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MR. WISEMAN presents his compiiments to the Editor ofTHE LANCET, and requests the favour of the publication of thefollowing correspondence. It indicates that the importantoffice of the Leeds and Yorkshire Assurance Company isgiving way to the pressure from without, which, in justice tothe office, ought to be known to the profession.

Ossett, Sept. 24, 1849.DEAR SIR,—I have received an assurance paper to be filled

up, as the medical attendant of Mr. T. H. I-, sent by youas agent to the Leeds and Yorkshire Assurance Office. I

beg to say, that I invariably refuse to furnish the informationrequired, unless the application is accompanied by a fee, or apromise to pay the same, by the office—viz., half-a-guinea, ifthe amount to be assured is under £500, and one guinea ifabove that sum.

- am happy to observe, that the company acknowledge that"all communications of this nature are intended equally forthe benefit of the party to be assured and that of the company."With this I entirely concur; some companies deny that theyare benefited thereby,and refuse to pay on that account, statingthat the patient ought to pay.There are now a number of respectable offices who (reco-

gnising the just claims of the profession) pay for the informa-tion required, and if my request is not complied with, I shallfeel it my duty to recommend Mr. I- to endeavour to effectan assurance with one of them.

T am- dear Sir. vonrs t.rnlv-W. W. WISEMAN.To W. Scholefield, Esn.

Dewsbury, Sept. 25, 1849.DEAR SIR,—I have received your letter of yesterday, and

beg to say that I shall be happy to pay the fee you require inMr. T. H. I ’s case, which will be ten shillings and six-pence, the sum assured being under £500.The fee may be paid in any manner you may direct. You

will please, therefore, to send off the papers as soon as you ’,conveniently can. iconveniently I am, dear Sir, yours respectfully, . ’i

W. SCHOLEFIELD..W. W. Wiseman, Esq., Surgeon, Ossett.

SIR,—I am sure you will have pleasure in inserting theaccompanying extract from a circular letter addressed by themanager to the agents of an important northern office-TheScottish Eauitable.-I am. Sir. vour obliged servant.

H. LUCAS.

Scottish Equitable Office, Edinburgh, 30th July, 1849." have the .pleasure to inform you, that in consequence

of the objections made by many of the medical referees ofparties proposing life assurances to furnish reports unless afee be paid them by the Society, the directors have resolvedto alter the rule on which they have hitherto acted, and tocomply with the desire of the medical profession. You willtherefore, in future, send the medical referee, along with thequeries put to him, the same fee in each case as is allowed tothe medical adviser of the Societv.

ROBERT CHRISTIE, Manager."North of England Insurance Office, Sheffield, Augnst, 1849.

SIR,—I beg respectfully to acquaint you that the directorsof this office have resolved to allow a fee to the medical pro-fession for their opinion, when referred to in any manner inconnexion with proposals for life assurance made to the Com-pany, after the rate of one guinea where the sum to be assuredamounts to £500, and half-a-guinea, when under that amount.From a brief prospectus of the office, you will observe thatthe rates of premium are particularly favourable to younglives.-I am. Sir. yours most respectfully.

THOS. BELL, Actuary.

CAUSES OF THE SOUNDS OF THE HEART.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—As the value of your journal has ever been highlyestimated by the profession for the opportunity which it givesthem freely to discuss all scientific subjects, perhaps you willallow me to make a few remarks on Mr. Brakyu’s communi-cation to Dr. Billing- on the sounds of the heart, which waspublished in THE LANCET of Nov. 24th.As Dr. Billing is the channel of communication of this paper

ofMr. Brakyn’s, I am bound to consider that Dr. Billing, in allrespects, not only entertains an opinion which he published,with regard to the cause of the sounds, but that he admits

the accuracy of the physical principles on which Mr. Brakynhas made his experiments, and the conclusions he has drawnfrom them. Had Dr. Billing not come forward on this one-

casion, Mr. Brakyn’s experiments might have passed un-

noticed ; but I shall endeavour to show that they are so unphilo-sophical, and his conclusions so erroneous, that until they werepublished, like many others, I had been impressed with thenotion that Dr. Billing must have relinquished his theory ofthe heart’s sounds, though certainly he had not publicly re-nounced his untenable hypothesis.Without going into any details regarding the experiments

