660 SHEFFIELD SCHOOL.--SIR H. HALFORD’S

parish authorities being thought likely todo harm. It would appear that the chiefdifficulties have originated in the actualdecrease of deaths during the last threemonths of 1834, and the mutual jealousiesof each other among the teachers."-Jan.26th.

With respect to the concluding sen-tence of this degrading confession, we

may observe that if it be true that there

has been a decrease of deaths in the

quarter ending the 1st of January 1834over the corresponding quarters of 1832and 1833, it is equally true that more sub-

jects have been supplied to the schools

during the last quarter than in corre-

sponding quarters of the two previousyears. The impartiality of the distribu-tion, and the consequent aid to the medi-cal department of the London Universityand the private schools, are the real causeof annoyance to the rapacious BATS.

Turn London papers of Thursday con-tain an account of the " destruction of the

Sheffield Medical School," and all its fur-niture, on Monday last, by an assemblageof persons whose feelings had been excitedby some cause against the establishment.The particulars are derived from the

Sheffield Iri8, but they are most imperfectand unsatisfactory, and we refrain, there-fore, from transferring them to our co-lumns. The report states that the riot

began in drunkenness, was fanned bythe diffusion of " foolish accounts of

what the first persons saw who broke

into the school," was momentarily checkedby the police, revived next day, extendedto the complete destruction of the build-ing by fire, rendered the aid of a party ofsolcliers necessary in the town, and wasnot finally subdued until an attack hadalso been made on a house in Surrey-street,called the " Medical Hall." The distur-bance appears to have been a verywrathful and serious one. An explicitaccount and explanation of the excitingcause of the riot will doubtless be made

public in a day or two.

SIR HENRY HALFORD’S GRANDDINNER AND TEA PARTY.

! THIS worthy Baronet and chief Fellowof the College of Physicians, gave hisannual grand dinner, preparatory to theperiodical conversaziones at the RoyalCollege, on Monday last, the 26th inst., athis mansion in Curzon-street, and on thatoccasion had the gratification of enter-taining the illustrious ARTHUR, Duke ofWELLINGTON, the Right Rev. Father inGod the ARCHBISHOP of CANTERBURY,the Bishop of London, the Lord HighCHANCELLOR of England, the PRIMEMINISTER of Great Britain and Ireland,several judges of the realm, and many otherdistinguished guests.The Duke of WELLINGTON arrived in

his state carriage precisely at seven

o’clock, and was soon followed by theother illustrious personages. A most

sumptuous and elegant entertainment wasprepared in the banqueting room, whichwas richly decorated for the occasion.The health of her Most Gracious Ma-

jesty was drunk, as the first toast, withrapturous applause.

Sir HENRY then proposed "the healthof the great Captain of the age, the Dukeof Wellington, and may he long live toenjoy the innumerable honours which thisgreat nation has heaped upon him, and tocontinue to bless the country with hiscouncils."The DuKE rose amidst deafening cheers,

and returned thanks for the complimentSir Henry had paid him. He was happyto take this opportunity of expressinghis satisfaction at seeing the heads of themedical profession represented by so ac-complished and so talented a physician asthe worthy baronet. He had himselfbenefited from Sir Henry’s abilities in moreways than one, and he considered Sir

Henry’s powers to be as useful in thecabinet, as in the sick room. He hadheard a great deal too much lately aboutRefornz, and if he was to judge of the stateof the medical profession from the sump-tuous dinner and the delicious wines onthis table, he would venture to give itas his opinion, with all due deferenceto Sir Henry’s superior knowledge, thatthe medical profession wanted Mo reform.He now intended to propose " The healthof the President of the Royal College ofPhysicians, and may he never require anyother medicine than such as he has admi.nistered to his guests on this occasion."

