WESTMINSTER MEDICAL SOCIETY.

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and nervous system; for, before the

nausea

lieved, however,

that the brain was first

Regarding the palliative of seasickness, lying across the ship and pressure applied to the epigastrium, as recommended by Dr. Pemberton, he had found frequently, though not always, beneficial. In a gentlethe pulse small. The vomiting was an ef- man he (Dr. B.) knew, the sight of the unfort of nature to restore the equilibrium of dulatory motion of a looking-glass proIn proof duced the sensation of sea-sickness. the circulation and sensation. Dr. WHITING thought the view most acthat the agitation of the body was the chief cause, it was known that those who r e- ! cordant with fact was, that there was a posed in a well-slung cot, in which the agi- primary cause in action in all cases ; but tation was considerably diminished, suffered that it required, in most instances, the ocfar less than those who remained standing. ’, currence of some secondary cause to affect The only palliative of sea-sickness was the the stomach and produce nausea and sick. horizontal position in the open air, and the ness. We found, for instance, that a perbandaging of the eyes. He was in the son might be exposed to malaria and not habit of getting into the main or mizen rig- become affected, but when some depressing ging and covering his eyes. Ladies should cause came into operation, such as debility go to bed, keep their eyes shut, and their or want of food, the malaria took effect. stomachs empty, In others, this secondary cause was not reMr. ROBARTS thought no satisfactory ex- quired. So, in sea-sickness, some became planation had yet been given of the cause affected by merely seeing others sick, &c. of the sickness. An idea on the subject He believed that the primary cause dependinvariably felt a giddiness and unsteadiness about the head, indicating derangement of the sensorium ; the next impression was on the circulation ; before vomiting he noticed the face to be pale and

affected.

had occurred to his mind. It was known that certain sets of muscles act simultaneously ; that, for instance, the abdominal muscles, the diaphragm, and the muscles of the pharynx, were all concerned in the action of vomiting. To irritate any of those various muscles would be sufficient to throw them all into action ; thus tickling the fauces produced vomiting. It appeared to him that when persons were at sea, there I was a possibility that, in attempting to maintain their equilibrium during the rising and falling of the ship, the abdominal muscles were thrown forward and retracted, and that the mouth and pharynx were open, and that sickness, after a time, was produced by these causes. Mr PILCHER believed, that the cause of sea-sickness was more likely to. be dependant on that vibration of the brain* which was produced by the rolling of the vessel. The brain thus shaken, as in cases of concussion, was not able to perform its ’, functions. The morbid impression was con. veyed by the par vagum, not only to the stomach, but to the various other organs of the body, through the influence of the nervWhen a bandage was placed ous system. round the eyes, or the person fixed his gaze firmly on some immoveable object, the brain was not so much shaken, the body itself being more fixed. Dr. BENNETT had found in his own person, that the first impression was made upon the stomach, before any perceptible effect bad been produced on the brain. He be-

ed on the motion of the bo.:,- up and down. But how did this motion produce sea-sickness ? The first action of this motion was on the circulation. He had found his brain perfectly free until the occurrence of the vomiting. When the ship pitched he had felt a sensation about the epigastrium, which feeling he considered did not lie in the stomach itself, but in the large vessels which run along the trunk. By this rising and falling of the circulating fluid, the blood was forced upon the brain, and left it as suddenly, and hence the production of the nausea and other effects. Mr. CLIFTON believed that the morbid impression was first made on the nervous system, perhaps through the medium of the eye. He knew an instance in which two gentlemen, who were experienced voyagers, and laughed at sea-sickness, became affected by watching the oscillations of a lamp in the cabin. After a few words from Mr. HEADLAND and other members, the Society adjourned.

came on

he

slight

* This is the theory of Baron Larrey, who also gravely assures us, that if persons inhabiting the sea-coast be less liable to sea-sickuess than those dwelling inland, it is because the former have less brains to be

shaken than the latter.-ED L.

