this lengthened essay was received by the audience with the utmost enthusiasm, and listened to with marked interest. On the termination of Professor Haughton's address, the Sectional Meetings were opened. In the Medical Section the chair was taken by Dr. Stokes, in the absence of Sir W. Jenner, and a communication was read by Dr. B. W. Foster of Birmingham, "On the Use of Ether and Etherised Cod Liver Oil in the treatment of Phthisis." Professor Rolleston presided in the Section on Physiology, and papers were read by Mr. Paget "On Stammering with other Organs than those of Speech," and by Dr. Robert McDonnell, of Dublin, "On the relative claims of Bell and Majendie to the discovery of the function of the roots of the Spinal Nerves." In the Surgical Department Mr. Paget assumed the chair, and heard essays, from Mr. Birkett "On the mortality from Abdominal Hernia," and from Mr. Southam "On the results of Operations for Lithotomy at the Manchester Royal Infirmary." THE PRESIDENT'S SOIREE. At half-past eight, the New University Museum was thrown open to a very large assemblage of the members. The tables were covered with a variety of interesting specimens. Dr. Beale exhibited a very complete series of microscopic preparations in Anatomy and Physiology. The Sphygmograph and Cardiograph were demonstrated in an adjoining room, and a variety of novel scientific instruments were exhibited and explained by Professor Clinton. THURSDAY THE 6TH. The Fourth General Meeting was held at ten o'clock, and the report of the Committee on the action of Mercury on the Biliary Secretion, was presented by Dr. Hughes Bennett. The experiments had been principally conducted on dogs, and their result is very startling as tending to overthrow all hitherto received ideas in the matter. The ultimate conclusion arrived at is that, inasmuch as mercury is found to act in most respects on dogs exactly as it does on the human subject, its effect on the secretion of bile may be assumed to be similar. That, nevertheless, it is found in moderate doses not to stimulate that secretion, and in large doses to act in the direction of retarding it. The Report of the Parliamentary Committee was then read, and a Committee was appointed to confer with the Council of the Poor-law Medical Association. The Sectional proceedings this day were signalised by a very able paper on "Preventive Medicine," read by Mr. Simon, in the Public Health Section. the vital importance to us, both as a body and as indivi duals, of maintaining a high standard, may, perhaps, be worth demonstrating. The object of the preliminary examination is of course to test intellectual ability in general, and in particular the possession of such special qualities and faculties of mind as shall guarantee that a young man shall be able to study and practise medicine with satisfaction to himself and benefit to the public; such powers of mind as shall ensure that after four years of average work, he shall be able without fail himself compelled, after so many of the best years of to pass his professional examination, and shall not find his life shall have been spent in the study of medicine, either to turn to some wholly different pursuit, or to settle down, as is so often done in England, as an unqualified assistant or practitioner, with just enough knowledge to be able to pass himself off as being very learned among the lower middle classes, underselling the respectable practitioner, and lowering the general estimate of medicine as a science, and medical practice as a pursuit. It is, indeed, of the utmost im portance to us that a somewhat higher standard even than this shall be reached, since every additional member added to the profession increases the number of candidates for practice, and so far lowers the standard of professional remuneration; and this more especially when the new member is a man of low attainments, and hence under the influence of very strong pressure to undersell his brethren for the sake of his own livelihood. I know what the answer to this line of argument will be in the minds of a very large number of medical men. They will say " It is very true that a high standard of preliminary and professional requirements will benefit us individually, but we have sons to put into the profession, and whom we hope to succeed us in our practices, and if we raise the standard of either examination too high they will not be able to enter the profession." I presume that the difficulty is not one of cost, for which of education, and it would be but very little more, in order to get us would not be willing to spend a little more on his son's him into a profession so much better paid under those conditions than it is at