96 peculiar metallic taste in his mouth. The anæsthesia passed away in half an hour, but he did not completely recover the use of his limbs for four days; the bladder was paralysed for twenty-four hours, and relieved by the catheter of high coloured urine with abundance of phosphates. The bowels were con- fined. All these symptoms gradually disappeared, excepting alight deafness, and he was discharged on the 14th ult. con- valescent. The case was admitted under the care of Mr. de Méric, the surgeon for the week. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, JOHN D. HILL, M.R.C.S., House-surgeon. Royal Free Hospital, July, 1861. POOR-LAW MEDICAL REFORM ASSOCIATION. (NOTE FROM MR. GRIFFIN.) RICHARD GRIFFIN. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-I shall feel obliged by your allowing me, through the medium of your journal, to inform the Poor-law medical officers that I have this day received a communication to request my attendance before the Select Committee on Poor Relief on Tuesday, the 23rd inst. I hope those gentlemen about to give evidence will not delay its preparation, as the subject is of too important a nature to trust entirely to memory. I have this day received £2 from the officers of the Saffron Walden Union, the only subscription forwarded to me since May 24th last.-I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 12, Royal-terrace, Weymouth, July 20th, 1861. THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN IN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. JOHN GOODCHILD, L.R.C.P. ED. To the Edit01’ of THE LANCET. SIR,-I regret very much the tone which Mr. Banks has thrown into the discussion respecting the health of children in various large industrial schools in the neighbourhood of London, because angry letters are seldom wise ones, nor conducive to eliciting the truth, whether the matter be trivial, or important, as in the present case. Mr. Banks’ wrath seems hurled against Mr. Tuffnel’s report and my letter to THE LANCET, though it is not always clear which he means to assail; for he quotes the latter, and then speaks of Dr. Wilkinson’s vindication of the North Surrey Schools, as if I had been the first to appear in print. In fact, he rushes at us with his eyes shut, and he had better for the future, before forming conclusions, be sure that his premises are correct. My first communication was an "apology" for the rate of mortality at the Hanwell Schools as compared with the North Surrey, and an explanation of some points in Mr. Tuffnel’s report, and Dr. Wilkinson’s remarks thereon. This must con- vey a request to Mr. Banks to furnish us with full particulars as.to the arrangements of the Forest-gate Schools, where, with inmates of the lowest physical type, "fœx populi," (to adopt Mr. Banks’ classical quotation,) the mortality is only one-third per cent., and amongst the St. Pancras children, ab- solutely "nil." " I believe I made no attempt to prove the Hanwell Schools a ‘ perfect paragon." Certainly no such thought has ever been present with me. I did think until I read Mr. Banks’ letter that, considering all things, our mortality averages were pretty good ; but now a great effort must be made to improve them. I am at a loss to understand whom Mr. Banks attacks in his remarks upon the late Mr. Aubin, a most estimable and in- telligent man, and I believe one of the original supporters, if not the founder, of the Industrial School system ; but from cer- tain expressions of my own being inserted, I snppose I am still the culprit. Having known Mr. Aubin well for three years previously to his decease, I thought I might express my belief that he had no "secret remedy," as some have supposed, and am sorry if I have adopted a "puffing. style of remarks"in doing so. - In conclusion, Sir. I emphatically repeat that my letter was explanatory only, reflecting upon no one-an "apology" for our rate of mortality as compared with the North Surrey Schools. And if Mr. Banks can show that those at Forest-gate receive the very dregs of the population-children with open scrofulous abscesses and carious vertebræ-servants invalided from their situations with phthisis, disease of the heart, &c., who have been old pupils; that all sent are received, and none turred away to die elsewhere; in short, that the Forest-gate School is an hospital as well as a school; that, with all this, the mortality averages but one-third per cent.,-he is undoubt- edly bound, in the interests of humanity in general, and of this class of schools in particular, to make the profession acquainted with the means by which such marvellous results are attained. I am. Sir. vours obedientlv. Baling-, July, 1861. A LADY AMONGST THE STUDENTS. AN EYE-WITNESS. