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307 To Correspondents. THE PROFESSION AND THE QUACKS. WE cannot reply separately to the many correspondents who have written to us from all parts of the kingdom, respecting the late consultation near Stamford between a homoeopath and a " surgeon of first-rate repute in Lon- don." We shall publish the names of all parties if they are sent to us. This will be an answer to most of the inquiries that have been made on the subject. Justus.—The fee was unjustly disallowed. The magistrates made it a mere question of money, and it is their object, in several of the counties, to obtain the repeal of the Medical Witnesses Act, and thus get rid of payments for medical attendance at inquests, and also for post-mortem examinations. The Home Secretary, Mr. Walpole, has appointed one o’clock on Monday next, the 22nd, for an interview with the coroners. We believe that the right hon. gentleman thoroughly understands the subject, and, from his ability and acute sense of justice, we anticipate the best results from his decision. Pre- viously to going to the Home-Office, the coroners are to assemble at eleven o’clock at Fendell’s Hotel, Palace-yard, Westminster, and it is desirable that as many of them as can attend should be present on both occasions. FEES TO MEDICAL WITNESSES. 8m GEORGE GREY has just issued the following scale of fees in criminal cases. The first is for attendance before a magistrate or magistrates, as follows :- "I do make, constitute, and appoint the following rules and regulations as to the rates and scales of payment according to which certificates may be granted, by examining magistrate or magistrates, in respect of the travelling expenses of prosecutors, and witnesses, for the prosecution, of attending before such magistrate or magistrates, and of compensation for their trouble and loss of time therein in the cases aforesaid, namely :- " There may be allowed to prosecutors or witnesses being members of the profession of the law, or of medicine, if resident in the city, borough, parish, town, or place where the examination is taken, or within a distance not ex- ceeding two miles from such place, for their loss of time and trouble in attend- ing to give professional evidence on such examination, but not otherwise, a sum, in the discretion of the magistrate or magistrates, for each attendance not to exceed 10s. 6d. If snch prosecutor or witness shall reside elsewhere, then a sum for the same not to exceed xl Is. And for mileage, a sum not to exceed 3d. per mile each way." The second is,-" To prosecutors and witnesses attending Courts of Assize, Oyer and Terminer, jail delivery, general session of the peace, or any other courts having power to allow such costs, expenses, and compensation to prose- cutors and wituesses, and persons attending such courts, in obedience to any recognizance or subpoena in cases of criminal prosecutions, for their trouble, loss of time, and travelling expenses in so attending. For the purpose afore- said, I do make, constitute, and appoint the following rules and regulations; (that is to say), there may be allowed :- "To prosecutors and witnesses, being members of the profession of the law or of medicine, attending to give professional evidence, but not otherwise, for their trouble, expenses, and loss of time, for each day they shall necessarily attend the court to give professional evidence, a sum not to exceed Cl Is. For each night the same as ordinary witnesses, and for mileage a sum not to ex- ceed, per mile each way, 3d." L. M. N. 0.-Under the eircumstances of the case, if the authorities of the Apothecaries’ Society were memorialized, they would most probably admit our correspondent to examination. Under any new Medical Bill, he would be entitled to register, and that would most probably give him the legal right to practise as though he possessed the double qualification. It would be well to wait to see the result of any legislative measure on the subject of medical qualifications. THE letter respecting Mr. Syme’s operations on the ankle-joint should have the name of the writer attached to it. Dr. Rorke (Scarboro’) will oblige by stating, how long after his first attend- ance on the patient his second attendance commenced. Anx-iou8, (Launceston.)