DUBLIN
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105 DUBLIN. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PERHAPS of all the medico-political questions which agi- tate the Irish medical mind, that of superannuation for worn-out and disabled medical officers employed under the Poor Laws and Medical Charities Acts holds by far the most prominent position ; whilst of all our numerous chari- ties, the Royal Irish Medical Benevolent Association is that which most nearly concerns our profession on this side of the channel. This noble charity, unsupported by any other than voluntary gifts and subscriptions, silently and unos- tentatiously, from year to year, does an amount of good that must at times astonish even its most ardent votaries. Upon the present occa,sion, however, it is not my purpose to enter more particularly into either of these two subjects; my object is simply to show how within the past few days both these topics have been brought under the more im- mediate observation of our profession by conduct as noble as it was disinterested upon the part of one already well known to the scientific members of his profession as a, sound surgeon, and more especially by his advanced physio- logical investigations-I mean Mr. Robert McDonnell. To appreciate thoroughly all the merit really due to this gentleman, it will be necessary to inform your readers that some time ago he was surgeon to the Mountjoy convict prison, in which were confined a great number of political prisoners, who were engaged, or suspected of being en- gaged, in the Fenian movement, and who were incarcerated here under the powers granted the Government in con- sequence of the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act. These untried men were subjected to prison regulations of even more stringent character than they would have been if convicted and sentenced-so rigorous, in fact, that health, and in some instances even reason itself, began to give way. And it then became Mr. McDonnell’s duty to bring the matter before the proper authorities for their consideration, which he did in so energetic and persevering a manner that after a time he received a notification to the effect that ar- rangements had been made which resulted in the abolition of his office as visiting surgeon, and that, consequently, his services as such would no longer be required. Thereupon I Mr. McDonnell applied for superannuation, which, at first, was declined upon the very grounds upon which it is refused to the medical officers employed under the Poor Laws and Medical Charities Acts-to wit, that his entire time had not been devoted to the discharge of his duties as visiting sur- geon to the Mountjoy prison; whereupon Mr. McDonnell commenced a justum bellum both in and out of Parliament against the Government, which at last resulted in their awarding him a superannuation allowance, which, minus income-tax, amounts to £36 lls. 3d. per annum. By his untiring perseverance Mr. McDonnell has thus at last estab- lished so far the principle that, even though the entire time of the medical officer be not occupied in the discharge of his public duties, still he is entitled to some consideration, so far as superannuation is concerned, at the hands of the powers that be. And the precedent he has thus in his own case established may yet prove of signal service in advancing the Bill which the Council of the Irish College of Surgeons are seeking to have made law in the forthcoming session of Parliament. So that, had Mr. McDonnell done nothing further, in my opinion he would have been entitled to the warmest thanks of his professional brethren for the bold, manly, and successful stand he took upon a question of far more extensive and important application than to his own individual case. But Mr. McDonnell has not stopped here, for at the last meeting of the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund Society of Ireland a letter was read from him, en- closing a cheque for the entire amount of his superannua- tion grant, minus income-tax alone -£36 lls. 3d.,-and announcing it to be his intention to devote it in like manner for the future annually, as he receives it, to this most de- serving charity. Noble conduct such