THE AUSTRALIAN

MEDICAL JOT:II -NAL,

APRIL, 1872.

MEDICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1872.

ORDINARY MONTHLY MEETING.

Present, Mr. Blair, Dr. Neild, Mr. Ellery, Dr. Black, Mr. Gillbee,
Dr. Wigg, Mr. MacGillivray, Dr. Molloy, Mr. Wilkins, Dr. Rees
Mr. Bragge, Mr. Fitzgerald, Dr. Burke, Dr. Hunt, Dr. Hinchliff,
Dr. Moloney.
NEW MEMBERS.
Two gentlemen were nominated for election at the next
meeting; and Dr. Walter Scott of Hamilton, and Dr. Hinchliff of the
Melbourne Hospital, were elected ordinary members.
SAMPLE OF OLEUM MORRIIII/E.
Mr. Gillbee exhibited a sample of 01. Morrhum, which he had
received from Mr. William Innes, of Port Chal mers, (N.Z.),
by whom it had been prepared from fish ' caught on that coast. The
oil was of a pale straw colour, quite clear ; and had the characteristic
taste and smell of the best samples of imported oil.
CASE OF UNITED FRACTURE OF THE BASE OF THE SKULL.
Mr. MacGillivray exhibited a skull showing united fracture of
the base. The subject of the injury was 38 years of age. He had
been thrown from the top of a coach, and was brought to the Sand-
hurst Hospital, comatose. Fracture of the base was diagnosed in
five weeks, and he was discharged cured, with however permanent
deafness on the right side. Seven years afterwards, he was admitted
for heart disease, of which he died. The autopsy showed evidences
of some injury to the brain. There was puckering opposite the
lines of fracture, but no adhesion. The fracture commenced high
up in the right parietal bone, and extended not quite across the
base.
A conversation followed the exhibition of the specimen, and the
thanks of the Society were given to Mr. MacGillivray.
VOL. XVII.
 98 Medical Society of Victoria. [April,
The following paper was then read by the Acting Hon-Secretary :
ON A CASE OF OBSTRUCTION OF THE BOWELS
FROM A. COLLECTION OF HAIR.
By WALTER SCOTT, M.D.,
Surgeon to the Hamilton Hospital.
On the 6th of May, 1871, I was asked to visit E. G., a sickly
looking child aged 13 years. She had been ailing for some time,
complaining of loss of appetite, irregularity of the bowels, and
occasional attacks of colic. Her mother had given her an aperient
the previous night, which acted freely.
I found her suffering from constant sickness and bilious vomiting,
and severe pain, of an intermittent character, at the pit of the
stomach. She had great thirst, quick pulse (130), furred tongue
and hot dry skin. As the symptoms seemed to me to indicate the
passage of a biliary calculus, I ordered hot fomentations with
laudanum to be applied to the abdomen, and administered a powder
containing : Calomel gr. ji. Pulv. Ipecac. Co. gr. viii. She obtained
temporary relief. In the evening, however, the pain and vomiting
returned, and continued throughout the greater part of the night.
On visiting her early next morning, I found her greatly relieved.
During the night she had a distressing attack of retching, which
lasted about an hour. She succeeded at length in ejecting a mass
of matted hair, about three inches in length and one inch in thick-
ness. It was slightly curved, rounded and smooth on the convex,
and scooped out on the concave surface. From the appearance of
the mass, I concluded it had been lodged in the duodenum.
On making inquiries of the parents as to the habits, &c., of the
child, I learned that from infancy, till she was nine years of age,
she had been in the habit of pulling the hair out of one side of her
head and eating it. To such an extent did she practise this, that,
for years, one side of her head was completely bare. Her parents
punished her frequently and severely, and when she was nine years
of age she was induced to give up her peculiarity, and was not
known to repeat it during the next five years of her life. On the
evening of the next day, May 8, I was again sent for. I found her
in great pain all over the abdomen ; vomiting at intervals of ten
minutes, large quantities of bile. On examining the abdomen
carefully, I detected a rounded swelling in the situation of the
ileo-cwcal valve. Pressure over it gave increased pain. Suspecting
that another mass of hair had made its way along the bowels, and
become impacted in the valve, I ordered a few leeches to be applied
over the swelling, copious injections of warm soapsuds and oil
every three hours, and to relieve the pain and sickness, a draught
containing : Sol. Mur. Morph. min. x., Aq. Lauro-Cerasi m. viii.
every three hours. Hot fomentations to be applied over the
abdomen after the leeches.
May 9th.—I found my patient still in great pain. She was
1872.] DR. SCOTT on a Case of Obstruction of the Bowels. 99

unable to keep anything on the stomach, and what she vomited had
a slightly fecal odour. Ordered treatment to be continued.
May 10th.—Still no improvement. Vomiting decidedly sterco-
raceous ; unable to keep nourishment or medicine on the stomach.
Nutritive enemata tried but not retained. Bowels distended with
flatus, and the swelling in the right iliac fossa very tender on the
slightest pressure. Patient lies on her back with the knees drawn
up. Pulse about 140, very weak and thready. •
May 11th.—I was agreeably surprised to find E. G. much easier
this morning. For several hours during the night the vomiting,
and, in a great measure, the pain ceased. She had been able to
retain her medicine and some strong beef-tea. Pressure over the
ileo-cEecal valve still caused pain; but I could not detect the swelling.
On tracing the course of the large bowel, I found it about four
inches higher up. Diagnosing that the mass had passed the valve,
I prescribed an aperient. Injections, fomentations, &c., to be
continued as before.
May 11th.—Evening visit. The bowels acted slightly about four
hours after the aperient, the first time since the morning of the
6th. The mass could not now be felt where it was in the forenoon.
Patient complained of pain and distension of the rectum, and her
nurse told me she had difficulty in getting the injection thrown into,
the bowel.
May 12th.—During the night the patient passed, with difficulty,
a large mass of matted hair measuring about two and a-half inches
in length and about one and a-half inches in diameter at its thickest
part. It presented two points of constriction at the smaller
end, and had something of a pyriform appearance. The bowels
acted freely after the mass came away, and she had no return of the
vomiting.
From this date she continued to make rapid progress, and in ten
days was able to walk to my house to show, as she said, " how well
she had recovered."
On the 27th of May, I was again sent for to see E. G. She had
been in great pain all the previous night. When I saw her she was
vomiting incessantly, and the vomit had already a faecal. odour.
The abdomen was tympanitic, but not very tender on pressure. In
the right iliac fossa there was the same kind of swelling I detected
on a previous occasion, but larger and more tender on pressure. I
prescribed, as formerly, hot fomentations, copious injections, with
sedative draughts, every three hours.
May 28th.—Patient seemed much exhausted from constant pain
and vomiting. The latter decidedly stercoraceous. The bowels
'ere distended with flatus, and tender on pressure. Swelling
unaltered in the right iliac fossa.
May 29th.—Patient much improved. She has passed a quiet
night and retained some nourishment. Pain and vomiting decreased
in frequency and intensity. The swelling could be felt three or
four inches above its former situation. I prescribed a mild aperient,
telling the nurse to continue the injections.
R 2
 100 Medical Society of rictorizt.
May 30th.—Patient this morning passed another large mass of
matted hair about two and a-half inches long, by one and a-half in
diameter, pyriform in shape, with two small protuberances at the
larger end, appearing as if they had been moulded in the proximal
end of the vermiform appendix. Rather a sharp attack of
diarrhoea set in after the mass came away ; but in a couple of days
this ceased, and she continued to make uninterrupted progress
towards perfect health. There has been no return of her complaint
up to the present time.
Dr. WIGO remarked that he had seen two cases of intestinal
accumulations, one consisting of the busks of oats in a man who
had been accustomed to take large quantities of porridge, the other
of small particles of chalk which had apparently been secreted.
The ACTING HON. SECRETARY then read the following paper :-
ON A CASE OF RETENTION OF JJRINE FOR UPWARDS
OF 48 HOURS. TREATMENT AND CURE.
By J. R. WYLIE, M.D., and M.C.
Surgeon to the Hamilton Hospital and Benevolent Asylum.
On the 3rd of Nov., 1871, I was hurriedly called to see a patient
just arrived at the hospital, and (4 o'clock p.m.) saw a young thin-
looking man, lying in a warm bath. I found him suffering acutely
from inability to pass water, and distension of the bladder. As he
seemed to get considerable ease from being in the bath, I allowed
him to remain there, and obtained the following history of the
case :—N. R. was 19 years of age, the only child of his parents,
who kept a farm about 20 miles from Hamilton, and with whom
he had lived from birth. He had led a quiet and strictly moral life
and generally worked on the farm, and on 1st Nov. about noon, he had
just finished splitting some wood, when unwittingly he struck a
small tough tree in such a manner, that a branch came down and
caught him on the point of the penis, causing him a little pain at
the time, but not sufficient to attract serious attention. In the
evening• he went to bed as usual, but on rising, Nov. 2nd, he could
not make water, and felt uncomfortable. This condition was aggra-
vated before night, and it was determined by himself and his
parents that if by the morning no relief came, he should go to the
Hamilton Hospital. Accordingly on the morning of the 3rd, after
enduring great and increasing pain, he undertook the journey in a
cart (without springs), and arrived at the hospital about 3.30 p.m.
in a very exhausted condition. Having gained this information, I
determined on and carried out the following treatment :
Nev. 3rd, 4.30 p.m.—Injected into the rectum one drachm of
Tincture of Opium, and made him swallow one ounce of Castor Oil.
7 p.m.—The patient feeling comparatively easy, and the oil not yet
having acted, I gave him another ounce ; the penis was swollen and
livid, but not firm or erect; the bladder was enormously distended
1 101
8721 Dr. WYLIE On a Case of •Retention of Urine.
and stood out distinctly, and was very hard to the touch. 8.30. p.m.
—He complained of pain and much peristaltic action. About
9 p.m.—His bowels acted freely and simultaneously the urethral
spasm gave way and his bladder was completely emptied. Having
administered a hypnotic of Hydrate of Chloral, I left him for
the night.
4th Nov., 11 a.m.—On paying my ordinary visit to the Hospital,
the patient stated that he could make water quite freely. He had
done so twice since I saw him on the previous night. Having
learned that he was habitually constipated, and as he requested leave
to go home, I discharged him with instructions for the future to
keep the bowels well open.
Remarks.—I submit this case for publication as it may appear to
others, as well as myself, a unique specimen of spasmodic stricture,
and together with the history of its cause and simple, but satis-
factory, treatment, worthy of a passing notice. I would add that
during a number of years' practice in India, I have frequently met
with this disagreeable affection, and in every instance found the
above treatment successful.
In the discussion which followed :
Mr. FITZGERALD had found always, in cases of spasmodic
stricture, the administration of chloroform, and the application of
ice to the glans penis, sufficient to overcome the obstruction. He
had used injections of opium, baths, Sic., with but qualified results.
The application of ice was frequently quite sufficient. If ice were
not available, cold water would sometimes be equally effectual.
Mr. GILLBRE thought in the case related, the catheter, under
chloroform, should have been employed. Referring to Mr. Fitz-
gerald's suggestion of ice, probably the ether-spray might effect the
same purpose.
Mr. WILKINS thought that as Dr. Wylie had had experience in
India in like cases, his opinion should carry some weight. It was
to be remembered that occasionally there was great difficulty in
introducing a catheter, owing to the swollen condition of the parts.
Mr. MACGILLIVRAY would certainly have employed chloroform
and the catheter in such a case as that related. He regarded it as
unsafe practice to leave a patient so long, under the circumstances,
without employing the catheter.
Dr. WIGG believed it to be doubtful if there were spasm at all
n the so-called cases of spasmodic stricture. The condition of the
iparts was much more likely to be that of tumidity. Sir Henry
Thompson had broadly denied the possibility of spasmodic stricture.
Mr. FITZGERALD could hardly accept this view. If there was ft
not stricture, what was the explanation of the difficulty in with-
drawing the catheter, and how was it possible for chloroform to
overcome the tumidity of the mucous membrane
 102 Medical Society of Victoria.
REMOVAL QF THE TONGUE.
Mr. FITZGERALD exhibited a patient in whom he had excised the
tongue for epithelial cancer, about a fortnight previously. He
described the details of the operation, in which he had divided the
symphisis menti, in order to avoid injury to the muscles, and had
used the knife in preference to the ecraseur. The external incision
was healed, except at the point where the ligatures hung out, and
the man could articulate very fairly.
Mr. MACGILLIVRAY remarked that his experience of the ecraseur
in excision of the tongue was not confirmatory of this being the pre-
ferable instrument to use. He would not use the ecraseur where it was
possible to use the knife. He advocated also the method of dividing
the jaw notwithstanding the difficulty of effecting bony union after-
wards. In two of the cases he had had, bony union had been
perfect ; in the other in which, however, death followed speedily,
there had been no union. He had not found any difficulty in feeding
the patients.
Mr. WILKINS thought where the ecraseur was used, the power of
articulating would be more likely to be preserved.
Mr. MACGILLIVRAY did not suppose there would be any differ-
ence in this respect. It was really only a question of time. Cer-
tainly, in one case in which he had used the knife, the voice was
completely preserved, whereas in that where the ecraseur was used,
not only was the power of voice less, but the difficulty of swallowing
was comparatively greater.
Mr. FITZGERALD made a few remarks in reply, and next exhibited
a patient on whom he had performed
EXCISION OF THE FOOT,
By Professor Syme's method. The case was a good example of this
operation, and the man was able to walk almost without a limp.
The thanks of the meeting were given to Mr. Fitzgerald for
exhibiting the cases.
COAL ASH AS A DEODORANT.
Mr. WILKINS drew attention to the great value of coal-ash as a
deodorant, in the place of dry earth, in earth-closets. He had been
using it for some time, and found it preferable to the earth.
Dr. NEILD confirmed Mr. Wilkins' experience. Its use, however,
for this purpose was not a novelty, as in the north of Englard,
especially in the coal districts, it was generally employed for this
purpose.
THE CASE OF MR. W. H. JACKSON.
A meeting of the Committee of the Society was held on the 18th
instant, to consider the case of Mr. W. H. Jackson, L.A.H.D., of
Merino, who lately had returned against him a verdict of man-
slaughter for having caused the death of a child during birth. The
gravamen of the charge against him was, that instead
of the ordinary craniotomy instruments, he had used an
 103
1872.] Dx. durtsort on Pyphoicl Poet.