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-In an article under the above heading, published in your journal of the 6th inst., the lady in question is described as calmly sounding for stone in the " male bladder." It would correct the misunderstanding which the statement so expressed has given rise to if it were known, in addition, that the " male bladder" belonged to a child of about two years of age, and that the examination took place in a female ward. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, July, 1861. P.S.-I enclose my card. THE MEDICAL ACT. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-Most undoubtedly the clause insisted on by Mr. Gough. is essential to the efficiency of the Medical Act. Any quack setting himself up in a country district may obtain practice without even once assuming a medical title. I have an in- stance at present in my own district, and it does seem hard and extremely degrading that anyone should have to contend against unprincipled impostors after the late additional expense incurred by registration, not to speak of the course of study and the examinations required to qualify for practice and re- spectability. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, Glanton, Alnwick, July, 1861. Z. PROFESSIONAL EVIDENCE IN COURTS OF LAW. JOHN CHEESMAN, M.D. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-Are you aware that medical practitioners, when at- tending Assize courts to give professional evidence are allowed only second-class railway fares? I attended the Assizes at Stafford last week, in a case of manslaughter, and was paid my railway fare at the above rate. If this is the usual thing, I think it a very shabby way of treating professional men. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, Newark-on-Trent, July, 1861. UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS. NEW REGULATIONS. THE following ordinance, remodelling and regulating the granting of Degrees in Medicine by the University of St. Andrews, has just been -issued by the Scottish Universities Commission:- ’ I. The degrees in medicine to be hereafter granted by the University of St. Andrews shall be divided into three classes; and be designated respectively Bachelor of Medicine (M;B.), Master- in Surgery (C.M.), and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.). ). II. The preliminary branches of extra-professional education; in the case of candidates for the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Master in Surgery, shall be English, Latin, arithmetic, the elements of mathematics, and the elements of mechanics ; and the proficiency of students in these branches shall, as far:as possible, be ascertained. by examination prior to the commence- ment of their medical study. III. No candidate shall be admitted to a professional exa- mination for either of the last-mentioned degrees who has not passed a satisfactory examination on at least two of the follow- ing subjects, in addition to the subjects mentioned above :- Greek, French, German, higher mathematics, natural philo- sophy, natural history, logic, moral philosophy; and the exa- mination on these subjects also shall, as far as possible, take place before the candidate has entered on his medical curri- culum.
Transcript
96
peculiar metallic taste in his mouth. The anæsthesia passedaway in half an hour, but he did not completely recover theuse of his limbs for four days; the bladder was paralysed fortwenty-four hours, and relieved by the catheter of high colouredurine with abundance of phosphates. The bowels were con-fined. All these symptoms gradually disappeared, exceptingalight deafness, and he was discharged on the 14th ult. con-valescent.The case was admitted under the care of Mr. de Méric, the
surgeon for the week.I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
JOHN D. HILL, M.R.C.S.,House-surgeon.Royal Free Hospital, July, 1861.
POOR-LAW MEDICAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.(NOTE FROM MR. GRIFFIN.)
RICHARD GRIFFIN.
To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,-I shall feel obliged by your allowing me, through themedium of your journal, to inform the Poor-law medical officersthat I have this day received a communication to request myattendance before the Select Committee on Poor Relief onTuesday, the 23rd inst. I hope those gentlemen about to giveevidence will not delay its preparation, as the subject is of tooimportant a nature to trust entirely to memory.
I have this day received £2 from the officers of the SaffronWalden Union, the only subscription forwarded to me sinceMay 24th last.-I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
12, Royal-terrace, Weymouth,July 20th, 1861.
-
THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN IN INDUSTRIALSCHOOLS.
JOHN GOODCHILD, L.R.C.P. ED.
To the Edit01’ of THE LANCET.
