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quite unworthy the high reputation Dr. Macewen so de.servedly enjoys.
I, puttina aside such cavils, state the matter broadlythus :-On February 14th, 1878, I undertook the cure of agenu valgum : the procedure consisted in division of femur,and of tibia and fibula. At the above date I divided thefirst of these bones, stating to the class and visitors thenpresent what the rest of the treatment would be. I con-
sider, therefore, the whole case to bear the date February14th, and Dr. Macewen’s taunt, that I am not even up inthe date of my own operation falls harmless to the ground.Even if I were, as he asserts, wrong, it would avail him no-thing, for the next step-division of the two last-namedbones-was done on March 7th, while Dr. Macewen, saYE(LANCET, February 15th) that he himself first divided a leg-bone for genu valgum on April 14th, 1878. Whether or noso small fragile a bone as the fibula be simply broken with-out the aid of the chisel or after scotching it with thatinstrument is of infinitely little importance, far too slightto support a claim as if for a new operation. It seems, there-fore, impossible to see upon what grounds Dr. Macewenasserts any priority. But the object of my first letter wasnot to vindicate a priority about which I really do notcare a penny, but to exonerate myself from certain impli-cations, almost charges of disingenuousness, which Dr. Mac-ewen threw out in his lecture of December 28th. Now, whenI had already delivered certain lectures on my osteotomies,Dr. Macewen’s paper appeared in THE LANCET, March 30th,1878. I, not understanding his mode of operation, wrote tohim for information, and after an interval received a reply,from which Dr. Macewen quotes the following phrases :-"Under some circumstances I remove a wedge of bone,under others I make an incision with graduated chisels.""When making the oblique incision I do so in the lineindicated for Ogston’s operation; but I obviate the seriousobjection to Ogston’s operation by removing a wedge fromthe inner condyle, and only bending the part of the bone."It appears to me that I cannot be blamed if I took thisexplanation by the author himself as the answer to myquestion about his mode of operation, and if I thereforeconcluded that it differed in every particular from mymethod-a simple section transversely across the bones.But it now appears that Dr. Macewen also, and, indeed,
chiefly, operates by transverse division of the femur, andsometimes of the tibia. These operations may or may notbe, I care not which, anterior to mine. I am, at all events,quite ready to believe that Dr. Macewen’s work was asindependent of me as I know mine to have been of him.Therefore, as the mere question of priority has no interestfor me whatever, I shall not be induced to say a word moreon the subject, except that I fully recognise the good feelingevinced in the phrase which concludes his letter. If he willonly believe that I have never intended or endeavoured tooverlook, to slight, and still less to misappropriate, any ofthe excellent work he has done, I can wish him God-speedin his labours with a heartiness and kindliness quite equalto his own.
Vfym*H t.1"1l1v.
RICHARD BARWELL.George-street, Hanover-square, 1st March, 1879
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.
HOUSE OF LORDS.
Thursday, March 20th.MEDICAL ACT (1858) AMENDMENT BILL.
On the motion for going into Committee on this Bill,Lord EMLY expressed his opinion that it was in the last
degree necessary to put a stop to that competition in thegranting of diplomas which now existed among the nineteendifferent medical licensing bodies of the United Kingdom.A statement had been sent him of the case of a candidatewho, having been rejected at a medical examination inDublin, went up to the College of Physicians of Edinburghwithin three weeks and obtained his diploma as licentiatefrom that body. In the Bill of last year and in a previousBill it was proposed that the General Medical Councilshould frame the standard of examination which was to beconducted by the joint Board. In the Bill now beforetheir lordships it was provided that the standard shouldbe framed by the medical corporations and subsequently
approved by the Medical Council. This was not going farenough. The College of Physicians in Ireland described itas a plan by which the number of licensing bodies wouldbe reduced from nineteen to three-one for each kingdom.On Clause 15 he would propose an amendment to vest in theMedical Council the framing of the standard of examina-tions.The Duke of BUCCLEUCH expressed his concurrence in the
prayer of a petition which he had presented from the phy-sicians and surgeons of Glasgow. They asked that thereshould be an inquiry by select committee or Royal commis-sion into the whole system of medical training. Such an in-quiry would show what admirable medical schools were con-ducted by the Scotch universities. He would make inquiriesinto the case brought forward by the noble lord (Lord Emly)if the name were furnished.The Duke of RICHMOND and GORDON said he would
reserve his remarks on the suggestion of the noble lord(Lord Emly) till Clause 15 was under discussion. As to theinquiry advocated by his noble friend the noble duke, hecould not concur with the petitioners and his noble friendthat further inquiry on the subject was necessary.
