The correspondence relating to the Lancet Sanitary Commission : (which appeared lately in The Times) / examined by James Caesar Durnford, John A. Power and Raymond S. Daniell ; with an appendix of documents.

  • Durnford, James Caesar.
Date:
1856
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The correspondence relating to the Lancet Sanitary Commission : (which appeared lately in The Times) / examined by James Caesar Durnford, John A. Power and Raymond S. Daniell ; with an appendix of documents. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    STATEMENTS Made by Dr. Letheby, with the Replies. STATEMENTS. 1. Dr. Letheby states, that he made “ every one” of the important ana- lyses. 2. Dr. Letheby states, “ in the month of June, that is, directly after the Com- mission began its labours, I was re- quested by Dr. Hassall to give him assistance, &c.; in fact, on the 14-th of that month he forwarded specimens of cocoa ash for analysis.” 3. Dr. Letheby states, “In many cases, indeed I may say, in most, he just got far enough with the inquiry to become embarrassed, and then his pro- ducts were sent to me for completion or his results for correction.” 4. Dr. Letheby writes, “ Latterly, as he (Dr. Hassall) most truly says, I have been constantly engaged with him.” ANSWERS. 1. It is proved by Dr. Letheby’s own accounts that the analyses actually made by him amount to 165, while he has himself limited his own claim to 205 samples. That is, Dr. Letheby made 165 analyses, many partial only, as against 2,481, the number made by Dr. Hassall, and many of which were both micro- scopical and chemical. (See Report by the Rev. R. S. Daniell and Mr. Bolton., p. 31.) 2. The Commission commenced its labours in the latter part of 1850. The first Report appeared in the beginning of January, 1851. At the period named by Dr. Letheby upwards of 800 analyses and examinations had been published by Dr. Hassall before any reference was made to Dr. Letheby. Again : the analyses of snuff-ashes and opium, which constituted nearly two- thirds of the entire number of analyses made by Dr. Letheby, were made during the latter part of 1853. 3. This is certainly a most incor- rect statement, and not according to the facts of the case. 4. This statement is equally in- correct. No such admission was ever made by Dr. Hassall.