Page:Transactions of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, volume 1.djvu/71

 voice were to prevail, would never depute them its representatives. Professional merit is, no doubt, in many instances, patronised by the public; but the estimate is accidental, for they who decide are no adequate judges. But, if the reproach thus cast by the reviewer attach at all to the profession so generally as is asserted, the fault would still lie not with the profession, but with those who, by upholding ignorance and impudence, confound all distinctions, and take from merit its legitimate encouragement and support. The utter incapability of the public to form any just estimate of medical talent, acts as a positive discouragement to all laborious and enlightened research; and they who feel this depressing influence, if it were to extinguish their zeal, (for that it does I confidently deny), would have ample excuse, and would be entitled to every indulgence were they, in weariness of spirit, to exclaim, if it happeneth to the fool even as unto us, why should we labour to be more wise? The sarcasm of the reviewer, as applied to the general profession, I believe to be unmerited: and if merited, it would still be unjust, inasmuch as the blame would lie not with them, but in the public ignorance of all physiological knowledge, and also in the political constitution of their own department, which makes no provision for distinguishing those whom the profession itself would delight to honour. The highest honours of physic are allotted not by superiority of merit, but by accident of education, and consequently collegiate rank is no measure of talents or acquirements; at least, none of the estimate which the profession itself forms in these respects. Let eminent station be the meed