517

linimentum saponis. Your correspondent has stated no veryweighty reasons for preferring this combination; and, withyour leave, I beg to direct his attention, and that of the pro-fession, if it be still a desideratum to obtain such a form, toanother vehicle, which is at least free from the disagreeableassociation which attaches to the internal employment of theliniment. sapon. Other and very obvious advantages, how-ever, attend the combination which I now recommend, andwhich is simply that of the chloroform, with twice its bulk ofsulphuric ether; the chloroform is thus rendered perfectlydiffusible, and the mixture may be exhibited with the usualadjuvants of the draught. I encountered the same difficultyas that which presented itself to your correspondent in thefirst attempts at the employment of chloroform as an internalremedy, and was led to use the sulphuric ether by reflectingon the comparative density of the substances. A careful cal-culation might probably secure to us a mixture more exactlycorresponding to the density of water; but the proportionsabove stated are, I think, quite suitable for practical purposes.

I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,DAVID BRODIE, M.D.

DIFFICULT PARTURITION AND CEPHALOTOMIA.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—I have read Dr. Davis’s "Illustrations of DifficultParturition," as reported in THE LANCET, with much interest,and have, on more than one occasion, derived valuable prac-tical information therefrom. His treatment, however, of thedifficult labour of Mrs. -, June 10th, as reported in yourlast week’s number, is open to criticism; but from a simpledesire to obtain information, I beg respectfully to ask, whetherin such a case as that of Mrs. -, who appears to have beenwell formed, without any deformity, and who had previouslygiven birth to a " child of average size," the operation ofturning would not have proved effectual to her delivery,rather than that of cephalatomia, which entails so much

danger to the mother, and, of necessity, the death of thechild ? I am, Sir,Nov. 7th, I819. A COUNTRY PRACTITIONER.

THE PROJECTED NEW CHARTER FOR THECOLLEGE OF SURGEONS, AND THE ELECTIONOF FELLOWS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—It appears, from THE LANCET of last week, thatthere is a probability of some change in the present charterof the Royal College of Surgeons. Will you allow me tooffer a few suggestions as to a mode of electing fellows, whichwill, I think, be admitted by all parties to be fair and honour-able ; inasmuch as it is based upon the real practical merits ofindividuals, independently of all favouritism and private in-fluence. The great sores in the mode of election of theoriginal list of fellows were-the feeling that among theexcluded were many gentlemen of equal standing and abilitywith those elected; that the former could only obtain the newdistinction by paying a sum of money, and submitting to asevere examination, which, it was quite certain, many of thefavoured ones could not have passed without fully as muchpreparation as the excluded; and lastly, that the gratuitouselevation of the few was in effect an unmerited degradationof the many.The mode of redressing these grievances, apparently about

to be proposed, in the event of an amended charter, is, that allmembers of the college, of a certain standing, are to becomefellows; thus making age the test of excellence. This wouldat once effectually quench all honourable ambition among theyounger members; for no man could strive in a contestwherein the prize of victory was to be awarded to the longestliver, and in which superior ability, energy, and perseverancewere to go for nothing.

I would suggest, therefore, that in the amended charter itshall be enacted, that all members of the college of ten ortwelve years’ standing, shall be admitted fellows on givingsatisfactory proof of having been engaged in the actualpractice of surgery during the whole of the time since thedate of their diplomas, and of having performed all thesurgical operations that have come in their way; providingthat these have included a fair proportion of the greateroperations in surgery, as those for stone, strangulated hernia,aneurism, the treatment of the more important fractures and Idislocations, the greater amputations, &c.A list of all these to be drawn out, and fully certified by

several already elected fellows, or, failing them, by respectablemembers of the college, living in the same district with thecandidate, or even by the patients themselves, who had beenthe subjects of the various operations. Of course, the same

’ testimony as to character &c. which is required now, would! be required then; and even the payment of a small fee for the

stamp of the diploma &c. would be perfectly just. This plan. would unite a certain amount of professional standing with’ proved practical capacity; no one couldjustly complain of being

excluded from distinction. The list of fellows would run noL risk of becoming too large, and would consist, as it ought to’ do, of real practical surgeons.! I am. Sir. vour obedient servant.

