SCOTLAND. [FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]

penalty.

The Bill will

give them that privilege ;

and

also,

in

the words of Mr. Upton, Clerk to the Society of ’’ Chemists and Druggists, should the Bill become law, will be legally en"

titled to practice any and every branch of the profession." I do not object tQ any of the provisions of the Act as far as they extend, but surely another clause might be added to prevent our losing the only safeguard we at present possess against illegal practice, or the 39th clause might be amended to include all unqualified persons practising in any way, or under any denomination, as well as " falsely pretending to be a registered "

person.

I am T am Sir

your vonr

obedient, servant_ obedient

G. M. PRITCHETT, M.R.C.S. and L.A.C.

** We are authorised to state that when the Medical Bill goes into committee, a clause will be proposed which will remove all questions as to the penalties to be imposed on persons practising illegally. WHAT HAVE THE MEDICAL MEN OF NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE DONE FOR MEDICAL REFORM? To the Editor

of THE LANCET.

SIR,-By this time Mr. Headlam’s Medical Bill must be in the hands of every medical practitioner in England, and I feel certain the majority in its favour is very large. Yet, is it not very surprising that the medical men of Newcastle-on-Tyne, the very town Mr. Headlam is member for, havenot made a stir in favour of the new Bill. I will again repeat my question, What have the medical men of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and of Gateshead, done towards medical reform ? 1 observe, by our local papers, that the tried friend of medical reform, Dr. Lank aster, is to lecture in Newcastle this week, and next week also. It is to be hoped he will create a spirit of independence amongst the medicals of the town, and hasten them to duty. Would we have our profession protected, the present is the opportunity. We must to the work ourselves, and forget all petty squabbles for the general good. Much rests with the medical practitioners of Newcastle; they should now support their representative in his endeavours for medical reform ; no county in England needs it so much as Northumberland, and especially Newcastle-on-Tyne, with Gateshead in Durham. A committee formed under the veterans Fife and Headlam, must do good by calling a meeting of the profession, to take place in Newcastle, and I feel assured the call would be well met. How can we, as a body, expect help from abroad, if we do not help ourselves ; and now that an opportunity is afforded, we ought to take advantage of it. As a Northumbrian practitioner, I sincerely trust the medical gentlemen of Newcastle and Gateshead will do their duty, and show that they are worthy members of the profession of medicine. I am, Sir, yours obediently, MEDICUS. Northumberland, March 4tli, 1856. ’

MILITIA :1’0 the Editor

SURGEONS. Oj

JLHN LANCET.

SIR,-I make no apology for claiming a limited space in LANCET, to draw the attention of militia surgeons to their

THE

I am not aware that the subof the body, but I well know that to state a fair case, and one that bears hard upon a class of the profession, is to enlist your pen and any space in your journal which can be spared. Militia Surgeons are unlike all other ameers in her Majesty’s service at present. We have left our professional connexions, to make which we toiled for the best years of our lives. We can never hope to return to our old positions; they have long since been filled. If thrown again upon the world, I fear the majority of us will, with our families, undergo severe pecuniary privations. A year’s pay has barely sufficed to procure instruments, uniform, and the first year’s heavy regimental subscriptions. Perhaps, Sir, you

present unsatisfactory position. ject has been mentioned by any

can give us some comforting advice, and, at any rate, opportunity for making some arrangements to seek redress.

I am,

Sir,

March 2nd, 1856.

MR. GRIFFIN’s

your obedient servant, A MILITIA SURGEON.

MOVEMENT.-Upwards

have joined this movement.

