601

at Trebizond, to this important post. Dr. Binsenstein was for-merly sanitary physician at Van, Larissa, Heraclea, and. ’the :Dardanelles, and is a great acquisition to our medical worldhere." It thus appears that the Porte has commenced theinstitution of Medecins Sanitaires, as the French have done forthe last ten or twelve years in all these quarters.- (From aGorresponclent. )THE PREVENTION OF ECTROPION. - M. Debron, of

Orleans, has lately brought a case before the Surgical Societyof Paris, upon which he grounds his belief that threatenedectropion should be prevented when loss of substance rendersits occurrence likely, by the following operation :-The marginsof the eyelids are pared and brought together by sutures, sothat the ocular globe, when union takes place, is completelyand permanently covered. The loss of substance then under-goes repair, either by contraction or autoplasty, and when thecicatrix has reached the maximum point of retraction, the lidsare freed, and no chance of ectropion is left. Facts seem to

prove that the artificial ankyloblepharon thus produced doesnot permanently damage the media of the eye. MM. Richard,Huguier, and Maisonneuve are said to have operated success-fully in the same manner. Doubts may be entertained as tothe effects of this operation on the globe of the eye and themargins of the lids.DR. A. GIBSON, AND THE FOREST DEPARTMENT OF

BOMBAY. -We have pleasure in reproducing the annexed para-graph from a Bombay paper :-

" The following notification appears in the GovernmentGazette of Thursday, Sept. 27th; and we have no doubt allthose acquainted with Dr. Gibson, and the manner in whichhe has conducted his important duties in the Forest Depart-ment, will agree with us in considering that this meritoriousofficer is fully deserving of the high encomium passed uponhim by the Government :-" Revenue Department. -Dr. A. Gibson’s employment on

special duty having ceased, and his connexion with the Forestmanagement of this Presidency being thereby ended, his Excel-lency the Governor in Council desires publicly to acknowledgeDr. Gibson’s unremitting zeal in the discharge of the office ofConservator of Forests during a period of fourteen years, andthe beneficial results which the measures conducted under hisdirection have secured to the State.

By order of his Excellency the Honourablethe Governor in Council,

" ’A. D. ROBERTSON,"’ Bombay Castle, Sept. 26th, 1860."’ Acting Secretary to Government.

LONGEVITY OF PEERS AND PAUPERS.-It is not a littleremarkable that the members of the Peerage who have diedsince the year commenced, twenty-four in number, haveexactly completed, on the average, the full measure of theallotted span of human life-the threescore years and ten."They are as follows:-Viscount Arbuthnott, 82; Lord Londes-borough, 54; Viscount Southwell, 83; Viscount Gormanston,84; Lord Oranmore, 72; Bishop of Rochester, 84; Earl ofLongford, 42; Baroness Stratheden, 63; Lord Fitzgerald, 60;Viscount Guillamore, 27; Baroness Wentworth, 67; Earl ofStrafford, 82; Lord Heytesbury, 80; Archbishop of York, 71;Lord Sandys, 68; Lord Elphinstone, 53; Bishop of Worcester,77; Earl of Lauderdale, 76; Earl of Cawdor, 70; Lord Ffrench,74; Earl of Leven and Melville, 75; Duke of Richmond, 69;Earl Manvers, 82; Earl of Dundonald, 85: total of united

ages, 1680 years, which, being divided by 24, gives exactly 70years to each.-There are at present in the Ratcliffe and Wap-ping workhouses of the Stepney Union 69 inmates whose col-lective ages amount to 5538 years, giving an average of 80years for each inmate; and 292 persons in the above-namedworkhouses of the Stepney Union whose average ages are 70years.CLIMATE OF MALGA.-Much has been recently stated

regarding the curative influence of the climate of Malaga upondisease. Some late authorities likewise assert that it is superiorto many other southern localities which at present enjoy veryhigh reputations as salubrious retreats for invalids. Withoutgoing into any lengthened medical discussion on so professionala subject, since a holiday tour is not the proper arena for suchinvestigations, the physician who now speaks would neverthe-less briefly say he very much doubts the correctness of anyopinion promulgated in reference to the advantages whichMalaga really possesses as a salutary residence, especially foiconsumptive patients. Pulmonary disease frequently prevailsin the city and its vicinity, and is proved from this conclusivefact-namely, that out of 1469 deaths recently reported tchave taken place during nine successive years in the generalhospital, 596 fatal cases, or upwards of forty per cent., arOSE

