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quickly as chaff’ before the wind," although "the pleasingprivilege" to which you have alluded may be withdrawn.While upon this point, I am enabled to inform you, thatwhere the system has been fairly administered, concurrenttestimony is afforded to the courtesy evinced, not only bycasual, but by " honorary subscribers," to the medical officers,and also to the harmony subsisting between all parties.

I would call attention to the advantages, in a sanitary pointof view, arising from this system. The ready administrationof medical relief diminishes the severity and duration of dis-ease. At present, the disinclination of the parties to seekrelief; the loss of time consequent upon obtaining letters ofadmission; and the uncertainty of procuring promptly therequisite medical aid, tend to render common ailments seriousdiseases. By such a prompt application for medical skill,although more slight cases will necessarily engage the atten-tion of the practitioner, a protracted attendance will beobviated.

I should be sorry to .question the information you allege youpossess, but the statements you receive as facts differ mostmaterially from those I receive from the quarters to whichyou refer. Would you object to name "the respectablemedical (?) practitioner" at Burton-upon-Treiit ? I regret youdid not publish the whole of Mr. Jones’s letter, a copy of whichI have by me, instead of quoting a short extract, inasmuchas the context is at direct variance with your commentary,it being advisable your medical readers should be accuratelyinformed upon all points, and not be obliged to adopt theIrish mode of dealing, where the reciprocity is all on oneside. The extract, too, is made to confound the patient withthe person.You assert your belief, and you may be right in your con-

jecture, that the " profession never will adopt Mr. Smith’sprinciples." I am not so sanguine as to imagine that any onecan direct the minds of its members, as the heart of Israel isalleged to have been bent, as one man, but would they candidlystudy their own interests, they would unite in the require-ments the system involves. I am happy to observe that youare not indisposed to withdraw your opposition, on certain ’,conditions; indeed, I never held you bound by any statementsyou have made; and it is only consistent with your usualcandour, as a public journalist, to promulgate the truth.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,Savile-row, Jan. 15, 1851. JOSEPH MOORE.JOSEPH MOORE.

ON THE CASE OF COMPOUND DISLOCATION OFTHE KNEE

REPORTED IN " THE MIRROR" FOR DECEMBER 28, 1850.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—In your impression of 28th December last, and underthe head of the " Mirror of the Practice of Medicine andSurgery," Mr. Birkett has described the particulars of a caseof compound dislocation of the knee, occurring in the personof "a tall, muscular man, forty-one years of age," in which,notwithstanding the " consultation" which was held upon it,and the opinion of Sir Astley Cooper as to the proper line ofpractice to be adopted in such cases,-viz., "immediate ampu-ta.tion,"-the patient, in my opinion, should have had the benefitof a different procedure. The principal artery of the limbbeing uninjured, why was not reduction of the injuryattempted ? and, if not attainable, why was not the wound, ifnecessary, enlarged, and the end of the femur excised ? Theday has happily gone by when compound dislocations, even ofthe larger joints, necessitate such mutilation as amputation ofthe limb.

In a case of compound dislocation of the knee, with pro-trusion of lower end of femur into the popliteal space, I sawMr. Anthony White, a few years ago, saw off the condyles ofthe latter, and an excellent limb was the result. It is truethat I speak in ignorance of all the circumstances of thepresent case. But Mr. Birkett appears to have indulged insharp and summary practice, and will, I hope, excuse the im-pression which it has made on,-Sir, your obedient servant,

M. BROKE GALLWEY,Devonport, Jan. 18, 1851. Royal Regiment of Artillery.

M. BROKE GALLWEY,Royal Regiment of Artillery.

THE OPEN-SHOP AND SURGERY QUESTION. To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—I have read with much interest the letters that havelately appeared in your journal on the open-shop and surgeryquestion, and being myself one of the " condemned," I trustyou will find room for a few words on the subject.

