THE ELECTION AT WINCHESTER.

273 irom that quarter :" and in a postscript he adds-" I feel that called ’’ the religious qualification questions, and I certainly it would be next to useless to attempt the passing of a Bill or was surprised to find the influence they had with the commitBills, unless the Government would give some support. Un- tee, for to their weight must be attributed the fact of BIr. fortunately the profession is so disunited, that all Govern- Adams’selection and the rejection of the candidate with the ments can take advantage of us in our individual exertions- best surgical and medical qualifications. I write this with no ill-feeling towards or depreciation of not so the law." From this gentleman I have not heard since I have e above date of the the Adams, but I merely assert that he was not the best man, letter, 31st, although January addressed three letters to him. as I am sure everyone would say who had an opportunity of T a.m Sir vnnr obedient servant examining the respective candidates’ testimonials, &c. I cannot conclude this letter without thanking you for your RICHARD GRIFFIN 12, Royal-terrace, Weymouth, March 7th, 1865. able article on the subject, which I hope will cause the ’Vin-. committee to conduct their next election in a fairer 12, Roval-terrace, Weymouth, i sdirit. I arn- Sir vours obediently. March 6th. 1865. FREDK. MANSER. Gibraltar-place, Chatham, March 5th, 1665. My LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,—On the 2nd had honour to in which I the receive a letter from 1864, you, you say: " The Poor-law Board beg to inform you that the DUBLIN. subject to which you refer has been under their consideration; but that they havenot yet come to a decision as to the meaOUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) (FROM sures which it may be desirable to recommend the guardians of the different unions to take with reference to the resolution A QUESTION of some little importance to our profession in of the Select Committee on Poor Relief as regards the supply this city is likely to occupy a share of public attention within The of expensive medicines. question, however, will receive the next few days. Mr. Porter, who discharged the duties of the attention of the Board forthwith." It is now just twelve months (March llth, 1864) since the Select Committee on Poor medical referee to the city Coroners for the first fourteen years, Relief recommended " that in future cod-liver oil, quinine, and has resigned the situation; and the question now arises, whoother expensive medicines, shall be provided at the expense of will be his successor ? Mr. Porter was appointed by the twothe guardians, subject to the orders and regulations of the and hitherto has been Coroners, paid by the corporation Poor-law Board;" and six months have elapsed (September city a fixed salary. One of the Coroners is content to continue this. 2nd, 1864) since your Hon. Board said, "the question, how- arrangement with his successor, and the corporation, from. ever, will receive the attention of the Board forthwith," and motives of economy, are anxious to continue to pay by salary, yet no order has been issued. I therefore trust you will not and not by fees, as in the generality of years these latter would think I am too pressing in urging this question again upon the I far exceed in amount the sum allotted for the doctors’ reimmediate attention of your Hon. Board. If you are in any ; but the second Coroner is understood to be un-difficulty about the matter, and desire to have a deputation of muneration to come to such an arrangement, and will, it is supwilling medical officers to confer with you on the subject, I will wilstand upon the provisions of the Act of Parliament, lingly call them together for the purpose, on any day you posed, in all cases the gentleman who had any previous employing may name, after allowing me two clear Saturdays to intervene, connexion with the patient at the time of death, and, in the as it is only through the medium of the medical journals absence of such a party, any medical practitioner of his own that I can announce the fact to them. I was in hopes your selection, but, in either case, paying the medical referee the Hon. Board would bring in a Bill this session to regulate fees awarded by Act of Parliament. It will thus be seen that the payments of your medical officers, and not allow the Dr. the Coroner in question, is supporting a great White, the salaries, and giving principle-one entirely in favour present capricious mode of fixing of the medical profession, some officers extra medical fees, and others none, to conand decidedly antagonistic to the cheese-paring economy which tinue. It is perfectly clear from the several amendments of in curtailing the emoluments of professional men. the Select Committee, that the committee itself was far from delights Were the salary of an amount sufficient to make it of imbeing unanimous on the subject of medical relief, and even portance to a member of our profession to seek for it, then, their ultimate decision " that thereare no sufficient grounds it would be wrong to attempt to interfere with the for materially interfering with the present system of medical perhaps, in arrangement ; but based as it is on the principle relief," clearly proves that there are grounds for interfering, of benefiting the question citizens at the expense of the doctors, your although not ’materially doing so. I therefore trust your correspondent entertains no doubt that Dr. White will receive Hon. Board will yet place the whole system on a proper foot- the support of every member of our profession in thus vindiI have the honour to be,, ing. its rights. cating My Lords and Gentlemen, of acupressure, I may mention to you that Pro-Apropos Your most obedient servant. fessor Macnamara amputated a breast in the wards of the The Poor-law Board. RICHARD GRIFFIN. Meath Hospital on Wednesday last, and controlled the heemor-rhage by acupressure with signal success. Three vessels required to be secured. The breast was left open for two DR. HEATH’S CASE OF ANEURISM. hours, and the needles were then removed. Two of the’ To the Editor of THE LANCET. vessels were found to be perfectly safe ; the third spouted, SIR,—An error occurs in the otherwise excellent letter of but was at once with perfect ease again controlled by the your Newcastle-on-Tyne correspondent, inserted in THE needle and wire. The wound closed, and on the next day but LANCET of last week, respecting the case of aneurism in this one the remaining needle and wire were withdrawn, withouttown under treatment by Dr. Heath. It was not for a period the loss of one drop of blood. In this case the principle was of seven but of ten hours that the patient was under the influ- fairly tested, as the patient suffered from vomiting (attribuence of chloroform; and instead of six hours and a half merely, table to the chloroform) during the night subsequent to the the pressure was kept up for a period of ten hours and a half. operation, without the slightest appearance of bleeding, even. Eight days have elapsed since and no pulsation has returned; from the vessels that had been released from pressure during but doubtless a full report of this interesting case will shortly the day. I believe that Professor Macnamara is the first and be furnished to your invaluable journal. as yet the only surgeon in this city who has tried acupressure. I am. Sir. vours verv trulv. The subject is one of great importance, and demands searching ONE WHO WAS PRESENT. but at the same time calm investigation. Sunderland, March, 1864. Dublin, March 7th, 1865.

Mr.

I chester of September,

THE ELECTION AT WINCHESTER. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—Seeing that you are about to give your final decision on the late election of house-surgeon to the Hants County Hospital, I, as one of the candidates for that appointment, feel it my duty to confirm the statements made in THE LANCET of the 25th ult. as to the way in which that election was conducted. 1, like the rest of the candidates, was asked what might be -

PARISIAN MEDICAL INTELLIGENCE. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) I mention the death of M. Graat the Faculty of Sciences. The press at large has paid a just tribute of praise and regret to the memory of this highly-gifted man. Death overtook him almost suddenly, and in the midst of his labours. IT is with

deep regret that

tiolet, the eminent Professor of Zoology