The lancet. [Nos 316-317].

Date:
1828
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The lancet. [Nos 316-317]. 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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    most careful examination. All the other viscera were in a healthy state. Dr. /\bercrombie proposes to term the apoplectic affection thus unaccompanied by satisfactory deviation from the healthy structure, “ simple apoplexyThis affection leads, he observes, “ to speculations of very great interest; for the phenomena of the disease appear iully to establish the im- portant fact, that there is a modification of apoplexy depending upon a cause of a tem- porary nature, without any real injury done to the substance of the brain ; that the con- dition upon which this attack depends may be removed almost as speedily' as it is in- duced ; and that it may be fatal without leaving any morbid appearance in the brain. It is probable that cases of this kind,” he remarks further on, “depend upon a cause which is entirely owing to a derangement of the circulation in the brain, distinct from in- flammation.” ELECTION OE A PHYSICIAN TO TIIE DEKDY INFIRMARY. To the Editor of The Lancet. Sir,—It is with feelings of regret and re- luctance that I now trouble you with a few lines on the subject of the late election of physician to this Infirmary, and likewise on the conduct since pursued by the unsuccess- ful candidate and his friends. Wednesday last, the SICth of August, being the day appointed for the election, the three candidates, Dr. F. Fox, Dr. Baker, and Dr. Calvert, were nominated ; the latter gentle- man, however, not having arrived in this town till late in the canvass, honourably withdrew his name before going to the ballot. Dr. F. Fox is the eldest sou of an eminent and long- resident physician of Derby, and has for the. last five or six years been engaged as house surgeon to the Infiimary ; during which period he has, to the utmost of his power, devoted both his talents and time to the interests of the institution ; this being the unbiassed opinion of the governors, lie had the honour and satisfaction, on relinquishing his office, to receive ut their hands a general vote of thanks for his lung and beneficial services. Dr. Baker is a gentleman, who, having (as J suppose) met with ill support at other sta- tions, at last determined upon testing the possible success of amidland town ; on these grounds he fixed his anchor in this over- populated neighbourhood, a little more than a twelvemonth since; 1 sincerely hope he does not resemble u vessel deserted by her crew, and given up to the storms und winds which toss her to and fro, and at last is driven on some unknown shore, where she lingers for awhile, and then becomes a total wreck. Both candidates approached the balloting room with equal confidence of success, but on enumerating the votes at the close of the poll, the numbers were, for Dr. Fox, 98. Dr. Baker, 74. The election having thus been fairly decided, the competitors returned thanks and separated, one to indulge in his merited good fortune, and the other to bewail his loss, and to form schemes for again intro- ducing himself to the public. Now, Sir, it is with painful feelings that I come to the consideration of my concluding subject, viz., the conduct since pursued by tlie unsuccessful candidate and his friends . This gentleman must either have excited his party to the following ignoble proceedings, or he must have allowed himself to be the tool of a factious body'. What I complain of is, that on the Monday succeeding the elec- tion, four days only having elapsed, a pro- position was made by a packed company that the number of physicians to the Infirmary be increased from two to three; as you may imagine, from the composition of the meet- ing, it was carried; but, sir, this partial as- sembly' has not power to make laws, but merely to pass or reject propositions for the consideration of a general meeting of the governors. In the early part of next month this question will come before the public, and I fee 1 confident that it will then meet with the reward it so justly merits, that of being quashed. It was my intention to have remained a quiet spectator, had these transactions been conducted with decorum and liberality of principle,but,sir, when I see men led astray by such evident party spiiit, I cannot, in justice to the opposite body, continue neu- tral. Let me ask, can any thing be more disingenuous than the practice I have re- probated! What would be the consequence if this system were carried into universal operation! Why, sir, hospitals and infirma- ries would become corrupt, aud the profes- sion be in a state of open rebellion. It was justly observed, by' a governor at the board, “ that they were making a place for a mau, and looking out a man for a place.” 1 am, Sir, your obedient servant, Henry Francis. Derby, St. Peter’s Street, Sept. 1, 1829. IMPROVEMENTS ON CIVlAIl’s LITIIONIRI- TIC INSTRUMENTS. To the Editor of The Lancet. Sir,—Few, 1 believe, are unacquainted with M. Civiale’s method of reducing cal-