678

regiment, the men being formed in hollow square for the pur-pose of witnessing the punishment.What an opinion must the ‘ Looker-on" have, either of the I

duties of the medical officers, or of the estimation in whichthey are held by the commanding and other officers of theregiment, if he believes for a moment that they are made toinflict punishment before the assembled corps ! The idea isalmost too absurd to correct it seriously; but as I have nodoubt that many others have the same notion with the" Looker-on," it is as well that the error should be disposed ofat once.

Addressing, then, the gentlemen in question, I wish themto know that the medical officers appear on such occasionssolely in their medical capacity, to see that the punishmentabout to be undergone by any prisoner is not inflicted in sucha manner as to render it probable that permanent bad effectsmay ensue, or that its severity is greater than can be enduredwith safety. In the case of the branding a deserter, this isdone by the drum major in the infantry, and by the farriermajor in the cavalry. The instrument used for the purposeis like a scarificator for cupping, and on the same principle.The depth to which the steel points are to penetrate is regu-lated as in cupping, and on touching the spring, they-whichare arranged in the instrument in the form of a letter D, aboutan inch square-enter the cutis vera, the surface having beenpreviously covered with a solution of Indian ink. Thus, thebusiness is over quickly enough. According to the articles ojwar, the spot to be selected is three inches below the head ojthe axilla, not the arm, as the correspondent of the DailyNews states. The depth to which the steel points penetratEis very trifling, and no bad consequences ever follow thEbranding.The reason it is done is to prevent deserters reenlisting

in other regiments. There are some rascals who, unless theywere marked in this manner, would make a very profitabletrade by desertion, and cost the country dear. They would,indeed, be justly called " Her Majesty’s hard bargains." Be-sides, if deserters were not detected by some mark of thekind, no regiment could be kept together, and a regular sys-tem of knavery would be systematically pursued. No doubtit is intended that the branding should be considered as adisgrace, and very properly so, as no man is marked who hasnot deserted several times, and is thus an incorrigible offender.No man would be marked whose absence from his regimentdid not exceed a month. Absence without leave from the com-manding officer for a shorter period would be punished byshort imprisonment. It may be as well to state,that the menare allowed to go on furloughs once a year; and on an

urgent occasion no man would be refused for a few daysto go to see his family. No doubt the existence of the soldieris monotonous enough in time of peace; but his situation asregards food and clothing is far superior to that of his equalsin civil life; and if the benevolent feelings of the public, asevinced lately, are allowed free scope, a better description ofmen may be expected to enlist.Above all things, let the period of service be shortened to

fifteen years, and give the man who has faithfully served hiscountry for that time a pension of a shilling per diem,-a poorsum after all, when the wear and tear of constitution by serv-ing in all countries and climates is considered. It is the

despair of ever being his own master, and getting rid of hisengagement to the state, in order that he may take to a moreprofitable trade, which drives the soldier to the gin-shop todrown care, and causes the languor which he so often feels,What follows may be easily imagined, as every military manhas ample experience of such.Pardon this long digression, which, however, is not foreign

to the subject. Hoping that you will insert this letter, ]remain, your constant reader, AN ARMY SURGEON.Army and Navy Club, London, Nov. 1846.

BIRKENHEAD QUACKERY.To the Editor of THE LANCET. j

SIR,—A new species of quackish advertisement of the Birk-enhead Hospital and Dispensary, and, under cover of it, alaudation of the medical men connected with it, has beenlately adopted here, which has most certainly the merit ofnovelty and ingenuity. It is effected in this way. On eachsucceeding Sunday, some one, or more, of the patients, whohave passed through their hands in it, are induced to givenotice, at one or other of the places of public worship in thistown, that John Doe, or Richard Roe, John à Noakes, orRichard Styles, " wishes to return thanks to Almighty God

