COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. JAN. 29, 1859.

subject, and vindicate the right and propriety of physicians toI ascertaining whether cancer was transmissible by inoculation, practise midwifery, if they desire to combine these two de- admitted that experiment tended to negative that view, but partments of the profession. In many of our large provincial adduced the history of cases, one of which had beeri recorded towns, and generally in London, the physicians of hospitals i in THE LANCET by himself, which led, after al!, to the supposiand dispensaries are debarred from the privilege of practising tion that the disease could be so communicated from one indivimidwifery. This prohibition seems to imply that obstetric dual to another. Dr. Richardson now passed to the considerascience is an inferior science, and unworthy the dignity of a tion of those malignant diseases which are met with in the physician; at the same time it deprives physicians of a great neighbourhood of the dental structures: namely, malignant source of professional income. Surely, in the present day, it disease of the antrum, malignant disease commencing as polypus ought not to be necessary to assert the high importance of a of the nose, malignant tumour of the bony structure of the branch of the profession which is of such deep interest to the maxillae, and epithelial cancer of the lip and cheek. Each of welfare, the happiness, and safety of a large portion of the these forms of disease was marked out with much precision, human race,-of our dearest relatives, of our mothers, our special care being bestowed on the description of the early wives, our sisters, and all womankind,-in their hour of need. stages, and on points of diagnosis. In entering on the subject of treatment, the lecturer reA knowledge of obstetrics demands as much experience, science, and dexterity, as either medicine or surgery. The illustrious marked that the practitioner of dentistry, in meeting with in former times, and doubtful cases of malignant disease, had two points to bear in names of William Hunter, Smellie, &c., in the present day the names of Lee, Simpson, Clarke, Fer- mind: first, to use such means as science may supply to him guson, Higby, Locock, Granville, Ramsbotham, Tyler Smith, of ascertaining the nature and position of the disease; and West, Chowne, Oldham, Babington, Davis, and many others secondly, to use such measures as come within the scope of his of note, are proofs that obstetrics engage the attention of first- own art to remove soarces of local irritation: but these simple class physicians. These gentlemen are not less sound physicians rules obeyed, and the malignant character of the malady idenbecause they practise midwifery. How numerous, how serious, titled, the rest, in way of treatment, belonged to the surgeon and are the diseases incident to gestation and parturition! Finally, Dr. Richardson summed up the prinhow extremely important to society that physicians should be ciples which were striven after in the matter of medical and equally cognizant of all the diseases of women, under whatever surgical treatment. The treatment by local means, excision circumstances they may arise or exist! Neither the College of and removal by caustics, was considered; and the advantages Physicians nor any other college, that I know of, has limited versus the disadvantages of removal, as a simple practice, were’ its members to an exclusive class of diseases, nor prevented balanced. But if extirpation were decided on, as right in the their acting as accoucheurs. Why, then, do the laws of our abstract, excision, it was urged, had the decided preference, hospitals and dispensaries, or the tyranny of custom, interfere and was the means to be employed. " For what," asked the with the liberty of a practitioner in choosing to unite these lecturer, " can caustics perform which the knife cannot be made two branches of his profession, if he is desirous of combining to do more effectually, more speedily, and, in the end, with them ? The restriction is antiquated and absurd ; it is humi- infinitely less pain thin any caustic known?" Regarding generemedies, he further observed, that while, as yet, no speliating to the status and dignity of gentlemen of the highest standing. The new Obstetrical Society contains a number of cific was known, it was to be hoped that a chemical remedy eminent men, and I hope some of them will come forward to would be discovered as effective as quinine is effective in ague protest against every obstacle to their freedom of action, and and arsenic in lepra. Meanwhile, the best general remedy for to urge upon the governors and subscribers to medical institu- the cancer-stricken man is exercise on the hills, where flowers tions to abolish the laws which narrow the usefulness of those grow, the sun really shines, and the pure air offers that lease. institutions, and to throw open to all legally-qualified practi- of life which physic, out of her many resources, has as yet tioners the right to practise iu both branches of medicine and failed to supply. obstetrics. This is not the age to be fettered by the laws of the past : progress and liberty are the order of the day. It is COURT OF QUEEN’S BENCH. but justice to physicians holding public appointments, which generally bring no emolument, that they should derive pecuJAN. 29, 1859. niary advantage in a department which usually yields the (Before Lord CAMPBELL and Justices WIGHTMAN, CROMPTON, largest fees, and which furnishes the most numerous and comand HILL.) plicated forms of disease. Of course, if professional men choose to limit their practice to particular diseases or departments, REGIXA v. STORRAR. they can always do so. In many cases, no doubt, there may THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated that he had been instructed be an advantage in subdivision of labour and intellect; but I object to all corporatiou laws which enforce a distinction not on behalf of the Senate of the University of Loudon to show a rule which had been obtained, calling upon recognised by the colleges of England. I do not enter into the Dr. question whether obstetricy isbranch of medicine or of sur- causeJohn Storrar to show cause why an information in the gery ; but it is quite notorious that the most distinguished prac. nature of a quo ?tia2,?,urito should not be filed against him, on the ground that he had been unduly elected to the Medical titioners of obstetricy are physicians. General Council. He felt the question o be so important, as I am, Sir, your obedient servant, ROBERT WOLLASTON, M.D., affecting the rights of a large body of influential persons, and Jan. 1859. M.D., F.R.C.S., &c.&0. their Lordships would probably be of opinion that there was so much force in the arguments adduced by Mr. Edward James in moving for the rule, that he did not feel that he could mal e COLLEGE OF DENTISTS OF ENGLAND. such a serious opposition as to induce their Lordships to discharge the rule, and he should therefore not resist its being

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made absolute. Lord CAMPBELL thought the question was of very great importance to all the graduates of the University of London, which had already become a very distinguished body. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the question was certainly one of great moment, and if their Lordships thought fit the part of the lecture embraced topics relating to the pathology, question should be raised on the record. the causes, and the course of cancerous growths. The lecturer The rule was accordingly made absolute. Mr. Edward James, Q.C., and Mr. Littler appeared in supgave very clear and decided views in support of the systemic origin of the disease, and in favour of cancer being the product port of the rule. of a matter eliminated from the binod. He took some pains, Lord CAMPBELL said the Court would give every facility for however, to explain a theory held by Dr. Snow as to the origin having the question heard and disposed of at the earliest opporof malignant disease, not from diseased blood, but from changes tunity. of nutrition, purely local, and confined to the affected part. The rule being therefore made absolute, the result is, that The general and local symptoms of malignant diseases having a step is gained for the graduates; and it is clearly shown been discussed, the varieties of cancer enumerated, and the that the question is not regarded, either by the Court or by theories as to the cause of cancer illustrated, the questions of the Attorney-General, to be so simple or so clearly in favour of hereditary influence and of the possible contagious character of the views held by the Senate as seemed at first to be the some. cancer were brought forward. Dr. Richardson, after narrating what general impression. The final argument will take place the experiments which had been performed with the view ofearly next term

LECTURES ON THE MEDICAL HISTORY AND TREATMENT OF DISEASES OF THE TEETH. ON Tuesday night, the 18th ilt., the lecture delivered by Dr. Richardson at the College was on the " History of Malignant Diseases involving the Organs of Mastication." The first

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