JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION.

311

Mr. NEWNHAM, also as a matter of form, seconded by Mr. Churchill, the publisher, Dr. Hastings went the resolution.

Dr. Budd here rose and observed that he had been struck with the truth of a remark made in Dr. Cowan's paper, to the effect that it was desirable to reduce the number of medical publications. He considered that the multiplication of such periodicals was an obstacle to the profession, and quite a task to get through, in the many interruptions of a professional life. He suggested either the withdrawal of the Association's Journal or that it should be published less frequently. There was no need of a journal to an Association which met but yearly. The British Association had no weekly journal, being content with the publication of its Transactions; and the usual rule observed was, that the various Associations accommodated their publications to tue periods of their meetings, whether weekly, month, or yearly. He was of opinion that, although many valuable contributions appeared in the Journal from time to time, it could not be considered an efficient representative of the Association; and that its withdrawal would be no sacrifice, seeing that there were many channels by which the Association might publish its proceedings. He did not impute any lack of ood management to the Journal, but attributed it inferior character to the fact of the peculiarity of its position and the seat of its publication being distant from the metropolis, together with a want of co-operation on the part of the Members. The Journal was said to afford a ready communication for the proceedings of the Council, but this was dearly paid for; and he concluded by recommending to their consideration whether the large outlay on the Journal would not be much better bestowed in the relief of that misery and wretchedness to which allusion had already been made. (Hear, hear.)

Dr. H. Green next rose and said that he also had a subject for their consideration, namely, whether or not he had a fair claim to the paternity of the Journal. Its establishment had cost him much labour and expense, and then the Association had stepped in and appropriated the benefit of his exertions. He had offered the Journal to the Association about fifteen months since, but it was then refused; and he also put it to them whether the Association had any right to call the Journal their property until a general meeting had passed a vote to purchase it.

Dr. Favell was of opinion that the Journal ought not to be withdrawn, but published monthly, and confined exclusively to medical science, the communications to be contributed by the Members of the Association-but not anonymously, for he had a great objection to that course. (Hear.) He concluded by stating that the Association was pledged to supply the Members with the Journal, and that many new Members had joined the Association under that idea. (Hear.)

Dr. Hastings said, that it had become one of their rules to supply the Journal, and therefore no alteration of the rules could be entertained without proper notice for the next anniversary; and in answer to a statement made by a Member, who had been informed that a publication of 32 pages could be produced at but a trifling increase of cost over the present size, Dr. Hastings said that, in such calculation, the stamps could not have been taken into account; and this explanation being acceded to and confirmed

on to say that the Society had been as it were com-
pelled to publish this journal under their own auspices,
as the previous publisher had repeatedly raised the
price at which it had been afforded to the members,
till the price arrived at such a point as, ex necessitate
rei, obliged the Association to publish one of their
own or be deprived altogether of such an organ.
Dr. Green here said that he had had nothing to do
with asking for an increased price.

Dr. BUDD now rose and moved as an amendment"That a Committee be appointed to take into consideration whether it be expedient for the Association to continue the publication of a weekly medical periodical, and that such Committee be requested to report the result of their inquiry to the next anniversary meeting."

mittee:- Dr. Budd, Bristol; Dr. Toogood, Bridg He subsequently nominated the following Comwater; Dr. Cowan, Reading; Mr. Soden, Bath; Mr. Estlin, Bristol; Mr. Smith, Southam; Dr. Black, Manchester; Mr. Wickham, Winchester; Mr. Newnham, Farnham; Dr. Favell, Sheffield.

This was seconded by Dr. ToOGOOD.

Dr. Cowan was in favour of the Committee, and thought that an arrangement might be made with some London publication to become their organ; at the same time he by no means reflected on the present Editor of the Journal, but his observations had simply reference to the efficiency of the Journal per se.

