276 METEOROLOGICAL READINGS. (Taken daily at 8.30 a.m. by Steward’s Instruments.) THE LANCET OFFICE, Aug. 6th, 1885. Notes, Short Comments, & Answers to Correspondents. It is especially requested that early intelligence of local events having a medical interest, or which it t’s desirable to bring under the notice of the profession, may be sent direct to this Office. All communications relating to the editorial business of the journal must be addressed " To the Editor." Lectures, original articles, and reports should be written on one side only of the paper. Letters, whether intended for publication or private informa- tion, must be authenticated by the names and addresses of their writers, not necessarily for publication. We cannot prescribe, or recommend practitioners. Local pa ers containing reports or news-paragraphs should be marked. Letters relating to the publication, sale, and advertising departments of THE LANCET to be addressed " To the Publisher." ___ TREATMENT OF SORE FEET IN THE GERMAN ARMY. IT is stated that in the German army salicylic suet is now used uni- versally for foot-sores, sores from riding, &c., and that it is found much more satisfactory than the salicylic powder which was formerly used. The salicylic suet consists of two parts of pure salicylic acid, with ninety-eight parts of the best mutton suet. Dr. Illingworth.-The only criticisms on the subject we can trace are to be found in THE LANCET for June 28th, July 19th, and Dec. 6th, 1879. Dr. Lloyd Roberts.-Next week. SCHOOL CERTIFICATES: FEES. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—I copy the subjoined from The Justice of the Peace of Aug. 1st, 1885, which may be of interest to your subscribers. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, Southam, Aug. 3rd, 1885. J. HoLMES, M.D. Elementary Education Act, 1870, S. 74 : "Reasonable excuse for non- attendance of child, illness,. medical certificates."-When the attendance officer of a school board or union requires a medical certificate of illness in justification of a child’s non-attendance at school, is there any, and, if so, what, fee legally payable to a medical practitioner for such certi- ficate ; and if so, who is the person legally liable to pay the fee, the parent or the school attendance officer?-W. W. Answer.—The attendance officer or the school board have no power to require a parent to produce a medical certificate. If the child is ill that is an excuse for non-attendance. If the board are not satisfied with the parent’s statement, they may institute proceedings against the parent, and leave the parent to justify the child’s absence from school as best he can. Even in such a case a medical certificate is not necessary ; indeed, it is not evidence. There is nothing in the Education Act requiring a doctor to give a medical certificate without a fee, or at a prescribed fee, and the party who applies to him for such certificate must pay for it. RODGERS FUND. THE following has been received on behalf of the above: Dr. J. F. Churchill, Bentinck-street, .131 Is. Dr. Weaver (Southport).-We do not think it would serve any useful purpose to notice such effusions. CAUSE OF THE IMPEDED PULMONARY CIRCULATION IN THE COLLAPSE STAGE OF CHOLERA." To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—As Dr. George Johnson has revived his well-known views on the above subject I beg to call attention to a passage in my work on Cholera- its Etiology, Contagiousness, and Treatment (Churchill. 1883), which, I venture to think, more satisfactorily explains the respiratory (and other) phenomena in choleraic collapse than a hypothetical spasm of the pul- monary arterioles. I am, Sir, faithfully yours, New Brighton, Aug. 1st, 1885. W. BOYD MUSKET. A NON-POISOXOUS SUBSTITUTE FOR CHLORIDE OF ZINC IN SOLDERIN. PROVISION TINS. A PROPOSAL has been made and patented to use a solution of lactic acii and glycerol in water for the purpose of soldering the tins in whieh tinned provisions are put up, this solution being harmless, and acting as an efficient substitute for the poisonous chloride of zinc which is commonly used. W. E. D.-It has not been proposed to confer the title on those who ho1d a surgical diploma alone. Seeker.—We cannot depart from our rule. THE USES OF THE LIQUID EXTRACT OF ERGOT. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SiR,-The following record of the therapeutic action of ergot may no: be uninteresting. Everyone, of course, is acquainted with the action of ergot on the uterus ; its advantage in menorrhagia is also well known. I have used the liquid extract of ergot with great benefit in hæmoptysis and epii. taxis. Recently my assistant-surgeon had a pet.dog which bled from the nose during the excessive heat of June. I have often met with cases of epistaxis in dogs of European breeds in India during that month, The assistant-surgeon asked me if I knew of anything which would stop it. I said, " Try the liquid extract of ergot." The next morning he said, "Thank you, Sir; the ergot quite stopped the bleeding, and I think the dog will get well now." Very few, however, may have heard that ergot will cure hiccough. Last autumn there was in this district an extensive epidemic of intermittent fever. The police hospital was full of fever cases. One day a policeman was admitted with an obstinate hiccough. He said he had had it for some days, and had no other ailment. I tried many remedies-sedatives, narcotics, antispasmodies, and counter-irritants. I examined his body, to see whether there might not be some latent hernia in any part which