ASSOCIATION OF THE FELLOWS AND LICENTIATES OF THE KING AND QUEEN'S COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS IN...

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the materia medica-namely, gallic and tannic acid, disulphate of quinine, the acetate and hydrochlorate of morphia, &c.Permit me now to mention the power held by this substanceof dissolving and retaining in solution the vegetable extracts.This fact of itself may appear unimportant, and not calculatedto call forth any remarks, as these extracts are also soluble inwater and proof spirit. But herein consist the difference andadvantage: dissolved in glycerine, they remain good and un-changed ; in water they soon undergo fermentation and becomespoilt. With glycerine they are miscible with many otherfluids in almost any proportion; with water and proof spiritsuch is not the case. I will now advance one very familiarillustration. It is by no means uncommon to find a linimentprescribed containing extract of belladonna, soap liniment,tincture of opium, and compound camphor liniment. With thesoap liniment and tincture of opium the extract mixes butimperfectly, very soon depositing itself upon the sides andbottom of the bottle as a sandy, granular-looking sediment,which can only be remixed by a considerable amount of agita-tion. With the compound camphor liniment it can scarcelybe said to be miscible at all, and when these several substancesare put together a compound is produced which must disappoint the prescriber, bring discredit upon the dispenser, and be pro-bably useless to the patient. These perplexities vanish withthe extract dissolved in glycerine, and the solution may becombined in varied proportions with any or all of the prepara-tions mentioned, and many others.The extracts of belladonna, henhane, hemlock, and aconite

are also frequently employed in the form of ointment. Toeffect this the extract is usually softened with a little water,and then worked secundum artem into the lard or cerate asmay have been directed. I would venture to suggest thatthese extracts dissolved in glycerine would make more usefuland manageable preparations, never becoming rancid, and Ibelieve would adhere better to the parts, not being so readilymelted by the heat of the body as ointments, and therefore notso liable to spread and run beyond the surface required to be

Conduit-street, March, 1858. A. F. HASELDEN.

A FICTITIOUS DIPLOMA.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SiR,-I have been requested by the University of St. Andrews, to beg that the following discreditable proceedings of aperson falsely claiming to be a graduate of ours, may be madepublic through your pages.Our secretary recently received the following letter from one

of the most eminent shipping houses connected with emigrationto Australia :

" SIR,-A Mr. T. O’Grady, now residing at New Market, in IFergus, Ireland, represents that he got a diploma as M.D. from iyour University in 1843. He has applied to us to go in thecapacity of surgeon in one of the packets of this line, to Aus-tralia, but on presenting his diploma to the Government Medi-cal Officer, it was discovered that in the body of the documentan erasnre had been made, and the name Thos. O’Grady’ in-serted, it is believed, by this gentleman, who says he is the

person to whom the diploma was originally issued. Till this

point is cleared, Mr. O’Grady cannot pass the Governmentofficer, and we should feel greatly obliged if you win saywhether, in the month of March or May, 1843, a person of thisname got a diploma, either as M.D. or surgeon, from the Uni-versity of St. Andrews. We think it only fair to Mr. O’Gradyto explain that he says the name, as originally written in thediploma, was obliterated by accident, and therefore he put itin, so that the document might be perfect.

We are, Sir, yours obediently,»

On the receipt of this letter, our secretary examined theminutes of the university, and found that no person namedThos. O’Grady had graduated at this university since the year1800. A Mr. O’Grady presented himself for examination inthe course of the year 1844, but was rejected. Snch being thecase, there can be little doubt that Mr. Thos. O’Grady has suc.ceeded in obtaining the diploma, of some person who graduatedin the year 1843, and after erasing the name, has caused his ownto be inserted in its place. It is gr atifying to find that the zealand energy of the Government Medical Officer have, at allevents, in this instance, succeeded in leading to the exposureof a gross attempt at fraud.

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,G. E. DAY, M.D.St. Andrews, March, 1858.

IRELAND.

ASSOCIATION OF THE FELLOWS AND LICENTIATESOF THE KING AND QUEEN’S COLLEGE OF PHY-SICIANS IN IRELAND.*

DR. AQUILA SMITH, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE OFPHYSICIANS, IN THE CHAIR.

DR. HENRY KENNEDY read a paper on

ADHERENT PERICARDIUM.

