ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.

721 law of contraria contrariis has its place, and a very promi- say the least, not friendly. On p. 14 we find : " To disnent place, still in the practice of every physician." courage drugging and substitute wise regulations of habits We are ready to admit that, to the superficial observer, of life, is still an unpardonable sin to the orthodox pracit may sometimes appear that diseases are cured by drugs titioner." At p. 46 we find an allusion to " such exploded which produce symptoms similar to the disease. For ex- things as bleeding, leeching, blistering, and mercury," but ample, a glass of brandy will sometimes steady a tremulous on p. 74 we find that Dr. Kidd is acquainted with the action diseases are sometimes cured by drugs which of mercury ; on pp. 76 and 105 he recommends leeches to the hand. symptoms. These stray facts, however, temple and ovaries ; on pp. 46 and 127 he speaks of the opposite produce are quite distinct from laws, and we cannot understand how good effect of blisters in pericarditis. Physicians are often by name in this book; one is spoken of as overany man can be found to give the name of exact laws to a few scattered facts which, if they are to be regarded as feeding his patients in acute diseases, another is alluded to " laws,’’are evidently mutually destructive. When Newton as having made more drunkards than any man living; stated that "masses attract each other with a force which Frazer, Crum-Brown, Brunton, and Ringer are spoken of mrlcs according to the i’nverse square of the distance," he enun- as " afraid to teach the laws of fundamental principles which ciated a "law,"but Dr. Kidd’s " Laws of Therapeutics" underlie the science of therapeutics." Some of our foreign brethren are strangely miscalled, thus : Czermak becomes on have clearly no claim to be placed in the same category. The closest resemblance which exists between the etlect p. 52 Zermach, Binz, at p. 56, is apparently spoken of as Dr. of a disease and the effect of a drug is to be found between Binns, Duchenne, at p. 196, is miscalled Duchesne, and at tetanus and the action of strychnia, and it is natural to p. 123 there is a curious reference to " Hanover Correspondturn to these instances to see whether Dr. Kidd has suc- ence Blatt." ceeded in curing many cases of tetanus by adhering to those On p. 81 there occurs the following paragraph : "How laws which have, according to him, been ordained " by the often do we see the energetic practitioner, unable to find the good providence of God." At p. 106 it is stated that " it key, trying in vain to open the casket with smart blows of a would be justifiable, I conceive, to give the strychnia in the hammer. On the other side stands the mild disciple of hope that it might occasion a morbid action which would modern expectant medicine for months watching the casket, supersede the morbid action of the disease [tetanus], and examining the lock, but unable to find the key, till to his yet be less perilous and more manageable than it. This, horror the friends bring in a more dexterous operator. The were it successful, would be a cure according to the Hahne- cure of the disease soon speaks for the perfect workman. mannic doctrine—similia similibus curantur—a doctrine .... It is then that the gift of healing [the italics are our much older, however, than Hahnemann." This is a quota- own], which the true physician derives from the knowledge tion from Sir Thomas Watson, and on p. 128 is another quo- of the principles or laws of cure, comes in to assist in extation from the same author. " Sir Thomas Watson, writing tricating the patient from the tendency towards death and of the use of strychnia, says,’If the dose be too large, a the destruction of organs." And again (p. 229): " Doubtless there will always be a temporary aggravation of the disease may show itself for a time.’ ’ These two quotations might lead the non-medical large field for empirical medicine; genius often overleaps the reader (and Dr. Kidd probably has many such) to think that science when the latter degenerates into Sir Thomas Watson advocates the use of strychnia in teta- routine or safe orthodoxy. When strict theorists and nus. A reference to the last edition of his classical work matists give an uncertain sound, it needs a dash of empirishows such not to be the case, but no reference to the exact cism to cast aside conflicting theories and arrive at truth by source of the quotations is given. insight." (The italics are ours.) from theory to and glancing at the cases On p. 127 we find "when the reflex irritability of the spine is increased, as in tetanus, a most minute dose of ( which are scattered throughout the book, we fail to see that of a grain, will increase that irritability and in his treatment of disease Dr. Kidd is at all careful to obstrychnia, bring on muscular jerking." These are all the references serve the laws which he lays down, or that the treatment, we can find to the most exact parallel which is known to exceptin a few instances, materially differs from that purexist between a disease and the effects of a drug, and of these sued by other practitioners. It is true that the bulk of the three references for only one is the author responsible, and this profession have not found dilute nitric acid or bydrastis of use in curing fistula in ano (of which Dr. Kidd gives shows clearly that if the law of Hdhnemann (and "how at pp. 174-5), nor has hydrastis canadensis in solemn the position of those who would reject it!") is to be two followed, Habnemann "drunk," as Dr. Kidd says, would other hands than his proved of service in curing cancer be