might be the cause of it, but found nothing. I gave him a large antispasmodic enema, and then a strong purgative. The hiccough went on. I next tried chloroform and subcutaneous injections. As long as their effects lasted freedom from the distressing spasm was experienced. Then it came on again with unabated force. The patient began rejecting his food and everything he took by the mouth. The case was taking a serious aspect, and I thought death would ensue. As a last resource, I ordered the liquid extract of ergot in drachm doses. I did this simply became I knew it had a decided action on muscular fibre. The first dose moderated the spasm, the second did further good, and the third or fourth stopped it altogether. The patient had some rest, but later on the hiccough returned. Three or four doses stopped it again ; it never returned, and the man was well. Recently another case was admitted with a similar obstinate hiccough. My hospital assistant gave the liquid extract of ergot at once ; after some doses the cough was stopped and did not return. I have often given this extract in drachm doses frequently repeated, and have never observed any disadvantages from it. As to the cause of this idiopathic hiccough, I think it was a chill. It was the season of hot days and cold nights, with heavy dews. Natives are fond of sitting out in this chilling air. Most of them get fever ; the policeman spokenof of got a bad hiccough instead. A chill at one season may give bronchitis or pneumonia; at another it may give fever or produce some other reflex disturbance ; at a third it may produce diarrhoea or dysenteria; and, I believe, even an attack of cholera may be caused by a simple chill, other things being favourable. I am, Sir, yours truly, E. BONAVIA, M,D.. Etawah, June 30th, 1885. Brigade Surgeon, I.M,D. TITLES AND DISTINCTIONS. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—Now that the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons are actuallr engaged in considering how they may be able to bestow the title "M.D.,"it may not be amiss to bring into notice the claims of that kind of knowledge called " experience." There can be little doubt that universities and other examining institutions have, as a rule, been in the habit of ignoring " experience," so that, as things are, a young fellow fairly up in mathr matics, classics, and school work generally would stand a better chanee of getting a so-called higher diploma in medicine than an experienced practitioner. In the army and navy actual service or experience h treated as the best possible kind of knowledge, and no one in his scmM would presume to doubt the propriety and advantage of making the possession of such knowledge the basis of promotion. At the bar a Mao who is a successful practitioner and exhibits ripe discrimination ani judgment takes his silk as a matter of course, and is sure to be chosen in preference to a book-knowledge man to fill any place of importance in the public services. It is perfectly painful, in hospital appointment’ particularly, to notice how systematically the experienced practitionert, shunted to make way for some youthful aspirant who glories in the possession of what he fancies a higher diploma, but whose chief charae’ teristics are youth and professional inexperience. When a man passe from the region of books into the field of actual practice he opens up new channels for himself—through which he acquires knowledge of the highess and most important order, important to himself and important to the public-and the possession of which after years of professional toil ought in justice to entitle him to the highest consideration in his relation :’ titles of distinction. I am, Sir, yours faithfully. ’ August 3rd, 1885. A GENERAL PEACnuMH.
Transcript
276
METEOROLOGICAL READINGS.(Taken daily at 8.30 a.m. by Steward’s Instruments.)
THE LANCET OFFICE, Aug. 6th, 1885.
Notes, Short Comments, & Answers toCorrespondents.
It is especially requested that early intelligence of local eventshaving a medical interest, or which it t’s desirable to bringunder the notice of the profession, may be sent direct tothis Office.
All communications relating to the editorial business of thejournal must be addressed " To the Editor."
Lectures, original articles, and reports should be written onone side only of the paper.
Letters, whether intended for publication or private informa-tion, must be authenticated by the names and addresses oftheir writers, not necessarily for publication.
We cannot prescribe, or recommend practitioners.Local pa ers containing reports or news-paragraphs should
be marked.Letters relating to the publication, sale, and advertisingdepartments of THE LANCET to be addressed " To thePublisher."
___
TREATMENT OF SORE FEET IN THE GERMAN ARMY.
IT is stated that in the German army salicylic suet is now used uni-versally for foot-sores, sores from riding, &c., and that it is found much
more satisfactory than the salicylic powder which was formerly used.The salicylic suet consists of two parts of pure salicylic acid, withninety-eight parts of the best mutton suet.
Dr. Illingworth.-The only criticisms on the subject we can trace are tobe found in THE LANCET for June 28th, July 19th, and Dec. 6th, 1879.
Dr. Lloyd Roberts.-Next week.
SCHOOL CERTIFICATES: FEES.
To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—I copy the subjoined from The Justice of the Peace of Aug. 1st,
1885, which may be of interest to your subscribers.I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
Southam, Aug. 3rd, 1885. J. HoLMES, M.D.