auger, a gimlet, a chisel, and a hook made of fencing-

wire. It was unanimously agreed, after carefully reviewing the
circumstances of the case, that under the circumstances, and
judging by the evidence contained in the depositions, no imputation
of professional incompetency rested against Mr. Jackson. He had
done the best he could in a very trying emergency, and it was
within the experience of several members of the Committee, that the
operation of craniotomy had occasionally been performed by practi-
tioners of the most undoubted skill in this colony, with instruments
even less delicate than those used by Mr. Jackson. It was, more-
over, considered as a circumstance very much to Mr. Jackson's
credit, that, notwithstanding the rudeness of the instruments he had
been compelled to use, no injury whatever had resulted to the
mother. It was resolved that a deputation from the Committee
wait upon the Solicitor-General in order to explain the case to him.

ON TYPHOID FEVER.
By J. M. Guisi- sozi, M.D.
[Read before the South Australian Medical Association, Feb. 8, 1872.]
Before entering upon the subject of typhoid fever, it will be
permited me to offer a few remarks on fever in general, on fever viewed
as a genus having under it several species. Fever is a morbid state
characterised essentially by elevation of temperature ; calor prceter
naturam is the abstract definition given by Galen, and sixteen
centuries later, in our own times, as high an authority as Virchow
has confirmed the correctness of this definition and added nothing
to its completeness. Seeing then that fever consists essentially in
preternatural elevation of temperature, the next step in investigating
its natural history, will be an inquiry into the cause of this abnormal
heat. The natural heat of the body, as you are aware, is main-
tained by the continual combustion of the tissues, especially the
nitrogenous, and some components of the food. In fever the com-
bustion and heat are increased, for oxygen is supplied more abun-
dantly by the accelerated circulation, the regulating influence of
the nervous system is deranged, and the metamorphosis of the
tissues is carried on more rapidly. This rapid tissue-waste, and
the consequent emaciation of the body in fever, are, as a rule,
represented by an increase in the quantity and elements of the
excretions. In those cases where the opposite relation is observed
to exist, viz., where the products of tissue-combustion are voided
Joy the excretions in diminished quantity, and therefore retained in
the blood, they are ultimately either thrown upon special organs,
thus giving rise to local congestions and intercurrent disease,
or eliminated out of the system by those increased discharges,
which are termed critical, as often marking the defervescence
of the febrile state, and the accession of convalescence. This
augmented waste of tissues in fever, is due, no doubt, to some
 104 DR. GUNSON on yphoid Fever. [April,
abnormal condition of nervous system produced by a specific poison
in the blood. What is the first link in this chain of events, the
inquination of the blood, or the derangement of the nervous
system, is a point not yet elucidated. We are also totally ignorant
of the actual nature and composition of fever-poisons, and know
not whether they be solid, fluid, or gaseous. The generally received
theory is, that specific poisons of organic origin act primarily on
the blood, by producing an excess of those decomposing organic
compounds, which are always present in the circulating fluid. The
action of these fever-poisons, like that of poisons in general, is
regulated by certain general laws, of which the most essential is
that each produces in the animal economy definite and specific
effects. For example, as strychnine always acts on the spinal cord,
digitalis on the heart, and arsenic on the mucous membrane of the
intestines, so, in like manner, the poison of scarlatina, of variola,
or typhoid fever, invariably induces phenomena peculiar to and
characteristic of each of these special diseases. Of course the
phenomena of every disease are modified in their development,
intensity, course, and termination, by such varied circumstances as
age, temperament, state of constitution and atmosphere ; and thus
arise the different forms and types of the same disease. From these
observations on the general pathology of fever, I will now proceed
to the more immediate subject of my paper, Typhoid Fever.
Typhoid fever is also called enteric fever. The German name for
the disease is abdominal typhus, and the French, dothien-enterite,
or entero-mesenterique fever. The American appellations are,
" Autumnal " and " Fall fever." Dr. Murchison calls it pythogenic
fever, in reference to its recognised cause, viz., putrid or cesspool
emanations. It is often popularly called bilious fever. The
remittent fever of infants is by many regarded as a modified form of
typhoid fever. The symptoms of typhoid fever present considerable
variety in the mode of their accession and in their gravity.
In some cases the invasion of the disease is so sudden and severe,
and its course so rapid, as to resemble cases of narcotico-acrid
poisonin In others the characteristic symptoms are gradually
developed', and some days elapse before the disease is fully
established. Again, in a third class of cases, the patient has been
feeling poorly, declining in health, for many days, even weeks, before
the characteristic systems of gastro-intestinal irritation reveal the
real nature of his malady. This prelusive stage of the symptoms
is called by many, the period of incubation of fevers. However,
the generality of cases of typhoid fever, set in insidiously, and
without marked premonitory symptoms. As in discussing elk
pathology and treatment of typhoid fever it will be necessarf
frequently to allude to the symptoms, it will therefore be convenient
to our purpose to describe them briefly here.
The invasion of the disease is generally marked by rigors or
chilliness, soon followed by heat of skin, lassitude, anorexia, head-
ache, and diarrhoea, often with and sometimes without bilious
vomiting. Other symptoms are tenderness of the abdomen,
1872.] DR. Gurisort on Typhoid Fever. 105

