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183 Medical News. APOTHECARIES’ HALL.-Names of gentlemen who passed their examination in the science and practice of Medicine, and received certificates to practise, on- Thursday, August 17th, 1854. NORTON, ALGERNON CHARLES WODEHOUSE, Monmouth-road, Bayswater. WILLIAMS, EVAN PIERCE, Denbigh. UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.-The following is a list of the candidates who lately passed the first examination for the degree of M.B. :-First division: Edwyn Andrew, University Colleger James Gibbs Blake, B.A., University College; Uriah Perrin Brodribb, B. A., Guy’s Hospital; Thomas Buzzard, King’s College; Edward Clapton, St. Thomas’s Hospital; Geo. Giles Corbould, Bristol, and King’s College; Samuel Giles, B.A., Guy’s Hospital; John Bake Husband, Middlesex Hospital; William Tiffin Iliff, Guy’s Hospital; Alexander Robert Kilroy, London Hospital; Henry Maudsley, University College; Wm. Newman, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital; John Lumsden Propert, King’s College ; Walter Barnett Ramsbotham, University Col- lege ; John Charles Thorowgood, University College; William Turner, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital; Thomas Stick Veale, University College; James Fitzjames West, St. Thomas’s Hos- pital.-Second division: Francis Thomas Bond, B.A., Queen’s College, Birmingham ; Michael Castaneda, University College; Francis Winter Clarke, Middlesex Hospital; Charles James Devonshire, Francis Joseph Dowling, Christopher Heath, Jas. Rice, William Sims, King’s College; William Skinner, St. Thomas’s Hospital; Robert Masters Theobald, M.A. Glag., University College. i CTIATlIA7ff-STP.r,ET SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, MANCHESTER. - The examinations of the students for the session 1853 and 1854, were concluded on Thursday, the 17th instant, when the following scholarships, prizes, and certificates of merit, were awarded to the undermentioned students:-Scholarships: For second year’s students, Mr. Thomas Platt, Longsight; for first year’s students, Mr. Herbert S. Renshaw, Ashton-upon-Mersey. Prizes-Medicine and Patholoqy: Lecturer, Dr. Thomas H. Watts-Junior class, first prize, Mr. William Sellers, Bury; second prize, Mr. Edward H. Pitman, Eastbourne, Sussex, Mr. Thomas B. Bott, Bury, merit equal.-surgery: Lecturer, Mr. Southam-Junior class, first prize, Mr. E. H. Pitman, East- bourne ; second prize, Mr. W. Sellers, Bury.-Anatomy aazd Physiology: Lecturers, Mr. Dmnville, Messrs. J. S. and J. O. Fletcher, and Mr. Murphy-Prize for second year’s students, Mr. Thomas Platt, Longsight; prize for first year’s students, 1st, Mr. H. S. Renshaw, Ashton-upon-Mersey; 2nd, lir. Wm. Clare, Ashton-under-Lyne.-Chemistry: Lecturer, Mr. Stone - Prize, Mr. Henry Reddrop, Warminster.-Practical Che- mistry: Lecturer, Mr. Stone-Prize, Mr. E. H. Pitman, East- bourne, Sussex. -Obstetric Medicine: Lecturers, Dr. White- head, Dr. Merei-Senior prize, Mr. Thomas B. Bott, Bury; junior prize, Mr. Christopher Sharp, Farnworth.-Materia Medica: Lecturer, Mr. Somers-Prize, Mr. Walter J. Winn, Manchester, Mr. H. S. Renshaw, Ashton-upon-Mersey, merit equal. -Forensic llTeclicine.: Lecturer, Dr. Aikenhead-Prize, Mr. E. H. Pitman, Eastbourne, Sussex.-Botcco?t: Lecturer, Dr. Joseph Stone-Prize, Mr. H. S. Renshaw, Ashton-upon- Mersey. Practical Botany, prize, Mr. Alfred Gallemore, Man- chester.-Certificates of Merit-General P-roficiv:rry: Mr. Wm. Sellers, second year’s student; Mr. Walter H. Winn, first year’s student.-Medicine: Mr. Thomas Platt, second year’s student. -Surgery: Mr. J. Lord, third year’s student; Mr. A. Gallemore, second year’s student.-anatomy and Physiology: Mr. William Sellers, second year’s student; Mr. E. Monks, Mr. Christopher Sharp, Mr. Charles Murray, Mr. Walter H. Winn, first year’s students,-Practical Anatomy: Mr. AV. Sellers, Mr. T. Platt, Mr. E. H. Pitman, Mr. J. Lord, Mr. T. B. Bott, Mr. H. Quarmby, senior class; Mr. William Clare, Mr. H. S. Renshaw, lvlr. Charles Murray, Mr. W. H. Winn, Mr. E. ?lTonks, junior class.-Chemistry: Mr. W. Clare.- Botany: Mr. C. Sharp.-Forensic 31cclici?ze: Mr. W. Sellers. -Materia Medica: Mr. C. Sharp.-Obstetric Medicine: Mr. Thomas Platt, senior class; Mr. H. S. Renshaw, junior class. GLASGOW. - CHOLERA: ERRONEOUS STATISTICS. —A letter from the Secretary to the Board of Health in London, calling attention to a statement by Dr. Gavin as to the great mortality which had occurred in the Cholera Hospital of Glas- gow, was laid before a late meeting here. In his Report on the subject of cholera, Dr. Gavin stated that "In one central, large, well-arranged hospital in Glasgow, the mortality was greatly in excess of that occurring amongst the sick who were treated at their ow-n houses. Out of 130 patients, he said, ’’ admitted into this hospital, no fewer than 115 died." Mr. Hall explained, in the absence of Mr. Adamson, that he had replied to the above statement, to the effect, that ’’ hospital treatment in this parish is never resorted to in cholera cases when the patients can be treated in their own houses." At the same time, the figures quoted from Dr. Gavin’s Report did not appear to be correct, for out of 502 patients treated in the cholera hospital, only 162 had died, being at the rate of 32 per cent. On the motion of Mr. Ross, the Board unanimously approved of the course taken by Mr. Hall in order to correct the erroneous statistics of Dr. Gavin. The District Surgeons.