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to say, science-has progressed since, and now that he is Iawakened he believes that things are still in the same state."This concluded the debate. The Academy then proceeded

to vote on the report, which was rejected, or, at least, sentback to the Vaccine Committee ; but thanks were voted to theauthor. This decision seems to have met with general appro- ibation. The Academy of Medicine, whilst giving praise toM. Depaul’s merit, and whilst admitting the importance ofthe question and the necessity of submitting it to a thorough iiinvestigation, has not committed itself to the adoption of a Ireport which, in the present unsettled state of the question,contains premature conclusions, and might have drawn onserious consequences.The taste for public lectures is gradually growing und ex- ‘

tending itself amongst the French public, and, thanks to the Lliberal spirit of M. Duruy, the present Minister of Public Instruction, has been able to meet with satisfaction, not only ill Paris, ! I,but in a great number of the provincial towns. Lectures are

given here almost every evening, at the Sorbonne or elsewhere,and are invariably attended with success. The Faculty of Medi-cine could not remain behindhand, and a series of lectures to Ibe given by the younger professors has been organized, andwill be delivered successively on every Monday evening.These lectures, alternately medical and surgical, and exclu-sively on subjects of medical literature, are intended not onlyas a useful distraction for the students, but as 9j means of in-

culcating amongst them a desire for erudition and the studyof the history and philosophy of medicine. It may not bewithout interest to mention the subjects of these lectures andgive the names of the lecturers : M. Verneuil, on the LearnedSurgeons, and Antoine Louis in particular; M. Lasegue, TheSchool of Halle (Stahl, Frederick Hoffmann); M. Broca, onCelse ; M. Chauffard, on Laennec ; M. Trelat, on Félix Wurt-zius (sixteenth century) ; M. Tarrot, on Maximilian Stoll;M. Le Fort, on Riolan ; M. Lorain, on Jenner ; M. Follin, onCxuy de Chauliac ; M. Gubler, on Sylvius and latro-Chemistry;M. Tarnier, on Levret; M. Axenfeld, on Jean de Wier andthe Sorcerers ; and lastly M. Beclard, on Harvey. The firstof these lectures, that by M. Verneuil, was delivered on Mon-day evening last to a crowded audience, and with brilliantsuccess. I will return to this subject in my ne-t communi-cation. ’

Paris, March 27th, 1865. _______

Parliamentary IntelligenceHOUSE OF COMMONS.

MARCH 29.

CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS BILL.

Sir F. KELLY moved the second reading of this Bill. Hesaid it was a measure which had been long and urgently re- Iquired for the protection of the public, and it was desired byall the members of the profession of chemists and druggists.It was well -known to the House that as the law now stoodthere was absolutely no protection whatever for the publicin general against the carrying on of the business of chemistand druggist, and consequently of the making up of medicalprescriptions by persons altogether ignorant and incompetent.It had long been felt that the law ought to provide some pro-tection against the dangers to which the public were exposedin this respect.

Sir G. GREY had had communications with various medicalbodies on the subject of this Bill; but he could not get themto agree on what course to take. He thought that the Bill,and another on the paper, should be read a second time, andreferred to a Select Committee.Lord ELCHO felt bound to support the Bill in preference to

the one which followed it, although he was strongly of opinionthat it should be taken up by the Government, and not by aprivate member. He thought, however, the best course topursue was to refer them to a Select Committee. as recom-mended by the right hon. gentleman the Secretary of Statefor the Home Department.Mr. BEECROFT also suggested the same course.After a few words in reply, the Bill was read - second time

and referred to a Select Committee.

CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS (No. 2) BILL-Sir J. SHELLEY moved the second reading of this Bill. which

was read a second time, and also sent to a Committee.

Medical News.! APOTHECARIES’ HALL.- The following gentlemenpassed their examination in the Science and Practice of Medi-cine and received certificates to practise on the 23rd ult. :-

Griffith, Griffith, Edeyrn, Pwllheli, Xorth Wales.i Griffiths, Thomas, Merthyr Tydfil.

Orton, George Hunt, Narborough Hall, Leicestershire.Worthington, James Vince, Ulverstone, Lancashire.

The following gentlemen also on the same day passed theirfirst examination :-Burn, William Barnett, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital.Ellis William Henry, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital.Quick, John, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital.

THE PATRIOTIC FUND.—The Royal Commissioners)f the Patriotic Fund have appointed Dr. Armstrong, Deputynspector-General, Royal Navy, to be a member of the execu-dve and finance committee of the fund.

