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HEALTH ASSURANCE OFFICES.
534 I have
Correspondence.
doubt that it will elicit a strong feeling the extension of vacI am. Sir. faithfullv vours.
Iincolumns, favour of the plan I have proposed for no
cination.
Aldenham-street, May,
1863.
JOHN
MARSHALL, M.R.C.S.
"Audi atteram partem:’
Poor and Vestrymen of the Parish of St. Pancras. GENTLEMEN,—The present epidemic of small-pox, so far as iit affects this parish, and more especially the workhouse infirmary, I am anxious, To the Editor of THE LANCET. i has already been brought under your notice. as a medical practitioner residing in the parish, to however, SIR,—I think most of the profession will agree with me in I call your attention to certain important facts in connexion with thinking it the duty of a teacher to protect a pupil, as far as the subject. and at a make this I, therefore, . possible, public examination ; During the first quarter of the present year no fewer than public protest against the general bearing of one of the Court ’, 388" fatal cases (of small pox) have been registered in London, of Examiners at the College of Surgeons towards the pupils under examination. I need hardly tell the ?Iounger members the total number for the year 1861 not exceeding 215; and during the first three months of the present year, nearly 450 cases of the profession that I allude to Mr. Cæsar Hawkins. A severe examination fairly conducted no one would uphold have been admitted into the Small-pox Hospital, while many have been almost daily refused admission for want of more than myself; but it is not fair to conduct an examination patients in such a captious manner as Mr. Hawkins almost invariably room." I quote the above statement from THE LANCET. The value of vaccination as an antidote to and preventive of adopts. It is not always easy for a young man, however well is so well known and so generally admitted that I small-pox to have at anatomical terms the of his prepared, tongue, tip safely assert that, had vaccination been universally pracparticularly when taken rapidly from one part to another, as is may ttona at the College; and it is too bad for Mr. Hawkins to add tised, such an epidemic of small-pc’x would have been an imto a student’s difficulties by accusations of wasting time and possibility, and this most loathsome and fat:J.I disease would purposely with the view of shirking the examination. soon be almost if not quite extinct. It cannot be too generally Students’ accounts of examinations are always to be received known that the mortality among patients who take small-pox after vaccination has been properly performed is remarkably ,cum grano, whether they pass or not; but I am not speaking without cause on the present occasion, which is not the first by small-not more than one per cent. It therefore becomes the duty, not only of the local autho. many on which I have heard loud complaints of Mr. Hawkins’s but of every medical man, especially to promote in every rities, behaviour ; and I believe that teachers in other schools will possible way the extension of vaccination ; and I am persuaded I have with what said. agree that the present limited number of district vaccinators is one I am, Sir, vour obedient servant, cause that vaccination has been so much neglected in this and CHRISTOPHER HEATH, F.R.C.S., Lecturer on Anatomy at the Westminster Hospital. other parishes. May, 1863. I am only expressing the opinion of a large number of my professional brethren when I say, that if every legally qualified practitioner in this parish were authorized by the directors of PURE VACCINE LYMPH. the poor to vaccinate the child or children of every poor person To the Editor of THE LANCET. that came under his notice, and be remunerated for each sucSIR,—Pure vaccine lymph, taken at the proper period for cessful case, not only would a large number of persons be vacvaccination, is amorphous and transparent. Examined by the cinated who now escape the attention of the district vaeciuators, microscope, it is fuund to contain no globules resembling those but such an epidemic as the present would never again occur. of either blood or pus. Although I am anxious to extend the benefits of vaccination If, in any doubtful case, the lymph, when so examined, is in every possible way, 1 question the expediency of enforcing seen to contain any such corpuscles, it should not be used for it by means of fines (as sanctioned by Act of Parliament); and the purpose of vaccination—I am- Sir yours &c. Ibelieve that the plan I have proposed would be the most HENRY LEE, F.R.C.S.. effectual means of carrying out the provisions of the Vacci. Savile-row, May 6tb, 1863. nation Act. Trusting you will give the subject your earnest consideration, I am Gentlemen- vnnrs faithfullv. HEALTH ASSURANCE OFFICES. JOHN MARSHALL, M.R.C.S.