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To Correspondents.IT would greatly facilitate our labours if gentlemen, who kindly forward to us Inewspapers or other periodicals, would be good enough to mark the articlesto which they wish to direct our attention. Brevity and condensation incommunications forwarded for publication are especial recommendations toour favour. It is, moreover, desirable that our correspondents should assumedefinite and easily-recognisable signatures. We have occasionally on ourtable at the same time half a dozen letters, each signed "A Surgeon;" the

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" Subscribers" are too numerous to mention; whilst those who merely attach" M.D." or "M.R.C.S." to their communications are legion. It would remove

much difficulty and confusion if some more distinct and less common signa-tures were to be adopted.

3fr. Charles Jones Humphreys.-1. Certainly, Mr. - should have expressedhis obligation, particularly as Mr. Humphreys merely intended to officiatefor him in his absence.-2. No practitioner can be compelled to attend insuch a case; but humanity must overrule all points of medical etiquette.Mr. -had no just cause for annoyance.-3. The previous answers mustdecide this question.

A Surgeon, (Poplar.)-The particulars of the cases should be furnished to theRegistrar under the new Medical Act, Dr. Francis Hawkins. If our corre-

spondent will allow his name to be appended to his communication, it shallappear in THE LANCET.

Salop.-It is generally two years’ amount of the receipts.Gutto, (Carnarvon.)-l. The indentures will be received,-2. The preliminaryexamination will be imperative on all students who present themselves forexamination after April next.

K. Z.-Evidenec was given on the trial by Mr. Acton, of Queen Ann-street.

DISCHARGE FROM THE NOSE

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SiR,-In answer to " A Constant Subscriber," (THE LANCET, Nov. 27th,) I

would suggest that he might relieve his patient from the hot and slimy dis-charge from the nose, aud all its distressing concomitant symptoms-1st, byavoiding all acrid ingesta, such as cayenne pepper, condiments, and spices ufall kinds, including acrid and saline purgatives, and the use of tobacco ; 2ndly,by the vapour-bath, including the head, twice a week; 3rdly, by giving himthe liquor of the acetate of ammonia, with hydrolyanic acid, directing him totake exercise usque ad sztdoreni, sed citra futigationem.

In searching for the cause of such an intractable complaint, I would alsosuggest the possibility of its arising from exposure of some filaments of thefifth pair of nerves, distributed to carious teeth, reacting upon the Schneiderianmembrane, for which the obvious remedy is extraction. The patient shouldreside in a high and dry locality.May I also be permitted to suggest that a perfectly safe method of adminis-

tering chloroform would be to introduce precisely as much chloroform into anoil-silk bag, filled with atmospheric air, as would constitute five per cent. ofvapour. The bag might be provided with an oro-nasai respirator, and a valve toadmit of the exit of the inspired, but to prevent the entrance of the expired air.

I remain, Sir, yours, &c.,December, 1858. NEMO.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,-The gentleman of plethoric habit, who suffers from a hot, slimy dis-

charge from the nose, would, 1 think, derive benefit from a course of iodide ofpotassium with tonics. His temperament is not mentioned, but may be pre-sumed to be phlegmatic. Considering his intense thirst, I should first recom-mend two grains of iodide of potassium and half a bottle of soda water threetimes daily. If the pulse should sink, combine half a drachm of compoundspirit of ammonia with each dose. Then next follow up the above with anounce and a half of decoction of cinchona with each dose. Do nothing locally,unless it be to encourage the discharge. See also if there be disease of anybones connected with the nose, not forgetting the ethmoid. Avoid gluttonyand spirit drinking. Your obedient servant,

December, 1858. S. L. G.

Mr. Haynes H’czltotz and the Central London Ophthalmic Hos-pital.-AVe wouldwillingly refrain from offering any further comments upon the strange pro-ceedings of the committee of this hospital; but the touting EYE placardsare not yet removed. Outrages against professional decency must be metby a determined resolution on the part of the independent medical press toabate or suppress them. We are constantly called upon to publish thenames of the medical officers of an institution, the conductors of whichresort to such unjustifiable means of obtaining notoriety.

