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Medical Diary of the Week.

MONDAY, APRIL 7 .......

TUESDAY, APRIL 8 ......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9

THURSDAY, APRIL 10 9’HLTESDAY, APRIL

IFRIDAY, APRIL 11 ......{

SATURDAY, APRIL 12...-!

ST. MARK’S HOSPITAL FOR FISTULA AND OTHERDISEASES OF THE RECTUM.—Operations, 11 P.M.

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M.METROPOLITAN FREE HOSPITAL. - Operations,

2 P. M.ROYAL INSTITUTION. - 2 P.M. General Monthly

Meeting. ASSOCIATION.-7 P.M. Mr. E. Cresy,GEOLOGISTS’

ASSOCIATION.-7 P.M. Mr. E. Cresy,’’On Skulls and Flint Implements found in theEssex Marshes during the progress of the Main

{ Drainage Works."EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SOCIETY.-8 P.M. Dr. Green-how, " Htstory of an Outbreak of Fever at OverDarwen in the Autumn of 1861."

ODONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.-8 P.M.MEDICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.-8½ P.M. Mr. de

Méric, "On Syphilitic Metiitis."ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF LONDON.-

8½ P,M. Dr. Lionel S. Beale, "On the Anatomyof the Liver, with Observations on Certain

Changes occurring in Disease."

(GUY’S HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1½ P.M.

) WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M.

ROYAL INSTITUTION.-3 P.M. Mr. John Marshall," On the Physiology of the Senses."

ROYAL MEDICAL AND CHIRURGICAL SOCIETY OF

I LONDON.-8 P.M. Dr. Murray Humphry, "Onthe Effects of Excision of the Knee, Itickets,&c., upon Growth; ’ - Mr. Thomas Bryant’s

" Analysis of 230 Cases of Lithotomy." MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1 P.M.ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1 P.M.UNIVERSITY COLLEGII HOSPITAL. - Operatiour,2 P. M.

ROYAL ORTHOPÆDIC HOSPITAL. - Operations, 2P.M.

HuNTERiAN SOCIETY. - 8 P.M. Dr. Barnes, "Onthe New Method of bring-ing on and completingLabour at an appointed hour."

NORTH LONDON MEDICAL SOCIETY.-8 P.M. Dr.Cockle, " On Cystic Cutaneous Fistula."

ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1 P.M.CENTRAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL.-

Operations, 1 P.M.LONDON HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1½ P.M.GREAT NORTHERN HOSPITAL, KING’S CROSS.-

t Operations, 2 P.M.

LONDON SURGICAL HOME.-Operations, 2 P.M.WEST LONDON HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M.ROYAL INSTITUTION.-3 P.M. Prof. Tyndall, " On

Heat."

WESTMINSTER OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL. - Opera.tions, 1½ P.M.

ROYAL INSTITUTION.-8 P.M. Dr. Hofmann, "OnMauve and Magenta, and the Colouring Matters

derived from Coal."

ST. THOMAS’S HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1 P.M.

ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL.-Operations. 1½ P.M.

KING’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1½ P.M.CHARING-CROSS HOSPITAL.-Operations. 2 P.M.ROYAL INSTITUTION.-3 P.M. Prof. H. E. Roscoe," On Spectrum Analysis."

To Correspondents.A Young Natural Philosopher.-Beyond the most refrangible and the New-tonian solar spectrum exists another class of rays, which latter are not visibleunder ordinary circumstances. If, however, the rays of light be interceptedby solutions of’ sulphate of quinine or of horse-chestnut bark, by a block ofcanary-yellow glass, coloured with the oxide of uranium, or by a crystal offluor spar, these extra spectral rays are rendered apparent. It is to these

rays, which were unknown to Newton, that the term "fluorescent" has been

given by Professor Stokes, who has closely investigated them. They areluminous probably under all circumstances to those animals whose eyes areadjusted-as the eyes of most of the night-roaming creatures are-to admitthe rays of highest refrangibility, and to vibrate in unison with their vibra-tions ; but unless peculiar conditions are established (such as above noticed),the fluorescent rays are not sensible to the human eye. Refer to an in-

taresting paper by Mr. Robert Hunt upon " Solar Chemistry" in the Januarynumber of the Popular S’cierzee Review.

