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the simple fact which they profess to

explain. He then gave some account

of the theory on this subject whichhas been recently advanced by Dr.Prevost and Mr. Dumas, and whichhas excited considerable attention on

the Continent, founded on the newlydiscovered laws of electro-magneticattraction. The conclusion to which

these physiologists have been led bytheir observations and experiments is,that muscular contractions are the re-

sult of an attraction between the ner-

vous filaments distributed to the mus-

cular fibres, consequent on the trans-mission of currents of electricitythrough these nervous filaments.

The Doctor next considered the

agency of those new forms of chemical

affinity which are developed duringthe processes of assimilation, secre-

tion, and nutrition, and which appearto control and modify the operationsof the ordinary affinities in the same

materials, when deprived of life or

unassisted by organization. The for-

mer he proposes to designate by theterm organic affinities, by way of dis-tinction to the latter, which constitutethe whole of the chemistry of inor-

ganic substances.

The powers inherent in the differentparts of the nervous system constituteother departments of this inquiry, inpursuing which, Dr. Roget establisheda distinction between the simple ner-vous power", or property of transmit-

ting certain impressions, and the sen-

sorial power, or capability of excitingsensation and other mental changes-changes which lead to such important

consequences, and which stamp thecharacter of individuality on the beingsthey compose.He concluded this lecture with

some observations on the’ gradation of

powers, and subordination ,of func-

tions, exhibited in the system of livinganimals, and on the over-whelmingmagnificence of those widely-extendedplans, and elaborate adaptations of

means to ends, in a series reachingfar beyond our view, that are revealedto us by the study of every part of theanimal economy.

ST. THOMAS’S HOSPITAL,

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—If I should begin my letter asmost persons do, who wish to procurean early insertion, I should say thatI have derived much pleasure fromthe perusal of your extensively-circu-lated Journal ; but this would be tell-ing you a sort of truism, for althoughsome of your remarks are severe and

searching, and some prudishly hintthat The La2icet is a little too sharp,yet all the physicians, surgeons, midwivers, and apothecaries, within thescope of my acquaintance, read itwith avidity, and, I suppose, do sofor the same reason that 1 have latelydone, because they reap from it in-formation and amusement. Now Ihave always heard you described as ahic et ubique-a here, there, and every-where sort of gentleman,—assumingsuch a questionable shape, that I haveseen four individuals, unless, "mineeyes are made the fools o’ the othersenses," as different in their figuresand physiognomies as the four Pricesof city notoriety, represented each astlie Editor of the Lancet. Prav be

good enough to inform me, Sir, it youhave the wonderful faculty of splitting

250

yourself into quarfers, and sproutingup entire ° Dramtis Personæ," inas many distant places at the sametime ? Or is your presence,

" the terror of evil doers," imaginary only,the mere false creation of perturbedminds and misgiving consciences ?Indeed I am inclined to think thatthe latter conjecture is correct, for, asM. Ragniot and I were walking quiet-ly through the wards of St. Thomas’sHospital one afternoon, we came un-noticed behind a gentleman who wassoliloquizing by a window; his moodwas pensive, and his eyes directed tothe floor; as we came nearer, we

beard him repeating what we deemeda parody on the words of Macbeth.He proceeded thus-" Is this a Lancet which I see before

me;—Or art thou but a dagger of themin d,-a--?

I have thee not, but—let me clutchthee once—and—"

then he stamped on the floor, whichroused him from his reverie, and ob-served us, and made a sudden retreat,

. looking very dejected. Our appear-ance unfortunately interrupted him,or we should certainly have been fa-voured with some further disclosure ofthis " mind diseased." Had we hearda man mutterina’ thus in another Dartof the building we should have set

him down a ° Hospital ieliot," hut howwere we surprised to find from thenurse that the unfortunate gentleman,who had just left the ward, belongedto a society of men called in thiscountry pure surgeons.’’ This wasa strange sort of adventure, and nei-ther M. R. nor myself fould make itout for some time, but my companionat last suggested that he had eitherbled some poor mortal to death, or

that he intended to commit an act offelo de se with the same little instru-ment.

I was not satisfied, however, with thisand determined to extend my ramblein hope of gaining further informa-tion, and fortunately met with an oldpupil, to whom I communicated whatI had seen. He laughed heartily, andthen began to unravel the mystery." Ob! said he, since you have ’benon the Continent, there has been quitea revolution in the professional dis-

i cipIine of the hospitals ; you knowwhat used to be called going round

the wards with the surgeons, the mostyou could ever extract from themwere monosyllabic answers to ques-tions, however interesting or import-ant. Mum was the order of the day,as if their air passages were hermeti-cally sealed, or as if they laboured un-der cynanche Laryngitis, so that everyattempt at articulation produced pain.

As to any thing in the shape of a*’ practice! observation,’ that was

quite out of the question ; they wouldwhirl round the angles so dexterously,and skip up two or three stairs at a

step, that before all the young vul-tures after knowledge were fairlyinto a ward, the surgeon-generalfor the week would be deliberatelypacing the next, and this used to becalled Hospital Practice.’ True,said J, but how is it now?" Now!why it is altogether different, as youwill soon have an opportunity of ob-serving, and here is the instrumentthat has effected the change (pullingfrom his pocket one of your Lancets,Mr. Editor;) you see what is said hereof Hole and Corner Surgery ;’ well,they were so phlebotomised with thisLancet, that they have been com-

pletely cured of their cynanche andsullenness, and the point of consis-tency is now exceeded as much as

their exertions before fell short oftheir duties. We have quite an over-flow of inatruction, quite a gratuity ofprelections; we have clinicals uponcliuicals, demonstrations, observations,and examinations following so closelythe heels of each other, that we havescarcely time to digest our dinuers,much less the discourses."

I felt highly gratified at the explana-tion my old acquaintance had given,and could not resist the strong inclina-tion I felt of thanking you, Sir, for thebeneficial change which has been ef-fected in the Borough, and have to re-quest, for the benefit of the youngermembers of the profession, that youwill shortly explore other dark placesof tlie eartlt, and rid them of theirmalpractices as effectually as youhave done the "holes and corners"of St. Thomas’s Hospital.

Yours truly,A TOURIST.