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GENERAL DISPENSARY, ALDERSGATE-STREET.
940 whole of the evening, and Dr. Hake’s words thathe would be as silent as the grave,’ referred to the preparation he had seen, and not to any others which he had not seen. I now repeat what I said in my former letter, viz., that, with reference to this particular preparation, Dr. Hake wondered that Mr. Kiernan had not published it, that he was too eareless about it, and that some one would certainly publish an account of the same subject before Mr. Kiernan. " Dr. Hake admits that, as we walked home together from Mr. Kiernan’s, he expressed his fear that Mr. Kiernan would be anticipated if he did not publish his discoveries soon. By his discoL’eries I understood Dr. Hake to mean the discoveries which Mr. Kiernan had that night communicated to him; and he did not give me the slightest idea that he had ever seen or even heard of such things before. When Mr. Kiernan told me that Dr. Hake intended to make, public these discoveries as his own, I could not at first believe it; I thought that Mr. Kiernan had misunderstood Dr. Hake. I said,It must be a mistake.’ Dr. Hake had expressed so much admiration of the anatomical preparation which he had seen, and so impressed was I with the effect produced on him by it, and by his anxiety that Mr. Kiernan should publish his discoveries, that I told my family oii the next morning how delighted Dr. Hake had been with what Mr. Kiernan had shown him. * ** Somers Town, " 24, Clarendon-street, " Sept. 11, 1839."
nearly the LETTER FROM MR. POWELL. MR. POWELL has sent us a reply to certain statements which, he says, have been put forth by Dr. Hake, in answer to the letter of Mr. Powell published in THE LANCET of August 10. As no attempts to confuse and distort the perfectly clear facts in dispute have appeared in our pages, it is not necessary to publish the whole letter of Mr. Powell. We shall, therefore, merely repeat those of his assertions which have already appeared in our columns, as he restates them with increased force, and yet stronger circumstantial evidence. Mr. Powell says : "II perfectly remember the conversation which took place between Mr. Kiernan and Dr. Hake, during the inspection of an anatomical preparation under the microscope, on the evening that I passed at his house ; and I can conscientiously assert that what I have stated respecting it was as nearly as possible what passed on that occasion. Dr. Hake has. to my surprise and regret, denied the correctness of my statement. " The dispute between these two gentlemen has taken a very serious turn, and has excited much attention. I therefore feel myself bound to be not less cautious in what I say than if I were placed in a witness-box in a court of justice. Dr. Hake says that he looked at the preparationfor some minutes.’ I stated that he examined it for about an hour and a half.’ To that statement I adhere. It occurs to me that Dr. Hake was so deeply interested in the subject under his inspection, as to be quite unconscious of the time he was occupied with it. Dr. Hake says that he looked at the circulation in an aquatic plantfor a much longer time’ than at the varicose capillaries. But Dr. Hake must remember the following circumstance: After I had been examining the plant for some time I requested Dr. Hake to come and view the beauty of the circulation in the plant. His reply was,No, I can see that at any time; I have something to look at here (meaning the preparation) that is much more interesting.’ He said thathe could sit and look at it all night.’ Dr. Hake says that Mr. Kiernan wasobstinately taciturn, and that whatever remarks were made on the preparation came from him (Dr. Hake).’ I am much astonished at this assertion. Mr. Kiernan actually, by way of apology, said to me, that he was sorry, after inviting me
GENERAL
DISPENSARY,
ALDERS-
GATE-STREET.
