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THE FUNERAL CLUBS.
711 tract teeth in the mesmeric state,’as also if his humble aid and feloniously, caused certain cloths saturated with water to would tend to advance that noble science, mesmerism, by pub- be placed upon the body of Richard Dresser for a long period licly certifying to the result of operations under that state, he of time ; and that he had also rashly, injuriously, &c., placed will at all times be happy in so doing. Mr. Hayes has twice him in a bath containing a large quantity of water; and that operated in the mesmeric state, and has practiced mesmerism by these means he caused him to be mortally disordered in non-professionally for some years. Mr. Hayes has Dr. Elliott- his body, and likewise occasioned a mortal congestion of the son’scases’ and the Zoist on the table in his reception-roona, heart and lungs, of which he languished until the 2nd of June, notwithstanding the detractions of Dr. Forbes, and the and then died." Mr. Bodkin opened the case for the prosecution ; Mr. T. sneers of professional brethren.-13, Brook-street, March 10th, 1846." Hubert, Mr. W. G. Dresser, Mrs. Harriet Dresser, (widow of reiterated The least that the editor of The Zoist can do in return, the deceased,) Mr. Waterworth, Mr. Hicks, &c., would be, to place upon the table in his reception-room a copy their evidence at the inquest, the substance of which appeared of the Weekly Chronicle of April 19th, 1846, marked at the in THE LANCET of June 13th, pp. 666-7. Lord Chief Justice Tindal summed up, and the jury reheading " Middlesex Sessions, Friday, (before Mr. Serjeant turned / a verdict of Not Guilt1/! Adams,)" page 1, column 5. .
GLANDERS
IN
THE
HUMAN SUBJECT.—TWO
more
deaths havebeen recently recorded in a daily paper, as occurTHE FUNERAL CLUBS. ring at Melton Mowbray,—one being that of a groom who had tended a glandered horse, and the other that of the knacker To the Editor of THE LANCET. who skinned the animal after it had been destroyed. Another SIR,—The extensive circulation of your periodical amongst party had since been taken ill - it was feared, of the the members of the medical profession induces me to bring same but he is better. A pig, however, which had before your notice the serious evils that have occurred from lain onmalady, some straw previously used by the glandered horse, the establishment of funeral clubs in this neighbourhood had manifested signs of disease, and been destroyed. in Yorkshire, and in Lancashire. I am far from wishing to of the Parisian Medical Society held The members interfere with the poor man’s real or imaginary rights, but I do think compulsory measures are called for when such rights their anniversary dinner in the Palais Royal, on Monday are grossly and wickedly abused. the 15th inst. The chair was taken by the President, Dr. F. I was at one time so’far impressed with the idea that Claney, on whose right was seated Baron Paul Dubois, and on funeral clubs were a source of benefit to a poor man, that I his left, Professor V elpeau. The liealths of the King of the established one in a parish where I was ofticiating as curate; French, Queen Victoria, (proposed by the Baron Dubois,) and but had I seen the great abuses that might arise, and the " success and prosperity to the Parisian Medical Society," were awful crimes to which such clubs might become subservient, given, and the Vice-President, Dr. Fleming, next proposed, I should have been most strenuous in efforts of a contrary ’- the former Presidents," amongst whom he particularly tendency,-that no poor man, however viciously inclined, noticed Baron Dubois, Professor Ricord, and Dr. Mott, and might have had to struggle against the temptations they pre- referred to the services rendered by them to the Society. sent to him. The principal point of objection to these clubs is, that a Dr, Yates (of proposed the health of the party becoming a member of one club may, at the same time, officers for "the year, which was responded to by the Treasurer, subscribe to several others, that thus a large amount is claim- Dr. Oliffe, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour." able after a few small payments, should the death of a Next was proposed, in conjunction with the medical stags’ of the Parisian Hospitals, the health of their distinguished husband, wife, or child, take place. Some means may surely be devised to prevent the tempta- guest, Professor Velpean. The learned Professor expressed tions to which such clubs give rise. On the present plan they himself highly gratified, both at the compliment paid him, and offer a premium to the most awful crime that can be contem- the fraternal manifestations of professional sympathies evinced plated. Not many years ago several convictions took place in by the present meeting between French and English practiLancashire and Cheshire, of parties who had murdered their tioners, and he hoped that no untoward circumstances occurchildren for the sake of the funeral money; and within the last ing would ever destroy a cordiality based upon the laudable few weeks, a woman at Runcorn was committed to Chester desire of advancing the progress of medical science. Dr. -AI’Lean (late of Lima) proposed the Medical Institutions Castle, upon the coroner’s warrant, for the murder of three of her children, led to the commission of this unnatural crime by of Great Britain, a toast responded to by Dr. James Boyd. the prospect of receiving 7l. 10s. from a club in Liverpool. Various other appropriate toasts followed; Dr. Odling, the There have been other instances which I cannot detail, though Secretary, returning thanks for that of the Council &c. ; and I forwarded the particulars to the Home Secretaries, feeling in several speeches from the members, theflourishing condition assured that the Government would take means to prevent the of the Society was alluded to, as also the fact of its being the occurrence of such crimes. only British medical and scientific institution on the Continent. I need not call to your recollection the murders committed LEICESTER INFIRMARY.