Their lordships then went into committee on the Bill, andclauses up to Clause 4 inclusive were agreed to after theinsertion of verbal amendments proposed by the Duke ofRichmond and Gordon.On Clause 5, the Marquis of RiPON said that by its
provisions three Examining Boards would be set up, onefor each of the three divisions of the United Kingdom ; butthe person who had passed the examination of one ofthose Boards could not get on the Medical Register withouthaving applied to one of the nineteen medical corporationsfor its diploma. Why should such a requirement be inter-posed ? Its result would be to introduce a vague distinctionbetween the names on the Medical Register, though everyperson whose name was on it must have passed the samestandard examination. If the medical corporation appliedto by the candidate refused to grant him its diploma, hecould then get on the Register without it. Why, then,should it be necessary to seek the diploma of any one ofthose corporations ? At first the effect would be to placepersons who were refused a diploma at a disadvantage ; butin the long run the result would be to discredit the.medicalcorporations themselves.-The Duke of RICHMOND andGORDON said that, as his noble friend knew, there weregreat difficulties in legislating on this subject. The pro-vision to which his noble friend objected had been intrò-duced in consequence of the strong representation of themedical corporations, and he was glad that his noble frienddid not meet it with an amendment.-The clause and clausesup to fourteen inclusive, were agreed to.On Clause 15, Lord EMLY moved an amendment, the
object of which was to make the’Medical Council theauthority to frame the standard examination of the ConjointBoard.-The Marquis of RipoN supported the amendment,believing it was calculated to secure uniformity of examina-tion.-Lord O’HAGAN also was in favour of the amendment,which he believed to be a wise and salutary one.-The Dukeof RICHMOND and GORDON had looked into this questionin consequence of various representations which had beenmade to him, and as he had the greatest confidence in theGeneral Medical Council, and was anxious that there shouldbe complete uniformity of examination, he would accept theamendment of the noble lord.-The amendment was thenagreed to.Lord EMLY proposed an amendment, the object of which
was to give the Medical Council the power of fixing the feesto be paid under each of the examining boards.-The Dukeof RICHMOND and GORDON could not accept the amendmentas proposed, but he would consider the question which itraised.-The Marquis of RipoN hoped his noble friend (theDuke of Richmond and Gordon) would see his way to theadoption of the principle laid down in the amendment.-Theamendment was not pressed.
The Duke of BUCCLEUCH moved an amendment in Sub-section 3 to enable medical students of the Scotch Universi-ties to take their degree without having to undergo so manyexaminations as they had now to pass. The medical schoolof Edinburgh was second to none in Europe, and thestandard of education in that school as well as in those ofGlasgow and Aberdeen was very high.-The Marquis ofLOTHIAN, in seconding the amendment, fully endorsed theview taken by the noble duke as to the high character of £medical schools in Scotland.-The Duke of RICHMOND and
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GORDON fully admitted the value of the Scotch Universitiesand the world-wide reputation of the University of Edin-burgh, particularly as a medical school; but at the sametime he was unable to accept the proposal of the noble duke,which struck at the very root of the measure. (Hear.) Theobject of the present Bill was to establish a single ConjointBoard in each division of the kingdom to take the place oithe numerous licensing bodies that now existed, and there-by to establish a uniformity of examination. If the amend.ment of the noble duke were agreed to, the English, Scotch,and Irish universities would all alike claim the power ojlicensing, and thus, including the Conjoint Boards, the)would have no less than thirteen licensing bodies.-Theamendment was then negatived, and the clause and clause:up to twenty-four were agreed to.On Clause 25, which dealt with the examination anc
registration of midwives, the Duke of RICHMOND ancGORDON said that as the subject was a very important onhe thought it would be better to strike out the clause an(bring in a separate Bill upon the matter. The clause wa;accordingly struck out.
’
The remaining clauses of the Bill were then agreed to.
