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warm rectified spirit until exhausted. This was filtered. Itformed a pale-coloured liquid. Again tasted by Dr. Rees andmyself, no perceptible bitterness. A portion of this liquid wasevaporated gently on a watch-glass on a sand bath, and filmsof a fine crystalline substance were left on the glass.

" Sulphuric acid and powdered bichromate of potash pro-duced with these films a brownish discoloration, and slibse-

qnently green oxide of chrome. The residue evaporated onanother glass, gave a purple-reddish tint with sulphuric acidand bichromate of potash, the colour becoming of a deeper redby exposure."The effect was very similar to that which we have ob-

tained from small pieces of bile with saccharine matter. Ourconclusion was that there was no chemical evidence of the pre-sence of strychnia."A portion of the drainings of the jar were tested for

strychnia., but the alcoholic extract had no bitter taste, andthe bichromate of potash and sulphuric acid gave only greenoxide of chrome with the evaporated residue.

’’ 2. After Inenest. " Another portion of the alcohol acid liquid, which had been

reserved, was subsequently tested by Graham’s process,-i. e.,by animal charcoal; but the result was not satisfactory.

" Dr. Rees made a subsequent trial on the pyloric half ofthe stomach, by diluted hydrochloric acid, warmed and filteredby animal charcoal, and subsequent digestion in alcohol. Inthis as well as in the preceding trial, bichromate of potash,ferricyanide of potassium, and sulphuric acid were used, butthe result was equally unsatisfactory. There was no clear or

positive evidence of the presence of strychnia." I ha.rdly know what sort of comment should be made on this

process; for in truth it is the most contradictory and absurd thingI ever met with. Dr. Taylor evidently started upon the in-vestigation without the smallest notion of what he was goingto do. He had not the remotest idea of a precise method ofinquiry. The material was divided np into as many parts asthere were suppositions in his mind; and then as he wentalong in his search it was further divided and subdivided, untilhe had taken the best possible means of losing evervthing thathe was in search of. At one time he uses sulphuric acid withthe alcohol, and then he employs muriatic. Now he tries thematerial with animal charcoal, and then he endeavours to dowithout it. He gets a purplish tint, which he thinks is due tosugar and bile, and yet there is nothing bitter about it, althoughbile is bitter to a proverb; and where or how he makes hissearch for " prussic and oxalic acids, morphia, opium, veratria,nicotina, conia, as well as for mercury, antimony, and theother metallic poisons," 1 know not; for at the inquest Dr.Taylor said he had tested the stomach for all these things.Altogether, the results of his process, and even the processitself, are so unsatisfactory that I can make no conclusions fromthem. My only surprise is, that chemistry of that descriptionhas ever produced a positive result; and I look with horror atthe possible consequences of it in a court of law.

It may well be asked if there were better means at Dr.Taylor’s disposal. All who know anything of the chemistryof strychnia are aware that for years past there has been a pro-cess in common use which never fails to extract the strychnia.That process has been a matter of public discussion; it waseven a subject of general advertisement at the time of thebitter beer and the strychnia controversy; and although Dr.Taylor can now talk very learnedly about it, he was evidentlyin utter ignorance of it when he examined Cook’s stomach,and when he ought to have known all about it. Even now,his skill in the practice of it is not great, seeing that he canonly get a trace of poison, that gives a fleeting purple colour,from seven ounces of fluid taken from the stomach of a manwho had been poisoned by three grains of strychnia. Untilchemistry comes to be practised with more success than this, itwill furnish but little aid to criminal jurisprudence, and itwill never rise above the ancillary position of an uncertain science. As to its taking an independent place in a court of law, and standing firmly upon its own ground, irrespective of ’,all other testimony and means of proof-such can never beexpected of it whilst it is so abused and crippled.That Dr. Taylor knew nothing of the mode of applying the

