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Infirmary; or Drs. Marshall Hall, Hope, Sims, A. T. Thomson,&c., who have either actually held, or competed for, and thusshown their anxiety to hold gratuitous office at that institution.Surely, if gentlemen of their age and position will do this, it is

very unjust to saddle the younger members of our profession withthe blame for the existing state of things. I am, sir,

Your constant reader,January its, 1845. VERITAS.

*,* The elders of the profession have set many examples whichthe younger should not follow, and have often endeavoured to esta-blish precedents which ought not to be respected by their juniors.How can a vicious course of conduct ever be expected to cease ifsuch an apology for its continuance be permitted as that urged by"VERITAS" ?

TERM OF PREGNANCY.TO the Editor of THE LANCET.

SiR,-The insertion of the subjoined statement of facts, relativeto the term of human pregnancy, in your valuable journal, willoblige me:-

Mrs. M-, the mother of one child, applied to me in themonth of August last, to engage my attendance in an approach-ing accouchement. Upon asking her at what period she expectedto be confined, she replied on the 13th of December; and forfixing the day so precisely, she gave the following reason-viz.,that her husband was a butler in a gentleman’s family, residingin the country, consequently compelled to live apart from her;but that on the 13th of March he came to London and stayedwith her on that night only, being obliged to return to his mas-ter’s residence the next day. Now for the result:-She had cal-culated nine calendar months as the duration of human preg-nancy, and consequently had fixed the 13th of December as theday of delivery. I, however, in my own mind, had fixed the18th as the day on which gestation was to be completed-i. e,forty weeks after coitus. She was not, however, delivered on the18th, but labour commenced at six o’clock P.M., on the 20th, andterminated in the birth of a full-grown child, a f*w minutesbefore twelve, forty-eight hours only after the time I had antici-pated. I am, Sir, yours most obediently,

J. J. TwEED, Jun., M.R.C.L.S.Gilbert-street, Grosvenor-square.

January 17, 1845.

J. J. TWEED, Jun., M.R.C.L.S.

REMARKS OF MR. HILLES AT THE MEDICALPROTECTION ASSEMBLY.

To the Editor.-Sm, I shall feel obliged by your correctingthe report which appeared in THE LANCET of the 25th inst., of theobservations made by me on the preceding Monday, (20th inst.,)at a meeting of the Medical Protection Assembly at Exeter Hall.I am reported to have said, that the object was not to throwobloquy, or indulge in severe invective, on any minister of state,as some associations had done." Now, I did not accuse any asso-ciation of having acted in this manner. However anxious I am,and always have been, to promote the cause of medical reform,and advance the interests of the Medical Protection Assembly, Ihave studiously avoided any attempt to accomplish either of theseobjects by bringing forward accusations against either individualsor associations, engaged in the same cause with me, unless in themost public manner, and when they had the opportunity of reply-ing to such, if they considered it necessary, and have always actedon this principle. Again, I am represented as saying, " that Iwould join the body that would carry out the representative prin-ciple." This is also incorrect, as I distinctly stated I could not

’’

join the Association of General Practitioners, as I am not in

general practice, although I would recommend my professionalbrethren (general practitioners) to do so if that body wouldrecognise the principle of representation.

I am, sir, most respectfully yours,M. W. HILLES.

P1m1ico, 27 Jan. 1845.

ON THE PROPRIETY OF DIVIDING ADHESIONS INTHE OPERATION FOR HERNIA. (A QUERY.)

To the Editor of Txa LANCBT.

Si[R,-At the desire of very many unprofessional persons, form-ing a large portion of the inhabitants of this town, I am requestedto solicit the favour of the authority of your decision on the fol-lowing question:-At a post-mortem examination, after the fatal issue of an opera-

tion for hernia, where death supervened, with permanent consti-

M. W. HILLES.

pation, on the fifth day after the operation, the following state ofparts was discovered :-

" About two inches of discoloured intestine was lying in con-tact with the internal ring, and adhering to it. Considerablebands confined the bowel to the sac. These bands confined thebowel so as to form a kind of knuckle at rather an acute angle.

" The small, discoloured portion of intestine was doubled backon itself, and had been permanently kept in that position bytransverse bands of long standing.

