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Epsom salts opened the bowels, lessened the vomiting, and,in many cases, relieved it altogether. I have found thismost useful in cases of hypochondriasis and hepatic dropsy.Half a drachm is the utmost limit, and, saving in cases ofnrgency, by no means desirable. From ten grains to ascruple will produce large bilious evacuations. Ten grainswill rarely be attended with nausea, and is sufficient forordinary purposes. I have known it often to relievehaemorrhoids, and those congestions of the fauces and bronchiaso common in our daily practice ; in fact, wherever we cantrace these congestions to a defect in the portal circulation,the manganese is a good substitute for calomel, as it pro-duces no more irritation to the intestinal or anal glandsthan is caused by a flow of bile, and it is attended withneither griping nor depression. Five-grain doses may berepeated as an alterative instead of blue pill or greypowder, and it is remarkable that many anaemic patientswho cannot take any of the preparations of iron can do soif combined with a few grains, say from two to five, ofsulphate of manganese. I find the best way to ad-minister it is to dissolve ten grains in a tumbler ofwater, and then add some citrate of magnesia or

potassa to the solution, and drink in a state of.effervescence. The taste is not unlike that of Epsomsalts, but not quite so bitter, and is scarcely per-ceptible when taken in a tumbler of effervescing mixture.There is a slight objection in adding it to a mixture,as the property of easily absorbing or parting with oxygenwill cause it to change colour if kept in solution for manyhours, and the patient is apt to think that the chemist doesnot always send the same mixture, though I am unawarethat this circumstance is of importance medicinally. Thisis the more remarkable if sugar or syrup be added to themixture. In hospital practice this is of little consequence.Another drawback to its use is that, not being in our Phar-macopoeia, the druggist is apt to think that " manganesiæsulph." is intended for Epsom salts; and, being so seldomused, it is very rarely kept in stock except by the principaldruggists. I have been frequently much disappointed byobserving the absence of any results in private practice, andthat magnesia has been substituted for manganese; butwhen the mistake is discovered and rectified, the properresults are produced. I therefore usually, in prescribingit, mark the manganese, and add "magnesiæ sulph." tocall the attention of the dispenser to the difference. Ibelieve this to be one cause why it is not more generallyused. I have myself shown its use, both in clinical lecturesand hospital practice, for over thirty-five years, at both the’old Dreadnought and St. Thomas’s Hospitals.

I am. Sir. faithfullv vours.R. H. GOOLDEN. M.D. Oxon., F.R.C.P.

TWO EXCEPTIONAL CASES OF ASPHYXIANEONATORUM; THEIR RESUSCITATIONBY THE DIRECT METHOD OF ARTIFICIALRESPIRATION.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,-In a paper published in THE LANCET of the 25th

ult., I stated that one conspicuous feature of the DirectMethod therein described was the delicacy and accuracywith which compression was applied, distributed, and regu-lated, not only until breathing commenced, but after theoccurrence of the first uncertain gasps, supplementing andtraining them until the breathing became full, regular, andnatural. The following additional case, an account of whichhas been kindly given me by Dr. Fancourt Barnes, serves stillfurther to corroborate this statement :-

Dr. Robert Barnes was called in consultation on the 11thult. by Dr. Langmore in a case of labour complicated withmaternal epilepsy. Delivery was accomplished by forceps,and when born the child was very completely asphyxiated.The Direct Method was applied by Dr. Robert Barnes forabout twenty minutes, when the child gave its first gasp.The tendency to relapse, however, was so great that Dr.Langmore, who then took charge of the treatment, to pre-tent complete arrest of further natural effort, found it neces-sary to aid the very infrequent gasps for about an hourand a half before the breathing became natural and able totake care of itself. The little patient afterwards did well.

