will be a class for clinical medicine, a second for internal pathology, and a third for therapeutics and materia medica. The professors' chairs will be filled by persons who shall have undergone certain probatory examinations, in the presence of the members of the administration of hospitals, assisted by a jury of medical practitioners. Tablettes His toriques, August. - Phthisis Laryngaa.-Dr. SIEMERLING, of Berlin, who cured his own wife and several others of the above complaint, has given publi. city, in the Prussian Gazettes, to his mode of treatment, which consists in desiring the patients to eat, every morning fasting, the roe of a large salt Dutch herring!!-Tablettes Historiques, August. Medical Promotion.-We have been informed that Dr. MAGENDIE has been appointed, by the Faculty of Medicine of Paris, to fill the chair vacant by the death of CORVISART. The unsuccessful candidate on the occasion was Professor CHAUSSIER.-Paris Letter, Nov. 20. Public Expression of Gratitude to a Physician.-THE medical students at the university of Paris have entered into a resolution of erecting a public monument to the memory of Dr. MAZET, who perished in Spain from the effects of the contagious fever, the nature of which he had gone to investigate in company with Drs. BALLY, FRANÇOIS, and PARISET. Dr. BALLY, whose death was also reported, is, we are happy to say, fast recovering from the same disorder.-Paris Letter, 21st November. Death of Dr. Rigby.-LATELY died, at his house in Giles's, EDWARD RIGBY, Esq. M.D. whose talents, character, and honours, claim from us a record, which, in common with so large a circle of friends, connexions, and admirers, as it falls to the lot of very few men to possess, we lament was not postponed to a more distant date; for it may be said, in the language of Burke, that " he was a public creature, he had in himself a salient, living spring of generous and manly action ;" and the longer (as it seems to human apprehension,) life had been indulged to him, the greater would have been the benefits that life would have enabled him to diffuse amongst his fellow creatures,-for usefulness was the motive, path, and end of his existence. Galvanic experiments on a Criminal. THE body of GEORGE THOM, who was executed here last week, having, agreeably to his sentence, been given for dissection to Drs. SKENE and EWING, was subjected to a series of Galvanic experiments, of which, with their results, we subjoin the following brief account:-The body was brought into the dissecting room about an hour after suspension, and still retained nearly its natural heat. The upper part of the spinal cord and the sciatic nerve were immediately laid bare, and a Galvanic arc was then established, by applying the positive wire to the spine, and the negative to the sciatic nerve, when a general convulsive starting of the body was produced. Another communication was then made between the spine and the ulnar nerve, and considerable contractions took place in the arm and fore-arm. When the circle was formed with the spine and radical nerve, both at the elbow and wrist successively, powerful contractions of the muscles of the whole arm and hand were produced. The hand was closed with such violence as to resist the exertions of one of the assistants to keep it open. When a connection was esta blished between the radical nerve and the supra and infra orbital nerves, strong contractions of the muscles of the brow, face, and mouth were produced, so as to affect the under jaw, and to distort the countenance in a very singular manner. The eye lids were strongly con, tracted; and when the wire was applied directly to the ball of the eye, the iris contracted and dilated very sensibly. A galvanic circle being formed, first between the par vagum and diaphragm, and then between the muscle and the great sympathetic, little obvious effect was produced. After applying galvanism directly to the nerves above mentioned, the skin of the face was moistened with water, and upon run, ning the wire over the different parts of it, similar effects were produced in the muscles of the face, as by direct communication made with the nerves. The tongue also moved in all directions, by touching the surface with the galvanic wire. The whole experiments were performed in about an hour and a quarter, when the heat of the body was considerably diminished. A powerful galvanic apparatus (consisting of about 300 pair of plates) was used; but, from not being insulated, a considerable quantity of the galvanism escaped, so that every metallic substance about the table was highly charged. It is not im probable that a more particular and scientific account of these experiments may yet be given to the public; but, in the mean time, the accuracy of the above general statement may be relied on.