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SURGEONS TO PASSENGER SHIPS.
90
THE ANALYTICAL SANITARY COMMISSION.
SiNCE we drew the attention of the profession to the extraordinary regulations of the College of Surgeons relating to the
THE
admission of candidates to examination for the Licence in Midwifery, a strong feeling of alarm and disapprobation has been manifested by practitioners in every part of the country. In our remarks upon the subject, we could not but assume that the Council of the College had framed their regulations in ignorance of the claims of obstetric science, as well as of the sentiments of the thousands of members of the College who practise that department of medicine. If they have inadvertently overlooked interests they were bound to protect, and which we are anxious to give them credit for wishing to protect, they have still the opportunity of rescinding the fifth clause of their regulations, which admits persons who are not possessed of any general diploma in medicine. What we stated at the conclusion of our former ar ticle-viz., that no great harm had yet been done, as none but qualified men had hitherto received the midwifery certificate-is still, happily, true. There is still time, therefore, to obviate the mischief and confusion that could not fail to ensue if the objectionable clause be allowed to stand. We feel confident that now the Council have had the opportunity of viewing the bearing of their regulations in a light which had before escaped them, and of weighing the injurious nature of the difficulties attending the course that has been adopted, they will gladly revise those regulations. A slight modification would place them in harmony not only with the claims of obstetric science, but with the sentiments of the profession. Such a modification, we feel convinced, will not be denied to the demands of the members of the College ; and we strongly urge those who hold the surgical diploma to address the Council by memorial, or otherwise, upon a subject which so deeply concerns them.
ANALYTICAL SANITARY COMMISSION. RECORDS OF THE RESULTS OF
MICROSCOPICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF THE
SOLIDS AND FLUIDS CONSUMED BY ALL CLASSES OF THE PUBLIC.
Metropolis,
[* THE Report of the Chemical Analyses of upwards of Twenty Samples of Laudanum, purchased at Apothecaries’ Hall, and also at the Shops of Chemists and Druggists in this is unavoidably postponed until our next publication.]] ON THE
CONTAMINATIONS AND ADULTERATIONS OF
PRESERVES AND JELLIES. WEhave repeatedly shown that the adulterators of our food do not scruple to employ, when it suits their purpose, the most deadly substances, undeterred by the serious consequences which but too frequently result from their use. Thus it has been shown that it is no uncommon thing for them to use of various preparations of iron, lead, copper, arsenic, It is not a little remarkable, that the majority of mercury, &c. these substances are had recourse to, not on account of bulk
make
weight, but for the mere sake of colours, which, thus procured, are frequently in a high degree glaring and unnatural, these colours being obtained too at the expense of quality and or
flavour.
Amongst the articles which have already been treated of, and in which foreign colouring ingredients have been detected, are tea, cocoa, cayenne, mustard, pickles, bottled fruits and To the Editor of THE LANCET. potted meats and fish. The list is, however, far SIR,—With deep interest I read and re-read your able vegetables, from complete as yet, and on the present occasion we have to leader of the 18th ult. exposing the injustice, simultaneously add to it other articles. inflicted on the public and our profession, by shipowners The fruits from which our more common preserves are made, i allowing unqualified men to assume the office of surgeon to are usually so abundant and cheap, that little inducement, their ships. we believe, exists for the substitution of other and inferior As the prevailing epidemic of emigration fever seems daily for the fruit itself. It is true, however, that with to acquire fresh vigour, I think the sooner a change can be ingredients to one preserve, the ordinary belief entertained is very made the better, and with your permission and assistance, I respect different from this, it being supposed that a variety of cheaper would briefly suggest, if not a cure, at least a remedy to palsubstances, such as apples, pumpkins, and turnips enter into liate the grievance. its composition-we allude of course to orange marmalade. This would consist in shipowners allowing the