I intend confining myself principally to the remarks of yourcorrespondent, Mr. M. Broke Gallwey, who seems to have"rushed into print" with very little knowledge of the subjecthe has written about. His principal argument, or I shouldrather say, assertion, against the open shop is, that we areplaced "cheelc by jowl" with tailors, candlestick-makers, &c.,thereby establishing with them a community of action andtastes. What Mr. Gallwey means I am at a loss to conceive,not being aware of any community of action with the personsmentioned, except paying taxes to the same collectors may beso called; and as to the tastes of my neighbours, as I do notassociate with them, I cannot speak about them.And now, having spoken of the question why we should not

keep shops, I will give a few reasons why we should. There;are many young men who, when they have received theirdiplomas, find themselves thrown on the world with nothingbut their qualifications and their abilities to depend on-noparents with well-filled purses to fall back on-no influentialfriends to procure them public appointments as a means ofgetting practice, and no Government influence to providethem with commissions in the army or navy. To these, a shopis the only resource; for every one knows how perfectly uselessit is to take a house, and put your name on the door, withouthaving some means of keeping yourself whilst practice iscoming. There is no doubt, also, that the open surgeryprevents many from going to unqualified persons. I couldpoint out many chemists and druggists in large towns who arederiving considerable incomes yearly from counter practice,,merely because the qualified practitioner is too proud to re-ceive a reasonable sum for his medicine at the time, preferringrather to send a bill at Christmas, which the chances are, henever gets paid. The lower class of tradesmen, and the betterclass of mechanics, could not possibly afford to give a fee of-even a half-crown to a medical man, (who would visit for less ?)and afterwards be obliged to pay for their medicines. If suchwere the practice, they would go to the hospitals and dis-pensaries, or else to the chemist.As to the assertion, that there is no village that either does

not, or could not, support a chemist, it is perfectly ridiculous.If Mr. Gallwey had not dated his letter from Woolwich, Ishould have supposed he had never been beyond the sound ofBow bells. There are hundreds of villages that do not sup-port one, and could not possibly do so, even if general practi-tioners were compelled to give up dispensing their own medi-cines ; and this Mr. Gallwey would have learnt if it had fallento his lot to practise in a country village.

I could say much more on the subject, but am unwilling tetrespass on your valuable space.

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,London, Oct. 22, 1850. A SUBSCRIBER WITH A RETAIL.

MEETINGS OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETIES INLONDON DURING THE ENSUING WEEK.

NOTE.—When the date of the month is not specified, no meetings takeplace in the current week.

Medical News.

DR. LEURET, chief physician of the asylum atBicetre, near Paris, has just died at Nancy, his native city.Dr. Leuret was extensively known by his numerous investiga-tions respecting mental affections.

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APOTHECARIES’ HALL.—Names of gentlemen whopassed their examination in the science and practice of medi-cine, and received certificates to practise, on

Thursday, Jan. 16, 1851.

BLACKFORD, JOHN CROMWELL, Bromsgrove.KITCHING, ALFRED, Hull.SwEETiNa, GEORGE BACON, Dorset.WAKE, EDWARD GEORGE, Hull.

CONVERSAZIONE AT ST. THOMAS’S HOSPITAL.—OnWednesday evening, 22nd instant, a conversazione took placein St. Thomas’s Hospital, at which governors of the hospital,friends of the institution, professional men, and students, werepresent. The great hall of the hospital was crowded, and theaudience were evidently in high expectation of the great fea-ture of the evening—viz., a sketch of the history of St.Thomas’s Hospital, and of some of the most celebrated personsconnected with it, to be given by Mr. South. The long con-nexion of this gentleman with the institution was a sure gua-rantee that materials would not be wanting to make the sketchhighly interesting, nor were the numerous hearers deceived inthis respect.Mr. South spoke for two hours and a quarter, and took, in

his own animated and peculiar way, a rapid survey of the riseand progress of the venerable institution with which he is con-nected. Beginning at the very first dawn of the charitableestablishment, as founded by Richard, Prior of Bermondsey,in the 13th century, Mr. South showed what influence Henrythe Eighth and the Reformation had upon it, and that Edward ’,the Sixth endowed the institution at the suggestion of BishopRidley. It would appear that at that time expenditure andincome were strictly balanced, as it was proved by the in-quiries set on foot by the king that the amount expended hadbeen £2479 10s. 10d., the subscriptions falling only £3 shortof that sum. It was at that period the sensible custom of thecitizens of London to assist the hospital (which had the chargeof a great many children) with various articles in which they ’,traded, as feather-beds, blankets, sheets, &c. &c. There werefive surgeons attached to the institution, each receiving X15a year.