—Dr. Dunglison’s Medical Dictionary. A Brother Editor is thanked for his kind expressions of sympathy and good- will. The fearless defence of truth" and "courageous exposure of filth and quackery" are amongst the highest duties of medical journalism. The translation of Théophile Mouton as "Loved-by-the-Lord-Sheep" is, no doubt, philologically correct. From the stand-point of "moral ethnology," we thought " Fear-the-Lord-Blacksheep" to be a preferable rendering. A. Y. Z.—1. In the Director-General of the Army.—2. It is dependant on circumstances. Dr. S. B. Bire7i’s communication, "On Oxygen Gas in Scarlatina," shall be published next week. Nubes, (Stamford.)-C. should have retired immediately that arrangements could have been made for a disciple of the homoeopath to have taken the surgical charge of the case. d Victim.—We can take no steps upon the information of an anonymous cor- respondent. F. G. M. D.—There can be no question that F. R. could have only been re- garded as the patient of the firm, and it was an attempted breach of the covenant for A. to have sought for an exclusive advantage by attendance Upon F. E. Chirurgus.—It is a hard case; but the only person that can be sued is the patient. The charge is moderate, and its payment should be enforced. Justitia.—The subscription was safely received. WE do not find the name of the gentleman who has written to us on the sub- ject of "Stricture" in any of the lists of qualified members of the profession. 4 Country Cousin.—Mr. Bowman, Mr. Critchett, Mr. Hancock. Medicus, (Stamford.)—Yes, iris desirable that the facts should be made public. Whoever are the parties implicated in the transaction, their names should be published to the world. There can be no distinction of persons where the honour of the profession is concerned. If Medicus will forward to us a short statement of the facts of the case, it shall be inserted in the pages of THE LANCET. In order that the statement should receive full attention, it is essential that the name of the writer should be attached to his communication. There is no hope of putting a stop to unprofessional proceedings upon the part of offeiders against the honour of the profession by the publication of general statements or of initials to indicate the diffe- rent parties implicated. The only way to prevent breaches of professional etiquette is to publish the names of those who have lent themselves to questionable practices. An Old Student.—The candidate for registration must be legally qualified quoad the provisions of the Act. Exceptions may be made under peculiar circumstances. Dr. Robinson will oblige by stating where a letter can be addressed to him. .4. B., A Disgusted Surgeon, and others, arrived too late for insertion in the present number. The matter shall be fully inquired into, and noticed next week. ON THE EFFECT OF CARBONIC ACID GAs. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—I beg to offer the following in answer to Mr. E. W. S. Davis, as re- quested in THE LANCET of the 6th instant :- Having seen many persons under the influence of this gas, I venture a few remarks. The condition of individuals affected by the same gas depends greatly upon the clilution or concentration thereof. a. If the gas be dilute, it acts as a poison. b. If concentrated, it produces asphyxia. (a.) Those who breathe a dilute gas for some time are gradually poisoned. It being absorbed through the lungs into the blood, and circulated therein throughout the body, produces coma by its influence upon the brain. Symptoms.