especially in the right iliac fossa over the cmum, tympanites, and
enlarged dulness over the seat of the spleen. From the sixth to the
twelfth day, the first crop of the characteristic eruption shows itself.
As the disease progresses, the countenance often wears an anxious
expression, but the mind generally continues clear, and when
delirium supervenes, it is of an active kind and only at night. The
characteristic symptoms are the spontaneous diarrhoea with abdominal
tenderness, and gurgling under pressure in the right iliac fossa.
The popular eruption on the skin is diagnostic of the disease. It
consists in bright rose-colored, small, round lenticular spots, coming
out in daily crops of from six to twelve on the surface of the
abdomen, thorax, back, and extremities, between the sixth and
twelfth day of the disease. Each spot gives a raised, rounded, not
pointed, feeling to the finger, and disappears momentarily on pres-
sure, and at the end of the third day it has completely faded away.
The pulse is increased in frequency from 100 to 130 or 140, and
generally continues soft throughout the disease. The tongue is
coated, and the papilla around the tip and edges are red and
prominent.. As the disease advances, it becomes fissured and covered
with a brownish fur of red, glazed, and cracked. The diarrhoea
presents peculiar characters ; it is spontaneous and frequent, from
three or four to a dozen discharges in the twenty-four hours, of a
thin bright yellow-ochre like, or pea-soup like fluid, containing
whitish floculi, albumen, and a large proportion of soluble salts.
They occasionally contain altered blood. The stools are alkaline
from the presence of a large proportion of ammoniaco-magnesian
phosphates, and their strong and offensive smell is partly due to the
same cause. The urine at first is scanty and high-coloured. It
is acid from excess of uric acid, and contains also a large quantity
of urea, but is deficient in chloride of sodium, as this salt passes out
of the system with the stools, and but little food is used. Vogel
found as much as 800 to 1000 grains of urea excreted in the twenty-
four hours, which is double the natural amount-400 grains. The
pupils are generally dilated ; in typhus fever they are contracted.
There is often great thirst and restlessness. The skin is hot and dry,
and attains its highest temperature in the evening, when it may mark
as high as 106 in the axilla, on the fourth and fifth day of the fever.
The face is flushed with a bright pinkish red, not the muddy dusky
tinge of typhus. Epistaxis sometimes occurs ; if early, and
moderate, it sometimes relieves. Deafness of one or both ears is a
symptom of the later stages. The spleen is often found much
enlarged, especially in young subjects. The stools are sometimes
likothy and muddy-looking ; and if metallic remedies, such as
151fsmuth, copper, &c., have been administered, they may become
brownish or greenish-black.
Much abdominal tenderness, with urgent and persistent diarrhoea
are unfavourable symptoms, especially if there is also h m morrhage
from the bowels. Albumen in the urine in large quantities, and its
persistence, after the third week, is a grave symptom, and so also is
a very active and noisy delirium. And the supervention of the
 106 DR. GuIrsoN on Typhoid Fever. [April,
true typhoid state, viz., coma, subsultus, great prostration and
involuntary evacuations mostly ushers in a fatal termination. The
group of symptoms which I have just mentioned, as constituting
the typhoid state, are produced by the retention in the blood of those
products of the metamorphosis of the tissues, which it is the func-
tion of the kidneys to eliminate. Their presence, therefore, in a
case of typhoid fever tells us that the kidneys are implicated, usually
congested. The duration of typhoid fever is from three to four
weeks ; the average is twenty-four days. Relapses occasionally
occur during convalescence. There is a return of all the symptoms,
including the diarrhoea and spots, and the second attack may be more
severe or milder than the first. During its course, typhoid fever
may be complicated w ith bronchitis, pleuritis, pneumonia, congestion
of the liver, lungs, or kidneys, and peritonitis. This is a most
perilous occurrence. It is denoted by sudden and great increase of
abdominal pain and tenderness, vomiting, hiccup, and sinking. A
severe attack of typhoid fever usually leaves the patient feeble in
body and mind, and the recovery of animal and intellectual vigour
is a tedious work of time. A cessation of the diarrhoea, diminution
of the temperature, and thirst, are favourable symptoms. Persistent
diarrhoea, high temperature, and great prostration, are unfavourable
ones. Typhoid fever is as common in males as females ; but boys
are more frequently attacked than girls. It is chiefly a disease of
youth and adolescence, for the glandular apparatus of Peyer is then
at the height of its activity and development. After thirty the
glands begin to diminish, and before fifty all trace of their presence
in the alimentary canal has disappeared. The period of their
greatest activity is also the period of the greatest proclivity to the
disease. Here the question naturally suggests itself, can a person
in whom the solitary and agminate glands are extinct, become the
subject of an attack of typhoid fever ? Among 1820 cases,
Murchison quotes 26 as above fifty years of age. Were these
exceptional? and if so, in what respect Typhoid fever is more
prevalent in autumn than any other season, and after hot summers
than cool ones. Typhoid fever, unlike typhus, has no respect for
rank or wealth. It attacks the rich as readily as the poor. Indeed
it seems to have a preference for well-to-do people. The isolated
country mansion if exposed to the noxious effluvia of bad drains,
cesspools, or reeking dung-heaps, is as surely visited by this uncom-
promising disease, as the house similiarly endowed in the heart
of a crowded city. Ten years ago the Prince Consort was struck
down by it in the royal Castle at Windsor, and quite recently as
we have seen, the Prince of Wales has narrowly escaped the same
fate in the country residence of a nobleman. ►
The mode of death in typhoid fever is usually by asthenia. It
is endemic in some countries, as France, Germany, America, and I
may add in South Australia, at least in Adelaide and its neigh-
bourhood. I may here state, as the result of my experience, that
the Adelaide type of the disease resembles, in its essential features,
that which prevails in the mother country. With us, I believe,
1872.1 DR. GUNSON on Typhoid Fever. 107

typhoid fever oftener sets in with bilious vomiting, constipation,

and a jaundiced hue of the conjunctiva and skin, and the first loose
stools are frequently of a pale drab colour, yeasty, and peculiarly
offensive, symptoms which, of course, point to derangement of the
liver. The rose spots are less distinct and less numerous, and
the fever runs a milder course, and sometimes assumes a remittent
character.
I will now glance at the morbid anatomy of the disease, and
briefly describe those lesions of structure and function which
pathology has allied with the symptoms exhibited during life.
The anatomical sign of the disease, is the morbid process which is
invariably set up in the agminate and solitary glands of the lower
third of the ileum. Along with this may be enumerated enlargement
of the mesenteric glancli, and of the spleen. The changes which the
glands of Peyer undergo are of the following kind and order :-
1st. Deposition of morbid matter and tumefaction. 2nd. Softening
and ulceration. 3rd. Sloughing. 4th. Cicatrization. There is
increased vascularity of the surrounding mucous membrane.
Ulceration usually begins in the patches nearest the ccum, and
here also are found the most advanced changes, and the greatest
disintegration of structure. Likewise, when, perforation of the
coats of the bowel occurs its usual seat is within a few inches of
the ileo-cmcal valve. Ulc eration seldom begins in the glands
before the second week of the fever. The congestion and swelling
of the mesenteric meso-colic glands bears the same relation to the
inflammation of the agminate and solitary ones that the swelling
of the glands round the angle of the jaws does, to inflammation of
the tonsils. The spleen is always congested, enlarged, and friable.
The liver, too, is always implicated, and generally enlarged and
softened. The colon is much distended with gas. While describing
the symptoms, I should have noticed that meteorism is chiefly con-
fined to the large intestines, and this gives a peculiar shape to the
roundness of the abdomen, it is from side to side, and not from
above to below.
I will not occupy your time with quoting authorities and argu-
ments for or against the doctrine of the contagiousness of typhoid
fever, but content myself with observing that to me the weight of
evidence seems to be on the side of its non-communicability by con-
tagion. However, it is certain that in most instances, the disease
arises quite independently of contagion, and the generally adopted
theory is that the special poison which causes it, is conveyed in
noxious gases or faatid emanations from sewers, cesspools, drains, dung-
and all other kind of putrescent animal and vegetable matters.
JY Wm. Budd holds views on the origin and propagation of typhoid
fever somewhat different from the above. The poison, he contends,
always resides in the stools of the affected, and is derived from the
disease in the bowels, which he considers an internal exanthema,
somewhat similar toyariola. The ingestion of impure water, of water
containing decayed animal and vegetable matter, is another recog-
nised source of the disease. We know that water which looks quite
108 DR. GUisTSON on Typhoid Fever. [April,
clear, and in which the senses of smell and taste will detect nothing
impure, may yet be shown, by chemical analysis and the microscope,
to hold in solution an injurious proportion of organic matter and
nitrous acid. We can, therefore, easily understand why the estab-
lishment of the water-works initiated in Adelaide an epoch of corn-
paritive immunity from typhoid and infantile remittent fever. In
the good old times, the water used in the city for domestic purposes
was generally kept in uncovered casks or barrels, and its dearness was
an obstacle to its frequent renewal. When the supply was obtained
indirectly from the Torrens, it was conveyed in large barrels, not
often purified by cleansing, and when it was furnished directly by
the clouds, it had to pass over shingle roofs and through foul wooden
gutters before it reached its slimy destinations. Can we wonder
then that typhoid fever was more prevalent in those days than in
recent times ? Is our colonial beer open to any grave charge of this
kind I I have often heard it accused of upsetting the stomach, and
going through one like Epsom salts. However, on this delicate point I
shall allow every gentleman to hold in peace his own opinion, only,
by way of throwing some light upon the subject, I shall allude to
some novel facts related by Dr. Ballard, medical officer of health for
Islington, in a paper read before the Medical Officers of Health-
Association, in November. Dr. Ballard traces an outbreak of
typhoid fever in Islington to the use of impure milk. In confirma-
tion of this inference, he stated that it was remarkable how the
typhoid fever picked out the customers of this dairy in separate
streets and squares. How did the milk become contagious ? The
water used in cleansing the milk cans and other vessels was obtained
from an underground wooden tank, rotten in some parts, and com-
municating by holes with rat-burrows. In the days of scant water
supply, the vessels, and perhaps the main ingredient, used in the
concoction of our native beverage, were not always as unpolluted as
they might have been. It is thus that colonial beer came in for the bad
name which has undeservedly stuck, more or less, firmly to it ever
since. It is now, in my opinion, as good and wholesome a drink, in
moderate quantity, as the imported brands. But you know the
proverb, " Give a dog a bad name, &c. &c."
I have now arrived at the last chapter of my paper, that on treat-
ment ; and here I must candidly confess that in preparing it I often
found myself quite bewildered, amidst the conflicting opinions of
equally eminent authorities ; and the only safe way I could find out
of the confusion was by allowing each to speak for himself. I will
first premise that fever is a disease which runs its course in a
certain time, which we can neither avert nor cure, but may guide our
patient through, and we shall best fulfil this intention by studying
the tendency to death in each case, and assisting nature in her
efforts to subdue it. I may also remark that of late years, what has
been called the active treatment of fever, has been materially modified
if not quite abandoned, and the over-stimulant plan of Dr. Todd is
sharing the same fate. His advice is to " restrain diarrhoea and
haemorrhage in typhoid fever, and when you have fairly looked up
18721 DL Gomm on Typhoid Fever, 100

