Y TAUNTON MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. (291 Beneath the joint there was an extensive deposition of fancy my fingers made the lower opening in drawing it the same structure, with large earthy deposits inter-out, so as to divide the vessels as high as I could. mixed; the popliteal artery and vein were pressed There is no doubt the upper opening was a rent, from upon, but not obliterated. The diseased structure on the thin and softened state of the parts, and that it the upper surface seemed bounded by the extent of gave way at the moment of the man's death. Is it not the synovial surface, including the bursæ; below it rather strange to find disease of so extensive a nature was of greater extent, and in the course of the vessels without any striking symptoms during life?" at the point of amputation there was a mass of osseous or earthy deposit that interfered with the tying of the artery. A few separated tubercles were pressed out of the muscular surfaces on the lower part of the limb; in fact the disease did not seem to be confined to the knee joint alone. Where the denser structure of the shaft of the bone was lost, it was difficult or impossible to see any difference between the state of the interior of the condyloid extremity of the femur, and the portion of the disease external to it. Mr. Elkington brought before the Society an anenoephelous monstrosity, which he was requested to oblige the Society by dissecting and bringing the description forward at a future meeting. RUPTURE OF THE HEART. Mr. Elkington then brought forward a specimen of rupture of the heart, situated in the anterior portion of the left ventricle, with ossification of the descending branch of the left coronary artery, which had been forwarded to him by Mr. Nason, of Nuneaton, to be exhibited to the Society. The ruptures, three in number, are situated in the middle of the anterior face of the left ventricle. The one above, the largest, extends downwards and outwards, has very irregular and ragged edges, and is capable of admitting the points of the first two fingers. The middle one is situated below the inner termination and on a level with the outer termination of the rupNure just described; it is capable of admitting a goose quill. Underneath these is situated the third rupture, which is large enough to admit the point of the middle finger; its edges also are ragged and irregular. TAUNTON AND WEST SOMERSET MEDICAL A special general meeting of this Association was held at Taunton, on Wednesday, the 17th ultimo, to take into consideration the propriety of joining with the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, as a District Branch, SAMUEL MACMULLEN, M.D., President, in the Chair. The President having briefly stated the object of the present meeting, called upon the Honorary Secretary to read the Report of the Special Committee appointed at the annual meeting held in June, to inquire into the practicability of the proposed junction. This Report set forth an account of the Provincial Association, from its formation in 1832 to the present time, when it numbers about 1800 members, including almost every physician and surgeon of eminence in the provinces, and many equally distinguished members of the profession in Scotland and Ireland. It showed the Provincial Association to be based upon principles of the highest utility and interest to the whole medical profession, and to be devoted to the carrying out of objects purely and eminently professional; such as the collection and dissemination of both practical and theoretical information in all branches of medical science, and the practical sciences which bear collaterally upon the study of medicine, and the “maintenance of the honour and respectability of the profession generally, by promoting friendly intercourse and free communication of its members."—that,in pursuance of these excellent objects, the Provincial Association has assembled annually in some one of the principal towns of England; has published an annual volume of Transactions, which, with a weekly copy of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal, is regularly furnished to each member; that it has been constantly engaged in medical investigations, and in other objects connected with the welfare of the profession, towards the furtherance of which it has afforded liberal grants of money ;—and, that it has established and presides over a benevolent fund, for the relief of destitute members and their families under severe and urgent distress. The parietes of the ventricle are soft and flabby, and very much thinned, especially anteriorly; the aortic valves healthy, but puckered; the