REPOKT ON MEDICAL EDUCATION, &C. 
61 
and thus, though throughout the country the lieges were left 
to the mercy of any unprincipled and ignorant man who 
chose to designate himself by the title of Apothecary, or 
Surgeon, or Surgeon Apothecary, as suited his fancy, the 
society had no means of putting anWend to this evil ; and 
an association was formed for the purpose both of protecting 
the public, and elevating the statutes of the society. The 
following extracts from the evidence of Dr. Burrows, exhibit 
the true state of the great body of the profession at that period, 
and the objects of the association. 
" 239. What was the state of the medical profession, as 
regarded general practitioners, before the act of 1815? There 
was a great number of individuals practising as general prac- 
titioners, who had certainly not received a competent educa- 
tion, and therefore were not acting in a manner creditable to 
themselves, or beneficial to the public." 
" 240. You acted as chairman to the General Association 
of Apothecaries, and Surgeon Apothecaries of England and 
Wales ? I did." 
"241. Did you principally conduct the correspondence of 
that Association, with the practitioners of England and Wales? 
Wholly; there was a secretary, but I conducted the whole of 
it." 
" 242. Was the act of IS 15 occasioned by the proceedings 
of that association? Unquestionably." 
" 243. What were the evils to remedy which the Associ- 
ation was formed ? I have extracted the principal grounds : 
First, that persons were allowed to practise as surgeons, as 
apothecaries, and as midwives, to dispense medicines and to 
compound prescriptions in England and Wales, who had 
never received any education to fit them to exercise those 
functions, whereby the public were much injured, and the 
character of the medical profession was lowered." 
"244. Their principal object was to reduce the number of 
those who were practising without having received any me- 
dical education at all ? Surely, not only to reduce their 
number, but to prevent them from practising altogether. 
