483 firmly clenched, and legs drawn up and stiff, though not cold; ’I the right side of the face swollen and red, the other side pale. The next day, when the infant was naked and laid out, on II each side of the perineum was a black mark, as if from a pinch; and on each thigh was a small bit of the cuticle off. , On the inquest, the next day, the evidence of the woman of the ’, house where the girl slept, was taken, and that of the mother, but that of the medical man who was summoned at the death was refused, the coroner stating that the magistrates advised him to be careful how he incurred the expense of medical witnesses. A verdict of " Died by the visitation of God" was given, on the grounds that the child was delicate, and had travelled with the mother, the day before, in the cold. No evidence, however, was given that the child was sickly, except the mother’s, and the child was heard to cry much at twelve o’clock in the night. It appeared to the medical man that there were grounds for suspicion that the child was murdered, but neither was his evidence allowed to be taken, nor a post-mortem examination thought necessary; but, on the contrary, the coroner thought fit to insult him by asking him whether he was not aware that if he gave his evidence he would get a guinea. JOHN LEIGH. ** The body of the child ought to have been examined, as its parent was a stranger, and its death occurred under suspicious circumstances. The surgeon not having been called as a witness, ought not to have been present at the inquest; by assisting at it he exposed himself to an unwarrantable insult.-ED. L. THE JUST JUDGES. IN a letter which we have received from Mr. E. Houghton, of Ormskirk, after giving an account of his medical education, this gentleman continues as follows:- "I passed my examination at the College of Surgeons 18thDec. 1801, and I believe I am the oldest practising surgeon in the country. On my commencing practice, I was solicited by the committee and surgeons of the Dispensary, to unite with them, and I have been several years senior surgeon. I have had twelve pupils that have passed the College of Surgeons and Apotheca- ries’ Hall, and one of them has also graduated at Edinburgh. I know you will coincide, that it is highly indecorous and wrong to have elected many young practitioners as fellows, and thereby publicly degrading the elder members." . Ormskirk, April 11, 1845. ON DISLOCATION AND FRACTURE OF THE ELBOW-JOINT. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-I have just read the special-jury case in THE LANCET for April 5, page 394, with great interest, as a few weeks only have elapsed since I had to treat an accident which appears to me to have been precisely similar to the one there referred to. A girl, about fourteen years of age, fell upon her elbow when running quickly. The accident occurred about five o’clock P.m., but having been in mischief at the time, she was afraid to com- plain ; consequently, I was not called in till noon on the following day, at which time I found the elbow immovable in a semi- flexed position, and very much inflamed, swollen, and painful. The diagnosis I formed at the immediate time was to the effect that dislocation certainly existed, and I thought there was also a fracture, and imagined the latter to be of the olecranon, but was by no means certain that there was one at all. It was not till leeches and lotions had been assiduously applied for three days, that the inflammation subsided sufficiently to allow me to reduce the dislocation, which, even then, was difficult to accomplish, and although I was then made certain of the existence of a fracture, I was not positive as to its seat till a few days more had elapsed, when I found that the internal condyle of the humerus was broken transversely. Although perfect motion is restored, (except that she cannot yet make the arm quite straight,) I was, during the whole treatment, alarmed lest such should not be the case, and prepared the friends to expect that it would not, and can readily imagine how a slightly greater degree of inflammation might have prevented it, as in the case of the patient Osborne. I have related this case to give me an opportunity of expressing to Mr. Botham the sympathy I feel for him under the annoying circumstances in which he is placed, and to show him, and also Mr. Taylor, that other surgeons have laboured under the same difficulties in similar cases, indeed, I very much doubt, from his evidence, whether this latter gentleman has ever treated such an accident; and however painful Mr. Botham’s situation may be, I do not think many medical men would be found willing to change his for the one in which Mr. Taylor has voluntarily placed him- self. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, April 7th, 1845. C. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Monday, April 21. PHYSIC AND SURGERY BILL.—COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. SIR J. GRAHAM said, that he intended to alter certain parts of this Bill, which now stood for its second reading, but he was not prepared to state what those alterations were, arrange- ments being still pending with regard to them. Considering the state of the session, he wished to make some progress with the Bill, and although he did not think it right to press the second reading of either the Physic and Surgery Bill, or the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons’ Bill that night, yet he proposed to fix the second reading positively for Friday next; and he trusted that then the House would allow him to take the second reading of the two Bills, even if it were at a late hour. On a subsequent night, he should propose to go into committee pro formâ, in order that he might introduce into the Bills all the alterations and amend- ments which he had in contemplation. He should next move, on an early day after the Whitsuntide holydays, that the house should go again into committee, for the purpose of discussing the prin- ciples and details of the Bills. Mr. WAKLEY considered that the course of proceeding which the right hon. gentleman had marked out was the correct one. Until the Bill embodied the alterations which were to be introduced, it would be impossible to discuss the measure with any certainty or advantage. Great anxiety was felt on the sub- ject throughout all ranks of the profession, and considerable had been the disappointment when it was seen that there existed so striking a contrast between the liberal speech which was made by the right hon. gentleman, and the provisions of the Bill which he subsequently laid on the table of the House. It was not con- sidered that the right hon. baronet had carried out his own views in his own Bill; and one of his (Mr. Wakley’s) correspondents had suggested to him that the minister, in taking the Bill from his official bureau, had selected the wrong one. He understood the right hon. gentleman to say that before Whitsuntide he would go into committee upon the Bills, pro ybyma, and that then he would have them printed, so that they might be in a perfect state in the hands of medical gentlemen, for a fortnight or three weeks after the alterations were made. He (Mr. Wakley) had no objec- tion to that arrangement. Sir JAMES GRAHAM did not think that, with respect to the principle of the Physic and Surgery Bill, there could be any dispute. The principle was, that for equality of qualification there should be equal right to practise throughout the United Kingdom. He therefore trusted that he might be allowed to take the second reading, even at a late hour, without dis- cussion, on Friday, on the understanding that the Bill would after- wards be committed, pro forma, for the purpose of introducing the alterations and amendments, which depended on negotiations and arrangements that were as yet incomplete. When the Bill had passed the committee, pro formâ, with the alterations, it would then be circulated throughout the country for at least a fortnight, and the discussion could be taken on the motion that the Bill be recommitted. Colonel WOOD inquired whether the hon. member for Fins- bury intended to bring forward the motion which stood on the paper for to-morrow relative to the Royal College of Surgeons ? He considered that that motion involved nearly the whole ques- tion. It was, in fact, the question. The surgeons all desired to be more closely connected with the College in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. They did not wish for a separate incorporation, and he should himself consider it to be one of the greatest misfortunes that could befal the general practitioners, if they forfeited their connexion with that institution, as the loss would sink them in
Transcript
483
firmly clenched, and legs drawn up and stiff, though not cold; ’Ithe right side of the face swollen and red, the other side pale.The next day, when the infant was naked and laid out, on IIeach side of the perineum was a black mark, as if from a pinch;
and on each thigh was a small bit of the cuticle off. ,
On the inquest, the next day, the evidence of the woman of the ’,house where the girl slept, was taken, and that of the mother,but that of the medical man who was summoned at the deathwas refused, the coroner stating that the magistrates advised himto be careful how he incurred the expense of medical witnesses.A verdict of " Died by the visitation of God" was given, on thegrounds that the child was delicate, and had travelled with themother, the day before, in the cold. No evidence, however, wasgiven that the child was sickly, except the mother’s, and thechild was heard to cry much at twelve o’clock in the night.
It appeared to the medical man that there were grounds forsuspicion that the child was murdered, but neither was hisevidence allowed to be taken, nor a post-mortem examinationthought necessary; but, on the contrary, the coroner thought fitto insult him by asking him whether he was not aware that if hegave his evidence he would get a guinea. JOHN LEIGH.
** The body of the child ought to have been examined, as itsparent was a stranger, and its death occurred under suspiciouscircumstances. The surgeon not having been called as a witness,ought not to have been present at the inquest; by assisting at ithe exposed himself to an unwarrantable insult.-ED. L.
