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W. STEWART, M. D., has been appointed Medical Officer for the PortadownDispensary District of the Lurgan Union.

J. S. WALKER, .1 LI.D., has been appointed Medical Officer of Health forHanley, Staffordshire, vice J. Scott, M.R.C.S.E., deceased.

R. WILLMOTT, M.R.C.S.E., has been appointed Medical Officer for the CalneUnion, Wilts, vice J. D. Bishop, M.R.C.S.E., resigned.

Births, Marriages, and Deaths.

BIRTHS.On the 3rd inst., at Howden, Yorkshire, the wife of R. Grieve, M.D., of a

daughter.On the llth inst., at Hampstead, the wife of Dr. G. Brown, of a daughter.On the llth inst., at Colville-square, Bayswater, the wife of Dr. D. H. Small,

late of the Indian Army, of a son.On the 12th inst., at Sheerness, the wife of Dr. John Breakey, R.N., of a

daughter.On the Uth inst., at Onslow-crescent, Brompton, the wife of J. T. Mould,

F.R.C.S.E., of a daughter.On the 14th inst., the wife of Dr. C. I. Beard, of Grand Parade, Brighton, of

a daughter.On the 15th inst., at New North-road, Hoxton, the wife of W. C. Worley,

L.R.C.P., of a daughter. ____

’

MARRIAGES.On the 9th inst., at Edinburgh, J. Middleton, M.D., of Greenwich Hospital,

to Janet, daughter of the late J. Blair, Esq.On the 10th inst., at St. John’s Church, Notting-hill, W. F. B. Dalzel, M.D.,

Surgeon Bengal Army, to Maria Palmer, daughter of the late T. Viall,Esq. _____

DEATHS.On the 31st of August, at Bathurst, River Gambia, G. Calvert, M.R.C.S.E.,

Staff Surgeon, Army, aged 30.On the 28th ult., C. R. Morgan, M.R.C.S.E., of Barnstaple, Devon.On the 3rd inst., at Guildford-street, Russell-square, after a short illness,

D. Henry Walne, F.R.C.S.E., Consulting Surgeon to the German Hos-pital, and Vice-President of the Society for the Relief of Widows andOrphans of Medical Men, fourth son of the late Thos. Walne, Esq., ofThe Grove, Brockdish, Norfolk, aged 71. Friends will kindly acceptthis intimation.

On the 5th inst., Dr. J. J. Power, of Maidstone, aged 59.On the 7th inst., J. Holt, L.R.C.S.Ed., of Glasgow, Surgeon R.N.On the 9th inst., Wm. Heise, M.D., of Kinnitty, King’s County, aged 84.On the 10th inst., at Driffield, Yorkshire, the infant son of Thomas Britton,

M.D.

Medical Diary of the Week.Monday, Oct. 22.

ST. MARK’S HOSPITAL FOR FISTULA AND OTHER DISEASES OF THE RECTUM.-Operations, 9 A.M. and 1½ P.M.

ROYAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL, MOORFIELDS.—Operations, 10½ A.M.METROPOLITAN FREE HOSPlTAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.

Tuesday, Oct. 23.ROYAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL, MOORFIELDS.—Operations, 10½ A.M.Guy’s HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1½ p.M.WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 p.M.NATIONAL ORTHOPÆDIC HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.

Wednesday, Oct. 24.ROYAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL, MOORFIELDS.-Operations, 10½ A.M.MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1½ P.M.ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1½ P.M.ST. THOMAS’S HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1½ P.M.GREAT NORTHERN HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITA-L.—Operations, 2 P.M.LONDON HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.HUNTERIAN SOCIETY.-8 P.M. Mr. Bryant, "On the Value of a Retracted

Nipple in the Diagnosis of Diseases of the Breast."

Thursday, Oct. 25.ROYAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL, MOORFIELDS.—Operations, li4 A.M.CENTRAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.ST. GEORGE’s HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.LONDON SURGICAL HOME.—Operations, 2 P.M.WEST LoNDON HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.ROYAL ORTHOPÆDIC HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.

Friday, Oct. 26.ROYAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL,MOORFIELDS.—Operations, 101 A.M.WESTMINSTER OPHTHALMIC HoSPITAL.--Operations, 1½ P.M.

