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SENSE OF GOOD, AND ABILITY TO PURSUE IT.
108
ing the system of medical relief hitherto that is, is sensible of the distinctions of good adopted, when the Poor-law Bill is brought and evil, he has the power to prefer the good
before the House of Commons. It is to stifle and to eschew the evil. the public voice until that Bill shall be In his last letter the Doctor asserts, that passed, fixing them in their office. Be, " so long as the intellect is sufficiently sound therefore, on your guard. Rest assured that for all the ordinary purposes of life, the moral when once the Bill has passed, giving them is always simultaneously sound to another lease, the cruelties of the system such a degree as to render the man responsi. will be exhibited in a still more reckless ble:’ And that " this coincidence is uni, manner. It is an every-day occurrence to see versal and constant." the old-established medical man to whom the From this must be inferred the proposition poor have for a number of years been accus- (No. 2), that all who hare the intellect suffi. tomed, superseded by some pennyless, half- ciently sound for all the ordinary purposes of qualified adventurer, who undertakes the life, have simultaneously the moral sense. important duties for such a paltry sum, as to Now, either this moral sense of Dr. Dick render it impossible for any honest-minded has the power of eschewing evil, and thereby man to supply even half of the requisite me- making man responsible, or it has not the dicines for one illness ; and yet a " case," as power. it is called, includes attendance and medicines If it has the power, then all who have the for a whole year ! There cannot be a doubt moral sense are prevented from evil. It is that the poor-rates are very much increased affirmed (No. 2,) that all who have the intel. by such a vile and sordid system, inadequate lect sufficiently sound for all the ordinary in every way to the end desired. purposes of life, have the moral sense; Pray, then, Sir, keep a watchful eye on therefore all who have the intellect suffi. the proceedings, and cease not the applica- ciently sound for all the ordinary purposes of tion of THE LANCET until you have exposed life, are prevented from evil; which is absurd, and overcome the culpable neglect of the because of the admitted fact, that James commissioners, and the reprehensible conduct Taylor, and millions of others besides, who of the guardians, from which arise cruelties have the intellect sufficiently sound for all the which were never heard of under the old purposes of ordinary life, are not prevented system (bad as it was) of parochial manage- from evil. On the other hand, we will suppose that the ment. Insist upon the qualifications of the medical men, as set forth in the late circular moral sense has not the power. We shall of the commissioners, being implicitly at- then have a person of intellect sufficiently tended to, and speedily; and also that the sound for all the purposes of ordinary life, selection of 11 experienced resident men, possessing the moral sense, and yet proclive without regard to the amount of salary,’’ be to evil; which is also absurd, because strictly enforced, and you, and all who sup- " there would most evidently be gross injus port you, will confer inestimable benefits on tice in making a man sensible of the distinc the suffering poor. I am, Sir, yours, &c. tions of good and evil, and perfectly aware when he was forsaking the one and abandonHUMANITAS. ing himself to the other, yet at the same time sending him into the world with a congenital SENSE OF GOOD, AND ABILITY disability, dependent on physical conforma TO PURSUE IT. tion, of preferring the good and eschewing evil." To the Editor of THE LANCET. I would also beg leave to state, that in the SIR As a plain man, not very ready of last letter of Dr. Dick there does not appear apprehension, I trust you will be so obliging to me to be the least argument against Mr. Assertions such as those as to allow me to represent myself as being Sampson’s views. at fault as to what your correspondent, Dr. which I have taken the liberty to quote Dick, means by the two following assertions, there are; but those are idle, and of no value, which appear to me to contain all the mean- unsupported by authority or reason A host of authority is on Mr. Sampson’s ing that is diffused over upwards of nine side. Lord Bacon says, « the souls of pages of your valuable publication. In his first letter the Doctor asserts, that idiots are of the same piece with those of there would most evidently be gross injus- statesmen; but now and then nature is ata tice in making a man sensible of the dis- fault, and this good quest of ours takes soilin tinctions of good and evil, and perfectly an imperfect body, and so is slackened from aware when he was forsaking the one and showing her wonders--like an excellent abandoning himself to the other ; yet at the musician, which cannot utter himself upona same time sending him into the world with a defective instrument:’ Dr. Jeremy Taylor uses almost the same congenital disability, dependent on physical conformation, of preferring the good and words ; and the learned Erasmus has, inhis colloquy entitled Puerpsera, one of the most eschewing the evil:’ From this must be inferred the proposition conclusive arguments upon this subject ever (No. 1), that when a man has the moral sense,
sense
the
‘
written.
