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THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND THE SOCIETY OF APOTHECARIES.

as in a case which we chronicled; nor could laudanum begiven instead of an aperient mixture. It seems highly im-

portant that the necessity of adopting these safeguards should beenforced upon chemists and dispensers. Looking to the numberof deaths due to accidental poisoning arising from the error ofpatient or dispenser, it is difficult to account for the slownessto adopt a remedy which is efficacious and without cost; forbottles of these shapes and colours are not more expensive thanany others, and afford a guarantee for life, while they imposeno additional trouble or responsibility. The College of Phy-sicians is charged with the inspection of all matters pharma-copceial, and this may well enter into the programme of theirinquiry.

THE leading Counsel who have been consulted by the Collegeof Physicians and the Apothecaries’ Company, as to the powerof the former body to create a new order of Licentiates, whoshall not be restricted from supplying medicines to their ownpatients, have managed to utter such oracular responses thatthe clients prefer an appeal to the legal tribunals. It seems

that, even with the best intentions, it is in many instances

impossible to place a case before Counsel in such a completemanner as to warrant a conclusive judgment. Especially isthis so in the present instance. There can be no doubt that

the College has in former times both possessed and exercisedthe power of licensing to practise pharmacy; and a clause re-

serving all its existing powers was inserted in the ApothecariesAct of 1815. It is even admitted, we hear, by Counsel, whoseopinion is taken to be adverse to the College, that the Collegemay now, if it pleases, license to practise pharmacy, but thatif it does so, it must abrogate the bye-law which forbids Fellowsfrom the practice. Under these circumstances, viewing theeK<?’66-CM!’M contradictions of Counsel, there is no other solutionof the difficulty than to fly to that conflict of argument inwhich the contending parties are sure to elicit from each otherthe utmost ingenuity in exhausting the facts and argumentsfor and against. If the decision of the legal tribunals shouldprove favourable to the College, the recent resolution of thatbody will probably be acted upon forthwith. If, on the other

hand, the decision should be adverse, then new powers will be

sought from Parliament.

FOR several years past the injustice to which the assistantmedical officers of our hospitals have been subjected has beenthe theme of many of the leading articles in this journal. What

is the position of these most useful members of our profession ?Selected from the most energetic and well informed of therising men of the profession, they are called upon to

devote their time and skill to a vast number of patients whorequire their assistance. But though the hardest worked, theyreceive no emolument, and, under the present system, may beworn out in the service before they take that position to whichtheir exemplary labours entitle them. It is impossible to con-ceive an arrangement more disastrous to the reputation of an in-stitution, or more detrimental to the welfare of the sufferingpoor. Of course the advocates of a vicious system will alwaysbe prepared with what are called arguments in defence of theabuse; but, tested by truth and justice, these arguments areflimsy and contemptible. They are even subject to a worseobjection-they are the offspring of selfishness and exclusive-

ness. Again and again have we demonstrated this fact; buthitherto the governing powers of our hospitals have been per-sistently blind to the truth. But the truth must be told. Hos-

pitals were not founded for the pecuniary advantage of theprivileged few, but for the greatest good of the greatest number.If a man labours in the cause of charity honestly and faithfully, heis entitled to all the benefits which may accrue to him from his

labours. No one capable of forming an opinion on the subjectwill deny the force of this assertion. 11’rhy, then, exclude theassistant medical officers from participation in the honours andemoluments which pertain to their seniors ? Anticipating theanswer which may be given, that they must work to obtain aposition, we affirm that if they are worthy of treating the out-patients of an hospital they are worthy of being remunerated fortheir labour. We sincerely trust that the agitation at presentexisting with respect to the management of the metropolitanhospitals will terminate in such a manner that justice may bedone to all their medical officers.

THE PHYSICIAN TO THE COUNCIL OF INDIA.