GEORGE WILSON. M.R.C.S. & L.S.A.

MARISCHAL COLLEGE. ABERDEEN.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—On looking over the notice of the curriculum of

medical study at Marischal College, Aberdeen, which formspart of the summary of medical education given in theStudents’ Number of THE LANCET, I discover one or twoerrors, which, as they are of some importance, I should feelobliged by your correcting in the forthcoming Number ofTHE LANCET:-

1. Three years of university attendance are stated as beingrequired, whereas only two are necessary.

2. The language employed on the subject of the examina-tions is confused, and seems to imply that graduates andpractitioners are exempted from examination altogether, andnot (as the statutes of the university bear) merely from thepreliminary examination in Latin, medical terms, &c.

3. The same may be said of the concluding paragraph,from which it does not clearly appear that the payment of£11 for the diploma of M.D. (£10 government stamp, £2 forincidental expenses) consequent on the remission of theexaminers’ fees, holds only in the case of those who haveattended the several medical classes in this university, allothers being charged the same fees as are usual in otheruniversities of Scotland.-I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

GEORGE OGILVIE,Sec. to the Medical Faculty of Marischal College

and University, Aberdeen.

Medical News.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—The following gentlemenhaving undergone the necessary examinations for the diploma,were admitted members of the college at the meeting of theCourt of Examiners on the 2nd inst.:-

CROFT, THOMAS, Bracknell, Berkshire.DixoN, HENRY, Stockton-upon-Tees.FLOYER, CHARLES ANTHONY, Floore, Northampshire.GASKELL, RICHARD ALLANSON, St. Helen’s, Lancashire.GOODRIDGE, JOHN TOMPSON, Paiugton, Devon.HAMILTON, ROBERT, Ipswich.HATFIELD, WILLIAM MARTIN, Chilham, Kent.M’KELLAR, EDWARD, Madeira.NOWELL, JOHN LASCELLES, Liverpool.REYNOLDS, SAMUEL, Debach, Suffolk.ROSSITER, JOHN GILBY TOWNSEND, Bristol.TAYLOR, HENRY, Bury St. Edmund’s, Suffolk.

At the same meeting of the Court, Mr. WILLIAM EVANSpassed his examination for naval surgeon; this gentleman hadpreviously been admitted a member of the College, his di-ploma bearing date July 3, 1846.APOTHECARIES’ HALL. - Names of gentlemen who passed

their examination in the science and practice of medicine,and received certificates to practise, on

Thursday, Nov. lst, 1849.HEMMING, JOSEPH HUGHES, Kimbolton, Hunts.LYNCH, JOHN Cox, Norwood.WRATISLAW, WILLIAM FERDINAND, Rugby.WRIGHT, THOMAS PETTIT, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire.

PRESERVATION OF HEALTH THE CHIEF AIM OF MEDICAL-SCIENCE.—No city perhaps ever possessed such an efficient bodyof medical men as are now practising in London. During thisepidemic they have performed services which in any otherfield must have won the highest honours ; combating the dis-ease night and day in the most pestilential quarters, and that

518on much more settled principles than the public might be ledto suspect from certain discussions at the medical societies.And their office has been discharged with so much kindness as !to deserve the gratitude of the poor, instead of drawing down