Elementary Education Act, 1870, S. 74 : "Reasonable excuse for non-attendance of child, illness,. medical certificates."-When the attendanceofficer of a school board or union requires a medical certificate of illnessin justification of a child’s non-attendance at school, is there any, and, ifso, what, fee legally payable to a medical practitioner for such certi-ficate ; and if so, who is the person legally liable to pay the fee, theparent or the school attendance officer?-W. W.
Answer.—The attendance officer or the school board have no power torequire a parent to produce a medical certificate. If the child is ill thatis an excuse for non-attendance. If the board are not satisfied with theparent’s statement, they may institute proceedings against the parent,and leave the parent to justify the child’s absence from school as best hecan. Even in such a case a medical certificate is not necessary ; indeed,it is not evidence. There is nothing in the Education Act requiring adoctor to give a medical certificate without a fee, or at a prescribed fee,and the party who applies to him for such certificate must pay for it.
RODGERS FUND.THE following has been received on behalf of the above: Dr. J. F.
Churchill, Bentinck-street, .131 Is.Dr. Weaver (Southport).-We do not think it would serve any useful
purpose to notice such effusions.
CAUSE OF THE IMPEDED PULMONARY CIRCULATION INTHE COLLAPSE STAGE OF CHOLERA."
To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—As Dr. George Johnson has revived his well-known views on the
above subject I beg to call attention to a passage in my work on Cholera-its Etiology, Contagiousness, and Treatment (Churchill. 1883), which, Iventure to think, more satisfactorily explains the respiratory (and other)phenomena in choleraic collapse than a hypothetical spasm of the pul-monary arterioles. I am, Sir, faithfully yours,New Brighton, Aug. 1st, 1885. W. BOYD MUSKET.
A NON-POISOXOUS SUBSTITUTE FOR CHLORIDE OF ZINC IN SOLDERIN.PROVISION TINS.
A PROPOSAL has been made and patented to use a solution of lactic aciiand glycerol in water for the purpose of soldering the tins in whiehtinned provisions are put up, this solution being harmless, and actingas an efficient substitute for the poisonous chloride of zinc which iscommonly used.
W. E. D.-It has not been proposed to confer the title on those who ho1da surgical diploma alone.
Seeker.—We cannot depart from our rule.
THE USES OF THE LIQUID EXTRACT OF ERGOT.To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SiR,-The following record of the therapeutic action of ergot may no:be uninteresting.Everyone, of course, is acquainted with the action of ergot on the
uterus ; its advantage in menorrhagia is also well known. I have usedthe liquid extract of ergot with great benefit in hæmoptysis and epii.taxis. Recently my assistant-surgeon had a pet.dog which bled fromthe nose during the excessive heat of June. I have often met with casesof epistaxis in dogs of European breeds in India during that month,The assistant-surgeon asked me if I knew of anything which would stopit. I said, " Try the liquid extract of ergot." The next morning hesaid, "Thank you, Sir; the ergot quite stopped the bleeding, and Ithink the dog will get well now." Very few, however, may have heardthat ergot will cure hiccough. Last autumn there was in this districtan extensive epidemic of intermittent fever. The police hospital wasfull of fever cases. One day a policeman was admitted with an obstinatehiccough. He said he had had it for some days, and had no otherailment. I tried many remedies-sedatives, narcotics, antispasmodies,and counter-irritants. I examined his body, to see whether there mightnot be some latent hernia in any part which might be the cause
of it, but found nothing. I gave him a large antispasmodic enema,and then a strong purgative. The hiccough went on. I next triedchloroform and subcutaneous injections. As long as their effects lastedfreedom from the distressing spasm was experienced. Then it came on
again with unabated force. The patient began rejecting his food andeverything he took by the mouth. The case was taking a serious aspect,and I thought death would ensue. As a last resource, I ordered the
liquid extract of ergot in drachm doses. I did this simply became Iknew it had a decided action on muscular fibre. The first dose moderatedthe spasm, the second did further good, and the third or fourth stoppedit altogether. The patient had some rest, but later on the hiccoughreturned. Three or four doses stopped it again ; it never returned, andthe man was well. Recently another case was admitted with a similarobstinate hiccough. My hospital assistant gave the liquid extract of ergotat once ; after some doses the cough was stopped and did not return.I have often given this extract in drachm doses frequently repeated, andhave never observed any disadvantages from it. As to the cause of this
idiopathic hiccough, I think it was a chill. It was the season of hot
days and cold nights, with heavy dews. Natives are fond of sitting outin this chilling air. Most of them get fever ; the policeman spokenof of
got a bad hiccough instead. A chill at one season may give bronchitisor pneumonia; at another it may give fever or produce some otherreflex disturbance ; at a third it may produce diarrhoea or dysenteria;and, I believe, even an attack of cholera may be caused by a simplechill, other things being favourable.
I am, Sir, yours truly,E. BONAVIA, M,D..
Etawah, June 30th, 1885. Brigade Surgeon, I.M,D.
TITLES AND DISTINCTIONS.
