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down on the floor. He was taken out of the church and car.ried home. All was thought to be over. Some hours after-wards the funeral bell was tolled, and the usual preparationswere made for the interment. His eyes were fixed; but if hecould see nothing he could hear, and what reached his earswas not calculated to reassure him. The doctor came, ex-amined him, and pronounced him dead; and, upon the usualinquiries as to his age and the place of his birth, &c., gavepermission for his burial next morning. The venerable bishopin whose cathedral the young priest was preaching when hewas seized with the fit, came to his bedside to recite the DeProfundis. The body was measured for the coffin. Nightcame on, and inexpressible must have been the anguish of theliving man in such a situation. At last, amid the voices mur-muring around him, he distinguished that of one whom he hadknown from infancy. It produced a marvellous effect and asuperhuman effort; and of what followed I need say no morethan that the seemingly dead man stood next day in the samepulpit. "

The Senate was already listening with breathless attention,but a " profound sensation" ensued when the Cardinal added :

" And that young priest, messieurs, is now speaking beforeyou, and, more than forty years’ after that event, imploresthose in authority, not merely to watch vigilantly over thecareful execution of the legal prescriptions with regard to in-terments, but to enact fresh regulations in order to preventthe recurrence of terrible agonies."The Cardinal further stated that, during his own sacerdotal

career, he had saved several persons who had been considered

dead and prepared for interment. In one curacy alone he had

seen an old man removed alive from his coffin and survive for

twelve hours, and another restored to health under like cir-cumstances. He likewise related the case of a young lady atBordeaux, who had breathed, as it was supposed, her last

sigh, her parents had taken their latest farewell of her, andshe was delivered up for the grave.

" As God willed it," his Eminence went on, " happened to pass by the door of the house at the moment, when it oc-curred to me to call and inquire how the young lady was.When I entered the room the nurse, finding the body breath-less, was in the act of covering the face; and, indeed, therewas every appearance that life had departed. Somehow or

other, it did not seem to me so certain as to the bystanders.I resolved to try. I raised my voice, called loudly upon theyoung lady not to give up all hope, that I was come to cureher, and that I was about to pray by her side. ’ You do notsee me,’ I said, ’but you hear what I am saying.’ My pre-sentiments were not unfounded. The word of hope I utteredreached her ear and effected a marvellous change, or rathercalled back the life that was departing. The young girl sur-vived ; she is now a wife and the mother of children, and isthis day the happiness of two most respectable families."We are informed that the petition of M. le Dr. CORNOL

escaped through this able support of the Bishop of Bordeauxthe common fate of private efforts with the Senate. The

latter could not fail to be struck with the propriety of at leastbestowing their recognition upon the subject, and referred itto the consideration of the Minister of the Interior.

HOSPITALS FOR NATIVES IN ALGERIA,-The Em-peror of the French has just directed that the subscriptionwhich had been opened to erect a monument in commemora-tion of his journey to Algeria with the Empress in 1860,should receive another destination. The money is to be em-ployed in creating in the hospitals a certain number of wardsfor the reception of Arab patients exclusively. These measuresare being carried out at Algiers, Constantina, and Bona.

Medical Annotations."Ne quid nimis."

THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.

THE London University Calendar for 1866, which is justpublished, contains some new regulations affecting the medicaldegrees, and particularly those in Surgery, which it will beimportant for those who intend presenting themselves forthese examinations to understand.The first alteration we meet with is a "general notification" *

to the effect that unsuccessful candidates will for the future beunable to present themselves for an unlimited number of timeswithout additional fee, and that for the future they will beadmitted to only two subsequent examinations for Matriculationand Bachelors’ degrees, and one such examination for Masters’or Doctor’s degrees. This we imagine to be a matter of veryminor importance, for we can hardly conceive of an unsuccess-ful candidate presenting himself more than three times evenfor matriculation!Next comes a notice that the matriculation has been

""screwed up" one turn more by requiring each candidate topass in both Greek and Latin papers ; and this is followed bythe creation of a " Doctorate in Literature," which does notspecially concern the medical world, as it implies an intimateknowledge of a very wide range of literature, including thewhole of the ancient classics and histories, to say nothing of theEnglish language, literature, and history, as well as those oftwo other countries ! *

