THE ADULTERATION OF FOOD AND DRINK ACT.

various medical institutions of Manchester and Salford, replies to his subordinates : "Ithank you for this demonto the returns which were for a time so usefully published by stration of feeling, and be assured that no cabal, however the Medical Officers of Health in London, but since fallen to crafty-no clamour, however loud- and no press, however the ground from the indifference of the Government, which powerful-will ever cause me to swerve." The clamour, the refused to furnish the funds necessary for defraying the cost of cabal, the powerful press, are ten surgeons of the militia and the publication. It will be remembered that the International Guernsey newspapers. It must be satisfactory to their feelings -Statistical Congress, on the report of its Sanitary Section, to be alluded to in terms of such respectful terror, but assuredly adopted the resolution urging upon the various Governments they can have no power other than that which they derive from the propriety of providing funds for the publication of such the strength of their cause. The unanimity of this officially. health returns, of which the utility is co-ordinate, if not pre- reported military festival, celebrating the triumph of General cedent, to that of returns of mortality. Such returns afford Slade in compelling his militia surgeons to do duty under pro. the means of comparing the relative unhealthiness of the seve- test and after resignation, was sorely marred by the insub. ral districts to which they relate, and thus serve to direct ordination of a company of riflemen, who refused to serve as a sanitary and benevolent exertions. They give plain and timely guard of honour to the Lieutenant-Governor on his way to warning of the rise and progress of the various epidemics-of dinner. These recalcitrants have been forthwith punished by iever, cholera, diphtheria, and other zymotic diseases; so that degradation to another battalion; and, being ordered to return preventive measures may be applied at their outset, when most their uniforms and accoutrements, formed a procession of likely to be effective. These returns will also prove to be a most porters’ trucks, on each of which the uniform and accoutrevaluable series of medical statistics, from which conclusions may ments were so disposed as to represent a prostrate soldier, and be drawn respecting the causes of disease-the laws of epidemics, passed through the streets, headed by a band playing the and their relation to atmospheric changes and seasons of plenty Dead March in " Saul," and accompanied by .an immense =and scarcity-and many other interesting questions of medical crowd, cheering and singing " Cheer, boys, cheer !" and " God science. It may be hoped that the attention of the sanitary save the Queen !" It is difficult to treat such a proceeding department of the Privy Council will be effectually drawn to seriously, we imagine; and there is probably no article in the the reorganization of similar returns for the metropolis. Mean- ’ ZTnity Bull which contemplates punishment for such an offence. time, private enterprise is aiming at the accomplishment of But we think the whole proceeding makes it tolerably evident ;this desideratum at Manchester. The Manchester Sanitary that General Slade, who, in his short career of government, Association deserves great credit for its intelligent efforts. contrives to disgust the medical offic3rs of his force, while he ’The returns now before us are well got up, although, being refuses to permit their resignation, drives the 61ite of his still in an early stage, they have not yet attained all the com- soldiers into a state closely bordering upon open mutiny. The pleteness which is desirable, and which they will doubtless medical service has been now for some months completely dishave at a later period. In Manchester, as in London formerly, organized, and performed by officers who are straining every nearly every medical practitioner who from his public position nerve to get their resignations accepted. The rank and file is enabled to assist the objects of the compilation has freely promise soon to arrive at the same desirable condition. Surely assumed the slight labour of contributing to the returns; and it is time that General Slade sent in his resignation. ithe Committee of the Association gratefully acknowledge the liberal support which they have received from nearly every THE ADULTERATION OF FOOD AND jone to whom they have applied for assistance. We trust that will not content themselves with the DRINK ACT. they merely spasmodic :eghibition of energy, but persevere in the regular publication THE following communication by Dr. Hassall, pointing out of these systematic tables. the precautions to be taken by tradesmen to avoid offences against -the recent Act for preventing the adulteration -of articles of food or drink, is worthy of attention :A MUTINY AT GUERNSEY. " The -Adulteration of Food and Drink Bill having at length THAT excellent and discreet chief, the Lieutenant-Governor become law, it behoves manufacturers and traders to consider .of Guernsey, is bent on imitating, on a small scale, and with how best to secure themselves under its provisions. " By the Act it is rendered illegal.curiously infelicitous accompaniments, the autocratic pleasures 1. To sell any article of food or drink with which, to the - of the military ruler of a neighbouring empire. Whom he loves knowledge of the seller, any ingredient or material injurious he will exalt; whom he desires shall serve him ; his will shall to health has been mixed. " 2. To sell as pure or unadulterated any article of food or be done, and he will not only be obeyed, but applauded. which is adulterated or not pure. Recent events in Guernsey have been moulded so as curiously drink " The punishment for the first offence consists in the into caricature Gallic precedents; but the results indicate the fliction of a fine not exceeding 5; while for subsequent comparative inflexibility of the English element. The Lieu- offences it is rendered lawful for the justices to cause the tenant-Governor, after insulting the medical officers of the offender’s name, place of abode, and offence to be made public. " It is clear, therefore, that the sale of adulterated articles militia by associating with them in the performance of their ,medical duties a homceopath, refused to accept their resigna- of consumption, whether with or without the knowledge of the seller, should be carefully avoided. But how, it will be tion. That question has been referred to the Home Office, and is this object to be accomplished? asked, the strife is still pending. Meanwhile the unwillingregimental "It is necessary, in the first place, that manufacturers surgeons are ordered to return to their duty, which they do i should take steps to ascertain that all articles sold or used by under protest, still maintaining their position of resignation. if them are pure. This, inasmuch as most of their commodities Various efforts to terrify and to cajole having failed, and the are in the natural or raw state, it is not difficult in general to do; but where a doubt exists, the manufacturer might secure good sense of the press and the civil public being outraged by himself by requiring from the vendor a guarantee of purity. the injustice and want of sense characterizing the whole proThe retailer, on his part, might protect himself by the ceeding, the Lieutenant-Governor absents himself for a time observance of the following simple precautions :from his command. On his return, a military banquet is got ’’ Thus, he should never purchase manufactured articles below the prime cost of the constituent ingredients. up by his staff-officers ; representatives of the press are not " He should require, in all cases, a guarantee of purity from present, but an official report is forwarded to a newspaper, the manufacturer; and, in order to fix the responsibility still according to which " vociferous applause" is plentifully be- more upon him, I would advise that the retailer should sell all stowed on all that was said; and the Lieutenant- Governor, manufactured articles in packages bearing upon them the being declared to be the most beloved and amiable of men, names of the manufacturers. Further, I recommend that a