Sir HE.NRY returned thanks. Hisillus-trious friend, the Duke, had said so muchin his praise, and with such excellent

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good-nature, that he could not find words abstain from that indulgence at the Col-adequate to express the gratitude and lege, especially amidst the beetle hum ofpride which now overwhelmed him, I approbating voices, (my Lord Broughamam confident (he continued) that there slept soundly, when he had the honournever was a physician encircled as I am of sitting at my right hand at the Col-now by so many illustrious and distin- lege,) 1 design to foliow a royal example,guished personages. As my avowed object and now detail to the cabinet an outlineis to give eclat to the Royal College of of the subjects which I shall broach thi3Physicians, I conceived there was no more evening. (Applau8e.) I shall begin witheffectual mode of securing your attend-, the illustrious monarch Henry the Eighth,auce at the conversazione this evening who was a great beauty, in proof of whichthan that of giving you all a good dinner I shall refer the visitors to the portrait ofand a moderate allowance of wine; for, that royal personage in Windsor Castle,it would be indecorous, particularly in my painted by Holbein. I am only sorry thatholy friends, to appear before all the tag- I did not order it to he sent here for yourrag and bobtail whom you will meet this inspection to-day. I shall dwell empha-evening, tinctured with the juice of the tically on the great delight which this

grape. Much as I appreciate the compli- monarch took in physicking the lieges.ment which the Duke of Wellington has I He was continually employed in concoct-paid to my dinner and wines, he must ing decoctions, tisans, unguents, catholi-not conclude that all the members of cons, boluses, injections, plasters, blisters,our College can afford to give such en- and other medicinal remedies, and hetertainments, and that the medical profes- took the greatest pleasure in posing thesion requires no reform. On the con- physicians of his time with puzzling ques-trary, the parliamentary inquiry has in- tions. Not in joke, my lords. On the

disputably shown that great abuses exist contrary, his confidence in medicine wasin our medical corporations; I rejoice, quite unbounded, as that of all royal andhowever, to think that from the happy other great personages should be, when ac-change which has taken place in his Ma- complished physicians are admitted to theirjesty’s Councils, these abuses will be cor palaces and courts. He died of dropsy-rected by the pruning knife of the judi- water in the tissues, my lords,-an ill com-cious Conservative now at the head of the pliment, though, to the wine-purveyor ofGovernment. But I think it proper to his Majesty. Then I shall go to Cardinalstate that our College is now busily em- Wolsey. He was a great man, a veryployed in correcting its own abuses, so great man, though he played his cardsthat I hope it will, at all events for a time, ill at last; and I fcar that as he lost the

escape the ravages of a parcel of infuriated royal favour in this world, he (loes not fillreformers. When you have done with a cardinal’s place in the next. I shallthe wine we shall proceed to Pall Mall greatly eulogize him, however, as all highEast, where I will call your attention to, church dignitaries deserve. The cardinal,and will entertain the numerous meeting too, had a great itching for physic, andwith, some curious and strange cases, and seems to have been well skilled in theI am happy to have another opportu- inferences to be found in critical days.nity of relating to you a royal case, which (’4 Hear," " hear," from the Prime Mi-will give great importauce to the meeting nister.) His deatli at such a period ofI mean that of our dearly-beloved friend life was undoubtedly produced by mentalwhom you all well knew, and whose ta- anguish in consequence of his disgracelents and virtues you respected as much with his sovereign. He was most anxiousas I did,-William Duke of Gloucester, to exonerate himself from the chargesfirst cousin of our most gracious Sove- brought against him, and, probably, half-reign, King William the Fourth. On a starved himself,-a rare and improper end,former occasion, when those public rob- my lords (I" Hea? ...... hear," from tl.ebers the Whig ministers (Great cheer- bishops), for so aflluent and excellent a,ing, especially from Lord Abinger) were cardinal. He prophesied the period of hisbrought by me to the annual party at the own death eight days before it occurred,College, - but you will not see one of when labouring under a severe flux, which,them there to-night,-I say, my Lords, on with acute prognosis, he estimated to enda former occasion, I spoke of the illness fatally in that time. From this holyand death of the illustrious of ancient churchman I shall advance to Edward thetimes. 1 shall now read a paper on the Sixth, who was a miracle of precociouslast days of royal and great men of modern talent and benevolent disposition, andyears; and as nothing is more healthful whose intellectuality was, undoubtedly, soand delightful after dinner than a siesta, remarkably developed by the;sufferings heand as I can hardly expect that you, my underwent. The Royal William and Marynoble and reverend guests, will be able to will form topics of my discourse. The one