lining membrane of the aorta studded with atheromatous deposit. The coronary arteries arise as usual; the descending branch of the left coronary, as it passes down along the line of the septum of the ventricles, towards the apex of the heart anteriorly, is obliterated by ossification; all the other branches of the coronary arteries are healthy. The right auricle, the tricuspid valves, and the right ventricle, are healthy. Mr. Nason says. 66 The man was 72 years old, very The report then referred to the endeavours of the lame from attacks of sciatica or chronic rheumatism of Association in the promotion of some decided amendthe hip joint. About three years before his death, I ment in that portion of the New Poor-Law Act, which saw him with inflamed and œdematous legs, which relates to medical attendance and to the remuneration -`yielded to diuretic medicine. He never complained of of medical practitioners connected with unions; and, any affection of the chest, or difficulty of breathing. lastly, it shewed the noble exertions which had been, The day before he died, he told his wife he felt pain and still continued to be made, by the Association to in the left side of the thorax. The following day, about procure a thorough and radical change in the constituBoon, he walked a few yards from the door, and tion of the profession,-not from any anxiety to prevent -dropped down and died in a moment. On a post- a division of medical labour, or to do away with the mortem examination, the viscera in the abdomen distinctions and grades which are at present recognised were healthy, as also those of the chest, with the in the profession,--but from a desire to claim for all exception of the heart. The pericardium was com- practitioners a good and sufficient and uniform educapletely filled with black blood, partly coagulated. I│tion, both preliminary and professional; an equal legal recognition of all, and the enrolment of all in " One great corporate Institution," with the adoption of the representative system in the formation of the Governing Bodies. bers of the profession resident in the county and neighbourhood, who do not belong to any medical association, but who might be induced to enrol themselves amongst you, upon the conversion of your Association into a district branch of the Provincial Association; and especially would they so recommend to your notice the Somersetshire practitioners, who, though members of the Parent Society, belong not to any District Medical Association.” The following resolutions were then carried unanimously :— Moved by Mr. Edwards, of Wiveliscombe, and seconded by Mr. Randolph, of Milverton :"That the Report now read, be received and adopted." Moved by Mr. Gillett, of Taunton, and seconded by Mr. Smith, of Bishop's Lydiard :- "That this Association do at once join and become a district branch of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, and that an additional subscription of 98., necessary to effect this, be now paid by each Member of the Association, not a member of the Parent Association." Moved by Dr. Woodforde, of Taunton, and seconded by Mr. Marchant, of North Curry:— That the title of this Association be henceforth the Taunton and Somerset District Branch of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association.” Such, the report explainedto be the character and conduct of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, and then concluded as follows:-" Upon a careful comparison, then, of the principles, objects, and spirit, above enumerated, with those which guide and form the essentials of your own Association, your Committee cannot but feel that the character and moral position-nay, the usefulness of your Association, would be greatly enhanced by an incorporation of it into the parent one, as a district branch for Taunton and Somerset, upon the plan of the South Western, Yorkshire, and other district branches; and your Committee, therefore, believe it to be their duty to recommend this junction. In doing so, however, your Committee think it right to draw your attention to the fact, that by such junction the annual subscription of each member will necessarily be raised from twelve shillings to one guinea, and that the expenses of the annual dinner, which have hitherto been defrayed out of the subscriptions, cannot hereafter be so defrayed; but, on the other hand, they would remind those of you who might feel disposed to demur at an increase of subscription, &c., that advantages much more than commensurate with the additional expense will be secured to you-viz., the receipt by each member of an annual volume of excellent Transactions and a weekly Medical and