from pectoral maladies. If affections of such description sofrequently originate, and thereby also prove fatal in thislocality, it cannot surely become sanative to those coming fromother countries, especially having the germs of thoracic com-plaints already manifested in their constitutions. The wintermay be mild compared with more northern regions, but itseems curious that the greatest amount of sickness occurs dur-ing December and January ; while in summer the heat, dust,and dryness of the atmosphere-always most injurious to-

phthisical persons-are then nearly unbearable. In short, theclimate of Malaga has been much overpraised. It cannot berecommended like Hyres in France, or even some places inthe south of Ireland and Devonshire.—-Ft’om a Physician’s,Holiday Tour in Spain.EXTRAORDINARY ENDURANCE OF PAIN.-Mr. Hutton,

of Radley, was caught in some mill machinery, and his armterribly crushed. He extricated himself, and stopped themachinery. Allowing no one to convey the intelligence to his.wife, he concealed the injured arm, and walked home. He

proceeded into the house with all his usual calmness, took downa book from the shelf, and commenced reading it for a fewminutes, then gradually broke the news to his wife. Surgicalassistance was procured, and throughout the necessary mani-pulations the patient endured bravely his sufferings, aided byhis wife, whom he had inspired with fortitude and resignation.Unfortunately, amputation was necessary.DISINFECTING FLUID FOR SLOUGHING WOUNDS.-

M. Hervieux has read a paper before the Society of the I-los-

pitals of Paris, wherein he proves, by cases, the cleansing anddisinfecting properties of chloride of lime. He advises that a

sponge moistened with a solution of chloride of lime be kepton the wound by means of a loose roller. The solution is com-

posed of one part of the chloride to six or ten of water, accord-ing to the case; and the sponge should be charged three or fourtimes a day. The results are described as wonderful.

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK ENDINGSATURDAY, DEC. 8TH.-The deaths in London in the week thatended last Saturday were 1240; they were not quite so nume-rous as in the previous week, when they were 1275. Thedeaths caused by bronchitis were 172; those by pneumonia, 95,the result, perhaps, of the mildness of the weather, the meantemperature of last week having been higher by five degreesthan that of the previous fortnight. The mortality from phthisiswas 150. The deaths from measles were 58; scarlatina, 50;diphtheria, 18; whooping-cough, 52.

Last week the births of 923 boys and 891 girls, in all 1814;children, were registered in London. In the ten correspondingweeks of the years 1850-59 the average number was 1635.

Obituary.JOHN PARROTT, ESQ., M.R.C.S.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)THE hand of death has fallen heavily of late upon the mem-

bers of our profession in the southern district of the metropolis.Dr. Young, of Kennington-lane, Mr. Howell, of Wandsworth,and Mr. Parrott, of Clapham, the subject of the present notice,leading men as general practitioners, and long resident in theirrespective localities, have all, within the last few months, beensummoned from this world of toil, anxiety, and suffering, to a,higher state of existence.

Mr. Parrott was born Aug. 4th, 1790, at Mitcham, wherehis father practised many years as a surgeon, with great repu-tation and success. On the termination of his apprenticeship,he entered at Guy’s and St. Thomas’s Hospitals. During hisstudentship at this school, his steady attention to his profes-sional pursuits attracted the notice of Sir A. Cooper, withwhom he became a favourite pupil. The friendship, thusbegun, continued through life. There was no one of whom, inafter-time, Sir A. Cooper used to speak with more pride andaffection than of his old friend and pupil, Mr. Parrott, ofClapham. Having completed his student-career in town, heproceeded to Edinburgh, where he attended the courses oflectures on midwifery by Professor Hamilton. Whilst at thatcelebrated school of medicine, he formed an intimate acquaint-ance with students who have since become men of mark, andof the highest professional rank and standing in the metro-rw,l;o T4. He commenced practice with his father in the year

