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and Injuries of the Chest," very properly adverts to the numeri-cal inefficiency of the medical staff on great occasions, and theconsequent loss to science. In the naval medical service anevil of a grievous order is inflicted. Instead of the navalauthorities placing the naval assistant-surgeon in his properplace, and treating him as a gentleman and a man of education,they literally place him in that position where he must re-trograde in his profession. To science he cannot contri-bute. Professional opportunities are presented, but are thrownaway by the exclusive and heartless treatment hitherto dis-pensed to our cloth. We doubt not, if Mr. Guthrie and othergentlemen eminent in our profession would exert themselves,which, from their high social position they are enabled to do,that a very different order of things would exist in the navalmedical department. Why should not these gentlemen uniteand support Mr. Wakley when he again brings the subject be-fore parliament?

I am, Sir, your obliged and obedient servant, ’

AN ASSISTANT-SURGEON R.N.

Medical News.VILLANOUS PROCEEDINGS.-M. Colin, the founder of a sort of

club where the medical congress used to meet before the revo-lution of February, received, a few days ago, an anonymousletter, which contained a very light-green powder, and thefollowing words:-" Die then, you dog ! Sic omnes pereantproditores! (Signed) a Red Republican." M. Colin was soterrified by this death-warrant, that he had instantly a fit ofapoplexy, and has not, it is said, since recovered the use of hisreason. He believes himself poisoned, refuses to tak e anynourishment, and will let no one approach him, to the greatdistress of his family.SYSTEMATIC SUICIDE.—A medical student, in Paris, belong-

ing to a wealthy family of Poitou, has just put an end to hisexistence by suicide. He was found in his room, where he hadlain dead for several days. A letter left by the unfortunateyoung man, apprized the peopled who entered the premises thathe had opened a vein in each limb, after having taken a largedose of opium, in order to die without pain or moaning.STRUGGLES OF ANATOMICAL TEACHERS.—A special notice was

lately devoted in the Feuilleton of L’Union 416dicale, to Dr.Broe, who died recently at a charitable establishment at Paris.This gentleman’s career had been one of disappointment andpecuniary difficulty; he was remarkable for the happy andlucid manner in which he taught anatomy as a private teacher,and so successful was he in this particular line, that his pupilsjoined to present him with a token of their gratitude. Buthe was likewise one of those unbending dispositions, whofancy that to have talent is quite sufficient to get on in theworld, and that there was no harm for him to speak his mindwhen and where he thought proper. Herein, however, hefound himself grievously mistaken, for at every attempt hemade to rise in his profession, he met with indifference anddisdain where he expected encouragement and support. Hewas at last obliged, when taken ill, to look tor a bed at theHotel Dieu, whence his professional brethren, by laudableexertions, had him removed to the as3 lum of St. Périne, wherehe shortly afterwards died.

Is there not some similaritv in character and career (barringIs there not some similarity in character and career (barringthe latter end) between Dr. Broe and the late Mr. Dermott.INQUESTS ON THE BODIES OF Two CHILDREN, WHOSE DEATHS

WERE CAUSED BY INOCULATION FOR SMALL-POx. -VERDICT OFMANSLAUGHTER AGAINST THE INOCULATOR. - On Thursday,November 9, 1848, SAMUEL S. CoRY, Esq., of Bridport,Coroner, held two inquests at Broadwinsor, on JOHN HOARE,aged six months, and WILLIAM SAMUEL HOARE, aged threeyears, sons of JOHN HOARE, a dairy-man, residing in the parishof Burstock, in consequence of the children dying from small-pox, having received the disease by inoculation by MATTHEWSYMES.

It was proved in evidence by the father of the children,John Hoare, that he had heard that Matthew Symes was inthe habit of inoculating for the small-pox, and sent for himon Saturday, Oct. 21st, 1848, and the said Matthew Symescalled the same evening, and inoculated the boys.MARY HoLT, a neighbour, proved holding the children on her

lap on Oct. 21, 1848, whilst Matthew Symes inoculated themfor the small-pox, in the arm. She saw the children frequentlyafterwards; on the seventh or eighth day, the children wereailing, or sickening, and the eruption appeared on the tenthday after inoculation. She was then in constant attendance on i

the children, assisting in nursing them. They received everypossible care and attention, but they gradually became worse,John died on Nov. 8th, and William Samuel, on Nov. 9ths1848. Mr. Daniel, the surgeon, had been in attendance.