-Some conversation arose upon the rea,ding of a letter from the law agents of Dr. Lindsay, one of the district surgeons, who had declined to accept a gratuity of .625 in consideration of extra services performed during cholera, including Dr. Lindsay’s bill of charges against the Board for attendance on 296 patients, amounting to X141 53. 6d. The result was a motion made by the chairman, and agreed to, that Dr. Lindsay’s services should be dispensed with; and it was remitted to the committee to take such steps as were necessary to appoint a successor. Any further proceedings to be reftrred to the Inspector’s Committee. " The estimation in which the profession is Ldd hy certain parties in Glasgow, may be judged of by the above proceeding. Tv,-enty-five pounds for attendance upon 296 cholera patients THE CHOLERA IN PARIS. - On Aug. 16th, the deaths from cholera in the hospitals amounted to 26, and 49 new cases were admitted on the same day. On the 15th, there were 24 deaths and 47 new cases; and on the 14th, 31 deaths and 69 new cases. Since the beginning of the epidemic in Paris, (November, 1853,) 4884 cases were treated in the dif- ferent hospitals: of these, 1862 recovered, 2508 died, and 514 were under treatment on Aug. 16th. The mortality in town thus had a tendency to reach 100 a day, but the authorities do not publish lists, so that the returns cannot be entirely relied upon. Out of the 86 departments of which France is composed. 84 have been visited by the scourge; Marseilles was, however, the worst treated, as the deaths have amounted to several hundred a day. The inhabitants fled for the most part, so that this number is really enormous. The disease is, however, on the decline in Marseilles, for on the 5th of August there were no more than 29 deaths per diem. The mortality of the present moment may be reckoned for the whole of France at 800 deaths a day, and it is computed that from November, 1853, about 20,000 persons have died from cholera over the whole territory of the kingdom. The character of this epi- demic is strikingly analogous to that of former visitations, (1832 and 1849;) and the localities then spared have this time likewise been free. Amongst these Versailles and Lyons may be mentioned, where not one case of cholera has taken place, either in 1832, 1849, or 1854. In Paris the disease is declining, and hospital physicians are noticing that the remedies used seem to have more efficacy than heretofore. QUACKERY AT THE ANTIPODES.—The love of quackery , -the pleasure of being cheated-appears to be the same all the world over. In Australia there is the same pig-headed advocacy of unqualified medical practitioners as in the centre of the British empire. In the Adelaide Ob3ci-i-e;, we notice a correspondence on the subject of an inquest at Thebarton, South Australia, from which it appears that a Mr. Scammell, who by his own admission " had no diploma under any medical or surgical college," figures in the colony as a practitioner, whom certain inhabitants of certain places there not only employ, but whom they are generous enough to puff by testi- monial advertisements in the newspapers. One correspondent writes, that he considers the said Mr. Scammell "in every pro- fessional sense but a mere form a qualiiied medical man." We are glad, however, to perceive that the colonial press enter- tains more sound and healthy opinions. The Adelaide Observer remarks:-"We had it in evidence that the gentleman who had mistaken the nature of Handking’s disease, and treated him wrongly, was not a licensed or qualified practitioner, and that he had only received a partial and fragmentary profes- sional education. We are glad to hear that Mr. Scammell is an estimable man, and of gentlemanly manners; bub however agreeable this may make him in society, it is, in critical cases of disease, not the right evidence of professional skill. It is necessary for the protection of the public, and but just to those who have incurred the toil and expense of a scientific and pro- fessional education, that the practice of medicine by unqualified persons should be discouraged. Doubtless a rigid enforcemeut of this rule may occasionally be productive of individual hard-
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Page 1: Medical News

