751

them enjoys the largest portion of the pub-lic confidence. If you continue your ef-forts in our favour, emancipation is certain.Nothing would give me greater pleasuretban to join the Society of General Prac-titioners," in a comprehensive scheme ofreform, but I cannot consent to form one ofa body whose existence would only tend toprolong our degradation, and to sttengthenthe hands of those who are opposed to ourproaress. Let the Society at once abandonits project, and not induce well-meaningmen to incur unnecessary expense.Your constant reader, and an unfluctuating

refurmer,W. F.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

W. A. WALFORD.

* See Expositor’s Letters.

SIR,—A correspondent to THE LANCET, ofJuly 2ith, states, that the projected Metro-politan Association of General Practitioners" originated among the stewards of the lateproposed medical dinner."As a steward, up to the period immedi-

ately anterior to the humiliating failure ofthe proposed dinner, I for one beg to cor-rect the mis-statement of the Committee-man, that the Society to be, emanated fromthe Stewards. In disclaiming the imputedhonour, I am competent to perform the likegood office for Mr. Harwood. That the

"Society" is the work of the balance of theStewards I am not able to deny,-I am onlyanxious to decline the distinction implied inthe letter of ., one of the Committee." I

am, Sir,Your obedient Servant,

OPERATIONS AT THE DERBY INFIRMARY.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—As one of the readers of THE LAN-ctrin this town, I was surprised to observein your last number a statement by Air.Gishorne, of what took place on his beingcompelled to retire from the operation-roomof the Dtrby Infirmary. To those acquaint-’ed with what has recently passed betweensome of the medical officers of that Institu-tion, and others of the same profession, thestatement itself conveys its own answer.But as the communication in question doesnot explain the feelings which have longbeen entertained by your correspondent Mr.Gisborne, and the operator Mr. Godwin,towards each other, I am induced to offer abrief statement of what I believe to befacts.

To all unprejudiced minds, and to thosewho had no pre-existing knowledge of theheretofore attempts to vilify (no doubt bythe same hand) the senior surgeon, it wouldappear that Mr. Godwin had committed notonly a dereliction of courtesy due from onegentleman to another, but had been guilty ofa most heinous offence in acting upon, byvirtue of his affice, an indisputable right, aright not only possessed by every hospitalsurgeon throughout the kingdom, but a

right founded on the best views of equityand justice. Now, it is well known to thoseinterested in the success ef the Derby Infir-mary, who attend the weekly board, and toall other matters involving the welfare of theInstitution, that anonymous charges havebeen preferred,* and the professional reputa-tion of the surgical department grosslycalumniated. That you should have per-mitted the columns of your highly-talentedand widely-circulating journal to have beenthe vehicle of language so deeply reprehen-sible, the best friends of the liberty of the

press sincerely regret. As for the accusa-tions of illiberality against the late commit-tee for drawing up the new rules, they cer-’tainly cannot apply to the present case ; forit is to that committee the practitioners ofthis town are indebted for the recommenda-tion to the surgeons of the Infirmary to ex-tend their liberality and permit the medicalpublic to witness their operations, when notattended with inconvenience to themselves.This word" inconvenience " has been byMr. Gisborne much carped at, yet I am notaware that one more comprehensive couldhave been adopted by the committee in con-veying the sense in which they were

anxious their recommendation should beconsidered; namely, to accommodate the me-dical profession generally, and to preserveat the same time to the officers of the charity,the exclusive privilege against the admis-sion of improper persons; a privilege which,in common fairness, ought not to be com-plained of. On this rests the gravamen ofthe story, which I look upon as nothingmore than the common result of cause andeffect : a proper punishment for improperconduct. And I hope, when your corre-

spondent ventures again before the public,he will approach his subject with more

temperance, more candour, more reflection,’and more truth. Yours, &c.,

FAIRPLAY.

Derby, July 20th, 1830.