COURT OF EXCHEQUER, MAY 5.

524

tendency to make the coloured injection sent into the bronchial tubes so fluid by imbibition that it is afterwards apt to escape when the lung is cut into, which ought not to be done for at least a week after the injection is completed. a

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Winchester, April 7th, 1866.

N7nlir

nharlip"f servant

JAMES NEWTON

HEALE, M.D.

ON THE TREATMENT OF HYDATID CYSTS OF THE LIVER BY TAPPING.

effects in almost every case, and from its being peculiarly adapted to many simple but painful cases wherein general anaesthesia would either not be thought of or not tolerated, it possesses many advantages over both chloroform and ice. There are few surgeons who have not experienced much difficulty in persuading a certain class of patients to undergo some simple but painful and necessary operation, either with or without chloroform ; and there are few who have not witnessed the serious consequences of protracted or neglected surgical interference, the patients preferring to run the risk of delay to taking chloroform or enduring the pain of operation. All this seems now to be obviated by the new discovery. About three weeks ago I procured from Savory and Moore, of London, Richardson’s apparatus and a bottle of ether of the required sp. gr., both of which serve the purpose admirably. The first case in which I tried the new method was one of very extensive epithelial cancer of the lower lip. My patient would not consent to an operation until he was assured that would be felt. The surface of the lip was little or no completely blanched in little more than a minute, and in two minutes more the diseased part was entirely removed. During the operation the patient sat perfectly still, and showed not the slightest indication of suffering pain. After all was completed, the patient, with much delight, said that he felt more pain at the torsion of the two small arteries "than in the cutting of the whole lip." During the whole time of the operation my assistant was directing the ether spray upon the part I was incising, thus ensuring complete anaesthesia. I see no reason why the same method might not be adopted in some of the major operations. I have operated also upon whitlows in various stages with the same success. All of the patients have been much delighted with the "painless

To t7te Editor of THE LANCET. the last SIR,-At meeting of the Medico-Chirurgical Society the latter portion of the evening was occupied by a discussion
pain

525 citor wrote to the defendants threatening an action they denied that the girl had been improperly treated, and expressed their readiness to contest the point, sending in their claim for professional services, which amounted to .6818s., for that purpose. The plaintiff was carried into court in an apparently helpless condition, and briefly examined. Afterwards, on the suggestion of the learned judge, she was taken into his private room, and examined in private by four medical men, two representing each side. Two surgeons who had treated the plaintiff since she left the defendants, Mr. Bonney, of Greenhithe, and Mr. Vinall,

Parliamentary Intelligence. HOUSE OF LORDS. MAY STH. LABOURING CLASSES’ DWELLINGS. This Bill was read a second time after a brief conversation, in the course of which Lord SHAFTESBURY, while approving the object of the measure, expressed a doubt whether the Bill would have any extensive operation.

