NINETEENTH ANNIVERSARY MEETING, HELD AT BRIGHTON.

164 THE

PROVINCIAL

MEDICAL AND SURGICAL ASSOCIATION.

ANNIVERSARY

Brighton; E. Pope, Truro; S. Crumpton, Manchester; Dr. Baly, London; A. Napppr, Guildford; J. Beard, Stockport; Dr. Cowan, Reading; J. P. Sheppard, Worcester; C. E. Sheppard, Worcester, &c. &c. Sm CHARLES HASTINGS moved that Dr. Horner (of Hull) do take the chair. (Applause.) Dr. HonNER (having complied with theterms of the motion) acknowledged the honour done him, and congratulated the

Association that, in the election of Dr. Jenks to fill the office of President, their choice had fallen upon one whose experience and ability so well befitted him for the office. In his AT BRIGHTON. address, he alluded feelingly to the death of Dr. TnE nineteenth anniversary of the Provincial Medical and who but a week before his death had written to Dr. Mackness, Jenks, exSurgical Association commenced on Wednesday, in the pressing his congratalations at the thought of reading an Music Room of the Royal Pavilion, where there was a large address before the present meeting. I Dr. JENKS, on taking the President’s chair, which Dr.Horner gathering of the profession. Among those present were F. R. now vacated, was warmly greeted. He remarked that they Messrs. James W. Horner, M.D., Hull; Crang, Finsbury; were now met to celebrate the nineteenth anniversary of the Newnham, Farnham; J. R. Beddome, M.D., Romsey; F. H. Provincial Medical and Surgical Association ; and the numbers Sankey, Wingham; Robert Wake, M.D., Southwold, Suffolk; assembled abundantly testified to the continued prosperity G. Bottomley, Croydon, Surrey; Sir Charles Hastings, M.D., and importance of the society. It was happily and wisely de. by the honoured founder of this institution to collect Worcester; John Conolly, M.D., Hanwell; Caleb Williams, termined his widely-scattered associates year by year, into one place, Thomas W. York; Thomson, where minds overwrought by the cares, anxieties, and SisyConolly, Hayes, Middlesex; Stratford-on-Avon; Thomas Workman; Dr. Jenks; Dr. phean labours of a busy, harassing profession, might forget Robertson, Northampton; Dr. Foxwell, Torquay; Messrs. awhile their ever-recurring toil, and indulge freely in well. James Stedman, Guildford; Harrington Tuke, Chiswick; intentioned and dignified sentiments and communion, by which Arthur Stilwell, Hillingdon; C. W. Crowdy, Brighton; Charles manners are improved, character is exalted, mutual esteem and good fellowship established and strengthened. Lord, Hampstead; Edwards Crisp, M.D., Parliament-street, generated, Besides the cultivation of the social virtues they gathered London; B. Vallance, Brighton; John Lawrence, jun., other points from these meetings. They learned the advanBrighton; N. Tyacke, M.D., Chichester; Allen Duke, Chi- tage of combination and concert for the advancement of proobjects, and for public ends. The difficult and muchchester ; Edmund Lyon, M.D., Manchester; J. Cordy Burrows, fessional of medical the unrestricted sale of vexed question Brighton; George Royde, Brighton; Thomas B. Horne, poisons, the state of health reform, of the people, together with the WarH. D. Brighton; Carden, Worcester; George Vicary, legislative measures needful for their improvement, had occuminster ; George Moore, M.D., Tunbridge Wells; George pied their time and been maturely and deliberately considered. Moore, jun., Tunbridge Wells; Thomas Radford; Francis Deputations from the Provincial Medical and Surgical AssoHenry Woodforde, M.D., Taunton; W. A. Greenhill, M.D., ciation had been received by those in authority with marked and listened to with becoming attention. The resoluHastings; Robert Ceeley, Aylesbury; Forbes Winslow, respect, tions formed at their meetings had taken effect, their reports W. James M.D., London; Challen, M.D., junior, Croydon; been approved, their suggestions on legislative improvements Tunstall, M.D., Bath ; C. R. Bree; John S. Bartrum, adopted. In proof of these remarks, they might refer with Bath; J. Bowling, Hammersmith; J. Dewsnap, Ham- satisfaction to the spirit of conciliation manifested by the mersmith ; Jonas Malden, M.D., Worcester; John S. council of the College of Surgeons in their recent concessions, Sale of Arsenic Regulation Bill, and to the impulse Soden, Sunbury ; John Kirkman, M.D., Melton; T. B. to the to improvements all over the