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warranty of purity be printed upon the wrapper of every to his future practice, the more lightly that is touched parcel of manufactured goods sold. This warranty would give better for himself and his patients.

on

the

the public confidence, because it is not probable that anyone would use it as a cover for adulteration, and there is no doubt but that all warranted articles would meet with a more ready sale than those not warranted. 11 I see no objection to manufacturers and retailers supporting their own warranty by the testimony, in the form of certificates, of scientific persons of ability and reputation. "If the precautions here suggested were observed, there would be but little fear of any proceedings being taken against any manufacturers or retail dealers under the provisions of the Bill recently enacted for preventing the adulteration of articles of food and drink."

I humbly conceive it to be the duty of the press, and especially the medical press, which, I think, has latterly shown itself not so acutely alive as it used to be in this respect, to protect the student, and expose the shortcomings and faithless-

Correspondence.

FEES OF MEDICAL WITNESSES AT ASSIZE COURTS.

"Audi alteram

of such schools or individuals as are fonnd remiss and indifferent to their engagements. It is really the worst and cruelest kind of robbery, inasmuch as no other chance may ever occur of making up for the loss and injury to the student, and deserves to be held up to public reprehension and censured as one of the paltriest and least excusable means of taking money under false pretences. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, PATERFAMILIAS. September, 1860.

ness

To the Edit01’

of THE LANCET. the °° ITOtices to Correspondents" in your SiE,—Amongst journal of Aug. 25th, I find a communication upon the subject of Fees to Medical Witnesses from Mr. Henry S. Wharton. The question is most important, and urgently demands the attention of the profession. I beg, therefore, to transmit for insertion in THE LANCET the substance of a memorial which was forwarded about nine months ago to the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty’s Treasury. It was signed by all the medical practitioners of this town, with the exception of one or two, who were from home at the time. I enclose the reply. I may further state that at least four or five medical gentlemen in Nottingham are at the present time minus fees for attend" ance at the assizes, from having refused to take them, as being totally inadequate to compensate them for the loss of time and. the responsibility incurred. Your obedient servant, J. MASSEY, M.D., Senior Surgeon to the Nottingham Dispensary.

partem."

MEDICAL SCHOOLS—PROFESSION VERSUS PRACTICE. To the Editor of THE LANCFT.

