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ON THE TREATMENT OF NEURALGIA.
304 endeavours would not meet with a favour.able reception at the hands of their audience, whom they had so grossly insulted and Outraged; if it did arise either from this or from incapacity, let them give place to better and bolder men. Let them throw the Oration open to the whole body of the fellows, from among whom,
I doubt not, there would be many who would do honour to the occasion and to themselves; or, if those refuse, let them appeal to the twelve thousand excluded, and I am quite sure that the appeal would be ably and satisfactorily answered. I am,
March,
Sir,
yours
obediently,
1845.
DETUR DIGNIORI.
ON THE TREATMENT OF NEURALGIA. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—Mr. Chippendale’s practice, according to his last
com-
appears to be grounded on the presumption that neuralgia is a local affection, and can be cured by topical applications. I doubt very much whether or not such a phenomenon can exist as idiopathic peripheral neuralgia, and therefore I repudiate remedies, the action of which is circumscribed to a mere isolated spot. Nevertheless, I shall be happy to accept his friendly challenge, with this amendment :-Let four patients be selected, exhibiting as nearly as possible the same symptoms; two shall be treated by local applications, omitting all reference to the prinace vice; and two exclusively by constitutional remedies. This plan, I think, would bring the merits of our individual systems to a fair issue. Your most obedient servant. R. H. ALLNATT. Parliament-street, March 3rd.
munication,
ON THE MODE OF APPLYING PRESSURE IN UTERINE HÆMORRHAGE. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—On reading the article by Mr. A. H. Hassell, of Notting Hill, on the suppression of Uterine Haemorrhage after delivery, it struck me that the following extract from my note book, from a lecture of Dr. Murphy, might be-useful. Dr. Murphy, after mentioning the usual means adopted under such circumstances, proceeded to describe the common tourniquet and bandage, with the addition of a book covered with a napkin, so as to form a compress over the uterus, used by Mr. Pretty, as a means useful for the object to be gained. Still, there is a liability, on account of the book being flat, and the uterus being roundish, that the uterus may slip from under it; and, also, from the narrowness of the usual strap, a good counter pressure or resistance to the tourniquet cannot be obtained. Dr. Murphy then presented to the students a bandage and a pad, invented by Mr. G. N. Epps, to which the tourniquet, by means of two small straps, readily added, if needed: but he expressed his belief mightinbe that, nine cases out of ten, the bandage and the pad, then exhibited, would be amply sufficient; and such instrument, he stated, he kept for his own practice.-Yours obediently, STUDENS. University College, Feb. 19, 1845.
OPIATES IN EXTENSIVE BURNS. To the Editor of THE LANCIT. last SIR,—In your number, under the head of " Treatment in cases of Burns," it is said that full doses of opiates are followed by the most happy results , allow me to bear testimony to such facts. I have, for ten years and more, invariably used it in extensive burns, with unvarying success; and I remember, more particularly, one case that occurred to me while I was resident medical officer of the Demerara Seaman’s Hospital. It was a boy, about sixteen or seventeen years of age, who was frightfully burned, the left arm, side, and abdomen, presenting a shocking appearance, and the nervous system, in proportion, violently affected, (which is the real cause of deaths from burns.) Opiates in full doses, mixed with effervescing draughts, and repeated after the effects had left, with protein dressing of linseed oil and lime water in thick layers, (which could be easily applied and kept on after the opiate had taken effect,) with the secundem artem treatment afterwards, gave me the great gratification of seeing him leave the hospital well and hearty, which effect I must certainly attribute to the immediate use of opiates. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, H. ROWE, Extra-Licentiate of R.C.P.L. R.C.P.L RowE, M.D., & Loughton, March 3, 1845.
M.D., &
THE LECTURES AT ST. GEORGE’S. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—Owing to the continual annoyance which I and many more have experienced through the inconsistent manner in which the lectures at this place have been delivered during this session, I beg to call your attention to the following observations. The time set apart for the lecture on anatomy and physiology used to be from half-past two to half-past three, but now it is from a quarter to three to a quarter to four, which was altered for the convenience of the lecturers, whose duties at the hospital detain them till that time. When Mr. Tatum lectures, all is as it ought to be, he being punctual, and giving the full hour; but not so his colleague. When his turn comes, we look forward to but half an hour’s lecture, if any at all-he commencing at five minutes to three, and leaving off at half past, why or wherefore I know not. This must be, to say the least of it, an unwise thing. A pupil, we will say, is anxious to work hard, and attend his lectures regularly, but what encouragement is there for him to carry out his good intentions? If he goes down, he either has a lecture of half an hour, or else he finds (which is not unfrequently the case) that this lecturer " has gone into the country to perform an operation !" Is this proper, or indeed justifiable? If the master is irregular, the idle pupil will be too glad to catch at it to screen himself. The person alluded to would really make one believe that his happiest moments are spent amongst us, but surely his irregularity makes all his protestations, however sincere, fall to the ground. I trust this will be of some use, if not for this, for next session; and we live in hopes. I remain, yours truly, A LOVER OF JUSTICE. Kinnerton-street, March 6.
