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12 soundness of Dr. Snow’s theory of the propagation of cholera. He (Dr. Rogers) could not too highly eulogize the perseverance, zeal, and indefatigable industry which characterized Dr. Snow’s labours to elucidate and work out his views, because in so doing, even if he did not really prove the soundness of his theory, he brought to light many violations of the laws of hygiene, and remedial and salutary measures would, he hoped, be the result. A case of one of his (Dr. Rogers’) patients having been referred to as supporting Dr. Snow’s views of the propagation of cholera, by the drinking of water into which cholera evacuations had gained admission, he would beg the Society to suspend their judgment until the whole of the facts were brought before them. He did not believe it was a case of cholera, and unless they accepted the theory enunciated by Dr. Greenhow, that during the prevalence of cholera, all cases of even simple diarrhoea must be regarded as choleraic, or incipient cholera, he did not believe that it would be found to prove all that was now ima- gined were direct and conclusive consequences from the case cited. The whole of the facts connected with the terrible out- break of cholera in the neighbourhood of Broad-street requires to be known before we can arrive at any really satisfactory evi- dence as to the cause of it. Reviews and Notices of Books. Gout and Rheumatism, and the Curative Effects of Galvanism. By R. M. LAWRANCE, M.A., M.D., Physician to H.R.H. the Duke of Gotha. London : Renshaw. 1855. THE motto of this little book-venture is "Natura nihil agat frustra,." No doubt the author seeks to imitate this ex- cellent example of Nature to do nothing in vain. We there- fore conclude that Richard Moore Lawrance, M.A., M.D., Physician to H. R. H. the Duke of Gotha, had some motive in doing us the honour of presenting us with a copy of his work. What that motive may be, we are, however, at a loss to con- jecture. There is nothing in it that is not very familiar to the profession, if we except two or three assertions respecting the efficacy of galvanism, unsupported by facts, and which intelli- gent persons will hardly be considered satisfactorily proved on the bare authority of Dr. Lawrance. The book, in short, to speak very plainly, was never designed to instruct the profession at all; it is aimed at the public, gouty and rheumatic, credulous andfee-giving. He accordinglysets out with informing this select portion of the public" that medical men generally look upon this branch of physics as one but very remotely connected, if at all (!), with practice, and therefore devote but little time to its study." Dr. Lawrance is also"aware that galvanism, as branch of medical science, has to encounter many difficulties, not from the prejudice alone with which it is regarded, but because the application is both troublesome and tedious." The author, therefore, undertakes, " in the first place, to give a concise detail of the general history, nature, and powers of electricity," and, in order to substantiate the accuracy of his assertion, "that medical men generally look upon galvanism as but remotely, if at all, connected with practice;" and that it is little studied by them, he proceeds, with the free use of scissors and paste and little judgment, to borrow from medical men on his own terms-for he has no scientific capital or interest wherewith to repay the obligation-all that he has to. say of the general history, nature, and powers of electricity! This part of Dr. Lawrance’s book, not being his own, does not call for criticism. We beg pardon ; we find we have marked a passage which possibly may be his own. It is our duty to introduce it to the notice of the profession, who, being very ignorant (as Dr. Lawrance intimates) of the powers of gal- vanism, ought not to be deprived of the opportunity of instruc- tions " If an egg be boiled hard, and the solid white part exposed to a continuous current, that part in contact with the negative pole will become perfectly transparent, so that writing can be seen through it as distinctly as through glass. This effect of the negative pole I have employed with success in removing opacity of the cornea ; and I have no doubt of its efficacy in removing cataract, for I have succeeded in restoring this trans- parency to the crystalline lenses of pigs and other animals which I had previously rendered opaque by boiling, or by exposing, them to the action of acids." There is in the above passage a mixture of hardihood of asser- tion and desperate logic that almost defies criticism. Without’ imputing wilful misrepresentation to Dr. Lawrance, we must; in the first place, withold our belief from his statement that he has, as he expresses it, " employed" (what?) " this effect of the negative pole with success in removing opacity of the cornea," until better evidence is forthcoming. Dr. Lawrance may in- deed have seen, or fancied he has seen, an opacity of the cornea; clear off in the course of time, whilst he was amusing himself and his patient with " employing this effect of the negative pole" ; but since opacities do occasionally clear off to some ex- tent without such treatment, it is quite possible that Dr. Law- rance may have been led away by his enthusiasm. We are the more inclined to adopt this conclusion, because the same passage contains such a remarkable example of the peculiarities. of the reasoning faculty of our author, that we cannot help doubting whether it be safe to follow him in his deductions, even if we could in all cases credit his facts. Dr. Lawrance tells us-no, not M.9, but the scaly-eyed and cataractous public- that "if an egg be boiled hard, and the solid white exposed ta a continuous current, that part in contact with the 92 egative pol6 will become perfectly transparent." That is his fact : what is: his conclusion ? Therefore "he has no doubt of its efficacy" (of this effect of the negative pole) "in REMOVING CATARACT" ! From this it would appear that Dr. Lawrance’s views as to the pathology of a cataractous lens in the living body is quite identical with that of a hard-boiled egg-i. e., that a cataract. is neither more nor less than coagulated albumen! and he even forgets his own statement, that the restored transparency of the coagulated albumen is confined to "that part in contact with the negative pole." Can Dr. Lawrance place his negative pole in contact with the crystalline lens without puncturing the eye ? He cannot, then, so much as repeat his albuminous experiment upon the cataractous lens; and yet such is the force of enthusiasm that takes the reason prisoner, that Dr. Lawrance " has no doubt that he can remove" cataract by his negative pole! He does not indeed say he has succeeded in removing cataract by galvanism, so we think we had better wait to see if experience will confirm this well-constructed- theory. The remainder of the work, which professes to treat of the therapeutic effects of galvanism in gout and rheumatism, is. about equal to the above in the authenticity of its facts and the logic of its conclusions. The facts-that is, the cases- the author sometimes prefers to give in " the patient’s own words." From this circumstance we are enabled to judge of the accuracy and soundness of the descriptions of the patho-- logical states said to have been relieved. The whole matter and aim of this book might be expressed in the few following words :-" The medical profession is prejudiced against gal vanism, or ignorant of its uses. Dr. Lawrance, on the other hand, is a profound medical philosopher, who has made the properties of galvanism his special study, and who is prepared to employ the effects of the negative pole’ to the cure of rheumatic and gouty old ladies and gentlemen. " Having thus discharged our duty by expressing our opinion of the work, we commit it to the shelf on which it is likely to, slumber until disturbed for its final removal to the waste-paper basket. A Manual of Clinical Medicine and Physical Diagnosis. By T. H. TANNER, M. D., Physician to the Hospital for Women. London : Henry Renshaw. 12mo, pp. 306. THIS little work has been written with the intention of re- moving some of the difficulties which the student always-and the practitioner frequently-must encounter while studying disease at the bed-side. It is certainly well calculated to sim-
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Page 1: Reviews and Notices of Books