GRATIFYING TESTIMONIAL TO A LECTURER.—Onbhe 17th ult., at the close of the last anatomical lecture forthe winter session of 1864-65, the students of the WestminsterHospital presented to Christopher Heath, Esq., F.R.C.S.,Lecturer on Anatomy, and Assistant-Surgeon to the Hospital,a very elegant silver epergne and stand, in token of their highappreciation of the zealous interest and untiring energy withwhich he has ever directed that portion of their studies whichhas been under his superintendence.

CAMBRIDGE : FACILITIES FOR THE STUDY OF CHE-MISTRY.—The Vice-Chancellor invited the members of theSenate of the University of Cambridge to a meeting in theArts School on Thursday (23rd March), for the discussion ofthe report of the Syndicate recommending that adequate faci-lities be provided for the study of chemistry. The reportstates that a laboratory for students is requisite; that theprofessor of chemistry should be provided with suitable fit-

tings of a simple character; and that the laboratory should bewarmed with hot-water apparatus. In the anatomical depart-ment the chief desideratum is a students’ dissecting-room, andthe old Botanical Museum is named for the purpose. Mr. Salvinhas prepared plans for adapting the anatomical schools to theuses of the departments of human anatomy and chemistry.The report concludes with recommending that the tender ofMessrs. Gray, builders, to do the work for £925, be accepted.No opposition being offered to the report, it will most un-doubtedly be carried into effect.A PHARMACOPŒIA FOR INDIA.-The Secretary of

State for India in Council has determined upon the publicationof a Pharmacopoeia, specially for India, with the view mainlyof developing and utilizing the many medicinal products ofour eastern empire. The preparation of the work has beenentrusted to Dr. E. J. Waring, of the Madras medical service,subject to the control of a committee, of which Sir RanaldMartin is president. The other members named are, Sir W.0. Shaughnessy (now Brooke), Dr. R. Wright, Dr. T. Thom-son, Dr. A. Gibson, Dr. Forbes Watson, and Mr. Daniel

Hanbury.SYSTEM OF MEDICAL RELIEF IN THE HOLBORN

UNION.—The committee appointed to consider the recom-mendations and suggestions made by Mr. Farnall, the Poor-law Inspector, have presented a report, which states " thatthe poor would not get better medicines and drugs if theguardians supplied them ; that the medicines and drugs areprecisely the same as those given by the medical officers totheir private patients, and are of the best quality. The guard-ians should supply cod-liver oil to the poor on the recom-

mendation of the medical officers. The salary of each of thedistrict medical officers should be raised from £ 100 to £135

per annum. One paid superintendent nurse should be ap-pointed by way of experiment ; the committee being doubtful

whether one would be sufficient." The report was adopted,with the exception that the salary of the district medical

officers was raised to C125 instead of £135.

. GuY’s HosPITAL.-The treasurer of this hospital; ! held a conzersazione on the evening of the 28th ult., at whicha a large number of persons eminent in the literary and scientificworld were present. Amongst the distinguished visitors werethe President of the hospital, Sir Lawrence Peel, the Earl of

i Harrowby, Lord and Lady Sandon, Lord Kirkaldie, SirWilliam Page Wood, the Treasurers of St. Bartholomew’s and

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St. Thomas’s Hospitals, Archdeacon Hale, and many of thegovernors and medical officers of the hospital. Several of the

large rooms in the new wing were thrown open and filled withnumerous and well-selected objects of interest. The mag-nesium light was shown at intervals at different parts of theroom ; and a photograph of the assembly was taken by itsassistance in the course of the evening. A large collectionof microscopes and scientific instruments were exhibited byMessrs. Smith and Beck, Casella, Highley, How, Browning,Marratt and Short, Novra, Baker, Horne and Thornthwaite,Powell and Lealand. Some magnificent jewellery, and thewell-known original piping bullfinch, now 200 years old, weresent by Mr. Emanuel, and some splendid electroplate byElkington. One room was filled with the celebrated anatomicalmodels made for the hospital by Mr. Towne. A large numberof most brilliant electrical experiments were shown by Mr.Atkinson, and also by Mr. Browning. The photomicrographsof Dr. Maddox were exhibited on a screen by Mr. How, andthe process of photomicrography by the magnesium light waspractically illustrated.. On the walls were some splendidhorns, antlers, and stuffed animals, exhibited by Mr. Lead-beater and Mr. Sowerby, and many pictures and some beautifulphotographs by Mr. Francis Bedford. About 1500 personswere present, including many ladies, and most of the students.Altogether the 80irée was a most interesting one.A VILLAGE HOSPITAL, for six patients, is now being

