94

will take the direction of the right attack, and Staff-surgeorDr. Paynter that of the left. They will see that prompt aicis afforded to the wounded when required, and get themcarried off by the Croats and Ambulance to the hospitals irrear as soon as possible. All the medical officers of the Divi.sions will be on duty; and as many as can be spared from tinCavalry Division and Balaklava, will repair to the front.

3. Superintending officers will make arrangements for form-ing temporary field-hospitals in the ravines, as near to thescene of action as safety will admit. Here those cases thatrequire immediate operation will be attended to, and then senteither to their own regimental hospitals, or to the GeneralHospital in the rear of the Third Division. Tents should betaken down and pitched; and care must be taken that thereis an ample supply of water, stimulants, and surgical appli-ances. Officers must be detached for this duty, and ordersgiven for the attendance of the sick and wounded in camp.

(Signed) J. HALL.Inspector-General of Hospitals.

J. HALL.Inspector-General of Hospitals.

THE ADMIRALTY AND NAVAL ASSISTANTSURGEONS.

THE following important circular, dated Admiralty, July16th, 1855, has been issued :-

"POSITION OF ASSISTANT-SURGEONS, R.N.

" My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty direct that theCircular, No. 65, dated July 17th, 1850, be cancelled, and thefollowing regulations be established in lieu thereof :-

" 1. Assistant-surgeons are to rank with mates, accordingto the dates of their respective commissions, and will takerelative rank with lieutenants and assistant-surgeons in thearmy.

" 2. Assistant-surgeons serving in ships commanded bycaptains or commanders, are to mess with ward-room officers;and those serving in vessels commanded by lieutenants or

masters are to mess in the gun-room with the other officers." 3. Cabins are to be assigned to assistant-surgeons when-

ever the service will admit." 4. These regulations are to take effect from the receipt

of this circular order." By command of their Lordships,

" R. OSBORNE."

Medical News.ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—The following gentle

men having undergone the necessary examinations for thtdiploma, were admitted Members of the College at the meetingof the Court of Examiners on the 20th inst. :-

ARTHUR, CHARLES, Kennington.DIXEY, AUGUSTUS EDWARD, Army.DuNN, ROBERT WILLIAM, Norfolk-street, Strand.GRAY, WILLIAM JOHN, Burton-crescent.HUMBLE, WILLIAM EDWARD, London.KELSALL, HENRY, Army.MURIEL, WILLIAM GEORGE, Wickham-market.STEPHENSON, THOMAS APPLEBY, Brighton.TRINMELL, DAVID WILLIAM, H.E.I.C.S.WILTON, FRANCIS, Gloucester.

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

Thursday, July 19th, 1855.ALE;,KANDEP,, VAUGHAN HENRY, Holberton, Hampton,

Middlesex.BRENNAN, GEORGE, Cork.DixiE, WOLSTAN FLEETWOOD, Bosworth.LANG, JOHN, Manchester.MURPHY, WILLIAM, Vancouver’s Island.

SMYRNA HOSPITAL.—A return issued last week fromthe War-Office, on the motion of Mr. Wise, shows that thetotal number of sick soldiers admitted into the hospital atSmyrna from February 14 to March, 31, 1855, amounted to993, and the number of deaths to 127.

THE ROYAL MEDICAL BENEVOLENT COLLEGE,.-Wehave much pleasure in stating, that Her Majesty has givenher assent to the Bill for the incorporation of this College.THE WEST RIDING MEDICAL CHARITABLE SOCIETY.-