For the medical degrees the following alterations have beenmade.At the Preliminary Scientific Examination, in the chemical

paper the subject of symbolical notation is for the future toinclude questions on the " unitary system ;" and this will, ofcourse, necessitate its universal teaching by chemical lecturers,and will thus have the advantage of promoting uniformity. Inthe Botany paper, at the same examination, six new orders havebeen added, of which the distinctive characters are to be

known by candidates, thus raising the number of orders tonineteen, without, in our opinion, gaining any correspondingadvantage, since Botany, however interesting to its professors,is caviare to the multitude of both medical students and prac-tioners.At the second M.B. examination a certificate of attendance

for three months in a lunatic asylum may be substituted for alike period of medical practice; and, as a footnote informs usthat "the Senate regard it as highly desirable that candidatesfor the degree of M.B. should practically acquaint themselveswith the different forms of insanity by attendance in a lunaticasylum," it does not require a highly prophetic mind to foreseethat such an attendance will before long be made compulsory,and that the hitherto neglected subject of psychological medi-cine will receive its due. At the same examination the cer-tificate of special charge of patients will be extended to snr-gical cases-an alteration consequent upon the institution ofthe degree of Bachelor of Surgery (B.S.).The degree of Bachelor of Surgery appears for the first time

in the University Calendar, and we congratulate the Senate onnot being turned aside by the factious opposition they en-countered when the degree was brought forward for recognitionin the General Medical Council last year. It was anticipatedin some quarters that the degree of B.S. would have been insome sort a competitor with the M. R. C. S., but as the B. S. ismade a sequel to the M.B. instead of a distinct degree, onlythose who have both great abilities and plenty of time at theirdisposal will be able to take it. As at present constituted, theB.S. may be taken immediately after the M.B., the examina-tion consisting in a paper on surgical anatomy and operations,

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in a report on surgical cases, and in performance of operations will be constantly on the look out to give due notice of theon the dead body and the application of surgical apparatus. It rise and progress of diseases, either injurious or fatal to thewill be the rival of the Fellowship of the College of Surgeons, human race. It is a common notion, says Dr. Farr, that theand for general or special practice the M. B. and B.S. of London publication of weekly tables, such as those of London, maywill be an unrivalled qualification, shake the nerves of the people, and lead to explosions of terrorThere is also an examination of Honours, with a scholarship in times of epidemic. But experience proves that the publi-

worth a hundred pounds, for the best man, attached to this cation of the facts quiets instead of disturbing the publicdegree instead of to the M.B. as was formerly the case. mind; and, while it reveals the exact extent of danger, robsThe Mastership in Surgery has undergone very important it of the halo of alarm with which the imagination surrounds

modifications, and will in future be obtainable only by indefinite pestilence walking about by noonday. The panicBachelors of Surgery, except in the case of those who have in Paris, Marseilles, and Naples from cholera last year hadtaken the M. B. degree prior to the present year. The require- no parallel in London in 1854 ; and if weekly tables had beenments for the M.S. have been assimilated to those for the published in Paris, that city would probably have enjoyed theM.D., and candidates will be required to have attended two same comparative immunity as London in 1865; for the Londonyears clinical surgery susbsequent to having taken the B.S. The tables, demonstrating the diffusion of cholera by the wells andexamination will also resemble that for the M.D. in embracing the water companies, led the latter, under legislative pressure,Logic and Moral Philosophy as well as Surgery; similarly to seek purer sources of supply, while Paris was left behindalso a medal worth twenty guineas is offered as a premium as in this work of improvement, and unnumbered thousands ofat the M.D. degree. the people perished. So that printer’s ink is not wasted ; and

It will thus be seen that the B.S. of the University of Lon- reports are not mere verbiage. But words may save lives;don is in reality a double qualification, and deserves to be and rows of figures to-day may economize a human phalanxrecognised as such. Its superiority to the meagre examination to-morrow. Let the light in everywhere ; that is the moralfor the M.R.C.S. is so evident as not to require remark; of this eloquent piece of teaching. The more we know, thewhilst the M. S. will, under the new regulations, be more than less we shall err-in judging or in condemning. The more

equal to the F.R.C.S. by examination.. It is incumbent upon helpful, the more charitable. Nor does anyone really serve hisall connected with public institutions that the two degrees own ends by working in the dark. ,

should be recognised as equivalent to the diplomata of the ____

Colleges of Surgeons, and that candidates for public officesshould not be compelled to submit themselves to the Colleges THE SMOKE NUISANCE.

in order to be qualified for election. THE principal thing to be said about this nuisance is, that- ---.- local authorities have it very much in their power. Sir George

THE COLLEGE OF SURGEONS AND THE Grey explained, in the course of the discussion raised the other

MEDICAL COUNCIL, night by Sir Robert Peel, that there is a clause in the Towns.

