Hunterian oration : the Hunterian oration, (February 14th, 1851,) that would have been delivered by a Member of the College of Surgeons, of London, if permission had been granted to him by the President and Council.

  • Crisp, Edwards, 1806-1882.
Date:
[1851]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hunterian oration : the Hunterian oration, (February 14th, 1851,) that would have been delivered by a Member of the College of Surgeons, of London, if permission had been granted to him by the President and Council. 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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    HUNTERIAN ORATION. d- The Hunterian Oration. (February 14th, 1851,) _that would have Mr. President,—As the circumstances under which I appear before you are so peculiar, I must he pardoned for neglecting for a few moments the name of the great man whose industry and genius we are assembled this day to commemorate. It has been announced to the profession, through the medical journals, that Mr. It. A. Stafford was appointed to deliver the Hunterian Oration on the 14th of February, but, in a periodical that now enjoys the confidence of this council, (February 8th,) is the following announcement.—• “We regret to inform our readers that Mr. Stafford, upon whom the duty devolved this year of delivering the Hunterian Oration at the College of Surgeons, is unable to attached friends, and their death has been so severe a shock as totally to incapacitate him from the completion of an oration, which we have reason to know was thoroughly Hunterian; a compliment we have not been able to pay to all orations delivered in the theatre of the Royal College of Surgeons.” I am sure, Sir, that all connected with this college will regret the severe indisposition of Mr. Stafford, at the same time some surprise must be felt by the members at large, that one of the council did not volunteer his services; but, as no such offer has been made, I willingly, at the eleventh hour, undertake the task, and, as it is the first time that a member, one of the lower grade, has been allowed such a privilege, I feel more the responsibility of my position, but I will endeavour, honestly and conscientiously, to fulfil my trust; and although some of my remarks may not be pleasing to the authorities of this, and of other corporate institutions, I have reason to believe that they will not be unacceptable to the great bulk of the profession in England. Pliny tells us that Apelles, when he had finished his paintings, placed them in some public thoroughfare that they might be own. Apelles heard their remarks behind a screen, and often profited by them. Would, Mr. President, that the council of this college had shewn the same amount of wisdom: the dissatisfaction and disgust at your works among those whom you are pleased to designate the lower grade, the common people, have been loud and long repeated; but you take no warning; you are deaf to the voice of complaint; the appeals of reason and of justice have had no effect upon you; and the voices of those who once sounded loudly for medical reform are now still, they are quieted by that upas-like poison, corporate eraternity. But if you disre- gard the appeals of your brethren, why are you deaf to the censures of the public press? I could quote, if time would admit, numerous journals which have decried your narrow, selfish, and one-sided policy. Iu a leading article in the Daily News permission Tad been gfantecTto him by thie president and council. The beenTelivered by a Membt^^ of Surgeons, of London, if reader must suppose, the president, council, and members are before the orator, with Lord dohn Russell and Sir G. Grey, as visitors. (From the London Medical Examiner, March, 1851.) do so, as his health is greatly impaired by his constant attendance seen by the common people, whose judgment he preferred before his A