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has been dug up in patches, and the stones dropped in againloosely and with a malicious carelessness which leaves them inspherical excrescences and globular mounds for yards at differentspaces. The result is that the passage through this alreadycrowded and slippery thoroughfare is dangerous beyond mea-sure to human and equine existence. The state of the law

which permits a private company to pull up the paved road-way, and drop the stones again pell-mell into the chasm, is apublic scandal and a source of general danger which call empha-tically for redress. ____

THE DETECTION OF ALKALOID POISONS.

THE case of Jane Palethorpe, who was this week acquitted on the charge of wilfully murdering her child by adrai-nistering opium, will excite some attention amongst medicaljurists. The collateral evidence, and the indications affordedby the symptoms, gave reason for the opinion expressed by theexperts. The presence of morphia and meconic acid, also, inthe contents of the stomach, was proved by Dr. Letheby; butwe are not prepared to accept as an authoritative dictum, thestatement of that able chemist, that it is not usual to findtraces of this poison in the tissues. This opinion has been re-cently set forth by Dr. Taylor, who professes to consider theopposite statement, which has been ably and skilfully sup-ported, to be "a shameless perjury"; but it is obvious that a greatdeal of hard language may be used on a point of this naturewithout at all affecting the scientific interests at stake. Weare by no means disposed to accept the aspersion of able toxi-cologists as a valid argument in chemistry, and are indisposedto believe that the chemists whom Dr. Taylor indicates, andwho have differed from him, are guilty of any " shameless in-tention to deceive the public." The vrhole tendency uf themost recent chemical investigations has been to favour thebelief in the permanence of alkaloid poisons, and the possi-bility of detecting them in the fluids and solids of the bodyunder circumstances which Dr. Taylor has declared to nullify that possibility. Moral and legal considerations greatly favour the utmost development of the powers of chemical science inthis direction. It is far more desirable and more hopeful thatchemists should strain every nerve to search out the dormant

poison in the tissues, than that these investigations should bearrested by authoritative statements that their detection is notto be expected. Every lover of certainty in juridical sciencemust hope that the utmost perfection may be attained in thisrespect, and must regret that violent and unseemly languageshould be employed towards those who usefully labour to thisend.

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A NOTE ON SUDDEN DEATHS.

THE sudden death of Lord Campbell, which shocked thenation, and brought grief to a wide circle, suggests a piece ofcounsel, on which it may be profitable to lay some stress. Thefatal incident which closed the career of this noble lawyer, likethose in the cases of the late Duke of Bedford and the Duke of

Wellington, indicate the advisability of never permitting anyaged or enfeebled person to sleep in a room alone, or withoutimmediate and constant personal tendance. It is in the act of

rising from bed, of suddenly assuming the erect position, orperhaps during some slight bodily exertion, that the unex-pected moment of faintness or of collapse, of seizure or of sud-den physical distress, occurs. The dead body is found stretchedupon the floor, sometimes hours after life has been extinct. A

guess is made as to what may have happened, and how long lifehas fled. The relatives are commonly comforted by the assur-ance that this is the inevitable stroke. But to keener andmore judicial minds the question will arise whether that isabsolutely true-whether immediate and instant help mightnot have been of some avail-whether the failing heart mightnot have been reanimated, the impetus or the vicious direc-tion of the circulation modified, so as to give effectual reliei

to the overweighted brain, the limbs warmed, and perhapsthe life lengthened. These speculations carried to the furthestpoint might be painful in individual cases, and in them not atall profitable. But the manner of death of many notable

persons shows that the necessity for watchful and continuoustendance of the aged during the night season is too often

ignored. This is commonly due to a false pride of strength,and wilful blindness to the sudden decrees of fate; but thenit is the part of near relatives to overpower these feelings,and to set aside these scruples, in the presence of the lessonswhich experience has taught.

GENERAL COUNCILOF

MEDICAL EDUCATION & REGISTRATION.

MINUTES OF MEETING, MONDAY, JULY 1ST, 1861.MR. GREEN, President, took the chair at

two o’clock P.M.

Present-Dr. Burrows, Mr. Arnott, Mr. Nussey, Dr. Acland,Dr. Bond, Dr. Embleton, Dr. Storrar, Dr. Alexander Wood,Dr. Andrew Wood, Mr. Watt, Mr. Syme, Dr. A. Thomson,Dr. A. Smith, Mr. Hargrave, Dr. Leet, Dr. Apjohn, Dr. Cor-rigan, Dr. Sharpey, Mr. Teale, and Dr. Stokes.

Dr. Francis Hawkins, Registrar.The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.The consideration of the case against Mr. John Kearney, of

Carndonagh, was resumed.1. Moved by Dr. A. Smith, seconded by Dr. Corrigan, and

agreed to,-" That Mr. Ouvry, the solicitor of the Council, berequested to attend."The Registrar then stated that no communication had been

received since the last meeting of the Council from Mr. JohnKearney, of Carndonagh.