names and It will presently be seen whether there be any foundation for qualifications of theirexperienced surgeons" to come before this belief or not. the public in the advertisements that precede the sailing of Marmalade, as is well known, is made from the Seville or their vessels. bitter orange, much in the same manner as ordinary preserves, The name of the commander is invariably given, but some the chief peculiarity being in the slicing of the peel; this, when peculiar feeling of modesty withholds that of the surgeon. is made on a large scale, is done by a machine, in the Were this slight addition made to the advertisements, the orderjam to save time and labour. There is no doubt but that " emigrating public, instead of buying their pigs in pokes some of what professes to be real "Scotch marmalade," consists would have an opportunity of investigating for themselves, of a mixture of sweet and bitter oranges, if, indeed, in some the qualifications and character of the ‘’experienced surgeon" inferior ingredients do not partly compose it. Why the cases, - at present the anonymous gentleman, to whose care they are Scotch marmalade should be preferred, we know not, except obliged to confide the safety of their lives and limbs during a that the Scotch excel in the manufacture of cakes and conthree months’ voyage. in general. fectionery With a sincere hope that you will not cease your endeavours Although it is not very often that one fruit is substituted for to ameliorate the present condition of ship-surgeons, and to another, there is a species of deception very frequently pracwelfare the of those at sea. guard tised, which is scarcely less culpable. Vegetable jellies conI am, Sir, your obedient servant, sist of the thick and transparent part of the fruit only, the P. H. E. D. January, J853. husks and seeds being removed; now, these really worthless portions of the fruit are rarely, if ever, thrown away by the manufacturers of preserves; but, mixed with a little fresh fruit, ACADEMY OF MEDICINE OF PARIS: OFFICE BEARERS they are passed off as good jams. In this practice houseVice-President : M. keepers are furnished with a strong reason for preparing their FOR 1853.-President: Professor Bérard. Nacquart. Annual Secretary :M. Gibert. (The permanent own preserves, and also with an explanation of the general secretary is M. Dubois d’Amiens.) Treasurer : M. Patissier., superiority of home-made preserves. SURGEONS TO PASSENGER SHIPS.
THE ANALYTICAL SANITARY COMMISSION.
SiNCE we drew the attention of the profession to the extraordinary regulations of the College of Surgeons relating to the
THE
admission of candidates to examination for the Licence in Midwifery, a strong feeling of alarm and disapprobation has been manifested by practitioners in every part of the country. In our remarks upon the subject, we could not but assume that the Council of the College had framed their regulations in ignorance of the claims of obstetric science, as well as of the sentiments of the thousands of members of the College who practise that department of medicine. If they have inadvertently overlooked interests they were bound to protect, and which we are anxious to give them credit for wishing to protect, they have still the opportunity of rescinding the fifth clause of their regulations, which admits persons who are not possessed of any general diploma in medicine. What we stated at the conclusion of our former ar ticle-viz., that no great harm had yet been done, as none but qualified men had hitherto received the midwifery certificate-is still, happily, true. There is still time, therefore, to obviate the mischief and confusion that could not fail to ensue if the objectionable clause be allowed to stand. We feel confident that now the Council have had the opportunity of viewing the bearing of their regulations in a light which had before escaped them, and of weighing the injurious nature of the difficulties attending the course that has been adopted, they will gladly revise those regulations. A slight modification would place them in harmony not only with the claims of obstetric science, but with the sentiments of the profession. Such a modification, we feel convinced, will not be denied to the demands of the members of the College ; and we strongly urge those who hold the surgical diploma to address the Council by memorial, or otherwise, upon a subject which so deeply concerns them.
ANALYTICAL SANITARY COMMISSION. RECORDS OF THE RESULTS OF
MICROSCOPICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF THE
SOLIDS AND FLUIDS CONSUMED BY ALL CLASSES OF THE PUBLIC.
