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directly or indirectly, affect his interests; instead of lettingthose who expend time and much toil on his behalf labourunassisted until they tire of the thankless task of trying tohelp those who will not stretch out a finger to help themselves,or manifest even sufficient esprit de corps to supply the meansof carrying out the work undertaken for their benefit.

There is now in active operation throughout the country a

professional organization, gradually formed and consolidatedsince the passing of the Medical Act, which possesses, if pro-

perly managed, the means of advancing with almost irresistiblefor.oe the claims of the medical profession. We refer to the

National Medical Registration Association in London, and thevarious local societies in every part of the kingdom acting inunison with the central body. What these associations have

already done can only be appreciated by reflecting on the con-dition of things which would have obtained but for their ex-istence, and with only the Medical Council to help us; whosepoticy is precisely that- recommended by Dogberry: " If you"meet a thief you may suspect him, by virtue of your office,‘ to be no true man; and, for such kind of man, the less youmeddle or make with him, why the more is for your

" honesty." The defects of the Medical Act {without proof of which any

attempt to obtain its amendment would have been futile) havebeen, at great labour and cost, brought home by the Registra-tion Associations; yet so blind to their own interests are somemembers of the profession that subscriptions have been refusedbeoause prosecutions failed.The machinery of intercommunication is now so perfect that

in a few days the Central Association have recently prepared,dispersed throughout the kingdom, and received back dulysigned, an important petition to be heard before the Parlia-mentary Committee about to consider the question of taxingprofessional incomes.The influence which can be brought to bear may be illus-

trated by the spirited conduct of the members of one of thelocal Associations, by whom the election candidates had theirminds recently enlightened as to the importance of undertakingto support measures advancing the interests of the profession.Each Association is engaged in considering points in which thepersonal advantage and social welfare of every member of theprofession are concerned; whilst the Committee of the Londonbody is collecting from all quarters evidence as to the ineffi-

oiency of the present Act, and has in active progress severalmeasures of great moment to the whole profession.With all this work gratuitously done, we think it is a just

cause of complaint that so many stand idly by, willing enoughto participate in any advantage that may be gained, to agreethat’others lade the water and they catch the Ush, and yet re-fusing to contribute even the small amount necessary for the effi-cient working of the Associations. This is especially the case inLondon, where the Committee has often to pause in the expo-sure of some notable villany, or to cease from some importantwork, because the funds to defray .the. requisite expenses arenot subscribed; and, trusting to the honour of the professionfor whose benefit the task has been undertaken, the Committeehas appropriated to the work all the money received, and allthat promised, and (we regret to write it) unpaid.We foresee that, unless the individual members of the pro.

fession, especially those in London, respond to the appeal madeto them, and freely subscribe towards the maintenance of the

A PROFESSIONAL DUTY.

Registration Associationns, —the only actual representative podiesof the profession, -these Societies must cease to exist. With

them will pass away an opportunity such as never yet occurredof obtaining those concessions which are all-important to thethousands of hard-worked practitioners with limited incomesand many burdens, who form the bulk of the profession.If, by the miserable apathy of those who must suffer if theywill not assist, this result should ensue, then the only altera-tions which may be anticipated will assuredly be for the

benefit of those who already enjoy more than their due shareof the loaves and fishes. Verbum sat sapienti.

THE deprivation of reason falls as a heavy calamity uponwhomsoever it reaches; but there are, perhaps, none to whomthe affliction itself is so much aggravated by attendant hard.ships as are the insane of the middle classes. The wealthycan command all the resources and alleviations of which theircondition is capable. The poor-excepting those who are keptin the wo-rkhouses--are immediately sazccoured to the full extentof their requirements, and are commonly placed in a position, asfar as associates and material comforts are concerned, not infe-rior to what they previously enjoyed. Not so the insane of

the middle classes. Upon the immediate victims and theirfamilies the dread visitation falls with desolating severity. For

want of adequate means the unfortunate sufferers are com-pelled to be associated with persons of an inferior station in _

life. To the terror and suffering of mental alienation is addedthe torture that sensitive and cultivated minds endure- from

forced contact with the coarse and ignorant. The want of

sufficient asylum accommodation for the insane of the middle -

classes, of a public character and of moderate cost, has been,long felt. A movement, deserving the hearty support of the °

medical profession, is initiated for providing such an asylum.A meeting, under the presidency of Lord SHAFTESBURY, will .

be held this day (Friday) for the purpose of establishing a" Benevolent. Asylum for the Insane of the Middle Classes."The movement has already secured a large amount of moraland pecuniary support. We earnestly wish it success.

Medical Annotations."Ne quid nimis:’

A GLASGOW CHURCHYARD.

