278

Dubitans.—Vaccination is not an infallible preventive of the occurrence ofvariola; but it is a very probable one-in fact, the most sure one of whichwe know. No person of sense or prudence would hesitate for a moment.

Alex.—"Winter green" is, we believe, much used in some parts of America;but it is not employed medicinally in Great Britain.

AscABis MvsTAx.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—There are, I believe, only four published cases of the occurrence in

the human subject of a small round worm, with lateral appendages like theblades of a boar-spear, one on each side of the head, originally described byBellingham under the title of Ascaris alata, and recently identified by Dr.Cobbold with the Ascaris mystax, which infests the domestic cat. You maytherefore think the occurrence of another case worthy of a brief record inyour pages, especially as there is reason to believe that the worm would bemore frequently observed if practitioners throughout the country were moregenerally aware of its existence and characteristics.The specimen I have met with is a very fine female, about four inches

long, which was expelled from the bowels of a child aged fourteen months, apatient of the Kilburn Dispensary, who was under treatment for an abscess,and in whom the presence of worms had not been suspected.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,Abbey-road, N.W., March, 1865. T. MORTON, M.B.

THE case forwarded by Mr. H. R. CarnpbeLL Litchfield, of Twickenham, is notso complete in its details as could be wished. A more accurate descriptionof the tumour is necessary to make the ease sufficiently clear to the reader.

HEARTBURN.F. B. would feel obliged if any of our readers could inform him of the bestremedy for heartburn, especially during pregnancy.

VIRGINS IN A VESTRY.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-The Scotch virgins who, less tender of person than of honour, re-cently submitted themselves to professional inspection, and triumphantlypublished the results of the delicate investigation, had some historical pre-cedent for the procedure. In the second letter of Cyprian, respecting virgins dedicated to God, who had previously lived in male society, he writes that Ithe sex is weak, and therefore adds this general direction:—" Inspiciantur Ivirgines ab obstetricibus diligenter; et si virgines inventse fuerint, acceptâ communicatione ad ecclesiam admittantur," &c. ’

Yours obediently,March, 1865. H. G. W.

THE correspondent who writes to us about quacks and impostors has notauthenticated his letter, and consequently his communication cannot beattended to.

A Griffinite.—So long as the guardians can find abundance of candidates attheir own terms, they will not listen to arguments.

O B S C E N E ADVERTISEMENTS.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—I have heard of such a Society as the " Provincial NewspaperSociety," laudable in its object to guard the proprietors of the provincialpress against those who would impose upon them by issuing out orders foradvertisements without any intention of paying for the same. Indeed theprovince of the Society is generally to watch over the interests of the pro-vincial press.

I should like to be informed if this Society has taken any steps in thematter of the "purification of the press." Whilst showing every anxiety toguard its members against being victimized, it certainly cannot shut its eyesagainst the fact that through the instrumentality of the publication of theadvertisements of a set of scoundrels, pretending to be members of anhonourable profession, numbers of unwary and weak-minded people fall intothe vilest snares, from which they have not the self-possession or courage toextricate themselves, and are thus robbed most unmercifully.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.,March, 1865. N. E. W. S.

Engineer writes to us to say that, in his opinion, " Dr. Carson’s system ofslaughtering cattle is more barbarous than the present, and his peculiarnotions about arterial and venous blood erroneous; for in the majority ofcases the former is richer and freer from abnormal matter than the latter.Hence the reason why all who have any lengthened experience in thematter advocate slaughtering with an empty stomach, although ourbutchers pay no attention to it. Dr. Carson’s note in THE LANCET ofFebruary 4th, stating in support of his system that the function of thevenous blood is recrementitious, asserts that which is untrue. The excre-tory system is so, depurgating the body of recrement; but the veins arethe railways, so to speak, for bringing up from the storehouses and gra-naries of the animal economy supplies for the arteries and the functionthey perform, more especially during those intervals when the lacteal systemis not in operation, and hence fresh supplies from that quarter are wanting.Does Dr. Carson eat and drink continuously during the twenty-four hoursof the day without any intermission ? In this cold weather poor people’stoes would be sadly frost-bitten but for the wise provision which Naturehas made for storing up fuel, and feeding the fire between meals." Query:Has not our correspondent somewhat mistaken Dr. Carson’s views ?

SILVER SOLUTIONS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—In Dr. Gibb’s remarks on the 31aekenzie’s and Siegle’s atomiser

(THE LANCET, February 25th, page 203, we read as follows := With Siegle’satomiser he bad caused the inhalation of a solution of the iodide of silver."What solution of the iodide of silver is spoken of ?-as the latter salt is onlysoluble in cyanide of potassium.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,London, March, 1865. A CONSTANT READER OF THE LANCET.