’’

on their heads the charges with which the physicians of other ’’

countries have often been assailed by the populace. Nearlyall the sick have been seen by these practitioners ; yet12,837 persons have already died of cholera in London.How is this ? The medical force will be found to have beenemployed at an immense disadvantage. It is called intoaction at the wrong end of the malady. Inquiries prove thatwhile medical advice is generally sought in the characteristictstage, it is seldom obtained in the premonitory stage, when thepower of medicine is decisive ; and to that earlier and stillmore important period preceding the premonitory stage, whichs prevented as easily as cured, medical practice has had littler nothing to say. Cholera here also only shows in high reliefwhat exists in ordinary circumstances. Medical men rarely, ifever, treat the beginnings of diseases, and are scarcely everconsulted professionally on the preservation of the health ofcities or families. The art of preserving health is taught in noregular course of lectures at any of the great schools of medi-cine in the United Kingdom. Yet the classical sanitary worksof Pringle, Lind, Blane, Jackson, Johnson, and Martin, havebeen framed from observation in the British navy and army.In the science of health there are more exact, demonstrabletruths than in the science of disease ; and the -advantage of" prevention" over "cure" requires no proof. In the Cyro-paedia of Xenophon, physicians who only treat the sick arecompared to " menders of torn clothes," while the preservationof health is declared a noble art, worthy of Cyrus himself.Vegetius speaks in similar, Jackson in stronger terms, butperhaps unjustly : for it is godlike to save many from sufferingand to carry them in healthy life up to the natural term ofexistence; it is a worthy occupation to rescue a few from thearms of death, or incurable infirmity. But the preservationand restoration of health are parts of one science ; and if, ashas been done by London and Liverpool, health officers be ap-pointed in all the districts of the kingdom, the art of pre-serving health will be studied by a high order of men wellpaid by the public; and ultimately with an increase of theirremuneration,-the diminution of sickness, the disappearance ’,of epidemics, immense advantage to the public,-the wholemedical profession may devote themselves to the preservationand development of the vigour-of the human faculties, insteadof being tied down to the treatment of the sick and dying.-The Reg.-General.THE CHOLERA IN PARIS.—During the week ending Oct. 35,

there had been but six deaths and as many admissions ofcholera patients in the hospitals of Paris. In town therehad not been one case from the 14th to the 23rd of October.The epidemic may therefore be looked upon as all but extinctin the French capital. The disease is diminishing at Toulon:on the 17th of October, fourteen deaths by cholera were re-turned. At Rochefort the disease is likewise on the decline:from the lst to the 20th of October there had been fourteencases and nine deaths.

HOMŒOPATHIC POETRY.—The Newark Advertiser (U.S.) hasthe following recipe for " aqua fortissima," on the principleof Hahnemann, the homœopathist:—

Take a little rum,The less you take the better,

Mix it with the lakesOf Wener and of Wetter.

Dip a spoonful out-Mind you don’t get groggy-

Pour it in the lakeWinnipisiogee.

Stir the mixture well,Lest it prove inferior,

Then put half a dropInto Lake Superior.

Every other day,Take a drop, in water;

You’ll be better soon, 1Or, at least, you ought to

1,000,000

" MEN WITH TAILS -!"-M. E. Du Couret, who has been forsome time engaged in the exploring of Central Africa, hascommunicated to the Academie des Sciences of Paris, somecurious particulars of a race of Ghilanes, who possess theappendage of a tail about a decimetre in length. His descrip-tion of the instance which he examined is as follows ·.-" Toconvince me of the existence of this species of man havingthis exterior prolongation of the vertebral column, the Emirsent for one of his slaves named Bellal, who was about thirtyyears of age, who possessed this tail, and who belonged to this

race. This slave spoke Arabic perfectly, and was very in-telligent. I examined him, and was perfectly convinced. Heinformed me that his country was beyond Sennear, throughwhich he had passed-and that a language was there spokenwhich he had completely forgotten. He estimated the numberof his race at about thirty or forty thousand. He said thatthey were cannibals, and that they worshipped, some the sunand moon, some the stars, others the serpent and the sourcesof a great river, to which they sacrificed their victims. Heconcludes his narrative by stating that it would not be diffi-cult to procure some individuals of this race of men, by applj-cation to the slave merchants who explore the countries onthe borders of the Red Sea:’LECTURES ON THE EDUCATION OF IDIOTS.—Mr. Levison, of