colour test for strychnia is shown by the evidence which hegave as to the possibility of the poison being confounded witha variety of substances, as sugar and bile, pyroxanthine (a pro-duct of the distillation of wood), salicine, &c.; for, if he hadbeen at all conversant with the right mode of applying thetest, he would have known that such fallacies could only existwith the ignorant. This I have already explained in my for-

mer papers on the Chemistry of Strychnia (vide THE LANCETof June 28th and July 12th, 1856).And now I will bring this matter to an end, for I think the

conclusion is inevitable that if Cooll- died from the effects ofstrychnia, the poison was in his body achera Dr. Taylor examined’it, a!ul Dr. 1’ccylor had not the skill to, find it. On the otherhand, if he did not die from strychnia, what an awful resulthas followed upon the speculations of an incompetent operator.In either case the conclusion is not favourable to Dr. Taylor’scredit; and I can well imagine how, under the influence of anunquiet and dissatisfied mind, Dr. Taylor has been tempted toprovoke a discussion, and to indulge in personalities which hisown good sense will hereafter condemn.

I am Sir, yours truly,H. LETHEBY, M.B.,

Professor of Chemistry and Toxicology in theMedical College of the London Hospital.

POOR-LAW MEDICAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—I shall feel obliged by your laying before the professionthe reply of the Poor-law Board to the letter I addressed to-them about six weeks since, a, copy of which you kindly in-serted in vour journal; and I beg to call the attention of theunion medical officers to that part which refers to the assis-tance requisite to be obtained to perform a capital operation.I have carried out the advice of the Poor-law Board, and deem-ing the aid of three surgeons to be necessary for the safe ampu-tation of az limb above the knee, I called them in, paid themone guinea each, and with the annexed letter to the board ofguardians, forwarded their acknowledgments. Last Tuesday,.the board sent me cheques, drawn in the names of the threegentlemen, and requested fresh receipts from them to the board,thus making it their own act. These gentlemen are uncon-nected with the union, which, in this case, was intentional onmy part, in order to test our power on that head. I regretmuch that the Poor-law Board have left doubtful the result offuture applications for payment; I hoped they would say de-finitely it is right to have assistance to perform a capital ope-ration, and the guardians must pay for it. But, no; the unionmedical officers must get help if recjuisite, but it is left opento the guardians to determine afterwards whether the " casewas of such unusual and exceptional character as to warrantthem in making a special allowance for the assistance so ren-dered." Such uncertainty forcibly illustrates the necessity ofa legislative enactment, for which I am preparing, and shallshortly be in a position to submit for the approval of mybrethren, the Draught of a Bill for presentation to Parliament.I have made copious extracts from the statutes in force relatingto the poor since the time of Elizabeth, and am also arrangingthe cases connected with the profession that are recorded inthe official circulars of the Poor-law Board, which I am de-sirous to lay before the members, individually, of both Houses-of the Legislature, in order to prove, as far as possible, by thestatements of the Poor-law Board itself, the necessitv for eachsection in the Act to be proposed. It would also be advan-tageous to the union medical officers to possess these materialsthat each may have it in his power to understand thoroughlythe laws, ’’ rules, orders, and regulations," by which he issupposed to be governed. Printing this compilation, however,will depend entirely on the pecuniary support the Associationreceives, as 4000 copies will be required. During the last twoyears, upwards of £500 have been expended, and in the nextsix months a large amount will be required to enable us to takemeasures to convince the Parliament of the great need of areform of the whole system-not only for the sake of the unionmedical officers, urgent as that is, but what is of more impor-tance-for the benefit of the sick poor, and, I might add, theratepayers also, as the mismanagement of the one must seri-ously affect the interests of the other.

T -nm krn

RICHARD GRIFFIN, M.R.C.S.Royal-terrace, Weymouth, Nov. 1857.P. S.—Poor-law medical officers, in communicating with Mr.