The annual meeting of this excellent charity was held in thetheatre of the Medical School at Leeds, on Thursday last.There was a numerous attendance of the members, nearly fiftybeing present. Amongst them we noticed representatives ofthe society from Sheffield, Wakefield, Bradford, Huddersfield,Dewsbury, Wetherby, Otley, and from many other districts,into which the society divides its field of operations. Thereport, which was read by the secretary (Dr. Chadwick),stated that upwards of three hundred pounds were distributedduring the last year to sixteen necessitous families, and thatthese grants were invariably received with becoming thank-fulness. Referring generally to the benefits conferred on theprofession of the West Riding, the report stated that " nobetter evidence of the success of our excellent charity couldbe adduced than the above short reference to the changes,occurring this year to our list of pensioners. In this it maybe seen that every object of the society has not merely beenaimed at, but actually accomplished; the disabled practitionerhas been assisted under his increasing infirmities, the discon-solate widow solaced, and the bereaved orphan educated andprotected until fitted for the actual duties of life, and that notfor one, but, in each of these instances, through a protractedseries of years." Referring to the recent opening of the RoyalMedical Benevolent College in London, at which the PrinceConsort presided, the report, conveying the sympathy of themembers in the success of a kindred institution, thus con-cludes :-" The auspicious event which has recently transpiredin the metropolis, from which the Royal Medical BenevolentCollege dates the commencement of its active operations,should call forth, from every member of the medical profes-sion, his best wishes for its prosperity, and from none morecordially than the supporters of the West Riding MedicalCharitable Society, who have been so long labouring to effectthe more important of those objects which this noble institu-

tion, with ample means at its disposal and embracing a widerfield of operation, is destined undoubtedly to realize." Themeeting then considered the various cases for relief, and liberalgrants were awarded to fifteen applicants. The members thenadjourned to dinner, which was admirably provided by Mr.Wilks, of the White Horse hotel. The meeting was ably pre-sided over by the worthy president of the year, Mr. Garlick.The utmost harmony and good feeling prevailed throughout theday, and one spirit only appeared to influence the memberspresent, viz., that of giving extended usefulness to their valuedinstitution.

MAD DOGS.—A letter appeared in " The Times" a fewdays since, in which the muzzle for dogs at present adoptedby us was most justly condemned. The proposition was thatthe French plan should be used-viz., that a wire muzzleshould be used that would allow the dog to breathe and per-spire freely, and at the same time permit the animal to drink.This would be a great and humane improvement upon ourpresent barbarous method.

APPOINTMENTS.—Sir John Liddell is the new Director-General of the Navy Medical Department, and inaugurates hisappointment we believe by promoting four deputy-inspectors tothe rank of inspectors. Dr. Rae having his long course of ser-vice, as previously noted, further rewarded by the com-

panionship of the Order of the Bath being conferred upon him.Mr. Hilditch, Dr. Lindsay, Dr. Nisbet (who goes to Haslar),and Dr. Bryson, are the new inspectors ; their places beingfilled by the familiar names of Dr. Stewart, of the Eclair,Dr. Leonard, of Haslar, Dr. Rees, of the Naval Hospital atTherapia, Dr. Mansell, of Haulbowline, and Mr. Salmon, ofthe Excellent—all promoted to the rank of deputy-inspectors.OxFOBD, JULY 14TH.—Before Mr. Justice ERLE and a

Common Jury.—COGAN v. JUGGINS.—Mr. Serjeant Thomasand Mr. Jackson appeared for the plaintiff; and Mr. Whateley,Q.C., and Mr. Phipson, for the defendant. The plaintiff inthis action, Mr. Joseph Cogan, was a surgeon, practising in thevillage of Wheatley, and he sued the defendant, Miss Juggins,a lady between sixty and seventy years of age, to recover thesum of X28 9s., for surgical attendance upon the defendant,and lotions, &c., supplied for her use. The defendant had paidthe sum of X15 15s. into Court, and the question was, whetherthe plaintiff was entitled to recover any sum beyond thatamount. It appeared from the plaintiff’s evidence that he wasa member of the College of Surgeons, but not a licentiate of the