country. The given John R. Winter, Brighton; Colthurst, Clifton; Mayne, Leeds; Provincialsanitary Medical Journal, the Tra7ascLCtio7is, and the BeneJames L. N. Dixon, Brighton; M. J. Simpson, M.D., York; volent Fund were appropriately alluded to. " If (continued Dr. W. C. Furnereau, Christ-Church-park, Ipswich; Charles Jenks) we look heedfully at the condition of many of our West, M.D., London; George Turner, M.D., Stockport; George poorer brethren, especially in the rural districts, overworked, cruelly oppressed by hard taskmasters, or Downs, Stockport; Dr. Ranking, Norwich; Dr. Bleeck Lye, badly remunerated, ruined by the reckless competition of interlopers, perchance William Hereford; Davies, M.D., Bath; George Norman, we shall see abundant for a Benevolent Fund. Bath; John Church, Bath; Henry Lilly Smith, Southam, Much of this evil is to benecessity attributed to the adverse adminisWarwickshire; Edward Hodges, M.D., Bath; John G. Leete, tration of the Poor Laws. I am sorry to say that the ComThrapton, Northamptonshire; John Lawrence, Brighton; E. L. mittee of the Convention of Poor Law Medical Officers have Ormerod, M.D., Brighton; Dr. M’Carrogher, Chichester; suspended their meetings through want of support. Aftera Messrs. J. Terry; W. Wilton; Hampton Weekes, Brighton; statement of their difficulties and proceedings, they conclude W. H. Cook, Tunbridge Wells; W. G. Davies, M.D., Seaford; their report by urgingthe Poor Law Medical Officers and Henry Collet, Worthing; George Lowdell, Brighton; J. B. the profession in general, to consider how much redress is Luck, Bolton; W. H. Hollis, Brighton; J. B. L. Jackson, within their voluntary grasp, but that it can never be hoped Boston, U.S.; G. Drummond, Brighton; J. Noakes, Newhaven; for, so long as the degrading and ill-paid appointments are not W. King, M.D., Brighton; G. W. King, Brighton; S. K. Scott, merely accepted but made the objects of eager competition.’ Brighton; G. Kelson, Sevenoaks; Dr. Franz, Brighton; Dr. Rose Alas, how long will this spirit of rashness on the one hand, Cormack, Putney; W. Rose, High Wycombe; G. Burrows, and supineness on the other, disturb our counsels, and cast reM.D., London; Peter Mfl1.tin, Reigate; John Hatton, Man- proach upon our very name and calling. Let it be rememchester ; G. Southey, 1B; .D., Dover; A. R. Brown, M.D., bered that by this ruinous competition for poor-law appointF. Wade; W. B. Derby; B. T. Sea- ments, the real thrift and progress of the profession are Brighton; Willoughby brook, Brighton; James A. Kingston, Brighton; T. Hornby, seriously injured ; that by undertaking more than they can Yorkshire; W. Street, Norwood; Edmund J. Furner, Brighton; perform, medical officers share the guilt of neglecting the James Reid, Canterbury; G. Radclyffe Hall,Torquay; S. Hare, poor with the so-called guardians; that by receiving less than London; John Propert, London; Thomas Paget, Leicester; a just reward for their services, they degrade themselves, and Henry Davies, Brighton; J. M. Cunningham, M.D., Hailsham; damage not only the interests of their fellow-labourers with Messrs. Henry Ewen; Thomas Tuplin; Thomas Bell; Thomas their own, but indirectly those of every practitioner in the Smith, Crawley; Richard Dill, M.D., Brighton; P. Cartwright, kingdom. From this discouraging state of things, however, Oswestry; Joseph Hickman, Brockton; P. M. Lyons, M.D.; let us turn to the subject of medical reform, which at length Henry Hopkins, Brighton; G. B. Knowles, Birmingham; J. affords a better prospect. In the opinion of most thinking Churchill, London; J. Fawcett, Brighton; H. L. Fawcett, and well-informed men, the question of medical reform is now Brighton; J. M. Bean, Peckham; J. P. M. Smith, Brighton; ripe, and probably none the worse for having been withheld. J. J. Field, Torquay; J. Hurlock, Brighton; W. Addison, It has been cast into the crucible of public discussion, and has M.D., Maidstone; F. Gibson, M.D., London; T. Smith, M.D., come out purified and separated from much dross. The conCheltenham; J. S. Stedman, Arundel; H. Martin Holman, tending parties are now wiser and better disposed to treat M.D., Hurstperpoint; Owen W. Williams, M.D., Southampton; upon equitable terms. Upon this ground, therefore, we may J. Edwards, M.D., Chester; S. H. Bushell, Clifton; A. Magan, look with more sanguine hopes than heretofore." On the

