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WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL MEDICAL SCHOOL.
304 because Dr. Warren did not choose to daub the patient’s back with yeast and poultices. Yes, and no ordinary sized poultice must it have been, to reach from the man’s back to his loins ! He would, indeed, have required a " sedative to tranquillize his nervous system" after such an application. But let us see the treatment that Dr. Blewitt is so surprised at, and the want of attention exhibited, which makes him "feel for the honour of his profession." As soon as the punishment had been inflicted, the first application was the man’s shirt dipped in cold water, or linen dipped in the same, (I forget which, as I have not the report by my side;) his cloak is put over his shoulders, and he walks to the hospital, a distance of a few yards. Here the dressing is changed for warm fomentations, and dressings of warm water, simply lint dipped in Heat and moisfure, by which qualities a warm water. poultice produces its soothing and beneficial effects-by which the surface is relaxed, its capillary circulation encouraged, and discharge promoted,-are thus amply afforded without any of the weight, putrefactive fermentation, stench, and filth, which are inseparable even from the best and most scientific cataplasms. Had Dr. Blewitt seen this punishment inflicted many times, he would then know that very few men are "flogged fairly," unless by very experienced hands; and the consequence is, that instead of the punishment being confined to a small space between the shoulders, the unfortunate man, four times out of five, is "flogged all over." Imagine the pain caused by the weight of a poultice large enough to cover such an extensive abrasion of surface! Again, the water-dressing has this additional advantage: the lint can be frequently moistened without removal, and thus a great amount of pain and excitement is done away with, which is inseparable from poultices, thus giving all the soothing effects of the latter without any discomfort. Mr. Liston, in his excellent work, talking of water-dressing, " says, that it has been used in hospitals under his charge, for a long series of years, as a substitute for poultice; as a means of conveying and preserving heat and moisture, on a surface that should secrete pus for its protection; and as an encouragement to the process of healing by the second intention. A poultice-the very name of which is associated with putrefaction and nastiness-has very seldom been employed by me for the last ten or twelve years-in fact, our nurses have now almost forgotten the mode of forming the abomination."
that must go very far towards establishing the presumption of her guilt. The question was put to an eminent surgeon, and his answer was, that they would produce similar, or nearly similar, appearances. After he had given his evidence, and whilst the trial was proceeding, a doubt arising in his mind, he left the court with one of the most distinguished chemists of the present day, also a witness at the trial; and they together made the experiment. They returned into court, and the surgeon, in a state of excitement, requested the judge to allow him to correct his testimony, for he found, upon trial, that the two mixtures produced very different appearances; and he held up, in court, two wine-glasses, one with the aniseed mixture, which was of a yellow colour-the other with the sulphuric acid mixture, which was intensely black. He was then asked, by the counsel for the prisoner, in what order he mixed the ingredients producing the black appearance ; and he replied, the sulphuric acid first, then the sugar, and then the water; and he was then requested to repeat the experiment in court, putting first the sulphuric acid, then the water, and then the sugar. What was the consequence? Why, instead of turning black, it remained of a yellow colour, and, as nearly as possible, resembled the mixture of the
aniseed,
and
Yours resnectfullv. W. I. GORRINGE, M.R.C.S.
WITH WHAT CAUTION SPECULATIVE CHEMICAL TESTIMONY OUGHT TO BE RECEIVED.
CASE, SHOWING
l’o the Editor
of the
&c.
Had the experiment not been repeated in court, in the order of mixing the ingredients in which it was there repeated, the girl, in all probability, would have been hanged! The quantity experimented with was about a teaspoonful of sulphuric acid to two of water, and a small piece of sugar. # Mr. HARRINGTON is entitled to great credit for the tact ability which he displayed in this case. The life of the innocent accused person was saved by the sagacity of the attorney, and not by the eloquence of the counsel.—ED. LANCET.
LANCET.
