.

brity, and enjoyed public confidence; b!!’

where are the monumentaœreperennius wherby their names are to be handed down tposterity, and held in honour by succeedy-generations as promoters of knowledge, im-provers of the profession, and benefactor;

797

mankind? A few (respectable) monographs We wonder of what stuff Irish licentiatesconstitute the sum total, and these thinly are made ! We have often heard that thatscattered over that half century which, in permanent, generous, and unflinching spiritother countries, and under more congenial of independence which is so characteristicsystems, has been specially distinguished of the Englishman is not an abiding qualityby the number and splendour of its dis- in the Irish nation : we do not say that this

coveries and improvements in all the arts is the time, but, certainly, if under such cir-and sciences. cumstances such outrage had been attempted

It cannot be denied that the college has in England, the Sassenachs would long sincetotally failed in contributing to, or pro- not only have loudly protested against it inmoting science; but then, having devoted public meetings convened for the purpose,herself entirely to education, having sacri- but actually spoken of the unrighteous andficed all other considerations, and all other galling yoke, and with success, too, for thatinterests, to the school, she has given to the yoke is sustained neither by law, nor equity,world a strong band of highly-educated nor public opinion, nor power, but only byscientific practitioners who may defy corn- the passive and spiritless nature of those whoparison. This flattering and delusive asser- wilfully bow their necks to it.tion, which has been (from base and selfish The College of Surgeons was also ordain-motives on the one hand, and shallow igno- ed for the purpose of protecting the rightsrance on the other) so often insisted on, that and interests of the profession whose namefor a time it actually gained credit, we must it bears ; how it has succeeded in this re-take the liberty of questioning altogether. spect is a question which we leave with. altogether. confidence to be answered by the expen-As our object is public benefit we cannot, in ence of every member and licentiate, alwayscandour, permit so dangerous, so unfounded excepting a small minority of the formeran illusion to last one moment longer. The class, who batten on the ruin of the rest. It

sooner the wholesome truth is generally is a question that comes home to all,’ evenknown the better. The alumni of the Irish the most unambitious, who seek merely to

college must certainly give to the .,. earn a subsistence by their profession. We

college must certainly give to the public would simply ask, Does the profession oc-some more convincing proof of their scientific cupy the prominent position it ought to

attainments than their empty and dogmatic occupy? Does it even retain the grounds! assertion of it: the day for that sort of thing it did once possess? Does the professionhas long passed away. Certain it is that enjoy the confidence and the patronage,

their curriculum is most imperfect, nay, does it receive the remuneration, of the

their curriculum is most imperfect, nay, con- public? Has it not retrograded on all thesetemptible; and their examination, whether points ? Have not other contending bodieswe consider the probity or the ability of the in the medical profession, who used to becensors (speaking in general terms), is no far behind the College of Surgeons, haveindication of any thing whatever, but the not they, by pursuing a wiser system, bymost common-place medical attainments. building on a more substantial foundation,most common-place medical and by better and more honest regulations,Then, if we look for the unfailing results of taken the lead, and left the College of Sur-a high order of education upon the moral geons completely in the back ground ? Is

; character, where are they to be found? Can not that college sinking fast every day in

we see them, on the one hand, in the unjust, public estimation; and does it not draginsulting and unprincipled tyranny of the down along with it the whole profession ofinsulting, and unprincipled tyranny of the surgery ?

with it the whole profession ofsmall number of members who

in order surgery ? And all this under the school’ small number of members, who, in order to management of Messrs. JACOB and HARRISON

maintain a miserable, selfish monopoly have If, then, the Irish College of Surgeons have e’

actually, without the smallest regard to altogether failed as the contributor to, anddecency, closed, almost by public proclama- the promoter of, science ; if it have failed

tion, the doors of their college against in devising and enforcing a proper and pro-tion the doors of their college against in devising and enforcing a proper. and pro-

further admissions, and thereb fixed the ductive system of medical education; if itfurther admissions, and thereby nxed the have failed, or worse than failed, in protect-bann of inferiority and degradation upon ing the rights and promoting the interests oftheir more numerous brethren, their equals the surgical profession, is it not preposterousin law and equity; or, on the other hand, to say, that it does not loudly call for, onare they to be found in the slavish submis-

those several grounds,- grounds of suchvital importance,—for a thorough remodel-sion of the hundreds of licentiates who have ling and reform, in order to fit it for duties

basely and silently succumbed, without a now unperformedand impracticable? Doubt-murmur, to that degradation and that insult? less that call shall be heard and answered.