183

Medical News.APOTHECARIES’ HALL.-Names of gentlemen who passed

their examination in the science and practice of Medicine, andreceived certificates to practise, on-

Thursday, August 17th, 1854.NORTON, ALGERNON CHARLES WODEHOUSE, Monmouth-road,

Bayswater.WILLIAMS, EVAN PIERCE, Denbigh.UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.-The following is a list of the

candidates who lately passed the first examination for the

degree of M.B. :-First division: Edwyn Andrew, UniversityColleger James Gibbs Blake, B.A., University College; UriahPerrin Brodribb, B. A., Guy’s Hospital; Thomas Buzzard,King’s College; Edward Clapton, St. Thomas’s Hospital; Geo.Giles Corbould, Bristol, and King’s College; Samuel Giles, B.A.,Guy’s Hospital; John Bake Husband, Middlesex Hospital;William Tiffin Iliff, Guy’s Hospital; Alexander Robert Kilroy,London Hospital; Henry Maudsley, University College; Wm.Newman, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital; John Lumsden Propert,King’s College ; Walter Barnett Ramsbotham, University Col-lege ; John Charles Thorowgood, University College; WilliamTurner, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital; Thomas Stick Veale,University College; James Fitzjames West, St. Thomas’s Hos-pital.-Second division: Francis Thomas Bond, B.A., Queen’sCollege, Birmingham ; Michael Castaneda, University College;Francis Winter Clarke, Middlesex Hospital; Charles JamesDevonshire, Francis Joseph Dowling, Christopher Heath, Jas.Rice, William Sims, King’s College; William Skinner, St.Thomas’s Hospital; Robert Masters Theobald, M.A. Glag.,University College. i

