227

communication was, that Mr. - declined to employ the

plaintiff any more, and, upon his asking his reason, he toldhim what he had heard, but at first refused to give up hisauthority. The plaintiff, upon this, instructed his attorney tocommunicate with him, and he then stated that the communi-cation had been made to him by the present defendant, andthis action arose in consequence. Mr. - deposed that thedefendant called at his house, and in consequence of what hesaid at that time witness declined to employ the plaintiff toattend upon his wife in her accouchement. The defendant, inthe conversation alluded to, said, " I don’t like Dr. -, andespecially after what I have heard." Witness asked him towhat he referred, and he said, " to his servant-girl going awayin the family-way by him." Witness’s wife asked if it wastrue, and he replied, " Oh, that’s enough; it is in everybody’smouth." Witness’s wife said that she had heard something ofthe same sort from her washerwoman, but she did not believeit; and the defendant then said, " Oh, it’s as true as that thatchild is sitting in the chair," pointing to a child who was sittingin the room. Hence witness declined to employ the plaintiffto attend upon his family. - Mr. Justice Crowder havingsummed up, the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff.-Damages, ;e50. !

PARIS PHARMACIENS.—It has for some time been cus. I

tomary in Paris to buy and sell pharmaceutical establishmentswithout the possession of the necessary diploma. The systemwas to find some one who had obtained such a diploma, and toappoint him manager. This kind of transaction has latelybeen found illegal by the Superior Court, so that these partner-ships can no longer flourish.RESUSCITATION OF A MEDICAL JOURNAL.—We lately

announced the demise of a Paris medical journal, called LeProgrès. This publication, phmnix-like, has, from the midstof ashes, sprung into life again, with the same chief editor,under the following name: Journal of the Improvements ofMedical Science and Pcstional Hydropathy.DEVON AND ExETER HOSPITAL.-On the 30th ilist., the

118th anniversary of this institution will be celebrated, onwhich occasion a sermon will be preached at the Cathedral bythe Rev. Prebendary Smith, and a collection made in aid ofthe " Samaritan Fund."

DRINKING FOUNTAIN IN TRAFALGAR-SQUARE. — TheVestry of St. Martin’s-in-the-fields having sanctioned the erec-tion of a drinking fountain in Trafalgar-square, opposite theNational Gallery, a deputation from that body have waitedupon Mr. Fitzroy to obtain the consent of the Government tothe erection, which has been given with the understandingthat the plans and designs are to be submitted for the approvalof the Chief Commissioner. A gentleman has forwarded £200,through the Drinking Fountains Association, towards the ex-

pense of this fountain, which is to be of a highly ornamentalcharacter.

ANOTHER DUCAL GIFT OF SHERRY. - The Duke ofNorthumberland, in addition to his donations of wine to theMiddlesex and Westminster Hospitals and the Newcastle In-firmary, has presented a similar donation of 1000 bottles ofsherry to the Seamen’s Hospital, for the use of the patients onboard the Dreadnought, off Greenwich. This ship tvas for-merly the Caledonian, 120 guns, of which the Duke of North-umberland, then Lord Algernon Percy, was captain.THE HEDGEHOG.—At a late sitting of the Societe d’Ac-

climatation of Paris, Dr. Rufz read a report on the animalswhich it might be useful to introduce into the island of Mar-tinique for the purpose of destroying the venomous serpentwhich infests that country. He specially alluded to the hedge-hog. Dr. Lenz relates that having one day let a large viperinto a box where a hedgehog was suckling its young, the hedge-hog got up and smelt at it from the tail to the head. The

viper began to hiss, and bit its adversary’s lips very severely;but the latter, without appearing disconcerted, licked thewounds, and in so doing received another sting in the tongue.This it resented, after some further smelling, by seizing theviper by its head, crunching it, fangs and all, without stoppinguntil it had devoured one half of the reptile. On the followingday it devoured three young vipers without appearing to be inanywise affected by their venom; nor did any of the woundsswell or show signs of being morbidly affected. On anotheroccasion, the same hedgehog had a battle with a viper, whichlasted twelve minutes, during which it received ten severebites on its snout, and twenty more on the bristles. At onetime the reptile had stuck its fangs so deeply into the under

lip, that its adversary had some difficulty in shaking it off. Atlength the hedgehog seized it by the head, as in the formercase, and devoured it.