a far safer person at your bedside than Hahnemann (p. 237). Dr. Kidd does not, however, tell us whether his successful treatment of fistula and cancer is due to an "sober." Let us leave this trifling exception to "law," and turn to adherence to Hahnemann’s or Galen’s law. The book is full Dr. Kidd’s book for examples of the real good of following of sneers at those whom the author styles " orthodox " up the dogma of "similia siinilibus. The prevention of practitioners." small-pox by vaccination is claimed as an example of the In a recent letter Dr. Kidd states that he is no holaw, and in 1850 Dr. Kidd cured an obstinate case of moeopath, but that he is in the habit of making use of eczema in a child by revaccinating it, "the principle of homoeopathic remedies." It is needless to say that there similia similibus suggesting the remedy." "Scores of are no such things as ‘‘ homoeopathic remedies" recognised vaccine vesicles appeared all over the back, shoulders, by the profession, which is ready to use for the benefit of arms, and chest"(p. 101), and the child got well. Now, the sick anything which may prove of service, no matter by eczema is, perhaps, the commonest of the chronic diseases whom suggested or discovered. There is no mention of of childhood, and Dr. Kidd must have had opportunities of "homoeopathic remedies" in Dr. Kidd’s book, and the majothousands of other cases in the same way, unless he rity of the medicines used in the cases quoted are such as curing has incurred the solemn responsibility of upsetting his have been known to many generations of practitioners, divine law. No other case is mentioned, however. On page whether orthodox or heterodox. Although Dr. Kidd enun102 we find, "The action of diuretics is very closely allied ciates what he is pleased to call the " laws of therapeutics," to the process at work in certain diseases of the skin. a careful perusal of his book clearly shows that no such laws The benefit to be derived from such is well illustrated by I exist, and that in the treatment of disease, wherein Dr. Kidd Dr. Tilbury Fox." In 1854 Dr. Kidd cured a lady of strives, as he says, "to be a workman approved by my gall-stones by giving her ox gall (p. 103). On p. 104 a Master, and a servant fit to minister among the sick, the woman is mentioned who was cured of acidity and spasm sorrowful, and the weak," he is a law to himself, and the’ by taking lemon-juice after meals. In 1869 a woman was rules which are followed are not those of Hahnemann or cured of floodings and threatenings of miscarriage by four Galen-but merely of Kidd. leeches over the right ovary. In 1850 a case of exophthalmic goitre was relieved by belladonna. In 1868 chronic cough, in a young lady, was cured by Fowler’s solution, and in ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF lS61 an irritable bladder was relieved by one drop of ENGLAND. tincture of cantharides every four hours, and another man, with the very opposite symptoms of suppression of urine of THE following is the Third Report, dated March 17th, 1881,iour days’ standing, was relieved in half an hour by the same of the Committee on the necessary arrangements for the means. A few cases such as this are clearly not sufficient to of additional Examinations for the Diplomas of institution establish a law. Fellow of the and and College, to of the adopted by the Dr. Kidd’s attitude towards the rest is,

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722 Council at the meeting held on the 13th inst., as we success in etching, "A Relic of the Past." There are also announced last week:some clever etchings by Dr. Evershed, whose work is always 1. That it is not at present desirable that examinations in true and good. chemistry, materia medica, medical botany, and pharmacy be instituted at the College. 2. That the extended examination in medicine, as proROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSIQUES. posed in the Second Report of the Committee, and approved A MEETING of the Fellows of this College was held on by the Council on Jan. 13th last, do come into force from and after Jan. 1st, 1882. the 28th inst., under the presidency of Sir W. Thursday, 3. That the four examiners in medicine be chosen from K.C.B. Jenner, Bart., the Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians, and be elected The following gentlemen were admitted to the Memberat the quarterly council in July. 4. That the two examiners in midwifery be chosen either ship of the College :from the Fellows of the College or from the Fellows of the Bradshaw, James Dixon, M.B. Oxford. College of Physicians, and be elected at the quarterly Haynes, Frederick Harry, M.D. London. Royal council in July. McAlister, Donald, M.B. Cambridge. 5. That the examiners in medicine and in midwifery be Meeres, Edward Evan, M.D. London. elected by the Council after nomination by a committee. Moritz, Siegmund, M.D. Wurzburg. 6. That the examiners in medicine and in midwifery be Nall, Samuel, M.B. Cambridge. paid for their services by a capitation fee, and that the amount Taylor, Seymour, M.B. Aberdeen. of such fee be hereafter determined by the Council. And the following members nominated by the Council 7. That it be referred to this committee to confer with the were duly elected to the Fellowship :examiners in medicine and in midwifery, and, after discussion James Lewis Siordet, M.B. London. with them, to determine the nature and extent of the examiJohn Wale Hicks, M.D. London. nations in medicine and midwifery respectively. John Baptiste Potter, M.D. Edinburgh. 