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SHEFFIELD SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
546 He referred to the facilities for enjoying the advantage of which Owens College affords to the Manchester medical student, and considered that classics and mathematics should be looked upon as preparatory to medical studies, and should be studied before the ordinary medical curriculum was entered upon. Relative to the teaching in medical schools he said he feared that the attention of students at the present day is too much devoted to microscopic anatomy, to the prejudice of that elementary anatomy which is acquired more particularly by dissection. He expressed his opposition to Darwinism in the following terms := Among what I may presume to call modern fanciful theories are that ridiculous one of Darwin in regard to the origin of species, and of Huxley regarding vitality. Because these theories may be wrongand are wrong in my humble opinion-that is no reason why we should rashly conclude that other theories presented to us are not right; but we should at all events remember that the only theory which is truly useful is that which is not made for facts, but is founded on them." He advised students not to neglect "their own natural means of acquiring information by observation in the science of anatomy, in post-mortem examinations, &c.," and, in conclusion, expressed his firm conviction that no man who is not a good member of society can be a useful and honourable member of our profession."
nised medical journals would take the necessary steps to obtain such an expression of opinion as that suggested, it could scarcely fail to have its due weight with Parliament, as it would be the result of the collective experience of those who from their position and education are the most qualified judges of the moral, social, and physical effects of these diseases." On the subject of disinfection, Mr. Allen said:—" Too many people are inclined to be satisfied if they succeed in stifling the smell by another, without caring to ascertain that the disease germs are rendered inert. These are the people who employ pastilles and other useless means, or burn juniper berries, &c., as they do in Italy in time of cholera. An immense improvement on the last course is the use of chloride of lime, Condy’s fluid, or charcoal; but great discretion is necessary in the use of disinfectants; or, in the absence of chemical knowledge, such an error as was actually made by a Metropolitan Board may again This enlightened body, with a creditable impartioccur. ality, used both chloride of lime and sulphites, thus effectually destroying the activity of both substances."
SHEFFIELD SCHOOL OF MEDICINE THE introductory address was given by ALFRED H. ALLEN, F.C.S., Lecturer on Chemistry. He said that the class of scientific practitioners who tried to discover the cause of the particular effects their remedies produced, was largely on the increase, and we owed to them nearly all our new and valuable therapeutic agents. Chemistry and physics should receive much more attention from medical students than was at present devoted to them; being the very groundwork of the complex actions met with in the study of medicine, it was not possible to acquire a thorough knowledge of these actions without an intimate acquaintance with the The idea was becoming more causes which produce them. fixed that there was no such thing as vital force in the sense in which it used to be understood, and that all vital actions were referable to well-defined chemical or physical causes. The undeniable obscurity in which many of the phenomena of life and disease were enveloped was a consequence of the ignorance of the bulk of medical practitioners of the discoveries in chemistry and physics, and we could not expect to unravel the secrets of vital action if this general absence of physical and chemical knowledge continued. The benefits conferred on medicine by chemistry must be admitted by all who knew the history of chloroThe interform, chloral, morphia, iodine, bromides, &c. esting researches of 1VIattbiessen and Wright on the derivations of morphia and codeia, and the curious difference of physiological action established, were a striking illustration of the assistance rendered by chemistry to medicine. Speaking of the nature of infection, and the importance of vaccination, the lecturer said :-‘° Some years ago Mr. Simon obtained the opinions of upwards of 500 professors of medicine and surgery at various universities and hospitals, and the striking accordance in the views of these competent authorities is a most convincing proof of their extreme value. Of all those consulted, none doubted the efficacy of vaccination as a preventive agent, and but a very few believed that any disadvantage could possibly attend its universal employment. Yet the enforcement was at one time a dead letter with respect to Sheffield, and the House of Commons recently inserted a clause in the Vaccination Act making two small fines the maximuna penalty for neglecting the precaution, thus virtually permitting a man to buy the right to spread death, disfigurement, and disease. 2’his was only prevented from becoming law by an amendment in the Upper Honse. Perhaps it might be found possible to adopt a somewhat similar course to that of Mr. Sin on, to obtain the opinion of every qualified practitioner in the country on that confessedly difficult subject for legislation, the terrible scourges of errant humanity known asthe contagious diseases.’ If, in the probable absence of any active proceeding on the part of the Government, one of the recog-
