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BURNETT'S DISINFECTING FLUID.
210
services, this meeting is of opinion, that the case is one in which a public subscription should be raised for the widow and children of Dr. Lynch." (Cheers.) He could bear
testimony stated
as
to the correctness of all that the Chairman had to the able and efficient services rendered by Dr.
Lynch to the cause of sanitary improvement. It had been truly said, that no class of men suffered so much as the medical men who had to attend the districts in which epidemics were prevalent. The number of those who had fallen like Dr. Lynch was very great, and he knew too many such cases in which widows and families had been left to deplore the loss of husbands and fathers thus cut off. They had called that meeting in the hope that it would be the means of giving some relief to the bereaved widow and family of Dr. Lynch, and also of calling attention to the public and unrecompensed services of the medical profession. (Hear, hear.) Of all the professions the members of the medical profession were the least happily placed. They were exposed to more danger than officers of the army in actual service, and they were the poorest, because it was their practice to give their services to the poor without fee or reward. (Hear, hear.) There was not a family, however poor, who, in a case of illness, would be deterred by that poverty from sending for the doctor, and
much they might have differed on some.subjects, no one could doubt the honesty, the zeal, and the disinterestedness with which Dr. Lynch advocated his .views: (Hear.) He had never been more shocked in his life than when he received, in a distant part of Europe, the intelligence of the death of a man whom he left in the full of health and strength, and with a brilliant prospect before him. (Hear.) Mr. Taylor then proceeded, at some length, to defend the Corporation of London from the charge of having obstructed sanitary reform; and concluded by expressing his cordial concurrence in the object of the meeting, and his determination to give his best aid to carry it out. The resolution was unanimously adopted. Dr. FARR moved the second resolution—" That the appoint. ment and proceedings of the provisional committee, with these objects, be confirmed by this meeting, and that the folio wing names be added thereto:-Lord Ashley, Richard Taylor, Esq., Mr. Deputy Obbard, G. R. Slaney, Esq., M.P., J. Abel Smith, Esq., M.P., Dr..Farr, and Professor Owen; and that the provisional committee be requested to commu. nicate with her Majesty’s Government and the corporation of the city of London, and request aid to the local subscription; and that the case of Dr. Lynch be submitted to her Majesty’s Government for consideration, as one exemplifying the ne. cessity of a public provision being for the future made for similar services :’ R. ANDERTON, Esq., seconded the resolution. In the course of his remarks he said that he was one of those who were incredulous as to the truth of Dr. Lynch’s statements, but to satisfy himself he had gone through a part of that district with Dr. Lynch. He was three days so engaged, but the third so completely horrified and overcame him, that he was glad to give it up, and he felt thankful that he had escaped with life. He deeply regretted the death of Dr. Lynch, who had laboured earnestly to direct attention to the subject, and should give his best aid to the movement to mitigate the sufferings of his widow and family consequent on his sudden
ever
enjoyment
I
there was not a medical man who would refuse to go because the patients were unable to pay. (Cheers.) Was it too much to ask, therefore, that the families of those who showed themselves so ready to devote their services to the benefit of others should be assisted in return ?&ic rc; (Hear, hear.) In the present state of the lower classes, it was impossible for a medical It was man to attend them without danger. (Hear, hear.) impossible to make the middle classes understand this danger, or to make them realize to their minds what a sick man’s chamber was. This very week he himself had been exposed to imminent danger of contracting fever in his attendance upon the sick. The cases at the London Hospital showed the increase of fever. In the earlier months of the year the cases were eighty-one, in the four subsequent months they (Hear, hear.) were 641 (hear, hear); but even this experience was of an death. After a few words from Mr. HspAPATH, corroborative of imperfect character. The best of men got only glimpses of isolated spots. There was, however, one man who had a Mr. Anderton’s statements, the resolution