OPENING OF A PUBLIC DRINKING FOUNTAIN IN MARY-LEBONE.-On Wednesday last, the ceremony of opening thefirst public drinking fountain in Marylebone took place withmuch ceremony. The site selected was that of the ancient

gate in front of the infirmary of the Marylebone Workhouse,which has been bricked up for some years. It was understoodthat the fountain had been erected at the expense of a bene-volent lady, whose name the benefactor did not wish to transpire.HUMBOLDT"S LIBRARY.-The library of the late Baron

de Humboldt, bequeathed by him to his old valet, has been pur-chased for 40,000 thalers, the Vienna journals state, by LordBloomfield, minister of England at Berlin.ROYAL CORNWALL INFIRMARY.—The sixtieth annual

meeting of the governors of the Royal Cornwall Infirmary washeld on Friday, the 12th of August. The meeting for busi-ness, held at the Infirmary, was very fully attended: Mr.Rogers, M.P., presided. From the report of the committee, itappeared that the benefits of the charity had been extended toa larger number of sufferers in the past than in any precedingyear; and its financial condition was satisfactory. Mr. EdwardSharp was elected a surgeon of the Infirmary in the place ofthe late Mr. Spry, whose long-continued services were dulyacknowledged in the report.HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK ENDING

SATURDAY, AuGuST 20TH.—The deaths, it is gratifying to find.are below the average, numbering 1188 persons. In the corre-

sponding weeks of 1849 and 1854, 2230 and 1883 of the peopleperished; but the deaths in the corresponding weeks of otheryears, after due correction for the increase of population, were1185. The deaths have decreased since the last of the two hotweeks (July 17th and 23rd) from 1605 to 1188; but still exceedby nearly 200 the weekly deaths in June. Diarrhoea is de-creasing ; the deaths in the week were 240. The east andsouth districts suffer most severely. Ten persons died ofcholera-eight children and two men. Twenty persons, in-

cluding 14 unhappy children under five years of age, died ofsmall-pox, 14 of measles, 51 of scarlatina, 17 of diphtheria, 23of hooping-cough, and 37 of fever: 140 persons, of whom 63were of an age 20-40, died of consumption; 28 persons died byaccident or negligence-namely, 12 by mechanical injuries, 4by burns, 1 by poison, 10 by drowning, and 1 by suffocation; 1person was murdered, 5 committed suicide, 3 died suddenlywithout stated cause.

Last week, the births of 917 boys and 864 girls, in all 1781children, were registered in London. In the ten corresponding

I weeks of the years 1849-58 the average number was 1555.

Births, Marriages, and Deaths.BIRTHS.

On the 4th ult., at Croydon, the wife of P. Hubbert, Esq.,M.R.C.S., of a son.On the 22nd inst., at Rhayader, the wife of R. Richardson,

Esq., L.F.P.S.G., of a son.

MARRIAGES.On the 4th of May, at Burrowa, New South Wales, Allen

B. Morgan, Esq., M.R.C.S., of Wagga-Wagga, to EmmaLouisa, third daughter of F. Rawdon Hume, .hsq., of Castle-steads.On the 13th inst., at St. Paul’s, Deptford, William L. Shine,

Esq., M.R.C.S.E., eldest son of John L. Shine, Esq., Bandon,Cork, to Eliza, youngest daughter of the late Fergus L. Graham,Esq., Maze-hill, Greenwich.

DEATHS.On the 18th inst., at Bromyard, Herefordshire, Zarina

Katherine Marley, aged two years, only child of R. Marley,Esq., 1,. S.A., of that town.On the 22nd inst., at Upper Sussex-place, Old Kent-road,

Frederick Debell Bennett, Esq., M.R.C.S., &c.,aged fifty-one.He was assistant and acting surgeon to the Seamen’s Hospital-Ship G)-a2itpits from 1829 to 1831, and was author of " A Nar-rative of a Voyage round the World" in 1840.

228

THE TRIAL OF SMETHURST.

SEVERAL complaints have reached us that the newspaperreports of this remarkable trial are deficient or incorrect insome important particulars as respects the medical and chemicalevidence ; and as we have learned that an official account ofthe trial will be printed, we have postponed an abstract, shouldwe find it necessary to publish one, the materials of which willbe derived from a reliable source.

To Correspondents.Mr. James Neale Earle, (Sleaford.)-When a patient engages a medical prac-

titioner to attend her in her confinement, it is a contract binding upon bothparties. It.wou4;l be most disastrous if this were not the case. It is a con-tract which involves the interest of the community far more than that of theprofession. The woman engages a practitioner of reputation and skill toassist her in the hour of " Nature’s sorrow." She holds him in equity boundto fulfil his contract. It would be monstrous indeed if, under any influenceof will or caprice, she should be allowed to break a contract of such a nature.The law does not allow her to do it; and if a gentleman has been so engaged,and is ready to fulfil his engagement, the law will protect him, and he willbe able to recover his fee whether he be called to officiate or not. When not

called, we have never been advocates of a practitioner resorting to his legalremedy; but forbearance may have its limits, and there may be cases inwhich resort to a legal tribunal may justly uphold not only the rights butthe dignity of the profession. Contracts of this nature are not to be enteredinto lightly or without reflection, and, when they are made, they are to beregarded as solemn obligations to be fulfilled by both parties.