Improvement Act absolutely requiring that the fire-places inTHE Medical Council will have at least one important piece any engine-room or manufactory should be so constructed as to

of business to discuss at their May meeting. They will have consume their own smoke, and that penalties should be en-to consider the reports of the visitors of examinations. We forced for non-compliance. The difliculty is to get local autho-are sanguine enough to expect considerable advantage from rities to use the powers given them in this Act. It too oftenthe carrying out of this scheme, although it has not been happens that their largest ratepayers are the greatest culpritsdone in that systematic and business like way that we in the production of smoke, and for fear of driving them andcould have wished. No doubt the courtesies interchanged their workmen out of towns, and beyond ratepaying limits,have been as delicate and agreeable as described; and when the smoke nuisance is tolerated. Our principal hope is inthe crême de la crême is employed in mutual visitations, of the manufacturers themselves. A perusal from time to timecourse the most exquisite politeness must be expected. But of such speeches as Sir Robert Peel’s and Mr. Hanbury’s willwe do not doubt that there will be some body beneath the gradually convince them that the issue of clouds of smokefroth; and we feel quite sure that none of the visitors can have from their chimneys is not only a huge nuisance, but that it isbrought away from the College of Surgeons a satisfactory report a huge waste. Mr. Hanbury said that his firm in one yearas to the extent of the examinations on which that august body had saved £2000 by adopting Jukes’s patent apparatus. Sirnow give diplomata of fitness to practise. We shall be greatly Robert Peel had been informed by an eminent chemist that byastonished if the reports of the Visiting Committee do not in- the faulty combustion of coal, forty per cent. of heat was lost.dicate, with the most refined and courteous delicacy-such There is a great concurrence of geological opinion to the effectas we fear is sometimes found to be scanty in our com- that our coal supplies will not last for ever, and it is quitements on that body,-that their examinations are deficient certain that in the northern parts of the country, where coal isprecisely in the points which we have signalized; and that a cheaper, there is a wanton waste of coal. That smoke is uncon-diploma which declares a candidate to be fit to practise in this sumed carbon, lost heat, is everywhere known.kingdom, and places its holder on the Register, without his These are the most forcible considerations which emerged inhaving been examined in Medicine, Materia Medica, Clinical the discussion. Sir Robert, we venture .to think, was not onMedicine, Clinical Surgery, Chemistry, or Botany, requires re- such firm ground when he associated the high mortalitymodeling, and discredits the body which issues it. of Manchester and Salford, " the spread of cholera and

____ other diseases," with the state of the atmosphere causedby the imperfect consumption of smoke. Smoke is a great

PUBLICATION A MEANS OF LiFE. nuisance, but don’t let us make it blacker than it is. TheA PARAGRAPH of the very able Annual Report of the Regis- high mortality of these towns and the spread of cholera have

trar-General seems to us peculiarly worthy of attention. The probably very little to do with smoke. These evils arisewriter lays stress upon the great value of periodical and regular rather from morbid poisons emanating from the decompositionreturns of sickness from the largest possible area. He looks of organic substances, and from the exhalations proceedingforward to the imitation by Paris, Madrid, Florence, and St. from human beings living in insufficient space. So far from

Petersburg of the example set by London, and already fol- being caused by mere smoke-that is, pure carbon,-it is notlowed by Vienna. We shall then have hygienic observations inconceivable that smoke has a slightly disinfecting effect.in all the great cities of civilized nations, where scientific men Other substances escaping from the chimneys of certain che-

298

mical manufactories are more serious. But they have been quinine was about 2s. per week by each district medical officer.specially dealt with by Lord Derby, and his Act of 1864 has There had been an increase of expenditure in cod-liver oil andalready reduced the nuisance most materially. Now that quinine of £2 2 7s. 6d. It was also stated in the report that thevarious practicable means of consuming smoke have been de- supplying of nourishments by the relieving officers, instead ofvised, local authorities should more stringently apply the pro- by the medical officers, had been attended with good results,visions of the Towns Improvement Act. The great evil of and the system is found to answer well. In proof of this itsmoke is that it demoralizes communities in regard of the was stated that "during the thirteen weeks ended the 23rd ofvirtue of cleanliness, and that it acts the part of clouds. February last the number of medical orders issued was 4097,The atmosphere of some of our northern towns is morally de- which was a decrease of 534 as compared with the thirteenpressing from this cause. Our skies are "sullen" enough weeks ended the 1st of December, 1865." Having regard,without creating artificial clouds. One great want of our therefore, to the superior administrative powers of the relievingpopulation is more blue sky and light. There is a wholesome officers, the report concludes by recommending " that in casesmania abroad for fresh air. Gradually we shall come to ap- of great emergency only that may occur during the hours thepreciate light as a physical agent, and then we shall make relief offices are closed the medical officers be authorized to