Surgical Journal; and that the expenses incurred in conducting the Branch Association will be allowed out of the general funds of the Provincial Association, to the amount of one-seventh of the sum contributed by the branch to that fund. To those, again, who would hesitate to sanction the proposed junction upon the ground that such a step would destroy the independence and local character of your own Association, your Committee beg to say that they have been well advised that such will not be the case; but that in every respect your Association will still be free as to its special government, either according to the present arrangement, or under any other arrangement which may hereafter be deemed more advisable, provided only such new arrange ment be consistent, as at present, with the spirit of the Parent Association; and that, though free and independent, you will have the satisfaction of being able, by the junction, to claim the support and cooperation of a considerable body of the most respectable members of the profession upon all questions involving TO THE EDITOR OF THE PROVINCIAL MEDICAL AND medical policy and general professional interest. Moved by Mr. Gillett, and seconded by Mr. Alford, of Taunton : "That Mr. Higgins be requested to attend the next meeting of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, to be held at Northampton, on the 7th and 8th days of August, as a deputation from this Association, to carry out its junction with the Provincial Society, and that his expenses be defrayed from the funds of this Association." It was then decided that a notice of the junction of the Taunton Association with the Provincial Association should be sent to every member of the profession residing in this county and neighbourhood, inviting him to assist in carrying out the objects of the Taunton and Somerset District Branch, by enrolling his name as a member of it. A cordial vote of thanks having been accorded to the worthy President, Dr. Macmullen, for his able conduct in the chair; this meeting, characterised by its harmony and unanimity, adjourned. SIR, BRANCH ASSOCIATIONS. SURGICAL JOURNAL. Taking all these points into consideration, the excellent and truly professional character and spirit of the Your leading article of last week, on the formation Provincial Association, the agreement of its principles of Branch Associations, viewed in connection with and objects with those advocated by your own Asso- certain notices of motions for our approaching anniverciation, and the satisfaction of being connected with sary meeting, have induced me to submit a few resuch a noble phalanx of professional talent and profes-marks on the future organization of our Association, sional worth, in one common bond of interest and friendly union, your Committee would again earnestly recommend the junction of your Asssociation with the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, and that this should be accomplished with as little delay as possible. And your committee would, in conclusion, beg to draw your attention to the propriety of inviting to the good work, the co-operation of the various mem which I hope you will deem worthy of insertion in an early number of the Journal. Your unanswerable arguments in favour of multiplying the centres of union and operation in our Association, the suggestion made at the same time by a Cheltenham member for the establishment of a Gloucestershire and Worcestershire Branch, and Dr. Shapter's proposition for a special representation of COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. the district branches, all seem to show that the necessity of some improvements in the constitution of the Association is strongly and generally felt. But it yet remains for some one to devise such a re-arrangement of our atoms, as may produce a more normal, efficient, and perfect structure. 293 by proposing that the district branches should "present" to it "for election" such of their members, &c. I believe that our excellent founder would not admit that Dr. Shapter had, in this particular, taken a correct view of the principles on which our Society is constituted. Dr. Inglis's motion leads me to propound a few more Hiitherto, members have been left to discover the want of a more frequent intercourse, and a more inti-questions. Is it then, or is it not the fact, that the mate bond of union, than the Association originally afforded them. Thus they have formed themselves, in some localities, into district branches, the sphere and extent of which are arbitrary, and are controlled Deither by appeal to a central authority, nor by reference to any general scheme of division. Would it