LOCK HOSPITALS.

98 he refuses to take clinical clerks; and he never contributes his share of clinical instruction. Yet, why does he retain his post? If too decrepit and feeble to discharge the just responsibilities that devolve on his position ; if too infirm and aged to offer us the results of his mature experience, in the shape of clinical instruction ; if too perverse and peevish to possess clinical clerks, lest their modern knowledge and bustling habits should jar with his cumbersome dogmas and dilatory proceedings; why, I ask again, does he retain his post? Dr. Hue enjoys a very considerable income from St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. What does he do for it? Does he impart his knowledge ? Does he benefit students? I have shown he does not. Does he fulfil his duties in the hospital wards ? The apothecary and medical registrar can answer this questionI Sir, how long is this to continue? As each year flies on in swift career, are not the varied branches of knowledge essential to medical educdtion more extended and advanced? Do not our country and our age make requirements upon students, with which, even with our best energies and most talented professors, we can hardly comply ? And yet, here, in the midst of this capital, at a hospital whose prestige and by-gone glory are second to none that the world possesses-here exists as great a grievance as reason ever contemplated or truth assailed. " Should a faithful officer, though advanced in years, meet with

subject one of our professors, wholly unconnected with memost energetically affirmed, that " if it was worth our while to attend the surgical wards for six months, it was well worth while to give two years to the medical practice." He also added, that "for every surgical c?se -we should meet with, as practitioners, we -would have twenty or even thirty me-

this

wards;

dicine,

generalcases."

great

indulgence?" probably no plea which carries with it such general and concurrent sympathy as that which would represent an old full of years and honours," unjustly attacked by a youthful man,

no

There is

dical

Now, whatever the defenders of Dr. Hue may urge in his warmest friends cannot deny that he monopolizes than one-third of the miserably inadequate number ("Quivis"notwithstanding) of medical beds; that he empioys no clinical clerks ; and that the symptoms of his dislike to the presence of students in his wards are so well-marked, that the diagnosis admits not of a doubt. The question now is, how is a change in this unfortunate state of affairs to 1’e brought about? As our time for study here is limited, I would suggest that a meeting of all the students, and others taking an interest in the question, be called without delay, and the subject taken seriously into consideration ; that we may endeavour, by a united and vigorous t-6br’, to effect, or learn the inutility of attempting, Can you, Sir, kindly suggest a reform in this important matter. method by which our object would be likely to be attained? any ’ Again apologizingfor encroaching on your valuable space, I am, Sir, yours, &c., A SECOND YEAR’S MAN. St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, Jan. 1853.

favour, his more

"