—Countenance leady; eyelids and lips blue; fingers and flnger. nails also blue; surface leady and warm; breathing difficult and slow; pulse slow and labouring; and they appear thoroughly drunk-dead drunk. It is surprising to see how rapidly this state passes off when the patient is carried into the open air, and made to take a few full inspirations, by dashing the face and chest with cold water. A severe headache generally lasts for about twenty-four hours. (b.) In several instances where persons incautiously endeavoured to cross a passage fully impregnated with a concentrated gas, asphyxia has occurred in- stantaneously; they have dropped as if shot. Symptoms.—Now, this is an affair of a few moments only, but much more serious than with cases (a). Respiration stops; countenance livid; pulse flut- tering and feeble, almost imperceptible ; finger-nails blue. Although these cases are immediately taken into the open air, there is great difficulty in overcoming spasm of the glottis; but if one single inspiration can be obtained, recovery is pretty certain. The difficulty, however, is to get that inspiration. It is best obtained by causing a forced expiration, by giving a few good thumps between the shoulders. I imagine that some of the gas gets into the trachea below the rima glottidis, and thus keeps up the spasm. On being closely questioned, the patients felt only a sensation of choking, accompanied by instantaneous darkness and loss of memory. Remarks.—1st. We should bear in mind that a dilute carbonic acid gas can be respired for a considerable time. 2ndly. That a concentrated gas cannot be respired even a few seconds. I think these facts equally applicable to the inhalation of chloroform and other anaesthetics, experiments upon animals convince me that such is the case. I have the honour to be, Sir, yours obediently, Bow-road, March, 1858. S. LAWRENCE GILL, M.R.C.S. COMMUNICATIONS, LETTERS, &e., have been received from - Prof. Hughes. Bennett, Edinburgh; Mr. John Drummond; Mr. J. E. Nield, Melbourne ; Mr. T. Young; Mr. J. M. Fowler; Dr. S. Lawrence, Montrose; Mr. Windser, Manchester; Mr. Griffin, Weymouth ; Mr. James Prowse, Clifton; Mr. Fallows; Dr. Dundas Thomson ; Mr. F. W. Wright, Launceston, Cornwall; Mr. Curling ; Mr. W. Wreford; Dr. Headland; Mr. F. Martin, Abingdon, Herts; Mr. J. Ramsden; Mr. Mackenzie; Dr. S. B. Birch, Kensington Gore; Mr. George Pound; Dr. Thorn, Paddington; Mr. Lawrence Gill; Mr. Jas. Blyth, Glasgow; Mr. Cunningham; Mr. James Wearne; Mr. J. R. Ede ; Mr. Churchill; Dr. Hassall; Mr. Shearman, Rotherham; Mr. Adam, Aber- deen ; Mr. Slyman, Newtown, Mon.; Mr. Thin, Edinburgh, (with enclosure;) Mr. Young, Hindon, (with enclosure;) Dr. Davies, Aberdare, (with enclo- sure ;) Mr. Barrett, Welshpool, (with enclosure;) Mr. Rimmington, Brad- i ford, (with enclosure;) Mr. Deering, Leamington, (with enclosure;) Mr. , Brough, Birmingham, (with enclosure;) Mr. Evans, Ipswich; Mr. Glencross, Johnstown, (with enclosure;) Mr. Oldfield, Heckmondwike; Dr. Williams. Aspley; Mr. Reilly, Weymouth; Mr. Newenham Travers ; Dr. Millet, , Penpol, (with enclosure;) Mr. Ollard, Prescot, (with enclosure;) Dr.WiIson, Berwick, (with enclosure;) Mr. Richardson, Rhayader, (with enclosure;) Mr. Dempsey, Long Eaton, (with enclosure;) Mr. Collingwood, Ampthill; Mr. Hillyard, Heckington; Mr. Doidge, Lifton, (with enclosure;) Mr. White, Brighton; Mr. Ritchie, Girvan; Mr. Tylecote, Glasgow, (with enclo- sure ;) Mr. Fletcher, Bromsgrove; Dr. Vernon ; Mr. Phillips, Hales Owen, (with enclosure;) Dr. Dickson, Cheadle, (with enclosure;) Mr. Atkinson, Liverpool, (with enclosure;) Dr. Wardleworth, Lowestoft, (with enclosure ;) Mr. Sprague, Kimbolton, (with enclosure;) Mr. Hinde, Liverpool ; Mr. Lacy, Newark-on-Trent, (with enclosure;) Mr. Price; Dr. Rorke, Scarboro’; Royal Institution; Caustic; A. Y. Z.; Excelsior; Justitia; A Brother Editor; A Disgusted Surgeon; A Country Cousin; Pro Bono Publico; F. G. M. D. ; Self-Respect; Xubes; London Hospital; Justus; An Old Student; Anxious ; Chirlllgns; L. M. N. O.; Medicus; Another London Hospital Man; A. B.; A Victim; H. C.; &c. &c. THE Daily Alta (California), the Melbourne Leader, the Melbourne Herald, the Hobart Town 3fereziry, the Islington Gazette, and the Dublin Hospital Gazette. hace heen received
Transcript
Page 1: To Correspondents