&c. To t7te Editor of THE LANCET. Aldenham-street, Charrington-street, April, 1863. SIR,—My attention has been called to certain articles which appeared in THE LANCET relative to the great want existing amongst medical and other professional men of a means of pro- I THE CALABAR BEAN AS A NEW AGENT IN viding against sickness, and inability to follow their ordinary I, OPHTHALMIC MEDICINE. ’occupations. With a view to meet this want, the directors of To the Editor of THE LANCET. this Company several years ago succeeded, after considerable trouble and expense, in establishing, upon equitable terms,, a SIR,—I have been recently-performing experiments at the branch for allowances in sickness, combined with assurance, or Kent County Ophthalmic Hospital by applying to the conjuncsickness allowance alone-a feature of assurance particularly tivæ of both healthy and diseased eyes a solution of extracts adapted to the wants of professional men, and supplying them (of different strength) of the Calabar bean, as advised by with the same advantages that are derived by the working Dr. Argyll Eobertson, in a paper read before the Edinburgh classes from benefit clubs. The operations of this branch are Medico Chirurgical Society February 4th, 1863; and these not extended to the working, but are confined exclusively to experiments have been attended with the most satisfactory the middle, classes. Assurances can be effected as follows :- results, contraction of the pupil occurring shortly after its apSickness allowance alone, assurance combined with sickness plication to the same extent as dilatation of the pupil occurs allowance, and, at a lower premium, assurance combined wir,h after a solution of atropine has been dropped on the con. ..sickness allowance ; in the event of death the amount of sick- junctiva.. Mr. Becker, the house-surgeon, will in the course of a short ness allowance paid in during life is deducted from the policy. time forward to you a detailed statement of the cases. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, So far as I have given it a trial, I quite think, with Dr. HENRY HURBEN, Secretary. Robertson, " that in the Calabar bean we possess an agent British Prudential Assurance Company, May, 1863. that will soon rank as one of the most valuable in the ophthal. mic pharmacopœia."—l remain. Sir vours faithfully To the Directors
of the
EXAMINERS AT THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.
’
’
delaying
‘
, :
JOHN WOOLCOTT, F.R,C.S.,
SMALL-POX AND VACCINATION. To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,—I beg to enclose a copy of a letter sent by me to the Board of Directors of the parish of St. Pancras. It was received at their meeting on the 28th ult., and the subject was discussed. If you will give the accompanying letter a place in your
Surgeon to the Kent County Ophthalmic Hospital. Brook-street, Grosvenor-square; and Maidstoue.
THE ELGIN LUNATIC ASYLUM, which
was
condemned
few years ago by the Lunacy Commissioqers, is to be enlarged and improved, and will be used as a county under the Lunacy Act. a
greatly asylum
Correspondence.
doubt that it will elicit a strong feeling the extension of vacI am. Sir. faithfullv vours.
Iincolumns, favour of the plan I have proposed for no
cination.
Aldenham-street, May,
1863.
JOHN
MARSHALL, M.R.C.S.
"Audi atteram partem:’
Poor and Vestrymen of the Parish of St. Pancras. GENTLEMEN,—The present epidemic of small-pox, so far as iit affects this parish, and more especially the workhouse infirmary, I am anxious, To the Editor of THE LANCET. i has already been brought under your notice. as a medical practitioner residing in the parish, to however, SIR,—I think most of the profession will agree with me in I call your attention to certain important facts in connexion with thinking it the duty of a teacher to protect a pupil, as far as the subject. and at a make this I, therefore, . possible, public examination ; During the first quarter of the present year no fewer than public protest against the general bearing of one of the Court ’, 388" fatal cases (of small pox) have been registered in London, of Examiners at the College of Surgeons towards the pupils under examination. I need hardly tell the ?Iounger members the total number for the year 1861 not exceeding 215; and during the first three months of the present year, nearly 450 cases of the profession that I allude to Mr. Cæsar Hawkins. A severe examination fairly conducted no one would uphold have been admitted into the Small-pox Hospital, while many have been almost daily refused admission for want of more than myself; but it is not fair to conduct an examination patients in such a captious manner as Mr. Hawkins almost invariably room." I quote the above statement from THE LANCET. The value of vaccination as an antidote to and preventive of adopts. It is not always easy for a young man, however well is so well known and so generally admitted that I small-pox to have at anatomical terms the of his prepared, tongue, tip safely assert that, had vaccination been universally pracparticularly when taken rapidly from one part to another, as is may ttona at the College; and it is too bad for Mr. Hawkins to add tised, such an epidemic of small-pc’x would have been an imto a student’s difficulties by accusations of wasting time and possibility, and this most loathsome and fat:J.I disease would purposely with the view of shirking the examination. soon be almost if not quite extinct. It cannot be too generally Students’ accounts of examinations are always to be received known that the mortality among patients who take small-pox after vaccination has been properly performed is