- Email: [email protected]
THE MYOSITIC ACTION OF THE CALABAR BEAN.
676 can use the toes in going up a stair almost-, with the sound foot. I can also now take off myboots and put on slippers, which is of great importance to a. sensitive person when travelling, or from home, After a fair trial of Mr. Masters’ apparatus, I assure Mr. Holmes, as one who has worn a " circular boot" for sixteen, years, that the artificial limb, with the ankle-joint movement, is as superior to the " circular" as a natural is to an artificial limb. The superiority of Mr. Masters’ apparatus as regards. mere appearance is, also, of great importance to professional persons like myself. I am by means of it enabled to move about actively from nine A.M. to four P.M., and superintend the studies of upwards of 500 pupils. I have shown it to Prof. Syme since getting it, and he seemed much pleased with it. In conclusion, I most cordially and conscientiously recommend Mr. Masters’ apparatus to the notice of all who, likemyself, have undergone the ankle-joint operation. I am. Sir. vour obedient servant. THOMAS W. E. ROBSON, LL.D., Rector of the Madras Academy. Cupar, Fife, N.B., June, 1863.
had had the advantage of Dr. Barnes’s expeNeither in hospital nor in private practice should I submit to the inference that a physician is incapable of the diagnosis or treatment of an abdominal tumour; or must, if he recognise it as ovarian, at once transfer the whole case, and’ refer its treatment, exclusively to a surgeon. It is the more important to notice the above error from an inaccuracy in the medical part of the report. I not only had to propose the operation, and after consultation at least to share the responsibility of its propriety, but to remain exclusively responsible for one of the most important aspects of the case. The report, while laying undue stress on a casual and unimportant diarrhoea, ignores the fact that grave suspicions of pulmonary disease only permitted the operation after long treatment and careful deliberation on my part. Lastly, it is due to those who have introduced this remarkable procedure to point out that, within forty-eight hours of the operation, the cough disappeared, the patient’s cheeks began to redden with the glow of health, and her pulse became slower and stronger ; and that, from a frail, emaciated, cachectic- (not to say tabid)looking object, she was transformed, before leaving the hospital, into a ruddy, plump, goodlooking girl.—I am, Sir. vour verv obedient servant. WILLIAM BRINTON, M.D. Brook-street, Grosvenor-square, June, 1863. and
naturally; besides, I
myself
rience,
as
readily
as
Medical News. ROYAL COLLEGE
THE MYOSITIC ACTION OF THE CALABAR
Lamb, George, 162, Caledonian-road, Islington. Lupton, Richard John, School of Medicine, Liverpool. Lyle, William Vacy, St. Mary’s Hospital. Thibou, Jesse Wheelock, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. Walker, Henry George, University College. Wolston, Walter Thomas Prideaux, King’s College.
SIR,—In reference
ARTIFICIAL LIMBS. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—I have just seen a report, in your journal of the 9th
the Pathological Society of London on the a discussion on Prof. Syme’s ankle-joint operation took place. As my case was mentioned, and an artificial limb made for me by Mr. Masters was exhibited, will you kindly allow me to make a few remarks upon the subject ? I was operated upon by Prof. Syme so long ago as 1847. For a full statement of my experience of the advantages of that operation I refer you to a letter I addressed to you, and which appeared in THE LANCET of the 7th November, 1857. My object in writing to you now is more with reference to what fell from Mr. Thompson and Mr. Holmes with regard to the kind of artificial limb applicable to the operation. I think, with Mr. Thompson, that " it is very important for the surgeon and mechanician to act in concert in most amputations of the lower extremity;" but I do not agree with Mr. Holmes when be "douhts the value of an artificial limb with the ankle-joint
May, 21st
of
a
meeting of
April,
at which
movement." I do not exactly know what the " common circular shoe"is, but I used, up to last September, a leather case extending to the knee, with a boot buckled to the side and the front stuffed. I always felt at a loss in going up a stair, having no power over the joint whatever. The whole limb felt a dead weight, and the heel came down with a thump. I called on Prof. Syme last September, and asked him if there was anything new at
the Exhibition applicable to his operation, and which might obviate the objections just mentioned. He at once named Mr. Masters, of New Kent road, as having exhibited some first-class apparatus, gave me his address, and recommended me to call on him. 1 accordingly did so, and, seeing at once the immense advantage of his apparatus over mine, I ordered one. I have now worn it for some months, and find myself in a new world with it. It has altered my gait entirely, and given me a propelling power which is truly astonishing, and which was totally wanting in the old one. It is almost impossible to detect anything the matter with me, I now walk so
PHYSICIANS OF LONDON.—The the first part of the professional-
examination for the Licence of the College on the 5th inst. :Foster, Charles William Ellis, Leeds School of Medicine.