present; but the question is one of intellectual ability to pass the higher examinations. Undoubtedly there would be some lads found, sons of medical men, who could not pass the barriers when raised, but these would obviously fail in the practice of their profession if they should now succeed in passing, and would do much better by selecting some pursuit in life requiring less study, thought, and grasp of mind. But I wish to urge it strongly on my medical brethren, that except in such rare cases the raising of the barriers is a movement altogether in favour of their sons as against others. Those who would be kept out by such a change would be the sons of the petty farmer and shopkeeper, who now look upon the profession as affording them an entrance into the rank of gentlemen. This will be obvious, on a little consideration, by a comparison of the relative advantages possessed by the son of the medical man over the son of a farmer or shopkeeper, as regards the passing of the preliminary and professional examinations. The son of the medical man is brought up from his infancy The Public Dinner of the Association took place in the in what we may call a scientific atmosphere. The knowledge evening in the Hall of Christ Church. Correspondence. LETTERS ON MEDICAL REFORM.-No. II. TO THE EDITOR OF THE MEDICAL PRESS AND CIRCULAR. SIR-The great importance of some of the "higher questions" which must necessarily occupy the attention of our representatives on the Medical Council, when the profession shall have acquired the right of self-government, renders it desirable that professional men should think over and make up their minds upon them before they are called on to name the conditions on which they will support such and such candidates for the honour of representing them and upholding their interests on the Council. One of the first and most important of these questions is that of preliminary education. What are its objects? what ought to be its nature and scope? and whether a high standard or a low standard ought to be maintained? To which latter question, if put in a general way, I presume no person could think of replying that the standard ought to be low, though which his father possesses of chemistry, natural philosophy, botany, and, we may almost certainly add, of mathematics and classics, is unquestionably very great when compared with that of the farmer or shopkeeper. In the company and through the conversation of his father, these things ingrain themselves into the lad's mind; they are the foundation upon which his education is built, the frame-work around which his ideas twine themselves. His rival meanwhile thinking on crops, the flocks and herds, or the markets, stores, and stock in trade, if indeed he ever think at all, in the sense in which a medical man understands the term. Which of these two lads will best and most thoroughly take up the instruction necessary for a high preliminary examination; on the side of which will the advantage lie in passing the examination, if the barriers be only raised high enough? But this is an absolutely necessary step if the advantage is to be thrown where it really lies, on the side of the medical man's son; for, to illustrate the point by a reference to athletic sports, what advantage would the active and well-trained hurdle-leaper have over the clod-hopper in a race where the hurdles should be only one foot high? I must defer to a future occasion the further consideration of this subject.-I am, dear sir, yours faithfully, ISAAC ASHE, M.B. T.C.D. Medical News. THE PUBLIC HEALTH.-We extract the following from the weekly return of the Registrar-General :-In the week that ended on Saturday, August 1, 4416 births and 3770 deaths were registered in London and in 13 other large towns of the United Kingdom. The annual rate of mortality was 31 per 1000 persons living. The annual rate of mortality last week was 28 per 1000 in London, 25 in Edinburgh, and 23 in Dublin; 25 in Bristol, 39 in Birmingham, 36 in Liverpool, 36 in Manchester, 39 in Salford, 38 in Sheffield, 39 in Bradford, 39 in Leeds, 36 in Hull, 26 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and 30 in Glasgow. The rate in Vienna was 35 per 1000 during the week ending the 25th ult., when the mean temperature was 51 deg. Fahrenheit higher than in the same week in London where the rate was 31. The mortality from diarrhoea showed a decline last week in London, but had further increased in several of the other large towns, especially in Birmingham and Liverpool. The annual death-rate from this disease during last week was 4 per 1000 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 5 in Bristol, 6 in London, 9 in Bradford, 10 in Manchester and