NINETEENTH

MEETING, HELD

165

subject of quackery, Dr. Jenks remarked : z"We have was appointed a Vice-President; and Dr. Prencoff, late of treachery within and war without. Open adversaries we Manchester, but now of Dresden; Dr. Golding, late of York, know well how to deal with, but it is another thing when and now of Rome; and Dr. Faraday, of Paris, were elected a man’s foes are of his own household. I am grieved to corresponding members of the Association. A committee was hear that some, even of the legitimate sons of physic, are appointed (with only two dissentients) to report on " the tainted with the leaven of these new doctrines-that others, course which the Association ought to adopt with reference like the bat in the fable, take either side as it may suit their to the present prevalence of irregular and unprofessional pmcpurpose ; while a few have not scrupled, from indifference or tices." The report to be brought up next day, and the comcrooked policy, to countenance this defection, or to shield it mittee to consist of Dr. Cormack, Dr. Tunstall, and Dr. compurgation. Against this laxity of conduct the Ranking. by a sortofofthe Mr. B. VALLANCE, of Brighton, after a few prefatory remarks, profession should be unmistakably pronounced. opinion To admit seceders, or doubtful allies, to the privileges of re- stated that he had selected for his address in surgery a re8um6 gular practitioners, or to an equality in consultation, is the of a few of the most interesting recorded cases of surgery in the past year. Fractures, False Joints, Aneurism, Hernia, same sort of treason to the profession as the admission of the wooden horse within the walls of Troy." After a high compli- and Stone in the Bladder, were the principal subjects on which ment to the medical profession generally, Dr. Jenks proceeded he treated. He mentioned the beneficial results of the use of to remark that the meed of distinguished praise must be phosphate of lime in the tardy union of bone occurring after awarded likewise to the Editor of THE LANCET, for the compound fractures, and illustrated two cases which had been labours of the Sanitary Commission, which had scared the so benefited in the Sussex County Hospital. Mr. Vallance obscene harpies who defiled the food of the people for their described the mode of application of the starch bandage, as dishonest frauds and and odious impositions. (Cheers.) With employed in the same hospital. He spoke in approval of the such allies, therefore, and with resolution to work out our own plan of treating aneurism by pressure, and expressed himself purpose steadfastly and truly, we cannot doubt the triumph as fully appreciating the soundness of Mr. Guthrie’s valuable that awaits us in the cause of true medical science. Dr. advice, that both ends of wounded arteries should be ligatured Jenks now gave a sketch of the life of his friend, the late by the surgeon. He spoke of the universally happy results Dr. Mackness, of Hastings, and a general description of the whicli had attended the operations for hernia in the Sussex town of Brighton. He said, "We particularly invite you to visit Hospital. He bore his testimony to the benefits afforded by the hospital; and shall be happy to receive any suggestions the employment of chloroform in surgical operations, when for its improvement. Next in importance is the General Dis- administered with due precaution. We only regret that want pensary, a most useful institution. The building is large and of space prevents our giving a more complete analysis of his handsome; one room thereof contains the library of the address. After an adjournment of about an hour, Medico-Chirurgical Society of this town, and serves for the Sir CHARLES HASTINGS read a letter from Dr. Babington, enmonthly meetings. This society was founded four years ago. It is in a flourishing state, and is very well supported. The closing some papers relative to the recently-established EpiEye Infirmary is another valuable medical charity. We have demiological Society. Sir Charles expressed an opinion that besides, a Self-Supporting Dispensary, a Lying-in Institution, the principles on which that society was established deserved an Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, and one also for Female support. He was afraid the Provincial Medical and Surgical Orphans. At the Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, Association