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2. The interference with this condition, of surroundinghumidity or humid tissues.

3. The singular influence of the opposite condition of dry-ness in inducing alone a slighter tetanoid effect, facts whichhave, I believe, never been noticed at all by any physiologist.

4. The electrogenic condition of the spinal marrow itself,never attempted before.

5. The electrogenic condition of the incident nerves of thespinal system, also, for a very obvious reason, never attemptedby any former physiologist.

6. A fuller development of the effect of currents of galvanisminterrupted, reversed, or diverted into new channels, so as, atthe least, to induce diference or change in the condition of thenerve subjected to its influence, than has been traced by anyprevious experimentalist.

7. Lastly, a series of facts, taken as a whole, which, as Ishall show hereafter, have a most important bearing uponpathology,—the science of medicine,-and present the TYPE ofthe varied forms of disease of the true spinal system. ’

Whether these seven points of great value, in that paper,-(and I hereby repudiate what, I believe, has been ascribed tome, all pretension to having added to our knowledge of theimmediate effects and to the theory of the action of galvanism,my object having been purely physiological and pathological,and, so far as galvanism or electricity is concerned, only totrace its electrogenic conditions-conditions which remain afterits immediate agency* is withdrawn,)—whatever its faultsdoubtless may be, should not have secured for it a better fate,I leave to the judgment of a future day, to which I appealfrom the present.The entire subject of the special powers, seated in the spinal

system and in the muscular system, still requires investiga-tion, accurate and cautious investigation. The entire subjectof internal irritability is completely unknown to this day.But what is to be done when every effort only meets withinsult ? Wc all know the fable of " The Dog in the Manger."I will add one final remark. No one seems to have seized

the real value of the facts laid before this Society, as settingforth the cerebrum as the exhauster, and the spinal marrow.as the source and restorer, of the irritability of the muscularfibre in voluntary muscles, two important principles in phy-siology ; and as affording a Diargnostic in some obscure cases inthe practice of medicine.—I am, Sir, yours obediently,

MARSHALL HALL.MARSHALL HALL.

BAD MEDICINE AT A PUBLIC HOSPITAL.(.LETTER FROM MR. RAWBONE, M.R.C.S., ETC., CHELSEA.]

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—If you think the following statement a fit subject for

your journal, I will thank you to insert it as early as con-venient.A poor patient, for whom I had prescribed cod liver oil,

became an out-patient at the Hospital for Consumption, atChelsea, under Dr. Cursham, who prescribed the oil also, butthat which was given him was so dark, rancid, and offensive,that the poor fellow could not take it, and he showed it to meas something very different from that he had previously taken:he told the doctor of it, who said the fault lay more with thegovernors than himself. He next complained to the secretary,I having previously mentioned the subject to one of thevisiting apothecaries, (Mr. Gardener;) they then gave him a’better article, but still so rancid and offensive that his stomachwould not bear it. I mentioned the subject to Mr. Cross, whopromised that it should be brought before the Board, but thiswas not done. He expressed himself astonished at the priceI named for good oil, and seemed to think it improbable thatthe governors would or could afford so expensive an article.Now, Mr. Editor, I do think this a crying evil that ought to beremedied--science, charity, and every good feeling demand it,as it cannot be expected that so offensive an article will betaken, when it is known that a much better is to be obtained.The consequence will be, that the remedy-a very promisingone-will not have a fair trial. A fine building is a very poorexcuse for bad physic.

I was told by Air. Gardener that he could prove that theoil had been poured into the gutter, which did not surpriseme. I was told also by the clerk at the secretary’s office ofthe hospital, that a physician’s late assistant who took theremedy could not use the offensive dark oil of the hospitaluntil it had been passed through charcoal. He also told methat one of the physicians of the hospital thought the darkoil the most efficacious. Now I happen to know that Dr.Williams, another physician to the hospital, is very particularin recommending the very purest oil that can be obtained to

his private patients ; and for myself, I am well satisfied withthe effect of the purest-in fact, the difference in the two oilsI take to consist in this, that the best is obtained from freshlivers without expression or heat-the dark, from livers thathave been kept some time, and the oil from which being ob-tained by heat and expression, is thus loaded with all sorts ofimpurities. Should the above complaint effect a reform, itwill amply repay the trouble of your obedient servant,

Chelsea, 1848. GEORGE RAWBONE.GEORGE RAWBONE.

RETIREMENT OF MR. COOPER FROM THE CHAIROF SURGERY AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOS-PITAL.

