A lecture, introductory to a course of lectures, on anatomy, physiology, and surgery / delivered at the School of Medicine and Surgery, Gerrard Street, Soho, by G.D. Dermott.

  • Dermott, G. D. (George Darby), 1802-1847.
Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A lecture, introductory to a course of lectures, on anatomy, physiology, and surgery / delivered at the School of Medicine and Surgery, Gerrard Street, Soho, by G.D. Dermott. 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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    common hear say, (which deceives many,) and the gift of the ga.h, which they may possess, and I need scarcely say that the persons hest gifted with small talk, are often the least talented, and most deficient in medical matters. This is the shameful system whereby, science, in this Country is insulted by ignorance, and Avhich must inevitably end in the disgrace of those who (whether professional proficients or not,) have been the practical upholders of it; and the fruits of it are now seen not merely in the Aldersgate Dispensary, but more or less in every Hospital and Dispensary throughout England. The single affair to which 1 have just alluded, will do more than any thing which has yet occured, in opening the eyes of the Medical Profession and the sensible part of society at large, and in effecting a great moral revolution in all our Medical Establishments. We see our Institutions rent in twain, and their charitable objects perverted by the confliction of interest necessarily existing under the present system, between Medical OflScers and Governors, and one Medical Man with another. They are arenas of warfare, not of charity. Some of our Journalists are vociferating againt the effects of this bad system, working so badly at the Aldersgate Street Establishment and other places; they cry shame against the Gen- tlemen Governors kicking out the Medical Gentlemen, in such an ungentlemanly like manner, whilst they do not consider the cause. And I cannot forbear saying that those Medical Officers have helped to plant and support the tree of corruption, and are now grumbling about its fruits. They have courted the votes and fa- vours of illiterate people, and now they complain of being insulted by them. The system whereby they become Medical Officers, is disgraceful to science, and a disgraceful system must produce dis- graceful fruits, and disgrace those who volunteer to work in the vineyard of corruption. All the before named facts, prove the badness of the present system, and that it is but ill adapted for the present views and necessities of the English: it has been as- serted that the system of Medical Education in France although good, isnot adapted for England, i.e. although good there, it would not be good here: that however has only been asserted again and again, it has never been proved; and if a Champion for the present medical rottcn-borough-systcm rises up to prove such an assertion, I shall be happy to enter the list of controversy with him, and fight it out. The only cure for this complaint is to attack the cause by a thorough Medical Reform in our Institutions, as to the mode of electing Candidates: this must constitute the trunk of the Medical Reform Tree, all other changes for the better, will be consequent to this and mere branches of it: then will the system of self-election and private patronage be radically destroyed, then a National School of Medicine will flourish in full splendour, but not till then.