253JOHN LONG AGAIN !-FRACTURE.

of St. John Long’s trial, and offers his miteof five pounds for that purpose.

° Suffolk Place, Pall Mall East,6th November, 1830."

In acknowledging the receipt of this note,which, from a variety of circumstances, can-not be otherwise than gratifying to our feel-

ings, we beg to state that Mr. Henson, thesolicitor, has given us to understand that

upon presenting a petition, supported byaffidavit, to the Lords of the Treasury, the

prosecutor’s costs will be allowed out of thefine paid by the FELON. This is the source

whence every expense incurred by the pro-secution ought certainly to be defrayed.

THE FELON AGAIN!

A LADY, of the name of Lloyd, has nowfallen a victim to the " rubbing" system ofthis atrocious quack. The unhappy sufferer

expired, in the most excruciating tortures,about ten days after she had first been" rubbed." A horrid wound was producedon the breast; and, according to the evidenceof the medical witnesses, the consequentinflammation and mortification were of greatextent. A coroner’s inquest sat on the bodyon Wednesday, which was adjourned to

Thursday ; and just as this sheet of our

Journal was going to press, we heard that

the jury had returned a verdict of " man-

slaughter" against LONG. A few personshave had the temerity to assert that the latesentence was a scandalous one ; what will

they say now’?

Dr. ELLioTSOV thus concluded his clini-

cal lecture, delivered on Monday last at St.Thomas’s Hospital, on the impositions some-times practised by patients on their medi-cal attendants.

Remember, gentlemen, that thoughpatients sometimes deceive medical men,practitioners often deceive their patients.It is but fair, then, for patients to playthese tricks upon us ; especially if ive takeinto consideration that any one may practiseupon their credulity with impunity—thatquackery may flourish ; that the most igno-rant may practise in spite of the Royal Col-lege of Physicians, and the Royal College

of Surgeons, and the Worshipful Companyof Apothecaries ; that no one can touch suchpersons ; no one can prevent their proceed-ings; for, of course, those great bodieswould do their duty to the public if theyhad the power to interfere. A quack maymake his twelve thousand a year in spite ofany laws that can be put in force ag’ainsthim ; and if he do chance to destroy a fewof his patients, we know that lie can be al-lowed to do so at the rate of two hundredand fifty pounds a head. We can afford,then, to forgive our patients for occasionallydeceiving us in return." *

ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL.

EXTENSIVE FRACTURE OF THE PELVIS.

JOHN SMITH, a;tat. 27, was idmitted intoColston’s Ward, on the evening of the 13thof October, under the care of Mr. Vincent.He complained of his left hip being injured,and on examination, a point of bone wasdiscovered, projecting a little above thecentre of the dorsum ilii of that side. Nosolution of continuity could be detected inthe extent of the crista, and the severed

fragment was supposed to be a portion ofthe external table of the ilium. The swell-

ing of the soft parts, which had taken

place previous to his admission, entirelyptecludpd the possibility of ascertaining theprecise direction and extent of the fracture.Some difference of opinion, we understand,alose as to whether a second fracture ofthe posterior portion of the ilium existed,or a dislocation at the sacro-iliac symphysis.He complained of excessive pain in theinjured part, which was exceedingly in-creased on the slightest motion of the thigh.Mr. Vincent was sent for, and arrived inabout half an hour. He examined the partswith great attention, and thought that thefracture of the ilium extended in the direc-tion of the acetabulum, and that the hori-zontal ramus of the pubis was also fractured.Soon after his admission, there was an invo-luntary discharge of faeces, but there wasno paralysis of the bladder or lower extre-mities.He stated that he was a wagoner, and

was in perfect health previous to the ac-

cident. He was driving a wagon over

Blackfriars Bridge, and slipped from offthe curb-stone on the carriage-road, andfell with his left hip against the ground.He stated distinctly, that the wagon didnot pass over him, nor touch him in theslightest degree, and he attributed the in-jury he has sustained solely to the fall.

* We had not room for this lecture in our presentNumber.

