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we were summoned to the patient shortly after it. A second’visit was anticipated from Dr. Murphy, and sought by thehusband, in connexion with our own; but this was distinctlyrefused by Dr. Bell, as the opinion of Dr. Murphy was desiredand paid for by him exclusively.

Dr. Murphy states, in his letter of last week, that he hasbeen informed that the history of the case, as you have re-ceived it, is altogether erroneous. Its truthfulness, in everyparticular, has been, as Dr. Murphy knows, formally attestedby the husband, and can be fully corroborated by the patientherself, the nurse, and a lady in attendance.Dr. Copeman and myself pledge ourselves to the history of

the case being fully borne out by the state of the patient whenfirst placed under our care.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,Norwich, May 28, 1’5 WILLIAM COOPER.WILLIAM COOPER.

PATHOLOGICAL EVIDENCE ON THE TRUEFUNCTION OF THE CEREBELLUM.

To the Editor of TIlE LANCET.

SIR,—In a recent number of the Provincial 3ledical andSurgical Journal (April lotli, 1851) there is a short articletaken from the Transactions of the American Medical Associa-tion, entitled " Has the cerebellum any special connexionwith sexual propensity ?" a question which has been answeredby a number of the most indubitable facts, and respectingwhich, a paper I published in TuE LANCET, Oct. 8th., 1831,entitled " The Sexual Function of the Cerebellum," con-

tained some interesting evidence;-including a case of pre-cocious puberty, &c. In the American paper the question is

supposed to be settled by weighing the brains of bulls andheifers, (taking the relative weights of the cerebrum and cere-bellum,) but which must be regarded as less conclusive thansuch facts as the following :-A young man had a kick from a horse on the scrotum, which

caused a gradual wasting of one of his testicles and the lobeof the cerebellum on the same side. I ventured to point outthat one testis was atrophied (as I had done on other similaroccasions), bv having accidentally examined the cerebellum,in which one lobe seemed entirely deficient. There is a prac-tical pathological importance in such facts; for in the cere-brum there is a decussation of its fibres; but this is not thecase in the cerebellum. So that when there is any lesionon one side of the cerebrum, from accident or softening,or the formation of pus, the opposite side is paralysed; but-when similar causes of disorganization take place in a lobeof the cerebellum, and paralysis results, it will be found tobe on the same side as that of the affected lobe.

I am, sir, yours most respectfully,J. L. LEVISON.

Devonshire Place, Brighton, May 1851.J. L. LEVISON.

THE COMMITTEE OF GRADUATES OF THELONDON UNIVERSITY.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Had I been only individually concerned in the subjectof a letter by Dr. Savage, published in THE LANCET of thisweek, I should not have troubled you with this communica-tion ; but having presided at the last general meeting of thegraduates of the University of London, I feel called upon tovindicate it from the aspersions he has cast upon its proceed-ings. He says the points in debate at this oddly constitutedassembly appeared to be the following :-‘‘ The senate, frommotives most unworthy, opposed the wishes of the graduatestooth and nail. The senate, spider-like, were lying in wait toentrap the graduates, who, however, through their comrnittee,had proved a match for them, inasmuch as a document, calleda declaration, framed at the meeting of last year, had occupiedtwo distinct meetings of the senate:’

This is by no means a correct statement of the animus of themeeting, notwithstanding the endeavours of Dr. Savage toprove his position, by quoting some remarks made by two ofthe graduates present. On opening the proceedings as chair-man, I alluded to the difficulties which the senate doubtlessfelt in devising a scheme which should meet the just claims ofthe graduates, and I repeated that the difficulties must begreat when such a body found it necessary again and again todeliberate on the subject. " Men who would be an honour toany age, any country, or any University." Such wore thewords I used, and the feeling of the meeting was shown by anaudible expression of approbation. I must, therefore, on thepart of all present disclaim any such feelings of disrespect to

the senate, and mistrust of their proceedings, as Dr. Savagehas attributed to them. I do not think it necessary to alludeto the constitution of the Graduates’ Committee, further thanby saying that I know it was framed with the express andsingle desire of making it fully representative. I cannot butfeel sorry at the tenour of Dr. Savage’s letter. He not onlystrives to frustrate all attempts to promote a greater unityamongst the graduates, but also supplies a strong argument forleaving us, as we now are, scattered and independent; forsurely nothing seems less desirable than the incorporation ofmen who are not disposed to interpret liberally the motivesand actions of each other.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,Guy’s Hospital, May 27,1851. WILLIAM lV. GULL.WILLIAM W. GULL.