COMMUNICATIONS, LETTERS, &e., have been received from - Prof. Syme,Edinburgh; Dr. Jenner ; Dr. Sieveking ; Mr. Henry Thompson; Dr. Munro,West Hartlepool; Mr. Toynbee; Mr. Lloyd, Carmarthen; Mr. Blackburn,Barnsley ; Mr. Griffin, Weymouth; Mr. W. Jones; Mr. Shillito (with en-closure) ; Mr. Bick; Dr. Porter; Dr. Baxter, Kelvedon; Dr. J. C. Copland;Dr. Hargitt; Mr. Clarke, Mayfield; Mr. Henson, Manchester; Mr. MajorDr. Thompson, Madras; Mr. Williams ; Dr. Radford, Aspall; Mr. Kean,Marlborough; Mr. Kent; Mr. Paterson; Dr. M’Gregor, Glasgow; Dr. Ellis;Mr. Young; Mr. King; Mr. Metcalfe; Mr. Jay, Melksham; Dr. Hitchman,Liverpool; Mr. Scott; Dr. Haldane, Edinburgh; Mr. Bayley (with enclo-sure) ; Dr. E. Jones ; Dr. Warburg; Dr. Edmunds; Mr. Fisher; Mr. Barr; ;Dr. Smallman ; Mr. Blickley ; Mr. Morgan; Mr. Astle ; Mr. H. Davies ;Mr. Fowell, Milverton (with enclosure); Mr. Danbury, Bath; Mr. Eames;Mr. Gerrans; Mr. Mitchell ; Mr. Browne (with enclosure); Dr. Blair, Islay;Mr. J. Lawrence, Bath; Mr. J. Marshall; Mr. Whalley (with enclosure);Mr. Benson; Mr. Latham; Mr. May, Tottenham; Dr. M’Dermott, GosportDr. Guppy, Falmouth (with enclosure) ; Dr. Harvey; Mr. Teague, Coleford ;Mr. Taylor; Mr. S. Thompson; Mr. Blenkinsop, Binfield; Dr. Hamilton;Mr. Marriott, Leicester; Mr. Lomas; Mr. Goadsby; Dr. Fox; Mr. Fowler;Mr. Llewelyn, Penllorgane (with enclosure); Mr. Bottomley, Huddersfield;Mr. F. Black, Edinburgh; Mr. Manser; Mr. 0. Lodge; Dr. Domenichetti;Mr. Dewes ; Mr. Edlin ; Dr. Thomson; Dr. Pidduck; Dr. Trend, South-ampton ; Mr. Lee, Winchester; Dr. Maysmor; Crystal Palace Company;A. H.; W. S.; M. E. M. (with enclosure) ; A. M. K. ; Sexagenarius; Miles;Vestry Virgin; M.R.C.S. and L.S.A.; A Country Practitioner; S.F.; C. C.;R. W. L.; An Assistant-Surgeon, India; R. G. ; Urbanitas ; Medical OfficerThe Director-General of the Army Medical Department; L.; Obstetricus;

! One who was Present; Placenta; T. C. B.; Nemo Sibi Vivat; Deceptus ;F.R.C.S. ; One of the Ruined Service, India; Patiens; Saeerdos; &c. &c.

THE Southampton Times, the Bristol Daily Post, the Andover Advertiser,the Chicago Tribune, the Welshman, the LincoLnshire Guardian, the Hamp-shire Independent, the Oxford Times, the Scotsman, and the Glasgow Heraldhave been received.

Medical Diary of the Week.Monday, March 13.

ST. MARK’S HOSPITAL FOR FISTULA AND OTHER DISEASES OF THE RECTUM,—Operations, 1 P.M.

METROPOLITAN FREE HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.--4 P.M. Prof. Huxley, "On the

Mammalia."ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.—8 P.M.

Tuesday, March 14.Guy’s HOSPITAL,—Operations, It p.M.WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.ROYAL INSTITUTION.-3 P.M. Prof. Hofmann : "An Introduction to the

Study of Chemistry."ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.—8 P.M. Mr. W. Winwood Reade,

"On Missionary Efforts amongst Savages."ROYAL MEDICAL AND CHIRURGICAL SOCIETY.—8 P.M.

Wednesday, March 15.MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.GREAT NORTHERN HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M.UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 p.M.LONDON HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.—4 P.M. Prof. Huxley, "On the

Mammalia."ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF LONDON. - 5 P.M. Croonian Lectures:

Dr. Peacock, " On some of the Causes and Effects of Cardiac Disease."

I Thursday, March 16.CENTRAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.LONDON SURGICAL HOME.—Operations, 2 P.M.WEST LONDON HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.ROYAL ORTHOPÆDIC HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.ROYAL INSTITUTION. — P.M. Prof. Hofmann: "An Introduction to the

Study of Chemistry."HARVEIAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. — 8 P.M.

Friday, March 17.WESTMINSTER OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 p.M.ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.—4 P.M. Prof. Huxley, "On the

Mammalia."ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF LONDON. - 5 P.M. Croonian Lectures:

Dr. Peacock, "On some of the Causes and Effects of Cardiac Disease."ROYAL INSTITUTION.-8 P.M. Mr. Balfour Stewart, " On the Sun’s Surface."

Saturday, March 18.ST. THOMAS’S HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.ST. BARTaoLOxEw’s HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.KING’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.CHASING-CROSS HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.ROYAL INSTITUTION.-3 P.M. Prof. Marshall, "On the Nervous System."METROPOLITAN ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH.—7 P.1l.