400 
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IN FRANCE. 
certificates are recognised by the faculties. The organisation of 
these provincial schools is mainly owing to the exertions and in- 
fluence of M. Orfila, the distinguished Dean of the Parisian School 
of Medicine ; and one great advantage attached to them is, that by 
keeping the students of the respective localities at home, they pre- 
vent their agglomeration at Paris, where their naturally peaceful 
and scientific pursuits are too frequently interrupted by the ex- 
citement of political struggles or the allurements of dissipation. 
One of the greatest and most glorious innovations in medical 
science of the present century is the study of pathological medi- 
cine ; and we must acknowledge that to the efforts of French pa- 
thologists the world is mainly indebted for the perfection of this 
branch of the profession. The celebrated Dupuytren bequeathed 
a sum of £8000 for the creation of a chair of morbid anatomy. 
But much yet remains to be done, and the new law provides for 
the formation of laboratories in the faculties and secondary schools, 
where the student will be forced, by frequent post-mortem exami- 
nations, to acquire a knowledge of the organic lesions accompanying 
the various diseases to which the animal system is liable. The 
foundation of bourses, or gratuitous exhibitions, to be enjoyed by 
laureats of the universities and secondary schools, is in contempla- 
tion, and must meet with universal approbation. This establish- 
ment, in the form of prize scholarships, &c., has long existed in 
England. In the latter country, also, the poor receive efficient and 
skilful medical aid from the dispensary physicians ; in France a 
similar class is proposed to be established under the denomination 
of Medecins Cantonnaux, who must have graduated as doctors of 
medicine, and, in consideration of a fixed salary, will be required 
to afford gratuitous attendance to the poor. This class of practi- 
tioners will advantageously replace the half-educated tribe of 
officiers-de-sante. A question which has given rise to much dis- 
cussion, and to great diversity of opinion, relates to the creation 
of medical councils, analogous in their attributes and action to the 
council of discipline, which regulate the proceedings of the French 
bar. But it is generally supposed that the Conseils Mtdicaux will 
devote their exertions almost exclusively to the compilation of 
statistical documents and to public hygiene . They will, therefore, 
be very similar to the English councils for the improvement and 
salubrity of towns. 
We have now, we believe, not omitted any of the leading points 
which require mention relative to the practice and instruction of 
medicine in France, either in the present state of the law, or in the 
prospective enactments. Our object has simply been to enable 
the general reader to form a correct idea of the intention and 
bearing of the bill, on which the discussion commenced yesterday.” 
