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SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR DR. BOWEN.
22 child
was
inserted into
the puncture
with the
lymph,
put beyond doubt, by experiment, that blood of
it
being
EDINBURGH.
syphilitic
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) persons communicates the disease. 1 think, Sir, that Mr. Gascoyen must have overlooked a proof so complete in my opinion that no mutually antagonistic DURING the last mouth the election of office-bearers of qualities are possessed by the simple chancrous poison and the several of the medical bodies, or of those connected with the syphilitic poison which will prevent the development of one in the presence of the other, and for this reason I venture to profession, has been made. At the commencement of Decenx. hope he will explain the reasons which induce him to assert ber the Royal College of Physicians re-elected Dr. J. (r. M. that chancrous poison and the syphilitic one must of necessity Burt, President, and Dr. David Craigie, Vice-President. In be antagonistic. the other office-bearers there has been no change. Dr. D. Ii, Your space will not permit me to giveother, to my mind, ’, Haldane continues to perform the duty of Secretary, cogent arguments in favour of the dualistic theory, and I The Medico-Chirurgical Society held its election meeting on apologise sincerely for occupying so much already. the 7th, when Dr. Douglas Maclagan was again called to the I am, Sir, &c., M. BERKELEY HILL, Presidential chair, being supported by Dr. P. D. Handyside, Assistant-Surgeon, University College Hospital. Dr. J. W. Begbie, and Dr. Haldane as Vice-Presidents ; the Weymouth-street, 2lst December, 1864. Secretaries are Dr. Watson and Dr. Dycer. In the Obstetrical Society, the term of office being for two years, no change THE ACTION OF TINCTURE OF PERCHLORIDE has occurred, Dr. T. G. Weir still filling the office of President. OF IRON IN THE CURE OF DISEASE. Amongst the societies connected with the profession is the Botanical, the President of which is Dr. Alexander Dickson; To the Editor of THE LANCET. the Vice-Presidents are Professors Allman and Balfour, and SIR,—I was much interested in Dr. Hassall’s valuable and Messrs. H. Graham and W. Elliot. The election of a President of the Associated Societies of the suggestive paper on this subject, published in the last number of THE LANCET for 1864, in which he mentions that the effi- University of Edinburgh, in room of the Lord Advocate, was also made last month. The Associated Societies are the Scots cacy of perchloride of iron depends on its stimulating influence Law, the Hunterian Medical, the Dialectic, and the Diagnostic. on the nervous system, especially referring to its use in the The two last are literary societies. The gentlemen nominated cure of renal and urinary affections. for this office were the Duke of Argyll, Lord Ardmillan, In former notes I have spoken from practical experience of Professor Christison, Sir Archibald Alison, Dr. John Brown, its value in the treatment of erysipelas, venturing to differ andDr. Samuel Warren ; the names of the two last were from so high an authority as Dr. Hughes Bennett, who says it withdrawn, and the contest amongst the other four resulted in the Duke of Argyll being elected President by a large majorit-v. is useless in this disease. A legal case of been before interest has I believe that the tonic, or rather the roborant and stimulating influence of the remedy is the rational way of account- our courts. As it is to the result of the case I would direct ing for its good effects in erysipelas, in the treatment of which attention, I refrain from mentioning the names of the parties it has now been used for several years ; and we have here an concerned. The body of a new-born child being found in a explanation of its efficacy in delirium tremens, in which it has water-tank, the authorities instituted an investigation. A was suspected, was subjected to medical examinalately been employed with remarkable success. This medicine is also much used in the treatment of phthisis, tion, and a declaration was emitted by the medical practidiphtheria, cynanche, &c., and I think it is generally admitted tioner to the effect that the female had been delivered of a that the chlorine which it contains, as well as the iron, acts child within the six weeks preceding, but not later than three weeks back. It was evident, therefore, she was not the with peculiar benefit in these diseases. I hope Dr. Hassall may have an opportunity of instituting mother of the new-born child, but she was apprehended for further experiments on this subject, which is far from ex- examination on a charge of child-murder, or concealment of hausted. pregnancy, and was committed to prison. It afterwards turned out that she was at this time more than two months advanced I am. Sir, vour obedient servant. in pregnancy. She was accordingly liberated, and brought an JOHN ROSE, M.D., Surgeon R.N. action against the medical practitioner for having caused her Kidderminster, January 2, 1865 incarceration by a false declaration made by him maliciously and without probable cause. The parties having been heard SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR DR. BOWEN. by Lord Kinloch, he reported the cause to the Lords of the first division of the Court of Session. The judgment given by To the Eclitor of THE LANCET. the Court assoilzies the defender from the action as laid. The SIR,—I should esteem it a great favour if you would insert Lord President, in giving judgment, "held that a medical in this week’s LANCET the following subscriptions for Dr. man, when he gave an opinion, was not responsible for the Bowen, to assist him in defraying the legal expenses incurred soundness of that opinion, or for what any one should say in regard to it if it was an erroneous opinion. It was not enough by the late trial of Pryce v. Bowen, and so oblige, to say that other medical men would have arrived at a different Yours truly, to was It was not that the
professional
lately
female, who
opinion.