the bowels keep them so. Patients will go for four or six days, or
even longer, without suffering inconvenience from this state of con-
stipation." This teaching of Pr. Todd's is at variance with the
time-honoured maxim of the ancients, " Never lock up the excre-
tions." Dr. Murchison, in his standard work, says, "from consider-
able experience in their use, I believe there is no remedy superior to
the mineral acids hydrochloric and sulphuric, I have rarely found
them contra-indicated by the abdominal symptoms." " If the
disease presents anything of a remittent character, I add about half-
a-grain of quinine to each dose." Elimination is to be encouraged,
he says, by maintaining the action of the kidneys and skin, and to
this end he gives nitric-ether and decoction of broom-tops. He
does not look upon diarrhcea as a process of elimination, `and there-
fore refrains from acting on the bowels. When the diarrhcea is
troublesome, to the extent of more than two or three motions in the
twenty-four hours, he adds two or three minims of the Liquor Opii
Sedativus to each dose of acid mixture, and should this not succeed in
checking it, he gives enemata of starch with laudanum. In still
more intractable forms of diarrhoea he administers acetate of lead
and morphia or opium, as originally recommended by Graves. In
addition to these remedies, Dr.M urchison employs hot fomentations
to the abdomen by means of linseed meal poultices, and wet flannels
covered with oiled silk. It will be both interesting and instructive to
exhibit, in juxta-position with this line of treatment, that extolled by
another eminent London practitioner, Dr. George Johnson, Physician
to and Professor of Medicine in King's College Hospital. He
strongly condemns the use of vegetable and mineral acids as irritat-
ing to the bowels. " In most cases of typhoid fever there must be,"
I quote his words, " more or less of diarrhcea, for morbid secretions
are poured out, which irritate the bowels, and have to be expelled.
The effect of repeated opiates is to lessen the sensibility and con-
tractibility of the bowels, and so to retain the morbid secretions until
they decompose, give off offensive gases, and thus become a fresh
source of irritation and distress." It will be seen that these two
authorities disagree on a most vital question, and I am afraid they
are likely to remain mutually unconverted, as the practice of each
has been crowned with great success. The method of treating
typhoid fever pursued in the hospitals of Paris by Trousseau, who
is regarded as the ablest exponent of the principles which rule the
French practice, is as follows : H e commences by giving a small dose
of a saline laxative, either a Seidlitz powder or sulphate of soda,
which, in his opinion, checks the diarrhcea by altering the secretions,
and is particularly useful when this is accompanied with much
maeorism. After this he administers absorbents, such as chalk and
bismuth, and rarely has recourse to opium. Should the diarrhcea
still persist in spite of the above remedies, his practice is to give one-
tenth of a grain of nitrate of silver every four or five hours in the
form of a pill. When there are much pain and tenderness in the
abdomen, leeches over the right iliac fossa, and afterwards a blister
in the same situation, employed. Dr. Warde, of the Dreadnought
 110 DR. Gummi. on Typhoid Fever. [April,

H ospital, advocates leaving typhoid fever much to itself, and gives

sa lines. Others object to the use of alkalies in diseases of a lower-
in g type, and prefer acids, especially sulphuric, if there be much
diarrhoea. The treatment of the modern Italian school differs in
most respects from the preceding ones. It is known as the anti-
septic or antizymotic system of Dr. Polli, of Milan, and consists in
the internal use of the sulphites of soda and magnesia. They are
rapidly absorbed in the stomach, and circulated unchanged through
the economy, and by exercising a catalytic power on the elements
of the specific poison in the blood, they destroy its morbific influence.
This peculiar action of the sulphites is denominated " septicidal."
These remedies are said to have proved eminently successful in the
hands of some Italian physicians. All authorities are agreed as to
the necessity of complete rest in typhoid fever. " The patient,"
says Murchison, " should be kept in a state of absolute immobility."
Though the main object of our treatment is to keep the patient alive
till the fever has run its course, yet food must be sparingly and
judiciously administered. For the first few days barley-water, rice-
water, and milk will suffice. To these may then be added arrowroot
and cornflour jellies, custards, and beef tea. The food throughout the
disease should be of a bland as well as of a nutritious character.
Tea and coffee are at all times useful beverages. They act as mild
stimulants, they promote elimination, and, it is thought by many,
that they also check the wasting of the tissues. Alcoholic stimu-
lants are of doubtful repute in the earlier stages of the disease, but
as soon as the pulse becomes fluttering, we must invoke their aid in
fillipping the nervous system ; and so sustain the heart in resisting
the prostrating influence of the fever. The full value of alcohol as
a remedy is, I believe, fairly represented in this view of its action.
It would therefore follow that in typhoid fever, to obtain the full
benefit of its agency, it ought to be given oftener, and in small
quantities, say two teaspoonfuls of brandy, or a teaspoonful of port-
wine, every three or four hours.
I will conclude with a few observations on the treatment of
typhoid fever by cold bathing, a system which appears to be
gaining favour in Germany. Eighty years ago it was practised by
Currie in all forms of fever except typhoid, as he considered the
diarrhoea a contra-indication. Trousseau also recommends cold
affusion when the delirium is great and the heat high. We know
that"many of the symptoms of• typhoid fever are produced directly, by
the great elevation of temperature which characterises the disease.
The surest criterion of the severity of a case of typhoid fever, is the
degree of heat. No symptom is of greater importance or truer
significance than a persistently high temperature. It indicates truly
an excessive oxidization of the constituents of the body, whose
organs are being burnt up so rapidly, as to threaten the total
extinction of their functions. It is not surprising then, that the
cold water treatment of cases of typhoid fever, marked with a high
degree of temperature, should have suggested itself as a hopeful and
rational practice, and that its employment in two or three hundred
ry

1872.1 DR. HUTCHINSON on the Treatment of Diphtheria. 111

eases by Drasche, of Dresden, should have been attended with

encouraging results. During the last few years much attention has
been bestowed by some practitioners of note, on the indications to be
derived from exact measurement with the thermometer of the heat of
the body in disease, and it is in typhoid fever that these experiments
haveled to the most practicalresults. Should a person recentlyattacked
with febrile symptoms exhibit a temperature much above 104, we
may safely predict that he is likely to become the subject of air
attack of typhoid fever. In some cases the heat is said to rise 8 or even
9 degrees higher in the evening than in the morning, and this great
oscillation between these two points, is considered pathognomonic of
the disease. An extensive and varied registration of the tempera-
ture of the body in health and disease, can alone give the value of a
scientific basis to the revelations of the thermometer, and by the
patient industry of Wunderlick, in Germany, and Sidney Ringer,
Parkes, and others in England, and several in our own Australia, a
great deal of what is now only seen through the dim twilight of
speculation, will soon be exhibited in the broad daylight of ascertained
facts and established principles.

ON THE TREATMENT OF DIPHTHERIA.

By B. C. HUTCHINSON, M.D. En.
As this disease has broken out again in a severe form in some
parts of the colony, I think that every practitioner should give the
profession the benefit of his experience in the treatment of this
affection, as it is only by doing so that a correct and scientific
method of treatment can be arrived at. In no way is the early
discipline and control over children that parents ought always to
have, more clearly demonstrated to be necessary, than in the treat-
ment of diphtheria. On entering a patient's house an experienced
practitioner can tell in a very few minutes what chance he has of
conducting the sufferer safely through his dangers.
A " spoilt " child will refuse to allow you to examine him. He
resists with all his might the attempt to open his mouth, and is
backed up by the parents remonstrating with you, because they
think you are hurting the child. Your duty is obvious, as a com-
plete examination is absolutely essential. The easiest way to
accomplish your object is to get the mother to place the child on its
back on her knees. Let the patient's head rest between your knees,
when you can hold it firmly, and then with the aid of the handle
of a tea-spoon, an effectual examination can quickly be made. On
the other hand, a child under proper control will open its mouth at
the bidding of his parents. The examination is then easily got over
without pain or exhaustion to the patient, or trouble to yourself.
On ascertaining that I have a case of diphtheria to deal with,
the treatment I adopt is as follows : I procure a large-sized camel's
hair brush, and dip this into the glycerate of Carbolic Acid of the
British Pharmacopoeia, and thoroughly brush the tonsils, uvula, and,
112 D.R. HUTCH/NSON on the Treatment of Diphtheria. [April,
if there be any false membrane on it, the back of the pharynx. I
then withdraw the brush and wash it in some cold water, afterwards
drying it on a piece of paper ; then dip it into the glycerate and
repeat the application. This should be done as often as is necessary
to clear off the whole false membrane, as much as possible, with
directions to the friends that this must be effectually done every
two hours night and day. Two hours will be ample time for the
false membrane to form again, and the child, if asleep, should be
taken up at once when the time comes, and placed on the knees in
the same position as above recommended, when the brushing can be
accomplished often without the patient knowing much about it.
After the treatment has been continued for some days, the patient
gets very sleepy, and it is a matter of moment not to waste time in
waking him up, and trying to persuade him to open his mouth, as
in this case the operator would occupy half an hour or more, which
would be time taken from his rest which he so urgently requires. I
have had to brush the throat out seven or eight times at one sitting
before the false membrane could be thoroughly removed. I order
at the same time a mixture of the Tincture of the Muriate of Iron
and Chlorate of Potash, in doses suited to the age of the patient,
changed to a diaphoretic mixture if the fever runs very high, and I
order a liniment of camphor and opium to be rubbed on the throat
externally. As an adjunct, if the child can be managed, the
inhalation of the steam of boiling water with a little vinegar in it,
will be of great use in loosening the muco-purulent matter that
collects about the fauces as well as the false membrane, and will enable
the patient to cough it up. I have saved a child's life when I found
it in extremis, by wiping the throat out with a feather, then applying
the Carbolic Acid and removing the thick false membrane with
some force. The bowels, of course, must be attended to, and the
strength of the system kept up by the most nourishing diet ; brandy
and water for a drink. Ice is also of great service ; children
sucking it with the greatest avidity, and it evidently checking the
diseased secretions and lessening the congestion of the parts. I
always direct sulphur to be burnt in any room in the house, fre-
quently enough to keep a strong smell of sulphur in the house.
The Sulphurous Acid (medicated) will act equally as well as the
Carbolic in milder cases, but in severe cases I have not found it
reliable. The Sulphurous Acid spray, as recom mended by Dr. Dewar, is
useful as an adjunct, but it will not remove the false membrane. The
successful carrying out of this treatment depends entirely on the
thoroughness of its application. I have often been told on making
my morning visit, that the attendant, thinking the patient was
improving and finding him exhausted from his rest being so
frequently disturbed, had let four hours pass without making any
application to the throat, and had found it much worse at the end
of this time. I believe this invariably happens before convalescence.
This treatment has been very successful in numerous cases in this
part of the colony, and when it fails, I believe it is in consequence
of the perfunctory manner in which the directions have been carried
1872.] The Diphtheria Commission. 113

out. The treatment of a severe case will last for from eighteen to
twenty-one days. I have known one case, the worst ever I saw
recover, occurring in an adult woman, lasting seven weeks, and in
interrupting the treatment on several occasions during that period,
the symptoms rapidly increased in severity. On the other hand, I
have seen some cases of so malignant a character, that no treatment
seemed to check the progress of the disease.
Wangaratta, January 12th, 1872.