Mr. Charles Williams, (Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.)-It is a pamphlet ofsome fifteen pages, and a copy of a paper read before the Medical Society ofM’Gill College. A line addressed to R. P. Howard, M.D., M’Gill College,would, no doubt, be answered as desired.

Dr. Char, es Taylor’s communication shall be inserted in an early number.

ASSOCIATION OF FOREIGN GRADUATES.To the Editor of TIlE LANCET.

SIR,—The holders of foreign degrees owe you a deep debt of gratitude forpermitting them to express their objections to the new Medical Act, in notconsidering them eligible for registration. I was much pleased to read theletter of Dr. Hitehman in last week’s LANCET, suggesting the formation of anAssociation of Foreign Graduates, for the purpose of inducing the Legislatureto introduce a clause or some alteration in the Act, so as to enable all fully-qualified medical men, who are besides in the possession of foreign degrees, toregister such.The Medical Council, it is evident, will not concede this ; for although there

are amongst them liberal and expansive souls, such as Dr. Wood, yet thereare far too many illiberal and bigoted men in that Council to admit of itsperforming any act of magnanimity, even to men as respectable, learned, andqualified as any one of them. Therefore, we need not look to them to have ouranomalous position rectified, but go direct to their superiors ; and if we do, forcertain, we can present such a case as will, I am convinced, at once induce theLegislature to place us on an equality, as regards registration, with ourbrethren.The Colleges of Physicians of London and Edinburgh are granting their

licences to men on precisely the same terms as foreign Universities grant de-grees to qualified men, and the Council will register such licences, and yetrefuse to register degrees procured in a similar way to those licences ! Whereis the consistency ?—or where is the difference ?

I hope Dr. Hitchman’s suggestion will be at once adopted, and that everygraduate of a foreign University will send in his name to Dr. Hitchman aswilling to co-operate in gaining this desirable object.

I remain, Sir, yours, &c.,August, 1859. A QUADBUPLT-QUALIFIBD MEDICUS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—Will your Liverpool correspondent, who (" inter aliis") expects his

cause to be " crowned with the clustering laurels of triumphant merit," informus in what foreign country the diploma of a British physician or surgeon is re-cognised, so that he may practise therewith ?-Your obedient servant,

August, 1859. F.R.C.S.

A Tree Years’ M.D.-1. The stamp duty is repealed; but the licence of theCollege of Physicians of London is still upwards of £ 30; that of the Collegeof Physicians of Edinburgh, £10—2. The bye-laws of the College of Physi-cians of London prohibit its members from recovering in a court of lawfor professional services rendered as a physician.

Guiger.—It is better to enter at a school to which an hospital is attached.Mr. Biden.-The subject has engaged the attention of the profession; but the

seat of the malady is deeper than our correspondent supposes.Alpha.—The indenture will be accepted.Mr. W- M. Thompson, of Moore-place, Kennington-road, Lambeth, does notadd to his respectability by the issue of handbills, announcing his chargesfor attendance and medicine.

Dr. W. Williams.-He would be eligible for a Poor-law appointment.

F.B.C.S., (Westmorland.)—1. There is only one payment.-2. About £ 30.-3. Eligible as a M.D. of the University of St. Andrews, under certain regala.tions.-4. He would not be allowed to dispense medieines for his own

patients.-5. It would entirely depend upon circumstances. It is necessaryfor the attainment of some public appointments to obtain a diploma fromthe Royal College of Physicians of London. Under any circumstances, how-ever, the licence would be no detriment.

Phlox.—1. He does not undergo a classical examination.-2. Under twenty-five.

Christopher Crushgammon.—The attention of the London Medical RegistrationAssociation has been called to the case. Steps will be taken in relation to it.

