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practice of the present day was inferior to that at the com-mencement of this century. He noticed the necessity ofmathematics in mechanical science, and observed that this wastoo much overlooked in surgical studies. Allusion was madeto the theory of constants, on which he considered the princi-ples of life especially to depend; and to that peculiar stasis ofblood frequently seen in the tips of the gums, and often mis-taken for inflammation. Two cases were given in illustra-tion of his theory; one, that of the great George Canning, whohad consulted him owing to a sudden swollen condition of thegums on the fatal evening when he left London for Chiswick.Mention was made of the cordial understanding existing be-tween the dentists of America and the College of Dentists ofEngland. The address, which bore throughout the character-istics of an oration, was listened to with deep interest, andelicited rapturous applause. Dr. Richardson, at the conclusion,proposed a vote of thanks, which was seconded by P. Matthews,Esq., and carried by acclamation. -The members of the Col-lege and their friends dined together the previous evening, atthe Freemasons’ Tavern.

TESTUIONIAL TO A POOR-LAW SURGEON.—On Friday,the 7th inst., Mr. H. Lee Hodges, Poor-law Medical Officer,of Toddington, near Dunstable, Bedfordshire, was invited to apublic dinner, at which a piece of plate, in the shape of a mag-nificent salver, value twenty-five guineas, with a suitable in-scription, was presented to him by the inhabitants of Todding-ton and its vicinity. Major Cooper, son of the Lord of theManor, took the chair on this occasion, and was supportedby some of the leading gentry of the neighbourhood. The I

guardians of the Woburn Union have also, as we learn, givento Mr. Hodges the highest testimonials which it is in their powerto bestow; and their example has been followed by all theclergymen of the district. Marks of respect like these are

highly gratifying, and do honour to both the recipient and thedonors. It is to be regretted that so few instances occur of aproper and handsome recognition of the services of Poor-lawmedical officers, whose labours are but too often repaid by stintand ingratitude.

DRUGGISTS ACTING As DOCTORS. -A case was latelyinvestigated before Mr. Statham, the deputy-coroner of Liver-pool, in which the objectionable practice of druggists acting asdoctors was referred to. The inquest was upon the body ofWilliam Cottrell, aged ten days, an illegitimate child ofEllen Cottrell, an inmate of a brothel, in Albion-street, keptby Clara Robinson. The child was fed from a bottle, and,being very cross, was taken to the shop of Mr. Martin, drug-gist, Copperas-hill, who gave a bottle of anniseed. None, how-ever, was administered; the child got nothing but wine, sankgradually, and died in a few days. It transpired in thecourse of the case, that the mother, being diseased, was afraidto suckle the child. An application was afterwards made toMr. Martin, who gave the following certificate of death :-

" I saw the child, William Cottrell, aged ten days, whodied this morning from natural causes (marasmus.)

" 22, Copperas-hill, Sept. 18th, 1859. " T. MARTIN.

" The child had no money from anyone.-T. M."The registrar refused to receive this certificate, and a secondapplication was made to Mr. Martin, who gave another certi-ficate in the following form :-

" 22, Copperas-hill, Sept. 19th, 1859." I saw the child, William Cottrell, aged ten days, who

died this morning from natural causes-viz., want of nourish-ment. " T. MARTIN.

" To the Coroner of the Borough of Liverpool." P.S.-I gave a certificate to this effect this morning, but

the registrar refused accepting it, needlessly, I think.-T. M."Francis Ayrton, surgeon, who had examined the body, stated

the cause of death to have been inflammation and congestionof the lungs, from purely natural causes. It was not correctthat the child died from marasmus, as set out in the druggist’scertificate. There was no wasting away. The jury returneda verdict in accordance with Mr. Ayrton’s evidence, and madea presentment that the conduct of the parties in not getting aproperly-qualified medical man, in the first place, was repre-hensible.

