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NEWS OF THE WEEK.THE lecturers of many of the schools of medicine in the metro-

polis have been holding meetings, lately, for the purpose of takinginto consideration the propriety of shortening the term of the

winter session, producing an equalisation of the winter and sum-mer sessions, and to adopt some improvement of the certificate

system. We shall be anxious to see an official account of the

labours of these gentlemen. If they be determined to execute the

work on which they have engaged, carefully, and on correct prin-ciples, we would advise them to take into their councils some ofthe best informed of the senior students, who will not fail to fur-nish them with a considerable amount of practical and useful

information. The system of 11 teaclxing in medicine is rotten to

the core, and the certificate exaction an abomination which oug’htnot to be endured.

THE death of Sir Astley Cooper having created a vacancy amongthe corresponding members of the section of medicine and surgeryof the Academy of Sciences, Paris, the vacancy was supplied onthe 18th of March hy the election of Sir Benjamin Brodie. Theother candidates, were M. Dieffenbach, M. Buffalini, and 111.Chelius. The votes, 43 in number, were thus given : - Sir B.Brodie, 39; At. Dieffenbach, 2; M. Buffalini, 2; M. Chelius, 1.MR. LAWRENCE not having been enabled to succeed in thrusting

one of his former articled pupils into the office of surgeon in theOrthopaedic Institution, Bloomsbury-square, he has, in high dudgeon, relinquished the honour of consulting-surgeon to that esta-blishment, after having occupied that post during the long periodof one week. Mr. Erasmus Wilson is one of the candidates for theoffice which Dr. Little has lately resigned. If a first-rate know-ledge of anatomy and physiology, and the being an able practicalsurgeon, are deemed to be the best qualifications for a candidate,we think we may calculate on the success of Mr. Wilson as a cer-tainty. The treatment of the physical deformities of the humanframe has become an important department of surgery.MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL.—At the late annual distribution of prizes

to the students of the school of medicine in this hospital, the prizes(medical works, surgical instruments, and certificates of merit)were awarded as follows :-4 prizes and 1 certificate to Mr. RichardClerke; 3 prizes and 2 certificates to Mr. W. Tucker; 2 certificatesto Mr. T. C. Day; a certificate to Mr. Smith; a prize and a certifi-cate to Mr. Rose; 3 certificates to Mr. Augustus Grant; a prize toMr. Spicer; 2 prizes to Mr. F. Barnet; a prize to Mr. G. Foote; aprize to Mr. A. D. House ; a certificate to Mr. S. G. Bousfield; acertificate to Mr. A. Foote; a prize to Mr. T. P. Lane; Mr. G.Foote received a prize of a " magnificent" Cambridge editionBible from the chaplain to tie hospital, and an " extra theologicalprize" was awarded to Mr. Clerke.DEPUTATION OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR CLEANSING TOWNS TO THE

LORD MAYOR -On Wednesday, the 14th of April, a deputation fromthe Association for Cleansing and Draining Towns, waited, byappointment, on the Lord Mayor, in order to request that he wouldsanction the trial in the city of the experiment made this winterin Regent-street and Oxford-street. His lordship promised that hewould take the chair in a general public meeting which will becalled when the plan of the association has been again publiclytested.

GENERAL REPORT OF THE ROYAL HOSPITALS OF BRIDEWELL ANDBETHLEM, FOR 1843.-Although many interesting particulars re-

specting the statistics and management of Bridewell, and its sub-sidiary establishment, the House of Occupations, are mentioned inthe above official report, which has just been distributed amongthe governors of those institutions, nevertheless, as the remarksrelating to Bethlem Hospital, and the treatment pursued towardsits inmates, appears the part most valuable to the medical profes-sion, the present notice is therefore confined to the latter charity,more especially, as it contains some features of considerable inte-rest, both to them and to the community at large.-Numerous sta-tistical tables, in all 24, are appended, showing the amount ofadmissions, the proportion of cures, and the number of deaths, notonly during 1843, but also those for the last ten years. Besidesthese useful data a comparative statement of the results met withduring different periods in the last and present century, is likewisesubjoined. The occupations of the curable patients admitted in1843, the apparent causes of their disease, the degree of education,their domestic condition, the number of attacks, and the durationof their malady, as well as the ratio of suicidal patients, and otherimportant details, are amply given in the different tables, whichwell deserve careful perusal. According- to these returns, it appearsthat 109 curable male, and 175 female patients were admitted dur-ing the year 1843; whilst 56 males, and 103 females, making atotal of 159, or 56 per cent. upon the admissions, were dischargedcured ; whereas, in 1842, a similar calculation shows only 61.3]

per cent., as the amount of cures. On the 31st December last thetotal patients remaining- in the hospital being 339, which were thusclassified-165 curables, 84 incurab’es, and 90 criminals.The advantages of providing employment for the insane, espe-