could not afford to make it any pecuniary grant; and at the Brighton Athenseum, lectures are occasionally but should their finances ever become in a state to warrant it, delivered; and libraries are in course of formation. The popula- he should be desirous of doing so. tion of Brighton, according to the census of the present year, Dr. SMITH (of Cheltenham) introduced to the meeting the is 65,000. The town is governed by 120 Commissioners, elected subject of taxation as connected with the medical profession. by the inhabitants, being householders of the annual value of The income tax was most oppressive to the medical man. .E20. Sixteen of this body go out by rotation every year." Suppose a medical man having made his return, and perhaps The President having resumed his seat, Dr. HORNER read compounded for three years, was shortly afterwards taken ill, the Report of the Council, from which we extract the follow- and thus deprived of the power of making up his income, he had no power of appeal. He instanced some circumstances ing passage :" The number of members of the Association remains pretty occurring within his own knowledge, by which great laxity much the same as at the last anniversary. There have been was shown to prevail as to secrecy" in the assessment; he many deaths during the year, and some retirements, but these objected to exempting the practitioner in Ireland, and making have been more than compensated by the introduction of new his English brother pay; and he asked " why should a medical man pay ninepence in the pound house duty, while the mermembers." The report also noticed that the Council entertained no in- chant rolling in wealth paid only sixpence ?" (Hear, hear.) tention to alter the existing arrangements of the Provincial He would move that a committee be named for the purpose Journal; and it expressed the hope of the Council that the of investigating the subject of taxation as injuriously and opquestion of medical reform had been approaching a satisfac- pressively affecting the medical profession." Mr. NEWNHAM (of Farnham) seconded the motion; and the tory termination since the Council of the College of Surgeons had adopted a conciliatory course of conduct, for which they committee was constituted, consisting of Dr. Smith, Dr. were to be praised. It stated that the terms conceded by the Malden, and Dr. Carden, of Worcester, Mr. Fowler, of ChelCollege were for the most part accepted by the Council of the tenham, Mr. Colthurst, of Clifton, and Mr. Lord, of HampAssociation, who had communicated to Sir G. Grey their ap- stead. Dr. HORNER read the following report :probation of the proposed concessions. No further step had been taken, but the act of the Council had received the sanc" We, the undersigned, being a Committee appointed by the tion of the District Associations. On any improvement of General Meeting of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Assoparochial medical relief, the Council could not congratulate the ciation, report to the meeting, that with the assistance of Sir members of the Association; but it was stated that the act Charles Hastings, the Treasurer, and Mr. Crompton and Mr. regulating the future sale of arsenic, although it did "not con- Hatton, the Auditors appointed at the meeting of 1850, we tain all that was desired" had been principally founded on the have carefully gone through the accounts of the Association; petition and memorials presented by the Association to the and that we find the statements laid before us as under are Parliament and the Secretary of State. A new district branch perfectly correct, and we think the Association is under a of the Association had been established in Dorsetshire. A debt of obligation to Sir C. Hastings for the time and trouble committee appointed at Worcester to draw up a system of which he has devoted to the pecuniary affairs of the Society. medical ethics had already made some progress in that underWe find that the balance in favour of the Association in 1849 was X16 2s. 6d.; in 1850,ae109 18s. 6d.; and that the taking. After the report had been read, cash balance in favour of the Association np to the 31st July, Dr.E.CRisr moved,and Mr.STEDlIIAN,of Guildford, seconded, 1851, is £ 94 3s. Y2d.; and that it has been reported to us by an amendment of one portion of it, to the effect," That in the Treasurer that the subscriptions due up to this period are "

