to correspondents

1
702 them are little seen in this country; the one best known is the Annali Universali, of Omodei, which has stood its ground for thirty-one years. Besides this there is another weekly journal published in Lombardy. In the states of the church three appear, one devoted to the doctrines of Tommasini; in Naples, and in Tuscany, severally, there are three medical papers in circulation. Piedmont can boast of but a single journal appropriated to medicine; Venice, lastly, supports two. Much useful matter may from time to time be extracted from these periodicals; but from its great dilution, by reason of the prolixity and diffuseness of writing common to all, it is laborious to weed it out. A like verbosity has long prevailed in the Italian political and general prints, owing to the jealous censorship exercised over all publications beyond the Alps. But now that the censorship no longer weighs down and crushes the Italian mind, we may expect it to evince again its innate activity. ETHNOGRAPHICAL PATHOLOGY.—A new branch of science has been introduced to the profession under this appellation, in a paper read by M. Boudin to the Paris Academy of Medicine. It embraces the comparative pathology of the human race. The facts hitherto presented have chiefly reference to armies and to colonies, and the following are some of the results ob- tained :-The negro race seems particularly adapted to equa- torial and swampy regions, where Europeans cannot live; but it is quite unfitted for European service, as was illustrated in the black regiment once stationed at Gibraltar, and which was nearly cut off by phthisis. The sepoy troops are particu- larly suited to military service in Hindostan; those of the Cape of Good Hope, to that settlement; and so forth. Numerous examples of the immunity or proclivity of parti- cular races to certain diseases have been already placed on record. j MUTUAL BENEFIT AND NATIONAL PHARMACIES.—A company has just been started in Paris with the above title, the object of which is to form in every district of the capital, and later in every commune of France, one or several apothecary’s establishments. The shares are to be ten francs each, half of which sum is to be paid at the commencement of operations, in fortnightly instalments of one franc. The encouragements held out are five per cent. on the money paid, handsome dividends, and pure unadulterated physic twenty per cent. below the usual cost. The shareholders are moreover to have the amount of the shares paid back to them in the space of three years, the money necessary for this purpose to be yielded by the profits. Prospectuses may be had at a penny each to cover the first expenses. Shareholders to have the manage- ment of their own affairs, the motto being, " everything for and by the people." [The French nation are not satisfied by taking the management of railways and theatres into their own ’hands-they now seize upon the pestle and mortar.- ED. L.] LONDON HOSPITAL.-At the last weekly meeting of the House Committee, Mr. H. J. W. Welch resigned the office of house surgeon to that institution in favour of P. Gowland, Esq., who was duly elected. ILLNESS OF THE PRINCE DE JOINVILLE.—We are informed that M. Pasquier, late surgeon in ordinary to the Orleans family, has just been summoned to Claremont to give an opinion as to the health of the Prince of Joinville, who is said to be labouring under a disease of the liver, the origin of which is referred to his stay in Africa. It is reported, that when the prince heard of the late decree of banishment against his family, a great aggravation occurred in his malady, which assumed all the symptoms of acute hepatitis. MORTALITY OF THE METROPOLIS.—Deaths registered in the week ending June 17th, 1009, or 68 more than in the previous week. Deaths from zymotic causes, 289-a decrease, which was also manifested in the deaths from measles, 18; hooping- cough, 27, and scarlatina, 76 cases, were about stationary, as compared with the preceding week. Increase in deaths from small-pox, 44 cases; and from typhus, 69 cases. Twenty-one deaths are reported as caused by diarrhoea; but not one is entered under the heads of influenza, rheumatic fever, or hydrophobia. Mean temperature, 60°8 Fahr.; range from 450 to 790; temp. of dew-point, 50°2 Fahr. Electricity, negative for two days; on other days, positive. Births, 1268. Total population of the metropolitan districts, (1841,) 1,948,369. OBITUARY.—(From a Correspondent.) -Died, on the 20th instant, at St. John’s, Worcester, of consumption, James ThomasWate, aged twenty-seven,medicalstudent, late of West- minster Hospital. He distinguished himself by taking prizes at the medical schools, and possessed talents of a high order, t which were cultivated with an industry rarely equalled. But for that fatal disease, produced by excessive study, he would have adorned the profession in which he so much delighted. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Anti-Humbug, (Brighton.)