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soundness of Dr. Snow’s theory of the propagation of cholera.He (Dr. Rogers) could not too highly eulogize the perseverance,zeal, and indefatigable industry which characterized Dr. Snow’slabours to elucidate and work out his views, because in so doing,even if he did not really prove the soundness of his theory, hebrought to light many violations of the laws of hygiene, andremedial and salutary measures would, he hoped, be the result.A case of one of his (Dr. Rogers’) patients having been referredto as supporting Dr. Snow’s views of the propagation of cholera,by the drinking of water into which cholera evacuations hadgained admission, he would beg the Society to suspend theirjudgment until the whole of the facts were brought before them.He did not believe it was a case of cholera, and unless theyaccepted the theory enunciated by Dr. Greenhow, that duringthe prevalence of cholera, all cases of even simple diarrhoeamust be regarded as choleraic, or incipient cholera, he did notbelieve that it would be found to prove all that was now ima-gined were direct and conclusive consequences from the casecited. The whole of the facts connected with the terrible out-break of cholera in the neighbourhood of Broad-street requiresto be known before we can arrive at any really satisfactory evi-dence as to the cause of it.

Reviews and Notices of Books.Gout and Rheumatism, and the Curative Effects of Galvanism.

By R. M. LAWRANCE, M.A., M.D., Physician to H.R.H.the Duke of Gotha. London : Renshaw. 1855.

