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HOUSE OF COMMONS. Wednesday, May 23, 1838.
318
VACCINATION. HOUSE OF COMMONS. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR:—I have hesitated long ere I reWednesday, May 23, 1838. verted to the subject of vaccination, as it has occupied so much space in your columns. Any debates, however, which aim Mr. LUCAS wished to ask the hou, Mem. at a decision regarding its real efficacy, and ber for Roscommon whether he would object au analysis of the causes of its failure, must to into Committee on the Medical Chagoing be deemed of vital interest. rities Bill, pro forma, this evening, striking I ever feel so much anxiety for the eluci- out, as had been proposed, the eleven clauses dation of these points, that I may be led to which are to be rejected, and inserting the express myself too strongly, perhaps, in others by which they arc to be replaced, so the course of discussion. Such, I fear, may that the Bill might be reprinted? have seemed the case in a late report of the Mr. FRENCH said that the hon. Member Medical Society, in which I censured, some- was anticipating him, for he had intended to what severely, hasty and careless inocula- pursue the course now proposed. tion as the frequent cause of spurious veSir R. PEEL j’ioped that sufficient time sicle and roseolous inflammation. I then would be given between the printing of the alluded to the occurrence of these severe Bill and the consideration of it, in order to cases in the practice of a most esteemed enable distant bodies, such as the Universivaccinator, Dr. Walker, that I might im- ties of Scotland, and other parties who were press the fact more on the attention of the greatly interested ill it, to state their opi. members, than with the remotest intention nions on the subiect. of slighting the memory of a man of so great Mr. FRENCH said that if the right lion. integrity and perseverance. It was indeed Baronet, in reading the Hill, thought that meant as an entre noits within the walls of time was necessary to be allow. any longer the Society ; as, however, it is published I he would not object to its being given. ed,Mr. have been anxious to add thus much. LUCAS then asked whether the hon. The valvular insertion of lymph is a point would name a day for the discusof high importance; absorption is far more sion. certain, and I am convinced that with such R. PEEL thought that that had better practice not the most remote fear can be en- beSir done when the Bill had been reprinted. tertained of severe and fatal roseola, unless the system be intensely predisposed, or of At a subsequent period of the evening’, we the spurious vesicle, that irregular brown are informed, by the official papers of the ulcer which resembles a strumous sore, and has brought so much odium on vaccination. House,The prevalence of modified variola has,I That the Report on the Bill was taken have observed, shaken the faith of many into further consideration. in the of but
Member
parents
prophylaxis
vaccinia;
the disorder declines it is manifest that it is much mitigated, and the diffidence is then speedily removed. The almost invariable absence of secondary fever cannot be too often impressed on our minds, it is a point of the greatest value, because that is the stage of danger. I have novv a case of small-pox in a young lady, who had been vaccinated fifteen years since, in which the prirriery symptouts, were very severe, and the disease was, over the face, confluent. This is the tenth day from the first appearance of papula, the pocks are nearly all desquamating, the tongue, which had rapidly become crusted with brown fur, clean, and there is no symptom of disorder, but debility. I study to be brief, and shall, therefore merely allude to the vital error of drawing deductions from these cases of mere prophylactic failure, instead of adopting a numerical calculation, and viewing the question by a reference to the great diminution of death or disfigurement from small-pox, since the introduction of vaccination. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, WALTER C. DENDY. DEsny. as
Stamford-street.
That the Bill was then recommitted. That it was then considered in Cusnmittee.
That it was then reported. That it was then moved that the further consideration of the Report should take place on Wednesday, the 6th of June ; and, it was moved That the Bill, as it was then amended, should be reprinted. With the exception of the account above given of the brief conversation which took place in the House of Commons, not a word of the proceedings in Committee was recorded in the morning newspapers; but then " everything was done " pro forma / Mark the history of this Bill, First, it was introduced to the House, two sessions since, by a couple of independent Members. It was a bungling ill-di-
finally,
319
gested concern, and a slight intimation of opposition stopped its progress for that session. Still, as a job was to be executed by somebody, the Executive Government
INSTITUTE OF FRANCE. ON
FOREIGN BODIES WHICH SERVE NUCLEI FOR URINARY CALCULL
THE
AS
teased into taking it in hand. Then it By M. CIVIALE. the of in last session forward AT a late meeting of the Academy of brought Parliament by the Noble Lord, the Secre- Sciences M. Civiale made some observations on certain modes of formation of calculi, an tarv for Ireland. That his intentions were abstract of which cannot fail to be interestgood we readily admit. He is a high- ing. account of the nuclei which occasionminded, able, honest, Minister, and, withal, Anserve for the formation of urinary calally is a man of business. The measure now culi is a neglected though curious point in assumed an important aspect, and we the history of the latter productions. M. Civiale has made some researches with the opened a battery upon some of its provi- view of clearing up several obscure facts, sions in THE LANCET; but itis not true, as and has assembled together 166 cases, from has been alleged at some public meeting an analysis of which it appears that the nucleus of the stone was formed in 32 cases held in Ireland, that we opposed the 13th by needles or pins ; in 21 by bougies or clause of Lord MORPLTH’S Bill. With what catheters; in 14 by pieces of wood ; in 13 2-1 by fragments of bones, design such a statement has been made, by bullets; in barometer pipe stoppers, tubes, or stems of must be explained by our maligners. The opplants; in 14 by the beards of barley or position to the objectionable clauses of that hairs; in4 by pledgets of lint, and finally &c. Bill originated, we are prond to confess, in by rings, nails, fruit-stones, needle-cases, The greater