Our. readers probably remember the sudden and fatal outbreak of cholera that occurred in May last among the 18th Hussars at Secunderabad. The old Infantry barracks, occupied by the Hussars at Secunderabad, have a bad reputation, notwithstanding that they have of late undergone all the improvements that were practicable ; and the health of the regiment is said to have been deteriorated by long tropical service. On May 24th the 18th Hussars were paraded, in common with the remainder of the garrison, in honour of Her Majesty’s birthday. The men were in no respect unduly exposed to heat or fatigue. Their rations were excellent, the drinking water was good, the sanitary condition of the barracks satisfactory, and there was no intem, perance among the men. Between 2 and 3 o’clock A.M. of the 25th a case of cholera occurred in one of the trooprooms, and almost at the same time a patient in the hospital was also attacked, who had, on inquiry, been suffering from diarrhoea during the night. Other cases rapidly followed-so rapidly, that in less than twenty-four hours there were 35 admissions for cholera, and 9 deaths. The attacks seemed to have occurred almost simultaneously. No time was lost. The regiment was at once marched off, and camped out. The disease continuing, several moves took place, until the epidemic ceased, which it did soon after a thunderstorm and heavy fall of rain. Various were the hypotheses started to account for these phenomena. The drainage of the barracks proved to be good ; and a detachment of Native Infantry, moved into the quarters vacated by the Cavalry, was not attacked, nor were the remainder of the trops in garrison at the time. The water of a suspected well, according to a hasty analysis, turned out to be satisfactory. A rumour had reached the station that.three cases of cholera had occurred on the 20th of May in the bazaar at Secunderabad among a party of Bunyas, who had arrived by the Masulipatam road two days previously, and that two cases had arisen on that road on the 23rd about three quarters of a mile from the Hussar lines. Some officers were actually on their way to intercept any natives, and to pitch a temporary hospital for any suspected case of cholera, when the news reached them of its advent amongst the 18th Hussars. No evidence exists of any communication having taken place between the attacked soldiers and the infected natives; indeed, the first case among the former was a patient in hospital. One conjecture connects the origin of the epidemic with emanations from some earth-the de6fM and soil of what had been a native bazaar-that had been turned up some time before. The wind was N.W. at the time, and the troops most affected occupied quarters in a direct line with the But there are course such emanations would have taken. facts adverse to this view. The weather at the time of the marching out was terribly hot, and the men, at first, suffered
university education
11
THE LATE OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA AT SECUNDERABAD.
nised medical journals would take the necessary steps to obtain such an expression of opinion as that suggested, it could scarcely fail to have its due weight with Parliament, as it would be the result of the collective experience of those who from their position and education are the most qualified judges of the moral, social, and physical effects of these diseases." On the subject of disinfection, Mr. Allen said:—" Too many people are inclined to be satisfied if they succeed in stifling the smell by another, without caring to ascertain that the disease germs are rendered inert. These are the people who employ pastilles and other useless means, or burn juniper berries, &c., as they do in Italy in time of cholera. An immense improvement on the last course is the use of chloride of lime, Condy’s fluid, or charcoal; but great discretion is necessary in the use of disinfectants; or, in the absence of chemical knowledge, such an error as was actually made by a Metropolitan Board may again This enlightened body, with a creditable impartioccur. ality, used both chloride of lime and sulphites, thus effectually destroying the activity of both substances."