" The knuckle of the gut formed an angle, and the serous sur-faces thus placed in apposition were firmly adherent."Query-What is the consequence of returning the intestine in

such a state of preternatural adhesion?By affording the " authority" of your decision upon the fore-

going question, you will greatly oblige many of your far distantbut constant readers.

Your obedient servant,B. RAYGARTH, M.D. &C.

Launceston, Van Dieman’s (Formerly student at Guy’s.)Launceston, Van Dieman’s Land,May 6, 1844.

*** Not having before us the detailed history of the case

alluded to by our correspondent, and not knowing for what pur-pose our opinion is demanded on a point which, in reality, admitsof but little, if any discussion, we must remind our professionalreaders in Van Dieman’s Land that we merely take upon us to.answer the above surgical query as it is put to us; not to give anopinion respecting the merits or demerits of the treatment pur-sued in the particular case referred to.

It is a rule in operating for hernia, to break down or to destroyany adhesions which may exist between the intestine and the sac,or bt ran the folds of the intestine themselves. Indeed, it ispartly with a view to ascertain whether any such adhesions existbeyond the stricture, that many surgeons recommend a smallportion of intestine to be gently drawn out after the division ofthe stricture, previous to returning the contents of the sac into thecavity of the abdomen. The probable consequence of returningfolds of intestine which are united to each other at an acuteangle by false membranes, is the persistence of the symptoms ofstrangulation. No practical surgeon could intentionally commitsuch an error. The existence of adhesions may, however, escapethe notice of the operator, or they may be situated so high as notto be discernible. When this occurs, the termination of the caseis generally fatal. If the intestine really was returned in the statedescribed by Dr. Raygarth, and the adhesions were not the resultof subsequent inflammation, an error was certainly committed.M. Maisonneuve has recently presented to the Academy of £Sciences, Paris, the details of a case in which, having operated.on an old lady for inguinal hernia, without giving relief, owingto the presence, as he afterwards found, of internal adhesions, here-opened the wound, and not being able to destroy the adhesions,established an artificial anus.-ED. L.

B. RAYGARTH, M.D. &c.(Formerly student at Guy’s.)

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

THE INVENTIONS RESPECTING THE COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OFENGLAND.-We have authority to state that there is no sort offoundation for statements put forward in the Times newspaperwith respect to certain changes said to be contemplated in theconstitution of the College of Surgeons of England. Thesestatements were copied from an obscure medical periodical, forwhich, we understand, they were fabricated, with a full knowledgeof their incorrectness.-Dublin Medical Press, Jan. 29.

POISONING FROM ARSENIC USED IN COMPOSITE CANDLES.—The use of so deadly a poison as arsenic in the manufactureof candles cannot be too severely condemned, because it isonly employed with a view to stain tallow candles, and to givethem a nearer resemblance to wax. In France and Belgium, theGovernment has interfered, and forbidden the practice entirely,under a heavy penalty, after a full investigation of the subject.As these composite candles burn, the arsenic is imperceptiblyvolatilized, and its vapours may have a prejudicial effect on thehealth of those who are exposed to them. We want the assist-ance of a properly organized practical Council. We suppose itis idle to advise the public to avoid using these compositecandles, until some precautionary regulation is adopted withreference to their manufacture.On Friday, Jan. 3rd, an inquest was held by one of the deputy

coroners for Middlesex, at the Kenilworth Castle, Islington, onthe body of Joseph Haggett, aged twenty-one, late a workmanof Messrs. Le Paige and Co., composite candle manufacturers,,Great Suffolk-street, Borough.

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Edmund Phillips, of 5, King-street, deposed that deceasedwas his lodger. On last Christmas day he returned home, andcomplained of his hand being poisoned by the arsenic used in themanufacture of composite candles, in the manufactory of Messrs.Le Paige, where he worked. Deceased was unable to return tohis work, and became so ill on Saturday, that witness called in asurgeon, but he died on the following Monday morning, at aboutseven o’clock. He had been three months in that employ. Wasfrequently sick during that period, and shewed how his handswere contracted by the arsenic. He attributed his ailments tostanding over the steam of the ingredients used in making thecandles.

