VACCINATION UNDER THE POOR-LAW. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PROVINCIAL MEDICAL AND SURGICAL JOURNAL. SIR, The Board of Guardians of the Hollingbourn Union, county of Kent, pay 2s. 6d. per case for Vaccination. If I might advise the Ely Union Surgeons, I would recommend them to take 2s., as that sum is becoming pretty generally understood to be the amount sanctioned by the Poor-Law Commissioners. I regret to say, too many Unions pay a much less price, even in rural districts, thinly populated. The population of the parishes I attend as District Surgeon amounts to nearly 4,500. Since the introduction of the Vaccination Act, I have registered 750 cases, for which I am paid 28. per case. ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. Gentlemen admitted Members, Friday, May 24th.H. Kingsley; N. J. Dampier; T. Callaway; S. J. Remnant; R. Ellis; E. S. Protheroe; R. H. Donovan ; J. M. Moullin; J. Cowburn; T. Hipwell; H. C. Byass; G. F. Wills; H. Fearnside. Admitted Monday, May 27th.-J. T. Caddy; C. J. Tomkins; T. Willey; W. Bourne; N. Packer; G. S. Penny; K. Tomson; S. Barnes ; W. Few; C. Clarke; W. A. Biddle; C. H. Barber. PROVINCIAL MEDICAL AND SURGICAL We have to announce that the Twelfth Volume of the Transactions is now published, and that the copies intended for distribution amongst the members have been forwarded to their respective destinations. BOOKS RECEIVED. The Nature and Treatment of Deafness and Diseases of the Ear; and the Treatment of the Deaf and Dumb. By William Dufton, M.R.C.S. London: Churchil, 1844. 12mo, pp. 118. On Dysmenorrhoea and other Uterine Affections in Connection with Derangement of the Assimilating Functions. By Edward Rigby, M.D., Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians; Physician to the General Lying-in-Hospital, &c. &c. London: Renshaw, 1844. 12mo. pp. 124. Plates. Mental Hygiene: or an Examination of the Intellect and Passions, designed to illustrate their Influence on Health and the Duration of Life. By William Sweetser, M.D., late Professor of the Theory and Practice of Physic, &c. (Reprinted from the American Edition.) Edinburgh: Machlachlan, Stewart, & Co. 8vo., pp. 60. On the Comparative Value of the Preparations of Mercury and Iodine in the Treatment of Syphilis. By Edward Octavius Hocken, M.D., &c., Physician to the Blenheim Street Infirmary. (From the Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal, No. 159.) 8vo., pp. 48. Remarks on the Use of Vivisection as a Means of Scientific Research; in a Letter addressed to the Earl of Caernarvon, President of the Society for Preventing Cruelty to Animals. By Richard Jameson. London Bailliere. 1844. 8vo., pp. 52. PROVINCIAL MEDICAL & SURGICAL JOURNAL, SHEFFIELD MEDICAL SOCIETY. Summary of the Scientific Transactions of the Session beginning October 5, 1843, and ending April 18, 1844. By J. Law, Esq., Member of the Faculty of Physicians, Glasgow. This night terminates the third Session of the Sheffield Medical Society, and imposes on the members the task of listening to an address, from which probably will be derived but little gratification, and no useful instruction. The hearers, having been pretty diligent in their attendance, are well acquainted with the details now to be reviewed; and the reader, unable to invest familiar objects with the attractions of novelty, is apprehensive that his retrospect will be received "Like a thrice told tale, Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man." Those, however, who expect only a fair and impartial epitome of the Society's transactions, will not be disappointed; but all will perceive the absence of those practical commentaries and learned criticisms, which, judiciously introduced, give value to documents of this description. On taking a general glance at the whole of the transactions of the past Session, it appears that several cases, replete with pathological interest, have been orally detailed; and that the papers, short, practical, varied, and instructive, have been read, except in four instances, according to the announcements in the printed circulars. In the first of these, Mr. Overend attended for the purpose of reading his paper, but was prevented from doing so by an urgent professional call; in the second instance, which occurred on the 28th of December, there were no transactions; in the third, Dr. Harwood was prevented from reading his communication; and in the last, Mr. Chesman. The indefatigable President compensated the Society for the first disappointment, by relating a rare case of abscess of the brain and liver. Mr. H. Jackson and Mr. Turton ably supplied the place of Dr. Harwood, the former gentleman giving some particulars of a case of fungus hæmatodes, and the latter the history of a case of phlegmasia dolens, unconnected either with parturition or abortion. As Mr. Smith and Mr. Cheşman were fortunately engaged to read papers No. 11, June 12, 1844, on the same night, the inconvenience resulting from the absence of the one, was rendered almost inconsiderable by the judicious paper on strumous ophthalmia, of the other. The polemical part of the Society's transactions for this Session is marked by good taste, and betrays no deficiency in interesting practical information. Numerous and very interesting specimens of morbid anatomy have been shown to the members. During the last session, there were only three meetings at which some diseased part was not produced; and this Session, although