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NITRITE OF AMYLE IN TETANUS.
533 1. To introduce the catheter. Fix it on a long stilette, well oil it, and remove stilette when the instrumentis fairly in the bladder. 2. To retain it. Draw the string at the handle, fix the knot behind the slot, and use plug or not at your discretion. The effect of this is to reduplicate the terminal portion (three-fourths of an inch) of the catheter, so that No. 12 in the urethra becomes No. 24 in the bladder. 3. To withdraw it. Slip the string out of the slot; the elasticity of the tube restores the end to its original straight position, and withdrawal is painless.
To render these two last-named acts (Nos. 2 and 3) distinct by an anatomical simile. Suppose the end of the catheter to be a finger, then the string is the flexor tendon, and the elasticity of the tube the extensor. Any surgeon may now easily make his French catheters self-retentive, or they may be purchased at a small cost of MM. Mayer and Meltzer, 59, Great Portland-street, W. I have the honour to be your obedient servant, RICHARD DAVY. Welbeck-street, W., April 4th, 1870.
NITRITE OF AMYLE IN TETANUS. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,— The treatment of traumatic tetanus is so empirical, and the favourable results of any medicine are so problematical, that it appears legitimate practice to use any likel,y remedy. In a practice of thirty-four years I have seen seven cases, all of which proved fatal, until this time I prescribed nitrite of amyle inhalation. I was induced to try it from its supposed property of alleviating the spasm of angina pectoris, and for which I had previously secured a
supply. J. B-, aged fifty-two, publican, smashed the third finger of his right hand on Dec. llth, 1869. He was exposed to much wet and cold on the 20th; felt himself very ill on the 22nd, complaining of stiffness of the jaws. My partner, Mr. Lucas, saw him on the 23rd, when tetanus was setting in fast. I saw him on Christmas-day. At this time his jaws were fixed, and on the recurrence, very frequently, of tetanic spasms, his body was rolled up into a rigid ball. I gave him five drops of the nitrite on a handkerchief. The inhaling of it had an immediate effect in lessening the spasms. Directions were left to administer the same on each return of the spasms. This was assiduously done by his wife. From that time onwards the spasms were held in check until the ninth day, when he had inhaled an ounce, and the case might be said to be reduced to a semi-chronic state, with a fair prospect of recovery. He was most thoroughly supplied with nutrients, a few stimulants, tonics, and aperients. He gradually improved until the end of the month, when he was convalescent. His perfect recovery to health has been retarded by some attacks of catarrh and congestion of the lungs; otherwise he is well. I know it is foolish and rash to pronounce any treatment satisfactory upon a single case, such as this ; and it is for the profession to try its influence, for good or otherwise, in other cases, as they may arise. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, M. FOSTER, F.R.C.S. Huntingdon, March 25th, 1870.
Obituary. HENRY NORRIS, F.R.C.S. of high professional character, and a "gentleman and scholar " of the good old type, Mr. Norris, died at South Petherton, Somerset, on the 20th ult., in his eightyfirst year. He was of honourable parentage, and born at Taunton in 1789. His professional acquirements were first made at the London Hospital, and then at St. Bartholomew’s, where he attended thelectures of Sir William Blizard and John Abernethy. He became Member of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1813, shortly after which he commenced practice in South Petherton, where he continued to labour with much skill and acceptance for forty-four years. In 1844 he became Senior Examined Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons; while his professional knowledge and practice kept pace with all that was most sound in modern research and opinion. Owing to increasing attacks of heart disease, he retired from active duty in 1856, when his friends, in testimony of their esteem for his private and professional character, presented him with a handsome silver inkstand and a purse of gold. Numismatics and palæontology formed the recreation of his manhood and the solace of his declining years-subjects in which he manifested the versatile tastes of his family, of which Mr. E. Norris, of the Asiatic Society, the eminent Assyrian scholar and decipherer of cuneiform inscriptions, is the nearest surviving member of his own generation. A
SURGEON
AUGUSTUS WARD ALLINSON, M.R.C.S. WOOLWICH has lost an able and efficient surgeon, and the 4th Kent Volunteers a highly popular medical officer, in the person of Augustus Ward Allinson, Esq., who died on the 3rd instant at Beresford-square. The deceased gentleman was the youngest son of the late John Hiram Allinson, Esq., of Inglewood House, Penrith, Cumberland. He prosecuted his professional studies chiefly at Guy’s, and became in 1855 Licentiate of the Apothecaries’ Company, and in the following year Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He was medical officer of health to the Plumstead District, and was in the full discharge of the duties connected with that, and with other fields of general practice, when he was cut down, to the regret of all who knew him, at the early age of thirty-seven. WE have to record the death of several foreign confreres: in Spain of Dr. Mariano Martinez, who died from an attack of typhus contracted amidst his professional duties; in France of Dr. Morpain, an elegant writer, and the translator of several foreign medical works; at Baltimore (United States) of Dr. Roberts, Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children, in Washington University, Baltimore.
