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302 in five minutes, found in a state of collapse, blue, with all his features altered, voice a mere whisper, constant sickness, cramps, and rice-water evacuations, and at first you could hardly believe he was the same man that had been seen a short time previously, and in from four to six hours he would be a corpse. Fever still existed, and many of these cases were frequently found in the collapse of cholera, it having come on very suddenly, and so carried off. This state of things continued up to the middle of August, when it began to occur at longer intervals; diarrhoea, however, prevalent the whole time; some of which passed into dysentery; and now, also, fevers became again in the ascendent. It is not to be supposed that the officers escaped; many had diarrhcea, some few cholera and fever; but on -account of greater prudence, fever and diarrhœa, did not prove so fatal. The non-commissioned officers suffered very much. Many of the medical officers also went away on sick-leave, or incapacitated for work. Indeed, it was and is, difficult to find men for the work. With us, every known, and some unknown remedies have been tried in the cholera, with but little success. Of those who have recovered, the treatment in general, as far as I can speak, has been a mustard emetic, friction, solid opium and calomel for first dose, and then three grains of calomel every ten, or half a scruple every twenty, minutes. In only one case were the gums at all affected. Those who have seen the same disease in India say this form was more fatal and rapid. Here, though the collapse was always so great, if they survived, the subsequent fever was often very slight, and in some hardly perceptible; the sickness was the most persistent symptom; micturition was always followed by improvement. Some men were so conscious of it, that nothing short of the introduction of a catheter would convince them that their bladder was empty. We have now been free from ’cholera for some time, but low typhoid fever, followed with abscesses, diarrhœa, with or without blood; simple diarrhcea, dysentery, pneumonia, and catarrhs, are most frequent. The days are getting cold, and the nights bitterly so. in looking for a cause for the former diseases, I think that much must depend on the country being so wild and unculti- vated. There is always decay going on; all manner of animals left to decay and " stink" wherever they may fall; even along the shores of the lakes there is a most unhealthy odour, and the heat has been most intense, acting on its boggy margins, as on all damp ground. Otherwise, how could we have disease in so fine a country? The mode of living, no doubt, has much to answer for. On first landing, the men had capital cocoa served out to them. With this they were not satisfied, but begged for coffee, which they got, but in a raw state, so that they had to roast and grind it, without roasting machine or mills. The latter they do between stones, &c. Now they cry out about it, but there is no further change. The allowance of meat is 1 lb., consisting sometimes of beef, and at times of mutton, and now and then salt pork; also a portion of rice-bread or biscuits, grog, and sometimes porter, for which they pay 11 d. per pint. But they will not be content with this, but buy all sorts of horrid things, and eat unripe fruit off the trees, with which the country abounds. Illness, death, and persuasion have not the slightest effect on them; they will even stroll away from the hospital when in for diarrhoea, and eat away at apples or pears. The ambulance corps have already done good service. I fancy the waggons the best, as the carts have several times been upset, perhaps because the drivers are not yet used to them. P. S. Cases out here are placed in tents, and consequently under very unfavourable circumstances. The cold is telling dreadfully on all cases in hospital. THE CHOLERA. RELATIVE to the progress of cholera in the metropolis, we condense the following from the " Weekly Return" of the Registrar-General for the week ending September 30th:- Of these 223 were under 15 years of age; 409 were above 15 and under 60; 121 were above 60 years old; 1 the age was unknown. 165 are stated to have died from diarrhoea. It is thus very evident that the cholera is now rapidly de- clining in London, the deaths by it having fallen from 2050 in the first week, to 754 in the last week, of September. The present epidemic eruption began later than the eruption of 1849, and it has latterly been more fatal; but the aggregate mortality will yet probably be less than it was in 1849 ; for the deaths by cholera in that year down to September 29th were 13,098, while the deaths in the present epidemic down to Sep- tember 30th have been 9707. Our attention has been directed to some errors in the Re- gistrar-General’s Returns of last week and a few weeks back. With respect to the first, we may observe that it was, as our correspondent remarks, a "clerical error," which was soon discovered by the printer, and corrected accordingly. The proof was right, (we have reason for knowing,) and so was one of the copies we ourselves received. It was so evident, too, that scarcely any mistake could arise, as by reference (if neces- sary) to the tabular portion the truth would be at once dis- covered. Relative to the other mistake, the reference of our correspondent has not been sufficiently definite to lead us to discover it on a cursory examination. In justice to the official department concerned, it should be remembered how much more work is thrown upon it during such an epidemic as the present, and that no additional hands are brought into opera- tion. We think it surprising everything is as accurately and as punctually carried on, as it is well known to be; still, we quite agree with our correspondent that merely clerical errors are often " very erratic in effect," and should be noticed accordingly, to avoid further trouble. ...... We have received Dr. F. W. Iiichardson’s pamphlet, in which the opinions are expressed, that " the Iteport on the Treatment of Cholera [of the College of Physicians] is the most mean and meagre that was ever issued from any Royal College or scientific body;" that "the Asiatic cholera is as curable, even in, cases of collapse, as any other disease ;" and that "the plan of treatment I have adopted, and found more successful than that of Dr. Ayre’s, will prove equally service- able in the hands of others." This plan is to administer an emetic; to repeat it every ten minutes, if necessary; to give calomel in ten, fifteen, and twenty grains, every ten, twenty thirty, or sixty minutes, and a piece of ice or a teaspoonful of very cold water every five minutes. Medical News. ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.-The following mem- bers of the College having undergone the necessary exa- minations, were admitted Licentiates in midwifery, at the meeting of the Board on the 3rd inst :- BENNETT, EDWIN, Dorchester, diploma of membership dated February 27th, 1852. JONES, JOHN, Dnffryn, Merionethshire, August 5th, 1851. MAY, EDWARD HOOPER, Tottenham, April 21st, 1854. STEDDY, EDwARD AUSTEN, Chatham, April 3rd, 1854. THORP, HENRY JOHN, Maldon, Essex, June 23rd, 1854. VISE, AMBROSE BLITHE, Holbeach, Lincolnshire, April 21st, 1854. APOTHECARIES’ HALL.-Names of gentlemen who passed their examination in the science and practice of Medicine, and received certificates to practise, on- Thursday, September 28th, 1854. MILLER, THOMAS CORNE, Bedworth. O’CONNELL, PETER, Waterford, Ireland. PATL, JAMES THOMAS, Southsea, Hants. TREW, THOMAS NEWLAND, West Indies. INAUGURATION DINNER OF THE LONDON HOSPITJ.T. MEDICAL COLLEGE.-On Monday last about 200 gentlemen dined together at the London Tavern, to inaugurate this new medical college. The company consisted chiefly of the medical officers of the institution, the teachers of the school, former and present pupils, governors, and well-wishers of the London Hospital, and a few visitors, amongst whom we noticed the Presidents of the College of Physicians and of the College of Surgeons, and the Master of the Apothecaries’ Company. Mr. I Luke, senior surgeon to the hospital, was in the chair, and * The Rational and Successful Treatment of Asiatic and English Cholera and Epidemic Diarrhœa, &c, &c. London and Woolwich. 1854. pp. 18.
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in five minutes, found in a state of collapse, blue, with allhis features altered, voice a mere whisper, constant sickness,cramps, and rice-water evacuations, and at first you couldhardly believe he was the same man that had been seen ashort time previously, and in from four to six hours he wouldbe a corpse. Fever still existed, and many of these cases