BETTY BoLD corroborated the evidence of Mary Holt inevery particular as to the children having the small-pox, forshe assisted in nursing both children from the time they ap-peared to be ill, to the time of their death.MATTHEW MORAN, police-constable, proved having cautioned

Matthew Symes against inoculating for the small-pox, as itwas illegal, and that there was an act of parliament against it,but he took no heed of the admonition. Matthew Moraaafurther said he summoned Matthew Symes before the magis-trates in petty sessions assembled at Bridport, for inoculatingfor the small-pox in six cases, when the magistrates sentencedMatthew Symes to six months’ imprisonment, being one monthfor each case, the utmost penalty allowed by law. John andWilliam Samuel Hoare were not included in the six cases.THOMAS PALMER DANIEL, Esq., Surgeon, &c., of Beaminster,

most distinctly and clearly stated that the children receivedthe disease of small-pox from inoculation, and not naturally,as he could see the marks in the left arm where the matterof small-pox was inserted, and that both children died frominoculated small-nox. and not otherwise.

After the above evidence, the coroner summed up the caseto the jury, clearly and concisely giving the various legalopinions, and stating his opinion, that if any person commitsan illegal or unlawful act, not amounting to felony, and deaththereby ensues, the party is guilty of manslaughter. By the3rd and 4th Victoria, c. 29, inoculation for small-pox wasmade unlawful aud illegal. Matthew Symes having trans-gressed the statute, committed an illegal and unlawful act,and death ensuing, he was consequently guilty of manslaughter.The jury, who comprised eighteen of the most intelligent andrespectable gentlemen of the parishes of Burstock and Broad-winsor, coincided in opinion with the coroner, and unanimouslyreturned a verdict of manslaughter against Matthew Symes,baker, and beer-house keeper. The said Matthew Symes be-ing already in Dorchester gaol, the coroner at once sent twodetainers to the governor of that prison.PROGRESS OF THE CHOLERA.—Dunkirk, inov. 5. Four new

cases are reported. The Health Committee think that theyare not really Asiatic or epidemic attacks of cholera, but de-rangements of the digestive organs, brought on by unwhole-some food. Fish, and particularly herrings, are now extremelyplentiful, and were largely used by the persons who are

now suffering. Measures of the most energetic descriptionhave been taken at Paris; four-and-twenty hours will sufficeto organize the relief of cholera patients. M. Magendie,chairman of the committee of public health, has been sent toDunkirk by the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, inorder to investigate the real nature of the cholera which hasbroken out in that city.TREATMENT OF CHOLERA IN RUSSIA.—Zarndzin, Kioffe, Russia,

Oct. 1848.—" I have upwards of 300 people at work, and thecholera all around us and amongst us; sixty of my people weretaken ill; but the great matter is to take the disease at thebeginning, so I called them together and explained the symp-toms, which are, loss of appetite, a heaviness, and a disagree-able sensation at the pit of the stomach. I immediately ad-ministered to those who were seized one glass and a half ofspirits of wine in a glass of water, with four or five tea-

spoonfuls of powdered charcoal, and three drops of oil ofmint, and the patient took violent exercise until a strong per-spiration was induced, and all my patients recovered; thosewho were weakly I administered the charcoal to in a freshegg beat up with a little water milk-warm. For myself, as anantidote, I take every morning a fresh egg beat up with a tea-spoonful of charcoal; I make the charcoal from white beechjbut any wood that is free from rosin will do."—The TimesNovember 15.

DEATH FROM CHLOROFORM.—On Tuesday last Mr. Carru-thers, a gentleman of fortune, residing at Dormount, Annan,lost his life from the incautious application of chloroform. It

appears that he was afflicted with asthma, and having foundrelief from inhaling the subtle vapour, had frequent recourseto it. Being an expert angler he sometimes employed himselfrather late in adjusting his hooks and making artificial flies.On Tuesday morning he was found sitting at the table appa-rently following this occupation, in the position in which hisservant had left him on the preceding night, but it was soondiscovered that life had been extinct probably for some hours.On the table was the handkerchief which he had used in apply-ing the chloroform to his mouth.-Carlisle Patriot.

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OPENING OF THE SESSION IN THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE OFPARIS.-On Saturday, November 4, the Medical Session inParis was opened with great solemnity by two speeches, oneby M. Gavarret, and the other by M. Bouilland, Dean of theFaculty. The premiums of the " Ecole Pratique" were after-wards awarded in the following order:-Principal prize, goldmedal, M. Piachaud. First premium, ex sequo, MM. Le-

gendre and Leudet. Second premium, M. Vivier. The Cor-visart prize, M. Lucien Corvisart. Monthyon prize, (nopaper was sent on that head.) Midwives’ premium, MadameDurand.

