SHELL-LESS EGGS NOT YELKLESS.

507 I will mention one absurdity. Throughout the work, the maturity—a process that is visible only by the aid of the most ancient medicaments are perpetually referred to, and it is powerful microscope, and, in its earliest stages, to be observed acknowledged in the first volume, that the modern reader but very imperfectly. Being myself somewhat of a practical will find "considerable difficulty" in comprehending them. man, with a very slight knowledge of physiological science, I We are told, however, that they are to be explained in the have derived much instruction from the perusal of a learned third and last volume. Thus, after wading through some paper " On the Egg," in TnE LANCET of April 4th, from the fifteen hundred pages, the publication of which is to spread pen of Mr. Tod. But if I comprehend rightly the meaning of the two under-quoted passages, my experience does not bear over several years, the reader is to be enlightened as to what out their correctness-namely, that a blasted ovum is inhe has been reading about. If the members had had Paulus Ægineta alone, it would variably discharged, minus the yelk, as well as the shell :" It is impossible to discover the length of time for the have been bad enough; but a twaddling author and a twaddling commentator are beyond all endurance. The anilities of the passage of the yelk through the oviduct into the uterus; but when it reaches the uterus, the egg is complete in all its one would have been more than sufficient, without the puerilities of the other. CENSOR. structures, except the shell, which is an uterine secretion. This uterine secretion seems to owe its production to the presence of the yelk; for when a blasted ovum is laid, it has THE SYDENHAM SOCIETY AND ITS DARK-AGE no shell." " LITERATURE I have already stated, that when a yelk comes to maturity, it bursts its formative capsule, and passes through the oviduct To the Eclitor of THE LANCET. to the uterus. Sometimes, however, the yelk, instead of SiR,—A great deal has been said in your journal about entering the oviduct, escapes into the cavity of the abdomen, Paulus TEgineta. With your permission, I, too, would utter becomes adherent to.the peritoneal covering of the intestines, something of this strange medico-literary curiosity. When I and forms an extraneous body ; and when this event occurs, first saw the old gentleman, I confess I was pleased with him: the hen laysa blasted ovum—i. e., an egg, minus the yelk and he was well introduced; his green and golden livery were very the shell." attractive; and his age inclined me to respect him. But, Sir, I have, for a length of time, kept two sets of fowls, tended on his beginning to talk, I wished heartily that he had never one cock each, and from the peculiar situation of my by been resuscitated. Never did I before so well understand locality, my poultry-yard (the garden behind the house) has what Bacon would imply by the " obscuritas antiquitatis." been almost constantly under my own eyes. I havethus been Wonderful as he might have been in his own day,-" auribus enabled to observe facts and circumstances which would istius temporis accommodatus,"-he is intolerable in ours. have escaped my observation had I been living on a farm Whilst, with marvellous gravity, I was listening to the detail in the country. From some cause that I am not well of his curious dreams, the shade of Sydenham himself ap- able to determine, my fowls are very liable to drop eggs peared, and frowning with disgust, flitted in a moment. At without shells, which are mostly, in every other respect, that instant, Sir, I would have given more than " tenpence" (apparently,) perfect, and I can most confidently state, that not to have never set eyes on this Paulus Ægineta. above one in twenty of such eggs is deficient of the yelk. One SPECTATOR. April, 1846. small hen, five years old, owing to some accident or physical deYours, rangement, has, during the last two years, regularly dropped her eggs from her roost (into a basket placed to receive them) THE PROPOSED NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF deficient of the shells, but always containing the yelks, which MEDICINE AND SURGERY. are used in puddings with other eggs. Although not positively able to account for the phenomenon, I am of opinion, that To the Editor of THE LANCET. confined locality, dampness, absence of pure air, and want of SiR,—Sincerely do I rejoice, in common with the medical such salutary ingredients as fowls can find at discretion in the in this town and its that the National practitioners vicinity, assist in causing the frequent occurrence of this fields, may Association and the Committee of Associated Surgeons are derangement in other fowls. Very seldom indeed do I ever going to combine their energies to establish a National In- find these deficient of the yelk, as well as minus the stitute of Medicine, Surgery, and Midwifery. I became a shells. Buteggs I have met with several descriptions of these I never of the National but member Association, cordially abortive eggs. One, in every respect a perfect egg, supported it, because I entertained the idea, perhaps erro- wanting the shell. Another, shaped like a funnel, excepting the memneously, that it succumbed, unnecessarily and improperly, to brane, containing the yelk and glaire, extending at the small the higher powers; and, also, I did hope that the Royal Col- end to the of about an inch, with a second piece lege of Surgeons might, in some way or other, be constituted shrivelled uplength like a thin cord. A third form is that of twin a college for the general practitioner. That hope is now for eggs, joined by a contracted portion of the membrane, the one ever blasted. Let all minor differences now be laid aside,— containing the yelk, the other the glaire, in shape like a dumb the let not doubly-qualified practitioner disrespect his brother bell. And I mention a of the size of a egg, who is merely a M.R.C.S. or a L.A.S., because he has not which never contains afourth, This is the lastpigeon’s yelk. egg of the the same ordeal as not the turn M.R.C.S. himself,-let passed and the fowl does not lay again for some time afterto the L.A.S. and say, " You do not understand anatomy and season, wards. I have by me specimens of three of these curious surgery, which are the basis of all sound practice of medicine, forms of eggs. not having received the diploma at Lincoln’s-inn-fields;" and I have observed certain effects with my fowls invariable, let not the L.A.S. say to the M.R.C.S., "You do not under- which seem to be also opposed to the statement-viz., that stand chemistry and medicine, not having, like me, the licen- these no constitutional derangement. This is eggs produce tiate of Gallipot Hall". Let all criminations and recriminations correct if these eggs pass off easily, but whenever be buried in perpetual oblivion, let the Brodies, and Listons, certainly break inwardly, the yelk and the glaire are discharged, and Fergussons, and Wakleys, join with the Penningtons, and they often leaving the membrane within. So often as this acciBedingfields, and Websters, and Nusseys, hand and heart, in dent has occurred, and the shrivelled membrane is not early the good cause of medical reform, and success will crown all rid of, I have known serious constitutional derangement our efforts. Let there be one home for the general prac- got to ensue, followed even by death. The shrivelled membrane titioner,-one portal, by which he may enter an honourable becomes putrid, if it remains within too long a time ; and and important profession. Let that one home,-that one another fact is, that these eggs almost invariably cause indiportal, be the National Institute of Surgery, Medicine, and gestion. Midwifery. By union and perseverance we shall attain this If be at all sceptical with regard to the correctness desirable and important object, and lay the foundation for of any one I should be most happy to supply him, at my statements, happiness and prosperity in the medical community. any time, with specimens of these eggs, (shell-less, but conYour obedient servant. the yelks,) which are dropped by my fowls very freJOHN LILLEY, M.R.C.S.E., L.A.S. taining Wisbeach, April, 1846. quently. My name and address are at the service of any seeker after like myself, or any one who may wish for specimens, knowledge, SHELL-LESS EGGS NOT YELKLESS. and I add them in a private note, for answer to any inquirer. To the Editor of THE LANCET. I am, Sir, yours, D. S. E. SiR,—Theory and practice are too liable to conflict, unLondon, April, 1846. less the one be fully demonstrated by the other, more espe .# Mr. Tod certainly was in error in stating that the cially on subjects of minute physiology, such as the progress of the embryo in the egg in its early development towards " shell-less egg" has no yelk.-ED. L.