-
109 I do trust
much in the candour of Dr. that I
was in a manner obliged to devise, if in time we shallI possible, a remedy, .and that was the method hear of his recantation of this schism, into above described, and which never failed to which his zeal for the truth has pushed him. relieve her. I think a case more in point, or I am, Sir, with great respect, your most obe- one more disadvantageous as a test for the dient servant, experiment, cannot well be imagined. Yours
Dick,
as
to
so
expect that
W. W. MILLER.
9, Felix-place, Islington, April 13, 1842. 4,* To prevent a waste of
respectfully,
G. ROBINSON.
10, Chapel-street, Grosvenor-square. space in this
discussion, and to save themselves from disappointment, we shall be glad if any corre- UNIVERSITY-COLLEGE HOSPITAL. spondents, in taking measure of this commuIIIELITATEMESIS. nication, will abide by that measure in their JOHN IBCLIR HART, aged 48, was adown.-ED. L. mitted under Dr. Taylor on August 24, 184 1. He is
RELIEF FROM PAROXYSMS OF
a
married man, of moderate conforma-
tion, dark hair, sallow complexion, and COUGHING. deeply marked by the small-pox; he is a cabinet-maker by trade, of very temperate To the Editor of THE LANCET. and sober habits, and has generally enjoyed SiR,—I believe suffocating cough has not good health. He has occasionally, liowever, at present any remedy proposed for it but a suffered from disordered liver, but never had smart tap on the back. This is a practice I jaundice : the attacks were generally accomthink not so good as might be proposed or panied by severe pain in the right hypochonwished for, and one that I would not allow drium shooting towards the corresponding to be practised on myself, nor do I think shoulder, increased by pressure over the there are many who would. If we reflect a region of the liver, and by a full inspiration ;; little on what takes place, we must see that he has a slight cough, with not much expecthe constant cough during the paroxysm toration, nor much disorder of the stomach ; allows of scarcely any other action of the cannot tell whether his stools are altered in lungs than forcible expiration, and might colour during these attacks, nor whether his thus proceed if the lungs were exhausted urine is very high-coloured ; says he gets sufficiently to cause closure of the glottis. very sallow at these times, and is unable to From these considerations it follows that our lie on his left side, on account of a dragging endeavours must be directed in such a way pain in the right side. This does not exist as to prevent the exhaustion of the lungs from except during the attacks : the first attack going on. This brings me to the method I he had was in 1815, the last in 1840;canadopted, or rather invented, years ago, for not attribute them to any particular cause ;; the relief of this very distressing affection. had been out of work for seventeen weeks It is so simple that I am surprised it has not previous to the present attack, and in consebeen proposed before. 1B1 y method of pro- quence had been unable to obtain sufficiently ceeding is to close the patient’s nostrils with nourishing food ; had animal food never my thumb and forefinger during expiration, more than once a week ; he had been workand leave them free during inspiration, and ing unusually hard during the last week, in a very short time the patient will be re- and frequently had to lift very heavy weights; lieved from his paroxysm. I have followed he had not been drinking, and was previously this plan whenever I have had occasion to in good health. On Friday afternoon whilst do so, and always with complete success. at work, he suddenly felt very faint and In confirmation of the propriety of this prac- giddy, with the sensation of a great weight tice, I think I cannot give a more illustrative and oppression at the stomach, pain at the case than the following:— epigastrium, and tenderness over the abdoA near and dear relative, afflicted with men. These symptoms continued, but he hemiplegia during nearly thirteen years, con- remained at his work for two hours and sequent on an apoplectic attack, of very ad- a half, still feeling very unwell; he then vanced age, being rather more than eighty went home, but felt no difference, and at the when she died, during the last two years of end of two hours the faintness amounted to her life was repeatedly seized with pa- complete nausea, and he vomited half a pint roxysms of suffocating cough, which threat- of dark coagulated blood unmixed with aliened at times to prove fatal to her; in fact, mentary matter, and not at all frothy : after she coughed sometimes until her face ac- vomiting he felt somewhat better of the faintquired a bluish tint, and I have been in con- ness, but the pain and weight at the epigassiderable doubt which way the balance trium continued even more severe; he slept would turn. When these paroxysms first soundly during the night; and next morning, occurred I was not prepared with any re- though still feeling very unwell, he went to medy, but after a time, as her deglutition work, and continued there all day ; he took became more affected, they arose so often his dinner and a pint of ale with some relish, I I