An5fralian aim!, #ournal.

APRIL, 1872.

THE DIPHTHERIA COMMISSION.

This remarkable trio have summoned a number of
medical men before them, and, in the exercise of " a little
brief authority " have continued, during the past month, to
play those " fantastic tricks " which, as we know, certain
persons so dressed, are wont to recreate themselves withal.
But they have atoned somewhat for the annoyance they
have thus occasioned, by the issue of a circular of queries,
which being altogether so divertingly absurd, the amuse-
ment to be extracted out of them, may almost be allowed
to balance the wrong done to the profession, both by
the existence of the Commission itself, and their eccentric
proceedings.
The circular, to be sure, is a practical jest, and practical
jesting, as we know, represents only the lowest form of
humour, but, so long as amusement is to be got out of it,
we will not quarrel with the form in which it comes. It
would be doing even the Diphtheria Commission an injustice,
to suppose they entertained the slightest expectation of
anyone seriously endeavouring to furnish answers to the
queries proposed. They have probably begun to tire of the
monotony of putting verbal questions, and wish to vary
their occupation by the amusement, of reading the replies
they receive from unimaginative persons who do not
perceive the joke. But as a talent for practical jesting is
not the exclusive property of the Commission, it is at least
likely that some of the replies may be written in the same
frolicsome spirit, as that which seems to have prompted
the queries. As thus :—Query 1 : " Number of cases of
diphtheria which have come under your notice or treat-
ment ? " Answer " I have not the slightest recollection ;
114 The Diphtheria Commission. [April,
it might be two or it might be twenty, or it might be two
hundred, or it might be none, seeing that a good many cases
of so-called diphtheria turn out to be only tonsillitis. How-
ever, let us say two hundred." Query 2 : " Circumstances
attendant on the occurrence of the disease ?" Under this
query we have several heads, as thus : (a.) " Locality where
the disease occurred ? " Answer : " Sometimes in one
place, sometimes in another. Here and there, in different
localities, or, assuming the tonsillitis suggestion to be
correct, — nowhere." (b.) " Geological formation." An-
swer : " Various." This reply it will be observed, leaves
the respondent a convenient margin of explanation. (c.)
" Nature and depth of surface-soil ? Nature of sub-
soil ?" Answer : " This query also suggests variety of
reply, but the variety is more of dearee than of kind.
The soil, both surface and sub, was uniformly nasty, but, in
„some localities, it was nastier than others. The depth was
not ascertained, as it was considered prudent to remember
the proverb about the more you stir a puddle, the more
unpleasant it is." (d.) "Facilities for drainage as regards
locality ? " Answer : " Considering how admirably drained
all the cities and towns of Victoria are, this query is
regarded as superfluous. As a matter of course the facilities
were in all cases perfect." (e.) " Size of house, including
number and cubic dimensions of rooms ? " Answer :
" Which house ? Because, supposing I have had two
hundred cases, in two hundred different houses, of varying
cubic contents, which of them would you prefer to have
described ? Perhaps, upon the whole, it would be better to
say that, here also, the word various, is a convenient one
for getting out of the difficulty." (f.) " Ventilation "
Answer : "Seeing that Victorian architects and builders are
all accomplished hygeists, and that every dwelling in the
colony is supplied with a self-adjusting apparatus for
regulating the air-supply, this query is also quite super-
fluous." (g.) " Temperature when the disease occurred ? "
Answer : " Here again, which temperature of any one, or of
any number of the two hundred will you have ? Will you
have the winter or the summer ones ? Those of the hot-
wind days, or those of the sea-breeze periods ?" (h.) " Direc-
tion of the wind at the time ? " Answer : " Vide the
preceding reply." (i.) " Whether the wind blew from or
over any miasmatic sourceg " Answer : "Remembering the
noble persistency with which we encircle ourselves with
filth in the Australian cities and towns, I am pleased to be
able to reply emphatically—Yes." (j.) " Moisture or dry-
1872.] The Diphtheria Commission. 115

ness of atmosphere at the time ? " Answer • " Again I am

driven to the necessity of politely drawing your attention to
the assumption of my having had two hundred cases, and
to ask you solemnly, which of them you will take ? Will
you have wet or dry times, for they came all the
year round, when it rained and when it did not rain."
(k.) " Description of closets, including arrangements for the
removal of night-soil and refuse ?" Answer : " These also
have ranged from the comprehensive and percolating cess-
pit,—with the primitive rail over it,—to the polished cedar
earth-cabinet, suited to aesthetic preferences." (m.) " Ponds
or collections of water under or near the premises."
Answer : " The ready method of flinging slops out of the
back-door, which distinguishes the inhabitants of this great
country, enables me to give a prompt and decisive reply to
this query. Let me say therefore that collections of water
in back-yards have been pretty nearly universal." Query 3,
" Attack and progress of disease." (a.) " Period of attack ? "
Answer : " I am pleased to feel that here the Commission
do not, in any way, fetter me by attaching a particular
meaning to the term used. The word period ' may mean
date, or age, or duration. I beg to say therefore that I will
take time to consider which of these interpretations I will
accept, and I will send you the result in another commu-
nication." (b.) " Length of time before sending for medical
aid ? " Answer : " In the case of club-patients, and patients
who never intended to pay, they sent immediately. In
other cases, they sent when they began to feel afraid some-
thing was really the matter, but not before." (c.) "Remedies
employed in the meantime " Answer : " Gruel, Holloway's
Pills, Epsom Salts and strips of flannel, and, in the case of
clergymen, globules of sugar." Query 4. " Progress of
disease under medical guidance." (a.) "Age, sex and
physical description of the patients, including previous state
of health." Answer : " When I have completed the volume
of 300 pages, containing these particulars of my two
hundred cases, I shall have much pleasure in dedicating it
to the Commission." (b.) " Symptoms of disease, local and
constitutional ? " Answer : " Two more volumes, each of
300 pages, will be required to furnish these details. I there-
fore beg of the Commission to give me a little time, say two
years, in order to make it a complete work." (c.) " Remedial
measures, internal and external." Answer : " Wishing to
give fair-play, both to the sthenic and asthenic systems, I
gave half a tumbler of brandy and three grains of Tartar
emetic every half hour, and, in quite a short space of time,
i 2
116 The Diphtheria Commission,
nothing further in the way of treatment was required."
(d.)" Hygienic Directions," Answer : " Believing strongly in
the antiseptic quality of sulphurous acid, I burnt roll sulphur
in braziers, all the doors, windows, and other openings of the
apartment being closed. I found this treatment occasionally
effective, in cuttina short the disease without anything else.
It killed the patients,
b but one must not regard accidents in
scientific enquiries." (e.) "Food and drink ? " Answer :
" Here again, wishing to combine the reducing and the
stimulating plan, I gave toast and water, and turtle soup
with brandy, ad libitum." (f) " Whether change of air
was tried and with what effect ? " Answer : " In the case of
those fumigated to death, no change was found necessary.
As to the rest, they were taken down the river past the
boiling-down and bone-crushing establishments ; The effect
was to evoke a desire that no more change of air might be
insisted on." (g.) " Result of treatment ? " Answer :
" When I say that I have earned the gratitude of many
undertakers, the result will be readily understood." 5. "Com-
plications with other diseases ? (a.) Whether the patient
had previously suffered from scarlatina ?" Answer: "Which
patient of the 200 ? " (b.) " Whether any member of the
family suffered from any eruptive disease or from diphtheria?"
Answer : " Which family ? (c.) " Whether the patient
was exposed to any source of contagion of diphtheria or any
eruptive disease ? Answer : " Which patient ?" (d.)
" Was there connection observed between the occurrence of
diphtheria and disease among cattle I " Answer : "In one
case I found that a cow belonging to the father of a boy
suffering from sore throat was blind of the left eye. It
struck me at once there was some connection, and I found on
enquiry there was a connection. The boy had flung a stone
and hit the cow in the eye, and the cow had rushed at the
boy and gored him slightly in the throat." (e.) " Were
any of the persons under your care attacked by diphtheria
more than once ? " Answer : " They were. Some grown up
persons had diphtheria every half hour on hot wind days,
but iced champagne, iced brandy and water, or iced half and
half, cured it completely every time it occurred." (f)
" Have you known diphtheria to occur among the Jewish
and Chinese population ? " Answer : " I cannot say with
precision, but I have some interesting records of the
occurrence of tooth-ache in the Aborigines." (g.) " Can you
give any information as to the sequel of the disease ? "
Answer : " I can. As soon as the patients who did not die
became convalescent and began to walk about, it was found
 Reviews. 117
1872.)
that the soles of their boots wore out." 6. " Remarks and
suggestions on the causes, nature, mode of propagation and
treatment of the disease." Answer : "Volumes 4, 5, and 6,
in continuation of the complete work it will be found
necessary to write."
If the foregoing should be at all useful to those members
of the profession who have been in doubt what to do with
the queries, we shall not have laboured in vain.

