SHEFFIELD PETITION. and imposture." So ridiculous, and uncalled for an insinuation will speak for itself. I leave it to Dr. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PROVINCIAL MEDICAL AND Favell, and the cause which requires such advocacy. SIR, SURGICAL JOURNAL. Since, (and the word here has reference to a fact capable of easy proof,) Dr. Favell has thought proper to appear in your columns of the 20th November, for the purpose of preventing your readers being (to use his own expression) "staggered by the petition," a copy of which appeared in your number of the preceding week, and which petition is now in course of signature in this place, I must request you, in fairness to the numerous and respectable individuals who have already signed it, to insert this reply. I am, Sir, HENRY BOULTBEE. Sheffield, Nov. 25, 1844. VALERIANATE OF QUININE. M. Francis Devay, physician to the Hotel Dieu, at Lyons, has lately published a memoir on the valerianate of quinine; its mode of preparation; its chemical and pharmaceutical characters; and its employment in intermittent fevers and neuralgia. The valerianate of quinine, in small doses, is a very efficacious antiperiodic, superior to the sulphate from its neurosthenic properties; neither does it give rise to the gastro-intestinal symptoms occasionally caused by the latter salt. The quinine is modified by its intimate association with a vegetable acid. The valerianate of quinine is formed by one equivalent of valerianic acid, one of quinine, and two of water, one of which constitutes the water of crystallisation. It has a slight odour of valerianic acid, and a bitter taste, which resembles bark; It is easily dis The Doctor "begged to observe," that this petition was not another petition which was adopted at a public meeting of the profession, held October 16, 1841. Now as both petitions have appeared in your Journal, and as they differ so much in their nature, it might have been imagined that your enlightened readers would have been able of themselves to discriminate between them, without the assistance of Dr. Favell. But further, the Doctor makes reference to a meeting of the profession, at which the petition which he favours was adopted, though not without opposition, and complains that the minority instead of “sub-solved in water at the ordinary temperature; alcohol mitting" to the decision of the majority, got up a counter petition; and he charges the parties so doing, with at the same time secretly getting it up, and industriously carrying it about from house to house. Now such a palpable self-contradiction requires no comment; and as regards the submitting part of the question, let me ask Dr. Favell by what authority he and his friends claim to control the opinions of a minority? But it yet remains for Dr. Favell to prove that a majority of the profession in this neighbourhood approve of the views taken by a majority of that meeting, which was called by the signatures of the parties who were the parents of his favoured petition, and was attended by 36 gentlemen only out of from 96 to 98 who had been invited; when therefore considerable difference of opinion existed, it could not be supposed that such a meeting would fairly represent the profession here. dissolves it much better, and olive oil also has the same effect, on the application of a slight heat. The mineral, and most of the organic acids, decompose it. Submitted to a temperature of about 90° R. it loses one equivalent of water, softens, and melts into a resinous substance. It is prepared in the following manner :-Into an alcoholic and concentrated solution of quinine, is poured a slight excess of valerianic acid; the whole is then suspended in twice its bulk of distilled water; the mixture is accurately stirred, and submitted to evapo ration in a stove, at a temperature not exceeding 50°. When the evaportation of the alcohol has taken place, the valerianate is presented in the form of beautiful crystals, sometimes isolated, at others grouped together, which increase from day to day. It may also be prepared by double decomposition, by mixing the sulphate of quinine with the muriate of lime or barytes, dissolving both in weak alcohol. The valerianate of quinine may be recognized by the following means:-1st. A concentrated alcoholic solution of the valerianate of quinine precipitates the neutral aqueous solution of the nitrate of silver; this precipitate is redissolved in a large quantity of water, 2ud. An aqueous solution of the valerianate of quinine does not precipitate that of the chloride of barium. 