A Householder should take care that the lead pipes are bent as little as pos-sible. Mr. J. R. Nichols, an American chemist of some standing, has shownthat leaden pipes are most acted upon by the water flowing through themwhen they are bent at an acute angle.

Mr. G. P. Dale.-The report of a "Case of Extirpation of the Womb" shall ifpossible appear in our next impression.

Medicus, (London.)-There is no law to prevent him from so doing.

THE MEDICAL ACT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICE.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-I was glad to see in your journal that the subject of illegally prac.tising was brought under the no ice of your readers by your correspondents," W. R." and " X. Y. Z." I certainly do think that it behoves every memberof our profession to use his entire influence in inducing the Medical Councilto revise that part of the late new Act. In my neighbourhood we have a manpractising who not only has no qualification, but has never attended an hos-pital lecture; while within a distance of three miles a carpenter has taken upthe practice of medicine, and visits and prescribes; and these men, forsooth,because they do not write "surgeon" under or after their names, are notamenable to the new Act.

Is this, Mr. Editor, the boasted privilege of the benefit of the new MedicalAct? For this is it that we have paid our registration fee of £2, and thenewly initiated brother practitioner has to be mulcted in the sum of £5 ? The legal profession are well protected, and why should not we be ?

I would suggest that petitions be got up and presented to Parliament, inorder to obtain that protection which we now have not.

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,March, 1862. A REGISTERED M.R.C.S.

Poor-late Surgeon.-In the present crowded state of our columns it is impos-sible for us to find room for a list of those gentlemen who have responded toMr. Griffin’s appeal for pecuniary assistance. We are at a loss to understandhow so small a sum as a little above a hundred pounds should have beenhitherto subscribed. Money is the sinews of war, and without it it is im-

possible to carry on an agitation like that in which Mr. Griffin is engagedA trifling amount from the three thousand surgeons of this kingdom wouldput ample funds in the hands of the officers of the Poor-law Medical ReformAssociation.

J. A. M., (Portsmouth.)-The paper has not been received.Mr. Hammond.-" Spontaneous combustion," as the result of drunkenness, isno longer acknowledged by the scientific world as having taken place. Bothà priori chemical reasons and the histories of the cases recorded are opposedto the probability of the asserted fact. Our correspondent should refer toFraser’s Magazine of the past year, where he will find the subject well dis-cussed.

One of the Old School.-The work of Mr. Langston Parker will afford the in-formation required.

Ree. J. Going will oblige us by forwarding the memoir.

NEW REMEDIES.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-Relative to a query propounded by one of your readers in your issueof last week, concerning the exact aud precise method of preparing thenewly introduced syrup of Iceland moss as a substitute for cod oil, which Ibriefly adverted to in your journal of the 8th ult., allow me again, through themedium of your publication, to make a few corrective remarks, as there isevidently some great mistake, difficulty, as also misunderstanding createdamongst those who have tried its preparation, from the several notes I re-ceived on the subject. No doubt, I admit, its preparation is troublesome andtedious, and to many the quantity appears (’)f moss I mean) large, being aconcentrated form or jelly, when prepared as I mention, which requires somelittle practice and perseverance. To make a long story short, I will at once passby this tedious operation, and propose a much more simple mode of preparingfor the convenience of those who have not the necessary apparatus. Take fourounces of the moss (of course non-concentrated), soak in the method alludedto, cut into small fragments previously; then boil with one quart of water andhalf a pound (or more if you think proper) of sugar for half an hour; thenstrain through clean muslin; skim, and when nearly cold add a little spirit,when it is ready for use.

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, .

Lancaster Infirmary, April, 1862. JAMES MITCHELL, L,R,C.S,E,