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NAVAL ASSISTANT-SURGEONS AND THEIR GRIEVANCES.
438 It was not in his disposition to be over-sanguine to the power of any remedy, but he felt satisfied that the use of ergot of rye must be still further restricted, and that galvanism might advantageously replace it in obstetric practice. The very effective and compact galvanic coil machine of Mr. Hearder, of Plymouth, was shown to the members at the conclusion of the discussion, and attracted general attention.
labour he has bestowed upon it, but, indeed, for placing it in the hands of those busy practitioners of the present day who may be unable to peruse it in the original German. The two parts into which the translator found it necessary to divide the book make a handsome volume, well " got up" and profusely illustrated, and forms a very valuable addition to the library of the physiologist.
Reviews and Notices of Books.
Surgical A natonty. By JOSEPH MACLISE, Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. Second Edition. Fasciculus L London:
galvanism. as
John Churchill.
The
Principles of Surgery. By JAMES MILLER, F.R.S.E., F. R. C. S. E. Third Edition. Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black. London: Longman and Co. 8vo.
WHEN the first edition of this really splendid work appeared, gave it our hearty commendations. The present edition, however, is even superior to the last, for the plates are larger, and the work altogether improved. It is scarcely necessary to speak of the artistic powers of Mr. Maclise, after the proofs he has given to the world; but we may observe that the delineations here given are not only first-rate specimens of art, but admirable surgical illustrations for treatment. There are four plates, besides letterpress descriptions, all being excellent. we
MR. MILLER has once more presented the medical world with another edition of his excellent work on the " Principles of Surgery," with such alterations in the text and in the arrangements as seemed necessary, on account of the advance of the science within the short time intervening between the publication of the -second and of the present editions; and as we can hardly pretend that within this period of three years there has been such great progress made as would necesso good an sitate any extensive alteration in a book which NAVAL ASSISTANT-SURGEONS AND THEIR was already exposition of the subject of which it treated, GRIEVANCES. neither do we find that any great changes have been made in To the Editor of THE LANCET. this edition. Some parts, however, have been judiciously condemned; as, for instance, the appendix relating to the use SIR,-Many thanks to THE LANCET. By giving publicity to of chloroform in surgical operations-a subject necessarily the grievances of naval assistant-surgeons, and exposing Ad. treated of somewhat lengthily in the last edition, in order to miralty tyranny and neglect, the supply of candidates has been effectually cut off. Whatever the Admiralty may venture to answer the objections which were then still urged against its assert in the next session can be most directly contradicted by general adoption, in cases of a comparatively trivial character, the Director-General, Sir W. Burnett; also by the three disfor the purpose of merely sparing the patient the present pain tinguished officers, Sir J. Richardson, Sir J. Liddell, Dr. A. of an operation, independently of any ulterior object. Since Bryson, whose duty it is to examine all assistant-surgeons on the service, and who now admit that ’’ they cannot that time, however, the use of chloroform as an anaesthetic their hands on a single candidate for the office." The lay agent has become so exceedingly familiar to all those engaged English and Scotch to a man have indignantly refused to in surgical practice, and the rules for its administration, and degrade themselves and their profession by entering a service for the obviation of those bad effects formerly apprehended where they are compelled to serve a three years’ apprenticeship from its employment, have become so much better understood, with naval cadets and midshipmen of from twelve to sixteen; not allowed either cabin or servant, and forced to wash and as to render an attempt to demonstrate its utility almost a dress in an open cockpit or steerage, and exposed to the gaze work of supererogation, there being now few or none to be found of every sailor and marine in the ship. A very encouraging who would refuse to give their patients the benefit of its wonprospect for the first three years ; and afterwards, when they derful powers when about to be subjected to the surgeon’s have passed for surgeon, and are admitted to the ward-room, knife. every pretext and subterfuge is resorted to in order to deprive Mr. Miller has been particularly successful in producing a them of their cabins and servants. Is it any wonder, then, work fitted for the hands of the student. The plain and that the navy cannot get one qualified candidate, whilst every in the army and East India Company’s Service is forcible manner in which the text is written, the aptness and vacancy sought by numbers? The few last entries in the navy eagerly liberality of the woodcut illustrations, and the simplicity of are Irishmen, and who, despite the poverty of the profession the arrangement