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THE ENTRIES OF MEDICAL STUDENTS.
555 natural amount. The average fatality of the disease is about ten per cent., but it sometimes much exceeds this, and the proprietor of a dairy in Islington, we understand, lost as many as eighteen cows out of eighty-six attacked. The majority of animals attacked recover in from eight to twelve days. In severe cases the symptoms of blood-poison-
ing
are more
prominently manifested;
numerous
officials. They have had to collect together all the requisite data for drafting the necessary Acts of Parliament and Orders of Council, to maintain a strict surveillance over our ports and agricultural districts, and at the same time to carry on a large amount of correspondence.
swellings
THE ENTRIES OF MEDICAL STUDENTS. the skin, which ultimately become attended with appear The chief to which diseases cattle discharges. contagious are liable are-cattle plague, pleuro-pneumonia, small-pox, THERE is perhaps an unusual desire existing this year to and the epizootic under consideration. An animal may know how the various schools are faring as regards the suffer from these in succession, or it may have pleuro-pneu- number of new students who have commenced their career monia and foot-and-mouth disease at the same time. The with the present session. This is not difficult to understand, post-mortem appearances in fatal cases are in no respect in the presence of a revolution of opinion as regards medical peculiar; indeed there are no very obvious effects of any education, not to mention other occurrences affecting the diseased action in the internal organs. But some important administration of the hospitals themselves. As far as changes appear to ensue in the milk and blood of the in- we can judge, the total entries of new students are, on the fected animals. The specific gravity of the milk is generally whole, about the average. diminished, but it throws up a fair layer of cream. On We learn, from reliable sources that, up to the present microscopical examination with a low power, large, round, time, Guy’s takes the lead, with 97 new entries. St. Barand coarsely-granular or nebulous-looking bodies are dis- tholomew’s follows with 86; of these 77 have already covered, which are quite different in size and appearance registered. Next comes University College, whose numbers from those ordinarily found in milk. The fluid is liable to this year reach a total of 75. At St. Thomas’s there are decompose more rapidly than natural, and to develop low about 30 new students; at St. George’s, 26. At King’s forms of organisms. These changes occur at an early stage there is a falling off, and the total this year is less than of the complaint, and continue for some time after the dis- 30. At the London Hospital there are 25 new entries; at appearance of the symptoms of the disease. The diminution the Middlesex, 20; at St. Mary’s, 18; at Charing-cross, 15; in the amount of milk in infected animals involves a serious and at Westminster some half-dozen. pecuniary loss, and that which is secreted seems to possess It is only right to add that these figures do not include some poisonous qualities which render it quite unfit for the the new entries of the past summer session: we have nourishment of their young. Pigs suckled by a diseased already said that the numbers only represent the entries up to the present time. It is possible that in several instances sow, for instance, very soon die, and the milk of infected they may require to be altered in order correctly to reprecows is fatal to their calves ; they have been on several sent the relative position of the schools, since the time for occasions found dead. Under these circumstances it seems registration at the College has not yet expired; and until strange, if true, that children can partake of this milk with- this is the case, there may be students who have not yet out any appreciable effect on their health. Perhaps the taken out their tickets, but will do so at the latest possible dilution which it undergoes by being mixed with that from moment. We may as well add that the College of Surgeons’ returns healthy animals will account for the difference in the re- as to the number of students registering, upon which many sult in the two cases. Be this as it may, according to rely for information, cannot accurately represent the numDr. Whitmore’s investigations, it would appear that he has ber of new students, for the simple reason that not a not been enabled to discover that the consumption of the few never register at the College at all; and this is the milk by children was attended with danger or disease to more likely now that the licence of the College of Physicians as a double diploma, them. Most of the cowkeepers confessed that the milk is regarded by the Poor-law Board the M.R.C.S. is not so indispensable as regards public obtained from infected animals was put into the same cans