DEATHS CAUSED BY MUSHROOMS.—Last week an elderlyman, near Midhurst, previously in robust health, was suddenlyseized with violent vomiting, from having eaten horse-mush-rooms. He died in less than sixty hours. The appearance ofthe corpse was singularly indicative of the cause of death.There was considerable frothy exudation from the mouth,which smelt stromrlv of funsine : and advanced decomposition

had taken place within twenty-four hours.--Mr. Newton,coroner, held an inquest a few days ago at Collingham, Notts,on the body of Thomas Batter, a boy eight years of age. Atdinner time the child complained of a pain in his head, andcould not eat anything. At seven o’clock in the evening, uponhis parents undressing him, he screamed every time he wastouched, and appeared in great agony. His mind becameaffected, and at midnight he expired. The surgeon who at.tended, and made a post-mortem examination of the body,arrived at the conclusion that the deceased met with his deathfrom partaking of a poisonous fungus which he had mistakenfor mushroom.DEATHS OF CATTLE FROM EATING YEW BRANCHES.-

At Red House, Hursley, lately occupied by Mr. Fowlie, bailiffto Sir W. Heathcote, Bart., there is a yew hedge cut to fancyshapes and figures. The operation of clipping it was performedrecently, and the cuttings, which Mr. Fowlie during his occu-pation had always carefully collected and burnt at once, wereon this occasion suffered to lie on the grass of the field. Along-side, in this field, Mr. Newton, of Ashley, had about thirtyheifers to feed, and one morning some boys who were out pickingmushrooms found about eight of them lying dead at differentplaces. A ninth was apparently in great pain, and a strongemetic given to it showed the cause of the death of the others-namely, the eating of the yew cuttings from the hedge,HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK ENDING

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8TH.-October is a healthy month inLondon. In the week that ended last Saturday the deathswere 996, having been above 1000 weekly, in some instancesmuch above that point, during the previous three months.The deaths from diarrhcea continue to decline; they were lastweek 34. But scarlatina is still fatal; 95 cases being referredto this complaint, and 11 to diphtheria. Twenty-two children,and six persons beyond childhood, died of small-pox. Fivedeaths from scarlatina occurred in St. John, Westminster, 6 inIslington West, 5 in St. Mary, St. George-in-the-East, and 4in St. Paul, part of the same district. A boy, aged 14 months,died after a week’s illness of inflammation of the lungs andbronchitis, from a piece of nut getting into the windpipe; awoman, aged 22 years, died at 5, St. Patrick’s-terrace, New-

ington, of " English cholera (48 hours);" a girl 12 years old,died from the " bite of a dog (6 weeks), cerebellitis (3 weeks)."

Births, Marriages, and Deaths.BIRTHS.

On the 24th ult., at Regent-street, Halifax, the wife of Wm.Nowell, Esq., M.R.C.S., &c., of a daughter.

, On the 27th ult., at Margate, the wife of T. S. Rowe, M.D.,of a son.

On the 28th ult., at the Mall, Westport, Ireland, the wife ofDr. H. Mahon, Surgeon R.N., of a son.On the 30th ult., at Hutton Hall, Penrith, the wife of M. W.

Taylor, M.D., of a son.On the 4th inst., at Chartham, near Canterbury, the wife of

Geo. Selwyn Morris, M.D., of a son.On the llth inst., at Shipdham, Norfolk, the wife of J. C.

Garman, Esq., M. R. C. S. E., of a daughter.

MARRIAGES.On the 28th ult., at Mynyddyslwn Church, Monmouthshire,

T. David Peirce, Esq., M.R.C.S., to Minnie, eldest daughterof the Rev. J. Llewellin, M.A., of Wiveliscomb, Somersetshire.On the 28th ult., at All Saints’, Newcastle, R. J. Linton,

Esq., surgeon, to Mrs. Fawcitt, Chester-le-street.On the 4th inst., at St. Oswald’s, Durham, Wm. Stoker,

Esq., surgeon, to Margaret, youngestdaughterofJ. Trotter, M.D.Un the llth inst., at St. Bride’s Church, Liverpool, Henry

Higgins, Esq., M. R. C. S. L., of Peel, Isle of Man, to Louisa, fifth,daughter of the late L. M’ Whonnell, Esq., of Glenduff, Isle ofMan.

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DEATHS.On the 6th of Aug., at Jaulnah, East Indies, Matilda Sarah,

eldest daughter of J. M. Jackson, Esq., Surgeon to the 2ndMadras Light Cavalry.On the 9th inst., at Judd-street, Brunswick-square, Geo.

Simmons, Esq., surgeon, aged 50.On the 12th inst., of phthisis, at Beachamwell, Norfolk,

Eleanor, wife of Wm. Abel Rackham, Esq., M.R.C.S., aged 38.