PHYSICIANS, Tim ROYAL COLLEGE OF (of London), was founded in 1518 by the munificence of Thomas Linacre, a priest and distinguished physician, who was born in 1460, and died in 1524. In 1518, through the influence of cardinal Wolsey, he obtained from Henry VIII. letters-patent granting to John Chambre, himself, and Ferdinandus de Victoria, the acknowledged physicians to the king, together with Nie'iolas Halsewell, John Francis, Robert Yaxley, and all other men of the same faculty in London, to be incorporated as one body and perpetual community or college. They were permitted to hold assemblies, and to make statutes and ordinances for the government and correc tion.of the college, and of all who exercised the same faculty in London and within seven miles thereof, with an interdiction from practice to any individual unless pre viously licensed by the president and college. Linacre was the first president, and heir office till his death in 1524. The meetings of the college were held at his house in Kiiightrider street, which he bequeathed to the college, and which, until the year 1860, continued in the possession of that body. About the time of the accession of.Charles I. the college, requiring more accommodation, took a house at tile bottom of Amen con. tier, which was subsequently purchased by Dr. Harvey, and in 1649 was given by him to his colleagues. This was the seat of the college till 1666, when it was destroyed by the great fire of Loudon. A. new college was then built in Warwick lane, and opened in 1674 under the presidency of Harvey's friend, sir George Ent; and here the meetings were held till 1825, when the present edifice iu Pall Mall e. was opened under the presi dency of sir Henry Halford.
The reason for forming the incorporation, as set forth in the original charter, is " to check men who profess physic rather from avarice than in good faith, to the damage of credulous people;" and the king (following the example of other uations) founds "a col lege of the learned men wlio practice physic in London and within seven miles, in the hope that the ignorant and rash practicers be restrained or punished." The charter fur ther declares that " no one shall exercise the faculty of physic in the said city, or within seven miles, without the college license, under a penalty of £5;" that, in addition to the president," four censors be elected annually to have correction of physicians in London and seven miles' circuit„ and of their medicines, and to punish by fine and imprison ment;" and that "the president and college be exempt front serving on juries." Four years later, in 1522-23, an act was passed confirming the charter, and enacting that " the six persons beforesaid named as principals and first-named of the said commonalty and fellowship, shall choose to them two men of the said commonalty from henceforward to be called and cleaped elects, and that the same elects yearly choose one of them to be president of the said commonalty;" and further directing that; in case of a vacancy by death or otherwise, the surviving elects shall choose successors.
In 1540 an act was passed in which it was declared explicitly that " surgery is a part of physic, and may be practiced by any of the company or fellowship of physicians"—a doctrine which in later times has been totally repudiated by the collegiate body, who, until a few years ago, would not admit to their privileges a member of the Royal college of surgeons, unless he formally resigned his surgical diploma. Other acts were passed
in 1553, 1814, and 1858; the last, known as " the medical act," providing for the granting of a new charter to the college, which was obtained in 1862. Finally, in 1860, "an act to amend the medical act" was passed,which repeals the provisions of the act of 1522-23 as to the elects, and declares that the presidency shall in future be an annual office, open to the fellows at large. who shall also be the electing body. As at present constituted, the college consists of fellows, members, licentiates, and extra-licentiates. The fellows are elected from members of at least four years' standing, who have distinguished them Selves in the practice of medicine, or in the pursuit of medical or general science or lit erature. The government of the college is vested in the president and fellows only. The present members consist of persons who had been admitted, before Feb. 16, 1859, licentiates of the college; of extra-licentiates who have complied with certain conditions; and of persons who have attained the age of 25 years, who do not dispense or supply medicine, and who, after being duly proposed, cave satisfied the college "touching their knowledge of medical and general science and literature," and that they have " been engaged in the study of physic during a period of five years, of which four years at least shall have been passed in a medical'school recognized by the college." No candi date is admissible if engaged in trade or connected with a druggist's business, or who even practices medicine in partnership with another practitioner, so long as the partner ship lasts, or who refuses to publish, when required, the nature and composition of any remedy he makes use of. The members are alone eligible for the fellowship. They con stitute a portion of the corporation, in so far as they have the use of the library and museum, and the privilege of admission to all lectures; but they do not take any share in the government, or attend or vote at meetings. The examiners for the membership are the president and censors. The licentiates are not members of the corporation; they have access to the museum, lectures, and reading-room, but are not allowed to take books away from the library; they may compound and dispense medicines for patients under their _own care, and in their qualifications very much resemble those who have diplomas both from the college of surgeons and the apothecaries' hall. They must be 21 years of age, and must have been engaged in professional studies for four years lame being admitted to examination. The fee for admission as a fellow is 30 guineas, exclusive of stamp-duty; the member's fee is also 30 guineas, and the licentiate's 15 guineas.
The following by-laws of the college should be generally known: 1. No fellow of the college is entitled to sue for professional aid rendered by him. This by-law does not extend to members. 2. No fellow, member, or licentiate of the college is entitled to assume the title of doctor of Medicine unless he be a graduate in medicine of a univer sity. 3. No fellow or member of the college shall officiously, or under color of a benevo lent purpose, offer medical aid to, or prescribe for, any patient whom he knows to be under the care of another legally qualified medical practitioner.