. short work of the dense masses of smoke which in manufac- give an order for meat in the first instance only, and that suchturing towns hide the sun and the blue sky. A correspondent cases shall be afterwards referred to the relieving officer to bein one of these towns writes us : "The difference of the atmo- dealt with in the usual manner. Also that the district medical

sphere on Sundays and the few other days of the year when officers shall furnish to the Stores Committee every Monday awork is suspended, as compared with that of ordinary days, is return of the meat so ordered, setting forth the name, resi-

very marked." A bright clear atmosphere is a most valuable dence, and nature of the illness of each patient, and the dateinfluence in promoting the health and happiness of a commu- and hour on which the meat was ordered." There is also a

nity, and the experience of Leicester and other manufacturing further check placed on the medical officers in order to avoidtowns shows that, if local authorities do their duty and use extravagance on their part. Cod-liver oil and quinine are totheir powers, it is procurable on work-days as well as Sundays, be supplied to them at the workhouse infirmary only. The

____ quantities to be supplied at any one time to each districtmedical officer are one Winchester quart of cod-liver oil and

LOCAL ANÆSTHESIA. one ounce bottle of quinine, and they are required to be parti-MR. WALKER describes in our columns to-day his successful cularly careful to report weekly the quantities they supply to

experience in using Dr. B. W. Richardson’s narcotic spray as a each patient. After a discussion the report was unanimouslymeans of local anaesthesia. In a remarkably large proportion adopted by the board.of the deaths following the inhalation of chloroform slight and The naked statement is almost stronger than any commentssuperficial operations only were about to be performed; a could make it. Painful conclusions must be drawn from the

ready means of producing local insensibility to pain is there- decrease of orders for nourishment to the sick poor, now that

fore a highly important addition to our surgical resources. the determination of the cases of sickness requiring nourish-This there can, we believe, be no doubt Dr. Richardson ment is taken out of the hands of the medical officers, and puthas afforded us. He uses a modification of Bergson’s hand- into those of the relieving officers. These latter, no doubt,ball spray producer, and employs a finely-divided spray of have a greater facility for refusing food, and exercise the

perfectly pure rectified ether, of 0-723 specific gravity. The dispensing power more scantily; but whether the rates willskin blanches in from thirty seconds to two minutes; and by ultimately benefit by measures which must prolong sicknessfollowing the knife with the spray, more than merely super- and retard convalescence is a point yet to be determined. The

ficial incisions may be rendered painless. Thus it will be seen cruelty of the proceeding is probably on a par with its real

that in a case where it was necessary to extirpate the eyeball, costliness; for such parsimony can hardly fail to avenge itselfand the patient was suffering from extensive disease of the on the pockets as well as the consciences of the ratepayers.heart, so that the experienced chloroformist declined to admi- In some of our voluntary hospitals the charitable have recentlynister that anesthetic, the ether spray was used, with the done a good work by adding a kitchen to the dispensaries, andeffect of materially diminishing the terror and pain of the furnishing the out-patient doctors with orders for food as well

operation. It is a great recommendation of this process that as for medicine. It never occurred to these gentlemen andthe instrument is handy and the material accessible, although ladies that the porters could dispense these tickets for foodcare must be taken to obtain it very pure and of the stated more usefully or discreetly than the doctors; but this is evi-

specific gravity. Enough has been done in the numerous and dently the opinion of the St. Pancras guardians.successful operations now performed under this influence- .