To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR:—A letter having appeared in THE LANCET of the 14th inst, signed John H. Houghton, and annexing the copy of a note from me, as the collector to the above institution, I feel called upon, in consequence of the unfounded insinuation contained in Mr. Houghton’s letter, to state the circumstances under which my note was written. There were seven candidates for the vacant office of apothecary, to the institution, and all of them, with the exception of Mr. Houghton and another, having inquired of me the latest hour up to which I could receive subscriptions from their friends, so as to entitle them to vote at the then ensuing election, I named nine o’clock in the evening of the 28th of August and in order that no misunderstanding might arise, I wrote to see him, to leave me to amuse myself, the note above referred to, to each of the while he and Dr. Hake were looking at the candidates. I beg to add that my note was written preparation, and talking on a subject which did not interest me: solely in answer to the inquiry made of me "The examination of that one preparation, by several of the candidates, and not for any and the conversation upon it, occupied such purpose as is insinuated in Mr. Hough-
941
ton’s letter, and that I wrote without the sanction or even knowledge, of any member of the Committee, or any officer of the institution. Ishall feel obliaed by your insertion of this in your next publication, and remain, Sir, your very obedient servant, H. PIPER.
85, Aldersgate-street, Sept. 17,1839. THE CONCOURS.
breaches of faith of certain authors or publishers,* who advertise their intention of printing certain works in parts, within a certain time, and having then, by the presumed respectability of their names, insured a sufficient number of subscribers, discontinue the publication of the remainder of the books altogether. The subject is worthy of your pen; I will furnish you with the text; In the advertisement to the first part of the second volume of Dr. Arnott’s Elements of Physic," published by Messrs. Longman and Co., in 1829, there occurs the following
To the Editor of THE LANCET. :SiR:-Your remarks on the necessity of paragraph "The second part of volume the second, as a test of the the concours introducing comprising electricity, magnetism, and asqualifications of candidates for medical tronomy, and concluding the work, will be chairs in our universities (LANCET, Aug. put to press after the publication of the pre24), must meet with the approval of every sent part." honest man who has turned his attention to i It is needless to say that the public have the subject. I do not say that in every waited in vain until the year 1839, for the instance the concours would lead to the of this pledge, and that the work redemption choice of the best man for such situations, still remains i incomplete, although, from time for a gabby body might succeed while a more to as in the advertisement sheet of time, profound man might fail ; but, at all events, Part I. or 11 Copland’s Medical Dictionary," the concours would infallibly exclude those in the 11 year 1832, we are informed that the who knew nothing of the subject to be concluding part of vol. the second will be taught. in the course of the season." Two teachers of forensic medicine have publishedas to Dr. Then, Copland’s 11 Dictionary," just been appointed in the University of the first part of which was published at the Glasgow, one by the Crown, the other by beginning of 1833, with a of pledges, the University ; or, rather, one by a knot of which must be in the variety of memory your and the other by a few political and which it would be tedious to readers, foggy old Tories. Neither of the two no- recapitulate; I will at once, therefore, refer minees is understood to possess more than to the second, where we are informed sufficient practical acquaintance with che- thatpart 3 will be published early in part mistry to enable them to perform the most 1834." It was not published till April simple analysis, far less to execute those 1835 ! Part 3 informs us that " part4 is in laborious and difficult analyses, qualitative the and will be published shortly." It and quantitative, which are so frequently waspress, in 1837 ! and contained the published required in the practice of forensic medi- following announcement from the author :— cine. How are these youths to teach what " The materials for the remaining parts are they do not understand ? By taking a few in such a state of forwardness as to induce lessons in a laboratory, I suppose, before the author to promise the 5th part in Dethey begin to deliver their lectnres. They 1’13110 hAr npet "nr1 thA I’fI’YId",Ji’YID’ ii§ii-t in fI pnt me in mind of an army doctor, who, few months after that." In M:ay,18’3S, more being ejected from the service for insolence than a year after the fifth part was so posiand neglect of duty, actually applied to be promised, half of part 5 is published, made professor of oriental languages in one tively with the following announcement :-" The of our universities, and being asked by one author assures the subscribers that the maof the patrons whether he knew the Hebrew terials for the remainder of the work are in language, answered, 11 No, but he really such a state of forwardness as to enable him meant to learn it!" Such absurdities as henceforward to bring out a half-part every these, at least, would be prevented by the three months until the whole is completed." concours, and students would be saved from If this pledge had been redeemed the work the insult of attending a set of ignoramuses would have been completed nine months ago, who pretend to teach what they themselves the public are still looking out for the but have never studied, and do not uaderstand. other part of part 5 !! Whether they will I am. &c.. ever get it is best known to the promising ÆNEAS ROBERTSON. author and publishers. The whole affair Muslin-street, Paisley, Sept. 12, 1839. is discreditable to them. I remain, Sir,
tricksters,
vours,&c. WORKS IN PARTS.
of THE LANCET. surprised that you, as
VERAX.