Saturday, Oct. 27.ST. THOMAS’S HOSPITAL.—Operations, 9½ A.M. ROYAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL, MOORFIELDS.—Operations, 1½ A.M.ST. BA.ILTILOL031FWS HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1½ P.M.KING’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1½ P.M.ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL.—Operations, Up p.M.CHARING-CROSS HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 p.M.

To Correspondents.T. Q. C.—1. The surgeon of a prison, if duly summoned under the provisionsof the Medical Witnesses Act to give evidence as to the cause of death ofany prisoner who has died under his care, is legally entitled to a fee forperforming that duty. It must be borne in mind that he has no claim

which he can enforce at law unless he receive a summons in accordancewith the statute. A mere verbal or even a written message would not be

regarded as sufficimt to entitle him to his fee; but then he is not bound toappear as a witness unless he have been duly summoned. As the neglectto obey a summons, properly worded and delivered, would render the reci-pient liable to a penalty of five pounds, the law looks with extreme jealousyupon the conduct of a Coroner who fails to perform his plain duty as en.joined by one of the most clearly expressed Acts of Parliament that everreceived the sanction of the Legislature. If our correspondent have beenin receipt of such summonses, and can produce them, he can enforce the-payment of his fees by action instituted in the County Court. His claimto remuneration is only barred by the statute of limitation, which extends.to six years. - 2. The only exception the Act to which we have referredmakes with regard to the payment of medical witnesses, we give in thewords of the statute:-"SECTION 5.-Provided also, and be it further enacted, that when any

inquest shall be holden on the body of any person who has died in anypublic hospital or infirmary, or in any building or place belongingthereto, or used for the reception of the patients thereof, or who has diedin any county or other lunatic asylum, or in any public infirmary or otherpublic medical institution, whether the same be supported by endowments.or by voluntary subscriptions, then and in such case nothing herein con-tained shall be construed to entitle the medical officer, whose duty it mayhave been to attend the deceased person as a medical officer of such insti--tution as aforesaid, to the fees or remuneration herein provided."

A Student.—Parkes’ Manual of Hygiene; Wilks’ Pathological Anatomy;Joseph Bell’s Operative Surgery on the Dead Body.

WE have received an important letter from the Rev. P. C. Maule, but areobliged to postpone its publication to next week.

THE CLIMATE OF MADEIRA.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Dr. Bennet, in your last number, quotes and comments on some-statements of mine respecting the climate of Madeira. For the courteous.tone of his remarks he has my best thanks, although they call for explanationon my part.

It has never been my object to recommend the climate of Madeira or ofany other place for all cases in an abstract and absolute manner. The errorof so doing runs through much that has been written on this subject.Phthisis-one of the vaguest names we have inherited from Greek medi-

cine-obviously comprehends several distinct, though allied, forms of disease,.each requiring different treatment, and very variously affected by climate.For some of these a soothing, unirritating medium, like that of Madeira, isof the greatest value; while for others, Mentone, Algiers, Malaga, or theNile, possessing far higher stimulant powers, are preferable. Dr. Bennethimself seems practically to admit this in saying that bronchial irritation,original or symptomatic, may probably benefit by Madeira. His remark istrue, and may be applied with even more force to the hectic, which is sofrequent but so variable a concomitant of tubercular disease. The influenceof Madeira in diminishing febrile symptoms is indisputable, and I believegreater than that of Mentone or the like.

I have already insisted in these columns and in those of The Times on thenecessity of discrimination between fit and unfit cases for climatic treatment,and I hope to utilize ere long the facts corroborative of my views. Whilethey do not essentially disagree with the opinions of Dr. Bennet, perhapsthey may bring out into more relief a fundamental truth on which I believeany advance in the treatment of phthisis must be based-namely, that it isa composite disorder, requiring subdivision, and susceptible of differentmanagement, both medical and climatic, according to its variety.

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,Vigo-street, October lath, 1866. W. H. STONE.

Mr. A. Alexander.—No better position could be attained by being a gra-duate of half-a-dozen Universities. If the University has a good reputa-tion, it is sufficient for all purposes.

A Competitor.—The essays for both subjects must be sent in on or beforeChristmas-day next.