_ _

over 100 in number-to show that this method is capable of ---

extended application; and although it may have its disadvan- OUR FOOD-SUPPLIES.

tages-such as sometimes itself causing much local irritation . j. to The Times

very opportunely advocates theand subsequen sometimes itself causing much local irritation A WRITER to The 7MHM very opportunely advocates theand subsequent excoriation, though it fail in many cases (of wisdoni of a larger breeding of poultry. It ivill take a muchxtrac ction of mo olar tee eth espec

. ially) an d bbe inconvenient in wisdom of a larger breeding of poultry. It will take a much

extraction of molar teeth especially) and be inconvenient in fuller supply both of fish and poultry than at present obtainsothers, --yet the here remains a large ball lance ofof cases In . whichh fuller supply both of fish and poultry .. than at present obtainsothers,-yet there remains a large balance of cases in which to compenstte for the loss of animal food which must shortlyits application will evidently be of the most valuable and be- be felt. There is no doubt that with very little extra trouble

neficentutility. Notonly will it probably superse d. e ice and be felt. There is no doubt that with very little extra trouble

neficent utility. Not only will it probably supersede ice and in farmsteads and in larger houses, and at very little cost, asalt as a local anaesthetic, but it will make chloroform un- great and most valuable addition might be made to the poultry

necessary in many cases, and will render painless a number of of supply of the country, to the great advantage of the public,minor operatiions now a source ofof j t a l larm i d suffering. supply of the - , country, to the great advantage of the public,minor operations now a source of great alarm and suffering. and to the fair profit of the breeders. We fancy we are notDr.Richardrd dson possesses so i fertility ty ofof resource i d per- and to the fair profit of the breeders. We fancy we are notDr. Richardson possesses so much fertility of resource and per- far wrong in saying that it is just the fear of this extra troublering ingenuity, that fur rther

.

of

nts in its use* far wrong in saying that it is Just the fear of this extra troublesevering ingenuity, that further improvements in its use may that induces many persons to use their eggs instead of allow-be exp ectted from him

nat furth er improvement ts in it s use may that induces many persons to use their eggs instead of allow-be expected from him. ing them to be hatched. The following sentences are worthy* ————

ing them to be hatched. The following sentences are worthyGUARDIANS OF THE SICK.

of serious consideration :-

THE last report of the proceedings of the St. Pancras guar- "If those who breed poultry would make a point of allowing

THE last report of the proceedings of the St. Pancras guar- a few nests to be hatched in addition to those they usually do;dians in dealing with the supply of medicine to the sick of that and if some of those who could keep poultry, but do not,union is significant. The average expenditure for cod-liver oil and would begin at once to do so, the extra supply of animal food

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of the best description, in the shape of meat and eggs, wouldbe something enormous. The producers may rest assured theywill be well remunerated for their slight trouble, for pricesmust rule high."

THE VACCINATION BILL.

THE alterations proposed in the Vaccination Laws by the Billnow before Parliament will be readiest understood by a briefsketch of the defects in the provisions at present in force. Anelaborate investigation of the working of those laws, institutedby the Government, led to the result, thus expressed by themedical officer of the Privy Council, under whose superin-tendence the inquiry was conducted, "that for the purpose ofextirpating small-pox they were not likely to !accomplish theirobject, and that the system established by law for the pro-vision of public vaccination works in an unsatisfactorymanner. "

This unfortunate failure of the different efforts made atvarious times for the promotion of vaccination in the kingdomwas traced to several causes. Of these, the more importantwere-(1) the imperfect arrangements made for the performanceof vaccination ; as, for example, an excessive subdivision ofdistricts in large towns, and needless frequency of attendanceof the public vaccinators, whereby it is found a matter of

great difficulty, and sometimes even impossible, to maintainproper supplies of liquid vaccine lymph. Again, in smalltowns a system of attendances is rendered necessary by thelaw entirely unsuited to the requirements of the districts.The consequence of these defective arrangements is an absenceof all proper rule in carrying out public vaccination. (2) Thelocal authorities entrusted with the execution of the Vaccina-tion Laws have no sufficient means of obtaining information ofthe state of vaccination among children born in their respec-tive districts; hence a proper supervision of vaccination isimpracticable. (3) Again, and connected with the lattercause of shortcoming, the local authorities have not the powerof directing inquiries as to the mode in which public vac-cination is performed by the officers appointed by them ; and,finally, (4) if they seek to put the law in motion againstnegligent parents they are met by an almost insuperabledifficulty, from having first to prove the delivery of a certainform of notice.From these causes mainly has arisen that scandalous de-

fectiveness of the public vaccination which is sought to be reme-died by the Bill now brought before Parliament.This Bill deals more or less satisfactorily with all the imper-

fections in existing legislation which have been noted above.It proposes (sec. 2) to give to the Poor-law Board power to re-gulate the local arrangements for public vaccination. Weshould have preferred to see this power given to the