SIR,-I regret very much the tone which Mr. Banks hasthrown into the discussion respecting the health of children invarious large industrial schools in the neighbourhood of London,because angry letters are seldom wise ones, nor conducive toeliciting the truth, whether the matter be trivial, or important,as in the present case. Mr. Banks’ wrath seems hurled againstMr. Tuffnel’s report and my letter to THE LANCET, though itis not always clear which he means to assail; for he quotes thelatter, and then speaks of Dr. Wilkinson’s vindication of theNorth Surrey Schools, as if I had been the first to appear in
print. In fact, he rushes at us with his eyes shut, and he hadbetter for the future, before forming conclusions, be sure thathis premises are correct.My first communication was an "apology" for the rate of
mortality at the Hanwell Schools as compared with the NorthSurrey, and an explanation of some points in Mr. Tuffnel’sreport, and Dr. Wilkinson’s remarks thereon. This must con-vey a request to Mr. Banks to furnish us with full particularsas.to the arrangements of the Forest-gate Schools, where, withinmates of the lowest physical type, "fœx populi," (toadopt Mr. Banks’ classical quotation,) the mortality is onlyone-third per cent., and amongst the St. Pancras children, ab-solutely "nil." "
I believe I made no attempt to prove the Hanwell Schools a‘ perfect paragon." Certainly no such thought has ever beenpresent with me. I did think until I read Mr. Banks’ letterthat, considering all things, our mortality averages were prettygood ; but now a great effort must be made to improve them.
I am at a loss to understand whom Mr. Banks attacks inhis remarks upon the late Mr. Aubin, a most estimable and in-telligent man, and I believe one of the original supporters, ifnot the founder, of the Industrial School system ; but from cer-tain expressions of my own being inserted, I snppose I am stillthe culprit. Having known Mr. Aubin well for three yearspreviously to his decease, I thought I might express my beliefthat he had no "secret remedy," as some have supposed, andam sorry if I have adopted a "puffing. style of remarks"indoing so.- In conclusion, Sir. I emphatically repeat that my letter was
explanatory only, reflecting upon no one-an "apology" forour rate of mortality as compared with the North SurreySchools. And if Mr. Banks can show that those at Forest-gatereceive the very dregs of the population-children with openscrofulous abscesses and carious vertebræ-servants invalidedfrom their situations with phthisis, disease of the heart, &c.,who have been old pupils; that all sent are received, and noneturred away to die elsewhere; in short, that the Forest-gate
School is an hospital as well as a school; that, with all this,the mortality averages but one-third per cent.,-he is undoubt-edly bound, in the interests of humanity in general, and ofthis class of schools in particular, to make the professionacquainted with the means by which such marvellous results areattained.
I am. Sir. vours obedientlv.Baling-, July, 1861.
A LADY AMONGST THE STUDENTS.
AN EYE-WITNESS.
To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,-In an article under the above heading, published inyour journal of the 6th inst., the lady in question is describedas calmly sounding for stone in the " male bladder." It wouldcorrect the misunderstanding which the statement so expressedhas given rise to if it were known, in addition, that the " malebladder" belonged to a child of about two years of age, andthat the examination took place in a female ward.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,July, 1861.
P.S.-I enclose my card.
THE MEDICAL ACT.To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,-Most undoubtedly the clause insisted on by Mr. Gough.is essential to the efficiency of the Medical Act. Any quacksetting himself up in a country district may obtain practicewithout even once assuming a medical title. I have an in-stance at present in my own district, and it does seem hardand extremely degrading that anyone should have to contendagainst unprincipled impostors after the late additional expenseincurred by registration, not to speak of the course of studyand the examinations required to qualify for practice and re-spectability. I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Glanton, Alnwick, July, 1861. Z.
PROFESSIONAL EVIDENCE IN COURTS OFLAW.
JOHN CHEESMAN, M.D.
To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,-Are you aware that medical practitioners, when at-tending Assize courts to give professional evidence are allowedonly second-class railway fares? I attended the Assizes atStafford last week, in a case of manslaughter, and was paidmy railway fare at the above rate. If this is the usual thing,I think it a very shabby way of treating professional men.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,Newark-on-Trent, July, 1861.
UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS.NEW REGULATIONS.
THE following ordinance, remodelling and regulating thegranting of Degrees in Medicine by the University of
St. Andrews, has just been -issued by the Scottish UniversitiesCommission:-
’ I. The degrees in medicine to be hereafter granted by theUniversity of St. Andrews shall be divided into three classes;and be designated respectively Bachelor of Medicine (M;B.),Master- in Surgery (C.M.), and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.). ).