307

To Correspondents.THE PROFESSION AND THE QUACKS.

WE cannot reply separately to the many correspondents who have written tous from all parts of the kingdom, respecting the late consultation nearStamford between a homoeopath and a " surgeon of first-rate repute in Lon-don." We shall publish the names of all parties if they are sent to us. This

will be an answer to most of the inquiries that have been made on thesubject.

Justus.—The fee was unjustly disallowed. The magistrates made it a merequestion of money, and it is their object, in several of the counties, to obtainthe repeal of the Medical Witnesses Act, and thus get rid of payments formedical attendance at inquests, and also for post-mortem examinations. TheHome Secretary, Mr. Walpole, has appointed one o’clock on Monday next,the 22nd, for an interview with the coroners. We believe that the right hon.gentleman thoroughly understands the subject, and, from his ability andacute sense of justice, we anticipate the best results from his decision. Pre-

viously to going to the Home-Office, the coroners are to assemble at eleveno’clock at Fendell’s Hotel, Palace-yard, Westminster, and it is desirable thatas many of them as can attend should be present on both occasions.

FEES TO MEDICAL WITNESSES.

8m GEORGE GREY has just issued the following scale of fees in criminal cases.The first is for attendance before a magistrate or magistrates, as follows :-"I do make, constitute, and appoint the following rules and regulations

as to the rates and scales of payment according to which certificates may begranted, by examining magistrate or magistrates, in respect of the travellingexpenses of prosecutors, and witnesses, for the prosecution, of attending beforesuch magistrate or magistrates, and of compensation for their trouble and lossof time therein in the cases aforesaid, namely :-" There may be allowed to prosecutors or witnesses being members of the

profession of the law, or of medicine, if resident in the city, borough, parish,town, or place where the examination is taken, or within a distance not ex-ceeding two miles from such place, for their loss of time and trouble in attend-ing to give professional evidence on such examination, but not otherwise, asum, in the discretion of the magistrate or magistrates, for each attendancenot to exceed 10s. 6d. If snch prosecutor or witness shall reside elsewhere,then a sum for the same not to exceed xl Is. And for mileage, a sum not toexceed 3d. per mile each way."The second is,-" To prosecutors and witnesses attending Courts of Assize,

Oyer and Terminer, jail delivery, general session of the peace, or any othercourts having power to allow such costs, expenses, and compensation to prose-cutors and wituesses, and persons attending such courts, in obedience to anyrecognizance or subpoena in cases of criminal prosecutions, for their trouble,loss of time, and travelling expenses in so attending. For the purpose afore-said, I do make, constitute, and appoint the following rules and regulations;(that is to say), there may be allowed :-"To prosecutors and witnesses, being members of the profession of the law

or of medicine, attending to give professional evidence, but not otherwise, fortheir trouble, expenses, and loss of time, for each day they shall necessarilyattend the court to give professional evidence, a sum not to exceed Cl Is. Foreach night the same as ordinary witnesses, and for mileage a sum not to ex-ceed, per mile each way, 3d."

L. M. N. 0.-Under the eircumstances of the case, if the authorities of the

Apothecaries’ Society were memorialized, they would most probably admitour correspondent to examination. Under any new Medical Bill, he wouldbe entitled to register, and that would most probably give him the legalright to practise as though he possessed the double qualification. It wouldbe well to wait to see the result of any legislative measure on the subject ofmedical qualifications.

THE letter respecting Mr. Syme’s operations on the ankle-joint should havethe name of the writer attached to it.

Dr. Rorke (Scarboro’) will oblige by stating, how long after his first attend-ance on the patient his second attendance commenced.

Anx-iou8, (Launceston.)—Dr. Dunglison’s Medical Dictionary.A Brother Editor is thanked for his kind expressions of sympathy and good-

will. The fearless defence of truth" and "courageous exposure of filth andquackery" are amongst the highest duties of medical journalism. Thetranslation of Théophile Mouton as "Loved-by-the-Lord-Sheep" is, no doubt,philologically correct. From the stand-point of "moral ethnology," wethought " Fear-the-Lord-Blacksheep" to be a preferable rendering.

