189

the table ? Besides the annoyance to the

students, the misery suffered by the gasp-ing patient ought to procure the demandedreform. The crowded state of the theatreconstantly renders necessary the openingof the doors in order to admit the freshair. This was the case again on Saturdaylast.

OBTRUSIONS AT OPERATIONS.

MR. EARLE.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—In your LAXCET of last week I

perceive you noticed the shameful mannerin which the area of our operating theatreis crowded, and threatened to mention thenames of those persons who so offended,should they again give occasion. At the

operation for excision of a portion of thelower-jaw on Saturday, there were againat least thirty persons in the area, one-third of whom were young men who have" dressed," or friends of those ex-dressers,and who always obtrude themselves in thearea. But I will pass by this minor fry,and come at once to the chief offender. Imention, with all due respect, the name ofMr. Earle, a gentleman whom I have

frequently heard make very neat and ap-propriate speeches, especially at the com-mencement of the season, on the proprietyof adhering to the regulations hung up inthe area, and of giving the students everyfacility for seeing the different steps of anoperation. I assure you that my view ofthe operation, during a great portion ofthe time, was completely obstructed bythat gentleman’s head. You will say thatMr. Earle, as one of the surgeons of thehospital, had a right to be present. Un-

doubtedly he had, but had he any right tostick himself immediately in front of thepatient with his face close over the partoperated on ? Mr. Lawrence, with Mr.Stanley as his assistant, surely was quitecapable of finishing the operation withoutthe interference of Mr. Earle, who occa-sionally handed a sponge to the operatoras a pretext for retaining his situation. Ican only attribute such forwardness onthe part of Mr. Earle to one of two things,either that he has an unconquerable de-sire to be first alwavs in the " field," not of" glory "certainly, but of " blood ;" or thathe has an idea that he is so clear-headedthat the students can see through him.Unfortunately we cannot.

With great respect, Sir,I remain, yours,ONE OF THE PLUNDERED.

Reading-room, St. Bartholomew’s,Oct. 21st, 1834.

LOCK HOSPITAL, LONDON.

GONORRHŒA AXO SECONDARY SYPHILIS.’ AXDREW MARTIN, a tailor, was admit-ted under Mr. WALKER’S care, with thefollowing historv and symptoms. Of theformer he stated, that six months ago hehad a gonorrhceal discharge with sores onthe inner membrane of the prepuce ;-these latter healed in about two months-the gonorrhoeal discharge has continued!in greater or lesser quantity up to thepresent time. He had a tubercular erup-tion on the skin about two months since.He has taken pills three or four different

times, generally for about one week at atime. His mouth has never been sore:he has taken mercury in other forms be-’sides pills.The eruption on the face now presentsthe medium character between the vesi-

cular and pustular, and is disposed to formbrown superficial scabs. There is a pus-tule covered by a scab on the arm and theleg. There is a spot of ulceration on the

hard palate behind the incisor teeth, ex-posing a surface of diseased bone.The gonorrhceal discharge from the

urethra is thin and watery: there is in-. duration of the corpus spongiosum, ex-

tending from an inch and a half to twoinches behind the glands.

July 33. Mist. Acid. Oss quotidie su-mend.

26. Bowels costive.

R Infus. Gentian. C. 3J; Infus. Rhei. 3ss; Sodœ Carb. gr. X. M.; bis die-

sumend.

R Pil. Hydrarg. c. Pulv. Rhei, gr. v.

hæc nocte sumend.

30. R Decoct. 8m.sO! C. Oss; Ext.Sarsœ ij ; Acid. Nit. dilut. 3ij;M.; quotidie sumend.

31. Much improved in every respect.He continued to improve under the use ofthese medicines, and on

Sept. 18, the majority of scabs hadfallen from the face ; the bone of the

upper palate was suppurating, and somef of the incisor teeth were dead.: Oct. 7. Three of the front teeth wereremoved from the upper jaw, and themouth was ordered to be repeatedly wash-ed with tincture of myrrh and water.

11. The mouth is much better, and hedoes not complain of so much pain.He gradually improved. The mouth got

quite well, the constitutional symptomsentirely disappeared, and he was, soon

after the last date, clischarged cured.