606

I am perfectly satisfied the fault is not the dispenser’s, butarises from a wrong system in establishments, which requiresto be removed, to prevent these errors being, as they are sooften committed. I am, &c.,

AN EXPERIENCED DISPENSER.

THE EDINBURGH LOCK HOSPITAL.To the L’clitor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—In 1852 you did me the honour of publishing twoletters from me relative to the non-admission of students intothe Lock Hospital, Edinburgh. Since that time I have been oneof the surgical clerks in the new wards. Cases of venerealdisease have been admitted, but not in numbers sufficient toenable the students properly to study the various forms ofthose diseases. The regulations as to the non-admission ofstudents into the Lock being still in force, I beg to suggest tothe managers of the infirmary the propriety of devoting oneward (now that the wards are so numerous) to the receptionand treatment of cases of venereal disease. The opening ofsuch a ward would, I am sure, be viewed by the students asa boon.At present all the practical acquaintance the students have

of this class of disease is derived from the few-the very few-patients now and then admitted amongst the ordinary surgicalcases. Having a portion of the Hospital set apart for thisspecialty, in which the student could at any time have access,to note the varied forms of the disease, and to study the,varieties of changes of symptoms, would give him confidence inhimself in after life.

I could urge many reasons why this suggestion shouldreceive the serious consideration of the managers, but havingalready trespassed too far on your indulgence, must concludeby requesting the insertion of this in your valuable journal.

- ’ I am, Sir, your obedient servant,May, 1854. M.D. EDIN., 1852.

MEDICAL RELIEF TO THE POOR.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Whether the epistle from Mr. William Henry Sams,solicitor, of Clare, which appears in THE LANCET of last week,really requires any comment on my part, is perhaps extremelydoubtful, but as that gentleman evidently plumes himself uponthe position he informs us he has the " honour" to occupy, Itake the liberty of venturing to record my testimony as to hisbeing a most fit and worthy representative and coadjutor ofthat cliqzte, among the Risbridge board of guardians, whichseeking to deprive a late medical officer (who resigned his ap-pointment in disgust) of a part of his salary in opposition tothe instructions of the Poor-law Board, refused him a copy oft7te agreerraent by which each party was bound. I am not at allastonished that the chairman and his confederates at the boardof guardians should endeavour to shield themselves by the sub-terfuge that they "will not deign to reply to scurrilous andgroundless charges made under an anonymous signature." Notconsidering it by any means beneath my " dignity" to supportan assertion by proof, however much at variance this coursemay be with the tenets and practice of Mr. Sams and his friends,I forward to you a printed forva issued by the conclave ap-pointing the vaccination stations, and should have had equalpleasure in enclosing an official certificate, but not being awarethat a bill authorising the Risbridge board of guardians toconfer diplomas in surgery upon the labouring population, hasat present passed, I am fearful the publication of such a docu-ment might be attended with unpleasant consequences to theparties concerned, especially as it appears their exploits havenot escaped the animadversions of our facetious friend Punch.

Yours, &c., -

May 30,1854. M. R. C. S.

TREATMENT OF POPLITEAL ANEURISM BYCOMPRESSION.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—In looking over an article on the "Treatment ofPopliteal Aneurism by Compression," which appeared in THELANCET of May 27th, I find that no mention whatever is madeof the effect which the constant pressure upon the artery (and,which must necessarily follow, upon the vein also) had uponthe venous circulation of the limb. I cannot exactly under-stand how œdema of the leg can be obviated, in consequence ofthe almost total impracticability of contriving an apparatus

capable of exercising pressure on the artery without at thesame time affecting the vein. The only place where suchpressure can possibly be made on the femoral artery is forabout an inch below Poupart’s ligament, where the vein liesto its inner side. As the artery gets lower down in the thigh,the vein becomes more and more posterior, and I cannot seehow alternate constant pressure first at the upper and then atthe lower part of Scarpa’s triangle cannot but induce cedemaof the limb, with its disagreeable consequences, should suchpressure be kept up constantly. By inserting this for answerby your correspondent, or doing so yourself, you will obligeexceedingly, Sir,

Your obedient servant,Edinburgh, May, 1854. A YOUNG SURGEON.

MIDWIFERY DIPLOMAS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—I have read in a letter from ° ° A Provincial Fellow,"published in your journal of the 20th of May, amongst othermatters, that the Council of the College of Surgeons 3.id intendto degrade, and have degraded, the general practitioner bytheir regulations on the subject of the diploma in midwifery.I do not intend to deny, or even to doubt, that the Councildo everything from the worst motives with respect to thesegentlemen; but I do not perceive the way they have succeededin doing it in this instance, for I do not see, I confess, howgranting a diploma to gentlemen who after examination havebeen found worthy of it, can degrade anybody. On this pointI should be obliged to your correspondent to enlighten me.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,May, 1854. JUNO LuCINA.

SHIP SURGEONS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR—I have to thank you for the insertion of my letter on

the above subject in THE LANCET for April 22nd, and the reomarks you were so obliging as to make thereon.

I beg to assure you that qualified surgeons for merchant andemigrant ships are now so scarce, that no medical man whowis7tes even to remain in Australia, should take a ship underX30 or £35. This, though not particularly munificent, is some-what different from going for nothing, as was the case thistime last year, and the injustice of which occasioned the howlfrom our correspondent, who smarted under it.

If a surgeon engages by the month, he should not accept lessthan £5. I beg to bear testimony to the truth of the statementscontained in the valuable papers of Mr. Cooper, of Dublin, toyour journal.Our emigrant ships, notwithstanding the fair advertisements

set forth, are a disgrace to the country.Another point, which as a ship surgeon I wish to inform young

medicos on, is this, that the duty of a surgeon on board ship, isto attend on the sick, and to 2crite requests to the captain,purser, or third officer, as the case may be, for such medicalstores as may be necessary; and by no means to submit to theimposition of such duties as the serving out provisions andwater. This is in all ships the duty of the third officer, orpurser, if the ship is large enough to carry one.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,May, 1854. No GREENHORN.

PROPOSED NEW MEDICAL CLASSES.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Permit me to propose the institution of PracticalClasses for the exercise of Students, individually, in the follow-ing subjects :-Physiology, Comparative Anatomy, Toxicology,Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and Botany. Practical instructionis already given in Anatomy, Morbid Anatomy, and ClinicalMedicine, Surgery, and Midwifery.Medical practitioners ought to be familiar with all the subjects

enumerated; and it will be allowed by most persons, thatfamiliarity can only be gained by manipulations practised byindividuals themselves. The principles of each subject shouldbe taught by lectures, as in the present arrangement inthe medical schools; but the demonstration of the proofsshould be worked out by the students under the direction ofa professor.

It appears to be of great importance that Physiology shouldthus be learned, inasmuch as it, together with Anatomy, con-stitutes the basis of medicine.

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