THE dangers and the indecencies arising out of continued in- =terment in overcrowded intramural churchyards must be con.sidered to have been long ago sufficiently established to needno further discussion now in courts where the question is raised ,as to the necessity for closing particular grounds. In England this closure is effected by order of the Home Secretary, founded upon the report of the official inspeotors. In Scotland, how-’ °

ever, a churchyard cannot be closed without a legal investi-gation before the Sheriff, who hears at length the evidence ofthe applicants and the objectors. It is plain that the deci-sion should turn upon the nature of the evidence as to the

crowding of the churchyard, and not as to the healthiness orunhealthiness of those living in its vicinity, and the general ;opinions of the witnesses as to the sanitary value of over-crowded cemeteries. Nevertheless, it is common at these in- -

quiries to have the scientific question opened and discussedwith dogmatic wisdom by savans who rule.the court, unopposed ..by equal weight of learning, or with oracular utterances of in-

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fallible experience by old wives who had lived through half a ment, not unmingled with indignation, at the excessive damagescentury at the skirts of the burial ground, and could not be per- awarded by the jury against the defendant. The injury wassuaded to change its air for all the breezes that sweep the in the neighbourhood of the knee-joint. Mr. Hall, his assis-downs. There is a radical error here. The law which orders tant, and Mr. Allison, a surgeon of Barrow-in-Furness, de-the closure of the churchyard when crowded assumes the insa- posed that both the bones of the leg had been broken, and thatlubrity of ground closely packed with rotting organic remains. there had been no dislocation. On the other hand, Dr. MayneIt does so upon no insufficient grounds. Hence the evidence of (the only other surgeon besides Mr. Hall practising at Dalton)Mr. James Steele, surgeon at Wishaw, before the Sheriff against and another gentleman affirmed the injury to have been dis-the closing up of Hamilton parish churchyard, is to our mind location of the knee-joint, complicated with fracture of themisplaced, although not without interest. Mr. Steele is an head of the fibula. In this state of things the jury awardedenthusiastic supporter of the opinion that the emanation from X40 damages to the plaintiff. We affirmed that this was an

putrefying animal matter is devoid of danger. This is an in- oppressive verdict. It is a rule of law frequently laid down bystance of the impractical conclusions at which men of imperfect the Judges for the protection of quacks charged with the man-science can arrive by regarding evidence from one side only. slaughter of their victims, that a surgeon, or one who pretendsIt is quite true that careful investigations, and especially those to be a surgeon, is bound to bring a fair degree of knowledge-recently made by Dr. M’William and Dr. Guy, have shown to the treatment of the case, and to exercise his skill to thethat the most noisome trades are not always the most un- best of his judgment and ability; but if this be done, his re-

healthy, and that the worst smells are not always accom- sponsibility is saved. He may err, he may act unwisely, he maypanied by emanations of a dangerous character, or such as mistake the nature of the ailment, or misjudge the means of treat-have produced a large per-centage of zymotic disease. These ment; but he is not necessarily culpable on that account. Weare facts of interest and of great value; for it is important put aside, therefore, the question whether an error was or was.that we should spread no false alarms, since measures of not committed in the cause of Quail v. Hall, merely observinghygiene adopted to get rid of these nuisances are not always that at the present moment the medical evidence is as strongfree from oppression. But no one who has any scientific know- on the one side as on the other. We have no hesitation in re-ledge, or any respect for truths of one order as balanced against affirming the opinion which we expressed previously, that in atruths of another cast, will conclude that the one destroy the case of such undoubted difficulty as a complicated injury to theother; or because the scavengers and the Thames tide-waiters bones of the knee-joint an error of judgment will occasionallydo not suffer especially from diarrhoea., therefore we are bound occur, and that damages so heavy, together with the severe-to ignore the multiplied masses of facts which have proved, censure which they imply, are wholly undeserved.even to truism, that there is a direct connexion between the We apprehend that in this opinion nearly the whole profes-presence of decaying animal matter in many of its forms and sion will concur. We are sorry to find, however, that there ismany of its stages with continued fever, with diarrhcea, ’dy- one strong dissentient. Dr. Mayne, " the only other practi-sentery, cholera, scarlatina, throat affections, and every other tioner in Dalton" besides Mr. Hall, who affirmed the errors atform of zymotic disease. It is very idle, in the presence of the the trial, and appeared to give evidence against his confrère, ismass of evidence so convincing, to re-open, in a small Sheriff’s not content with having secured the verdict, but is displeasedCourt, the question of the relation of putrid emanations to the with our comments upon it. He has addressed to us a letter

public health. It may be that the doctrines hitherto and at in which he furnishes a few" items of fact which he hopes.present held on the subject are destined to undergo great may be accepted in a spirit of candour equal to that in whichchanges. There is reason to believe that they are very they are thus volunteered." In this candid statement he findslikely to be modified in some material respects. But the par- fault with the report we quoted-that of The Times,-andtizanship which would destroy the widest and best-established adds a variety of facts which he considers to be conclusive ofgeneralizations, upon the strength of some isolated facts of his opinion as to the error committed. As to the correctness!which the interpretation is not yet known, can only hinder or incorrectness of his opinion we have nothing to say, but wescience and injure the public health. have a few words to say as to the propriety and grace of hisWith these qualifications, we would call attention to Mr. conduct, and we are the more bound to make these comments

