The real secret of the above order, no doubt was, that there were such a great number of surgeons coming up for examination from time to time, that the Governors and Examiners got less money and more gloves than they wanted.
26th April, 1723. It is ordered that Mr John Douglass Surgeon and a fforeigne brother of this Company shall be admitted into the freedom and Livery of this Company and be discharged and acquitted from holding or paying any fine for his freedom or Livery, or for all or any offices to the Parlour door as a Compliment to him for introducing the new method of Cutting for the Stone and to express the sense this Court hath of the usefullness therof.
4th September, 1724. William Turner Barber who was sumoned at the last Court for letting blood appeared at this Court and owning his practiceing Surgery and insisting on his right and sufficiency so to do This Court doth order that the Clark do sue the said Turner for letting blood and practiceing Surgery contrary to the Statute of 32. Hen: 8: Cap. 42.
2nd October, 1724. At this Court Thomas Cooke was examined for a fforreigne Brother But being found insufficient he was rejected. Note he lives in Duck Lane Publishes Bills as a Quack pretending to the cure of the Venereall disease, but he being examined touching the cure of that distemper in particular and being found to know little or nothing of it, the Court directed him to take down his Surgeon’s sign and not to practice for the future on pain of being sued upon the Act of Parliament and Company’s Charter.
1725. The following seems somewhat inappropriately placed amongst the dinner accounts for this year.
The Charges to be Paid by the Masters and Stewards of Anatomy for Procuring a Body besides the Dinner at ye Viscera Lecture.
| s. | d. | ||
| Horsehire | 2 | 6 | |
| For a Coach | 6 | 0 | |
| For expenses in fetching the Body | 2 | 6 | |
| To the Sheriff’s officers | 13 | 4 | |
| To the Beadles assistant | 1 | 0 | |
| For Washing the Body | 1 | 0 | |
| For a Coffin | 5 | 0 | |
| To Parson Ground Clark and Sexton | 5 | 10 | |
| To the Bearers | 2 | 0 | |
| Funeral expenses | 2 | 6 | |
| For a certificate | 0 | 6 | |
| The Clark’s fees | 10 | 0 | |
| The 2 Beadle’s ffees | 10 | 0 | |
| For a Link | 0 | 3 | |
| To the Chairwoman | 5 | 0 | |
| £3 | 7 | 5 |
14th October, 1726. At this Court Peter North Boatswain of His Majesty’s ship Cornwall was viewed for superannuation and pretended to be afflicted with deafness & the Gout. But the Court being of opinion that his deafness (if any) was occasiond by wax in his ear only, which might be cured by syringing, and not being satisfyd that he had the gout, The Court did not think fit but that he was capable of further service at Sea.
At this Court one Chambers surgeon in Duck Lane was examined touching his Skill in Surgery in order to be made a fforeign brother, but appearing to be a stupid ffellow & a sort of a Quack who gave out Bills, and not being able to answer a question the Court rejected him.