Brighton, lately commenced a course of lectures on this sub-ject, at the Literary and Scientific Institution, Albion-rooms,Brighton. In his introductory lecture, he drew the attentionof his audience to the fact that, until lately, " to aggravatethe misery of idiots, they had heretofore been abandoned, asif altogether incapable of being improved, either physically,morally, or intellectually." But, he said, he should prove tothem that this fatal doom resulted from an ignorance of theorganic laws of the brain : and because it had not been knownthat improvement could with certainty be calculated on, whenit was recognised that the manifestation of the differentmental faculties depended on the degrees of activity of thebrain and nerves of the external senses. He should there -fore have the satisfaction of submitting to them importantfacts, to prove that when these laws were applied to cultivatethe defective powers of the unfortunate beings for whom hepleaded, it would be recognised that in scarcely any casewould there be an entire failure, whilst in most instancesthere would result a great improvement. This problem, hesaid, had been triumphantly solved in France; and lately aninstitution for the education of the idiot had been establishedia this country, and so far it was found that the system an-swered extremely well. To confirm his statements, Mr.Levison submitted a number of anatomical and physiologicaldetails, showing that sufficient data existed to prove that thebrains of partial idiots indicated relative but not absolute de-ficiency; that they possessed certain perceptive facultieswhich, when trained according to the system he should ex.plain, would enable them to acquire a knowledge of writtensigns and oral sounds, and thus learn to draw, to write, and toread. He cited several cases illustrative of this, and denouncedthe neglect which made the unfortunate idiot the victim of anignorance of organic laws." We may recal to mind that Dr.Combe, in his " Constitution of Man," has laid great stress onthe evils proceeding from this ignorance, and that excellentwork ought to receive general attention. Its price certainlythrows no obstacle in the way of its universal diffusion.PROFESSOR ZANETTI: Professor Zanetti, of Florence, who

had received from the Grand Duke the cross of St. Joseph,for his noble and courageous conduct in the disturbances ofCustatone and Montanara, hastened to send the cross backto the Duke when he heard that the same order had beenconferred on the Austrian Generals. The Grand Duke atonce removed the professor fom his chair of Clinical surgery!MEDICAL BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF LOMBARDY.-We perceive

that this society has found means to relieve a great many suf-fering brethren, in spite of the convulsions which have agitatedthe whole of Italy. On the 31st of December, 1848, thesociety’s capital amounted to about 11801. In 1847, 80l. weredistributed to indigent members; 76l. in 1848; and no lessthan 781. in the first six months of 1849.A UNIVERSITY IN PETTICOATS—Professor Frobel, of Zurich,

has just resigned his chair in that city, in order to occupy oneat Hamburg, in a university which is being founded, to affordmedical education to women. Professors’in petticoats will beappointed to this new university.—(L’ Union Médicale.) This,however, is nothing new. In Italy, since the revival ofscience, females have been professors-and of anatomy !-inthe schools.

APPOINTMENTS. -Professor Bucias, known by his investiga-tions in obstetric medicine, has just been appointed Rector ofthe University of Berlin.-Dr. EDWARDS CRisp, of Parliament-street, has just been unanimously elected Physician to theMetropolitan Dispensary. We congratulate the institutionon the appointment.THE CHOLERA IN ALGIERS.—The cholera has almost entirely

disappeared from Algiers; but the disease is spreading alongthe coast, and in the interior. During the prevalence of theepidemic, 909 men of the garrison were attacked, of whom523 have died.

519

REACTION IN AUSTRIA.—As many leading medical menwere implicated in the political convulsions of the AustrianEmpire, they are now looked upon with a very unfavourableeye by the Government. Salaries of professors have beenconsiderably lowered, and some summarily dismissed. Dr.