THE JUST JUDGES.IN a letter which we have received from Mr. E. Houghton, ofOrmskirk, after giving an account of his medical education, thisgentleman continues as follows:-"I passed my examination at the College of Surgeons 18thDec.
1801, and I believe I am the oldest practising surgeon in thecountry. On my commencing practice, I was solicited by thecommittee and surgeons of the Dispensary, to unite with them,and I have been several years senior surgeon. I have had twelvepupils that have passed the College of Surgeons and Apotheca-ries’ Hall, and one of them has also graduated at Edinburgh. Iknow you will coincide, that it is highly indecorous and wrongto have elected many young practitioners as fellows, and therebypublicly degrading the elder members."
. Ormskirk, April 11, 1845.
ON DISLOCATION AND FRACTURE OF THE ELBOW-JOINT.
To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,-I have just read the special-jury case in THE LANCET forApril 5, page 394, with great interest, as a few weeks only haveelapsed since I had to treat an accident which appears to me tohave been precisely similar to the one there referred to.A girl, about fourteen years of age, fell upon her elbow when
running quickly. The accident occurred about five o’clock P.m.,but having been in mischief at the time, she was afraid to com-plain ; consequently, I was not called in till noon on the followingday, at which time I found the elbow immovable in a semi-flexed position, and very much inflamed, swollen, and painful.The diagnosis I formed at the immediate time was to the effectthat dislocation certainly existed, and I thought there was also afracture, and imagined the latter to be of the olecranon, but wasby no means certain that there was one at all. It was not tillleeches and lotions had been assiduously applied for three days,that the inflammation subsided sufficiently to allow me to reducethe dislocation, which, even then, was difficult to accomplish, andalthough I was then made certain of the existence of a fracture,I was not positive as to its seat till a few days more had elapsed,when I found that the internal condyle of the humerus wasbroken transversely. Although perfect motion is restored,(except that she cannot yet make the arm quite straight,) I was,during the whole treatment, alarmed lest such should not be thecase, and prepared the friends to expect that it would not, andcan readily imagine how a slightly greater degree of inflammationmight have prevented it, as in the case of the patient Osborne.
I have related this case to give me an opportunity of expressingto Mr. Botham the sympathy I feel for him under the annoyingcircumstances in which he is placed, and to show him, and alsoMr. Taylor, that other surgeons have laboured under the samedifficulties in similar cases, indeed, I very much doubt, from hisevidence, whether this latter gentleman has ever treated such anaccident; and however painful Mr. Botham’s situation may be, Ido not think many medical men would be found willing to changehis for the one in which Mr. Taylor has voluntarily placed him-self. I am, Sir, your obedient servant,April 7th, 1845. C.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.Monday, April 21.
PHYSIC AND SURGERY BILL.—COLLEGE OFSURGEONS.
SIR J. GRAHAM said, that he intended to alter certain partsof this Bill, which now stood for its second reading, but he wasnot prepared to state what those alterations were, arrange-ments being still pending with regard to them. Considering thestate of the session, he wished to make some progress with theBill, and although he did not think it right to press the secondreading of either the Physic and Surgery Bill, or the Collegesof Physicians and Surgeons’ Bill that night, yet he proposed to fixthe second reading positively for Friday next; and he trusted thatthen the House would allow him to take the second reading of thetwo Bills, even if it were at a late hour. On a subsequent night,he should propose to go into committee pro formâ, in order thathe might introduce into the Bills all the alterations and amend-ments which he had in contemplation. He should next move, onan early day after the Whitsuntide holydays, that the house shouldgo again into committee, for the purpose of discussing the prin-ciples and details of the Bills.