Mr. W. A. Hughes.—There is no such University.St. Bartholomew’s.—A short account will be found in another column.

ARREST OF HÆMORRHAGE BY XYLO-STYPTIC ETHER.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—I have seen no notice in your columns of the use of the xylo-stypticether for arresting hemorrhage. I have myself had an opportunity of apply-ing it, in which it was most successful, but had refrained from publishingthe case, hoping to have had others to publish with it.The case I refer to was one of removal of necrosed bone from the elbow, by

Dr. Crosby, who, having tried in vain to arrest haemorrhage from a minorvessel or two by means of a ligature, asked me to apply a jet of the xylo-styptic ether. I did so, and in less than twenty seconds all bleeding hadceased by the formation of a sort of serum over the whole surface, or Lshould rather say inside the whole of the wound. Haemorrhage never re-curred, and the patient did well.Should any of your readers have had an opportunity of using this ether,

would they kindly publish their experience for the benefit of those who take-an interest in such matters ? I am, Sir, yours faithfully,

St. Helen’s-place, E.C., Oct. 15th, 1866. SIDNEY CBATBB.

457

J. L. C. and John H. Perry.—Our correspondents will find an account of the" Case of a Fcetus found in the abdomen of a young man at Sherborne, inDorsetshire, by Xathaniel Highmore, Surgeon, and Member of the RoyalCollege of Surgeons in London, with explanatory engravings," 4to, 1815,published by Longman and Co.; and another account in the " Catalogueof the Contents of the Museum of the College of Surgeons, Part V., com-prehending the Preparations of Monsters and Malformed Parts," 1831.The same Catalogue also contains an account of a similar case occurring inthe practice of G. W. Young, Esq., where an imperfectly formed male fcetuswas found in the abdomen of a child between nine and ten months old.

2f.D. shall be answered in our next.Studeus,—Milne-Edwards’ Physiology, now in course of publication; Owen’s

Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of the Vertebrate Animals; Carpenter’sComparative Physiology.

3fr. Goyder, (Bradford.)-Thanks. Short reports wonld be acceptable.

THE MEDICAL ACT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICE.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—As the time approaches for the re-assembling of Parliament, itbehoves us, and all interested in our profession, to unite our energies for thepurpose of enforcing our claims during the coming session for that protec-tion which was supposed to have been afforded to us when the Medical Actof 1858 was passed, but which has proved to be " mockery, a delusion, anda snare."

I am the surgeon to the Surrey Commercial Docks, and it having come tomy knowledge that several persons were in the habit of boarding vessels ontheir arrival, and representing themselves as medical practitioners, I ob-tained information as to the particulars in several instances, and yesterdaywaited on Dr. Hawkins, the Registrar of the Medical Council, at his office,32, Soho-square, soliciting the aid of the Council in the suppression of thisillegal practice. To my astonishment he informed me that the Council werepowerless in the matter, and that whatever steps were taken must be takenby myself. Dr. Hawkins informed me that the Home Secretary had promisedto do his best during the ensuing session to introduce a Bill in Parliament toamend the Medical Act of 1858; but in my opinion the amendments fall veryfar short of the requirements both for the protection of the public and theprofession. However, " half a loaf is better than no bread;" therefore let ustry to secure the first instalment, and trust that in the course of time astill better Bill may be safely steered through the House-a Bill which willmeet the just demands of the profession. But in the meantime let eachpractitioner throughout the country urge on the member representing thetown or county in which he may reside, the necessity of supporting theforthcoming Bill when brought before the House. Let each do this, and Ifeel convinced the result will be satisfactory.

There resides in this district a man who, without the slightest pretensionto medical or surgical knowledge, or qualification of any kind, unblushinglydisplays his name on his door-plate, with the words "Surgeon and Accou-cheur" attached, and who told me some short time since, when I remon-strated with him on the matter, that he defied me, and that there was no lawthat could touch him. What remedy is there for such a case as this ? For I.am given to understand that very few of the magistrates will convict underthe recent Medical Act.

I trust you will lend your powerful aid in furtherance of this question, andpoint out the duty of the profession generally towards itself.

I am, Sir, yours obediently,Rotherhithe, October 16th, 1866. H. T. RoGERs, L.R.C.P. Edin., &e.

