To Correspondents

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To Correspondents.ne New Sydenham Society.-The report of the inaugural meeting may be Iobtained by application to Mr. Jonathan Hutchinson, the secretary, 14,Finsbury-circus, E.C. We have not the slightest hesitation in recommendinggentlemen to enroll their names as members. The Society promises fairlyto be a most valuable means of publishing useful works for the benefit of theprofession : the Council have recognised the causes which produced thedownfall of its predecessor. Under proper management, the new institutioncannot fail to be successful. The shameful expenditure of the late Societywas quite sufficient to alienate supporters. Secretaryships of the learnedsocieties of the metropolis are usually honorary.

Philanthropos, (Burnley.)-To constitute an infringement of the Apothecaries’Act, it is necessary that an unlicensed person should attend, prescribe, anddispense medicine in a medical case for gain. However reprehensible theconduct of the clergyman in question, he evades the letter of the law, andtherefore escapes punishment.

Subscriber (Greenwich) should consult the Students’ Number ofTIIE LANCET.

A PTEW FORM OF STOM.&CH-PU31P.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-During a residence of several years in the Liverpool Northern Hos-pital, I have been very frequently called upon to use the stomach-pump, andhave often felt that some method by which the stomach might with greaterfacility be emptied of its poisonous contents, or injected with water, wouldpossess a great advantage over the instrument now in use. The latter is neces-sarily complicated in its mechanism, apt to get out of order, and slow in itsaction.

I have no hesitation in saying that we have in the action of the syphon amethod so simple, yet so effectual, that no patient should for the future be lostfor the want of the stomach-pump. I may observe that I have for some yearsbeen in the habit of using the ordinary oesophagus tube as a syphon to emptythe stomach after it had been filled by the pump; but it did not occur to meuntil two months since that the same means might be used to fill as well as toempty it. I have with this object procured a vulcanized tube, one yard inlength, which I attach to the ordinary tube. I have not et had an oppor-tunity of trying this upon the living ; but have, with my colleague, Mr. Old-ham, performed several experiments upon the dead with perfect success. Afunnel may be inserted into the extremity of the elastic tube ; in this case thewater readily descends by gravitation. The gentle action by which the fluidescapes does not inflict any injury to the coats of the stomach. I would sug-gest, but have not yet tried, the same means for the purpose of giving enemas,injecting the bladder, and washing sores. It is possible that so obvious andsimple a method may have been suggested to the profession; but my apologyis, that I have not heard of it, and that since it is so effectual it certainly de-serves to be generally known.-I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

Liverpool, May, 1858. WM. B. WALL, Senior House-Surgeon.

The Juice of the Grape.-We have recently been engaged in making somecareful and extensive examinations of the Cape or South African Wines, oursamples being selected from the stock of Messrs. Gilbey, of Oxford-street.We are thus enabled to correct some very erroneous impressions which havegot abroad in respect to these wines-namely, that they are themselvesadulterated, and that they are used for adulteration. This is by no meansthe case, except in some rare and exceptional instances. On the contrary,we have proved these wines to be both genuine and wholesome, while theirmoderate price is a great recommendation.

U. C. H. B.-As our correspondent is a medical student, he will find no diffi-culty in procuring an opinion on the case from one of his teachers.

Mr. Harris.-We regret that the letter has been destroyed.

ROYAL MEDICAL BENEVOLENT COLLEGE.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-In your notice of the annual general meeting of the Royal MedicalBenevolent College, (THE LANCET, May 15th,) you state that the " flight Hon.Henry Labouchere, M.P.," was in the chair. As the conduct of the chairmanon that occasion was deplorably injudicious, and is noticed by yourself withanything but eulogy, it will be but just towards the ex-minister to state that itwas not he, but John Labouchere, Esq., late high sheriff of Surrey, who pre-sided. 1 am, Sir, yours, &c.,Russell-square, May, 1858. WM. CHOLUELEY, M.D.

A Poor Patieint.-What are called self-supporting dispensaries are mere delu-sions. If "A Poor Patient" be justly an object of charity, there are manyinstitutions in London to which he may apply. The promoters of self-sup-porting dispensaries are not men of mark in the profession; they seek toobtain practice by a "side wind" at the expense of gentlemen engaged ingeneral practice, and to make a dispensary the mere "stalking horse" toemolument and reputation. i

.A Constant Subscriber, (Swansea.)-1. The disease is amenable to treatment.Any properly qualified surgeon may be safely consulted, and he will answerthe second query after having examined the case.

THE continuation of Mr. Lang8to)t Parker’s Lectures is unavoidably postponed.

INDIAN MEDICAL OFFICERS.To the Edttor o/’TEE LANCET.

SIR,-In reference to the return of medical officers who have died or beenmassacred in India, you ask, in THE LANCET of May 22nd, " Will the resangustæ domi be added to the heart-breaking reminiscences they must bearabout with them for life ?" I reply, doubtless, many will, and to relieve whosenecessities I propose to raise subscriptions amongst the profession, and inearnest shall be happy to add my mite, and to act as local canvasser.

I remain, Sir, yours obediently,Lee, S.E., May, 1858. MEDIcus.

M.R.C.S.E., an Intending Emigrant.-The qualification of surgeon from thiscountry will not entitle him to practise either in Upper or Lower Canadawithout passing an examination in Medicine before the Colleges of Physi-cians and Surgeons, which are the governing bodies of the province. The’licence of the Apothecaries’ Company goes for naught. A graduate from anyregular British University obtains his licence to practise without anyexa-mination. It is utterly impossible for a man to form an opinion by a stay of’merely three months in any country.

Thilalethes, (Hampstead road.) -The advertisement of Mr. Row is notcreditable to him. Such announcements have a direct tendency to lower theposition of the person who promulgates them, and to injure the profession ingeneral in the eyes of the public.