C..F., (Chelsea.) -Certainly not.Hon. Sec.-Under the Medical Act, no certificate whatever will be received ina court of law, unless it emanate from a registered person. The Society ofApothecaries will still possess the power of prosecuting any person notqualified to practise as an apothecary.

W. J., (Cheitenham.)-The article shall appear as soon as possible.Medical Assistant, (Portland.)-Much will depend upon the regulations issuedby the University; but it is probable that none of them will have a retro-spective effect; consequently our correspondent will be admitted to examina-tion under the regulations which were in force at the time he commencedhis studies.

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Dr. Pickford.-The correspondence has been received.Mr. Joshua Helvurddy, (Portsmouth.) -It is unnecessary to publish the eommu-

nication. The letters of Dr. Engledue and Mr. Poate, in the last LANCET, donot require any confirmation.

THE letter of A Co7npa2zy’s Medical Officer, if possible, next week.Mr. W. J. P. Kidd.-The pun is very good, but not suitable to our columns,

A New Subscriber.-At the present moment it is impossible to answer most ofthe questions which have been put to us. The Registrar is Dr. FrancisHawkins, of Bolton-street, Picoadilly. Due notice will be given of the man-ner in which registration is to be effected. All the qualifications possessedby any practitioner may be registered. The Council have decided that it isnot expedient at present to fill up the fourth column of the Schedule, which

, is headed "Titles." As soon as the regulations are issued with regard toregistration, they will be inserted in THE LANCET.THE following members of the medical profession are Magistrates for theCounty of Surrey :-Sir Benjamin Brodie, Bart., Betchworth House, Surrey,and Savile-row, London; James A. Gordon, M.D., Burford Lodge, Dorking;James Stedman, M.R.C.S.E., Bishop’s Croft, Guildfotd.

Amieus shall receive a private note if he will forward his name and address, inconfidence, to the Editor.

An Unqualified Assistant will find full particulars in the Students’ Number ofTHE LANCET, which he can obtain by order of any bookseller. The regula-tions are too long to be inserted in this place.

Mr. W. Aspinall.-Due notice will be given by the Registrar both as to thetime and mode of registration.

A Photographic Artist.-The microscopic portraits of M. Amadio are admirable.The definition is surprising, and the likenesses excellent.

MEDICAL ASSISTANT S’ AID FUND.

To the Editor qfTEE LANCET.SIR,-In your impression of the 20th November will be found a letter from

"Undergraduate," suggesting a meeting of medical assistants, with a view toconsider the above subject. Since he has been kind enough to volunteer hisservices as secretary, perhaps he would undertake to fix some time and placefor the said meeting. Nothing short of a meeting will be likely to result inanything satisfactory, and the sooner it is convened the better. I shall beglad to do what I can, in my sphere of action, to secure a good attendance,and promote its objects in every possible way.-I am, Sir, yours, &c.,December, 1858. AN ASSISTANT.

Anxiety.-Really so much depends upon circumstances, that it is impossible toanswer the first question. Under the new Act, there is no doubt that suchmodifications will be made by the Medical Council with regard to practice aswill enable our correspondent to fill the appointment which he mentions.

W. T. K., (Islington.)-We cannot recommend the person named. Anyrespectable surgeon could treat the case.

R. 0’ More, (St. Albans.)-1. In August, 181a".-2. To put down illegal prac.tice.-3. No. A person, however, will be prohibited from calling himself amedical adviser.-4. The Act is not retrospective. Those who practise with-out qualifications are infringing the law, and they have no right to com-plain of the provisions of the new enactment.

Diligentia must authenticate his communication.W. J. R.-It would be desirable that evidence should be forwarded to the

Registrar by the person applying for registration. Affidavits from a fewpatients who had been attended prior to August, 1815, would probably besufficient.