8. That it be at the same time referred to this committee, James Watt Black, M.D. Edinburgh. after such conference with the examiners, to advise the Francis de Havilland Hall, M.D. London. Council as to the amount of the capitation fee to be paid to William Ewart, M.B. Cambridge. the examiners in medicine and in midwifery respectively. David Bridge Lees, M.D. Cambridge. The committee also recommended to the Council the adopFrancis Charlewood Turner, M.D. Cambridge. tion of the following resolution :Joseph Ewart, M.D. St. Andrews. That a committee of even members of the Council, to be It was decided that the first Bradshaw lecture should be called the Nomination Committee," be appointed to nominate delivered, in accordance with the terms of the bequest, on the candidates for the several examinerships of the College, ex- 18th of August next, the President being empowered to cepting candidates for the Court of Examiners and for the nominate the lecturer. Court of Examiners’ section of the Dental Board, subject to such rules and regulations as the Council may hereafter enact. The committee again reserved to a future report the result MEDICAL NOTES IN PARLIAMENT. of their deliberations with respect to the curricula of professional education of this College as compared with those of IN the House of Commons on Monday a petition for altera. other institutions. tion of the Lunacy Laws was presented from Limerick. A from Lambeth in favour of a motion petition was of which Mr. Reid has given notice for the prevention of THE EXHIBITION OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY vivisection. The general abstract for 1880 of marriages, births, and deaths in Ireland was laid upon the table. OF ARTS. Amongst other returns presented were the Charter of the University of Ireland, and a list of the members of THERE is but little to interest us from a medical point of Royal the Senate. The Alkali Works Regulation Bill passed view in the present Exhibition. Amongst the sculpture are through Committee pro formâ. Earl Percy gave notice that busts of the late Drs. Murchison and Leared, the former in- he would move to refer the Metropolitan Open Spaces Bill tended to be placed in St. Thomas’s Hospital. There is a to a Select Committee. On Wednesday, a Bill for better securing the purity of beer fair suggestion of Murchison’s massive head, but the likewas brought in by Colonel Barne, Mr. Storer, and Mr. ness, which we suppose is posthumous, is not striking. Mr. and fixed for second reading on July 20th. Mr. Bruce Joy exhibits the statue of Harvey, executed by him Hicks, Hopwood gave notice of a question for May 5th, as to the for the Harvey Tercentenary Memorial at Folkestone. of the Contagious Diseases Acts at Dover, and the operation Amongst the paintings we would especially note Mrs. attempted suicide of a girl named Elizabeth Burley, through Butler’s (née Thompson) " Defence of Rorke’s Drift." This is fear of the police officer appointed to carry out these Acts. a very powerful work. It contains portraits of Messrs. Non-Vaccination Penalties. Chard and Bromhead, and of Surgeon-Major Reynolds, who is conspicuous amongst the defenders. There is some comOn Thursday, Mr. P. A. Taylor asked the President of the paratively new work of promise, and we would especially Local Government Board whether it was true that Mr. John refer to "Peace and War," by John R. Reid ; " St. Ann’s Abel, of Farringdon, has been prosecuted thirty-four times Almshouses, Antwerp," by W. Logsdail. "AFrightfulState for refusing to have his children vaccinated ; and whether of Things," by Gaetano Chievici, full of humour and admirably he proposed to bring in any measure to limit the amount of painted, will, we predict, be one of the most popular pictures punishment inflicted for non-compliance with the Vaccinain the Exhibition. The feathered inhabitants of a farmyard tion Acts. Mr. Dodson said he believed the statement was have penetrated into a cottage where a child has been left correct, but the Local Government Board were not responsible alone, and its consternation at the intrusion of the unex- for these repeated prosecutions. They had in more than one pected visitors, all of which are portrayed in a marvellously circular advised boards of guardians to act with caution truthful and humorous way, is exceedingly funny. The and moderation. As to the last part of the question, lookExhibition contains some good examples of Tadema, Leslie, ing to the scant encouragement which was given last year to Marks, Prinsep, Stone, Fildes, Hardy, and other favourite his Bill, limiting the number of prosecutions, he was not painters. A good deal of interest attaches to a portrait of prepared to bring in another Bill this year. the late Earl of Beaconsfield, by Millais, which is placed on Small-pox Hospitals. a screen in the large room. It is a striking painting, which Mr. Pell asked the President of the Local Government represents, we believe, the work of only three sittings. An extraordinary idea of the wide range of subject traversed by Board whether the Metropolitan Boards of Guardians and this remarkable painter is conveyed by turning from the Vestries had replied to the letters addressed to them bv the figure of the lovely young girl in the picture called Local Government Board on February 23rd, 1881 ; and if Cinderella to this portrait. Mr. Propert sends a mezzotint he could inform the House what extent of provision had been etching, which is an effective rendering, in what is perhaps or was being made for hospital treatment and isolation of the form of engraving most nearly allied to colour, of a pauper and non-pauper cases of small-pox in the metropolis. subject which the artist has already treated with great Mr. Dodson said all the boards had replied. Fourteen

presented