CTIATlIA7ff-STP.r,ET SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, MANCHESTER.- The examinations of the students for the session 1853 and1854, were concluded on Thursday, the 17th instant, when thefollowing scholarships, prizes, and certificates of merit, wereawarded to the undermentioned students:-Scholarships: Forsecond year’s students, Mr. Thomas Platt, Longsight; for firstyear’s students, Mr. Herbert S. Renshaw, Ashton-upon-Mersey.Prizes-Medicine and Patholoqy: Lecturer, Dr. Thomas H.Watts-Junior class, first prize, Mr. William Sellers, Bury;second prize, Mr. Edward H. Pitman, Eastbourne, Sussex, Mr.Thomas B. Bott, Bury, merit equal.-surgery: Lecturer, Mr.Southam-Junior class, first prize, Mr. E. H. Pitman, East-bourne ; second prize, Mr. W. Sellers, Bury.-Anatomy aazdPhysiology: Lecturers, Mr. Dmnville, Messrs. J. S. and J. O.Fletcher, and Mr. Murphy-Prize for second year’s students,Mr. Thomas Platt, Longsight; prize for first year’s students,1st, Mr. H. S. Renshaw, Ashton-upon-Mersey; 2nd, lir. Wm.Clare, Ashton-under-Lyne.-Chemistry: Lecturer, Mr. Stone- Prize, Mr. Henry Reddrop, Warminster.-Practical Che-mistry: Lecturer, Mr. Stone-Prize, Mr. E. H. Pitman, East-bourne, Sussex. -Obstetric Medicine: Lecturers, Dr. White-head, Dr. Merei-Senior prize, Mr. Thomas B. Bott, Bury;junior prize, Mr. Christopher Sharp, Farnworth.-MateriaMedica: Lecturer, Mr. Somers-Prize, Mr. Walter J. Winn,Manchester, Mr. H. S. Renshaw, Ashton-upon-Mersey, meritequal. -Forensic llTeclicine.: Lecturer, Dr. Aikenhead-Prize,Mr. E. H. Pitman, Eastbourne, Sussex.-Botcco?t: Lecturer,Dr. Joseph Stone-Prize, Mr. H. S. Renshaw, Ashton-upon-Mersey. Practical Botany, prize, Mr. Alfred Gallemore, Man-chester.-Certificates of Merit-General P-roficiv:rry: Mr. Wm.Sellers, second year’s student; Mr. Walter H. Winn, firstyear’s student.-Medicine: Mr. Thomas Platt, second year’sstudent. -Surgery: Mr. J. Lord, third year’s student; Mr. A.Gallemore, second year’s student.-anatomy and Physiology:Mr. William Sellers, second year’s student; Mr. E. Monks,Mr. Christopher Sharp, Mr. Charles Murray, Mr. Walter H.Winn, first year’s students,-Practical Anatomy: Mr. AV.Sellers, Mr. T. Platt, Mr. E. H. Pitman, Mr. J. Lord, Mr. T.B. Bott, Mr. H. Quarmby, senior class; Mr. William Clare,Mr. H. S. Renshaw, lvlr. Charles Murray, Mr. W. H. Winn,Mr. E. ?lTonks, junior class.-Chemistry: Mr. W. Clare.-Botany: Mr. C. Sharp.-Forensic 31cclici?ze: Mr. W. Sellers.-Materia Medica: Mr. C. Sharp.-Obstetric Medicine: Mr.Thomas Platt, senior class; Mr. H. S. Renshaw, junior class.GLASGOW. - CHOLERA: ERRONEOUS STATISTICS. —A

letter from the Secretary to the Board of Health in London,calling attention to a statement by Dr. Gavin as to the greatmortality which had occurred in the Cholera Hospital of Glas-gow, was laid before a late meeting here. In his Report on thesubject of cholera, Dr. Gavin stated that "In one central, large,well-arranged hospital in Glasgow, the mortality was greatly in

excess of that occurring amongst the sick who were treated attheir ow-n houses. Out of 130 patients, he said, ’’ admitted intothis hospital, no fewer than 115 died." Mr. Hall explained, inthe absence of Mr. Adamson, that he had replied to the abovestatement, to the effect, that ’’ hospital treatment in this parishis never resorted to in cholera cases when the patients can betreated in their own houses." At the same time, the figuresquoted from Dr. Gavin’s Report did not appear to be correct,for out of 502 patients treated in the cholera hospital, only 162had died, being at the rate of 32 per cent. On the motion ofMr. Ross, the Board unanimously approved of the course takenby Mr. Hall in order to correct the erroneous statistics of Dr.Gavin.The District Surgeons.-Some conversation arose upon the

rea,ding of a letter from the law agents of Dr. Lindsay, one ofthe district surgeons, who had declined to accept a gratuity of.625 in consideration of extra services performed during cholera,including Dr. Lindsay’s bill of charges against the Board for

