MEDICAL TITLES. 
293 
acetic acid. My experience in the practical application of the test rests on 
the experimental examination of a number of pure medicinal tinctures, against 
the same samples purposely adulterated with methylated spirit. Working on 
this basis, I at the time examined many tinctures then in the market, and 
obtained such indications as to lead me to conclude that “methylated spirits” 
had been used in the preparation of certain samples, while others were pure. 
Apologizing for so far trespassing on your space, 
I am, Sir, yours, etc., 
Dublin , Oct. 15,1864. Emerson J. Reynolds. 
MEDICAL TITLES. 
Several cases have lately been brought before the magistrates, of alleged infringements 
of the Medical Act, of which the following are examples:—At the Thames Police Court, 
Mr. Fentiman, a chemist, druggist, and medicine vender, of No. 2, Upper East Smith- 
field, near the Royal Mint, appeared to answer a summons taken out by Dr. Wills, a 
registered medical practitioner, of No. 22, Upper East Smithfield, which charged the 
defendant with falsely pretending to be a surgeon. 
Mr. Butler Rigby, a barrister, instructed by Mr. Robertson, solicitor, opened the case 
for the prosecution, and said this was a case under an Act to Regulate the Qualifications 
of Practitioners in Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Wills had purchased a practice at a con¬ 
siderable expense, and was a properly qualified practitioner. The name of Dr. Wills 
was in the ‘ Medical Register.’ The complainant’s practice had been greatly interfered 
with by the defendant, whose bills were given away opposite to and near the com¬ 
plainant’s surgery, and jiad even been put into the hands of his patients. The defendant, 
who was not a regularly qualified medical practitioner, called himself a surgeon in his 
shop bills and advertisements, which would be produced. He had only in addition to 
put in the ‘ Medical Register’ for the present year, in which the defendant’s name did 
not appear, and the case was made out. 
The Register was put in and received as evidence, and Mr. Henry Carver, a com¬ 
mission agent, said he went to Mr. Fentiman’s shop on the 15th and purchased two- 
pennyworth of sweet nitre and threepenny worth of rhubarb. The defendant gave him 
a printed bill in which ho was described as “ Mr. Fentiman, surgeon, dentist, and che¬ 
mist, No. 2, Upper East Smithfield, next the Royal Mint, Tower Hill.” 
The defendant, in reply to the charge, said if he had done wrong he was very sorry for 
it. He was not aware it was wrong to call himself a surgeon, for he had carried on the 
practice of the healing art for twenty years. 
Mr. Paget said there was a decision of the Court of Common Pleas in a case of this 
kind in 1860. That case seemed to run on all-fours with this, or nearly so. The Court 
of Common Pleas on the facts decided that there were no grounds to sustain a conviction. 
A man called himself a surgeon, and he was not registered. It was the same here. He 
did not think he should be justified in convicting, and must dismiss the case. 
Mr. Rigby asked the magistrate to adjourn the case, which was one of great import¬ 
ance. It was accordingly adjourned for a week, and was still further deferred, the 
defendant promising not to use the title of surgeon. 
Marlborough Street.— Mr. Francis Bearnard, surgeon-chiropodist to the Royal 
Family, 59, Regent Street, again appeared to answer a summons for using the word 
“ surgeon” on his door, in contravention of the provisions of the new Medical Act. 
Mr. W. Tilley, of Beaconsfield, Bucks, representing the Medical Council of Education 
and Registration, appeared in support of the summons ; and Mr. Lewis, jun., of Ely 
Place, appeared for Mr. Bearnard. 
On the previous occasion it was proved on one side, and admitted on the other, that 
the words “ surgeon-chiropodist” were on the defendant’s door-plate ; that the defendant 
was not a surgeon in England, nor was he registered as one of the medical profession. 
Mr. Tvrwhitt said yesterday,—I have considered this case, and it appears to me that 
“surgeon,” though prefixed to “chiropodist,” cannot be treated as mere surplusage, 
but must have a meaning. That meaning must be measured, not in the narrow sense 
in which knowing Londoners, experienced in vain pretension, and in the steps of medical 