were frequently found in the collapse of cholera, it having comeon very suddenly, and so carried off. This state of thingscontinued up to the middle of August, when it began to occurat longer intervals; diarrhoea, however, prevalent the wholetime; some of which passed into dysentery; and now, also,fevers became again in the ascendent. It is not to be supposedthat the officers escaped; many had diarrhcea, some few choleraand fever; but on -account of greater prudence, fever anddiarrhœa, did not prove so fatal. The non-commissioned officerssuffered very much. Many of the medical officers also went

away on sick-leave, or incapacitated for work. Indeed, it wasand is, difficult to find men for the work. With us, every known,and some unknown remedies have been tried in the cholera,with but little success. Of those who have recovered, thetreatment in general, as far as I can speak, has been a mustardemetic, friction, solid opium and calomel for first dose, and thenthree grains of calomel every ten, or half a scruple every twenty,minutes. In only one case were the gums at all affected. Thosewho have seen the same disease in India say this form wasmore fatal and rapid. Here, though the collapse was alwaysso great, if they survived, the subsequent fever was often veryslight, and in some hardly perceptible; the sickness was themost persistent symptom; micturition was always followed byimprovement. Some men were so conscious of it, that nothingshort of the introduction of a catheter would convince themthat their bladder was empty. We have now been free from’cholera for some time, but low typhoid fever, followed withabscesses, diarrhœa, with or without blood; simple diarrhcea,dysentery, pneumonia, and catarrhs, are most frequent. The

days are getting cold, and the nights bitterly so.in looking for a cause for the former diseases, I think that

