477

It appeared, by inquiry, that the mother had been washingall the day before, and at the time she felt the first pain (justafter dark) she was completing the ironing of the day hefore’swashing. This pain was so sudden and so intense that shecould not leave the tale; and while standing there the childwas born and fell to tht’ fl,)or, rupturing the cord about threeinches from the umbilrcus. No haemorrhage followed, it beingprevented, as, in my opinion, will always be the case, by theforcible tearing asunder of the funis. Shortly after my arrivalthe placenta was expelled, and the mother in less than a weekwas up and attending o the duties of her household ; the childalso did finely. I am disposed to think, association manyinstances of the kind that have occurred in the human, withthe universal fact in the brute, that no fear need be entertainedof fatal baluorrbage, or even any at all, where the funis hasbeen forcibly divided.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,R. W. TWITCHELL,

Covington, Kentucky, Sept. 186. Surgeon 72nd U.S C. Infantry.R. W. TWITCHELL,

Surgeon 72nd U.S C. Infantry.

THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Will you allow me to state, for the information ofMr. Carter, of Stroud, that it is not my intention to seek anyother medium than the pages of the Journal of British Oph-thalmology to reply to any attacks made upon me in connemanwith that periodical. At the same time, I thank you for theopportunity afforded that gentleman of indulging hiuself, andnot hurting me, by directing the particular attention of the

profession to my humble conrriburions to ophthalmic literature.I candidly admit that her has done me good service in correct-ing some grammatical slips, and reminding me of other shortcomings. Had I the literary leisure of Mr. Carter he may restassured they would nor, have occurred. Will he, in return,allow me to say that his friends have also something to de! lorein the coarse similes hue occasionally makes use of: witnessthe concluding sentence in last week’s letter about the boot,which certainly might have been couched in less objectionableterms as an argument à posteriori; to which correction, if hewill accept it from me, he is perfectly welcome.

I remain, Sir, your most obedient servant,Bedford-square, Oct. 18th, 1864. JABEZ HOGG, M.R.C.S.P.S.-Pardon me for suggesting a "Lindley Murray" as the

more classical missile.

JABEZ HOGG, M.R.C.S.

MEDICAL BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-Your remarks appended to Mr. Buee’s letter in THELANCET of the 18th of June last (p. 710), I consider to be ofgreat importance, well worthy the attention of the profession,and deserving of our warmest thanks. Why, indeed, may wenot have such societies in every county in the kingdom? And

why, for instance, could we not have such a one set on footforthwith in Manchester, embracing the towns and countrywithin a given radius? Each qualified practitioner might sub-scribe a certain amount to form the nucleus of a fund, whichshould afterwards be sustained by annual contributions. Nodoubt can be entertained for a single moment that professionalgentlemen can be found in Manchester or its immediate nt-igh-bourhood who are both able and willing to undertake theformation and management of such a Society, the beneficialresults of which would be highly appreciated by those whomight need its provisions, and at the same time would obviatethose cases of " distress" which are sometimes urged upon ourattention.Hoping that some pnblic-spirited gentlemen will take up this

matter in the above locality,I am. Sir, yours &c.,

A CONSTANT READER AND A REGISTEREDBedford-square, October, 1864. PRACTITIONER.

SMALL POX IN JAMAICA.—This disease is raging fearfullyin Spanish Town. Several deaths have taken place in the lastfew days. Imprecations strong and loud are heaped on thosewho allowed the quarantine regulations to be put aside, bywhich this fearful disease is now ravaging the country. Ata future day we shall have something to say on the subject.While we are anxious for immigration, no attention is paid atall to prevent contagious diseases from being brought to outshores. Whom are we to thank for this ?-Jamaica Tribune.

DUBLIN.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

THE long summer vacation is about being brought to a close,and the note of preparation for the ensuing winter session isbeing s.unded on all sides around us. First as to importanceas well as to time is the meeting held this day by the College of

Physicians, in their new and beautiful hall recently erected inKildare-street, on the site of the old Kildare-street Club.Most probably it will have escaped your readers’ recollection

that the College purchased the Club from the members, whohad recently resolved to build a larger and more commodiousclubhouse. The arrangement was scarcely concluded, and infact the clubhouse was still in the occupation of t he members,when a fire broke out which completely destroyed the clùb-

house, by which however, strange to say, the College bene-iir.efi materially, inasmuch as that building was insured forsome thousands of pound.-! more than the purchase-money, andthey had now an opportunity of erecting de novo their College,instead of remodelling and adapting for the purpose an oldhouse. As the restilr, the College is now most admirablyhoused in a building the architectural pretensions of which areof no mean order. As already stated, the College met this dayto elect a president in the room of Dr. Corrigan, whose periodof office has expired, under whose rule the College hasmaterially prospered, and to whose energy the fellows aremainly indebted for their present handsome hall. The choiceof the fellows fell upon Dr. Beatty, who, your readers ill Iam snre be pleased to hear, has perfectly recovered from his

late long and dangerous illness. This is the first instance onrecord of the same individual having filled the presidentialchair of both the College of Surgeons and the College of Phy-

sicia.iis : an honour which has now fallen to the lot of Dr.Beatty, he having been elected president of the Ci,ilege ofSurgeons in 1850 ; a double distinction, which a life devotedto the honourable pursuit of his profession (the best interestsof which be has at all times studied to advance), distinguishedprofessional attainments, and the kindes and most genial ofhearts, fully justify being bestowed upon him.The new Carmichael School is rapidly approaching comple-

tion. You may remember my giving an account of the cere-mooy of laying the foundation-stone in your number for the2nd of last April. The building promises to be admirablysuited for the purpose for which it is designed, and will tendmuch, I doubt not, to increase the attractions of this alreadydeservedly popular school. In the University of Dublin, also,

! active steps are being taken to prepare for the ensuing session,.

a splendid dissecting-room being in process of erection, whichis to be fitted up with every modern appliance. So far as I

’

can judge, even at this early period (our session not commencinguntil the first Monday in November), there is every prospect

: of the presence of a large number of students this winter at ourseveral schools.Dubiin, Oct. 18th, 1864.

ABERDEEN.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

THE medical school of our University, though silent for sometime, has not been asleep. On the union of the two Colleges,the buildings of Marischal College were given for the accom-modation of the medical classes, museums, and library, andhave now been adapted to their new function. A more com-

modions and substantial building for a medical school probablynowhere exists. Each professor has his own lecture-room, to-gether with suitable rooms for practical instruction, and accessto the respective museums. The pathological and natural his-tory museums are being gradually extended. Ihe museum formateria medica and botany has recently been fitted up hand-somely in a large room, under the care of Professors Harveyand Dickie. The anatomical musenm has been greatly ex-tended to accommodate the additional collection brought byProf. Strnthers last year from Edinburgh. The dissecting-room has been improved, and subjects are plenty. A room forpractical microscopic study has just been fitted up in connexionwith the anatomical rooms. Prof. Brazier, too, has not been