1510

Notes, Short Comments, and Answersto Correspondents.

THE GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL AND UNREGISTEREDDENTISTS.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,-Will you permit an old contributor whose first article inTHE LANCET dates back to 1856 to enter a protest against the action ofthe General Medical Council in reference to unregistered dentists.Some two or three years ago I received from the Registrar of theGeneral Medical Council a most impertinent notice telling me that if Iemployed an unregistered assistant I should be deemed "guilty of in-famous conduct." I took no notice of this, as in New Zealand we haveno assistants of any kind. But last year I received a similarnotification about unregistered dentists. By this I was informed thatif I administered an ansesthetic for an unregistered dentist I shouldbe guilty of "infamous conduct in a professional respect." This wastoo much for my patience. The great majority of dentists here arenot on the English Register, and apart from the outrageous misuse of Ithe English language in calling the administration of an aneestheticwhile another man is extracting teeth "infamous conduct," I was 1not going to submit to be dictated to by a council of tradesunionists as to how I should carry on my practice. So Isent in my resignation and requested the Registrar to strike myname off the Register. This has been done. I was a fully-qualifiedpractitioner four years before the Act of 1858 and I am a fully-qualifiedpractitioner now. The registration in England gave me no rights thatI did not previously possess and its absence deprives me of none, but Ihave had the pleasure of cutting myself adrift from the very uselessand incompetent corporation called the General Medical Council whoseactions for years past I have looked on with contempt.

I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,R. H. BAKEWELL, M.D. St. And., ad eundem N.Z.,

M.R.C.S. Eng., L.M., L.S.A.Auckland, N. Z., March 20th, 1901.

*** Dr. Bakewell does not appreciate the good work that has beendone and is being done by the General Medical Council in preventingall sorts of unqualified practice. The regulation of the Councilmaking it unprofessional for a qualified medical man to assist anunqualified dentist is one that meets with universal approval in themother country, but the situation in many colonies is a differentone.-ED. L.

BETA-EUCAINE.

To the Editors of THB LANCET.

SIRS,—Could you or any of your correspondents inform me if betaeucaine is always a satisfactory local anmsthetic? I have just hadoccasion to use it in a case of’ extraction of finger-nail. I injectedabout 30 minims of a 5 per cent. solution around the nail bed.The anæsthesia was all that could be desired, but there resultedaround the tip of the finger, the day after the operation, swellingand an unhealthy blueness of the skin, and in some parts blisters wereraised containing clear fluid. The finger presented such an unhealthyappearance that the patient feared blood-poisoning ; and is at presentvery uneasy as to its ultimate progress. This is the third day sincethe operation, and the finger still looks unhealthy and considerablyswollen. The preparation of eucatne was freshly prepared by a

chemist, and all instruments were sterilised immediately before use, sothat I am quite satisfied that this unlooked-for result is due entirelyto the eucaine. I shall be obliged if anyone can throw any light on thematter. I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,Evesham, May 21st, 1901. L. F. LESLIE.

BENZ CARS.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,-If your correspondent " Cornwall" " in THE LANCET of

May 18th, p. 1442, who is thinking of buying a Benz car, buys onewith a Crypto hill-climbing gear attached he will be able to get upany hill he will meet with. The ordinary two-speed car without this isnot worth having in a hilly country. I have had a Benz car for thelast two years and it has been occasionally available for use, perhapshalf a dozen times during the last 12 months, on which occasions ithas generally hindered a good deal more time than it has saved.And during the same period I have spent about R70 on it, andam still running up a bill. Nsvertheless, I have still hopes of makinga good car of it and of using it this summer. But if your corre-

spondent thinks he is going to close his stables and save money bykeeping a motor he is about to buy experience. I always adviseprospective purchasers, "Get your bookseller to order you twelve-months’ back numbers of the Azttocar. Read them all through,advertisements and all. Then you will have some idea of the carmost likely to suit you. Have nothing to do with pneumatic tsres ora pump. Finally, having selected your car, if, when you have

paid for it and got it home you set fire to it you willknow exactly what it has cost you." Before buying a car at all Iwould recommend anyone to read carefully a short article in the Fieldof May 3rd on the Diesel engine. It this engine does anythingapproaching what is claimed for it it will revolutionise the motor

industry, though it will be certain to meet with a great deal of

organised and interested opposition to start with. Remember, there aremany hundreds of thousands of pound. invested in the output ofexisting engines and components.