of Mr. Brakyn, or entering upon the physical principles onwhich Dr. Billing founded his hypothesis, I have only to statethat these principles on which the hypothesis was foundedand the experiments were made, instead of the results being"triumphant," are decidedly 6rroneous;- and the fallaciousinductions to which Mr. Brakyn’s experiments lead, aroseentirely from confounding an acoustic with a hydraulic phe-nomenon. It is difficult to comprehend how any one who isacquainted with the first elements of physical science shouldhave, for a series of years, allowed himself to employ a chainof reasoning on the influence of the currents of ivater, andendeavoured to establish that by experiments upon air.The hydraulic and acoustic laws are so totally dissimilar,

that the sounds produced by the vibrations of the valves inair is a fact which could never be disputed, and which everytyro in physical science must be perfectly familiar with. Thesame vibration of a membrane performed in a fluid like theblood cannot, however, produce any audible sounds, more thanthe vibratory movements of the fins and tail of a fish whenswimming in its native element.Edinburgh University, Dec. 1849. SCRUTATOR

Medícal News.

APOTHECARIES’ HALL.—Names of gentlemen who passedtheir examination in the science and practice of medicineand received certificates to practise, on

Thursday, Dec. 27th, 1849.CLARKE, GEORGE, Bath.JONES, WILLIAM VAUGHAN, Festiniog, North Wales.PITT, EDWARD GOLLEDGE, London.WHITBY, CHARLES WILLIAM.

ANATOMICAL SCHOOLS IN LONDON.—It appears that subjecthave been extremely scarce this session-so much so, thaanatomical teachers have met for the purpose of effecting somchange in the present method of distributing them. We understand that steps are being taken regarding this matter, an(that a memorial is to be sent to Sir George Grey to obtaiisome modification in the present arrangements.

THE MORTALITY FROM CHOLERA AMONGST DIFFERENTCLASSES.—Dr. Guy has favoured the registrar-general with thefollowing account of the professions or occupations of 431:men of the age of 15 and upwards who were destroyed bcholera. It will be seen that the disease in London was nolonly fatal to the poor, but to many artizans, tradesmen, shopkeepers, professional people, and persons of independentmeans. Of the men who died of cholera 135 were returnedsimply as gentlemen or of independent means: 6 were clergymen or ministers of’ religion, 16 medical men, 13 magistrateEor lawyers, 11 architects or engineers, 11 merchants, 11 onicer:in the army and navy, 25 master mariners, 100 clerks or accountants, 11 Custom-house, 7 Excise, officers, 14 builders, 14booksellers, &c., 14 carpenters, undertakers, &c., 13 cheese-mongers, 17 drapers, &c., 11 fishmongers, 12 fruiterers, 20grocers, 13 oilmen, 42 licensed victuallers, 5 wine merchants,8 master shoemakers, 6 master tailors, 6 tobacconists, 19travellers. Of the classes returned as artizans and labourers,52 were bakerq, 32 butchers, 102 weavers, 80 tailors, 151 shoe-makers, 47 bricklayers, 17 masons, 20 plasterers, 70 cabinet-makers, 111 carpenters, 28 coopers, 73 painters and plumbers,33 sawyers, 20 shipwrights, 22 tanners, 18 turners, 16 coach-makers, 35 cabmen, 57 coachmen and cabmen, 15 saddlers, 52carmen and carriers, 37 grooms and ostlers, 6 drovers, 44 en-gineers, 10 railway guards, 13 stokers, 16 letter carriers andpostmen, 99 porters or messengers, 24 policemen, 7 watchmen,62 soldiers, 299 sailors and Greenwich pensioners, 27 water-men, 18 bargemen, 7 ballast heavers, 53 coalporters and coal-heavers, 25 footmen and man servants. 756 labourers arereturned. Dr. Guy has given in the table "a rough approxi-mation to the ratio which the deaths bear to the living" in theseveral occupations. This determination is as difficult as it is

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interesting. The occupations were only returned for the me-tropolis in a very general way by the census commissioners in1841; and in the trades masters were not distinguished frommen. The results which deserve most attention are thosewhich relate to well-defined numerous occupations. " La-bourer," "gentleman," "man servant," are terms very looselyemployed; but the statement that 1 in 67 labourers, 1 in 200gentlemen, and 1 in 1572 man servants, including footmen,died of cholera, expresses something near the risk incurred bythe three classes in the epidemic. The domestic men servantsof London were 39,300 in 1841, and 25 died of cholera; theclergy, doctors, and lawyers did not exceed 12,000, yet 35 per-sons belonging to the learned professions died of cholera in1849.TRADE AND THERAPEUTICS.-A writer in the Gazette Médi-