Griffin, are requested to give the titles of the unions in additionto their own addresses. - -

Poor-law Board, Whitehall, Oet. 15th, 1857.SIR,—I am directed by the Poor-law Board to acknowledge

the receipt of your letter of the 29th ult., respecting a poorperson named Puckett, who is under your care as one of thedistrict medical officers of the Weymouth Union, and the

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application which you have made to the guardians for an orderfor three medical men to assist you in the case in the event ofan operation becoming necessary.With reference to the statements contained in your letter,

the Board desire me to remind you that the fees, which underthe General Regulations were payable to the medical officersof the Weymouth Union in midwifery and surgical cases, havebeen commuted, and are now included in the fixed salaries ofthose officers, this alteration having taken place with theirexpress consent. If therefore, in the case of the poor personreferred to, amputation of the limb should unfortunately be-come necessary, you will not be entitled to any extra paymentfor your services in performing the operation.As regards the application which you have made for an order

for three medical men to assist you in the amputation, I amdirected to state that the more regular course under circum-stances such as you describe is, that the medical officer himself(when he deems it needful to do so) should obtain any addi-tional professional aid which may in his judgment be necessary,and after the operation has been.performed submit the facts tothe guardians. It then rests with them to determine whetherthe case was of such unusual and exceptional character as towarrant them in making a special allowance for the assistanceso rendered.The Board are not aware of any reason why this course

should not be adopted by you in the present instance. Withreference to the alleged inadequacy of the salary which youreceive for your services as medical officer, the Board can onlyrefer you to the communications which they have already addressed to you on the subject.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,Rinhard Griffin. Esq COURTENEY. Secretary.

To the Chairman of the Board of Guardians, Weymouth Union.SIR,—In consequence of the remarks made by Mr. Inspector

Gulson in my District Medical Relief Book, (Sept. 14th, 1857,)I wrote to the Poor-law Board, and received the annexed reply.I have carried out their suggestions, and obtained the additionalprofessional aid actually necessary to enable me to amputatethe thigh of Mary Puckett. I enclose the receipts for the feespaid by me to Drs. Brown, Coucher, and Moorhead, and shallfeel obliged by your reimbursing me the amount.

I am, Sir, &c.,RICHARD GRIFFIN.

ARSENIC IN CHOLERA.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Observing some recent communications from Dr. Black,of Chesterfield, on the above important and interesting subject,I am induced to remark (with great submission) that the suc-cessful mode of treatment he appears to have adopted, inseveral instances, is by no means original or peculiar to himself.As long ago as 1849 I prescribed arsenic in many of the worstforms of English cholera with the most gratifying results, andsubsequently in Liverpool to a large extent during the lastfrightful Asiatic epidemic in 1854. I have been generally inthe habit, however, of premising aconite, in the form of a satu-rated tincture, from the leaves and stem of the beautiful cæru-

lean plant, which may be found growing in indigenous luxu-riance in the sheltered valleys which converge upon the Lakeof Thun, in Switzerland. It will not unfrequently arrest theexhausting evacuations, and restore the temperature soonerthan any other drug. Arsenic, moreover, becomes indispen-sably necessary when there exist insatiable thirst, urgent sick-ness and faintness, great prostration of strength, with violentvomiting, retching, and sense of burning heat in the region ofthe stomach and bowels, preceded by tightness and constrictionin the throat, more or less hoarseness, and difficulty of articu-lation ; the matter vomited either greenish or yellowish, as inordinary cholera, or a rice-coloured fluid, with excessive pain-ful spasms of the abdominal muscles; pulse very small, feeble,and rapid ; skin cold and unmistakably bluish; features col-

lapsed ; urine altogether suppressed; abdomen tense, tender,swollen, and drawn in at the umbilicus; the breathing labo-rious, and the patient very restless, with a countenance expres-sive of the most exquisite torture and anxiety. I say laere arethe indications for arsenic-in a word, its reflected portrait,and in these circumstances, but for its life-preserving interposi-tion, the sparkling red eyes close to wake no more. The cold,dry tongue and parched fauces are the harbingers of that mortaldelirium ard stupor which speedily end in death. These re-medies may also be advantageously alternated, one alternate