erected at Capel, in Surrey. The building is in the style ofthe domestic Gothic of the early part of the fourteenth century;the walls are of yellow sandstone, with red-brick quoins andbathstone window-frames and dressings. It is, perhaps, thefirst building constructed purposely for a village hospital; asmost if not all others have been adaptations of previouslyexisting houses. The cost of the whole, including land, fittings,furniture, and every necessary, is borne solely by one lady inmemory of her deceased husband. It will be maintained partly.by subscriptions and partly by payments made by patients.The committee will be very glad to receive copies of reports,rules, &c., of similar institutions, which may be forwarded toMr. J. L. Jardine, of Capel.

MUNIFICENT BEQUESTS.—The late Miss Julia Olivia’Brodie, of No. 7, York-place, Bedford-squaire, has, amongst nu-merous legacies, bequeathed to medical charities as follows :Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital, £200 ; Infirmary forConsumption, at 26, Margaret-street, Cavendish-square, ;S200 :Samaritan Hospital for Women and Children, Edwards-street,Portman-square, £200 ; Cancer Hospital, Fulham-road, .E100 ;Orthopaedic Hospital, Oxford-street, £50; St. George’s Hos-pital, £100 ; Middlesex Hospital, £100 ; University CollegeHospital, £100 ; Guy’s Hospital, £100 ; and the Hospital forConsumption, Brompton, .:Bl00.THE MEDICAL CONGRESS OF BORDEAUX.-The pro-

spectus of this congress has been published. It will commenceon the 2nd of October next, and will last six days. Medicalgentlemen who intend to take part in the same should intimatetheir wish to the secretary, Dr. Dubreuilk, Rue Victor No. 1,at Bordeaux. Resident members pay 10 francs; to non-residentsis made no charge. The committee are anxious to give free-dom and animation to the congress, and leave to members thechoice of subjects. Six questions, however, will be speciallybrought forward; they are as follow : -1. On Rheumatism.2. On Expectation in Disease. 3. On the Malignant Forms ofFuruncle and Anthrax. 4. On Sudden Death in consequenceof Wounds, or in the Puerperal State. 5. On the Abolition ofTurnstiles (for Foundlings), in a moral and social point ofview. 6. On the Internal and External Parasites of Man, andthe best means of destroying them. Intended communicationsshould be sent (in extenso or in abstract) to the secretary beforeSeptember 2nd. The admission will be free to the public;none, however, but the members who have organized the con-gress, and those who have signified their intention to attend,can take part in the discussions.INTERNAL USE OF NITRATE OF SILVER IN CROUP.-

M. Schoevers (Presse Méd. Belge) gave to a child of four years,dying of croup, doses of half-a-tablespoonful of the followingsolution :-Nitrate of silver, 15 grains; distilled water, twoounces. Common salt in solution was taken in doses of a fewtablespoonfuls both before and after the injection of the nitrateof silver. Half an hour after the first dose of the latter asecond was taken ; and, after that, a teaspoonful every twentyminutes. The first effects were alarming, but the child even-tually recovered perfectly, the stools having contained largeshreds of cauterised false membrane.

MEDICAL VACANCIES.

Abingdon Union (5th District)-Medical Officer.Brecknock County and Borough General Intirmary-House-Surgeon.Devon County Lunatic Asylum-assistant Medical Officer.Metropolitan Free Hospital-Assistant-Physician.Sussex County Hospital-Assistant-Physician.

MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS.J. T. BECK, M.R.C.S.E., has been re-elected Medical Officer and Public Vac-

cinator for District No. 6 of the Chesterton Union, Cambridgeshire.W. P. BRODRiBB, L.R.C.P.Ed., has been appointed Secretary to the Court

of Examiners, Apothecaries’ Hall, vice A. M. Randall, M.R.C.S.E.,resigned.

W. T. DALBY, M.D., has been appointed to the Commission of the Peace forthe County of Surrey.

D. DAVIES, M.R.C.S.E., of Gloucester-terrace, Aberdare, has been electedMedical Officer and Public Vaccinator for the Leintwardine District ofthe Ludlow Union, Salop, vice T. S. H. Jackman, M.R.C.S.E., resigned.

