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examples of the most malignant form of the disease, and theywere saved by Dr. Ayre’s plan of treatment. I sat down bythe bedside of my patient with my calomel and laudanum,administering them according to Dr. Ayre’s suggestions, andwhich, unfortunately, I had not become earlier acquaintedwith, and never left the room until I considered the patientsafe, until reaction was satisfactorily established. Ofcourse, the application of heat in every available form washad recourse to; and what I think of some importance, theurgent thirst was allayed, or rather treated, by a teaspoonfulonly at once of cold water. I had previously adopted theplans recommended by Mr. Orton, Mr. Kennedy, Drs. Russelland Barry, as well as those followed in several cholera hos-pitals in Leeds, Newcastle, &c., and with one uniform result.I wish to add, that in August, 1846, I was called to a case ofAsiatic cholera, occurring in a man who recently left Liver-pool, and who was travelling about the country as a hawkerof silk handkerchiefs. He had been seized at three A.M. withsevere and abundant vomiting and purging, the latter excre-tion presenting the well-known appearance of rice-water, andat six A.M. I saw him. His pulse was perfectly extinct at thewrist, his voice almost inaudible, his skin and nails blue, andthe form much shrivelled; his tongue, and even breath, quitecold, and the cramps were terrific. Adopting at once all theproper collateral measures, I sat down, and commenced givingtwo grains of calomel and four drops of laudanum every fiveminutes for an hour, then every ten minutes for two hours,and at the end of three hours the pulse became occasionallyperceptible at the wrist. I still persevered with the remediesat longer intervals, until reaction was fully established. Withina week from the attack, the man left the town quite con-valescent, having undergone, however, a slight salivation. Theresult of these cases has given me a confidence in the planof treatment recommended by Dr. Ayre, which I do not atall feel in any other, and I believe it will be the convictionof all who fairly test the plan, that to him are due thewarmest thanks of the profession and of the public.

I am, Sir, your very humble servant,Blackburn, Nov. 13, 1848. J. MORLEY.J. MORLEY.

DR. RANKING AND HIS " PAY-IN-ADVANCE"CIRCULARS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—I do not see why Dr. Ranking should be so veryangry at the common-sense questions I addressed to the pro-fessional public respecting his proposed mode of supplyingthem with the " Abstract." This outrageous ebullition ofpassion, which for scurrility, I venture to say, was never sur-passed in any medical journal,-but the doctor, gentlemanlyman ! deprecates scurrility, and must needs blame you foradmitting scurrilous communications into your pages,-and noattempt being made to answer my questions, are, of them-selves, the fact is forcibly indicative of conscious guilt. Istill maintain that this " blending in an unseemly mannercommercial transactions and literary pursuits" is an impro-priety and an anomaly, and discreditable to Dr. Ranking asa meaicai autnor. THIS, nowever, is a matter wntcn concernsnot the profession-it has to do simply with the doctor’s goodname. But the profession are concerned in the other matter- namely, that if they pre-pay, as proposed, for the "Abstract"for the forthcoming year, what security have they that theywill ever receive a quid pro quo for their money ? MerelyDr. Ranking’s promise, the efficient performance, or perform-ance at all, of which must depend upon many contingencies." A biid in the hand is worth two in the bush." Thirteen shil-lings are money as well as are thirteen hundred pounds; andwho in his senses would advance the latter sum on the mereverbal promise of any man ? You say, " the respectabilityof Dr. Ranking is undoubted,’ and I most readily believe you:still we often meet with most respectable gentlemen in theworld, whose respectability, however, we discover to be of avery ambiguous kind when we come to close quarters withthem on such vulgar matters as pounds, shillings, and penceApologizing for occupying so much of your space,Montgomery, Nov. 12, 1848. I am, Sir, &c., J. J.

AN IMPROVED MEDICAL RELIEF BOOK ADAPTEDTO UNION PRACTICE.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Will you kindly permit me to lay before you a proof-sheet of an improved medical relief book ? î

I have forwarded a copy to the Poor-law Board, in the hope

that they may adopt this, or some such feasible plan of keep-ing a poor-law medical day book.The great object I have had in view has been to save the

necessity of transcription. Each day’s duties will be enteredas they occur, together with the supplies furnished, and anaccurate statistical statement can readily be made at anytime, weekly, monthly, or quarterly.What is to be done relative to the services of poor-law

medical officers under the Bill for removing nuisances &c. ?Are we to render the state this service, too, gratuitously! ?Instructions from poor-law inspectors have been distributedamong us freely, but not one word is even hinted as to theprospect of any remuneration. What with a non-medicalBoard of Health, (save the mark!) what with Boards of

Guardians administering, or rather defeating, medical relief, Ifor one can only express my extreme surprise at the pitiful

’ spectacle. May such jobbery and presumption meet with thescorn of every medical practitioner, and may you, Sir, be

- spared to lash all into an ordinary sense of propriety.-I havel the honour to be, Sir, your obedient, humble servant,

FREDERICK SMITH GARLICK.Cheapside, Halifax, October 26, 1848.

FREDERICK SMITH GARLICK.

*** Mr. Garlick has forwarded to us a page of the MedicalRelief Book, as at present in use in the Halifax Union, towhich he is surgeon; and another printed page, embodying theimprovements advocated by himself. The latter containsruled columns, under the following headings: Day of theweek, and date; name of patient; age; residence; nature ofdisease; visits and medicines dispensed; necessaries ordered tobe given to the patient; present state or termination of thecase; date of order from relieving officer; observations andmemoranda.No doubt Mr. Garlick would furnish a similar page to any

medical gentleman engaged in union practice who might bedesirous to adopt so complete a register for his own use.Besides the above paper, we have been furnished with the

following:-HALIFAX UNION. TOWNSHIP OF HALIFAX.

....................................Surgeon.Residence, .....................

’ It is intended that every patient, on the production of an

order from the relieving officer, shall receive a paper of thiskind, on which all prescriptions shall be written. The visitsand medicines &c. will then be registered in the MedicalRelief Book, as made and furnished. F. S. G.

NON-MEDICAL SANITARIANS AND NAVAL ASSIST-ANT-SURGEONS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—With many others, I was rejoiced to read that SirB. Brodie had remonstrated in the proper quarter, on theniggardly treatment the medical profession had received fromthe so-called Board of Health. But let not the learnedbaronet stop here. Let the presidents and council of the threeRoyal Colleges of Surgeons of London, Edinburgh, and Dub-lin, bestir themselves, and place the assistant-surgeons of thenavy on a footing with their army brethren, and their com-peers of the Hon. E. I. Co.’s Service. Let these collegesappeal to the Admiralty; if then they are still callous to ourincrease of comfortable privilege, let publicity be given totheir objections, as perhaps a something novel may have sug-gested itself to the genius of Captain Berkeley, the hon. mem-ber for Gloucester, which may need an explanation.The medical officers of the army and navy are the nearest

link our profession has hitherto possessed with the state. Butif in the public services, especially the navy, the rights andposition of medical men are degradingly trampled on, whatcan the civil section of the medical profession expect, at thepresent crisis, from a board of partial, aristocratic, non-medi-cal sanitarians ?

Mr. Guthrie, in his recent and excellent work " On Wounds

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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.