An address to the members of the Royal College of Surgeons of London: on the injurious conduct and defective state of that corporation; with reference to professional rights, medical science, and the public health / [John Armstrong].

  • Armstrong, John, 1784-1829
Date:
1825
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An address to the members of the Royal College of Surgeons of London: on the injurious conduct and defective state of that corporation; with reference to professional rights, medical science, and the public health / [John Armstrong]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    attained. Surgeons are generally capable of per¬ forming operations, while in England only a few profess to operate, and hence the anomalous dis¬ tinction, found in no other European country, of operating Surgeons as a separate class in the profession. The want of this class is so sensibly felt throughout Great Britain, that an operating Surgeon is often sent for from many miles distant; but as his services can only be procured by the rich man, who can afford to purchase them, the poor must too often fall a sacrifice for want of such assistance. Though the College of Surgeons in London is vicious in its institution, from being governed by a self-elected Body, amenable to no controlling authority, and excluding the Members at large as well from the participation and knowledge of its transactions as from the disposal of its funds, yet . it has certain duties to perform, for which it is answerable to the public. These consist in grant¬ ing Diplomas to such students as are found, by examination, to be competent to practise Surgery; and in advancing Anatomical and Chirurgical knowledge throughout the kingdom. Indeed this? latter duty is implied in the first, for unless these Sciences are promoted, it is impossible that Stu¬ dents can possess the requisite knowledge. If it be inquired whether the Court of Examiners of the London College of Surgeons acquit itself faith¬ fully of these trusts reposed in it by the public, for