KING’S COLLEGE. assailant. The students of St. Bartholomew’s, I hope, are gentlethe Editor of THE LANCET. To if men ; and certainly no one would ever have attacked Dr. Hue, that gentleman, when age and infirmity pressed heavily upon him, a am SiR,—I superannuated King’s College Man—one who had resigned an appointment whose responsible duties he can look at his student’s days with a pleasant retrospect, and does not discharge. However, he pertinaciously retains it, who is glad to live them over again in the realms of his although long ago aware of our just indignation. Sir, I pity Dr. imagination. It is with sorrow, therefore, that I find so many Hue; I pity any one, who time after time has been combated by complaints finding utterance about the management of the reason, laughed at by satire, criticized by wit, or attacked by medical department of my " Alma Mater." I am not in a invective ;feeling, as that individual must, an inward conscious- position to confirm their presenttruth; but this I can say, that ness of their pregnant truth ; and who yet disregards alike the when I was a student, the abuses now protested against had warnings of friendship or the admonitions of common sense. already taken root, and it required no far-seeing eye to Latly, Sir, permit me to answer those who consider I have prognosticate the consequences which would follow from their been rash and precipitate in making my accusations thus boldly continuance and growth. and energetically in a public journal. I firmly believe that much of the ill-feeling which at reply is, that as hospitals are public—I may say national institutions, if grievances present exists between the students and the secretary, arises or abuses exist, a public remedy is the remedy to apply. The from an injudicious parsimony on the part of the official, and members of a hospital staff are public officials and if they are a want of courtesy in those small matters, which, after all, are unable or to discharge their duties, they have a no trifles in the dealings of one gentleman with another. right to be summoned to the bar of public opinion. Sir, I have Hence mutual confidence is destroyed, and an uncomfortable written to you from no malign motives. I regret my letters may spirit of recrimination is begotten, in the place of that kindly appear personal; but indeed from their very nature this is neces- spirit which should prevail among all parties, and in all sarily the case. I have written to redress great wrongs, and for departments of an institution dedicated to learning. this object have devoted what talents I possess. I cannot see that " Another King’s Student" has in any Thanking you, Sir, as I do most sincerely, for the ample space way disproved the allegations of your first correspondent. in your journal you have so liberally allowed me to occupy, I He has left wholly untouched the main topics of grievance; for whose extreme length I humbly and even in the minor conclude this letter points, I recognise old stock-in-hand the language of a late Hunterian Oration: complaints, which seem now almost forgotten in the existence apologize—by citing ‘ The medical mind is to a hospital what life is to the body ; it of others of far greater importance and magnitude. I have been the instrument of bringing some half-dozen gives to it all its utility and all its rank. It stamps it with a It infuses into it the spirit of life; and thus it becomes in freshmen to receive their education at the King’s College name. an instant the instrument of incalculable good to thousands-the School of Medicine. With scarcely an exception, they have pride of virtue, the boast of the world."* subsequently expressed their bitter regret that I should have I beg to remain, Sir, recommended them to a place where so much discomfort has Your most grateful, humble servant, been created by these bickerings and misunderA THIRD YEAR’S STUDENT. The Library, Jan. 1853. standings. If I had to live my student’s years over again, I am not sure that I should not enrol myself at one of the more To the Editor of THE LANCET. anciently-established schools. True it is, that I often reflect friendships which were formed at SIR?—I am almost afraid you will think it Imposing upon your with pride on the permanent College,and on the eminently high tone of moral feeling good-nature, to request insertion for another letter on the subject King’s of our school grievances; but as these are of no little magnitude, which prevails among the students of that institution geneand one, of vital importance both to the present students and the rally ; but there are many who would not think it paying too future prosperity of the school-for I, for one, could not, under high a price to sink considerations such as these, in order that the existing state of things, conscientiously recommend a student, they may pursue the study of their profession away from the though I love her myself, to make choice of Bartholomew’s disturbances engendered by the enforcement of a petty as his Alma Mater,—I trust the strong desire for reform you have economy and a schoolboy’s discipline. I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, ever evinced in all matters relating to the profession, will induce AN OLD KING’S MAN. January, 1853. you to find space for these few remarks. I am sure no one can deny that the knowledge to be acLOCK HOSPITALS. quired in the medical wards of the hospital is of the utmost importance to the students, for upon this source of information To the Editor of THE LANCET. does much of his success as a general practitioner depend ; and SiR,—In my letter on Lock Hospitals, published in THE if he fall short here, his suffering fellow-creatures must reap in LANCET of the llth of December, I said that " the annual exbitter the fruits of his unavoidable some measure ignorance ; incurred in the treatment of syphilitic cases at our while it will be the source of no little anxiety to himself.£ On pense military and naval hospitals is enormous, and even on the * Hunterian Oration for 1850. of economy the subject is worthy of the attention of