Mr. Edward Roe, surgeon, attended deceased on Saturdaymorning. He found him with the left hand and fore armswollen . the glands under the arm were also swelled ; there waslikewise an abrasion of the skin on the back of the hand. Theangry appearance of the limb satisfied him that it had been poi-soned ; and he told deceased so, who, with some reluctance, said" Yes," and that he imbibed the arsenic from the composition ofwhich wax stearine candles were made. Saline draughts,fomentations, and poultices, were instantly administered. Herallied a little on Sunday, but in the evening got worse, and diedon Monday morning. Purple patches gradually covered hisarm and side, shewing the putrescent state of his blood. Thepoison was more tardy in its effects, in consequence of its havingbeen absorbed by the skin, than it would have been had he swal-lowed it, and it had acted more insidiously, as it was a mineralpoison. There was no doubt of his death having ensued from theinfluence of the poison used in his trade.

Mr. Le Paige having requested to be examined stated that hewas a native of Belgium, and that for the last twelve months hemanufactured wax, sperm, stearine, and composite candles in

Great Suffolk-street, Borough. He had twelve men in his

employ, and deceased was engaged by him as candlemakerabout three months ago. Eight ounces of arsenic were generallymixed with 1 cwt. of the melted stuff in other manufactories,but in his only two ounces, as he was desirous to do away witharsenic as much as possible. The arsenic gave to the candlesmore the appearance of wax. Candles made with arsenic sendforth a disagreeable smell, like garlic. In France and Belgiumthey were not allowed to use arsenic in the composition ofcandles. Deceased never touched the arsenic, which was putinto the melted stuff by the superintendent. The only duty ofdeceased was to take that stuff in ladles from the boilers, andpour it into moulds. Deceased, who was a sober, steady man,never complained of illness until after Christmas-day, and thenhe merely said that he had injured his hand. Witness neverheard of any other man in his employ being similarly affected.Deceased had no occasion to touch the ’composition with hiehands. The superintendent, a Frenchman, stated that he him-self invariably mixed the arsenic with the melted stuff, as a pre-caution against danger.The deputy coroner having procured the attendance of some

workmen in candle manufactories where arsenic was used, in-quired whether any of them knew, or had ever heard, of poison-ing, or any ill effects whatever, having been produced in anysuch manufactory previously to the present instance occurring.The reply was in the negative. The deceased, it appeared, wasin very poor health when he went to Messrs. Le Paige’s manu-factory, and never complained there of anything up to the day ofhis finally leaving it. He and all the workmen there were volun-tary servants in the establishment, and well knew that the arsenicwas used; and the agent who mixed the arsenic appeared in theinquest-room in perfectly good health, as was Mr. Le Paige, thesuperintendent.The jury returned a verdict-" That deceased died from the

effects of his exposure to the poison of arsenic while at workin a candle manufactory." Before leaving the room, some ofthe jury said, that in the total absence of any knowledge that theuse of arsenic in tallow was injurious to workmen in such manu-factories, Messrs. Paige could not be justly visited with censurein relation to the death of Haggett.The deputy coroner said that he thought it right to say to the

proprietors, after this inquiry, that if at any time any person intheir establishment shewed symptoms of poisoning with arsenic,he ought instantly to be removed from the work, and placedunder medical care; and that the people in all such manufactoriesshould be, from time to time, warned to watch for, and givenotice of, any indications of the kind. Employment in them wasperfectly voluntary ; but workmen should always be madeaware of their risk, if any was suspected, in,processes requiringtheir labour.DgTH FROM PoiaoNlNO.—An inquest was held, on Friday last,

at Shiffnall, Shropshire, on the body of MJ. George ]pians, hah-

dresser, who died from poison administered by his mother undercircumstances affording additional proof of the necessity lately soapparent for the adoption of some legislative compulsion of cau-tion on the part of dealers in drugs. The deceased, it ap-peared, was labouring under violent nervous excitement, being ina state bordering on confirmed delirium tremens for some daysprevious to his death. With a view to procure an abatement of £his sufferings, he sent his son-a boy, aged about ten years-to aneighbouring druggist for two pennyworth of laudanum, the iredi.cine he was accustomed to take for similar purposes. The drug-gist, who also combined with that trade the business of a grocer,had no laudanum at the time in the house, but sent the child forit to a neighbouring surgery, where he obtained it in a teacup,and then proceeded home. The mother, ignorant of the fatalstrength of the potion, gave it to her son, who swallowed it at adraught, and shortly after fell into a sleep, from which the appli-cation of the stomach-pump and all the ordinary remedies failedto awake him. The agony of the parent. on finding that she wasthe unconscious instrument of her son’s death, is described asbeing most poignant. The verdict of the jury was, " Thatdeceased died by taking an excessive dose of laudanum:’-Times.