254

Mr. Vincent ordered him to be laid on the 15th, and still remains so. Venesectionhis back, and to have §xij of blood taken to 13 ounces.from the hip by cupping, and afterwards a 18, two P.M. He is daily getting muchbroad bandage to be put around the pelvis. worse ; his expectoration is now attended

Oct. 14. Has passed a sleepless night, in with great difficulty, and the respiration isconsequence of the severity of the pain in exceedingly laborious. He complains of

the injured parts. The rectum is now under pain in the fore part of the thigh, which wasthe influence of the will. The bowels have bruised at the time the accident occurred.

not been open since last night. He lies The pain in the abdomen has not been severewith his thighs widely separated, and says since the 16th, and he can now bear pres.he is easier in that position than in any sure on it pretty well. He complains ofother. He is still in a great deal of pain. severe pain over the trochanter major. LetAn ounce of castor oil to be taken imme- hun be bled from the arm to 20 ounces;

diately. cupping on the hip to 12 ounces. Discon-

15, ten A.M. He complains of acute pain tinue the saline and antimony, and take ofabout the angles of the 7th, 8th, and 9th solution of acetate of ammonia zjss. ; ipecac.ribs of the left side; his respiration is fre- Wlile, 16 drops every fourth hour.quent, painful, and hurried. The ribs ap-

10 P.M. Still great difficulty of breathing,pear to be immoveable, particularly those and the pain in the chest rather increased;corresponding to the seat of the pain. His pulse very rapid, but much softer and verytongue is white, skin hot and dry ; pulse small; in other respects the same. Add ten

100, strong and full ; a deep inspiration drops of tincture of digitalis to each of theproduced cough and increased the pain. The above draughts.pain in the hip is still severe ; bowels freely 19. 1 wo P.M. Feels considerable pain IIIrelieved yesterday by the castor oil. To the abdomen to-day ; has passed a verybe bled to 18 ounces immediately, restless night ; pulse still very frequent, but_, . , ,

much fuller than last night ; lie now com-Six P.M. The pain and breathing were plains of great debility; in other respectsboth relieved by the V.S. ; his pulse rose to the same. Twenty leeches to the chest;

110, and became soft ; within the last three twenty leeches to the abdomen, with fomen.hours he is become considerably worse, and tations.the pain in the side is more severe than it Nine P.M. Worse than in the morning;was m the morning. The blood taken at pulse rather stronger and fuller venesectionten o’clock is very much buffed and cupped. to twelve ounces.Bleeding to be repeated to 18 ounces imme- I 20. All the symptoms are increasing ra-diately ; to have a saline draught, with the pidly ; he is sinking fast ; bowels still con-solution tartar emetic every fourth hour. tinue open.

16, eleven A.M. Felt relieved by the bleed- 21. Last night he became delirious, anding, but is now worse than before he was still remains so ; his eyelids are half-closed;bled. Blood drawn last night buffed and breathing rather easier, and the pain in thecupped; cough very much worse, and kept side is also easier ; pulse still full and fre-him awake all night; he expectorates a great quent; countenance exsanguine and of adeal of viscid mucus. He now experiences citron tint.severe pain in the abdomen at each inspira- 22. Died last night at eleven o’clock.tion. Eighteen leeches to the chest, and .,

the same number to the abdomen. The ab- Examination 14 hours after Death.domen to be well fomented after the leeches Brain healthy.are taken off. Venesection to 18 ounces Chest.—The pleura covering the posteriorimmediately. surface of the left lung, and that lining theTen r.M. Much worse in every respect. corresponding part of the wall of the thorax,’17, two A.M. The bleeding produced the was covered with a thick layer of yellow,

same effect as on previous occasions. He opaque, and very tenacious lymph. On re-has now more difficulty of breathing, and moving this lymph, the pleura was foundthe cough is attended with a more copious minutely injected, and dark-red spots wereexpectoration. The pain in the side has ex- visible beneath it. The lung throughouttended over a larger surface, and is much was less crepitant than natural, and whenincreased in intensity. There has been no cut into, pus exuded from the ramificationsoccasion for aperient medicine since the of the bronchial tubes. The entire lung14th inst. To be bled to 18 bunces. Con- was in a state of engouement. There wastinue the saline antimonial mixture. no change of structure. The right lung

Eleven r.M. Was relieved by the bleed- was tolerably healthy.ing, and slept for three hours after it. His I Abdomen.—Peritoneum slightly inflamed;respiration is now very laborious ; the blood pus was found in the psoas masnus of thecontinues buffed and cupped ; pulse has left side in its whole extent. The abdomi-continued at about 120, and very full, since nal and pelvic viscera were healthy.

