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its nature were offered. There was no syphilitic taint, and noexternal injury. It was conjectured that the deformity mightbe natural, that it was not very uncommon for the left side ofthe face to be smaller than the right; that it might havearisen from mollities ossium; that the antrum might havefallen in, from the contraction consequent upon the sponta-neous cure of a disease in that cavity, by which the anteriorwall was dragged inwards; that it might have arisen fromfalling in of the anterior wall from obstruction of the openingfrom the antrum into the nasal duct, and consequent atmo-spheric pressure. None of these solutions, however, were re-garded by the author as conclusive or satisfactory.

Mr. THOMAS WAKLEY gave notice that at the next meet-ing of the Society (this evening) he would exhibit the manWilliam Brown, upon whom, about three years ago, he per-formed an operation for the entire removal of the os calcisand astragalus, together with the malleolar processes of thetibia and fibula, for long standing disease of these bones.

Foreign Department.New Experiments on the Woorara Poison.

By Messrs. CL. BERNARD & PELOUZE.

IT appears from these experiments, an account of whichwas read before the Academy of Sciences of Paris, that theaction of the woorara is instantaneous, when it is injecteddirectly into the vessels. When the jugular vein of dogs andrabbits has been thus injected, the animals have died as ifstruck with lightning, without screams or convulsions. If thewoorara is introduced under the skin in solid fragments or insolution, its action is not so rapid and in proportion with thesize of the animal and the dose. Birds and mammalia die ina few minutes, but it takes several hours to destroy a reptilewith the poison. Birds and dogs do not seem immediatelyaffected after the puncture: the former fly for a little while,but soon fall and die without a struggle; the latter walk aboutat first, then lie down as if tired, and seem to fall asleep anddie imperceptibly. Galvanism has after death no influence onthe nerves, the blood is black, refuses to coagulate, and is nolonger reddened by the contact of the air.The woorara may without danger be ingested into the

digestive canal, but if the poison be mixed with gastric juiceand introduced under the skin, it takes effect. Thus it would

appear that the woorara is not decomposed in the stomach, itis merely dissolved in that organ, but the mucous membranedoes not absorb it. A simple experiment will prove that thisproperty of mucous membranes is of a purely physical and nota vital nature. If a piece of gastro-intestinal mucous membraneis adapted to a glass tube, with the mucous surface turned out-wardly, a watery solution of sugar having been introduced intothe tube, the liquid will rise in the tube if it be plunged intoa solution of woorara, endosmosis will have taken place, butno woorara has traversed the membrane. The poison will,however, penetrate the membrane if the latter be not fresh,and the contact last very long.

Reviews and Notices of Books.

The Philosophy of Vital Motion. By C. B. RADCLIFFE, M.B.London. 8vo, pp. 160.

Ds. RADCLIFFE is already favourably known to the professionas the author of a very original work of much interest,* inwhich he has sought to demonstrate an unity of law in organicand inorganic nature, from considerations of an abstract andphilosophical character. His arguments are based upon acontinued series of extremely interesting facts, all of whichhe affirms give support to the idea of unity of form, and force.In the pages before us, Dr. Radcliffe pursues his inquiries intoproblems of more practical interest in physiology. His objectis, to show that phenomena of vital motion, in all their variedforms, are to be explained in the same way as phenomena ofphysical motion, there being but one common law operatingin vital and physical forces, one mode of action in organized

* yrptpHfs, or, The Law of Nature.

living tissues and inorganized lifeless matter. Dr. Radcliffe

argues that the state of contraction in living tissues is not.determined by, or to be considered as, any proof of the activeoperation of vital or physical agents; on the contrary, thatthe state of relaxation is the evidence of the active change.A heated bar of iron contracts on cooling, because of themolecular attraction of its particles, and this phenomenonbecomes more and more apparent in proportion to the abstrac-tion of heat. Analogously our author argues, and he supportshis arguments with many striking facts, that in the more specialcases of contraction in organic living tissues the effect is dueto the diminution or withdrawal of nervous influence, elec-tricity, or some other agent which antagonizes or opposesthe molecular attractions inherent in the particles of thetissue. This is a startling proposition. It is contrary to allour received doctrines on the subject; and if established, in-volves a radical change in our ideas upon vital motion, andespecially upon the operation of the nervous influence inthis motion. Our author, aware of this, has therefore sup-ported his proposition by a particular and special examinationof each individual phenomenon of vital motion-vegetableand animal, testing them severally in relation both to physicaland vital agents. After disposing of some preliminary con-siderations, he speaks of such movements as are seen invessels and cells, under which head the chief topics are, thephenomena of cyclosis, the general circulation of the sap,and especially the capillary or vascular movements in animalbodies which are irrespective of a heart. He then examinesthe movements seen in the irritable tumours of the sensi-tive plant, in involuntary muscles, exclusive of the heart,and lastly, in voluntary muscles, and in each of these in-stances he shows, by a most careful examination, in relationto all the agents concerned, that the law of action is thesame. Finally, the action of the heart is examined, and itsmysterious rhythm is explained in the same way. The con-