MESMERISM AT NOTTINGHAM.—A correspondent, under thesignature of " ViNDEx," but who has authenticated his commu-nication in a private note, informs us, that " Mr. Attenburrow,one of the fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons, residing in ’nNottingham, has, since the publication of Miss Martineau’s case,given a fresh impulse to mesmerism, by some proceedings whichare indicated in the following events. A lady, a relation of MissMartineau, had been suffering from an erysipelatous inflammationof the leg, which had resisted the usual treatment, and seriousintentions were entertained of making an incision into the limb;but on the day preceding the one on which that operation was tobe carried into effect, the lady wished to he mesmerised; it appearsthat the surgeon assented ; that she was mesmerised by him ; thatthe inflammation was alleged to have vanished, as if by magic; thatthe mesmeric sleep, moreover, was so profound that nothing coulddisturb it, until a bottle of mesmerised water was shaken overher head, when the lady saw sparks of fire pass from the bottleinto her leg, and awoke. Our correspondent wishes to know ifitis in consequence of the loss of a certain quantity of the auranaesmerica during his manipulations which causes the operator tofeel so much exhaustion, that he is obliged afterwards to take aglass of wine, or walk in the open air, to recover himself, for thathe states that on those occasions he " feels as if something hadgone out of him." Does it not depend rather on an escape of thesensus communis? ? Sore throat and colic are said to have been asspeedily annihilated by this disciple of Mesmer as were castlescalled into existence by Aladdin’s lamp in days of yore,-thelatter, as I understand, (says Vindex,) by blowing on the abdomenthrough the bed-clothes ; the former, probably, by drawing thesleeve over the neck, as recommended by Punch. What can theCouncil of the College (he asks) say to such doings of one of theirfellows, who styles himself pure,’ a non-dispenser of medicines,and a manufacturer and dispenser of mesmerised water? Per-

haps they will decide that an annual course of lectures should begiven in the schools on the subject of mesmerism, and that itshould be included in the examination for the fellowship. If not,as it is contemplated, with regard to Mr. Ward, at Oxford, to de-grade him from his honours, so ought a fellow of the College tobe deprived of his."

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.-At a meeting of the legally-qua-lified general practitioners in medicine and surgery resident inWhitehaven, held in the committee-room at the Infirmary, the13th day of January, 1845,-Mr. Mitchell, the senior practitioner,in the chair,-the following resolutions were unanimously agreedto :-" That the meeting deprecates the Medical Bill introducedinto Parliament last session by Sir James Graham, in conse-

quence of its total inadequacy to protect the rights of the quali-fied practitioner, and to secure proper medical and surgical attend.ance for the public. That the members for the western divisionof the county of Cumberland-Mr. E. Stanley and Mr. S. Irton,and the member for the borough of Whitehaven—Mr. M. Att-wood, be written to in the name of the meeting, to solicit theirmost strenuous opposition to the Bill on its being again introducedinto Parliament. That this meeting, being fully convinced of’ theinadequacy of the bill, both educational and practical, views withsatisfaction the efforts now being made by the general practi-tioners throughout the kingdom for a charter of incorporation,whereby they would be enabled to manage their own affairs, andparticipate in the advantages of those collegiate rights, which, asmembers of a liberal and enlightened profession, they were en-titled to. That the thanks of the meeting be given to the editors