THE motto of this little book-venture is "Natura nihil agatfrustra,." No doubt the author seeks to imitate this ex-

cellent example of Nature to do nothing in vain. We there-fore conclude that Richard Moore Lawrance, M.A., M.D.,Physician to H. R. H. the Duke of Gotha, had some motive indoing us the honour of presenting us with a copy of his work.What that motive may be, we are, however, at a loss to con-jecture. There is nothing in it that is not very familiar to theprofession, if we except two or three assertions respecting theefficacy of galvanism, unsupported by facts, and which intelli-gent persons will hardly be considered satisfactorily proved onthe bare authority of Dr. Lawrance. The book, in short, tospeak very plainly, was never designed to instruct the professionat all; it is aimed at the public, gouty and rheumatic, credulousandfee-giving. He accordinglysets out with informing this selectportion of the public" that medical men generally look uponthis branch of physics as one but very remotely connected, if atall (!), with practice, and therefore devote but little time to itsstudy." Dr. Lawrance is also"aware that galvanism, as branchof medical science, has to encounter many difficulties, not fromthe prejudice alone with which it is regarded, but because theapplication is both troublesome and tedious."The author, therefore, undertakes, " in the first place, to

give a concise detail of the general history, nature, and powersof electricity," and, in order to substantiate the accuracy of hisassertion, "that medical men generally look upon galvanismas but remotely, if at all, connected with practice;" and thatit is little studied by them, he proceeds, with the free useof scissors and paste and little judgment, to borrow frommedical men on his own terms-for he has no scientific capitalor interest wherewith to repay the obligation-all that he hasto. say of the general history, nature, and powers of electricity!

This part of Dr. Lawrance’s book, not being his own, doesnot call for criticism. We beg pardon ; we find we havemarked a passage which possibly may be his own. It is our

duty to introduce it to the notice of the profession, who, beingvery ignorant (as Dr. Lawrance intimates) of the powers of gal-vanism, ought not to be deprived of the opportunity of instruc-tions

" If an egg be boiled hard, and the solid white part exposedto a continuous current, that part in contact with the negativepole will become perfectly transparent, so that writing canbe seen through it as distinctly as through glass. This effect ofthe negative pole I have employed with success in removingopacity of the cornea ; and I have no doubt of its efficacy in

removing cataract, for I have succeeded in restoring this trans-parency to the crystalline lenses of pigs and other animals whichI had previously rendered opaque by boiling, or by exposing,them to the action of acids."

There is in the above passage a mixture of hardihood of asser-tion and desperate logic that almost defies criticism. Without’

imputing wilful misrepresentation to Dr. Lawrance, we must;in the first place, withold our belief from his statement that hehas, as he expresses it,

" employed" (what?) " this effect of thenegative pole with success in removing opacity of the cornea,"until better evidence is forthcoming. Dr. Lawrance may in-deed have seen, or fancied he has seen, an opacity of the cornea;clear off in the course of time, whilst he was amusing himselfand his patient with " employing this effect of the negativepole" ; but since opacities do occasionally clear off to some ex-tent without such treatment, it is quite possible that Dr. Law-rance may have been led away by his enthusiasm. We arethe more inclined to adopt this conclusion, because the samepassage contains such a remarkable example of the peculiarities.of the reasoning faculty of our author, that we cannot helpdoubting whether it be safe to follow him in his deductions,even if we could in all cases credit his facts. Dr. Lawrancetells us-no, not M.9, but the scaly-eyed and cataractous public-that "if an egg be boiled hard, and the solid white exposed taa continuous current, that part in contact with the 92 egative pol6will become perfectly transparent." That is his fact : what is:his conclusion ? Therefore "he has no doubt of its efficacy" (ofthis effect of the negative pole) "in REMOVING CATARACT" !From this it would appear that Dr. Lawrance’s views as to

the pathology of a cataractous lens in the living body is quiteidentical with that of a hard-boiled egg-i. e., that a cataract.is neither more nor less than coagulated albumen! and he evenforgets his own statement, that the restored transparency ofthe coagulated albumen is confined to "that part in contactwith the negative pole." Can Dr. Lawrance place his negativepole in contact with the crystalline lens without puncturingthe eye ? He cannot, then, so much as repeat his albuminousexperiment upon the cataractous lens; and yet such is theforce of enthusiasm that takes the reason prisoner, that Dr.Lawrance " has no doubt that he can remove" cataract by hisnegative pole! He does not indeed say he has succeeded in