M. MAISONNEUVE’S MODE OF INTRODUCING THE CATHETER NOT A NOVELTY. To the Editor
of THE LANCET. SIR,—In your last number is given a method of introducing the catheter, brought before the Academy of Medicine by M. Maisonneuve as new. It, however, has no claim to novelty, having been known and practised in the Dublin Hospitals so far back as five years ago, when I, along with many others, witnessed its employment in the hands of Dr. Hutton, of the Richmond Hospital. The plan there adopted, though exactly the same in principle, differed somewhat from M. Maisonneuve’s, and appears
NEWS OF THE WEEK. At the last meeting of the British Association, at York, Dr. Layeock pointed out a number of important omissions
in the present system of registration. These omissions have been brought under the notice of the Registrar-general. The following. more especially, de erve notice :-
The omission to ascertain and record the place of birth, as well the chief place of previous residence of each person deceased, by which, important questions to the public as to the mortality incident to a native, as distinguished from that which may be in to me preferable. A fine catgut bougie, eighteen or twenty inches long, was first part due to an immigrant, population, may in all places be more determined. passed within the stricture; a gum elastic catheter, open at both accurately The omission to ascertain and record the precise civil condition ends, was then passed upon the catgut down to, and, by proper of the deceased as to whether, if an adult male, he were married management, unerringly through, the stricture. The difference, then, consists in employing catgut of such a or single, and, if married, whether he had left a widow and what and of what ages and sexes, facts requisite to ascertain length that enough may remain external to the urethra to be children, extent of widowhood and orphanage incident to varying conthe the with canal of the catheter passed through facility, rendering ditions of places and occupations, and the amount of pecuniary the use of string of any kind unnecessary. I believe this plan to possess great advantages, being at once provision necessary to be made by benefit societies or otherwise alleviation of the evils consequent on those conditions of simple and certain in most cases. May I request the favour of for the and occupations. places your inserting the above? The omission, in registering the deaths of females, to distinguish I remain, Sir, your very obedient servant, whether they have been employed in any particular occupation WILLIAM R. BARRINGTON, L.R.C.S.I., &c. for wages, or whether they have been employed only in domestic Aldersgate.street, March 3, 1845. .
as
I doubt not, there would be many who would do honour to the occasion and to themselves; or, if those refuse, let them appeal to the twelve thousand excluded, and I am quite sure that the appeal would be ably and satisfactorily answered. I am,
March,
Sir,
yours
obediently,
1845.
DETUR DIGNIORI.
ON THE TREATMENT OF NEURALGIA. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—Mr. Chippendale’s practice, according to his last
com-
appears to be grounded on the presumption that neuralgia is a local affection, and can be cured by topical applications. I doubt very much whether or not such a phenomenon can exist as idiopathic peripheral neuralgia, and therefore I repudiate remedies, the action of which is circumscribed to a mere isolated spot. Nevertheless, I shall be happy to accept his friendly challenge, with this amendment :-Let four patients be selected, exhibiting as nearly as possible the same symptoms; two shall be treated by local applications, omitting all reference to the prinace vice; and two exclusively by constitutional remedies. This plan, I think, would bring the merits of our individual systems to a fair issue. Your most obedient servant. R. H. ALLNATT. Parliament-street, March 3rd.
munication,
ON THE MODE OF APPLYING PRESSURE IN UTERINE HÆMORRHAGE. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—On reading the article by Mr. A. H. Hassell, of Notting Hill, on the suppression of Uterine Haemorrhage after delivery, it struck me that the following extract from my note book, from a lecture of Dr. Murphy, might be-useful. Dr. Murphy, after mentioning the usual means adopted under such circumstances, proceeded to describe the common tourniquet and bandage, with the addition of a book covered with a napkin, so as to form a compress over the uterus, used by Mr. Pretty, as a means useful for the object to be gained. Still, there is a liability, on account of the book being flat, and the uterus being roundish, that the uterus may slip from under it; and, also, from the narrowness of the usual strap, a good counter pressure or resistance to the tourniquet cannot be obtained. Dr. Murphy then presented to the students a bandage and a pad, invented by Mr. G. N. Epps, to which the tourniquet, by means of two small straps, readily added, if needed: but he expressed his belief mightinbe that, nine cases out of ten, the bandage and the pad, then exhibited, would be amply sufficient; and such instrument, he stated, he kept for his own practice.-Yours obediently, STUDENS. University College, Feb. 19, 1845.