as this carries with it its own commendation. No words of mine can add lustre to this high-minded, disinterested a.cl; and I feel assured that all your readers will unite with me in heartily wishing many, and happy and prosperous, years to enable this worthy man still further to benefit the funds of the charity which he has selected as the recipient of his unsolicited bounty. Dublin, Jan. 12th, 1889. THE MARSHALL HALL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP. THE following gentlemen have been added to the General Committee. The first-named was accidentally omitted from the list which appeared last week :- Dr. Alfred Hall (Brighton), Dr. Charlton (Newcastle-on- Tyne), Dr. Ross, Mr. Nunneley (Leeds), Dr. Harrington Tuke, Dr. Radclyffe Hall (Torquay), Dr. J. Birkbeek Ne-nns (Liverpool), Dr. Hyde Salter,F.R.S., Dr. P. Eade (Norwich), Dr. Ramsay, Dr. R. L. Johnson, Dr. Howell (Wandsworth), Dr. Norris (Stourbridge), Mr. Jessop (Leeds), Mr. Story (Carlisle), Dr. Heslop (Birmingham), Sir D. Gibb, Bart., Dr. Holland (Emsworth), Dr. Stevens, Mr. Chappell, Dr. T. Hayes Jackson (Darlington), Mr. Langston Parker (Bir- minghajn). Treasurers.-Dr. Russell Reynolds and Dr. Webster. Honorary Secretaries.-London: Dr. Tilbury Fox, Sack- ville-street, Piccadilly. Edinburgh: T. Annandale, Esq., Charlotte-square. Dublin: Dr. Quinan. Provincial: Dr. Ellis, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Communications may be made to either of the Honorary Secretaries. Medical News. ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.-The following gentlemen passed their primary examinations in Anatomy and Physiology at meetings of the Court of Examiners on the 12th and 13th inst. :- B. A. Hewitt, W. J. Johnson, E. W. Alabone, F. D. Grayson, Charles Allwork, A. F. Trenerry, and J. H. Ewart, of Guy’s Hospital. H. D. Sa,vary, William Renwick, T. H. Cooper, S. L. Herbert, S. T. Cass, and S. A. Julius, of King’s College. G. B. Wadswor.h, F. W. Joy, H. C. Cole, J. 0. Betts, J. A. Kite, and E. J. Pugh, of University College. Lord Tattersall, Thomas Hill, C. J. Wharry, and R. S. Robinson, of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. W. A. Parker, Herbert Tatum, T. W. Hill, and L. E. Aitkens, of St. George’s Hospital. J. R. Lisron, Herbert Norton, M. A. Morris, and A. F. L. Dorin, of St. Mary’s Hospital. Alfred Wright, W. M. Turner, and J. J. M’Andrew, of Charing-cross Hospital. C. P. Bellamy, W. W. Cooke, and T. H. Wagstaffe, of Middlesex Hos- pital. E. W. Pocock, of St. Thomas’s Hospital. T. S. Hosford, of London Hospital. Lewis Thorpe, W. H. Meredith, and J. P. Gaunt, of Birmingham. Nathan Smedley and Robert Humphreys of Liverpool. C. W. Pratt, of Dublin and St. Mary’s Hospital. E. F. Brodie, of Dublin. Of the sixty candidates who were admitted to their vivri-voce examination on Tuesday and Wednesday last, fourteen failed to satisfy the Court of Examiners, and were referred for three months’ further anatomical study. APOTHECARIES’ HALL. - The following gentlemen passed their examination in the Science and Practice of Medicine., and received certificates to practise, on the 7th of January:- Harrison, Garland W. L., Park-place, Stoke Devonport. Howell, John Alexander, Wansey-street, Walworlh-road. Robinson, Rawdon Briggs, New Barnet. Sanders, Edwin, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. The following gentlemen also on the same day passed their first examination:- Robert Hodgens Lloyd, of Westminster Hospital. Daniel Geo. Rowlands, of Guy’s Hospital. PRINCE NAPOLEON’S HEALTH.-The French papers state that the Prince is very ill; that he is suffering from pleuro-pneumonia, and that his physicians find it very dif- ficult to manage him. THE Master of the City of London Workhouse re- ported a great influx of vagrants to the casual wards at the house last week. There had been ninety-two men in one night, whilst there was proper accommodation for fifty only, and many had had to sleep on the floor, covered with a rug. The stench was very bad, and the wardsman had been seized with fever, and had died.-City Press. THE Great Eastern Railway Company has notified its intention of discontinuing the carriage of mineral oils, such as petroleum, on and after the 1st February.
