A letter addressed to James Syme, esq., Professor of Clinical Surgery, Edinburgh, in refutation of certain statements made both by him and others, his advocates, in relation to a case of stricture of the urethra, in which the operation of perineal section was performed / by Francis Burdett Courtenay.

  • Courtenay, Francis Burdett, 1811-1886.
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter addressed to James Syme, esq., Professor of Clinical Surgery, Edinburgh, in refutation of certain statements made both by him and others, his advocates, in relation to a case of stricture of the urethra, in which the operation of perineal section was performed / by Francis Burdett Courtenay. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Besides which, it is impossible for me to allow such reiterated attacks on my veracity and professional character to pass without contradiction. And now, Sir, leaving to you the task of giving distinct answers to my questions, I shall, in conclusion, fearlessly leave it to the im- partial reader to determine which of us has in this transaction pursued the most honourable and straightforward course—whether HE, who has for upwards of twenty years laboriously devoted himself to the study of those special diseases ho is called upon to treat, and who, from having no hospital appointment whereby, through the medium of lectures or other means, to impart infor- mation to those interested on the subject of his studies, as to his views and treatment, has published works in illustration of his practice, and adopted the not unusual course of advertising them both in medical journals and newspapers—or the MAN who arrogates to himself the title of being the only “ pure surgeon,” and who, not content with the facilities which a public class and an infirmary appointment as Clinical Professor afford to dissemi- nate his vieios, has likewise published a “ pamphlet,” and not dis- dained to advertise it in the “newspapers,” nor hesitated to attempt to puff himself, his pamphlet, and operation into noto- riety by procuring the insertion of a braggart and, to his profes- sional contemporaries, insulting challenge in a “ periodical,” and who has, lastly, prostituted the columns of what should be a scientific journal, and of which he is one of the conductors, to the reite- rated publication of his misrepresentations and sitppressions of truth, as well as calumnious attacks on those who, both for the credit of the profession and the protection of suffering humanity, have had the moral courage to expose them. I remain, Sir, Yours, F. B. COURTENAY. P. S. It is due alike to yourself and the patient, as also to my own character and sense of justice, that I should state, that, al- though ho is of course disappointed at the unfortunate result of his case, he ever expresses himself in the warmest terms of the liberality, attention, and great personal kindness you showed to him whilst under your charge.