I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,Stratford-on-Avon, May 18th, 1901. HARRY LUPTON.

To the Editors oj THE LANCET.SIRS,—In answer to the inquiry of your correspondent "Cornwall" ,.

re Benz motor-cars I can confidently recommend them in a hill’ydistrict. With surface of main-roads good and by-roads bad I haveused one for the last three years with entire success and a great savingover horseflesh. They seldom, if properly cared for, want any repairs.and cost about d. per mile to run. If " Cornwall" will write to medirect I shall be glad to give him the fullest particulars.

I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,T. PRICHARD ROBERTS, L.R.C.P. Irel., &c.

St. Albans, May 20th, 1901.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,—In answer to your correspondent "Cornwall with regard to.the above I can inform him that I have driven a Benz car for twoand a half years and have done all my work in it. I have been over

15,000 miles and the upkeep has been about E40 to £50 a year. If the caris properly treated and looked after it is most reliable and quicker anc)cheaper than two horses. The new car is much stronger and better thanthe 1898 pattern. Messrs. Hewetson are most courteous and obliging,prompt in sending requisites, and moderate in price-very serious points.if the parts had to be sent for from France and charged accordingly.One hears a lot of abuse of the Benz, but if a man cannot succeedwith this car he could not with any. It is most simple, long-suffering,and reliable, which after all are the chief requisites for medical work.Of course it must be learnt, like anything else, and the only way to learnit is to drive it. My car is practically as good as new for work, thougha bit noisy from wear. I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,May 20th, 1901. A. CHARPENTIER.

P.S.-With the Crypto gear it will go up any hill.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,-Your correspondent " Cornwall." in THE LANCET of May 18tb,p. 1442, does not state which style of Benz car he thinks of using.The Benz firm is old-established, and makes cars of three horse-

power up to 50. Probably the small three horse-power car is referredto. Having owned one of these and used it in my professional workfor a year, and covered some 2000 miles in that time, I may say thatthey are certainly reliable but rather slow cars ; they are also nowconsidered by up-to-date automobilists as old-fashioned. Their greatdrawback, in my opinion, is the position of the engine-behind-whichrenders it difficult to make necessary adjustments, &e. These cars will

go up gradients of one in four slowly if the surface is good and theirsolid tyres would stand the rough by-roads which, as I know from

experience, are in Cornwall very loose and bad in the summer. The

up-keep, of course, depends on the distance run in a given time, the.care taken in driving, and the attention given to the car. In Cornwall

repairs and renewals would frequently be needed. I would stronglyadvise a car of at least six horse-power with solid tyres if expense is tobe considered. The three horse-power cars are very slow and unsatis-factory to drive on muddy roads in winter. I shall be pleased to giveyour correspondent any further information I can.

I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,May 22nd, 1901. C. E. ABBOTT, M.R.C.S. Eng., &c.

Inquirens.-" Health in Africa," by Dr. D. Kerr Cross ; pp. 222

(London: James Nisbet and Co, 21, Berners-street). "Managementof Children in India," by Dr. Edward A. Birch; pp. 476 (London:W. Thacker and Co., Creed-lane). "Guide to Health in Africa," bySurgeon-Major Thomas Heazle Parke; pp. 175 (London: SampsonLow, Marston, and Co., Fetter-lane). "Maladies du Soldat aux PaysChauds," pp. 181 (Paris : J. B. Baillière et Fils). " Die Krankheitender Warmen Lander," by Dr. B. Scheube; pp. 661 (Jena: GustavFischer). " How to Live in Tropical Africa," by Dr. J. Murray; pp.252 (London: George Philip and Son, 32, Fleet-street). " Guide Pratiqued’Hygiène et de Medecine Coloniale," par Dr. Sadoul; pp. 202 (Paris :Augustin Challamel). " Cholera in Indian Cantonments," by E. H.Hankin, M.A. (Cambridge: Deighton, Bell, and Co.). " Medical Hints.for Hot Climates," by Charles Heaton, M.D. (London: W. Thackerand Co.). "Tropical Diseases," by Patrick Manson, M.D. (London:Cassell and Co.), "Lectures on the Malarial Fevers," by W. S.Thayer, M D. (London : H. Kimpton). " Tberapeutique du,