"

the

opinion

of this

meeting

the

plan

of medical reform reluc-

ael050..

" F. R. HORNER, Chairman. tantly conceded by the Council of the College of Surgeons, A. RoBERTSON, supported by the College of Physicians, and recommended by the majority of the members of the Council of this AssociaJOHN S. SODEN, C. R. BREE, tion, should not be adopted." But this amendment was lost, and the adoption of the report as it originally stood, was carJOHN S. BAiTMAN." ried by a considerable majority. On the motion of Mr. PARKER seconded by Mr. NEWNHAM, Thanks were voted to the ex-President, Dr. Horner, who the report was approved.

166 London; Rev. T. Cooke; Dr. Oldham; Mr. Bean; Dr. Storr, &c. At the opening of the proceedings this day, Dr. CORMACK: brought up the Report of the Committee appointed to investigate the measures to be put in force in order to discountenance irregular and illegal practice. The Committee recom. mended that three classes of persons ought to be deemed ineligible to belong to the Association : 1st. Those who practice homoeopathy; 2. Those who practice it in combina. tion with hydropathy and mesmerism; and 3rdly, those who hold professional consultations with persons entertaining opinions opposed to legitimate practice, or who hold professional interDr. Cormack course with such as practise homoeopathy.

Mr. NEWNHAM read the report of the Benevolent Fund. the pressure arising from agricultural distress, the subscriptions of the year had been £ 540 ls. 4d., and of donations, X188 15s. 6d. The amount invested was X214 14s. 6d., making a total of investments of X1200 Bank Stock, which at present prices were worth upwards of .E2568. Four annuities had been granted; and two half-yearly payments made, amounting to
Notwithstanding

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delivered, in the music room, a discourse on the geology and medical topography of the county of Sussex. Here, again, we regret that neither space nor time admits of our following the lecturer categorically. He showed the similarities of the London and Paris tertiary basins, compared the formations met with in journeying from Brighton to London, and, on the opposite side of the channel, from Dieppe to Paris. He advanced explanations to account for the appearance of fossils on the neighbouring beach, and for the formation of certain gravel beds, and he then proceeded to consider the production of typhus, which, he argued, did not ensue altogether from want of drainage, but was dependent on locality, and often on geological formation. While he was a surgeon, attending the poor at Ringmer and surrounding parishes, at the foot of the South Downs, he found fevers distinctly to prevail in a narrow band of country, over stiff blue clay succeeding to chalk; and he believed that a geological map, denoting the locality of blue clay, would denote peculiarly the region of fever. Dr. Mantell then gave a )’6NMme of the opinions of Dr. Fourcault on the dependence of cholera upon geological formations (which were laid before our readers in 1849); and he canvassed the subject of animalcular production of cholera. His lecture elicited much applause, and he subsequently gave a demonstration of his discoveries in fossil geology in Sussex. - The meeting separated at half-past ten o’clock.