of Hackney, were called on her behalf and gave evidence as to The former gentleman the symptoms which she exhibited. said that these symptoms might have been produced by the excessive use of mercury, but Mr. Vinall expressed some doubts HOUSE OF COMMONS. upon the point. In the course of the trial a box of ointment, which the MAY 3RD. plaintiff’s mother said had been prescribed by the defendants, CHOLERA IN CORK HARBOUR. The ointment was to be applied twice a day was produced. Mr. MAGUIRE said the authorities of the city of Cork had to the knee, and she deposed that whenever this was used by the plaintiff it produced suffering and made her worse. The been for some time in communication with the Lord Lieutenant, composition was proved to be ordinary mercurial ointment. and he had been recommended to place an old man of war in There was a larger The defence was that the defendants treated the plaintiff ac- Cork Harbour as a floating hospital. cording to the best of their knowledge, skill, and judgment as garrison and a fleet in Cork. It would be a most calamitous medical men ; but that she was of a weakly constitution, and thing if, for want of proper precautions, the disease broke out the nature of her occupation and the circumstances under whichat Queenstown or Cork. (Hear.) There were no means of she lived, the whole family residing in two rooms, and pro- maintaining a strict quarantine in the harbour, and he now bably not having a sufficient quantity of nourishing food for called upon the Government to do as they did in 1833, and one in her condition, retarded her recovery. It was also said send to that harbour a large and convenient vessel to answerthat if mercury was used it was only after all other remedies the purpose of an hospital, and thereby to keep the diseasehad failed, and then only in the proper manner and in the away from the shore. (Hear.) Sir G. GREY said the only reason why the necessary measures right quantity. They stated that they heard no complaints from the girl or her parents as to the mode in which they had had not been taken in Queenstown was that the Government had received no information of the disease appearing there. Hebeen treating her until they received the lawyer’s letter. Mr. J. C. Armstrong said he saw so many patients at the had no doubt that the same steps would be taken with regard dispensary that he could not recollect the particular nature of to Queenstown as had been taken at Liverpool. Sir F. HEY GATE was about to ask a similar question in refethe prescriptions he wrote, but he gave the plaintiff nothing to produce undue salivation. He rarely used mercury in his rence to the port of Londonderry, where considerable alarm, practice, and, as a rule, he was opposed to its use. He had prevailed lest the disease should appear there. Sir G. GREY said the Government had received no informa.,no knowledge of the box of ointment, and was inclined to tion on the subject from Londonderry. think that he had never prescribed it. Mr. AYRTON hoped that the Government would do nothing Dr. Armstrong (the father), said, that after having tried fairly and honestly the effect of medicine on the plaintiff, so cruel as to put cholera patients into a ship, or keep cholera. without making a cure, he came to the conclusion that the patients in a ship. MAY 4TH. impediment to her cure was the want of proper food, fresh air, and exercise. He added, that the atmosphere of the room QUARANTINE IN CORK HARBOUR. in which he always saw her was very impure and offensive, Sir G. GREY, in answer to a question, said Government were and that no person suffering from any complaint, who lived in that whatever precautions were taken against. it, was likely to get better. He seldom resorted to mercury, of opinion and his son used less. The witness said the whole of his pre- cholera in this country should be taken without delay. In. July, 1865, when the disease was reported to be prevalent at scriptions for the plaintiff were in court. Mr. Solly, of St. Thomas’s Hospital, who had examined the Alexandria, the Privy Council forwarded to the authoritiesall the ports in Great Britain and Ireland printed memoplaintiff, deposed that he did not discover the slightest pos- of sible trace of salivation by mercury upon her. He also ex- randa of the means to be adopted to prevent the spread of the At Liverpool an hospital ship was provided for pressed a positive opinion that her knee was free from disease, disease. and that she had the perfect use of it. He thought she could cholera patients ; but competent persons entertained a doubt walk from the court into the hall, but with this qualification, whether a ship was the best hospital to provide in such an that, owing to her weak state from long confinement, she might emergency-whether it was not much better to make provision The hospital ship in of patients on shore. perhaps require a little assistance. With regard to the use of for the reception Harbour was maintained at a cost of 9300 a year; Queenstown in cases of disease of the he said it was often mercury joints, as during six years it was only once used-and on that employed with effect when iodine had failed. Sometimes the but appearances of salivation presented themselves without the occasion for a few days only-it was thought desirable to disIn case, however, of any urgent necesuse of mercury, particularly when iodine had been taken. He continue its service. was quite certain the plaintiff could walk into the hall, or else sity the Admiralty would place a ship at the disposal of the his experience of forty years went for nothing. municipal authorities. With regard to any general arrangeThe trial occupied nearly the whole of two days, and when ments of the system of quarantine, in consequence of information received from Liverpool by telegram yesterday, and conit was resumed this morning, The jury, after consulting together, intimated that they firmed by letter to-day, the Privy Council had met that afternoon and considered the question of giving to the municipal were already agreed that their verdict should be for the deauthorities additional powers with a view of dealing with ships fendants. which might arrive at any one of the ports of England with of after that the Pearce said that opinion by expression Mr. he did not think it would be cholera on board. to them to adjury, respectful dress them on the part of the plaintiff. GAS-WORKS NEAR VICTORIA PARK. Mr. Serjeant Robinson said he had several other professional Mr. COWPER said, in reply to Lord J. Manners, that by the men to prove that the plaintiff had been properly treated by standing orders of that House any Bill which authorised the the defendants. Mr. Baron Channell expressed his entire concurrence with erection of gas-works within 300 yards of any house, required that notice of such erection should be given to the owners and the jury in their verdict. occupiers of such houses. But that did not apply to the present Verdict for the defendants. case, because the Imperial Gas-works Bill contained a clause prohibiting the erection of any works within 300 yards of any THE distribution of prizes in the Faculty of Medi- part of Victoria Park. He was, however, of opinion that no cine at University College, Dublin, took place on Monday great grounds of complaint could be made even if gas works afternoon, the Hon. George Denman, Q.C., M.P., in the chair. were erected within 300 yards of any buildings, provided they