A letter in refutation of the aspersions cast upon the Court of Assistants and individual members of the Royal College of Surgeons / by a physician [John Armstrong], in a late Address.

  • Armstrong, John, 1784-1829.
Date:
1825
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter in refutation of the aspersions cast upon the Court of Assistants and individual members of the Royal College of Surgeons / by a physician [John Armstrong], in a late Address. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the College of Surgeons has done, of late, to im¬ prove the department of surgery. But such is the license that this gentleman has taken with the characters of men who are deser¬ vedly at the head of their profession, that he boldly accuses the members of the Court of “ corporate oppression, destructive to individuals;” of“ injus¬ tice and cruelty;” “ wordly duplicity;” of having done in concert “ what they had not the courage to attempt individually in the broad light of day.” He even goes so far, in taxing the members with duplicity, as to say, that they may be courteous in private, and in public may avow an anxiety for \ the general good, at the same time that “ they are actually endeavouring to crush individuals best fitted to serve the community.” Nay, he has as¬ surance enough to contrast their conduct with his own; to assert his purity of motive, his total dis¬ interestedness, his resignation of all comfort, to perform this duty of attacking the College. He must be a weak man that would offer such assertions, when it is known that he is in close alliance with the very men whose cause he is ad¬ vocating, and of whom he also says he is a “ firm adherent.” “ As a prelude to the exposure of some of the prominent offences of the College,” he declares himself fully satisfied with himself: “ I am, (says he,) fully satisfied of the purity of my motives.” But, on the contrary, I must affirm, that there /