Mr. WAKLEY considered that the course of proceedingwhich the right hon. gentleman had marked out was the correctone. Until the Bill embodied the alterations which were to be
introduced, it would be impossible to discuss the measure withany certainty or advantage. Great anxiety was felt on the sub-ject throughout all ranks of the profession, and considerablehad been the disappointment when it was seen that there existedso striking a contrast between the liberal speech which was madeby the right hon. gentleman, and the provisions of the Bill whichhe subsequently laid on the table of the House. It was not con-sidered that the right hon. baronet had carried out his own viewsin his own Bill; and one of his (Mr. Wakley’s) correspondentshad suggested to him that the minister, in taking the Bill fromhis official bureau, had selected the wrong one. He understood
the right hon. gentleman to say that before Whitsuntide he wouldgo into committee upon the Bills, pro ybyma, and that then hewould have them printed, so that they might be in a perfect statein the hands of medical gentlemen, for a fortnight or three weeksafter the alterations were made. He (Mr. Wakley) had no objec-tion to that arrangement.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM did not think that, with respect to theprinciple of the Physic and Surgery Bill, there could be anydispute. The principle was, that for equality of qualificationthere should be equal right to practise throughout the UnitedKingdom. He therefore trusted that he might be allowed totake the second reading, even at a late hour, without dis-
cussion, on Friday, on the understanding that the Bill would after-wards be committed, pro forma, for the purpose of introducing thealterations and amendments, which depended on negotiationsand arrangements that were as yet incomplete. When theBill had passed the committee, pro formâ, with the alterations, itwould then be circulated throughout the country for at least afortnight, and the discussion could be taken on the motion that theBill be recommitted.
Colonel WOOD inquired whether the hon. member for Fins-bury intended to bring forward the motion which stood on thepaper for to-morrow relative to the Royal College of Surgeons ?He considered that that motion involved nearly the whole ques-tion. It was, in fact, the question. The surgeons all desired tobe more closely connected with the College in Lincoln’s InnFields. They did not wish for a separate incorporation, and heshould himself consider it to be one of the greatest misfortunesthat could befal the general practitioners, if they forfeited theirconnexion with that institution, as the loss would sink them in
484
rank and reputation. He decidedly thought that they ought tobe united with the College, on the principle of representationwhich they advocated, and that any other result would be in-jurious to them. He sincerely hoped that the hon. member forFinsbury intended to submit to the House his motion for inquiryinto the government of the College, and the effects produced bythe Charter last granted.
Mr. WAKLEY said, that in consequence of the statementwhich had been made by the right hon. baronet, he could not,with propriety, submit his motion to the House on the followingevening, but it was his fixed and unalterable determination to
bring it forward on a future day, unless private arrangementsshould previously effect the object which he had in view.
Anxiously did he wish to see the general practitioners of thiscountry incorporated, on the principle of representation, in the’COLLEGE of SURGEONS; and he thought it was the duty ofthe HousE not to allow any opposition on the part of the’Council of the College to prevent that just and equitablearrangement. The members of the College amounted to thou-sands. and it was not to be endured that a multitude of Drofes-- sional gentlemen of ability and scientific attainments, who hadviolated no law, who had done no wrong, should be thwarted intheir desires and just claims by the influence of a Council con-sisting of only twenty-four persons, whose official conduct to themembers had been marked by such peculiar injustice and auda-city, that the denunciations of the profession were now directedtowards that body from every part of the empire. He hopedthat the House would soon know what were the real feelings ofthe GENERAL PRACTITIONERS on this important question. Hebelieved that eight-tenths of them would prefer a representativesystem of government, with the management of their own affairsin their own College, rather than see established a separate in-corporation. But the demand would be universal for the latterif the former could not be obtained. In the first instance, how-ever, the struggle must be-for incorporation in the College.
Mr. HAWES thought that there ought to be a discussion Ibefore going into Committee, and that such had been the
arrangement. He should not, however, offer any opposition tothe plan of proceedings which the right hon. gentleman haddescribed.
Mr. WARBURTON said, that if the Bill was to be reada second time, without discussion, the House should understandthat the alterations which were to be afterwards introduced wouldjiot interfere with the principle of the Bill, as just explained bythe right hon. baronet.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM replied, that no alterations could be- introduced that should be inconsistent with that principle. In the
present state of the negotiations on the subject, he thought thatthe hon. member for Finsbury had exercised a sound discretion inpostponing his motion.
