Observations on the plan proposed for establishing "a Dispensary and Medical Society for the private and only immediate use of the subscribers, the families, and friends." / [Anon].

  • Lettsom, John Coakley, 1744-1815
Date:
1779
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the plan proposed for establishing "a Dispensary and Medical Society for the private and only immediate use of the subscribers, the families, and friends." / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    aCtive perfons, than upon his own qualifications: and in the exigence of difeafe, thefe very perfons muft perceive, that no gentleman of much medical praCtice or experience would be the partner of fuch an illiberal monopoly; and they would there¬ fore naturally feek abroad for relief, where they were moft likely to find it. Hence the very ends of the inftitution would be fruftrated, and only the views of interefted practitioners, managers, au¬ ditors, meffengers, and other dependents, be fuc- cefsful. Were even thefe objections overcome, what gentleman would chufe to have his complaints known to a public fociety, or fuffer thofe of his wife and daughters to be exhibited to the general infpeCtion of “ managers, reprefentatives,” and other inquifitive perfons ? He muft certainly en¬ tertain a very inadequate idea of female excellence, who difcovers fo little regard for the delicacy of the fex. In forming new eftablifhments, it is the com¬ mon praCtice to depreciate all the old : but among medical gentlemen, fuch narrow and illiberal fend- ments are equally unbecoming and fufpicious. The mind that is apt to aflign bafe motives for the aCtions of others, may juftly be fufpeCted of na¬ tural depravity. This fentiment muft ftrike every perfon, who reads the Plan of this new Society, which