cially as a means of promoting order among the patients, of with-drawing their attention from their own distempercd ideas, and ofalleviating the monotony of confinement, being an important auxi-liary to other curative means, are both discussed and exemplified.Considerable additions have likewise been made to the amuse-ments of the patients. For instance, a library has been formedcontaining a good selection of useful and entertaining books,which have been put under the charge of a patient as librarian;and on both sides of the hospital a Well furnished and comfortableroom is now apllropriated for reading, writing, drawing, andvarious amusements. For the females a pianoforte has been pur-

chased, which is found to be a source of great gratification, notonly to those who are able to play, but also to the other patients.As an excellent illustration of the important changes which have

. been effected in this formerly very differently conducted establislr-

, ment, we may quote from the report the following paragraph re-- lating to amusements:—“ On the evening of the last Saturday of the

year, nearly 30 of the female patients were assembled to celebrate. the festive period. There being several who understood music, well, quadrilles were played and danced by some of the patients,

while others were engaged at a round game of cards. Mrs. Hunter;the matron, kindly provided a liberal supply of fruit and cakeaf,which, with some other refreshments, formed a very gratifying

entertainment. Nothing could exceed the order which prevailed,and the pleasure which was there communicated." This was trulya ball in Bethlem, and reflects much credit on the authoritiessanctioning such a gratification to the afflicted fellow-creaturescommitted to their charge, who are generally very sensible ofkindness, as also of gentle and rational treatment.

Particular instances of the influence of judicious amusements,as remedial measures in the treatment of the mind diseased, arelikewise detailed in this report, and although our space be limited;we must still give two instructive examples. The first is the caseof a patient who appeared in a very low and desponding state atadmission. " He was, with some persuasion, prevailed upon to

play a game at bagatelle, which had the desired effect of rousinghum, and exciting his attention; he now avails himself of thelibrary, has become comparatively cheerful, and is fast advancingto convalescence." The other case, which is even more illustrativeof the benefits of amusement in the management of patientsafflicted with insanity, was that of a patient who, when brought to-the hospital, exhibited extreme violence and excitement. "Onbeing released from the straight-waistcoat, in which he was con-fined, he immediately knocked down three attendants, althoughstrong and powerful men, and with great difficulty he was placedin his apartment. The next day, although labouring under verygreat excitement, he was taken into the amusement room, andthe effect was very striking. Whether the change in his treat-ment from what he had been subjected to had caused the change’,it is impossible to say ; but he appeared astonished at seeinga number of persons engaged in reading, at cards, and draughts,and playing at bagatelle; he immediately became calm, joinedin the amusements going on, and has remained a quiet andtr-’-ctable patient ever since." And, in a note, it ii stated that" this patient has been discharged cured, while the report wasgoing through the press." Contrasting such statements with theharsh treatment formerly but too common in old Bethlem, asdetailed by the parliamentary inquiry in 1815 ; and especially withthat described in the celebrated case of Norris, who was chainedto the wall by an iron collar ; the change here pourtrayed is re-markable and shows that the light of science and true philanthropyhave now fairly penetrated into this, as well as many other lunaticestablishments in Great Britain.The total abolition of restraint, so interesting to every friend of

humanity, although it mav not yet have been carried out to thesame extent in Bethlem Hospital, which receives none but recentcases into the curable wards, and many in a high degree of excite-ment, as it has been in some asylums, where chronic cases andidiots constitute a large proportion of the inmates; nevertheless avery marked diminution in the number of patients under restrainthas taken place in this hospital, within the last five years ; arisingmainly, it is stated, from the increased means of employment nowsupplied to the patients. Accordingly, the weekly average of pa-tients under restraint in 1839, was 11, or 3.53 per cent. In 1840 itwas 13, or 3.67 per cent. In 1841 the number was 9, or 2.64 percent. Whereas, in the years 1842 and 1843, the weekly averagewas 3 patients, or only 0.81 per cent. That is, for every 122

patients in the hospital, not more than one was at any time underrestraint; but the time is not distant, we sincerely hope, when theactual return will be nil.Nothing is said in the report under review respecting the use of

padded rooms at Betblem Hospital ; and notwithstanding these-admirable auxilliaries in the management of violent insane pa-tients, when exhibiting certain symptoms, are not alluded to bythe committee, still their utility cannot surely have been over-looked. If otherwise, it is to be hoped, when the contemplatedimprovements respecting the chapel, the erection of convalescentwards, the completion of the new workshops, and the furtherextension oLtlle principles advocated in this report are carriedinto effect, the utility of padded rooms will be kept in remem-brance, so that means may be taken to remedy what every onemust consider a deficiency in the present arrangements. We wouldalso remark, when the second general report makes its appear-ance next year, the table describing the apparent causes of dis-ease in the curable patients admitted, will be without so manyinstances of " not ascertained," as the one for the present yearexhibits ; since it states that in 19 of the 109 male patients admittedduring 1843, and in 50 of the 175 female patients also admitted, soimportant a particular as the cause of their disease is not reported.Our limits do not permit entering upon several other points of