Medical News.APOTHECARIES’ HALL. -The following gentlemen
z’
passed their examination in the Science and Practice of Medi-cine, and received certificates to practise, on March 20th :-
Brandreth, Chas. Lewis, Avenue-parade, Accrington.Hardy, Henry Louis Preston, Finchley.James, Alfred, Brynteg, Merthyr Tydfil.Turton, James, Florence-road, Newcross.
The following gentlemen on the same day passed the PrimaryProfessional Examination :-William Jenner Clarke, Charing-cross Hospital; Arthur Robt. Raine,London Hospital; Henry George Terry, St. Bartholomew’s Hos-pital.
COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS IN IRELAND. -At theMarch examinations the following obtained the licencesin Medicine and Midwifery
MEDICINE.—Julio Page Burke, J. S. Crosbie Conry, Henry Pentland,James Dixon Roberts, John Sinclair.
MIDWIFERY.-Julio Page Burke, J. S. Crosbie Conry, Isaac C. Dundee,James Fulton, Niel Gillies, Henry Pentland, John Sinclair.
IT is stated that 1500 sheep have died within thepast few months in the county Clare from liver disease.WILLIAM D. JONES, Esq., was unanimously elected
ulderman at a meeting of the Ruthin Town Council, held onthe 17th inst.
APPLICATION is to be made to the Local Govern-ment Board by the authorities of Ludlow for power toborrow .E6000, to be applied to the laudable purpose of pro-curing a better water-supply, which, according to report, ismuch needed.
THE deaths registered in London last week num-bered 2085, representing an annual mortality-rate of 30’0per 1000, a higher rate than has been recorded in any othelweek during the present winter. Fifteen deaths were due tcsmall-pox, 21 to measles, 33 to scarlet fever, 13 to diph.theria, 101 to whooping-cough, 20 to different forms of fever,12 to diarrhoea, 479 to bronchitis, 161 to pneumonia, and 6(to violence.
VACCINATION GRANTS.-Dr. J. F. Staines, ojBloomsbury-square, and Mr. Nathan Hannah, of Ashton-inMakerfield, have received the Government grant for efncienvaccination.
PRESENTATION.-An.illuminated address and PurSEof sovereigns have been presented to Dr. Brooke Wolseleyof Dunfanaghy, county Donegal, by his friends in thadistrict, on his leaving that place to practise in England.LEDWICH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, DUBLIN.---At : i
meeting of the Board held on the 15th inst., Dr. Purefoyobstetric physician to the Adelaide Hospital, was electeelecturer on Materia Medica; and Dr. C. H. Robinso:lecturer on Botany. The latter gentleman has, howeve]declined to accept the chair of Botany ; and Dr. McNalwho lately held it, will, we understand, again lecture thisummer.
BELFAST OPHTHALMIC AND AURAL INSTITUTION.-During the past year 826 cases of eye and 176 of ear diseasewere under treatment at the extern department of thecharity, and 90 were intern patients. Every deserving caseis attended without charge where the patient is unable topay, others being admitted into the wards at a nominalsum.
0 DONATIONS ETC. TO MEDICAL CHARITIES.-Mr.
Philip Cazenove has given 61000 to the Royal LondonOphthalmic Hospital, on resigning as chairman of thecommittee, from ill health. Miss Priscilla Sarah Bradley,of Wimpole-street, bequeathed the "residue" of her estate,which will amount to nearly jE10,000, to the BromptonHospital for Consumption, the Middlesex Hospital, St.Mary’s Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital, and UniversityCollege Hospital, upon the death of three annuitants, andafter the payment of 9600 to three other charitable insti-tutions. Lady Louisa Percy has given jE400 to the RoyalLondon Ophthalmic Hospital. Mr. Foster, of Queensbury,bequeathed £ 1000 each to the Bradford Infirmary and theHalifax Infirmary.
Medical Appointments.ANGELL, Mr. A., has been appointed Public Analyst for the Borough of
Newport, Isle of Wight, at .10 10s. per annum, 10s. 6d. for eachanalysis of food or drugs, and 21s. for each analysis of water.
BAKEWELL, R. H., M.D., M.R.C.S.E., has been appointed Surgeon-Superintendent of the Totara District Hospital, Ross, Westland,New Zealand.
BENTON, S., L.R.C.P.L., M.R.C.S.E., & L.M., has been appointedHonorary Surgeon to the North-West Hospital for Diseases ofWomen and Children.
