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3. The general superintendence of medical education, withuniform tests of qualification for practice.

4. The erection of the Council of Health and MedicalEducation" into a court of appeal against any oppressiveor unjust acts of the medical corporations, and which havehitherto passed with impunity and without redress.

5. The general registration of all qualified practitioners.6. The right to practise in all parts of her Majesty’s domi-

nions after being duly qualified and registered.7. The provision against the assumption of medical titles by

unregistered practitioners.8. That none but registered practitioners can legally recover

charges for medical or surgical advice, attendance, or

operations, or for medicines prescribed or administered.V. That the council having found, from previous experience,

that all former attempts at medical legislation by individualmembers of parliament had failed, and this association having, bydeputations and correspondence, strongly urged upon Sir JamesGraham the propriety of the government undertaking the conductof a bill to regulate medical qualifications and practice, upon liberaland broad principles, are of opinion that no measure would belikely to pass the legislature unless introduced (or at leastsanctioned) by government; and therefore that it is the duty ofall medical reformers to endeavour to obtain such modificationsof Sir James Graham’s bill, that it may be calculated to give satis-faction to the profession, and to confer the greatest amount ofbenefit on the public.

VI. That any medical bill which does not contain powerseffectually to restrain ignorant and unqualified pretenders frompractising the healing art in any of its departments, will be mostdeceptive and injurious to the community, and most unjust tomedical practitioners, who have, at much cost of time and money,qualified themselves for the service of the public.

VII. That separate and united representations should be madeto government, and to both houses of parliament, setting forth theliberal and just principles which any medical reform bill ought tocontain; and that the members of the profession, in their variouslocalities, should immediately wait upon their respective repre-sentatives, to impress them with the importance of the subject,and endeavour to gain their support to such a measure.

VIII. That the council strongly recommend that deputationsfrom the various organized associations, and from the differentcounties and towns where meetings have taken place on the sub-ject of the bill, should hold a CONFERENCE iN LONDON at thecommencement of the next session of parliament, or when themeasure is before the legislature, to adopt such energetic andunited measures to modify the bill as may be deemed requisite.

IX. That the best thanks of the council be given to the EditoIof " The Times" newspaper for his powerful advocacy of thecause of the profession and of the public health; and especially tcThomas Wakley, Esq. M.P., the unflinching advocate and thelong-tried friend of the profession and of medical reform.

Signed, on behalf of the Council,GEORGE WEBSTER, M.D., President.

Sept. 23, 1844.

VOTE OF THANKS TO MR. WAKLEY.

Dulwich. Sept. 30, 1844.DEAR SIR,-At a special meeting of the council of the British

Medical Association, held last week, to consider Sir James Gra-ham’s medical bill, a cordial and unanimous vote of thanks waspassed to you for your unflinching advocacy of medical reform, &c. I(See resolution.) In the absence of the secretary I have greatpleasure in conveying to you this mark of their sense of yourvaluable labours in the cause of the profession, firmly believing,as I do, that without THE LANCET and your untiring exertionsmedical reform would never have been heard of, far less been inits present hopeful state.

I am, my dear Sir, yours very faithfully,GEORGE WEBSTER.

Thomas Wakley, Esq., M.P., &c. &c.

CHATHAM.

MEETING OF MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS.

ON Tuesday, the 17th ult., a meeting of all the medical gentle-men practising in the borough of Chatham, was held at the resi-dence of Richard Martin, Esq., to take into consideration theprovisions of the Medical Relief Bill, introduced into the House ofCommons by Sir James Graham.The various alterations proposed to be carried into effect by the

said bill having been fully discussed, it was unanimously resolved-that a petition against the same be submitted to the House ofCommons, and that it be presented by the Hon. G. S. Byng, themember for the borough, and with a request that he will supportthe same in his place in parliament. It was also agreed, that acopy of the said petition be forwarded to the members for thewestern division of the county, requesting their support andassistance.The able exertions of Mr. Wakley, in behalf of the profession,

were cordially appreciated by the meeting.

ESSEX.

At a county meeting of medical men resident in Essex, held atthe Shire Hall, Chelmsford, on the 26th ult., the following resolu-tions were unanimously adopted :-Moved by Mr. TsoMAS KING, of Chelmsford, and seconded

by Mr. W. R. BARLOw, of WrittleI. That this meeting, fully admitting the necessity which

exists for a well considered plan of medical reform, has learnt withastonishment and regret the nature of many parts of the bill forthe better regulation of medical practice throughout the UnitedKingdom, recently introduced into the House of Commons bySir James Graham, Bart.That this meeting considers the repeal of the Apothecaries’

Act of 1815, and the consequent permission to unlicensed personsto practice, will be injurious to the public at large, and unjusttowards the great body of the medical profession, who have ex-pended a considerable amount of time and money in submittingto the requirements of the present law, the benefits resulting fromwhich they are now to be deprived of, if the proposed bill shouldpass.

That the intended constitution of the Council of Health is ob-jectionable, being too much under the influence of the Govern-ment, whilst the profession has little or no control in its forma-tion or management; and from there being no general practitionernominated upon it an insult is offered to the great body of theprofession.Moved by Mr. COCKS, of Hatfield Broad Oak, and seconded by

Mr. POTTER, of Ongar-II. That it is unjust towards the present legally qualified prac-

titioners to put them to further expense and inconvenience, bycompelling them to register themselves every year; having alreadycomplied with the law, by no after legislation ought their justprivileges to be taken from them.

That the proposed inducements for persons properly to qualifythemselves hereafter for practice will be wholly inadequate toaccomplish that object, the consequence of which will be, that thecountry will abound with incompetent medical men, the sufferingand death resulting from which it is fearful to contemplate.

That this meeting pledges itself energetically to oppose theobnoxious clauses of the bill, and earnestly invites the co-operationof all the medical men resident in the county.Moved by Mr. S. A. PHILBRICK, of Colchester, and seconded

by Mr. GEORGE MABER WH]13’IPER, of Tillingham-III. That an association be now formed, to be called the Essex

Medical and Surgical Association, for the purpose of watchingover the progress of the bill, as well as the general interests of theprofession.

That each medical man in the county contributing five shil-lings towards its funds shall be a member.

That Dr. Miller be president.That Messrs. Foaker, King, Cremer, Hutchinson, Barlow,

Gilson, Bird, Lovell, C. Butler, jun., and Tomkin, be the com-mittee.That Mr. Oswald Copland, of Chelmsford, be the secretary.Moved by Mr. ToMKiN, of Witham, and seconded by Mr.

JAMES GRicE, of Dunmow-IV. That a petition against the bill be signed by the medical

men of the county, and forwarded to both Houses of Parliament;and that the members connected with the county be requested tosupport its prayer.That Lord Rayleigh be requested to present it in the House of

Lords, and Mr. Bramston in the House of Commons.That the committee be instructed to draw up a statement of

the objections this Association entertains against the bill, and bea deputation to convey it to each member of parliament con-nected with the county.That each medical practitioner be requested to exert what in-

fluence he has with any member of parliament in opposition tothe bill.