was carried. Mr. G-. Ross, who paid a high compliment to the genius, comprehensive view, and who had given them the collective results-that was the Registrar-General. His opinion was, learning, and philanthropy of Dr. Lynch, moved the third rethat the excess of mortality in the twelve months ending June, solution, which was, a vote of thanks to the Provisional Com. 1847, was 66,712, and that in only one fourth of the population mittee, and to Mr. Simpson, the Hon. Sec., for their exertions nearly 67,000 persons more died every year than ought to die, in this truly benevolent cause. The resolution was seconded by Mr. OTTLEY; and the if the removable causes of disease were abolished. (Hear.) It was impossible that these results, which were obtained by CHAIRMAN and Mr. Ross having severally highly eulogized the simplest calculations of arithmetic, could be believed. They Mr. Simpson for his valuable services in connexion with the might be admitted by the head but denied by the heart, or else we case, the resolution was, like the preceding, unanimously would not witness the apathy and even obstructions to sanitary adopted. On the motion of Mr. ToYNBEE, seconded by the Deputy, it reform which were to be witnessed. Corporations and parochial vestries pertinaciously resisted the introduction of the necessary was then resolved-" That the best thanks of this meeting are measures; but surely if these members of the class to which due to the Chairman for the lively interest he has taken in they belonged could fully realize to their minds the immense behalf of Mrs. Lynch and her children." The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, said that, although he number of persons who yearly fall a sacrifice to the sufferings which precede the destitution and pauperism which follow did not know what the Government intentions were with death, they would, instead of opposing such measures, do their respect to any future sanitary measure, yet as centralization utmost to promote them, and to put a stop to this national had been talked of, he believed it would be considered neces. calamity. (Hear, hear.) The only classes, perhaps, who could sary to consult the local authorities, before framing any new realize this annual slaughter of our people, larger than that measure; and so far from desiring to deprive the local authoat Waterloo, were the medical men and the ministers of re- rities of any power they now possessed, the object would be to ligion. They visited the wretched dwellings of the poor and enable them to discharge these duties in a more efficient knew what they were, and he trusted to see them unite in manner than they can at present. (Hear.) The meeting then broke up. urging the subject on the nation and the Government. Let them act on the principle contained in the report of the Registrar-General. It is a long time before a principle can BURNETT’S DISINFECTING FLUID. be carried out; when the works are commenced, it will be a THE chloride of zinc in solution, it appears from a parlialong time before they are completed, and as yet nothing has been done. (Hear, hear.) After some further observations, mentary document which has just been issued, has been emDr. Smith concluded by reverting to the special object of the ployed extensively as a disinfectant in dissecting-rooms, the
meeting, which was, to prove, that though they deplored the loss of Dr. Lynch, his services were not forgotten by the public. (Hear, hear.) It was indeed a poor recompence that they could offer to his widow and his family for their loss; but what they could give they would give, in order to show that the public are at last learning to recognise their true benefactors. (Cheers.) Mr. RICHARD TAYLOR had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. He had acted with Dr. Lynch in various capacities for many years. In the first place, as a Poor-law Guardian, he had witnessed the zeal and ability which Dr. Lynch uniformly displayed in the discharge of his duties as medical officer, and that he had even gone far beyond his own arduous duties. When he entered the Common Council, he devoted himself specially to the sanitary question; and how-
wards of hospitals, and in the royal navy, and, according to the we have seen, has been eminently successful in effecting the objects for which it is designed. The medical officers at Haslar Hospital state that it has been used in that hospital in the close-stools of patients affected with dysentery, in the water-closets and cesspools, and also in the wards, when the air was tainted by purulent expectoration or discharge from sores, with the effect of immediately removing the disagreeable odours. It has also been used in the surgery with good effect, in removing the smell of putrefying animal substances, and the odour of dead bodies under inspection: when employed as a dressing to ulcers, it removes the disagreeable smell of purulent matter, and, in the proportion of one part of the clear solution to eighteen of water, it preserves subjects of natural history from putrefaction, and in a
