CHAP. X.] LETTER TO ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. 125 



Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons, can vote by papers without the 

 necessity of a journey. 



By the Act 24 & 25 Viet. cap. 53, the members of the Universities 

 of Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin are empowered to employ voting- 

 papers. This privilege was extended to members of the London Univer- 

 sity by 30 & 31 Viet. cap. 102 ; and the details of election were further 

 simplified by 31 & 32 Viet. cap. 65. The College of Surgeons having been 

 shown the way, has only to take advantage of the precedent by procuring 

 an Act, of a few lines in length, rehearsing the University Election Acts, 

 and applying their provisions to the particular case of the College of 

 Surgeons before the next election takes place. The question has only to 

 be raised for its propriety to be admitted ; for where is the surgeon who 

 would not rather watch a serious case, when life or death may depend, 

 than neglect his patient, that he may formally hand over a printed paper 

 to the recognized official of the College of Surgeons? To obtain the 

 desired end, proper means must be taken. The body of country Fellows 

 must ask before their request can be granted ; and I shall be glad to 

 receive the names of every Fellow desirous of voting by papers, that we 

 may at once take steps to obtain the Act of Parliament necessary to give us 

 our just due. (Signed) ALFRED SMEE. 



P.S. Only fifty-seven country Fellows voted at the last election. 