ing the system of medical relief hitherto that is, is sensible of the distinctions of good adopted, when the Poor-law Bill is brought and evil, he has the power to prefer the good
before the House of Commons. It is to stifle and to eschew the evil. the public voice until that Bill shall be In his last letter the Doctor asserts, that passed, fixing them in their office. Be, " so long as the intellect is sufficiently sound therefore, on your guard. Rest assured that for all the ordinary purposes of life, the moral when once the Bill has passed, giving them is always simultaneously sound to another lease, the cruelties of the system such a degree as to render the man responsi. will be exhibited in a still more reckless ble:’ And that " this coincidence is uni, manner. It is an every-day occurrence to see versal and constant." the old-established medical man to whom the From this must be inferred the proposition poor have for a number of years been accus- (No. 2), that all who hare the intellect suffi. tomed, superseded by some pennyless, half- ciently sound for all the ordinary purposes of qualified adventurer, who undertakes the life, have simultaneously the moral sense. important duties for such a paltry sum, as to Now, either this moral sense of Dr. Dick render it impossible for any honest-minded has the power of eschewing evil, and thereby man to supply even half of the requisite me- making man responsible, or it has not the dicines for one illness ; and yet a " case," as power. it is called, includes attendance and medicines If it has the power, then all who have the for a whole year ! There cannot be a doubt moral sense are prevented from evil. It is that the poor-rates are very much increased affirmed (No. 2,) that all who have the intel. by such a vile and sordid system, inadequate lect sufficiently sound for all the ordinary in every way to the end desired. purposes of life, have the moral sense; Pray, then, Sir, keep a watchful eye on therefore all who have the intellect suffi. the proceedings, and cease not the applica- ciently sound for all the ordinary purposes of tion of THE LANCET until you have exposed life, are prevented from evil; which is absurd, and overcome the culpable neglect of the because of the admitted fact, that James commissioners, and the reprehensible conduct Taylor, and millions of others besides, who of the guardians, from which arise cruelties have the intellect sufficiently sound for all the which were never heard of under the old purposes of ordinary life, are not prevented system (bad as it was) of parochial manage- from evil. On the other hand, we will suppose that the ment. Insist upon the qualifications of the medical men, as set forth in the late circular moral sense has not the power. We shall of the commissioners, being implicitly at- then have a person of intellect sufficiently tended to, and speedily; and also that the sound for all the purposes of ordinary life, selection of 11 experienced resident men, possessing the moral sense, and yet proclive without regard to the amount of salary,’’ be to evil; which is also absurd, because strictly enforced, and you, and all who sup- " there would most evidently be gross injus port you, will confer inestimable benefits on tice in making a man sensible of the distinc the suffering poor. I am, Sir, yours, &c. tions of good and evil, and perfectly aware when he was forsaking the one and abandonHUMANITAS. ing himself to the other, yet at the same time sending him into the world with a congenital SENSE OF GOOD, AND ABILITY disability, dependent on physical conforma TO PURSUE IT. tion, of preferring the good and eschewing evil." To the Editor of THE LANCET. I would also beg leave to state, that in the SIR As a plain man, not very ready of last letter of Dr. Dick there does not appear apprehension, I trust you will be so obliging to me to be the least argument against Mr. Assertions such as those as to allow me to represent myself as being Sampson’s views. at fault as to what your correspondent, Dr. which I have taken the liberty to quote Dick, means by the two following assertions, there are; but those are idle, and of no value, which appear to me to contain all the mean- unsupported by authority or reason A host of authority is on Mr. Sampson’s ing that is diffused over upwards of nine side. Lord Bacon says, « the souls of pages of your valuable publication. In his first letter the Doctor asserts, that idiots are of the same piece with those of there would most evidently be gross injus- statesmen; but now and then nature is ata tice in making a man sensible of the dis- fault, and this good quest of ours takes soilin tinctions of good and evil, and perfectly an imperfect body, and so is slackened from aware when he was forsaking the one and showing her wonders--like an excellent abandoning himself to the other ; yet at the musician, which cannot utter himself upona same time sending him into the world with a defective instrument:’ Dr. Jeremy Taylor uses almost the same congenital disability, dependent on physical conformation, of preferring the good and words ; and the learned Erasmus has, inhis colloquy entitled Puerpsera, one of the most eschewing the evil:’ From this must be inferred the proposition conclusive arguments upon this subject ever (No. 1), that when a man has the moral sense,
sense
the
‘
written.