Mr. ACLAND deprecated the violent and intemperatelanguage which had been used in that House and elsewheretowards the Council of the College of Surgeons. He hoped thehon. member for Finsbury, in particular, would be a little moremoderate.
Mr. HUME considered that the hon. gentleman who had lastaddressed the House knew but very little on the subject. He
had, in fact, yet to learn a great deal respecting it. His hon.
friend intended to move for a select committee. He wanted in-
quiry, and he (Mr. Hume) hoped that he would succeed in ob-taining it, the members of the College of Surgeons having abetter right to the College than had the few gentlemen of theCouncil whose conduct had been so severely and justly con-demned. He had no objection to offer to the mode of proceedingwhich the right hon. baronet had suggested.The reading of the Bills was then postponed to Friday, April
THE MEDICAL SERVICE OF THE ARMY, NAVY,AND EAST INDIA COMPANY.
Armg.War-Office, Jun.2l.-73rd Foot : W. P. Hodgson, M.D., to be assistant
surgeon, vice Martin, promoted in 55th Foot.—1st West India Regt.: Surg.J. E. Stewart, from h. p. 84th Foot, to be surgeon, vice M’Donald, appointedto the Staff, Jan. 17.-Hospital Staff: H. Huish, M.D., to be assist. surg. tothe Forces, vice Townsend, dec., Jan. 31.
Feb. 7.—1st, or Grenadier Regt. of Foot Guards: Battalion surgeon J. D.Wright to be surg.-major, vice J. Johnson, who retires upon half pay;Assist. surg. F. C. Huthwaite to be batt.-surg., vice Wright; Assist. surg.C. Nicoll, from the Staff, to be assist. surg., vice Huthwaite.Feb. 14.-45th Foot: F. 0. Barker, Gent., to be assist. surg., vice Ilearn,
appointed to Staff.-Royal Canadian Rifle Regt. : Assist. surg. A. B. Cleland,M.D., from the Staff, to be assist, surg., vice Millar, promoted on the Staff.- Hospital Staff; Assist. surgeon J. Millar, M.D, from Rl. Canadian RifleRegt., to be Staff surgeon of Second Class, vice A. W. Murrav, who retiresupon half pay; Assist. surg. C. B. Hearn, from 45th Foot, to be assist, surg,to the Forces, vice Cleland, app. to the RI. Canadian Rifle Regt. Feb. 14.
Office of Ordnance, Feb. 17.-Royal Gloucestershire Yeomanry Cavalry:J. C. Wickham, Gent., to be assist. surg.
Feb. 28.-Hospital Staff-To be assistant surgeons to the Forces: W. A.Anderson, Gent., vice Nieholl, appointed to the 1st, or Grenadier Regt. ofFoot Guards; W. G. Swan, M.D., vice Leigli, deceased.
Assistant Surgeon—Henry W. Horsell (1843), (act.), of Talbot.
APPOINTMENTS.
Surgeons-V’. Bruce, M.D. (1816), to Deptford Dockyard; Alexander Kil.roy (i838). supermtendent of China, convict-ship; Colin A. C. Browning,M.D. (1817). superintendent of Theresa, convict-ship, and John Sloan (18m),in charge of Tory, convict-ship; George W. Pritchett (1841), to Vnlture;Alexander Anderson ()842), to Rolla; D Thompson (a), (1810), to Daring;1. W. M’Donald (1830), to Hibernia; Wm. Rogers (ut, (1814), to Cannpus;William Graham (!84l),reappomted to Apollo; Robert Whitmore Clarke(1844), to Grecian; S. S. Stanley (1838;, to Erebus; Frederick Crellin (1830),to Melampus; Henry Macfarlane (1844). to Ranger, vice Atchison.