To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—Now that the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons are actuallr
engaged in considering how they may be able to bestow the title "M.D.,"itmay not be amiss to bring into notice the claims of that kind of knowledgecalled " experience." There can be little doubt that universities andother examining institutions have, as a rule, been in the habit of ignoring" experience," so that, as things are, a young fellow fairly up in mathrmatics, classics, and school work generally would stand a better chaneeof getting a so-called higher diploma in medicine than an experiencedpractitioner. In the army and navy actual service or experience htreated as the best possible kind of knowledge, and no one in his scmMwould presume to doubt the propriety and advantage of making thepossession of such knowledge the basis of promotion. At the bar a Maowho is a successful practitioner and exhibits ripe discrimination anijudgment takes his silk as a matter of course, and is sure to be chosen inpreference to a book-knowledge man to fill any place of importance inthe public services. It is perfectly painful, in hospital appointment’particularly, to notice how systematically the experienced practitionert,shunted to make way for some youthful aspirant who glories in thepossession of what he fancies a higher diploma, but whose chief charae’teristics are youth and professional inexperience. When a man passefrom the region of books into the field of actual practice he opens up newchannels for himself—through which he acquires knowledge of the highessand most important order, important to himself and important to thepublic-and the possession of which after years of professional toil oughtin justice to entitle him to the highest consideration in his relation :’
titles of distinction. I am, Sir, yours faithfully.’ August 3rd, 1885. A GENERAL PEACnuMH.
277
MACLEAN TESTIMONIAL FUND.
FIRST LIST OF 6UBSCRIBEItS.
Directors-General: T. Crawford, Sir G. Logan.Inspectors-General of Hospitals.- T. D. Hume, T. Longmore, W. Mac-
kenzie. J. Macpherson, H. M. Macpherson, J. Murray.Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals: G. Saunders.Surgeons-General.—Army Medical Staff : G. Balfour, H. B. Hassard,
W. S. Murray, C. D. Madden, W. A. Mackinnon, M. F. Manifold, H. H.Massey.—Indian Medical Service: E. Balfour, Sir J. Fayrer, Sir W. G.Hunter, W. J. Moore, G. Smith.Deputy Surgeons-General.—Army Medical Staff: R. A. Chapple, T. W.Fox, W. J. Fyffe, R. Hungerford, Sir J. A. Hanbury, C. G. Irwin, J. A.Marston, W. H. Muschamp, J. 0’Nial, T. Tarrant, J. P. Thompson,
W. A. Thomson, H. R. Veale, W. M. Webb, R. Webb.-Indian MedicalService: N. Chevers, J. Ewart, S. B. Partridge, W. Pearl, J. L. Paul,D. B. Smith.Brigade Surgeon.3.-Ai,nzy Medical Staff : W. G. Don, E. Footner,
J. Jameson, W. Jobson, C. Mackinnon, A. S. K. Prescott, W. B. Rams-botham.—Indian Medical Service: J. Browne, H. Cayley, W. F. De Fabeek.Su)-geons--Ifajor.-Army Medical Staff : G. Ashton, A. Allan, S. Alcock,
J. F. Brattie, F. M. Baker, G. F. Boult, F. H. Blenkinsop, J. P. H.Boileau, C. R. Bartlett, A. Brebner, A. L. Brown, W. A. Catherwood,J, Coats, W. Cherry, C. S. Close, J. A. Campbell, H. Comerford,J. Coates. G. E. Dobson, F. A. Davy, F. S. B. De Chaumont, J. S.Duncan, J. P. Donaldson, F. Dick, W. Finlay, T. Faris, F. Ferguson,G. J. Gibson, W. C. Grant, A. A. Gore, J. R. Greenhill, T. J. Gallwey,D. C, W. Heather, G. A. Hughes, B. J. Jazdowski, W. T. Johnstone,P. L. Kilray, R. Keith, T. Lewis, J. Langdon, W. H. Macnamara, W. T.Martin, J. Macnamara, N. B. Major, J. A. McCracken, A. W. May,W. Nash, T. F. 0’Dwye.r, F. Pont, E. Reporter, W. Robertson, C. F.Richards, E. A. H. Roe, J. Scanlan, G. B. Sanders, W. R. Stuart, F. B.Scott, R. R. Scott, J. C. Tolmie, F. A. Turton, R. Tobin, J. G. Williamson,F. H. Welch, J. Wilson, S. J. White.—Indian Medical Service. H. Cook,S. L. Dobie, C. W. S. Deakin, G. R. Daphtary, B. Evers, E. Fawcett,J. T. Fitzpatrick, A. Grant, K. P. Goopta, H. Griffiths, E. B. Gardner,G. C. Hall, T. H. Hendley. H. Johnstone, A. S. G. Jayakar, W. E.Johnson, J. Kelly, G. King, W. N. Keefer, G. G. MacLaren, D. P. Mac-Donald, J. F. P. MacConnell, J. J. Montreath, W. R. Murphy, T. Mayne,K. McLeod, T. J. McGann, W. Macrae, A. McClorg, W. H. Roberts,D. Sinclair, J. C. Shaw, C. Sibthorpe, L. D. Spencer, E. J. Waring,C. J. H. Warden, D. Wilkie.Surgeons.—Army Medical Staff: L. E. Anderson, J. D. T. Breckitt,