To the Editor
StR:—I worum
am
medicorllm,
censor
*
Wrong. We have several times
have not denounced the ed these breaches of faith.—ED. L.
censur-
nearly the LETTER FROM MR. POWELL. MR. POWELL has sent us a reply to certain statements which, he says, have been put forth by Dr. Hake, in answer to the letter of Mr. Powell published in THE LANCET of August 10. As no attempts to confuse and distort the perfectly clear facts in dispute have appeared in our pages, it is not necessary to publish the whole letter of Mr. Powell. We shall, therefore, merely repeat those of his assertions which have already appeared in our columns, as he restates them with increased force, and yet stronger circumstantial evidence. Mr. Powell says : "II perfectly remember the conversation which took place between Mr. Kiernan and Dr. Hake, during the inspection of an anatomical preparation under the microscope, on the evening that I passed at his house ; and I can conscientiously assert that what I have stated respecting it was as nearly as possible what passed on that occasion. Dr. Hake has. to my surprise and regret, denied the correctness of my statement. " The dispute between these two gentlemen has taken a very serious turn, and has excited much attention. I therefore feel myself bound to be not less cautious in what I say than if I were placed in a witness-box in a court of justice. Dr. Hake says that he looked at the preparationfor some minutes.’ I stated that he examined it for about an hour and a half.’ To that statement I adhere. It occurs to me that Dr. Hake was so deeply interested in the subject under his inspection, as to be quite unconscious of the time he was occupied with it. Dr. Hake says that he looked at the circulation in an aquatic plantfor a much longer time’ than at the varicose capillaries. But Dr. Hake must remember the following circumstance: After I had been examining the plant for some time I requested Dr. Hake to come and view the beauty of the circulation in the plant. His reply was,No, I can see that at any time; I have something to look at here (meaning the preparation) that is much more interesting.’ He said thathe could sit and look at it all night.’ Dr. Hake says that Mr. Kiernan wasobstinately taciturn, and that whatever remarks were made on the preparation came from him (Dr. Hake).’ I am much astonished at this assertion. Mr. Kiernan actually, by way of apology, said to me, that he was sorry, after inviting me
GENERAL
DISPENSARY,
ALDERS-
GATE-STREET.
To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR:—A letter having appeared in THE LANCET of the 14th inst, signed John H. Houghton, and annexing the copy of a note from me, as the collector to the above institution, I feel called upon, in consequence of the unfounded insinuation contained in Mr. Houghton’s letter, to state the circumstances under which my note was written. There were seven candidates for the vacant office of apothecary, to the institution, and all of them, with the exception of Mr. Houghton and another, having inquired of me the latest hour up to which I could receive subscriptions from their friends, so as to entitle them to vote at the then ensuing election, I named nine o’clock in the evening of the 28th of August and in order that no misunderstanding might arise, I wrote to see him, to leave me to amuse myself, the note above referred to, to each of the while he and Dr. Hake were looking at the candidates. I beg to add that my note was written preparation, and talking on a subject which did not interest me: solely in answer to the inquiry made of me "The examination of that one preparation, by several of the candidates, and not for any and the conversation upon it, occupied such purpose as is insinuated in Mr. Hough-
941
ton’s letter, and that I wrote without the sanction or even knowledge, of any member of the Committee, or any officer of the institution. Ishall feel obliaed by your insertion of this in your next publication, and remain, Sir, your very obedient servant, H. PIPER.