602

IS 16, at Mitoham and Tooting, where he remained some years,when, an opening presenting itself at Clapham, he went intopartnership with Mr. Prior, who had purchased Mr. Gardiner’sconnexion. An opportunity was thus afforded to him of dis-playing the intellectual energy, the unwearied perseverance,and the exceeding kindness of heart which characterized him.Through his subsequent most successful career, the practice onwhich he had entered ultimately became, by the steady, long-continued exercise of the above-mentioned faculties, not infe-rior in emolument or respectability to any in the British Isles.Year after year witnessed to the diligence and activity of thisindefatigable practitioner,-now knooking at the door of thenobleman’s mansion, and now entering the humble dwelling ofthe dying pauper,-carrying everywhere relief from suffering,the assuagement of pain, and restoration to health; and, as is’well known, adding from his liberal purse pecuniary help, inmany cases the only thing needed to renovate the decayingstrength of the poor sufferer. The writer of the present noticehas known instances of Mr. Parrott’s kindness and attentionfor years to persons of decayed gentility, from whom he couldnot expect, and certainly did not receive, fee or reward in anyshape, except that of a grateful heart. His conduct towardshis professional brethren was marked by courtesy and generousconsideration ; his assistance in consultation was frequentlysought and as cheerfully accorded, in the case of the poor as ofthe rich.

Mr. Parrott was too much occupied in the active duties ofhis profession to bestow much time on books. He did not,however, neglect or despise the literature of his art; but, on thecontrary, he kept himself quite au courant with the essentialimprovements of modern times in medical science, but moreespecially in reference to the means suggested or adopted forthe relief and cure of disease. His genius was, indeed, entirelypractical. He read the book of Nature daily, and it may beadded assiduously and attentively, and from its pages it wasthat he drew lessons of wisdom and skill. It is to be much re-

gretted that the fruits of experience and observation of nearlyhalf a century should not have been gathered up and preservedfor posterity. It is only by the recorded experience of thepractitioners of medicine, and the legitimate inferences fromsuch experience, that medical science can be established uponan immovable basis. Printing has rendered possible that whichin the days of manuscripts could never have been imagined.Every man is now able to make himself immortal in his works,and, what is vastly more important and satisfactory, a blessingto his race to the end of time. It is grievous to reflect on theimmense loss to humanity occasioned by the neglect to transmitto future labourers in the domains of medicine the informationof which all must have gleaned in their daily work a greateror less. store, in proportion, of course, to their abilities or

opportunities. How often do we see the aged and experiencedpractitioner go down to the grave without leaving behind anyrecord of the hard-fought experience of a long life. It has oftenbeen suggested that medical men should give up the practice oftheir profession at sixty. Would it not be to the advantage ofthe state that they should devote the remainder of their life tothe duty of collecting together and committing to writing thenumberless facts, phenomena, and occurrences of their pastcareer, together with their present opinions and reflections ?It cannot be denied but that such documents would be far morevaluable than the musty parchments on some other subjects,estimated so highly by the antiquary.

After going through the usual phases of office, he arrived atthe dignity of Master of the Apothecaries’ Company. He wasnot a man of many words, but what he did say was alwayscharacterized by good sense and sound judgment, and theposition in his hands lost nothing of its value and importance.

I must now allude briefly to the subject of the " Dispensary."Mr. Parrott had for many years, and, indeed, from his firstsettling at Clapham, been in the habit of giving both adviceand medicine to the poor at his surgery, and of visiting themat their homes, his only compensation being the voluntaryofferings of the benevolent persons of the neighbourhood. Itwas proposed to establish a regular institution, with its electedstaff of medical men, its rules, a committee of management,and, if possible, a suitable building for receiving patients. Tothis proposal Mr. Parrott heartily assented, at the same timeoffering many valuable suggestions, in writing, as to the quali-fications and position of the medical officers and the eligibilityof candidates-for the appointment. But he proceeded no fur-ther, till, at a subsequent period, he considerately transferredto the public institution the patients and subscribers who hadhitherto constituted his own private charity. He ultimatelyaccepted the office of consulting surgeon, which he held till hisdeath.

