- Email: [email protected]
MR. THOMAS WAKLEY'S NEW STRICTURE INSTRUMENTS.
20 the life and safety of his patient. Where is the surhaving stricture of the urethra himself, and not being demented, would now resort, for his own relief, to the dagger, the liquid fire, or the knife?? A sense of justice has dictated these remarks, and I remain, Sir, your obliged servant,
tion
or
geon, who
M.D., OF
London, June 28, 1851.
TAYLOR BROTHERS’ HOMŒOPATHIC COCOA. a a
a, granules and cells of cocoa ; b b b, granules of Cannastarch or TOMS les Mois ; c, granules of tapioca starch.
AND A
SURGEON
TWENTY YEARS’ STANDING.
THE COLLEGE FELLOWSHIP AND THE UNDERGRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON. lo the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-As you were kind enough to insert a letter of mine in THE LANCET, some time ago, inviting undergraduates of the University of London to join me in, petitioning the College of Surgeons to admit them to the examination for the fellowship, without undergoing the classical part of that examination, may I beg of you to insert, for the benefit of the many gentlemen who did join me, the reply of the secretary ? From this they will perceive that our only alternative is to wait, though whenever the laws relating to the fellowship do come under the notice of the council, we may again take the liberty of calling their attention to this subject. I beg to remain, Sir, yours obediently, ROBERT HAMILTON.
(COPY.) The
Report
of the
Analytical Sanitary Commission
on
OATMEAL AND ITS
-
ADULTERATIONS ’Will appear in THE LANCET of next week.
Correspondence. "Audi alteram
partern."
MR. THOMAS WAKLEY’S NEW STRICTURE INSTRUMENTS.
Royal College of Surgeons, June 19, 1851. SIR,-Your letter of the 6th inst., addressed to the President and Council of this College, praying that such of the undergraduates of the University of London as are members of this College may be admitted to the professional examination for the fellowship, without undergoing the preliminary mathematical and classical examination, in consideration of having matriculated at the London University, has, together with its several enclosures, been laid before the Council of the College; and I am desired to acquaint you, in reply, that the Council has not the power to remit the said classical and mathematical parts of the examination, except in the case of members anterior to September, 1844, and of eight years’ standing. I may, however, add, that upon any alteration of the by-laws relating to the fellowship, the subject of your communication will, I am persuaded, receive the favourable consideration of
the Council.
To the Editor of THE LANCET. the lecture of Mr. Guthrie, published in your journal of the 7th June, p. 617,I find the following sentence in allusion to Mr. T. Wakley’s new instruments :-" It is impossible to speak too highly of this invention, or, as it is disputed as an invention, and claimed by others, of its re-introduction into practice, as a means of effecting either a slow or a rapid dilatation of the urethra." This is a high and deserved commendation, and honestly and frankly expressed. But it astonishes me to observe that Mr. Guthrie speaks with indecision as to the originality of the invention. How is this ? Who more competent to speak with precision and certainty on such a subject ? If such instruments had existed before used, and introduced by Mr. T. Wakley, they were at the meeting of the Medical Society of London, would Mr. Guthrie-a gentleman of high reputation, an ex-president of the English College of Surgeons, and an army hospital surgeon of forty years’ experience-have been unacquainted with them?a By such a man, then, if doubts existed elsewhere, the decisive authoritative award should have been pronounced. What, I would ask, was the treatment of stricture when these harmless, effective, and beautiful series of instruments were submitted to the notice of the profession, not even twelve months back? What,I inquire, was the instrumental treatment of stricture at that period ?? The old bougies were still doing their deadly work; the catheter-dagger of Mr. Stafford was still blindly darting the operators knew not whither; the terrific potassa fusa of Mr. Wade, and the fiery caustics of other surgeons, were actively burning up the delicate membranous lining of an all-important outlet; the dangerous and fatal operation recommended by Mr. Syme, " of cutting down into the groove of a director that had been fairly passed through the stricture," was getting into fulland mortal play in London and Edinburgh. At once, and as by magic, the new instruments attracted universal attention and admiration. Into every hospital they are now finding their way, and also into the hands of every operator who values either his own reputa,-
I
am.
Sir-
vour
most obedient, serva.ntobedient servant,
EDMUND
SIR,-In
designed,
BELFOUR, Sec.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND LIFE ASSURANCE OFFICES. WHO IS THE
QUESTIONER,
AND FOR WHOSE BENEFIT ARE THE
REPLIES
GIVEN ?
To the L’ditor of THE LANCET. SIR,-I regret to find that the subject of liability for the payment of medical certificates in life assurance, still requires to be agitated. The question appears to me so simple and so easily disposed of, that I cannot help feeling surprised that it should have produced such an expenditure of argument, and still more, that reasoners have been found to defend the exploded system. As I take it, the only question at issue in this strife is, for whose benefit is the medical certificate-is it for the benefit of the insuring party, or is it for the benefit of the assurance offices? There is no question as to the party employing the medical man, that is, requiring his opinion or certificate. It cannot be denied that his services are required by the office, but his requital is refused on the ground, that though employed by the office, the service rendered is for the benefit of the party assuring, or partly for his benefit. The language held by assurance companies is this,—We pay our own medical referee, and you, the insurer, should pay yours,as if there were a necessity for this last employing a medical It is something new for a mercantile company, in man. making a bargain, to care for the interest of the opposite party as well as for their own; but since the case is so stated, let us see if there be any truth in it. The point to be tried, then, is this, for whose benefit is the certificate given by the medical attendant of the proposing itmnrer ??, Now, Sir, I have never heard any reason alleged for parties who desire to insure their lives, undergoing a medical examination, except the proper and necessary regulation of assurance
tion
or
geon, who
M.D., OF
London, June 28, 1851.