Dr. Forbes gave his opinion that a regularly good general journal could not be supported, alone and singly, by any Association. If it were expedient that the Association should have an organ of communication from the central head to the whole body of mem bers, it was necessary, he conceived, that such a journal should be one of two things-either an organ confined to the reports of all the Society's affairs, meetings, &c., or, along with that, it should combine the publication of cases, observations, or treatises, by the Members alone. If however their journal attempted to compete with other periodicals as a journal of general information in the science, it must and would fail. (Hear, hear.) On the other hand, if they confined it to the communication of the Members' productions, and the proceedings of the Association, it would be perfectly consistent with propriety. He objected to the gene ralised feature of the present journal, and also to its containing anonymous matter in the shape of leading articles, &c.

Dr. Streeten here rose and contradicted the imputation as to anonymous matter, observing that it could not be said to be anonymous when the Editor's name appeared on each number, and he was either the author of or responsible for such matter.

Dr. Forbes said he was corrected, but he nevertheless reiterated his previous objection as to the general character of the Journal, and said that it should have been confined to the productions of Members, without admitting the comments of an Editor.

Dr. Toogood said it was a reflection on an Association numbering 1800 members that it could not support a journal. He advised to have it published monthly, if the present shape was found inconvenient. The amendment was then put and carried. Mr. Smith, of Southam, having held up his hand

TWELFTH ANNIVERSARY MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION.

Some cases of transfusion in cholera, by Mr. D. Mr. FLOWER, of Chilcompton, "that the thanks of TORRANCE, of Rugby.

A case of malformation of the bladder and penis, (the patient was exhibited,) by Mr. GILES, of Stour-nications at this meeting." bridge.

Remarks on the effects of hydropathy in some recent instances, by Dr. JONES, of Lutterworth.

Cases in Surgery, by Mr. T. M. GREENHOOD, of Newcastle-on-Tyne :-1, Stone in the bladder, complicated with extensive scrofulous disease, illustrated

NEW MEMBERS.

conded by Mr. PAGET, of Leicester:-"That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Right Hon. the Earl Spencer, Chairman of the Quarter Sessions, and to the County Magistrates, for the use of the County Hall."

313

public medical or surgical offices, and these are defined to mean those offices in which the charge for** medical attendance does not rest with the patient nor any member of his family. All acts and charters imposing restrictions on the practice of physicians and

Mr. Terry having taken the chair on Dr. Robertson's surgeons are to be repealed, and all particular and leaving it.

Moved by Dr. HASTINGS, of Worcester, and seconded by Mr. NEWNHAM, of Farnham :-"That the thanks are justly due, and that they be given to the worthy President, Dr. Robertson, for his unwearied attention to the duties of his office, during the sittings of the Association at their Anniversary."

NEW MEMBERS.

local privileges to practice, including those now exercised by the London College of Physicians to be abolished. A Council of Health in direct connexion with the Government is proposed to be established in the metropolis, for the proceedings of which the Government is to be more or less responsible. To this Council all matters affecting the public health; questions of contagion; the laws of quarantine, &c., are to be referred. The Council of Health is to hold periodical sittings in the metropolis. The Regius professors of medicine at Oxford, Cambridge, Dublin,

bers. One physician and one surgeon are to be chosen respectively by the Colleges of Physicians, and the Colleges of Surgeons, in England, Scotland, and Ireland. And six members are to be appointed by the crown. Of these six members one physician and one surgeon are recommended to be selected from the provinces. These six members, nominated by the Crown, with the ex-officio and the elected members, and the Secretary of State for the time being to compose the Council. Of the number appointed the by Crown, one physician and one surgeon to retire annually, but to be eligible for re-election. (by the profession at large?) Of those elected by the colleges, one physician and one surgeon to retire every three years. The ex-officio members are permanent. An alphabetical register to be kept of all physicians, surgeons, and licentiates in medicine and surgery, and the list to be published annually.