CURIOSITIES O? THE MEDICAL RE&ISMB.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—In answer to your correspondent, " M.D.," who in your journal of the20th inst. mentions me as a specimen of the curiosities of the Medical Register,who, as an unqualified practitioner, should cease to hold a public appointment,I beg to request you to insert the following lines, which I have published inanother journal.According to the new Medical Act, such foreigners only are to be registered

who have been practising in this country as physicians, and who hold diplomasobtained by examination from a University recognised by the Medical Council.The object of this law evidently is to exclude all foreign practitioners who arenot fully qualified, and have not enjoyed a thorough general and medical edu-cation. This law certainly holds good with respect to some countries, as, forinstance, France and Austria, where the only fully-qualifying diplomas aregranted by the respective Universities. But the framers of the new law seemto have overlooked the fact that there are other countries where the Universitydiploma confers an honorary title, but no right to practise. This is the case inPrussia and in all other German States, where the right of granting the licenceto practise is exclusively reserved by the respective governments, and is con-ferred, by examination only, through the supreme Medical Council. In Ger-many no candidate is admitted to this so-called States’ Examination (Staats’-Examen) unless he has passed the Maturity Examination in Classics, NaturalPhilosophy, and Modern Languages, and has then studied the theory andpractice of Medicine at one of the Universities for at least four years. I mayadd that these States’ Examinations are very rigorous, and last in my country(the Grand Duchy of Baden) four weeks-viz., two weeks for Medicine, oneweek for Surgery, and five days for Midwifery.The Medical Council must be well aware that the possession of these three

diplomas is in Germany looked upon as the highest qualification; and yet inmy case these diplomas have not been acknowledged, although they were con-ferred on me by an examining body instituted by the government, and entitleme to practise in my own country as a physician, a surgeon, and an accoucheur.A University diplcma has likewise been rejected, because it was obtained in ab-sentiâ; but I am happy to say that the latter has been granted to me on theground of my three States’ diplomas, as well as of a dissertation, the contentsof which have found their way into several German, Belgian, and Englishpapers. In a letter receivei from Dr. Hawkins on the subject, that gentlemansays-" There is no doubt that you were a qualified person before you came tothis country, and I am sorry that the Medical Act has imposed difficulties inyour case; but I sincerely hope that this will cause you no injury." Of course,on receiving this news, I hastened at once to London to pass an examinationat the College of Surgeons and Apothecaries’ Hall, but it was too late to be reogistered this year.With respect to the charitable institution I am in the service of, I may state

that, after a five years’ residence in this town, I was enabled, by the confidencewhich a great number of the most influential inhabitants placed in me, to esta-blish in 1857 an Eye and Ear Infirmary, where in 1858 I admitted above 1200patients, and performed 200 operations.

Trusting that the above statements will satisfy your correspondent, " M.D.,"I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

Park-place, Bradford, August, 1859. EDWARD BEONNEE.

To the Editor ofTHE LANCET.SIR,—If the author of the letter signed " M.D.," which appears in THE

LANCET of last week,—and in which a most unjust and uncalled-for libertyhas been taken with my name and medical qualifications,-will refer to theMedical Act, he will find that, by virtue of Clause 46, all who have held ap-pointments as surgeons in the Navy or Army are qualified for registration.In May, 1811, after having served twelve months as assistant-surgeon in theRoyal Naval Hospital at Deal, I again appeared at the Royal College of Sur-geons of London, and also bef re the Medical Commissioners of the Navy;and after being carefully examined, both in medicine and surgery, was foundfully qualified for a surgeon’s appointment in the Royal Navy; to which rankI was promoted in August, 1814 while serving on the North American Station,in the flag-ship of Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir Alexander Inglis Cochrane. I waspresent at the taking of Castine and Machias; also with the unfortunateexpedition against New Orleans, and took an active part in the treatment ofthe sick and wounded soldiers and sailors on that occasion; and was surgeonof H.::i1.S. Thames at the capture of Fort Bowyer, Mobile.By giving this hurried letter a place in the next number of THE LANCET

you will oblige. I am, Sir, your obedient servant,ARCHD. BLACKLOCK,

Dumfries, August 22nd, 1859. Late Surgeon, Royal Navy.

Vindex.—The paragraph in question is a silly puff. THE LANCET has neverhad but one Editor; it has had several Sub-Editors, some of whom, we arehappy to state, rank amongst the first and most successful members of theprofession.

Medicus Tripoxon.-They would be eligible for registration.Hibernicus is eligible for the licence of the Royal College of Physicians of Edin·burgh, the cost of which is .810.

Mr. A. L. Bigg.-The communication shall not be forgotten.

THE SURGEONS OF THE " GEEAT EASTERN" STEAMSHIP.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Can you inform the profession how many surgeons there are on boardthe Great Eastern, and their names I I am credibly informed that one is un-registered, and was appointed solely in consequence of his relationship to themanager. Yours, &c.,

August, 1859. FAIBMAY.