II. The preliminary branches of extra-professional education;in the case of candidates for the degrees of Bachelor of Medicineand Master in Surgery, shall be English, Latin, arithmetic, theelements of mathematics, and the elements of mechanics ; andthe proficiency of students in these branches shall, as far:aspossible, be ascertained. by examination prior to the commence-ment of their medical study.
III. No candidate shall be admitted to a professional exa-mination for either of the last-mentioned degrees who has notpassed a satisfactory examination on at least two of the follow-ing subjects, in addition to the subjects mentioned above :-Greek, French, German, higher mathematics, natural philo-sophy, natural history, logic, moral philosophy; and the exa-mination on these subjects also shall, as far as possible, takeplace before the candidate has entered on his medical curri-culum.
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IV. The examinations in extra-professional education shall lation to that effect, to recognise as qualifying for graduationbe conducted by some of the examiners in Arts (who may be . in the University, to the extent of such remaining years ofprofessors), together with some of the medical examiners. medical and surgical study as aforesaid, the lectures of any
V. A degree in Arts (not being an honorary degree) of any private teacher or teachers of medicine : Provided always, thatof the Universities of Scotland, or of England or Ireland, and no course of lectures of a private teacher on any subject taughtalso a degree in Arts of any colonial or foreign university, by a professor of the University shall be recognised withoutwhich may for this purpose have been specially recognised by the consent of the Chancellor of the University ; and providedthe University Court, shall exempt candidates from all pre- also, that it shall be in the power of the University Court, ifUminary examination. they shall see cause, at any time to withdraw or suspend the
VI. No one shall be admitted to the degree of Bachelor of recognition of any private teacher or teachers.Medicine or Master in Surgery who has not been engaged in (4.) Attendance on the lectures of any private teacher inmedical and surgical study for four years-the medical session Edinburgh, Glasgow, or Aberdeen shall not be reckoned forof each year, or Annus Medicus, being constituted by at least graduation in St. Andrews, if the fee for such lectures be oftwo courses of not less than one hundred lectures each, or by less amount than is charged for the like course of lectures inone such course and two courses of not less than fifty lectures the University of Edinburgh, of Glasgow, or of Aberdeen, ac-each ; but in the case of the clinical courses, it shall be sufficient cording as the teacher lectures in Edinburgh, Glasgow, orthat the lectures be given at least twice a week during the Aberdeen.prescribed periods. X. Every candidate for the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine
VII. Every candidate for the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Master in Surgery shall, at such period of the year inand Master in Surgery shall give sufficient evidence by certifi- which he proposes to graduate as may be fixed for the purposecates: - by the Senatus Academicus, lodge with the Senatus-
(1.) That he has studied each of the following departments (1.) A declaration, in his own handwriting, that, on the dayof medical science-viz.: Anatomy, Chemistry, Materia Medica of graduation, he will have completed his twenty-first year.and Pharmacy, Institutes of Medicine, or Physiology, Practice and will not be under articles of apprenticeship.of Medicine, Surgery, Midwifery, and the Diseases peculiar to (2.) A statement of his studies, as well in literature andWomen and Children (two courses of Midwifery, of three philosophy as in medicine, accompanied with proper certificates.months each, being reckoned equivalent to a six months’ course, (3.) An inaugural dissertation, composed by himself, to beprovided different departments of obstetric medicine be taught approved by the Senatus Academicus.in each of the courses), General Pathology, or, in schools where XI. Every candidate for the degrees of Bachelor of Medicinethere is no such course, a three months’ course of lectures on and Master in Surgery shall be examined both in writing andMorbid Anatomy, together with a supplemental course of viva voce-first, on Chemistry, Botany, Elementary Anatomy,Practice of Medicine, or Clinical Medicine-during courses in- and Materia Medica; secondly, on Advanced Anatomy, Zoologycluding not less than one hundred lectures. Practical Anatomy, with Comparative Anatomy, Physiology, and Surgery; and,six months. Practical Chemistry, three months. Practical thirdly, on Practice of Medicine, Clinical Medicine, ClinicalMidwifery, three months at a midwifery hospital, or a certifi- Surgery, Midwifery, General Pathology, and Medical Juris-cate of attendance on six cases from a registered medical prac- prudence. The examinations on Anatomy, Chemistry, Phy-titioner. Clinical Medicine, and Clinical Surgery, during siology, Botany, Zoology, and Materia ilzedica to be conducted,courses of six months, or two courses of three months; lectures as far as possible, by demonstrations of objects exhibited to thebeing given at least twice a week. Medical Jurisprudence, candidates; and those on Clinical Medicine and Clinical Sur-Botany, and Zoology with Comparative Anatomy, during gery, as far as possible, by clinical demonstrations.courses including not less than fifty lectures.