Mr. South was led by his subject to enter largely into thehistory of the Corporation of Surgeons, and stated that in thereign of Elizabeth, St. Thomas’s had three surgeons and onephysician,and likewise what were called reversionary surgeons,who stepped into office on the occurrence of a vacancy. Herethe lecturer referred to several very interesting autographs ofElizabeth, Cromwell, Charles II., Fairfax, &c. &c., which layframed on the table; these were letters from these exaltedindividuals soliciting from the governors the appointment assurgeons of certain of their protégés.Mr. South, in alluding to the custom of the Admiralty, of

sending their medical officers for examination at Surgeon’sHall, whence they were classed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6thrate, took occasion to animadvert in strong and noble termson the shameful treatment which assistant-surgeons had beensubjected to in her Majesty’s ships : he congratulated his ill-used young brethren on the recent victory they had gained,and hoped that full justice would eventually be done to them.The audience responded with enthusiastic applause to thisgenerous defence of the assistant-surgeons of the navy, by thevice-president of the College of Surgeons in England. Wewould fain follow Mr. South in the succession of importantdocuments and racy anecdotes which he brought before hishearers in a very happy manner; but our space is limited, andwe must take a leap from the reign of the maiden queen toCheselden, who, as the lecturer showed, was the first surgeonwho broke through the rule of confining anatomical lecturesto Surgeon’s Hall, and began to teach anatomy independentlyof the Corporation; for which conduct he was reprimanded,and nevertheless went on in his didactic pursuits.Mr. South gave a very impressive sketch of the life of

Cheselden, Cline, and of Mr. Chapman, forty-three years trea-surer of St. Thomas’s Hospital: it should not be passed un-noticed, that under the latter gentleman’s management of theinstitution, the yearly income rose from £12,000 at hisentrance into office to JE26,000 when he resigned. The museumand school, and the noble wards facing Wellington-street,had likewise successively been erected at a cost of £72,000,without any of the comforts of the sick and poor being inter-fered with. Mr. South concluded by passing in review thevarious incitements to zeal and application held out tostudents in the shape of prizes, scholarships, &c., and was

heartily and unanimously applauded at the conclusion of hisinteresting sketch of the history of St. Thomas’s Hospital.

EFFECTS OF THE,’ ANALYTICAL SANITARY COM-MISSION."—From the London New Price Current, January 17th,1851.-" The announcement which we made a few days ago,that the government was about to put in force the penaltiesexigible by act of Parliament against the adulterators ofcoffee, has caused no small sensation among the fraudulentdealers in that article, who, unfortunately for the public, formabout nine-tenths of the coffee-dealers. What has added totheir alarm, is the activity displayed by the Excise in detectingthe adulteration of spices; and the conviction of one of them,a few days ago, in penalties to the amount of £300 for adulte-rating pepper, is considered to be a heavy blow and great dis-couragement to the fraudulent dealers in coffee. For it isnow quite evident that the government cannot permit theextensive frauds in coffee to be tolerated any longer, whilethe comparatively trifling adulterations of spices have thevengeance of the law directed against them. Indeed, as theTimes very justly stated in their city article of yesterday, thecoffee-question is finally disposed of, the government havingbeen beaten in every argument they have urged for furtherdelaying legislative enactments to prevent adulteration. (SeeTHE LANCET of January 4.) The public has been cheatedfor many years-the government has been defrauded of severalhundred thousand pounds per annum-the honest tradesmanhas had his business injured by his fraudulent neighbour-andour colonial grower has had to compete, with his productiontaxed at the rate of -E37 6s. 8d. per ton, against the homeproducer of chicory, which does not pay one farthing ofduty."USE OF ANÆSTHETIC AGENTS IN ANCIENT CHINA.—