2. Moved by Dr. A. Smith, seconded by Dr. Corrigan, andagreed to,-" That John Kearney, of Carndonagh, Co. Done-gal, Ireland, is judged by this Council, after due inquiry, tohave been guilty of infamous conduct in a professional respect."

3. Moved by Dr. A. Smith, seconded by Dr. Corrigan, andagreed to,-" That John Kearney, of Carndonagh, Co. Done-gal, Ireland, having been judged by the General Council, afterdue inquiry, to have been guilty of infamous conduct in a pro-fessional respect, the General Council do hereby adjudge thatthe name of the said John Kearney be erased from the Register,and do by this order direct the Registrar to erase his namefrom the Register accordingly."

4. Moved by Dr. A. Smith, seconded by Dr. Corrigan, andagreed to,-" That a copy of this order, signed by the Presi-dent in the Chair, and countersigned by the Registrar, betransmitted to John Kearney."The diploma, which had been handed in, was returned to

Dr. Thomson, to be restored to the Clerk of Senate of theUniversity of Glasgow.

5. Moved by Dr. Alexander Wood, seconded by Dr. Burrows,and agreed to,-" That a Committee be appointed to prepareregulations for the conduct of any proceedings which may betaken under the 26th and 29th sections of the Medical Act;and that the Committee be authorized to obtain the assistanceof the Solicitors in the preparation of these regulations." TheCommittee to consist of Dr. Alexander Wood (Chairman), Dr.Burrows, Dr. Storrar, Dr. Thomson, Mr. Teale, Dr. Stokes,Dr. Embleton, Dr. Apjohn.

Dr. Alexander Wood brought up the following Report of theCommittee on the Letter from the Secretary of the SelbyMedical Registration Association.The Committee to which the letter of Mr. Burkitt, Secretary

to the Selby Medical Association, was referred, reports that,without venturing to discuss the extent of the power vested inthe Council by the Medical Act, it would in its opinion be hope-less for the Council to proceed in the manner suggested uponthe evidence furnished.

6. Moved by Dr. Storrar, seconded by Dr. Alexander Wood,and agreed to,-" That the Report now read be adopted andentered on the minutes."The Council resolved itself into a Committee on Education.The General Council having resumed its sitting,-7. Moved by Dr. Corrigan, seconded by Mr. Syme, and

’ ! agreed to,-" That, having reference to the communication

41

from the Poor-law Board of England, of August 5th, 1859; thereply, of August 10th, 1859 ; and the communication from thePoor-law Board, of 15th December, 1859, the Committee inreference to such communications be re-appointed, with thesubstitution of the name of Mr. Syme for that of Dr. JamesWatson, and the addition of that of Dr. Sharpey." The Com-mittee to consist of Dr. Corrigan (Chairman), Mr. Syme, Dr.Apjohn, Dr. Sharpey, and Sir Charles Hastings.

It having been officially certified to the Council that Danielde la Cherois Gourley had, on the 17th of September, 1860,been convicted at the Central Criminal Court, London, of amisdemeanour,-

8. Moved by Dr. Burrows, seconded by Dr. Sharpey, andagreed to,-" That, in pursuance of Sect. 29 of the MedicalAct, the Council do direct the Registrar to erase the name ofDaniel de la Cherois Gourley from the Register."

Confirmed-JOSEPH HENRY GREEN.

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE ONEDUCATION.

The President took the Chair.

The Council resolved not to adopt the following resolutions,proposed in the Report of the Sub-Committee on the Visitationof Examinations (see minutes of Committee on Education, forJune 21st, 1860)-viz.:

" 1. The Council resolve that, as the Medical Act leaves tothe Council the alternative of fulfilling the important duty ofVisitation of the Examinations of the various licensing bodies,either personally or by deputy, it is their opinion that it wouldba more efficiently and satisfactorily accomplished by deputythan bv the members of the Council.

" 2. That the Council endeavour, for the present year atleast, to try how far the work can be satisfactorily accom-plished by an Inspector of Examinations.

" 3. That it be remitted to the Executive Committee toappoint a suitable person as Inspector for one year, and to payhim such salary, not exceeding as they may think right,and such reasonable travelling expenses as they may from timeto time allow.

" 4. That the Inspector so appointed keep a regular report of his proceedings from day to day; and visit once at least ineach year, or more frequently if required to do so by any ofthe Branch Councils, at times not previously intimated to thebody whose examination he proposes to attend, the examinationof each body in Schedule (A), and report on the proceedings ofsuch body to the Branch Council of that division of the UnitedKingdom in which the examining body is situated.

" 5. That such reports be annually laid before the Council,and at all times be open to the inspection of any member of theCouncil.

11 6. That the Council direct their Registrar to require, byauthority of the Council, from each examining body, a state-ment of the times fixed for t-xaminati6n and to reouire fromall bodies who have no fixed times for examination, to give, if

practicable, at least seven days before any examination is to beheld, a notification of the time and place when and where anysuch examination is to be held."