DYCE DUcKWORTH, M.D., has been elected Assistant-Physician to the RoyalGeneral Dispensary, Bartholomew-close.

R. W. HAINES, M.R.C.S.E., has been elected Junior House-Surgeon to theManchester Royal Infirmary and Dispensary, vice G. E. Walker, M.R.C.S.Eng., elected Senior House-Surgeon.

W. C. HOOD, M.D., has been appointed to the Commission of the Peace forthe County of Surrey.

W. L. HUGHES, M.R.C.S.E., has been elected Medical Officer and Public Vac-cinator for the Llanrhaiadr-yn-Mochnant District of the LlanfyllinUnion, Montgomeryshire, vice G. Howell, M.R.C.S.E., deceased.

W. B. IRVING, L.R.C.S.Ed., has been elected Medical Officer and Public Yac-cinator for the Claypole District of the Newark Union, N ottinghamshire.

P. F.JACKMAN, L.R.C.P.Ed., has been elected second Medical Officer,andPublic Vaccinator for the Waterford Dispensary District of the Water-ford Union.

G. JACKSON, M.R.C.S.E., has been elected House-Surgeon to the West LondonHospital, Hammersmith, vice T. M. Rouse, M.R.C.S.E., resigned.

J. A. JOHNSTON, L.K.Q.C.P.I., has been elected Medical Officer and PublicVaccinator for the Ballyhaise Dispensary District of the Cavan Union,vice H. G. Humphrys, L.K.Q.C.P.I., resigned.

E. KNOWLES, M.R.C.S.E., has been re-elected Medical Officer and PublicVaccinator for District No. 5 of the Chesterton Union.

T. LYLE, L.R.C.P.L., has been appointed Medical Superintendent of St.Thomas’s Hospital, Exeter, vice E..James, M.R.C.S.E., resigned.

P. MARTIN, M.R.C.S.E., has been appointed Medical Officer and Public. Vac-cinator for District No. 1 of the Abingdon Union, Berks, vice J. F.Martin, L.F.P. & S. Glas., deceased.

P. O’KEEFE, M.D., has been elected Medical Officer and Public Vaccinlltorfor the Cannoway Dispensary District of the Macroom Union, Co. Corg,vice N. W. White, M.R.C.S.E., deceased.

B. PufCBAED, M.D., has been re-elected Medical Officer and Public Vacci-nator for District No. 4 of the Chesterton Union.

T. REYNOLDS, M.R.C.S.E., has ’been elected Medical Officer and Public Vac-cinator for District No. 6 of the Lexden and Winetree Union, Essex, viceH. Hart, L.R.C.P,Ed., resigned.

H. R. S)iTH, M.R.C.S.E., has been elected Medical Officer and Public Vac-, cinator for the Newark District and the Workhouse of the Newark

Union, vice J. P. Lucey, :&1.R.C,S.E., resigned.R. W. SMITH, L.R.C.P.L., has been appointed Medical Officer for the King’s

Norton Union, Worcestershire, vice A. Hoskins, M.R.C.S.E., resigned.W. SMITH, M.R.C.S.E., has been elected Junior House-Surgeon to the West

London Hospital, vice Jackson, promoted.W. SNOW, M.R.C.S.E., has been appointed House-Surgeon to the Kent

County Ophthalmic Hospital, Maidstone, vice T. E. D. Hayes, M.R.C.S.Eng., resigned.

W. H. SYMES, M.B., has been appointed Physician to the Carlow County,Fever Hospital, vice S. Connor, M.B., deceased.

G. E. WALKER, M.R.C.S.E., has been elected Senior House-Surgeon to theManchester Royal Infirmary and Dispensary, vice T. S. Smith, M.B.,resigned.

J. D. WATSON, L.R.C.S.Ed., has been elected Medical Officer for the Parishof Bothkennar, Stirlingshire, vice J. Girdwood, L.R.C.S.Ed., deceased.

T. B. WRIGHT, M.D., has been appointed Medical Officer for the MistertonDistrict of the Gainsborough Union, Lincolnshire, vice H. E. Richards,M.D., resigned. _____

MILITARY AND NAVAL MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS.