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died of diarrhcea and the other of small- the Fourth I shall skip, for of that estima-pox, notwithstanding the impression that ble monarch I have already said all thatthere is nothing small amongst the great. I could think of, and I shall relate manyI shall speak of his Majesty with high and very interesting and instructive eulo-eulogy, and say of the Queen that she was gistic anecdotes of the Royal Gloucester,the most learned and amiable princess of as I before informed you. He was a veryher day. I cannot, at this epoch in my pious, brave, benevolent, afflicted man,paper, avoid defending Dr. Radcliffe from and is now gone after his royal relations.the insinuation of Bishop Burnett, that he Allow me now to give "the Archbishopdeserved censure for his treatment of the and the Church." I do not include thePrincess Mary. I venture to think that Church of Scotland.the Bishop took too great a liberty with On returning thanks, his HOLINESS didDr. Radcliffe on this occasion. I have the not conceive it to be inconsistent with hishighest esteem for the memory of that calling to come forward on this occasion,learned divine, as every one must have and join this festive board, because it waswho possesses any piety, but on the whole not for the purpose of indulging in theI certainly consider, with all due deference animal gratification which the rich viandsto my reverend guests who are present, and the costly wines of their distinguishedthat the pious bishop, like the cobbler in host might afford him, but with the purehis judgment of Apelles’ picture, went intention of giving his countenance to oneultra crepidayn. (A smile from the Arch- of the most venerable and ancient inati-bishop.) The death of Cromwell will fonnx tutions which adorned the realrn, anda point for me, but of him I shall mention, which, were it once shaken, would hastenin this aristocratic party, little of what I the destruction of that legitimate systemhave to say, reserving for a more appro- of practising the most noble and humanepriate assembly,-the mob this evening, of professions, which has been approved-the remarks which his departure for a of from time immemorial. I consider itnameless region will demand. To Charles (his grace added) as a hlessing to the so-

the Second I shall revert, and show the ciety in which we live, that the medicallight which medicine has power to throw profession should be headed by a physicianon an anomaly in his death. The pious of such a highly gifted mind as our host.persons around his couch professed to His profound classical learning, his deepwonder at the indifference to his end philosophical research, his immense skillwhich that royal personage exhibited on in the treatment of disease—and, what ishis death-bed, considering the rate at to be appreciated above all, his high moralwhich he lived. This was ill-timed, for endowments, his kindness of heart, andthe king, my lords, was labouring under his charity to all mankind, are well known.extreme symptoms of apoplexy. I shall Sm, ROBERT PEEL’S health was nextcasually revert to the death of Dean drunk in a bun.pcr, and in returningSwift, and speak of his insanity. It will thanks to the learned host, Sir Robert ex -afford me an opportunity of making an pressed his determination to give to theapology for some of his eccentricities, and report and recommendations of the me-for urging on my hearers the charita- dical committee, of which he had theble indulgence of those whims, oddities, honour to be a member, (the result ofand irritabilities, of such persons as the their zealous investigation into the statedean, when labouring under certain ner- of the medical profession,) his best atten-vous affections. Then the apoplectic stroke tion. In fact, as he had expressed in hisin the water-closet, of that great King public manifesto, his Majesty’s govern-George the First, and a few words, passim, ment were quite prepared to correct allon the illness of George the Second will real and acknowledged abuses.follow, arriving at last at the death of Mr. GOULBURN, on his health beingGeorge the Third, of pious but defective drunk, re-echoed the sentiments of thememory. I shall shed tears as I allude premier as to the propriety of a thoroughto that excellent and venerable monarch, reformation of the medical laws ; and de-and give an anecdote of his dying mo- clared his determination not to allow thements. His last lucid act was that of question to partake of any party spirit,writing a letter to his dear daughter the but to use his best endeavours to promotePrincess Amelia, a charming woman. On the well-being of a profession in which allthe very eve of his deplored dissolution were deeply interested. (A.Ppla2ese.)he did it. He folded up the letter with’his own hands, and delivered it into mine) As the hour of adjournment to thewith the grace of a true king, to present’ great room had now arrived, Sir Charlesto the excellent princess. (T’ears.) Over ; Manners Sutton, the Speaker of the Housemy late ever-to-be-lamented and most of Commons, proposed that, with the per-gracious friend and monarch George mission of Sir Henry, the present com.