importance, such as the committee’s remarks respecting the earlyadmission of patients, their suicidal tendencies, the new regula-tions respecting baths, the daily attendance of one of the physi-cians, instead of each twice a week as formerly, and also the in-creased facilities recently given to medical pupils to study mentaldiseases in the wards of Bethlem Hospital; for next to cure thegreat purpose of all similar establishments ought to be the disse-mination among the medical profession generally of the bestmethods of treating insanity, since it is the most severe affliction:to which mankind are liable. However, we cannot now enter

upon these important topics, although they are well deserving ofattention; but would, in conclusion, advert to the remarkablydiminished mortality, and the increased number of patients dis-charged cured from Bethlem Hospital, during different years ofthe last and current century, which are entered in the ancient

142

records of that institution. From the registers it appears that° the proportion of cures in the middle of the last century amounted,.on an average, to not more than 33.20 per cent. annually, whilstthe ratio of deaths was so high as 25.43 per cent., or actually onein every four admissions. From that period to the present, theannual amount of deaths has progressively diminished. At thesame time, the relative number of patients discharged cured haveso increased, that last year the ratio of recoveries (as alreadystated) reached 56 per cent., or only one in every 17 admissions."

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.LIST of gentlemen admitted members on Friday, April 12, 1844:

J. C. Barker, B. Eddison, R. Roe, A. C. Morse, A. P. Schuyler,E. C. Hulme, T. Oldacres, H. Fenton, J. H. Bennett, R. Hassall, T.Massey.

APOTHECARIES’ HALL, LONDON.NAMES of gentlemen who obtained certificates of qualification to

practise as apothecaries on Thursday, April llth, 1844 :-HenryAugustus Hore, Clifton; George Appleton, Torquay; FrederickCheesman, Sandhurst, Kent; William Falkingham Foottit, Newark,Notts; William Cornish Northey, Taviatock, Devon; WilliamFathers Coles, Weymouth, Dorset; Thomas Nicholas, Newport,Pembrokeshire; William Pollard, Plympton St. Mary, Devon;Thomas Robert Evans, Lyng, Norfolk; Hotchkin Haynes, Whittle-sey, Cambridge; Samuel Thomas Badger, Birmingham; WilliamWallace Wildey, Portsmouth; Samuel Henry Swayne, Bristol;Shadrach Edward Robert Jones, Gravesend, Kent; Frederick

Humphrys Green, Great Chesterford, Essex; George Gwillim,Bishops Frome, Herefordshire; Thomas William Nicholls, Wey-mouth, Dorset; George Henry Hopkins, Bridport, Dorset.

CORRESPONDENTS.Mr. T. Prenderga.st.-The address to the council published at

page 132 of this week’s LANCET, is in accordance with the views ofour correspondent. Every member of the college who may take aninterest in the subject, and who may consider that his professionalstanding is likely to be lowered by the proceedings 01 the council,should not only sign the address himself, but should endeavour, byevery means in his power, to procure signatures from other mem- ,,

bers. The width of the paper on which the address is written, andto which the signatures will be attached, is sixteen inches and a half,having a margin of two inches on the left side, and columns forthe names and residences, thus:-

I Names.—Residences. Names.-Residences.

As the lists of names of members may come from a great varietyof places, it is desirable that paper of, as near as may be, the samewidth should be used in all cases, as the lists will necessarily haveto be pasted together, all having to be attached to the originaladdress. A great deal of time, and much trouble, may be saved, bynot copying the address for every name, or list of names, as it willbe amply sufficient to attach the signatures to some such a declara-tion as the following :.- I hereby attach my signature to the

address to the Council of the College of Surgeons, which has beenprepared and adopted by the Committee of the Medical-Protection

Assembly." It is to be hoped that the utmost energy and activitywill be displayed by the members of the College in procuring signa-tures, and transmitting them to the Secretary, at the CROWN AND

ANCHOR, Strand.J. L. (an advertiser.)-It was not to be expected that Vr. Churchill

would engage in any transaction of the kind with such a scoundrel.