-As the names of the persons on the printed notice do not belong to qualified members of the profession, we cannot com- pliment such quacks by recording them in this place. A Constant Reader.-The appointment of the officer of health is the only strictly medical one which is secured by the Bill. The salary is to be fixed by the local board of health. We expect that the rate of payment will somewhat resemble that which is awarded to poor-law medical officers. Studens.—Application should be made to the Army Medical Board, St. James’s-place, Westminster. Tyro-Medicus.—We are not aware that any such institution exists either at Cambridge or elsewhere. We cannot discover that any good result would be likely to follow from continuing the correspondence on the subject with which Mr. Rayne’s name has been connected. Spectator, however, who had written anonymously, has now authorized us to attach his name to his communication. We may state, for the information of Mr. Rayne, that Dr. Glover has not written anonymously in our columns, nor has he sent to us anonymously, any com- munication in which the name of Mr. Rayne has appeared. We do not believe, under existing circumstances, that the gentleman who adopts the signature of A Rejected Candidate incurs the slightest risk of a prosecution by the Apothecaries’ Company. As a member of the College of Surgeons, he would occupy a safe position under any Medical Registration Bill which may pass the legislature. Mr. C., (Belturbet.)-We advise him to address a communication on the subject to the Right Hon. Earl Grey, Colonial Secretary, Downing-street, London, as it is possible that he may receive from that quarter some useful information. A Constant Reader.—We do not consider that it is the best medical school; far from it. Neither do we consider the hospital belonging to it the best. There are others of much higher repute, and where we believe the practical instruction is of more value. The hospital is reported to contain 120 heds A Reader of THE LANCET for tlae last Twenty Years.-We answer both questions in the affirmative. A Subscriber.-Both the first-named universities are empowered to grant degrees in medicine: the one first mentioned is the more respectable of the two; but even that university is not over-burthened with any excess of reputation. Both the first-named are inferior to the two last. The communication of Mr. Watran, (Wamphray, Dumfriesshire,) has been received. We are not certain that the above names are spelt rightly - the hand writing is obscure. The case forwarded by Dr. Reed, of Hertford, will speedily appear as an Hospital Report. i Unknown has certainly selected some very striking proofs of bad grammar in the " Obstetric Record," but we do not believe that their publication would serve any useful purpose. A correspondent, adopting for his letter the signature of An On-looker, has written rather a long commentary on the letter of Mr. Hilles, which appeared in TnE LANCET of June 10th. We extract from it the two fol- lowing paragraphs only, they being pertinent to the subject matter of dispute :- " When Mr. Hilles retires for good’ to the sanctum sanctorum, or con- sulting-room of his institution.’ I doubt not that he will meet his just reward, in the undisturbed enjoyment of the otium sine dignitate,’ so fairly earned byhis efforts in the cause of cheap philanthropy-cheap to Hilles and Co., inasmuch as it will, if possible, be exercised at the expense of others,-those others, the hardworking, meritorious, and underpaid regular practitioners in the neighbourhood of his institution." " Mr. Hilles says he cannot be expected to observe an oath he never took. I believe I am right in stating that he holds the diploma of the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin. Does an oath to uphold the dignity of that College-no less respectable than ours-exonerate from professional recti. tude on this side of the water?" Other correspondents shall receive replies next week. Communications have been received from-Mr. Tatham, (Huddersfield ;) An Assistant-surgeon; Mr. J. Berry; Mr. Lake, (Royal Laboratory, Ports, mouth;) Veritas, (Salisbury;) A Subscriber; Tyro-Medicus; The Proprietor of the Leamington Courier; Dr. Blair, (George Town, Demerara ;.) Mr. Herapath, (Bristol;) Mr. M’Donald; an Ally; Mr. Whitney, (West- minster ;) Professor Cooper; C.; a Constant Reader; Dr. Turley, (Wor. cester;) Mr. Meymott, (Ludlow;) Mr. Hassall, (Notting-hill;) Mr. Grim- wood, (Walton, Suffolk;) Dr. Reed, (Hertford;) Mr. Lake, (second communication;) An Old Subscriber; Mr. King, (Glasgow:) Dr. Shiet, (Ballyshannon; M. D. E.; One of the above ; Alpha; Dr. de Meric; Dr. Nipe, (Commercial-road;) A Country Practitioner; Mr. Thomson, (Aber- feldy, Perthshire;) Mr. Ford; Mr. Newton, (Neweastle-on-Tyne;) Dr. Duncan; Mr. Prowse, (Clifton;) An Old Subscriber, (Belturbet;) Dr. H. Bennet; A Student; Mr. Spicer, (Birmingham.) The Glasgow Examiner, June 17th; Bristol Mercury, June 17th; Cale- lonian Mercury, June 19; Eddowes’ Journal, June 21; have been received.