Steele’s evidence as containing some well-selected illustrations because the case is to some extent typical. Gentlemen, mem-of the extreme opinions which he holds. Here is an instance bers of a liberal profession, have certain reciprocal obligations todrawn from his own investigation :- the performance of which they are stringently pledged. They

" In 1854, when cholera came to this country, the magis- have mutual duties of forbearance, of respect, of courtesy, andtrates of burghs, instigated by the officers of the Board of of helpful and honourable good will. How has Dr. MayneHealth, issued various regulations, which they seemed to have fulfilled these duties ? In the first place, he appears to havethe power to enforce, for promoting what they considered to communicated to the patient of his brother practitioner hisbe sanitary measures. These regulations proved to be very opinion that he had been grossly ill-treated. Upon this state-oppressive, and I turned my attention to the matter. I visitedvarious places, and, amongst others, Hamilton, where cholera, ment a claim for heavy damages is founded; and this claim isat the visitation in 1848, had been severely felt; and the result not only strenuously supported by the evidence of Dr. Mayneof my investigation was, that I was satisfied that cholera was in court, but, after the verdict has been given, that gentlemannot in any way connected with putrid emanation from grave- thinks it still his duty to protest against the opinion which hasyards or from cesspools. I found that the mortality was been expressed in mitigation of that verdict by independentgreatest in Hamilton in the direction west from the Academy. -’ .

I also found that cholera was, out of all proportion, severest at and competent judges. It is not thus that we interpret theWindmill-hill, near Motherwell, which stands on an eminence, relations of one practitioner with another. It is true thatand is generally considered healthy." every man when called upon to deliver an opinion is bound

____ to speak the truth, and the surgeon has duties towards thepublic which he ought carefully to regard. But no man is

SURGICAL DAMAGES. obliged to incriminate voluntarily, or to convey a censure on,A CASE was heard on the 23rd ult., in the Nisi Prius Court, his fellow-practitioner; and it is only under the stress of an

Liverpool, before Mr. Justice Keating, in which Richard Quail, absolute interrogation, which cannot fairly be avoided, thata miner living at Dalton, sought to recover damages from Mr. he is justified in saying anything which can reflect upon theEdward Hall, a surgeon, residing in the same town, who had conduct of another surgeon. It is well that every man should

treated him during six weeks for an injury to the knee. We consider the claims to forbearance and to reticence which his

quoted on the 30th a report of this case, and expressed astonish- professional relations demand. His conduct, too, in situations

397

such as these, should be governed by higher rules than thoseof expediency, of self-interest, or even of professional etiquette.He should do to his brother what he would have done to him-self. Every man would desire to have a friendly and helpfulword spoken for him in such a position; nor would the interestsof anyone suffer from adopting that course.

MUSCULAR PAGANISM.

WE have more than once had to protest against the viciouslove of excitement which daily imperils human life for sport inthe arena, and barters the chances of death publicly for a highprice, as a kind of spectacle known to be largely relished.Among the most dangerous of the feats publicly performed arethose of the " flying acrobats, a race of men whom the publicpay exorbitantly, less for their agility, skill, or grace, thanfor the daring fool-hardiness with which they voluntarily periltheir lives. The " trapeze" vaulting in which they risk theirlives is an act of the most imminent danger, although by nomeans of surprising agility. The excitement which attends itsperformance is precisely proportionate to the height of theslender pieces of stick from one to the other of which they leap,to the imminence of the risk of falling, and the coolness withwhich the gymnast uselessly hazards his limbs.The last week has added a fresh instance to the dangers of

these exhibitions. Three such ape-like men have been em-ployed to leap from bar to bar, throw somersaults some hun-dreds of feet above the ground, and generally to perform thefeats of the "trapeze," in that transformed building whichwas formerly a Panopticon of Science and Art. Each of thethree men we believe met with accidents more or less severe,and last week the performance was brought to a close by oneunfortunate man falling backward from a great height, beingstunned, paralysed, and permanently disabled by injury to hisspine.From the sickness and the horror which this catastrophe is

described as having produced amongst those present, it maybe concluded that the people are not so highly gratified by thesight of a severe and painful injury as might be imagined fromthe popularity of such exhibitions. But the rage for these

perilous performances is by no means destroyed by suchoccurrences. On the contrary, it seems to be on the increase;and in the same week that has seen the permanent cripplingof this man a trio of yet more fool-hardy performers of similarflying feats appear at Paris amid general applause, and promisea visit to this metropolis. The rigid censorship which is exer-cised over the phrasing of dramatic representations ::night beusefully extended to these physical displays. Considering theenormous proportion of accidents and sudden deaths whichattend these exhibitions, they amount to a sort of public andprolonged suicide, which has the accompanying excitement ofa game of chance as to its precise time, manner, and kind.