it numbers five meetings at which none was exhibited, has yet the advantage, in this department, over its predecessor. For this fact, which forms a fair subject for congratulation, the President ought to be thanked. The frequent occurrence of his name in the classification prepared by the reader, will show the validity of his title to the Society's gratitude. Surely the opportunity here afforded to the members of studying morbid lesions, is incompatible with the faintest appre hension as to the permanence and stability of this institution. In this opportunity alone may be found ample remuneration for the trouble of attendance; and it ought to be a sufficient, even if it were the only inducement with the profession, to support the Society. Amenable to no authority but that of nature, morbid anatomy conducts the ingenuous inquirer, by the simple and intelligible route of induction, to the temple of unchanging truth. The number of the members has undergone no diminution. In the last address they were stated at thirty-four; there are now thirty-five. In the midst of this prosperity, on which the reader takes the liberty of cordially congratulating his hearers, how happens it that the latter meetings of this session have not been very well attended? How is this circumstance to be explained? Surely it is attributable to the unavoidable engagements of the members, for it cannot be believed that the important advantages of Medical Societies are not still duly estimated in Sheffield; for without any laboured argument, these advantages are sufficiently obvious. Au hour given to friendly professional conversation is more fruitful than two devoted either to reading or solitary reflection. Discussion 148 SHEFFIELD MEDICAL SOCIETY. is the steel and opinion the flint. By their mutual action the precious light of truth is obtained and diffused. Discussion, that cares not for victory and aims only at improvement, is here intended. "Tot homines, tot sententiæ," is especially true with respect to medical subjects; but if truth have a real existence, then these contradictory views must in all cases be associated with error, another name for ignorance. It is wise, therefore, in the calm spirit of impartial philosophical inquiry, to compare these contradictory views together, and to weigh them in the accurate balance of reason and experience. "Thoughts disentangle, Passing o'er the lip." The words are stale, but they forcibly declare a valuable sentiment, peculiarly applicable to the present subject. It might, indeed, without any sophistry, be contended that it is the duty of medical men to associate together for the advancement of their art. Man is bound by the laws of benevolence to do all the good in his power. Knowledge is the means by which the medical man does good. He ought, therefore, to obtain as much of it as he can; and to diffuse it as widely as possible. Now, Societies like this are admirably adapted both for the attainment and diffusion of knowledge; they are entitled to the approbation of all, and they will ever be sustained by the enlightened influence of the wise and good. A hint which proceeded from a gentleman present, is perhaps worthy of some consideration. Would there be any advantage in instituting a Christmas recess of one month, and continuing the session to May inclusive, so as to have fifteen meetings as at present? On this question the reader does not offer an opinion. The rules were formed after mature deliberation, and should not be hastily altered. It will be found easier to make new than better laws. A nearer view of the past session must now be taken. The papers, cases, diseased parts, books, and instruments, brought before the Society at the last thirteen meetings, are arranged in seven classes. Each paper, &c., is numbered, and the name of the contributor, with the date and page, is attached. It is unnecessary to say anything in defence of this classification. It is adopted for convenience, it makes reference easy, and constitutes, indeed, a very condensed abstract of the whole proceedings. It required more labour than skill to construct it; but if it be acceptable to the Society, the labourer will not then be without his hire. A paper on the influence of local injuries in the early periods? of life. CLASSIFICATION OF THE PAPERS, CASES, DISEASED PARTS, BOOKS, INSTRUMENTS, &c., BROUGHT Before the Sheffield MEDICAL SOCIETY DURING THE THIRD SESSION, BEGINNING OCTOBER 5th, 1843, AND ENDING APRIL 18th, 1844. No. 12 CLASS 1.-SURGERY. A spiral spring truss, invented by a non-medical person 3 The condyles of the ossa femorum, cartilages thinned and indurated, not ulcerated SHEFFIELD MEDICAL SOCIETY. 149 No. CLASS III-CIRCULATORY SYSTEM. 18 A heart: Scirrhus of the mitral valve. 19 A heart: Dilatation of both auricles, obstructive disease of the mitral opening, dilatation of the aorta, and obstructive disease of the aortic orifice 20 A heart: Pericardium adherent, fatty deposit, hypertrophy, thickening of the mitral valve 21 A heart and aortic arch: Hypertrophy, disease of one segment 22 A heart: Right auriculo-ventricular opening, 6 inches in circum-" 24 A heart: Aortic and mitral valves diseased; left ventricle dilated 26 A heart: Milky appearance on the right side, externally; small quantity of effusion in the pericardium; mitral valve fringed, in its recent state, with vegetations, which have disappeared since the organ was put in spirit; perfect patency of the foramen ovale 27 A case of phlegmasia dolens, unconnected either with parturition or abortion Dr. Branson Mr. Law Dr. Harwood Mr. H. Jackson 32 A fungous growth, attached to the arachnoid and under surface? Dr. Holland Mr. Carr Mr. Law Mr. H. Jackson Dr. Favell 99 Mr. Turton Feb. communicating with the infundibula; in the left one, tuber- Mr. Porter April 4 290 47 CLASS VIL-MISCELLANEOUS Subjects. 