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which frauds such as this go unpuni4ed,you will lay an additional claim to the abovetitle, gain the thanks of the profession atlarge, and command the esteem of all honour.able men. I am, Sir, your’s very respect-fully,

A JUNIOR PRACTITIONER.

Yorkshire, Oct. 7,1839.

BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

Exeter Hall, October 23, 1839.

AT a numerous meeting of the newly-elected Council of this Society,

R. DAVIDSON, Esq., was unanimouslycalled to the chair.

The Chairman read over the names of thefollowing Gentlemen, as forming the Councilfor the ensuing vear :-Bainbridge, J. Esq.Bayfield, J. S.Beane, J. bi...Bristowe, S. J.Brady, Chas...Coleby, T. T...Crisp, E.Davidson, R.Eales, W m. ..Evans, E...Eisdell, N.Farr, W.Grainger, R. D.Granville, A. iILD.Grant, Robt.Green, P. H...Hall, illarstiall ..

Harrison, C. Esq.

Hilles, M. W. ..Hooper, K. L...Howell, Jos.Hull, George M.D.I’on, L. J., Esq.James, W. P...Lynch, J. M.D.M’Cann, N. Esq.M’Ewan, D., M.D.Parsons, G. Eaq.I’ilcher, G...Rendle, — ..

Smith, S. M.D.Simpson, - Esq.Stevens, R. ..Wagstaffe, M. ..Wakley, T. M.P.Webster, G. M.D.

The CHAIRMAN informed the Meeting thatthe first business of the evening was theelection, by ballot, of a President, Six Vice-Presidents, and Secretary.The SECRETARY (pro tern.) declared the

result of the balloting list as follows :-GEORGE IVEBSTER, Esq. M.D. President.

VICE PRESIDENTS:

R. Davidson, Esq.M. Hall, M.D.G. Pilcher, Esq.

A. Granville, M.D.J. Howell, Esq.K. Grant, M.D.

C. H. R. HARRISON, Esq., Hon. Sec.The Minutes of the last Meeting now

being read,The CHAIRMAN read over the names of

those Gentlemen who were elected Membersof the Association at the General Meetingon the 7th October alt.Dr. P. Johnstone, Shrewsbury.W. T. Elliott, Esq., Old Hrompton.Wm. Tucker, Esq., Market, Leamington,

Wilts.Jas. Sharp, Esq., Grosvenor.place, West.Wm. Grimwood King, Esq., 7, Thurlow-

place, Hackney-road.

Wm. Tidy, Esq., Providence-place) Mare.street, Hackney.

Wm. Huxtable, Eaq., Hackney.Donald Fraaer, Esq., Polygon, Somers’

Town.Dr. Reid Clanny, Sunderland.

The Council then resolved itself into a Re.form Committee, and having elected R. Da.vidson, as Chairman, appointed a Sub-Com.mittee to watch over the interests of Reform,consisting of the following Gentlemen, withpower to add to their numbers:-Dr. M. Hall.Dr. Webster.Mr. Pilcher.Mr. Farr.Dr. Granville.

Mr. Wakley, M.P.Mr. R. Stevens.Mr. Simpson.Mr. Davidsoo.

The Meeting having again formed itselfinto one of the Council, numerous letterslying on the table on the subject of MedicalReform from various parts of the coontry,were then referred to the consideration ofthe Sub-Committee on Medical Reform.The meeting then adjourned until Tuesday,

the 5th November.

ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL

COMPOUND FRACTURE OF TIBIA.—EARLY BAN-

DAGING.—REMARKS ON IMMOVEABLE

AI’f’ARATl’S.

RiCilAi,i) ROBINSON, age 17, was admittedOct. 12, with a compound fracture of thelower third of the tibia, produced by a blowfrom the pole of an ownihus. The woundin the integuments was not large, but therewas a good deal of grazing of the skin, andsome swelling. On looking into the wardan hour afterwards, we found the leg putup with a aplint on each side, aud paddedwith tow ; simple dressing being appliedover the wound. The next day the boy wasfeverish, and as he was suffering pitin fromthe tightness of the bandage, caused by in.crease of the swelling, one of the splintswasrefnoved. Nothing particular has occurredsince, the case going on very well, and henow has on splints so formed as to allowthe application of poultices over the wound.

