BMJ University of London Source: Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal (1840-1842), Vol. 1, No. 7 (Nov. 14, 1840), pp. 125-126 Published by: BMJ Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25489941 . Accessed: 14/06/2014 16:56 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. . BMJ is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal (1840-1842). http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 185.2.32.134 on Sat, 14 Jun 2014 16:56:06 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Transcript
BMJ
University of LondonSource: Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal (1840-1842), Vol. 1, No. 7 (Nov. 14, 1840), pp.125-126Published by: BMJStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25489941 .
Accessed: 14/06/2014 16:56
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp
.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].
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BMJ is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Provincial Medical and SurgicalJournal (1840-1842).
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This content downloaded from 185.2.32.134 on Sat, 14 Jun 2014 16:56:06 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
* Although the structure of the skin and its layers is in volved in doubt as to many particulars, there can be no doubt that the colouring matter resides in a spongy layer between the true skin and culticle, or on the surface of the former constituting a part of it.
The development of the rete mucosum, and especially of the colouring matter, is connected with the power of with standing the sun's heat in torrid regions; for Albinos of Guinea and the West Indies, who differ both from Euro peans and negroes, in totally wanting the pigment, and probably the rete mucosum, bear the heat of the climate worse even than European strangers: Indeed, their skins are said to crack and blister on exposure to the sun's rays. And acclimated Europeans never bear the heat of torrid regions like the negroes.
Sir Everard Home contends that the negro is more capable of witlhstanding heat, because of a property in dark surfaces of destroying the scozching and blistering effect of the suII's rays.
He founds this doctrine on several data, of which the following are the principal:-lst. lie asserts that the rays of the sun will scorch at a temperature lower than that at which hot water can produce blisters; 2d. That white cloth defends the surface of the body against the sun's rays to a less degree than black cloth, eveen if the latter indicate the higher temperature.
These are his principal and fundamental premises; and he infers that there is a power of scorching in the sun's rays independent of the heat they contain ; and that black surfaces scorch less than white surfaces, because they ex dude luminous calori.
Dr. Glover shows that even if Sir Everard's facts be cor rect, his doctrine is inadmissible, since white surfaces reflect the rays of light, while black surfaces absorb them; but in fact, Sir Everard's experiments, repeated by the author, gave qute 'contrary results. Black surfaces absorb more heat than white surfaces, and scorch precisely in the ratio of the heat absorbed. The author aso shows, by experi
ment, that the circumstance of the dark layer being covered by translucet, cutiple will nlot prevent the a1sqrption of heat taking jlace in the negro to a greater extent than in the European. * This being tie case, he attributes the benefit conferred
by the dark colour on the inhabitant of the tropics to the circumstance of perspiration being more easily excited in him, his skin being more vascular, and blood more fluid.
Thus the perspiration preventing the heat absorbed from enteriing the body, the superior radiating power of the dark sklin will carry off the excess of heat of the surface.
"Again, the dark skin places the negro in the conditions of his climate, by causing him to radiate heat at night, and become at that tinme cooler than a white in the same cir cumstances. This is a fact which has been observed of the negroes Their propensity for exercise in the open air at night has been remarked. In a climate where, during the day, vegetation a p pears burnt up, the earth is cracked by the heat, and all living creatures languish; but where at night breezes refresh the air and cheer exhausted nature, plants run with dew and animals leave their lhaunts, mat also, fitted by the structure of his skin to throw off beat, issues forth animated by the irresistible propensity to exercise which is always given by the bracing air of colder climates."--Jameson'a Journa4 Oct. 1840.
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.
The following are the questions proposed at the last ex aminations:
BACHELOR OF MMD!C1NE-EXAMINER, DR. ROOET-NOV. 2.
1. What are the peculiarities in the circulation through the liver; what purposes in the economy are served by that organ; and what are the structures which perform similar offices in invertebrate animals?
2. Specify the principal anatomical differences between the structure of man and that of the quadrumana.
3. Explain why the lungs collapse, on an opening being made in the parietes of the tborax.
4. Describe the conditions of the eye producing myopic and presbyopic vision; state the optical causes of the itndis tinctness of vision under those conditions; and explain the optical principles on which these defects may be artificially remedied.