Metropolis,
[* THE Report of the Chemical Analyses of upwards of Twenty Samples of Laudanum, purchased at Apothecaries’ Hall, and also at the Shops of Chemists and Druggists in this is unavoidably postponed until our next publication.]] ON THE
CONTAMINATIONS AND ADULTERATIONS OF
PRESERVES AND JELLIES. WEhave repeatedly shown that the adulterators of our food do not scruple to employ, when it suits their purpose, the most deadly substances, undeterred by the serious consequences which but too frequently result from their use. Thus it has been shown that it is no uncommon thing for them to use of various preparations of iron, lead, copper, arsenic, It is not a little remarkable, that the majority of mercury, &c. these substances are had recourse to, not on account of bulk
make
weight, but for the mere sake of colours, which, thus procured, are frequently in a high degree glaring and unnatural, these colours being obtained too at the expense of quality and or
flavour.
Amongst the articles which have already been treated of, and in which foreign colouring ingredients have been detected, are tea, cocoa, cayenne, mustard, pickles, bottled fruits and To the Editor of THE LANCET. potted meats and fish. The list is, however, far SIR,—With deep interest I read and re-read your able vegetables, from complete as yet, and on the present occasion we have to leader of the 18th ult. exposing the injustice, simultaneously add to it other articles. inflicted on the public and our profession, by shipowners The fruits from which our more common preserves are made, i allowing unqualified men to assume the office of surgeon to are usually so abundant and cheap, that little inducement, their ships. we believe, exists for the substitution of other and inferior As the prevailing epidemic of emigration fever seems daily for the fruit itself. It is true, however, that with to acquire fresh vigour, I think the sooner a change can be ingredients to one preserve, the ordinary belief entertained is very made the better, and with your permission and assistance, I respect different from this, it being supposed that a variety of cheaper would briefly suggest, if not a cure, at least a remedy to palsubstances, such as apples, pumpkins, and turnips enter into liate the grievance. its composition-we allude of course to orange marmalade. This would consist in shipowners allowing the names and It will presently be seen whether there be any foundation for qualifications of theirexperienced surgeons" to come before this belief or not. the public in the advertisements that precede the sailing of Marmalade, as is well known, is made from the Seville or their vessels. bitter orange, much in the same manner as ordinary preserves, The name of the commander is invariably given, but some the chief peculiarity being in the slicing of the peel; this, when peculiar feeling of modesty withholds that of the surgeon. is made on a large scale, is done by a machine, in the Were this slight addition made to the advertisements, the orderjam to save time and labour. There is no doubt but that " emigrating public, instead of buying their pigs in pokes some of what professes to be real "Scotch marmalade," consists would have an opportunity of investigating for themselves, of a mixture of sweet and bitter oranges, if, indeed, in some the qualifications and character of the ‘’experienced surgeon" inferior ingredients do not partly compose it. Why the cases, - at present the anonymous gentleman, to whose care they are Scotch marmalade should be preferred, we know not, except obliged to confide the safety of their lives and limbs during a that the Scotch excel in the manufacture of cakes and conthree months’ voyage. in general. fectionery With a sincere hope that you will not cease your endeavours Although it is not very often that one fruit is substituted for to ameliorate the present condition of ship-surgeons, and to another, there is a species of deception very frequently pracwelfare the of those at sea. guard tised, which is scarcely less culpable. Vegetable jellies conI am, Sir, your obedient servant, sist of the thick and transparent part of the fruit only, the P. H. E. D. January, J853. husks and seeds being removed; now, these really worthless portions of the fruit are rarely, if ever, thrown away by the manufacturers of preserves; but, mixed with a little fresh fruit, ACADEMY OF MEDICINE OF PARIS: OFFICE BEARERS they are passed off as good jams. In this practice houseVice-President : M. keepers are furnished with a strong reason for preparing their FOR 1853.-President: Professor Bérard. Nacquart. Annual Secretary :M. Gibert. (The permanent own preserves, and also with an explanation of the general secretary is M. Dubois d’Amiens.) Treasurer : M. Patissier., superiority of home-made preserves. SURGEONS TO PASSENGER SHIPS.