a student's grievance at the glasgow royal infirmary

2
617 THE HOMŒOPATHIC HUMBUG. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—It would appear that the homœopaths wince under the Bedford resolutions. This morning I received the follow- ing note from Dr. Epps, which, with the short reply, I forward to you, in order that your readers may be upon their guard. I am, Sir, yours &c., T. HERBERT BARKER, M.D. [COPY.] Great Russell-street, June 8th, 1858. SIR,-I find your name in connexion with a meeting at Bed- ford on the 21st of May. I find thereat certain resolutions passed unanimously. I need not designate these resolutions. Engaged in writing a history of homoeopathy, which, I trust, will be, years hence, regarded as a standard work, I shall chronicle the facts illustrative of the opposition homoeopathy met with; and shall try to impart a knowledge, not simply of the general character of the opposition, but by recording both the names and the status of all the parties who publicly joined in that opposition, and the modes under which that opposition took form, thereby rendering more tangible to the recognition of those who come after, the reality and special character of the opposition. To render the history perfectly truthful and just, I have felt bound-wishing to do to others what I would wish others to do to me-to try and ascertain, before recording your name as one of the units engaged in the opposition, whether or not you gave your sanction to the resolutions referred to. Believe me, with best wishes, sincerely yours, JOHN EPPS, M.D. [COPY.] Bedford, June 10th, 1858. DEAR SIR,-In reply to your note of the 8th instant, received this morning, I beg to say that the resolutions referred to received my most hearty sanction. I am, dear Sir, yours &c., Dr. John Epps. T. HERBERT BARKER, AL 1. D. T. HERBERT BARKER, M.D. MEDICAL REFORM. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SiR,-We have now a prospect of obtaining a settlement of the long-agitated and much-hoped-for scheme of medical re- form, whereby we shall have an examining board which will act on the principle that medicine and surgery are one and indivisible; whose jurisdiction will extend over the British empire, and put an end to local restrictions; and who will also be in a great measure the choice of the profession itself. Concurrently with the near approach of so desirable a change, and when its certainty seems assured, we are surprised and astonished by the announcement of great and unexpected changes in the curricula and examinations of the two boards to which the majority of the medical practitioners of England and Wales belong. These changes, although they have been long desirable, I consider to be merely the death struggles of the Apothecaries’ Hall and the Royal College of Surgeons to retain I their exclusive privileges, knowing that their fate will be de- cided as soon as the above scheme shall become law; feeling that as they have lost the confidence of the profession, its future members will not seek their diplomas. Finding their craft in danger, they have assumed an appearance of vigour; but I feel assured their motive is too transparent to mislead the profession or the world. These two bodies are isolated from a.nd wholly uninfluenced by the profession. The Apothecaries’ Society are a body of druggists who seek to represent, or at anyrate hold the chief authority over, the majoritv of the practitioners in England and Wales; but their examination is the laughingstock of the scientific world, and the protection they afford to their licen- tiates is no greater within their jurisdiction than out of it: the rifeness of quackery is sufficient proof of this assertion. From the past career and present state of the College, can we reasonably hope that it is actuated by a sincere desire for the promotion of science? I answer, No; it is a mere sham, and its only aim is the preservation of privileges. Its authorities are an exclusive and greedy oligarchy; senility or anility seem to have been necessary qualifications for examiners; they, in their wisdom reversing ordinary rules, think when physical decay has rendered a man deaf, his understanding must be vastly improved, and that sufficient acuteness of mental per. ception for an examiner is only found in the man who has been warned by defective vision that his term of life has nearly expired. Perhaps these elderly gentlemen, actuated by the ambition of dying in harness, forget that when age is seen playing a part for which it is unfit, respect and pity may be changed into contempt and ridicule. I will quote the opinion of a writer in the London University Magazine on the College examinations, which neither confer honour on successful, nor disgrace on unsuccessful, candidates : " After being ushered up a long flight of stairs and into the presence of the examining board, the first scene of that solemn farce begins, when four old gentlemen, in a slovenly manner, pretend to verify the truth of a diploma, which states that ’they have deliberately examined Mr. -, and have found him to be fit and capable to exercise the art and science of surgery.’ We will not pause to criticise the bullying tone of one, the coarse rebukes of another, the courteous bearing of a third, or the pompous pedantry of a fourth; but merely record the fact that a more unsatisfactory, unjust, and illiberal educa- tional test is not to be found than that to which the medical student is subjected, for fifty-five minutes. It is worse than torture; it is an insult to his understanding." Can we hope that this will be improved ? I believe not, whilst its present exclusive policy lasts. We have the curious anomaly of two boards presiding over different branches of one art and science, each independent, and ignoring the existence, of the other. This must not last, They are found unfitted for their duties, and the profession must raise its voice, and no longer allow these effete bodies to obstruct the way of science with their charters and exclusive rights. I hope that by the new measure medical men throughout this empire will be placed on an equal footing in their several ranks; and that we shall be presided over by men who will consider the interests of science and humanity, to the neglect of chartered rights and exclusive privileges, to which these bodies, considering only their own private interests, have sacri- ficed the weal of the profession: we may then hope to see true science advance and quackery sink into oblivion. , Hoping that you will still raise yonr voice and exert your power in this cause, with which your journal has always been identified, I am, Sir, your obedient servant, June, 1858. THETA. ESTIMATING NITRIC ACID. [NOTE FROM DR. SHERIDAN MUSPRATT.] To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-In the last edition of Fresenius’s " Quantitative Analysis," is a very serious mistake, and one which has to my knowledge led several chemists astray in estimating the quantity of nitric acid in the nitrates of commerce. At p. 275 of the above-mentioned work is the following :-" Mix the triturated compound with two to three parts of perfectly anhydrous biborate of soda; put this mixture into a platinum crucible; weigh this with its contents; heat very gradually until the mass is in a state of fusion; cool, and weigh again. The diminution of weight gives the quantity of nitric acid ori- ginally present. The results are accurate." Fresenius, who is. one of the best chemists of our time, must allude to perfectly pure anhydrous salts, because if the nitrate of socla, or potassa of commerce, be taken, the following are eliminated with the nitric acid: sulphuric and hydrochloric acid, and water; so that the loss sustained can give no idea of the quantity of nitric acid in the sample. Boracie being a fixed acid, expels all the mineral acids from their’ conabinatioras ia the heat. I remain. Sir, yours respectfully, College of Chemistry, Liverpool, June, 1858. SHERIDAN MUSPRATT, M.D., &c., Professor of Chemistry. A STUDENT’S GRIEVANCE AT THE GLASGOW ROYAL INFIRMARY. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-Knowing your readiness in all cases to assist students in the removal of any grievance under which they labour, I am induced to send you the following communication, which I trust you will make public through the medium of your I journal.

