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Provincial Medical &Surgical JournalSource: Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal (1844-1852), Vol. 9, No. 24 (Jun. 11, 1845), pp.374-375Published by: BMJStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25498643 .

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374 THE SUPPLEMENTAL REGISTER.

and the main cause of his sufferings, as he described

them, allowed him little if any rest, unless checked by

powerful astringents. He consulted a variety of medi

cal men with only temporary relief, and at length he

placed himself under my care, presenting all the usual

symptoms of confirmed tubercular phthisis, aggravated by distressing diarrhea.

The case was hopeless to all but himself. Whatever

could be done to relieve his sufferings by kind atten

tion on the part of his friends, and a soothing method

of treatment on my part, was adopted. As a last

resource he wished me to write to an eminent physi cian in London, describe his case, his sufferings, and

what line of treatment I was then pursuing; atthe

same time wishing me to express his determination to

follow any suggestions that might be offered by the

authority in question. I received a confirmation of

my views and the approval of my line of treatment; but as mesmerism had not been tried, I was requested to give it a trial; receiving directions as to the mode

and the probable result.

Never having witnessed any of the public exhibi

tions of this science, and not willing myself to under

take such a novel mode of procedure, I made applica tion to a gentleman in this city, who had been in the

habit of practising this branch of philosophy; he

kindly consented to attend; and it remains for me to

state simply the result of the process in question, as

witnessed by me and one other person only. The first

attempt of the mesmeriser was not so successful as I

expected to have seen from what I had heard; yet, after forty minutes, making a variety of passes, the

patient fell into a sound sleep, which lasted about an

hour and three-quarters. He awoke much refreshed, and more calm in body and mind than I had seen him

for weeks previous. The following day the process was

repeated, and after ten or twelve minutes he again fell

into a calm and tranquil sleep, which lasted nearly four

hours; when the patient awoke he expressed a wish to

'have the process repeated, but as this could not be

done at that time, it was deferred till the following

morning, and with this only difference, that the ope rator produced the effect in about five minutes, which

lasted about the same number of hours. There was no

subsequent opportunity afforded to make further

trial, as the patient died on the evening of the third

day. It may be objected the process hastened his end:

to this I reply, that at the time I entered into corres

pondence with the physician in question, he wag

rapidly sinking, and all the various forms of narcotic

medicine that could be used, had ceased to giye even

temporary relief. He might be said to have run through the gauntlet of pharmacopoeia in this respect; and the

letter was written more to tranquillize the patient's

feelings than with any hope of ultimate benefit. I

further wish to remark that seeing and reflecting upon this case, free from all excitement of a public exhibi

tion; (and too frequently of profound dissimulation,) I

cannot resist the inference that mesmerism, when it shall have baen calmly and judiciously studied, will be reduced to laws certain and fixed as any of the numerous physiological phenomena with which we are

acquainted; and it would not be so difficult, I venture to think, to prove its position in the animal economy

anatomically and physiologically, as it may at first

appear. The researches of M. de Humboldt proved to a demonstration, that animal matter exercises an influence at a distance; that there emanates, from the nerves especially, a fluid appreciable by our instrumen.

tality; but into this question I abstain at present from

entering, and conclude this already prolix letter by stating, that as humanity is, and ever must be, the

guiding star of our profession, every medical man, according to his ability and opportunity, is impera tively called upon to weigh the evidence, and not

reject, under vain and sceptical delusions, one of the most potent means of relieving the suffering of our fellow creatures that science has as yet discovered.

I remain, your obedient servant,

GEORGE CHATER. Norwich, May 15, 1845.

PROVINCIAL

T!etlraI r: surgical journal. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 1845.

Among the defects engrafted on the amended Bill is the provision for what is termed a Supple mental Register. The clause, ps it originally stood, authorizing all persons legally practising, or entitled to practise, at the time of the passing of this act, to register in their several capacities of

physician, surgeon, or licentiate of medicine, inde

pendent of any connexion with corporate institu

tions, was a just and liberal measure, framed to meet a manifest emergency. The making this

register a supplemental one, as it now stands in clause 33 of the amended bill, is a departure from the simplicity of the principle of registration, an introduction into the bill, unnecessarily, of invidi ous distinctions, and a clumsy method of endea

vouring to force a connexion with the colleges. The genuine principles on which a general medi

cal bill ought to be based, are, consolidation of the profession, equalization of qualifications and

privileges, and the abrogation of minute and unne

cessary divisions; and, in drawing up the details of

any such measure, no clause at variance with these

principles should be admitted. However the col.

leges might deem it expedient to perpetuate in their charters, invidious distinctions, cr to introduce new ones, the general legal enactment, which is to give consistency and good government to the entire medical profession, ought, as far as practi cable, to be kept free from them. The public wants have created, and time has sanctioned, cer

tain divisions of the profession; the State should

take cognizance of no other. It should know

nothing of fellows of colleges as distinct from licen tiates or members, and, provided the course of