an

of sixty Unions

SCOTLAND. [FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.] EDINBURGH ROYAL MEDICAL SOCIETY. ON Friday evening, Feb. 22nd, Dr. J. H. Bennett, Professor of the Institutes of lledicine in the Edinburgh University, read before this Society a communication on the "Pathology and Treatment of Inflammation."The name of Dr. Bennett and the subject of his communication were sufficient to attract a numerous and crowded auditory, and amongst them were several professors and practitioners of high standing in Edinburgh. Dr. Bennett, after some preliminary remarks, in which he alluded to the importance of the subject as a foundation for true pathology, defined inflammation as an exudation of the normal liquor sanguinis. Referring to other definitions, he called their correctness in question. Mr. Paget had been unable to define inflammation. The view that inflammation might exist in non-vascular tissue he opposed by an examination of what occurs in so-called ulceration of cartilage, cornea, and epithelium; the distinction being, that in inflamed parts there would be exudation of liquor sanguinis, in which new cells would form, but in non-vascular tissues there would be simply increased growth, induced by endogenous multiplication of pre-existing cells. Then, describing the various phenomena of inflammation, he divided them into preliminary, essential, and resulting phenomena. The preliminary phenomena were contraction and enlargement of the smaller vessels, increase and diminution in the flow of blood, and congestion. The essential phenomenon was exudation of the liquor sanguinis, without which no inflammation could exist. The distinction between it and effusion of serum and extravasation he pointed out. The resulting phenomena were two : an increase of growth by new cell formation, and absence or diminution of cell growth. The theory of the preliminary phenomena consisted in spasm and paralysis of the extreme vessels, operating sometimes through the nervous system, directly or by reflex action; at other times the result of an injury, chemical or mechanical, applied to the part; in that of increased quantitative and diminished qualitative attraction exerted by the tissues on the blood; the increased spissitude of that fluid. The theory of the essential phenomenon consisted in the attraction of the liquor sanguinis through the vascular walls into the surrounding parenchyma or neighbouring cavities, where it coagulated to form a foreign body. The theory of the resulting phenomena was, attributing to the exuded matter, in one case, the properties of a living blastema, when it followed the vital laws of cell growth; in the other case, the properties of dead or dying matter, when rendered obedient to chemicophysical laws. Dr. Bennett then described the various ways in which the exuded matter, if it lived, was transformed; after which, he said, the disappearance of the exudation is brought about by the breaking down and disintegration of the exudation, which is rapid according to the amount of cell formation in it, by the passage of the disintegrated exudation in a fluid state into the blood, and its elimination from the economy by the excretory, integumentary, intestinal, and renal glands. The exuded matter might die suddenly or slowly; if suddenly, its elements combined with those of the atmosphere chemically, and caused inflammatory gangrene; if slowly, it gradually disintegrated, involved the surrounding tissue, and produced ulceration. Then, remarking upon the symptoms of inflammation, Dr. Bennett noticed their fallacious character. Heat, pain, redness, and swelling might all be absent in positive cases of inflammation; hence the error in studying mere symptoms, and how necessary to blend with it a knowledge of physical signs. These facts led to the conclusion that all the healing phenomena of inflammation were reparative, and deon cell growth. From them was formed the induction pended " that the treatment of inflammation, to be successful, must be in harmony with those laws which govern the formation, development, and disintegration of cells." The treatment of inflammation bore reference to three orders of phenomena. The symptoms of the preliminary phenomena when seen in medical practice could not be separated from those of fever. In surgical practice they might be predicted to follow injuries and operations, but there were no means of arresting them, and the treatment was expectant. The essential phenomenon was frequently observed taking place in surgical practice, but seldom recognised at the moment of its occurrence in medical. In the latter case it is often most important to arrest exudation, but no remedies could ever be proved to have done so; this was illustrated by the effects of general and local bleeding. In surgical practice

271

was often necessary to cure, as granulation, adheDr. Bennett sat down amid loud and continued applause. A sion, callus, &c.; to check it then would injure. When thought spirited discussion ensued, the speakers were Dr. Marshall, advisable, the application of cold was indicated. We could Mr. Turner, Mr. Thorburn, Professor Bla,ckie, &c., and the not cut short an inflammation once produced, but merely con- Society did not adjourn till after twelve o’clock.

exudation

duct it to a favourable termination. Dr. Bennett then considered the effects of various remedies-bleeding, mercury,

antimony, diuretics, purgatives, sedatives, warmth, moisture, He was altogether opposed to bleeding, and pressure, &c. mercury he maintained to be useless, in causing rapid absorption of the exudation; antimony and neutral salts favoured secretion, and diuretics especially assisted the last stage of the

process; the influence of sedatives was exerted on the nervous system; but cold checked, whilst warmth was one of the most powerful stimulants to cell growth, and favoured suppuration. Moisture favoured the formation of independent cells, whilst dryness favoured fibre cells; pressure was opposed to their expansion and growth, but when formed it favoured their disintegration and absorption. The action of counter-irritants was not understood-it was probably excito-motory; but wine and nourishment were important when the febrile excitement had disappeared, in order to favour the transformation of the exudation. Dr. Bennett then described his mode of treating inflammation of the lungs on the principles he had brought forward and its success. This consisted of antimonials and the acetate of potash during the febrile stage; then of wine and nourishment; and diuretics, to favour excretion of the absorbed fibrin, in the form of urates. Excluding complicated cases of pneumonia - i. e., cases connected with cerebral, cardiac, or renal disease, treated in the Infirmary, they were 42 in number during the last five years. Of these, two died-one, a boy, who had been wandering without food day and night; the other was a man, who had long been subject to a cough, ague, bloodyexpectoration, &c.; they died within three days. Of the others, 32 were single and double; the average duration of single pneumonias, counting from the primary rigor, was 15 1B3days; the duration of the double, 17days; no case of double continued longer than 21 davs. or shorter than 14 davs. Of the single pneumonias-

lastly of

Medical News. RoYAL COLLEGE

OF

SURGEONS.-The

following

gen.

necessary examinations for the Diploma, were admitted Members of the College at the meetLng of the Court of Examiners on the 29th ult. :-