G. S. Bigg, J. Battersby, A. Baird, 0. Cusack, G. Coutts, P. M. Carleton,J. P. Carmody, A. E. J. Croly, H. Charlton, T. A. Clery. W. Dugdale,A. H. C. Dane, T. R. Dodd, J. B. Emerson, R. J. Fayle, J. W. Fogarty,R. J. Geddes, C. B. Hill, J. Heath, F. A. Harris, T. A. Perry-Innes,H. C. Kirkpatrick, W. R. Kynsey. E. H. Le Mottee, B. W. Large,O. E. P. Lloyd, J. R. Lucas, G. Laffan, T. R. Lugard, J. Martin, F. R.Morse, H. J. Maclaughlin, H. S. McGill, R. W. Mapleton, J. Mac-Conochie, N. McCreery, J. J. Morris, T. Moynahan, W. A. Morris,G. Nelis, P. J. Nealon, D. V. O’Connell, T. J. O’Donnell, E. V. A.Phipps, J. Prendergast, W. W Pike, A. A. Pechell, T. A. Perrymarsh,A. Peterkin, W. W. Pope, A. S. Rose, M. R. Ryan, E. O. Reynolds,J. I. Rowth, J. Riordan, H. J. Robbins, J. Stevenson, E. F. Smith,C. H. Swaine, C. W. Theile, W. B. Thomson, H. Thomson, H. N.Thomson, F. W. Trevor, F. F. Wilkinson, G. E. Weston, A. L. Young.-Indian Medical Service: A. P. Adams, A. Adams, J. Blood, J. W. Clarkson,D. G. Crawford, S. H. Dantra, P. W. Dalzell, P. J. Damania, G. W. P.Denys, D. Elcum, N. S. Eyre, A. F. Ferguson, M. Gaisford, H. M.Hakim, W. K. Hatch, M. P. Kharegat, C. P. Lukis, J. Moorhead, T. R.Macdonald, J. MacGregor, E. R. Mulroney, H. K. McKay, R. Manser,T. Maitland, J. F. Mullen, G. F. Nicholson, G. M. Nixon. G. H. Peevor,C. S. Rundle, D. R. Ross, A. E. R. Stephens, D. P. Walker, F. W.
Wright.Fleet Surgeon: W. Reid.Professor W. Aitken; R. T. Caesar, Esq.; H. Dayman, Esq.; Major-
General A. F. Honchen ; G. Knapton, Esq. ; Sir W. MacCormac;D. Macfarlane, Esq.; Dr. Maclntyre; Captain Macdonald ; Miss Mac-donald ; Dr. Markew; Dr. F. Powell; Dr. Quain; M. Rowan, Esq.;B. Sanders, Esq.; L. K. Sampson, Esq.; T. Trend, Esq.; J. Tyndall, Esq.;Sir Spencer Wells.
H. MCLEOD, Secretary and Treasurer. ITOUTING EXTRAORDINARY.
To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—Kindly print the following, and expose the coolest temptation
which I have yet seen placed before a subordinate official. I suppressthe prospectus.-I am, Sir, yours faithfully,Aug. 4th, 1885. A DEAN OF A MEDICAL SCHOOL.
"X— X-, Senior Tutor." - College, -, July 28th, 1885.
"SIR,—I wish you to bring the enclosed prospectuses under the noticeof your medical students, as I have three vacancies for the long vacation.We commence on August 10th.Should you wish for more prospectuses, kindly write me." may mention that I will send you a present of one guinea for each
student thas may come to me from your hospital."Yours faithfully,
"The Hall Porter." "———————. ,
’’ P.S.—If you would kindly send me the names and addresses of anystudents that may have gone home, I will send them a prospectus each;and should any of them come to me, you will receive the same com-mission—one guinea for each one..
PRURIGO SENILIS.To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,—I have a patient who derives great comfort from the externalapplication of tincture of iodine to the unbroken surface of the skin ; it’marts for about five minutes after being applied, and then gives reliefto the itching. I am. Sir, yours obedientlv.
R. C. G. DURDIN.Leicester, Aug. 4th, 1885.
BRADLEY FUND.
WE have received from Dr. Biggs, Wandsworth Common, the sum of£1 Is. towards the above fund.
Mr. J. N. il-la2,sliall (Glasgow).—The paper will appear in an early number.Jacques.—No.D)-. C. Bell Taylor.—Yes, shortly.
THE LATE MR. G. S. LEWIS.