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of The Times and THE LANCET for t1iéÍ1’ uJ’J.ifo:Mn opposition to thebill since its introduction into Parliament, and their able advocacyof the interests of the profession."SUPPRESSION OF FEELINGS OF PAIN.-A correspondent, who

has given us his name and address, in making some remarks onthe subject of " mesmerism," concludes them in the followingwords on the above subject :-" It has been pretended that somepersons have undergone surgical operations during mesmericsleep without feeling pain. Now it is well known to every sur-

geon that there are a few people who bear operations with perfectapathy. About sixty years ago, I saw the late John Hunter, atSt. George’s Hospital, remove an enormous tumour from the faceand neck of a man, who, so far from showing any symptoms ofpain, talked to the gentlemen around him as if nothing had beengoing-on. If mesmerism had been in fashion at that day, andthe man had been properly drilled, (as in all the cases I haveheard of, it was necessary that the patient should undergo somedrilling,) the public might have been cheated into a belief that hewent through the operation unconscious of pain. There is acase related lately, (I think in the Medical Gazette) where apatient had to undergo the operation of extirpation of the breast.She having friends among the mesmerists, they insisted on herbeing mesmerised, which was accordingly complied with; andthe operation was performed with rapidity and precision, yet notwithout the poor patient giving sufficiently obvious and dis-

tressing indications, both by movement and voice, of the pain sheendured."A MEDICAL BULLETI[N.-A correspondent writes :-The Earl

of Mornington has been ill; and the newspapers have insertedthe usual description of bulletins regarding his progress toconvalescence. This is the sort of sentence with which theyterminate :-Drs. COPLAND and PROUT are dailv in attendanceon the noble invalid, and there is-a medical gentleman stayingat the mansion." Who writes these paragraphs ? The " medicalgentleman staying at the mansion" is, doubtless, a GENERALPRACTITIONER, and has, substantially, the care of the patient,yet his name is not announced at all. Are the " doctors"ashamed of his company?THE SURGEONS OF ENGLAND -(From a correspondent.)-

Among the various bodies which have remonstrated against theoutrageous insults that have been perpetrated, or are meditated,against the medical profession, it is strange that there shouldhave been no association of those practising surgery separately.Great numbers of such members of the College of Surgeons, oflong standing in the profession, and unequivocal respectability,(including many naval and military practitioners) have had, withunparalleled indignity, thrust over them persons much their in-feriors in the scale of professional pretensions. No one need

envy the degraded position of a member of that body, when, inwalking along Regent-street, and the Strand, this day, I had threebills put into my hand, from three different members of theRoyal College, on the " No-cure-no-pay " system. But themisfortune is, that no one is, to be " eligible" to any public post,as a surgeon, unless he belong to that body ; and is otherwisedisqualified. All persons who have been contemptuously treatedby the College should promptly come forward and struggle fora redress of their grievances, and, above all things, adopting fortheir motto " CONCORD," all crotchets and differences of opinionshould be merged in the one grand effort of professional regenera-tion.—LŒSUS, Jan. 29.MEETING AT LAMBETH.-A Southwark practitioner writes to

us as follows :-Two or three months ago I attended a largemeeting of the practitioners of Southwark, Lambeth, and the ad-joining districts, assembled to oppose- Sir James Graham’s Bill.Many speeches were made and resolutions passed, but in whathave they ended ? Although I am living on the spot, and havemade many inquiries on the subject, I cannot learn that any sub-sequent proceedings have been taken, founded on them ; althoughit is well known that one of the representatives of Lambeth hasmanifested, in his place in Parliament, a more than usual interestin medical politics, and in whom, through our apathy, we maynot only lose a warm friend, but find a talented opponent. Theseare not times to run such risks.-Stamford-street, Jan. 28.OBITUARY.-Died, at Hastings, on the 8th of Jan., after a short

illness, Wm. Duke, Esq., surgeon. For many years he had anextensive practice, possessing the confidence and support of alarge number of his professional brethren.

i

APOTHECARIES’ HALL, LONDON. INames of gentlemen who obtained ceriificates to practise as apothe- ’,

caries, on Thursday, January 23rd, 1845 :-Edwin Jotham, Barnet, Herts ;Robert Cockettoo, Sutton, Essex.

CORRESPONDENTS.AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT PAOES are printed this week, for the purpose-

of admitting the whole of the Report from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONOF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS.The letter of Dr. Cardew in the Bath Gazette, of January 15th, has

reached us.The cases of dislocation and fracture forwarded by Mr. Edwyn Gurney, of

Cranborne; and the printed remarks by Dr. Thomas Radford, on detachingthe placenta, have been received.The request of Mr. Moxon (Hull) has- been complied with. Nat. Vac.