85, Aldersgate-street, Sept. 17,1839. THE CONCOURS.
breaches of faith of certain authors or publishers,* who advertise their intention of printing certain works in parts, within a certain time, and having then, by the presumed respectability of their names, insured a sufficient number of subscribers, discontinue the publication of the remainder of the books altogether. The subject is worthy of your pen; I will furnish you with the text; In the advertisement to the first part of the second volume of Dr. Arnott’s Elements of Physic," published by Messrs. Longman and Co., in 1829, there occurs the following
To the Editor of THE LANCET. :SiR:-Your remarks on the necessity of paragraph "The second part of volume the second, as a test of the the concours introducing comprising electricity, magnetism, and asqualifications of candidates for medical tronomy, and concluding the work, will be chairs in our universities (LANCET, Aug. put to press after the publication of the pre24), must meet with the approval of every sent part." honest man who has turned his attention to i It is needless to say that the public have the subject. I do not say that in every waited in vain until the year 1839, for the instance the concours would lead to the of this pledge, and that the work redemption choice of the best man for such situations, still remains i incomplete, although, from time for a gabby body might succeed while a more to as in the advertisement sheet of time, profound man might fail ; but, at all events, Part I. or 11 Copland’s Medical Dictionary," the concours would infallibly exclude those in the 11 year 1832, we are informed that the who knew nothing of the subject to be concluding part of vol. the second will be taught. in the course of the season." Two teachers of forensic medicine have publishedas to Dr. Then, Copland’s 11 Dictionary," just been appointed in the University of the first part of which was published at the Glasgow, one by the Crown, the other by beginning of 1833, with a of pledges, the University ; or, rather, one by a knot of which must be in the variety of memory your and the other by a few political and which it would be tedious to readers, foggy old Tories. Neither of the two no- recapitulate; I will at once, therefore, refer minees is understood to possess more than to the second, where we are informed sufficient practical acquaintance with che- thatpart 3 will be published early in part mistry to enable them to perform the most 1834." It was not published till April simple analysis, far less to execute those 1835 ! Part 3 informs us that " part4 is in laborious and difficult analyses, qualitative the and will be published shortly." It and quantitative, which are so frequently waspress, in 1837 ! and contained the published required in the practice of forensic medi- following announcement from the author :— cine. How are these youths to teach what " The materials for the remaining parts are they do not understand ? By taking a few in such a state of forwardness as to induce lessons in a laboratory, I suppose, before the author to promise the 5th part in Dethey begin to deliver their lectnres. They 1’13110 hAr npet "nr1 thA I’fI’YId",Ji’YID’ ii§ii-t in fI pnt me in mind of an army doctor, who, few months after that." In M:ay,18’3S, more being ejected from the service for insolence than a year after the fifth part was so posiand neglect of duty, actually applied to be promised, half of part 5 is published, made professor of oriental languages in one tively with the following announcement :-" The of our universities, and being asked by one author assures the subscribers that the maof the patrons whether he knew the Hebrew terials for the remainder of the work are in language, answered, 11 No, but he really such a state of forwardness as to enable him meant to learn it!" Such absurdities as henceforward to bring out a half-part every these, at least, would be prevented by the three months until the whole is completed." concours, and students would be saved from If this pledge had been redeemed the work the insult of attending a set of ignoramuses would have been completed nine months ago, who pretend to teach what they themselves the public are still looking out for the but have never studied, and do not uaderstand. other part of part 5 !! Whether they will I am. &c.. ever get it is best known to the promising ÆNEAS ROBERTSON. author and publishers. The whole affair Muslin-street, Paisley, Sept. 12, 1839. is discreditable to them. I remain, Sir,
tricksters,
vours,&c. WORKS IN PARTS.
of THE LANCET. surprised that you, as
VERAX.
To the Editor
StR:—I worum
am
medicorllm,
censor
*
Wrong. We have several times
have not denounced the ed these breaches of faith.—ED. L.
censur-