,
Medical News.
MEDICAL REFORM UNION FOR THE AMENDROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.-The MENT OF THE MEDICAL ACTS. following gentlemen passed the primary examination in To the Editor of THE LANCET. Anatomy and Physiology at meetings of the Court of SIR,—Since my letter of the 22nd ult., which you have Examiners held on Tuesctay and Wednesday last :W. S. Greenfield, W. G. D. Glanville, F. A. Gray, W. B. Wall, G. R. favoured with insertion, I have received 256 additional Shemilt, G. M. Briggs, and T. S. Parry, of University College; James and to letters, enclcsing cheques, post-office orders, stamps Utting, G. E. Power, H. 0. Taylor, Robert Dunstan, George Turner, the amount of =660 Os. 8ct., making the gross receipts towards oi-i-- expenses &322 11s. 8d., leaving a present indebtedness of about £128. Of those who have signed the Memorial, 1348 have contributed towards the expenses of the movement; 8376 have not yet done so. Hoping that they are not labouring under the impression that Acts of Parliament, in the face of opposition, are to be obtained by
merely signing
a
petition,
I am,
Sir, your obedient servant, ARTHUR OAKES,
9, The Square, Birmingham, March 29th, 1870.
Treasurer of the Medical Reform Reform Union.
G. F. K. Smith, John Marshall, Frank Langley, H. S. Branfoot, R. H. Paterson, T. D. Harries, H. G. Cartwright, Thomas Eastes, C. D. Fenn, and T. R. Edmundson, of Guy’s Hospital; F. C. Hewett, Malcolm Poignand, A. C. Horner, E. H. Klien, A. L. Salmon, Matthias Groves, W. Fumer, W. H. Hatfield, Frederic Skaife, and Thomas Strafford, of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital; William W. Wilson, W. E. Parkes, E. H. J. Hogg, B. Neal, and G. B. White, of the Birmingham School; J. F. Wright, William Stamford, Richard Frean, and E. H. Fenn, of the Middlesex Hospital; Mark Robinson and S. J. Goldsmith, of St. George’s Hospital; W. A. Mawson, James Brown, and S. Snell, of the Leeds School; E. Morris, W. L. Morgan, and Lewis Mackenzie, of the London Hospital; H. J. Molyneaux and J. B. Lyth, of the Liverpool Infirmary ; C. E. Monro, of St. Thomas’s Hospital; James Hindle, of the Manchester School; G. Hartridge and R. B. Morrell, of King’s College; Thomas Procter and W. H. Williams, of St. Mary’s Hospital; William
To render these two last-named acts (Nos. 2 and 3) distinct by an anatomical simile. Suppose the end of the catheter to be a finger, then the string is the flexor tendon, and the elasticity of the tube the extensor. Any surgeon may now easily make his French catheters self-retentive, or they may be purchased at a small cost of MM. Mayer and Meltzer, 59, Great Portland-street, W. I have the honour to be your obedient servant, RICHARD DAVY. Welbeck-street, W., April 4th, 1870.
NITRITE OF AMYLE IN TETANUS. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,— The treatment of traumatic tetanus is so empirical, and the favourable results of any medicine are so problematical, that it appears legitimate practice to use any likel,y remedy. In a practice of thirty-four years I have seen seven cases, all of which proved fatal, until this time I prescribed nitrite of amyle inhalation. I was induced to try it from its supposed property of alleviating the spasm of angina pectoris, and for which I had previously secured a
supply. J. B-, aged fifty-two, publican, smashed the third finger of his right hand on Dec. llth, 1869. He was exposed to much wet and cold on the 20th; felt himself very ill on the 22nd, complaining of stiffness of the jaws. My partner, Mr. Lucas, saw him on the 23rd, when tetanus was setting in fast. I saw him on Christmas-day. At this time his jaws were fixed, and on the recurrence, very frequently, of tetanic spasms, his body was rolled up into a rigid ball. I gave him five drops of the nitrite on a handkerchief. The inhaling of it had an immediate effect in lessening the spasms. Directions were left to administer the same on each return of the spasms. This was assiduously done by his wife. From that time onwards the spasms were held in check until the ninth day, when he had inhaled an ounce, and the case might be said to be reduced to a semi-chronic state, with a fair prospect of recovery. He was most thoroughly supplied with nutrients, a few stimulants, tonics, and aperients. He gradually improved until the end of the month, when he was convalescent. His perfect recovery to health has been retarded by some attacks of catarrh and congestion of the lungs; otherwise he is well. I know it is foolish and rash to pronounce any treatment satisfactory upon a single case, such as this ; and it is for the profession to try its influence, for good or otherwise, in other cases, as they may arise. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, M. FOSTER, F.R.C.S. Huntingdon, March 25th, 1870.