REVIEWS.
Recollections of Past Life. By SIR HENRY HOLLAND, BART.,
M.D., F.R.S., Physician in Ordinary to the Queen.
This book might well have been called "The History of a For-
tunate Man," for it is a chronicle of every form of success, whether
professional, social, literary, or (the best of all) that of a happy
life. Sir Henry Holland was early thrown into the society of the
magnates of the country. At the age of twenty-six, he was
appointed travelling physician to the Princess of Wales, and soon
after commenced practice in London, with the advantages of a great
connection of the highest class. He had not even to take a hospital
appointment. It was decided that he should enter St. George's,
.

but no vacancy occurred for about four years, and by that time such
a position would have only been a burden to him, so much had
his practice increased. His good fortune followed him, and he went
on with a clientele of prime ministers, peers, and distinguished men
of all classes, until it became desirable that he should gradually
relinquish his work. Yet his income never reached the vast amount
made by several celebrated men. A t the commencement he resolved
it should never exceed £5,000 per annum, and he wisely kept to his
resolution. Two months of every year were passed in foreign
travel, and the evenings devoted to society or study.
Amongst his patients was Lord Palmerston, and Sir Henry notes
his continuous working powers, even during the severe pain of
gout. While any one else would have remained groaning on his
couch, Lord Palmerston would continue the usual labours of his
great office " writing or reading on public business almost without
abatement, amidst the chaos of papers which covered the floor as well
as the tables of his room." He was a good patient, and compliant in
every respect but in remitting his favourite occupation, and indeed
to him it acted as an anodyne.
Wollaston also was under Holland's care, and furnishes matter
for a characteristic anecdote. He died of a cerebral disease,
and while it was progressing, occupied himself by testing "the
changes taking place in the functions of his senses, his memory, and
his voluntary power. Diagrams and figures drawn upon a board
before him were among the means thus employed. He bad
118: Obituary. rApril,
manifestly much interest, if not indeed a certain pleasure, in
detecting the changes going on and in describing them to us. He
would admit no interpretation of them save in reference to that
final change which he constantly and calmly kept in view. It was
a self-analysis of mind carried on to the last moments of life."
The notes of travel, though old, retain their freshness, and the
reminiscences of distinguished men (often too brief), are of real
interest. The book is one to be idle over. No one would sit up at
night to read it, and very few would lay it down without taking it
up again. It suggests the quaint saying of George Sand, " Je revais,
pour me reposer d'avoir pense."

Ulteriori Studi intorno alla cura del Morbo Indostanico, per

SOCRATE CADET. (Later Studies on Asiatic Cholera, by
DR. SOCRATE CADET, Professor of Physiology in the University
of Rome.)
Dr. Cadet is an enthusiast. He believes that cholera can be
prevented, checked, and stamped out, by the administration of black
sulphide of mercury. He opens his interesting little pamphlet by a
statistical account of the deaths from cholera in Rome during the
recent epidemics, and shows a most alarming mortality, reaching nearly
sixty per cent. He then takes the reports from the institutions in
which the sulphide was used, and shows a mortality of less than
twenty-five per cent., and sometimes even of nil. The medicine
used is insoluble, and it is difficult to see how it can have much
therapeutic effect (indeed, before forming an opinion on it, it would
be desirable to know the ordinary treatment pursued in Rome), yet
statements such as these deserve careful investigation.
Dr. Cadet gives the remedy in powders, and advises that every
one should daily take three grains of it during an epidemic.
Should there be a reasonable suspicion that infection has taken
place, twenty grains are administered, and repeated in case the drug
is vomited. Ten grains are then given every hour till the choleraic
symptoms cease. The curative action is supposed to be that of a
parasiticide.

Obituarn.
DR. JOHN BAYLDON.
A feeling of deep regret has been occasioned in the profession by
the death of Dr. Bayldon, at Ararat Lunatic Asylum, where he was
temporarily in charge of that institution during the absence of the
superintendent, Dr. Robertson. Dr. Bayldon was so universally
liked by all who knew him, and so thoroughly respected by those
who had the opportunity of becoming aware of his high professional
attainments, that his death is felt to be a loss which cannot too
deeply be deplored. He was such a cheerful, genial companion,
and his general information was so great, that, even apart from his
1872.] Dr. John Bayldon.

professional culture, he was a man far in advance of those who are

regarded as exceptionally accomplished.
He had suffered several years from Bright's disease, and to this
misfortune Victoria is indebted for his coming here at all. For his
scientific attainments were unusually great, nor less so his aptitude
for applying in practice the most advanced discoveries in physiology
and pathology, so that if he had enjoyed sound health, he would,
there is no question, soon have raised himself to a high position in
the old country, but his infirmity necessarily prohibited him from
taking any share in the labour of active practice, and it also
operated to limit the attention he would otherwise have given to
those close studies, which intimate physiology and pathology require.
But, as he had been steadily industrious as a student, and was an
enthusiastic lover of the whole science of medicine, he had acquired
quite a remarkable facility in judging, both of the symptoms of
disease, and of the character of diseased structures. His great
usefulness in this direction will perhaps never be sufficiently known,
because the circumstances under which his special knowledge was
brought into use, were not always placed on record, but it was
certain that if his life had been prolonged, although he might never
have engaged in ordinary practice, he would have been of incalculable
use as a consultant in those many exceptional cases, which, from
time to time, demand the special knowledge of the cultivated
pathologist and. histologist.
Dr. Bayldon was born at Headingley, a suburb of Leeds in
Yorkshire. He commenced his professional studies at the Leeds
School of Medicine, and completed his lectures and hospital practice
at Edinburgh, where, in 1860, he obtained the combined qualifica-
tion of L.R.C.P. et S., being meanwhile occupied as demonstrator
of anatomy and lecturer on botany. In 1862 he passed the final
examination for the M.B. degree of the London University, but
previously, in 1860, when he passed the first examination for this
degree, he had graduated in honours, and gained the exhibition in
anatomy and physiology, and the gold medal in the same subjects.
In the same year also he took the degree of Bachelor of Science, and
was the first who obtained that distinction. His health, however,
had already begun to show the effects of his too diligent application,
and during the three following winters, he took sea-voyages to
counteract the results of this over-taxing of his powers, but, even
then, he employed his leisure in preparing, as a sick student, for the
examination for B.A. of Oxford and Cambridge, which he passed
successfully, but had to leave England before the degree could be
formally conferred.
He came to this colony in the early part of 1866, and for a short
period acted as resident physician to the Melbourne Hospital. He
then became the resident medical officer of the Melbourne Bene-
volent Asylum, an appointment he held for fifteen months. He
was then appointed by the Government, one of the resident medical
officers of the Yarra Bend Lunatic Asylum, where he remained to
within three months of his death. His removal to Ararat waa
 120 Obituary. [April,
effected in direct opposition tck his own wishes. He was peculiarly
sensitive to thermal changes, and the sheltered position of the Yarra
Bend, was extremely favourable to the preservation of that uniform
temperature, he knew, by long experience, to be necessary in
preventing any exacerbation of the disease from which he suffered.
The bleak, unsheltered position of the Ararat Asylum left him
quite unprotected, during the continuanceof those equinoctial gales
which prevailed in the latter part of last month. He commenced to
suffer from the dulness, langour and cephalalgia, consequent upon
urmic poisoning. To these symptoms followed several convulsive
seizures, after which passive hyperaemia of the lungs supervened,
and he sank gradually, and died on Saturday the 6th of this month,
at the age of 35. He was interred on the Tuesday following in the
Ararat cemetery, and though he had been but a short time in the
neighbourhood, his funeral brought together a large concourse of
persons, including everyone of note for some distance round.
To say that the loss of such a man as Dr. Bayldon is a loss from
which not only the whole profession of this colony, but the
cultivators of science generally suffer, is but to repeat what every
one who knew him, most deeply feels. It is impossible not to think
of all that so well cultivated a mind was capable, and of the
immense service he would undoubtedly have rendered to medical
science if his health had but permitted. One could not but learn
something from him even in the most casual conversation. His
reading was so extensive and he had used his opportunities of
observation so well, that he was always prepared to give an opinion,
and to give satisfying reasons for it, upon whatever subject hap-
pened to be in discussion. And he did this invariably in that
gentle, courteous, modest manner, which characterises real merit.
Out of the range of scientific subjects, moreover, his information
and his cultivated taste were manifest. He had an exquisite sense
of the beautiful, and his knowledge of art, and his familiarity with
schools of art, were most extensive. He was an admirable humorist
too, and greatly enjoyed the zest of a grotesque situation. At the
dinners of the Medical Society his comic songs were looked for as
among the special enjoyments of the occasion. In short, he was a
man whom it will always be pleasant to remember, in whatever
aspect he may be viewed ; and his early death will be regretted so
long as true worth and kindly amiable qualities, continue to have
any influence upon the memory of those who were privileged to
know him

GEORGE EDWARD DAY, M.D., F.R.S.

(Abbreviated from the Lancet of Feb. 17.)
This accomplished physician and nian of letters, was born at
Tenby in 1815, and at an early age showed an uncommon aptitude
for scientific pursuits. Having entered Pembroke College, Cam-
bridge, he distinguished himself by his proficiency in mathematics,
and took a Wrangler's degree in 1837. Thereafter he repaired to
1872.] Dr. George Edward Day. 121

Edinburgh, where he enrolled as a student of medicine. His

intelligence, industry, and superior training, soon brought him to the
front rank of his compeers, among whom were the brothers Goodsir,
Edward Forbes, George Wilson, and others afterwards known to
fame. To relieve the severity of study, these young men had
formed a literary and scientific club for the discussion, inter pocula,
of congenial subjects—a club which is best described by its name
" Oineromathic." There, as in the soberer atmosphere of the class-
room, Dr. Day was noted for his intellectual acuteness, his exact
knowledge, and his genial bearing. He twice carried off the gold
medal for the best treatise on Anatomy and Physiology, and
graduated with honours in 1842. From Edinburgh he removed to
London, where he held the post of physician to the Western
General Dispensary, in the New-road, and was subsequently
appointed to the chair of Materia Medica, in the Middlesex
Hospital. In 1844 he became a Member, and in 1848 a Fellow, of
the Royal College of Physicians. In the following year he suc-
ceeded to Dr. John Reid in the chair of Chandos Professor of
Medicine at St. Andrews, a post which he held till 1863. He was
elected in 1850 a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, having
previously taken an active part in the foundation of the Cavendish,
Pathological, and Sydenham societies.
He was an able and versatile contributor to periodicals, pro-
fessional and non-professional, many of his articles in the British
and Foreign Medico-Chirurgical Review, as well as in the Lancet,
being highly appreciated, on publication, for their acuteness, know-
ledge and style. As an investigator he was less remarkable for
originality than for justness of thinking and inductive caution.
The works in which he appears to most advantage are his " Diseases
of Advanced Life," and his "Chemistry in its Relations to Physiology
and Medicine ; " while his contributions to the Penny Cyclopcedia
and to Chambers' Encyclopcedia on medical subjects, are among the
most valuable features in those well-known publications. A good
specimen of his more caustic manner is his article in the Medico-
Chirurgical Review on Mr. G. H. Lewes' " Physiology in Common
Life," of which he exposes the blunders and the intrepid sciolisms
with the most provoking good humour. He was also voluminous as
a translator from the French and German, Valentin's " Physiology "
in the former language, and in the latter Simon's " Animal
Chemistry," Lehmann's " Physiological Chemistry," and Vogel's
" Pathological Anatomy," being among his best-known efforts to
familiarise the English public with continental science. He had
for some time contributed those interesting résumés of scientific
news to the Australasian, entitled " Scientific notes from home."
As a lecturer, he possessed high merits ; clear, fluent, fascinating,
he spoke convincingly to the slowest intelligence, and attractively to
the least inquiring. He did much to enhance the stringency of the
examination .for the St. Andrew's medical degree ; a qualification
which he found despised, but left respectable and respected.
A few years before his resignation in 1863, he met with an
 122 A Letter from Home.
accident while on a walking tour on Helwellyn. The covering of
the chimney of a lead-ore furnace collapsed under him, and resulted
in the fracture of his arm and his narrow escape from suffocation,
with the sulphurous acid fumes. He was never the same man after-
wards. Nine years ago he retired to Torquay, where he bore up
against gradually progressive weakness with admirable composure .