My

incapacitated

-

high

unhappy

ground

99 of making a post-mortem in cases where an inquest is held, without having a distinct authority to do so, and in the usual legal manner, from the coroner or his officer. If I am not trespassing on your space, 1 should like to refer to another subject connected with inquests, of some interest to us-viz., in cases of sudden death, when an inquest is held, military and naval hospitals. From your leading article of and the usual medical attendant of the deceased did not see the 15th of January, I perceive you have misunderstood my him at the time, which medical man ought to be called in? " meaning. It would indeed militate against one of the chief I think it important that some general rule should be adhered of a Lock Hospital, to ask its applicants to pay." to in such cases, as I believe different coroners (or even the advantages The very idea is preposterous, and was never for a moment same coroner) act differently in similar cases. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, entertained by me. I do not, however; stand alone in mainHENRY TERRY, Jun., Surgeon. Northampton, Jan. 1853. taining that good effects might result from deducting a certain sum from the pay of parties of all ranks and conditions admitted into our Government establishments with venereal comThis proposal was only alluded to incidentally in plaints. connexion with the subject, and I regret that any misconception should have occurred. Many arguments might be adROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. -The duced in favour of this scheme, but it would be out of place to enter upon them at present. I think it right, however, to gentlemen having undergone the necessary examinations for make this explanation, as you will at once see that you have, the diploma, were admitted Members of the College at the unintentionally, placed me in a false position. meeting of the Court of Examiners, on the 14th inst. :I am gratified to find that you have given such a warm BURROWS, SAtIILTEL JAMES, London. support to the institutions now under consideration. Those COULTHARD, WILLIAlIl, Borneo. only who have witnessed the effects and ravages of this disease, M’DoNALD, CHARLES FRANCIS, Old Kent-road. can be fully alive to the necessity of something being done to JOHN GOSLING, Brighton. PAINE, mitigate the evil. It continually deprives the country of the TucnER, SYLVANus, Australia. services of a vast number of her public servants, whose conVAUDIN, CHARLES, St. Helier’s, Jersey. stitutions are undermined by the syphilitic poison, and their WELCH, ROBERT, Taunton. vital powers weakened by the remedies intended for its ALFRED STEPHEN, London. WOOD, eradication. Besides, as Professor Traile of Edinburgh most APOTHECARIES’ HALL.—Names of gentlemen who justly remarks, ‘‘ it saps the foundations of a nation’s strength, passed their examination in the science and practice of mediby impairing the sources of a healthy progeny." A field is here open for the philanthropist, and for all those cine, and received certificates to practise, on who are desirous of promoting the physical, intellectual, and Thursday, January 13th, 1853. moral welfare of the unfortunate class alluded to, as well as BuswELL, RICHARD, Northampton. of British soldiers and seamen. THOMAS, FREDERIC JOHN, Devonshire-terrace, Kingsland. I remain, Sir, yours faithfully, MEDICAL BENEVOLENT COLLEGE.-We have great J. ROSE, Haslar Hospital, RoSE, M.A., M.D. Jan. 1853. pleasure in announcing that the Lord Bishop of Oxford has Assistant-Surgeon R.N. kindly fixed the 8th of May next for advocating the claims of this national undertaking, in St. Peter’s Chapel, Vere-street, the REPRESENTATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF Rev. Edward Scobell, the incumbent, having generously granted LONDON. the use of his pulpit for that occasion. In addition to the land To the Editor of THE LANCET. recently purchased by the Council at Epsom, a piece adjoining been presented to the College by James Gadeshas SiR,—The University of London is not entirely a medical den, handsomely of Ewell Castle, as also a donation to the funds Esq., university, it is true. It is also true that the medical profession of £25. forms a very prominent feature in it; and further, Sir, it is equally THE PAROCHIAL AUTHORITIES AND MEDICAL STAFF true that such is daily increasing. Oxford and Cambridge return their representatives, and nobody OF MARYLEBONE.—The Directors and Guardians of the Poor of for a moment would think of opposing them; why, then, should this parish, having failed in sustaining the groundless charges preferred against the medical officers, appear determined to uphold not London do likewise ? We are all well aware, as the Morning Post thinks proper to their authority by sacrificing those gentlemen to vulgar prejudice; tell us, that its members are of all religions. But what of that? although four medical gentlemen, of high position, declared that I see no great harm in Dissenters being represented; but why the medical officers of the workhouse had treated the poor woman not let the University of London return her members as from a Higgins with the utmost attention, skill, and kindness; and that seat of learning, and not as from one sect of a religious com- her case was of so singular and so serious a character, that they were compelled to resort to the most prompt, and what to the munity ? ignorant might appear cruel means, in the hope of saving the If you can find room for this, Sir, you will greatly oblige mother’s and her infant’s life. Mr. Sedgwick, one of the medical Your obedient servant, officers, deeming his professional prospects eminently endangered A ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S MAN. Jan., 1853. by the calumnious reports circulated respecting his conduct in the affair, indignantly repudiated those charges, and retorted CORONERS’ INQUESTS.—MEDICAL WITNESSES. sharply upon his maligners. For having done so, a member of the board has given notice for his dismissal, or, as the gentleman To the Editor of THE LANCET. more classically expressed himself "for sacking Mr. Sedgwick." SIR,—The perusal of Mr. Taylor’s letter, in THE LANCET of In which, however, it is to be hoped that he will be disappointed January 15, on the subject of Corouer’s Inquests, recalls to my by the rational and respectable portion of the board. mind a similar circumstance that occurred to me. I was sent YELLOW FEVER.— The Parana, just arrived at Southfor some few months ago to see a poor old woman, who was with the West India and Pacific mails, suffered ampton burnt to death in attempting to get into bed by herself, she left alone in the house. The constable severely from yellow fever, contracted at St. Thomas’s. The

Government." I then added=° It has also been proposed that the old custom of charging a certain sum from all patients admitted with the disease in question should be revived." In this passage I did not refer to the unfortunate females who are fit objects for a Lock Hospital, but to the soldiers, marines, and seamen who form so large a number of the inmates of our

Medical News.

following

being improperly informed

police

in the morning that an inquest would be held, and that my attendance would be required. On presenting myself at the time appointed, I was rather abruptly asked by the coroner what was the nature of my business there; and on my replying that the constable had told me to come, a slight altercation ensued between the two officials as to whether the coroner had really told the constable to summon me. However, the coroner finished the discussion by permitting me to give my evidence, although still maintaining that he had given no authority to the constable. On the question of the post-mortem, I must beg to differ with Mr. Taylor. I do not think any surgeon has the power me

thirty, and the deaths four. Mr. Wiblin, the quarantine officer, sent to hospital thirteen patients, and ordered the vessel under strict quarantine for ten days. The small number of deaths is attributable to the constant and unremitting attention of Mr. Alfred Barton, the surgeon ot the Parana, whose conduct is beyond all praise. According to the Weekly l6Tirror, fever of a yellow type has broken out at St. Vincent’s, amongst the class whose dissipated habits make them susceptible of that disease. cases were

BLACK VOMIT.—At St. is raging. Consul.

ease

Amongst

dis lady of the French

Domingo this frightful

its victims is the