135 these will work well for the remuneration and position of It is believed that some medical officers have hesitated to the medical officers will mainly depend upon the animus of avow an attachment to the convention through their peculiar Mr. Buller; hence the necessity for the utmost vigilance and position with local boards; such, at least, while they remember exertion on the part of the committee and convention, that which is said to be " the better part of valour," should not the president may take no false step in well-intentioned efforts forget what " are the sinews of war," and remit, accordingly, to ameliorate the present system of poor-law medical relief. subscriptions for the past as well as for the current year, It will be borne in mind, that towards the close of last year that the exertions of the committee may be continued un- circular letters, requiring much information on the prevalence imnaired. of disease and other sanitary matters, were issued to the union TIIO-4AS HODGKIN, M.D., Chairman. surgeons by the metropolitan sanitary commissioners. As no CHARLES F. J. LORD, Hon. Secretary remuneration was attached to answering these letters, which were addressed, as was the case on a former occasion, to TREASURER’S REPORT. was deemed the com- poor-law medical officers, it right by Committee of Poor-law Medical Officers in account with the mittee to seek an interview at Gwyder House on the matter. Treasurer. Lord Robert Grosvenor (president), with the other com- missioners, gave a lengthened audience to the deputation, and admitted, in general terms, the grievances endured by poor- law surgeons, but felt that no power was furnished by their commission to interfere in the matter, or grant any payment for past services which the sanitary question had received at the hands of the medical gentlemen acting under the poor law. It was felt needful to seek this interview, as tending to mark the sense of the committee that these, and similar un- requited demands on the time and knowledge of medical men for public objects, however laudable in themselves, are quite foreign to the official duties of union surgeons. Various cases of general importance to the administration of medical relief, and to the poor-law medical staff more especially, have been watched by the committee, in some in- stances even investigated, and in all treasured up with a view to their ulterior on the The committee have bearing subject. I Further subscriptions are respectfully solicited, and it is often noticed an improved feeling in regard to their claims requested that as evinced boards of and more particularly gentlemen remitting subscriptions by guardians, especially by will be to make the same the authorities of Somerset House. Illustrative of this by post-office order, pleased payable may to the Thomas at the be cited the augmentation of the salaries of the medical offi- treasurer, Martin, Esq., Reigate, post- cers of the Holborn and other unions. office, Reigate, Surrey. Nevertheless it has been most painful to witness such in- stances of injustice to medical officers as have been furnished by the Croydon and Huddersfield cases, and the marked hos- Correspondence. tilitv of the Chesterfield Union. " Andi alteram partem." Soon after the meeting of the convention, it was suspected that intimidation was used to prevent the free action of medi- UPTON-UPON-SEVERN UNION. cal which was confirmed the circular letter of the officers, by To the Editor THE LANCET. Chetterfield Union. The committee lost no time in calling of hand the enclosed gentlemen so assailed to a steady, yet temperate, perseverance SiR,łWe beg to you advertisement, in their objects-urging the high character of their enter- just published by the Upton board of guardians. We would of the differs prise, and the unworthiness of all who used any unfair mea- observe that the present constitution districts district 1 now sures to impede its progress, as well as of those who succumbed much* from the old arrangement-that No. to such influence. contains 18,020 acres; and district No. 3, 16,040; in both The judgment given in a higher court than a coroner’s, has which the general order of the poor-law board, with refer- shown, in the notorious Croydon case, at how low an estimate ence to medical appointments, has been violated, that order as extent of a the dictum of a jury inflamed against a union surgeon should having prescribed 1500 acres the maximum be held by dispassionate men; yet the verdicts recorded at medical district. We have laid our case before the poor-law some inquests have shown a favourable disposition on the board, but have, as yet, received no reply. We understand part of juries. that for some time past several men have been canvassing Mr. Tatham’s case at Huddersfield is another happy illus- for the vacant districts. will tration of a temper in high quarters eminently friendly to We continue to report to you, from time to time, the the interests of the poor law medical staff. progress of events. The committee strongly advise publicity to be given in With best thanks for your very able and energetic ad- every instance of injustice or suffering traceable to any mal- vocacy of our cause, we remain, Sir, your obedient servants, administration or defective of the system CHAS. BRADDON. provision present T7ntnn.nn_Severn_ Tnlv. I R4fL of poor law medical relief. W. T. WHITE. Although the committee, on a retrospect of their exertions, " Upton-upon-Severn Union.-To the 1Jfedical P1’ofession.