He divided the morbid changes which ensue into two classes-first, simple adhesion; secondly, where, with the adhesion themuscular textures of the heart are involved. Dr. Kennedymentioned the frequency of partial adhesions, and at the sametime stated his having seen cases in which the heart and peri-cardium formed one solidified mass. The most frequent changesin the textures of the heart in connexion with adherent peri-cardium were of the fatty or greasv character. Of 90 cases ofadherent pericardium, he found dilatation of the cavities in26; aneurismal dilatation of the apex of the heart very com-mon, standing in the relation of cause and effect; healthyheart frequently associated with adherent pericardium. Theauthor considered no single sign diagnostic of this disease, andadvised caution in the prognosis. He believed the effectingof assurance on the lives of persons affected with it to be in-discreet. at the same time stating that authorities differed fromhim on this latter point. The treatment he advised in thesecases was local bleeding and mercury.An animated discussion ensued, in which Dr. Richardson,

Dr. M’Clintock, Dr. Law, and others, took part, in the courseof which Dr. Law stated, that irregularity of the pulse andheart’s action, with dulness on percussion over the precordialregion in all positions, are the diagnostic symptoms of adherentpericardium, which he considered (contrary to the usuallyreceived opinion) tended rather to atrophy than hypertrophyof the organ.

Dr. HUGHES read the details of a case of

THORACIC ANEURISM OF SOME MONTHS’ DURATION.

In the efuly stage there was the usual obscurity in the physicalsigns. On percussion, the heart and lungs were. healthy; inthe right mammary region there was slight dulness, with ab-sence oC respiratory tlntrmur. Afterwards a pulsating tumourappeared; pain down the right arm to the tips of the fingers ;and extreme nervous sensibility. The pain in the tumour an-teriorly was lancinating and intermitting; posteriorly, dull andaching. Leeches were applied to the tumour; afterwards, iceand refrigerants. The patient’s diet was generous, and opiateswere exhibited. The tumour grew rapidly; and on the 12thDecember last Dr. Hughes determined to try the dietetic treat-ment as recommended by the late Dr. Bellingham. Accordinglythe patient was given two ounces of milk and two ounces of

, bread for breakfast; four ounces of meat and our ounces ofbread for dinner; the same allowance for supper as for break-fast; no fluids. The recumbent position was strictly enjoined.

! On the second day after this plan of treatment was adopted,; the pain and nervous sensibility somewhat abated. On the’ third day the pulse had sensibly decreased in frequency, and; the pain was much relieved. During the second week the pulse. was slightly below the natural standard; pain gone; pulsationin the tumour lessened; the tumour diminished in size; and

the patient’s spirits cheerful. Unfortunately the patient wasnonr seized with a cough; the pain returned to the tumour ;

the pulse rose to 86; and a bruit was audible with the firstsound of the heart. In this critical position the patient nowremains. Dr. Hughes considered this dietetic plan well de-

3serving of trial. The privation of fluids is most felt by the1 patient; this he proposed to obviate by giving small pieces ofrice.1 After an interesting discussion on this case, Dr. SMITH read.. the history of a.

CASE OF ARTHRITIC RHEUMATISM,

which occurred in a young man aged eighteen years. The

z treatment employed was calomel, watery extract of opium,1 and hippo, with tincture of the seeds of colchicum, and iodide1 of potassium. The local application to the affected joints wase aconite and soap liniment. On the fourth day the patient was

I * Report furnished by ’Vi1liam Moore, M.B., M.R.I.A., &c., Hon. Secretaryto the Association.

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convalescent; and on the eighth, Dr. Smith ceased his attend- ance. He advocated the internal administration of colchicum in analogous cases, in which mode of treatment Dr. Law coin- cided, but generally preceded its exhibition by bleeding. I

THE NEW MEDICAL BILL.

THIS measure has been prepaid by the Board’of Health, ’’,and but for the change of Government would have been broughtin by the President of the Board. The principal features of ’,the proposed Bill are the following :-

’

1. The present legally-constituted examining bodies in Eng-land, Scotland, and Ireland respectively, to be re-enacted asthe Examining Authority’ under the Act for England, Scot-land, and Ireland respectively; not to be touched in theirseveral rights of giving titles of honour; but their certificates,if purporting to confer any claim to registration as legally-qualified practitioner’ to be subject to regulation as under :-

.. 2. A Council to be established, as nearly as may be, repre-sentative of all interests concerned, taking as a basis (but sub-ject to modification in detail) Mr. Headlam’s proposal that itshould consist of seventeen delegates from the different ex-amining bodies, with six members appointed by the Crown.

"3. The Council to have the right of attendance by itsmembers or by deputy at any examination held for the pur-poses of the Act.

" 4. The Council to have power, after due public notice,and with the approval of her Majesty in Council, to makeorders and regulations as follows :-

" A. As to the form of keeping the general register and suchspecial registers as may be kept; and as to the payment ofregistration fee hy admitted candidates.

" B. Fixing, in respect of age, study, knowledge, and exa-mination, the conditions under which the future candidate shallbe admissible to the medical profession as a qualified medicalpractitioner.

*’ C. Determining, in respect of the several examining boardsof the united kingdom, what share may be fulfilled by the cer-tificate of each of them acting separately, or by the certificateof two or more of them acting conjointly, as contributory tothe total certification which shall give admission to the register.D. Disallowing the future certificates of any board which

shall conduct its examinations inefficiently or irregularly.’ E. Establishing, or causing to be established, examination

in particular branches of knowledge, professional or preliminary,where arrangements for such examination shall not have beenotherwise sufficiently provided.