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SUFFOLK BRANCH MEETING. 375 study followed has been sufficient, and the qualifi cations properly tested and certified by competent and recognized authority, nothing also of the thou. sand and one minor shades of difference by which the medical profession might be split, indefinitely, into as many grades, classes, or orders, as the

fancy of the curious in these matters might devise. The public understand from custom the three

grades of physician, surgeon, and general practi tioner, and beyond this they recognize no distinc.

tion, and, as far as the public are concerned, there fore none other ought to be introduced into the

general legal enactment. If it be deemed right that the future members of

the profession, of whatever grade, should be attached to certain corporate institutions, and we are far from objecting to this, but on the contrary, look upon it as a wise provision, it is fitting that the Medical Bill should enact such a provision. A

clause, therefore, becomes necessary to guard the

existing rights of individuals and to secure to;them the privileges attached to registration. But the

attempt on this account to make any distinction in the registration-to divide the register into

genuine and supplemental-to place in the one those whom the accidents of locality or circumstance have connected with certain corporate institutions which may have been hitherto not greatly in

repute, too exclusive in their nature, or otherwise

open to objection; and in the other, as a supple mentary appendage, those who, for various reasons, have declined to become attached to such institu tions ;-to make any distinctions, in short, on the

register, other than those of physician, surgeon, and

general practitioner, is uncalled for, contrary to sound principle, and must be productive of invidi ous comparisons, and the cause of perpetuating disunion where all ought to be harmony.

Let Sir James Graham then, as regards the

registration, retrace his steps, and let him revert to his original clause. The register professes to be for the information of the public, to point out to those whom it may concern, that certain persons are legally recognized physicians, surgeons, or

general practitioners, qualified to practise medicine and surgery. Any further divisions and distinctions, as to where or how such qualifications were ob tained, can only tend to complicate and mystify the main object of the register, and, consequently, to defeat the very purposes for which it is framed.

PROVINCIAL MEDICAL AND SURGICAL

ASSOCIATION.

(SUFFOLK BRANC H.)

The annual meeting of the Suffolk Branch of the

Provincial Association was held on Friday, the 30th of

May, at Ipswich. The following members were

present:-Dr. Baird, Dr. Durrant, Mr. Bullen, Mr.

Edwards, Mr. Rushon, Mr. Sampson, Mr. Webster, Mr. Johnson, of Ipswich; Dr. Ranking, Bury St.

Edmunds, Dr. Bedingfield, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Ward, and Mr. Bree, Stowmarket; Mr. Growse, Hadleigh;

Mr. Ebdew, Haughley; Mr. Harmer, Weatham; Mr.

Muriel, Wickham Market; Mr. Jones, and Mr.

Bligh, Woodbridge; Dr. Kirkman, Melton; Mr.

Wilkin, Walton; Dr. Wake, Southwold.

The chair was taken by the President of the year, Dr. Ranking, who having addressed the meeting,

resigned it to the President elect, G. Bullen, Esq. Mr. Bullen having opened the business of the day,

called upon those gentlemen who intended to favour

the meeting with cases or papers, to which Dr. Baird

responded, by reading an extremely interesting case of

Laryngimus stridulus, in a child of anemiated habit, which was successfully treated by the exhibition of the

ammoniated tartrate of iron. Observations upon the

case, and upon the medicinal use of iron generally,were made by Drs. Durrant, Ranking, and Bedingfield, Mr.

Growse, and Mr. Bree.

A paper was then read by Dr. Durrant, detailing cases of disease of the liver, the successful adminis.

tration of alkali, (the bicarbonate of potass,) in the

cardiac complication of rheumatism, and a case of

purulent discharge from the rectum, which was suc

cessfully treated by the use of oxide of silver.

The discussion upon this paper chiefly turned upon the internal use of the oxide and nitrate of silver.

Mr. Growse related a case in which the discolouring effects of the nitrate of silver, which was administered

in a case of epilepsy for three months, appeared one

month after the remedy was discontinued. Mr. Bree

spoke in strong terms of the value of the oxide of silver in stomach affections, in doses of a quarter to one

grain three times a day. An exceedingly interesting case of congenital luxa

tion of the sternal extremity of the right clavicle, in a servant girl, was exhibited to the meeting by Mr. Jones.

A sister, also present, and an infant in the same family, had a strong tendency to a similar affection. The

deformity produced by this singular defect was very great. She could dislocate the humerus at pleasure.

Mr. Jones's attention was first directed to the case in

consequence of threatened suffocation, induced by the end of the clavicle pressing upon the trachea. The articulation of the left clavicle was also very imperfect.

No other cases or papers being brought forward, the Chairman called upon the Honorary Secretary to

report upon the proceedings of the Committee ap

pointed at the last meeting to watch the progress of Sir James Graham's Bill for the better regulation of the practice of physic and surgery.

Mr. Bree stated that he had much pleasure in res

ponding to the call of the Chairman, and he should

briefly lay before the meeting an account of their

stewardship. He would do this irrespectively of the various opinions which had agitated the medical world

during the last year upon the subject of medical

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