of the whole, alike concur in rendering this in that country, would not have taken a step so derogatory to work a favourite with those whose object it is to obtain an the status of their noble profession, were it not that they have been misled by the coloured and plausible representations adequate knowledge of the subject upon which it treats, and of the navy by some half-pay surgeons, R.N., and a few, to obtain that information in a form as easy as it can be ren- given I am happy to say, of the teachers at the new Colleges; the dered by the experience of one who is not only a good surgeon, latter I am persuaded did it through ignorance; the former, of but an adept at teaching surgery. course, have ce)-taiii private motives for doing the dirty work of their masters, by misleading and deceiving their young professional brethren. I would advise those Admiralty " touters" to A Text-Book of Physiology. By Dr. G. VALENTIN, Professor " keep quiet;" if not, a list of names will soon appear. Verb. of Physiology in the University of Bern. Translated and sat. sap. Edited from the Third German Edition by WILLIAM In conclusion, Mr. Editor, I trust you will as heretofore BRINTON, M.D., Physician to the Royal Free Hospital, &c. warn all medical men to beware of the navy, until the AdWith upwards of Five Hundred Illustrations on Wood, do full justice to our much-injured class. miralty Copper, and Stone. Part II. 8vo. London: Henry Renour grateful acknowledgments of your long and able Accept shaw. 1853. of our cause. support Yours respectfully, THE second and concluding part of Dr. Valentin’s " TextAssisTANT-SURGEON R.N. October, 1853. Book of Physiology" fully confirms the favourable opinion which we entertained and expressed of this work from the MORBID SPECIMEN IN PHOTOGRAPHY.-Mr. Bransby perusal of the first division, and serves to demonstrate that Francis, of Norwich, has forwarded to us a photographic the respect and fame which its learned author has acquired as engraving of an enlarged prostate, with the bladder in all a physiologist, both in his own country and in Great Britain, respects healthy, except that it contains fourteen calculi, or have been most deservedly bestowed. Dr. Brinton, as trans- rather three whole ones, one broken into two, one into three, lator and editor, has done his work well, his rendering of the and one into six pieces; much worn away since fractured; five ounces two drachms; age of patient eighty-one; original being clear, forcible, and elegant, while at the same weight of disease more than fifteen years. The representastanding time it is conscientiously correct; and we are sure that we do tion seems to be accurate, and the various objects are well no more than justice to this gentleman when we say that the defined. Mr. Francis is entitled to commendation for the thanks of.the professsion are due to him, not only for the novel use he has thus given to photography.
entering
labour he has bestowed upon it, but, indeed, for placing it in the hands of those busy practitioners of the present day who may be unable to peruse it in the original German. The two parts into which the translator found it necessary to divide the book make a handsome volume, well " got up" and profusely illustrated, and forms a very valuable addition to the library of the physiologist.
Reviews and Notices of Books.
Surgical A natonty. By JOSEPH MACLISE, Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. Second Edition. Fasciculus L London:
galvanism. as
John Churchill.
The
Principles of Surgery. By JAMES MILLER, F.R.S.E., F. R. C. S. E. Third Edition. Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black. London: Longman and Co. 8vo.
WHEN the first edition of this really splendid work appeared, gave it our hearty commendations. The present edition, however, is even superior to the last, for the plates are larger, and the work altogether improved. It is scarcely necessary to speak of the artistic powers of Mr. Maclise, after the proofs he has given to the world; but we may observe that the delineations here given are not only first-rate specimens of art, but admirable surgical illustrations for treatment. There are four plates, besides letterpress descriptions, all being excellent. we
MR. MILLER has once more presented the medical world with another edition of his excellent work on the " Principles of Surgery," with such alterations in the text and in the arrangements as seemed necessary, on account of the advance of the science within the short time intervening between the publication of the -second and of the present editions; and as we can hardly pretend that within this period of three years there has been such great progress made as would necesso good an sitate any extensive alteration in a book which NAVAL ASSISTANT-SURGEONS AND THEIR was already exposition of the subject of which it treated, GRIEVANCES. neither do we find that any great changes have been made in To the Editor of THE LANCET. this edition. Some parts, however, have been judiciously condemned; as, for instance, the appendix relating to the use SIR,-Many thanks to THE LANCET. By giving publicity to of chloroform in surgical operations-a subject necessarily the grievances of naval assistant-surgeons, and exposing Ad. treated of somewhat lengthily in the last edition, in order to miralty tyranny and neglect, the