82

With respect to the legal right of the Edinburgh M.D. to ’’

practise in England, I beg to offer a few observations. First,I contend, that before it can be said that he is practisingillegally in England as a physician, it must be proved thathe is violating some law, and making himself liable to somepenalty fixed by legal enactment for so doing. Now, so faras regards his practising within seven miles from London, thesenior censor confesses that there are no penalties to enforce- ergo, if the Edinburgh M.D. is violating a law, it is anabsurd law, because it carries with it no punishment for itsdisobedience. Secondly, I think I can prove that the Edin-burgh ILD. has something more than negative grounds onwhich to assert his right of practising in England. He hasobtained his degree from an university belonging to an inte-gral portion of Great Britain. He has paid £10 stamp dutyon the same into the public exchequer. His qualification isappreciated and accepted in the medical departments of thearmy and navy; and his evidence is admitted in courts of lawand at coroners’ inquests in England. He has, moreover, apositive legal right to exercise his calling in England, inasmuchas by the late Acts of Parliament for the government of lunaticasylums in England and Wales he is qualified to act as visit-ing and certifying medical practitioner to those institutions.Hoping that these remarks may be followed up by some othersfrom my calumniated fellow-graduates, I have the honour tobe, Sir, your most obedient servant,

A DOCTOR OF MEDICINE OF EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY.Bath, Nov. 1847.

THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION COMMITTEE ANDTHE MEDICAL CORPORATE BODIES.

A CORRESPONDENT remarks, that if the project for the organi-zation of the medical profession, which has received the signa-tures of the heads of the London colleges, &c., had been issuedor proposed by them, it would have been readily met by theGovernment; "at present," he says, " I consider it out ofplace; and while a medical registration committee is sitting forthe express purpose of inquiring into the state of the profes-sion, with a view to registration, it looks very like oppositionfor them (the corporate bodies) to start a scheme of their own.It would have been discreet forbearance in them, if they hadwaited for the Report of the committee. To proceed whilethe subject is under consideration is uncourteous towards thecommittee, and very unusual. They may depend on it, thatthe report of Mr. Wakley’s committee will exhibit the nucleusof medical reform, and further legislation on the subject. ThePresident of the Royal College of Physicians and the RoyalCollege of Surgeons, the Master of the Society of Apothecaries,and the President of the National Institute, as well as themembers of the profession generally, seem to have forgottenthat the present House of Commons is a new one, and in theirlegislative capacity can know nothing of the condition of themedical and surgical profession, the grievances that we sufferfrom, and the anomalies that exist. He considers, therefore,that an interference both premature and obstructive has beenmanifested in the movement got up to anticipate the result ofthe deliberation of the medical committee; and he urges thatthe work of petitioning should be again resumed by the pro-fession, to make the new parliament acquainted with theirwants and their sentiments on this subject."

RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION AS AFFECTINGMEDICAL PRACTITIONERS.

H. THOMFSON, Surgeon, &c.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—I very much admire your excellent remarks in the last

number of THE LANCET, on the iniquitous persecution that isofttimes waged against the members of our profession, on ac-count of their religious persuasions, and this, too, from thosefrom whom we might have expected better things. The abuse,in the country, is on the increase, and as your able pen hashitherto defended our rights, I trust no apology will be neededby my troubling you with the grievance complained of. Letus suppose an intelligent practitioner (a dissenter) shouldthink proper to settle himself in a village or country town; ifthere is a prospect of his success, the warfare immediatelycommences. The village parson having got scent thatMr. So-and-so, the doctor, has a patient in his village, imme-diately calls on the patient, and assumes astonishment heshould have employed Mr. -, the dissenter, for hisdoctor. A natural reply is then put Why ? Do you knowanything wrong against him as a medical man ?" The answeris generally evasive, and symptomatic of a weak mind. " Why,no; but he is not admitted into polite society,"-or some such

silly argument. " Well," the patient says, " if that is all, I donot feel justified in changing my doctor." But he is againimmediately reminded he will have no hot dinners, or comfortsto promote his convalescence, and moreover, when Christmasarrives, no offerings for him. The result is, the poor manchanges his medical man, lest he should be the talk of thevillage gossips, and this is a matter of no small importancewith the poor: and the parson sometimes will offer to providehis own medical man gratuitously, to shut out this other prac.titioner.Now, in the name of common humanity, I would ask, is such

fair ?-that a medical man, who is compelled to support hismore wealthy opponent, should be subjected to such asystematic mode of persecution. The evil has a demoralizingtendency, and is, I regret to say, of every-day occurrence, asmany of your intelligent readers must be witnesses. To onewho has suffered from the abuses complained of, and who hasbeen compelled to leave those nearest and dearest, or submitto penury and want, the only alternative remains, to seek anasylum elsewhere, perhaps to encounter a similar line oftreatment. Surely our trials from the caprices of thecommunity are sufficient, without increasing our difficulties.I write not these lines in any disrespect or vindictive feeling

towards the church, but I do hope to see the day when a

medical man may be permitted to worship his Maker as hemay deem fit, without being subject to a whole host ofenemies, who studiously endeavour to effect his ruin and

blight his prospects in this world, as in the instance of thewriter. I am, Sir, vour obedient servant.London, July, 1848.