R. J. ATKINSON, F.R.C.S.E., Surg. Bengal Service, has been promoted toSurg.-Major.

W. ATKINSON, M.R.C.S.E., Staff Assist.-Surg. Army, has been appointed todo duty with the 51st Foot at Peshawur.

C. E. W. BExsLET, M.D., has been appointed to officiate as Civil Assist.-Surg. of Backergunge, Bengal.

T. G. BOLSTER, M.D., Staff Assist -Surg. Army, has been appointed to do dutywith the Detachment of the 80th Foot at Darjeeling, and to relieveAssist.-Surg. White.

M. COGAN, L.K.Q.C.P.I., Staff Assist.-Surg. Army, has been appointed to do.duty with the 90th Foot at Peshawur.

A. G. CREWE, Assist.-Surg., has been appointed to the medical charge of the2nd Bengal Native Infantry, vice Mackertich.

H. C. COTCLIFFE, F.R.C.S.E., Assist.-Surgeon Bengal Service, Civil Asaist.-Surg. of Deyrah, has been appointed to the medical charge of Mussoorie,vice Assist.-Surg. D. B. Smith.

L. F. Dixo.!f, M.D., has been appointed to the medical charge of Chandah,Central Provinces, India.

J. FLEMING, M.D., Staff Assist.-Surg. Army, has been appointed to do dutywith the Royal Artillery at Futteghur.

T. HASTINGS, F.R.C.S.E., Surg.-Major, Garrison Surgeon of Agra, Bengal,has been appointed to the temporary medical charge of the Lieutenant-Governor’s Camp.

S. T. HEARD, M.D., Assist.-Surg. Bengal Service, has been appointed to themedical charge of the Nuggur Division in Mysore.

H. A. KIDD, M.D., has been appointed to the medical charge of Mundlah,Central Provinces, India.

H. H. MACLEAN, Assist.-Surgeon Royal Artillery, has been posted to the BBattery 16th Brigade at Sangor.

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J. V. T. MALCOLM, M.D., Staff Assist.-Surg. Army, has been appointed to doduty with the 19th Hussars at Meerut.

R.MiLES, L.R.C.P.Ed., has been appointed Hon. Assist.-Surg. to the 12thGlamorganshire Rifle Volunteer Corps, vice James, deceased.

J.’F. MITCHELL, Assist.-Surg. R.N., has been appointed to the " Formidable"(additional).

A:LA.- MULLIN, L.K.Q.C.P.I., Assist.-Surg. R.N. Oct. 8th, 1861, has been ap-pointed to the " Spider."

J. R. MURRAY, M.D., Assist.-Surg. 107th Foot, Bengal, in medical charge ofthe B Battery 2nd Brigade Royal Artillery at Jhansi, has been placed incharge of the civil medical duties of that Station.

E. NICHOLSON, M.R.C.S.E., Assist.-Surg. Royal Artillery, has been posted tothe F Battery 20th Brigade at Cannanore, Madras.

C. F. OLDHAM, L.R.C.P.Ed., has been appointed to the charge of the Civil IStation of Madhopoor, Bengal.

R. J. OwEN, M.D., Assist.-Surg. Royal Artillery, has been posted to No. 1Battery 17th Brigade at St. Thomas’s Mount, Madras.

K. J. PABB, L.R.C.S.Ed., Assist.-Surg. Royal Artillery, has been posted tothe F Battery 18th Brigade at Kirkee, Bombay.

C. T. PASM, Surg. Bengal Service, has been appointed to the medical chargeof the 19th Bengal Native Infantry, vice Surg.-Major W. Keates, pro-moted.

G. K. H. PATERSON, L.R.C.P.Ed., has been appointed Assist.-Surg. to the1st Administrative Batt. of Perthshire Rifle Volunteers.

T. T. PYLE, Assist.-Surg. in the 3rd Durham Rifle Volunteer Corps, has beenappointed Surgeon, vice Taylor, resigned.

H. L. BANMLL, M.R.C.S.E., Assist.-Surgeon, Supernumerary in the 20thBrigade Royal Artillery, Bengal, has been transferred to the F Battery23rd Brigade at St. Thomas’s Mount, pending further orders.

H. STSwesT, M.D., Surg. in the 18th Foot, has been appointed Surg. to the21st Foot, vice Surg.-Major W. H. Mackintosh, M.D., appointed to theStaff.

W: L. WHEE has been appointed Assist.-Surg. to the Liverpool Rifle Volun-teer Brigade.

G. A. WATSON, M.R.C.S.E., Assist.-Surg. in the 5th Bengal Native Infantry,has been appointed to assume medical charge of the Office of the DeputyInspector-Gen. of Hospitals, temporarily.