reports which
211 fit state of anatomical inspection, after more than a year has A similar testimony in favour of the solution of the chloride. is borne by the assistant-surgeon of the Marine Hospital at Woolwich, who adds, "the great advantage which the chloride of zinc possesses over other agents employed for a like purpose, is, that it removes the disagreeable effluvium, without leaving one little less offensive in its room, and may therefore be made use of wherever this effect is requiredin private as well as public buildings, in the sick bedchamber The method adopted at no less than in the crowded ward. this hospital is to supply each of the wards with a bottle of the diluted solution, which the nurses have directions to use whenever occasion may require, besides sprinkling it over the floors before the morning and evening visits are
troops, which we did at Bermuda, my attention was of course specially directed to every means whereby the contagion could be destroyed. Cleanliness and ventilation were duly attended to, and every part of the ship where the sick had been, after being cleaned and aired, was sponged well over with the solution of chloride of zinc several times. Than the result, nothing could be better; the disease totally ceased, no fresh case occurring after. On our passage from Halifax, with the sixtieth regiment on board, the weather was so bad, and the ship working so much, that it was quite impossible to open
elapsed.
made."
Its utility in the dissecting-room is confirmed by the statements made by Mr. Bowman, Dr. Sharpey, Mr. Partridge, Dr. Murray, and Dr. V. Pettigrew, who concur in asserting, that in a proper degree of dilution its success is complete, and that it appears to preserve the colour and texture of the parts very admirably. It has, further, the very important advantage of not acting on the steel instruments employed, being in this respect equal to alcohol. Dr. Methven especiallv mentions an instance in which the solution corrected advancing putrescence, and enabled him to dissect during July.’ He believes, further, it will be the means of saving many valuable lives, which are annually lost by wounds received in the course of dissection, as while dissecting this putrid body, he cut himself several times, and once received a
punctured wound,
without any bad consequences
arising.
M’Bain, of the "Mastiff," adds his testimony "to the rapid and perfect effects of the chloride of zinc solution upon animal matter in a state of putrefaction. Having frequent opportunities of dissecting or examining large fish &c. cast on shore, whilst undergoing decomposition, the task has been occasionally anything but agreeable, for want of a convenient power to destroy the putrefactive process. The chloride in these cases acts like magic; and as a great practical agent
Mr.
any of the lower-deck
,
ports,
on
which deck the whole of the
people lived, troops as well as our own people, for eight days; the air throughout the deck was exceedingly vitiated with every mixture of noxious
smell, but the free use of the chloride of zinc tended, in a most surprising manner, to do away with the bad smell; so much so, that the surgeon of the regiment came to me to get some to use in the part of the ship where the ladies of the officers were. The effect of the chloride of zinc is most obvious in correcting all bad and offensive effluvia; and from the sudden and surprising manner in which the measles disappeared after its use, it is not, I think, too much to say, that it must have been very instrumental in decomposing the miasm, or state of atmosphere in the ship, which tended to the generation of the disease." From all these statements, then, it is clear that the solution of the chloride of zinc is a powerful agent in neutralizing noxious gases, and in arresting the progress of decomposition. Sir W. Burnett has therefore rendered, by its discovery, a great benefit to suffering humanity. On board ship, its influence in removing the offensive odours from bilgewater can hardly be too highly estimated, while its action in sweetening the wards of hospitals, and destroying noxious and infectious effluvia, seems to be equally evident. THE
(SO-CALLED) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS.