For the last ten or twelve years of his life he suffered fromthe effects of a paralytic seizure, which betrayed themselveschiefly in imperfect articulation. The usual phenomena ofsoftening of the brain made their appearance about three yearssince. These continued to increase until the 10th ult., whenhe expired at his residence on Clapham-common, at the age ofseventy years.

_ _ _.._. _ _ _ _ ..

Births, Marriages, and Deaths.BIRTHS.

On the 21st ult., at Park-place-villas, Maida-hill West,Paddington, the wife of W. D. Thane, Esq., M.R.C.S., of adaughter, still-born.On the 3rd inst., at Clarendon House, Stewkley, the wife of

Charles Bryant, Esq., M. R. C. S., of a son.On the 4th inst., at Colston-parade, Bristol, the wife of R.

W. Ellis, Esq., M.R.C.S., of a son.On the 9th inst., at St. Thomas’s-street, Southwark, the wife

of J. S. Bristowe, M.D., of a daughter.

MARRIAGE.On the llth inst., at St. Mark’s Church, Regent’s-park,

Dr. George Barnes, of Newcastle, Staffordshire, to ElizabethFrances, widow of the late Rev. B. S. T. Smyth, Incumbentof West Pinchbeck, second daughter of Thomas Bridges, Esq.,of Marwood-hill, North Devon, and niece of B. M. Wilcox,Esq., M.P. for Southampton.

DEATHS.

On the 25th ult., at Blackheath, William Anthony Purnell,M.D., late Physician-General of the Bombay Army.On the 26th alt., at Madeira, en route to Calcutta, of fever,

G. Anderson, Esq., of Farnbam, Surrey, Surgeon to Her Ma-jesty’s Emigration Commissioners, in his 59th year.On the 6th inst., at the Raglan Barracks, Devonport, sud-

denly, by the bursting of a bloodvessel, Surgeon J. S. Grant,M.D., 53rd Regiment.On the 8th inst., Geo. Johnstoue Langsford, Esq., M.R.C.S.,

of Hart-hill, near Nuneaton, aged 38.On the llth inst., at Charlotte-street, Perth, the wife of

Isaac Wallace, M.D.

MEDICAL DIARY OF THE WEEK.

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M. METROPOLITAN FRFE HOSPITAL. - Operations,2P.M.MEDICAL SOCIETY 011 LONDON.-8! P.M. Dr. John

’ Cockle, "On some Points of the Pathology,Diagnosis, and Treatment of Insufficiency ofthe Aortic Valves, especially in connexion withSudden Death."

(GUY’s HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1½ P.at.- { WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M.LPATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.-8 P.M.MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1 P.M.ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1 P.M.UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL. - Operations,I 2 P.M.RoTAL ORTHOP2ÉDrc HOSPITAL. -- Operations,2

j P.M. *

GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.-8 8 P.M:.SOCIETY FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF ARTS,l MANUFACTURES, AND COMMERCE.-8 P.M. Mr.A. J. Tansley, "On the Straw Plait Trade."(ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1 P.M:.CENTRAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL-

Operations, 1 P.M.LONDON HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1½ P,at. GREAT NORTHERN HOSPITAL, KING’S CROSS;GREAT NORTHERN HOSPITAL, KING’S CROSS.-( Operations, 3 B.M.

I LINNÆAN SOCIETY. - 8 P.M. Dr. T. Spencer Cob-

bold, " On Animal Parasites (Entozoa), withExperiments."

CHARING-CROSS HOSPITAL ’MEDICkr SOCIETY:-l 8t P.M. Dr. Hyde Salter, " On the Stethosoope."WESTMINSTER OPHmHALa2IC HOSPITAL. - Opera-! tions, 1½ P.M.

IVISTDRN MEDICAL AND SURGICAL SOCIETY OF

) LONDON. - 8 P.M. Practical Evening for theNarration of Cases and Exhibition of Specimens.

- Mr. Leggatt, "On a Case of Acute Glossitis:’ ;,

ST. THOMAS’S HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1 P.M.) Sr. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL.-Operations 1( P.M.

f KING’s COLLEGE HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1½CHARING-CROSS HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M.