204

population, becomes 1225. The prevailing epidemic has pro-duced an excess, amounting to 814, above the corrected average.In the thirty-fourth week of 1849, which ended August 25th,the total number of deaths registered was 2456. In that weekthe mean temperature was 62 9°; last week it was 61 2°, whichis 1 .1° above the average. From cholera the deaths last weekwere 847, while those from diarrhoea were 214.

Obituary.ONthe 27th inst., of cholera, in the discharge of his pro-

fessional duties as resident medical officer of the WestminsterGeneral Dispensary, Mr. CHARLES WATKINS TILLY, aged thirty-five. The deceased was admitted a member of the College,June 6th, 1842, and died regretted by all who had the pleasureof knowing him.On the 28th inst., in London, after fourteen hours’ illness,

GEORGE COWLEY, of Winslow, Bucks, M.R.C.S. and L.S.A.As in life he was universally respected, so in death his loss isas widely and intensely deplored.At Paris, WILLlAM HILL, M.D., aged thirty-two, late of

Ballyhigh, Ireland.At Bergeworth, Worcester, Dr. BEALE COOPER, in his eighty-

second year. The deceased was mayor of Evesham for severalyears. He never practised much as a physician, his wholetime being devoted to the interests and welfare of his nativecity. For a few years preceding his death he had been some-what retired, not taking much part in public affairs.At his residence, Liscreagh-cottage, Cork, EUGENE O’SULLI-

VAN, M . D.Mr. E. A. JENKINS, Assistant-surgeon of 23rd Royal Welsh

Fusiliers, of cholera.

The BRITISH MEDICAL DIRECTORY for 1855.

ALL duly-qualified Medical Practitioners are respectfully re- quested to forward, as soon as possible, their "ENTRIES" or"RETURNS" for this Annual Volume. References to theEntries in the Directory for the current year, (1854,) statingthat they are correct, will be sufficient. When alterations are

required, they should be distinctly specified, and in all casesthe names of the writers should be written clearly, and at fulllength.

Address to the Editors atthe "BRITISH MEDICAL DIRECTORY"Office, 423, Strand.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

THE CHOLERA.

W. HOOPER.

The Students’ Number of THE LANCET will be pub- Ilished on the 16th of the present month. Prospectuses ofSchools, Hospitals, and other Institutions, intended for in-sertion, should be forwarded immediately to the Office.

An Inhabitant of the Edgeware-road.-Such proceedings on the part of theroad commissioners are to be deprecated at the present moment. We arefully aware of the very filthy state of the macadamized road in this locality,the under surface of which is in such a state of decomposition that it mustengender disease. Cholera is already rife in the neighbourhood, and thereis every reason to fear it will spread still more extensively if the works are

carried on.

Tyro.-The work is published by Parker and Son, West Strand. Vol. i., 15s.;- vol. ii., not completed.

3f. A.-There is no clause in the University of London Medical Graduates’Act empowering members of the Scotch Universities to practise in Eng-land.

THE CHOLERA.To the Fditor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-The successful treatment of cholera by Dr. G. Johnson, at King’sCollege Hospital, by the administration of castor-oil and the application ofheat, induces me to beg your insertion of this note, inasmuch as I have forscrtne time given my attention to a suitable appliance for the application ofheat, and I have succeeded in making a cushion or pillow of prepared india-rubber, that will resist the temperature of boiling water, and is so constructedas to dispense with the necessity of being removed from the body to alter thetemperature; it may be applied wet or dry, so as to be equal to a warm bath,or dry -air, or vapour bath, with a cataplasm or blister, or alone. Should anyparty be sceptical on the points adduced, I will be willing to send one, free ofexpense, to remove all doubt.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,Pall-Mall East, August, 1854, W. HOOPER.

A Juror, and others, (Whitehaven.)-We have perused the report of the in-quest on John Dixon, jun., contained in the Whitehaven Herald. Sucliscenes as that described by one of the medical witnesses are always in-jurious to the interests of the profession. Dr. Dixon is certainly not en-

. titled to practise as an apothecary in England on his Glasgow qualification.Is it possible that the medical evidence given at the inquest by that gentle-man is correctly reported? If so, it may be well asked, What was the objectsought for from the means employed ?

Chirurgus, (Brighton.)-Provided the case were not a medical one, an empiriccould recover in the County Court "for work done and goods supplied."There is no law to prevent it. A member of the College of Surgeons, in thepresent state of matters, would stand in the same position.

Chirurgus.-We cannot recommend the work.A.-Information will be found in the Students’ Number, which will be pub.

lished on the 16th instant.

TREATMENT OF CHOLERA BY PURGATIVES.

J. BURKE.

To the Editoi- of THE LANCET.SIR,-About six weeks ago you published a letter of mine, signed A Sur-

geon Afloat and Ashore," in which I stated that, by treating cases of cholerain the East Indies by purgative medicines, whatever might be the amount ofpurgation, I had never once failed in arresting the symptoms of that fataldisease, and restoring my patients to health within eight and forty hours.The medicines I employed were rhubarb and ipecacuanha, with a few grains ofmercury with chalk, adding, in severe cases of spasm, some of the aromaticpowder with soda, where there was acidity of the primas viae, and alwaysapplying a large mustard poultice over the abdomen, made, where there wasmuch pain of the bowels, with tincture of Spanish fly.