-
109 I do trust
much in the candour of Dr. that I
was in a manner obliged to devise, if in time we shallI possible, a remedy, .and that was the method hear of his recantation of this schism, into above described, and which never failed to which his zeal for the truth has pushed him. relieve her. I think a case more in point, or I am, Sir, with great respect, your most obe- one more disadvantageous as a test for the dient servant, experiment, cannot well be imagined. Yours
Dick,
as
to
so
expect that
W. W. MILLER.
9, Felix-place, Islington, April 13, 1842. 4,* To prevent a waste of
respectfully,
G. ROBINSON.
10, Chapel-street, Grosvenor-square. space in this
discussion, and to save themselves from disappointment, we shall be glad if any corre- UNIVERSITY-COLLEGE HOSPITAL. spondents, in taking measure of this commuIIIELITATEMESIS. nication, will abide by that measure in their JOHN IBCLIR HART, aged 48, was adown.-ED. L. mitted under Dr. Taylor on August 24, 184 1. He is
RELIEF FROM PAROXYSMS OF
a
married man, of moderate conforma-
tion, dark hair, sallow complexion, and COUGHING. deeply marked by the small-pox; he is a cabinet-maker by trade, of very temperate To the Editor of THE LANCET. and sober habits, and has generally enjoyed SiR,—I believe suffocating cough has not good health. He has occasionally, liowever, at present any remedy proposed for it but a suffered from disordered liver, but never had smart tap on the back. This is a practice I jaundice : the attacks were generally accomthink not so good as might be proposed or panied by severe pain in the right hypochonwished for, and one that I would not allow drium shooting towards the corresponding to be practised on myself, nor do I think shoulder, increased by pressure over the there are many who would. If we reflect a region of the liver, and by a full inspiration ;; little on what takes place, we must see that he has a slight cough, with not much expecthe constant cough during the paroxysm toration, nor much disorder of the stomach ; allows of scarcely any other action of the cannot tell whether his stools are altered in lungs than forcible expiration, and might colour during these attacks, nor whether his thus proceed if the lungs were exhausted urine is very high-coloured ; says he gets sufficiently to cause closure of the glottis. very sallow at these times, and is unable to From these considerations it follows that our lie on his left side, on account of a dragging endeavours must be directed in such a way pain in the right side. This does not exist as to prevent the exhaustion of the lungs from except during the attacks : the first attack going on. This brings me to the method I he had was in 1815, the last in 1840;canadopted, or rather invented, years ago, for not attribute them to any particular cause ;; the relief of this very distressing affection. had been out of work for seventeen weeks It is so simple that I am surprised it has not previous to the present attack, and in consebeen proposed before. 1B1 y method of pro- quence had been unable to obtain sufficiently ceeding is to close the patient’s nostrils with nourishing food ; had animal food never my thumb and forefinger during expiration, more than once a week ; he had been workand leave them free during inspiration, and ing unusually hard during the last week, in a very short time the patient will be re- and frequently had to lift very heavy weights; lieved from his paroxysm. I have followed he had not been drinking, and was previously this plan whenever I have had occasion to in good health. On Friday afternoon whilst do so, and always with complete success. at work, he suddenly felt very faint and In confirmation of the propriety of this prac- giddy, with the sensation of a great weight tice, I think I cannot give a more illustrative and oppression at the stomach, pain at the case than the following:— epigastrium, and tenderness over the abdoA near and dear relative, afflicted with men. These symptoms continued, but he hemiplegia during nearly thirteen years, con- remained at his work for two hours and sequent on an apoplectic attack, of very ad- a half, still feeling very unwell; he then vanced age, being rather more than eighty went home, but felt no difference, and at the when she died, during the last two years of end of two hours the faintness amounted to her life was repeatedly seized with pa- complete nausea, and he vomited half a pint roxysms of suffocating cough, which threat- of dark coagulated blood unmixed with aliened at times to prove fatal to her; in fact, mentary matter, and not at all frothy : after she coughed sometimes until her face ac- vomiting he felt somewhat better of the faintquired a bluish tint, and I have been in con- ness, but the pain and weight at the epigassiderable doubt which way the balance trium continued even more severe; he slept would turn. When these paroxysms first soundly during the night; and next morning, occurred I was not prepared with any re- though still feeling very unwell, he went to medy, but after a time, as her deglutition work, and continued there all day ; he took became more affected, they arose so often his dinner and a pint of ale with some relish, I I