much must depend on the country being so wild and unculti-vated. There is always decay going on; all manner of animalsleft to decay and " stink" wherever they may fall; even alongthe shores of the lakes there is a most unhealthy odour, and theheat has been most intense, acting on its boggy margins, as onall damp ground. Otherwise, how could we have disease in sofine a country? The mode of living, no doubt, has much toanswer for. On first landing, the men had capital cocoa servedout to them. With this they were not satisfied, but begged forcoffee, which they got, but in a raw state, so that they had toroast and grind it, without roasting machine or mills. Thelatter they do between stones, &c. Now they cry out aboutit, but there is no further change. The allowance of meat is1 lb., consisting sometimes of beef, and at times of mutton,and now and then salt pork; also a portion of rice-bread orbiscuits, grog, and sometimes porter, for which they pay 11 d.per pint. But they will not be content with this, but buy allsorts of horrid things, and eat unripe fruit off the trees, withwhich the country abounds. Illness, death, and persuasionhave not the slightest effect on them; they will even strollaway from the hospital when in for diarrhoea, and eat away atapples or pears. The ambulance corps have already done goodservice. I fancy the waggons the best, as the carts haveseveral times been upset, perhaps because the drivers are notyet used to them.

P. S. Cases out here are placed in tents, and consequentlyunder very unfavourable circumstances. The cold is tellingdreadfully on all cases in hospital.

THE CHOLERA.

RELATIVE to the progress of cholera in the metropolis, wecondense the following from the " Weekly Return" of theRegistrar-General for the week ending September 30th:-

Of these 223 were under 15 years of age; 409 were above15 and under 60; 121 were above 60 years old; 1 the age wasunknown. 165 are stated to have died from diarrhoea.

It is thus very evident that the cholera is now rapidly de-clining in London, the deaths by it having fallen from 2050 inthe first week, to 754 in the last week, of September.The present epidemic eruption began later than the eruption

of 1849, and it has latterly been more fatal; but the aggregatemortality will yet probably be less than it was in 1849 ; for thedeaths by cholera in that year down to September 29th were13,098, while the deaths in the present epidemic down to Sep-tember 30th have been 9707.Our attention has been directed to some errors in the Re-

gistrar-General’s Returns of last week and a few weeks back.With respect to the first, we may observe that it was, as ourcorrespondent remarks, a "clerical error," which was soondiscovered by the printer, and corrected accordingly. The

proof was right, (we have reason for knowing,) and so was oneof the copies we ourselves received. It was so evident, too,that scarcely any mistake could arise, as by reference (if neces-sary) to the tabular portion the truth would be at once dis-covered. Relative to the other mistake, the reference of ourcorrespondent has not been sufficiently definite to lead us todiscover it on a cursory examination. In justice to the officialdepartment concerned, it should be remembered how muchmore work is thrown upon it during such an epidemic as thepresent, and that no additional hands are brought into opera-tion. We think it surprising everything is as accurately andas punctually carried on, as it is well known to be; still, wequite agree with our correspondent that merely clerical errorsare often " very erratic in effect," and should be noticedaccordingly, to avoid further trouble.

......

We have received Dr. F. W. Iiichardson’s pamphlet, inwhich the opinions are expressed, that " the Iteport on theTreatment of Cholera [of the College of Physicians] is themost mean and meagre that was ever issued from any RoyalCollege or scientific body;" that "the Asiatic cholera is ascurable, even in, cases of collapse, as any other disease ;" andthat "the plan of treatment I have adopted, and found moresuccessful than that of Dr. Ayre’s, will prove equally service-able in the hands of others." This plan is to administer anemetic; to repeat it every ten minutes, if necessary; to givecalomel in ten, fifteen, and twenty grains, every ten, twentythirty, or sixty minutes, and a piece of ice or a teaspoonful ofvery cold water every five minutes.

Medical News.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.-The following mem-bers of the College having undergone the necessary exa-minations, were admitted Licentiates in midwifery, at themeeting of the Board on the 3rd inst :-

BENNETT, EDWIN, Dorchester, diploma of membership datedFebruary 27th, 1852.

JONES, JOHN, Dnffryn, Merionethshire, August 5th, 1851.MAY, EDWARD HOOPER, Tottenham, April 21st, 1854.STEDDY, EDwARD AUSTEN, Chatham, April 3rd, 1854.THORP, HENRY JOHN, Maldon, Essex, June 23rd, 1854.VISE, AMBROSE BLITHE, Holbeach, Lincolnshire, April 21st,

1854.