part of the above cases prethe columns of this Journal, and had we sent several interesting points, but we must not called the attention of our medical bre- confine our notice to those of recent date. thren in Ireland to the curious benelits Pins or needles are the foreign bodies which most frequently serve as nuclei which were in store for them, the measure, for stone. This proba hly depends on the long ere this, would have adorned, or ilis- facility with which they present themgraced, the pages of our statute-books. In selves to a certain class of depraved indivialthough it is diflicult to conceive in the present Session the Bill has been com duals,manner what females, more especially, can mitted and recommitted, considered, and re- satisfy their passions with such instruments. of from five to six inches in ported, pro forma, times out of number, and A few needles, remained a considerable time in the length, now it is to be printed this session, for the bladder without having their points covered third time. Does any man believe that the with calculous matter, and in a few cases did they penetrate the bladder, vagina, PUBLIC INTERESTS demand and obtain the ex- only perineum, &.c. hibition of all this zeal ? Mr. FRENCH, we I The formation of calculi upon bullets, tell you again, that you have in Ireland and other foreignbodies of a similar nature, rise to several physiological considerasome bad advisers, and again we say to gives of tions importance. In many cases these bodies have passed into the bladder through you, cc Beware of JOBBERS." which the surgeon would never By the way, we are informed, that we passages dare to traverse with the knife, and what is have been attacked by some of the pecu- more remarkable, without producing, in cases, any notable disorder or inconlators, in a circular which has been ad- many convenience. Thus, for example, pieces of dressed from Ireland to some of the Irisla wood from three to seven inches in length, Members. It was not polite in the writers bullets, &c., have remained for years in the bladder without giving rise to the insupportto withhold from us a copy of their commuable pain, necessity of frequent micturition, nication The attack, however, of the gen- &c., which usually attend the presence of try in question, furnishes a sufficient proof foreign bodies in that viscus. The introduction of the nucleus is either of the justice of the grounds on which we accidental or intentional. In the former have nnno’!fd thf Bi11. case the foreign body has found its way into the bladder in consequence of a wound, a fall, of some fistulous communication
was
was
of
VACCINATION. HOUSE OF COMMONS. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR:—I have hesitated long ere I reWednesday, May 23, 1838. verted to the subject of vaccination, as it has occupied so much space in your columns. Any debates, however, which aim Mr. LUCAS wished to ask the hou, Mem. at a decision regarding its real efficacy, and ber for Roscommon whether he would object au analysis of the causes of its failure, must to into Committee on the Medical Chagoing be deemed of vital interest. rities Bill, pro forma, this evening, striking I ever feel so much anxiety for the eluci- out, as had been proposed, the eleven clauses dation of these points, that I may be led to which are to be rejected, and inserting the express myself too strongly, perhaps, in others by which they arc to be replaced, so the course of discussion. Such, I fear, may that the Bill might be reprinted? have seemed the case in a late report of the Mr. FRENCH said that the hon. Member Medical Society, in which I censured, some- was anticipating him, for he had intended to what severely, hasty and careless inocula- pursue the course now proposed. tion as the frequent cause of spurious veSir R. PEEL j’ioped that sufficient time sicle and roseolous inflammation. I then would be given between the printing of the alluded to the occurrence of these severe Bill and the consideration of it, in order to cases in the practice of a most esteemed enable distant bodies, such as the Universivaccinator, Dr. Walker, that I might im- ties of Scotland, and other parties who were press the fact more on the attention of the greatly interested ill it, to state their opi. members, than with the remotest intention nions on the subiect. of slighting the memory of a man of so great Mr. FRENCH said that if the right lion. integrity and perseverance. It was indeed Baronet, in reading the Hill, thought that meant as an entre noits within the walls of time was necessary to be allow. any longer the Society ; as, however, it is published I he would not object to its being given. ed,Mr. have been anxious to add thus much. LUCAS then asked whether the hon. The valvular insertion of lymph is a point would name a day for the discusof high importance; absorption is far more sion. certain, and I am convinced that with such R. PEEL thought that that had better practice not the most remote fear can be en- beSir done when the Bill had been reprinted. tertained of severe and fatal roseola, unless the system be intensely predisposed, or of At a subsequent period of the evening’, we the spurious vesicle, that irregular brown are informed, by the official papers of the ulcer which resembles a strumous sore, and has brought so much odium on vaccination. House,The prevalence of modified variola has,I That the Report on the Bill was taken have observed, shaken the faith of many into further consideration. in the of but
Member
parents
prophylaxis
vaccinia;
the disorder declines it is manifest that it is much mitigated, and the diffidence is then speedily removed. The almost invariable absence of secondary fever cannot be too often impressed on our minds, it is a point of the greatest value, because that is the stage of danger. I have novv a case of small-pox in a young lady, who had been vaccinated fifteen years since, in which the prirriery symptouts, were very severe, and the disease was, over the face, confluent. This is the tenth day from the first appearance of papula, the pocks are nearly all desquamating, the tongue, which had rapidly become crusted with brown fur, clean, and there is no symptom of disorder, but debility. I study to be brief, and shall, therefore merely allude to the vital error of drawing deductions from these cases of mere prophylactic failure, instead of adopting a numerical calculation, and viewing the question by a reference to the great diminution of death or disfigurement from small-pox, since the introduction of vaccination. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, WALTER C. DENDY. DEsny. as
Stamford-street.