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pany should begin to move. Accordingly,Sir Henry, attended by his illustriousvisitors, all delighted with the dinner, andmost of them (the bishops not excepted)just a little exhilarated by the generouswine so judiciously circulated by the pru-dent Baronet, left Curzon-street in se-

parate carriages, and proceeded to thatwing of the mansion which is situated inPall Mall East, where all arrived soonafter nine o’clock, except the Duke ofWELLINGTON, whose coachman turned hishorses’ heads towards Apsley House, thefirst moment he could slip out of the line.The rest has been reported in the news-papers ; but we may briefly state, that asfive thousand cards of invitation had beenissued to tea drinkers, a vast crowd hadassembled. The paper was read, and theparty all departed by eleven o’clock.

CHRIST’S HOSPITAL.

LETTER FROM MR. PLUMBE.

SAMUEL PLUMBE.

To the Editor of THE LANCET. BSIR,—The unexpectedly kind, and, Ifear, undeserved manner in which youhave spoken of me in last week’s LANCET,claims at least my gratitude, and I beg tothank you. I am sorry, however, to saythat any hopes of my being in future of use in Christ’s Hospital are at an end. Itis true that the boys’ system of diet hasbeen so thoroughly reformed as to leavenothing to be desired by a prudent parent,but it is likewise true that nothing new, as regards the surgical treatment, with aview to the cure of ring-worm on the boys’heads, has been attempted. The almonershave consigned the future managementof the disease to Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Lloyd,and Mr. Stauley, with a carte blanche todirect any measures of quarantine or curethey may think necessary.Mr. Lawrence, in a document dated

May 15, 1829, declared that no alterationof the diet of the boys was necessary un-less it could be made with conve2tience; andMr. Lloyd, even up to the eleventh hourand forty-ninth minute of the investiga-tion by the special committee, declaredthat the diet "was the best possible, and en-tirely free from objection, and that it hadnothing whatever to do with the disease.Yet the committee of almoners have givensuch attention to the report of the specialcommittee and the recommendation ofyour humble servant, as to have made allthose alterations in diet which Messrs.Lawrence and Lloyd declared to be unne-cessary. Messrs. Lawrence and Lloyd, itappears, are now (in conjunction with Mr.

i Stanley, who has, perhaps, fortunately for1 himself, never yet dealt with the ring-wormof Christ’s hospital) in commission to eradi-cate the disease without further delay.Although my utility in the matter is

thus at an end, it will be a pleasure to meto afford you from time to time informa-tion as to how the cure " progresses." Iam, sir, obediently yours.

SAMUEL PLUMBE.14, Southampton-street.

Jan. 24, 1835.

CHRIST’S HOSPITAL.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SiR,-As a great admirer of your inde-pendent Journal, being convinced that ithas done much good to the medical pro-fession, I take the liberty of correcting afew errors* in your able article on Christ’sHospital, in last week’s Number. I wishnot to extenuate the faults in the manage-ment of that institution, and the want ofsound judgment exercised by its directors;and you, I am stire, would nought setdown in malice. I should hope you haveexaggerated the statement of the numberof diseased children, when you estimatethem at 391, though I understood that in1829 the number was very great. A

governor told me that the seven, whomyou notice as having been reported on bySir W. Curtis in 1830, were under treat-ment in 1829 ; and Mr. Lloyd said thatout of the 134 then under cure,

" he didnot consider that the malady of any ofthem was likely to be of long continu-ance." The boy Williams I believe isstill under treatment, but " no doubt isentertained that he will be cured one ofthese days, and the disease eradicated."This boy, I understand, leaves the schoolthis next summer.

As regards Hertford, a new surgeon hasbeen sent down, recommended by Mr.Lawrence. Some think an older practi-tioner ought to have been selected, as theyoung man who has received the appoint-ment only passed the College of SurgeonsI am told in 1831. But, as you justly ob-serve, why should the director, or ratherthe treasurer, always go to St. Bartlaolo-mew’s Hospital for medical men ? It istrue they say that this young man is only

* Our statement of the number of chil-dren under the heads quoted from theAlmoners’ Report, inserted in the last

LANCET, was strictly accurate. The in-come of the hospital, it appears, is not

£50,000, but £45,000 a year.—ED. L.