AN IMPOSTOR.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-On the afternoon of the 5th instant, a fellow made his way into mystudy, during my absence, and was caught by my servant in the act of carryingoff a case containing- an instrument. He is rather tall, spare, and of fair com-plexion. He made the usual pretence of desiring to write down a professionalengagement, for me. The rascal (who affected a foreign accent) is, no doubt,the same lately mentioned in a letter in your columns, as trying the same gamenear Cavendish-square. Your obedient servant,Upper Brook-street, December, 1858. P.

COMMUNICATIONS, LETTERS, &c., have been received from-Mr. Ranald Martin;Dr. Henry Bennet; Mr. Gant; Dr. Pollock; Dr. Brown-Sequard; Dr. Brain,Poplar; Dr. T. Smith; Mr. H. Lee; Dr. Waller Lewis; Mr. Walsh, Man-chester ; Dr. Aldis; Mr. C. J. Humphreys, Much Wenlock, Salop; Dr.Walling; Dr. T. Morley Rooke, Searbro’; Mr. Waters, Liverpool; Dr. Tilt;Mr. Stammers; Mr. C. Fitzgerald, Folkestone; Dr. J. Ozanne; Mr. Kirk-man, Melton, Woodbridge ; Mr. T. Wright, Nottingham; Mr. W. Aspinall,Hallingbury; Mr. J. Hutchinson; Mr. Laurence Gill; Mr. Mitchell ; Mr.Chowne; Mr. Bland; Mr. Whitaker; Mr. James; Mr. Ellis ; Mr. Edwards,Manchester ; Mr. Newham; Dr. A. Crabb; Mr. J. P. Smith; Mr. S. Oliver;llr. Horsfall, alashani, (with enclosure;) Mr. Evans, Manchester; Mr.

Crook, Northneet, (with enclosure;) Dr. Peinington, Stowmarket, (withenclosure;) Mr. Fletcher, Bromsgrove; Dr. Goate, Coventry; Mr. Andrews,Derbyshire, (with enclosure;) Dr. King, Brighton, (with enclosure;) Mr.Allen, York, (with enclosure;) Mr. Lloyd, Wakefield, (with enclosure;)Mr. Barnes, Thaxted, (with enclosure;) Mr. Summers, Somerset; Dr. Ribeiro,Ceara, Brazil; Dr. Jeffrey, Berwickshire; Mr. Edmunds, Kineton; Mr.Hamilton, H.M.S. Vesuvius; Mr. Douglas, Plas Rhydyrian; Mr. Sims,Matlock, (with enclosnre;) Mr. Spencer, Wilts; Mr. Eddowes, Stamford;Mr. Iiennelly, Birmingham; Mr. Runcorn, Manchester ; Dr. Currie, Cawn-pore ; Mr. Marchant, Somerset, (with enclosure;) Dr. Hill, Birmingham,(with enclosure;) Dr. Pettinger, Manchester, (with enclosure;) Mr. Martin,Abingdon, (with enclosure;) Dr. Slymaii, Montgomeryshire; Mr. Rackham,Norwich ; Mr. Buchanan, Glasgow, (with enclosure;) Mr. Joshua Helvardy,Portsmouth ; Mr. W. J. P. Kidd; Dr. Pickford; Queen’s College, Galway,(with enclosure;) Delta, Lichfield, (with enclosure;) A Long and SevereSufferer, Cheltenham; Amiens; A Manchester Subscriber; M. N.; W. R.;

! An Hon. Secretary; A New Subscriber; Quid; A Student in Medicine;A Subscriber of Thirty Years; A Naval Surgeon; Angus; Nemo; Phi;M.D.; A Traveller; R. O’More, St. Albans; A Surgeon, Foplar; A Company’s Medical Officer; C. F., Chelsea ; Medical Assistant; &c. &c.