763bad arithmetician, and as regards Dr.Monro, of allowing his brother physician totake the liou’s share of the cures, when he I,was no more a liou than himself. I am, Sir,your obedient servant,

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A LOOKER-ON.Aug. 16, 1841.

BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

Exeter Hall, August 17, 1841.

Dr. WEBSTER, President, in the chair.Dr. WEBSTER, President, in the chair.THE minutes of the last meeting were read

and confirmed.The report of the deputation appointed to

the late meeting of the Provincial Medicaland Surgical Association at York was read.*Resolved unanimously, "That the report

be adopted and received:’Resolved unanimously, 11 That the cordial

thanks of the council be given to Drs.Webster and M. Hall, and G. Bottomley,Esq., for the efficient and able manner iu

which, as a deputation, they carried outthe views of the British Medical Associa-tion."The " Outlines of a Plan of Medical Re-

form submitted to the Council of the Northof England Medical Association and ap-proved thereby," was read and considered.A letter on Medical Reform from Dr.

Sinclair, of Manchester, was read and com-mented on.The meeting then adjourned.

MELVILLE HOSPITAL, CHATHAM.

RAMOLLISSEMENT OF THE SPINAL CORD, WITHINFLAMMATION OF THE NATES, AND EXTEN-SIVE SLOUGHING.

Reported, with Remarks, by ALEXANDERBLYTH, Esq., Jun., Surgeon, MelvilleHospital.

WILLIAM PRIBBLE, seaman, aetat. 21, of aspare phleg-rnatic temperament, was receivedinto Melville Hospital, July 4, 1834. Be-fore detailing the symptoms he was then

labouring under, it will be requisite to takea retrospective view of. the past history ofthe case, as far as it has been ascertained.He applied for medical assistance on the

1st instant, complaining of pain in the back,referred to the lower part of the dorsal re-gion of the vertebml column, with occa-

sional difficulty in making water. Thesesymptoms were unaccompanied by fever,and the bowels being constipated, a purga-tive was administered on the 2nd. Hestated he could not keep his urine, but

passed it involuntarily, and without con-

* The report will appear in THE LANCETof the 28th.

sciousness. Pain of the back mnch thesame on the 3rd, and he passes both urineand fæces involuntarily; the lowrr extremi-ties completely paralysed ; sensation stillpreserved ; pulse regular, as at first, and noother uneasiness complained of, exceptingthe pain in the back, which has been some-what alleviated since the application of abiigter to the dorsal portion of the spine.For a long time he had manifested languorand unwillingness for exertion, and on thisaccount was considered lazy by his mess-mates. The above is all that could be as-certained with respect to the early history ofthe case.When admitted into the hospital, the fol-

lowing symptoms presented themselves :-Complete paraplegia, with very little sensa-tion ; pulse 77; appetite good; passed a

sleepless night, from pain of the back;lower extremities wasted. The catheter

being introduced, six ounces of pale urinewere drawn off. In the evening, pulsequick; skin hot; passed no urine since themorning. He was bled to sixteen ounces ;blood presented the buffy coat; purgativeswere administered, and he was placed onfever diet.July 5, six, A.M. A bandage, sprinkled

with the dulichos pruriens, was appliedround the lower extremities ; after its appli-cation he complained of the skin being hot,proving that sensation was not wholly lost.He now moves his feet occasionally, hutapparently by moving the upper portion ofthe body ; urine and faeces passed involun-tarily, the latter very dark ; is able par-tially to support his body on the legs.

Five, r.n2. He was cupped on the loins,and a flannel roller was then applied to theposterior portion of the thighs, having beenpreviously dipped in very hot water. Themuscles of the thighs and legs became tre-mulous, but he made no attempt to movethem. Has had three stools; the last wasbilious, the two former being natural ; madewater freely; pulse 120, small; says he ismuch better since the morning. The cup-ping-glasses have been applied to the loins,and the following medicine was pre-scribed :-An ounce of solution of antimonyto be tiken alternately, with an ounce ofthe following mixture :-

Tincture of assaf œtida, 3iv ;Castor-oil, 3’j; ;Oil of amber, m. ijDecoction of quassia, vj. M.

6. Nine, A.M. ]Pulse 120, small; tongueclean and moist; stools natural. In theevening, pulse rose to 140, very small andfeeble; is free from j’ain; urine passes gut-tatim and involuntary.

9. Says he has some sensation in the toes.10. Passed a bad night, being seized with

violent rigors, similar to the cold stage of anintermittent; extremities warm; nates andthighs excoriated ; penis in a similar con.