MUCH misapprehension having been expressed, both at

home and abroad, as to the duties and responsibilities of theoffice of Physician to the Council of India, we here state thatthey are, almost exclusively, the examining and reporting onsick and wounded officers; the physical examination of civiland military employ&eacute;8 proceeding to the Indian Presidencies;the examination and reporting on indents for medical and

surgical stores for the use of the forces serving in India; andthe reporting on all such questions as may be referred byauthority to the officer in question. But the last mentionedduties depend, as to their nature and extent, altogether on thegood will and pleasure of the Secretary of State for India forthe time being. Under one Secretary of State the calls on hisphysician may be large and continual, while under anotherthey may comprise nothing beyond the ordinary routine duties.We mention these circumstances in reference to certain ex-

pectations entertained in India, as to the influence of Sir RanaldMartin to promote the good of the service in which he passedso much of his public life. What he would do his brotherofficers may learn from what he has done; and they may restassured that, under his advice, no inequality of position or in.justice of any kind will ever reach his brethren in India.The views of Sir Ranald Martin for the arrangement and

government of the Medical Department of the Indian Army,are well known for their useful and comprehensive character.They were stated by him with freedom before the Committee ofthe House of Commons in 1853. But all useful and compre-hensive measures imply " a large expenditure of the publicmoney." Of course they do; but when the question turns outto be medical, surgical, or sanitary, it requires very little know-ledge of the world, or the ways of our public officers, to anti.cipate how such matters will terminate, and how much valu-able time may be lost before anything is done.We are aware that it was proposed to Lord Stanley to place

Sir R. Martin in the Council of India. Whether, for such anoffice, he could be induced to give up his professional career,we know not; but this we know, that for the general interests,and for the interests of the public services in India, a seat inthe Council would be Sir R. Martin’s proper place.

DEATH OF A LUNATIC UNDER CHLOROFORM.

A DEATH from chloroform has occurred during the week atthe West Derby Workhouse, under circumstances which havegiven rise to much excited feeling and strong comment. Atan inquest held on Monday by P. F. Curry, Esq., coroner, it

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appeared that the deceased was a female lunatic pauper, sub-ject to fits of violent mania. Dr. J. B. Nevins, the medicalofficer of the Workhouse Infirmary, deposed that he had givendirections that if she became violently excited, his pupil, Mr.Lupton, or Mr. Gough, the governor, should administer chlo-roform, and then send for him. Chloroform had on several

occasions been administered to her. After the first dose she wasmuch better, and he considered the case a proper one for theuse of the anaesthetic. Dr. Nevins also said that he was ex-

pecting her death every day, independent of the chloroform,but that, no doubt, her death was 11 histened an hour or twoby the chloroform." It was administered by Mr. Gough, thegovernor of the workhouse, who had assisted Dr. Nevins atevery operation for the last seven years, and who was considered I,by the latter to be quite competent for the administration in thiscase. However this may be, there can hardly be any diversityof opinion as to the impropriety of permitting the uncontrolledadministration of so potent a narcotic by an unprofessionalperson. During the inhalation accurate note must be taken ofthe progressive changes in the respiration, the pulse, the tem-perature, muscular rigidity, and other vital phenomena. It

were idle to rely upon an unskilful person in such matters, andwe do not think that long habit is by any means synonymouswith skilled experience in such a case. In this instance thecircumstances were rendered yet more invidious by the factthat the vapour was applied to a patient described as being inthe last stage of exhaustion, and given without due measure-ment, or the use of any means by which the proportion of thechloroform in the inhaled air could be definitely fixed. The

operator "rolled up a piece of lint, placed it in his hand, andpoured some chloroform upon it." This adds another death tothe terribly long list of those who have died under chloroform,administered on lint without the intervention of Snow’s appa-ratus or any other means for regulating the quantity and propor-tion inhaled-a careless mode of administration, such as is nottolerated with any other narcotic substance used for thera-

peutic purposes.The most remarkable feature in the case, however, is the

fact that in this large institution, with all its valetudinarian

inmates, its sick wards, and its lunatic ward, there is no resi-dent medical officer. It was owing to this shameful neglect onthe part of the guardians that the governor was called upon toact in a medical emergency, and did his best to fulfil his dutyaccording to instructions received. It would appear almost in-credible that the sick patients of this workhouse should be leftthus destitute of all medical superintendence ; but it was givenin evidence that at the time of the deceased’s illness there wasnot a medical man within a mile. The counsel on either sideconcurred in expressing the hope that this investigation might"have the happy effect of infusing more decency into the

government of the wretched house at West Derby." And Mr.