Stanislas Julian has found, in examining the Chinese books inthe National Library at Paris, the proof that the Chinesehave been long acquainted with the use of anaesthetic agentsduring surgical operations. The extract which he gives isfrom a book published about the commencement of the six-teenth century, in fifty vols. quarto, and entitled " Kow-Kin-i-tong," General Account of Ancient and Modern Medi-cine," and refers to the practice of a celebrated physician,Ho-a-tho, who flourished between the years 220 and 230 ofour era. It states, when about to perform certain painfuloperations, "he gave the patient a preparation of hemp"(hachich), and that at the end of a few moments 11 he becameas insensible as if he had been drunk or deprived of life."After a certain number of days the patient was cured, withouthaving experienced the slightest pain during the operation.In a subsequent notice he also adds, that the same physicianused the hydropathic system as a cure for certain diseases,among others, chronic rheumatism.—Edinburgh P7tilosophicalJournal.

ENCOURAGEMENT TO SCIENCE IN SPAIN. - TheQueen of Spain has just decided, upon the suggestion of theMinister of Public Instruction, that four young professors ofthe Universities of Madrid should be sent to France andGermany, to become acquainted with the progress whichmathematics, the natural and physical sciences, have latelymade. The following gentlemen were selected : For as-tronomy, M. Aigular, of Novella; natural history, M. Vil-lanova ; medicine, M. Baeza; chemistry, M. Luna, of Eche-ratria.

THE " CoNCOURS" for the Chair of Clinical Surgeryat the Faculty at Paris, vacant, by the death of M. Marjolin, isnow going on. The subject of the first paper was " On stran-gulation in a surgical point of view."

LIVERPOOL MEDICO-ETHICAL SOCIETY.—The An’nual General Meeting took place on Tuesday, the 21st instant.The report of the council was unanimously adopted, andordered to be printed for distribution among the members.Dr. Formby was re-elected president. Mr. Blackburn was re-elected a vice-president. Sir Arnold Knight was electeda vice-president. Mr. Jones was re-elected treasurer. Mr.I-larricks was re-elected honorary secretary.HEALTH OF THE METROPOLIS DURING THE WEEK

ENDING JAN. 18. - Deaths registered, 1037; from zymoticcauses 196, an increase of 23 over the preceding week; fromdiseases of the respiratory organs, 202, a decrease of 73,though phthisis has remained permanent, numbering 120deaths; 21 persons, of whom five were adults, died from small-pox. A case of chorea, which had lasted two years, terminatedfatally on the 9th. Births, 1599. Mean of barometer, 29.5;mean of thermometer, 45°. Wind south and south-west.

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BOOKS RECEIVED FOR REVIEW.

Chemical Researches on the Nature and Cause of Cholera.By Robert Dundas Thomson, M.D., &c. London: C. & J.Adlard. 1850. 8vo, pp. 32.The American Journal of Insanity. Edited by the Officers

of the New York State Lunatic Asylum, Utica. Parts forApril, July, and October. 1850.

The Family Friend. Volume III. London: Houlston &Stoneman. Small 8vo, pp. 354, bound in cloth.The Family Tutor and School Companion. No. 1, January,

1851. Small 8vo, pp. 32. Houlston and Stoneman. NewYork: Hueston.

Family Pastime; or, Homes Made Happy. 8vo, Houlston& Stoneman. Hueston, pp. 64.

PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF

Members of the Medical & Surgical Profession.

The subject of the next Portrait and Biography will be

JAMES SYME, ESQ., F.-R.S.E.,PROFESSOR OF CLINICAL SURGERY IN THE UNIVERSITY

OF EDINBURGH.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

WE beg to express our obligations to lIfess1’s. Nicholson, and several othergentlemen, for the commendations which they have bestowed on ourrecent labours, and we can assure them that all the undertalcings inwhich we are engaged, if life and health continue, will be prosecuted withunabating energy and vigour.