Privy Council, in addition to the power already vested in thatbody for securing more efficient vaccination. The Bill alsomakes special provision for the vaccination of children inscantily populated districts (sec. 11). It removes also (sees.26 and 33) the great obstacles to enforcing the VaccinationLaws, by doing away with the necessity for proving that,in any prosecution for neglect to procure vaccination, thedefendant had received notice from the registrar; and bygiving local authorities power to direct inquiries into the stateof vaccination in their districts, and to remunerate persons forconducting such inquiries. Provision also is made for themore effective registration of vaccination (sec. 20).Thus far the Bill meets the cardinal evils of the existing

Vaccination Laws.While this attempt to improve existing legislation, so far as

it goes, is to be warmly welcomed in the public interest, it isnot to be concealed that, in reference to the profession uponwhom the chief burden will fall of carrying out the provisionsof the Bill, it is far from being so satisfactory as could bedesired.The defects of the Bill in respect to public vaccinators, as

well as some errors in its details, have been very ably set forthby Mr. Richard Grimn, of Weymouth, in a circular distributedamong members of Parliament. Mr. Griffin objects to the

insufficiency of the minimum remuneration proposed ; to theunnecessary amount of writing thrown upon the public vac-cinator in a multiplicity of certificates ; and to the impositionof a duty upon the vaccinator, in the transmission of certificatesto distant places, which would be more fittingly and withgreater facility discharged by the registrar (sec. 20). Hepoints out also certain omissions, and suggests additions whichwould give greater precision to the Act. Mr. Griffin’s sug-gestions command the attentive consideration of all who areinterested in the subject.

Correspondence.

DR. RICHARDSON’S LOCAL ANÆSTHESIA.

JOHN B. WALKER, M.R.C.S. Eng.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SiR,-At the outset of a discovery like that of Dr. Richard-son’s, which may be an inestimable boon to mankind, I thinkit is the duty of every one of us who have applied his modeof temporarily destroying the sensation of a part for the pur-pose of operation, to record our observations upon it; I there-fore beg to say that I have employed it in the following caseswith the most signal success :Removal of supernumerary great toe in a child, by Mr.

Tamplin.Removal of portion of double thumb in an infant, by Mr.

W. Adams.Opening of large chronic abscess in a boy, by Mr. W. Adams.Removal of abortive nail springing from a wound above the

natural nail of the forefinger in a boy, by Mr. Haynes Walton.Removal of an elliptical portion of the eyelid in a girl aged

sixteen, for ptosis, by Mr. Ernest Hart.Excision of the eyeball in a man aged sixty-five, by Mr.

Hart. In this case it was used on account of the inadmissi-

bility of chloroform, the patient suffering from extensive car-diac disease; and although its good effects were not so com-plete as could be wished, in consequence of the great depth of £the parts, it afforded material immunity from pain.

I have also used it in a dozen teeth-extractions, by Messrs.Tomes, Alfred Canton, and Henry Sewill, of which seven atleast were perfectly successful.

I may as well here mention that the application of "thenarcotic spray" need not be confined to surgical operations, asthe following case will testify :-On calling upon an intimate friend of mine (a well-known

London surgeon) a few days ago, I found him in his consultingroom riveted to his chair by a sharp attack of lumbago, andsuffering acutely if he attempted to bend forwards or to rise.He told me that Dr. Fuller had seen and prescribed for himthe day before, and that he had taken a Turkish bath, butwas no better. It occurred to me that the " spray" might beof service to him; so I went to Dr. Fuller, who at once saidthat where there was no gouty or rheumatic condition he had.constantly seen excellent results from the application of iceand salt to the loins, and that he saw no objection to the newmethod being tried in this instance. Upon this, I called onDr. Richardson, and asked him if he would go and apply thespray to my suffering friend’s back. He kindly did so thesame afternoon, and in a few seconds all pain vanished and hewas up and about again as usual, and has been free from acutepain ever since.Such facts require no comment; I therefore subscribe myself,

Your obedient servant,

Clifton-gardens, March 12th, 1866.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,-I removed a fatty tumour this morning from over the

point of the right shoulder, my colleague Mr. Wilders aidingme with Dr. Richardson’s method. The ether spray was firstdirected over the long axis of the tumour, freezing in a fewseconds a narrow slip of skin, through which and the faseia Ipassed the knife. A good portion of the growth was freed byenucleation; but there were some stout adhesions, againstwhich successively Mr. Wilders directed the jet before Itouched them with the scalpel. The operation was completed