of the most
important conditions of animal and THE National (?) Institute held its First Annual Meeting in vegetable matter-viz., putrefaction, it stands unrivalled." one of the smaller of the Hanover-square Rooms, on WednesIts influence on board ship, in annihilating the offensive smell day, the llth inst. of bilge-water, and in sweetening between decks, is shown by The attendance was, as might have been anticipated, from the united evidence of captains, surgeons, and masters in the the past conduct of the Council of that body, exceedingly royal navy. Among other vessels, it was used on board the thin, there being scarcely a dozen persons upon the platform. "Victoria and Albert" royal yacht, to remove a more than The president, Mr. PENNINGTON, was absent, as were also ordinary stench of bilge-water, and other offensive odours, many other gentlemen hitherto accustomed to take an active with the most complete success. The surgeon states that she partin the proceedings of the Institute. has remained comparatively sweet ever since, and when The proceedings of the meeting, as might have been ina bilge-water smell is occasionally perceptible, a slight appli ferred would be the case, from the numbers and constitution, cation of the fluid removes it. The solution has also been were listless, inanimate, and uninteresting. used for very disgusting privies, &c., effluvia from which it A report was read by the secretaries, the great labour and over one
onicklv neutralizes.
endeavour of which was to reconcile the members of the Institute the surgeon to the dock-yard at Ports- to the opposition offered by the Council to the Medical Regismouth, has employed the fluid in a severe case of open tration Bill. This portion of the report elicited no sympathy cancer, the fœtor from which was intolerable to the patient from the few members present, some of them, on the conand attendants: this it destroyed so long as the dressings trary, expressing strong disapprobation. were kept moist therewith. Professor Quain has used it, he A code of by-laws was also read to the meeting. Had says, in the treatment of sloughing tumours with beneficial these been framed a year or two ago, they might have been result, and he has no doubt it will supplant the chloride of of some service in preserving the "Committee of the National lime and soda altogether in the removal of foetid odour. Mr. Association," and the " Council of the Institute," from some Gibson, surgeon of the " Eurydice," employed it in a case of of the many improper acts of which they have been guilty. angry ulcer, in the proportion of one part to four of water. They have arrived too late, however, and are now useless, for An eschar was the result, the separation of which left the the Institute is tottering to the fall which it so richly deulcer in a healthy condition. serves. Several of the by-laws had reference to a museum Several naval and other medical men have employed it as and library-good things enough, but which the Institute is a disinfectant in hospitals, and on board ship, the general never destined to possess. results being a marked diminution in the rate of mortality. One of the by-laws requires a word or twoof special noDr. Lindsay, Dr. Cronin, and Dr. Connor, of Cork, all bear tice. It is this: " No member interested in the sale of any to its beneficial effects. Mr. Verling, surgeon of nostrum or testimony specific remedy, or keeping a shop, for the retail of the " Vengeance,"thus speaks:drugs, shall be eligible as a member of the Council." This " Having used the chloride of zinc rather extensively on by-law, carried into strict effect, would exclude every man board Her Majesty’s ship ’Vengeance,’ whilst employed in officially connected with the Apothecaries’ Company, which is the conveyance of troops, I think proper to report to you the a trading body, the Hall itself being one large druggist’s shop. result thereof. We carried the first battalion of the forty- It shows, too, that the Council of the Institute are not less second regiment, consisting of about 700 men, women, and prone to maintain invidious distinctions amongst its members children, from Malta to Bermuda. Measles had prevailed than the Council of the corrupt corporations. It appeared from the statement of the secretaries, that epidemically in the regiment previously to their embarkation, but we received none on board labouring under the disease; thirteen hundred members had enrolled themselves in the yet, after being ten days at sea, several cases occurred simul- Institute on its first formation, but that nine hundred only among the soldiers, and on the 1st of April, having had subscribed their guineas, and that the whole of this sum, been then a month at sea, the disease appeared among our with the exception of a trifling balance, had been expendedown people, ten cases occurring on that day, and from that for what, it may be asked ? What good or useful purpose has day to the fifteenth of the month, when we arrived at Ber- such a large expenditure achieved ? and how many guineas muda, fresh cases were almost of daily occurrence, either does the Council think it will get for its next year’s operaamong our own people or the troops. On getting rid of the tions ! Mr.