ON DR. MACDONNELL’S CASE, PUBLISHED IN"THE LANCET" FOR JULY 1ST, 1848.

To the Editor QfTIIE LANCET.SIR,—All who are well imbued with the doctrines of the

pathology of the nervous system recently promulgated by Dr.Marshall Hall, and who have read the works ot Drs. Bright,Hope, Burrows, &c., as of MM. Andral, Bouilland, &c., on a

particular form of this pathology attendant on pericarditis,cannot but feel a deep interest in the case of Dr. Macdonnell,given in THE LANCET of July Ist, pp. 16-18.

All these cases resemble tetanus. They are reflex diseases.The former arise from irritation of the pneumogastric, thelatter arose from irritation of the subcutaneous thoracicspinal nerves; for we agree with Dr. Hope in his statement,that " the sardonic expression and peculiar contortion of thefeatures attending the worst forms of pericarditis, are occasioned by the sympathy subsisting between the respiratorynerves of the face and those of the heart. An impression is

conveyed to the spinal cord through the pneumogastric nerves,and reflected to the face through the portio dura." This israther the true explanation than that advanced by Dr. Bright,that " the phrenic nerve is the more immediate means of com-municating the irritation to the spinal cord." The pneumogastric nerve is, in fact, an incident excitor nerve, whilst thephrenic is a reflex motor nerve; the former may be an exciterof diffused tetanic affection; the latter could only, so far aswe yet know, excite the diaphragm.Let your readers now carefully examine the statements

made by Dr. Macdonnell at pages 17,18, in so far as they relateto the medical question, and they will see that his case mustbe added to those arising from irritation of the pneumogastric,and that it differs from them only inasmuch as it is a nerve ofsimilar function-an excitor of respiration-about to be distributed on an external surface excitor of respiration, which isthe channel for conveying the effects of irritation to the spinalmarrow.

We are pretty well acquainted with the excito-motoractions excited by irritants of the cutaneous and mucous surfaces. But we still require a series of cases illustrative ofexcited reflex actions, arising from morbid excitation of theserous, cellular, and other internal tissues.July 5th, 1848. Ia7pog.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHOLERABY ANÆSTHETIC AGENTS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—In THE LANCET of the 20th of May, 1848, is publishedan account of a new anaesthetic agent., discovered by Mr.Harold Thanlow, of Christiana, in Norway, designated " sul-

phate of carbon," and considered likely to replace chloroform.May I refer you to a communication from me, dated lltb

83

March last, and published in THE LANCET of March 25th, page338, in which, amongst other things, I recommended, in thetreatment of cholera, that the carburet of sulphur shouldbe employed internally, and also applied to the spine in theform of liniment.

" Internally: Carbonated fluids, or solutions of the mostvolat:le compounds of carbon, or even pure carbon, with aro-matics. Externally: Warm baths, impregnated freely withthe sulphuretum potassæ cum sulphure, and frequent odora-tion or smelling of the carburet of sulphur, or, perhaps, oleumcassiæ; and the carburet of sulphur, in some form of liniment,(not oily,) may be well rubbed into the course of the spine,with copious diluents and external warmth."March Ilth, 1848."

Regarding chloroform as an extinguisher of sensibility, Iconsider this new agent, the carburet of sulphur, as an arrestorof motion,-that is, a powerful antispasmodic, in which sense Irecommended it in cliolera. It is, I think, equally applicableto all spasmodic diseases-tetanus, hydrophobia, &c., in whichchloroform has been found to fail.

Carburet of sulphur, I believe, will arrest uterine contrac-tion ; and I think in many cases of spasmodic disease, its mereodoration will be sufficient. If an attempt were made toemploy this agent and chloroform in combination, I suspectdeath would be the result, by motion and sensibility beingboth arrested at once. However, in that form they might becautiously employed, when extreme sensibility and spasm co-exist.

I believe that the recent influenza in London was cholerain an altered form, and the English share of that visitation.

Yours, &c.,May, 1843. RESEARCH.

P.S.—The article which I alluded to, (in THE LANCET ofMay 13th, page 537,) as sufficient for the purpose of embalm-ing, was the liver of sulphur, and not, as printed, the lime ofsulphur.

SUGGESTIONS FOR ESTABLISHING A RELIEFFUND FOR SUPERANNUATED MEDICAL OFFI-CERS EMPLOYED UNDER THE POOR-LAW, AND

HENRY MARSTON,Medical Officer, Glanford Brigg Union.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—I beg to offer the following suggestions, in the hope

that they may receive the serious attention of the medicalofficers employed in the different unions under the poor-law.Although some years have elapsed since the complete or-

ganization of the present medical staff, no attempts have yetbeen made for providing a fund for the relief of such officersas have become superannuated by age or infirmity, nor hasany provision been instituted for their widows or orphans.In, I believe, nearly every branch of the public service, thispoint has not only been looked to, but a fund has been raisedby retaining a trifling sum from the salary due to each officer,generally so small as not to be felt by the individual, butwhen collected, forming a considerable amount of money.In each department the contribution is a compulsory one, andhowever repugnant that mode may be to some, the smallnessof the amount, and the object for which it is levied, ap-pear to counterbalance any objection that may be raisedagainst it.As arguments for the necessity which now exists for the

