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THE "ASYLUM JOURNAL" AND DR. SUTHER-LAND.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,-In your recent review of the Jozsrnccl which I have the

honour to edit, you have fallen into an error in the statementof a fact, which your sense of justice will, I am convinced,render you anxious to rectify. I allude to the passage (p. 442)placed between inverted commas, having reference to Dr.Sutherland’s evidence on the trial of Buranelli. I know notwhence this passage has been quoted, but certainly Dr. Suther-land never uttered anything of the kind at the trial. The

portion of his evidence to which alone it can refer, stands asfollows in the report printed from the short-hand notes:-" Q.Where is the seat of hypochondriasis? A. In the nervoussystem.-Q. Is it not in the mind ? A. It is seated generallyin the nervous system. It is the effect of the nerves conveyingfalse notices, generally through the stomach to the brain." Ifthere is any obscurity in this explanation of the causation ofhypochondriasis by dyspepsia, it arises from uncertainty in thesense of the word " through." Alter this word into" from theinfluence of," and no one can doubt the meaning, or the justiceof the explanation.

It would be unreasonable to expect that you would permitme to occupy space in your columns with a controversy on Dr.Sutherland’s metaphysical opinions; since on such subjects notwo people can agree on the premises, and controversy becomesendless and useless. I may, however, be permitted to statethat Dr. Sutherland entertains those opinions in common withmany of the most eminent physicians in this and other coun-tries. For instance, the presence of the mental principle in allparts of the body is the subject of Professor Laycock’s interest-ing paper in the July number of the British and Foreign Re-view. Again, the implication of the will in insanity continuesto be a favourite-perhaps I may say the prevailing-theory inFrance and Germany. The veteran Falret maintains this doc-trine in his recent work. He also distinctly expresses hisbelief in the " spontaniety of thought" in mental disease. The

opinion, also, that our actions are the immediate result, not ofthe intellectual, but of the emotional processes of the mind is,as I think, demonstrated to be correct by Sir James Mackintosh.

I freely admit that in many points on the abstruse and diffi-cult subject of insanity, Dr. Sutherland’s opinions do not en-tirely agree with my own; but it is long since I have learnedthat in the pursuit of truth, as contra-distinguished from thedefence of that which we believe to be true,-that is, in scienceas distinguished from controversy, the opinions of a man pos-sessing great experience and information, are at no time so ’’

deserving of respectful attention and indulgent criticism aswhen they most differ from our own.

I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,JOHN CHARLES BUCKNILL.

Devon County Lunatic Asylum, Nov. 1855.JOHN CHARLES BUCKNILL.

DEATH OF A MILITIA SURGEON ONFOREIGN SERVICE.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-By the last mail from Gibraltar 1 have received anaccount of the death of Dr. Wm. Molloy, surgeon to the North-amptonshire Militia quartered there, from dysentery, takenduring the performance of his hospital duties. This officer hasleft a widow and four young children, with but very slendermeans of support; and, to my great surprise, I learn that thereis no provision made in the War Department, or otherwise, fora pension in such cases.

Is not this a grievance ? Whatever plea may be made incase of death in a militia corps at home, should it be the samewhen it occurs on foreign service ? I hope, Sir, you will con-sider this deserving your notice and comment.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,November, 1855. P. B.

NECESSITY FOR A CORONER’S COURT INSCOTLAND.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,-In THE LANCET of the 10th inst. you have a paragraph

on the late fatal case in Edinburgh, which happened during theinhalation of chloroform, and allude to the want of a coroner’sinquest in Scotland-a want daily felt by the medical profes-sion.

Several months ago, I published, at the request of theHarveian Society, an essay, which Iread while President, andillustrated it with a few cases. I took the liberty of sending a.copy to you, I think, in July last, and I am sure you wouldconfer a great benefit on this part of the island, if you wouldtake up the question and bring it prominently forward. It isa disgrace to our legislature that things should be conducted asthey are here, and the only merit I claim is in being the firstto bring the subject forward. All the profession well knowthe state of the law to be most defective, and I could easilysupply other illustrative cases.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.,Edinburgh, Nov. 1855. JAMES CRAIG, F. R. C. S.

INSUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF NAVAL MEDICALOFFICERS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,-In the Navy List for October, it may be found that

for certain 82 ships in commission, the proper peace com-plement of assistant-surgeons is 141 ; the number actuallyin bond is 46, and there are 92 vacancies; also, 4 surgeonsare wanting, making 96 medical vacancies in 82 ships. It is.not enough to improve the pay of the assistant-surgeons. A

young medical man, while thinking about entering the navy,besides reflecting on the position of the assistant-surgeon, con-siders also the peculiarities in the position of the surgeon. Hefinds that the full surgeon is underpaid, and is placed unfairlywith regard to rank, promotion, prize-money, and accommoda-tion on ship-board.

Yours obediently,November, 1855. JUST DISCONTENT, R.N.

JAMES CRAIG, F. R. C. S.

JUST DISCONTENT, R.N.

THE SURGERY OF THE WAR.

THE SANITARY CONDITION OF THE BRITISH ARMYIN THE CRIMEA

DURING THE WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 3RD.

THE Inspector-General of Hospitals states :-The sanitarycondition of the army continues most satisfactory, and a sensibledecrease both in sickness and mortality has taken place. Thehealth of the 82nd Regiment has improved, and the LandTransport Corps is the only one which has been sickly, and inwhich any amount of mortality has taken place, three-eighthsof the casualties of the whole army for the week having occurredin that corps alone. In the Cavalry Division no death tookplace during the week, and only one each in the Third andHighland Divisions, which is about as low a rate of mortalityas can well be expected in a body of 15,872 men serving inthe field.During the present week the admissions to strength have

been 256 per cent.; but exclusive of transfers from regimentalto general hospitals, and the Land Transport Corps, only 2 ’10per cent. The deaths to strength have been 0 ’08 per cent.;exclusive of Land Transport, 0 ’05 per cent.; proportion of sickto healthy, 6.72 per cent.; exclusive of Land Transport Corps,6’18; and exclusive of both wounded and Land TransportCorps, 4’75 per cent.The following abstract of admissions and deaths shows the

difference between this and the preceding week :-

By this table it will be seen that there has been a slightincrease in febrile and catarrhal affections, but a decrease incholera and other diseases of the stomach and bowels.

C A T A R A C T.-A letter from Dresden states that an

operation for cataract has just been undergone by the PrincessAmelia, sister of King John. The operation was performedby Dr. Conins on both eyes, and was perfectly successful.