distilling powers of soulless substances

550

INVENTION OF STILETTEDCATHETERS.

W. T. ILIFF.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR:—As Mr. Wansbrough, of Fulham,

(in THE LANCET of July 1st,) seems inclinedto dispute the priority of invention of the’ Stiletted Catheter,’ with Mr. Stafford andMr. Pope, may I be permitted to introduceto the notice of your readers, the observa-tions of an old and valued friend on the

subject:—"Francisco Diaz, published atMadrid, in the year 1627, his ’Tratadonuevamente impresso, de todas las enferme-dades duos renones vexiga, y carnosidadesde la verga,’ &c. In Libro Tercero’ ofthat work, page 181, is the outline of aninstrument (a copy of which I possess) con-structed on similar principles, and with thesame curative intention. Nueva manerade instrumento cisorio para cortar las car-nosidades.’ Again, Alphonsus Ferrus, orFerreus, who published a work in Rome,A. D. 1552, advocates the practice of cuttingthrough strictures, when other means fail.Itaque cum carne ea minuenda propter ob-callescentem ejus duriciem satis esse nonvidebuntur, ad eam pungendam ac dissol-vendam, argalia, vel specillo, bene perforan-tibus et incidentibus, ut facilius penetrarepossint, opus peragendum est, nec est cursanguinis effusionem per haec instrumentatimeamus, saluberium uam ea est, dummodoex caruncula ipsa (nec aliter) effundatur.Mr. Pope, of the London University Col-lege, considers Mr. Stafford to be fullyentitled to the credit of being the " originalinventor;" yet one of his professors, Mr. S.Cooper, in the last edition of his FirstLines," states, distinctly, that it is an oldpractice revived. Your’s, &e.

W. T. ILIFF.Newington, July 3rd, 1837.

HEART OF HIS LATE MAJESTY,

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SiR:—In the bulletin of the autopsy ofhis late Majesty, I find the particulars ofthe post-mortem examination of the heart tobe as follows :-" The heart itself was large, and softened

in texture. Its right side was extremelydistended with blood, but exhibited nomarks of organic disease. On the left sideof the heart the mitral valves were found tobe ossified, and the three semilunar valvesof the aorta were in the same state. The

ossification, was in two of them, to such anextent, that it must have materially interferedwith their functions."

Now, as this autopsy of the late Kingis an historical record, and although it is

supposed to be drawn up by the elit of themedical profession in England, the savantsin medicine, surgery, and pharmacy, whowere present, and assisted at this examina-tion, are not warranted in stating that theheart was not organically diseased. Thereport states, that " his Majesty’s heart waslarge, and softened in texture," &c. &c.Taking the statement respecting the hearton the showing of those who signed thefinal report, I hold that the allegation isnot borne out by the fact, inasmuch as or-ganic disease, if it mean anything, meanssuch alteration of structure or tissue as iseasily detected on dissection after death.Softening of the texture of the heart is adeviation from normal structure, and, ofcourse, including the ossification of themitral valves, a complete case of organicdisease of the heart is made clearly out. Iam, Sir, your obedient servant, C. Q.

London, June 28, 1837.

DISTILLING POWERS OF SOULLESSSUBSTANCES.

’ To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR:—Among other mistakes contained inthe new Pharmacopoeia, Dr. Collier mentionsthe following, "Caute destillet oleum; andadds (an observation, the originality ofwhich, I should think, no one will feel in-clined to gainsay), that this ’is not sense,unless oil has a soul and possesses reason."How, or where, the Doctor discovered this,will, I imagine, remain a mystery : suffice it,however, to say, that " Celsus and mostother worthies," would not, if they wereliving at the present time (at least if we areto j judge from their writings) have concurredin the Doctor’s opinion, since it would ap-pear, that in their extreme ignorance theyimagined that a thing without soul " or"reason," might distil. I do not think itnecessary to occupy your valuable space,with quotations from various authors, toprove the truth of my statement, but trust

that Dr. Collier will feel satisfied with thefollowing extract from an author, withwhom, I should imagine, he is acquainted." Destillet humor ex capite in nares," saysCelsus. Which is right, Celsus or Dr.Collier?

Trusting that you will, in all fairness,give this a place in an early number of THELANCET, I beg to subscribe myself, yourobedient servant,

TYRO.

London, June 26, 1837.