H. D. SCHOLFIELD, M.D., and Treasurer. Hamilton-square, Birkenhead,
DR. B. G.
Jan.
3rd, 1865.
BABINGTON, F.R.S., has been appointed
to fill the vacancy caused in the Government Commission
Syphilis by the lamented death of Dr. Senhouse Kirkes.
on
to the fact.
enough
allege
opinion
The declaration said she had been delivered of a child within six weeks. It was said that declaration was false, malicious, and reckless. He did not know she was in the third month of her pregnancy. Was it meant to be alleged that the symptoms of pregnancy on which the doctor relied were not there ? That was not said. He thought, on the whole; there was a total want of averment to support the action against the defender." Lords Curriehill and Ardmillan concurred with the Lord President, whilst Lord Deas thought that the case should go to a jury. Whilst we read of so many instances of medical practitioners being prosecuted, it is some satisfaction in this case that there being no evidence of malicious intent has saved the defender from the case being submitted to a jury, who, possibly, in spite of law, might have but regarded it as one requiring a heavy solatium to be paid to the virtuous pursuer. The sanitary condition of the city has lately engaged the attention of our excellent and energetic medical officer of health, Dr. Littlejohn. From an inquiry and investigation he has made into the state of the byres in the city during the last summer, it appears they are 171 in number, which were occupied by cows to the estimated number of 2085.
contrary
was
inserted into
the puncture
with the
lymph,
put beyond doubt, by experiment, that blood of
it
being
EDINBURGH.
syphilitic
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) persons communicates the disease. 1 think, Sir, that Mr. Gascoyen must have overlooked a proof so complete in my opinion that no mutually antagonistic DURING the last mouth the election of office-bearers of qualities are possessed by the simple chancrous poison and the several of the medical bodies, or of those connected with the syphilitic poison which will prevent the development of one in the presence of the other, and for this reason I venture to profession, has been made. At the commencement of Decenx. hope he will explain the reasons which induce him to assert ber the Royal College of Physicians re-elected Dr. J. (r. M. that chancrous poison and the syphilitic one must of necessity Burt, President, and Dr. David Craigie, Vice-President. In be antagonistic. the other office-bearers there has been no change. Dr. D. Ii, Your space will not permit me to giveother, to my mind, ’, Haldane continues to perform the duty of Secretary, cogent arguments in favour of the dualistic theory, and I The Medico-Chirurgical Society held its election meeting on apologise sincerely for occupying so much already. the 7th, when Dr. Douglas Maclagan was again called to the I am, Sir, &c., M. BERKELEY HILL, Presidential chair, being supported by Dr. P. D. Handyside, Assistant-Surgeon, University College Hospital. Dr. J. W. Begbie, and Dr. Haldane as Vice-Presidents ; the Weymouth-street, 2lst December, 1864. Secretaries are Dr. Watson and Dr. Dycer. In the Obstetrical Society, the term of office being for two years, no change THE ACTION OF TINCTURE OF PERCHLORIDE has occurred, Dr. T. G. Weir still filling the office of President. OF IRON IN THE CURE OF DISEASE. Amongst the societies connected with the profession is the Botanical, the President of which is Dr. Alexander Dickson; To the Editor of THE LANCET. the Vice-Presidents are Professors Allman and Balfour, and SIR,—I was much interested in Dr. Hassall’s valuable and Messrs. H. Graham and W. Elliot. The election of a President of the Associated Societies of the suggestive paper on this subject, published in the last number of THE LANCET for 1864, in which he mentions that the effi- University of Edinburgh, in room of the Lord Advocate, was also made last month. The Associated Societies are the Scots cacy of perchloride of iron depends on its stimulating influence Law, the Hunterian Medical, the Dialectic, and the Diagnostic. on the nervous system, especially referring to its use in the The two last are literary societies. The gentlemen nominated cure of renal and urinary affections. for this office were the Duke of Argyll, Lord Ardmillan, In former notes I have spoken from practical experience of Professor Christison, Sir Archibald Alison, Dr. John Brown, its value in the treatment of erysipelas, venturing to differ andDr. Samuel Warren ; the names of the two last were from so high an authority as Dr. Hughes Bennett, who says it withdrawn, and the contest amongst the other four resulted in the Duke of Argyll being elected President by a large majorit-v. is useless in this disease. A legal case of been before interest has I believe that the tonic, or rather the roborant and stimulating influence of the remedy is the rational way of account- our courts. As it is to the result of the case I would direct ing for its good effects in erysipelas, in the treatment of which attention, I refrain from mentioning the names of the parties it has now been used for several years ; and we have here an concerned. The body of a new-born child being found in a explanation of its efficacy in delirium tremens, in which it has water-tank, the authorities instituted an investigation. A was suspected, was subjected to medical examinalately been employed with remarkable success. This medicine is also much used in the treatment of phthisis, tion, and a declaration was emitted by the medical practidiphtheria, cynanche, &c., and I think it is generally admitted tioner to the effect that the female had been delivered of a that the chlorine which it contains, as well as the iron, acts child within the six weeks preceding, but not later than three weeks back. It was evident, therefore, she was not the with peculiar benefit in these diseases. I hope Dr. Hassall may have an opportunity of instituting mother of the new-born child, but she was apprehended for further experiments on this subject, which is far from ex- examination on a charge of child-murder, or concealment of hausted. pregnancy, and was committed to prison. It afterwards turned out that she was at this time more than two months advanced I am. Sir, vour obedient servant. in pregnancy. She was accordingly liberated, and brought an JOHN ROSE, M.D., Surgeon R.N. action against the medical practitioner for having caused her Kidderminster, January 2, 1865 incarceration by a false declaration made by him maliciously and without probable cause. The parties having been heard SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR DR. BOWEN. by Lord Kinloch, he reported the cause to the Lords of the first division of the Court of Session. The judgment given by To the Eclitor of THE LANCET. the Court assoilzies the defender from the action as laid. The SIR,—I should esteem it a great favour if you would insert Lord President, in giving judgment, "held that a medical in this week’s LANCET the following subscriptions for Dr. man, when he gave an opinion, was not responsible for the Bowen, to assist him in defraying the legal expenses incurred soundness of that opinion, or for what any one should say in regard to it if it was an erroneous opinion. It was not enough by the late trial of Pryce v. Bowen, and so oblige, to say that other medical men would have arrived at a different Yours truly, to was It was not that the
professional
lately
female, who
opinion.
H. D. SCHOLFIELD, M.D., and Treasurer. Hamilton-square, Birkenhead,
DR. B. G.
Jan.
3rd, 1865.
BABINGTON, F.R.S., has been appointed
to fill the vacancy caused in the Government Commission
Syphilis by the lamented death of Dr. Senhouse Kirkes.
on
to the fact.
enough
allege
opinion
The declaration said she had been delivered of a child within six weeks. It was said that declaration was false, malicious, and reckless. He did not know she was in the third month of her pregnancy. Was it meant to be alleged that the symptoms of pregnancy on which the doctor relied were not there ? That was not said. He thought, on the whole; there was a total want of averment to support the action against the defender." Lords Curriehill and Ardmillan concurred with the Lord President, whilst Lord Deas thought that the case should go to a jury. Whilst we read of so many instances of medical practitioners being prosecuted, it is some satisfaction in this case that there being no evidence of malicious intent has saved the defender from the case being submitted to a jury, who, possibly, in spite of law, might have but regarded it as one requiring a heavy solatium to be paid to the virtuous pursuer. The sanitary condition of the city has lately engaged the attention of our excellent and energetic medical officer of health, Dr. Littlejohn. From an inquiry and investigation he has made into the state of the byres in the city during the last summer, it appears they are 171 in number, which were occupied by cows to the estimated number of 2085.
contrary