3rd. This aqueous solution, when boiled, gives rise to the separation of oleaginous drops of the melted valerianate. The Doctor does not seem pleased to see it announced that what he calls the "counter petition," had already received the signatures of a very numerous and influential body of regularly educated practitioners of medicine and surgery; and states that he has no means of knowing how far this statement is correct; and he seems to regret that the names have not been published. Now, as to the means used by himself to obtain information I know nothing; and there is not the slightest objection to publish the names, except that the petition could not then be received by the House of Commons. However, I will provide a copy, which shall be open for inspection at all times, either to the Doctor or any friend who has interest in the matter, and should the original be in my possession, no medical gentleman shall be refused a sight of it. Once more; Dr. Favell regrets the names have not The valerianate of quinine, like that of zinc, been published," in order that the profession might be being very easily decomposed, it is best to exable to appreciate the amount of influence which inhibit it in the most simple form, upon which its this neighbourhood is exerted in behalf of quackery success in a great measure depends. We com 4th. If this solution is treated with acids, there is a separation of valerianic acid, easily appreciable by its odour; and if this decomposition is effected with some crystallised valerianate of quinine and concentrated acid in solution, valerianic acid is obtained in an oleaginous form. monly administer it in a gummy solution, five decigrammes (ten grains) of the salt dissolved in 100 grammes of the fluid. One of its great advantages is, that it can be easily dissolved in oil, and thus serve for frictions and embrocations over the spleen. For this purpose we have used the following liniment :60 grammes of olive oil. 1 gramme of valerianate of quinine. In neuralgia we commonly employ pills of six centigrammes each, made up in the most simple manner.-Gazette Médicale de Paris. • A gramme is equal to 15.434 grains troy: OBITUARY. December 5th, at Cork, Dr. Bullen, aged 78, for a long time a leading practitioner in the south of Ireland. His funeral was attended by the members of the medical and clerical professions, and a large number of the respectable inhabitants of the city. December 7th, at Dublin, from the effects of a fall from his horse, Dr. Joseph Stephens, medical superin tendent of the mining district of Beerhaven. December 10th, at Portumna, of malignant typhus, Dr. John Heron. BOOK RECEIVED. The Principles and Practice of Obstetric Medicine and Surgery, in reference to the Process of Parturition. By Francis H. Ramsbotham, M.D., Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Consulting Physician and Lecturer on Obstetric and Forensic Medicine at the London Hospital, &c., &c. Second Edition, enlarged. London: Churchill, 1844, 8vo., pp. 732, with numerous illustrations. ERRATUM. In Mr. Hancock's tenth lecture, p. 574, col. 2., line 4 from the end for "teres minor" read teres major. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Communications have been received from Mr. Carter; Mr. W. F. Clark; H.; Dr. Durrant; Dr. R. H. Powell; A General Practitioner; East Retford; Mr. H. R. Oswald; Dr. Black; Halifax ; Mr. J. Cole. With the view of consulting the convenience of those gentlemen who are now about to join the Association, we propose to commence the year with a new volume; the present number therefore concludes the volume for 1844, the title page and index to which will be given early in January. It is requested that all letters and communications be sent to Dr. Streeten, Foregate Street, Worcester. Parcels, and books for review, may be addressed to the Editor of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal, care of Mr. Churchill, Princes Street, Soho. INDEX. on the Fluid Elements of the Circulating Address delivered at the Annual Meeting of the Suffolk Annual Meeting of the South Western Branch, 224 Anonymous Correspondents of the Lancet, 25, 81 Anus, Case of Warty Excrescence near the Verge of, Arnold, Dr. B. N., on the Treatment of Puerperal Dr. W., case of Spontaneous Rupture of Aorta, Aneurism of the Abdominal, 535 Apothecaries' Proposal to make a Royal College of, by Act, Evasion of, 22 Company, 26, 570, 602 On the claims of, by G. King, 498 Medical Union Officers, 163 - Statement of,94, 114, 124, 144, 145 Proposed, of the Members of the College of Apparatus for Dry Cupping over a large surface, 224 Adhesion of the Vagina, Case of, 287 Advice to Mothers, by P. H. Chavasse (Review) 24 Agents affecting Capillary Circulation, 243 Alcoholic Lotion in Phthisis, 70 Allison W., case of Twins, in which the Placenta of Dr. E. Walker, 479 used in cooking, by Amaurosis, Case of, cured by the