made some pertinent observations on the conduct of certain recusant professors of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and the active promulgation of homoeopathic doctrines by the clergy in many places; and especially on the unfitness of certain passages in a sermon of the Rev. Mr. Everest, lately preached in London, some quotations from which he read, though, as he emphatically remarked to the President,Sir, this is almost too biasphemous to read." (Hear, hear.) As an instance of the absurdity of some of this reverend preacher’s views, passages were quoted, showing that he considered the leprosy of Scripture to be no other than the psora of Hahnemann, the mystic. (A member of the Asso. ciation here ejaculated " That shows his knowledge was only skin-deep"). Even socialism was considered by the clerical dermatologist " of psoric origin !" And it was in. sinuated in one of his passages, that until Hahnemann arose even redemption had not been effectual! Such were the props of this glaring system of inanity and mischief. Dr. Cormack went on to say, that he thought the report of the committee did not affect any individual member of the Association at present ; but the report asked for a committee of five members, to be appointed to frame stringent rules on the matter, to be laid before the next anniversary meeting. It proposed that thanks should be given to the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons at Edinburgh for their opposition to the homoeopathic heresy; also to the Universities of Edinburgh and St. Andrew’s; but that disapproval should be expressed of any school of medicine which retained professors who practise homoeopathy. The committee proposed that the resolutions of the meeting on these subjects should be forwarded to all the corporate medical bodies, and advertised in the principal daily and the medical journals. Dr. Cormack remarked, that any feeble and uncertain sound from the Association on this subject would be worse than useless. Dr. MALDEN proposed that the report before the Association be adopted. Dr. C. J. B. WiLLiAMS, in seconding the proposition, said that if the matter were not taken actively by such an Association as their own, nowhere could we look for an ex. pression of the opinions of the profession. While the examining boards, who ought to be the guardians of the profession, remained sunk in apathy, it is incumbent upon all bodies of professional men, however constituted, to stand forward in the matter. He then entered into some statements, showing the utter absurdity of infinitesimal doses, and deplored that the wealth and influence of the rich and the lives of the poor were sacrificed to uphold a monstrous fraud, the prevalence of which had made it so notorious. Dr. EDWARDS CRisp agreed fully with the Report, but thought that the Edinburgh College of Physicians deserved little thanks, their edict against homoeopathic practice having been forced upon them, and not spontaneous. After some conversation of several speakers relative to the alleged expulsion of Professor Henderson from the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Cormack explained that the faculty of medicine had not the power to expel Dr. Henderson from his chair for promulgating the doctrines of homoeopathy; that power belonged only to proprietors of the University, but had prohibited him from putting that system into practhey tice in the infirmary where they had power, though they could not help his still retaining the chair of pathology. Dr. COWAN (of Reading) in an eloquent and enthusiastic address, which was greatly applauded, announced that he looked upon homoeopathy as only a part of a certain influence which characterized the age in which we live-an age full of moral and intellectual dangers-and which influence manifested itself in other sciences-not alone in medicine. Ahomaeopathist ought always to be distrusted as to his judgment. (Loud applause.) The Association ought to feel deeply and strongly on the point; and, as a body, ought to hold no interwith those whose principles are so diametrically opposed to the experience of ages.

up

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... 14TH. THURSDAY, AUGUST The members of the Association breakfasted together in the Pavilion, at half-past eight, and subsequently visited the localities of Brighton which possessed the chief public interest. At twelve o’clock the meeting was resumed. On Thursday the following gentlemen were also present, besides others whose names we had not at the last moment, owing to press of time, an opportunity of recording. In all, at least 300 gentlemen, were present at the meeting of the Association, and half that number were about to sit down to dinner when our reporter left Brighton: Present, J. Medd, Esq., Stockport; Dr. Cowan, Reading; Messrs. J. P. and C. E. Sheppard, Worcester; M.Verrall, R. Rugg,H.Penfold, and F. W. Towers, Brighton; J. Soden,Bath;H. Moon, M.D., Lewes; Jas. Turner, Brighton; J. B. Brown, London; Jos. Toynbee; J. Snow, M.D.; T. Hodgkin, M.D.; Jos. Wickenden, Birmingham ; John Grabham, Rochford; C. Penny, West Coker; W. Fry and G. E. Pocock, Brighton ; Dr. Fox, Bristol; J. K. Tuke, G. lloyde, J. Allfree, E. R. Robins, Dr. Kirkpatrick, Rutherford Smith, J. N. Goulby, Brighton ; Dr. C. J. B. Williams, London ; J. Basse ; Dr. Theophilus Thompson; Jos. Dixon, Brighton; R Bugby, Brighton; Jacob Bell, Esq., M.P.; Dr. Stilwell, Uxbridge ; Dr. Owen Roberts, St. Asaph ; Mr. Hodgson,