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XII. Students who profess themselves ready to submit to an(2.) That he has attended for at least two years the medical examination on the first division of these subjects at the end of
and surgical practice of a general hospital, which accommo- the second year of their course may be admitted to examinationdates not fewer than eighty patients, and possesses a distinct at that time.staff of physicians and surgeons. XIII. Students who have passed their examination on the
(3.) That he has been engaged for at least three months, by first division of these subjects may be admitted to examinationapprenticeship or otherwise, in compounding and dispensing on the second division at the end of the third year of theirdrugs at the laboratory of an hospital, dispensary, member of course.
a surgical college or faculty, of a licentiate of the London or XIV. The examination on the third division shall not takeDublin Society of Apothecaries, or of a member of the Pharma. place until the candidate has completed the fourth year of hisceutical Society of Great Britain. course.
(4.) That he has attended for at least six months, by appren- XV. Candidates may be admitted to examination on theticeship or otherwise, the out-practice of an hospital, or the first two of these divisions at the end of their third year; or topractice of a dispensary, or of a physician, surgeon, or member the three examinations at the end of their fourth year.of the London or Dublin Society of Apothecaries. XVI. If any candidate, on examination, be found unquali.
VIII. No one shall be received as a candidate for the degree fied, he shall not be again admitted to examination, unless heof Bachelor of Medicine or Master in Surgery unless two years shall have completed another year of medical study, or suchat least of his four years of medical and surgical study, as portion of another year as may be prescribed by the examinersabove defined, shall have been in one or more of the following when he is found unqualified.Universities and Colleges-viz.: the University of St. Andrews, XVII. The medical examiners for graduation shall be.thethe University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen, the professors in the Faculty of Medicine, and, in addition, suchUniversity of Edinburgh, the University of Oxford, the Uni- number of persons, to be appointed annually by the Universityversity of Cambridge; University College, London ; King’s Court, as shall raise the number of examiners to not less thanCollege, London; Trinity College, Dublin ; Queen’s College, seven in all, and so that there shall always be an examinerBelfast; Queen’s College, Cork; and Queen’s College, Galway. specially qualified in each of the following departments:- (1)
IX. Subject always to the condition specified in the eighth Anatomy and Physiology, (2) Chemistry, (3) Botany and Na.section, the studies of candidates for the degrees of Bachelor of tural History, (4) Materia Medica and Medical Jurisprudence,Medicine and Master in Surgery shall be under the following (5) Practice of Medicine, (6) Surgery, and (7) Midwifery. The’regulations :- several examiners appointed by the University Court shall be
(1.) The remaining years of medical and surgical study, eligible for re election, and each of them, for each full periodother than those for which provision is made by the eighth of a year in which he shall act as examiner, shall receive outsection, may be either in one or more of the Universities and of the fees to be paid by candidates for degrees in MedicineColleges above specified, or in the Hospital Schools of London; such sum as may from time to time be fixed by the Senatusor in the School of the College of Surgeons in Dublin, or under Academicus, with the approval of the University Court.such private teachers of medicine as may from time to time XVIII. The degree of Master in Surgery shall not be con-receive recognition from the University Court. ferred on any person who does not at the same time obtain the
(2.) Attendance during at least six winter months on the degree of Bachelor of Medicine.medical or surgical practice of a general hospital which accom- XIX. The degree of Doctor of Medicine may be conferred onmodates at least eighty patients, and during the same period any candidate who has obtained the degree of Bachelor ofon a course of practical anatomy, may be reckoned as one of Medicine, and is of the age of twenty-four years, and has beensuch remaining years, and to that extent shall be held equiva- engaged subsequently to his having obtained the degree -oflent to one year’s attendance on courses of lectures, as pre- Bachelor of Medicine, for at least two years in attendance onscribed in the sixth section. ,an hospital, or in the military or naval medical service, or in