SIR,—Knowing the readiness with which you always give publicity to facts, the propagation of which may be of essential service, and especially those connected with the medical profession, I take the liberty of enclosing to you for publication, under the above heading, the following particulars, which came under my observation at the trial of Mary North, at the Surrey Assizes, at Guildford, on the 1st instant, on a charge of murdering an infant, named Mary-Ann Barker, on which occasion I acted as attorney for the prisoner. The chemist alluded to was Mr. Alfred Swaine Taylor, lecturer on medical jurisprudence at Guy’s Hospital; and the surgeon was Mr. Tatham, of Wandsworth. From experiments which I had previously made, in order to convince my own mind, I became arise upon mixaware of the difference in colour which wouldand I instructed ing the ingredients in a different order; Mr. Locke, my counsel, to insist upon the experiment being repeated in court in the manner it was. The girl was acquitted, I do not hesitate to say, in consequence of it. I have the honour to be. Sir. vour obedient servant. JOHN J. HARRINGTON. At the recent trial of a young woman, on a charge of the murder of an infant, by administering vitriol to it, the prisoner’s defence rested entirely upon this question-whether sulphuric acid, sugar, and water, mixed together in certain proportions, and aniseed, sugar, and water, mixed together in like proportions, would, in point of colour, a few minutes afterwards, produce a similar, or a somewhat similar appearance. The girl’s life, undoubtedly, hung upon the result. It was the only link wanting to establish her complete defence. If the same result as to appearances followed upon the mixing both sets of ingredients, it established the girl’s innocence. of a palpably different colour and appearance were the result,
WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL MEDICAL SCHOOL. To the Editor Of THE LANCET. for Aug. 29th, which I have only just THE LANCET SIR,— In seen, I find it stated, in a letter signed " A Pupil," that I was an assistant of Dr. Hunter’s at the Westminster Hospital Medical School. This is an error, on the part of your correspondent, which I should feel obliged by your correcting. I was appointed, in July, 1844, Joint-Lecturer on Anatomy and Physiology, with Dr. Hunter, by the School Committee. I am. Sir. your obedient servant, JOHN ERICHSEN.
THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION BILL. To the Editor of THE LANCET. think it right to inform you, that a petition I preSiR,—I pared in support of the Medical Registration Bill, received the signature of every medical man, whether physician, surgeon, or apothecary, in this district, but was too late to be forwarded, owing to the withdrawal of the Bill until the next session of parliament. I have only to add, that the Bill, in this neighbourhood, appears to give great satisfaction. I remain, yours faithfully, HENRY GILES.
SUPERNUMERARY MAMMÆ. To t7te Editor of THE LANCET. SiR,—Reading Dr. Ashley’s case of supernumerary mammæ, in THE LANCET of Aug. 22nd, 1846,I take the opportunity of sending you a case that occurred in my practice. On the 5th May, 1842, I was called to attend Priscilla S-, aged
twenty-three years, a sempstress, then residing in Norwich, in her first labour. When I saw her the day following her accouchement, she complained of severe pains in both mammse. Upon examination, I discovered, to my surprise, on the left breast, two distinct nipples, about one inch apart, from both of which milk flowed abundantly, and during lactation the child as frequently seized one as the other. The right breast presented the usual appearances. She told me, that when the breasts were first developed, the nipples on the left side both became apparent. The areola was very large. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, J. S. GARTHON.
that must go very far towards establishing the presumption of her guilt. The question was put to an eminent surgeon, and his answer was, that they would produce similar, or nearly similar, appearances. After he had given his evidence, and whilst the trial was proceeding, a doubt arising in his mind, he left the court with one of the most distinguished chemists of the present day, also a witness at the trial; and they together made the experiment. They returned into court, and the surgeon, in a state of excitement, requested the judge to allow him to correct his testimony, for he found, upon trial, that the two mixtures produced very different appearances; and he held up, in court, two wine-glasses, one with the aniseed mixture, which was of a yellow colour-the other with the sulphuric acid mixture, which was intensely black. He was then asked, by the counsel for the prisoner, in what order he mixed the ingredients producing the black appearance ; and he replied, the sulphuric acid first, then the sugar, and then the water; and he was then requested to repeat the experiment in court, putting first the sulphuric acid, then the water, and then the sugar. What was the consequence? Why, instead of turning black, it remained of a yellow colour, and, as nearly as possible, resembled the mixture of the
aniseed,
and
Yours resnectfullv. W. I. GORRINGE, M.R.C.S.