Hull, 11 in Liverpool, 12 in Salford, 13 in Sheffield, 14 in Leeds, and so high as 20 per 1000 in Birmingham. There is little doubt that under a well-organised system for treating the disease in its earlier stages this mortality would rapidly decrease, and the risk of the more dangerous choleraic forms would be reduced to a minimum. The deaths of 859 males and $06 females, in all 1665 persons, were registered in London during the week. It was the 31st week of the year; and the average number of deaths for that week is, with a correction for increase of population, 1583. The deaths in the present return exceed by 82 the estimated amount, but are less by 220 than the number recorded in the preceding week. The deaths from zymotic diseases were 691, the corrected average number being 638. Five deaths from small-pox, 46 from measles, 47 from scarlatina, 9 from diphtheria, 32 from whooping-cough, and 52 from fever were registered. Thirty-eight deaths from choleraic diarrhoea or cholera were recorded; 27 fatal cases were those of children under two years of age; five children who died were aged 'from 2 to 10 years, and 6 fatal cases occurred in adults. 384 persons died from diarrhoea; of that number 42 were adults. The mortality from diarrhea and choleraic diarrhoea or cholera in the London waterfields to 100,000 living was 12 in the New River, 11 in the Grand Junction, 17 in the Southwark and Lambeth, 14 in the East London, and 18 in the Kent fields of supply. The deaths of 6 persons from sunstroke were recorded; and in many cases the fatal termination of diseases was stated to have been accele Beauchamp prizes (classical), J. Haworth, E. N. Jones, H. Barnes; the Gully prizes (modern langauges), J. Smith, S. Curtis, A. Robinson, H. Walker; the Council prizes to R. M. Drew, D. Faber, J. Perks, A. Hill, F. Pottes, J. Scholfield; Modern department prizes to J. Rogers, J, Staight, &c. The Scholarship Examinations were concluded on the 30th. The Bishop Philpott Scholarship was awarded to H, Barnes; the Council Exhibition to R. M. Drew and C. Lushington; and the Modern Exhibition to H. Bowen. BELFAST BRANCH OF THE ROYAL MEDICAL BENEVOLENT FUND SOCIETY OF IRELAND.-The stated quarterly meeting of the committee of this local branch of the above invaluable society was held on Wednesday, 5th August, at No. 33, High-street. James Moore, Esq., M.D., M.R.I.A., was called to the chair. Amongst the other members present were:-Dr. Patterson, Dr. Whittaker, Dr. Wilberforce Arnold, and the honorary secretary, Dr. Stewart. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. It was now reported that the several parties, six in number, who had been recommended for grants June last, had since received the several sums, as had been at the annual meeting of the Parent Society held in Dublin in suggested, and for which each was deeply grateful for the timely assistance so rendered. The only regret felt by the Parent Society was that more liberal grants could not be awarded, the total sum in hands being so very limited. It was pointedly observed at the meeting to-day how comparatively few of the profession in Belfast gave any pecuniary aid or countenance whatever to a society which, for its means, was terested and humane. Much conversation took place as to the doing so much good, and whose objects were so purely disinbest means to be adopted to increase the number of the actual subscribers to this branch, especially in respect of Belfast, in which the names of little more than a third of the practising members of the profession were in the list of subscribers. Amongst other resources approved of to increase the list of subscribers, it was unanimously decided upon that it be country, to use his influence as far as possible in furtherance of an instruction to each member of the committee, in town and so good a cause as the society was engaged in, by making more widely known its really humane objects, and soliciting on its behalf the aid of every member of the profession, as well as of the affluent not belonging to its ranks, but upon whom the medical profession had the strongest claims. A letter was read from the Secretaries of the Parent Society requesting that the subscriptions of the respective branches would be transmitted to the Treasurer, in Dublin, as early in the month of May, yearly, as possible, a request which it was resolved should be acted upon for the future by this branch. After transacting the usual routine business the chair was vacated, and the meeting separated. rated by the great heat. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the week was 29.801 in. The barometrical reading increased from 29.51 in. on Tuesday, July 28, to 30 16 in. on Saturday, August 1. The mean temperature of the air in the week was 67 6 deg., which is 5.3 deg. above the average of the same week in 50 years (as determined by Mr. Glaisher). The highest day temperature was 901 deg., on Tuesday, July 28. The lowest night temperature was 494 deg., on Saturday, August 1. The entire range of temperature in the week was, therefore, 407 deg. The highest reading of the thermometer in the sun was 1670.public asylums in Ireland, and 626 in private asylums; 2705 deg. on July 28. The mean of the highest temperatures of the water of the Thames was 68.7 deg.; that of the lowest was 68.4 deg. The difference between the mean dew point temperature and air temperature was 12.9 deg. The mean degree of humidity of the air was 64, complete saturation being represented by 100. Rain fell to the amount of 0.23 in. The general direction of the wind was W.S.W. and S.S, W. Ozone was observed on five days during the week. According to a return furnished by the engineer of the Metropolitan Board of Works, the daily average quantity of sewage pumped into the River Thames at the Southern Outfall Works, Crossness, was 46,190,315 gallons, or 209,864 cubic metres, equivalent to about as many tons by weight. MALVERN COLLEGE.-The annual speech-day was held on the 28th ultimo., and the Scholarship Examinations closed on the 30th. After a few introductory remarks by the head-master. The Rev. Arthur Faber, M.A., announcing the increase of the school, &c. The usual speeches were delivered by the pupils with much spirit, receiving at the conclusion loud and well merited applause. The prizes were then distributed, the chief award being the STATISTICS OF INSANITY IN IRELAND.-By the aid of the Royal Irish Constabularly and the police, a very careful inquiry has been recently made throughout Ireland into the number of insane persons not placed in any asylum or other institution (including wandering lunatics), with a view to ascertain by the returns, coupled with those from asylums and other establishments, the gross amount of insanity in the country. The result is as follows:-On the 31st of December, 1867, there were 5212 insane persons in in poor-houses; 334 in goals; 158 in the Dundrum central asylum for criminal lunatics, and 51 in Lucan private asylum, supported by the Government; making 9086 registered lunatics. To these are to be added 6564 lunatics at large, making the total number of the insane in Ireland, 15,650. In Connaught they constitute 2.0 per 1000 of the popula tion enumerated at the Census of 1861; in Ulster. 24 per thousand; in Munster, 27 per thousand; in Lein ster, 30 per thousand. Taking Ireland as a whole, the number is 27 per thousand of the population at the Census of 1861, or 2.8 per thousand of the estimated population at the end of 1867. All classes of persons of unsound mind are included -lunatics, idiots, epileptic imbeciles. Omitting the 51 in Lucan not classified, 8322 are males, and 7277 females. The returns relating to the 5212 patients in district asylums show that in 952 cases the insanity was due to moral causes; in 1074 to physi cal causes; in 542 it was hereditary; in 2644 the cause was unknown. An examination of the 952 cases of insanity traced to moral causes shows that in 280 cases it arose from grief, fear, or anxiety; in 190 from poverty and reverse of fortune; in 154 (57 men and 97 women) from love, jealously, or seduc tion; in 93 from domestic quarrels and afflictions; "in 129 (53 males, 76 females) from religious excitement; in 59 from study and mental excitement; in 30 from ill-treatment; in 9 from pride; in 8 from anger. Among the 1074 cases of insanity from physical causes are 289 from intemperance and irregularity of life, 76 from effect of climate or sunstroke, 14 from abuse of medicine, 30 from sedentary habits. There were 5070 patients in district asylums at the beginning of 1867, and 1527 were admitted in the year, making 6597 under treatment; 638 were discharged recovered in the year, and 465 dead. More than one-fourth of the lunatics in these asylums (excluding idiots and epileptics) were pronounced probably curable. THE COCKCHAFER.