The following gentlemen were admitted members of the Association, during the days of meeting:-J. | Edinburgh, and Glasgow, are to be ex-officio memG. Lever, Esq., Culworth, near Banbury; John Cornwall, Esq., Ashcott, near Bridgwater; Samuel Crompton, Esq., Manchester; Charles Hayes Higgins, Esq., Taunton; Nicholson, Esq., Ashbourne; H. Crawford, Esq., Canterbury; Henry Scrase, Esq., Long Buckby; Charles Hoddle Kipling, Esq., Newport Pagnel; Henry Gatty, Esq., Market Harborough; James Paxton, M.D., Rugby; John J. Evans, Esq. St. Neot's; Ebenezer Vorley, Esq., Roade, near, Northampton; Heaton, M.D., East Parade, Leeds; Wm. Paley, M.D., Peterborough; Howell William Owen, Esq., Irthlingborough, near Higham Ferrers; Joseph Noble, M.D., Dunwich Hall, Leicester; Frank Fulliger, Esq., Leicester; Starling, Esq., Higham Ferrers ;- Boodle, Esq., Chilcompton; David Reece Thomas, Esq., Rounds, near Higham Ferrers; T. Hodgkin, M.D., London; Thos. Peter Fernix, Esq., Kimbolton; Edward · Welchman, Esq., Southam; Richard Jones, Esq., Brackley; Thos. Fitzpatrick, Esq., Northampton; John Clarke Weldon, Esq., Wanstead; Robt. Rosebrook Morris, Esq., Brixworth, near Northampton; Sir George Lefevre, London; B. Lever, Esq., Blakesley, near Towcester; John James Mason, Esq., Kilsby; J. P. Knott, Esq., Blisworth.

The council of health, on letters testimonial being. granted by any of the licensing bodies in the country, . who are to retain the power of conferring diplomas, to permit the party to be registered, without further examination. The letters testimonial to be founded on examination by the respective licensing bodies. The degree of licentiate in medicine not to be conferred under the age of 21; that of surgeon under the age

The account of the dinner we are compelled to post- of 25; and of physician under the age of 26. None pone until next week.

SIR JAMES GRAHAM'S BILL ON MEDICAL

REFORM.

The Medical Reform Bill was introduced into the House of Commons by Sir James Graham, on Wednesday last, (August 7th). The necessity for giving a full report of the proceedings of the Anniversary Meeting of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, held during the last week at Northampton, precludes us from doing more than offering a mere outline of the measure. The first and principle feature of the bill seems to be the removal of all restrictions upon the practice of medicine as regards the community at large. There is to be no restriction whatsoever in the private practice of medicine; but on

the other hand none but those who are recognized by competent authority, none but legally qualified medical practitioners are to be eligible to fill any

but those duly registered by the Council of Health to be allowed to fill any medical or surgical office in any public hospital, prison, infirmary, dispensary, workhouse, or other public institution in the United Kingdom; or any medical or surgical office in the army or navy, or (with the exception of native surgeons) in the East India Company's service. None but the duly registered to be exempt from serving on juries, or in corporate or public offices, and no medical certificate to be received in any court of law except from persons duly registered. None but registered persons to have the power of recovering by law any charge for attendance, medicine, &c. Such are the principal provisions of the measure introduced by the Home Secretary. We shall refrain from making any remarks upon them until the measure is itself more fully before us, and until sufficient time has been allowed for giving to it that consideration which the importance of the subject demands.

PROVINCIAL

MEDICAL & SURGICAL JOURNAL.

A SKETCH OF THE LATE INFLUENZA AS IT
APPEARED IN THE AGRICULTURAL DIS-
TRICTS OF CHESHIRE.

were suffused with a pale, red, glassy blush, with purple streaks (small veins) here and there; the uvula elongated, rather tumid and relaxed.

The chest, at the commencement, presented nothing

By C. R. HALL, Esq., Surgeon, Holmes Chapel, abnormal, sounding clear on percussion, and the

Cheshire.