J. WATT, M.D., Assist.-Surg. in the Royal Artillery, has been posted to theA Battery 18th Brigade at Hydrabad, Bombay.

M. L. WHITE, L.R.C.S.L, Assist.-Surgeon in the Royal Artillery, has beenposted to No. 3 Battery 17th Brigade at Kamptee, Madras.

Births, Marriages, and Deaths.BIRTHS.

On the 10th ult., at Brookborough, Co. Fermanagh, the wife of S. M’Gowan,M.D., of a son.

On: the 14th ult., at Aberdeen, the wife of Dr. Webster, of Carbost, Skye, of adaughter.

On the 17th ult., at Clifton Cottage, Forgue, Aberdeenshire, the wife of G.Bartlet, JI.1.R.C.S.E., of a son.

On the 20th ult., at Pontypridd, Glamorganshire, the wife of R. C. Hunter,L.R.C.P.Ed., of a daughter.

’

On the 20th ult., at Thorverton, Devon, the wife of J. H. Tuke, M.R.C.S.E.,of a daughter.

On the 21st ult., at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the wife of E. Charlton, M.D., ofa son.

On the 21st ult., at Reigate, Surrey, the wife of J. Walters, M.B., of a son.On the 21st ult., at London-road, Gloucester, the wife of A. P. Carter,

M.R.C.S.E., of a son.On the 21st ult., at Kiltormer, Ballinasloe, the wife of W. G. May, L.R.C.S.

Edin., of a daughter.On the 22nd ult., at Cahir Barracks, Tipperary, the wife of T. Fraser, M.D.,

Surg. lOth Hussars, of a daughter.On the 22nd ult., at Newcastle, Co. Limerick, the wife of G. Peirce, M.D., of

a daughter. ____

MARRIAGES.On the 21st ult., at Greenwich, J. Lee Sands, M.D., Surg. R.N., to Julia

Madox, daughter of Sir R. Madox Bromley, K.C.B.On the 21st ult., James Dixon, Esq., of Tavistock-square, London, to Blanche

Elizabeth, second daughter of J. S. Garthon, M.R.C.S.E., of Norwich.

DEATHS.At Llanrhaiadr, Oswestry, Montgome;:yshire, G. Howell, M.R.C.S.E.Oh the 17th ult., at Exmouth, W. W. James, F.R.C.S.E., of Exeter, Surgeon

to the Devon and Exeter Hospital, &e.On the 18th ult., suddenly, Wm. Prater, M.R.C.S.E., of Fair-place, Okehamp-

ton, Devon, aged 38.On the 22nd ult., at Royal-terrace, Kingstown, Dublin, Dr. F. J. Jencken,

aged 78.On the 23rd ult., in London, J. Foster, Surgeon, late of Heywood, Lancashire,

aged 62.On the 24th ult., at Mountjoy-place, Dublin, G. A. Kennedy, M.D., aged 72.On the 24th ult., at the residence of her grandfather, George Yeates Hunter,

Esq., of Margate, Marian Vere Webb, eldest child and only daughter ofStaff Surgeon-Major Vere Webb, aged 10 years and 4 months.

On the 25th ult., at Strood, near Rochester, Robert Brown, M.D., Staff Surg.in the Army, and Medical Superintendent of Quarantine at StandgateCreek, aged 84 years and 8 months. His full-pay service (Army andQuarantine) extended over sixty-two years. _

BOOKS ETC. RECEIVED.

Autobiography of Sir Benjamin Brodie.Dr. Cockle on Intra-Thoracic Cancer.Dr. Oke on various Diseases of the Human Body.Dr. Bonnar on Superfcetation.Prof. AHated’s Lectures on Practical Geology.

To Correspondents.M.R.C.S. Eng., L.M., and L.S.A. Lond. has committed no breaeh of profef-

sional etiquette, and should not have been subjected to any annoyance inthe matter. A qualified practitioner is fully entitled, whether acting as anassistant or otherwise, to place his qualifications on his card. In the caseof an assistant it would appear to most persons that the principal wouldbe benefited by his patients having possession of the knowledge that inhis absence he was represented by a fully qualified practitioner.

Hector.—" What cannot be cured must be endured" is an old proverb, quitaapplicable to the drawback in question.

Studens.—In the ensuing summer, which will commence in May next.

