XIII 



THE STATE AND THE MEDICAL 

 PKOFESSION" 



[1884] 



At intervals during the last quarter of a cen- 

 tury committees of the Houses of the Legislature 

 and specially appointed commissions have occu- 

 pied themselves with the affairs of the medical 

 profession. Much evidence has been taken, much 

 wrangling has gone on over the reports of these 

 bodies; and sometimes much trouble has been 

 taken to get measures based upon all this work 

 through Parliament, but very little has been 

 achieved. 



The Bill introduced last session was not more 

 fortunate than several predecessors. I suppose 

 that it is not right to rejoice in the misfortunes of 

 anything, even a Bill: but I confess that this 

 event afforded me lively satisfaction, for I was a 

 member of the Eoyal Commission on the report 



323 