The diseases of an agricultural population are usually more acute in their character, more regular in their progress, and less frequently obscured by other concomitant ailments than those of the inhabitants of large towns. Their observation, accordingly, is well calculated to enable us to distinguish what is essential to the existence of any given disease from its mere accidental complications.

In the district of which I write, about Christmas, scarlatina was epidemic, and, as usual, presented itself with every degree of severity. The influenza made its first appearance in January, but in no instance was it known to attack one who had suffered from a severe form of the scarlet fever which preceded it.

After feelings of general debility and mental depression, without any assignable cause, for a variable period, the attack was generally ushered in by shivering, more or less marked. Chilliness, aching of the back and loins, and wandering pains of the limbs, were soon followed by a sense of weight, fullness and tension of the forehead and nostrils, slight soreness of the throat, dyspnoea and cough. Skin rather harsh, and occasionally hot and dry, but not uniformly so, and always perspiring during some part of the day. Tongue flattish, usually tremulous, covered, but not loaded, with thin greyish secretion, and indented by the teeth. Pulse small, irritable, or full and leaping, but without strength, (i. e. very easily compressed,) ranging from 80 to 100. Urine limpid and of ordinary quantity, not at first depositing any sediment, but after the lapse of a week or more, throwing down the lithates. The bowels usually acted regularly, but the evacuations were of diminished consistence. Eyes red and watery, but sneezing was less frequent than in a common cold, nor was there usually so much discharge from the nostrils. As the uneasiness in the forehead abated, the cough often increased in violence and frequency, especially during the night, and was attended with considerable oppression and tightness, but not actual pain, of the chest. The cough was spasmodic, sudden, hard, and shaking, sometimes to the extent of producing vertigo. At first there was no expectoration; about the second or third day, transparent mucus in small quantity, becoming more abundant and thicker as the disease subsided, was secreted. On examining the throat, the back of the pharynx, uvula, and tonsils, No, 21, August 21, 1844,

respiratory murmur being distinct. When expectora tion was established, the mucous ronchus was heard principally over the bronchi and their larger ramifications. The sweats occurred chiefly .n the night. The slight uneasiness at the chest seldom disappeared under a fortnight, and the patient usually remained debilitated and very susceptible to catarrhal affections for at least a month subsequently; elderly people for a much longer period.

Such were the ordinary symptoms of influenza in its simple form. But complications were frequent, and arose either from some existing irritation being fanned into more acute action by undue exposure, &c.; or, otherwise, from the habitual morbid liability of the patient. Thus, a bilious person had congestion of the liver; one subject to cynanche, greater affection of the throat; whilst one with previously delicate chest always suffered more from bronchial irritation. In none of these local exacerbations of the disease, was there set up acute sthenic inflammation.

In some, in whom there was strong reason to suspect the previous existence of tubercles, the symptoms of influenza merged in those of active pulmonary consumption, and in a few instances led speedily to a fatal result. But there were many cases in which no such suspicion could be entertained, occurring, amongst others, in robust, large chested farmers beyond middle age, who had never been subject to pectoral affections before, in which the symptoms considerably resembled those of phthisis. Thus there existed considerable dyspnea; respiration high and frequent; expectoration profuse, and muco-purulent, the pus being distinct and in large quantities, and occasionally streaked with blood; mucous and sibilant ronchi, and sometimes, when the patient coughed, a sound very like the splashing and gurgling sounds. Pulse rapid, up to 120 or 130; small and feeble; night sweats; considerable emaciation.

Urine turbid, diminished in quantity, and throwing down a clay-coloured sediment.

The absence of dulness on percussion, and of other pathognomonic physical signs, of confirmed hectic'; the more universal affection of the bronchial membrane than is usual in phthisis; and, more especially, the simultaneous occurrence of so many cases at once, and the effects of remedies, were to be considered against this simulation of phthisis.

Death occurred only where acute phthisis had unequivocally manifested itself; the oldest patient. lost Y