;lemen, having undergone the

CooKE, JOHN, Stamford. DEACON, JAMES, Carlow. DIAMOND, WARREN HASTINGS, Surrey County Lunatic Asylum, Wandsworth. KINGSLEY, EUGENE ALBERT, Peckham. LINGHAM, HENRY BAILEY, Tulse-hill, Brixton. WALKER, GEORGE, Sydney, Australia. WAY, FREDERICK WALTER, Portsmouth. WAYLEN, ALFRED ROBERT, Western Australia. WHITLOCK, HUBERT CARLTON, Exeter. WINSTON, DAVID, Brecon, S. Wales. WITHRINGTON, JOHN, Blackburn, Lancashire. WooD, ROBERT HENTON, Woodhouse, Leicestershire. APOTHECARIES’

HALL. - Names of

gentlemen who

examination in the science and practice of Medicine, and received certificates to practise, on Thursday, February 28th, 1856. CHATTAWAY, ALLEN GEORGE, Llangynllo, Radnorshire. CooMBS, WILLIAM GoDWIN, Winford, Somersetshire. ELPHECK, WILLIAM, Burnham, Essex. FARNCOMBE, RICHARD, Bishopstone, Sussex. GoLDSBRO’, CHAS. FIELD, Welshpool, Montgomeryshire. JONES, WALTER, London. NASON, JOHN JAMES, Nuneaton, Warwickshire. PROCTER, JOHN- WARD, Ironbridge, Salop.

passed their

SIMS, WILLIAM, Southampton. THE METROPOLIS LOCAL MANAGEMENT ACT. - Dr.

Ballard, of Myddleton-square,

has been elected Medical Officer Thomas Ansell, M.D., F.L.S., a member of the Court of Examiners, was elected, almost unanimously, Medical Officer of Health for the Bow district of Poplar Union; and S. K. Ellison, Esq., for

of Health for

Islington.-On Tuesday last,

Poplar. GUY’S HOSPITAL BIENNIAL FESTIVAL.-The

gentlemen

Guy’s Hospital, dined together at the London tavern, Bishopsgate-street, on Tuesday, the 4th inst. The chair was taken by John Birkett, Esq., F. L. S. He was supFrom all the facts referred to, Dr. Bennett deduced " that ported by the Presidents of the Royal Colleges of Physicians the most successful treatment of inflammation is that which is and Surgeons, the Master of the Society of Apothecaries, the in harmony with those laws which govern the formation, deve. President of Guy’s Hospital, Sir Benjamin Brodie, Professor Several other visitors, and about Owen, Mr. Propert, &c. lopment, and disintegration of cells." In reference to Dr. Ali- 200 son’s theory, in which he stated that acute inflammations have gentlemen, some from distant parts of the country, formerly at present students at Guy’s Hospital, were present. After changed their type since the days of Cullen and Gregory, and and that formerly they bore bleeding well, and were treated suc- the usual toast, " Success to the Medical School of Guy’s to with enthusiasm, and in reply to cessfully, but that now bleeding was injurious, Dr. Bennett ad- Hospital," was responded mitted that fevers had changed their type, owing to alterations appropriate toasts, the company was addressed by Dr. Paris, external to the individual, either from locality, drainage, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Griffiths, Sir Benjamin Brodie, Mr. B. or malaria, a tropical climate, &c. ; but with regard to inflam- ! Dobree, Mr. Propert, and several of the visitors and medical mation, as he described it, he said it was the same in all ages and surgical staff of the Hospital. and places. According to Dr. Alison, the constitutions of men QUEEN’S COLLEGE MUSEUMS, BIRMINGHAM. - At a must have detoriated and have undergone a weakening process, meeting of the Finance Committee of this institution, held on by which they could not so well bear bleeding. Dr. Bennett I the 27th ult., at which Mr. Charles Ratcliff presided, it was could not agree with this theory. Dr. Alison had endeavoured to reported that Messrs. Chance, Brothers, with that liberality point out the fallacy of statistics, but such fallacy told against which has ever distinguished that firm, have most generously him, as the fatal cases of pneumonia now were not those which presented the whole of the expensive glass required for the possessed vigorous constitutions, and which formerly would roof of the new museums. A contribution of £100 was have been bled, bnt they were those which were debilitated, announced from Lord Leigh, X25 from J. Henderson, Esq., and in which pneumonia occurred in a latent form. Hence he and £50 from the medical professors of the institution. Mr. J. inferred that those cases which bore bleeding well in the days Bateman, the architect, accompanied by Mr. J. Barnsley, the of Cullen and Gregory would do so now, and the expression, contractor, at the request of the Council, have recently visited " bearing bleeding well," was not a correct one, except in the the Museum of the College of Surgeons, the Museum of sense that it does less injury to a strong man than a feeble one. Practical Geology, and other public collections, and from the Dr. Bennett said, in conclusion, that all important changes in information they have obtained it is confidently expected that, practice must be gradual, and not influenced by the success of with the aid of the noblemen and gentlemen and the profession this or that empiric, but by the sober energies of those who in- of the town and surrounding districts, a museum of anatomy vestigate in the spirit of truth. Such seemed to him the only and natural history in all its branches, accessible on the most mode we possessed of improving our treatment of those myste- liberal terms to the students, will be formed, worthy of the rious nrocesses hitherto involved in theword "inflammation." midland metropolis. -Birmingham paper. 272 educated at

"