—At the quarterly board some years ago, in Edinburgh and London, by men, who, from the father of those crimes, were called Burkers. Inves- meeting on Thursday, June 18, Mr. T. Macaulay brought a motion to rescind an engagement with Mr. R. tigation led to the abolition of that dreadful system, and I forward Whitchurch as assistant dispenser, which had been entered trust, ere long, the legislature will take means to prevent the into by the weekly board on May 19, the salary given being further development of this new system of murder, by which equivalent to 651. a year, as Mr. Whitchurch was to have 30l., a husband, tempted by filthy lucre, forgets the affection he while the preceding year he had to pay 35l. for board. Mr. owes to the partner of his bosom, or a parent imbrues her hands Harding, being sent for, stated, that Mr. Whitchurch’s apin the blood of her helpless offspring. The profession, whose interest you advocate, will, I am sure. pointment was matter of necessity, as they had not been able lend a helping hand to detect, and bring to justice, parties to get pupils, and he (Mr. Harding) could not get through the without one.-It appearing doubtful whether the suspected of the crimes to which I have referred, and I trust businessboard had power to rescind the engagement entered general will in which case can arise investigate every suspicion they of foul treatment by any of the hidden arts of infamy by which into by the weekly one, an amended motion for terminating murder can be accomplished, that thus a new crime may H01 the engagement at the end of three months was put, but lost be added to the number that already disgrace our Christiar by the casting vote of the chairman.—Mr. Macaulay then gave notice that at the general meeting in September he country.-I remain, Mil", your obedient servant, should move for a rule increasing the number of honorary W. C. FENTON. FENTOX. Vicarage, Matersey, June, 1846. medical officers. The paper from which this is copied also states that the treasurer has received 1001. for the infirmary, as a legacy from the late Miss Linwood.
Birmingham)
MEDICAL
FACTS, NOTICES,
NEWS,
AND
THE WATER-DEATH.—VERDICT
REMARKS. AT THE
THE POTATO.- To the Editor.— Sir : On the 4th of
August, 1832, TiiE LANCET published a paper of mine on the CRIMINAL original country of the potato, (solanum tuberosum.) Therein
COURT.—On Saturday, June 20th, James Ellis, the laceman, tooh his trial at the Central Criminal Court for the manslaughter of Richard Dresser. The coroner’s inquisition on which he wa6 tried charged him with having "injuriously, rashly,negligc’ntly
1 stated that
Clusins, an eminent botanist of the sixteenth century, supposed that potatoes were not unknown to the
ancients, and that the arachidna of Theophrastus was this plant. A cottager, named John Digby, residing near to Dux-
GLANDERS
IN
THE
HUMAN SUBJECT.—TWO
more
deaths havebeen recently recorded in a daily paper, as occurTHE FUNERAL CLUBS. ring at Melton Mowbray,—one being that of a groom who had tended a glandered horse, and the other that of the knacker To the Editor of THE LANCET. who skinned the animal after it had been destroyed. Another SIR,—The extensive circulation of your periodical amongst party had since been taken ill - it was feared, of the the members of the medical profession induces me to bring same but he is better. A pig, however, which had before your notice the serious evils that have occurred from lain onmalady, some straw previously used by the glandered horse, the establishment of funeral clubs in this neighbourhood had manifested signs of disease, and been destroyed. in Yorkshire, and in Lancashire. I am far from wishing to of the Parisian Medical Society held The members interfere with the poor man’s real or imaginary rights, but I do think compulsory measures are called for when such rights their anniversary dinner in the Palais Royal, on Monday are grossly and wickedly abused. the 15th inst. The chair was taken by the President, Dr. F. I was at one time so’far impressed with the idea that Claney, on whose right was seated Baron Paul Dubois, and on funeral clubs were a source of benefit to a poor man, that I his left, Professor V elpeau. The liealths of the King of the established one in a parish where I was ofticiating as curate; French, Queen Victoria, (proposed by the Baron Dubois,) and but had I seen the great abuses that might arise, and the " success and prosperity to the Parisian Medical Society," were awful crimes to which such clubs might become subservient, given, and the Vice-President, Dr. Fleming, next proposed, I should have been most strenuous in efforts of a contrary ’- the former Presidents," amongst