supply of candidates has been effectually cut off. Whatever the Admiralty may venture to answer the objections which were then still urged against its assert in the next session can be most directly contradicted by general adoption, in cases of a comparatively trivial character, the Director-General, Sir W. Burnett; also by the three disfor the purpose of merely sparing the patient the present pain tinguished officers, Sir J. Richardson, Sir J. Liddell, Dr. A. of an operation, independently of any ulterior object. Since Bryson, whose duty it is to examine all assistant-surgeons on the service, and who now admit that ’’ they cannot that time, however, the use of chloroform as an anaesthetic their hands on a single candidate for the office." The lay agent has become so exceedingly familiar to all those engaged English and Scotch to a man have indignantly refused to in surgical practice, and the rules for its administration, and degrade themselves and their profession by entering a service for the obviation of those bad effects formerly apprehended where they are compelled to serve a three years’ apprenticeship from its employment, have become so much better understood, with naval cadets and midshipmen of from twelve to sixteen; not allowed either cabin or servant, and forced to wash and as to render an attempt to demonstrate its utility almost a dress in an open cockpit or steerage, and exposed to the gaze work of supererogation, there being now few or none to be found of every sailor and marine in the ship. A very encouraging who would refuse to give their patients the benefit of its wonprospect for the first three years ; and afterwards, when they derful powers when about to be subjected to the surgeon’s have passed for surgeon, and are admitted to the ward-room, knife. every pretext and subterfuge is resorted to in order to deprive Mr. Miller has been particularly successful in producing a them of their cabins and servants. Is it any wonder, then, work fitted for the hands of the student. The plain and that the navy cannot get one qualified candidate, whilst every in the army and East India Company’s Service is forcible manner in which the text is written, the aptness and vacancy sought by numbers? The few last entries in the navy eagerly liberality of the woodcut illustrations, and the simplicity of are Irishmen, and who, despite the poverty of the profession the arrangement of the whole, alike concur in rendering this in that country, would not have taken a step so derogatory to work a favourite with those whose object it is to obtain an the status of their noble profession, were it not that they have been misled by the coloured and plausible representations adequate knowledge of the subject upon which it treats, and of the navy by some half-pay surgeons, R.N., and a few, to obtain that information in a form as easy as it can be ren- given I am happy to say, of the teachers at the new Colleges; the dered by the experience of one who is not only a good surgeon, latter I am persuaded did it through ignorance; the former, of but an adept at teaching surgery. course, have ce)-taiii private motives for doing the dirty work of their masters, by misleading and deceiving their young professional brethren. I would advise those Admiralty " touters" to A Text-Book of Physiology. By Dr. G. VALENTIN, Professor " keep quiet;" if not, a list of names will soon appear. Verb. of Physiology in the University of Bern. Translated and sat. sap. Edited from the Third German Edition by WILLIAM In conclusion, Mr. Editor, I trust you will as heretofore BRINTON, M.D., Physician to the Royal Free Hospital, &c. warn all medical men to beware of the navy, until the AdWith upwards of Five Hundred Illustrations on Wood, do full justice to our much-injured class. miralty Copper, and Stone. Part II. 8vo. London: Henry Renour grateful acknowledgments of your long and able Accept shaw. 1853. of our cause. support Yours respectfully, THE second and concluding part of Dr. Valentin’s " TextAssisTANT-SURGEON R.N. October, 1853. Book of Physiology" fully confirms the favourable opinion which we entertained and expressed of this work from the MORBID SPECIMEN IN PHOTOGRAPHY.-Mr. Bransby perusal of the first division, and serves to demonstrate that Francis, of Norwich, has forwarded to us a photographic the respect and fame which its learned author has acquired as engraving of an enlarged prostate, with the bladder in all a physiologist, both in his own country and in Great Britain, respects healthy, except that it contains fourteen calculi, or have been most deservedly bestowed. Dr. Brinton, as trans- rather three whole ones, one broken into two, one into three, lator and editor, has done his work well, his rendering of the and one into six pieces; much worn away since fractured; five ounces two drachms; age of patient eighty-one; original being clear, forcible, and elegant, while at the same weight of disease more than fifteen years. The representastanding time it is conscientiously correct; and we are sure that we do tion seems to be accurate, and the various objects are well no more than justice to this gentleman when we say that the defined. Mr. Francis is entitled to commendation for the thanks of.the professsion are due to him, not only for the novel use he has thus given to photography.
entering