PROFESSIONAL JEALOUSY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 245, 15 October 1868, Page 3

PROFESSIONAL JEALOUSY.

To the Editor of the Nelson Examiner. Sir—The report in the Examiner on Tuesday last, of the inquest on the late Mr Cross, and the insinuations made on that occasion by Dr Squires, induce me to reply to prevent any further misunderstanding. My position is briefly this: I attended in London, and on the continent, all the medical classes requisite for examination as a medical practitioner and can, if required, produce proof, which I have already done some months ago to the Medical Assessor; so that I am by no means liable to the imputation thrown out by the Coroner that I am merely a common druggist. Having many years back resolved to restrict myself to operative chemistry and dentistry, for 'which the usual legal qualifications are not necessary, I had uo desire to pass the English Board, although I had obtained a foreign diploma. ITor 27 years, of which 10 years have been passed in Nelson, I have pursued, with credit to myself and advantage to the public, the departments above alluded to; and were I desirous of practising medicine I could claim to be registered ■under the Medical Practitioners Act, inasmuch as I can adduce proof of having exercised medical functions in New Zealand as far back as 1858. Where I have been applied to for medicine, •which of course, like every other druggist, I frequently am, I have never accepted any fee for advice, so that I am quite clear of suspicion of invading the province of the members of the profession engaged in actual practice. The uncalled-for remarks of the Coroner are simply an exemplification of a jealous spirit which unfortunately animates some of the medical profession here, and of which frequent proofs have appeared in the local papers. I am, &c, J. W. TATTON. Medical Hall, October 14. 9.224