BOND, W. J., M.B., has been reappointed Medical Officer of Healthfor the No. 7 Sub-district of the Aylesbury Rural Sanitary District,at .&15 for one year.
CAITHNESS, J., M.D., C.M., has been appointed Public Vaccinator forthe Llanrhaiadr District of the Ruthin Union, vice Pierce, resigned.
CAMERON, J., M.D., L.R.C.S.Ed., has been appointed Medical Officerand Public Vaccinator for the Epworth District of the ThorneUnion, and Medical Officer of Health for the Epworth Sub-districtof the Thorne Rural Sanitary District, vice A. Cameron, M.D., C.M.,resigned.
CEELY, R., F.R.C.S.E., has been reappointed Medical Officer of Healthfor the No. 3 Sub-district of the Aylesbury Rural Sanitary District,at .612 12s. for one year.
CHRISTIE, W. J., M.B., L.R.C.S.E., has been appointed House-Surgeonto Leith Hospital.
DAVIDSON, A., M.B., has been appointed Assistant House-Surgeon to Leith Hospital.
DOUGLAS, A. H., M.D., F.R.C.P.Ed., has been appointed MedicalOfficer to the Orphan’s Hospital, Dean, Edinburgh, vice Brown,resigned.
EWART, J., M.R.C.S.E., has been reappointed Medical Officer of Health. for the Accrington Urban Sanitary District, at .&40 per annum, for
three years.FRANEY, E., M.R.C.S.E., L.S.A.L., has been reappointed Medical
Officer of Health for the Banbury Rural Sanitary District, at .6108per annum, for three years.Þ
HALL, J. C., M.B., has been appointed Medical Officer, PublicVaccinator, &c., for the Scotstown Dispensary District of the
; Monaghan Union, vice Irwin, appointed to the No. 1 Kilkeel Dis-pensary District and the Workhouse, Kilkeel Union.
HOOPER, C., M.R.C.S.E., has been reappointed Medical Officer ofHealth for the No. 1 Sub-district of the Aylesbury Rural Sanitary
) District, at .!O18 for one year.’ JONES, W. D., L.R.C.P.Ed., M.R.C.S.E., has been appointed Medicalr Officer for the Ruthin District of the Ruthin Union, vice T. Jones,) M.R.C.S.E., deceased._ KENDALL, W. B., L.’R.C.P.Ed., M.R.C.S.E., has been reappointed
Medical Officer of Health for the Kidsgrove Urban Sanitary District,, Staffordshire, at e20 for one year.LE CRONIER, H., M.R.C.S.E., L.R.C.P.L., has been appointed Resident
Medical Officer to the Marylebone General Dispensary, vice Blake.LEE, R., M.R.C.S.E., has been reappointed Medical Officer of Healthi for the No. 6 Sub-district of the Aylesbury Rural Sanitary District,l-
at B18 for one year.
t MASON, H. H., M.R.C.S.E., L.S.A.L., has been appointed Medical. Officer of Health for the East Ham Urban Sanitary District.OGLE, W., M.D., F.R.C.P.L., has been reappointed Medical Officer of
Health for the Bishop-Stortford, Buntingford, and Ware Rural,e and Biahop-Stortford Urban, Sanitary Districts, at L500 per annum,r, for five years..t NEILL, H., M.D., has been appointed an Assistant-Surgeon to the
Extern Department of the Belfast Royal Hospital.PARRY, G. H., L.R.C.S.Ed. & L.M., M.R.C.S.E., L.S.A.L., has been
a appointed Medical Officer and Public Vaccinator to the Snettisham’ District of the Docking Union, vice Flocton, resigned.7, PATERSON, R. H., L.R.C.P.Ed. & L.M., M.R.C.S.E., has been re-
.d appointed Medical Officer of Health for the Gainsborough Rural.
Sanitary District, at .650 per annum.In POPE, E., M.R.C.S.E., has been reappointed Medical Officer of Healthr, for the No. 2 Sub-district of the Aylesbury Rural Sanitary District,b at .&15 for one year.
- PuREFOY, R. D., M.B., L.S., has been appointed Lecturer on MaterisMedica and Therapeutics at the Ledwich School of Medicine, Dublinvice McDowell, deceased.