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702

them are little seen in this country; the one best known isthe Annali Universali, of Omodei, which has stood its groundfor thirty-one years. Besides this there is another weeklyjournal published in Lombardy. In the states of the churchthree appear, one devoted to the doctrines of Tommasini; inNaples, and in Tuscany, severally, there are three medicalpapers in circulation. Piedmont can boast of but a singlejournal appropriated to medicine; Venice, lastly, supports two.Much useful matter may from time to time be extracted fromthese periodicals; but from its great dilution, by reason of theprolixity and diffuseness of writing common to all, it islaborious to weed it out. A like verbosity has long prevailedin the Italian political and general prints, owing to the jealouscensorship exercised over all publications beyond the Alps.But now that the censorship no longer weighs down andcrushes the Italian mind, we may expect it to evince again itsinnate activity.ETHNOGRAPHICAL PATHOLOGY.—A new branch of science has

been introduced to the profession under this appellation, in apaper read by M. Boudin to the Paris Academy of Medicine.It embraces the comparative pathology of the human race.The facts hitherto presented have chiefly reference to armiesand to colonies, and the following are some of the results ob-tained :-The negro race seems particularly adapted to equa-torial and swampy regions, where Europeans cannot live; butit is quite unfitted for European service, as was illustrated inthe black regiment once stationed at Gibraltar, and whichwas nearly cut off by phthisis. The sepoy troops are particu-larly suited to military service in Hindostan; those of theCape of Good Hope, to that settlement; and so forth.Numerous examples of the immunity or proclivity of parti-cular races to certain diseases have been already placed onrecord. jMUTUAL BENEFIT AND NATIONAL PHARMACIES.—A company

has just been started in Paris with the above title, the objectof which is to form in every district of the capital, and laterin every commune of France, one or several apothecary’sestablishments. The shares are to be ten francs each, half ofwhich sum is to be paid at the commencement of operations,in fortnightly instalments of one franc. The encouragementsheld out are five per cent. on the money paid, handsomedividends, and pure unadulterated physic twenty per cent.below the usual cost. The shareholders are moreover to havethe amount of the shares paid back to them in the space ofthree years, the money necessary for this purpose to be yieldedby the profits. Prospectuses may be had at a penny each tocover the first expenses. Shareholders to have the manage-ment of their own affairs, the motto being, " everything forand by the people." [The French nation are not satisfied bytaking the management of railways and theatres into theirown ’hands-they now seize upon the pestle and mortar.-ED. L.]LONDON HOSPITAL.-At the last weekly meeting of the

House Committee, Mr. H. J. W. Welch resigned the officeof house surgeon to that institution in favour of P. Gowland,Esq., who was duly elected.

ILLNESS OF THE PRINCE DE JOINVILLE.—We are informedthat M. Pasquier, late surgeon in ordinary to the Orleansfamily, has just been summoned to Claremont to give anopinion as to the health of the Prince of Joinville, who issaid to be labouring under a disease of the liver, the origin ofwhich is referred to his stay in Africa. It is reported, thatwhen the prince heard of the late decree of banishmentagainst his family, a great aggravation occurred in his malady,which assumed all the symptoms of acute hepatitis.MORTALITY OF THE METROPOLIS.—Deaths registered in the

week ending June 17th, 1009, or 68 more than in the previousweek. Deaths from zymotic causes, 289-a decrease, whichwas also manifested in the deaths from measles, 18; hooping-cough, 27, and scarlatina, 76 cases, were about stationary, ascompared with the preceding week. Increase in deaths fromsmall-pox, 44 cases; and from typhus, 69 cases. Twenty-onedeaths are reported as caused by diarrhoea; but not one isentered under the heads of influenza, rheumatic fever, orhydrophobia. Mean temperature, 60°8 Fahr.; range from 450to 790; temp. of dew-point, 50°2 Fahr. Electricity, negativefor two days; on other days, positive. Births, 1268. Total

population of the metropolitan districts, (1841,) 1,948,369.OBITUARY.—(From a Correspondent.) -Died, on the 20th

instant, at St. John’s, Worcester, of consumption, JamesThomasWate, aged twenty-seven,medicalstudent, late of West-minster Hospital. He distinguished himself by taking prizesat the medical schools, and possessed talents of a high order,

t which were cultivated with an industry rarely equalled. But

for that fatal disease, produced by excessive study, he wouldhave adorned the profession in which he so much delighted.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Anti-Humbug, (Brighton.)-As the names of the persons on the printednotice do not belong to qualified members of the profession, we cannot com-pliment such quacks by recording them in this place.

A Constant Reader.-The appointment of the officer of health is the onlystrictly medical one which is secured by the Bill. The salary is to be fixedby the local board of health. We expect that the rate of payment willsomewhat resemble that which is awarded to poor-law medical officers.