Transcript of DUBLIN
105
DUBLIN.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PERHAPS of all the medico-political questions which agi-tate the Irish medical mind, that of superannuation forworn-out and disabled medical officers employed under thePoor Laws and Medical Charities Acts holds by far themost prominent position ; whilst of all our numerous chari-ties, the Royal Irish Medical Benevolent Association is that which most nearly concerns our profession on this side ofthe channel. This noble charity, unsupported by any otherthan voluntary gifts and subscriptions, silently and unos-tentatiously, from year to year, does an amount of good thatmust at times astonish even its most ardent votaries. Uponthe present occa,sion, however, it is not my purpose to
enter more particularly into either of these two subjects;my object is simply to show how within the past few daysboth these topics have been brought under the more im-mediate observation of our profession by conduct as nobleas it was disinterested upon the part of one already wellknown to the scientific members of his profession as a,
sound surgeon, and more especially by his advanced physio-logical investigations-I mean Mr. Robert McDonnell.To appreciate thoroughly all the merit really due to this
gentleman, it will be necessary to inform your readers thatsome time ago he was surgeon to the Mountjoy convictprison, in which were confined a great number of politicalprisoners, who were engaged, or suspected of being en-gaged, in the Fenian movement, and who were incarceratedhere under the powers granted the Government in con-sequence of the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act.These untried men were subjected to prison regulations ofeven more stringent character than they would have beenif convicted and sentenced-so rigorous, in fact, that health,and in some instances even reason itself, began to give way.And it then became Mr. McDonnell’s duty to bring thematter before the proper authorities for their consideration,which he did in so energetic and persevering a manner thatafter a time he received a notification to the effect that ar-rangements had been made which resulted in the abolitionof his office as visiting surgeon, and that, consequently, hisservices as such would no longer be required. Thereupon IMr. McDonnell applied for superannuation, which, at first,was declined upon the very grounds upon which it is refusedto the medical officers employed under the Poor Laws andMedical Charities Acts-to wit, that his entire time had notbeen devoted to the discharge of his duties as visiting sur-geon to the Mountjoy prison; whereupon Mr. McDonnellcommenced a justum bellum both in and out of Parliamentagainst the Government, which at last resulted in theirawarding him a superannuation allowance, which, minusincome-tax, amounts to £36 lls. 3d. per annum. By hisuntiring perseverance Mr. McDonnell has thus at last estab-lished so far the principle that, even though the entire time ofthe medical officer be not occupied in the discharge of his publicduties, still he is entitled to some consideration, so far assuperannuation is concerned, at the hands of the powersthat be. And the precedent he has thus in his own caseestablished may yet prove of signal service in advancingthe Bill which the Council of the Irish College of Surgeons are seeking to have made law in the forthcoming session ofParliament. So that, had Mr. McDonnell done nothingfurther, in my opinion he would have been entitled to thewarmest thanks of his professional brethren for the bold,manly, and successful stand he took upon a question of farmore extensive and important application than to his ownindividual case. But Mr. McDonnell has not stopped here,for at the last meeting of the Royal Medical BenevolentFund Society of Ireland a letter was read from him, en-closing a cheque for the entire amount of his superannua-tion grant, minus income-tax alone -£36 lls. 3d.,-andannouncing it to be his intention to devote it in like mannerfor the future annually, as he receives it, to this most de-serving charity. Noble conduct such as this carries with itits own commendation. No words of mine can add lustreto this high-minded, disinterested a.cl; and I feel assuredthat all your readers will unite with me in heartily wishingmany, and happy and prosperous, years to enable this
worthy man still further to benefit the funds of the charitywhich he has selected as the recipient of his unsolicitedbounty.
Dublin, Jan. 12th, 1889.
THE MARSHALL HALL MEMORIALSCHOLARSHIP.
