The official resignation of the Professorship of Surgery, in University College, London, with observations addressed to the President and Council / [Samuel Cooper].

  • Samuel Cooper
Date:
[1848]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The official resignation of the Professorship of Surgery, in University College, London, with observations addressed to the President and Council / [Samuel Cooper]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    merely by the inimitable skill and unequalled reputation of Mr. Liston as an operator, but by the infant state of the School, which was then only of six years standing, and until that date without an Hospital. It had not had sufficient time to launch into the Profession the numerous meritorious individuals who now adorn it, and who must be regarded quite as fit c< by nature ,” (one of Hr. Sharpey’s phrases) if not by country, and other considerations, as this gentleman’s intimate acquaintance. The reason why Mr. Morton was not suggested by any of my colleagues (not exactly as “ the successor of Mr. Liston,” as the expression is, but as the seeond Surgeon), was, as my statement proves, because Dr. Sharpey’s favourite must then have remained in the North, and the sway of the two irre¬ sistible Professors been interfered with. On the other hand, I know that two out of the four Medical Professors present at the Senate, held for the invitation of Professor Sharpey’s friend, were in favour of appointing Mr. Morton as third Surgeon; and as Professor Sharpey himself declared at my house in December last, on my remonstrating against the harsh treatment of Mr. Morton, that he saw no objection himself to a third Surgeon being made, as some mitigation of the unpleasant position in which that gentleman was about to be placed, I presume, that it is correct to say, that three out of the four Medical Professors were truly in favour of, or certainly not against, the measure. Mr. Liston offered to recommend Mr. Morton to be made third Surgeon more than a year ago, entirely from a sense of his merit, and without any solicitation. University College, 9th August, 1847. Dear Sir,—I beg to inform you that I submitted your letter of the 4th of August to the Council at their Session on Saturday last, and that I was directed to return you their thanks for the communica¬ tion, and to acquaint you, that the Council will take an early oppor¬ tunity of ascertaining by what individual the most fitting assistance can be rendered to you. The Council also referred the matter to the Committee of Manage¬ ment to make enquiries, and to take such steps as may appear necessary. I am, &c. &c., To Professor Cooper. CHAS. C. ATKINSON.
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