appointments as heretofore. In fact, we know that this with that from healthy cows, and sold to their customers. year many of the new students at several of the hospitals From the amount of disease which has existed in the dairies do not intend to register at the College of Surgeons. of Marylebone, there can be but little doubt that the in- ’i habitants of that and other districts of London have been INTRODUCTORY LECTURES DELIVERED AT drinking milk from infected animals without its eft’ects THE PROVINCIAL MEDICAL SCHOOLS. being traceable, in the weekly returns from the public institutions of the parish, in any increase or peculiar form of sickness among the children. The cowkeepers are said to QUEEN’S HOSPITAL, BIRMINGHAM. milk their we think the to own but children; give freely THE Introductory Address was delivered by Mr. Sampson Dr. Whitmore exercised a wise discretion in advising them Gamgee. After some prefatory observations, Mr. Gamgee to throw away all the milk obtained from infected animals. adverted to the principles by which the students should We have been informed by Prof. Brown that, as in cattle be guided in the acquisition of knowledge, and in its plague and contagious pleuro-pneumonia, monads and bac- practical application, by saying: -" Take nothing for teria are very commonly found in the blood of animals granted; be the pupil of no master, but of nature ; train suffering from this disorder ; and irregular-shaped bodies, the mind to keep a, sharp look out for fallacies in obpossessing a sluggish, amcebiform movement, may likewise servation and reasoning ; cultivate judicial impartiality; be discovered in the same fluid by the microscope. When court criticism, and, however sharp it may be, learn to take the recently drawn blood is examined, its corpuscles are it calmly; and, above all, never tire of seeking information from all quarters. Do not fall into the belief that it is only generally found to have assumed a stellate form. We cannot conclude our remarks without expressing the so-called clever people who can teach you. There are no very high opinion that we entertain of the way in which such dunces in many things as some people who are very the Veterinary Department of the Privy Council has dis- clever in one or two things, special faculties often being developed at the expense of the general powers of the charged its labours, which have been of a very arduous understanding. Some of your most valuable lessons in proand responsible character. The occurrence of this epi- fessional life may be picked up from old women and hoszootic has thrown an enormous amount of work upon the pital nurses; and, above all, do not run away with the very on
and
ing
are more
prominently manifested;
numerous
officials. They have had to collect together all the requisite data for drafting the necessary Acts of Parliament and Orders of Council, to maintain a strict surveillance over our ports and agricultural districts, and at the same time to carry on a large amount of correspondence.
swellings
THE ENTRIES OF MEDICAL STUDENTS. the skin, which ultimately become attended with appear The chief to which diseases cattle discharges. contagious are liable are-cattle plague, pleuro-pneumonia, small-pox, THERE is perhaps an unusual desire existing this year to and the epizootic under consideration. An animal may know how the various schools are faring as regards the suffer from these in succession, or it may have pleuro-pneu- number of new students who have commenced their career monia and foot-and-mouth disease at the same time. The with the present session. This is not difficult to understand, post-mortem appearances in fatal cases are in no respect in the presence of a revolution of opinion as regards medical peculiar; indeed there are no very obvious effects of any education, not to mention other occurrences affecting the diseased action in the internal organs. But some important administration of the hospitals themselves. As far as changes appear to ensue in the milk and blood of the in- we can judge, the total entries of new students are, on the fected animals. The specific gravity of the milk is generally whole, about the average. diminished, but it throws up a fair layer of cream. On We learn, from reliable sources that, up to the present microscopical examination with a low power, large, round, time, Guy’s takes the lead, with 97 new entries. St. Barand coarsely-granular or nebulous-looking bodies are dis- tholomew’s follows with 86; of these 77 have already covered, which are quite different in size and appearance registered. Next comes University College, whose numbers from those ordinarily found in milk. The fluid is liable to this year reach a total of 75. At St. Thomas’s there are decompose more rapidly than natural, and to develop low about 30 new students; at St. George’s, 26. At King’s forms of organisms. These changes occur at an early stage there is a falling off, and the total this