A. Y. Z.—1. In the Director-General of the Army.—2. It is dependant oncircumstances.

Dr. S. B. Bire7i’s communication, "On Oxygen Gas in Scarlatina," shall bepublished next week.

Nubes, (Stamford.)-C. should have retired immediately that arrangementscould have been made for a disciple of the homoeopath to have taken thesurgical charge of the case.

d Victim.—We can take no steps upon the information of an anonymous cor-respondent.

F. G. M. D.—There can be no question that F. R. could have only been re-garded as the patient of the firm, and it was an attempted breach of thecovenant for A. to have sought for an exclusive advantage by attendanceUpon F. E.

Chirurgus.—It is a hard case; but the only person that can be sued is thepatient. The charge is moderate, and its payment should be enforced.

Justitia.—The subscription was safely received.WE do not find the name of the gentleman who has written to us on the sub-ject of "Stricture" in any of the lists of qualified members of the profession.

4 Country Cousin.—Mr. Bowman, Mr. Critchett, Mr. Hancock.

Medicus, (Stamford.)—Yes, iris desirable that the facts should be made public.Whoever are the parties implicated in the transaction, their names shouldbe published to the world. There can be no distinction of persons where

the honour of the profession is concerned. If Medicus will forward to usa short statement of the facts of the case, it shall be inserted in the

pages of THE LANCET. In order that the statement should receive full

attention, it is essential that the name of the writer should be attached tohis communication. There is no hope of putting a stop to unprofessionalproceedings upon the part of offeiders against the honour of the professionby the publication of general statements or of initials to indicate the diffe-rent parties implicated. The only way to prevent breaches of professionaletiquette is to publish the names of those who have lent themselves toquestionable practices.

An Old Student.—The candidate for registration must be legally qualifiedquoad the provisions of the Act. Exceptions may be made under peculiarcircumstances.

Dr. Robinson will oblige by stating where a letter can be addressed to him..4. B., A Disgusted Surgeon, and others, arrived too late for insertion in thepresent number. The matter shall be fully inquired into, and noticed nextweek.

ON THE EFFECT OF CARBONIC ACID GAs.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—I beg to offer the following in answer to Mr. E. W. S. Davis, as re-quested in THE LANCET of the 6th instant :-Having seen many persons under the influence of this gas, I venture a few

remarks. The condition of individuals affected by the same gas dependsgreatly upon the clilution or concentration thereof.

a. If the gas be dilute, it acts as a poison.b. If concentrated, it produces asphyxia.(a.) Those who breathe a dilute gas for some time are gradually poisoned.

It being absorbed through the lungs into the blood, and circulated thereinthroughout the body, produces coma by its influence upon the brain.

Symptoms.—Countenance leady; eyelids and lips blue; fingers and flnger.nails also blue; surface leady and warm; breathing difficult and slow; pulseslow and labouring; and they appear thoroughly drunk-dead drunk.

It is surprising to see how rapidly this state passes off when the patient iscarried into the open air, and made to take a few full inspirations, by dashingthe face and chest with cold water. A severe headache generally lasts for abouttwenty-four hours.

(b.) In several instances where persons incautiously endeavoured to cross apassage fully impregnated with a concentrated gas, asphyxia has occurred in-stantaneously; they have dropped as if shot.

Symptoms.—Now, this is an affair of a few moments only, but much moreserious than with cases (a). Respiration stops; countenance livid; pulse flut-tering and feeble, almost imperceptible ; finger-nails blue.Although these cases are immediately taken into the open air, there is great

difficulty in overcoming spasm of the glottis; but if one single inspiration canbe obtained, recovery is pretty certain. The difficulty, however, is to get thatinspiration. It is best obtained by causing a forced expiration, by giving a fewgood thumps between the shoulders. I imagine that some of the gas gets intothe trachea below the rima glottidis, and thus keeps up the spasm. On beingclosely questioned, the patients felt only a sensation of choking, accompaniedby instantaneous darkness and loss of memory.