In the same paper I spoke of the facility offered exclusivelyby this method for the use of artificial respiration instantlyat birth, and before sacrificing the maternal connexion. Atthe same time I gave cases showing how this methodcould afterwards be continued under cover, in warm bath, inconjunction with insufflation, &c., all continued simul-taneously, and without intermission or interference.Another case, further illustrating the most important of

these points, I am able, through the kindness of Dr.Farquhar Matheson, to communicate in corroboration of thisobservation.

Dr. Matheson says:—"Iwas called on the 19th ult. to attenda case of breech presentation. For twenty minutes afterdelivery of the breech the labour was powerless. When at lastthe child was born it was so completely asphyxiated, and itscolour was so bad, I did not venture to sever the maternalconnexion, but at once used the Direct Method of artificialrespiration between the thighs of the mother, according toyour directions. After ten or fifteen minutes the only resultwas ejection from the child’s mouth of about a spoonful ofliquid resembling liquor amnii. After about twenty minutesthe child gave its first gasp. Then I divided the funis, andwithout intermission continued the method in the warm bathabout ten minutes longer, after which the breathing becameand remained perfectly natural."

It will, I think, be apparent that if, in the first case, thetreatment by rotation had been adopted, the first occasionalgasps occurring at such long intervals could not have beenso carefully watched, nor could they have been so nicelysupplemented or substituted according to varying require-ment by artificial aid. By the Silvester method, the doublemotion of the arms, the indirectness and general nature ofthe pressure, would hardly have been compatible with thesame accuracy in timing and regulating the aid as required.

In the second case, it is unnecessary to remark, themethod of Marshall Hall and the method of Silvester wouldeither of them have been quite impracticable.

Yours truly,B. HOWARD, M.D.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OFENGLAND.

AT an ordinary meeting of the Council, held on Thursdaylast, the following important report from the President andVice-presidents in reference to the Erasmus Wilson Fundwas presented :-

" In view of the present vacancy in the Erasmus WilsonProfessorship, and of the fact that the eminent dermatolo-gist to whom the College owes this very liberal endowmentdoes not now offer himself for re-election to the chair, thePresident and Vice-presidents think it their duty to submit tothe Council that, in their opinion, the circumstances afford apeculiarly good opportunity, such as may not recur, for con-sideration between Prof. Wilson and the Council, whetherit would be expedient, and to their joint satisfaction, to makeany change in the terms of the Trust.

" The President and Vice-presidents are led by a variety ofconsiderations to believe that the eventual usefulness of theErasmus Wilson Endowment would be very greatly in-creased, if the Trust, instead of being permanently restrictedto the promotion of Dermatology alone, were widened to thewhole subject-matter of Pathology; and especially if theprofessorship in its future form were constituted under suchconditions that the hope of holding it might influencemembers of the College as a stimulus to original research inthe sciences which are fundamental to surgery.

" The President and Vice-Presidents have reason tobelieve that, if the Council should so wish, Professor Wilsonwould be ready to take part with the Council in makingsuch modification of the Trust as would widen its scope, andallow the income to be applied, in a far more general sensethan now, in aid of pathology and surgery.

" If the purpose of the above suggestions should meetthe approval of the Council, the President and Vice-pre-sidents would propose that the Council should authorisethem to consult with Professor Wilson, with a view to sub-mit to some future meeting of Council definite proposals,approved by him, for modifying the terms of the Trust. Andthey would further propose that, pending the consideration

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of this matter, no steps should be taken by the Counciltowards the appointment of a new Professor of Dermato-logy."The following motion respecting the Bristol MedicalSchool was carried :-" That, as recommended by theCourt of Examiners, for the present, the recognition by thisCollege of the Bristol Medical School be not withdrawn, inthe expectation that the proposed improvements of the ar-rangements for teaching in that school will be carried out,and on the understanding that a report will be furnished bythe honorary secretary of the school at the end of the wintersession 1878-79 respecting the progress which shall havethen been made in effecting those improvements."A long discussion took place with respect to certain

clauses of the new Medical Bill, bearing in a special mannerupon the interests of the College. It was determined thatcounsel’s opinion should be taken, and that Sir JamesPaget, Messrs. Hancock and Humphry, be associated withthe President and Vice-Presidents to receive this opinion.

