1003PARIS.-BERLIN.

PARIS.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

A Case of Hermaphroditism.THE case recently reported by M. Bockel of Strasburg to

the Académie de Medecine being, so far as I know, unique,I have deemed it worthy of record in your columns. Thesubject of this vagary of Dame Nature is a man agedtwenty years, who since his birth had suffered from inguinalhernia. He readily agreed to the proposal of a radical cure,the operation for which yields some surprises. The hernialisac was found empty, but in its posterior wall there wasfound, covered by peritoneum, a triangular bady, whichwas supposed to be an intestinal diverticulum. Further- examination, however, showed that the inguinal canalwas empty, and that the organ in question had no

connexion whatever with the digestive tube. Compression.of the abdomen above the ring resulted in the extrusionthrough the external inguinal ring of an ovoid pearly bodyresembling the testicle. Lying parallel and above thisbody, and united to it, was a fringed cystic organ, whichcould not be anything else bub the Fallopian tube. Allthese strange structures were carefully isolated by a processof dissection and extirpated. Cicatrisation was completeat the end of ten days. Examination of the extirpatedmass revealed (1) a bicornat3 uterus, theimucous membrane- of which was lined by ciliated epithelium ; (2) a Fallopiantube and a testicle provided with an epididymis and a vasdeferens ; (3) a broad ligament enclosing these organs.This is the only known example of female sexual organs beingcontained in the scrotum of a man whose physical conforma-tion would certainly not have given rise to a suspicion ofany such mixture of the sexes.

New Treatment of Dupuytren’s Contraction of the Fingers.The introduction of antiseptic principles into the field of

:surgery;has had the effect of rendering operators more adeptin their measures, and consequently nothing which fallsshort of thoroughness will satisfy the modern surgeon, evenwhen the disease he has to remedy is nothing more thanan infirmity. When, years ago, Adams devised his methodof multiple subcutaneous divisions of the retracted palmar"fascia for the cure of that comparatively common condition,contraction of the fingers, surgery was supposed to havedone its utmost in this direction. But time showedthat relapses were not uncommon after this operation;and now M. Berger tells us (Academie de Medecine,April 19th) that nothing short of complete extirpationof the retracted fasciculi of the palmar fascia, together withtheoverlying and adherent skin, can bring about a perma-nent cure of this condition. The loss of snbstance thuscaused is repaired by the Taliacotian operation-viz., the’insertion into the wound of a skin flap derived from thetrunk and left adherent by its pedicle until its completeadherence to its new bed is assured (autoplasty by themodified Italian method). M. Berger presented a patientwho had been operated on by the above method. Theinserted flap was supple, movable on the surrounding parts,-sensitive and healthy, and no tendency to recurrence of thecontraction was present. ,

On the Use and Abuse of Mercury in Ey e Diseases.

Professor Panas states (Acad. de Med., 26th inst.) that’he cannot agree with M. Landolt in his view that mer.curial medication is useful only in ocular diseases ofayphilitic origin. M. Pan as has frequently seen cases of non-syphilitic plastic iritis and choroiditis, as also myopic sclero-choroiditis, greatly benefited from the administration of asalt of mercury. But all depends on the mode of introducingthe metal into the system. M. Panas prefers the hypodermicmethod, and he employs for this purpose a solution ofmercuric iodide in steriliaed olive oil. Each injection (aPravaz syringeful) contains from four to five milligrammesof the salt, and it is repeated every day or every other day,according to the susceptibility of the subject. If thesolution be introduced into the muscular mass of the loinsor the buttocks, no fear of abscess or induration need beentertained. The introduction of a total quantity of tenor fifteen centigrammes, spread over an interval of one ortwo months, has often sufficed to cure the above maladieswithout provoking any gastric or other inconveniencee.

Rumoured Appearance of Cholera in Paris.Alarming rumours of the appearance of the dread disease

cholera in our midst have recently been published in layjournals, and, however unfounded such reports may be, ibisonly right that they should not be allowed to pass unnoticedin your columns. The abrupt atmospheric changes towhich we have been treated of late are doubtless responsiblefor the somewhat numerous cases of diarrhoea whichevery Paris practitioner has recently been called uponto treat. When these cases begin to now into thehospitals it is easy to understand how the cry of" cholera" arises. In this morning’s medical papers notone word is said of such cases, nor is the word " cholera

"

mentioned. In the last Bulletin Hebdomadaire de StatistiqueMunicipale only one death from diarrhœa in persons above ethe age of five years is reported. In order to bring my in-formation up to date, I have just paid a visit to the BeaujonHospital, which is said to have been the scene of therecent cholera epidemic. I am informed that five adultsout of a batch of six recently admitted with sym-ptoms much resembling cholera have succumbed atthat institution. One, the remaining case, is stillunder treatment, transfusion of serum having been prac-tised. The staff hope to save this patient. All thesepersons hail from Nanterre, a village distant from Parisabout five or six miles, and situated in the valley of theSeine. No similar cases have been admitted into any otherParis hospital. Too much stress cannot be laid on the factthat not one of the victims of a disease which is certainlynot cholera was an inhabitant of this capital. Bacterio-

logical and other researches are proceeding with regard tothis strange occurrence, and the results will be duly pub-lished in the columns of the medical press. Itonlyremainsto state that the general health of Paris is sauisfactory.Application of the Sclerogenic Method to the Treatment of

Ununited Fracture.M. Menard reported to the French Surgical Congress the

cure of a case of ununited complicated fracture of the legwhich had resisted the usual methods of complete immobi-

lisation for five months. M. Ménard injected into theinsufficient callus 1 gramme 25 centigrammes of a 10 percent. solution of zinc chloride. From that moment con-solidation made rapid progress, and in a month the patientbegan to walk. Here we have another success scored forthe method devised by Professor Lannelongue.