RASPBERRY JAM AND ACARI.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—A correspondent in THE LANCET of last week, p. 589,under the above heading, has referred to the supposed preser-vation of vitality in the ova of acari after baing boiled insugar. It must be remembered that sugar, in a state of solu-tion sufficient for making jam, would require a temperature ofabout 240° to arrive at the boiling point. This is a heat sub-jected to which it is impossible any ovum could retain itsvitality. At the same time it is travelling unnecessarily farto account for the presence of acari in jam, as resulting fromthe impurity of the original sugar. It is more reasonable tosuppose that the minute and light ova are being continuallywafted about in the atmosphere, ready to evolve the livinginsect when favourable circumstances present themselves.The condition fitted for their propagation is a certain amountof decomposition. Where this change is going on, either inanimal or vegetable substances, these world-wide scavengersstep in; clear off the noxious and offending matters; deposittheir ova, to be again wafted to spots where their presence isneeded to restore purity; and disappear. A case which I metwith a short time ago, and have re-examined to-day, will, how-ever, answer more directly to your correspondent. Some pine-apple was preserved, the syrup for which was made from thefinest iv7tite sugar, and placed in a situation where no possibilityof the entrance of ova could have happened in the way con-templated by your correspondent. The vegetable albumen ofthe pine underwent a slight decomposition, and formed a.

fitting nidus for the development of acari, which very quicklyswarmed upon its surface.

Trusting you may consider it sufficiently important to replyto a statement which might convey a very wrong impressionto the public, I remain yours very truly,

MARRIS WILSON, M.D.

OVARIOTOMY.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—The important discussion on ovariotomy, as most ofyour readers know, took place at the Medico-ChirurgicalSociety, on the 30th of October last. The ensuing week, in acontemporary journal, the following announcement was made,headed, " Ovariotomy—We publish in another part of thejournal a letter from Dr. Frederick Bird, containing a list ofcases in which he has performed an operation for the removalof a diseased ovary. In thirteen cases the tumour was extir-pated, in four the result was fatal ; in eighteen other cases hehas employed small incisions as a means of diagnosis. Theletter leaves the question of the propriety of includingovariotomy among the recognised surgical operations in thesame state as after the discussion at the llfedico-ChirurgicalSociety. We must do Dr. F. Bird the justice to say, that hehas come forward most willingly with the declaration requiredof him by the profession, that lie would publish in full, and assoon as possible, the cases of which he spoke at the Medicaland Chirurgical Society."Seven months have elapsed, and yet the history of these

casas has not made its appearance; I am at a loss, therefore,to discover, how it can be said that he lias come forward mostwillingly to do what he was required by the profession to do,and what the interest of humanity rendered it imperativeupon him to have done years ago. Dr. F. Bird has allowedthe spring to pass away without a note; but if report speakstrue, he has had time to repeat his favourite operation upon a.young lady, and with a speedily fatal result.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,London, May 27, 1851. MEDI.-CHIRUR.MEDI.-CHIRUR.

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MEETINGS OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETIES INLONDON DURING THE ENSUING WEEK.

NOTE.-When the day of the month is not specified, no meetings take place. I

Medical News.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—The followinggentlemen, having undergone the necessary examinations forthe diploma, were admitted members of the college, at themeeting of the Court of Examiners, on the 23rd inst. :-

COCQ, JAMES JOSEPH ROOSMALE, Ceylon.Coucn. JAMES, Swansea, South Wales.KINGSFORD, CHARLES DUDLEY, Wellington-street,

Southwark.ODELL, THOMAS, London.SHONE, WILLIAM JAMES, Bangor, North Wales.STRETTON, WiLLiAM HARRIS, Leicester.WEBSTER, GEORGE EDWARD, Cambridge.

At this meeting of the Court of Examiners, Mr.James Luke, Surgeon to the London Hospital, took his seat,having been elected to it by the Council on the 22nd inst.,the vacancy having been occasioned by the continued indis-position of John Painter Vincent, Esq., of St. Bartholomew’sHospital.

APOTHECARIES’ HALL.—Names of gentlemen whopassed their examination in the science and practice of medi-cine, and received certificates to practise, on

Thunday, May 22nd, 1851.CARPENTER, ALFIlED, Rothwell, Northamptonshire.GRIESBACII, HENRY JOSEPH HERSCHELL, Millington, York-

shire. -

MARTIN, FRANCIS, Brighton.THOMPSON, HENRY, Croydon.TAIT, EDWARD WILMSHURST, Heytesbury, Wilts.DINNER TO 8m C. M. CLARKE.—Yesterday, May 27,

about 160 medical men attended the dinner at Willis’s Rooms,given by them to Sir Charles M. Clarke, in testimony of theirrespect and regard. The day was selected as being the anni-versary of his birth. Sir Henry Bishop conducted the musicalarrangements, and presided at the pianoforte, and someeminent male and female vocalists contributed signally to theamusements. Amongst other songs, was an appropriate onewritten expressly for the occasion, by Dr. Badeley. Sir B.Brodie was in the chair, and the party did not separate untila late hour.

THE COLLEGE COUNCIL.-As the time approacheswhen the Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons mayexpect to be called together, to elect from among them-selves gentlemen to occupy the vacant seats in the council-chamber occasioned by the resignations of John PainterVincent and Edward Cutler, Esqrs., we consider it maybe acceptable to a large number of our readers to pub-lish, from the chronological list of Fellows,* the first dozennames of gentlemen enjoying that distinction, who are eligiblefor election into the Council:—The first on the list is Gulliver,George, Esq., F.R.S., Brompton, Surgeon to the Royal HorseGuards Blue; Tuson, Edward William, Esq., F.R.S., Harley-street, Cavendish-square; Owen, Richard, Esq., F.R.S., Royal

* This list may be consulted by any of the Fellozvs on making an applica-tion for that purpose to the worthy Secretary.