BEAN. To the Editor of THE LANCET. to a letter from Dr. Thomas R. Fraser that appeared in THE LANCET of the 6th inst., I desire to state that I do not claim, and have never either directly or indirectly claimed, the credit of having discovered the property possessed by the Calabar bean of contracting the pupil; on the contrary, I have from the first acknowledged that that discovery was Dr. Fraser’s. What I have done is to examine carefully the whole actions of the agent on the eye, and to point out its importance and some of its practical applications. T am. Sir. vonr obedient servant. D. ARGYLL ROBERTSON. Maitland-street, Edinburgh, June, 1863.
OF
followinggentlemen passed
ROYAL COLLEGE
OF
SURGEONS
OF
ENGLAND. - The,
following gentlemen, having undergone the necessary examinations, received the diploma of Dental Surgery at a meeting of , ’
’
the Board on the 10th inst. :Cormack, David, Windmill-street, Bedford-square. Davies, Edward Llewellyn, Islington. Forward, Reginald, King’s-terrace, Southsea. Fox, Sylvanus Bevan, Southernhay, Exeter. Helfrich, Rudolph, Notting-hill-terrace. Keeling, George Ratcliffe, Epsom. Kempton, Henry Tattershall Knowles, Cavendish-place. Palmer, Thomas William Gascoigne, Cheltenham. Perkins, W illiam, Prospect-place, Maida-hill. Petty, Francis, Southampton. Ryding, Frederick, Limerick. Rymer, Samuel Lee, North End Croydon. Smith, Henry, OakleJ square, Hampstead-road. Williams, George Joseph, Cavendish-place.
APOTHECARIES’ HALL.-The following gentlemen passed
their examination in the Science and Practice of Medicine, and:, received certificates to practise, on the 4th inst. :Angus, James Acworth, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Barnes, Thomas Henry, Clare, Suffolk. Burdett, Francis Henry, Birmingham. Davidson, C. M. Davenport, Springfield, Wandsworth-road. Hayward, William Henry, Church-street, Oldbury. Jefferson, Thos. Jewison, Market Weighton, Yorkshire. Laurie, John Douglas, Bradford, Yorkshire. Lindop, John Crump, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. Nash, William Llewellyn, Cheltenham. Wesley, John Sebastian, 38, Southampton-row. The following gentlemen also on the same day passed their first examination :Harrison, Robert, Nether Levens, Milnthorpe. Lupton, Richard John, Liverpool.
THE PRINCESS
OF
WALES,-It is observed that Her-
Royal Highness the Princess of Wales has discontinued her morning rides, and from this and other circumstances the happiest auguries are drawn. HEALTH
OF
KING LEOPOLD.—We are
happy to. be able
to state that the painful rumours current during the last week concerning the rapid decline of the health of King Leopold are entirely without foundation. His Majesty has been able, the to take active week, during past walking exercise, and hisgeneral health has improved. From authentic reports,received it is known that Mr. Henry Thompson has thus far been very successful in the difficult task which he has undertaken; and there is every prospect of his being able to restore the King. to a state of comfort and repose such as he has not for a- long
time
enjoyed.
had had the advantage of Dr. Barnes’s expeNeither in hospital nor in private practice should I submit to the inference that a physician is incapable of the diagnosis or treatment of an abdominal tumour; or must, if he recognise it as ovarian, at once transfer the whole case, and’ refer its treatment, exclusively to a surgeon. It is the more important to notice the above error from an inaccuracy in the medical part of the report. I not only had to propose the operation, and after consultation at least to share the responsibility of its propriety, but to remain exclusively responsible for one of the most important aspects of the case. The report, while laying undue stress on a casual and unimportant diarrhoea, ignores the fact that grave suspicions of pulmonary disease only permitted the operation after long treatment and careful deliberation on my part. Lastly, it is due to those who have introduced this remarkable procedure to point out that, within forty-eight hours of the operation, the cough disappeared, the patient’s cheeks began to redden with the glow of health, and her pulse became slower and stronger ; and that, from a frail, emaciated, cachectic- (not to say tabid)looking object, she was transformed, before leaving the hospital, into a ruddy, plump, goodlooking girl.—I am, Sir. vour verv obedient servant. WILLIAM BRINTON, M.D. Brook-street, Grosvenor-square, June, 1863. and
naturally; besides, I
myself
rience,
as
readily
as
Medical News. ROYAL COLLEGE
THE MYOSITIC ACTION OF THE CALABAR
Lamb, George, 162, Caledonian-road, Islington. Lupton, Richard John, School of Medicine, Liverpool. Lyle, William Vacy, St. Mary’s Hospital. Thibou, Jesse Wheelock, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. Walker, Henry George, University College. Wolston, Walter Thomas Prideaux, King’s College.