APOTHECARIES’ HALL.-Names of gentlemen who passedtheir examination in the science and practice of Medicine, andreceived certificates to practise, on-

Thursday, September 28th, 1854.MILLER, THOMAS CORNE, Bedworth.O’CONNELL, PETER, Waterford, Ireland.PATL, JAMES THOMAS, Southsea, Hants.TREW, THOMAS NEWLAND, West Indies.

INAUGURATION DINNER OF THE LONDON HOSPITJ.T.MEDICAL COLLEGE.-On Monday last about 200 gentlemendined together at the London Tavern, to inaugurate this new

medical college. The company consisted chiefly of the medicalofficers of the institution, the teachers of the school, formerand present pupils, governors, and well-wishers of the LondonHospital, and a few visitors, amongst whom we noticed thePresidents of the College of Physicians and of the College ofSurgeons, and the Master of the Apothecaries’ Company. Mr.

I Luke, senior surgeon to the hospital, was in the chair, and

* The Rational and Successful Treatment of Asiatic and English Choleraand Epidemic Diarrhœa, &c, &c. London and Woolwich. 1854. pp. 18.

303

from his allusions to the new college, as well as from the re-marks of Mr. Smith, chairman of the house-committee, welearn that the building till lately used as the medical school ofthe hospital had been found, both by long use and the greaterimportance of the establishment, inadequate for its purposes;and that the committee had generously come forward and un-dertaken to build a school which was to prove worthy of themodern requirements of such an institution. On the south-western extremity of the ground, upon which stands theLondon Hospital, a building was therefore erected, at a verylarge expenditure, which is remarkable both for the architec-tural taste displayed, and the admirable internal arrange-ments, calculated to make it one of the most convenient,salubrious, and handsome schools in this metropolis. Mr.Luke expressed his warm acknowledgments to the housecommittee and governors for their liberality, and especiallysingled out Mr. Smith as having zealously promoted the erec-tion of the new college. The health of the army and navy,as may well be imagined, was, under the present circumstances,enthusiastically received ; and Mr. Guthrie, as the veteranarmy surgeon, acknowledged the compliment in a short,forcible, and suitable address. Both the President of theCollege of Physicians and the Master of the Apothecaries’Company returned thanks for respect paid to their corpora-tions. Professor Quekett acknowledged the health of the for-mer pupils of the hospital; and after a few other toasts thecompany separated with the heartfelt and loudly-expressedwish that the London Hospital Medical College might be veryprosperous.APPOINTMENT.-Mr. Henry Goorle, M.B. and L.M.

Cantab., has been appointed physician to the DerbyshireGeneral Infirmary.SURGEONS IN THE BLACK SEA FLEET. - It has been

stated in the House that the ships of the Black Sea fleet werenot short of medical officers. Compare that statement withthe following facts :-" All the line-of-battle ships, with twoexceptions, are short of one assistant-surgeon each. Two fifty-gun frigates, the Leccnder and Arethusa, are also short of oneassistant-surgeon each. During the fearful raging of thecholera, it was well known that there was but one medicalofficer doing duty on board a three-decker, with 950 or 1000

men, a sick-list of nearly 200, and upwards of forty deaths.Some ships were left completely at the mercy of the dreadfulepidemic, as their surgeons were required for the service ofmore infected vessels. The disease is still going on in thefleet. Only two days ago, a steamer having no doctor made asignal for medical assistance. Before it was given to her,three men had gone to their last account. Out of 100 trans-ports now at sea with the fleet, there are only seven or eightships with medical men, the others depending for assistance onthe over-worked doctors of the men-of-war. Is it, then, to bewondered at that, with such an inadequate medical staff, so

many of our best sailors have met with miserable deaths ? andit is notorious in the fleet that the cholera nearly always at- itacked the best men. One line-of-battle ship alone lost morethan 120 men, and the panic was such, that the crew went aft,and begged that they might leave the ship, and it was accord-ingly deserted. Many more cases might be quoted, if necessary,but the above will be enough to show the niggardly supply ofmedical assistance in the naval service. We are now on theeve of a great engagement,-in fact, on our way to attackSebastopol by both land and sea, and in case of many casualtiesoccurring, which in all. human probability must happen,Heaven help the wounded and the dying.-From a Corre-spondent.BOARDS OF G-UARDIANS AND THE CHOLERA.-The parish