SHEFFIELD SCHOOL OF MEDICINE THE introductory address was given by ALFRED H. ALLEN, F.C.S., Lecturer on Chemistry. He said that the class of scientific practitioners who tried to discover the cause of the particular effects their remedies produced, was largely on the increase, and we owed to them nearly all our new and valuable therapeutic agents. Chemistry and physics should receive much more attention from medical students than was at present devoted to them; being the very groundwork of the complex actions met with in the study of medicine, it was not possible to acquire a thorough knowledge of these actions without an intimate acquaintance with the The idea was becoming more causes which produce them. fixed that there was no such thing as vital force in the sense in which it used to be understood, and that all vital actions were referable to well-defined chemical or physical causes. The undeniable obscurity in which many of the phenomena of life and disease were enveloped was a consequence of the ignorance of the bulk of medical practitioners of the discoveries in chemistry and physics, and we could not expect to unravel the secrets of vital action if this general absence of physical and chemical knowledge continued. The benefits conferred on medicine by chemistry must be admitted by all who knew the history of chloroThe interform, chloral, morphia, iodine, bromides, &c. esting researches of 1VIattbiessen and Wright on the derivations of morphia and codeia, and the curious difference of physiological action established, were a striking illustration of the assistance rendered by chemistry to medicine. Speaking of the nature of infection, and the importance of vaccination, the lecturer said :-‘° Some years ago Mr. Simon obtained the opinions of upwards of 500 professors of medicine and surgery at various universities and hospitals, and the striking accordance in the views of these competent authorities is a most convincing proof of their extreme value. Of all those consulted, none doubted the efficacy of vaccination as a preventive agent, and but a very few believed that any disadvantage could possibly attend its universal employment. Yet the enforcement was at one time a dead letter with respect to Sheffield, and the House of Commons recently inserted a clause in the Vaccination Act making two small fines the maximuna penalty for neglecting the precaution, thus virtually permitting a man to buy the right to spread death, disfigurement, and disease. 2’his was only prevented from becoming law by an amendment in the Upper Honse. Perhaps it might be found possible to adopt a somewhat similar course to that of Mr. Sin on, to obtain the opinion of every qualified practitioner in the country on that confessedly difficult subject for legislation, the terrible scourges of errant humanity known asthe contagious diseases.’ If, in the probable absence of any active proceeding on the part of the Government, one of the recog-
Our. readers probably remember the sudden and fatal outbreak of cholera that occurred in May last among the 18th Hussars at Secunderabad. The old Infantry barracks, occupied by the Hussars at Secunderabad, have a bad reputation, notwithstanding that they have of late undergone all the improvements that were practicable ; and the health of the regiment is said to have been deteriorated by long tropical service. On May 24th the 18th Hussars were paraded, in common with the remainder of the garrison, in honour of Her Majesty’s birthday. The men were in no respect unduly exposed to heat or fatigue. Their rations were excellent, the drinking water was good, the sanitary condition of the barracks satisfactory, and there was no intem, perance among the men. Between 2 and 3 o’clock A.M. of the 25th a case of cholera occurred in one of the trooprooms, and almost at the same time a patient in the hospital was also attacked, who had, on inquiry, been suffering from diarrhoea during the night. Other cases rapidly followed-so rapidly, that in less than twenty-four hours there were 35 admissions for cholera, and 9 deaths. The attacks seemed to have occurred almost simultaneously. No time was lost. The regiment was at once marched off, and camped out. The disease continuing, several moves took place, until the epidemic ceased, which it did soon after a thunderstorm and heavy fall of rain. Various were the hypotheses started to account for these phenomena. The drainage of the barracks proved to be good ; and a detachment of Native Infantry, moved into the quarters vacated by the Cavalry, was not attacked, nor were the remainder of the trops in garrison at the time. The water of a suspected well, according to a hasty analysis, turned out to be satisfactory. A rumour had reached the station that.three cases of cholera had occurred on the 20th of May in the bazaar at Secunderabad among a party of Bunyas, who had arrived by the Masulipatam road two days previously, and that two cases had arisen on that road on the 23rd about three quarters of a mile from the Hussar lines. Some officers were actually on their way to intercept any natives, and to pitch a temporary hospital for any suspected case of cholera, when the news reached them of its advent amongst the 18th Hussars. No evidence exists of any communication having taken place between the attacked soldiers and the infected natives; indeed, the first case among the former was a patient in hospital. One conjecture connects the origin of the epidemic with emanations from some earth-the de6fM and soil of what had been a native bazaar-that had been turned up some time before. The wind was N.W. at the time, and the troops most affected occupied quarters in a direct line with the But there are course such emanations would have taken. facts adverse to this view. The weather at the time of the marching out was terribly hot, and the men, at first, suffered
university education
11
THE LATE OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA AT SECUNDERABAD.