Studens.—Application should be made to the Army Medical Board, St.James’s-place, Westminster.

Tyro-Medicus.—We are not aware that any such institution exists eitherat Cambridge or elsewhere.We cannot discover that any good result would be likely to follow from

continuing the correspondence on the subject with which Mr. Rayne’s namehas been connected. Spectator, however, who had written anonymously,has now authorized us to attach his name to his communication. We maystate, for the information of Mr. Rayne, that Dr. Glover has not writtenanonymously in our columns, nor has he sent to us anonymously, any com-munication in which the name of Mr. Rayne has appeared.We do not believe, under existing circumstances, that the gentleman who

adopts the signature of A Rejected Candidate incurs the slightest risk of aprosecution by the Apothecaries’ Company. As a member of the College ofSurgeons, he would occupy a safe position under any Medical RegistrationBill which may pass the legislature.Mr. C., (Belturbet.)-We advise him to address a communication on the

subject to the Right Hon. Earl Grey, Colonial Secretary, Downing-street,London, as it is possible that he may receive from that quarter some usefulinformation.A Constant Reader.—We do not consider that it is the best medical

school; far from it. Neither do we consider the hospital belonging to it thebest. There are others of much higher repute, and where we believe the

practical instruction is of more value. The hospital is reported to contain120 heds

A Reader of THE LANCET for tlae last Twenty Years.-We answer bothquestions in the affirmative.A Subscriber.-Both the first-named universities are empowered to grant

degrees in medicine: the one first mentioned is the more respectable ofthe two; but even that university is not over-burthened with any excess ofreputation. Both the first-named are inferior to the two last.

The communication of Mr. Watran, (Wamphray, Dumfriesshire,) hasbeen received. We are not certain that the above names are spelt rightly- the hand writing is obscure.The case forwarded by Dr. Reed, of Hertford, will speedily appear as an

Hospital Report.

i Unknown has certainly selected some very striking proofs of bad grammarin the " Obstetric Record," but we do not believe that their publicationwould serve any useful purpose.A correspondent, adopting for his letter the signature of An On-looker,

has written rather a long commentary on the letter of Mr. Hilles, whichappeared in TnE LANCET of June 10th. We extract from it the two fol-lowing paragraphs only, they being pertinent to the subject matter ofdispute :-" When Mr. Hilles retires for good’ to the sanctum sanctorum, or con-

sulting-room of his institution.’ I doubt not that he will meet his justreward, in the undisturbed enjoyment of the otium sine dignitate,’ sofairly earned byhis efforts in the cause of cheap philanthropy-cheap toHilles and Co., inasmuch as it will, if possible, be exercised at the expenseof others,-those others, the hardworking, meritorious, and underpaidregular practitioners in the neighbourhood of his institution."

" Mr. Hilles says he cannot be expected to observe an oath he nevertook. I believe I am right in stating that he holds the diploma of the RoyalCollege of Surgeons, Dublin. Does an oath to uphold the dignity of thatCollege-no less respectable than ours-exonerate from professional recti.tude on this side of the water?"Other correspondents shall receive replies next week.Communications have been received from-Mr. Tatham, (Huddersfield ;)

An Assistant-surgeon; Mr. J. Berry; Mr. Lake, (Royal Laboratory, Ports,mouth;) Veritas, (Salisbury;) A Subscriber; Tyro-Medicus; The Proprietorof the Leamington Courier; Dr. Blair, (George Town, Demerara ;.)Mr. Herapath, (Bristol;) Mr. M’Donald; an Ally; Mr. Whitney, (West-minster ;) Professor Cooper; C.; a Constant Reader; Dr. Turley, (Wor.cester;) Mr. Meymott, (Ludlow;) Mr. Hassall, (Notting-hill;) Mr. Grim-wood, (Walton, Suffolk;) Dr. Reed, (Hertford;) Mr. Lake, (secondcommunication;) An Old Subscriber; Mr. King, (Glasgow:) Dr. Shiet,(Ballyshannon; M. D. E.; One of the above ; Alpha; Dr. de Meric; Dr.Nipe, (Commercial-road;) A Country Practitioner; Mr. Thomson, (Aber-feldy, Perthshire;) Mr. Ford; Mr. Newton, (Neweastle-on-Tyne;) Dr.

Duncan; Mr. Prowse, (Clifton;) An Old Subscriber, (Belturbet;) Dr. H.Bennet; A Student; Mr. Spicer, (Birmingham.)The Glasgow Examiner, June 17th; Bristol Mercury, June 17th; Cale-

lonian Mercury, June 19; Eddowes’ Journal, June 21; have been received.