cale exclaims:-A little steel spring, by means of which a hatmay be flattened down, and take the form of a flat cake, thatis the secret of the now well-known " chapeau mechanique."This invention has been worth £20,000 to the discoverer. In1811, Courtois, a clever chemist, discovers iodine, which sub-stance has, without doubt, rendered great service to humanity.Courtois, however, died in very needy circumstances, and thepharmaciens of Paris have recently got up a subscription todefray an annuity to his widow !THE CHOLERA AT LYONS.—This disease continues to reign

with a certain amount of intensity in the military hospital ofLyons. Contrary to expectation, it has not spread through I,the city, and is confined to the garrison. It is observed withjustice that this circumstance is another of the inexplicable ’,irregularities of cholera. Who would have believed before1832, that Lyons, a damp, uncleanly, unhealthy city, full ofworkmen, the majority of whom are in a wretched state ofwant and filth, would escape the scourge ? And how strange,now that the disease has made its appearance, that it shouldbe confined to that portion of the inhabitants who make but atemporary residence in the city, and who are decidedly in farbetter condition in every respect than the bulk of the popu-lation ! At the Hotel Dieu, the hospital for civilians, therehave been but five cases and four deaths. In town, not onecase. In the military hospital, from the 10th of November tothe 15th of December, there have been 91 admissions: 42deaths, and 7 recoveries; 18 more are convalescent, and 24under treatment,THE CHOLERA.—North America: The cholera has broken out

on the banks of the Mississippi. Two steamers from New Or-have arrived at St. Louis with emigrants. Thirty cases ofcholera had occurred on board these vessels, among whichseventeen died before reaching port.—Russia: The last invasionof the cholera in Russia lasted three whole years; during which,according to tables published by the government, 1,686,849individuals have suffered from the disease, and 668,012 sunkunder it. At St. Petersburgh, the population of which is450,000, there have been 22,022 cases, and 12,228 deaths;at Moscow, with 350,000 inhabitants, the cases were 16,248,and the deaths 8025.—France: Strasburg. There has not beenone case of cholera since the 18th of October, but the house ofrefuge, which had entirely escaped while the disease reignedin town, has been suddenly invaded, and one sixth of the 116inmates have already perished. The losses the city has sus-tained are thus recorded:-From the 10th to the 18th ofOctober, 252 cases and 157 deaths; of these, 147 cases and110 deaths occurred in the hospital.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.WE thank hir. W. S. Barker, of Worthing, for his polite note.Dr. Topham is informed that the alteration he has suggested shall be made.THE highly-interesting case of Retention of Urine, treated by Mr. Moore in

the Middlesex Hospital, shall be published next week.THE report of the case of Gangrene from a Gun-shot Wound, treated in St.

George’s Hospital by Mr. Prescott Hewett, shall be inserted in the en-suing LANCET.

Quæsitor.—We cannot recommend any mode of applying caustic in thetreatment of such a complaint. Besides being a highly dangerous agentwhen so applied, -t would not cure the disease.

THE remarks under the signature " Mens sana in corpore sano" might, ifpublished, raise an inference of a very unjust kind, in relation to the phy-sician in question. The noticed remark is certainly obnoxious to severecriticism.

THE interesting case forwarded by Dr. Drew (Royal Infrmary, Manchester)shall be published.

Glasguensis.—Shall be inserted.THE request of Dr. Hassall shall not be forgotten.

To the Edi!or of THE LANCET.SIR,—In answer to your correspondent, who asks, in THE LANCET of

Dec. 22nd, where he can obtain a composition for stopping teeth, whichturns black when exposed to the saliva, &c., I can inform him that it is tobe had only of empirical dentists, by whom an exorbitant demand is made.The composition is an amalgam formed by the combination of silver filingsand quicksilver, which any one can make for himself in a few minutes, bysimply kneading the two ingredients in the palm of the hand, until the con.sistence of putty is obtained, in which state it is ready to be placed in thetooth, where it takes the form of the cavity, and becomes rapidly hard andblack.