attendance on 296 patients, amounting to X141 53. 6d. Theresult was a motion made by the chairman, and agreed to, thatDr. Lindsay’s services should be dispensed with; and it wasremitted to the committee to take such steps as were necessaryto appoint a successor. Any further proceedings to be reftrredto the Inspector’s Committee." The estimation in which the profession is Ldd hy certain

parties in Glasgow, may be judged of by the above proceeding.Tv,-enty-five pounds for attendance upon 296 cholera patientsTHE CHOLERA IN PARIS. - On Aug. 16th, the deaths

from cholera in the hospitals amounted to 26, and 49 newcases were admitted on the same day. On the 15th, therewere 24 deaths and 47 new cases; and on the 14th, 31 deathsand 69 new cases. Since the beginning of the epidemic inParis, (November, 1853,) 4884 cases were treated in the dif-ferent hospitals: of these, 1862 recovered, 2508 died, and 514were under treatment on Aug. 16th. The mortality in townthus had a tendency to reach 100 a day, but the authorities donot publish lists, so that the returns cannot be entirely reliedupon. Out of the 86 departments of which France is composed.84 have been visited by the scourge; Marseilles was, however,the worst treated, as the deaths have amounted to severalhundred a day. The inhabitants fled for the most part, sothat this number is really enormous. The disease is, however,on the decline in Marseilles, for on the 5th of August therewere no more than 29 deaths per diem. The mortality of thepresent moment may be reckoned for the whole of France at800 deaths a day, and it is computed that from November,1853, about 20,000 persons have died from cholera over thewhole territory of the kingdom. The character of this epi-demic is strikingly analogous to that of former visitations,(1832 and 1849;) and the localities then spared have this timelikewise been free. Amongst these Versailles and Lyons maybe mentioned, where not one case of cholera has taken place,either in 1832, 1849, or 1854. In Paris the disease is declining,and hospital physicians are noticing that the remedies usedseem to have more efficacy than heretofore.QUACKERY AT THE ANTIPODES.—The love of quackery

, -the pleasure of being cheated-appears to be the same allthe world over. In Australia there is the same pig-headedadvocacy of unqualified medical practitioners as in the centreof the British empire. In the Adelaide Ob3ci-i-e;, we notice acorrespondence on the subject of an inquest at Thebarton,South Australia, from which it appears that a Mr. Scammell,who by his own admission " had no diploma under any medicalor surgical college," figures in the colony as a practitioner,whom certain inhabitants of certain places there not onlyemploy, but whom they are generous enough to puff by testi-monial advertisements in the newspapers. One correspondentwrites, that he considers the said Mr. Scammell "in every pro-fessional sense but a mere form a qualiiied medical man." Weare glad, however, to perceive that the colonial press enter-tains more sound and healthy opinions. The Adelaide Observerremarks:-"We had it in evidence that the gentleman whohad mistaken the nature of Handking’s disease, and treatedhim wrongly, was not a licensed or qualified practitioner, andthat he had only received a partial and fragmentary profes-sional education. We are glad to hear that Mr. Scammell isan estimable man, and of gentlemanly manners; bub howeveragreeable this may make him in society, it is, in critical casesof disease, not the right evidence of professional skill. It is

necessary for the protection of the public, and but just to thosewho have incurred the toil and expense of a scientific and pro-fessional education, that the practice of medicine by unqualifiedpersons should be discouraged. Doubtless a rigid enforcemeutof this rule may occasionally be productive of individual hard-

Page 2: Medical News

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ship, but its neglect would involve much more general hard-ship, and be really the most cruel in the end."BLOOMSBURY DISPENSARY. - Mr. Thomas Chaplm,

Resident Medical Officer, informs us, just before our going topress, " that during the week ending August 22nd, fifty-fournew cases of diarrhoea have occurred. In some the attack wasvery severe, but all have terminated favourably under theplan of treatment described by Dr. Pidduck, (the physician tothe Dispensary,) in THE LANCET of last week. One case inwhich true cholera symptoms manifested themselves wastreated with the saline powders, and is now doing well. Noother case of cholera has occurred." HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK ENDING

SATURDAY, Au&. 19.-The number of deaths from all causesreturned for the week that ended last Saturday was 1833.Cholera was fatal last week to 729 persons. In the six weeksof its present appearance, the deaths from cholera have beensuccessively 5, 26, 133, 399, 644, and 729. The deaths fromdiarrhoea were 192.