course

167 the chair, and about five o’clock P.M. the proceedings terminated. Our reporter debarred himself from the pleasure of the evening festivities which were to follow, and to which he had been most cordially invited; and he hastened to London immediately to place in the hands of the printers the foregoing report. Although it is necessarily much abbreviated, he hopes that, from its being presented to our readers thus early, it will be especially acceptable on the principle, Bis dat qui dat cito. to the Ethical Committee. In the next LANCET we shall give an abstract account of Mr. BREE,of Stowmarket, announced that he would propose, the after-dinner proceedings on Thursday. Meanwhile our at the next anniversary, that a prize of ae50, to be called the our reporter has to express his thanks to the gentlemen of the 61 tenner Prize," in honour of a great benefactor of the human Brighton press, who so politely and efficiently aided him in race, should be given by the Association for the best of the his earnest endeavour to lay before the profession, in THE essays on a given subject, to be contributed for competition LANCET, published on the next morning, the proceedings of an unusually large assemblage of highly respectable and inby its members. Dr. SmSON read a statement of proceedings which had taken fluential practitioners in medicine and surgery. place between Dr. Toogood and other members of the Association and the Government, on the subject of the Sale of Arsenic Bill. CRIMINAL LUNATICS. Dr. KING now read the Address on Medicine, which was i listened to with much interest, and called forth much appro- To the Honourable Sir George Grey, Bart., Her Majesty’s Big7tt bation. The Address embraced a general survey of the State for the Hone Department. Secretary of climate and health of the coast region of Sussex, the value of The Memorial of the undersigned Chairman, at the mineral waters, and the advances of medical science since the meeting of the Visiting Justices of the Lunatic Asylum early youth of the orator; and finished with an exordium for the County of Somerset, held the twenty-fourth day on the high value and excellence of our profession, and its of July, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, and emulate their not great Master, only go professors, who " about doing good in the day, but do not sleep at night, when Showeth,-That the visiting justices are impressed with the extreme importance of a public provision being made for the the cry of pain is heard at their doors." (Great applause.) confinement of criminal lunatics, and such persons Papers were read by Mr. CALEB WILLIAMS, of York, on the separate alteration in the type of diseases, and the proper methods of as are detained, not so much with a view to cure their malady, their treatment, as contrasted with their type and treatment as to serve some purpose of police. That, in their opinion, it thirty years since; by Dr. RADCLIFFE HALL on the deductions of is important to make the distinetion clear between an asylum Dr. Hutchinson from the average results afforded by the use and a prison-between the place where unfortunate persons of the spirometer. Mr. SMITH, of Southam, illustrated a dia- are kept with a view to their own benefit, and the place where gram showing the declension of the ages reached by the they are detained for purposes of justice. That they are of patriarchs, by remarks to the effect that a duty and a function opinion that a much greater degree of freedom may reasonbe given to the former class than to the latter; and that of the medical profession were to enable their poorer fellowcreatures to resist cruelty and oppression, and to secure their in some stages of the curative process it is advisable to act on them by the feeling of responsibility which such a state of own independence, so as to prevent pauperism. Mr. BOTTOMLEY gave a report of a case of idiopathic gangrene, in which he had comparative liberty creates. That quiet and the absence of successfully removed the foot and the leg above the ankle. Mr. all unnecessary restraint are at all times beneficial to them; TOYNBEE read a paper on the nature and treatment of Otitis and but being highly excitable and sensitive, they readily perceive so-called Otorrhœa, with especial reference to Catarrhal In- and feel any difference between their own treatment and that flammation of the Mucous Membrane of the Tympanum. Dr. of other patients; and that many of them, whose