for his late benefits unto them vouchsafed, while under treat-ment in the B. Hospital or Dispensary;" of course under itsmedical men’s care is meant, implied, and understood. Thisis naturally most likely, not only to bring in contributions tothe funds, but also to excite inquiry, under what doctor’scare each and so many devout patients had their lives saved.Thus names, recoveries, and thanksgivings, are kept promi-nently, and permanently, and usually hebdomadally, beforethe donation-giving and fee-simple public., I have not, how-ever, heard, that at funerals they have as yet introduced thecustom of giving thanks for their " dear brother departedthis life," under such and such a person’s treatment. It wouldbe but fair thus to balance the debtor and creditor accountof recoveries and deceases under each man’s care. Theregistrar of the district, for births, deaths, and marriages,could perhaps supply this deficiency.—I am, your servant, by’nom de guerre,’ ANTI-NETTA-PHONE.November, 1846.

ON THE LIMITATION OF DOSES OF ARSENIC—DOSES IN GENERAL.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Will you allow your journal to be the medium of con-veying a few observations on some " Rules for the safe andeffectual exhibition of Arsenic," published by Mr. Hunt inthe Provincial Medical and Surgical Joacrnal for A prillst, andrepublished in Dr. Ranking’s " Abstract" for June (p. 76), andwhich have only just come under my notice. Amongst otherthings it is asserted, that "arsenic should never be given inincreasing doses," and that 11 the largest dose ever required isfive minims of Fowler’s solution three times a day."

Against these two corollaries, permit me to put in my dis-claimer, by relating a case recently passed through my hands,in which a female took Fowler’s solution gradually increasedto fifteen minims with the happiest effects, for not only was aninveterate eruption on the face removed, but she so much im-proved in general health and mental strength, that she entirelyovercame a most distressing propensity to suicide, which hadrendered her existence one of the utmost misery to herself, aswell as of the greatest alarm and anxiety to her friends.The principal features of the case, when she came under my

care in January, 1846, were these:-Unmarried lady, agedthirty-four. Tall, dark person; bright, full eyes; face coveredwith an ecthymatous eruption, which becomes much aggra-vated when she is spoken to. Respiratory functions in healthycondition, as also functions of the abdominal viscera, so far ascan be ascertained. Labours under deep depression, withstrong propensity to suicide. Was very active and cheer-ful up to this attack, which came on gradually about fifteenmonths ago, and was supposed to have been occasioned byanxiety and watchings during the serious illness of somemembers of a family in which she resided as governess.Suffers an overwhelming distressing feeling that she haslost all regard for her relations and friends, and is entirelyand irrevocably alienated from them. When spoken to,answers only by a flood of tears, and shakes her head. Hasbeen under treatment at a public hospital for twelve months,but without relief. Twice she has attempted self-destruc-tion-once by suspension, in the above hospital. Tonguewhite and moist; pulse 86, not full. Bowels and catamenia

, regular, but the latter scanty. Complains of heat and un-pleasant feelings at top of her head; sometimes painful sen-sations along the dorsal and lumbar vertebrae, (to these shehas been subject for years.) Appetite good; nights disturbed

by horrible dreams.r Treatment—Alterative doses of blue pill and hyoscyamus

at bedtime; digitalis and salines twice a day; lotion of spiritof wine and vinegar to the head, succeeded by creosote andbaths. These were the chief therapeutic means up to June14th, when there was not any positive amendment apparent,andthe following were prescribed:-Arsenical solution, five mi-nims ; tincture of henbane, half a drachm; water, an ounceand a half: mix, and take twice a day. A shower-bath every

- other night.June 27th.-Cheerful and conversible, but indolent. Friends

who have visited, consider her mind improved; eruption muchthe same. Repeat the mixture, augmenting the dose of ar-senical solution to eight minims.

July 4th.—Increase the dose to twelve minims.Aug. 7th.-Continues improving ; face clearer.10th.—Repeat the mixture, increasing the dose to fifteen

minims.Sept. 26th.-Face clear; has gradually lost her melancholy