255

Pelvis.-The soft parts over the iliumwere in a state approaching to gangrene;there was a comminuted fracture of the leftilium, which commenced about two inchesand a half from its anterior superior spine,extended through the substance of the bonein an oblique direction, and having describ- ied a semicircle, terminated at the sacro- Iiliac symphisis. The remaining portion ofthe ilium was separated from its articulationwith the sacrum, and thrown considerably Iupwards and forwards. The ramus of theleft ischium, and the horizontal ramus of thecorresponding pubes, were also fractured.A small collection of pus was found withinthe capsule of the hip-joint, and the carti-

lage of the acetabulum was in several partsabsorbed.

SINGULAR EFFECT OF LIGHTNING.

WE lately communicated a very remark-able instance of the effect of lightning on aman who, though the shock seemed to havepassed directly through him, afterwardscompletely recovered ; we find a similarcase in a late number of the " KuitischeRepertorium." On the 5th of last May, inthe naighbourhood of Moersbach, a largeoak was struck by lightning, at the timewhen two children were standing under-neath. They were found a short time afterthe accident in a state of complete insensi-bility, from which, however, they soon re-covered. The elder, eleven years of age,had on the outer side of the left thigh, alivid streak, about half an inch in breadth,and five inches in length ; another twoinches in length, on the posterior surfaceof the left upper arm ; and a third from theinner ancle of the right foot to the great toe,where the shoe was completely torn through.The other child, seven years of age, had

only one streak at the outer side of the leftthigh, terminating at the knee ; both chil-dren complained of great lassitude, stiffnessof the limbs, and pain in the abdomen; butafter the use of aperients and the externalapplication of camphorated spirit, completelyrecovered in ten days.

ERRATUM.

W. B. O’SHAUGHNESSY, M.D.

To the Editor of Tjir, LANCET.

SIR,—I perceive in " THE LANCET " ofthe 6th November, an anonymous commu-nication, containing strictures on the pro-fessional character of Sir W. Blizard, anddated the 12th of October, 23, HtidlowStreet, Burton Crescent.As that has been my place of residence

since the 29th of September, and as I havecommunicated to THE LANCET an authenti-

cated article (besides two advertisements ofLectures) with that address, I beg you willafford me the earliest opportunity of em.phatically disclaiming the slightest con-nexion with the anonymous communication.

I am, Sir,Your obedient servant,

W. B. O’SHAUGHNESSY, M.D.23, Hadlow Street, Burton Crescent,

9th November, 1830.

SURGICAL PRACTICE IN WORKHOUSES.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—Under the impression from the

past, that you are always ready to exposein your valuable periodical, all professional11 humbug" and " hole-and-corner prac-tice," I am led to ask insertion for theselines, arising from a sincere wish that, asmedical students pay the most exorbitantand shameful fees for the little knowledgethey are enabled to acquire, so they shouldin like manner, make the most of it when-ever an opportunity presents itself. I aman apprentice to the surgeon of one of our

largest metropolitan workhouses, and inlatter part of my time, from which, up tothe period when 1 entered the profession, Ihave invariably been allowed to examineand derive what knowledge I could fromthe cases contained in the ward appropriatedto the male venereal patients ; but, will itbe believed, in the present enlighterredstate of the profession, when I write thatthe surgeon of the establishment refuses toadmit me when he examines female cases,differing frequentiy from the disease in themale, in consequence of the difference of theparts, and, forsooth, because his sense ofdecorum bids him pronounce his " veto."" 0 chastitas ! 0 pristina fides !" Surelynothing can exceed the well-timed benevo-lence of this worthy man, in thus sparingthe feelings of generally the lowest class ofprostitutes, and, in consequence, denying a

stripling of twenty-one, who has paid himhandsomely, to acquire all professionalknowledge, and who possesses an anxiouswish to understand his calling, from witness-ing cases which tend to illustrate and affordto the student correct pathological _data re-lative to this important disease.

’

In begging you a sincere pardon for thustrespassing on your press and patience,

I am, Sir,Your most obedient servant,

A CONSTANT READER.Oct. 28th, 1830.

** If the writer of this letter be of ma-ture age, we think the restriction imposedby his master is neither sensible nor just.