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THE STATISTICS OF OVARIOTOMY.
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to that office. This gentleman was the first to teach the three branches of the subject fully, under my direction-viz., Practical Histology, Practical Physiological Chemistry, and Practical Experimental Physiology. During the winter session 1864-5the class numbered 75 students. From this statement you may judge of my surprise on learning that Dr. Rutherford supposed that it was reserved for him, in 1865, to organise, or, as you put it, to "institute," two new courses of Experimental Physiology and Practical Physiological Chemistry in this University. Professor Foster, of Cambridge, says: ° When I remember ( !) what in former years you have done for physiology at Edinburgh, in organising the practical inand Dr. Sharpey more struction in that science," &c.; cautiously: "believe I am right in speaking of him as having had a principal share in organising the course of Practical Physiology in the University of Edinburgh," &c. Dr. Robertson informs me that immediately before his appointment Dr. Rutherford attended his class, and was instructed by him in the use of all the instruments, very much, as I believe, Dr. M’Kendrick in turn learned from Dr. Rutherford. No doubt the latter gentleman improved upon the teaching of practical physiology as originally given by Dr. Robertson, in the same manner as Dr. M’Kendrick greatly improved upon and extended what was taught by Dr. Rutherford. This was a matter of time and experience, and I left details to my assistants. But all this does not entitle any one of the three to claim for himself the merit of organising or instituting practical physiology in Edinburgh, or of adding two new courses to what previously existed. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, J. HUGHES BENNETT. Glenfinlas-street, Edinburgh, Oct. 6th, 1874.
unaided medical care. Then will they recognise the priceless value of professional ability, and, if left to mourn the loss of a beloved wife or child, under circumstances which leave a haunting suspicion that the case was not beyond the range of human skill, will derive little consolation from the reflection that public parsimony, supported by military jealousy, failed to offer terms which would attract a higher class of army medical candidates. Ere it be too late a truce should be proclaimed and, pending a speedy and honourable investigation, the washing of dirty linen in public be postponed, lest a stamp of degradation be for ever affixed to a department which ought to be a source of pride to its component members, and an ornament to the profession of which it is a section. Yours obediently, A MEDICAL OFFICER. October 6th, 1874.
ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—At. the introductory lectures of the Middlesex, St. Mary’s, and University College Hospitals a note of warning to students contemplating a career in the Army Medical Department has been sounded. Candidates are exhorted to examine well the condition of the department and the validity of the complaints of the existing incumbents, with which the military and medical papers teem, before casting in their lots into such a sea of discontent. Now, insignificant as the medical department may appear in comparison with the military body as a whole, still it is high time that the country should be informed unequivocally whether the medical officers of the army are banding themselves together to circulate fictitious grievances through the public press, and to misrepresent their condition to those who have the guidance of future students for the purpose of establishing, through a system of trades unionism, a medical strike, thereby compelling the Government to pay an additional price for an article which in a normal state of the market could be purchased for even less than was hitherto paid ; or whether the legislators within whose province this department comes have acted so as to justify the
murmurings of its members. In the first place, no measures put in force to crush such organised insubordination can be too severe. In the second, inquiry ought not to be withheld. In either case great injury must be done to the public service since the better class of students are being deterred from competing for its appointments. And this was strikingly exemplified at the examinations in August last, at which, while 14 surgeons were admitted into the Indian service and 17 into the Army Medical Department, only the first four of the successful
army candidates could exceed the marks of the last man of the Indian batch. The irresponsible young candidate is, however, the father of the future surgeon-major, and even if the supervision of seniors supplements any deficiency during his subordinate service, the day must come when the wellbeing of many must depend upon his education and capability; and when, far away in unnatural and unhealthy climates, military officers, whose means would have enabled them, if in England, to obtain the best advice that money could procure, must submit themselves and all who are most dear to them to his
535
THE STATISTICS OF OVARIOTOMY. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—I go further than you do in your remarks on Dr. Heywood Smith’s letter in your last number. I hold that,
published, cases become common property ; that anyis at liberty to use them in the way he thinks best, provided he names the observer, the place of record, and notices correctly whatever alterations may have been made in the re-issue of the case. I am, Sir, yours &c., E. J. TILT. TiLT. October 7th, 1874.