A WONDERFUL SANITARIUM—STAFFORD SPRINGS, CONNECTICUT.- In a letter addressed to the Boston Recorder (U. States) ofJuly 28th, it is asserted-" An old gentleman who has visitedhere for twenty successive seasons, (from New York,) says,that when he comes hither sick, he always goes away well;and when he comes well, he goes away better."MORTALITY OF THE METROPOLIS.—Deaths registered in the

week ending Nov. llth, 1165; being 11 above the weeklyautumnal average for the last five years. Deaths from zymoticdiseases, 414, including scarlatina, 135, (weekly average, 47;)small-pox, 34; typhus, 65; diarrhoea, 26; cholera,, 62, (a dimi-nution as compared with the preceding week;) from phthisis,127. Mean temperature, 40° 3’, range from 250 9’ to 56° 9; !temperature of dew point, 360 Fahr.; height of barometer,29.8 inches. Wind mostly westward in the former half,northward, in the latter half of the week. No electricity atany time manifested.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

One who states that he has written to us "more in sorrow than in anger,*’has, we think, made an unjust attack upon Dr. Billing. The article which

appeared in the newspapers was avowedly extracted from a pamphlet whichthe doctor had written on cholera, and it does not appear that the authorhimself has in any way addressed the newspapers on that subject. Wethink that our correspondent would be glad to find, considering the re-spect which he states he entertains for Dr. Billing, that he had been in-correctly informed relative to the cause of the appearance of the articles inthe public papers.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-A correspondent in THE LANCET of the 11th ult., under the signa-ture of " Coma," will be gratified to learn that his opinion on the excitingcause of alopecia, and his remarks on the exclusiveness of its treatment bypretending quacks, has been anticipated by a member of the profession, assix papers on " Diseases Manifested in the Hair, with Collateral Observa-tions," which have appeared in your journal, will fully show.The curability of baldness depends upon its functional or structural

character-the first is remediable, the other is incurable.I make these few remarks, believing that your correspondent will be glad

to have his 11 Coma"-tose state of feeling on this subject removed as soonas possible. I am, Sir, very truly yours,

THOMAS CATTELL, M.D. &c.Braunston, Northamptonshire, Nov. 13, 1848.

We regret that the ill health of Dr. Garrod has prevented our beingenabled to insert a lecture of his valuable course in the present LANCET.

Space has not this week been available in our columns for the insertionof the first portion of Mr. H. Smith’s report of a case in which he excisedthe head of the femur, but the report shall speedily appear.

A correspondent who signs himself Anti-Quackery has forwarded to usthe handbills of two medical (?) establishments lately planted in Bermondsey.The author of one of these, Mr. Becke, 11 is, I believe, (says our corre-spondent,) a qualified medical man; he has opened premises’ for the* sale of drugs, chemicals, and family medicines of first quality only;’ hislist’ shows that his charges are as * low’ as perfect genuineness will admit,and so reasonable that he places the most important articles’ of life withinreach of all. These most important articles’ consist of tapioca and nail.brushes, superfine mustard and Windsor soap, tooth-brushes and scentedrose oil, besides pink and blue saucers, fumigating pastiles, and a host ofothers. Blue pills he sells at 4d. the dozen, or four dozen for a shilling.If you take Seidlitz powders, Mr. Becke is your man, for his list of effer-

veseents, is (so the bill says) very superior to those generally sold.’ HisSeidlitz draught especially is an excellent aperient medicine, entirelytasteless.’ It you are a thirsty soul, Mr. Becke can accommodate you, forhis’Persian sherbet,’ 2d. per ounce, makes a delicious cooling drink.’His manufacturing articles are sold at a corresponding rate. Lower downin his bill, Mr. Becke informs us that he gives professional advice’ towomen and children, and all persons with diseases of the lungs, (and, Isuppose, charges for their medicine, but he does not add this.) Am I right,Sir, in supposing medical men generally do the same, or is this a peculiarmerit of the generous, kind-hearted Mr. Becke ?"

The following is an extract from the second handbill :-

"r’fessrs. H. and Co., being aware of the many injurious means resortedto by Quacks and others, to apparently eradicate the Disease, beg leave to

apprize the Public that having been for a length of time, Superintendantsof the Bristol Infirmary, and whilst there, devoting their principal attentionto the various stages of this Disease, that, without hindrance to Business,alteration of Diet, or the use of that deleterious Poison, Mercury, a cureshall be effected in the shortest possible time." They further beg to introduce their gonhorea drops, at is. per bottle,

one of which in most cases will prove sufficient," &c. &c.