Remarks.—1st. We should bear in mind that a dilute carbonic acid gas canbe respired for a considerable time. 2ndly. That a concentrated gas cannot berespired even a few seconds. I think these facts equally applicable to theinhalation of chloroform and other anaesthetics, experiments upon animalsconvince me that such is the case.

I have the honour to be, Sir, yours obediently,Bow-road, March, 1858. S. LAWRENCE GILL, M.R.C.S.

COMMUNICATIONS, LETTERS, &e., have been received from - Prof. Hughes.Bennett, Edinburgh; Mr. John Drummond; Mr. J. E. Nield, Melbourne ;Mr. T. Young; Mr. J. M. Fowler; Dr. S. Lawrence, Montrose; Mr. Windser,Manchester; Mr. Griffin, Weymouth ; Mr. James Prowse, Clifton; Mr.Fallows; Dr. Dundas Thomson ; Mr. F. W. Wright, Launceston, Cornwall;Mr. Curling ; Mr. W. Wreford; Dr. Headland; Mr. F. Martin, Abingdon,Herts; Mr. J. Ramsden; Mr. Mackenzie; Dr. S. B. Birch, Kensington Gore;Mr. George Pound; Dr. Thorn, Paddington; Mr. Lawrence Gill; Mr. Jas.Blyth, Glasgow; Mr. Cunningham; Mr. James Wearne; Mr. J. R. Ede ;Mr. Churchill; Dr. Hassall; Mr. Shearman, Rotherham; Mr. Adam, Aber-deen ; Mr. Slyman, Newtown, Mon.; Mr. Thin, Edinburgh, (with enclosure;)Mr. Young, Hindon, (with enclosure;) Dr. Davies, Aberdare, (with enclo-sure ;) Mr. Barrett, Welshpool, (with enclosure;) Mr. Rimmington, Brad-

i ford, (with enclosure;) Mr. Deering, Leamington, (with enclosure;) Mr., Brough, Birmingham, (with enclosure;) Mr. Evans, Ipswich; Mr. Glencross,’

Johnstown, (with enclosure;) Mr. Oldfield, Heckmondwike; Dr. Williams.Aspley; Mr. Reilly, Weymouth; Mr. Newenham Travers ; Dr. Millet,

, Penpol, (with enclosure;) Mr. Ollard, Prescot, (with enclosure;) Dr.WiIson,Berwick, (with enclosure;) Mr. Richardson, Rhayader, (with enclosure;)Mr. Dempsey, Long Eaton, (with enclosure;) Mr. Collingwood, Ampthill;Mr. Hillyard, Heckington; Mr. Doidge, Lifton, (with enclosure;) Mr.White, Brighton; Mr. Ritchie, Girvan; Mr. Tylecote, Glasgow, (with enclo-sure ;) Mr. Fletcher, Bromsgrove; Dr. Vernon ; Mr. Phillips, Hales Owen,(with enclosure;) Dr. Dickson, Cheadle, (with enclosure;) Mr. Atkinson,Liverpool, (with enclosure;) Dr. Wardleworth, Lowestoft, (with enclosure ;)Mr. Sprague, Kimbolton, (with enclosure;) Mr. Hinde, Liverpool ; Mr.Lacy, Newark-on-Trent, (with enclosure;) Mr. Price; Dr. Rorke, Scarboro’;Royal Institution; Caustic; A. Y. Z.; Excelsior; Justitia; A Brother Editor;A Disgusted Surgeon; A Country Cousin; Pro Bono Publico; F. G. M. D. ;Self-Respect; Xubes; London Hospital; Justus; An Old Student; Anxious ;Chirlllgns; L. M. N. O.; Medicus; Another London Hospital Man; A. B.;A Victim; H. C.; &c. &c.

THE Daily Alta (California), the Melbourne Leader, the Melbourne Herald,the Hobart Town 3fereziry, the Islington Gazette, and the Dublin HospitalGazette. hace heen received

Page 2: To Correspondents

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