Paragraph 5 says: "The ordinary Medical Schools of Great Britain supply all the teaching necessary for the education of a physician or surgeon with this one important exception, viz., the teaching of the Homœopathic Materia Medica and Therapeutics." Paragraph 6 says: "It is to supply this want, and not to inaugurate any rival effort, that it is proposed to establish a School of Homœopathy." Paragraph 8 says: "That one of the necessities for such a School is the claims of such physicians and surgeons as desire to study the homœopathic method."" Paragraph 9 says: "It is intended to limit the public instructions in homœopathy to medical men and to bona fide medical students from some other school." Paragraph 10 reiterates the principle, that the special aim of the School is "to complete and elevate the attainments (already possessed by regularly educated physicians) by adding to their other knowledge, that of the art and science of homoeopathy." Again, there is a foot-note to the first prospectus issued after the foundation of the School, dated January, 1877. * **The classes of students to whom these lectures are specially addressed, are: "1 Medical men who have already obtained their degrees, and who desire to obtain a knowledge of homoeopathy, in addition to their other acquirements. "2. Medical students desiring to be instructed in homoopathic medicine. "3. Missionaries going abroad." Drs. Drysdale and Dudgeon were very early, if not the first signatories of our original prospectus. One of our objects, that of obtaining a good class of passed medical men, has been attained, and several excellent physicians have attended our lectures and clinical instruction, and have entered into the active practice of homoeopathy. Our last session's class numbered 13 students of homœopathy. That there are difficulties which beset the medical student (in his pupil stage) is, or ought to be, well known, both to Dr. Drysdale and others, whose sons, although studying at London hospitals, find it impossible to attend our lectures till after the attainment of their degrees. Possibly we may find (so soon as we understand fully the nature of these difficulties) some way of meeting and of removing them. At present, we are bound to believe them insuperable, since not one of the half dozen or more students (studying in London) who are sons of homoopathic practitioners, attend our courses of lectures. Dr. Drysdale is in error in stating that no medical students (in the pupil stage) have attended our School; and equally in error in speaking as though our School was intended solely for students who possess no degree. The above documentary evidence shows that the chief aim of the School is to teach homoeopathy to medical men, so that the public may be protected against ignorance of homœopathy in medical men desiring to practise it. As regards the L. H. certificate or diploma; the idea, in some shape has always been present in the mind of the founders of the School. In Paragraph 17 in the original prospectus, we find, "at the end of each session, the governing body shall appoint three of its members to examine and grant certificates in homœopathy to any legally qualified medical practitioner, who having diligently attended the lectures and hospital practice, shall voluntarily desire such examination, and shall have given one month's previous notice to the Honorary Secretary of his desire to be examined." This principle was allowed to fall into abeyance, at the request of some few men and did not appear in the later prospectuses; it being recommended that only lecturers' certificates should be given. The utility of some distinctive title was seen and acknowledged by the founders of the British Homœopathic Society, whose M.B.H.S. or F.B.H.S. was instituted as a protection to the public; but the evidence required as to the qualification of candidates for the M.B.H.S. was and is so slight, as to be practically no proof of the fitness of the member of the British Homœopathic Society to practise as a homœopathic practitioner. The founders of the School desired that each of its students should only receive his certificate after such an examination as would prove him qualified to practise homoeopathy, and thus we should interpose a safeguard against quackery and ignorance, to the great benefit of the public. Lastly. That a subscription from the funds of the School, towards increasing the facilities for clinical teaching in the Hospital, was one of our earliest principles, is shown in Paragraph 19 of the original prospectus, and large sums of money have been received by us on the faith of this prospectus. Paragraph 19 says: "Our most pressing and greatest need for money is for the purpose of enlarging the Hospital, in order to make it a worthy clinical school; and to this end we must devote our most strenuous efforts." This prospectus was signed by 62 medical men, Drs. Drysdale and Dudgeon's names being on the list. In the first prospectus, issued after the foundation of the School (dated January, 1877), paragraph 13, we find: "But scarcely less important is the enlargement of the Hospital, as a field for clinical instruction; and this will require, for the provision of say 20 beds at the Hospital, at £35 a year (each bed), £700 as an annual subscription." The same principle was affirmed at a preliminary meeting held on Wednesday, November 15th, 1876 (which, among other things, appointed a committee to draw up" rules and laws "). "That the Executive of the School shall be formed from among the subscribers and donors to the School fund, but that in clinical teaching it is desirable that the School be connected with the Hospital, and that the School shall do all in its power, in friendly co-operation with the Board of Management of the Hospital, to assist by funds, and otherwise to develope and increase the usefulness of the Hospital as a field for clinical instruction." These being the fundamental principles, on faith of which large sums of money have been given us, as may be seen on reference to the documents above-named, the subversive propositions of our esteemed colleagues cannot be entertained without grave consideration.