WE regret to state that we fear it will be impossible for us to find space forthe publication of Mr. Cumming’s letter.

QUEEN’S COLLEGE, BIRMINGHAM, AND SUBJECTS FOR DISSECTION. ,

To the Editor of THE LANCET. ,

SIR,—Again I am obliged to resume the correspondence with your journal,as when that drops, the advantages (if there are any) of Queen’s Collegefollow its example. A report is in circulation, that from some disagreementwith the union, there will be no more subjects here this session; and as theterm has commenced a fortnight, and yet there are no signs of any, it growsto plausibility.Mr. T. N. Bradley seems to think that there is nothing to complain of,

and then affirms that of the present grievances he knows nothing. We musttherefore suppose that he writes merely for the sake of writing, or for hisname to gain notoriety, with an eye to the article of economy in advertise-ment fees previous to the production of his COSTLY plates; he wishes everyone to sign his name, in order, no doubt, that Mr. Cox may have some oneto vent his spleen upon! Very like a whale. He speaks of " a roundrobin." Now, that plan I do not approve of; but if, as a last resource, weemploy Mr. Bradley to sketch out a robin for us, we trust he will completeit with greater expedition than he has exhibited with regard to his other91 sketches from nature,." In the sixteen weeks of the pr esent session that aregone we have had five subjects; if we judge by analogy, how many we shallget in the ten weeks that are to come (should we have any more at all) ? I Isuppose four would be the maximum; and this is called "one of the bestsupplied schools in the kingdom."

I remain, Sir, your most obedient servant,THE OLD STUDENT,

Birmingham, Jan. 20, 1851. Of Queen’s College, Birmingham.

QUEEN’S COLLEGE, BIRMINGHAM—ROMANCE AND REALITY.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—As between the Emerald Island of the poets and the Ireland of factthere is a striking and deplorable contrast, so there is between the Queen’sCollege of the reporter and Queen’s College divested of those glowingencomiums so lavishly bestowed on it in the puffs which, from time to time,present themselves to the gaze of an unsuspecting and credulous public;unfortunately at a crisis when, undecided as to what medical school Ishould prosecute my studies at, a well-directed puff attracted the attentionof my friends, who, humbugged and deiuded by the imaginary advantagesheld forth, added my name to its list of victims. Never before did the oldlaw of "All is not gold that glitters" impress its truth so wonderfully onmy mind as at the present period. Many grievances might be mentionedwith regard to the hospital, lectures, &c., some of which have already beencommented on in your valuable journal. The mention of one will suffice-the total absence of subjects from the dissecting-room, although we havenow entered upon the third week of this term. " Omnia vanitas," saysSolomon; and so applicable does that sentence appear to everything con.nected with this college, that, should any calendar be published for thisyear (none appeared last), it is humbly suggested to our worthy dean, itseditor, as a fitting motto for that interesting volume, by

Birming ham, Jan. 2U 1851, Yours very obediently,

Birmingham, Jan. 20, 1851. A FIRST YEAR’S MAN.

THE paper of Dr. Hitch is in the hands of the printer. Our friend thinks wedo not consider it to be worth publication. That is a mistake. We arewell acquainted with his discernment and practical knowledge, andalways value his communications; but he remarks, 11 I sent you the com-munication more than a month ago." That is quite true ; but we canassure Dr. Hitch that there are many valuable papers that we havereceived more than twelve months since, which have not yet been intro-duced into our columns. The annoyance to us on this account has been

great, although our correspondents whose papers have been unavoidablypostponed have borne their disappointment with a degree of patiencewhich entitles them to both our respect and gratitude. If Dr. Hitchcould see the load of papers in our possession awaiting publication, wefeel confident, knowing what we do of the humanity of his disposition,that he would be one of the last to complain.

SANITARY REFORM.