To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,—I was very sorry to read in your issue of Feb. 14th the announce-ment of the death of Surgeon G. S. Lewis, and was also much surprisedto notice the following paragraph : " The energy with which he devotedhimself to his onerous duties during the cholera epidemic in Egyptprobably laid the foundation of the disease to which he succumbed." Iknew Lewis well at Cambridge, as we were fellow medical students atAddenbrooke’s Hospital. He was then a short well-built muscular man
weighing about llst. I left Cambridge in 1874, and saw nothing ofLewis till I casually met him one evening about three years after-wards, and then he was so altered (about half the size he wasat the University) that I remarked to him, "Why, you must bephthisical." " Oh yes!" he replied, "it is the family complaint; I havelost sixorseven brothers and sisters through it, and I am the last." I thensaid, "Why do you not take a voyage home to Tasmania ?" He replied, ’’ Ihave not much longer to live, and I think I may as well see it out here."I then lost sight of him, till in December, 1831, I met him in Gos port.I was so surprised to see him that I exclaimed, " Why, Lewis, surely thatis not you; I thought you were dead years ago." He said, " Well, I wasexcessively bad, but by taking great care of myself I feel much stronger,and have got another lease of my life." I then asked him what he was
doing, and he replied that he was then in the Army Medical Service."Well," I said, "however did you pass the medical examination-what did the doctor say to your lungs ?" "Oh," he replied, " heexamined my heart, but, fortunately for me, never examined thestate of my lungs."My object in writing this is simply to show what a farce the medical
examination of candidates is. I suppose there are so many that eachone cannot have a thorough examination. But still a question or tworelating to family history would soon show the weak point of each, andlead to a more thorough examination of that organ.
I am, Sir, yours faithfully,TROS. DYSON, M.R.C.S., &c.,
Medical Officer to the Burke District Hospital, and Govern-ment Medical Officer at Normanton.
Normanton, Queensland, May 30th, 1885.
RAPID PASSAGE OF A COIN THROUGH THE ALIMENTARYCANAL.
To the Editor of THE LANCET. --***’SIR,—The following may be interesting as showing how rapidly a coin
may pass along the alimentary canal of a child without causing anyinconvenience.On Saturday, July 25th, a boy aged ten years was brought t y
surgery at 8 P.M. by his mother, who stated that he had just swallow ahalfpenny. The mother was much distressed, and greatly surprisedthat I did not at once give an emetic or a large dose of castor oil as apurgative; but having satisfied myself that the coin had passed downthe cesophagus, I gave a constipating mixture, ordering the diet to besolid, with instruction to the mother to carefully examine any stoolsthe boy might have. On Monday the coin was brought to me by themother, she stating that the bowels had acted on the Sunday eveningat 9 P.M., or about twenty-five hours after the coin had been swallowed,when it was found, after carefully breaking up the fseoes. The coinbore the date of 1862. I am, Sir; yours faithfully,
CHAS. J. H. IjAWDAY.Jiiverton, Aug. 4th, 1885.
MEDICAL DIRECTORY, 1886.
To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,—Allow me to suggest that every member of the profession who isconnected with a telephonic exchange should insert in the DirectoryCircular (received to-day) his telephone number, and also the name ofbhe centre with which he is connected. The entry might appear in theDirectory Alphabetical List, thus: " Smith, John, Rodney-street,Liverpool (Telephone Liverpool, 2341’);" and the letter T might beplaced in the Local List after the name of each telephone subscriber.Now that there are trunk telephone wires connecting nearly all ourlarge towns (in this district) one with another, it is important that thename of the telephone centre, as well as the subscriber’s number, bestated, so that there may be no doubt as to who is " called " if a person at(say) Oldham wishes to speak to another at Southport, distant (by wire)about sixty miles. I am, Sir, yours obediently,
SOUTHPORT, No. 59.Aug. 4th, 1885.
CoMr2urltcATtorls not noticed in our present number will receive atten.tion in our next.
COMMUNICATIONS, LETTERS, &a., have been received from-Mr. Marshall,London; Dr. Lloyd Roberts, Manchester; Mr. Ogier Ward, Totten-ham ; Mr. Atkinson, Surbiton ; Dr. W. E. Steavenson, London ; Mr. ACluse, London; Mr. G. D. Mackintosh; Mr. Butlin, London; Mr. A.Bowie, London; Dr. R. Fowler, London ; Dr. F. F. Pearse, Haslemere ;
278
Dr. J. S. Haldane, Cloanden; Dr. Notley, Birmingham; Mr. Craven,Southport; Mr. F. N. Marshall, Glasgow; Dr. T. Oliver, Newcastle-on-Tyne ; Mr. Rawlings, London ; Dr. Savage, London; Mr. Munro
Scott, London; Dr. C. S. Taylor, London; Dr. A. M. Buchanan, Glas-gow ; Mr. Humphreys, Llanfair ; Mr. J. M. Taylor, London; Dr. T. T.Reynolds, Liverpool; Mr. G. H. Wright, London; Dr. Tucker Wise,Maloja; Mr. Reade, London; Dr. Weaver, Southport; Mr. T. M.