whom he particularly tendency,-that no poor man, however viciously inclined, noticed Baron Dubois, Professor Ricord, and Dr. Mott, and might have had to struggle against the temptations they pre- referred to the services rendered by them to the Society. sent to him. The principal point of objection to these clubs is, that a Dr, Yates (of proposed the health of the party becoming a member of one club may, at the same time, officers for "the year, which was responded to by the Treasurer, subscribe to several others, that thus a large amount is claim- Dr. Oliffe, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour." able after a few small payments, should the death of a Next was proposed, in conjunction with the medical stags’ of the Parisian Hospitals, the health of their distinguished husband, wife, or child, take place. Some means may surely be devised to prevent the tempta- guest, Professor Velpean. The learned Professor expressed tions to which such clubs give rise. On the present plan they himself highly gratified, both at the compliment paid him, and offer a premium to the most awful crime that can be contem- the fraternal manifestations of professional sympathies evinced plated. Not many years ago several convictions took place in by the present meeting between French and English practiLancashire and Cheshire, of parties who had murdered their tioners, and he hoped that no untoward circumstances occurchildren for the sake of the funeral money; and within the last ing would ever destroy a cordiality based upon the laudable few weeks, a woman at Runcorn was committed to Chester desire of advancing the progress of medical science. Dr. -AI’Lean (late of Lima) proposed the Medical Institutions Castle, upon the coroner’s warrant, for the murder of three of her children, led to the commission of this unnatural crime by of Great Britain, a toast responded to by Dr. James Boyd. the prospect of receiving 7l. 10s. from a club in Liverpool. Various other appropriate toasts followed; Dr. Odling, the There have been other instances which I cannot detail, though Secretary, returning thanks for that of the Council &c. ; and I forwarded the particulars to the Home Secretaries, feeling in several speeches from the members, theflourishing condition assured that the Government would take means to prevent the of the Society was alluded to, as also the fact of its being the occurrence of such crimes. only British medical and scientific institution on the Continent. I need not call to your recollection the murders committed LEICESTER INFIRMARY.—At the quarterly board some years ago, in Edinburgh and London, by men, who, from the father of those crimes, were called Burkers. Inves- meeting on Thursday, June 18, Mr. T. Macaulay brought a motion to rescind an engagement with Mr. R. tigation led to the abolition of that dreadful system, and I forward Whitchurch as assistant dispenser, which had been entered trust, ere long, the legislature will take means to prevent the into by the weekly board on May 19, the salary given being further development of this new system of murder, by which equivalent to 651. a year, as Mr. Whitchurch was to have 30l., a husband, tempted by filthy lucre, forgets the affection he while the preceding year he had to pay 35l. for board. Mr. owes to the partner of his bosom, or a parent imbrues her hands Harding, being sent for, stated, that Mr. Whitchurch’s apin the blood of her helpless offspring. The profession, whose interest you advocate, will, I am sure. pointment was matter of necessity, as they had not been able lend a helping hand to detect, and bring to justice, parties to get pupils, and he (Mr. Harding) could not get through the without one.-It appearing doubtful whether the suspected of the crimes to which I have referred, and I trust businessboard had power to rescind the engagement entered general will in which case can arise investigate every suspicion they of foul treatment by any of the hidden arts of infamy by which into by the weekly one, an amended motion for terminating murder can be accomplished, that thus a new crime may H01 the engagement at the end of three months was put, but lost be added to the number that already disgrace our Christiar by the casting vote of the chairman.—Mr. Macaulay then gave notice that at the general meeting in September he country.-I remain, Mil", your obedient servant, should move for a rule increasing the number of honorary W. C. FENTON. FENTOX. Vicarage, Matersey, June, 1846. medical officers. The paper from which this is copied also states that the treasurer has received 1001. for the infirmary, as a legacy from the late Miss Linwood.
Birmingham)
MEDICAL
FACTS, NOTICES,
NEWS,
AND
THE WATER-DEATH.—VERDICT
REMARKS. AT THE
THE POTATO.- To the Editor.— Sir : On the 4th of
August, 1832, TiiE LANCET published a paper of mine on the CRIMINAL original country of the potato, (solanum tuberosum.) Therein
COURT.—On Saturday, June 20th, James Ellis, the laceman, tooh his trial at the Central Criminal Court for the manslaughter of Richard Dresser. The coroner’s inquisition on which he wa6 tried charged him with having "injuriously, rashly,negligc’ntly
1 stated that
Clusins, an eminent botanist of the sixteenth century, supposed that potatoes were not unknown to the
ancients, and that the arachidna of Theophrastus was this plant. A cottager, named John Digby, residing near to Dux-