WITH WHAT CAUTION SPECULATIVE CHEMICAL TESTIMONY OUGHT TO BE RECEIVED.
CASE, SHOWING
l’o the Editor
of the
&c.
Had the experiment not been repeated in court, in the order of mixing the ingredients in which it was there repeated, the girl, in all probability, would have been hanged! The quantity experimented with was about a teaspoonful of sulphuric acid to two of water, and a small piece of sugar. # Mr. HARRINGTON is entitled to great credit for the tact ability which he displayed in this case. The life of the innocent accused person was saved by the sagacity of the attorney, and not by the eloquence of the counsel.—ED. LANCET.
LANCET.
SIR,—Knowing the readiness with which you always give publicity to facts, the propagation of which may be of essential service, and especially those connected with the medical profession, I take the liberty of enclosing to you for publication, under the above heading, the following particulars, which came under my observation at the trial of Mary North, at the Surrey Assizes, at Guildford, on the 1st instant, on a charge of murdering an infant, named Mary-Ann Barker, on which occasion I acted as attorney for the prisoner. The chemist alluded to was Mr. Alfred Swaine Taylor, lecturer on medical jurisprudence at Guy’s Hospital; and the surgeon was Mr. Tatham, of Wandsworth. From experiments which I had previously made, in order to convince my own mind, I became arise upon mixaware of the difference in colour which wouldand I instructed ing the ingredients in a different order; Mr. Locke, my counsel, to insist upon the experiment being repeated in court in the manner it was. The girl was acquitted, I do not hesitate to say, in consequence of it. I have the honour to be. Sir. vour obedient servant. JOHN J. HARRINGTON. At the recent trial of a young woman, on a charge of the murder of an infant, by administering vitriol to it, the prisoner’s defence rested entirely upon this question-whether sulphuric acid, sugar, and water, mixed together in certain proportions, and aniseed, sugar, and water, mixed together in like proportions, would, in point of colour, a few minutes afterwards, produce a similar, or a somewhat similar appearance. The girl’s life, undoubtedly, hung upon the result. It was the only link wanting to establish her complete defence. If the same result as to appearances followed upon the mixing both sets of ingredients, it established the girl’s innocence. of a palpably different colour and appearance were the result,
WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL MEDICAL SCHOOL. To the Editor Of THE LANCET. for Aug. 29th, which I have only just THE LANCET SIR,— In seen, I find it stated, in a letter signed " A Pupil," that I was an assistant of Dr. Hunter’s at the Westminster Hospital Medical School. This is an error, on the part of your correspondent, which I should feel obliged by your correcting. I was appointed, in July, 1844, Joint-Lecturer on Anatomy and Physiology, with Dr. Hunter, by the School Committee. I am. Sir. your obedient servant, JOHN ERICHSEN.
THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION BILL. To the Editor of THE LANCET. think it right to inform you, that a petition I preSiR,—I pared in support of the Medical Registration Bill, received the signature of every medical man, whether physician, surgeon, or apothecary, in this district, but was too late to be forwarded, owing to the withdrawal of the Bill until the next session of parliament. I have only to add, that the Bill, in this neighbourhood, appears to give great satisfaction. I remain, yours faithfully, HENRY GILES.
SUPERNUMERARY MAMMÆ. To t7te Editor of THE LANCET. SiR,—Reading Dr. Ashley’s case of supernumerary mammæ, in THE LANCET of Aug. 22nd, 1846,I take the opportunity of sending you a case that occurred in my practice. On the 5th May, 1842, I was called to attend Priscilla S-, aged
twenty-three years, a sempstress, then residing in Norwich, in her first labour. When I saw her the day following her accouchement, she complained of severe pains in both mammse. Upon examination, I discovered, to my surprise, on the left breast, two distinct nipples, about one inch apart, from both of which milk flowed abundantly, and during lactation the child as frequently seized one as the other. The right breast presented the usual appearances. She told me, that when the breasts were first developed, the nipples on the left side both became apparent. The areola was very large. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, J. S. GARTHON.