Macdonald, London; Mr. Schen, London; Mr. Durdin, Leicester;Mr. F. H. Hodges, Leicester; Mr. Sansbury, London; Mr. Sawtell,London; Mr. W. Philipson, Newcastle-on-Tyne; Messrs. SampsonLow and Co., London; Mr. Walter Whitehead, Manchester; Mr. H. D.Muldrow, Washington; Dr. Campbell, Carlisle; Dr. A. Thompson,Ulverstone; Dr. Mushet, New Brighton ; Mr. Percy Pope, SouthHayling; Dr. W. Dale, King’s Lynn; Dr. Lediard, Carlisle ; Mr. F. F.Pedley, Rangoon; Mr. Dyson, Normanton; Mr. Richley, Spenny-moor ; Dr. McLeod, Edinburgh; Dr. Holmes, Southam ; Mr. McComb,Beccles ; Messrs. Mayer and Meltzer, London; Miss Cobb, Pendlebury;Mr. Armstrong, Manchester; Mr. Bullock, Rugby; Mr. Wylie, Belfast;Messrs. Bennett Bros., Salisbury; Mr. Walker, London; Mr. Logan,Newcastle-on-Tyne; Mr. Laban, West Bromwich ; Messrs. Smith and
Oakley; Mr. Hill, London; Mr. Jope, Glasgow; Mr. Greenwood,Hanley; Mr. Saunders, Exeter; Mr. Cartland, Windsor; Mr. Preston,London; Mr. Goodwin, Maidstone; Mr. Moir, Glasgow; Mr. Bates,New York; Mr. Maythorn, Biggleswade; Messrs. Wright and Co.,Birmingham ; Mr. Willey, Sheffield ; Messrs. Macmillan and Co.,London; Mr. Andrews, London; Mrs. Parry, Shrewsbury; Dr. Jones,Aberkenfig; Mr. Bell, Kershaw; Dr. Tibbits, London; Dr. Struthers,Aberdeen; Messrs. Livingstone, Edinburgh; Mr. Spenser, Richmond;Mr. Guest, Orsett; Mr. C. Richards, London; Mr. R. Jeffreys, Chester-field; Mr. P. Michelli, London; Mr. C. L. Todd, London; Dr. T.
Gelston, Limerick; Dr. G. Johnson, London; Dr. Broadbent, London;Mr. Jas. Stewart, Clifton; Mr. Quennell, London; Mrs. Wardroper,London; Mr. Delamotte, London; Mr. A. Jeaffreson, York; Dr. B.
Squire, London; Dr. Shirtliff, Kingston-on-Thames; Messrs. Knightand Co., London; Dr. Erskine, Camborne; Mr. Moore, Stourbridge;Dr. Douglas, Scone; Mr. F. Simms, London; W. E. D.; A GeneralPractitioner; S. M. W., Gravesend; W., Brighton; Audi alteram
partem.LETTERS, each with enclosure, are also acknowledged from-Dr. Abbotts ;Mr. Devereux, Tewkesbury; Mr. Nicholson, Hull; Mr. Cairns, Wake-field ; Mr. Jones, Bridgend; Dr. Williams, Tredegar; Mr. Harris, CapeColony; Mr. Keating, Manchester; Mr. Ernst, London; Mr. Taylor,Newcastleton; Dr. MeCalum, Anstruther; Mr. Wilson, Salisbury;Mr. Blumer, Stafford ; Mr. Hogg, London; Messrs. Wyleys and Co.,Coventry; Mr. Lilly, Portsmouth; Dr. Royle, Jersey ; Messrs. Bealand Co., Brighton; Messrs. Krohne and Co., London; Messrs. CornishBros., Birmingham; Messrs. Biles and Son, Bradford; Mr. Oldham,Manchester; Messrs. Reynolds and Co., Leeds; Messrs. Oliver and
Boyd, Edinburgh ; Mr. Grimsley, St. Asaph ; Mr. Elliott, Carlisle ;Mr. Godfrey, Northampton; Messrs. Hunter, Aberdeen; Dr. Baker,York; Mr. Pilling, Bacup ; Dr. Crocker, London ; Messrs. Leader and
Son, Sheffield; Dr. Bower, Bedford; Mr. Jones, Trebor; Mr. Brown,Tredegar ; Mr. Pollard, Edinburgh ; Mr. Blencarme, Buckingham;Mr. Parrott, Bournemouth; Mr. Heslop, Cardiff; Mr. Wallace, Glas-gow ; Mr. Pumy, Brighton ; H. F., Barnstaple ; Medicus, York;d, M.; L.R.C.P., London; B. W.; X. Y., Southsea ; Physician, Shef-field; Medicus, Stroud; F.R.C.S., London; Ward Sister; J. L. R.,Oldham; Dr. A., Hovingham ; E. A. ; Clericus ; Alpha ; Venator,Cheam ; J. G.; Medicus, London; Medicus, Reading; Medicus,Leeds ; Medicus, Canterbury; J. W., Oldbury; Medical, Mansfield.