cluding pages contain the author’s ideas upon the influence ofthe nervous energy and mind in vital motion, and the argu-ments by which these are urged sufficiently show that al-though he considers the automatic motions in organic tissues,not as special and peculiar, but cosmical, yet he has escapedaltogether from that pantheistic and materialistic view towhich such a generalization might be supposed to lead.

It would take more space than our pages afford to give anyfair and adequate idea of the facts and arguments upon whichDr. Radcliffe bases his views; these are so concatenated, thatit is scarcely possible to detach any for quotation, without im-pairing the value which belongs to them when regarded intheir appropriate place in the series. We therefore recom-mend the book itself for the perusal of such of our readers asfeel an interest in the progress of physiology, stating it as ouropinion that many of the conclusions appear to be demon-strated. Nay, more, if it be admitted that molecular attrac-tion is a vera causa of contraction in organic tissues, upon thewithdrawal of vital or physical influences, then it must be con--fessed that the author has discovered a satisfactory explana-tion (and this one and the same in each case) of three greatphysiological problems-viz., automatic capillary movements,muscular action, and the cardiac rhythm. The work, more-over, especially recommends itself to the careful considerationof the practical physician, for if the views contained in it becorrect, no extreme sagacity is required to predict an im-portant change in our doctrine of fever and inflammation, forsuch must follow upon a better knowledge of capillary action;-of convulsive diseases, for their antecedent is unknown untilthe secret of healthy muscular contraction is revealed;—andof the disordered conditions of the heart, for here also we-must be in the dark until the cause of its wonderful rhythmis comprehended.We are glad to remark, from a notice which appears at the

end of the volume, that Dr. Radcliffe is pursuing his inquiries,into the dark field of convulsive diseases; for however much

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we are disposed to honour the man who sheds any light uponthe mysteries of Nature, we award a higher meed of praise tohim who applies his knowledge to the relief of human suffer-ing..

_____________

New InventionsIN AID OF THE

PRACTICE OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY.

Button-Lock for securing the Dress of the Insane. By J. W.METCALFE, Esq., Medical Superintendent of the YorkAsylum.

MR. METCALFE, who has forwarded to us one of these button-locks, remarks,-" About three years since, admitting a patient who had

been constantly kept fastened on account of a habit of un-dressing himself, I at once liberated him, and contrived abutton-lock to secure his dress-a description and sketch ofwhich may possibly be of use to some of your readers, shouldyou deem them worthy of insertion in THE LANCET. Itsadvantages are-

Ist. That from its shape it is not easily pulled from thedress.

2nd. That it may be used as an ordinary button, or as a lock.3rd. Its appearance is less offensive to the eye than the

usual means of fastening the dress in such cases.It consists of a head of the size and appearance of an

ordinary button, having a hole in the centre, through whichpasses a small screw, in place of the ordinary button-shank;this is screwed into an under piece of metal fixed in the dress.The head of the screw is square, and level with the surface ofthe button, a small key being used to tighten it. The usualbutton-hole is sufficient."

The invention really is ingenious and simple, and from thespecimen in our possession, appears well adapted for the pur-pose intended.

MANCHESTER MEDICO-ETHICAL ASSOCIATION.

THE Third Annual Report of the Committee (1851) congra-tulates the members on the evidences which the past year affords,both of the value of the Association and of the soundness of theprinciples on which it is based.

" The proofs of the former of these points are two-fold : thesmall number of professional misunderstandings which have Ioccurred indicates that the efforts made by the Association todiffuse a more extended knowledge of the principles of medicalethics have not been in vain ; and at the same time shows that,in former years, these were often violated through an ignorancewhich the introduction of a definite standard of professionaletiquette has done much to dispel.The strong desire of conforming to that which is considered

right, manifested by the profession generally in Manchester, andthe actions of many of those medical men, who have not felt ittheir duty to unite themselves with the Society, afford a tacit butpractical recognition of the equity of its principles.