To the Editor 0/’THE LANCET.SIR,—We have heard a great deal about boards of health, commissioners

of sewers, questions of air and light, effluvia and water, and we are manyof us very desirous that our dwellings should be as healthy as possible intheir respective localities, but how are we to effect this desirable object ?To whom am I to apply to inspect my premises ? Who is competent to putthings that are wrong in a right state? I am willing to pay any reasonablesum for such services, and many others would do the same. I have heard themsay, Who can we get ? A builder; it is not worth his while, and a bncklayerdoes more harm than good, and can give no useful information. If com-

petent persons would make themselves known, no doubt plenty of employ-ment would present itself to them. I would gladly give a fee to have mydrains reported upon, and to be advised what to do to improve the state ofmy dwelling, which is my own property.

If you or some one of your correspondents would give the public someinformation on this important matter, you would relieve me and manyothers of much anxiety.’ Your obedient servant,

London, Jan. 3, 1851. SENEX.

A Subscriber.-The election of the surgeon was announced in THE LANCETbut, in truth, there is no such "hospital." The place so called has not asingle resident patient. We have several times been called upon to de-nounce it as a fraud.

ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—AS you have ever been the avowed friend of the medical student, andready to give publicity to any grievance he may labour under, I may hopefor the insertion of the following statement, which, I assure you, isauthentic, having but a few days since occurred at the aristocratic Hospitalof St. George’s :-One of the students makes an assertion, which is not onlyunfounded, but highly injurious to the character of a brother student, andwhen called on for explanation, returns some impertinent and evasiveanswer, upon which he receives a well-merited castigation. As somereports have spread about as to his expulsion, I wish to know why thelecturer should interfere with private quarrels, or seek to learn in whatmanner a man spends his leisure hours, provided he has, whilst within thewalls of the hospital, done his duty.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,St. George’s Hospital, Jan. 11, 1851. J. D. BROwN.

Mr. Joyce.-An experienced practitioner, resident in the neighbourhood.would not be consulted in vain. There is no one particularly eminent insuch a class of cases.

DUE attention shall be paid to the request of Mr. Jameson.

MORTALITY OF FEVER AND MERCURY IN TYPHUS.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Through your well-read columns may I ask for some informationon the point stated above. In a work lately published it is said that themortality in the London Fever Hospital is as high as one in four. PerhapsDr. Tweedie would afford the profession some authentic information on thispoint, as this is a mortality which is not recorded of any other city in GreatBritain. As to the use of mercury, too, in fever-an old practice now re-newed again-it would be very satisfactory if the same gentleman wouldgive his experience on the subject.I am, Sir, your obedient servant,Jan. 1851. MERCURY.

THE letter of 3tr. Waddington, entitled "The Income-Tax and the MedicalProfession," shall be published.

An Old Subscribe)-.-We do not remember the advertisement. There is nosuch author who is either a physician or surgeon to any hospital in Lon-don. If our correspondent would take the trouble to consult an expe-rienced surgeon in the locality where he resides, relief would speedilyensue. If he does not take care, his anxiety will have the effect of throwinghim into the hands of some of the advertising quacks, and then woebetide him ! In nine cases out of ten the supposed malady is the result ofa morbid fancy.

SUPRA-CENTENARIAN.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Near this place is a person, who is in as good and sound health ascan be expected fOI his age, above 102 years, if that will do.He was very well last Saturday fortnight, and last Saturday his son

informed me that he has seen his father’s name on the church register, andthat he was 102 years old on the 9th of last September; he has hi-; facultiesperfect, except that he forge’s recent events. His name is Jenkin Davies,of Trowcarn, Ystradtellte, Breconshire. If any communication with him isrequired, it had better be addressed through me, as he lives twelve milesfrom hence, and I can give it to his grandson, who resides here, and has gene-rally the means of sending to him on Saturdays. I have heard that the oldman walked over to Merthyr about three years ago. He was thirty whenhe married, and has a daughter about seventy-two, so that there is hardly adoubt of his age.

I ault, Sir, your obedient servant,Merthyr Tydfil, Jan. 8,1851. JOB JAMES, Surgeon;