5. Explain, on mechanical principles, the advantages derived from the tubular form of cylindrical bones.
6. Describe the mechanism of respiration in fishes; and assign the reason of their dying when placed in atmospheric air.
7. What purposes are answered by the Eustachian tube; and why is deafness consequent on its obstruction?
8. Describe the progressive changes which occur in the organs of circulation of the frog, during its transition from the tadpole to the adult state.
9. Describe the peculiarities of structuire in the skull and bonies of the face of the carnivorous fatnily of mammalia, as contrasted witlh those of herbivorous tribes.
SURGERY-EXAMINERS, MR. BACOT AND SIR STEPIIEN HAMMICK-NOVEMBER 3.
1. Give the classification of wounds arising from external violence; their nature, symptoms, and treatmnent.
2. Describe the symptoms and treatment of botlh idiopa thic and symptomatic erysipelas; and state in wlhat eases, and under that circumstances of external injuiry, erysipelas
most commonly occurs. 3. Detail the symptoms of a strangulated ingtuinal hernia
-the methods you would employ for its reduction, and if they were unsuccessful, at what period and under wlhat cir cumstances you would proceed to the operation ;-describe the mode of operating, and give the subsequent manage
mentt of the patient, according to tIme various conditions of the contents of the hernial sac.
4. Enumerate the different dislocations of the hip joint; the mode of detectionl, and the manner of qed;action of each respectively.
'5. For what injuries or diseases would you ampuitate at the shoulder joint? Describe the operation and after treatment.
EXAMINERS, DR. BILLING AND DR. WATSON-NOVEMBER 3.
1. How do we judge of the propriety-and of the reqtii site amount-of bloodletting, in inflammations?
2. What are the progressive symptoms, morbid appear ances, and treatment of pertussis? State particularly the symptoms wlhich would indicate the necessity for blood. letting.
3. State the usual causes of diarrhoea, how it is to be distinguished from dysentery, and the treatment uwder different circumstances.
4. Describe the symptoms and usual couirse of measles, the varieties of the disease, the chief sources of danger, and the treatmient.
5. What parts are most commonly the seat of neuralgia? give an outline of the treatment.
6. Describe the symptoms, and ordinary course and treatment of erysipelas of the head andface.
7. What are the signs of dlelirium tremens? tIow is it distinguislhable from phrenilis ? Lay down the methods of cure respectively suitable to these two diseases.
8. Emphysema of the lungs.-State fully (1.) Its anatomical characters. (2.) Its effects (wlhen extensive) in modifying tlhe
shape of the thorax. (3.) Its auscultatory signs. (4.) Its general symptoms. (5.) The means by which these may best be relieved.
9. Describe (1.) The symptoms which denote that a calcultts is
descending from the kidney towards the bladder.
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(2.) The symptoms which warraut the belief that the calculus has recently entered the bladder.
(3.) The indications of treatment in either case, and the means of fulfilling them. 10. What are the symptoms, anatomical characters, and
proper treatment, of peritoitis ?
MIDWIFERY-EXAMINER, DR. LOCOCK-NOVEMBER 4.
1. The anatomical relations betweeu the mother and the foetus, in the human subject.
2. The changes which take place in the human ovaTies from impregnation and during menstruation.
3. The causes of protracted labour. 4. The varieties of puerperal convulsions, and their
several treatment. * 5. The pathology of phlegmasia dolens.
- 6. The symptoms and treatment of exhaustion from hrmorrhage.
7. The immediate and remote causes of infantile con vulsions.
FORENSIC MEDICINE *AXINEXE, PRORESSOR DANIELL, DR. LOCOcK, AND MR. PEREIRA-XOV. 4.
1. How would you distinguiish, in the case of a person found hung, whether the suspension was before or after deatlh ?
2. By what symptoms would you distinguish a case of poisoning by opium from one of apoplexy ?
3. In what cases of poisoning is artificial respiration a remedial agent; and what is the simplest and easiest
method of effecting it? 4. What are the impediments to tlhp action and the
fallacles of Marsh's test for arsenious acid; and how would you obviaie them?
5. What are the substances ordinarily used as hair dyes; and how would you distinguish stained fronm natural hair?
6. The causes of sterility-which remediable, and which not.
7. The most frequent causes of death from makpraxu during the act of parturition-and the distinction between natural appearances and the effects of violence, as discovered after death.
8. The diagnosis of mania, melancholih, monomania, dementia, and idiotism.
APPOINTMENTS AND PAY OF ARMY MEDICAL OFFICERS.