-M. Payen communicated to the Academy of Sciences the leading points of a paper published in the "Mémoires" of the Société d'Emulation of Abbeville, by its vice-president, M. E. Hecquet d'Orval, on the enormous havoc caused in 1866 by the white grub, or larva of the cockchafer. In Lower Picardy the damage done to breadstuffs amounted to from 35 to 50 per cent., to fodder and meadows to between 25 to 50 per cent.; to beetroot, potato, and poppy to 50 per cent., while the Jerusalem ortichoke only suffered at the rate of 27 per cent. The average amount of the loss in the aggregate is therefore 40 per cent., chiefly owing to the larva of the cockchafer, but also partly to the Agrotis segetum caterpillar. The author of the paper shows that a severe winter fails to destroy any great quantity of these enemies, and that, if moles do some little damage to fields, it is far outweighed by the great services they render agriculture by devouring grubs. He also rejoices to see that birds are more protected now than formerly. Ground lying fallow is generally a hotbed for the propagation of the white grub, and such fields ought, therefore to be ploughed and har rowed at least five times during the year, when these worms are near the surface; in that way they are either picked up by the birds or killed by the heat of the sun. M. Payen remarked that last year M. Reiset proved that the collecting of these noxious insects may be effected on a large scale at a very moderate cost; they might then be easily killed by the vapours of napthaline, and used for manure. In the department of the Oise, M. Lallouette, proprietor of the sugar manufactory of Barberie, last spring paid 20f. for every 100 kilog. of cockchafers, and for 6000f. obtained 30,000 kilog. of them, representing 34 millions and a-half of individual insects, which would have produced 690 millions of white grubs. The department of the Seine Inférieure, last year, at a cost of 80,000f.. got 1,149,000.000 cockchafers, which might have produced 22,980,000,000 of white grubs, capable of devouring the produce of 300,000 hectares (750,000 acres).—Galignani. OBITUARY NOTICES. THE LATE DR. ELLIOTSON, F.R.C.P. AND F.R.S.This distinguished member of the medical profession, who died, at the advanced age of 82, on the 29th ult., whilst staying at the house of an old and attached friend, our contemporary, the Standard, says, was the son of a chemist in the borough, in which the subject of the present short notice afterwards practised. As soon as his preliminary studies were completed he went to Edinburgh, then the chief medical school in the kingdom, At Edinburgh he remained three years, and proceeded to Cambridge, where he graduated, and took his degree of M.D. In 1817 he became assistant-physician to St. Thomas's Hospital, and a few years later one of the principal physicians. On the establishment of University College, in Gower-street, he was appointed Professor of Medicine in that institution and physician to the hospital. These offices he resigned in 1838 in consequence of the opposition raised to his system of mesmeric treatment of cases in that hospital. Before Dr. Elliotson yielded his faith to the marvels of mesmerism he made some useful contributions to medical literature; among which he published a translation of "Blumembach's Physiology," and a work on "Diseases of the Heart." He had a very extensive practice, and was the first man to introduce the use of the stethescope into this country. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1822; of the Royal Society, in 1824; and has been president of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society. THE LATE DR. STEVENS.-It becomes our duty to record in this week's Herald the death of a gentleman who made for himself a name not only in this locality, where he was well-known, but in the wide world of science also; we allude to William Stevens, M.D., D.C.L., formerly of the Island of St. Croix and of this city. Dr. Stevens was a very eminent physiologist, and recognised as a man of exceptional acquirements by the ablest men of his day. In 1834 he was chosen by the University of Oxford, on the inauguration as Chancellor of the Duke of Wellington, as one of the three members of the medical profession to whom the honorary degree of D.C.L. was awarded in convocation, the other members of the triumvirate being J. H. Hume, M.D., and Sir Astley Cooper, M.D. The magistrates of the county of Middlesex awarded Dr. Stevens a vote of thanks and presented him with pression of gratitude for his valuable services in combating the a piece of plate of the value of a hundred guineas as an excholera in the county prison of Coldbath Fields, and King Christian VIII. of Denmark, in admiration of his genius, and in requital of his valuable services rendered in the Danish West Indies bestowed upon him a princely gift. The mode of treatment adopted by Dr. Stevens in cases of cholera is now acknowledged to have been founded upon a most enlightened view of the diagnosis of that terrible disease. His writings upon diseases of the blood will always be recognised by the profession, and he leaves a monument of his research in the well-known remedy for all affections of the kind, sold every where as "Lamplough's Pyretic Saline." Dr. Stevens had reached the patriarchal age of 82. A genius, a philosopher, and a man of strong and original thought, he lived down prejudices, and had the pleasure of seeing his theories carried into practice by men who were at one time a little too willing to cry him down.