Dr. Sheridan Muspratt.-Our authority for the notice in question was L’UnionMédieale.

jtf. d. B.-We know nothing of the person respecting whom the inquiries aremade. He is certainly not in any way connected with this journal.

TREATMENT OF LARYNGEAL AFFECTIONS.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-I have noticed that you encourage provincial medical men, who haveno opportunity of communicating with " the external world" hy medicalsocieties and their reports, in sending you special cases of interest and bene-ficial modes of practice. I have often observed in laryngeal affections a pre-ternatural drynes. of the fauces, and have been inclined to attribute it to thirstor some dry condition of the stomach. I now find that that dryness ofterarises from a desquamation of the faucial epithelium. I tried tannic acid,nitrate of silver, gargles of pyrethrum, &c., with no beneficial effect. I havesince found the application of a drachm and a half of nitrate of bismuth, withhalf au ounce of acacia mixture, of immense service, applied two or three timesa day with a suitable camel’s-hair pencil.-Yours most obediently,

Hastings, May, 1858. C. B. GARBBTT, M.D.

An Ignoramus will find full particulars relating to his inquiry if he will consultthe Students’ Number of THE LANCET, which may be obtained by orderfrom any bookseller.

.J.n Anxious Enquirer.-The case is amenable to treatment. A respectablepractitioner, not an advertiser, should be consulted.

B. S. J. (York) has forwarded to us an advertisement of Dr. Pierce’s, publishedin a penny Railway Guide.

3fr. S. Thompson.-A certificate is sufficient.A AIedical Student.-In such a case, stringent rules of etiquette could hardlybe expected or enforced.

T. E. and W. F. N. (Peartree Cottage) should each apply to his regular medicalattendant.

VACCINE.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-Allow me, through the medium of your paper, to apologise to manymedical gentlemen for not having fulfilled my promise of sending themvaccine ou the receipt of a stamped envelope with their address. The numberof letters for vaccine has been so very great, and the supply for the last fort-night so limited,-hardly enough for myself,-besides which my time and thatof my assistant has been so taken up with professional duties, that we have notbeen able to attend properly to the cases; but if the various gentlemen willwait a little longer, 1 shall hope to supply each one.-Yours truly,Wrexham, May, 1858. J. KENRICK Lnwis, M.R.C.S.

FROM the press of matter in the present number, we are obliged to omit ourusual "Mirror of Hospital Medicine and Surgery," and numerous answersto correspondents.

BOOKS, PERIODICALS, and PAMPHLETS, intended for notice in THE LANCET,should be forwarded direct to the Editor, 423, Strand. Articles or paragraphsin Rewspapers, to which our attention is requested, ought to be marked.

COMMUNICATIONS, LETTERS, &e., have been received from-Mr. Solly; Mr.Ranald Martin; Dr. Forbes Winslow; Mr. Coulson; Dr. Tyler Smith;Dr. Hassall; Dr. Harley; Dr. Alfred Meadows; Mr. Benjamin Godfrey,Enfield; Mr. Church; Mr. W. Tilbury Fox; Mr. Symes, Bridgewater; Mr.Harvey, Southampton ; Mr. H. Harris, Redruth; Dr. Radcliffe Hall, Torquay;Dr. Cameron ; Mr. Potter, Eccleshall, (with enclosure;) Mr. Pratt, Cardiff;Mr. Tyte, Barnstaple, (with enclosure;) Mr. Stedman, Sharubrook; Mr.James,Wooburn, (with enclosure;) Mr. Reilly, Weymouth, (with enclosure;)Mr. Witchell, Swansea; Mr. Skaife, Sheffield, (with enclosure ;) Dr. Palmer,Newbury; Mr. Pritchard, Gunnislake; Mr. Alexander, Gorebridge; Mr.Cottingham, Madeley; Mr. Bolton, Newcastle-on-Tyne, (with enclosure;)Mr. Smith, Framlingham, (with enclosure;) Mr. Wootton, Harold, (withenclosure;) Mr. Spicer, Chard; Mr. Power, Gloucester; Mr. Bartleet, Hed-ditch ; Messrs. Wilson and Co., Salford, (with enclosure;) Mr. Coulcher,Lynn; Mr. Dartnell, Henley-in-Arden, (with enclosure;) Mr. Clement,Southwick; Mr. Rose, Halifax, N.S.; Mr. Condy, Battersea; Mr. Johnson,Bassingham; Mr. Howitt, Heanor; Dr. Muspratt, Liverpool; Dr. Semple;Mr. Brown, Maidstone, (with enclosure;) Mr. Toller, Great Wilbraham;Mr. Hattell, Willenhall ; Mr. Porter, Isle of Wight, (with enclosure;) Mr.Soden, Newnham; Messrs. Chalk and Holl, Worcester; Mr. Woods, Newry,(with enclosure;) Mr. Cox, Reading; Mr. Wilding, Church Stretton, (withenclosure;) Mr. Atkinson, Tonbridge ; Mr. Kempe, Lancaster ; Dr. Gracey,Edinburgh; Mr. Hearder, Plymouth, (with enclosure ;) Mr. Williams,Williton, (with enclosure;) Mr. Furse, Southmolton; Mr. S. Thompson;Dr. Cholmcley; Royal Institution; St. Mary’s Hospital; Mediens; M. A. B.;A Constant Subscriber, Swansea ; U. C. 11. L.; Philalethes; Philanthropos ;Ignoramus; An Occasional Vibitor; T. E. and W. F. N., Pcartree Cottage;M.R.C.S.E., an Intending Emigrant; A Medical Student; An Anxious En-quirer ; Subscriber, Greenwich; &e. &c.