I know it to be a good succedaneum, but as a man may pay too much forgold, so he may for silver.As no one has answered your correspondent in this week’s LANCET, I

take it for granted the amalgam is not generally known, I have thereforetaken the liberty of sending you these few lines, for your correspondent’sinformation. I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

Chelsea, Jan. 1, 1850- D. A. LESLIE, Surgeon.WE are much obliged to Medicus for his note. We do not believe that

there is a member of the profession who is sufriciently stupid to lodge asingle sixpence in such a "bank." We shall notice the circular in afature number. We have received the following note on the same sub.ject:—

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—I have received a circular purporting to come from "The Medical

Protection Society," in which is a long history of banks, and inviting myprofessional brethren to come at once and be eased of their money, andbe allowed a small per centage and plenty of risk. I have seen a greatmany notes of the " Bank of Elegance," which are well executed, but toan experienced eye soon detected. If this is an honest scheme, why isthere not some name attached to it) also that of a printer.As these are the days of protection, I know, Sir, you will do your best to

enlighten me and my brother professionals, and give us good advice. Itwould be a bitter pill to me to lose even £10.

I have the honour to be, yours most obediently,Jan. 2, 1850. LEECH.

WE have to apologize to Mr. Langley, Mr. Pettinger, and several other cor-respondents, for some errors that appeared in our 11 Notices" last week.In truth, the type went to press without revision. Besides having topublish the index on that occasion, we had to get over the difficultycaused by Tuesday (Christmas day) having been a day of rest at theprinting- office. But we had to conquer the still greater difficulties causedby the festivities of the Christmas season. Mr. Langley will find the cor.rections properly made at the bottom of this column. We have not yetbeen able to discover the cause of the irregularity of which Mr. Pettingercomplained.

Mr. W. J. Cox, of Bride-End, Swansea, will receive a private note respect-ing his Report of the Treatment of Cases of Cholera, in which appeareda tabular view of the results of treatment in eighty-six cases. We may,however, at once inform him, that, unfortunately, the paper has beenmislaid. It was entirely owing to this circumstance that the title of thepaper was omitted in our published catalogue.

WE publish the following note as an act of justice towards Jff. Harris:—To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—It is not improbable that I may at some time apply for the situationof surgeon to a gaol. But before doing so, I would like to know if it formspart of the surgeon’s duty to conduct prisoners to the scaffold, as in theTimes newspaper I read that Mrs. Manning was conducted by Mr. Harris,the surgeon. If he did so in his official capacity, I wou’.d hesitate to applyfor a similar office, and request information from you.

I am aware that army surgeons have charge of the branding deserters,and to see that no mistaken mercy induces over- early cessation of flogging,but am unwilling to believe that gaol surgeons are obliged to assist the publicexecutioner.-Respectfully yours, A SURGEON.

*.* The report that Mr. Harris so acted must be a scandalous calumny.Mr. Harris ought to have the fullest opportunity of setting himself rightwith his professional brethren relative to a transaction in which his chaoracter has been so foully maligned. Of course there is no member ofthe profession who believes there was any just ground for making so vilea charge. No surgeon can be ambitious of being a hangman’s assistant.

WE will endeavour to comply with the request of Dr. Macormach, but hemust perceive that we are really constrained in our movements by thepress of matter which awaits publication.

THE request of Dr. R. Barnes shall receive attention. We much regret theaccident to which he has referred.

ERRATUM.—In THE LANCET of the 15th ult., in the paper of Mr. Langley,p. 633, last line but one from the bottom of the first column, for rabies"read 11 tabes.11

Communications have been received from-Dr. Hassall ; Qusssitor; Mr.W. B. Norcott, (Newnham;) Mr. H. W. Hubbard, (Bury St. Edmunds;)Dr. M. J. M’Cormack, (Portadown;) Dr. Edward T. Roe; Glasguensis;A District Medical Officer; Mr. Charles C. Moore; Dr. Hetbert Davies ;An Assistant; Medicus, (Leeds;) Mr. Walter C. Dendy; Mr. C. Rice,(Framlington, Morpeth;) Mr. J. C. Becket, (Montreal;) An OccasionalReader, from Necessity; Mr. Waddington, (Margate; with an extractfrom a speech which afforded us much pleasure;) Mr. James Teague,

! (Blakeney;) Mr. N. Coats, (Abergavenny;) Mr. J. Cox, (Bridgend ;) Dr.Joseph Drew, (Manchester;) Mr. H. Hodson Rugg; Dr. Davies; Menssana in corpore sano ; Dr. Topham, (Wolverhampton;) Mr. Orridge,(Bucklersbury ;) Mr. Prescott Hewett; Medicus; Mr. Sharland, (withstamps;) Mr. Walter Barker, (Worthing;) A Surgeon ; Macte VirtuteDr. Andrew Smith, Deputy Iuspcctor-Geueral.