Upload: phungtruc

Post on 02-Jan-2017

215 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: A STUDENT'S GRIEVANCE AT THE GLASGOW ROYAL INFIRMARY

617

THE HOMŒOPATHIC HUMBUG.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—It would appear that the homœopaths wince underthe Bedford resolutions. This morning I received the follow-ing note from Dr. Epps, which, with the short reply, I forwardto you, in order that your readers may be upon their guard.

I am, Sir, yours &c.,T. HERBERT BARKER, M.D.

[COPY.] Great Russell-street, June 8th, 1858.

SIR,-I find your name in connexion with a meeting at Bed-ford on the 21st of May. I find thereat certain resolutionspassed unanimously. I need not designate these resolutions.Engaged in writing a history of homoeopathy, which, I trust,will be, years hence, regarded as a standard work, I shallchronicle the facts illustrative of the opposition homoeopathymet with; and shall try to impart a knowledge, not simply ofthe general character of the opposition, but by recording boththe names and the status of all the parties who publicly joinedin that opposition, and the modes under which that oppositiontook form, thereby rendering more tangible to the recognitionof those who come after, the reality and special character ofthe opposition. To render the history perfectly truthful andjust, I have felt bound-wishing to do to others what I wouldwish others to do to me-to try and ascertain, before recordingyour name as one of the units engaged in the opposition,whether or not you gave your sanction to the resolutionsreferred to.

Believe me, with best wishes, sincerely yours,JOHN EPPS, M.D.

[COPY.]Bedford, June 10th, 1858.

DEAR SIR,-In reply to your note of the 8th instant, receivedthis morning, I beg to say that the resolutions referred toreceived my most hearty sanction.

I am, dear Sir, yours &c.,Dr. John Epps. T. HERBERT BARKER, AL 1. D.T. HERBERT BARKER, M.D.