COLLEGIATE ELECTION.

THE time for nominating candidates for seats in theCouncil of the Royal College of Surgeons expired on Mondaylast, up to which time the following Fellows had been dulynominated (the names are published in the order ofsenioritv) :-

In addition to the above, the retiring members of theCouncil, Messrs. Wilson, Lee, and Holt, will offer them-selves for re-election.

Medical News.ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND. -

The following members, having passed the final examinationfor the Fellowship on May 30th and 31st and June lst and3rd, were, at a meeting of the Council held on Thursday,duly admitted Fellows of the College :—

Boulter, H. Baxter, L.R.C.P. Lond., Hull; diploma of membershipdated July, 1874. -

Brockman, E. Forster, L.R.C.P. Lond., Addison-gardens North;Nov. 1865.

Cross, F. Richardson, Redland, near Bristol; Jan. 1871.Edwards, F. Swinford, L.R.C.P. Loud., St. Mark’s Hospital; Nov.

1875.Firth, Charles, M.B. Lond., St. Giles, Norwich ; Nov. 1873.Frost, W. Adams, L.R.C.P. Lond., Ladbroke-square; July, 1874.Hames, G. Henry, L.R.C.P. Lond., Belmont-square, Leicester;

April, 1875.Harrison, C. Edward, M.B. Lond., Grenadier Guards, Chelsea Bar-

racks ; Jan. 1874.Manders, Horace, L.S.A., Marlborough, Wilts; Nov. 1875.Mercier, C. Arthur, Salford, Manchester; July, 1874.Paul, F. Thomas, L.R.C.P. Lond., Rodney-street, Liverpool; July,

1873.Pughe, Rhinallt N. Ap Joan, M.B. Lond., St. Paul’s-square, Liver-

pool ; April, 1873.

Roth, B. M. Simon, L.S.A., Wimpole-street; July, 1874.Schofield, R. H. Ainsworth, M.B. Oxon., Cambridge-gardens; May,1877.

Williamson, G. Edward, L.S.A., Northumberland-street, NorthShields ; April, 1874.

Wright, G. Arthur, M.B. Oxon., Millman-street, Bedford-row;April, 1877.

Yeo, G. Francis, M.D. Dublin, Albemarle-street. (Not a Member.)Of the 22 candidates examined, 5 failed to reach the requiredstandard, and were referred for twelve months’ further pro-fessional study.

APOTHECARIES’ HALL. -The following gentlemenpassed their examination in the Science and Practice of Medi-cine, and received certificates to practise, on June 6th :-

Hine, Alfred Leonard, Oakley-street, Chelsea.Prince, Herbert Francis, Park-street, Taunton.Stewart, John M’Dougall, Cambridge-gardens.Taylor, Richard Stanley, Friar-gate, Derby.

The following gentleman also passed the Primary Pro-fessional Examination :-

, Livy, Frederic Young, Manchester Hospital.

, THE name of Mr. G-. A. Brown, of Tredegar, has

been inserted in the Commission of the Peace for the Countyof Monmouth.

THE Bromsgrove Guardians have increased thesalary of Mr. Charles Carey, as medical officer to the work-house, from £30 to f40 per annum.LAST week 1481 deaths were registered in London,

representing an annual mortality-rate of 21-6. Whooping-cough accounted for 135 deaths, small-pox for 42, measlesfor 18, scarlet fever for 27, diphtheria for 16, different formsof fever for 22, and diarrhoea for 25. Diseases of the respi.ratory organs were rather more fatal than in the two orthree weeks previous, 270 deaths being attributed in thelatest return to this class of maladies.