AFTER the 1st of October, 1840, the following rules will be enforced:
1. The medical officers of the army are in future to be distinguished by the following ranks and commissions, viz. assistant surgeon, regimental surgeon, and staff sur geon, 2d class; staff surgeon, 1st class; deputy inspector general of hospitals; inspector general of hospitals.
2. ASSISTANT SUaGON--,No medical candidate who has not passed his examinations at the Royal College of Sur geons of Lonidon, Ediniburgh, or Dublin, shall be eligible for this commission, and the assistant-surgeon must' lave served on full-pay five years before he shall be eligible for promotion to the rank of regimental surgeon, or of staff surgeon bf the second class.
3. Regimetal surgeons and staff surgeons of the second class must have served ten years in the army on full pay before they shall be eligible for the next step of rank.
4. A staff surgeon of the first clas muist have served three years at home, or two years abroad, in this rank, before he shall be eligible for promotion.
A deputy inspector-general of hospitals must bave served five years at home, or three years abroad, in this rank, be fore he shall be eligible for promotion to the highest raink of inspector-general.
6. The rates of daily pay for the before-mentioned ranks are to be in future refulated by the length of time which the officers of each cfan shall have Perve4 upon full-pay,
according to the annexed scale; provided always, that wben any officer is hereafter pjromoted, hq shall commence upon the miniiimum pay of his new rank, uotwithstandii'g his length of service, agreeably to the said scale, may give hitn a claim to a higher rate of pay, as before he shall be allowed such higher rate of pay be will be required to serve on each inferior rate of psy attached to his rank the fol lowing period-namely, one year, if he had been in the
medical department antecedently to the 29th of July, 1830, and two years if he received his first medical commission subsequently to that date; but if the officer thus promoted had higher pay in his old rank than the miiim'um of hjs new rank, he shall commence upon that rate of pay which may be next above his former pay, and before he obtains any further increase, shall serve the period above prescribed, viz ....
Rates of Daily Pay subject to the abeo'e Provisions.
RANKS. After 25 After 20, After 10, Under 10 years' but under but under years' actual 25, actual 20, actual actual
service. service. service. service.
? a. d. ? a. d. ? s. d. ? a. d. Assltant Surgeon . 0 10 0 010 0 0 10 0 0 7 6 Regimental Surgeon and I
Inspector-General of Hos pitals ............;......2 00 115 0 1160 _. __
7. In additionr to the pay of their ranks, the officers a the head of the medical department on foreign stations shall receive allowances at the undermentioied rates wlen serving under the followin g circumstances, viz.
If with an army in the field of 10,000 men or upwards ..... . 20s. a day.
- Ditto ..... 5,000 ditto 15s.
Ditto ..... any less number 10O.
If serying in a colony where the, forces consist of 1,500 men, or upwards 5S.
Given at our Court, at Windsor, this 14th day of October, 1810, in the fourth year of oUr reign.
By Her, Majesty's command, T. B. MACAULAY.
MEDICAL REFORM.-MR. WARBURTON'S BILL.
TO THE EDITORS OF THE PROVINCIAL MEDICAL AND
SURGICAL JOURNAL.
GENTLEMEN;-Tbat yOU dislike metaphor, and that strong language is unDljeasant to you, is evident from the manner in which you ave curtailed my letter of the 16th inst., and from the whole tenor of your leading article, which immediately follows. That letter,, I freely confess, was peined in anger; on perusing the abstract ot Mr. Warbur ton's medical profession bill I certainly felt excessively angry, that, after seven years' anxious expectation, a bill wam absolutely presented to parliament, which instead of benefiting, would, in my opinion, tend to injure and de gradle the profession; and, m the moment of my wrath, I held it up to ridicule. This, y6n will probably say, was in bad taste, and utterly unicalled for: perhaps it was; but though I wrote in anger, I still consider my argument was on the right side-and as to ridicule, it has always been considered a formidable wteapon, buit never, I believe, an unlawful one, and every nan will certainly select that weaponi which he thinks he can wield to the greatest ad vantage.
That reform in the medical world is loudly called foir, and that no efficient reform can take place without the assistance of the legislature, I believe none will deny; but I think all that is required may readily be accomplished
without the expensive, intricate, and, pardon me, I must say, mischievous meastures, proposed ia Mr. Warburton's
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