On Thursday evening, April 6, Mr. Cooper terminated hiscourse of lectures with the following address :-"Gentlemen,-Having now finished this course of surgery,

I have the agreeable duty to thank you for the uniformrespect with which you have treated me whilst endeavouring tomake you acquainted with correct views of surgery.To you who have completed your studies at this College,

I have to express my sincere wish that you may all succeedin the practice of an upright and liberal profession.To you who have to remain here to finish your education, I

recommend the same example of industry and good moral con-duct which the students of University College have always given.Having held the Chair of Surgery seventeen years, (loud

cheers,) I intend, in a few days, to tender my resignation;not from my health, not from inability to continue mylectures, provided the Council had judged it right to conferthat degree of assistance I had during Mr. Liston’s lifetime.(Signs of great clissatisfactio??.) I was forced, I may say, tothis. It would, however, be useless for me to enter intodetails; however, I find it impossible to concur with one ortwo professors who have power, as to the claims of certaingentlemen connected with this School, and who, as regards theprofession, have also some degree of claim.-(Cries of slzame,

shame.)We have for years educated men who are fit to discharge

every surgical duty which might fall to them. I expressedthe strongest disapprobation in bringing strangers to fill upthe places here, when we had men so competent, who havebeen educated here.-(Renewed cheers.)

It seems to me that the character of the School has beenput to the test. Having had occasion to mention the name ofMr. Liston, it would appear that I had not had sufficient esteemfor his sterling merit if I did not declare how much I deplorehis death. It will be long before this School or any other willsee his equal.

I shall be happy at any time to assist you in your professionalundertakings to the utmost of my power, and I wish you everysuccess." (Cheers, loud and continued, with occasional cries ofa personal character.)Mr. Morton finished the course of surgery which he had given

conjointly with Mr. Cooper on Tuesday,April 4th, 1848, much tothe satisfaction of all the students, a great number of whom-both of present and old students—assembled to hear his last lec-ture. He said he had to thank the gentlemen for that mark ofrespect and the general good conduct evinced by the students;that the chair of surgery was about to be resigned by Mr.Cooper, but the Council had made nooffer to him. (Cries ofshame.) He stated he should be always happy to render anyassistance to them so far as he had power. (Cheers, long andcontinued.)

THE HEALTH OF TOWNS’ BILL.

To the Editor of TaE LANCET.

SIR,—I have just received from London the amendedHealth of Towns’ Bill. I am glad to find that your whole-some agitation in the cause of our neglected profession. haswrung from the Government a clause providing for the ap-pointment of officers of health ; but, Sir, there is so muchspeciousness in the wording of that clause, that I doubt verymuch whether any such appointments ever will be made,although the clause would seem to provide for them.

Officers of health, I gather, are to be appointed, providedthat any application is made for such officer by the localboard to the general board; but another clause of the Bill,(60th,) provides, that if there is no officer of health, then inthat case two local medical practitioners are called uponto act.

Now, Sir, human nature is but human nature, and publiccorporations are as much swayed by it as private individuals

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it is left at the discretion of any local board to appoint ornot, as they may think fit, it will happen, I think, in ninecases out of ten, that they will phoose the latter alternative,and so wheedle our profession out of any specific appoint-ment in the operations of the Act in question.You will, I trust, in your place in Parliament, not allow

the thirty-first clause to pass the Committee without havingits intention more clearly defined.Your advocacy has already effected the introduction of

this clause,—your advocacy can effect a great deal more.The insertion of this letter in an early number of THE

LANCET may help to draw attention to the subject.Yours obediently,

April 5tb, 1848. AN OLD SUBSCRIBER.

CHLOROFORM IN MIDWIFERY.

E. W. HOWEY.

To the Editor of Tnn LANCET. ,

SIR,—I am curious to know if any of your correspondentshave perceived the odour of chloroform in the breath of theinfant, for two or three days after birth, in cases where thatanæsthetical agent has been inhaled by the mother duringlabour-a circumstance which has occurred in a lingeringcase, attended by a rigid os uteri, and ending in my deliver.ing the patient by the forceps, at one o’clock A.M. on Mondaylast. The smell of the chloroform continues to be distinctlyperceived in the child’s breath up to the present moment, thequantity used in all being about two ounces. Child in per-fect health, and the mother going on well.-I am, Sir, yourobedient servant, E. W. HOS’PEY.Bromyard, April, 1848.

THE CROYDON INQUEST.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—May I beg the favour (on behalf of the surgeons tothis parish) of a reply, in your answers to correspondents, nextSaturday, to this question, whether the £10 proposed to beraised for the purchase of copies of the leading article in THELANCET on Poor-law surgeons, for distribution, has been sub-scribed ?

I beg also to mention our wish to add a subscription to thisfund, in order that copies of the above may be sent to allmembers of Parliament, and to the editors of all newspapersthroughout the kingdom, if such plan meet your approval andadvocacy.-I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

T. C. RODEN, Hon. Sec.St. Paul’s-square, Birmingham, April 11, 1848.

* Our publisher informs us that he would undertaketo forward the little pamphlet containing the article in

question to all the members of Parliament, and to the editorsof all the chief newspapers, magazines, &c. &c., for the sum of

.615, in addition to the amount already subscribed, which hasbeen well nigh exhausted by the distribution that has alreadybeen made. The stamp which is required, which will enablethe pamphlet to circulate by means of the post-office, amountsto rather more than the cost of paper and print.