PRESENTATION.-Mr. Charles Ford Webb, Surgeonto the P. and 0. steamer Nepaul, was presented on boardbefore arrival at Southampton (on the 7th June) with ahighly flattering testimonial and a purse of ninety guineasfor his zealous and unremitting attention and kindness tothose passengers from India and Australia who required his,professional services.ROYAL MEDICAL BENEVOLENT FUND SOCIETY OF

IRELAND.-The annual meeting was held last week at theCollege of Physicians, presided over by Dr. Gordon. The-annual report stated that there were 97 applications forgrants, and the sum of £1332 lOs. was allocated among the92 eligible candidates as follows :-To medical men £457 10s.,widows E762, and orphans £113. Dr. Churchill has beenappointed honorary treasurer in the room of Dr. Finny, whohas resigned.BEQUESTS ETC. TO MEDICAL CHARITIES.-Mr.

Edward Smalley Hutchinson, of Longworth, bequeathedE500 to the Hereford Infirmary. The Royal Albert Asylumfor Idiots and Imbeciles of the Northern Counties, Lancaster,has received £184 under the will of Miss E. Cowley. TheCorporation of the City of London have given 100 guineas tothe East London Hospital for Children. " A Friend " hasgiven 9100 to St. George’s Hospital. Sir Curtis Sampson,Bart., has given one hundred guineas to the Victoria Hos-pital for Children, Chelsea. The Dundee Royal Infirmaryreceived £5766 in donations and legacies last year. Mr.John Purssord has given £50 to the Charing-cross Hospital.The Aberdeen Hospital for the Relief of Persons labouringunder Incurable Disease has received £500 under the will ofMr. Alexander Duthie, of Ruthrieston. The Corporation ofthe City of London have given 50 guineas to the NationalOrthopaedic Hospital. The General Infirmary, and thePublic Hospital and Dispensary, Sheffield, have each re-ceived £100 under the will of Mr. Thos. Knowles Tillotson,of Whatton House, Leicestershire.

Medical Appointments.BULL, W. H., M.R.C.S.E., L.R.C.P.L., has been appointed Surgeon to

the 1st Bucks Rifle Volunteer Corps.CoLSTON, S. B., M.R.C.S.E., has been appointed Medical Officer for

the Brixham District of the Totnes Union, vice Searle, resigned.CROLY, A., L.K.Q.C.P.I., L.R.C.S.I., has been appointed Medical Officer

for the Rathfarnham and Whitechurch Dispensary District of theSouth Dublin Union, vice H. Croly, M.D., resigned.

DONKIN, W. F., M.A., F.C.S., has been appointed Public Analyst forthe Borough of Banbury, at .65 5s. per annum, 10s. 6d. for eachanalysis of food or drug, and 20s. for each analysis of water.

EDLIN, E. H., F.R.C.S.Ed., M.R.C.S.E., has been appointed a Medi3alOfficer to the Provident Department of the Plymouth Public Dis-pensary, for three years from 1st October.

EWEN, H. W., M.R.C.S.E., L.S.A.L., has been appointed House-Surgeonto the General Hospital, Stroud, vice Watters, resigned.

GREENE, R., L.R.C.P.Ed. &L.M., L.R.C.S.Ed., Medical Superintendentof the East Riding Asylum, Beverley, has been appointed MedicalSuperintendent of the Northamptonshire Lunatic Asylum, BerryWood, at L500 per annum, residence, &c., vice Millson, resigned.

HALLSWORTH, F. A., M.R.C.S.E., L.S.A.L., has been appointed SeniorHouse-Surgeon to the Preston and County of Lancaster RoyalInfirmary, vice Wardrop, resigned.

HAROLD, R., M.R.C.S.E., L.A.H.D., has been appointed Medical Officer,Public Vaccinator, &c., for the No. 2 Division of the Brosna Dispensary District of the Tralee Union.

HUGHES, R. H., M.B., M.R.C.S.E., has been appointed a Medical Officerto the Provident Department of the Plymouth Public Dispensary,for three years from 1st October.