year is less than of the complaint, and continue for some time after the dis- 30. At the London Hospital there are 25 new entries; at appearance of the symptoms of the disease. The diminution the Middlesex, 20; at St. Mary’s, 18; at Charing-cross, 15; in the amount of milk in infected animals involves a serious and at Westminster some half-dozen. pecuniary loss, and that which is secreted seems to possess It is only right to add that these figures do not include some poisonous qualities which render it quite unfit for the the new entries of the past summer session: we have nourishment of their young. Pigs suckled by a diseased already said that the numbers only represent the entries up to the present time. It is possible that in several instances sow, for instance, very soon die, and the milk of infected they may require to be altered in order correctly to reprecows is fatal to their calves ; they have been on several sent the relative position of the schools, since the time for occasions found dead. Under these circumstances it seems registration at the College has not yet expired; and until strange, if true, that children can partake of this milk with- this is the case, there may be students who have not yet out any appreciable effect on their health. Perhaps the taken out their tickets, but will do so at the latest possible dilution which it undergoes by being mixed with that from moment. We may as well add that the College of Surgeons’ returns healthy animals will account for the difference in the re- as to the number of students registering, upon which many sult in the two cases. Be this as it may, according to rely for information, cannot accurately represent the numDr. Whitmore’s investigations, it would appear that he has ber of new students, for the simple reason that not a not been enabled to discover that the consumption of the few never register at the College at all; and this is the milk by children was attended with danger or disease to more likely now that the licence of the College of Physicians as a double diploma, them. Most of the cowkeepers confessed that the milk is regarded by the Poor-law Board the M.R.C.S. is not so indispensable as regards public obtained from infected animals was put into the same cans appointments as heretofore. In fact, we know that this with that from healthy cows, and sold to their customers. year many of the new students at several of the hospitals From the amount of disease which has existed in the dairies do not intend to register at the College of Surgeons. of Marylebone, there can be but little doubt that the in- ’i habitants of that and other districts of London have been INTRODUCTORY LECTURES DELIVERED AT drinking milk from infected animals without its eft’ects THE PROVINCIAL MEDICAL SCHOOLS. being traceable, in the weekly returns from the public institutions of the parish, in any increase or peculiar form of sickness among the children. The cowkeepers are said to QUEEN’S HOSPITAL, BIRMINGHAM. milk their we think the to own but children; give freely THE Introductory Address was delivered by Mr. Sampson Dr. Whitmore exercised a wise discretion in advising them Gamgee. After some prefatory observations, Mr. Gamgee to throw away all the milk obtained from infected animals. adverted to the principles by which the students should We have been informed by Prof. Brown that, as in cattle be guided in the acquisition of knowledge, and in its plague and contagious pleuro-pneumonia, monads and bac- practical application, by saying: -" Take nothing for teria are very commonly found in the blood of animals granted; be the pupil of no master, but of nature ; train suffering from this disorder ; and irregular-shaped bodies, the mind to keep a, sharp look out for fallacies in obpossessing a sluggish, amcebiform movement, may likewise servation and reasoning ; cultivate judicial impartiality; be discovered in the same fluid by the microscope. When court criticism, and, however sharp it may be, learn to take the recently drawn blood is examined, its corpuscles are it calmly; and, above all, never tire of seeking information from all quarters. Do not fall into the belief that it is only generally found to have assumed a stellate form. We cannot conclude our remarks without expressing the so-called clever people who can teach you. There are no very high opinion that we entertain of the way in which such dunces in many things as some people who are very the Veterinary Department of the Privy Council has dis- clever in one or two things, special faculties often being developed at the expense of the general powers of the charged its labours, which have been of a very arduous understanding. Some of your most valuable lessons in proand responsible character. The occurrence of this epi- fessional life may be picked up from old women and hoszootic has thrown an enormous amount of work upon the pital nurses; and, above all, do not run away with the very on
and