Paris, April 27th.

BERLIN.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The Eleventh Congress for Internal Medicine.THE eleventh Congress for Internal Medicine met at

Leipsic on the 20th inst., Professor Curschmann in the chair.The assembly was very numerous, and included ProfessorsLeyden, Ehrlich, Senator, Fiirbringer, Frantzel, A. Frankel,and Guttmann of Berlin, von Ziemssen of Munich, Noth-nagel of Vienna, Mosler and Landois of Greifswald, Licht-heim of Tiibingen, Bäumler and Thomas of Freiburg,Ebstein of Gotitingen, Immermann of Bâle, Rosenbach andNeisserof Breslau, Edgreenof Stockholm,Unverricht, Stadel-mann, and Dehis of Dorpat, and Martius of Rostock. Almostall the medical professors of Leipsic were present. Afterthe chairman’s opening address and speeches of welcome,from the Minister ot Education, the Burgomaster ofLeipsic, and the Rector of the University, Professor Birch.Hirschield spoke on "Severe Forms of AnTmia. The discus.sion filled up the afternoon, and there was a great banquet inthe evening. In the forenoon sitting on the 21st the subjectswere diabetes mellitus, the diet of diabetic patients, andimmunity. On the same day Dr. Binawanger of Constancespoke on hypnotism and suggestion, and Professor Klebs ofZurich on the treatment of tuberculosis with tuberculo-cidin-i.e., tuberculin as purified by him. He has treated130 tuberculous patients, and reported excellent results.

Statistics of Suicide.The number of suicides between the ages of ten and

fifteen in Prussia in 1890 was 2-2 ppr 100,000 of the popula-tion, between fifteen and twenty 13 3, between twenty andtwenty-five (in which the period of military service gene.rally lies) 22 5, between twenty-five and thirty 21 7, between

1004 OBITUARY.

thirty and forty 24’7, between forty and fifty 37 5, betweenfifty and sixty 458, between sixty and seventy 502,between seventy and eighty 58 9, above eighty 68’3.

A Homœopathic Hospital.The Berlin Society of Homœopathic Doctors, in con-

junction with several other homoeopathic societies here,recently petitioned the magistrates of Berlin to establish aspecial homoeopathic hospital, or at least to set apart award in one of the city hospitals for patients who wishto be treated homceopathically. The magistrates haveresolved to reject this request, on the ground that it is notexpedient to establish a special hospital for the adherentsof a special therapeutic system deviating from that ofmodern medical science.

A New Balneological Association.Several physicians atwatering-places and heads of bathing

establishments have founded a General German Balneo-logical Association at Leipsic.

Statistics.In the week which ended on the 9th inst., 1 person died

here of erysipelas, 1 of puerperal fever, 1 of articular rheu-matism, 1 of syphilis, 3 of scarlatina, 5 of typhus fever, 7 ofinfluenza, 8 of measles, 9 of whooping.cougb, 9 of diarrhœa9 of diarrhoea with vomiting, 11 of cerebral apoplexy, 17of diphtheria, 19 of gastro-intestinal catarrh, 27 of seniledecrepitude, 70 of pneumonia, and 102 of pulmonary phthisis.There were 2 deaths by poison, 1 of which was suicidal ;22 persons died bv violence, 15 of whom committed suicide.In the same week the death-rate of Dresden was 19’6, ofBerlin 19-8, of Hamburg 21-3, of Breslau 237, of Frank-fort 25-2, and of Munich 33. Of the German cities Stettinhad the lowest death-rate (16-3) and Chemnitz the highest(34-1).

News Items.Professor Tbiersch of Leipsic celebrated his seventieth

birthday, and Professor Leyden of Berlin his sixtieth, on the20th inst.

Professor Seitz of Munich died on Easter Monday, agedeighty. He was a medical writer of high repute, and oneof the founders of the Jlunich Medical Weekly. A consider-able number of his writings treat of epidemic diseases.

Professor Unverricht of Dorpat has been appointed headof the new hospital in Magdeburg.Professor DeJffs of Heidelberg celebrated his eightieth

birthday on the 21st instant.Professor Fromniann of Jena died on the 22ad inst.Berlin, April 26th.

Obituary.CHARLES HAWKINS, F.R.C.S.ENG.