Henderson,
taneously
services, this meeting is of opinion, that the case is one in which a public subscription should be raised for the widow and children of Dr. Lynch." (Cheers.) He could bear
testimony stated
as
to the correctness of all that the Chairman had to the able and efficient services rendered by Dr.
Lynch to the cause of sanitary improvement. It had been truly said, that no class of men suffered so much as the medical men who had to attend the districts in which epidemics were prevalent. The number of those who had fallen like Dr. Lynch was very great, and he knew too many such cases in which widows and families had been left to deplore the loss of husbands and fathers thus cut off. They had called that meeting in the hope that it would be the means of giving some relief to the bereaved widow and family of Dr. Lynch, and also of calling attention to the public and unrecompensed services of the medical profession. (Hear, hear.) Of all the professions the members of the medical profession were the least happily placed. They were exposed to more danger than officers of the army in actual service, and they were the poorest, because it was their practice to give their services to the poor without fee or reward. (Hear, hear.) There was not a family, however poor, who, in a case of illness, would be deterred by that poverty from sending for the doctor, and
much they might have differed on some.subjects, no one could doubt the honesty, the zeal, and the disinterestedness with which Dr. Lynch advocated his .views: (Hear.) He had never been more shocked in his life than when he received, in a distant part of Europe, the intelligence of the death of a man whom he left in the full of health and strength, and with a brilliant prospect before him. (Hear.) Mr. Taylor then proceeded, at some length, to defend the Corporation of London from the charge of having obstructed sanitary reform; and concluded by expressing his cordial concurrence in the object of the meeting, and his determination to give his best aid to carry it out. The resolution was unanimously adopted. Dr. FARR moved the second resolution—" That the appoint. ment and proceedings of the provisional committee, with these objects, be confirmed by this meeting, and that the folio wing names be added thereto:-Lord Ashley, Richard Taylor, Esq., Mr. Deputy Obbard, G. R. Slaney, Esq., M.P., J. Abel Smith, Esq., M.P., Dr..Farr, and Professor Owen; and that the provisional committee be requested to commu. nicate with her Majesty’s Government and the corporation of the city of London, and request aid to the local subscription; and that the case of Dr. Lynch be submitted to her Majesty’s Government for consideration, as one exemplifying the ne. cessity of a public provision being for the future made for similar services :’ R. ANDERTON, Esq., seconded the resolution. In the course of his remarks he said that he was one of those who were incredulous as to the truth of Dr. Lynch’s statements, but to satisfy himself he had gone through a part of that district with Dr. Lynch. He was three days so engaged, but the third so completely horrified and overcame him, that he was glad to give it up, and he felt thankful that he had escaped with life. He deeply regretted the death of Dr. Lynch, who had laboured earnestly to direct attention to the subject, and should give his best aid to the movement to mitigate the sufferings of his widow and family consequent on his sudden
ever
enjoyment
I
there was not a medical man who would refuse to go because the patients were unable to pay. (Cheers.) Was it too much to ask, therefore, that the families of those who showed themselves so ready to devote their services to the benefit of others should be assisted in return ?&ic rc; (Hear, hear.) In the present state of the lower classes, it was impossible for a medical It was man to attend them without danger. (Hear, hear.) impossible to make the middle classes understand this danger, or to make them realize to their minds what a sick man’s chamber was. This very week he himself had been exposed to imminent danger of contracting fever in his attendance upon the sick. The cases at the London Hospital showed the increase of fever. In the earlier months of the year the cases were eighty-one, in the four subsequent months they (Hear, hear.) were 641 (hear, hear); but even this experience was of an death. After a few words from Mr. HspAPATH, corroborative of imperfect character. The best of men got only glimpses of isolated spots. There was, however, one man who had a Mr. Anderton’s statements, the resolution was carried. Mr. G-. Ross, who paid a high compliment to the genius, comprehensive view, and who had given them the collective results-that was the Registrar-General. His opinion was, learning, and philanthropy of Dr. Lynch, moved the third rethat the excess of mortality in the twelve months ending June, solution, which was, a vote of thanks to the Provisional Com. 1847, was 66,712, and that in only one fourth of the population mittee, and to Mr. Simpson, the Hon. Sec., for their exertions nearly 67,000 persons more died every year than ought to die, in this truly benevolent cause. The resolution was seconded by Mr. OTTLEY; and the if the removable causes of disease were abolished. (Hear.) It was impossible that these results, which were obtained by CHAIRMAN and Mr. Ross having severally highly eulogized the simplest calculations of arithmetic, could be believed. They Mr. Simpson for his valuable services in connexion with the might be admitted by the head