- cannot point to much advantage secured, the review is by no The board of guardians of Upton-upon-Severn will, at their means discouraging. Attention is more than ever alive to the meeting to be holden on Thursday, the third day of August subject. For the first time, the poor-law medical staff has next, proceed to the election of a medical officer for each of spoken out, unå voce, their deep sense of their grievances, their the following districts of this union. Medical gentlemen, firm, temperate resolve to seek, and by perseverance to duly qualified to practise, and willing to undertake the duties obtain, redress. Not their appeal alone, but the encouraging of either of these districts, are requested to make applications voice of the whole profession, as raised by the Colleges of in writing to the board, (accompanied by certificates of quali- Physicians and Surgeons-by the Apothecaries’ Society-and fication,) before ten o’clock in the morning of the third day of by other medical associations, has been addressed in support August next, and to attend personally at the board-room by of the objects of the convention, both to the Home Office eleven o’clock on the same morning, when and where the and to the House of Commons. election will take place. Let it be prominently borne in mind, that the great body of District No. 1 comprises the parishes of Earl’s Croome, the rate-payers who elect the local guardians, and influence Hill Croome, Hanley Castle, Little Malvern, Ripple, Upton- powerfully the legislature of the country, are indifferent on upon-Severn, and Welland, with the hamlets of Holdfast and the subject chiefly through ignorance of the wide-spread evil. Queenhill. Salary, X83 per annum. Every medical officer, and every disinterested, philanthropic District No. 2, the workhouse at Upton-on-Severn. Salary, member of the profession, should use time and argument to X20 per annum. inform and influence his friends and patients ; particularly District No. 3 comprises the parishes of Berrow, Birts- should this be done towards such gentlemen as have seats in morton, Bushley, Castlemorton, Eldersfield, and Longdon. the House of Commons, that they may be able to agitate and Salary, £70 per annum. advocate the question as one of national policy and honour, District No. 4 comprises the parishes of Croome D’Abitot, as well as of justice and benevolence. Kempsey, and Severn Stoke. Salary, X40 per annum. 136

District No. the of Powick. of familiar with their and 5 comprises- parish Salary, opportunity becoming position, per- £20 per annum. haps may entitle me to pronounce an opinion on the subject. Midwifery eases, when attended under an order from the Now, Sir, let me say, first, that to call these gentlemen proper authorities, 1 Os. 6d. each. Successful cases of vaccina- " useful members of the profession," is only to state one-third tion, ls. 6d. each; with such extra sums for fractures, disloca- of their merits. They are a body of estimable and accom. tions, &c. &c., as are specified in the last order of the poor-law men; in fact, in very many instances, almost the only board. plishedpersons in a ship, in whose conversation an intellectual or The duties of the medical officers will extend to affording literary person could find anything to instruct or interest him. medical relief and surgical assistance, medicines, leeches, I still remember with pleasure the apt quotation, the felicitous and appliances, (except trusses,) to all such paupers falling ill remark, and the agreeable anecdote, which cheered and re within their respective districts, as the board of guardians freshed me, from the lips of a medical messmate; and which or other duly authorized persons may direct to receive the was doubly welcome, after the noise, the babble, and the same. order of the of the " conversation" of a berth. Let me that By Board, J. SKEY.SKEY. obscenity add, Board-room, Upton-on Severn, these gentlemen are most attentive to their duties, and kind July 20th, 1848." and considerate in the performance of them. For this reason, they are generally popular among the men, to whom it is of INQUIRY AT THE FEVER HOSPITAL, LIVERPOOL. course gratifying to meet with gentleness in the sick-bay, after ruffianism on the from other To the Editor of THE LANCET. upper-deck, quarters. Yet how are these gentlemen treated, in the vessels of article of THE LANCET of last SIR,-The leading Saturday which they are the ornaments? Not only have they no cabins, a to a and contains paragraph referring recent inquiry here, not only are they compelled to live among a mob of young committee in a manner. alluding to certain members of the men, whose education hc&3.flnished at fourteen years of age, but, which and as name is also is deemed offensive; my mentioned, in very many instances, they are actually exposed to personal I request you will, by publishing this letter in your next insult and annoyance from the cubs around them, who ought me of all know- number, afford the opportunity disclaiming to be proud of their society. I speak what is a well-known or or the ledge of, connexion with, directly indirectly, party fact, when I say that a newly-joined assistant-surgeon is gene. or who furnished with the I " parties you information, which, rally submitted to a course of what cockneys call chaff"- may add, is incorrect, for one of the gentlemen evidently petty personalities, vulgar, heartless, and dull. The the equally alluded to had no connexion whatever with inquiry. late Mr. Douglas, surgeon R.N., in whose brilliant writings own in the I am in the As regards my position matter, one is reminded of the best parts of Bulwer, and the vigour who will cause a full and im- hands of the poor-law board, of Warren, was treated in this way on joining the service I am of partial inquiry to be instituted, and therefore sure first. Fancy the effect of such conduct on the mind of such obtaining justice.