moral sense E. CRisP furnished a communication on the Inefficiency of of responsibility is strong, and when favourably acted on would Kousso in a case of Tape-worm; Mr. HUNT, a paper on the Skin tend to facilitate their recovery, deeply feel the degradation of communication with criminals. That without passing any as Diagnostic of General Health, in which he introduced a classification, founded on the relative facility of inducing their opinion on the state of the law, as regards acquittals on the types by artficial means; and Dr. OLDHAM finally read an in- grounds of insanity, it appears to the committee, that many teresting Case of Cæsarian Section, which he had lately per- persons must be detained in custody on this ground, who are no longer fit inmates for an asylum-who are, in fact, sane, formed in the hospital to which he is attached. Dr. SrssoN exhibited and gave practical demonstration of and who are able, and from the desperation that perpetual the use of his chest measurer, and of that of Dr. R. Quain, confinement almost necessarily causes, are disposed to use which he stated was ancillary to his own invention, and of their time for purposes most injurious to the patients and to which he expressed himself in terms of unmistakable appro- the discipline of the establishment. That the present unavoidbation. Some specimens of sumbul and its preparations were able association of criminal lunatics with the simply unfortunate insane is breaking down a barrier, which to a large extent laid on the table. The business of the Association towards the termination of avails to protect society from violence and wrong, at the hands its sittings comprised a resolution, that the next anniversary of a class of persons who are quite alive to the fact of having meeting, in 1852, should take place at Manchester; that W. a plea to save them from the punishment of an outraged law. J. Wilson, Esq., of that city, should be deemed the president The visiting justices therefore earnestly desire that an advanelect, and that Dr. M. A. E. Wilkinson should be invited to tage which has been granted to Ireland should be extended deliver the Address in Medicine there. A proposition to to this country, and that separate places of detention be promeet at some locality in the Eastern Counties in 1853, was vided for criminal lunatics. brought on the tapis, and Cambridge was suggested as the (Signed by the Chairman of the meeting.) place where that re-union might properly be held, but nothing definitive on this point was agreed on. Mr. LoRD, of Hampstead, advocated warmly the plan of the Medical Benevolent College proposed, and so indefatigably urged onwards by the personal exertions of Mr. Propert, to " Audi alteram partem." embrace an asylum for 100 pensioners, a school for 100 sons of qualified medical men, an establishment for orphans, &c. and of which the expense of the building is estimated at DR. FLETCHER’S CASE OF RUPTURE OF THE .620,000, and the whole yearly expense at £1500. POPLITEAL ARTERY. A resolution, proposed by Dr. J. CoNOLLY, and seconded by To the Editor of THE LANCET. Mr. SMITH, of Southam, to the effect,—" That this meeting is of opinion that a Medical College, such as proposed, is SIR,-The question which Mr. M. D. Thompson has asked, necessary, and that the Medical Benevolent Fund, in aid of in his letter of the 9th inst., relative to the treatment of a is a very important case of rupture of the popliteal artery &c., it, is deserving of support," was passsed mem. co2z. Thanks were cordially voted to the president, Dr. Jenks one-Was every means used to remove tension and prevent for the very kind manner in which he had contributed to the mortification ? Would free incisions have aided in favouring cordial reception of the Association, and for his conduct in the recovery of the parts, by giving exit to the effused blood ?&ic rc;

The motion that the Report be adopted, was carried unanimously. The reporting Committee, Drs. Cormack, Tunstall, and Ranking, with Drs. Malden, C. J. B. Williams, and Cowan, and Sir C. Hastings, were appointed a Committee to frame the rules for adoption on the subject. Dr. Tunstall moved, that the Report which had been read " on irregular and unprofessional practice," be printed and circulated amongst the members; and we afterwards learned that it would be ready for distribution before the Association separated. The name of Dr. Bardesley, of Manchester, was now added

ably

Correspondence.