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to which the candidates for their diplomaof the college has been subjected, for itcannot be denied, that if a proper examina-tion had been instituted, the examinerswould have discovered whether the personspresenting themselves were properly edu-cated or not; but although the Council havebeen granting diplomas for a long time, itis only lately that they have discovered thismare’s nest, viz., that a medical pupil cannotacquire a knowledge of the profession with-out spending almost his whole time in the lec-ture-room ; the folly of this must make even a« fresh and green novice" laugh. If therehave been a lack of proper knowledge inmany who have been examined at this col-lege, it has been occasioned by the regula-tions compelling students to neglect the hos-pital, the dissecting-room, and other placesfor procuring practical and demonstrativeknowledge, for lectures which had better beread in books, and- then driving them to the" grinders" for instruction.The worst of the spy-regulations is, that

many industrious and talented students willbe obliged to lose a few lectures in the courseof each session, either to attend to midwiferycases, (which occur at all hours,) or inter-esting port-mortem examinations. These,unavoidably, often interfere with the at-tendance of routine classes; the noxiousregulations, consequently, will compel themto remain during another session of sixmonths, perhaps even two, after they haveacquired a thorough practical knowledge ofthe profession, in order to show themselvesat the muster rolls. I am happy to say thatit is the general opinion, that the college willsuffer most by these puerile regulations, asmany English students who would other-wise pass their examinations here, will re-pair to other Boards, and all who may bedirected to study longer than the usualtime, will undoubtedly follow their exam-ple. In conclusion, I may say truly, thatthe new " order" of the Council will inflicta punishment on every talented and indus-trious medical student in this city. I havethe honour to remain, Sir, your obedienthumble servant,

A SUFFERER.Edinburgh, Jan. 18, 1837.

WEBB-STREET SCHOOL.APPOINTMENT OF LECTURERS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR:—In the last number of your truly

valuable Journal, I read with great astonish-ment a letter signed " Spring Session ;" andwhich, regarding as suicidal, by the handof its own absurdity, I was at first inclinedto leave unnoticed. Farther reflection, how-ever, upon the production in question, has

led me to believe it no less a duty than anact of justice to our present highly-giftedlecturer on materia medica, to allude to it,in order to efface any injurious impressionits calumnious misrepresentations mighthave created in the minds of the titozigittlessabout us,-an impression calculated also,not merely to mislead them, but to injure thereputation of a school that is not surpassedin its opportunities for affording anatomicaland surgical knowledge, by any in Britain,

It is neither, Sir, my prerogative to judge,nor my -wish to impugn, the nature of themotives which dictated that letter. One thing,however, strikes its most superficial readeras certain,-that no great regard for ourmuch-loved teacher, Mr. Grainger, or anxietyto promote the interests of his school,prompted the effusion,—else, indeed, wouldthe writer have rejoiced at a change whichhas already crowded the comparatively" deserted benches" with attentive and ad-miringstudents. And let me tell our hyper.critical author, that the individual-he slau-ders is more than competent to improve evenhis own aspiring genius. A distinguishedbotanist, a zealous chemist, an enlightenedphysician, a concise and nervous lecturer,-we must attribute either to remarkableobtuseness of intellectual vision, or obliquityof moral sense, the failure of your correspondent to cull benefit from, and expressgratitude for, his able instructions.As to the sapient question propounded

towards the conclusion of his epistle, Icon-fess my inability to appreciate its point, orcomprehend its meaning. That Mr. Graingercompels his students to attend and fee a lec.turer on materia medica, is a piece of infor-mation novel in the highest degree to myselfand the pupils of his school ; and is, more.over, completely disproved by the fact, thatnumbers of the gentlemen who heard hisinvaluable lectures on anatomy, have nowresorted to Guy’s Hospital, in order to gaintheir information on the former subject fromthe lectures delivered there. With refer.ence to the " prophetic" warning so kindly

vouchsafed to Mr. Grainger in the closingsentence of this extraordinary commuui-cation, we hardly know which to smile at

first,--its oracular delivery, or laughableabsurdity. Unendowed with the « prophetic" mantle, and unable, therefore, with ourfriend, to span and predicate the future, me,nevertheless, hazard one prediction; that solong as Mr. Grainger continues to employ thefaculty he possesses in so eminent a degree,of obtaining the attachment and admirationof his pupils, the augury of this false and

ill-omened " prophet" need not disturb hissecurity, or becloud his horizon.I I have sent you, Sir, these observations,[relying upon your invariable wish to cor-

t rect misrepresentation, and your anxiousdesire, at all times, to state facts. In vouch-

5ing for their truth, I shall be borne out by

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every student in the classes of Webb-street.By giving them insertion, therefore, you willconfer an obligation on your ardent admirer,and constant reader,

J. B. M. GREY.J. B. M. GREY. i

30, Warner-street, Buckenham-square,New Kent Road.