Hyrth the celebrated anatomist of Vienna, was so annoyedand persecuted, that he was forced to resign. Dr. Partreban,professor of physiology at Prague, was lately arrested whilstsurrounded by his pupils. He was, however, released thenext day, and is -supposed to be on his way to France. TheAustrian army suffered a great deal in Hungary for want ofsurgeons; and the Government have therefore decided thatstudents in medicine will not obtain their diploma exceptthey give the promise of serving some time in the army assurgeons!TIEDEMANN’S RETIREMENT.-Our readers will learn with

regret that the celebrated anatomist and physiologist,Tiedemann, of Heidelberg, has just resigned his chair. Hisretirement is attributed to the grief the eminent professorfeels at the death of his son, who had been commander ofRadstadt during the recent Baden insurrection, and who wasexecuted on the surrender of that fortress.MEDICAL LICENCE.-It is not long since the medical pro-

fesson in France were freed from the obligation of taking outa licence, similar to that which is granted to persons in trade.It is said that the Minister of Finance is about to bring in abill on licences, wherein medical men are to be again sub-jected to this humiliating regulation. (See an article on thissubject in THE LANCET for October 7, 1843, p. 25.)PRIZE EssAY.-The Council of the South London Medical

Society have just awarded their prize of thirty guineas to Mr.Charles Taylor, of Camberwell, for his essay on InfantileRemittent Fever, with especial reference to its diagnosis fromincipient Hydrocephalus.MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL.-The funds of this institution have

just been increased by two legacies of £100 each, bequeathedby Mr. J. Powell Powell and Miss Kimber. A further legacyof X500 has also been bequeathed by Miss Eliza Palmer. Thelecturers attached to the hospital having suggested the pro-priety of instituting a lectureship on Comparative Anatomy,the Board -of Governors at once acceded to the request."THE FELLOWSHIP:’-The Council of the Royal College of

Surgeons have just announced that the next examinations forthis distinction will take place on Tuesday, the 4th, andThursday,-the 6th of December next. We understand that alarge number are expected to present themselves, in conse-quence of the new regulations coming into operation, wherebythe junior candidates will be examined in mathematics and-the classics.

MEDICAL FEES AT ASSURANCE OFFICES. — We last weektook the opportunity to speak in terms of commendation ofthose offices which justly remunerate medical referees, towhom they apply for confidential information. The LondonMutual Life and Guarantee Society is one of those, as will beseen in a prospectus of that association in our advertisingcolumns, to which we direct the attention of our readers.

BOOKS RECEIVED FOR REVIEW.

Observations on the Spread of Asiatic Cholera, and itsCommunicable Nature. By John Evans, M.D. Chicago,United States. 1849. pp. 43.The Physiological and Scientific Treatment of Cholera,

advocated by William Parker, M.R.C.S. &c., before theMedical Staff of Gwydir House. London: Strange. 1849.Pamphlet.A Report on the Nature and Import of certain Microscopic

Bodies found in the Intestinal Discharges of Cholera. Pre-sented to the Cholera Committee of the Royal College ofPhysicians of London, by their Sub-Committee, on the 17thOctober, 1849.The Physiognomy of Diseases. By George Corfe, M.D.

London: Nisbet & Co. 1849. 4to, pp. 151.A Medical Guide to the Hinckley Mineral Spring and

Baths. By Mervyn Patterson, M.D. &c. London: Houlston& Stoneman. Hinckley: Short. Pamphlet, pp. 25.On certain Physiological and other Facts observed during

the Treatment of Spinal Disease. Read before the ProvincialMedical and Surgical Association. By Samuel Hare, M.R.C.S.pp. 10.Annual Report of the Progress of Chemistry and the Allied

Sciences. By Justus Liebig, M.D., and H. Kopp, &c. Editedbv A. W. Hofman, PH.D., and W. De la Rue. London: Taylor,Walton, & Maberly. 1849. 8vo. Parts I. & II.