SiR.—Now that the

papers, as usual at this season, are with exuberant laudation and high-sounding details of teeming the special advantages of each particular Medical School, our attention should be drawn to the wide difference between promises and pe1formances. Everything valuable and necessary to the future welfare and efficiency of the medical student depends upon the good faith, energy, and perseverance with which the several services so prominently paraded are carried out, and on the capability, enthusiasm, and thorough devotion of each teacher to the task he has undertaken; for, although it may be true that the dull, idle, and ill-disposed student may not readily be made attentive and proficient by any amount of exertion, those of a difTo the Lords Commissione1’s ofhe1’ Majesty’s Treasury. ferent stamp, who lay themselves out for study, and who and seek for every opportunity profit advantage, anxiously WE, the undersigned medical practitioners in the town and have a right to every possible help and encouragement, and neighbourhood of Nottingham, beg respectfully to submit to must be grievously disappointed-not to say ill-used-and, in- your Lordships that the present rate of payment to medical men for giving evidence in criminal cases is altogether inadedeed, robbed outright, if they do not get it. Unfortunately, some schools are open to animadversion in quate, considering the time occupied by such cases and the this respect, the grand object apparently being to secure a responsibility involved. We beg to remind your Lordships goodly number of students by specious and voluble promises that the fee for giving evidence in the Coroner’s court is one and high-sounding engagements, which are wholly lost sight guinea, and when a post-mortem examination is made, two of, or most apathetically and indifferently carried out when guineas, while for an examination before the magistrates the the fees are paid, and the pupil irrevocably fixed. fee is only half a guinea. We further submit that the fee Often, I regret to say, very flimsy and insufficient grounds should in all cases be not less than a guinea, and should be paid’ are made to suffice for the omission or curtailment of a subject, in every case, whether there be a conviction or not. even in the legitimate and imperative courses the student is Treasury Chambers, 29th December, 1855. obliged by law to attend, so that the connexion, interest, and half the utility of the whole are lost. The hospital attendance, SiR,—I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of her got up the first two or three weeks for tremendous effect, very Majesty’s Treasury to acknowledge the receipt of a memorial, soon flags. Interesting and methodical enough at first, it be- signed by yourself and other gentlemen of the medical profession in Nottingham, representing the inadequacy of the remucomes gradually irksome, fitful, and uncertain, the principal medical officers probably going round the wards at the same neration at present allowed for giving medical evidence in hour, and that often hurriedly and silently, discouraging, in- criminal cases. I remain. Sir. vour obedient servant. stead of inviting, the students, who come to be questioned, G. ARBUTHNOT. enlightened, and taught disease by the bed-side, and not merely to walk round the wards. The grand clinical courses, postmortems, microscopic and other superabundant instructions, so CLINICAL INSTRUCTION IN THE METROfreely offered, and so prominently taken credit for, in the advertisements, having no fixed periods, and, withal, not being POLITAN SCHOOLS.

compulsory, although really

great object with the

of

paramount importance, and

a

To the Editor

thoughtful, intelligent student, who may,

of

THE LANCET.

other chance of studying, or beSIR,-I feel assured that you will do me the justice of allowprobability, coming practically acquainted with these minor, but now abso- ing me space for a few lines, in order that " Ganglion’simlutely necessary, points,-these courses, I say, so ostentati- plied doctrine, that the matter of a teacher is one of little or ously thrown in, have too generally but a shadowy existence no importance, may not pass unnoticed. Cceteris paribus, it cannot be denied that of two students throughout. Seldom commencing at all until late in the second half of the session, they are even then but few and far between, preparing for an examination, he will have the better chance and having no notice given, or determined periods of delivery, that has enjoyed the abler tuition. Why is it that some tutors are lost to all not constantly on the look out for them. Sub- enjoy so much higher a reputation than others, except for the jects, too, always scarce in these sleepy marts, become at last reason that they have a peculiar ability in imparting knowvery likely not procurable at all ; aud so the student, foiled and ledge, not ignoring the element of conscientious earnestness in the deceived in all his hopes of solid and practical instruction in discharge of the duties which have devolved upon them. I the school he has unfortunately chosen, flounders on as best he think .. Ganglion,"on a little reflection, would have concluded may, dispirited and almost reckless, with nothing to trust to that my remarks had reference to industrious students only, as but his own energy and resources, wanting in which he departs the discouragements they meet with in certain schools at at last but a sorry figure to his parents and his examiners. As the hands of uneca’nest teachers. Half his letter is composed

in all

have

no

to

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