95

Apothecaries’ Company, and that he had a short time sincecommenced practice in Wheatley. He attended Mr. Henley,M.P., and the Lord Bishop of Oxford, and in the beginning ofAugust, 1854, he was called in to attend Miss Juggins, whowas at the time bedridden, and suffering from ulcerous sores in.the leg and in other parts of her body. He attended her fromthe 6th of August down to the 2nd of December, when he wasrequested to send in his bill, as his services would no longer berequired. He accordingly sent in his bill, amounting to X28 9s.,for his four months’ attendance, lotions, &c. In nine instances,he charged only 2s. 6d. for his visits, but in forty-two othershe charged the sum of 10s. 6d. for each visit, the allegedground for the increased charge being, that on those occasionshe had been occupied from half an hour to an hour in the un-pleasant task of dressing the wounds himself. He called two owitnesses, who thought the charge, under the circumstances,fair and reasonable. The defence was, that the sum of X15 15s.,which had been paid into Court, was a sufficient remunerationto the plaintiff for his services. The parish doctor and anothermedical practitioner of the same village said they would not havecharged more than 28. 6d. and 5s. for such attendances, in-cluding lotions, &c., but an Oxford surgeon said his usualcharge was one guinea for three visits. It was also shownthat the income of the defendant did not exceed £120 perannum, though out of that sum she was able to keep acompanion, and one, if not two servants. Mr. Justice Erleleft it to the jury to say whether the sum which had been paidinto Court was sufficient; and, if not, what further sum theplaintiff was entitled to recover. The jury, after spendingsome time in consideration, found a verdict for the paintifffor .618, being £2 5s. beyond the amount paid into Court.’BERNARD’S THEORIES on the sugar-forming power of

the liver have been recently repeated to a very great extent, andine very possible form of experiment, in Paris, by a Commis-sion appointed by the Academy, who have concluded theirlabours, and have furnished a most gratifying report, fully cor-r-oborating all Bernard’s original statements. The only sub-ject of doubt or controversy seems to be-whether the liverforms sugar or merely separates it when already formed, as thekidney separates urea ; the latter, as is generally known, beingformed not in the kidney, but in the capillaries, from the wasteof tissues. Section of the pneumogastric stops the sugar-form-ing power of the liver, while puncture of the medulla oblongata,between the origin of this nerve and the acoustic, by causingirritation of the pneumogastric, on the other hand, increasesthe amount of sugar, and produces artificial diabetes. The

only outlet by which sugar escapes in the natural state from thesystem seems to be the gastric juice, as in excessive vomiting orby the kidneys. Animals fed on flesh do not afford the same

amount of sugar as those fed on starch or sugar ; but the Com-mission do not think this circumstance invalidates the very ori-ginal discovery of Bernard, no more than that in hysteria thekidneys form very little urea, and give off pale, aqueous urine.The entire report is of the most satisfactory and practical de-scription, and must modify the treatment of diabetes andother diseases.

LAW AND MEDICINE.—The following extract from thecharge of Mr. Justice Erle, at the Staffordshire SummerAssizes, places in a clear point of view the law in its relationto unqualified practitioners of medicine. What a striking con-trast does it exhibit to the position of ’’ unqualified lawyers!"How long is this disgraceful system to last ?-‘ There are ’oneor two charges of manslaughter, one of which is against aperson who is stated to have prescribed medicine withouthaving received a suitable normal education. In this case theprisoner is alleged to have caused two deaths, and each deathappears to have been occasioned by the use of colchicum. Ishould state - what, however, you probably know-that aperson may be guilty of the crime of manslaughter in severalways: amongst others, if he uses that which is dangerous tolife without sufficient skill, either by surgical operation or theapplication of medicines which are powerful and destructiveof life. In one of these instances the prisoner appears to havegiven colchicum, with spirits and water, and the deceasedseems to have drunk a great deal of spirits both before andafter taking the medicine. The mode of death was inflam-matory action along the intestinal canal, and though this maybe clearly traceable to the colchicum, there is some doubt inthe case. The second case, however, is less free from doubt;and whatever doubt may attend the first case in consequenceof the taking of the spirits, no such doubt can arise in thesecond, because in that no spirits seem to have been taken.A prescription was given; a child was sent for the medicine;