remarkably ,cum grano, whether they pass or not; but I am not speaking without cause on the present occasion, which is not the first by small-not more than one per cent. It therefore becomes the duty, not only of the local autho. many on which I have heard loud complaints of Mr. Hawkins’s but of every medical man, especially to promote in every rities, behaviour ; and I believe that teachers in other schools will possible way the extension of vaccination ; and I am persuaded I have with what said. agree that the present limited number of district vaccinators is one I am, Sir, vour obedient servant, cause that vaccination has been so much neglected in this and CHRISTOPHER HEATH, F.R.C.S., Lecturer on Anatomy at the Westminster Hospital. other parishes. May, 1863. I am only expressing the opinion of a large number of my professional brethren when I say, that if every legally qualified practitioner in this parish were authorized by the directors of PURE VACCINE LYMPH. the poor to vaccinate the child or children of every poor person To the Editor of THE LANCET. that came under his notice, and be remunerated for each sucSIR,—Pure vaccine lymph, taken at the proper period for cessful case, not only would a large number of persons be vacvaccination, is amorphous and transparent. Examined by the cinated who now escape the attention of the district vaeciuators, microscope, it is fuund to contain no globules resembling those but such an epidemic as the present would never again occur. of either blood or pus. Although I am anxious to extend the benefits of vaccination If, in any doubtful case, the lymph, when so examined, is in every possible way, 1 question the expediency of enforcing seen to contain any such corpuscles, it should not be used for it by means of fines (as sanctioned by Act of Parliament); and the purpose of vaccination—I am- Sir yours &c. Ibelieve that the plan I have proposed would be the most HENRY LEE, F.R.C.S.. effectual means of carrying out the provisions of the Vacci. Savile-row, May 6tb, 1863. nation Act. Trusting you will give the subject your earnest consideration, I am Gentlemen- vnnrs faithfullv. HEALTH ASSURANCE OFFICES. JOHN MARSHALL, M.R.C.S.&c. To t7te Editor of THE LANCET. Aldenham-street, Charrington-street, April, 1863. SIR,—My attention has been called to certain articles which appeared in THE LANCET relative to the great want existing amongst medical and other professional men of a means of pro- I THE CALABAR BEAN AS A NEW AGENT IN viding against sickness, and inability to follow their ordinary I, OPHTHALMIC MEDICINE. ’occupations. With a view to meet this want, the directors of To the Editor of THE LANCET. this Company several years ago succeeded, after considerable trouble and expense, in establishing, upon equitable terms,, a SIR,—I have been recently-performing experiments at the branch for allowances in sickness, combined with assurance, or Kent County Ophthalmic Hospital by applying to the conjuncsickness allowance alone-a feature of assurance particularly tivæ of both healthy and diseased eyes a solution of extracts adapted to the wants of professional men, and supplying them (of different strength) of the Calabar bean, as advised by with the same advantages that are derived by the working Dr. Argyll Eobertson, in a paper read before the Edinburgh classes from benefit clubs. The operations of this branch are Medico Chirurgical Society February 4th, 1863; and these not extended to the working, but are confined exclusively to experiments have been attended with the most satisfactory the middle, classes. Assurances can be effected as follows :- results, contraction of the pupil occurring shortly after its apSickness allowance alone, assurance combined with sickness plication to the same extent as dilatation of the pupil occurs allowance, and, at a lower premium, assurance combined wir,h after a solution of atropine has been dropped on the con. ..sickness allowance ; in the event of death the amount of sick- junctiva.. Mr. Becker, the house-surgeon, will in the course of a short ness allowance paid in during life is deducted from the policy. time forward to you a detailed statement of the cases. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, So far as I have given it a trial, I quite think, with Dr. HENRY HURBEN, Secretary. Robertson, " that in the Calabar bean we possess an agent British Prudential Assurance Company, May, 1863. that will soon rank as one of the most valuable in the ophthal. mic pharmacopœia."—l remain. Sir vours faithfully To the Directors
of the
EXAMINERS AT THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.
’
’
delaying
‘
, :
JOHN WOOLCOTT, F.R,C.S.,
SMALL-POX AND VACCINATION. To the Editor of THE LANCET.
SIR,—I beg to enclose a copy of a letter sent by me to the Board of Directors of the parish of St. Pancras. It was received at their meeting on the 28th ult., and the subject was discussed. If you will give the accompanying letter a place in your
Surgeon to the Kent County Ophthalmic Hospital. Brook-street, Grosvenor-square; and Maidstoue.
THE ELGIN LUNATIC ASYLUM, which
was
condemned
few years ago by the Lunacy Commissioqers, is to be enlarged and improved, and will be used as a county under the Lunacy Act. a
greatly asylum