once one
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THE IRISH COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. To the Editor of THE LANCET. have read with pleasure your very fair remarks SIR,-I the examinations at the Royal College of Surgeons in upon IreJand. That some reforms were necessary there can be no doubt, and those reforms had been determined on long before the visitation. But, Sir, I think sufficient stress has never been laid upon the fact that this body is the very first of all the surgical corporations to carry out clinical examinations at the hospitals and operations on the dead subject. I have myself seen the candidates operate, and confess I saw no objection whatever to the method adopted, which appeared to me a sufficient test. The strictures upon the clinical examination may be just, but by comparison only can we arrive at the truth, and any person who has seen or heard described the plan adopted at Lincoln7s-inn-fieldG must let the balance fall in favour of the Irish college. At the M.R.C.S. examinations the operations are done on the living subject, the gashes, however, being made with a piece of coloured chalk, and I understand the patients for the 11 clinicalexamination are brought from the hospitals to the college, a method which certainly must greatly limit the area of examination. All who take the least interest in these matters are well aware that at none of the surgical corporations are the examinations as searching and complete as they should be, but I think the impartial observer will admit that the Irish College has been the first to introduce practical tests into its ordinary examinations. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, AN OBSERVER FROM A DISTANCE. Oct. 7th, 1874.
SKETCHES OF CONTINENTAL HOSPITALS.
(By our Special Correspondent.) IV.-DRESDEN.
DRESDEN, the capital of Saxony, though possessing many admirable public institutions, and a collection of pictures probably second to none on this side the Alps, is not a, university city, and has no medical school. Its hospital, however, is well worth a visit, not only from the interesting historical associations connected wich it, but also because the new wards are constructed on the barrack system, which seems to be now the favourite method of hospital construction in Germany. As the system is well carried out here, I shall give a description of it, and
to that office. This gentleman was the first to teach the three branches of the subject fully, under my direction-viz., Practical Histology, Practical Physiological Chemistry, and Practical Experimental Physiology. During the winter session 1864-5the class numbered 75 students. From this statement you may judge of my surprise on learning that Dr. Rutherford supposed that it was reserved for him, in 1865, to organise, or, as you put it, to "institute," two new courses of Experimental Physiology and Practical Physiological Chemistry in this University. Professor Foster, of Cambridge, says: ° When I remember ( !) what in former years you have done for physiology at Edinburgh, in organising the practical inand Dr. Sharpey more struction in that science," &c.; cautiously: "believe I am right in speaking of him as having had a principal share in organising the course of Practical Physiology in the University of Edinburgh," &c. Dr. Robertson informs me that immediately before his appointment Dr. Rutherford attended his class, and was instructed by him in the use of all the instruments, very much, as I believe, Dr. M’Kendrick in turn learned from Dr. Rutherford. No doubt the latter gentleman improved upon the teaching of practical physiology as originally given by Dr. Robertson, in the same manner as Dr. M’Kendrick greatly improved upon and extended what was taught by Dr. Rutherford. This was a matter of time and experience, and I left details to my assistants. But all this does not entitle any one of the three to claim for himself the merit of organising or instituting practical physiology in Edinburgh, or of adding two new courses to what previously existed. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, J. HUGHES BENNETT. Glenfinlas-street, Edinburgh, Oct. 6th, 1874.
unaided medical care. Then will they recognise the priceless value of professional ability, and, if left to mourn the loss of a beloved wife or child, under circumstances which leave a haunting suspicion that the case was not beyond the range of human skill, will derive little consolation from the reflection that public parsimony, supported by military jealousy, failed to offer terms which would attract a higher class of army medical candidates. Ere it be too late a truce should be proclaimed and, pending a speedy and honourable investigation, the washing of dirty linen in public be postponed, lest a stamp of degradation be for ever affixed to a department which ought to be a source of pride to its component members, and an ornament to the profession of which it is a section. Yours obediently, A MEDICAL OFFICER. October 6th, 1874.
ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—At. the introductory lectures of the Middlesex, St. Mary’s, and University College Hospitals a note of warning to students contemplating a career in the Army Medical Department has been sounded. Candidates are exhorted to examine well the condition of the department and the validity of the complaints of the existing incumbents, with which the military and medical papers teem, before casting in their lots into such a sea of discontent. Now, insignificant as the medical department may appear in comparison with the military body as a whole, still it is high time that the country should be informed unequivocally whether the medical officers of the army are banding themselves together to circulate fictitious grievances through the public press, and to misrepresent their condition to those who have the guidance of future students for the purpose of establishing, through a system of trades unionism, a medical strike, thereby compelling the Government to pay an additional price for an article which in a normal state of the market could be purchased for even less than was hitherto paid ; or whether the legislators within whose province this department comes have acted so as to justify the
murmurings of its members. In the first place, no measures put in force to crush such organised insubordination can be too severe. In the second, inquiry ought not to be withheld. In either case great injury must be done to the public service since the better class of students are being deterred from competing for its appointments. And this was strikingly exemplified at the examinations in August last, at which, while 14 surgeons were admitted into the Indian service and 17 into the Army Medical Department, only the first four of the successful
army candidates could exceed the marks of the last man of the Indian batch. The irresponsible young candidate is, however, the father of the future surgeon-major, and even if the supervision of seniors supplements any deficiency during his subordinate service, the day must come when the wellbeing of many must depend upon his education and capability; and when, far away in unnatural and unhealthy climates, military officers, whose means would have enabled them, if in England, to obtain the best advice that money could procure, must submit themselves and all who are most dear to them to his
535
THE STATISTICS OF OVARIOTOMY. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—I go further than you do in your remarks on Dr. Heywood Smith’s letter in your last number. I hold that,
published, cases become common property ; that anyis at liberty to use them in the way he thinks best, provided he names the observer, the place of record, and notices correctly whatever alterations may have been made in the re-issue of the case. I am, Sir, yours &c., E. J. TILT. TiLT. October 7th, 1874.
once one
______________
THE IRISH COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. To the Editor of THE LANCET. have read with pleasure your very fair remarks SIR,-I the examinations at the Royal College of Surgeons in upon IreJand. That some reforms were necessary there can be no doubt, and those reforms had been determined on long before the visitation. But, Sir, I think sufficient stress has never been laid upon the fact that this body is the very first of all the surgical corporations to carry out clinical examinations at the hospitals and operations on the dead subject. I have myself seen the candidates operate, and confess I saw no objection whatever to the method adopted, which appeared to me a sufficient test. The strictures upon the clinical examination may be just, but by comparison only can we arrive at the truth, and any person who has seen or heard described the plan adopted at Lincoln7s-inn-fieldG must let the balance fall in favour of the Irish college. At the M.R.C.S. examinations the operations are done on the living subject, the gashes, however, being made with a piece of coloured chalk, and I understand the patients for the 11 clinicalexamination are brought from the hospitals to the college, a method which certainly must greatly limit the area of examination. All who take the least interest in these matters are well aware that at none of the surgical corporations are the examinations as searching and complete as they should be, but I think the impartial observer will admit that the Irish College has been the first to introduce practical tests into its ordinary examinations. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, AN OBSERVER FROM A DISTANCE. Oct. 7th, 1874.
SKETCHES OF CONTINENTAL HOSPITALS.
(By our Special Correspondent.) IV.-DRESDEN.
DRESDEN, the capital of Saxony, though possessing many admirable public institutions, and a collection of pictures probably second to none on this side the Alps, is not a, university city, and has no medical school. Its hospital, however, is well worth a visit, not only from the interesting historical associations connected wich it, but also because the new wards are constructed on the barrack system, which seems to be now the favourite method of hospital construction in Germany. As the system is well carried out here, I shall give a description of it, and