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registrars, might decide the question, one way or the other, inless than a year.-I am, Sir, yours very respectfully,

Jan. 1857. J. G. SCHNEIDER, M.D.J. G. SCHNEIDER, M.D.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—The tobacco trade are up in arms on this one vitalquestion, and no doubt are employing medical counsel to de-fend their cause in vour journal ; therefore all anonymous com-munications should be rejected.In the Bengalese language, the word or verb Peend signifies

"to drink, to smoke." Is there not some affinity betweensmoking and drinking ? It is a rare circumstance to meet adry smoker. Is not the increased duration of life owing tosanitary improvements, and modern discoveries in medicalscience, &c. ? I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

Bayswater, Jan. 1857. ANTHONY SMYTHE.ANTHONY SMYTHE.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS.To the Editor of THE LA-,NCET.

SiR,-As one of your correspondents has been pleased to offer some remarks in disparagement of the University of St.Andrews, I feel called upon, as one of the recent graduates, tocontradict his statements as to the facile manner in whichmedical degrees are there conferred. I have no hesitation insaying that the medical examination is conducted in a verysearching and efficient manner, and may be regarded as a fairtest of professional competency. Anyone who trusts to obtainhis degree by favour will find himself egregiously mistaken.Is it not rather to be regretted that medical gentlemen in thiscountry should procure degrees abroad, without any examina-tion whatever, and without even properly knowing any foreignlanguage, and afterwards patch up their professional positionposition by obtaining licenses and fellowships by purchase andfavouritism? It is, probably, by this class that the examina-tion at St. Andrew’s is held so cheap.

I enclose my card, in confidence, and remain, Sir,Yours respectfully,

Jan. 1857. A GRADUATE OF ST. ANDREW’S.A GRADUATE OF ST. ANDREW’S.

RIVETT’S IMPROVED CONE WHEAT.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SiR,—Cone (so called from its shape) is a bearded wheat,of which there are several varieties. Rivett’s improved is con-sidered the best. It is much cultivated in this neighbourhood,and possesses the following advantages : It is more prolific,averaging from two to three bags per acre over other wheats.It stands better under orcharding, and resists the action of wetat harvest longer than other kinds. It makes a very nicebread, sweeter, and having the property of keeping moist muchlonger than that made from other sorts. Moreover, it is longerbefore it is dry enough for market, and the millers dislike it,calling it " coarse," probably from the difficulty of grinding it;and weak,-i. e., that it will not absorb so much water in

baking. An intelligent neighbour of mine states that he gets11b more flour from a bushel of the Rivett’s, and 3 Ib), morebread from the same quantity, than from other sorts. Why itshould be selected for such merciless adulteration, I cannottell; the more especially as I believe it is never sold unmixed,the millers always grinding other wheats with it. Excuse mytroubling you, but I am anxious to save a truly valuable wheatfrom unmerited stigma.-I am, Sir, yours &c.,Leigh Sinton, Woreester. G. W. KNIPE, M.R.C.S.G. W. KNIPE, M.R.C.S.

THE MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL AND TREAT-MENT OF CANCER.

WE understand that Dr. Fell, the American physician whosetreatment of this disease has of late been so much spoken of inLondon, has made an arrangement with the authorities of theMiddlesex Hospital, by which he has taken charge of a certainnumber of cases in the Cancer wards of that establishment, forthe purpose of subjecting them to the action of his remedies.

Dr. Fell has communicated, in confidence, the particulars ofhis treatment to the surgical stan, who will watch the casesand report upon the results.

This experiment reflects great credit on the medical officers Iof the Middlesex Hospital. --

EXAMINATIONFOR

ASSISTANT-SURGEONCIES IN THE HON. EASTINDIA COMPANY’S SERVICE.

January 12th and 13th.-Written Examination." 15th and l6th.—Oral "

" 17th.—Medical, Clinical, and Practical Surgical Exa-mination.

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY, (Mr. BUSK.)1.—DESCRIPTIVE ANATOMY.

1. Describe the duodenum: its structure, relations, functions,vessels, and nerves.

2. Indicate the limits of, and describe the parts exposed by,dissection in the space circumscribed by the borders and attach-ments of the masseter muscle, including the zygomatic fossa.

3. Describe the dissection of the popliteal space.4. Enumerate in order of superposition the parts divided in

cutting down upon the first rib, above the clavicle, the incisionbeing parallel with the clavicle.

5. The pons Varolii and medulla oblongata having been re-moved, describe the base of the brain, as thus exposed; tracingthe remaining nerves to their true origins.

II.—MINUTE ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY.

6. Describe the minute anatomy of the spleen, and the pecu-liarities of the splenic blood.

7. Describe the structure of the walls of the larger andsmaller arteries, veins, lymphatics, and capillaries.

8. Enumerate the various excretions, indicating the averagedaily amount of each in an adult man; and indicate the sourceswhence they are derived, and the channels through which theyare eliminated.

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SURGERY, (MR. PAGET.)1. Describe the malpositions of the lower extremity which

are usually observed in the successive stages of scrofulous in-flammation of the hip-joint; explain the differences between theapparent shortening and the real shortening of the limb; andsay in what other diseases any of the same malpositions mayoccur, and how these diseases may be distinguished from thatof the hip-joint.

2. What are the chief caustics employed in the treatment ofphagedænic, rodent, lupous, cancroid, and other allied forms ofulcer ? Give an account of the methods of applying at leastthree of them.

3. Give an account of loose cartilages in the knee-joint,-oftheir probable origin, seat and manner of formation, and effects.

4. In a large general hospital, would you, or would you not,set apart wards exclusively for the treatment of patients afteroperations ? State both the advantages, and the disadvantages,of the plan that you would adopt.

5. What diseases within the skull are likely to occur in con-nexion with chronic suppuration or ulceration in the internalear? How would you endeavour to prevent them ? and whatsymptoms would make you suspect the occurrence of any ofthem ?

6. Give an account of the disease generally called fissure orirritable ulcer of the anus; mention its chief diagnostic symp-toms, and the best means of curing it.

7. Enumerate the causes of retention of urine.8. What are the most characteristic signs of fracture of the

neck of the femur ? and how would you distinguish this injuryfrom fracture of the pelvis, from dislocation of the femur on thedorsum ilii, and (when there is no shortening of the limb) fromthe consequences of a severe blow on the trochanter major pro-ducing neither fracture nor dislocation ?

MEDICINE, (DR. PARKES.)1. Describe the symptoms of an apoplectic fit. What are

the chief structural lesions of the brain or vessels which precedecerebral haemorrhage ? What treatment would you adopt duringthe fit ?

2. A woman, aged thirty, was ill for three years with well-marked symptoms of phthisis pulmonalis. She then becameextremely depressed in spirits, irritable, and odd in manner,and occasionally lost for a time the memory of persons andthings. After this had continued for two or three months, she