TAYLOR BROTHERS’ HOMŒOPATHIC COCOA. a a
a, granules and cells of cocoa ; b b b, granules of Cannastarch or TOMS les Mois ; c, granules of tapioca starch.
AND A
SURGEON
TWENTY YEARS’ STANDING.
THE COLLEGE FELLOWSHIP AND THE UNDERGRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON. lo the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-As you were kind enough to insert a letter of mine in THE LANCET, some time ago, inviting undergraduates of the University of London to join me in, petitioning the College of Surgeons to admit them to the examination for the fellowship, without undergoing the classical part of that examination, may I beg of you to insert, for the benefit of the many gentlemen who did join me, the reply of the secretary ? From this they will perceive that our only alternative is to wait, though whenever the laws relating to the fellowship do come under the notice of the council, we may again take the liberty of calling their attention to this subject. I beg to remain, Sir, yours obediently, ROBERT HAMILTON.
(COPY.) The
Report
of the
Analytical Sanitary Commission
on
OATMEAL AND ITS
-
ADULTERATIONS ’Will appear in THE LANCET of next week.
Correspondence. "Audi alteram
partern."
MR. THOMAS WAKLEY’S NEW STRICTURE INSTRUMENTS.
Royal College of Surgeons, June 19, 1851. SIR,-Your letter of the 6th inst., addressed to the President and Council of this College, praying that such of the undergraduates of the University of London as are members of this College may be admitted to the professional examination for the fellowship, without undergoing the preliminary mathematical and classical examination, in consideration of having matriculated at the London University, has, together with its several enclosures, been laid before the Council of the College; and I am desired to acquaint you, in reply, that the Council has not the power to remit the said classical and mathematical parts of the examination, except in the case of members anterior to September, 1844, and of eight years’ standing. I may, however, add, that upon any alteration of the by-laws relating to the fellowship, the subject of your communication will, I am persuaded, receive the favourable consideration of
the Council.
To the Editor of THE LANCET. the lecture of Mr. Guthrie, published in your journal of the 7th June, p. 617,I find the following sentence in allusion to Mr. T. Wakley’s new instruments :-" It is impossible to speak too highly of this invention, or, as it is disputed as an invention, and claimed by others, of its re-introduction into practice, as a means of effecting either a slow or a rapid dilatation of the urethra." This is a high and deserved commendation, and honestly and frankly expressed. But it astonishes me to observe that Mr. Guthrie speaks with indecision as to the originality of the invention. How is this ? Who more competent to speak with precision and certainty on such a subject ? If such instruments had existed before used, and introduced by Mr. T. Wakley, they were at the meeting of the Medical Society of London, would Mr. Guthrie-a gentleman of high reputation, an ex-president of the English College of Surgeons, and an army hospital surgeon of forty years’ experience-have been unacquainted with them?a By such a man, then, if doubts existed elsewhere, the decisive authoritative award should have been pronounced. What, I would ask, was the treatment of stricture when these harmless, effective, and beautiful series of instruments were submitted to the notice of the profession, not even twelve months back? What,I inquire, was the instrumental treatment of stricture at that period ?? The old bougies were still doing their deadly work; the catheter-dagger of Mr. Stafford was still blindly darting the operators knew not whither; the terrific potassa fusa of Mr. Wade, and the fiery caustics of other surgeons, were actively burning up the delicate membranous lining of an all-important outlet; the dangerous and fatal operation recommended by Mr. Syme, " of cutting down into the groove of a director that had been fairly passed through the stricture," was getting into fulland mortal play in London and Edinburgh. At once, and as by magic, the new instruments attracted universal attention and admiration. Into every hospital they are now finding their way, and also into the hands of every operator who values either his own reputa,-
I
am.
Sir-
vour
most obedient, serva.ntobedient servant,
EDMUND
SIR,-In
designed,
BELFOUR, Sec.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND LIFE ASSURANCE OFFICES. WHO IS THE
QUESTIONER,
AND FOR WHOSE BENEFIT ARE THE
REPLIES
GIVEN ?
To the L’ditor of THE LANCET. SIR,-I regret to find that the subject of liability for the payment of medical certificates in life assurance, still requires to be agitated. The question appears to me so simple and so easily disposed of, that I cannot help feeling surprised that it should have produced such an expenditure of argument, and still more, that reasoners have been found to defend the exploded system. As I take it, the only question at issue in this strife is, for whose benefit is the medical certificate-is it for the benefit of the insuring party, or is it for the benefit of the assurance offices? There is no question as to the party employing the medical man, that is, requiring his opinion or certificate. It cannot be denied that his services are required by the office, but his requital is refused on the ground, that though employed by the office, the service rendered is for the benefit of the party assuring, or partly for his benefit. The language held by assurance companies is this,—We pay our own medical referee, and you, the insurer, should pay yours,as if there were a necessity for this last employing a medical It is something new for a mercantile company, in man. making a bargain, to care for the interest of the opposite party as well as for their own; but since the case is so stated, let us see if there be any truth in it. The point to be tried, then, is this, for whose benefit is the certificate given by the medical attendant of the proposing itmnrer ??, Now, Sir, I have never heard any reason alleged for parties who desire to insure their lives, undergoing a medical examination, except the proper and necessary regulation of assurance