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DRASTIC PURGATIVES INDROPSY.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-I beg to offer a few remarks on thepaper of Mr. Day, published in THE LANCETof July 30th, under the head of "Treatment Iof Hepatic and Cardiac Dropsy," wherein hecondemns the use of elaterium, mercury,and diuretics, as remedial agents in theirtreatment.

I perfectly concur with him in the opinion,that in cases of extensive organic disease ofthe heart or liver, accompanied with dropsy,the indiscriminate employment of strongdrastic purgatives and mercury to ptyalismis strongly to be condemned, and cannot failto hasten the patient’s dissolution. I differfrom Mr. Day in considering these remediesas unsafe and inadmissible in every caseattended with organic disease, and may in-stance that where that disease is in its in-cipient state, the powers of life being suffi-ciently strong to bear their use, that espe-cially elaterium, cautiously administered, soas to produce copious serous evacuations, isattended with great alleviation of distressingsymptoms, and a marked improvement in thecondition of the patient.

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Where the alteration of structure is ad-vanced to a state little short of complete dis-organisation, I trust there are few practi-tioners possessing only a trifling share of pa-thological and therapeutical knowledge,that would prescribe such powerful and de-bilitating measures in preference to the tonic,and more suitable plan of treatment recom-mended by Mr. Day. I have carefully ob-served, during three years’ attendance at ametropolitan hospital, that under the carefuland judicious administration of elaterium, inthe practice of my esteemed teachers, no re-sults, similar to those mentioned by Mr. Day,have occurred ; and I have also the satisfac-tion of saying, that nothing of the kind hashappened to myself in a practice of five

years, where I have used it in numerouscases. I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

A GENERAL PRACTITIONER.London, August 4, 1842.

VAUDEVILLE ENACTED IN ALUNATIC ASYLUM.

ON the 20th of July a vaudeville was per-formed at Bicetre, by the patients, and fol-lowed by a musical concert. The actors

and musicians were trained by a youngartiste, M. Florimond Rouger, who has de-voted his services for some time past to theestablishment. The play went off admira-bly, and the most perfect harmony reignedthroughout the proceedings.

NEW PHRENOLOGICAL SOCIETY.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-]In consequence of your able expo-sures of the proceedings of the mesmericclique in the Phrenological Association,most of the active members have resigned.Sirs George Mackenzie and William Baine,Serjeant Adams, Drs. Browne, Moore,Forbes, and Andrew Combe, and Messrs.Cox, Deville, Hytche, Cull, Streeter, &c.,have already abandoned the association.Resignations are pouring in from all quar-ters, and the association may be considereddefunct. The Okeyites have succeeded indestroying the 14 Phrenological Association."It is, however, the intention of the secedersto form another society, from which the in-troduction of materialism, mesmerism, andthat worst of isms, cliqueism, shall be ex-cluded by a specific rule. The late associa-tion was composed of about three hundredmembers, of whom nearly one hundred weremedical men. Phrenology, indeed, has as-

sumed an importance which renders it im.

perative that its advocates should be combined.But unless a distinct rule prevented the in-troduction of crotchets emanating from un-governed self-esteem, the new associationwould be speedily destroyed through the in.terference of the high priest of mesmerism.Trusting that the new society will meet withyour support, I am, Sir, yours respectfully,

AN EX-MEMBER OF THE OLD.London, August 6, 1842. ,

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL.

ULCERATION OF THE UTERUS.-TREATMENT BY

IODIDE OF ARSENIC, IODIDE OF IRON, ANDEXTRACT OF HEMLOCK.

ELIZABETH LAYTON, aged 59, was admittedAugust 31, 1841 ; she is a washerwoman, ofslight conformation, dark hair, and very sal.low unhealthy complexion. She states thatshe lives but poorly, but has never been ac-customed to drink much beer or spirits ; shehas enjoyed moderately good health, suffer-ing occasionally from headach, bilious vomit.ing, &c. ; she is a widow, and has only borneone child. She states that her labour wasvery severe and prolonged, but thinks thatno instruments were used ; since that time-thirty.-three years ago-when unwell, shehas always felt a severe pain in the hypo-gastric and lumbar regions, with greatbearing-down sensations ; the catameniawere always regular, and ceased about nineyears ago.