but denied by the heart, or else we case, the resolution was, like the preceding, unanimously would not witness the apathy and even obstructions to sanitary adopted. On the motion of Mr. ToYNBEE, seconded by the Deputy, it reform which were to be witnessed. Corporations and parochial vestries pertinaciously resisted the introduction of the necessary was then resolved-" That the best thanks of this meeting are measures; but surely if these members of the class to which due to the Chairman for the lively interest he has taken in they belonged could fully realize to their minds the immense behalf of Mrs. Lynch and her children." The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, said that, although he number of persons who yearly fall a sacrifice to the sufferings which precede the destitution and pauperism which follow did not know what the Government intentions were with death, they would, instead of opposing such measures, do their respect to any future sanitary measure, yet as centralization utmost to promote them, and to put a stop to this national had been talked of, he believed it would be considered neces. calamity. (Hear, hear.) The only classes, perhaps, who could sary to consult the local authorities, before framing any new realize this annual slaughter of our people, larger than that measure; and so far from desiring to deprive the local authoat Waterloo, were the medical men and the ministers of re- rities of any power they now possessed, the object would be to ligion. They visited the wretched dwellings of the poor and enable them to discharge these duties in a more efficient knew what they were, and he trusted to see them unite in manner than they can at present. (Hear.) The meeting then broke up. urging the subject on the nation and the Government. Let them act on the principle contained in the report of the Registrar-General. It is a long time before a principle can BURNETT’S DISINFECTING FLUID. be carried out; when the works are commenced, it will be a THE chloride of zinc in solution, it appears from a parlialong time before they are completed, and as yet nothing has been done. (Hear, hear.) After some further observations, mentary document which has just been issued, has been emDr. Smith concluded by reverting to the special object of the ployed extensively as a disinfectant in dissecting-rooms, the
meeting, which was, to prove, that though they deplored the loss of Dr. Lynch, his services were not forgotten by the public. (Hear, hear.) It was indeed a poor recompence that they could offer to his widow and his family for their loss; but what they could give they would give, in order to show that the public are at last learning to recognise their true benefactors. (Cheers.) Mr. RICHARD TAYLOR had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. He had acted with Dr. Lynch in various capacities for many years. In the first place, as a Poor-law Guardian, he had witnessed the zeal and ability which Dr. Lynch uniformly displayed in the discharge of his duties as medical officer, and that he had even gone far beyond his own arduous duties. When he entered the Common Council, he devoted himself specially to the sanitary question; and how-
wards of hospitals, and in the royal navy, and, according to the we have seen, has been eminently successful in effecting the objects for which it is designed. The medical officers at Haslar Hospital state that it has been used in that hospital in the close-stools of patients affected with dysentery, in the water-closets and cesspools, and also in the wards, when the air was tainted by purulent expectoration or discharge from sores, with the effect of immediately removing the disagreeable odours. It has also been used in the surgery with good effect, in removing the smell of putrefying animal substances, and the odour of dead bodies under inspection: when employed as a dressing to ulcers, it removes the disagreeable smell of purulent matter, and, in the proportion of one part of the clear solution to eighteen of water, it preserves subjects of natural history from putrefaction, and in a
reports which
211 fit state of anatomical inspection, after more than a year has A similar testimony in favour of the solution of the chloride. is borne by the assistant-surgeon of the Marine Hospital at Woolwich, who adds, "the great advantage which the chloride of zinc possesses over other agents employed for a like purpose, is, that it removes the disagreeable effluvium, without leaving one little less offensive in its room, and may therefore be made use of wherever this effect is requiredin private as well as public buildings, in the sick bedchamber The method adopted at no less than in the crowded ward. this hospital is to supply each of the wards with a bottle of the diluted solution, which the nurses have directions to use whenever occasion may require, besides sprinkling it over the floors before the morning and evening visits are
troops, which we did at Bermuda, my attention was of course specially directed to every means whereby the contagion could be destroyed. Cleanliness and ventilation were duly attended to, and every part of the ship where the sick had been, after being cleaned and aired, was sponged well over with the solution of chloride of zinc several times. Than the result, nothing could be better; the disease totally ceased, no fresh case occurring after. On our passage from Halifax, with the sixtieth regiment on board, the weather was so bad, and the ship working so much, that it was quite impossible to open
elapsed.