FEES OFFERED TO MEDICAL MEN FOR GOVERNMENT LIFE ASSURANCE.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—I observe in a late number of your journal that you recommend tothe notice of the profession the Government Annuities Act, and that youconsider the fees proposed to be paid to the medical referees sufficientlyliberal. I am sorry I cannot concur in this opinion, and many of your readersprobably will agree with me in thinking 2s. 6d. not a fair consideration forthe work to be done. It will not pay for the mere loss of time, as I find thatthe examination of a proposer and the filling up of the report occupies nearlyhalf an hour in average cases. Then I submit that a physical examinationof the chest, and in suspicious cases the testing of the urine, together with acareful and exact judgment on the eligibility of the proposed life, are dutiesthat would be poorly paid even by the higher fee offered by the Postmaster-General.

I must also venture to dispute the correctness of your opinion that thefees ought to bear any proportion to the sums assured; for it cannot affectthe nature or responsibility of the medical examination whether the insurancebe for £20 or £100, unless it can be shown that the examiner may use lessdiligence and acumen in one case than in the other. Neither do I see theforce of your argument that the large number of policies will compensate forthe small amount of fees, as, according to my estimate of the value of a prac-titioner’s time, the smaller the number of policies the better it will be for themedical referees.We must all approve with you the objects of the Government scheme,

which offers such undoubted benefits to the working class; but we are not onthat account to sacrifice time and professional skill to its furtherance, whenwe already give so much gratuitous aid. However, in this case the object ofour char,ty is not the working class so much as the Government, and that de-partment of the Government which pays its servants worse than any other.As one of the Chancellor’s objects is to secure a large profit from this source,it cannot be right for the medical referee to give his services for a less remu-neration than he would obtain from other and perhaps competing offices. Itis very improbable that the actuaries and accountants employed will acceptlower salaries than they would receive in the ordinary course of business, andit is clear that the medical referee stands in precisely similar relations to theGovernment, to whom his services are at least as essential.

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,Guildford, March 21st, 1865. HENRY S. TAYLOR, M.R.C.S.

To the Editor Q/’TKB LANCET.SIR,—When a disputant attempts to defend his cause by reckless assertion,

he effectually invalidates the weight of his other statements, and relieves hisopponent from the necessity of a seriatim reply.The gentleman who last week replied to my former letter declares that the

fees paid by Government to its medical referees " are infinitely more liberalthan those paid under the Vaccination Act." Now, if the adverb of bound-less import were deleted, the statement would still involve a most seriousexaggeration. But even though it were a correct statement, it would by nomeans prove that the fees now offered for medical examinations are just, norwould it lessen the guilt of those members of the profession who originallyaccepted, and thereby established, an inadequate rate of payment for publicvaccination.Medical men should learn by past errors, and take good care now to main-

tain the dignity and interests of the profession by refusing terms which Iunhesitatingly affirm are far lower, considering the relative duties involved,than those paid for public vaccination. The profession has a right to demandthat, whilst the fees paid by the Government shall bear a fair relation to thesums assured, the scale shall not, as at present, involve the risk of a seriousreduction on the fees paid by the Assurance Offices. If Government can getpersons insuring for £100 examined for 5s., the Offices which have to com-pete for the same class of persons will not be long ere they lower their feesto the same amount. The loss thus involved to the profession will be mostserious, besides giving rise to an amount of heartburning and dispute it isimpossible to estimate. Why should not a graduated scale of payment beadopted, whereby the larger sums assured might more fairly compensate forthe smaller, whilst the risk of a reduction of fees by the Offices would beavoided? The following scale would, I think, be at once clear and satisfac.tory :-From .E20 to £30, three shillings ; £40, four shillings; and so on, in-creasing one shilling for every .S10, so that the fee for £100 would be teu’shillings. Yours respectfully,Warrington, March 28th, 1865. B. MARTIN, M.D.

Offended (Hertford) has omitted to furnish us with particulars of the case indispute. When these are placed before us, we shall be in a position todecide the question at issue.

An Invalid.—There is no such person on the Register.Castigator is quite correct in what he says ; but his communication is

libellous.FLA,TUL3iNCE IN PRIRGNANCY.

To the Editor 0/TBB LANCET.SIR,—Can any of your readers inform me of an effectual remedy for flatu-

lency, with eructations, particularly in pregnancy. I have tried the ordinaryremedies, calcined magnesia, bismuth, chlorodyne, &e., with little or nobenefit. Yours truly,

3farch, 1865. ’

DELTA..