-I am, Sir, your obedient servant, a man! I had never the pleasure of seeing him, but I recol. Fever Hospital, Liverpool, July 26th, 1848. A. B. STEELE. lect hearing an account of the whole affair, my informant adding, that Douglas had threatened in the mess to write to the Times on the it would have been as THE LATE INQUEST AT PORTSMOUTH. subject. Perhaps well if he had done so, and so hastened the result of the pre. To the Editor of THE LANCET. sent agitation, which must end in triumph, being founded in SIR,—In my last communication I inadvertently made an reason, and only opposed by stupidity. error in saying, "The conjugate axis measured five in place In the Snake, 16 guns, in which I served from October, of four inches. Will you have the kindness to rectify this in 1842, to October, 1843, there were eight of us, in a little berth your errata, thus : For five" read "four" inches. destitute of air and light; the assistant-surgeon was exposed I remain, Sir, yours truly, to every inconvenience, and had only at his command a dirty Portsmouth, July, 1848. STUDENS. little hole called a "dispensary," and worse situated than the cabins of the boatswain, gunner, and carpenter. No gentle. SIR,—On reading the account of the very extraordinary case man would keep a terrier in such a place as the Admiralty reported in the last number of your valuable journal-viz., the had bestowed upon, and thought good enough for, a scholar inquest on the body of a Mrs. Webster, who died at Southsea, and a gentleman. I was subsequently in a corvette, of a during an attempt to induce premature labour,-I could superior nature to the brig Snake. The assistant-surgeon who not but lament that a more satisfactory account of it had not served in her at that time has since left the profession-I pre- been furnished by some of the parties more immediately sume, in disgust and disdain-and I am not surprised at it. It concerned. I have no observation to make, in this letter. on seems astonishing to me, that such a state of things should the practice of Dr. Stewart. It is with the surgeons (Mr. exist for an instant, or any one be found to open his mouth in Garrington’s) testimony, who made the sectio-cadaveris, I defence of a system, the immediate effect of which is to put a purpose now to deal. With singular inconsistency he pro- scientific man serving his country in a position where he can. nounces the pelvis in this case of nearly its natural dimen- not read or write. That is the plain fact; and the Admiralty sions, and yet states that it might have proved an insurmount- should remember, that though they can do well enough with- able obstacle to delivery ! Next he declares that neither the out reading, (as would appear from their conduct,) intellectual uterus nor the vagina were pierced by the instrument used men cannot, and will not. for puncturing; and yet declares the cause of death to have I have not the smallest personal or private interest in the proceeded from a small aperture in the iliac artery, with a matter, and I speak simply as a friend of an estimable and ill. similar corresponding aperture or opening in the peritonaeum. used class, and purely on public grounds. I think it the duty It seems to me, Sir, to come more within the range of pro- of every man to contribute his mite to a good cause, and can babilities, that a puncture either in the uterus or vagina see no reason why a lieutenant should have a cabin to snooze might have escaped detection, than that an artery should in, and an assistant-surgeon none, for the purposes of study. have burst or opened,-and the peritonseum burst or opened I am, Sir, your obedient servant, at the same time, so as to-permit the passage of its current of London, June, 1848. AN ALLY. blood; that artery, too, being in the pelvic cavity, so imme- diately contiguous to the part meant to be punetured ; and QUACKERY.—DEATH AFTER TAKING COCKLE’S that, also, at the very precise moment when a stilette was PILLS. introduced into the uterus, for the purpose of piercing the To the Editor of THE LANCET. investing fœtal membrane. -Mr. Garrington will surely think DEAR SIR,—The enclosed is another example of the dreadful to afford some further of this most extra- it right explanation effects of quack pills, &c. The unfortunate man has left a and more coinci ordinary circumstance, still extraordinary widow and fourteen children, who were dependent on him. dence. He was a farmer in middling circumstances.-Yours truly, Portsea, July, 1848. J. P. A SUBSCRIBER OF TwENTT-FlYE YEARS. Heckington, July, 1848. TREATMENT OF NAVAL ASSISTANT-SURGEONS. (ABSTRACT.) Medical of the Cause Thomas To the Editor of THE LANCET. Certificate of Death.-Name, Cropley; aged forty-nine years last birthday. Was attended SIR,—Although not a member of the medical profession, I by me, and died on the 10th day of July, 1848. Cause of am a reader of THE LANCET, and have watched with great death: Cockle’s pills, producing excessive diarrhoea, irrita- pleasure the progress of the agitation on the subject of the bility of the stomach and bowels, spasm, exhaustion. Dura- treatment of assistant-surgeons in the naval service. Five tion of disease, six days. (Signed) years’ constant -service afloat, as a midshipman, gave me an WILLIAM GIBBS, M.R.C.S. & L.A.C.