—Aberdeen Journal SUCH was the dread of the fever which has been raging at Barcelona, that almost all the principal members of the faculty, contagionists and noncontagionists, when their aid was most wanted, left the town in the most indecent haste. In consequence of such unprecedented conduct on the part of the medical practitioners, the first constitutional alcalde, with the advice and concurrence of the Junta de Sanidad, has enjoined the fugitives to return to their duty, on pain of having their property confiscated, and their diploma cancelled, in the event of noncompliance to this order. Many of the noncontagionists, who, never having seen the yellow fever, except in print, can sit coolly down and indite letters and essays on its perfectly harmless nature, would perbaps have imitated the Barcelona doctors, had they been placed in a similar perilous situation.-Decadas Medico-Quirurgicas, Tom. iv. No. 111.) Medical Bibliography.-Among the very numerous works we have received from abroad for review, we may notice the following; many of which will be analyzed in due course: From France. 1. Recherches sur l'Inflammation de l'Arachnoïde Cerebralc et Spinale. Par Mess. Parent Duchatelet et L. Martinet. Paris, 1821. 1 vol. 8vo. pp. xxiv. 608. 2. Recueil de Memoires de Chirurgie. Par le Baron Larrey? Paris, 1821. pp. xvi. 320, plates. 3. Pratique des Accouchemens; ou Memoires et Observations choisies sur les faits les plus Importants de l'Art. Par Madame Lachapelle. Paris, 1821. 1 vol. 8vo. pp. x. 524; Tables. 4. Traitè des Maladies de l'Oreille et de l'Audition. Itard. Paris, 1821. 2 vol. 8vo. pp. 396, 522; plates. Par J. M.G. 5. Essai sur les Irritations intermittentes, &c. Par C. J. Mougellaz, D.M. Paris, 1821. 2 vol. pp. x. 464, 394. 6. Dictionnaire de Medecine. Par Mess. Adelon, Beclar, Biet, Breschet, Cloquet, &c. &c. 1st vol. 8vo. pp. 563. Lett. A, ALI, 2d vol. pp. 568 to ABG. Paris, 1821. 7. Nouveau Dictionnaire de Medecine, Chirurgie, Pharmacie, Physique, Chimie, Histoire Naturelle, en 2 volumes. Vol. 1. 8vo. pp. 829. Paris, 1821. 8. Rapports et Consultations de Medecine Legale recueillies et publièes. Par J. Ristelhueber. Paris, 1821. 8vo. pp. 182. From Italy. 9. Prospetto Clinico dell' Anno Scolastico, 1819-1820. Del Cavalier Luigi Brera. 8vo. Padova, 1821. pp. 122; Tables. 10. Sopra un Nuovo Antidoto pel Sublimato Corrosivo. Del Dr. G. Taddei. 8vo. Florence, 1820. 3 11. Fondamenti di Patalogia Analitica. Di Maurizio Buffalini. 2 vol. 8vo. Pavia, 1820. 12. Discorsi due sulla Medicina. Del Signor A. Chiappa. Sro, 1821. From Germany. 13. De Aure et Auditu Hominis et Animalium. Part I. De aure animalium Aquatilium Auctore. E. H. Webero. Cumtabulis æneis 4to. Lipsice, 1820. 14. Deutsches Archiv fur die Physiologie. Sechster Band, Drittes Heft. By J. F. Meckel. Berlin, 1821. Svo. 14. Allgemeine Medizinische Annalen, &c. for July, 1821. 4to. Leipzig. 16. Beobactungen im Gebiete der Ausubenden Heilkunde. Von Johann Heinrich Kopp. Frankfort, 1821. From America. 17. The Pharmacopoeia of the United States of America. 1820. 8vo. pp. 272. Boston; (at the Custom-house.) 18. Account of the Yellow or malignant Fever, as it occurred in the city of Philadelphia in 1820. By J. Jackson, M.D. 19. The Philadelphia Medical Journal for May 1821. From India. 20. An Essay on the Epidemic Cholera of India. By Reginald Orton, assistant-surgeon to the 34th regiment of foot. Vol. 1. pp. 421. Madras, 1820. 2 vols. 21. Remarks upon the Morbus Oryzeus (Cholera Morbus of India). By Robert Tytler, M.D. M.A.S. 2 Parts. pp. 147, 152. Calcutta, 1820. MONTHLY CATALOGUE OF MEDICAL BOOKS. A Treatise on the Diseases of the Chest. Translated from the French of R. T. H. Laennec, M.D. with a Preface and Notes, by John Forbes, M.D. 8vo. 148. 1 vol. Reflections on Gall and Spurzheim's System of Physiognomy and Phrenology. By John Abernethy, F.R.S. 8vo. 3s. A System of Pathological and Operative Surgery, founded on Anatomy. By Robert Allan, F.R.S. &c. Vol. II. 12s. 6d. The Accoucheur's Vade-Mecum. By J. Hopkins, M.D. 2 vols. 12mo. 10s. 6d. Popular Compendium of Anatomy. By Wm. Burke. With Plates. 6s. Sheet folio, 5s. 6d. METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL. By Messrs. WILLIAM HARRIS and Co. 50, Holborn, London. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. Dr. G. GREGORY has addressed a letter to us, in which he states that, in the opi nion of his friends, a particular passage which appeared in our recent review of his three papers in the Medico-Chirurgical Transactions, "reflects equally upon the character of the Society and of himself personally." Dr. GREGORY ought to know us better. In our Reviews we never meddle with the personal character of authors. Their characters as writers they themselves commit to the keeping of their readers; and is it singular that it should be occasionally investigated? Does not the Doctor himself write reviews? aye, and very clever ones too; and is he always gentle with his author? "Thou criest mercy, when thou shewest none." As for the character of the Society, we challenge Dr. G. GREGORY to point out a single critical publication other than our own, in which their character as a body has been better upheld, or more justly appreciated. Dr. DE RENZY, of Dublin, will perceive that we have complied with his request. The communication from Hampton-Court Barrucks is not of a nature to be admitted in our Journal. We will take an early opportunity of attending to the suggestion of Dr. GEORGE EDWARD MALE. Mr. TWEEDALE, and Mr. ORTON of Madras, have our best thanks for their respective communications. We have lately been pestered with solicitations to take notice of, and expose to the world, the tricks by which certain individuals, with purchased diplomas, contrive to evade the restrictive laws of the College, and practise as regular physicians in the very teeth of the censors. We must, however, decline the honour of meddling with this tribe; and can only join our Correspondents in repeating the prayer which Othello pronounced on a different occasion: "Oh, heavens! that such empiricks thon'dst unfold, To lash the rascals naked through the world." Although voluminous, we have contrived to insert the documents transmitted to us by Dr. MAYO, on the subject of the Winchester Eye Infirmary. This we have done, because we deem it necessary, as journalists, to maintain the strictest impartiality. At the same time, it is for the contending parties to be discreet in their demands on the Editors of Journals, and to have some pity on the readers of those publications. We have been requested by Mr. W. WRIGHT, of Henrietta street, Covent Garden, to announce to our readers that the first Number of a quarterly publication, containing the Transactions of a new Medical Society, called the Society of Practical Medicine of London, will be published on the 1st of January, 1822. Though transmitted to us very late in the month, Dr. SCUDAMORE's reply.to Mr. BAMPFIELD has been inserted. This will show our anxiety to have the subject of controversy between these two gentlemen fairly investigated. The question itself is one of great importance, and by no means settled, whatever may be the individual opinion of the two writers. We are confident that the discussion will be carried on with perfect decorum, and with those dignified feelings of reciprocal respect which gentlemen, professing the same liberal art, should ever entertain for each other. A REFORMER has some secret object in view, in desiring us to insert his communication; which we beg leave to decline. The characteristic humour of the facetious writer, whose style he has attempted to imitate, is far above the reach of REFORMER'S genius. In his communication, vulgar scurrility stands as the sorry substitute of wit; and personal abuse usurps the place of satire. T. O. S. must have written his letter after dinner. On perusing it, we could not help reading his initials backwards. A Correspondent from the NORTH, who writes in a disguised hand, and in terms strongly and personally hostile to us, loudly condemns the recent change in the Editorship of this Journal. In answer, we have only to observe, that, by increasing exertions in conducting the Journal to the satisfaction of the public, we hope to be able to give the lie to his prognostic of our inevitable ruin. By the bye, what an egregious dunce our Correspondent must be, to get a frank for his letter from the gentleman at whose house he is known to be a frequent visitor! This trick smells more of the south than of the NORTH. In our January Number we shall have the honour of submitting to our Readers some few improvements in the arrangement of the contents of this Journal. |