-W. B., Hon. Sec." NOTABILIA. LONDON HOMEOPATHIC HOSPITAL. We have much pleasure in drawing the attention of our readers to two entertainments which are about to be given on behalf of the funds of this excellent and very useful charity. The first, a semi-classical, vocal and instrumental concert, will be held at the Langham Music Hall, on the 9th inst., under the patronage of the Earl and Countess of Dunmore, the Earl and Countess of Denbigh, the Earl of Wilton, Lord and Lady Ebury, and the members of the Board of Management. The details of the concert are being arranged by Herr Carli Zoeller, a professor of music, and a composer of good repute, who will be assisted by several brother artistes of note. It is interesting to know that Herr Zoeller has undertaken the management of this entertainment almost free of cost to the hospital, as an expression of gratitude for the relief afforded to him at the hospital, when, during the hard frost of last winter, he fell and sustained a severe fracture of the left arm, while walking immediately opposite the door of the institution. The fracture was at once set, and Herr Zoeller kindly and carefully attended to by the resident medical officers, at the time and for some weeks thereafter. Tickets of admission (price 7s. 6d., 5s., 2s. 6d., and 18.) may be obtained at the Langham Hall; from the Official Manager at the hospital; Messrs. E. Gould and Son, chemists, Moorgate Street; and from the following music-sellers: Messrs. Neumayer and Co., Princes Street, Cavendish Square. On the 7th June the "Thalian " Amateur Company will give a performance in aid of the hospital funds at St. George's Hall. The pieces selected are The Two Thorns, by special permission of Review, May 1, 1879. the author, T. Albery, Esq., and Ici on Parle Français. The company consists of well-known ladies and gentlemen amateurs, and the performance will undoubtedly prove a most attractive and amusing entertainment. It is to be held under the same distinguished patronage as is the concert, with, in addition, that of the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort; the Duke and Duchess of Westminster; Maria, Marchioness of Ailesbury; the Earl and Countess Sydney; the Earl of Essex; the Earl of Albemarle ; Lord and Lady Camoys; Lord and Lady Alfred Paget; General Lord George Paget, and others. Tickets may be obtained from Captain Vaughan Morgan, 5, Boltons, S. W., the treasurer of the hospital; Captain Conyers D'Arcy, Junior Carlton Club, the stage-manager of the "Thalians;" and Mr. Alan E. Chambre, the Official Manager of the hospital. The prices of the tickets are: Private Boxes, £2 2s. and £1 1s.; Orchestra Stalls, 7s.; Dress Circle, 5s.; Balcony Seats, 3s.; and Gallery, 1s. CHRONIC POISIONING. Secundum artem. "It has long seemed to me, as the almost involuntary induction from innumerable facts of experience, that if any portion of my head machinery is wrong, it is that part which connects will with the effectuating functions. Not will itself, nor that result of will or desire on the imagination which we call 'purpose' (for neither will nor purpose was, probably, ever clearer or more definite than at present), nor the effectuating functions' themselves for they seem all right-but whatever organism is the electric conductor, so to speak. For instance, my devotional feelings, and originating religious powers, are quite healthy and strong, and my will is distinct enough on sacred matters; also my powers of speaking or reading on sacred subjects, if taken unawares, seem healthy; but for my will to oblige my powers of speech, of reading, or of thought, on such subjects, to act with the reverence, attention, and consecration with which I will them to act, soaks me with sweat, and strains my whole mental machine * * "So my memory, when accidental, seems good, and powers when brought to bear on present objects, by their own my mental stimulus, seem as good as ever; but memory fails when will has to make dogs hark back for the desiderata. "Even as regards physical efforts the same law seems to hold, more or less. Everywhere, in short, there is neither devigoration of will, nor tabescence of purpose, nor frustration of will or purpose, by malfaisance of the external doing-machine; but there is profound fatigue, weakness, illness, or whatnot, of some mediatorial organ."-The Life and Letters of Sydney Dobell, vol. ii.) He had hoped to be able to abandon the habitual use of a sedative medicine,* which he took always under protest, with a sense that it poisoned life and fettered the use of his brain, but which, during the last eight years, had been prescribed for him by every physician consulted. The result of medical experiment and observation now led to its being prescribed in larger quantities. This was a severe disappointment, as, during the few days of its discontinuance, he believed that his mind worked more freely and easily. The italics are our own. The picture here presented, of (to use his own words) a noble "life poisoned," and a fruitful "brain fettered" by the constant administration of the present fashionable sedative, tells its own sad story, and points its burning moral. BRITISH HOMEOPATHIC SOCIETY. THE Eighth Ordinary Meeting of this Society will take place on Thursday, the 1st of May, 1879, at seven o'clock. At eight o'clock, a paper will be read by Dr. Murray Moore, of Taunton, entitled, "On the Pathogenetic Analogies of Isomorphous Drugs." LONDON HOMEOPATHIC HOSPITAL. THE Return of Patients admitted during the seven weeks ending April 10th, 1879, gives the following statistics : Remaining in Hospital February 20th, 1879 ... ... Discharged between February 20th & April 10th Remaining in Hospital, April 10th, 1879 47 82 129 43 ... The number of New Out-Patients during the above time has been ... ... ... ... 978 3,037 The total number of Out-Patients' attendances for the same period has been ... ... Bromide of Potassium. |