removing cataract by galvanism, so we think we had betterwait to see if experience will confirm this well-constructed-

theory.The remainder of the work, which professes to treat of the

therapeutic effects of galvanism in gout and rheumatism, is.about equal to the above in the authenticity of its facts andthe logic of its conclusions. The facts-that is, the cases-the author sometimes prefers to give in " the patient’s ownwords." From this circumstance we are enabled to judge ofthe accuracy and soundness of the descriptions of the patho--logical states said to have been relieved. The whole matterand aim of this book might be expressed in the few followingwords :-" The medical profession is prejudiced against galvanism, or ignorant of its uses. Dr. Lawrance, on the otherhand, is a profound medical philosopher, who has made theproperties of galvanism his special study, and who is preparedto employ the effects of the negative pole’ to the cure ofrheumatic and gouty old ladies and gentlemen. "

Having thus discharged our duty by expressing our opinionof the work, we commit it to the shelf on which it is likely to,slumber until disturbed for its final removal to the waste-paperbasket.

A Manual of Clinical Medicine and Physical Diagnosis. ByT. H. TANNER, M. D., Physician to the Hospital for Women.London : Henry Renshaw. 12mo, pp. 306.

THIS little work has been written with the intention of re-

moving some of the difficulties which the student always-andthe practitioner frequently-must encounter while studyingdisease at the bed-side. It is certainly well calculated to sim-

Page 2: Reviews and Notices of Books

13

plify the sometimes difficult task of diagnosing the more ob- scure diseases.The author has justly considered the Diagnosis of disease

worthy of separate consideration, and has devoted this book toit alone. It is replete with valuable information on the subjectof which it treats, and amongst the most important of theseare, the diagnosis of diseases simulating one another, a treatiseon auscultation, and the chemical and microscopical charactersof the blood and urine in various diseases.The author hss succeeded in compressing a large amount of

information into a small space, at the same time nothing iswanting to make the book in reality a Manual of ClinicalMedicine. Not the least virtue of this work is the cheap rateat which it has been brought out. We heartily recommend itsperusal to the student in medicine.

Contempory Medical Literature.CHLOROFORM.

THE most noticeable new facts of late have been some novelviews of Dr. Murphy as to the action of chloroform, and theexcellent observations of Mr. Syme of Edinburgh, on the samesubject. Syme, who has been treated very harshly by a por-tion of the medical press (almost a sign in these times thatthere is something good in him), entertains an opinion that weneed not watch the pulse during the action of chloroform, butwatch the respiration. Murphy, from an opposite point ofview, comes to the same conclusion; and looks upon anaes-thetics (copying an idea of Dr. Bence Jones) as active in pro-portion to their amount of carbon. The Germans, fond of alittle bit of mysticism, say that if charcoal should be evermade soluble, it will be the most powerful poison and anses-thetic in existence. These points are a great relief to theeternal fine writing on the subject by men who know nothingwhatever about the thing. THE LANCET has done infinite

good by bringing out these views of Mr. Syme, and breakingthrough old routine and prejudices. If we are ever to im-prove, and hand on the flickering lamp of our little brilliancein London, it is by hearing what every man has to say,whether Irish or Scotch. Dr. Arnott would banish chloro-form before he or we understand it at all; and Dr. Snow maysee many virtues in it that it really does not possess. That itis a most valuable agent no one can doubt; yet we have beenall watching the pulse with the utmost eagerness.-DublinMedical Press.

SUN-STROKE.

THE pathology of this disease has still in great measure tobe investigated. Dr. Russell found in examining the bodiesof several men who were struck down by intense heat, that inall the brain was healthy, no congestion or accumulation ofblood being observable; although there was a small serous

effusion in one instance. The lungs, however, were in allthese cases congested, even to blackness, through their entireextent, and, indeed, so densely loaded, that complete obstruc-tion must have taken place. There was also an accumulationof blood on the-right side of the heart, and in the great vesselsapproaching it. Several cases occurred during the hot seasonof 1852, at the taking of Rangoon, and also at the same periodof 1853. The symptoms were excessive thirst, gradually super-vening stupor, lividity of the face, coma, &c. The propertreatment did not consist in bloodletting, but in the colddouche, fanning, (i. e., the inhalation of less heated and lessexpanded air assisting, properly arterializing the blood,) stimu-lants, ammonia, &c. The disease consisted apparently in im-paired power of the heart: from this the consequences resulted.But there is another kind of COllp de soleil-an instance ofwhich occurred in the field in an officer of the artillery. It isaccompanied, not by stupor, but by intense and distressingpain in the head, which was immediately relieved in this caseby bleeding, and the patient did quite well, returning to hisduty in two or three days. But several cases of chronic "