Questions, involving points of professional etiquette, have alsobeen submitted to the committee for adjudication by medical menof distant towns.

Another encouraging proof is derived from the establishmentof similar associations in other towns, founded, avowedly, in con-sequence of the success that has attended their efforts in Man-chester. Medico-ethical associations now exist in Liverpool,Macclesfield, Warrington, Halifax, Bacup, Rochdale, Belfast, &c.,whilst others are in process of formation.

During the past year certain occasions have arisen in whichthe committee felt it their duty to take active measures, in con-nexion with the administration of the medical department of thePoor-Law Act. An attempt was made by the guardians of oneof the neighbouring unions to reduce the salaries of their medicalofficers to an unremunerative point, against which reduction thecommittee memorialized the poor-law board, who refused theirsanction to the same. The committee then addressed a memorialto the board, thanking them for their vindication of the rights ofthe profession.The guardians of another union having resolved to appoint a

medical officer to a district, under circumstances in which it

appeared impossible that the paupers could be duly cared for, theAssociation again memorialized the poor-law board, praying them

to withhold their sanction from the resolution, which they havehitherto done.In February last the committee instructed the secretaries to

prepare a list of the qualified members of the medical professionpractising in Manchester and within twenty miles of that town.Such a list was accordingly prepared and printed; copies of thesame were transmitted to all the members of the profession resi-dent within the above limits, as well as to such county andborough magistrates, the discharge of whose official duties bringsthem in contact with medical men.At the last annual meeting, the Association decided that some

steps should be taken for the prosecution of unqualified practi-tioners through the county courts, and directed the secretariesaccordingly; and believing that it was the intention of the

government to bring before Parliament some measure of medicalreform, the committee thought it expedient to petition the Secre-tary of State for the Home Department, that in any bill intro-duced for that purpose, adequate provision might be made forsuppressing the practice of medicine and surgery by unqualifiedpersons.

It is a matter of congratulation to the committee that the pastyear has witnessed the marked progress of the assurance question.When last they presented their Report, thirty offices conceded thejustice of their demand, and consented to pay all medical practi-tioners to whom they refer; that number has since been increasedto fifty.The committee feel that it is only performing an act of justice

to the medical press, in acknowledging the aid received from iton this point, and in an especial manner would bear testimony tothe zeal and ability with which the cause of the profession has.been advocated by the Editor of THE LANCET : the cause cannotbe left in abler hands."

THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL AND UNQUALIFIEDPRACTITIONERS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SiR,—May I request you, or any of the numerous perusersof your journal, to explain certain glaring inconsistencies inour profession, which I cannot understand.

In the village where I practise, an individual, totally un-qualified, has been likewise illegally doing so for some years,having engraved on a large brass plate placed on his door," Surgeon :’ Understanding that he is in the habit ofwriting certificates of causes of death, and our districtregistrar of receiving them, I wrote to the registrar-generalto ascertain if the district registrar could accept them from am.unqualified man, and knowing him to be such. The registrar-general, in reply, sent me a polite note, and a form, from whichI can merely glean that unqualified men are recommended not-to fill them up. Yet our district registrar not only takes thisman’s certificates, but actually supplies him with the printedforms to be filled up and signed. This very unqualified man hadthe gross assurance, not long since, to perform a post mortem,give evidence at an inquest, and pocket the two guineas. Ionce thought that qualified practitioners had some fewprivileges left untouched; but when I see ignorant, illegalpractitioners, carrying out their plans without molestation, Iquestion very much the use of expensive medical educationand subsequent qualification. I have hitherto been particularin recording the cause of death, but this damps my zeal not alittle.

Is it not singular that no means can be used to put a stopto this illegal system ? This man was merely taught to dis-pense, came here when no qualified man was in the place, andsince I have been here, has been supported by two practi-tioners in neighbouring villages. When qualified men, frompetty jealous feelings, will countenance an illegal practitionerto the detriment of a brother member, how can we be surprisedat quacks succeeding?The incomprehensible inconsistencies are the accepting of

cause of death certificates from illegal men, and the apparentwant of power to punish a man who, by perjuring himself,illegally gives evidence as a qualified practitioner before acoroner.

If you will kindly allow this necessarily long letter a sparecorner in your just and most excellent journal, you willgreatly oblige

Your most obedient servant,Your most obedient servant,March 3, 1851. M. R. C. S. E.

*<,* This case requires the consideration of the Registrar-General, and we advise our correspondent to address that im-portant public officer on the subject.-ED. L.