"5. The council to have power to disregister persons con-victed of crime or guilty of infamous conduct in any professionalcapacity.

" 6. The register and its titles to be protected from falsifica-tion ; and non-registered persons to be excluded from profes-sional privileges.

" 7. Every registered person to be entitled to practiseaccording to his qualifications in any part of the united king-dom."

THE LATE DR. ROLPH.

THE following sums have been received for the widow of thelate Dr. Rolph:-Subscriptions already announced .....

John Cosgreave, M.D., Stayleybridge ..

Dr. Collins, per Mr. Bowen May....’John Higginbottom, Esq., Nottingham..H. C. Maysmoor, Esq ....... .....

By John Wiblia, Esq., F.R.C.S’., Southampton:-John Propert, Esq., Cavendish-st....Peter Martin, Esq., Reigate ......

William Street, Esq., ditto ......

Mrs. Wiblin, Southampton .....,

- Wyatt, Esq., Westbonrne .......Tohn Bennett, Esq., ditto .....

E. W., a Medical Man’s Widow ..

Subscriptions will be received at THE LANCET Office; or by IJohn Wiblin Esq., F.R.C.S., Southamptom.

Parliamentary IntelligenceHOUSE OF COMMONS.

TUESDAY, MARCH 23RD, 1858.

MEDICAL REFORM.

MR. CowPFR, in moving for leave to introduce a Bill to

regulate the qualifications of practitioners in medicine and

surgery, said that the proper objects of all legislation upon thesubject appeared to him to be, in the first place, that thequalification required by law to entitle a person to become amedical practitioner should be maintained at a certain standard,and should be valid in all parts of the United Kingdom; and,secondly, that a register should be established, which wouldenable the public generally, and the less educated portion ofthe community in particular, to ascertain what practitionerswere really qualified, and in what the nature and extent oftheir qualification consisted. Constant reference was made inour statutes to the due qualification of medical men, andpublic appointments could generally speaking be held only bypersons who were legally qualified. That was a principle whichhe though it was desirable to uphold, notwithstanding that hewas disposed jealously to guard the right of private individualsto consult whomsoever they pleased, whether they happenedto be learned or unlearned. For appointments connected withthe army, navy, friendly societies, or other institutions, itseemed right that the restriction should exist, in order that,from caprice or other motives, unqualified persons might notbe chosen. That practice had been justified by usage from theearliest times. There were dozens of Acts of Parliament con-cerning the medical profession always referring to qualifiedpersons, but none settling what the qualification should be. Hebelieved that former efforts in that direction, although defeatedby the conflict of antagonistic interests, had not been withoutsome use; and there was an extending opinion of the necessityfor the organization of the profession, for some established

qualification, and for some arrangement whereby that qualifica-tion might be made known. One of the great defects of thelegal qualifications at present existing was that it was partialin application and jurisdiction. Surgeons had no legal definitionof qualification, and Sir B. Brodie or any other surgeon was notin law legally qualified. Then, again, an English practitionerhad no standing in Scotland or Ireland, and vice versa; whileeven the London University, which conferred degrees for practicein the country, could not authorize anyone to practise in the citywherein it was situate, and whence it derived its name. It was

agreed that the first step must be to establish a better minimumqualification, without which no one should be permitted topractise. The proposal in the Bill of last year was that a newboard of examiners should be created, consisting of persons de-legated by the College of Physicians, the College of Surgeons,and the Society of Apothecaries; but the Bill altogether de-prived the universities of any voice in the granting of licencesor the direction of education. The Bill which was prepared bythe select committee of 1856, and which was laid upon thetable by the noble lord the member for Haddingtonshire (LordElcho), provided a new board of examiners, consisting of per-sons nominated by the medical corporations and the univer-sities, the intention being that the universities should examineas to the sciences collateral to the study of medicine, while theprofessional colleges should examine as to medical science itself.There were, however, objections that the plan would compelgraduates to undergo a second examination after obtainingtheir degrees, and there would be also a difficulty as to theapportionment of the fees amongst the various bodies entitledto receive them. He thought it would be wise not to makeany change that was not absolutely necessary, and the bestcourse would be to leave the examination to the present licen-sing body, under the general control and supervision of a gene-ral council, to whom power should be given to decide uponwhat examination should be required, or what certificatesshould be produced before any person could be placed upon theregister. If the council had the right to be present at the exa-minations of the College of Surgeons and the Society of Apothe-caries, they would be enabled to prescribe the standard whichshould be required, that at present existing being admitted to betoo low. The consequence of the low standard of examination atpresent was that the profession was overrun with young men,who were barely able to exist. With regard to the register, greatdifficulties had been raised. The Bill which was introduced

last year by the hon. member for Newcastle (Mr. Headlam)proposed a new definition of the medical profession-the