THE CASE OF THE SURGEONS of London.

THE Barbers of the City of London were incorporated by King Edward the IVth, 1 Edw. IV. 1461. in order to promote and improve the Science and Faculty of Surgery, upon Conſideration of the many pub⯑lick Miſchiefs which had ariſen from the Ignorance and Unſkil⯑fulneſs of Perſons practiſing that Art.

To remedy ſuch Evils for the Time to come, which the Charter recites to have been owing to the Want of a proper Overſight, Correction, and Puniſhment of ſuch as were not ſufficiently ſkilled in the Faculty of Sur⯑gery, the Myſtery and Commonalty of Barbers were created a Body Cor⯑porate, with Power to make proper Statutes and Ordinances for their good Government.

And the Maſters and Governors of that Company were to have the Overſight, Correction, and Government of all Perſons uſing the Myſtery of Surgeons, within the City of London, and Suburbs thereof; and the Puniſhment of them, for their Offences, in improperly exerciſing and practiſing their Art; and likewiſe the Overſight and Inſpection of all Inſtruments, Plaiſters, and other Medicines, by them uſed.

And, in order to attain the End of their Inſtitution, no Perſons what⯑ſoever were to be admitted or received into their Company, except Per⯑ſons ſufficiently ſkilled and inſtructed in the Art of Surgery.

This Charter was afterwards confirmed by King Henry the VIIth, in the 15th Year of his Reign, and by King Henry the VIIIth, in the 2d Year of his Reign.

In the 32d Year of Henry the VIIIth, when Perſons of better Educa⯑tion, and greater Abilities, began to apply themſelves to the Study and Practice of Surgery, the Legiſlature thought proper to unite this Com⯑pany, which were ſtill all Surgeons, and, by the Terms of their Charter, could be compoſed of no other Perſons, with another Body of Men, likewiſe practiſing Surgery, but not incorporated.

The Act recites, That there then were, within the City of London, Two ſeveral and diſtinct Companies of Surgeons, occupying and exerciſing the Science and Faculty of Surgery; the one Company called The Bar⯑bers of London, the other called The Surgeons of London.

And the End propoſed by the Legiſlature in uniting theſe Two diſtinct Companies of Surgeons, and making them One Body Corporate, is de⯑clared to be, That, by their Union and frequent Aſſembly together, the good and due Order, Exerciſe, and Knowledge in the Science and Fa⯑culty of Surgery, ſhould be, as well in Speculation as in Practice, obtained, both to themſelves and their Apprentices.

The Legiſlature then thought proper likewiſe to Enact, for particular Reaſons mentioned in the Act, That, for the future, the ſame Perſons ſhould not practiſe both as Surgeons and Barbers, but that, from thence⯑forth, they ſhould be ſeparated Profeſſions.

The Surgeons having, ſince the Making of that Act, been more libe⯑rally and regularly educated, have directed and applied their whole Study and Attention towards the Advancement and Improvement of their Art.

The Barbers have ever ſince been engaged in a different Way of Buſineſs, altogether foreign to the Practice of Surgery.

It is evident therefore, that neither the Ends, which the Crown had in view at the original Incorporation of this Company, or thoſe which were afterwards propoſed to be attained by the Legiſlature, can be an⯑ſwered by their continuing united in the ſame Body.

As the ſole End of their Incorporation was, that they ſhould overſee and ſuperintend the Practice of Surgery; and as the Legiſlature pro⯑poſed, that, by their Meeting and Aſſembly together, the Science of Surgery ſhould be promoted, as well in Speculation as in Practice; it is plain, that their whole Union and Meeting with the Barbers, if it were no Obſtacle, cannot in the leaſt be any Ways conducive towards attain⯑ing thoſe Ends.

But, if the Surgeons were incorporated, as a diſtinct Body, by them⯑ſelves, they would not then be deprived of the Help and Aſſiſtance of many ingenious Practiſers of their Profeſſion, who, at preſent, decline being Members of a Company, the Majority of which, being Strangers to their Art, cannot be ſuppoſed to have in their Views the Advance⯑ment and Improvement of it.

The Majority of Perſons practiſing Surgery, would not then be diſ⯑couraged and prevented, as they now are, from being Members of the Company, by the Inconveniencies and Expences which neceſſarily attend the Execution of the ſeveral Offices of the preſent Company, which have no Relation to the Improvement and Profeſſion of Surgery; by which [3]Means, thoſe who practiſe Surgery are again divided, contrary to the Intention of the Legiſlature: The Number of theſe, at preſent, who are not Members of the Company, being almoſt double the Number of thoſe who are.

The Publick Lectures, Examinations of Surgeons, and other Aſſem⯑blies, inſtituted for the Advancement of Surgery, would not then meet with any Interruption from Perſons, only Barbers, inſiſting, as they now do, that they ſhall always be preſent at ſuch Meetings.

Since therefore, there are diſtinct and peculiar Privileges and Powers lodged with the Surgeons, which the Barbers ought neither to take Part or Trouble in; particularly that important Truſt, of examining Surgeons for the Royal Navy, which they have duly executed with the greateſt Chearfulneſs, to the great Advantage, as they hope, of the Publick:

And, as the deſired Separation is founded upon Reaſons of general and publick Utility;

The Surgeons of London humbly pray, To be ſeparated from the Barbers, as thoſe of other Countries have been, each to be made an inde⯑pendent Corporation, and veſted with the ſame Privileges which they now enjoy under their preſent Charters.

And, as all the Members of the preſent Company have an equal Intereſt in the Property belonging to the ſaid Company; and the original Members, who firſt acquired that Property, could only be Perſons ſkilled in Surgery (thoſe, practiſing as Barbers only, not having been Members of this Company till the Reign of King Henry the VIIIth); they hope, That an equitable and proportionable Diviſion and Diſtribution of their Property ſhall be made, in ſuch Manner as the Legiſlature ſhall think fit.