THE MEDICAL CLUB.

527 to M. Guérin, puerperal peritonitis is simply due to duced, because they are opposed to every precise notion of the fact that the wounded uterus is exposed to the influence anatomy, physiology, and clinical pathology. of air. When the uterus is properly retracted, the wounded Paris, Oct. 1868. surface is withdrawn from the influence of air, and speedily heals; but when, through inertia of the organ, retraction is THE COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. not properly effected, the uterine cavity forms an open space the air with the and communicating atmosphere; penetrates fills the whole of the space which is not occupied by the uterine I’ AT the special meeting of the Council of the College of Surfluids, and the womb becomes inflamed and suppurates. The geons on Thursday last Mr. Busk was duly elected an Examiner putrefied matter travels through the Fallopian tubes, and falls in place of Mr. South; and at the subsequent ordinary meeting into the peritoneal cavity. A drop of altered fluid, or the of the Council Mr. Hilton was appointed an Examiner in Dental least quantity of putrid gas, is enough to bring on, by means of a catalytic process, the secretion of a large amount of fluids Surgery. We are happy to announce that at this meeting, from the surface of the inflamed peritoneal membrane. It is after a prolonged discussion, a resolution was carried which by means of a purely mechanical process that the noxious fluid will ensure the publication of the Proceedings of the Council or gas manages to effect its escape through the Fallopian tubes of the College. We shall discuss the details of this most imand thence into the peritoneum. The column of air which concession on the part of the Council next week. penetrates into the wound exercises an equable pressure over portant the whole internal surface, and this pressure is equivalent to the barometric pressure. Now the uterine cavity is in constant communication with the peritoneal cavity, which, like THE MEDICAL CLUB. all the other serous cavities, is capable of being distended in various degrees, and consequently of exercising avaryingamount A GENERAL MEETING of this Club was held at Spring-gardens of pressure on the organs which they circumscribe. With regard to the abdominal cavity, these variations in the amplitude are on Wednesday, October the 14th, Sir William Fergusson, Bart., under the influence of the respiratory movements. Each in- in the chair, about sixty members being present. A statement was read showing the progress the Club had spiration creates between the abdominal organs and the walls by which they are circumscribed a comparative degree of made since the inaugural meeting held at the Hanover-square vacuum, which temporarily exercises a sort of pumping action Rooms, on November 8th, 1866. upon the orifice of the Fallopian tubes. This action is furtherThe Committee announced that as the circular which was more promoted by the permanent pressure of the atmosphere issued in July last, requesting the members to increase their upon the inner surface of the uterus, which, instead of being subscription after the end of the present year, had not refracted, remains open and gaping. In this state of things, annual met the unanimous support anticipated, it was decided to with is the it not possible to overlook utero-abdominal current, which can only be destroyed by producing artificially a counter- withdraw it, and to continue the subscription of all the present current. The effect of this current will be to aspire the fluids members the same as heretofore. And in lieu of increasing which have already fallen into the peritoneal cavity and the the subscription, it was proposed that those members who felt to do so should join in guaranteeing a small addition gases which have there been produced spontaneously ; to bring disposed to their annual subscription for the next two years, should in the of the retraction on, consequence, parietes uteri, and, necessary, to meet any temporary excess of exby reawakening their contractility, promote the return of the such be found of the members then present organ to its proper condition. But in order to effect this pro- penditure over income; and some in sums from one to five did to the extent of so, is of £ 120, it obvious that the external orifice the varying must perly, vagina be completely closed so as to prevent the entrance of air from guineas annually. After a lengthened discussion the following resolution was, without. If this precaution were neglected, the outer air would not fail to rush into the uterus as soon as the vacuum on the proposition of Dr. Richardson, seconded by Dr. Carhad been effected. In order to attain these ends, M. Guerin penter (of Croydon), adopted :’’ That the questions of the future government of the Club, has contrived an apparatus composed of three principal parts : lst. A caoutchouc canula, two centimetres in diameter and and the responsibility of its members, be referred to the Comtwentv centimetres in length. 1)iereed with holes. and destined mittee for consideration; and their report to an adjourned to be introduced into the ragina. 2nd. Two pouches made of general meeting of the members, to be held at 9, Spring-gara month hence." india-rubber, fixed to the canula, and capable of being filled dens A vote of thanks to the chairman and to the honorary secrewith air; when insufflated, through their distension they occlude the vagina ; they can be made to slip along the tary concluded the business of the meeting. canula and occupy different situations in the vagina. 3rd. A pump-system, composed of a tube through which the uterine fluids are drawn into a glass jug ; an india-rubber pouch added to the apparatus performs the office of a pump. Having thus described both M. Guerin’s views with regard to the etiology and nature of puerperal peritonitis, and the The following gentlemen APOTHECARIES’ HALL. means which he has contrived for preventing its occurrence or its I must the examination in the and Practice of Medistate their Science necessarily checking progress, objections passed which have already been directed against the whole scheme cine, and received certificates to practise, on Oct. 8th :FoES, Robert William, Stockton-on-Tees. by such high authorities on obstetrical matters as MM. Depaul Fox, Richard Dacre, Beccles, Suffolk. and Blot. In fact, there was a regular skirmish at the last Haddelsey, Charles Turner, Whitechapel-road. sitting of the Academy between M. Uuérin and M. Depaul, Hett, Geoffrey, Brigg, Lincolnshire. both of whom are of high mettle and most determined spirit. Higham, Joseph, Manchester. Orton, John, jun., Foleshill. According to the latter academician, M. Guérin’s theories are Smith, William Woodriff, Sittingbourne. not founded on fact: the uterus cannot be likened to the body Wharton, James Fraser, Durham. of a pump ; the fluids which are observed in the peritoneum The following gentleman also on the same day passed his are a secretion of this membrane, and do not proceed from the first examination :the a tubes are almost in uterus ; Fallopian impervious puerDawson, Frederick W. E., Westminster Hospital. peral woman-it required the greatest force to drive a few of water these in canals UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.—The following gentlemen drops through experiments performed upon the dead body ; the fluids found in the peritoneal cavity passed the recent first M.B. examination :are never similar to those found in the uterus. With M. Guerin, FIRST DIVISION: puerperal fever is a local disease; with M. Depaul and the vast Ashby, Alfred, Guy’s Hospital. of and fever a is accoucheurs, puerperal majority physicians Barrett, Ashley Williaw, London Hospital. Bruce, John Mitchell (M.A. Aberl.), Aberdeen. general disease, like typhus &c. Turning to the case which Cotterill, Alfred, King’s College. had been related by M. Guerin, M. Depaul observed that it Curnow, John, King’s College. was not one of puerperal peritonitis, but simply one of retenDurham, Frederic, Guy’s Hospital. tion of putrid matter in the uterus, producing temporary Lucas, Richard Clement, Guy’s Hospital. Lyell, Robert Wishart, King’s College. symptoms, which disappeared after the employment of ordi. Martin, Henry Newell, University College. In such as &c. a , word, M.Depaul nary means, injections Parker, Rushton, Univeisity College. rejects M. Guerin’s theory and the apparatus which it has proSeaton, Edward C, x, St. Thomas’s Hospital.

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