(3.) The University Court is hereby empowered, by regu- medical and surgical practice: Provided always that, subject
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to the provisions of the following section of this ordinance, thedegree of Doctor of Medicine shall not be conferred on anyperson unless he be a graduate in Arts within the fifth sectionof this ordinance ; or unless he shall, before, or at the time ofhis obtaining the degree of Bachelor of Medicine, or withinthree years thereafter, have passed a satisfactory examinationin Greek, and in Logic or Moral Philosophy, and in one atleast of the following subjects-namely, French, German,higher Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, and Natural His-tory.XX. The degree of Doctor of Medicine may be conferred by
the University of St. Andrews on any registered medical 1)rac-titioner above the age of forty years, whose professional positionand experience are such as in the estimation of the Universityto entitle him to that degree, and who shall, on examination,satisfy the medical examiners of the sufficiency of his profes-sional knowledge : Provided always that degrees shall not beconferred under this section to a greater number than ten inany one year.XXI. Except under the provisions of the twentieth section,
the degree of Doctor of Medicine shall not be conferred on anyperson who has not previously obtained the degree of Bachelorof Medicine.
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XXII. The Senatus Academicus shall, from time to time, asthey think expedient, appoint the period or periods of the yearat which degrees in Medicine shall be conferred.XXIII. No degrees in Medicine shall, after the 1st day of
January, in the year 1863, be conferred by the University ofSt. Andrews, except on candidates who have complied withthe terms of this ordinance.XXIV. There shall be paid by each candidate for the degree
of Bachelor of Medicine a fee of five guineas in respect of eachof the three divisions of the examination on professional sub-jects specified in the eleventh section of this ordinance, eachsuch fee of five guineas being payable at the time at which thecandidate comes forward to be examined in that division in
respect of which it is payable ; and if the candidate desires tobe admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Medicine only, heshall not on admission thereto be required to pay any furtherfee in addition to the fifteen guineas so paid by him; but if hedesires to be admitted to the degree of Master in Surgery also,lie shall, on being admitted to such degree, pay a further feeof five guineas ; and every candidate for the degree of Doctorof Medicine, who has previously obtained the degree of Bache-lor of Medicine, shall pay, in addition to the fees paid by himas a candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Medicine, a fee offive guineas, exclusive of any stamp duty which may for thetime be exigible; and any person presenting himself as a can-didate for the degree of Doctor of Medicine under the twentiethsection of this ordinance, without having previously obtainedthe degree of Bachelor of Medicine, shall, on so presenting him-self, pay a fee of fifty guineas, inclusive of any stamp dutywhich may for the time be exigible.XXV. The Faculty of Medicine in the said University shall
include the Professor of Medicine, the Professor of Chemistry,and, in the event of the Professorship of Civil History beingby competent authority changed into a Professorship of NaturalHistory, the Professor of Natural History.XXVI. After the confirmation of this ordinance by her
Majesty in Council, no principal or professor in the said Uni-versity shall receive any payment out of the fees to be paid bycandidates for degrees in Medicine; with this exception only,that it shall be lawful for the Senatus Academicus, out of suchfees, to pay to the present Professor of Medicine during his in-cumbency, and to the present Professor of Chemistry duringhis incumbency, such annual or other sums respectively asmay from time to time be fixed by the Senatus Academicus,with the approval of the University Court.
MEDICAL T R I A L S.
YORK ASSIZES.
(Before Mr. BARON WILDE.)-4CB:ARGE OF WILFUL MURDER AGAINST A SURGEON, AND OF
RETURNING A FALSE CERTIFICATE TO THE REGISTRAR OF
DEATHS.