That the Bill was then recommitted. That it was then considered in Cusnmittee.
That it was then reported. That it was then moved that the further consideration of the Report should take place on Wednesday, the 6th of June ; and, it was moved That the Bill, as it was then amended, should be reprinted. With the exception of the account above given of the brief conversation which took place in the House of Commons, not a word of the proceedings in Committee was recorded in the morning newspapers; but then " everything was done " pro forma / Mark the history of this Bill, First, it was introduced to the House, two sessions since, by a couple of independent Members. It was a bungling ill-di-
finally,
319
gested concern, and a slight intimation of opposition stopped its progress for that session. Still, as a job was to be executed by somebody, the Executive Government
INSTITUTE OF FRANCE. ON
FOREIGN BODIES WHICH SERVE NUCLEI FOR URINARY CALCULL
THE
AS
teased into taking it in hand. Then it By M. CIVIALE. the of in last session forward AT a late meeting of the Academy of brought Parliament by the Noble Lord, the Secre- Sciences M. Civiale made some observations on certain modes of formation of calculi, an tarv for Ireland. That his intentions were abstract of which cannot fail to be interestgood we readily admit. He is a high- ing. account of the nuclei which occasionminded, able, honest, Minister, and, withal, Anserve for the formation of urinary calally is a man of business. The measure now culi is a neglected though curious point in assumed an important aspect, and we the history of the latter productions. M. Civiale has made some researches with the opened a battery upon some of its provi- view of clearing up several obscure facts, sions in THE LANCET; but itis not true, as and has assembled together 166 cases, from has been alleged at some public meeting an analysis of which it appears that the nucleus of the stone was formed in 32 cases held in Ireland, that we opposed the 13th by needles or pins ; in 21 by bougies or clause of Lord MORPLTH’S Bill. With what catheters; in 14 by pieces of wood ; in 13 2-1 by fragments of bones, design such a statement has been made, by bullets; in barometer pipe stoppers, tubes, or stems of must be explained by our maligners. The opplants; in 14 by the beards of barley or position to the objectionable clauses of that hairs; in4 by pledgets of lint, and finally &c. Bill originated, we are prond to confess, in by rings, nails, fruit-stones, needle-cases, The greater part of the above cases prethe columns of this Journal, and had we sent several interesting points, but we must not called the attention of our medical bre- confine our notice to those of recent date. thren in Ireland to the curious benelits Pins or needles are the foreign bodies which most frequently serve as nuclei which were in store for them, the measure, for stone. This proba hly depends on the long ere this, would have adorned, or ilis- facility with which they present themgraced, the pages of our statute-books. In selves to a certain class of depraved indivialthough it is diflicult to conceive in the present Session the Bill has been com duals,manner what females, more especially, can mitted and recommitted, considered, and re- satisfy their passions with such instruments. of from five to six inches in ported, pro forma, times out of number, and A few needles, remained a considerable time in the length, now it is to be printed this session, for the bladder without having their points covered third time. Does any man believe that the with calculous matter, and in a few cases did they penetrate the bladder, vagina, PUBLIC INTERESTS demand and obtain the ex- only perineum, &.c. hibition of all this zeal ? Mr. FRENCH, we I The formation of calculi upon bullets, tell you again, that you have in Ireland and other foreignbodies of a similar nature, rise to several physiological considerasome bad advisers, and again we say to gives of tions importance. In many cases these bodies have passed into the bladder through you, cc Beware of JOBBERS." which the surgeon would never By the way, we are informed, that we passages dare to traverse with the knife, and what is have been attacked by some of the pecu- more remarkable, without producing, in cases, any notable disorder or inconlators, in a circular which has been ad- many convenience. Thus, for example, pieces of dressed from Ireland to some of the Irisla wood from three to seven inches in length, Members. It was not polite in the writers bullets, &c., have remained for years in the bladder without giving rise to the insupportto withhold from us a copy of their commuable pain, necessity of frequent micturition, nication The attack, however, of the gen- &c., which usually attend the presence of try in question, furnishes a sufficient proof foreign bodies in that viscus. The introduction of the nucleus is either of the justice of the grounds on which we accidental or intentional. In the former have nnno’!fd thf Bi11. case the foreign body has found its way into the bladder in consequence of a wound, a fall, of some fistulous communication
was
was
of