made."
Its utility in the dissecting-room is confirmed by the statements made by Mr. Bowman, Dr. Sharpey, Mr. Partridge, Dr. Murray, and Dr. V. Pettigrew, who concur in asserting, that in a proper degree of dilution its success is complete, and that it appears to preserve the colour and texture of the parts very admirably. It has, further, the very important advantage of not acting on the steel instruments employed, being in this respect equal to alcohol. Dr. Methven especiallv mentions an instance in which the solution corrected advancing putrescence, and enabled him to dissect during July.’ He believes, further, it will be the means of saving many valuable lives, which are annually lost by wounds received in the course of dissection, as while dissecting this putrid body, he cut himself several times, and once received a
punctured wound,
without any bad consequences
arising.
M’Bain, of the "Mastiff," adds his testimony "to the rapid and perfect effects of the chloride of zinc solution upon animal matter in a state of putrefaction. Having frequent opportunities of dissecting or examining large fish &c. cast on shore, whilst undergoing decomposition, the task has been occasionally anything but agreeable, for want of a convenient power to destroy the putrefactive process. The chloride in these cases acts like magic; and as a great practical agent
Mr.
any of the lower-deck
,
ports,
on
which deck the whole of the
people lived, troops as well as our own people, for eight days; the air throughout the deck was exceedingly vitiated with every mixture of noxious
smell, but the free use of the chloride of zinc tended, in a most surprising manner, to do away with the bad smell; so much so, that the surgeon of the regiment came to me to get some to use in the part of the ship where the ladies of the officers were. The effect of the chloride of zinc is most obvious in correcting all bad and offensive effluvia; and from the sudden and surprising manner in which the measles disappeared after its use, it is not, I think, too much to say, that it must have been very instrumental in decomposing the miasm, or state of atmosphere in the ship, which tended to the generation of the disease." From all these statements, then, it is clear that the solution of the chloride of zinc is a powerful agent in neutralizing noxious gases, and in arresting the progress of decomposition. Sir W. Burnett has therefore rendered, by its discovery, a great benefit to suffering humanity. On board ship, its influence in removing the offensive odours from bilgewater can hardly be too highly estimated, while its action in sweetening the wards of hospitals, and destroying noxious and infectious effluvia, seems to be equally evident. THE
(SO-CALLED) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS.