aid of Urtication, 198 Analysis of the Facts of Disease, 542, 557, 589, 609 Henfrey (Review) 24 Anencephalic Monstrosity, 371 Aneurism of the Abdominal Aorta, 535 Appeal to the Medical Profession for establishing Arsenic as a poison, its tests and antidotes, by Dr. E. Bancks, T., Case of Strangulated Inguinal Hernia, 493 Ranking, 462 314 of the External Iliac Artery, Case of, by R. Barley, Beard of, under the tongue, Case by Dr. Meetings, the Value of, 373 Barlow, Dr., Notice of, 120, 127, 3 Annual Meeting of the Bath and Bristol Branch, 239 Beddome, Dr., Letter on the Benevolent Fund, 481 of the Newton Branch, 272 Bedford Meeting on Medical Reform, 887 Bed Sores, Nitrate of Silver in, 535 INDEX. Benevolent Fund, 374, 432; Report of Committee of, of Surrey Medical Society, Letter from T. Lardaceous, of the Knee Joint, 290 Capillary Circulation, Agents affecting, 242 Charge against the General Practitioners of Carter, C. J., Observations on the Clauses and Provi- Martin, 467 Bill for the better Regulation of Medical Practice, &c., Cephalotomy, Practical remarks on, by G. B. Knowles, Bird, Dr. Golding, Elements of Natural Philosophy, Cerebrum, Inflammation of, Homœopathy in, 268 Birmingham Meeting on Medical Reform, 408, 421 - Students' Meeting on Medical Reform, 504 370, 433, 465 Queen's College, 146, 375, 570 Black, Dr., Lectures on Hygiene and Medical Police, Blackburn Meeting on Medical Reform, 581 Bladder, Case of Stone in, complicated with extensive Blister, Speedy way of raising, 326 Chadwick, Dr., Correspondence on Homeopathy, 566 280 Charter of the Royal College of Surgeons of England , Chavasse, P. H., Advice to Mothers (Review) 24 Chemistry, Proposed College of, 464 Manual of, by Dr. Fownes, (Review) 562 Blue discolouration of the Gums from Nitrate of Silver, Clairvoyance, 242 Blood, On the fluid elements of, by W. Addison, 266 1 Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire, 513 Clinical Lectures on Dislocations, by H. Hancock, 347, on Venereal Diseases, by L. Parker, 51 Coffee, Carbonate of Soda, in the preparation of, 346 Brain, On the use of the Longitudinal Incision through Colchester Meeting on Medical Reform, 517 Cole, J., Proposal to form a Royal College of Apothe- Branch Associations, Advantage of, 235 Formation of the South Eastern, 404 241, 292 Two cases of Pericarditis, 231 Bree, C. R., case of Puerperal Convulsions, &c., 60 Brown, Dr. J., Letter on the Medical Bill, 433 Regulations for the Fellowship, 293 Statement of the Council of, 142, 178. Conolly, Dr. W., Letter on the Benevolent Fund, 257 Convulsions of Children, Mustard in, 343 Cowan, Dr., On the New Edition of Louis on Phthisis on treatment of Puerperal Convulsions, 108 Craniotomy, Operation of, Letter from Dr. Radford on, A completely inverted Uterus successfully Crural Hernia, 165 Cryptogamic Vegetations on the Mucous Membrane of D. Dalton, Dr., Decease of, 582 Daniell, B., case of Phthisis, 234 E., Appeal to the Medical Profession for esta- the Shoulder, 430 Pox, 320 case of Gun-shot Wound, 367 case of recent Vaccination overcoming Small E. East Kent Meeting on Medical Reform, 569 Case of, by J. Harrinson, 179 England, Dr., on the Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire Epilepsy, Sthenic, Employment of Digitalis during Sulphate of Quinine in, 229 in cases of Midwifery, by T. Pope, 1581 case of Warty Excrescence near the verge Evasion of the Apothecaries' Act, 22 Davie, J. C., cases in Surgery, 446 Dayman, H., case of Puerperal Convulsions, 337 from Fright after the Operation for Solution of from an over-dose of Nitrate of Potass, 260 Resolutions of, 545 to Sir James Graham, 511 Deshon, Mr., Case of gross treatment of a Union Devonport Meeting on Medical Reform, 472 450 Ewen, H., case of Strangulated Hernia, 463 Eye Hospital, Manchester, Cases by J. Walker, 384 F. Factory Bill, Duration of Labour, 109 Power of visiting cases of Accident, 110 Feigned Disease, by H. W. Livett, 483 Fever, On the cause of Death in, by R. T. Hunt, 74 On Malignant Puerperal, by W.H.Crowfoot,10 Clinical Lectures on, by H. Hancock, 347, Fife, Dr. George, Treatment of Dropsy with Croton 379, 410, 423, 443, 475, 487, 507, 539, 571 on Opium, as a remedy for the effects of Uterine Hæmorrhage, 15, 27 Dorsetshire Meeting on Medical Reform, 599 of both Ovaries, &c., 130 treated with Croton Oil, by Dr. G. Fife, 396 Dr. Arnold's reply to, 163 on the use of Pure Tannin, 431 Oil, 396 Sir John, Cases at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne First Lines for Chemists and Druggists, &e., by Dr. Fistula Lachrymalis, Tetanus consequent on the cure Fisher, N. G., a case of Puerperal Convulsions, &c,170 Fungoid Tumour of the Scapula, with Fungoid Disease of the Eyeball, with Cataract, 335, |