1. Moved by Mr. Syme, and seconded by Dr. Apjohn,-That the Resolution No. 7 be omitted—viz., ’ That in theevent of a candidate at any examination being rejected, hisname shall be communicated confidentially to the Registrar ofevery other examining body without delay."Amendment moved by Mr. Arnott, and seconded by Mr.

Teale,-" That it be recommended to all the examining boards,that they should require from every candidate for examinationbefore them a statement, signed by himself, whether he has, orhas not, been rejected within three months by any of the ex-amining boards included in Schedule (A) of the Medical Act."- Amendment carried.

2. Moved by Dr. Stokes, seconded by Dr. Apjohn, andagreed to,-" That the Registrar be directed to communicatewith the several colleges and bodies mentioned in Schedule (A)of the Medical Act, with the view of ascertaining whether theyhave taken any steps to determine how far the certificatesgiven to students for attendance on hospitals or lectures aregranted on bonâ fide attendance."

Confirmed-JOSEPH HENRY GREEN.

MINUTES OF MEETING, TUESDAY, JULY 2ND, 1861.Mr. GREEN, President, took the chair at

two o’clock P.M.Present-Dr. Burrows, Mr. Arnott, Mr. Nussey, Dr. Acland,

Dr. Bond, Dr. Embleton, Dr. Storrar, Dr. Alexander Wood,

Dr. Andrew Wood, Mr. Watt, Mr. Syme, Dr. A. Thomson,Dr. A. Smith, Mr. Hargrave, Dr. Leet, Dr. Apjohn, Dr.Sharpey, Sir Charles Hastings, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Teale, Dr.Stokes. Dr. Francis Hawkins, Registrar.The minutes of the lat meeting were read and confirmed.A petition was read from John Valentine Laverick, that his

licence, obtained from the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeonsof Glasgow, February 12th, 18bl, and his licence, obtainedfrom the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, April 19th,1861, be entered in the Medical Register.

1. Moved by Dr. Alexander Wood, and seconded by Mr.Watt,-" That the Registrar be authorized to register thename and qualifications of John Valentine Laverick."Amendment moved by Dr. Storrar, and seconded by Dr.

Acland,-" That John Valentine Laverick having applied tothe Council to have his qualifications as Licentiate of the Col-lege of Physicians of Edinburgh, and Licentiate of the Facultyof Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, reinserted in the Register,and his application having been approved of and supported bythe representatives of the Edinburgh College of Physicians, andthe Glasgow Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, the saidapplication be complied with. "-Amendment carried.A communication was read from Dr. Douglas Maclagan,

President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, in-forming the Council that Dr. Hugh Brown had been struck offthe List of Licentiates of that College, on the ground that hisdiploma had been obtained in 1856 by a false statement of hisage.2. Moved by Dr. Andrew Wood, seconded by Dr. Storrar,and agreed to,-" That in respect that the name of Dr. HughBrown has been struck off the List of Licentiates of the RoyalCollege of Surgeons of Edinburgh, his qualification of Licentiateof the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh be erased fromthe Medical Register."A communication was read from the Council of the Faculty

of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, informing the MedicalCouncil that Daniel Dougal had been struck off the List ofLicentiates of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glas-gow on 25th June, 1861, in consequence of his having made afalse declaration of his age.

3. Moved by Mr. Watt, seconded by Sir Charles Hastings,and agreed to,-" That in respect that the name of DanielDougal has been struck off the List of Licentiates of the Facultyof Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, his qualification ofLicentiate of the Faculty be erased from the Medical Register."

4. Moved by Dr. Andrew Wood. seconded by Dr. Embleton,and agreed to,-" That the Council resolve itself into a Com-mittee on Education."

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE ONEDUCATION.

The President took the chair.

The minutes of the last meeting of the Committee were con.firmed.

1. Moved by Dr. Andrew Wood, seconded by Dr. Embleton,and agreed to,-" That the Committee proceed to reconsiderthe matters contained in the Report of the Education Com.mittee of Session 1860."

2. Moved by Dr. Storrar, and seconded by Dr. Acland,-=" That in reference to Sect. 1 of the minutes relating to GeneralEducation and Examination, the Council are of opinion thatthe time of commencing professional studies shall be datedsubsequently to the passing of the Preliminary Examination inGeneral Education."The further consideration of this motion was adjourned.The Council resumed its sitting.

Dr. BURROWS in the chair.

, Dr. Burrows brought up the Report of the Finance Com.mittee.

REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.

The Finance Committee have taken into consideration thewhole subject of the finances of the Council, and they havenow to submit their Report under three heads :-

1. A balanced statement of the income and expenditure for1860, showing the present and also, as far as the Committeecan judge, the prospective financial condition of the Council.

2. The opinion of the Committee as to the present mode ofcomputing the per-centage rate.

3. Suggestions for the more accurate statement of the financesin future years.