not be far preferable, that the General Council should at once proceed to divide the Association, geographically, into a sufficient number of district sections? Might not each of the existing branches, as they are now called, form a section,-the large Eastern and Southern Branches being perhaps divided into sections, containing not more than one or two counties in each? Might not each section be empowered to elect its own Council, and each sectional or district Council appoint a limited few of its members to represent the section in the General Council? And in order to carry the alteration into effect with due regard to the present governing body of the Association, might not the existing Council be considered merely as the aggregate of district Councils, each portion of which might proceed to elect its quotum to a new General or Central Council, not exceeding 40 or 50 in number, the head quarters of which would of course be at Worcester, as the residence of the President? Surely a supreme Council so constituted would be much better fitted for action than the present numerous and unwieldy Council. Even supposing that the members of the Association, residing in any one of the district sections, should decline to avail themselves of the privileges of local management, representation, and union, offered by such a scheme, might not the General Council be empowered to fill up future vacancies in the Council of that section, the number of such district councillors not being permitted ultimately to exceed a fixed proportion of the members of the section? The preceding questions I put with deference, though not with hesitation, for I am persuaded that the arrangement which I have indicated would remedy certain defects in our constitution, and provide a more satisfactory method of representation. Dr. Shapter's motion is, I suppose, intended to accomplish, in some degree, the same object, but it Day fairly be questioned whether his plan would confer on district branches more power than they already possess; for I presume that the Council have always been ready to add to their number those gentlemen who may have been recommended by the members of any branch. In fact, our 14th rule expressly provides that all who are "engaged in the executive management of the district branches should be also members of the general Council." But there is another objection to Dr. Shapter's motion, viz., that it recognizes the general Council as a self-elected body, present subscription proves to be insufficient to carry into effect the general purposes of the Association-to defray the expenses of management-to publish a handsome annual volume of Transactions—and to issue a respectable weekly Journal ? If this question be answered in the affirmative-and I entertain little doubt that it must be-we ought to look the difficulty fairly in the face, and either raise the subscription to an adequate amount, or cease to offer so many advantages to members who do not pay for them. But might not both these courses be adopted? Might not the subscription be raised to one guinea and a half, and be divided into three parts-only one of which should be compulsory on all the members? Might not the first half-guinea be required simply for membership, (as in the Medical Association of Ireland,) without entitling the members to the publications of the Association? Might not the second half-guinea be applied to the annual volume of Transactions; and the third to the Journal? Then, in order to insure that all who are entrusted with a share in the management of the Association, should take an interest in its several objects, might not the full subscription of a guinea and a half be required of every member of the Council, whether district or general? Under such regulations, no serious falling off in the number of subscribers to the Journal and Transactions need be feared; while the option of subscribing would doubtless invite a large accession to the number of members, and thus increase the general influence of the Association. I will not further occupy your space, on the present occasion, by statements and arguments in support of the foregoing suggestions, which are not put forth hastily, nor without full consideration. But if any objections should be started, I shall beg leave to reply to them in a future number, And I now remain, Sir, Your obedient servant, A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF THE PROVINCIAL MEDICAL AND SURGICAL ASSOCIATION. July 23, 1844. ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF REGULATIONS FOR THE FELLOWSHIP. The following official notice has been issued :— "Notice is hereby given, that the following are the hospitals and schools of surgery and medicine from which certificates of the professional education of candidates for the fellowship will be received by this College for the year commencing the 1st of August next, viz. : "HOSPITALS IN ENGLAND.-London--St. Bartholomew's, St. Thomas's, Westminster, Guy's, St. ELECTION of new members of COUNCIL AT THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. The meeting for the election of the new councillors of the Royal College of Surgeons was held on Wednesday last, Sir Benjamin C. Brodie, Bart., the President of the College, in the Chair. A large number of the Fellows of the College were present, about one hundred and twenty, according to the Medical Gazette; the Medical Times says one hundred and seventy : among whom were Mr. Cother, of Gloucester; Mr. Soden, of Bath; Mr. Wickham, of Winchester; and George's, London, Middlesex, University College, Charing Cross, King's College. Provincial-Bath United Hospital, Bedford General Infirmary, Birmingham General Infirmary, Queen's Hospital, Birmingham; Bristol Infirmary, Addenbrook's Hospital, Cambridge; Derbyshire General Infirmary, Devon and Exeter Hospital, Gloucester Infirmary, Hull Infirmary, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Leeds General Infirmary, Leicester Infirmary, Liverpool Infirmary, Liverpool Northern Hospital, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Infirmary, Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, Northampton General Infirmary, Not-others from the provinces. The gentlemen appointed tingham General Hospital, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford; Salisbury General Infirmary, Salop Infirmary, Sheffield General Infirmary, Stafford Couuty General Infirmary, Sussex County Hospital, Winchester County Hospital, Worcester Infirmary, York County Hospital. "HOSPITALS IN IRELAND.-Dublin-Richmond, Dr. Steeven's; City of Dublin, Mercer's, Meath, Jervis-street, St. Vincent's. Provincial-Belfast Hospital, North and South Infirmaries, Cork; Limerick County Infirmary. "HOSPITALS IN SCOTLAND.-Edinburgh-Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Provincial-Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. "SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND.-London-St. Bartholomew's, St. Thomas's Westminster, Guy's, St. George's, London, Middlesex, University College, King's College, Charing-cross, Aldersgate Street, Grosvenor Place, Kinnerton Street, Charlotte Street. Provincial-Royal School of Medicine and Surgery, Birmingham; Old Park Medical School, Bristol; Hull and East Riding School of Medicine; Leeds School of Medicine; Liverpool Royal Institution; Royal School of Medicine and Surgery, Manchester; Newcastle-upon-Tyne School of Medicine and Surgery; Sheffield Medical Institution; York School of Medicine. "SCHOOLS IN IRELAND.-Dublin Royal College of Surgeons, Trinity College, Apothecaries'-hall, Richmond, Dublin School of Medicine, Original School of Medicine, Peter Street, Park Street School of Medicine. Provincial-Belfast Royal Institution, Cork South-mall School of Medicine, the several schools recognized by the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. "SCHOOLS IN SCOTLAND.-Edinburgh-The University. Provincial-The University, Glasgow; King's College, Aberdeen; Marischal College and University, Aberdeen. The several schools recognized by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. "IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.-The several hospitals and schools in the following cities, viz. :-Paris, Mont- as the new Councillors are Mr. Wellbank; Mr. John Scott, Surgeon to the London Hospital; and Mr. Edward Cutler, Surgeon of St. George's. Mr. King. don, Mr. Lloyd, Surgeon of St. Bartholemew's, and Mr. Macilwain, declined to be put in nomination. The Actual Process of Nutrition in the Living Structure, demonstrated by the Microscope; and the Renewal of the Tissues and Secretions, with the Phe nomena and Products of Inflammation, illustrated and established. By William Addison, F.L.S., M.R.C.S., Surgeon to H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent, Malvern. London: Churchill, 1843, 8vo., pp. 76, plates. Quacks and Quackery. A Remonstrance against the Sanction given by the Government, the Press, and the Public, to the System of Imposture and Fraud, prac tised on the Ignorant and Credulous, in the Quackeries of the Day, &c. By a Medical Practitioner. London Simpkin, Marshall, and Co., 1844. 