MEDICAL REFORM.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SiR,-We have now a prospect of obtaining a settlement ofthe long-agitated and much-hoped-for scheme of medical re-form, whereby we shall have an examining board which willact on the principle that medicine and surgery are one andindivisible; whose jurisdiction will extend over the Britishempire, and put an end to local restrictions; and who will alsobe in a great measure the choice of the profession itself.

Concurrently with the near approach of so desirable a

change, and when its certainty seems assured, we are surprisedand astonished by the announcement of great and unexpectedchanges in the curricula and examinations of the two boards towhich the majority of the medical practitioners of England andWales belong. These changes, although they have been longdesirable, I consider to be merely the death struggles of theApothecaries’ Hall and the Royal College of Surgeons to retain Itheir exclusive privileges, knowing that their fate will be de-cided as soon as the above scheme shall become law; feelingthat as they have lost the confidence of the profession, itsfuture members will not seek their diplomas. Finding theircraft in danger, they have assumed an appearance of vigour;but I feel assured their motive is too transparent to misleadthe profession or the world.

These two bodies are isolated from a.nd wholly uninfluencedby the profession. The Apothecaries’ Society are a body ofdruggists who seek to represent, or at anyrate hold the chiefauthority over, the majoritv of the practitioners in Englandand Wales; but their examination is the laughingstock of thescientific world, and the protection they afford to their licen-tiates is no greater within their jurisdiction than out of it: therifeness of quackery is sufficient proof of this assertion.From the past career and present state of the College, can we

reasonably hope that it is actuated by a sincere desire for thepromotion of science? I answer, No; it is a mere sham, andits only aim is the preservation of privileges. Its authoritiesare an exclusive and greedy oligarchy; senility or anility seemto have been necessary qualifications for examiners; they, intheir wisdom reversing ordinary rules, think when physical

decay has rendered a man deaf, his understanding must bevastly improved, and that sufficient acuteness of mental per.ception for an examiner is only found in the man who has beenwarned by defective vision that his term of life has nearlyexpired. Perhaps these elderly gentlemen, actuated by theambition of dying in harness, forget that when age is seen

playing a part for which it is unfit, respect and pity may bechanged into contempt and ridicule.

I will quote the opinion of a writer in the London UniversityMagazine on the College examinations, which neither conferhonour on successful, nor disgrace on unsuccessful, candidates :" After being ushered up a long flight of stairs and into thepresence of the examining board, the first scene of that solemnfarce begins, when four old gentlemen, in a slovenly manner,pretend to verify the truth of a diploma, which states that’they have deliberately examined Mr. -, and have foundhim to be fit and capable to exercise the art and science ofsurgery.’ We will not pause to criticise the bullying tone ofone, the coarse rebukes of another, the courteous bearing of athird, or the pompous pedantry of a fourth; but merely recordthe fact that a more unsatisfactory, unjust, and illiberal educa-tional test is not to be found than that to which the medicalstudent is subjected, for fifty-five minutes. It is worse thantorture; it is an insult to his understanding." Can we hopethat this will be improved ? I believe not, whilst its presentexclusive policy lasts.We have the curious anomaly of two boards presiding over

different branches of one art and science, each independent,and ignoring the existence, of the other. This must not last,

They are found unfitted for their duties, and the professionmust raise its voice, and no longer allow these effete bodies toobstruct the way of science with their charters and exclusiverights.

I hope that by the new measure medical men throughoutthis empire will be placed on an equal footing in their severalranks; and that we shall be presided over by men who willconsider the interests of science and humanity, to the neglectof chartered rights and exclusive privileges, to which thesebodies, considering only their own private interests, have sacri-ficed the weal of the profession: we may then hope to see truescience advance and quackery sink into oblivion. ,

Hoping that you will still raise yonr voice and exert yourpower in this cause, with which your journal has always beenidentified,

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,June, 1858. THETA.

ESTIMATING NITRIC ACID.