Paludisme," par F. Burot et M. A. Legrand (Paris: J. B. Baillière)."Maladies des Pays Chauds et Tropicaux," par Dr. J. Brault (ParisJ. B. Baillière). "Malaria," by Professor A. Celli; translated by J. J.Eyre, M.R.C.P., L.R.C.S.lrel. (London: Longmans). "Mosquitoesand Malaria," by C. Christy, M.B. (London : Sampson Low, Marston,and Co.). "B1ackwater Fever," by W. H. Crosse (London: John Bale,Sons, and Danielsson, 83-89, Great Titchfield-street).

X. Y.Z.-C should attend the case, the unregistered man havingsevered his connexion with it. If the cause of death is clear he cangive the certificate, but about this he must be guided by all thecircumstances.

A Regular Reader of Your Paper.-The advertisement is an undesirableone, but we do not think, in all the circumstances, that it is worthnoticing.

1511

M E T E 0 R 0 L O G I C A L R E A D I N G S.

(Taken daily at 8.30 a.m. by Steward’s Instruments.)

Medical Diary for the ensuing Week.OPERATIONS.

METROPOLITAN HOSPITALS.MONDAY 27th).-London (2 P.M.), St. Bartholomew’s (1.30 P.M.), St.Thomas (3.30 P.M.), St. George’s (2 P.M.), St. Mary’s (2.30 P.M.),

Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), Westminster (2 P.M.), Chelsea (2 P.M.),Samaritan (Gynaecological, by Physicians, 2 P.M.), Soho-square(2 P.M.), Royal Orthopoedic (2 P.M.), City Orthopaedic (4 P.M.),Gt. Northern Central (2.30 P.M.), West London (2.30 P.M.), LondonThroat (2 P.M.).

TUESDAY (28th).-London (2 P.M.), St. Bartholomew’s (1.30 P.M.), Guy’s(1.30 P.M.), St. Thomas’s (3.30 P.M.), Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), West-minster (2 P.M.), West London (2.30 P.M.), University College(2 P.M.), St. George’s (1 P.M.), St. Mary’s (1 P.M.), St. Mark’s(2.30 P.M.), Cancer (2 P.M.), Metropolitan (2.30 P.M.), London Throat(2 P.M. and 6 P.M.), Royal Ear (3 P.M.), Samaritan (9.30 A.M. and2.30 P.M.).

WEDNESDAY (29th).-St. Bartholomew’s (1.30 P.M.), University College(2 P.M.), Royal Eree (2 P.M.), Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), Charing-cross(3 P.M.), St. Thomas’s (2 P.M.), London (2 P.M.), King’s College(2 P.M.), St. George’s (Ophthalmic, 1 P.M.), St. Mary s (2 P.M.),National Orthopaedic (10 A.M.), St. Peter’s (2 P.M.), Samaritan(9.30 A.M. and 2.30 P.M.), Gt. Ormond-street (9.30 A.M.), Gt. NorthernCentral (2.30 P.M.). Westminster (2 P.M.), Metropolitan (2.30 P.M.),London Throat (2 P.M.), Cancer (2 P.M.).

THURSDAY (30th).-St. Bartholomew’s (1.30 P.M.), St. Thomas’s(3.30 P.M.), University College (2 P.M.), Charing-cross (3 P.M.), St.George’s (1 P,M.), London (2 P.M.), King’s College (2 P.M.), Middlesex(1.30 P.M.), St. Mary’s (2.30 P.M.), Soho-square (2 P.M.), North-WestLondon (2 P.M.), Chelsea (2 P.M.), Gt. Northern Central (Gynseeo-logical, 2.30 P.M.), Metropolitan (2.30 P.M.), London Throat (2 P.M.),St. Mark’s (2 P.M.), Samaritan (9.30 A.M. and 2.30 P.M.).