SIR,—In reference
ARTIFICIAL LIMBS. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—I have just seen a report, in your journal of the 9th
the Pathological Society of London on the a discussion on Prof. Syme’s ankle-joint operation took place. As my case was mentioned, and an artificial limb made for me by Mr. Masters was exhibited, will you kindly allow me to make a few remarks upon the subject ? I was operated upon by Prof. Syme so long ago as 1847. For a full statement of my experience of the advantages of that operation I refer you to a letter I addressed to you, and which appeared in THE LANCET of the 7th November, 1857. My object in writing to you now is more with reference to what fell from Mr. Thompson and Mr. Holmes with regard to the kind of artificial limb applicable to the operation. I think, with Mr. Thompson, that " it is very important for the surgeon and mechanician to act in concert in most amputations of the lower extremity;" but I do not agree with Mr. Holmes when be "douhts the value of an artificial limb with the ankle-joint
May, 21st
of
a
meeting of
April,
at which
movement." I do not exactly know what the " common circular shoe"is, but I used, up to last September, a leather case extending to the knee, with a boot buckled to the side and the front stuffed. I always felt at a loss in going up a stair, having no power over the joint whatever. The whole limb felt a dead weight, and the heel came down with a thump. I called on Prof. Syme last September, and asked him if there was anything new at
the Exhibition applicable to his operation, and which might obviate the objections just mentioned. He at once named Mr. Masters, of New Kent road, as having exhibited some first-class apparatus, gave me his address, and recommended me to call on him. 1 accordingly did so, and, seeing at once the immense advantage of his apparatus over mine, I ordered one. I have now worn it for some months, and find myself in a new world with it. It has altered my gait entirely, and given me a propelling power which is truly astonishing, and which was totally wanting in the old one. It is almost impossible to detect anything the matter with me, I now walk so
PHYSICIANS OF LONDON.—The the first part of the professional-
examination for the Licence of the College on the 5th inst. :Foster, Charles William Ellis, Leeds School of Medicine.
BEAN. To the Editor of THE LANCET. to a letter from Dr. Thomas R. Fraser that appeared in THE LANCET of the 6th inst., I desire to state that I do not claim, and have never either directly or indirectly claimed, the credit of having discovered the property possessed by the Calabar bean of contracting the pupil; on the contrary, I have from the first acknowledged that that discovery was Dr. Fraser’s. What I have done is to examine carefully the whole actions of the agent on the eye, and to point out its importance and some of its practical applications. T am. Sir. vonr obedient servant. D. ARGYLL ROBERTSON. Maitland-street, Edinburgh, June, 1863.
OF
followinggentlemen passed
ROYAL COLLEGE
OF
SURGEONS
OF
ENGLAND. - The,
following gentlemen, having undergone the necessary examinations, received the diploma of Dental Surgery at a meeting of , ’
’
the Board on the 10th inst. :Cormack, David, Windmill-street, Bedford-square. Davies, Edward Llewellyn, Islington. Forward, Reginald, King’s-terrace, Southsea. Fox, Sylvanus Bevan, Southernhay, Exeter. Helfrich, Rudolph, Notting-hill-terrace. Keeling, George Ratcliffe, Epsom. Kempton, Henry Tattershall Knowles, Cavendish-place. Palmer, Thomas William Gascoigne, Cheltenham. Perkins, W illiam, Prospect-place, Maida-hill. Petty, Francis, Southampton. Ryding, Frederick, Limerick. Rymer, Samuel Lee, North End Croydon. Smith, Henry, OakleJ square, Hampstead-road. Williams, George Joseph, Cavendish-place.
APOTHECARIES’ HALL.-The following gentlemen passed
their examination in the Science and Practice of Medicine, and:, received certificates to practise, on the 4th inst. :Angus, James Acworth, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Barnes, Thomas Henry, Clare, Suffolk. Burdett, Francis Henry, Birmingham. Davidson, C. M. Davenport, Springfield, Wandsworth-road. Hayward, William Henry, Church-street, Oldbury. Jefferson, Thos. Jewison, Market Weighton, Yorkshire. Laurie, John Douglas, Bradford, Yorkshire. Lindop, John Crump, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. Nash, William Llewellyn, Cheltenham. Wesley, John Sebastian, 38, Southampton-row. The following gentlemen also on the same day passed their first examination :Harrison, Robert, Nether Levens, Milnthorpe. Lupton, Richard John, Liverpool.
THE PRINCESS
OF
WALES,-It is observed that Her-
Royal Highness the Princess of Wales has discontinued her morning rides, and from this and other circumstances the happiest auguries are drawn. HEALTH
OF
KING LEOPOLD.—We are
happy to. be able
to state that the painful rumours current during the last week concerning the rapid decline of the health of King Leopold are entirely without foundation. His Majesty has been able, the to take active week, during past walking exercise, and hisgeneral health has improved. From authentic reports,received it is known that Mr. Henry Thompson has thus far been very successful in the difficult task which he has undertaken; and there is every prospect of his being able to restore the King. to a state of comfort and repose such as he has not for a- long
time
enjoyed.