12 mo., pp. 72. : TO CORRESPONDENTS. Communications have been received from Mr. Crosse; Mr. E. Morris, of Spalding; Dr. John Hastings; Dr. H. G. Bull; Mr. T. W. King; and Mr. F. W. Pittock. PROVINCIAL MEDICAL & SURGICAL JOURNAL. PROVINCIAL MEDICAL AND SURGICAL Esq.; Peter F. Luard, M.D., Leamington; Matthew ASSOCIATION. MEETING AT NORTHAMPTON. The twelfth anniversary of this Association was held at Northampton on Wednesday, August 7th, and Thursday, August 8th. A Council Meeting was held at the County-hall, at eleven o'clock on Wednesday morning, which was numerously attended; and the order of the business to come before the general meetings, was determined upon. FIRST GENERAL MEETING. About one o'clock, the members, to the number of about 150, assembled in the hall, among whom the following gentlemen were present: Thomas Nunneley, Esq., Leeds; Alfred Hardwick, M.D., Kensington; Farnham Flower, Esq., Downside; John Smith Soden, Esq., Bath; J. Hodgson, Esq., Birmingham; J. Russell, jun., Esq., Birmingham; W. Conolly, M.D., Cheltenham; James Crang, Esq., Timsbury; Charles Hastings, M.D., Worcester; Robert J. N. Streeten, M.D., Worcester; John Faircloth, Esq., Northampton; W. Birdsall, Esq., Northampton; John Churchill, Esq., London; H. Terry, Esq., Northampton; James Mash, Esq., Northampton; G. Turner, M.D., Stockport; P. Hennis Green, M.D., London; Charles Faircloth, Esq., York; W. Percival sen., Esq., Northampton; Charles Hayes Higgins, Esq., Taunton; W. J. Wickham, Esq., Winchester; James Mackness, M.D., Hastings; W. Newnham, Esq., Farnham; W. P. Pain, Esq., Farnham ; Henry Terry, jun., Esq., Northampton; George Fletcher, Esq., Croydon; Edward Holme, M.D., Manchester; Joseph Jordan, Esq., Manchester; Edmund Lyon, M.D., Manchester; Wm. Gibbon, Esq., Kettering; John Harrison, Esq., Chester; W. M'Ewen, Esq., Chester; John M. Bryan, Esq., Northampton; Edward Nason, Esq., Nuneaton; Francis Elkington, Esq., Birmingham; James Inglis, M.D., Halifax; Charles F. Favell, M.D., Sheffield; Ferguson Branson, M.D., Sheffield; Henry Gatty, Esq., Market Harborough; Henry G. Bull, M.D., Hereford; Edwd. Daniell, Esq., Newport Pagnel; David Torrance, Esq., Rugby; Charles Cowan, M. D., Reading; Charles Noble, Esq., Brixworth; James Edwards, M. D., Chester; J. Black, M.D., Manchester; Corbet Whitton, M.D., Banbury; John Forbes, M.D., London; George Grant, Esq., Northampton; Walter Buchanan, No. 20, August 14, 1844. Sharman, Esq., Daventry; George Olive, Esq., Northampton; John J. Evans, Esq., St. Neots; Edgar Sheppard, Esq., Worcester; Thomas Aspern, Esq., Northampton; Thomas Workman, Esq., Basingstoke ; Thomas Hodgkin, M.D., London; W. Sole, Esq., St. Neots; Frederick Cox, Esq., Welford; John Marriott, Esq., Kibworth; James Heygate, M.D., F.R.S., Derby; Henry Scrase, Esq., Long Buckby; Charles John Woods, Esq., Godmanchester; F. B. Woods, Esq., Northampton; S. Hare, Esq., London; W. S.Wyman, Esq., Kettering; W. Dix, Esq., Long Buckby; David Thomas, Esq., Rounds; H. Williams, Esq., Thrapston; Thomas Clark, Esq., Wellingborough; George Cotton, Esq., Northampton; D. Thomas, Esq., Northampton; R. W. Watkins, Esq., Towcester; E. T. Watkins, Esq., Towcester; R. M. Freeman, Esq., Stony Stratford; Thomas Heygate, Esq., Market Harborough; James Paxton, M.D., Rugby; F. H. Marshall, Esq., Moulton; A. H. Daniell, Esq., Great Easton; J. P. Knott, Esq., Blisworth; Samuel Crompton, Esq., Manchester; Benjamin Lever, Esq., Blakesley; Thomas Slater, Esq., Rothwell; Charles Dodd, Esq., Northampton; Charles Faircloth, Esq., York; J. G. Leete, Esq., Thrapston; H. F. Horne, Esq., London; Frederick Salmon, Esq., London; John Francis, Esq. Market Harborough; Samuel Bucknill, Esq., Rugby; John W. Wilton, Esq., Gloucester; John Collier, Esq., Brackley; Thomas Collier, Esq., Towcester; W. Price, Esq., Leeds; Jonathan Toogood, M.D., Bridgwater; John Nedham, Esq., Leicester; Thomas Paget, Esq., Leicester; Dr. Shaw, Leicester; T.W. Starr, M.D., Kettering; W. G. Porter, Esq., Peterborough ; Wm. Budd, M.D., Bristol; Benjamin Dulley, Esq., Wellingborough ; Andrew Fennie, Esq., Wellingborough; Wm Wootton, Esq., Harrold; Theodore Boisragon, M.D., Cheltenham; Geo. Cowley, Esq., Edward Thompson, Esq., Daventry; Robt. C. Hurst, Winslow, Bucks; Henry Veasey, Esq., Woburn; Esq., Bedford; Edward Welshman, Esq., Southam; W. Coughton, Esq., Kettering; John Sutton, Esq., Greenwich; R. Jones, Esq., Brackley; R. B. Walcott, Esq., London; T. Herbert Barker, Esq., Bedford; Isaac Hurst, Esq., Bedford; George Witt, M.D., Bedford; Robert Storrs, Esq., Doncaster; Sir G. Levefre, London; Henry Giles, Esq., Stourbridge; M.D., Northampton; H. Kerr, M.D., Northampton; Wm. A. Elston, Esq., Bridgnorth; A. Robertson, Edward Wallace, Esq., Carshalton; T. Martin, Esq., Reigate. In consequence of the lamented death of the late President, Mr. Hey, DR. HASTINGS, the President of X |