44 Two vols. of Galen in the original Greek, once the property of Mr. H. Jackson the celebrated Rabelais and now of the Sheffield Infirmary 45 Dr. W. H. Cullen's tables of the climate of Sidmouth, given to the Society by the author 46 Nouveau Recueil d'Osteologie et Myologie A Paper on the connection between spasmodic asthma and gout The papers, &c., here classified, are 51 in num-ject to rheumatism, and had contraction of the ber. Many of them, it is obvious, must be barely knee joints. The cartilages were exceedingly mentioned. Brevity shall apologise for the defects thin, in some places perfectly hard, but no where of this resumé, in the composition of which, it has ulcerated. never been forgotten, that melius est paucissimas res utiliter scribere, quam effutire multa inutilia. CLASS 1.-SURGERY. No. 1 is sufficiently noticed in the classification. No. 2, Mr. Thomas' paper" on the influence of local injuries in the early periods of life," contained the details of three cases: a compound fracture of the skull of a boy eight years of age; a punctured wound of the knee-joint of a boy eleven years of age; and a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula of a girl 14 years of age. To these, in the course of the discussion, were added, by Mr. Boultbee, two cases of compound fracture of the skull, in boys, with exposure of the brain and depression in both, and in one of them considerable loss of cerebral substance, a portion of bone being driven into the brain so as to render the trephine necessary. In all these cases the patients recovered. Mr. Thomas observed, in the way of hypothesis. that, as two diseased actions cannot proceed at once; so, in early life, when the vital powers are employed primarily and principally in building up the body, there was, perhaps, less opportunity for diseased action, than in adult age, when the processes of waste and reparation are balanced. An hypothesis is of course, in its very nature, in some measure, or altogether, gratuitous. The dictum, that two diseases cannot exist at once, in the same subject, is opposed to the experience of all practical men. It is possible that the opportunity for diseased action is less in early life than in adult life, though the diseases of young people are sufficiently numerous; but the facility with which they resist the consequences of local injuries, is perhaps directly attributable to the great reparative power of the system peculiar to this period; this reparative power being the active agent in the cure. Dr. Holland thought that the hypothesis of Mr. Thomas was strengthened by reference to the false membrane of croup; but the president was of opinion that the false membranes of enteritis and bronchitis were, in many instances, as well organised as that of croup. No. 3: The condyles of the ossa femorum of a woman who died of low fever. She had been sub No. 4: Mr. H. Jackson's paper 66 on the remedial effects of digitalis, as a local remedy." The medical history of the plant and much curious information, interesting only in a literary point of view, were comprised in this communication. On the present occasion the attention will be confined to the practical portion of it. It appears that Mr. H. Jackson has been in the habit, from the commencement of his professional life, of applying digitalis, in the form of a liniment made with the powdered leaves and honey, 1st, to scrofulous ulcers generally, where the bones are not affected; 2ndly, to those ulcerations about the joints, in which the bones are frequently implicated; and 3rdly, to scrofulous sores, directly depending on disease of bone. When there is an excess of inflammatory action, digitalis acts partly as a sedative and partly on the capillaries, improving the character of the discharge, and substituting pus for glairy mucus. The late Dr. Younge and the late Mr. Jackson of this town, induced the author of the paper to use this remedy. The writings of Dr. H. Holland, Dr. Withering, Parkinson, and Brande were referred to, for the purpose of showing that the properties of digitalis are not generally known. In the discussion, Mr. Turton observed that he had found digitalis useful in subduing the inflammation of ulcers depending on debility; that Dr. Younge obtained his information from Dr. Aikin, and that the botanical writings of Churchill contained a great deal of information on this subject. Mr. Thomas said that in disease of the spongy bones, digitalis was useful, but only in allaying inflammatory action; and that, according to his experience, an ointment was as efficacious as a liniment made with honey. No. 5: Uterus and bladder. The latter was perforated instead of the child's head, in 1839. The patient died during labour, in December last, having been once safely delivered in the interim, between these dates. The antero-posterior diameter of the pelvis measured two inches and a half. No. 6, the scirrhous testis, was produced by external violence, a blow on the pommel of a saddle fifteen years ago. Mental anxiety produced a sudden aggravation of the disease, and an opera |