Obituary.AT Hylton Ferry, near Sunderland, very suddenly, on the

13th, deeply regretted and respected by a large circle of friends,in his thirty-second year, ROBERT ROBSON NoBLE, M.R.C.S.

Suddenly, while on his way from Cxeorge Town to Portland,Australia, PATRICK GERARD ROBERTSON, M.D., son of MajorRobertson, of Kindeare, Rosshire.

The BRITISH MEDICAL DIRECTORY for 1855.

ALL duly-qualified Medical Practitioners are respectfully re-quested to forward, as soon as possible, their "ENTRIES" or" RETURNS" for this Annual Volume. References to theEntries in the Directory for the current year, (1854,) statingthat they are correct, will be sufficient. When alterations are

required, they should be distinctly specified, and in all casesthe names of the writers should be written clearly, and at fulllength.Address to the Editors at the "BRITISH MEDICAL DIRECTORY"

Office, 423, Strand.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.F.R.S, &c.-Many thanks for the suggestions and observations as to the management of the Norfolk County Lunatic Asylum. As regards St. Luke’sHospital for the Insane, we can only say at present that our attention hasbeen actively directed towards the condition of this institution. Since,however, the committee have suggested certain important alterations andimprovements, and amongst other points have determined, we believe, uponmaking their resident medical officer general superintendent of the wholeestablishment, we have waited to see these necessary changes fully andfairly carried out. Should there be any difficulty, or should the contem-plated improvements be long delayed, we shall certainly draw public atten-tion to the matter. There is, doubtless, much that will not bear lookinginto; but as our object is to improve the condition of the insane for thefuture, we must be content to overlook much that is past.

A. P.-We cannot recommend the work in question. Consult any respectablesurgeon. The disease is quite under the control of remedies.

Devonim8is shall receive a private note. The MS. arrived safely.

Y. Z., Mr. Andrew Rotton, &c.-The "New Vaccination Bill" amendmentswere rejected by the House of Lords; consequently the munificent paymentof one shilling to medical gentlemen, not appointed by the guardians, forevery successful case of vaccination will not be paid. The Act altogether isa complete failure, and in its main clauses most unjust and offensive to thegreat mass of the profession. It is true that Lord Lyttelton proposed "theshilling" for the " signing of the certificate;" but this was only a left-handed way of paying for the operation also !

,31-r. Girdwood will receive a private note.Scriblerus.-The entire subject of gratuitous advice is one of the utmost im.portance to the medical profession. Nothing has been done in the matterby the "committee," though they talked a good deal upon the subject.Some good resolutions, issued by the medical practitioners of Colchester,will be published in the next LANCET. The profession is annually robbed ofthousands by the abuse of gratuitous advice.

Vide et Crede.-Has Dr. Pettinger’s handbill been forwarded to the Man-chester Medico-Ethical Association ? We may, perhaps, notice the subject.

Anxious.-On examination, we cannot find the name in the BRITISH MEDICALDIRECTORY.

Yaeciraator.-In a case in which a child is brought to the surgery of a mediealpractitioner to be vaccinated, he is only entitled to the one shilling and six-penny fee, however distant the residence of the child may be.

A Subscriber.-The three years, we believe, may be passed at MarischalCollege

ROYAL MATERNITY CHARITY.

W. BENEDICT HART,District Surgeon, Whitechapel Union.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,-Certain cases have lately come under my observation, enabling me to

form some judgment as to the management of the Royal Maternity Charity;and although I feel a great disinclination to call in question the conduct ofothers, yet, after reading the observations upon this institution contained inyour last number, I cannot feel satisfied with myself without taking somemeans of making known the few following particulars of a case, which I thinkmay be taken as a specimen of the working of this Charity at the presenttime:-

I was called about five weeks since to attend a poor woman residing in this

neighbourhood, and suffering from uterine haemorrhage; she was in the lastmonth of pregnancy, and had obtained a letter from the Royal MaternityCharity; but as she understood that this did not entitle her to any medicalattendance until labour commenced, she applied to me.