College of Surgeons; Coulson, William, Esq., Frederick- place,Old Jewry, Senior Surgeon to St. Mary’s and Magdalene Hos-pitals, and Consulting Surgeon to the German and City ofLondon Lying-in Hospitals; Dalrymple, John, Esq., F.R.S.Grosvenor street, Consulting Surgeon to the Royal OphthalmicHospital and to the North London Infirmary; Parttidge,Richard, Esq., F.R.S. New-street, Spring-gardens, Surgeon toKing’s College Hospital and Professor of Anatomy; Hilton,John, Esq., F.R.S., New Broad-street,Surgeon toGuy’sHospital,and Lecturer on Anatomy; Quain, Richard, Esq., F.R.S., Caven-dish-square, Surgeon, University College Hospital, and Pro-fessor of Clinical Surgery in the University; Cock, Edward,Esq., Surgeon to Guy’s Hospital, and Consulting Surgeon tothe Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb; Solly, Samuel, Esq.,F.R.S., St. Helen’s-place, Assistant-surgeon, and Lecturer onClinical Surgery at St. Thomas’s Hospital; Tatum, Thomas,Esq., George-street, Hanover-square, Surgeon to St. George’sHospital, and Lecturer on Surgery; Shaw, Alexander, Esq.,Henrietta-street, Cavendish-square, Surgeon to the MiddlesexHospital, and Lecturer on Surgery.-The above list of twelveFellows is exclusive of those gentlemen residing in the pro-vinces, who from that circumstance are ineligible for a seat inthe Council.

THE STOCKPORT MEDICAL SOCIETY.—TESTIMONIALTo DR. TURNER.—This Society, though it has, we believe, beenestablished two years, and includes in its list of membersmost of the leading practitioners in the borough, and some re-sident in the immediate neighbourhood, has conducted its

operations so unostentatiously, that we had scarcely heard ofit, and should not probably even now, had not its second an-niversary meeting been thought a favourable opportunity ofpresenting their late President, Dr. Turner, under whoseauspices the society was founded, with some mark of theiresteem for his long and umvearied exertions in the cause ofsuffering humanity, and for his unvarying kindness andurbanity in his intercourse with his professional brethren,which rendered a more public notice necessary. This ideawas no sooner hinted at, than cordially embraced by the mem-bers of the society, and other medical friends of the doctor,resident in or connected with the borough; and at a meetingcalled to consider the best mode of testifying their regard fortheir distinguished associate and friend, it was agreed upon topresent him with a handsome silver inkstand, with a suitableinscription engraved thereon, and an address on vellum, morefully-expressing their feelings, to be signed by each contri-butor to the plate; and that it should be presented at theanniversary dinner of the society, on the 24th of April. Asub-committee was appointed to carry out these intentions,and we understand the result of their labours was highly grati-fying to all the subscribers (20 in number). Accordingly, onThursday last, the 24th of April, the subscribers to the testi-monial, with the exception of three or four who were pre-vented by professional engagements, sat down to an excellentdinner provided by Mrs. Greaves, at the Wellington BridgeHotel, the chair being occupied by Mr. Medd, president, andthe vice-chair by Dr. Rayner, senior vice-president of thesociety. The usual loyal toasts having been proposed, andresponded to with becoming enthusiasm, the chairman nextintroduced the toast of the evening, with some very appro-priate remarks, and concluded by observing that the eulogiumhe had venturcd to pass upon his friend, Dr. Turner, in hispresence, was already more than verbally assented to by thosebefore whom he had the honour to speak, by their havingdelegated to him the very pleasing duty of offering to thedoctor this proof (here presenting the inkstand) of their highopinion of his worth, backed by the address, to which they allhad subscribed their names-an expression of regard, notgiven merely to his official distinctions, but to his characteras a christian, a physician, and a gentleman. The chairmanhere read the inscription, which was very neatly engravedon the inkstand, and the address on vellnm, which ran asfollows :" Presented to GEORGE TURNER, M.D., Mayor of theBorough of Stockport, Senior Physician to the Infirmary,First President to the Medical Society, &c., by his profes-sional friends, as a slight Memorial of their high respect andesteem. April 24,1851."—The address. "To GEORGE TURNER,M.D., Mayor of the Borough of Stockport, Senior Physicianof the Infirmary, First President of the Medical Society. &c.:SIR,—We avail ourselves of the opportunity afforded bythe second Anniversary of the Medical Society, to requestyour acceptance of the accompanying Inkstand, as a token ofour regard. As such, we feel assured that although its intrinsicvalue is small, it will not be the less appreciated by you whenyou perceive, from the following signatures, that it is not the