of Lambeth contains a population of 140,000 inhabitants, andcholera has been rife amongst them, notwithstanding which, thesanitary measures adopted by the Board of Guardians are of themost inefficient character. Not only have they refused toadopt the suggestion of the General Board of Health with re-spect to house to house visitation, but they have been mostremiss in carrying out the usual cleansing and precautionarymeasures. Some idea of the condition of this parish may begathered from the following facts :-Up to a very recent date,2 lbs. only of chloride of lime had been used over the wholeparish by their inspectors of nuisances for disinfectant pur-poses ; but little lime-whiting has been done-scarcely any bythe inspectors of nuisances, although urgently required in manylocalities. The inspectors of nuisances have had but one maneach under their directions for the whole parish during thewhole of the pestilence. For nearly six weeks there has beenno dust-contractors, and the consequence of this is that theheaps of dust and other refuse matters have not been, in many

cases, removed for from six weeks to two months. Lastly, thecondition of the streets with respect to scavengering is dis-graceful. Now, all this neglect cannot proceed from ignorance,but the determination to avoid expense, and this at the sacri-fice of many valuable lives and at the risk of incurring public-indignation. A few inquests in this parish, held in accordance.with the instructions of Sir Benjamin Hall, would go far tobring the parish authorities to a sense of their responsibilities.and duties.RESIGNATION OF AN HOSPITAL SURGON.-Mr. Archi-

bald Dalrymple, of All-Saints’-green, Norwich, has resignedhis post of surgeon to the Norwich and Norfolk Hospital, solelyon the ground of ill health, as he feels himself quite incom-petent to the proper discharge of his duties.

SUSPENSION OF A LONDON PAROCHIAL SURGEON .-TheBoard of Guardians of the Holborn Union held a special meet-ing last week, at the Union Workhouse, Gray’s Inn-lane, to in-vestigate a charge of neglect against Mr. Edward White, ofLamb’s Conduit-street, one of the parochial district medicalofficers, for not attending upon a cholera patient, named MaryMacarthy. Mr. White was in attendance, and, after offeringan explanation, the Board considered the charge proved, andpassed a resolution,-‘ That Mr. White be suspended from hisoffice for one month from this day." Mr. Cuff, surgeon, ofGreat James-street, Bedford-row, has been appointed to per-form the duties of the district. The evidence taken upon theinquiry has been forwarded to the Poor-Law Board, agreeablyto the general order applicable in such cases.ALLEGED " MYSTERIOUS " CASE AT NEW BRIGHTON.-

An inquiry, which was headed in the morning London.journals " Mysterious Case," has just terminated at NewBrighton. The investigation, which took several days’hearing, was held in the sessions-house of that town before thelocal magistrates. The inquiry was relative to the death ofMrs. Emily Watts, wife of Mr. William Watts, surgeon, ofNottingham, who was charged with having made false returnsto the registrar as to the cause of death of his wife, which oc-curred September 4th. Mrs. Watts, it will be recollected,took an injection of tobacco-water on that morning, which pro-duced death in the afternoon; and on the Wednesday, herhusband, who is a surgeon, made a return to the registrar thatshe had died from constipation of the bowels and effusion intothe abdomen. On the Saturday following, an inquest was heldupon the body, before Mr. Churton, coroner, when the juryreturned a verdict of "Died from an overdose of tobacco."Informations were subsequently laid against Mr. Watts, at theinstigation of the brother of the deceased, Mr. Barkworth, ofHull, for having made a false return to the registrar; and thecase was partially heard on Wednesday and Thursday. Evi-dence at great length was then heard, but nothing transpiredto directly implicate Mr. Watts in having administered the.tobacco-water as an injection to his wife, or even that he hadbeen cognizant of the fact until the Wednesday evening afterthe death, when he was informed by their servant, EstherWinn. The magistrates decided that there was not sufficientevidence in support of the information to justify them insending the case to trial.

Obituary.DEATH OF DR. ROUPELL, F.R.S.-It is with deep regret

that we have to announce the death of Dr. Roupell, by cholera,on the 29th ult., after a few hour’s illness. The sudden loss ofthis amiable and accomplished physician has cast a gloom overa large circle, by whom the remembrance of his name will longbe cherished. It were needless, in this short notice, to reealto mind his contributions to medical science, which evince in-dustry, learning, and observation. Long will his loss be (le-plored by all connected with St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. Toevery one he was kind, affable, and generous; the feeling,humane physician, the perfect gentleman. Although not ofrobust constitution, Dr. Roupell could endure a considerableamount of mental and bodily labour. His great activity, hissimple and temperate habits, and his constant cheerfulness ofdisposition, gave promise of a lengthened honourable caraer;an ornament to his profession, a solace to his family, the chalmand comfort of his friends. Amongst the latter, the writer ofthese few lines feels a soothing gratification (amounting almostto pride) in the remembrance of the close attachment andbrotherly affection which had existed between the deceasedand himself during more than a quarter of a century, wellnigha life-long testimony to his many virtues. In the death of


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