the medicine was taken, and symptoms such as I presumefollow upon imbibing irritant poison ensued, and death soonafter followed. Medical evidence, as well as chemical evidence,will be brought before you that death arose from an over-doseof colchicum. All I would say to you, as a preliminary tri-bunal is, and what has often occurred to me, that in cases.ofthis description, when rumours of death having been occasionedby unskilful practice of medicine get abroad, great excitementis produced and strong prejudices are aroused; and with

respect to such cases it is the duty of every tribunal to proceedto the inquiry of them-but perhaps I ought to apologise fornaming it to you-with perfect evenness and calmness, andwithout the slightest risk of emotion. A man, I should state,may practise medicine, although not properly educated, as itis called, without incurring the heavier penalties of the law;and patients have a perfect right to resort to such a man ifthey choose, whether he is regularly educated or not. Greatcare should be taken before putting a man on his trial for theserious charge of manslaughter, especially in a case where heobviously intended to do well. No one imagines that theprisoner intended to act otherwise than for the benefit of thosewho applied to him for his advice; and it would seem thateither the colchicum was stronger in its extract than he knewof, or that he was ignorant of its nature. A charge, however,of this kind may be preferred independently of the good inten-tions of the man, in consequence of his ignorance; but thereought to be very gross ignorance indeed before a man is put tothe bar of justice to answer a charge of felony. Having saidthis much, it will be your duty to inquire into the applicationof the colchicum, and you will act according to the result ofthat investigation."HEALTH OF LONDON DURING- THE WEEK ENDING

Saturday, July 21.-During three weeks of this month thepopulation of London have enjoyed improved health. This isshown by a reduction of the mortality to the extent of about150 deaths a week below the mortality of the previous month.Last week the deaths registered were 915. In the correspond-ing weeks of the ten years 1845-54 the average number was1027, which, if corrected for increase of population, becomes1130. In comparing the present return with the estimatedresult it is necessary to observe that in the week which ended21st July, 1849 (embraced in the average), cholera was fatal in678 cases, and raised the deaths from all causes to 1741 ; other-wise a conclusion will be drawn rather more favourable for lastweek than the mortality that has prevailed in ordinary periodswould justify. The zymotic class of diseases produced lastweek 229 deaths, being a fourth part of the total mortality.This amount is as high as it usually is at this period. Diarrhoea.,of which there were 67 fatal cases, is making progress with therising temperature. The numbers from this complaint in thelast six weeks have been 17, 25, 33, 28, 45, and 67. Of the67 cases 51 occurred amongst children under the age of oneyear ; 8 amongst those one year old and under 2 years. Fourcases of cholera were recorded last week, 3 of which occurredto infants ; the remaining case was that of a woman, aged 56years, who died in Walworth from " choleraic diarrhoea," after13 hours’ illness. Scarlatina carried off 34 children.

Births, Marriages, and Deaths.BIRTHS.—On the 23rd of March, at Willunga, Adelaide,

South Australia, the wife of Dr. Mackintosh, of a son.On the 20th ult., at the Esplanade, Bombay, the wife of

Robert Haines, Esq., M.B., of a son.On the 17th inst., at Blackman-street, Southwark, the wife

of R. G. Brown, Esq., surgeon, of a son.On the 19th inst., at Savile-row, the wife of John Marshall,

Esq., F.R.C.S.E., of a daughter.On the 22nd inst., at the Cottage, Hornchurch, Essex, the

wife of H. J. Mathews, Esq., surgeon, of a daughter.

DEATHS.-On the 23rd ult., at his residence, Finsbury-square, after three days’ illness, Henry Powell, M.D., in his49th year.On the 2nd inst., aged 28, in the camp before Sebastopol, of

fever after cholera, John Horsley White, Acting Assistant-Surgeon to the 3rd Regt. of Foot (the Buffs), third son of thelate Rev. Wm. White, of Wolverhampton.On the 15th inst., at Halstead, Mary Elizabeth, the beloved

wife of Duncan Sinclair, Esq.. C.M. Glasg.