8
The term "licentiate" appears to have been first used about the year 1555; in which year the College list divides its members into "fellows, candidates, and licentiates;" but at this early period the term "licentiate" did not, as afterwards, comprehend those who were admitted to practise as generally and as extensively as the fellows themselves; but those only, who, not being deemed competent to general practice, were thought capable of practice in particular branches of medicine, as aurists, oculists, &c. At that period the only distinction within the College was of "fellows and candidates"—the state of candidates being simply that of probation, intermediately to the examination and admission to the fellowship.
The term "licentiate" has now for a long period been applied to those members of the College, who, having graduated as M.D. in some university, and having been examined by the College, have been authorized to practise to the same extent as the fellows; and who, up to a certain period, had ever been regularly summoned, together with the fellows, to attend the periodical College meetings; and were expected, as the fellows themselves, to attend those meetings in the accustomed habit "induti pileo et toga;" and were moreover privileged, equally with the fellows themselves, with certain exemptions, as from serving on juries, &c.
The reason for having made this distinction of fellows and licentiates is not apparent; nor is it apparent why, in the progress of time, the distinction became so limited as that none but