A CASE of considerable importance to the profession and thepublic has lately been tried at the York Assizes. The prisoner,William Randall Mackley, was placed at the bar, charged onindictment, and also on the Coroner’s inquisition, with the wil-
ful murder of Martha Curtis, of Great Horton, on the 26th ult.The prisoner pleaded not guilty to this charge, and also to asubsequent indictment for returning a false certificate to theregistrar of deaths.The facts of the case were thus stated by Mr. PRICE, the
counsel for the prosecution :-The prisoner was a surgeon re-siding at Great Horton, in the neighbourhood of Bradford, andthe deceased woman, Martha Curtis, aged thirty-three, hadbeen his servant or housekeeper, her father having been aservant in the house of Dr. Mackley, sen., the father of theprisoner, living at Willesden, a neighbouring place. The pri-soner and the deceased were the only inmates of the house atHorton. The last time the deceased had been seen abroad wasa week before the day of her death, Wednesday, June 26th,and she then called at the house of a neighbour, but did notthen complain of being unwell. The jury would find thatduring the subsequent week of her illness and until her deaththe prisoner did not call in any of the neighbours to attendupon her and administer to her wants, but locked the house upwhen he went upon his rounds, leaving the woman alone in itunattended to. On the 25th, the day before her death, hewrote a letter to the father of the poor woman at Willesden,stating that she was ill and suffering from cholera and stomachaffection, but expressing his hope that she might recover, andasking that one of her sisters might come to attend on her. Ifthe jury found that these were not the affections under whichshe was suffering, but that her illness was of a totally differentnature, easily distinguishable from those specified, and that theneighbours were not admitted to the house, it might influencethem in arriving at a decision in the cass. The poor woman’smother came to attend her on the 25th, after receiving theprisoner’s letter, and the deceased made no statements to herindicating the prisoner’s guilt, but that might be accounted forconsistently with the theory of the prosecution by the naturaldesire of the deceased to screen herself and her family fromshame. The servant died on the 26th of June, and it be-came necessary for the prisoner to return a certificate of thedeath. It would be found that the certificate given containedtwo direct falsehoods. It was dated the 24th of June, andassigned the date of the death to be the 23rd, instead of the26th, the real day. This certificate was given to the fatherof the deceased, who could not read. Further, the cause ofdeath was stated to be enteritis, whereas the real cause waspuerperal fever caused by abortion. The medical witnesseswould tell them that it was impossible for a practitioner tomake a mistake between the diseases. They had arrived at aseries of conclusions, some of which were certain, and others ina degree conjectural. It was certain that there had been a re-cent delivery of a six months’ child, and that there was nomalformation rendering a premature delivery necessary. Therewere no symptoms of suffering from diarrhoea or bowel com-plaint. A conclusion which was not so certain was that de-livery had been induced by a puncture of the womb by someinstrument. The inquest was held on the 2nd of July, andpostponed to give an opportunity for an examination of theremains. On that being made, a great quantity of plaisterwas found adhering to the body in a manner calculated tocause suspicions. There was, besides, the direct testimony ofa Mr. Field, a surgeon in the neighbourhood, who would statethat a week before the woman’s death the prisoner came to seehim, and dined with him, and discussed the means of producingabortion at six months, stating that he was in a devil of a fix,as he had a young woman with child six months gone, and hadtried every means to procure abortion and failed. He wouldbe in part corroborated by his servant, Jane Law. In additionto this, some articles of the clothing of the deceased werefound in a portmanteau of the prisoner, discoloured in a pecu-liar manner. A tin instrument had, besides, been ordered bythe prisoner of a tinman in the village shortly before the death,such as would assist in the operation alleged against the pri-soner. If this evidence made it distinctly clear to the mindsof the jury that the death of the young woman resulted from apremature delivery induced by the prisoner, they could notescape the duty of pronouncing him guilty.The following is the medical evidence adduced :-Mr. WILLIAM PARKINSON.-I am a surgeon, and have been
in practice in Bradford about fourteen years. I have been four
years surgeon to the Bradford Infirmary. I was called to makean examination of the body of Martha Curtis, and was assistedby Mr. Terry. When the coffin was opened, and the grave-clothes taken off, the first thing that we noticed was a plasterplaced upon that part of the body where the injuries were likelyto have been caused. We opened the stomach; it was empty.The breasts were enlarged. The ring round the left breast was