This case is scarcely worth recordingfrom its intrinsic interest, nor is it so well cal.culated as some others which have latelyoccurred in St. Bartholomew’s, to show theevi) effects of putting up fractures early inthe ordinary manner. There was one latelywhere thettesh had risen completely throughthe interstices of the splints, of course pro-ducing much suffering. Indeed, the greatuneasiness and pain very generally producedby the swelling which follows early bandag-ing, and is no doubt frequently increased byit, have led many of our most experiencedsurgeons simply to place the limb in a iuit.able and comfortable position, for the first

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few days, preventing and subduing intlanv

183

mation either by poultices or leeches and cold attempts in this country, by means of frac-lotions. Some have gone so far as to lay ture boxes and plaster of Paris, we do notaside the use of splints, or any other appa- hear much more of this practice till the lastratua whatsoever; and, no doubt, have, in siege of Antwerp, when the chief surgeon ofmany cases, succeeded well. There is now the besieging army found a necessity forunder the care of one of the surgeons, a man adopting such means. He applied pieces ofwith fractured humerus, which has been lint, wetted with liquor plambi, next the limb,simply laid on a pillow, and has united over this a starched bandage, then twowithout the slightest deformity. On the wetted pasteboard splints, and over thisother hand, in the accident ward of Guy’s, another starched bandage. This somewhatis a foreigner with a fractured thigh, which clumsy proceeding, is still the general prac-had been placed on the double inclined plane tice in Brussels, and in many Belgian hos-on pillows, who appears likely to suffer pitals. It was also commenced in the hos-greatly from the practice. There now ex- pitals of Dublin, but now a modified plan isists very considerable deformity, and it is carried on there. The lint and pasteboardvery improbable that it is caused solely by are omitted, one or two starched rollersthe amount of the callus. Any method, alone being used. So far, this mode hasthen, likely to combine the advantages of answered admirably, and it would appearboth plans of treatment, would be a decided that the sooner the fracture is put up theimprovement. better; the danger of swelling, compression,The writer has seen several cases leading strangulation, &c., being far more imaginary

to the conclusion that the objections against than real. More experience, however, isearly bandaging do not apply to the plan, wanting on this point, though we know thelong ago practised by Cheselden, and same ill effects do not follow this early ban-lately revived in this country, of treat- daging, as come on after splints, &c. are

ing fractures by an immoveable apparatus. applied early. Perhaps this may be owingThis is a very simple and efficacious mode to the pressure and support being, in the oneof proceeding, well adapted for hospital case, uniform and regular, and in the otherand country practice ; indeed, in most cases only partial.where the comfort of the patient is regarded In the hospitals of Brussels and Ham.rather than the pocket of the practitioner. burgh, if a fracture be brought in, the swell-It consists simply of calico-rollers, wetted ing of the limb being already great, thewith mucilage of starch, and applied moist starched bandages are immediately applied,after the adaptation of the fractured extre- just as if no swelling existed. The tume-mities of the bone. The bandages are then faction goes down in a few days, when a Vsoft, and adapt themselves to every irregula- shaped piece is cut out of the now hardenedrity of the surface; but on drying, which case, and a fresh bandage applied over thetakes place in from 24 to 48 hours, they remainder. Compound fractures are alsoform a hard case, which effectually pre- treated in the same manner. In these cases,vents motion ; so that the patient can move if suppuration come on, a little pus exudes,about on crutches, after a few days, without which being excluded from atmospheric air,the slightest danger of producing displace- does not putrify, but forms a scab, a naturalment. It is plain how much this must add and capital dressing, and the wound oftento the comfort, and conduce to the general heals by the first intention ; the case reco-health of the sufferer. vering almost as soon as a simple fracture

Some similar mode was evidently practised of the same bone. The writer once saw a

by the Egyptians, as mummies have been compound dislocation of the ankle joint putfound with fractures put up in an immove. up thus immediately after the accident, andable apparatus, probably a solution of aro. recovery followed, without a single badmatic resins in spirit, with which the symptom.swathing cloths were imbued. And among These starched rollers are also peculiarlythe Arabians and Persians, to the present applicable in many cases of diseases of

day, this mode is practised. Baron Larrey joints, where it is absolutely necessary towas the first who introduced it into Europe, keep the ends of the bones at perfect rest,after he had used it extensively in Egypt. without the slightest motion on each other,He was led to adopt the plan from the ne- in order to effect a cure. They answer thecessity he frequently had for moving soldiers purpose far better than the moulded leather,with bad compound fractures, great dis- and other means in common use. In Guy’stances on dromedaries, and other shaking Hospital they have been used in these cases,conveyances. It answered perfectly ; and the starch being rubbed down with a solu-his son, who followed up the practice, re- tion of isinglass, instead of water. Thiscords the case of a person who was rapidly possesses no advantage over the simpleconveyed a hundred miles without injury, starch, and is much more sticky and un-the day after the accident. Larrey’s stiffen- comfortable to the patient, though superioring was a mixture of white of eggs and to a nasty mess of egg and flour used in St.camphor mixture. Bartholomew’s Hospital.