OPIATES IN EXTENSIVE BURNS. To the Editor of THE LANCIT. last SIR,—In your number, under the head of " Treatment in cases of Burns," it is said that full doses of opiates are followed by the most happy results , allow me to bear testimony to such facts. I have, for ten years and more, invariably used it in extensive burns, with unvarying success; and I remember, more particularly, one case that occurred to me while I was resident medical officer of the Demerara Seaman’s Hospital. It was a boy, about sixteen or seventeen years of age, who was frightfully burned, the left arm, side, and abdomen, presenting a shocking appearance, and the nervous system, in proportion, violently affected, (which is the real cause of deaths from burns.) Opiates in full doses, mixed with effervescing draughts, and repeated after the effects had left, with protein dressing of linseed oil and lime water in thick layers, (which could be easily applied and kept on after the opiate had taken effect,) with the secundem artem treatment afterwards, gave me the great gratification of seeing him leave the hospital well and hearty, which effect I must certainly attribute to the immediate use of opiates. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, H. ROWE, Extra-Licentiate of R.C.P.L. R.C.P.L RowE, M.D., & Loughton, March 3, 1845.
M.D., &
THE LECTURES AT ST. GEORGE’S. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—Owing to the continual annoyance which I and many more have experienced through the inconsistent manner in which the lectures at this place have been delivered during this session, I beg to call your attention to the following observations. The time set apart for the lecture on anatomy and physiology used to be from half-past two to half-past three, but now it is from a quarter to three to a quarter to four, which was altered for the convenience of the lecturers, whose duties at the hospital detain them till that time. When Mr. Tatum lectures, all is as it ought to be, he being punctual, and giving the full hour; but not so his colleague. When his turn comes, we look forward to but half an hour’s lecture, if any at all-he commencing at five minutes to three, and leaving off at half past, why or wherefore I know not. This must be, to say the least of it, an unwise thing. A pupil, we will say, is anxious to work hard, and attend his lectures regularly, but what encouragement is there for him to carry out his good intentions? If he goes down, he either has a lecture of half an hour, or else he finds (which is not unfrequently the case) that this lecturer " has gone into the country to perform an operation !" Is this proper, or indeed justifiable? If the master is irregular, the idle pupil will be too glad to catch at it to screen himself. The person alluded to would really make one believe that his happiest moments are spent amongst us, but surely his irregularity makes all his protestations, however sincere, fall to the ground. I trust this will be of some use, if not for this, for next session; and we live in hopes. I remain, yours truly, A LOVER OF JUSTICE. Kinnerton-street, March 6.
M. MAISONNEUVE’S MODE OF INTRODUCING THE CATHETER NOT A NOVELTY. To the Editor
of THE LANCET. SIR,—In your last number is given a method of introducing the catheter, brought before the Academy of Medicine by M. Maisonneuve as new. It, however, has no claim to novelty, having been known and practised in the Dublin Hospitals so far back as five years ago, when I, along with many others, witnessed its employment in the hands of Dr. Hutton, of the Richmond Hospital. The plan there adopted, though exactly the same in principle, differed somewhat from M. Maisonneuve’s, and appears
NEWS OF THE WEEK. At the last meeting of the British Association, at York, Dr. Layeock pointed out a number of important omissions
in the present system of registration. These omissions have been brought under the notice of the Registrar-general. The following. more especially, de erve notice :-
The omission to ascertain and record the place of birth, as well the chief place of previous residence of each person deceased, by which, important questions to the public as to the mortality incident to a native, as distinguished from that which may be in to me preferable. A fine catgut bougie, eighteen or twenty inches long, was first part due to an immigrant, population, may in all places be more determined. passed within the stricture; a gum elastic catheter, open at both accurately The omission to ascertain and record the precise civil condition ends, was then passed upon the catgut down to, and, by proper of the deceased as to whether, if an adult male, he were married management, unerringly through, the stricture. The difference, then, consists in employing catgut of such a or single, and, if married, whether he had left a widow and what and of what ages and sexes, facts requisite to ascertain length that enough may remain external to the urethra to be children, extent of widowhood and orphanage incident to varying conthe the with canal of the catheter passed through facility, rendering ditions of places and occupations, and the amount of pecuniary the use of string of any kind unnecessary. I believe this plan to possess great advantages, being at once provision necessary to be made by benefit societies or otherwise alleviation of the evils consequent on those conditions of simple and certain in most cases. May I request the favour of for the and occupations. places your inserting the above? The omission, in registering the deaths of females, to distinguish I remain, Sir, your very obedient servant, whether they have been employed in any particular occupation WILLIAM R. BARRINGTON, L.R.C.S.I., &c. for wages, or whether they have been employed only in domestic Aldersgate.street, March 3, 1845. .
as