coMpde soleil" have been under treatment. This is to all appear-ance purely an affection of the head, and lasts for many months,even during the rains after the hot weather has ceased, whenthe thermometer does not rise higher perhaps than 84°.-Drs.DAVIDSON and CHEVERS in Indian Annals.

CONCENTRATED INFUSIONS.

Concentrated infusions are at the present time much in use,especially amongst medical men who dispense their own medi.cines ; and from the opinions he had heard them express uponthe subject, he believed their experience would go far to justifytheir use. At present there was no recognised formulae bywhich any of them were prepared; they all varied in strength;indeed most makers allowed that their preparations were,when diluted, really stronger than those of the Pharmacopoeia.They all contained spirit, varying in quantity from one-sixthto one-sixteenth of their volume. Infusion of rhubarb mightbe taken as an example of the many formulae used; somemakers used hot water, others cold ; some filtered when cold,and others while hot-variations which would make a mate-rial difference in the product.......The question, however, isnow not so much whether concentrated infusions ought to beused as whether they ought to be inserted in a future edition ofthe Pharmacopœia.-DR. EDWARDS in Report of LiverpoolPharmaceutical Society.

BANDAGING THE ABDOMEN AFTER LABOUR.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR, - Having considered it an established fact amongst theobstetricians of the present day that the application of a rolleror binder soon after delivery was in most cases productive ofdecided good, and in all a source of great comfort to thepatient, without any injurious effects, I was unprepared forthe discussion which has taken place in your columns on thesubject; and although little more can be added to what has

already been written, I cannot resist the desire of giving theresult of my experience, and bearing my testimony to the ad-vantages of the plan.The most beneficial of its effects I consider to be, that it is

one of the useful means for restraining haemorrhage occurringimmediately after delivery. I have said one of the means, asof course no accoucheur would depend on that alone to arrestthis alarming event, as he would endeavour to promote con-traction in every possible way by more energetic measures.Still after, by manipulating the abdomen, the uterus is foundcontracting towards the pubes, then the application of a goodbinder will, in my opinion, afford most important aid towardspreventing its re-relaxation, and yield that support to theabdominal parietes which they have just lost.My plan is in all cases, immediately after the expulsion of

the child, to cause moderate pressure to be kept upon the abdo.men, thus greatly facilitating the expulsion of the placenta;and immediately after that has been removed, I apply gentlemanipulating pressure until I find the uterus contracting pro-perly, when I at once tighten the bandage, previously looselyput round, and have never during an experience of twentyyears had the slightest reason to doubt the propriety of theplan, added to which, by pursuing this simple course, I havegot over, without difficulty, many cases where the patientshave in former labours had their lives imperilled by haemor-rhage.

So far as the great addition it yields to comfort is concernedthere needs nothing to be said, as any woman who may havebeen .managed with and without it would at once settle thatpoint.

Respecting its application before delivery, there may be somereason for difference of opinion; and where there is powerfulcontraction of the uterus, perhaps it is as well to leave itsaction uninterfered with, save and except in cases of pendulousabdomen or plurality of children.

I have only to add, in conclusion, that it is my firm convic-tion much injury may arise from the omission of this simpleappliance afte)’ delivery, whilst I am quite unable to find anyevil accruing from its adoption, and to remark that I am awarethere is no originality in my communication, but trust mymotive for making it will render these few lines not quite un-worthy of your notice, or a space in your valuable journal.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,BENJ. WOOD, M.R.C.S. ENG. AND L.S.A.

Newllomney, Kent, April, 1855.

THE HEALTH OF SEBASTOPOL.-Accounts received atConstantinople through prisoners state that 18,000 woundedmen were lying at Sebastopol, and that cholera was ragingfearfully. To make up the cup of appalling misery, the un-fortunate garrison were beginning to feel the effects of hunger,provisions, through the capture of Kertch, being exceedinglyscarce.


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