Besides, Mr. C. did not consider that there were five persons in

the profession, or even a single advertiser," who would believethe statements of such a detected, exposed knave. The sale of THE LANCET has never been equalled by that of any other medical

periodical in Europe, since the first year of its publication, and atthis moment it far more than doubles the circulation of any medical

periodical in existence. The advertisers who may have been de-t’eivcd and defrauded of their money by false pretences and state-ments, should summon the impostor before the magistrates at oneof the police courts. The House of Correction and the treadwheelare his proper places. We thank J. L. for the card, An effectual

proceeding on the subject shall be adopted.The letter of A Tory Blenxoer- of the Medical-Protection Assem-

bly shall be submitted to the committee. The object of establishingthe Protection Assembly was, at the public meeting, understood tobe to enable the profession to declare, in its own voice, what arereally the grievances of the profession, and what are the remedieswhich should be adopted for their removal. There cannot be a ques-tion that one of the results of their labours will be the preparationot a Medical Reform Bill, and when a measure of that kind can beNt’tualty sabmitted to Parliament as the Bill of the profession, thereis every reason for believing that it will receive great attentionfroni the legislature, but that it would at once be successful we douot believe.The paper of Dr. Sheannrm on arsenic, having already ap-

peared in another medical journal, cannot be ia sorted in THELANCLT as an original communication.

We would advise E. It. An Unfortunate Student, and One whohas been Plundered of his Money and Indentures, to apply to theMxaminers of the Apotbecaries’ Company, who have acted, inseveral casea nearly analogous to those described by our correspon-dents, in a highly commendajle spirit of liberality and equity. Wefeel confident that the cases of our correspondents would receive anattentive and generous consideration. Communications on thesubject should be addressed to Mr. Upton, the secretary.A Readcr may obtain the information that he desires to possess,

by calling on Mr. Lloyd Bullock, 2’!, Conduit-street, who, we haveno doubt, would kindly answer any questions, briefly put, on thesubject named by our correspondent.According to the statement of 11. H. S., the party, A, would add,

by the arrangement, 1001 a ytar to his income. But A wouldprobably have to devote a certain quantity of time and labour to thebusiness, in exchange. A small premium should be paid for theopportunity of turning his exertions to this pecuniary advantage.An estimate of that, we,-who know nothing of the parties person-ally, or of the circumstances of the partnership,-cannot make withany hope that it would be satisfactory to either A or C.A Looker-on and A Practitioner in Midwifery (Manchester).-

We declined to insert a letter on the same subject m the lastLANCET. Even Dr. Clay seems at last to have discovered the cha-racter of the infamous fellow with whom he had been communi-cating. The vile pubJication is shunned by every respectableman. Several gentlemen who, it appears, under solicitation, hadpromised to contribute to it, and who had been advertised as

pledged contributors, have all, apparently felt themselves dis-charged from their engageraenta by the trighttul disclosurea thathave been made. The advertised communications from Mr. Fer-gusson, Mr. B. Phillips, Mr. Rutherford Alcock, Mr. Lane, andothers, as well as Mr. Muspratt’s descriptions of the proceedings atthe laboratory at Giessen, are not forthcoming, These gentlemenare not insensible of what is due to their characters. We againrespectfully inform our correspondents that we cannot insert anyletters respecting the conduct of such a worthless, contemptiblefellow.We have received from Mr. O’Keefe, Registrar of the Royal

College of Surgeons in Ireland, a copy of a a Document explanatoryof the Supplemental Charter" recently granted to that college.Enquirer.- We know it to have been stated, by persons in autho-

rity, that no legislative protection against unqualified practitionersis to be provided as an equivalent tor that which is afforded by theApothecaries’ Act, should that measure be repealed.An Old Surgeon.—Sir Astley Cooper has stated, both in public

and in private, that his professional receipts did not in the firstyear of his practice amount to twenty-two pounds ; but that whenin the height of his career he received, as the reward of his surgi-cal labours, in one year, upwards of twenty-two thousand pounds.The reply of One of the Oldest 1I-Iembers of the Provincial Medi- -

cal and Surgical Association to the letter from Nottingham in thelast LANCET, reached us too late for insertion this week.A Tradesman.—We have already advised another duped adver-

tiser to apply to a police court. It is certain that it is a fraudpunishable by law.The letter of Mr. Meadowcroft has been received, and shall be

duly noticed.Communications have been received from Dr. Moore, Afr. G. L.

Clutterbuck, Mr. R. Griffin, Mr. Clarke, MR. W. Turner, Mr.Friend, Dr. Keel, A Surgeon (Edinburgh, Southwark, Exeter),Mr. W. Jones, Jlr. Parker, Dr. J. C. Hall, Dr. Dangerfield,

. Dublinensis, Mr. Pickering, Mr. Ryan, Sir G. Lefevre, Mr. C.Beckett, Mr. Fearnside, Dr. Furnival, Mr. Shaw, Dr. Wright,’ Mr. Boxwer Ilarrison, and Mr. J. C. Atkinson.

’ ERRATUM -At page 113 ot THE LANCET for April 13th, instead of« (:lass Examinations in Edinburgh," read Class Examinations at

, University College, London.