532 
Notices of Boohs, 
[October, 
arches, sewers, drains, tanks, and wells ; on concrete building, 
&c. The work is profusely illustrated, and will be of great 
value to those engaged in the study of the constructive arts. 
The State of the Medical Profession in Great Britain and 
Ireland . By William Dale. Being the successful Car- 
michael Prize Essay in 1873. Dublin : J. Atkinson and Co. 
From the Preface to this Essay we have great pleasure in ex- 
tracting the following passage : — 
“ Certain restless women have sought recognition as medical 
probationers or students, of the different corporations ; especially 
have they, with wonderful persistence, forced their so-called 
claims upon the attention of the University of Edinburgh and 
the General Medical Council. The former of these bodies has 
emphatically said ‘No’ to these bold aspirants after medical 
work and medical fame ; but the latter, by the half-hearted mode 
in which it has dealt with the question, has opened the door to 
future trouble, and given grave offence to the profession. A 
short time ago, at Heidelberg, we saw two young female stu- 
dents going round the wards of che hospital with the young men. 
The strange sight arrested instant attention, but the exhibition 
sadly repaid it. They stood behind the male students, and 
seemed to have no place in the class ; indeed how could they ? 
Look at the case under observation. It is a case of Ascites in a 
man ! What could gallantry, or good nature, or anything else 
do for them ? Where could they be placed but behind ?” 
If we look further into the pamphlet, and note how over- 
crowded the profession evidently is, we shall yet further question 
the wisdom of those who seek to assist women in obtaining 
medical qualifications. 
The following account is true, and “ pity ’t is ’t is true”: — - 
“We see men with diplomas keeping open retail shops, and 
selling almost everything that the druggist sells, hair-oil, 
scented soap, perfumery, tobacco and cigars, patent medicines, 
&c. We see others having open surgeries, one remove above 
shops, with their glaring red lamps, as trade-marks to attract 
customers. We see others jostling each other in the strife for 
existence, advertising and underselling like any Cheap Jack of 
the day ; seeking to visit patients and supply medicines for 
is. 6d., is., or even 6d. In a shop-window not more than a 
stone’s throw from Westminster Abbey the writer saw medical 
attendance and medicine advertised at even a lower rate than 
this.” The Medical Club system and the Poor-Law service give 
equally convincing proofs of the unsatisfactory state of the 
medical profession, — a state as dangerous to the public as it is 
cr 
& 
to the practitioner. The new sphere of sanitary work 