[NOTE FROM DR. SHERIDAN MUSPRATT.]To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-In the last edition of Fresenius’s " QuantitativeAnalysis," is a very serious mistake, and one which has tomy knowledge led several chemists astray in estimating thequantity of nitric acid in the nitrates of commerce. At p. 275of the above-mentioned work is the following :-" Mix thetriturated compound with two to three parts of perfectlyanhydrous biborate of soda; put this mixture into a platinumcrucible; weigh this with its contents; heat very graduallyuntil the mass is in a state of fusion; cool, and weigh again.The diminution of weight gives the quantity of nitric acid ori-ginally present. The results are accurate." Fresenius, who is.one of the best chemists of our time, must allude to perfectlypure anhydrous salts, because if the nitrate of socla, or potassaof commerce, be taken, the following are eliminated with thenitric acid: sulphuric and hydrochloric acid, and water; sothat the loss sustained can give no idea of the quantity of nitricacid in the sample. Boracie being a fixed acid, expels all themineral acids from their’ conabinatioras ia the heat.

I remain. Sir, yours respectfully,College of Chemistry, Liverpool,June, 1858.

SHERIDAN MUSPRATT, M.D., &c.,Professor of Chemistry.

A STUDENT’S GRIEVANCE AT THE GLASGOWROYAL INFIRMARY.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-Knowing your readiness in all cases to assist studentsin the removal of any grievance under which they labour, I aminduced to send you the following communication, which Itrust you will make public through the medium of your

I journal.

Page 2: A STUDENT'S GRIEVANCE AT THE GLASGOW ROYAL INFIRMARY

618

In connexion with the Glasgow Hoyal Infirmary is a dis-pensary, where advice is given daily, (Sundays excepted,) fromtwo to four P.m. I, with a great many others, attend, butwith little satisfaction-for this reason, that particular cases,such as uterine diseases, we are not allowed to see. If a patientis brought in for advice, and the surgeon thinks she is labour-ing under some uterine affection, she is requested to remaintill the last. Students taking an interest in such cases naturallyremain, but they are told by the surgeon that he cannot allowthem to see it.Now, Sir, is it right that medical students, paying upwards

of £1000 yearly to this hospital, should be so dealt with, whilstthe porter, forsooth, is allowed to remain in the room and assistat these examinations by means of the speculum? But thegrievance does not stop here. One of the dodges con-

sists in the following-viz., patients snffering from, or thosereturning to the dispensary with, uterine diseases are carefullykept from the view of the students. When the general routineof the business is over, the porter enters and says, "Gentlemen,all is over," or, " Doctor, that’s the last;" giving the surgeon,by the former expression, to understand that there are uterinecases to be examined; by the latter, that there are none. Inthis way, Sir, we are deceived ; and although anxious to learnour profession in all its bearings, we are prevented from know-ing anything of a most important class of diseases.

I enclose my card as a token of good faith, and beg to signmyself,

Your obedient servant,Glasgow, June, 1858. A CONSTANT REAPER.

*,* It certainly is a curious system that admits the presenceof the porter, and excludes the attendance of the students.-SUB-ED. L.

THE STARCH BANDAGE IN FRACTURE OFTHE PATELLA.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-Allow me to inform Mr. Edward O’Loughlin, that theplan adopted at the Royal Free Hospital, by Mr. WeedenCooke, in cases of fracture of the patella, has been for yearscarried on at the Southern Hospital, Liverpool. We used to

adopt the same treatment in cases of fractures of the olecranon,and outer and inner condyles of the humerus, taking care toremove the bandage occasionally that passive motion mightbe employed.During the time I was house-surgeon (nearly two years), all

our simple fractures were treated with the starch; and I neverremember an unsuccessful case. We also found that the plananswered in treating ununited fractures, many of which we had,from accidents happening whilst at sea on board vessels notcarrying surgeons, the fracture consequently remaining unset.until they came into port.Mr. Churton’s (late honorary surgeon to the hospital) prac-

tice was to put up simple fractures immediately in starch, oras soon after admission as convenient. In infants, the plananswers well. I have put the starch bandage on at the age ofone week for fracture of the thigh done at birth. I may say,that out of some hundreds of cases thus treated, I never re-member one turning out badly; and I think my predecessorswill bear me out in this statement.

I merely write this to show that the provincial are not be-hind the metropolitan hospitals in their practice.

T am- Sir- vnnr ohedient Rervant-

Yeovil, Somerset,June, 1858.

EDW. C. GARLAND, M.R.C.S., &c.,Late Senior Resident-Surgeon, Southern Hospital,

Liverpool.

DEATH OF SIR PHILIP CRAMPTON, BART.,SURGEON-GENERAL TO THE FORCES IN IRELAND.