relief of the distressed members of our profession, I needonly adduce the number of our brethren who fell victims tofever during last year, as well in Great Britain as in Ireland,many of them leaving their families without any provision-a fact which alone speaks volumes; the especial risks in-curred by union officers in attending patients with contagiousdiseases; and lastly, the few institutions which already exist,and the limited amount of funds contributed to them.By the plan I am about to propose, nearly 30001. per annum,

would be received by a payment of ll. from each officer.England, 2780; Wales, 138; total 2918; exclusive of thosewho are still under Gilbert’s Act.

Proposed Plan.1. England and Wales to be divided into districts of three

or more counties each. -

2. A president, treasurer, and secretary, to be appointedfor each district.

3. Every medical officer to have a vote in the appoint-ment of district officers, and also in the administration of thefunds.

4. It should be compulsory on each medical officer to allow5s. to be deducted from his salary at each quarterly pay-ment.

5. An annual meeting to be held every summer, at oneof the county towns in each district, alternately, for the pur-pose of receiving the application of parties requiring assist-ance, and deciding on the amount to be granted.

It is unnecessary to enter further into the details, whichwould be easy of arrangement. Each district would havepower to make its own regulations. No capital stock wouldbe required, the money when due would always be forth-coming, and the collection of it by the clerk of each union,and its transmission to the treasurer of each district, wouldinvolve little trouble.-I am, Sir, yours, &c.,

Brigg, 1818.

Medical News.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS.—The following gentlemenwere admitted " fellows" of this institution at the last exami-nation :-Dr. E. Lloyd Birkett, Cloak-lane, City; Dr. T. Black-hall, Queen-street; Dr. Francis Boott, Gower-street; Dr. T. K.Chambers, Hill-street; Dr. G. E. Day, Upper Seymour-street;Dr. T. Bell Fletcher, Birmingham; Dr. W. W. Gull; Dr.Samuel J. Jeafferson, Warwick; Dr. Alfred Lochee, Canter-bury ; Dr. H. Munro, Harley-street; Dr. F. Weber, Norfolk-street ; and Dr. C. West, Wimpole-street.ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—The following gentlemen,

having undergone the necessary examinations for the diploma,were admitted members of the college, at the meeting of theCourt of Examiners, on the 7th instant:—Messrs. HenryParfitt, Bruton, Somerset; James Rhodes, Manchester; ThomasTaaffe, Ardee, co. Louth; Frederick Montgomerie DavenportDavidson, Dawlish, Devon; Peter Wright, Wigan, Lan-cashire ; Louis Parnell, Bennett-street, St. James’s; AlfredButler, Ashburton, Devon; and Joseph Lawrence, Bath.-Atthe same meeting of the Court, Mr. George Irwin Willespassed his examination for naval surgeon. This gentlemanhad previously been admitted a member of the college, hisdiploma bearing date July 18th, 1842.EXAMINATION OF WOUNDED INSURGENTS.—M. Michon, surgeon

of La Pitie, Paris, has not allowed the wounded insurgentslying in his wards to be examined. He says " that he wouldrather resign than concede anything of the kind, and that heis treating patients, and not prisoners."FEIGNED DISEASE.—The juice of various plants, as, for in-

stance, the clematis or rhus radicans, causes, as is well known,a pretty sharp inflammation of the skin ; and impostors, whospeculate upon public charity, have often recourse to themin order to give rise to fictitious sores, which at once movethe charitable and humane. The law in France punishes de-ceptions of this description pretty sharply, and it will haveto be applied very shortly in the case of two conscripts ofthe department of the north, who, by irritating applications,had produced upon themselves dartrous eruptions, by theexistence of which they expected to be declared unfit for theservice.

PLURALITY OF MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS.—A society, the ma-jority of whose members are medical men, has just beenformed in Paris. Its objects are, to use every constitutionalmeans to obtain from the National Assembly a law, by whichit would be illegal for any citizen to hold more than one ap-pointment, whether the same be salaried or not !SURGEONS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD.—Drs. Vignal and

Manget, in their zeal for the relief of the wounded, duringthe late terrific struggle, ventured so near the barricades thatthey were made prisoners by the insurgents, and forciblyretained to attend their wounded. These gentlemen, mindfulof the spirit of universal charity which animates our profes-sion, set to work immediately, and in right good will.THE THEATRE HISTORIQUE," PARIS.—This theatre was

lately transformed into a temporary hospital for 150 wounded;and 600 men of the military have been accommodated withquarters in the same building and its dependencies.M. ADOLPHUS RICHARD.—This gentleman, son of the eminent

professor of botany at the Faculty of Medicine of Paris, whowas reported to have been killed, has been severely woundedon the head, but is likely to recover.THE FELLOWSHIP.-On reference to our advertizing columns,

it will be found that the next examination for this honour is! fixed for Tuesday and Thursday, the 1st and 3rd of August,at the college.