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New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 337, 10 December 1864, Page 5

To the Editor of the New Zealand Herald. Sib, —Observing in your issue of the 7th ultimo gome remarks by Medicus upon an advertisement I found it necessary to insert in the "newspaper, I feel called upon to explain. Some unscrupulous individuals having cast unbind aspersions on my medical education, I am obliged to Medicus for having offered me an opportunity of setting the matter fairly beibre the medical profession and the public. It -would have been more lioneßt a id open if he had signed his proper name ti the communication, than to have sheltered himself behind 'in the present day) a cognomen of such doubtful i nport as Medicus. Perhaps Medicus is not aware that Canada "West boasts of five medical schools with their dissecting rooms, and hospital attendance —all connected -with colleges or universities of considerable standing. That the rivalry hereby- created obliges the teachers to be most active and attentive to their Etudentß,

•who thereby profit vastly, and can gain as education for all practical purposes as complete aa that afforded by any of the London schools. The matriculated pupils from all these schools are obliged to pass the Medical Board at Toionto before thoy nvo permitted to practice ; tlie Board ofExaminers being formed of several professors of tlieso universities and colleges, making a quorum of seven. The examinations aro most public, searching and minute, and I am certain equal to any of the medical schools of Britain— so much, so that mcdical practitioners educated in Canada, rank on equal footing with any ■who have emigrated to that country— and aro now so universally spread over the land that a British practitioner is seldom to bo met with.

In my advertisement I state that no medical man | not educated in Canada is allowed to practice without having a license from the medical Board ol ioronto, and I can assure Medicus that it is a fact— and should he not produce a proper diploma, he must undergo a minute examination, as the annexed certificate will prove. Under these circumstances, 1 believe I shall not be incorrect if I assert that n mcdical student can gain as competent a knowledge of his profession in Canada as lie can in London, and that, the examination nt the Medical Beard of Toronto would puzzle, and cause the rejection of, many that simply walk the London hospitals. Medicus declares that, a legally qualified man in New Zealand is only pointed out. in the Lunacy and Coroners Acta. CI iie former of these Acts specifics the numbers of certain colleges in Britain, to be such — while the decision in the latter rase, appears to rest, in the judgment of the coroner; as Medicus is one of those fortunate individuals, without doubt lie would clcsiie to keep the number na select as possiblo. I would aslc Medicus if it was fair or just that a fully educated medical moil (being a British subject) should be deprived of his rights, as a legally qualified medical man, simply In cause he was not educated in Britain, but in a British eoleny ; the inarch of evints forbids it, nnd Medicus will soon have to make more just distinctions than he seems at pu'scnt inclined to do. 1 would appeal lo the public if such an ins : dicns distinction is either just or advantageous to the public good. To my knowledge young meii have already been preliminarily educated in New Zealand, have gone to finish their studies at the Sydney University, and having gained a complete medical education, are st ill rejeetcd from the privileged title " of legally qualified medical practitioners." It is both impolitic and ungenerous to the rising generation in Hew Zealand, and certainly unnatural to our own children (o treat theill 80. It cramps native industry, and destroys native talent, and certainly should be obviated, fc-0 reversed are our ideas at these antipodes, that we appear to be insensible to natural Direction in this mutter, and devoid of that love of country which is a necessary element ofprrgress. I pity the poor apothecary that came so unfortunately undi r the lash of Modicus, and feel that the insanity of our Legislature is in no point more remarkable than in not encouraging a thoroughly educated mcdical profession in New Zealand. 1 have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, P. "\V. WBJGIIT. 9th December, 1864. I certify that my late father, John Stratford, came to ( anada, and in the year 183G required a licence from the Medical Board of Toronto, Canada West, lie was a member of the Hoy a I College of Surgeons in England, his mine was registered on the list of the College, and piesentcd to the Board, and he had served in the arn.y mcdical department nearly '20 years ; but as he had lost his diploma, he was obliged to undergo a very severe examination, as at that time 1 was one of the examiners of the Board. I might if I had liked have constituted ono on the occasion. S. J. STIiATIOKI). 9th December, ISC4.