THE following gentlemen have been added to the GeneralCommittee. The first-named was accidentally omitted fromthe list which appeared last week :-
Dr. Alfred Hall (Brighton), Dr. Charlton (Newcastle-on-Tyne), Dr. Ross, Mr. Nunneley (Leeds), Dr. HarringtonTuke, Dr. Radclyffe Hall (Torquay), Dr. J. Birkbeek Ne-nns(Liverpool), Dr. Hyde Salter,F.R.S., Dr. P. Eade (Norwich),Dr. Ramsay, Dr. R. L. Johnson, Dr. Howell (Wandsworth),Dr. Norris (Stourbridge), Mr. Jessop (Leeds), Mr. Story(Carlisle), Dr. Heslop (Birmingham), Sir D. Gibb, Bart.,Dr. Holland (Emsworth), Dr. Stevens, Mr. Chappell, Dr. T.Hayes Jackson (Darlington), Mr. Langston Parker (Bir-minghajn).
Treasurers.-Dr. Russell Reynolds and Dr. Webster.Honorary Secretaries.-London: Dr. Tilbury Fox, Sack-
ville-street, Piccadilly. Edinburgh: T. Annandale, Esq.,Charlotte-square. Dublin: Dr. Quinan. Provincial: Dr.
Ellis, Newcastle-on-Tyne.Communications may be made to either of the HonorarySecretaries.
Medical News.ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.-The
following gentlemen passed their primary examinations inAnatomy and Physiology at meetings of the Court ofExaminers on the 12th and 13th inst. :-
B. A. Hewitt, W. J. Johnson, E. W. Alabone, F. D. Grayson, CharlesAllwork, A. F. Trenerry, and J. H. Ewart, of Guy’s Hospital. H. D.Sa,vary, William Renwick, T. H. Cooper, S. L. Herbert, S. T. Cass, andS. A. Julius, of King’s College. G. B. Wadswor.h, F. W. Joy, H. C.Cole, J. 0. Betts, J. A. Kite, and E. J. Pugh, of University College.Lord Tattersall, Thomas Hill, C. J. Wharry, and R. S. Robinson, ofSt. Bartholomew’s Hospital. W. A. Parker, Herbert Tatum, T. W. Hill,and L. E. Aitkens, of St. George’s Hospital. J. R. Lisron, HerbertNorton, M. A. Morris, and A. F. L. Dorin, of St. Mary’s Hospital. AlfredWright, W. M. Turner, and J. J. M’Andrew, of Charing-cross Hospital.C. P. Bellamy, W. W. Cooke, and T. H. Wagstaffe, of Middlesex Hos-pital. E. W. Pocock, of St. Thomas’s Hospital. T. S. Hosford, ofLondon Hospital. Lewis Thorpe, W. H. Meredith, and J. P. Gaunt, ofBirmingham. Nathan Smedley and Robert Humphreys of Liverpool.C. W. Pratt, of Dublin and St. Mary’s Hospital. E. F. Brodie, ofDublin.
Of the sixty candidates who were admitted to their vivri-voceexamination on Tuesday and Wednesday last, fourteenfailed to satisfy the Court of Examiners, and were referredfor three months’ further anatomical study.
APOTHECARIES’ HALL. - The following gentlemenpassed their examination in the Science and Practice ofMedicine., and received certificates to practise, on the 7thof January:-
Harrison, Garland W. L., Park-place, Stoke Devonport.Howell, John Alexander, Wansey-street, Walworlh-road.Robinson, Rawdon Briggs, New Barnet.Sanders, Edwin, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital.
The following gentlemen also on the same day passed theirfirst examination:-Robert Hodgens Lloyd, of Westminster Hospital. Daniel Geo. Rowlands,
of Guy’s Hospital.
PRINCE NAPOLEON’S HEALTH.-The French papersstate that the Prince is very ill; that he is suffering frompleuro-pneumonia, and that his physicians find it very dif-ficult to manage him.
THE Master of the City of London Workhouse re-ported a great influx of vagrants to the casual wards at thehouse last week. There had been ninety-two men in onenight, whilst there was proper accommodation for fiftyonly, and many had had to sleep on the floor, covered witha rug. The stench was very bad, and the wardsman hadbeen seized with fever, and had died.-City Press.
THE Great Eastern Railway Company has notifiedits intention of discontinuing the carriage of mineral oils,such as petroleum, on and after the 1st February.