IT is our painful duty to record the death of (if not the ablest)certainly one of the first surgeons that the sister kingdom hasever produced. We allude to Sir Philip Crampton, who diedat his residence, Merrion-square, Dublin, on the 10th instant,in the 82nd year of his age, having been born on the 7th ofJune, 1777. His family were originally English, and resided atSouth Cottingham, Notts; but leaving this county in the reignof King Charles the Second, they settled in Ireland, and re-mained permanently there, furnishing from that period to the

present, many able members to the profession of medicine, thechurch, and the bar. Sir Philip, the subject of our presentnotice, was bred to the former of these, and at a very earlyage embraced the military branch, serving as an assistant-surgeon in the disturbed times prior to 1798, and being presentwith the force which repulsed the landing of the French onthe west coast of Ireland. Towards the close of that year hewas nominated surgeon to the Meath Hospital, (one of the in-firmaries of Dublin.) This event determined him to relinquishthe military for civil practice, and he accordingly settled inDublin late in the autumn of 1790. He commenced businessin a house in Dawson-street, where he established himself as ateacher of anatomy, having a dissecting-room and medicalschool fitted up in the rear of the premises. Here, in a loftover his stable, he first began to lecture, and his style of teach-ing, combined with his perfect knowledge of the subjects whichhe taught, soon obtained for him a large class of pupils, whilsthis fame as a surgeon became equally established by his prac-tice in the wards, and his skill as an operator in the theatre ofthe hospital. Combined with these professional qualifications,he was possessed of a pleasantness of manner and a winningway, which, in the sick room, were irresistible, and he soonbecame a general favourite with the public. It was not, how-ever, in mere conversation, or in the relation of anecdote, thatSir Philip Crampton excelled ; his intellectual capacity wasequally conspicuous upon whatever subject came before him.To a powerful mind, well cultivated and well stored in earlyyouth, he daily added up to the latest period of his existence.His bodily powers equalled his mental capabilities, and therewere not many who, in athletic pursuits, or in the huntingfield, could show the way to Philip Crampton. Handsome inperson, gifted in mind, with an off-hand, open, and manlybearing, there were few who were his equals. Such was theman of whom we now speak.As a surgeon he was ready in resources and original in idea,

seldom meeting a difficulty that he did not surmount. As a

physician he was peculiarly happy in the selection of remedialmeasures, not merely looking upon the malady in question asdisease per se, but rather regarding the individual in his everyrelation to life, and often prescribing to an end far remote fromthe then predominating symptoms. As a man of science hewas generally able; but to zoology and comparative anatomyhe paid particular attention, regarding them as subservient tothe one great end-the preservation of human life. He was a

patron of everything that could promote this object. Heassisted in the foundation of the Royal Zoological Society ofIreland, and by his influence obtained a grant of the ground inthe Phoenix-park, on which the Zoological Gardens have beenestablished. His public appointments were numerous. Hewas nominated as Surgeon-general to the Forces in Ireland bythe Duke of Richmond, on the death of Mr. Stewart, and sub-sequently appointed Surgeon in Ordinary to Her Majesty. Hewas consultant to the majority of the hospitals in Dublin.He was also a member of the Senate of the University of Lon-don, although we believe he never took his seat. He was amember of the Senate of the Queen’s University, and thricePresident of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. SirPhilip Crampton was raised to the baronetage in 1839, and issucceeded in the title by his eldest son, John Fiennes Cramp-ton, our ambassador to the Court of Russia.

Medical News.ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.-The following gentle-

men, having undergone the necessary examinations for theDiploma, were admitted members of the College at the meet -ing of the Court of Examiners on the llth inst. :-CLAYTON, RICHARD, Accrington, Lancashire.EvArrs, BENJAMIN, Duffryn, Pembrokeshire.HUGHES, BENJAMIN AUGUSTUS, St. Vincent, West Indies.KEMP, BENJAMIN, Leeds.McCANN, JOHN, Tonyn, co. Longford.MORGAN, WALTER, Bridgend, Glamorganshire.OWEN, OWEN, Leamington.RAY, SIDNEY KEYWORTH, Milton, near Sittingbourne, Kent.SELOUS, EDRIC, Gloucester-road, Regent’s-park.WATLING, CHARLES WYAT, Tredington, Shepston-on-Stour.