.A late Assistant.Surgeon of Six Years’ Service.-Whilst perfectly agreeingwith all our correspondent’s sentiments with respect to the appointmentto which his communication refers, the publication of his letter wouldsubject us to an action for libel. It is possible that the matter may benoticed in another way, and in such a manner that the authorities willhave to give an explanation.

M.P., (Leeds.)—1. There is no "average" age.—2. A student previously toentering would certainly be required to spell properly.

Mr. E. Hastings.—1. No.-2. Yes.A Country Surgeon.-A letter addressed to Mr. Tomkins, Surgeon of theNational Vaccine Institution, will meet with prompt attention.

INJECTION OF THE MEDIAN CEPHALIC VEIN.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—In your number of the 13th instant, page 412, am reported to haveinjected a patient by the brachial vein. The matter is of sufficient surgicalimportance for me to request you to state that the vessel was the mediancephalic. Your obedient servant,

Piccadilly, October 16th, 1866. CHARLES H. MOORE.

An Old Member.—Mr. Hilton, the senior Vice-President of the College, willdeliver the Hunterian Oration in February next.

3F. S. -E.—The "weakness" is curable by proper treatment. Consult amedical practitioner in the town.

M. A., (Manchester.—The letter is a forgery.Enquirer.—It is a proper investment. The annual premium is £3. In case

of accidental death the widow would receive £1000.

PANCREATIC EMULSION.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-Could any of your numerous readers give the directions necessary toprepare pancreatine in capsules, pancreatic emulsion of solid fat, pancreaticemulsion of cod-liver oil, pancreatic emulsion of lard oil, so highly recom-mended by Dr. Horace Dobell in the treatment of phthisis pulmonalis, &e. ?We in the colonies find it sometimes impossible to prevail on chemists toimport an article that they are not certain would stand a long sea voyage,and thus we are deprived perhaps of a means of alleviating much humansuffering, which is evidently not the intention of the eminent physician whohas recommended these preparations. Yours, &c.,

October, 1866. COLONIAL.

A Subscriber to the Llewellyn Fund.-The total sum subscribed amounts toupwards of £500. It has not yet been decided what form the memorialshall take; but a meeting will shortly be held to settle this question. It

may be anticipated, however, that a tablet to the memory of the medicalhero of the Alabama will be placed in the hospital at which he was edu-cated. The surplus remaining will, we believe, be devoted to the founda-tion of a Scholarship.

M.R.C.S., &c.—There is no remedy in the Medical Act against such anoffender.

An Army Surgeon.—An article on the subject appeared in the United ServiceGazette.

A Teacher.-The returns will not be ready until next wee],.

SOUTII AFRICA. AS A RESIDENCE FOR CONSUMPTIVE PATIENTS.To the Editor 0/’TBB LANCET.

SIR,—Dr. Stone, of the Brompton Hospital, having called attention to theadvantages of this country as a residence for phthisical patients, it seemedto me desirable to point out certain circumstances in the physical geographyand geology of some parts of it which render them unsuited to that object.For my purpose South Africa may be divided into-

lst. The eastern coast region. Low hills and plains of palaeozoic slates andmezozoic sandstones and clays. This tract varies from ten to thirty miles inbreadth, and is bounded by a range of quartzose mountains.

2nd. The intermediate plain region beyond the first mountain range.Koroo plains and low hills, with an average elevation of about 1500 feet,and about 100 miles in breadth.3rd. A high mountain range bounds the last region, and beyond it are the

great plateaux of the interior, 4000 to 6000 feet above the sea, and intersectedby minor hills and mountains. Through these vast plains the Orange,Caledon, and Vaal rivers and their tributaries run.