Aberdeen Daily Free Press, West London Staff, Scotman, Inquirer, PallMall Gazette, Once a Month (Australia), Maloja Chronicle, ge., havebeen received.
Medical Diary for the ensuing Week.Monday, August 10.
ROYAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL, MOORFIELDS.—Operations,10.30 A.M., and each day at the same hour.
ROYAL WESTMINSTER OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1.30 P.x.,and each day at the same hour.
ST. MARK’S HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M., and on Tuesdays at thesame hour.
HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN, SOHO-SQUARE.—Operations, 2 P.M., and OnThursday at the same hour.
Tuesday, August 11.GUY’S HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1.30 P.M., and on Friday at the same hour.
Ophthalmic Operations on Mondays at 1.30 and Thursdays at 2 P.M.ST. THOMAS’S HOSPITAL.—Ophthalmic Operations, 4 P.M. ; Friday, 2 P.M.CANCER HOSPITAL, BROMPTON.—Operations, 2.30 P.M.; Saturday, 2.30 P.M.WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M.WEST LONDON HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2.30 P.M.CENTRAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M., and on
Friday at the same hour.
Wednesday, August 12.NATIONAL ORTHOPÆDIC HOSPITAL.—Operations, 10 A.M.MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1 P.M.ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1.30 P.M., and on Satur.
day at the same hour.-Ophthalmic Operations on Tuesdays andThursdays at 1.30 P.M.
ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL. -Operations, 1.30 P.M. Skin Department:9.30 A.M., on Tuesdays and Fridays.
ST. THOMAS’S HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1.30 P.M., and on Saturday atthe same hour.
LONDON HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M., and on Thursday and Saturdayat the same hour.
,
GREAT NORTHERN CENTRAL HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.SAMARITAN FREE HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.—Operations,
2.30 P.M.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.; Saturday, 2 P,3(,Skin Department: 1.45 P.M.; Saturday, 9.15 A.M.
ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M.KING’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL.-Operations, 3 to 4 P.M.
Thursday, August 13.ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1 P.M.ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL.-Surgical Consultations, 1.30 P.M.CHARING-CROSS HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M.NORTH-WEST LONDON HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2.30 P.M.
Friday, August 14.ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL.—Ophthalmic Operations, 1.30 P.M.ROYAL SOUTH LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.KING’s COLLEGE HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.
Saturday, August 15.KING’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M.
MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M.
SUBSCRIPTION.
POST FREE TO ANY PART OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.
One Year .................. £1 12 6 1 Six Months ............... 20 16 3
To CHINA AND INDIA. ......."" ....".,.......... One Year 1 16 10
To THE CONTINENT, COLONIES, AND UNITEDSTATES ................................................... Ditto 1 14 8
Post Office Orders should be addressed to JOHN CROFT, THE LANCETOlrri3e, 423, Strand, London, and made payable at the Post Office,Charing-cross.
2a’otieea of Births, Marriages, and Deaths are charged five shillings.Cheques to be crossed " London and Westminster Bank."
ADVERTISING.Books and Publications (seven lines and under)...... BO 6 0Official and General Announcements ......... 0 6 0Trade and Miscellaneous Advertisemente ......... 0 4 6
Every additional Line 0 0 6Front Page ............... per Line 0 1 0Quarter Page ...... 110 0Half a Page ..................... 215 0An entire Page ..................... 5 5 9
The Publisher cannot hold himself responsible for the return of tasti-monials, &c., sent to the office in reply to advertisements; copies onlyshould be forwarded.
NOTICE.—Advertisers are requested to observe that it is contritrrtt tothe Postal Regulations to receive at Post-offices letters addressed to
! initials only.
An original and novel feature of " THE LANCET General Advertiser" is a special Index to Advertisements on page 2, which not only afforda aready means of finding any notice, but is in itself an additional advertisement.Advertisements (to ensure insertion the same week) should be delivered at the Office not later than Wednesday, accompanied by a remittanaa
Answers are now received at this Office, by special arrangement, to Advertisements appearing in THE LANCET.Terms for Serial Insertions may be obtained of the Publisher, to whom all letters relating to Advertisements or Subscriptions should be addressed.Advertisements are now received at all Messrs. W. H. Smith and Son’s Railway Bookstalls throughout the United Kingdom, and all otherAdvertising Agents.Tables of Contents, with the Index of Advertisements, for each Number can be had on application to the Publisher.
Agent for the Advertising Department in France-1. ASTIER, 66, Rue Caumartin, Pa.ris.