MR. CHARLES HAWRINS was born on May 29th, 1812, anddied on April 4th last, having nearly completed his eightiethyear. His father was a doctor of medicine, "of an

old Monmouthshire family," says the Tablet, "andhe was educated at Oscott, together with two brothersolder than himself, one of whom died some years ago,and the other only recently, in the January of this year."The other brother, the late Mr. Robert Hawkins,a well-known barrister and an active governor ofSt. George’s Hospital, was a ProtAstant. The family wasin no way connected with that of the late Mr. CresarHawkins. Mr. Charles Hawkins entered St. George’sHospital on Jan. 28th, 1829, as a perpetual pupil of Mr.Brodie, and was appointed house surgeon in 1836. Hisfather had by this time settled in London, in Upper Brook-street. After twelve months spent in this post Mr.Hawkins entered into practice as a consulting surgeon,having become a Member of the College of Surgeons in1837. His abilities and his high character had earlyattracted the notice and won the friendship of Brodie, andhe began to assist that great surgeon in his practice.Brodie was then at the height of his fame, aind had almostmore patients than he could attend to. Mr. Hawkins usedto say that for eight years Sir Benjamin Brodie never quittedLondon, except to fulfil some professional engagement.With such an introduction Mr. Hawkins saw and profited

by the best surgical practice of the day, and he onlyrequired a hospital appointment to become one of the mostaccomplished surgeons of his time As it was, he was anexcellent practitioner, and was peculiarly well versed in thosebranches of surgery in which Brodie was pre-eminent. Thiswas afterwards proved by his admirable article on Litho.trity in the " System of Surgery," edited by Mr. Holmes in1861, and republished with the necessary additions in thesecond edition of that work in 1870. Any reader of thisconcise and judicious little treatise will recognise in it thehand of a master, and there are many contributions fromMr. Hawkins in the Pathological Transactions and otherperiodical publications on the same subject which showhow profound and practical Mr. Hawkins’ knowledge ofthis branch of surgery was. Amongst these we may men-tion a most interesting case of recto-vesIcal fistula in themale, in which a calculus formed round fsecal accumulationin the bladder, successfully treated by lithotrity, which wasrelated in the forty-first and forty second volumes of theMedical and Chirurgical Transactions.Mr. Hawkins’ chief title, however, to remembrance in

the literature of surgery is as editor of Sir B. Brodie’s worksand of the autobiography of that great surgeon and philo.sopher. To this autobiography Mr. Hawkins prefixed ashort notice of hia life-long friend and master, which endswith these touching words: "When the Wellington de.spatches appeared a distinguished foreigner remarked,’ What a noble monument Colonel Gurwood has raised tothe Duke-one more enduring than marble or brass.’ Thetask of arranging such a monument to the best of friendsand most indulgent of instructors has been to me a labonrof love."Mr. Hawkins remained Sir B Brodie’s nearest and most

intimate friend during the whole of his long life, watchedover him in his last illness, and attended him to the grave.This edition of Brodie’s works is one of the classics of theprofession, and will keep Mr. Hawkins’ memory alive tothe remotest time. Otherwise Mr. Hawkins did not con-tribute much to the literature of the profession, but to itsinstitutions he gave a most active and untiring cooperation.He was an admirable man of business, clear sighted in hisaims, resolute in his purpose, and indefatigable in hispursuit of the essential object in view. He was a vigorousand respected Fellow of the Royal Medical and ChirurgicalSociety, of which at the time of his death he was about theoldest resident member, and which he had served in almostall its chief offices-secretary, trfasurer, councillor, andvice-president. He took the liveliest interest in this greatsociety, and advocated warmly the scheme for affiliating theminor societies to it. He served also for some years on theCouncil of the College of Surgeons, and favoured the reformsin the constitution of ’that body which have been alwaysadvocated by THE LANCET.But it was to the hospital which he had chosen as his

school that Mr. Charles Hawkins felt the most ardent attach-ment and rendered the most constant and the most effi.cient service. His own career there was indeed in one senseunsuccessful, for when he presented himself in the year 1843to the governors as a candidate for the office of assistant-surgeon he was unsuccessful, although he had the powerfulsupport of Sir Benjamin Brodie. The causes of that defeatwere personal entirely. No one could doubt Mr Hawkins’capacity as a surgeon ; but his opponent, Mr. Henry C.Johnson, was overwhelmingly popular with the members ofthe school; and Mr. Hawkins’ religious belief possiblyalienated some of those who would otherwise have followedBrodie’s lead. The election was marked by almost the ex-citement of a Parliamentary struggle, but its event wasdecisive. Mr. C. Hawkins never again sought the position,and cn the next vacancy, in 1848, allowed his friend, Mr.Prescott Hewett, to be elected without opposition. Grave,however, as this disappointment must have been. it didnot alienate Mr. Hawkins’ affections from Sr. George’Hospital ; on the contrary, he gave to its internal concernsand to its management a degree of attention and anamount of time which would have been impossible hadhe been performing the arduous duties of one of thesurgical staff. He took the leading part in the govern.ment of this greab hospital, and for many years exercisedan almost unqueRtioned sway over it. The admirablecountry branch of Sb. George’s Hospital which by the bequesbof Mr. Morley was founded at Wimbledon was organisedmainly by him, and he always supported the medical staffin resisting the conversion of this branch hospital into a