I perceive in the Times of Saturday last, that a Dr. George Johnson, ofKing’s College Hospital, has adopted my plan with considerable success, andthe article is headed, " Novel Mode of Treating Cholera." It would have beencreditable to this gentleman had he acknowledged the source whence he de-rived his novel ideas, which, singularly enough, are precisely similar to thoseI published in your columns-viz., looking upon the disease as an effort ofnature to throw off some offending matter, in which she was to be assisted byopening medicines and relaxants, instead of being frustrated by astringentsand stimulants. Dr. Johnson, unwilling to adopt the medicines I advocated,has simply taken the principle of the practice, and has substituted castor-oilfor rhubarb. I contend that the latter medicine is preferable to the former,as producing less debility. About three weeks ago, when in Paris, I wrote anaccount of my plan of treatment to the physicians of the " Hôtel Dieu," who,should they adopt it, will, I have no doubt, be liberal enough not to arrogateto themselves the merit, if there be any, of a plan of treatment directly opposedto that hitherto in general use amongst surgeons.

I am, Sir, your very obedient servant,August, 1854. J. BLTRYE.

One of your Oldest Friends and Subscribers.-Application should be made toMr. H. Gilbert, Suffolk-street, Pall-Aiall.

.4.nH-Humbug, (Weymouth.)-After carefally perusing the report of the pro-ceedings at the meeting of the supporters of the Weymouth Sanatorium, weare unable to discover, either in Dr. Smith’s speech or elsewhere, any state-ments to bear out the strictures of our correspondent.

Bene Veno.-Certainly.Dr. Stillman will perceive the snbject is noticed. It is probable we may still

further refer to it.A Lady, (Bristol.)-Chloride of lime, chloride of zinc, or common lime, woultlanswer the purpose. The medicines named would stop the premonitorysymptoms.

A. B.-The Town Hall would be a suitable place.Justitia.-The report will most probably be commenced next week.G. S.-1. No.-2. On the 1st of October.W. M.-The cholera queries of the Cholera Committee of the EpidemiologiealSociety may be obtained of Dr. Bryson, 8, Duke-street, St. James’s; Dr.MeWilliam, 14, Trinity-square, Tower-hill; or of Mr. Tucker, 38, Berners-street.

TARAXACUM.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,- Will any of your correspondents tell me what ought to be a fair chargefor a pound ot the fluid extract of Taraxacum ? One would think that for thisarticle at least there should be something like uniformity of price, but I findit varies from 3s. 9d. to 22s. I observe this excellent remedy very freely adver.tised, but before ordering a thing we like first to know the cost.

August, 18a"4.

.

I am, Sir, yours obediently,August, 1854. A COUNTRY PsACTITIONEJt.

COMMUNICATIONS, LETTERS, &c., have been received from - Sir George Ballingall; Mr. J. Bedingfield; Dr. David Nelson; Mr. John Baring; Alr.John Smith, (Ramsbottom;) Mr. J. Burke; Dr. Pyemont Smith, (Leeds;) ;)Dr. Bedford; Dr. W. Alexander; Secretary of St. George’s Hospital; Dr.R. White, (Naples;) Mr. Lestrange; Dr. Foote; York School of Medicine ;Queen’s College, Birmingham; Tyro; Dr. Waller Lewis; Delta; Mr. J.Stansbury; Mr. Tucker; Dr. Macdonald, (Glasgow;) Anti-Humbug ; M. A.;A Subscriber, (Guernsey;) Mr. Reeves, (Carlisle;) X. Z.; Mr. Humble;Mr. James Pigg, (Royal Dispensary, Pimlico;) One of the Oldest Sub.scribers to TEE LANCET; Dr. J. L. Crawcour; Mr. W. Stillman, (White-haven ;) Mr. Waters; Dr. Hope, (Seaforth, with enclosure;) Mr. J.

Cogan, (Wheatley;) Mr. R. B. Marriott, (Ipswich;) Mr. T. Parrott, (Stran-ford;) Mr. M. Curtler, (Gloucester, with enclosure;) Mr. J. Fisher, (AshullMoor;) Mr. D. Cope, (Birmingham;) Mr. Charles Taylor; Mr. T. Lowe,(Solihull, with enclosure;) Mr. Cumming ; Dr. Matthew Rae, (Carlisle ;)Mr. French; Dr. Goate, (Jersey, with enclosure;) Mr. J. W. Way, (Sonth-sea, with enclosure;) Chirurgus, (Brighton;) A Juror, (Whitehaven;) Mr.W. Hooper; Justitia; G. S. ; A Lady, (Bristol;) A. B.; Faiquirer; One of

your Oldest Friends and Subscribers; A.; Chirurgus; Bene Veno; An In.habitant of the Edgeware-road; Dr. Stillman; A Country Pfaetitiomer; Mr.John Brown; Mr. T. B. Tatham; Mr. Baines; &o, &e,