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have become less irksome, or have ceased to annoy him, hehas generally lost much of his former inclination for studyand mental improvement, and soon begins to acquire a relishfor trashy, light reading, and all the frivolous things of hisnew situation. The public and the public boards seem alikeblind to the danger and responsibility connected with thisimproper treatment of the assistant-surgeons. The entiremedical charge of the officers and crew of any of our largestships may-and occasionally does-fall upon the seniorassistant-surgeon, in consequence of the death or illness of thesurgeon; and at a time, perhaps, when his services are mostrequired. In the winter of 1813, when an assistant-surgeonof little more than three years and a half standing, I hadmyself, very unexpectedly, entrusted to me the whole medicalmanagement of the " Bulwark," T4, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir P. C. Durham, and in daily expectation ofcoming to action with the French fleet, off Flushing. Suchcircumstances alone make it absolutely necessary that theprofessional knowledge—both practical and theoretical-ofthe assistant-surgeons should be constantly kept up, and readyfor any emergency. But how is this to be accomplished, asthings are now ordered ?

It may well create surprise, that men so deservedly eminentand distinguished as Sir James Clark, Sir William Burnett,Sir David Dickson, Sir Richard Dobson, and, I may add, SirJohn Richardson, and who are all so well acquainted with thepernicious treatment of the naval assistant-surgeons, havingthemselves experienced it in all its bitterness, on entering thepublic service, do not exert their powerful influence to correctthis long-continued abuse, and to place this meritorious andimportant class of officers where they undoubtedly ought tobe, in the ward-room.-I am, Sir, &c.,Banks of the Nith, June, 1847. A. B., late Surgeon R.N.

SPANISH AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PRETENDERS.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SiR,—Being a young licentiate of the College of Physicians,I went, last Saturday, to hear the Harveian Oration, thepresident and fellows having done me the honour to send acard of invitation. On entering the hall, I was rather sur-prised to see the president, in his robes, stationed on the firstlanding of the staircase, with several fellows in red gowns,and Dr. Bentley Todd in a black gown. I thought it a markof great condescension thus to receive those who had beeninvited to be present on the occasion; but on reaching thelibrary, I was soon informed that Dr. Paris &c. were stationedon the stairs to receive the Conde de Alontemolin, the pre-tender to the Spanish crown. The great judgment of theCollege appeared to me, on a little reflection, to be singularlydisplayed in placing the greatest pretender to physiology ina black gown to welcome the Spanish prince. What indi-vidual could have been so fitly chosen for this occasion as thechairman of the illegal Committee of Physiology of the RoyalSociety-one of the fabricators of the false report-the repu-diator of the hypogastric nerve, and who actually had the follyto propose that the Physiological Committee should be reducedto the state of the Spanish Inquisition, and that the Councilshould see that no record whatever be kept of their proceed-ings in future, or that if any were previously in existence,the fellows should not be allowed access to them.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,PERMISSUS.

QUACKERY OF JOURNALISM.

To the Editor of the LANCET.

SiR,—In your laborious onslaught on quackery, it has oftenstruck me with wonder that you should never have alluded indirect and pointed terms to the quackery involved in the edi-torship of a pretended medical journal by a poor unemployedlawyer. W’ould the profession of the law, think you, toleratethat a medical man should edit the Jurist or the Law Times? ?I beg pardon for instituting any comparison between these re-spectable journals and the contemptible print I refer to, butI am confident the legal profession would instantly and justlyscout any medical interlopers amongst their professional lite-rature. How can we expect justice done in medical mattersby an alien of his kind ? It is disgraceful that any members ofthe profession should write in such a vehicle, and I would sug-gest to you that a list of the contributors should be publishedweekly. I am sure such a black list would meet with thecontempt of every respectable man in the profession. I am,&c. EXAMINER.

FEES FROM LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANIES.To tlae Editor of TIIE LANCET.

SIR,-I am delighted at the announcement of your inten-tion to discuss the important question of Assurance fees. Itstrikes me that the numerous medical men who are physiciansand surgeons to the diiterent life offices in London, cannothave been true to the interests of their profession, or theywould long ago have convinced the directors of these com-panies that the medical referee is justly and honourablyentitled to his fee for the questions they propose. Manyyears ago, the matter was discussed, and though the abstractright to remuneration was the same as now, the professiongenerally gave way upon the point, chiefly, I believe, becauseproposals respecting life assurance seldom came before them.Now, however, the matter is different. We are continuallytroubled respecting our patients, and we are constantlyobliged, from conscientious motives, to recommend patients toinsure their lives. If the legal profession were worried as themedical profession is by this matter, they would soon start asufficient number of offices to take the matter into their ownhands; and this, I believe, is what ought to be done, andpromptly, too, by medical men. We are bullied by the secre-taries, treated as rogues by the directors, confronted with themedical man of the office, who is paid for doing almost nothing,being in fact a mere show-card, and then told that we have noright to remuneration for educated labour, one of the veryfirst principles of justice and political economy.

AN ADVOCATE OF MEDICAL LIFE OFFICES.

FRENCH AND ENGLISH MEDICINE.To the Editor Of THE LANCET.

SiR,—I have been gratified by seeing the attention of themedical profession in this country directed to the labours oftheir brethren in France and other continental states, throughthe medium of the foreign articles contained in the pages ofyour valuable periodical. The intercommunication of know-ledge in this manner has been much neglected by the me-dical press in England; for although I think medical men inthis kingdom have shown more zeal in their search afterknowledge from foreign nations, than the latter have fromus, yet much still remains to be done. Indeed, it is notorioushow precocious our French neighbours show themselves inmaking discoveries and observations, such as have been longfamiliar to English physicians.

Again, Sir, you have shown your desire to extend rightnotions in medical politics by informing us of the opinionsentertained in France, relatively to the improvement of thepractice and government of the profession, by thus calling inthe aid of their experience. For it seems evident that theobjects of the profession being one and the same among allnations where it exists as a faculty, similar means must benecessary to their accomplishment.And I think that French physicians are making a move in

the right direction, according to the analysis you have givenof the proceedings in the Chamber of Peers. British practiceand British medical men are being referred to in the FrenchAcademies, as it is just and fitting they should.

I hope, therefore, that you will’ present your subscriberswith a further account of the fate of their Medical ReformBill, as soon as its discussion has proceeded far enough, andthat we shall still have those reviews of French medicalpractice, similar to those already given.

A CONSTANT READER.

MEDICAL REGISTRATION AND MEDICAL LAWAMENDMENT BILL.

Petitiozas in favour of the Bill, received for Presentation byMr. Wakley, M.P.:-

Medical Practitioners of Woodford, Essex, three signatures;P. J. Hynes, Beeston, Notts; Alexander Wright, Greenhill,near Sheffield; J. C. Bellamy, Hammersmith; FitzwilliamHorton, Hammersmith-road ; Gilbert Kennedy, Hammer-smith ; Charles Knevett, Kensington; Basil Barrett, Hammer-smith ; J. B. Guazzaroni, Kensington; R. Bennmgton, Grace-church-street ; F. R. Jago, Hammersmith ; G. F. Keys, Lei-cester-street, Regent-street ; George Redford, Golden-square;H. Sidden, Blackfriars-road; J. H. Burnall, Westminster-bridge-road ; Edward Johnson, M.D., 42, Carnaby-street; ;Alfred Baker, Fole3--street; William Ryder, Oxford-street; W.B. Parkes, Great Marlborough-street; J. H. Bannister, Oxford.street; W. Morgan, Great Titchfield-street; R. J. Culverwell,