- Worcester Herald. 19TH July, on board the African Mail-boat, Lagos, on his passage home from Sierra Leone, John Bradshaw, Esq., L.K.Q.C.P.I., and L.R.C.S.I., Staff-Surgeon, aged 32 years, fourth son of the late Dr. George Bradshaw, of Thurles, county Tipperary. Dr. Bradshaw fully maintained the prestige of the Dublin Schools of Medicine, as by his superior attainments he was promoted to the rank of surgeon after serving only four years and three months as assistant-surgeon. He was a young man of much promise as regards his profession, and had endeared himself to all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance by his many sterling good qualities. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. Proofs reaching authors in England on or before Friday morning are expected to be returned to the Editor, at the office, 20, King William-street, Strand, W.C., before five P.м., on Friday afternoon. Proofs reaching authors on Friday evening or Saturday morning must be returned to the office by two г.м. on Saturday, which is an early closing day. Duplicate proofs are sent to authors, in order that they may correct and return one copy, and keep the other for private use. Contributions should be LEGIBLY written, on one side of the paper only. All Communications and Letters must be authenticated by the name of the writer, though not necessarily for publication. J. M. J.-Having perused the memorandum in question, we do not think it would be sufficiently interesting to our readers, to accord it space in our columns. We are disposed to question whether the flesh of the Kangaroo, is the article, par excellence, for assisting the digestion of all other foods. A SUBSCRIBER.-Your friend in Washington, should have no diffi culty in procuring the regular supply of this journal, if his commands were given to Messrs. Kelly and Piet, Baltimore, who are our sole agents for the United States. book in question, we believe the price is 3s. 6d. Dr. E. S.-Mr. Walton, of Gower-street, is the publisher of the BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, &c., RECEIVED. The Practitioner for August. A Treatise on Odontalgia, by S. Parsons Shaw. Manchester: Palmer and Howe. Theory of the Treatment of Disease adopted at Ben Rhydding, by William Macleod, M.D. London: John Churchill and Sons. On Digitalis, by T. L. Brunton, B.Sc. M.B. London John Churchill and Sons. On the Immediate Treatment of Stricture of the Urethra, by Bernard Holt, F.R.C.S. London: John Churchill and Sons. The Edinburgh Medical Journal; the Dublin Medical Journal; the Medical; L'Union Medicale; and the Philadelphia Medical and SurgiGlasgow Medical Journal; Gazette Medical De Paris; Le Mouvement cal Reporter. APPOINTMENT. House-Surgeon to the Leeds Dispensary, has been appointed House EDWARD BOROUGH, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. E., late Senior Assistant Surgeon to the Leeds Fever Hospital, vice Henry C. Libbey, Esq., re signed. ESTABLISHED 1848. PROFESSIONAL AGENCY AND MEDICAL TRANSFER OFFICE. 50, Lincoln's-inn-fields, W.C. MR. J. BAXTER LANGLEY, M.R.C.S., F.L.S., &c. (KING'S COLL.), has always upon his books a large number of desirable investments and available openings for Medical Men commencing their professional career. Gentlemen wishing to relinquish practice can be introduced without delay to competent successors with means at their disposal. Mr. Langley devotes his prompt personal attention to the negotiations entrusted to him, and treats confidentially and with care all matters relating to professional business. The strictest reserve will be practised in all the preliminary arrangements and no expense incurred (except in special cases) unless a negotiation be completed. The business of the Professional Agency is based upon the general principle that no charge is made unless work has been done and services rendered. A prompt and just system secured a large measure of success to the General Partnership and Commercial Agency Business formerly conducted by him at his City offices; this has for some years been transferred to Lincoln's-inn-fields, and he has invariably adopted the same equitable policy in the more professional matters placed in his hands. Thus his experience in the management of large commercial undertakings, combined with his medical, scientific, and literary acquirements, enable Mr. Langley to guarantee that all matters of business placed in his hands will be carried out without