After a few days’ treatment, the hEemorrhage subsided, and my visits werediscontinued ; but considering it a grave symptom as regarded her approachingpartus, I gave a recommendation to her friends, and also to the Maternitymidwife, who appeared anxious about the patient, that, in case any difficultiesshould arise when labour came on, to lose no time in calling for medical assist-ance. A few days elapsed, and I was somewhat surprised one night to receivefrom our relieving-onicer a parish order, marked " urgent," to attend the samepatient. I found that she had been in labour more than twenty-four hours,the Maternity midwife having been in attendance from the first, but had notbeen able to obtain any medical aid from the Charity, although the husbandhad applied, by the midwife’s direction, six hours previously, and had madeseveral other applications since. At last the midwife advised them to seek aworkhouse order for my attendance, thinking, as she told me herself, that, asit was late, no one would come from the Charity. I proceeded in due course todeliver the woman, the difficulties being very much increased by the delay thishad occasioned.Upon calling next day, I found that no medical man had been from the

Maternity to see her, and none called, I believe, till after her death, whichtook place on the ninth day, from puerperal fever.Had not this poor creature depended upon the Maternity letter, she would

doubtless have made some other and better provision for her " hour of trial;"at least, as a dernier resort, she would have been prepared with a parish order,in which case the same assistance which she received at last, when the casehad become difficult and dangerous, would have been atforded her at an earlierperiod, when it was comparatively safe and easy. And who knows what in-fluence this might not have had upon the ultimate result of the case? Thu.1iwhat was intended for a benefit proved to be a positive injury.In the letter from the Secretary of the Royal Maternity Charity, published

in THE LANCET of the 5th instant, it was stated, that in consequence of theefficient " system" of this Charity, a less mortality had occurred, in proportionto the number of cases, than under any other system adopted by any similarinstitution

In reference to this, I may observe that I know of cases attended from thisCharity, in which formidable diseases have followed labour-diseases arisingout of the parturient condition; and these cases have, when in a very danger-ous state, been discarded as patients of the Maternity Charity, and fallen intomy hands in my capacity of union surgeon, and these patients were given tounderstand that they would not receive any further medical assistance fromthe Charity after the ninth day.Now, as in all fatal cases of disease connected with childbirth a large pro-

portion of deaths would take place after the ninth day, it is not to be wonderedat that, according to this "system," a less proportion of fatal cases take placeunder the treatment of the Royal Maternity Charity than under any othersystem adopted by any similar institution.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,W. BETfBBMT HART,

August, 1854. District Surgeon, Whitechapel Union.COMMUNICATIONS, LETTRRS, &c., have been received from -Dr. Marshall

Hall; Mr. Critchett; Dr. Ranke; Mr. J. H. Bolton; Mr. W. Walker; N.;Mr. L. F. Crummey; Dr. Rothman; 3,Ir. R. Howden; Mr. A. Rotton; Mr.J. C. Pigg; Mr. Francis Ward; A Subscriber; Anxious; Vide et Crede;Mr. R. B. Marriott; Mr. G. D. Nelson; Mr. Hopley; Mr. S. Knaggs; Mr.Walter Scott; Delta; Medicus; F.R.S. ; Devoniensis; Mr. Hansard, (withenclosure ;) Mr. Thomas, (Kirkdale, Liverpool;) Mr. Vaudin; Mr. Tucker;Queen’s College, (Birmingham;) Y. Z.; Mr. J. W. Morley; Mr. A. Bolton,(Newcastle;) A Medical Officer, (Madras ;) Mr. Pritchett, (Grimsby;) Mr.G. Hind; J. A., (Newcastle-on-Tyne;) Vaccinator; Mr. Aulsetrook, (Han-well ; A. X., (Banbury;) A Country Surgeon; A. O. Y., (with enclosure;)

.

Mr. F. Nuttall, (Bury, with enclosure;) Mr. J. Godden, (Oxton, with enclo-sure;) Dr. Castle, (Leeds, with enclosure;) Mr. G. Garson, (Stromnese,with enclosure;) Scriblerus; &c. &c.


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