Assistant Surgeons-Nicholas Lyttleton (1841), to Express 5 George Whit.marsh (J837), of Speedy, to Rodney; W. T. LUlies, to Styx; J. Christie,M.D., to Haslar Hospital; Joseph A. R. Harrey, M.D., to San Josef, forduty in the Royal Hospital, Stonehouse ; George Rae, M.D. (1841), of Lily;W. D. Kerr, M.D. (1836), Thomas C. Miller (1841), late ofpelican,to Cano-
pus; H. J. Domville (1839), and E. D’Auvergne (1841), to Hibernia ; JohnSimpson (b), (1841), to Seaflower (act.), (addit.) ; W. T. Billing, to Herald;S. Bowden and A. R. Elliott, to Victory; G. Duncan, M.D., to Vulture; J.T. Robinson (act.), to Superb; John Smart Peddie (1836), of William andMary (act. surgeon), of Terror; Alex. Macdonald (1841), late ot Belvidera,to Terror; Jas. J. Martin (1842), of Formidable, to Ceylon, for hospital ser.vice at Malta; Thomas Kincaid (1829), of Peterelpacket.brig, to GreenwichHospital; Robert Grigor (1837), of Stromboli, to Hibernia; S. S. DWells(addit.), to Vindictive; W. L. Methven, M.D. (1836), to William and Maryyacht, vice S. Peddie.
East I:n*oia Companp.(April Overland Mail.)
BENGAL.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATIONS.
MEDICAL.—Surg. H. Guthrie, M.D., perm. to return to Europe, on med.cert.-Assist. surg. T. C. Hunter perm. to proceed to Europe, on privateaffairs.-Assist. surg. A. Grant placed at disposal of Bengal gov., with aview to appt. as officiating assist. surg. of civil station of Bhaugulpore.- Assist. surg. W. Keates app. to medical charge of Hauper stud, v. Berwick.- Assist. surg. J. B. Dickson promoted to surgeon, vice Wilson, ret.-Surg.A. Colquhoun posted to 33rd N. I.—Surg. J. O’Dwyer permitted to visithills north of Deyrah, for twelve months, on med. cert.-Assist. surg. J. W.Fletcher, permitted to visit Mussoorie for twelve months, on med. cert.-Assist. surg. C. Garbett permitted to return to Europe, on med. cert.-Assist. surg. J. Macintire appointed permanently to situation of civil assist.surg. of Jubbulpore.-Vet. sarg. C. Turner permitted to return to Europe,on med. cert.-Assist. surg. J. R. Bedford appointed to offic. as civil assist.surg. of Tipperah.-Assist. snrg. W. J. Loch appointed civil assist. surg. ofFuttehghur.—Assist, surg. W. R. Gerrard appointed civil assist. sarg. ofFuttehpore.-Assist. surg. D. J. O’Callaghan directed to do duty undersup.surg. of Pres. div.-Surg. W. Mitchelson, permitted to proceed to Cape, onmed. cert., for eighteen months.-Surg. J. Smith, M.D., and Vet. surg. J.Bucknell returned to duty from furl. to Europe.ASSISTANT SURGEONS ADMITTED TO THE SERVICE.—Messrs. G. R. Play-
fair, and W. F. Mactier, M.D.DEATH.
At Mynpoorie, Feb. 2, Assist. surg. John Halkett Serrell, 42nd regt. L. I,
MADRAS.
MEDICAL.-Assist. surg. J. Mackintosh rem. from doing duty with 2ndbatt. artill. to do duty under the sup. surg., ceded districts.-Assist. sur?. R.Plumbe posted to 6th N. I.—Assist surg. H. Carnegie appointed to medicalcharge of details at Mergui.-Assist. surg. M. Kane, M. B., appointed tomedical charge of artillery at Moulmein.-Surg. G. Thompson permitted toretire from service on pension of rank.-Assist, surg. W. R. Babington andW. W. Hende, M. D., to do duty with the 42nd N. 1., proceeding to China.- Assist. surg. A. J. Scott, M. D., remaining from doing duty with 2nd batt.artill. to do duty under sup. surg. Malabar and Canara.-Assist. surg. W.Williamson directed to do duty with 1st fusuliers.—Assist, surg. G. D. GordonM. D., permitted to proceed to Ceylon on leave for six months.ASSISTANT SURGEON ADMITTED TO THE SERVICE.—Mr. W. G. Jalland.
DEATH.
At Hong Kong, Dec. 3, 1844, Assist. surg. C. Richardson.