With the exception of some awkward The only objection, and it is a great one,

184

to the starch is, the length of time it requiresin drying. It was lately mentioned in thewards of the hospital, that a mixture ofmncilage of acacia with creta preparata,dried very much sooner, and answered allthe purposes of the starch. Should trialsbe made with this composition, the resultaliall be communicated to our readers.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL.

(Conclusion of the Case of A. P. from p. 121.)Sept. 23. She has been going on well since

the last report, a great part of the woundhas united.

28. The case has proceeded favourably,but the bowels have not been opened for thelast two days, and she has refused to takepurgative medicine; some erythemn appear-ed on the right side of the face about 10,A.M.; heat of skin; thirst; pulse 100.—Tohave five grains of calomel and a quarter ofa drop of croton oil directly. In the eveningthe erythema had increased, and she wasordered five grains of calomel and three ofscammony. The bowels have been opened,and an otlensive discharge removed. Mr.Liston ordered a twelfth of a grain of ex-tract of belladonna every four hours. Inthe course of the day she had taken sometartarised antimony, which caused her to

vomit, and it was, therefore, omitted.M. The erythema has increased, and now

pervades the whole of the right side of theface and upwards to the scalp; the pulse is120, but distinct; no delinam ; perfect con-sciousness ; thirst; beat of skin. The calo-mel and scammony to be repeated, andagain after four hours.

1’esl)ere. The bowels have not beenmoved ; warm fomentations to the head ;the affected parts to be sprinkled with fluur;erythema extending. To have two table-

spoonsfal of the following mixture everytwo hours:-Tartarised soda and tartrate ofpotash, of each one ounce ; tartarised anti-mony, one grain ; camphor mixture, eightounces. Wound not dircharging.

30. The erythema and swelling have ex-tended over the left side of the face andhead; pulse 120, but distinct; bowels havebeen freely opened ; she appears weak; shehas thirst, and some heat of surface ; she isvery drowsy; no delirium. She is, appa.rently, much worse than yesterday. Totake no medicine; her strength to be sup-ported by beef tea and chicken broth.

Oct. 1. Kedness and swelling of the headand face less ; pulse 100; less drowsiness;bowels have been opened ; wound again be-ginning to discharge ; she appears altogetherin a more favourable state than yesterday.Some oedema of the face remaining, particu-larly at the lower lip.

2. The swelling is rapidly subsiding; thehead i. free from pain. No medicine.

6. All the erythema gone. She sat up to’day, and appears very well.

13. Wound healed; a bandage is placedover the lower lip to lessen the oedemawhich is constantly present. The tonguecan be protruded, and she speaks tolerablydistinctly.

20. She is quite well, and there is verylittle disfigurement; the protrusion of the

remaining portion of the jaw, on the other

side, causes some inconvenience.

WEST’S DISSECTING OR SURGICALI MICROSCOPE.

’

A CO’,VENIENT little microscope has beenforwarded to us by Mr. WEST, of Fleet.street. It seems to be well calculatedfortheexamination of skin diseases, and will proveparticularly useful to the practical botaniet.The focus of the instrument is fixed, and itmay be retained over any part of the body,or other object, by a very simple contri.

vance.

DR. CHARLES J. Fox has been elected to

succeed the late Dr. Thomas Davies, as phy-sician to the Infirmary for Diseases of the

Lungs.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

P. L., Islington. The information respect-ing Tomlins may be forwarded, but we can-not promise to publish it. He appears tobe a tit companion for the miscreants of theflerald.

Y. Z. The man with the rupture andwell-adapted truss, would unduubtedly bein the greatest danger of the two persons.

lllercator. The College is liable to an

action for detaining the diploma in question;that is, if the regular fees were paid, and ifthe diploma was obtained without any frau.dulent representation or incorrect certificate.Probably, the whole of the circumstanceshave not been described by our correspon-dent. The questi08 has been mislaid untilthis week.We have carefully perused the documents

forwarded by Mr. Coley, but cannot insertan ex parte statement of transactions, whicb,if faithfully represented, are most disgrace.ful to the parties concerned.

Afr. Gray, when he has lived longer, will,’tis hoped, have grown wiser; a consumma.tion which a knowledge of tlee laiv on thecase in question, would much assist.