MEDICAL REFORM. 525 
forwarded to Sir George Grey, apprising him of its failure and 
dissolution. 
The council, then, feeling themselves at liberty to adopt an in- 
dependent course for the attainment of their objects, convened a 
general meeting of the profession, with the view of explaining 
fully the difficulties in the way of a settlement of the medical reform 
question ; the result of which meeting was, that it was agreed that 
a memorial should be presented to Sir George Grey, praying her 
Majesty to grant a royal charter of incorporation for the establish- 
ment of a college of general practitioners in medicine, surgery, and 
midwifery; and also to present petitions to both Houses of Parlia- 
ment, setting forth the grievances under which the general body of 
practitioners laboured, and urging an alteration of the existing 
laws on the subject. In the year 1844, the Apothecaries’ Society 
pledged itself to the advocacy of a charter of incorporation for ge- 
neral practitioners, and recognised the right of examining candidates 
for their diploma in medicine, surgery, and midwifery, and their 
readiness to resign the powers conferred upon them by the act of 
1815 so soon as such charter should be granted; and up to a very 
recent period they had co-operated with the council for the attain- 
ment of that object; and the council referred with regret to a letter 
from that body to Sir George Grey, offering suggestions for an al- 
teration of the act of 1815. 
The council of the institute were, however, of opinion that the 
Apothecaries’ Society, in endeavouring to effect an alteration of 
their act, did not aim at the removal of the important objections 
entertained by the profession. The council had, therefore, passed 
a resolution that they could not recognise or support any scheme 
for regulating the education of students in medicine, surgery, and 
midwifery, which was incomplete and inconsistent with the three 
branches, and repudiating the remodelling of either of the existing 
institutions unless they were based upon the unity of medicine and 
surgery ; and proceeded to consider the propriety of at once framing 
a bill for the incorporation of the body of general practitioners into 
a distinct and independent college, and, to carry out that object, 
they sought and obtained an interview with Mr. Wyld, M.P., for 
the purpose of having his advice and opinion on the subject; and 
the honourable gentleman had strongly recommended the council 
to adopt the course suggested, and had promised to give it his 
cordial support. The bill was accordingly introduced to the House 
of Commons by Mr. Wyld, but, owing to the lateness of the ses- 
sion, it could not be proceeded with ; but, in order to obtain the 
advantage of the co-operation and support of the profession, the 
council had issued 8000 schedules to the members of that body, 
and from upwards of two-thirds of that number they had received 