4th. The low hills and plains on the western or Atlantic shores of the con-tinent.Of these regions, the first has a not unhealthy climate; but the alternation

of north-east wind blowing over the dry and hot continent, with the coldsouth-east wind from the sea, with their widely different hygrometrical andelectric conditions, renders it unsuitable to cases in which tubercle is deve-loped or threatened. While Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage, from their geo-logical position on the margin of a mezozoic bay, on whose bottom a deepseries of clay-beds was deposited, are peculiarly unadapted to such cases.The second region is much better. In this Ceres, Willowmore, Graham’s

Town, Fort Beaufort, Alice, and many other towns are situated.But it is on the high plains, stretching from the second range of moun-

tains I have mentioned to beyond the Vaal river, and including the higherpart of the district of Graaff Reinet, with those of Colesberg, Richmond,Victoria, East and West Albert, the Free State, and the high lands ofKaffraria, that perhaps the finest climate in the world for pulmonary com-plaints is found. I have sent many patients thither who have come outfrom England with diseased lungs, and some in whom phthisis has been de-veloped here, and I have rarely or never been disappointed. Some have livedmuch longer than they would have done here; others, in whom nearly half ofone lung was consolidated, have quite recovered, and remained well foryears.Of the fourth region I have not much personal knowledge; but I believe it

has not the drawbacks of the eastern coast region. Wineberg and otherplaces in the vicinity of Cape Town are very healthy.

If this difference in the climate of parts of South Africa be borne in mind,it will save much disappointment.

I remain, Sir, yours truly,R. N. RUBIDGE, M.B. Lond., F.G.S.,

Physician to Province Hospital, P.E.Port Elizabeth, South Africa, August 25th, 1866.

THE communication of a2’r. Mac Nag respecting the Sanitary Condition ofSaltburn-by-the-Sea arrived too late for insertion this week, but shall

appear in our next impression.A. B., (Nottingham.)-The Coppice. Dr. Tate.H. B. should consult some respectable surgeon in the neighbourhood wherehe resides.

Sanus.—The sixth and seventh volumes of the Journal of 2fental Science,published by Churchill.

Furlough.—Kimpton, 31, Wardour-street.

COMMUNICATIONS, LETTERS, &c., have been received from - Dr. Stone;Mr. Henry Thompson; Mr. T. W. Nunn; Mr. Dyson; Dr. Black, Oban;Mr. Alderman Waterlow ; Dr. Pidduck; Mr. Hemming; Dr. Drummond,York; Mr. Burke; Mr. Alford, Taunton; Mr. Hey, Leeds; Dr. Mouat;Dr. Davy; Mr. Massey; Mr. Park; Mr. Angell; Mr. Gurton ; Mr. Neald;Mr. Egerton, Sturry; Mr. Schofield; Mr. Smeeton, Durham; Mr. Rogers;Mr. M’Bean, Falmouth; Mr. Grant ; Mr. Wilson; Mr. Sugden; Mr. Bond,Chichester; Mr. Alexander; Mr. Brown, Saltburn; Mr. Slipper; Dr. Ray;Mr. Jordison, Hornchurch; Dr.Aveling; Mr. Harris, Burnley; Mr. White;Mr. Russell; Dr. Greweock, Folkingham ; Dr. Buchanan ; Mr. Packard;Dr. Browne, Manchester; Mr. Williams; Mr. Bennett; Dr. Crook, Chorley;Mr. Lewins; Dr. Ford; Mr. Brecknell; Dr. Maryon; Mr. Dowell, Redear;Mr. Bidder; Mr. Craven, Hull; Dr. Goyder, Bradford; Dr. Rose, Kidder-minster ; Dr. Nelson; Mr. Chater; Messrs. Atkins and Sons; Mr. Parker,Westbury; Mr. Bright, Glastonbury ; Mr. Anderton; Mr. Bury; Dr. Marsh ;Mr. Crook, Durham ; Mr. E. Hastings, Hull; Mr. Matthews; Dr. Arnold;Mr. Thomas, Birmingham; Mr. Holman; Mr.Moore; Mr. Ingle, Pendleton;Mr. Weston; Mr. Ryder, Durham; Dr. Cook; Mr. Bush, Thrapstone;Dr. Carter; Mr. Brendon; Dr. Fry; Mr. Phillips, Bath; 31. P.; J. F. C.;Studens; S. T.; A late Assistant-Surgeon of Six Years’Service; Colonial;T. Q. C.; A Student; X.; W. A. H.; One who has been Gulled; Clericus;A Subscriber to THE LANCET; H. B.; M.R.C.S.; &c. &c.

THE York Star, the Overland China Mail, and the Star of Grcent have beenreceived.