§ Mr. Calcraft presented a Petition of several apothecaries, surgeon apothecaries, practitioners in midwifery, in England and Wales; setting forth,
§ "That apothecaries, surgeon apothecaries, and practitioners in midwifery, from the great majority of the medical practitioners of England and Wales, and are very generally intrusted with the medical 165 and surgical care of the population of this kingdom; and that none of the above branches of the medical profession can be practised, with benefit or even safety to the community, unless the practitioners have acquired a competent professional knowledge by some regular medical education; and that there is no existing law to prevent persons, without any proper medical education, from practising in all or any of the above branches; and a great number of persons, therefore, in every part of the kingdom, assume the character, and exercise the functions of the apothecary, surgeon apothecary, and practitioner in midwifery, who are wholly ignorant, and utterly incompetent to the performance of the duties of the profession; whereby the health of the community is endangered, and the general character of the profession disgraced and brought into disrepute; and that it is essential to the preservation of the character of the profession, and to the interest of the community at large, that provision should be made for remedying the above evils; and praying that leave may be given to bring in a Bill for the same."
§ Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to a committee, with power to send for persons, papers, and records.