WESTMINSTER MEDICAL SOCIETY. October 20th, 1838. THE Society held its first meeting for the session this evening ; there was not, by any means, a full attendance of members. The President, Dr. WILLIAMS, made a few introductory remarks, in the course of which he stated, that the Committee had made arrangements by which the place of meeting would either be removed, or the room at present occupied by the Society rendered more comfortable, in order that it might not be liable to the same objections which were so justly raised against it last session. The evening, as is usual at the first meeting for the session, was occupied chiefly

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with the nomination of members for elec- determination, as soon as the man’s health tion as officers. A desultory conversation would permit it, to remove the diseased por. followed this proceeding, which offered no- tion by excision ;in the mean time a leather thing which we can make available for a re- splint was applied, with the view of keep. port. ing the joint at rest, and attempting to pro. He complained very cure an anchylosis. much of the pain produced by the splint, BRITISH MEDICAL, ASSOCIATION. and said he could not endure it; it was accordingly removed. THE following is a correct list of the October 3. There is a sore on the inner office-bearers of the British Medical Asso- side of the elbow, at the bottom of which ciation for the year 1838-9 :the bone is detected bare by the probe; but Mr. Liston is inclined to think the affection President.—George Webster, M.D. is not extensive nor contra-indicatory of the Vice-Presidents. operation which he intends to perform. R. Davidson, Esq. M. W. Hilles, Esq. Operation.—With a bistoury a long inci. A. B. Granville, M.D. HoweU, Esq. sion was made from over the acromion, Marshall Hall, Pilcher, Esq. for three or four inches, be. downwards, Secretaries. Honorary tween the fibres of the deltoid ; another M. F. Wagstaffe, Esq. was made to join this in a transverse direc. C. H. Rogers Harrisson, Esq. tion, over the outer surface of the joint; Treasurer.—Edward Evans, Esq. the angle of the flap was next dissected up, Other Members ofCouncil. and the capsule of the joiut cleared; the J. N. Bainbridge, Esq. William flaps were held aside by assistants by means J. S. Bayfield, Esq. R. L. Hooper, Esq. of copper spatulse ;the elbow was then J. M. Beane, Esq. carried forwards and across the chest, so as George Hull, M.D. Charles Brady, Esq. John L. I’on, Esq. to push the head of the bone against thepor. J. S. Bristowe, Esq. G. C. Ireland, Esq. tion of the capsular ligament that had been John Clarke, Esq. John Lavies, Esq. exposed, which was then divided, and the Edward Crisp, Esq. Robert Liston, Esq. head of the humerus being turned out, it was Nathan Delph, Esq. D. M’Ewan, M.D. sawn off a little below the anatomical neck; William Eales, Esq. George Parsons, Esq. the cartilaginous surface had been removed William Farr, Esq. Thomas Porter, Esq. by absorption ;the acromial process was Profess. Grant, M.D. Samuel Procter, Esq. next removed with a portion of the clavicle; P.HennisGreen,M.B. Robert Smales, Esq. very little blood was lost ;the glenoid cavity William Herring,Esq.,,T. Wakley, Esq.,M.P. appeared to be sound ;the vessels which Honorary Solicitor.—David Davies, Esq. bled did not require ligature. Lint was stuffed into the cavity ; the edges of the lower part of the wound were brought toUNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL. gether by a suture. October 9. Has been doing exceedingly DISEASE OF THE SHOULDER-JOINT.—EXCISION well since the operation. OF THE HEAD OF THE HUMERUS. ’, 16. Doing well ;sits up by the fire. 21. Not a bad symptom has occurred; W. E., aged 34, a butcher, was admitted, May 10th, under the care of Mr. Liston. ’, the operation will, no doubt, be a successful He has been accustomed to carry his tray one. upon his right shoulder. He came to the hospital first in consequence of an abscess ’, WOUND OF THE HAND.—INFLAMMATION OF situated very superficially over the acroTHE ABSORBENTS. iiiion process, on the right side ; the abscess W. C., aged 45,was admitted, September was opened, but did not heal up. Other 24, under the care of Mr. Cooper. Abouta abscesses formed around the joint, and month ago he wounded his left thumb were opened from time to time, until numer- slightly, but the wound did not heal; its ous sinuses ran all round the articulation. edges became hard and callous, and he suf. The man’s health suffered very much during fered from pain in the arm and the axilla, this period; he has also been subjected to where one of the glands became enlarged an attack of erysipelas in the arm, which and tender ; the edges of the sore were cut was followed by abscesses of the subcutane- away, and it soon healed; but in a few days ous cellular tissue. after the general indisposition increased. He July 11. Was made an out-patient on has been obliged to keep his bed the last account of his health, which is very much three or four days. His wife has considered weakened. that her husband’s health has not been M August 3. He was readmitted to-day. robust of late as it used to be, but she sauy Soon after his admission Mr. Liston, after that his habits of living are regular acd a close examination of the affected parts, moderate. On admission the man was decame to the conclusion, that the head of pressed ; pulse 110, full, but not strong; the humerus was diseased, and to tremor of the face; general clamim-

M.D.George J.

Hughes,Esq. ’

I

the great ,