To the last he maintained his interest in his favourite studies, and

never failed to charm those around him by his intellectual
buoyancy. Dr. Day died on the 31st of January, leaving an
honoured name in medical literature, and a memory cherished by a
host of pupils dispersed over all the English-speaking world. He
was the brother of Dr. John Day of Geelong, who, as is well
known, resembles him both in the enthusiasm with which he applies
himself to scientific investigation, and in that sauvity of manner
which is all the more charming when united with eminent mental
endowments.

A LETTER FROM HOME.

LONDON, January.
The subject which, medically speaking, will interest you most just
now will doubtless be the illness of the Prince of Wales and his
recovery. The political as well as the medical aspects of this case
are of much interest, for the state of the public mind was such as to
convey in the clearest possible fashion the anxiety of all, high and
low, for the Prince's welfare 3 but with regard to that I shall not
here speak.
The origin of the Prince's illness seems somewhat uncertain if we
are to rely upon what has been written in controversy, but there seems
no reasonable doubt that he caught the disease at Landsborough
Lodge, Scarboro', when on a visit to the Earl of Landsborough.
There too the Earl of Chesterfield caught fever and speedily died
from perforation of the intestine. Others of the party were ill, but
none so seriously as these, and since the alarming illness of the
Prince, Landsborough Lodge has been nearly pulled to pieces by
enthusiastic sanitarians, amateur and otherwise. The result has
been to show, as far as we can make out, for the house seems to
have undergone alterations immediately on the Prince being taken
ill, that the building was imperfect in its sanitary arrangements,
imperfections which often are shared by many other noblemen's seats,
and are likely to do so as long as the filthy water-closet system
prevails in localities altogether unsuitable for it. The plan amounts
to this, in many instances, that we ventilate our bedrooms from the
sewers, carefully bring the openings of the soil-pipes up to some con-
venient spot whence, when the barometer is low, and the temperature
inside high compared with that outside, as commonly happens to us in
the winter, a continuous stream of foul air is rushed up and distributed
through our dwellings. I am not going now to discuss the question
whether typhoid fever can be produced by foul-air alone, or if it is
1872.] A Letter from Home. 123

a specific disease always produced from a pre-existing farm of the

same malady propagated by water. This, however, I do believe, that
many cases of septicaemia produced by foul-air, are habitually mis-
taken or confounded with the specific disease typhoid.
But to return to the Prince of Wales. From the time the nature
of his illness was known, and it was whispered about some time
before the bulletins announced it, there arose in the mind of the
public an idea, partly superstitious, yet shared by many in our
profession, that he would die as his father did before him There
was an impression abroad that he had not taken sufficiently great
care of himself, and that his reserve of strength was insufficient to
carry him through such a disorder. But subsequent experience
showed this opinion to be the reverse of the truth. In the early
days of the Prince's illness, Sir William Jenner being away with the
Queen, Dr. Gull was sent for to Sandringham, which he did not
leave again for many a-day. No long time elapsed till Sir William
Jenner was also present, and these two with the aid of the local
practitioner, Dr. Lowe, of King's-Lynn, henceforth took sole charge of
the illustrious patient. It may be within your knowledge that
Dr. Sievking is physician in ordinary to the Prince of Wales, and
comments have been made on the fact that he was not called in. I
am not going to speculate on the reason of this ; suffice it to say, that
medical opinion has justified the step of calling in Dr. Gull, for in
him the profession has much confidence, and to this particular
disease, during the period of his hospital career, Dr. Gull paid much
attention. And the end justifies the course adopted, for the Prince
was pulled through an illness of unusual length and great severity,
mainly, we are proud to say, by the unceasing attention and un-
flagging watching from medical brethren.
So grave was the illness that one night we, in London, went to
sleep expecting to be woke in the night by the tolling of Le steeple
bells, but in the morning the telegram told us there was life and
with it some hope. The anxiety you can hardly conceive, certainly
it was such as beforehand could not and would not have been believed.
During all this time bulletins were issued regularly, and it was most
curious to note the eagerness with which they were scanned, and
every cautious word weighed. A fellow-feeling brought men
together, and the humblest would ask the proudest his opinion as to
the Prince's state and be sure to receive a sympathising answer. And
some observations have been made with regard to these bulletins. It
has been complained that they were too vague, and that it would
have been better to have used simpler and more intelligible language.
One thing I noted as tending to show how deeply rooted a com-
paratively recent innovation in practice has become. Over and over
again I heard it remarked by skilled physicians—" Ah, if I only
knew the temperature I should be able to form some opinion for
myself," and that I think might safely and well have been made
public. The temperature was very high, how high I cannot tell you,
except that it reached and exceeded 106 ° F., which ordinarily
speaking is of grave enough omen.
 A Letter from Home. [April,
When the time of complications came too, great was the anxiety
among professional men to know what form it had taken, and much
relief was experienced when it was known that it was the lungs
which were affected. But even then the case looked grave enough,
especially as it was not known whether there had been any bleeding
from the bowels. Of all things perforation was most dreaded, but
the idea of this last soon passed away, for as a rule it is speedily
and surely fatal. So too as the lung mischief was abated, it was sur-
mised to be pneumonia, but a bulletin was issued saying not so, only
the bronchial tubes were affected, which was a relief to us all, but
that was bad enough. And so the Prince's life was held in the
balance for a good many days, and prayer was offered up in all the
churches, but by-and-bye, little by little, he began to mend. He
slept, and sleeping rested ; the fever left him, and though utterly pro-
strated by the long sickness, the way to life and health lay before
him. Since that time his recovery has been marvellously rapid, and
he is now able to drive about and take the air.
During all the anxious time, if people afar off were troubled in
their mind, you can judge how trying it was for those who were
at hand, and day by day, and hour by hour watched unceasingly at
the Prince's bedside, and of the two men thus brought in contact
over the bed of sickness I may say a word. Dr. Lowe I do not
know much about, but Sir William Jenner and Dr. Gull have long
been eminent men in the medical world, and have stood in bold relief
as prominent examples of our profession. Nor can, I think, more be
said of them, or for them, than that they are both self-made men of
comparatively speaking humble origin, who have both made their way
in the world by indomitable perseverance. For however much they
may have been favoured by what men call luck, undoubtedly they are
worthy of the position they occupy, and to that no man can say
nay. Both of thek men were at one time obscure but indefatigable
workers ; the one in the wards and dead-house at Guy's, the other
in the wards and post-mortem theatre at University College Hospital.
Of the two, Gull had the wider field for study, but in the special
subject of fever Jenner had opportunities afforded him, at first by
courtesy, afterwards by his position of physician to the Free Hospital,
which he turned to good advantage. On the subject of continued
fever he delivered certain lectures, which were and are very valuable.
They are published in the columns of the Medical Times and
Gazette ; those relating to typhoid fever you will find, I think, in
the volume 1851 or the preceding year ; but about the same time
he published other papers on the subject in the Edinburgh Medical
Journal, and in the transactions of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical
Society. It was these papers that brought him into notice, so that
when Prince Albert was ill of his last illness he was sent for,
though too late, and thus he was introduced at Court, and for this
he was made sometime thereafter a Baronet. Dr. Gull has now for
sometime been the fashionable west end physician, and has been
doing an enormous practice. In point of fact it has been said that
he was consulted by every one except the Royal Family, but when
 Local Topics. 125
1872.1
the time came he was sent for, and will now doubtless be regularly
constituted physician to His Royal Highness, if not to Her
Majesty.
Since the recovery of the Prince the question has been much dis-
cussed what shall be done to honour these men 7 About Dr. Gull
there could be no doubt, that he was not yet a baronet, so he might
become Sir William Gull, Bart. ; but this honour had already been
accorded to Sir William Jenner, and he constituted a difficulty. His
fortune would hardly bear an hereditary peerage, and it has been
generally agreed in this country that a man may not take guineas if
he is called by the title of Lord, and is a Baron of the United King-
dom. Various proposals have been made, but now as I write to you
it has been announced that Sir W. Jenner has been made K.C.B.,
and plain Dr. Gull becomes Sir William. Both honours are richly
deserved, and the general impression is that they have been inade-
quately rather than over abundantly rewarded. Next time I shall
write in some other strain.
CYNICUS.

C4t ttnibusit .of Ratthottrut.

ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT.
APRIL 6, 1872.
The following degrees, &c., in Medicine, were conferred on this
occasion.
M.D.—William Carey Rees.
M.D. AD EUNDEM.—W. H. Hinchliff, Edinburgh ; E. Hinchliff,
Edinburgh ; G Addison, St. Andrews.
EXHIBITIONERS.
First Year.—H. B. Allen.
Second Year.—W. Gardner.
Third Year.—J. Johnson.
Fourth Year.—J. G. Black.