Estab., 8, Russell.pl., Fitzroy-sq.A correspondent, speaking of the case of " eczema rubrum mistaken for

syphilis," read before the Westminster Society, a few weeks ago, statesthat the short duration of the eruption, in his opinion, proves that themalady was not eczematous, but simply inflammatory.The plan of Mr. Charles Smith, for the formation of a " General Benefit

Society," we think good, but we cannot give publicity to it at present. Itwould be highly injudicious to divert the attention of the profession from thepursuit of their " rights," which can only be acquired by their united efforts.

Inquirer, (Liverpool.)-Any kind of galvanic battery may be applied tomedical purposes. We have seen the one lately advertized in the columnsof THE LANCET, and think it very convenient for use, and sufficientlypowerful.Sir,-Can a person practising in England, under a foreign diploma, legally

recover reasonable demands for advice and attendance ? Your early replywill oblige, MEDicus BRITANNICUS.—*** He cannot.The communication of Mr. R. A. Varicas, on the injection of tannin for

the cure of aneurisms, is in the hands of the printer.D.-The number of " in 11 and " out" patients there is amply sufficient

to occupy the attention of any student in the practical observation of dis-eases. As his latinity is so imperfect, he should devote a considerable por-tion of his time, until October, to the study of the Latin language, under acompetent master. His progress would be much facilitated at the schoolshere, if, before arriving in London, he could make himself thoroughly ac-quainted with human osteology. Wilson’s " Anatomist’s Vade-mecum"would be a good companion in such a labour.Any answer of the kind supplied by Far North, should have beeri fur-

nished in time for insertion in the same volume of THE LANCET as that inwhich the first remarks appeared. Moreover, five weeks have been sufferedto elapse between the appearance of the latter contribution and the timethat the note of Far North comes under our notice ; consequently, by thistime, the subject-one of local arid temporary interest-has been as good asforgotten beyond the place of its birth. Further, we must observe, thatsince the criticism of Far North contains assertions that require the au-thentication of a name and address, for reference in case of contradiction,the note could not be inserted in our; columns on merely anonymousauthority, which, in truth, is no authority.The subject of the letter, signed A Member of our dignified" Profession,

shall be discussed in the next number of THE LANCET.The letter of G. C. B. on " the power of the London College of Physicians

to deprive a Licentiate of his licence," shall appear, with some commentson the points broached by our correspondent, next week.A Friend of Dr. Edward Rigby seems to be more concerned about the

reputation of that physician than does the doctor himself. The Dublin

Medical Press, of Wednesday last, in which the vehicle of his contributionsis described as a a low London medical journal, specially devoted to quacksand quackery," and as a receptacle of some of 11 the filthiest puffs it hasbeen our lot to meet even in publications of that description," might besent to the doctor himself, 23, New-street, Spring-gardens, by our corres-pondent, as we cannot give a place to the letter of A Friend, c., in THELANCET.A Friend of Twenty Years’ standing.-Acting under the advice of the

highest legal authority, an action has been commenced against the partiesfor that atrocious libel. Such is the state of the business of the court, thatthe cause cannot be tried before June or July. Nothing more injurious tothe character of the profession has ever happened, than that there should befound even a dozen respectable persons in it who would associate theirnames with so infamous a publication. That individuals occupying the rankof gentlemen should thus be engaged in destroying their own reputation, is

really marvellous. There is no castigation so severe as the one whichthey are inflicting upon themselves. They certainly have no claim to for-bearance.

Sir,-Supposing a medical officer of an Union district was induced toresign his office at the recommendation of the Poor-Law Commissioners,(made in an official communication from them to the Board of Guardians,) onan alleged neglect of duty on his part, and that he was elected by theguardians to another appointment, at a future time;- would his election, insuch case, be confirmed by the Commissioners ? Your obedient servant,BETA. Jan. 24th, 1845.-*"* Answer. It would depend, in great measurd.on the nature of the complaint against him, and how far it had been sus-

tained ; but the proper course for Beta to adopt is for him to address aletter to the Commissioners on the subject, and ask whether or not theywould admit of his appointment to another district. We infer from his

question that it was a forced resignation; consequently, we believe thatBeta’s appointment to another district would not be confirmed by the Com-missioners.