By a recent bye-law members are eligible to the fellowship by election. Any member of the College, of fifteen years' standing, who was a member on the 14th of September, 1843, desirous of admission to the fellowship otherwise than by examination, must sign a declaration of not selling or supplying drugs or medicines, which must be accom panied by a certificate recommending him to the fellowship, signed by six fellows of the college. The signing of the certificate is subject to some alterations for surgeons in the army and navy, and in the British colonies.
Persons are admitted to examination for the membership of the College on producing certificates of being twenty-one years of age ; of having been engaged four years in the acquirement of professional knowledge, and of having attended lectures on anatomy, surgery, and other branches of professional knowledge for four years ; of having dissected and attended hospital practice during three winter and two summer sessions.
The examination for the diploma of member is divided into two parts, the first relating to anatomy and physiology, the second relating to pathology, surgery, and surgical anatomy. The latter examination is partly written and partly oral. The examination on anatomy is on the recently clissected•subject. Students who have completed their second session of anatomical studies are eligible for undergoing the first part of thia examination.
The College also gives an especial certificate of qualification for the practice of midwifery. Members or fellows of the College previous to the let of January 1853, are eligible to this examination at once. Members or fellows admitted since 1853 have to produce a certificate of having attended at least twenty labours. Members of other Colleges of Surgeons, or graduates of universities, are also admitted to examination for this certificate. Persons not having any diploma, but producing evidence of having completed their professional education, and of — — having attended one course of lectures on midwifery, and of having personally atteuded thirty labours, are also admitted to examination for this certificate.
By the new medical act (21 & 22 Viet. c. 90, s. 48), it was enacted that it shall be lawful for her Majesty to grant to the Royal College of Surgeons power to institute and hold examinations for the pm pose of testing the fitness of persons to practise as dentists, who may be desirous of being so examined, and to grant certificates of such fitness. The college has since granted a large number of certificates to
persons practising as dentists alone.
The Licentiates of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow are admissible to the membership of the College under the bye-laws relating to ad eundem admissions.
The museum of the College consists of the collection made by John Hunter, which was given in trust by government, who purchased it for 15,0001., and of numerous additions made to it by donations of members and others, and by purchase. The parts of it which illustrate physiology, palaeontology, and morbid anatomy are probably the most valuable collections of the kind in Europe. (HUNTER, JOHN, in Bloc. Dtv.) Lectures on anatomy, for which 510/. were left to the company of barber surgeons by Edward Arris, and 161. per annum by John Gale, are delivered annually by one of the members of the council or some other member selected by them. Twenty-four museum lectures are also, in compliance with the deed of trust, annually delivered by the Hunteriau professor, the subjects of which must be illustrated by preparations from the Hunterian collection, and from the other con tents of the museum. An oration in commemoration of John Hunter, or of others who have been distinguished in medical science, is delivered annually on the 14th of February, the anniversary of Hunter's birth.
The College gives also three prizes for the beat essays on anatomical and surgical subjects ; one," the Collegiate Triennial Anatomical Prize of fifty guineas ;" the other two, "Jacksonian Prizes" of twenty guineas each, are given every year.
The library is very extensive, and is open to all students, members and fellows, from 10 till 4 o'clock.
Abstracts of the several acts and charters relating to the College of Surgeons may be found in Willeock, ' On the Lawa relating to the 3Iclical Profession; London, 1830, 8vo, and in Paris and Fonblanque's ' Medical Jurisprudence,' voL iii. The bye-laws, the list of members, the catalogues of the museum and library, &c, are published by the College.