dose every half hour or oftener, according to the exigencies ofthe individual case, until an improvement persistently sets in.Of the saturated tincture of aconite, ten minims may be pre-scribed in an eight-ounce mixture with distilled water, ofwhich one tablespoonful only should be taken for a dose. Ofarsenic, and indeed every other really valuable medicine,abundant clinical experience has taught me that doses largeenough to disturb the general system have often very littlecurative power over disease, which, in truth, succumbs readilyto much smaller quantities. In the year 1849, I prescribed theliquor arsenicalis for the last time; since that period I havehad ample opportunities of obtaining rapid and permanentcures from the hundredth part of a grain of arsenious acid, evenin extreme cases, when the vomits, cramps, and dejectionswere incessant, and appalling to the stoutest heart. I haverepeatedly known a few doses of this specific medicament re-store the renal secretion, when previously suppressed, (andaugment it in severe dropsical effusions, as published by me inone of your past numbers,) check a profuse diarrhoea, with rice-coloured egesta, and also when the extremities were livid blue,either in the European cholera, accompanied with bile, or, inthe Indian variety, without bile or urine.

I can therefore cordially endorse the sentiments of yourgifted correspondent when he " maintains the specific action ofarsenic in the very worst form of English cholera, and thenceinfers for it a similar power in the malignant type of thedisease. " .

As an old subscriber and contributor, I would beg thefavour of respectfully intimating to your countless readers that,in my humble judgment, the profession, as a body, has beenhitherto too neglectful of the minute study of therapeutics-placed over-confidence in theories, in pathological anatomy,and, above all, the unnecessarily active treatment of disease.Would it not be better, Sir-more consistent with our futurewelfare and scientific advancement as devout inquirers on theshores of the unexplored ocean of truth-to hereafter suspendas premature every preconceived notion of what might, orought to be, the order of nature in any proposed case, andcontent ourselves with observing, as a plain matter of fact,what is ? To experience and practical demonstration weshould refer, as the only legitimate ground of physical inquiryinto the laws and actions of the animal economy. Nay, more,does it not behove us in the present day to be cautious andmodest either to affirm or deny a proposition until it has beenduly submitted to the touchstone of experimental criticism?Deeply impressed with the beautiful harmony, the simplegrandeur, and universality of natural laws, let it henceforth beour ambition to contemplate medical science with somethingakin to that philosophic spirit with which Humboldt delightedto survey the Cosmos, and seriously learn to eschew that re-ligious-like intolerance which condemns the poor brother who

conscientiously reads the same bible by the torch of a differentinterpretation. With such, Sir, permit me to add, I would"fit audience find, though few." You know full well the

charming and deathless axiom, the especial favourite of theimmortal Luther-Lass die geistern auf einander platzen.

I am, Sir, &c.,WILLIAM HITCHMAN, M.D., M.R.C.S.,

Formerly Cholera District Surgeon.

P.S.-As regards external appliances, whether half-skinningthe patient by irritation the most severe, applications the mostsoothing, stimulants the most violent, or sedatives the mostpowerful, cold water or hot, their worthlessness has been de-monstrated, I think, as clearly as a, proposition in Euclid, andthe utter folly of resorting to them is manifested by the awfulredundancy of those who have lately died under their useboth in Sweden and Hamburgh. Judging by analogy, fromthe great comfort to the patient of a piece of ice in the mouth,I have directed injections of cold iced water, to relieve thecramp (or colic) in the intestines, with occasional benefit.

THE CATHOLIC HOSPITAL.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Under the heading of " Medical Annotations," inyour number of last week, you have an article entitled "ReugioMedici;" and since your observations are calculated to placethe catholic portion of our profession in a wrong position, I aminduced to address to you a few words of correction and expla-nation regarding the " Catholic Hospital" in Ormond-street.

I may first of all remind you (for, I presume, at some timeyou must have heard it) that in the church of which the Popeis the head, there is a service which is considered most sacred