A WHOLESOME CONVICTION.

A NOTABLE example has been made of one of the worthieswho speculate in the supply of diseased meat to the Londonmarket. We have long designated these persons as the greatestcriminals in that infamous trade, and trust that the punish-ment awarded in this case may serve as a salutary warning.Two persons were prosecuted at the Central Criminal Courtthis week, for having sent for sale to Newgate Market a quan-tity of diseased meat as and for meat that was good and fitfor human food. In the one case, Thomas Spencer was provedto have consigned four quarters of cow-beef, from Hitchin, toMr. Greatorex, which were in an utterly diseased state, andnnfit for food. Here, however, the person accused appearedstill not to have been primarily in fault, but was stated to haveacted as a tool in the hands of a certain Mr. Peck, to whomthe meat belonged, and as to whom the jury expressed the

opinion that he ought to have been put in the dock. On this

ground Spencer received the light sentence of only a fortnight’simprisonment. Another person, however, charged with thesame offence, was shown to be a more deliberate and respon-sible offender. His Lordship, in passing sentence upon him,observed, " that he had been guilty of the same act before,and had been cautioned; but notwithstanding that caution, itappeared that, for the sake of putting money into his pocket,he persisted in sending this diseased meat to market, regard-less of the evil and mischief that might be occasioned to thepoorer classes, who alone were likely to purchase such poison-ous matter." He then sentenced this prisoner to six months’imprisonment in Newgate.

VOTES FOR THE IRISH HOSPITALS.

THE Civil Service Estimates for the year ending March 31st,1862, have just been issued. Amongst the items we find:-Public Infirmaries (Ireland), oe2539; Westmoreland Lock

Hospital, £ 2600; Rotunda Lying-in Hospital, .6700; CoombeLying-in Hospital, £ 200; House of Industry Hospitals, oe7600;Cork-street Fever Hospital, .62500; Meath Hospital, .6600,.St. Mark’s Ophthalmic Hospital, .6100; Dr. Steevens’s Hos-

pital, .61300. This gives a total of ..818,139 as the annualcontribution of the empire to the support of these hospitals.The object and uses of the expenditure are no doubt excellent;but when we look at the vast extent and great needs of thehospitals throughout the kingdom wholly unsupported by Go-vernment subvention, this vote must always be considered as,invidious. The Irish paople do not do justice to themselves in-annually proclaiming themselves to be deficient in the libe-rality and public spirit necessary to support their hospitals byvoluntary contributions. If this Government prop were re--

moved, we do not doubt that they would not suffer those insti-tutions to languish; and they cast a public and we believe-undeserved slur on their own character in annually appearingin Parliament to beg for this dole of charity, which other part&of the kingdom furnish from their own resources.

Correspondence."Audi alteram partem:’

THE MARSHALL HALL METHOD.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—There are some points worthy of note in the fatal case*of drowning, reported in THE LANCET of the 30th ult.; and ima letter from Dr. Christian relative to the same in your last

number, certain paragraphs occur, necessitating me to askspace for a few words.

This was a most interesting case, inasmuch as it illustrates-the possibility of fluid entering the lungs during life, which is,generally supposed to be almost impossible. This woman, asfar as I could ascertain, never had any affection of the lungs ;therefore from this fact, together with the appearances afterdeath, Mr. Holmes, who made the autopsy, and myself, hadno hesitation in concluding that the fluid was that in whichshe had been drowned. Here I may casually allude to Dr...Christian’s letter, which was full of the most extraordinarystatements. For instance, on what reasonable ground can Dr.Christian possibly say that " there never was any fluid in thelungs," when he was not present at the post-mortem examina-tion, and when Mr. Holmes-a gentleman whose opinion insuch matters is well known to be of considerable weight—andmyself both saw it.

I therefore feel that suffioient evidence has been adducedthat this woman’s lungs were full of flaid, and that it had en-tered by the trachea.Another point which suggests itself, is the diagnosis of the

existence of such fluid. Certainly, the absence of any previouschest affection, the loud mucous rhonchi, and the livid lips,were very clear evidence of its presence.