MEDICAL BILL. 
503 
present Bill, although not satisfactory to all parties, is 
less open to objection than any of the Medical Bills pre- 
viously introduced.” 
“ On going into committee on this Bill in the House of 
Lords,” 
“The Earl of Carnarvon explained that its object was to 
simplify and amend the present complicated arrangements 
under which the medical profession was governed. It was 
not a destructive Bill ; it kept alive all the old corporations 
at present existing in this country, and it endeavoured to put 
fresh life and spirit into them. It continued to them the 
access to the profession, and instituted complete reciprocity 
between them. It also established one central medical 
council, which would have a general regulating power, subject 
to an appeal, however, to the Privy Council. The Bill also 
made provision for a system of registration, and, on the 
whole, he thought its operation would be found productive of 
great benefit to the profession at large.” 
“Lord Ebury said it was a doctors 5 Bill, and they were 
about to entrust medical practice entirely to a set of men who 
declared they had no faith in their system. Dr. Bailey, on 
his death-bed, doubted whether the medicine which he had 
prescribed had not done more harm than good. Dr. 
Chambers, in a funeral oration upon Dr. Williams, said the 
deceased had no confidence in medicine ; and Dr. Forbes 
stated that the present practice of medicine was so en- 
tirely unsatisfactory, that he hoped some new school might 
be set on foot.” 
“Their lordships then went into committee on the Bill. 55 
“Clauses 1 to 35 were agreed to, with amendments. 55 
“On clause 36 , which enacts that any person who shall 
wilfully and falsely pretend to be, or take or use the name or 
title of a physician, surgeon, general practitioner, &c., shall 
pay a sum not exceeding £ 20 , or less than £ 5 .” 
“Lord Ebury moved to omit the words, ‘or take or use 
the name or title of. 5 The noble lord said if he divided alone 
he would go into the lobby against this clause. 55 
“Lord Redesdale said that by the new rule two tellers 
were to be appointed for divisions, and as the noble lord 
appeared to stand alone, he did not see how he could 
divide. 55 
“'The clause was then agreed to, and the Bill, as amended, 
went through committee. 55 
“The above short extract from the discussion in the House 
of Lords will serve to show the estimation in which medical 
science is held by some of the aristocracy, who claim the 