’The Impracticability of the Henley-on-Thames project forSupplying London -with Water Exposed &c. By John LoudeTabberner. London: Metchim. 1849. Pamphlet.On the Operation of Physical Agencies in the Functions of

Organized Bodies; with Suggestions as to the Nature of Cho-lera. By Dr. G. Russell. Montreal. (From the British-American Journal of Medical and Physical Science.)Report of the Tower Hamlets Sanitary Association in con-

nexion with the Health of Towns Association. London. 1849.Lectures on Electricity and Galvanism in their Physiolo-

gical and Therapeutical Relations, delivered at the RoyalCollege of Physicians. By Golding Bird, A.M., M.D., &c.London: Longmans & Co. 1849. 12mo, pp. 208.

Holden’s Manual of Dissection. Part IL pp 107 to 306.8vo. Highley.Medical Report to the Managers of the Lunatic Asylum of

Aberdeen. Aberdeen: Chalmers & Co. 18i9. Pamphlet,pp. 26.Homoeopathy a Delusion ! ! ! A Lecture, by Dr. Guinness,

Analytically Examined, by T. W. Christie, M.R.C.S.E.Dublin: Fannin & Co. London: Longman & Co. Liverpool:Walmesley. Exeter: Glanville. 1849. 8vo pp. 46.

Illustrations and Inquiries relating to Mesmerism. Part I.By the Rev. S. R. Maitland, D.D., F.R.S., &c. London:Stephenson. 1849. 8vo, pp. 82.Essay on the Use of Alcoholic Liquors in Health and Dis-

ease. By John Chadwick, M.D. London: Simpkin & Co.1849. 12mo, pp. 123.

* * * JUST as our paper was going to press, we were’informedthat the Council of the College of Surgeons came to the deci-

sion, on Thursday night, by a large majority, to apply to theCrown to amend the Charter of 1843. This is a great pointgained.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.WE doubt not that Iatros is an excellent practitioner, but we fear, in order

to derive a renewal of the pleasure he once felt from the perusal of THELANCET, that he must continue, -with industry and perseverance, topursue his studies. Still, we cannot promise that all he will learn will beuseful. If he should be enabled to discover an effectual method of check-

ing the rage for the adoption of new and quaint terms in our belovedscience, he will do our profession and the public an essential service. Wecommend him to his labours.

Test-tube has applied his re.agents with terrible severity, but the -results ofsuch analytical experiments are not much valued, unless the operator beseen and known. We are of opinion that our own castigation of theculprit is sufficient for the present.

IF the author of the letter signed " One of the Duped" will attach his nameand address to the letter, we will publish it. At the same time we do notcoincide with some of his views. We must forget and forgive. The Col-

lege of Surgeons of England ought to become the college, head, andhome of the great body of medical practitioners in this portion of theUnited Kingdom. An alteration of the Charter might with great pro-priety be made the precursory step to the enactment by the legislature ofa comprehensive measure of medical reform. If county meetings wereto be held forthwith, and representatives were to be chosen, duly author-ized, to act at a medical congress in London, the surest basis of successwould be created. Without union amongst ourselves we are lost. At

all events, while this disunion continues, it is utterly impossible that ourcause can triumph in the legislature.

As there must be a great number of students -to whom the question con-tained in the following note must be’interesting, as well as the author ofit, we have thought right to publish the remarks of our correspondent as

I well as the question. As we are incapable of replying to the interrogatory,we trust that it may elicit from the proper quarter an official reply, forpubJication in our columns:-

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—I observe, in the Hon. E. 1. Co.’s Regulations, that candidates are

required to attend two courses of practice of physic. In Edinburgh, theclass of general pathology is made imperative, and most of the otherboards accept of it in lieu -of a second course of practice of physic. Now,Sir, I should be very much obliged if you could inform me, through themedium of your widely-circulated journal, whether the East India Com-pany’s examining board also accept a course of pathology instead of thesecond of practice of physic ? An answer to this would confer a greatfavour on many other students here as well as on myself.

I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,Edinburgh, Oct. 31. AN EDINBURGH MEDICAL STUDENT.

A Young Practitioner.-The age of forty-five does not of itself render thecase hopeless. There are various instances of women having bornechildren when upwards of fifty years of age. If there should be a result we shall be glad to hear of it.