J. B. M. GREY.

ROYAL MEDICAL AND CHIRURGI-CAL SOCIETY.

Tuesday, January 24, 1837.Mr. EARLE, President.

DISCUSSION ON DR. WEATHERHEAD’S PAPER ONINFLAMMATION.

The discussion on Dr. Weatherhead’s paper occupied the entire evening.Dr.J.JoHNsoN, having paid compliments

to the author on the very ingenious theorywhich he had constructed, said, that heagreed with him that the nervous system inall kinds of inflammation was first affected ;but he did not think that the author hadproved this as he ought to have done. Hehad taken the old definition of rubor, dolor,calor, tumor. Now, the presence of rubor didnot prove or lead to the inference that thenervous system was engaged, for rubor andcalor, too, might be produced in dead tis-sues, by injection. It would not be saidthat the nervous system was affected in sucha case. Before rubor and calor took place,he would take blushing, as the author hadreferred to it. An impression was madeupon the mind before the vascular systemwas excited, and the blush occurred. Itwas not uncommon, indeed, to observe amomentary pallor of the cheek before

blushing. This proved that the sentientwas affected before the vascular system.But a better illustration would be found inthe application of a blister to any part ofthe skin. Long before rubor and calor tookplace, there was a morbid sensation of thepart. There were five symptoms in all in-flammations, of whatever kind, lesio sensibi-litatis forming the first; rubor and calorcame together, and one was not the effect ofthe other. He did not agree so much withthe author’s supposition respecting the con-version of serosity into pus. He consider-ed that the formation of pus followed a spe-cific action of the vessels, and although, asthe author said, "pus had been found in theblood itself," it was only in cases wherethere was inflammation of the lining mem-branes of the vessels. The glands had aspecific action of their own. The bile, forinstance, was a specific formation of theliver.Dr. WEATHERHEAD observed, that he had,

as he had remarked at the commencement

of his paper, avoided entering into a con-sideration of the nervous system, because itconstituted an intricate question, and in-volved many doubts and inquiries. Re-

garding the lesion of sensibility, we knewthat when a pin was inserted into the bodythere was pain, from the wounding of anerve. The rush of blood to the part wasthe effect of excitement caused by thewound. He had only brought forwardblushing as a penumbra, illustrating someof the primary symptoms of inflammation.There was first excitement, then a rush ofblood to the part,with increase of heat. Itwas to show that vessels were capable of acertain degree of extension without badconsequences ensuing. Friction also illus-trated this, if not continued too long. Dr.Johnson had omitted to notice one of his(Dr. W.’s) most important proofs of thechange of serosity into pus, as instanced inthe vesicle of the natural cow-pock becom-ing a pustule under our own eye, by itsmore liquid parts being absorbed. Regard-ing the function of secretion, Dr. J. hadonly advanced assertions regarding the bile.What proof did there exist that any wasabsorbed from the liver in cases of jaun-dice ? Before yellowness of the surfacecame on in that affection, the kidneysseparated large quantities of bile frcm the

blood.Mr. MACILWAIN considered redness fre-

quently to be useful, as showing us that in-flammation existed, but that it was not anessential symptom, for there might be in-flammation of a most destructive kindwithout redness; and redness might existwithout inflammation. Regarding the in-terruption of the blood in the vessels of aninflamed part, he (Mr. M.) considered thatthere was no proof of such an assertion.He thought, indeed, that the blood was freerin its motion, the vessels being larger, andmore blood being present. Hunter hadsaid, that he would « not venture to saythat obstruction in the flow of blood wasthe cause of inflammation, but obstructionin the vessels might produce that diseasedaction:’ This was a very different thing.He (Mr. M.) could not believe that serositywas converted into pus. When pus beganto be secreted it was often, and, indeed,generally, attended with a secretion of athinner kind, but when pus began to befairly secreted, this was not the case. No-thing was to be detected in those surfaceswhich secreted pus, to substantiate Dr.Weatherhead’s belief.Mr. HOWSHIP.—The experiments of Drs.

Hastings and Phillip had proved’that therewas a decrease in the velocity of the bloodof an inflamed part; that when thisinflam-mation proceeded to the destruction of thepart, the circulation became slower andslower, until it ceased altogether, and theblood coagulated. But if the part returned