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About eight months previous to the pre-sent time she was suddenly attacked, afterstraining to lift a heavy weight, with severepain in the back and hypogastrium, extend.ing down the thighs, and profuse dischargeof blood from the vagina. Since that time

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she has felt constant pain in the hypogas-trium, extending towards the loins and downthe inner side of the thighs, accompanied bysevere bearing-down pains, swelling, andtenderness of the lower part of the abdomen,with very offensive discharge from the va-gina. The flooding has occurred about fourtimes within the last month.

Present Symptoms.-She complains ofsevere and constant pain in the hypogas-trium, extending to the loins and down theinner side of the thighs, and very sudden andprofuse discharge of blood from the vagina.There is some fulness and tenderness on

pressure over the uterine region, and a veryoffensive discharge from the vagina; greatweakness ; much thirst ; emaciation of coun-tenance ; tongue very sore ; pulse 92, sharp,and slightly resisting; skin moist. On exa-mination, per vagina’nt, by Mr. T. H. Davis,with the speculum, there was found very ex-tensive ulceration involving the whole of thecervix uteri, and a large scirrhus was seenin the anterior wall of the uterus. Five

grains of calomel to be taken directly, to befollowed in an hour by a draught, consistingof half an ounce of castor-oil, a drachm ofpowdered gum arabic, and an ounce of pep-permint water. To be cupped on the loinsto ten ounces.

Sept. 3. The haemorrhage has returned.6. Pulse rather sharp and resisting ;

bowels constipated ; stools somewhat scyba-lous ; pain in the lower part of abdomen less,and the discharge not so profuse. To havesix drachms of castor-oil in some peppermintwater directly, and the following pills :-One grain of iodide of arsenic mixed upwith extract of hemlock, into six pills ; takeone night and morning. To have also thefollowing draught three times a-day :-Solu-tion of iodide of iron, a drachm; tincture ofhemlock, fifteen minims ; water, an ounce.

8. Pain somewhat relieved. Continuemedicines.

10. Much less pain in the uterine region ;complains of griping; pulse sharp and in-

compressible. Eight leeches to be appliedto the hypogastrium; add a grain of extractof hemlock to each pill. Continue thedraughts.

13. Felt relief from the leeches ; the dis-charge continues offensive.

17. There is a sallow tinge of the counte-nance ; no bleeding at present. She statesthat the discharge is occasionally bloody, butthat it varies in colour; there is a murmurheard at the base of the heart ; distinct bel-lows-sound also in the neck.

20. The same.22. There has been no fresh discharge

since last visit, otherwise much the same.Omit the mixture.

24. She does not complain of pain in thelower part of the abdomen, and there is nofresh discharge.

25. Bowels confined. To have half anounce of castor-oil directly.

27. There was a little discharge of bloodyesterday, but there has been none to-day.There is no pain accompanying the dis-

charge. The nurse says that the dischargehas a foetid odour.

29. Much pain and swelling of the abdo-men ; she had shooting pain last night at thelower part of the abdomen ; she has beenviolently sick this morning. To have halfan ounce of the solution of muriate of mor-phia at bed-time. Oct. 1. Much the same. She was exa-

mined yesterday,per vaginam, by means of aspeculum. The os uteri was found to beulcerated. The examination, however,could not be continued very long, as a quan-tity of mucous discharge choked up the spe-culum, and the patient during the examina-tion complained of great pain.

4. There has been no return of the dis-charge, and the patient fancying herself alittle better, wishes to leave the hospital.

ADMISSION OF STUDENTS TO STLUKE’S HOSPITAL.

SOME weeks since we noticed a pamphletby Dr. Webster on the 11 Admission of Pupilsto Bethlem for the Purpose of StudyingMental Diseases." We are happy to announcethat his appeal has been already successfulin one quarter. At a late meeting of gover-nors of St. Luke’s Hospital, a resolution wascome to, that pupils should be admitted into’the wards for the purpose of studying insa-nity, the number to be regulated accordingto the discretion of the physicians.

APOTHECARIES’ HALL.

APPOINTMENT OF A CHEMICAL OPERATOR.

MR. ROBERT WARRINGTON, Secretary tothe Chemical Society, a chemist of well-known and considerable ability, has beenappointed chemical operator in the Apothe-caries’ Hall in the place rendered vacant bythe distressing death of Mr. Hennell, F.R.S.Mr. Warrington was for several yearschemical assistant to the late Dr. Edward

Turner, professor of chemistry in UniversityCollege, and has distinguished himself onseveral occasions by his chemical informa-tion and practical acumen. The appointmentdoes great credit to the judgment of the com-pany.