FRIDAY (31st).-London (2 P.M.), St. Bartholomew’s (1.30 P.M.), St.Thomas’s (3.30 P.M.), Guy’s (1.30 P.M.), Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), Charincross (3 P.M.), St. George’s (1.30 P.M.), Middlesex (2 P.M.), St. Marys(2 P.M.), Ophthalmic (10 A.M.), Cancer (2 P.M.), Chelsea (2 P.M.), Gt.Northern Central (2.30 P.M.), West London (2.30 P.M.), LondonThroat (2 P.M. and 6 P.M.), Samaritan (9.30 A.M. and 2.30 P.M.).

SATURDAY (lst).-Royal Free (9 A.M. and 2 P.M.), Middlesex (1.30 P.M.),St. Thomas’s (2 P.M.), London (2 P.M.), University College (9.15 A.M.),Charing-cross (2 P.M.), St. George’s (1 P.M.), St. Mary’s (10 P.M.),London Throat (2 P.M.).

At the Royal Eye Hospital (2 P.M.), the Royal London Ophthalmic(10 A.M.), the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic (1.30 P.M.), and theCentral London Ophthalmic Hospitals operations are performed daily.

SOCIETIES.FRIDAY (31st).-BRITISH BALNEOLOGICAL AND CLIMATOLOGICAL

SOCIETY B20, Hanover-square, W.).-5 P.M. Ordinary Meetingfollowed by General Meeting. Election of Officers and Council.9 P.M. Annual Conversazione. Dr. I. Burney Yeo : HepaticInadequacy. 6.30 P.M. Annual Dinner at Limmer s Hotel, Conduit-street, W.

LECTURES, ADDRESSES, DEMONSTRATIONS, &c.WEDNESDAY (29th).-HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTION AND DISEASES

OF THE CHEST (Brompton).-4 P.M. Dr. Maguire: Bloodlettingin Disorders of the Circulation.

THURSDAY (30th).-WEST LONDON POST-GRADUATE COURSE (WestLondon Hospital, W.).-5 P.M. Mr. T. Edwards : The Treatment ofGleet.

CHARING-CROSS HOSPITAL.-4 P.M. Mr. Waterhouse: Surgical Cases.(Post-Graduate Course.)

During the week marked copies of the following newspapershave been received :-Northampton Reporter, Western Press,Hants County News, Cardiff Mail, Manchester Guardian, Bristol

Mercury, Express Star, Dundee Advertiser, Leeds Mercury, BoltonChronicle, Bzrmingham Gazette, South Wales Daily News, Herefora-Journal, Rochdale Times, Worcester Chronicle, Sanitary Record,Liverpool Daily Post, Times of India, Pioneer Mail, Glasgow Herald,Yorkshire Post, Builder, Citizen, Scotsman, Architect, DerbyshireTimes, Glossop Times, Perthshire Adve’rtiser, Hexham Courant, ObanTimes, Drapers’ Record, Cambria Star, Derby Express, Church Bells,Acton Gazette Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Gloucester Journal, PrestonHerald, Grantham Journal, Lincolnshire Chronicle, Norwich Press,Bury Guardian, Exeter Flaing Post, East Anglian Times, DorchesterTelegram, Yeovil Advertiser, Taunton Mail, Penrith Observer, Scar-

borough Post, Public Health Engineer, Bristol Times, Cycling,Health, Weekly Register, Midland Daily Telegraph, HuddersfieldExaminer, Cigarette World, Mining Journal, Lancaster Guardian,Reading dlercury, City Press, Surrey Advertiser, Ulster -7,,’cho, Flint-shire Observer, Surrey Mirror, South African Weekly News, SurreyTimes, Surrey Comet, Hertfordshire Mercury, Local Government

Journal, Elgin Coecrant, Musical News, Ayrshire Post, SouthDurham Mercury, Ilkeston Pioneer, Cambria Leader, &c., &c.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.It ia most important that communications relating to the

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