of the most
important conditions of animal and THE National (?) Institute held its First Annual Meeting in vegetable matter-viz., putrefaction, it stands unrivalled." one of the smaller of the Hanover-square Rooms, on WednesIts influence on board ship, in annihilating the offensive smell day, the llth inst. of bilge-water, and in sweetening between decks, is shown by The attendance was, as might have been anticipated, from the united evidence of captains, surgeons, and masters in the the past conduct of the Council of that body, exceedingly royal navy. Among other vessels, it was used on board the thin, there being scarcely a dozen persons upon the platform. "Victoria and Albert" royal yacht, to remove a more than The president, Mr. PENNINGTON, was absent, as were also ordinary stench of bilge-water, and other offensive odours, many other gentlemen hitherto accustomed to take an active with the most complete success. The surgeon states that she partin the proceedings of the Institute. has remained comparatively sweet ever since, and when The proceedings of the meeting, as might have been ina bilge-water smell is occasionally perceptible, a slight appli ferred would be the case, from the numbers and constitution, cation of the fluid removes it. The solution has also been were listless, inanimate, and uninteresting. used for very disgusting privies, &c., effluvia from which it A report was read by the secretaries, the great labour and over one
onicklv neutralizes.
endeavour of which was to reconcile the members of the Institute the surgeon to the dock-yard at Ports- to the opposition offered by the Council to the Medical Regismouth, has employed the fluid in a severe case of open tration Bill. This portion of the report elicited no sympathy cancer, the fœtor from which was intolerable to the patient from the few members present, some of them, on the conand attendants: this it destroyed so long as the dressings trary, expressing strong disapprobation. were kept moist therewith. Professor Quain has used it, he A code of by-laws was also read to the meeting. Had says, in the treatment of sloughing tumours with beneficial these been framed a year or two ago, they might have been result, and he has no doubt it will supplant the chloride of of some service in preserving the "Committee of the National lime and soda altogether in the removal of foetid odour. Mr. Association," and the " Council of the Institute," from some Gibson, surgeon of the " Eurydice," employed it in a case of of the many improper acts of which they have been guilty. angry ulcer, in the proportion of one part to four of water. They have arrived too late, however, and are now useless, for An eschar was the result, the separation of which left the the Institute is tottering to the fall which it so richly deulcer in a healthy condition. serves. Several of the by-laws had reference to a museum Several naval and other medical men have employed it as and library-good things enough, but which the Institute is a disinfectant in hospitals, and on board ship, the general never destined to possess. results being a marked diminution in the rate of mortality. One of the by-laws requires a word or twoof special noDr. Lindsay, Dr. Cronin, and Dr. Connor, of Cork, all bear tice. It is this: " No member interested in the sale of any to its beneficial effects. Mr. Verling, surgeon of nostrum or testimony specific remedy, or keeping a shop, for the retail of the " Vengeance,"thus speaks:drugs, shall be eligible as a member of the Council." This " Having used the chloride of zinc rather extensively on by-law, carried into strict effect, would exclude every man board Her Majesty’s ship ’Vengeance,’ whilst employed in officially connected with the Apothecaries’ Company, which is the conveyance of troops, I think proper to report to you the a trading body, the Hall itself being one large druggist’s shop. result thereof. We carried the first battalion of the forty- It shows, too, that the Council of the Institute are not less second regiment, consisting of about 700 men, women, and prone to maintain invidious distinctions amongst its members children, from Malta to Bermuda. Measles had prevailed than the Council of the corrupt corporations. It appeared from the statement of the secretaries, that epidemically in the regiment previously to their embarkation, but we received none on board labouring under the disease; thirteen hundred members had enrolled themselves in the yet, after being ten days at sea, several cases occurred simul- Institute on its first formation, but that nine hundred only among the soldiers, and on the 1st of April, having had subscribed their guineas, and that the whole of this sum, been then a month at sea, the disease appeared among our with the exception of a trifling balance, had been expendedown people, ten cases occurring on that day, and from that for what, it may be asked ? What good or useful purpose has day to the fifteenth of the month, when we arrived at Ber- such a large expenditure achieved ? and how many guineas muda, fresh cases were almost of daily occurrence, either does the Council think it will get for its next year’s operaamong our own people or the troops. On getting rid of the tions ! Mr.
Henderson,
taneously