P.S. -A notice appears in their shop to the effect that a "physicianattends there twice a week," where, also, we are informed that

" a half-

pennyworth of any article is sold to the poor."

A correspondent who writes to us complaining of the incompleteness ofthe " London and Provincial Medical Directory," to which defect, it appears,on his own showing, he has contributed, remarks—1st. Parties who are notmembers are tempted to state they are; for who are expected to furnishmeans for their own harm or destruction ? 2nd. Some men are gifted withan elevation of the posterior part of the cranium; they send the chosenletters after their names, such as B.M., M.D., &c., or two pages of the de-

scription of their promotions or productions. The length of his designationis the most curious part of his communication, which he thus signs—onewho saw the Faults of the System f°om the Beginning, and who never filledup their Circular, and whose Name (I believe) has never been in their Work,but who is a M.R.C.S.E. and L.A.C. of Six Years’ Standing, and A PRIVATEHOUSEMAN.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—In THE LANCET of Oct. 28th, "A Country Practitioner" inquiresrespecting the result of my case of excision of the head of the thigh-bone,perfOlmed in March last. The girl, who is nine years of age. is now ableto take exercise freely on crutches, and her general health is pretty good.There is still a small sinus. Before the operation, the slightest movementin bed occasioned the greatest agony, and she was wasting with hectic.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,Marlborough-street, November 14, 1848. J. G. FRENCH.

A.B.C.—Superadd a practical knowledge to the theoretical, and wewould certainly recommend the adventure. Australia and New Zealandoffer every prospect of success to a person possessing some capital, and apractical knowledge of agriculture, with decidedly active and industrioushabits.

Guido must re-investigate the subject.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—About twelve months since, it was stated in THE LANCET that Mr.Bottomley, of the firm of Bottomley and Berncastle, of Croydon, had com-menced an action against a coroner’s jury of that place for defamation ofcharacter. Can you inform me whether the action was carried on, and, ifso, whether the result was favourable or adverse to Mr. Bottomley.

I am, Sir your very obedient servant,London, November 10, 1848. CAPUT.

*,* As we are not acquainted with the state of the legal proceedings, if, any have been instituted, we have thought it right to insert this note,

which will probably induce Mr. Bottomley to send us a few words of ex-

planation on the subject. Several questions have been addressed to usrelative to some legal proceedings in this case, which are supposed to be

i still pending, but we apprehend that on the dismissal of the rule by the1 Court of Queen’s Bench, the dispute, so far as the law was concerned, ter-

minated.

Delta.-We cannot offer an opinion in such a case.

Questa.—In the first instance, he was right; in the second, he was wrong.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—A dispute on a question in physiology amongst three or four sur-

geons in this place has caused a reference to be made to the operation ofcastrating the common fowl. It is denied that the operation is performedanywhere except at Dorking, and it is asserted that even there the percentage of deaths afterwards is very large. On the mode, also, of per-forming the operation, and relative to the age when it should be done,much difference of opinion prevails. A few words of instruction on thesesubjects from correspondents who reside in various parts of the kingdom,and who are acquainted with the practice and its results in their respectivelocalities, would, I am sure, be read with satisfaction by others as well as by,

Your obedient servant,Bristol, November 13, 1848. A PHYSIOLOGIST.

One &c. c.-The discomfiture of the " scoundrel" is complete. We can-not publish such a document.

J. J.-We have not added the stinging postscript which we received onthe l4th to the already probably too pungent letter relative to Dr. Ranking’s"pay_in_advance" system. We certainly consider that Dr. Ranking hasmade a mistake in interfering with the regular publishing trade of thebooksellers, but still we think that both the doctor and J. J. are un-

necessarily angry on the subject. At the same time, we think that theobjections offered by J. J. against the plan propounded by the doctor areforcible and just. The character of the " pay-in-advance" system, whenunduly urged, has received a tolerably significant illustration by what hashappened at a recent sale, under the direction of 11 mortgages in posses-sion." At the end of a year, we should like to receive from the

" presentowners" an account of the number of subscribers on the "roll" who shall

by that time have declared that they never ordered the "thing," that theyhave never paid for it, that they never will pay for it, that they did not knowby whom it had been sent to them, and that they do not desire that it shouldbe ever forwarded to them again. We know of one instance in which the" thing" has been sent to a gentleman for upwards of fouryears, yet he never