LOCAL TOPICS.
At the meeting of the Medical Board, on April 5th, the following name
was added to the Register:— Edward Myers, \l elbourne, M.D., Lima 1867.
The following additional qualification was registered :—A. E. Byrn, Maldon,
L.M.F.P.S.G. 1864.
Dr. Warnock, one of the unsuccessful candidates in the recent Melbourne
Hospital election, has renewed his protest against the illegality of the
proceedings ; his reasons being that many subscribers were not given the
number of votes they were entitled to, according to the amount of their
subscriptions, and that corporate bodies were deprived of their voting power.
The Committee however have decided that the protest came too late, but
that if it had been sent in due course, there were no grounds for making it,
all the conditions necessary to render the election valid having been
complied with,
 126 Local Topics. [April,
Dr. Edmund Vialls, M.R.C.S., L.S.A., and L.R.C.P. Ed., was elected
Resident-Physician to the Melbourne Hospital at the meeting of the Com-
mittee on the 2nd inst., in place of Dr. Addison resigned. Dr. Addison has
accepted the appointment of Resident Surgeon to the Lying-in-Hospital
in place of Mr. A vent resigned.
The following appointments were lately gazetted :—Thomas Naghten
Fitzgerald, L.R.C.S.I., to be assistant-surgeon to the Metropolitan Troop
V.V. Light Horse ; John Stuart, L.R.C.S. Ed., to be assistant-surgeon in the
Bendigo Vol. Rifle Corps. Public Vaccinators : Mr. H. Meyler, L.A.H.D.,
for the district of Mount Moriac ; Mr. J. F. Bond, L.A.H.D„ for the district
of Ceres ; Mr. F. L. Collier for the district of Greytown. James Vernon
McCreery, L.R.C.S.I, has been appointed acting-superintendent of the
Ararat Lunatic Asylum in place of Dr, Bayldon.
The man Wall, of Sandhurst, who has previously been fined for illegal
practice, and against whom a verdict of manslaughter was recently returned,
was, on the 16th, at the City Police Court there, charged with falsely
representing himself to be a medical man, but was discharged by the bench,
as the chief witness against him stated that Wall had never " represented
himself " to him as a doctor, though he had taken his money and prescribed
for him ! The law-officers have declined to proceed against Wall on the
criminal charge.
The Geelong Hospital has been incorporated under the Hospitals and
and Charitable Institutions Act, and on the 10th inst. a meeting of the
contributors was held for the purpose of electing the committee, honorary
medical officers, and the making of bye-laws for the regulation of the
institution. Mr. Walsh was elected one of the honorary medical officers,
the election of the other being postponed until the next meeting. On the
17th, at an adjourned meeting, Dr. Day was elected.
Lectures in elementary anatomy in connexion with the gymnastic
exercises of the training classes under the Board of Education, commenced
to be given on the 9th inst.
At the meeting of the Melbourne Hospital Committee on the 9th inst.,
it was resolved that a sub-committe be appointed to confer with other
institutions, as to the propriety of procuring some legal enactment for the
prosecution of persons detected in impositions on the several charities of
the colony.
Some months ago Dr. Lloyd, J.P., of Hotham, was fined 2s. 6d. by Mr Stu rt,
P.M., and other justices, for having two unregistered dogs in his possession.
Dr. Lloyd at the Banco Court, last term, tried to upset the conviction. On
the 23rd ult., he again brought the matter before the Court, his counsel
applying for a rule absolute to quash the justices' order, on the ground,
above all others, that the appellant should have been fined 6s. instead of
2s.6d., the former sum being the minimum penalty under the circumstances.
The Court refused the rule with costs,
A son of Mr. Martyr, M.R.C.S. and L.S. A„, of Sebastopol, was dangerously
wounded in the hand at the late review, by the explosion of a cartridge
fired from a rifle, in which three or four cartridges had been rammed.
It has been determined by the Committee of the Melbourne Hospital
not to fill up the office vacated by Dr. Lawrence, but (hat the resident
physician and surgeon respectively be responsible for the admission of
patients on reception days, and that an assistant be engaged to attend to
the casualty-room,
The Argus of April 1, has the following :—Dr. Patrick Smith, of whose
appointment as resident medical officer of the Ararat Lunatic Asylum we
lately made mention, was presented a few days ago, on leaving the
Benevolent Asylum in this city, with an address signed by 500 of the
inmates. The address expressed, in emphatic terms, the gratitude of the
subscribers for the kindness and attention that had been shown them by
him, and the regret felt at his having relinquished his connexion with the
institution,
1872.] Local Topics. 127

The Nelson Examiner lately narrated the death of a child from the
bite of a spider :—" As a lady was visiting the hop gardens one day
last week, carrying her infant, about five weeks old, covered with a shawl,
the child suddenly shrieked, and on moving the shawl, a large speckled
spider was found upon the child's hand. A few hours afterwards the symptoms
of bite from a poisonous animal showed themselves, and notwithstanding
all the care, medical and otherwise, bestowed upon it, the poor infant died
about three days afterwards, the symptoms of blood poisoning being very
apparent."
A patient about to he operated upon by Mr. Girdlestone, died from the
effects of Chloroform at the Alfred Hospital on the 19th inst.
"A local doctor," so one of the daily journals of the 23rd inst. says,
" has been burnt in effigy at .Cooma for refusing to attend a lady when
called upon. The case was one of childbirth, requiring medical aid."
An inquest was recently held at Bairnsdale on the body of a child who
bad died from the administration of sulphuric acid, administered in
mistake for sulphurous acid, which had been recommended to the mother
to give for the relief of croup.
A ward for lunatics is to be erected in connexion with the Geelong
Hospital.
The Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society was held on the
26th nit, the president Mr. Johnson in the chair. The hon. secretary
Mr. Bosisto, read the report, which stated that there were thirty-one mem-
bers and four associates. The council during the past year had chiefly
acted in relation to the Pharmacy Bill. A copy of the first draft of the bill
was sent to the whole of the chemists and druggists in Victoria. The
replies received acquiesced in the principles of the bill, and the suggestions
made had been acted upon. The council received a letter from Sir James
M'Culloch, when Chief Secretary, intimating the desirability of a conference
with the Medical Society on the Pharmacy Bill. The result was that a
Pharmacy Bill satisfactory to the council and the Medical Society was pre-
pared. The council anticipated its introduction into Parliament during the
coming session. The translation of Professor Wittstein's new work on
Vegetable Chemicals was retarded in publication for a short time from
unforeseen circumstances, but it would be shortly be in the hands of the
printer. The work would be found of good service towards advancing
pharmaceutical chemistry throughout Australia. The Conversazione given by
the president in the month of August last, was in every way a success. The
balance-sheet showed an amount to the credit of the society of £78 4s. 5d.
The report was adopted, and the proceedings terminated.
A case of some interest to the medical profession was heard in the Banco
Court on the 23rd ult. It was an appeal by William Norris against a decision
of the magistrates at Sale fining him £10, under the Medical Practitioners
Statute, for irregular practice. It was admitted at the hearing of the case
that the defendant was not registered under Part 1 of the Medical
Practitioners Statute, 1865, or under one of the Acts thereby repealed, and
it was proved by the complainant constable that the defendant had
attended in a medical capacity a child named Michael Williams, who died
during such attendance, and that the defendant had delivered a
certificate of the death to the deputy registrar of births and deaths
for the district, signet' " William Norris, medical practitioner." On
behalf of the defendant it was proved, by his own evidence, that he had
passed through a regular course of medical and surgical instruction,
and had practised as a medical man regularly in this colony since
1st January 1853, and that he bad forwarded to the Medical Board
of Victoria some time in the year 1868, documents and evidence in
support of these facts, and that they were returned to him with no other
intimation than that his application was too late, and that he should have
forwarded such documents and evidence while the Medical Practitioners Act
of 1862 was in force, The defendant contended that he could prove such
128 Notices to Correspondents. [April,
facts to the satisfaction of the board, and had acquired a right of privilege
to continue practising as heretofore, and was exempt from penal proceedings
by virtue of section 14 of the Medical PIsctitioners Act of 1862, and that
such right or privilege was not affected b the Act of 1865. On the part of
the defendant, it was argued that s ction 2 of the Act 1865 pro-
vided that nothing therein contained should affect atly right or privilege
acquired under previous Acts, and that the section under which the
defendant was convicted being a penal section, must be construed with
strict reference to his position at the time the Act was passed, and section 14
of the Act of 1862 provided that "nothing herein contained shall be
construed to apply to or interfere with any person who can prove to the
satisfaction of the Medical Board of Victoria, that he has passed through a
regular course of medical or surgical instruction, and has practised regularly
in Victoria since the first day of January, 1853, notwithstanding such
person may never have received a diploma, licence, or certificate entitling
him to practice." As the defendant could prove to the board that he had
passed through a regular course of medical and surgical instruction, and as
he had practised regularly in the colony since the 1st of January, 1853,
Mr. Fellows maintained that the defendant had been wrongfully convicted.
On the other side Mr. Adamson submitted that as the defendant had not
proved the facts before the board, he was not entitled to practise, and
therefore the conviction was valid. Their Honours reserved judgment.
A ship with Scandinavian immigrants arrived at Wellington (N.Z.) on
the 10th ult., having on board some cases of small-pox. Considerable alarm
had been occasioned, as it would appear that the Vaccination Act has never
been enforced, and that the native population has never yet submitted to it.
The medical officer of the ship had been placed under arrest for having
reported the disease as measles.

DEATH.
BAYLDON. —on the 6th April, at the Ararat Lunatic Asylum, John Bayldon, 31.B., and
B. Sc., Lond., L.R.C.P., and L.R.C.S. Ed., aged 35.
BarNroN.—On the 21st April, at his residence, Hawthorn, Thomas Baynton, Surgeon,
in the 80th year of his age.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.
In the Journal for March, at page 94, an error occurs in the letter which
Mr. Ford addressed to the City Council. Instead of "the inhabitants that
allowed such a state of things," it should be the " authorities that
allowed, &c."
Communications have been received from the following gentlemen :
Dr. Jamieson, Dr. Wigg, Dr. Day, Dr. Webb, Mr. Ford.
The following publications have been received: " The Lancet," for
Jan. 20, 27, Feb. 3, I 0 ; " The British Medical Journal," for Feb. 10 ; "1The
Medical Press and Circular," for Jan. 24, Feb. 14 ; " The Chemist and
Druggist," for Jan. 15, " Triibner's American and Oriental Literary
Record," for Jan. 15 ; " The European Mail," for Feb. 23 ; " Ulteriori Studi
intorno alla cura del morbo Indostanico per Socrate Cadet ; " " The
Daylesford Mercury," for Mar. 30, April 6 : " The Medical Record," (New
York) for Jan. 2, 15, Feb. 1 ; "Report of the Committee of Trustees of
the Industrial and Technological Museum," for 1871 ; " The American
Chemist," for January and February.
Library Digitised Collections

Title:
Australian Medical Journal 1872

Date:
1872

Persistent Link:
http://hdl.handle.net/11343/23136

File Description:
Australian Medical Journal, April 1872

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