delay, and with an equitable regard to the interests of all the parties concerned. arbitrator on matters of dispute between professional men, Mr. Langley has had great experience, and he can refer to numerous cases in which he has been the means of preventing expensive and tedious litigation, and in which his awards have been made rules of her Majesty's Courts at Westminster. As an Mr. Langley can also refer to the Professors of his College, Members of Parliament, Clergy, Merchants, Bankers and others, as a guarantee of his integrity and honour in all negotiations entrusted to him. Full information as to terms, &c., sent free on application. Office Hours from 11 till 4; Saturdays from 11 till 2. TO PHYSICIANS. There is a a lified M.D., in a borough town, in the Midland district. Population about 4500. The neighbourhood is extensive and respectable, and there is no resident Physician within about 12 miles. Until within the last three years a good fee-practice has been carried on above 40 years. A middle-aged gentlemen, with a small independency, would find this a desirable opportunity. Address X 350, Mr. Langley, as above. MIDL IDLAND.-In a large and wealthy town, a Practice for transfer, with one year's Partnership introduction. Receipts £600 a year, capable of large increase. The residence is situated in a main thoroughfare, and is very commodious, with Garden and Stabling; Rent £65. No Dispensing. Midwifery Fees from £1, 1s. upwards. All appointments have been declined. This investment can be confidently recommended to an active married gentleman with good qualifications and address. Address, X. 344, Mr. Langley as above. PARTNERSHIP Fom which is upwards of £900 % e of, a large ARTNERSHIP.-For Transfer, the Half-share of a large from public appointments. The opening affords an unusually good opportunity for a young unmarried man, who could succeed to the whole Practice at the end of two years. A knowledge of the Welsh language is desirable, but not indispensable. Address X. 341, Mr. Langley, as above. COMPETENT ASSISTANTS Provided without delay, free of expense to the principal. No gentleman recommended whose antecedents have not been inquired into. Apply to Mr. Langley as above. FOR THE LONDON SURGICAL HOME, OR Diseases and Accidents of Women; for the Reception of Gentlewomen and Females of respectability, upon a weekly payment, under the sole management of Mr. BAKER BROWN. The Private Medical Attendants of the patients are invited to visit them, and to meet in consultation before treatment. Full particulars can be obtained on application to the LADY SuperINTENDENT, 18, Stanley-terrace, Notting-hill, London, W.; or to Mr. BAKER BROWN, 136, Harley-street, London, W. 30th November, 1867. FOR TO BEGINNERS. OR Transfer, a practice in one of the pleasantest localities in the north of Ireland; appointments exceed £100 per annum; patients include the best residents in the locality. Considerable scope for increase. Very comfortable residence, with every by letter, to M.D. Practice, Post-Office, Rathmines, Co. Dublin. convenience, on lease at a low rent. Further particulars on application IN consequence of the intended retirement of a medical gentleman from an old and valuable Practice, a peculiarly advantageous opportunity is afforded for a successor possessing firstrate qualifications. Address M.D., MEDICAL PRESS AND CIRCULAR Office, 3, Lincolnplace, Dublin. LOCUM TENENS can be despatched by Local Agents, or at the offices, an early train after receipt of letter or telegram stating terms, duties, and qualifications required. Fee 10s. 6d. Address Mr. Langley as above. Now ready. Second Edition, with considerable additions. TO THE RAILWAY PASSENGERS ASSURANCE COMPANY, For particulars apply to the Clerks at the Railway Stations, to the 64, CORNHILL, AND 10, REGENT-STREET, W. J. VIAN, Secretary. ESTABLISHED 1812. MEDICAL HERBS. ADVICE on Buying or Selling Medical Practices, For the Sale of Leeches and all kinds of Partnerships, &c. By J. BAXTER LANGLEY, Farringdon-street, London, E.C. His new priced Catalogue sent to H. POTTERS, Depot, 56, any address on application. H. P. has on Sale all kinds of Turkey and Honey-Comb Sponges. M.R.C.S., F.L.S., &c. Free by post for seven stamps, from the Author, 50, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. "SALUS POPULI SUPREMA LEX." WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1868. CONTENTS. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. Ovarian Neuralgia Treated by Hydro- HOSPITAL REPORTS. CITY OF DUBLIN HOSPITAL Two Cases of Chorea Treated by the Icebag. Under the care of Dr. J. Hawtrey Benson... Cases of Bent Knee, in which Division of the Hamstring Tendons was performed -Extension having been Subsequently 160 A Member of the Senate of the University of Cambridge on the Representation in the Medical Council. 