VIII. And it is hereby further enacted, That the said Company of Surgeons made, established, and incorporated by this Act, and their Successors, and all Persons who shall be Freemen of the same Company or Corporation, shall and may, from time to time, and at all Times for ever hereafter, have, hold, and enjoy all and every such and the same Liberties, Privileges, Franchises, Powers, and Authorities, as the Members of the said United Company or Corporation, being Freemen of the said Company, and admitted and approved Surgeons, within the Rules of the said Company and Corporation, could or might respectively have had, held, and enjoyed, by virtue of the said recited Act of Union or Incorporation, and the said Letters Patent of his said late Majesty King Charles the First respectively, and other the Royal Grants, Charters, and Patents, therein mentioned and referred to, so far as the same relate to the Art or Science of Surgery only, and not otherwise; and that in as full, ample, and beneficial Manner, to all Intents and Purposes, as if the same had in and by this present Act been expressly repeated and re-enacted; and that they, and all such who already have been, or hereafter shall be, examined and approved, pursuant to the Rules of the said Company, shall be entitled to practice freely, and without Restraint, the Art and Science of Surgery, throughout all and every his Majesty’s Dominions; any Law or Custom to the contrary notwithstanding.

IX. And it is hereby further enacted, That from and after the said first Day of _July_ one thousand seven hundred and forty-five, the Examiners of the Company of Surgeons established by this Act shall, and they are hereby required, from time to time, upon Request to them made, to examine every Person who shall be a Candidate to be appointed to serve as a Surgeon, a Surgeon’s Mate, of any Regiment, Troop, Company, Hospital, or Garrison of Soldiers in the Service of his Majesty, his Heirs, or Successors, in like Manner as they do or shall examine any Surgeon or Surgeons to be appointed to serve on Board any Ship or Vessel in the Service of his Majesty, his Heirs or Successors.

Medical Jurisprudence, Volume 3 (of 3) — Part 105

X. And it is hereby further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all and every Person and Persons, being Freemen of the said Company and Corporation of Surgeons established and incorporated by this Act, and who already have been, or hereafter shall be, examined and approved pursuant to the Rules and Orders of the said Company, and every of them, for so long Time as he and they shall use and exercise the said Art or Science of Surgery, and no longer, shall and may, at all Times hereafter, be freed and exempted from the several Offices of Constable, Scavenger, Overseer of the Poor, and all other Parish, Ward, and Leet Offices, and of and from the being put into or serving upon any Jury or Inquest: And if at any Time hereafter any such Person or Persons, using and Practising the said Art or Science of Surgery, and being qualified as aforesaid, shall be chosen and elected into any of the said Offices, or returned, required, or appointed to serve on any Jury, Leet, or Inquest, or be disquieted or disturbed by reason thereof; that then such Person or Persons, producing a Testimonial, under the Common Seal of the said Corporation, of such his Examination, Approbation, and Freedom, to the Person or Persons by whom he shall be so elected or appointed, or by or before whom he shall be summoned, returned, or required to serve or hold any of the said Offices or Duties, shall be absolutely discharged from the same; and such Nomination, Election, Return, and Appointment, shall be utterly void, and of no Effect; any Order, Custom, Law, or Statute to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

Medical Jurisprudence, Volume 3 (of 3) — Part 105