Snowball, for the defence, said he did not intend to palliate theconduct of the West Derby guardians, for it was impossible todefend it. Really the Poor-law Board, who are so active inbadgering medical officers, might exercise a little useful activityin investigating the reasons of the guardians for leaving thesick of the West Derby Workhouse thus destitute of propermedical aid-

THE DESPOTISM OF DRESS IN INDIA.

IT is now some five-and-thirty years since Dr. James

Johnson, in his " Tropical Hygiene," gave this importantadvice to the Administration in India: he recommended that

military full dress or uniform-the European badge of distinc.tion-should be dispensed with at all festivals, public andprivate, formal, social, or domestic, within the Torrid Zone.He asserted that though the constantly going about in harness,like a cab-horse, might have a very military look, it was ahishlv uncomfortable nractice and most inmnrmR to hpa,lth.

Many a man, he rightly affirmed, was sent to his long homeeventually by the two great nuisances of service in the East-namely, over-parade and brigade drills, and faulty dress. Therewere commanding officers in those days who kept everyone,from the major down to the drummer-boy, in a continual fretand worry by exaggerated requirements in these respects. Wemay tell a good story, not known to all our readers, perhaps,in illustration of this. A musical society was formed in Cal-cutta by a number of gentlemen of the different services anda few professionals, and which rejoiced in the designation ofthe Amphion Club. Amongst the members was the generalofficer commanding at Fort William. The weather in Calcutta

being pretty warm, the members attended the first meeting ofthe society dressed in the light habiliments which render theheat there just endurable. The delicate sense of military pro-priety was shocked at this. The major-general, though heliked music, loved regimentals; and he ordered that all mem.bers of the society should come for the future dressed in fulluniform. A most military idea, truly; but it was, unfortu-

nately for the welfare of the society, impracticable. Stoutgentlemen, sworded, sashed, coated, and booted, found thatthus to play obligatos upon the violin, to blow clarionets, towrestle with the double-bass, &c., was worse than "pricklyheat"-it was to threaten with apoplexy. The practice, if notthe idea, was dreadful, so the Amphion Club was dissolved;and thus, by a despotism of military etiquette in dress, a pro.mised pleasant association was put an end to. Since the timeof the Amphionists, however, many changes have taken place;and amongst those for the better has been the greater freedomallowed in escaping from " harness." But there is some fear,it would seem, of a relapse in India; for no sooner was SirWilliam Mansfield (who has always, according to the Bom-’ &deg;

bay Gazette, passed for a bit of a martinet) appointed Com-mander-in-Chief of the Bombay Army, than he began to re-

form the regulations regarding dress. The following circularhas lately been issued from head-quarters:-

" Adjutant-General’s Office, Head Quarters, Poona,9th June, 1860.

SiR,-The Commander-In-Chief desires that the officers ofall branches of the Bombay army may be discouraged as muchas possible from the use of ’plain’ clothes. They are to followher Majesty’s Regulations in this matter, and, according to theOrders applicable to the season, are to appear dressed in uni-form in all places of public resort.

" 2. In short, whenever an officer leaves his own lines afterton A.M. he is to be dressed in uniform.

" 3. This Rule is not to interfere with the dress of officerswhen they may be engaged in sport, or during their morningrides when off duty.4. Officers commanding regiments must be well aware

what a great additional expense it is to the young subaltern tokeep up two wardrobes-viz., one of ’uniform’ and another of’plain’ clothes. Many young officers are led into extravaganceand debt upon this account, because they cannot resist theexample set by their richer comrades; that which is a con-venient fashion in England is really productive of nothing buta foolish and unnecessary expense in India.5. It will be understood that officers dining out, whether

at the presidency or at military stations, are to appear in theirregimental or staff uniform-either in ’full’ or ’undress,’ asoccasion may demand.

" 6. This Order does not apply to officers in civil employ.ment under the Government.&mdash;I have, &c.,

(Sigued) "T. STOCK, Major," Officiating Adjutaut-General.

To the Brigadier Commanding - Brigade."

We know that there are many in the Presidency who do notthink that Sir Wm. Mansfield will get much credit for hisOrder. It is difficult to change established customs, and

especially when the majority think they are good. It hasbeen urged that the argument about increased expense is ab-surd. Officers, it is clear, must have a civilian dress, and ifthey be forced to wear it less, and their uniform more, the savingwill be inappreciable. But setting this aside altogether, thehealth and comfort of officers in India are surely quite as urgent