175 162 THE MEDICAL COUNCIL-PARLIAMENT OR 169 163 NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS. Original Communications. balanced transudation may take place; or, according to Dr. Woakes," the capillaries are in a state of equilibrium between the forces exercised upon them by these two por ON THE NERVOUS CONNECTION OF CERTAIN tions of the nervous system. A state of tone is in this SKIN DISEASES. BY HENRY SAMUEL PURDON, M.D.,` PHYSICIAN, BELFAST DISPENSARY FOR DISEASES OF THE SKIN, ETC. In a former paper! I endeavoured to point out one or two symptoms held in common in three distinct diseases-viz., Herpes, Pemphigus, and Urticaria. Since the publication of that paper an interesting article has appeared, by Dr. Handfield Jones, on "Pleurodynia accompanied by a Peculiar Eruption."2 Drs. Woakes, Morris, Wilson, &c., have also contributed papers on the nervous origin of many skin diseases. The nervous system is divided into two orders-viz., the cerebro-spinal and sympathetic; the former comprising the brain and spinal cord, together with the nerves proceeding from those structures; the latter presides over organic life. Its nerves being chiefly sent to the blood-vessels, glands, and internal viscera, intimate communication exists between the two systems; but, as our enquiry is more towards the nervous relations of various cutaneous diseases, I shall only state that the skin which envelopes our bodies is of varying thickness in different regions. No nerves or blood-vessels have as yet been traced into the epidermis, its nutrition being carried on by means of the selective properties of the cells; and upon the deep or under surface of the cuticle granular cells are abundantly found. The tactille papillary layer of the cutis vera presents furrows which pursue different directions, separated by elevations which are occasioned by a double row of conical papilla, and into which a couple of capillary loops, together with a nervous twig, enter. The skin is united by "connective tissue," which is loose and soft in texture, to the subjacent parts, and which allows of motion taking place. Into this connective tissue an exudation may take place, especially if the part be very vascular. Nerve irritation may occasion an exudation, which is due to direct transudation from the capillary vessels themselves; for, according to Bernard and other physiologists, the cerebro-spinal nerves cause dilatation of the capillaries, the sympathetic, the opposite-viz., constriction; and if these two functions be not equally 1 "Notes on Herpes Pemphigus and Urticaria.”—Dublin Quarterly Journal, May, 1868. 2 Journal of Outaneous Medicine, July, 1868. No. VI. way maintained in them, the greater in accomplishing which is referable to the regulating influence of the sympathetic fibres. By the term 'tone' is meant that condition of equilibrium between the capillaries and tissue cells surrounding them which is necessary for the exercise of those elective functions by the latter, upon the due performance of which the ultimate process of nutrition mainly depends." When the skin is inflamed, say, for instance, in erythema, we have--when the disease is chronic-an exudation poured forth into the subcutaneous tissue; or papules may appear at certain anatomical points, as, for instance, at the orifice of hairs, gland ducts, or other vascular spots, as is well observed in eczema lichenoides. Herpes and pemphigus form the connecting link between erythema, on the one hand, and urticaria, on the other. In erythema both the corium and subcutaneous cellular tissue are infiltrated with fluid which many pathologists consider to be exuded through the walls of the capillary vessels; and, according to Virchow,2" the exudation that we meet with is essentially composed of that material which is generated by the altered condition of the inflamed part, and of the transuded fluid which escapes from the vessels." In an article on "The Passage of Blood Corpuscles through the Walls of the Vessels," Medical Times and Gazette, May 2nd, 1861, the following occurs :-" The second experiment consists in producing congestion of the capillary system in the web of a frog's foot by the application of a ligature to the femoral vein. The resulting phenomena are:-1st, retardation of the stream; 2nd, the occurrence of oscillation; 3rd, stasis. This is followed by massing together of the corpuscles to the walls of the vessels, which usually become pouched at these points. On relieving the congestion, by removing the ligature, the conglomerates of corpuscles break down and the stream re |