Obituary. HENRY NORRIS, F.R.C.S. of high professional character, and a "gentleman and scholar " of the good old type, Mr. Norris, died at South Petherton, Somerset, on the 20th ult., in his eightyfirst year. He was of honourable parentage, and born at Taunton in 1789. His professional acquirements were first made at the London Hospital, and then at St. Bartholomew’s, where he attended thelectures of Sir William Blizard and John Abernethy. He became Member of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1813, shortly after which he commenced practice in South Petherton, where he continued to labour with much skill and acceptance for forty-four years. In 1844 he became Senior Examined Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons; while his professional knowledge and practice kept pace with all that was most sound in modern research and opinion. Owing to increasing attacks of heart disease, he retired from active duty in 1856, when his friends, in testimony of their esteem for his private and professional character, presented him with a handsome silver inkstand and a purse of gold. Numismatics and palæontology formed the recreation of his manhood and the solace of his declining years-subjects in which he manifested the versatile tastes of his family, of which Mr. E. Norris, of the Asiatic Society, the eminent Assyrian scholar and decipherer of cuneiform inscriptions, is the nearest surviving member of his own generation. A
SURGEON
AUGUSTUS WARD ALLINSON, M.R.C.S. WOOLWICH has lost an able and efficient surgeon, and the 4th Kent Volunteers a highly popular medical officer, in the person of Augustus Ward Allinson, Esq., who died on the 3rd instant at Beresford-square. The deceased gentleman was the youngest son of the late John Hiram Allinson, Esq., of Inglewood House, Penrith, Cumberland. He prosecuted his professional studies chiefly at Guy’s, and became in 1855 Licentiate of the Apothecaries’ Company, and in the following year Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He was medical officer of health to the Plumstead District, and was in the full discharge of the duties connected with that, and with other fields of general practice, when he was cut down, to the regret of all who knew him, at the early age of thirty-seven. WE have to record the death of several foreign confreres: in Spain of Dr. Mariano Martinez, who died from an attack of typhus contracted amidst his professional duties; in France of Dr. Morpain, an elegant writer, and the translator of several foreign medical works; at Baltimore (United States) of Dr. Roberts, Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children, in Washington University, Baltimore.
,
Medical News.
MEDICAL REFORM UNION FOR THE AMENDROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.-The MENT OF THE MEDICAL ACTS. following gentlemen passed the primary examination in To the Editor of THE LANCET. Anatomy and Physiology at meetings of the Court of SIR,—Since my letter of the 22nd ult., which you have Examiners held on Tuesctay and Wednesday last :W. S. Greenfield, W. G. D. Glanville, F. A. Gray, W. B. Wall, G. R. favoured with insertion, I have received 256 additional Shemilt, G. M. Briggs, and T. S. Parry, of University College; James and to letters, enclcsing cheques, post-office orders, stamps Utting, G. E. Power, H. 0. Taylor, Robert Dunstan, George Turner, the amount of =660 Os. 8ct., making the gross receipts towards oi-i-- expenses &322 11s. 8d., leaving a present indebtedness of about £128. Of those who have signed the Memorial, 1348 have contributed towards the expenses of the movement; 8376 have not yet done so. Hoping that they are not labouring under the impression that Acts of Parliament, in the face of opposition, are to be obtained by
merely signing
a
petition,
I am,
Sir, your obedient servant, ARTHUR OAKES,
9, The Square, Birmingham, March 29th, 1870.
Treasurer of the Medical Reform Reform Union.
G. F. K. Smith, John Marshall, Frank Langley, H. S. Branfoot, R. H. Paterson, T. D. Harries, H. G. Cartwright, Thomas Eastes, C. D. Fenn, and T. R. Edmundson, of Guy’s Hospital; F. C. Hewett, Malcolm Poignand, A. C. Horner, E. H. Klien, A. L. Salmon, Matthias Groves, W. Fumer, W. H. Hatfield, Frederic Skaife, and Thomas Strafford, of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital; William W. Wilson, W. E. Parkes, E. H. J. Hogg, B. Neal, and G. B. White, of the Birmingham School; J. F. Wright, William Stamford, Richard Frean, and E. H. Fenn, of the Middlesex Hospital; Mark Robinson and S. J. Goldsmith, of St. George’s Hospital; W. A. Mawson, James Brown, and S. Snell, of the Leeds School; E. Morris, W. L. Morgan, and Lewis Mackenzie, of the London Hospital; H. J. Molyneaux and J. B. Lyth, of the Liverpool Infirmary ; C. E. Monro, of St. Thomas’s Hospital; James Hindle, of the Manchester School; G. Hartridge and R. B. Morrell, of King’s College; Thomas Procter and W. H. Williams, of St. Mary’s Hospital; William