NEGLECT OF UNIVERSITY COLLEGE PRIZEMENTo the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—I have read the recorded feelings of a "Dying 1Gladiator," and beg to submit the few following remarks to ihis consideration, which may possibly be of use also to some i

others ambitious of gladiatorial fame. ’

The complaint is one I have often heard, and the incorrect-ness of which I have frequently, in students’ rooms, endea-voured to demonstrate, but to those crowned with the much-prized laurel, my attempts have been but as the wind ofyesterday. I admit it does appear hard that a gladiatorshould be in training for months-ay, and even years-shoulddebar himself the pleasure of daily visiting the wards; ofever having the sweet pleasure of observing the progress ofcases talked of as good ones, and rare accidents; that heshould consume his midnight oil in mastering the sexual dis-tinctions of botanical classes; should weary his brain with re-membering chemical symbols; should distance competitors ineloquence; should overwhelm his antagonists in physiologicalaphorisms, and should gain the plaudits of a crowded theatre,when his exertions are crowned on the day of distribution-it does seem hard, that after all this, when a petty office inthe hospital becomes vacant, that he, the laurel-crownedvictor, should be passed over;—and oh ! the cruellest cut of

all, that the one selected should be a nobody, a man neverheard to speak at meetings, never distinguished in his class,otherwise than by his regular attendance, but who was alwaysprying into the particulars of every accident, and of everycase; who was really a great bore to house-surgeons, and who-seemed to think he ought to superintend every dresser allround the hospital. Really, Mr. Editor, I believe the Councilmust want such men as Dr. Burrows-rightly enough, ofcourse !-calls or thinks inferior men; men without extrinsicdistinctions-in fact, like the old Roman soldiers, with nomore armour than they could use, and with which they couldvanquish all the gilded heroes of antiquity; and really thefigure I have chosen I rather like, for it puts me in mind ofthe country surgeon and the courtly physician-put them inaction, and I’ll back the former. I think, perhaps, after all,the Council exercise a sound discretion in choosing men who,stupid fellows, have learned their profession by looking on,and lending a helping hand, and so have got the advantage ofthe highly decorated, but really uselessly armed gladiator.In conclusion, let me advise all in the first place, as I wasadvised by a shrewd Manchester surgeon, to " study the bookof Nature; that is the best book; recollect you will not always

have it open." Make yourselves practical men; practicalknowledge, with scientific attainments, will always gain theday, but, separately, scientific attainments will inevitably fail

r in the day of battle.-I am, Sir, yours obediently,A READER FROM MANCCHESTER.

THE PROPOSED NEW CHARTER TO THE COLLEGEOF PHYSICIANS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Soon after 1842, desiring, from ill health, to practiseas a physician, I consulted the regulations of various corpo-rations, in order to ascertain the best means of becoming alegally-qualified physician. I found that I could producecertificates which enabled me to present myself for exami-nation before the London Royal College cf Physicians-namely, five years’ attendance on lectures, and three in hos-pital practice. This gave me full title to go in either for thelicence or extra-licence; but being desirous of practising inthe country, and the extra-licence being a few pounds lessexpensive, and I being a poor man, I preferred the latter.Now, Sir, I passed the examination with such credit, that

I was complimented by all the examiners, and returning tothe country, I have practised solely as a physician eversince. I conceived, and do conceive, that once a physicianalways a physician; and I am at a loss to express theastonishment I have felt on seeing a body of men dare to

; demand a new charter, in which I should be required again

to undergo an examination, and to pay an additional sum of.625, exclusive of stamps. Why, Sir, I have forgotten theteclinicalities of my profession, and I cannot afford, to pay thenno. Am I therefore to have my title of doctor taken awayfrom me ? am I to be rendered punishable for using it ? Iknow that I never graduated (or got drunk, and learned

nothing) at Oxford or Cambridge, and I have therefore everstudiously avoided affixing the title M.D. after my name; butthe prefix of doctor is the only one by which I am able toacquaint the public that I practise as a physician, and is theone which has hitherto figured on my door plate; and I docontend, that to render me punishable for using that title,by which the College of Physicians has hitherto addressedme in the several communications I have received there-from,) I do contend that this would be most unjust, and alaw that surely never can come to pass in free and enlight-ened England.

1. nave oeen Lum. iiiay uc urged President auu

elects have on several occasions granted their extra licence oninsufficient testimonials and inadequate examination. This Ibelieve not, and even if true, confidently assert, does notapply to me. I was ready to undergo any examination; Idid undergo a good searching one, and produced ample testi-monials.

Besides, can it be possible that errors committed by theCollege are to be visited on any but themselves ? It wouldbe bad enough if those gentlemen were excluded who hadbeen improperly admitted; but monstrously bad indeed, andinsufferably dishonest would it be, if gentlemen were madeto suffer who never were in auywise to blame.

Dr. Burrows, when examined in committee, asserted thatextra-licentiates had no rights as members of the College.What, not when they are invariably examined by Dr. Paris,the president, who also invariably signs their diploma ?—when