University of Edinburgh, the baby-sucker! Are these specimens of what the _Edinburgh Monthly Journal_ for this month calls 'the simple treatment taught and practised in Edinburgh, and which, if adopted in London, would reduce many practitioners from comfort to starvation?' We may well excuse the members of the Town Council if they are not so dexterous in _harliquinade_ as the University Professor.--I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, ISAAC IRONS, M.D. Sept., 1851." We now proceed to quote the words of "a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons," which appear in a pamphlet entitled, "The Speculum: its Moral Tendencies." We believe the author to be very well known, both as a writer in the medical periodicals, and as a skilful and accomplished surgeon. He says--"Were fame and fortune, however, the only results, were the public simply gulled, there would be nothing in its consequences to take this imposition out of the ordinary category. But, unfortunately, this is not the case. The practices of these men leave results of a far more serious and lasting character, not to be sought for amongst material things, but in the lowered and loosened state to which it is rapidly bringing the morality of the country. "This is a strong assertion, but not stronger than the facts that support it. The profession is well aware of the baleful tendency of the proceedings of these men, whilst they deplore their inability to prevent or to expose them. Scarcely a member of it whom you meet but has a tale to tell of their practices, which, if made public, would bring the mighty from their seats; but there is too much indecency involved in the disclosure to allow of its publicity. Thus are they doubly hedged; _their diploma checks suspicion, whilst the nature of their performances secures them secrecy_. "To believe in the necessity for this constant and general use of the speculum, is to admit a sad deterioration in nature itself. Either this, or that anterior generations were great sufferers without being aware of it. Perhaps, like the Spartan boy they endured in silence, rather than betray a want of courage, or, what was more laudable, a want of delicacy.