and the other necessary expenses of administering the Act; and that no part whatever of the sums so received has been, or is, appropriated to the private purposes of the society.

The examiners are not permitted to be lecturers, or to have any interest whatever in any medical school; so that no temptation exists to induce them, at their examinations, to shew favour or affection to candidates; for, not being connected with any school or hospital, they are consequently in a situation to be perfectly impartial; while, in Scotland, the professors at the different universities are the examiners of their own pupils.

The society, in concluding this reply, have only to add, that they have always, to the best of their abilities, and in the honest exercise of their judgment, endeavoured faithfully and conscientiously to perform all the duties entrusted to them; that the successive Courts of Examiners have established a competent course of education, and an efficient examination; and that they have ever shewn that they considered themselves as invested with a sacred and responsible power, to be used for the public good, and for that alone. They therefore submit, that the statement made by the College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, "that the present state of the law is injurious to the interests of the community," has been fully disproved; and that it is apparent that the Act of Parliament of which they complain has been eminently conducive to the welfare of the public, and ought not to be altered without the most deliberate and unprejudiced inquiry into the whole subject; and the Society of Apothecaries declare their perfect readiness to meet such inquiry, whenever Parliament shall think fit to entertain the question.

The following are the Regulations of the Court of Examiners of the Society of Apothecaries, to be observed by Candidates for their Certificate.

Every candidate for a certificate to practise as an apothecary will be required to produce testimonials,

Of having served an apprenticeship of not less than five years to an apothecary, as required by the fifteenth clause of the Act for the better regulating the Practice of Apothecaries. Of having attained the full age of twenty-one years; and of good moral conduct.

Students whose attendance on lectures commenced on or after January 1831, must, in addition to these testimonials, adduce proof of having devoted at least two years to an attendance on lectures and hospital-practice, and of having attended the following courses of lectures:

Chemistry, two courses; each course consisting of not less than forty-five lectures.

Materia Medica and Therapeutics, two courses; each course consisting of not less than forty-five lectures.

Anatomy and Physiology, two courses; Anatomical Demonstration, two courses; of the same extent as required by the Royal College of Surgeons of London.

Principles and Practice of Medicine, two courses; each course consisting of not less than forty-five lectures. To be attended subsequently to the termination of the first course of lectures on chemistry, materia medica, and anatomy and physiology.

Botany, one course, consisting of not less than thirty lectures; to be attended between the 1st of April and 31st of October.

Midwifery, and the Diseases of Women and Children, two courses.

Forensic Medicine, one course; to be attended during the second year.

Students are likewise earnestly recommended to avail themselves of instruction in Morbid Anatomy.

The candidate must also have attended for twelve months, at least, the physician's practice at an hospital containing not less than sixty beds, and where a course of clinical lectures is given; or for fifteen months at an hospital wherein clinical lectures are not given; or for fifteen months at a dispensary connected with some medical school recognized by the court. No part of this attendance can be entered upon until the termination of one entire year from the commencement of attendance on lectures, nor until one course of lectures, at least, on chemistry, materia medica, anatomy, and the practice of medicine, have been attended, in the order prescribed by the regulations.

The examination of the candidate for a certificate of qualification to practise as an apothecary is as follows:

1. In translating parts of Celsus de Medicinâ, or Gregory's Conspectus Medicinæ Theoreticæ, physician's prescriptions, and the Pharmacopœia Londinensis; 2, in Chemistry; 3, in Materia Medica and Therapeutics; 4, in Botany; 5, in Anatomy and Physiology; 6, in the Principles and Practice of Medicine. (This branch of the examination embraces an inquiry into the diseases of pregnant and puerperal women, and also into the diseases of children.)

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

Shortly will be published, (dedicated, by permission, to the King,) a History of Mummies, by THOMAS JOSEPH PETTIGREW, F.R.S. F.A.S. F.L.S., Member of the Royal Asiatic Society, Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Gottingen, Surgeon to the Charing-cross Hospital, Asylum for Female Orphans, &c. &c.

The object of this work will be to give a complete and entire history of mummies, human and comparative, both natural and artificial, from the earliest period to the present time; to detail the various processes of embalming adopted by the ancients; and to treat the subject as regards its antiquity, its relation to the natural history of man, to natural history in general (in reference to the substances used to prevent putrefaction from taking place;) the state of the arts and manufactures among the ancient Egyptians, as shewn in the structure of the cases, bandages, &c.; also to give an account of the various idols, emblems, coins, inscriptions, papyri, &c., that have been found enclosed in mummies, and of the different methods that have been practised in modern times to imitate the processes of the ancients. The whole will be illustrated by numerous plates, representing mummies of all kinds in their several states and conditions, and the substances which have been met with in the unfolding of them.

MONTHLY LIST OF MEDICAL BOOKS.

[Medical Works cannot be entered on this List unless a copy be sent for the purpose, the titles of Books having frequently been sent to us as published, which have not appeared for weeks, or even months, after.]

The Cyclopædia of Practical Medicine. Edited by JOHN FORBES, M.D., F.R.S., &c., ALEX. TWEEDIE, M.D., &c., and JOHN CONOLLY, M.D., &c. Part XVI. Containing, Paralysis, (concluded), by Dr. TODD; Parotitis, Dr. KERR; Pellagra, Dr. KERR; Pemphigus, Dr. CORRIGAN; Perforation of Viscera, Dr. CARSWELL; Pericarditis, and Carditis, Dr. HOPE; Peritonitis, Dr. MAC ADAM and Dr. STOKES; Persons found Dead, Dr. BEATTY; Phlegmasia Dolens, Dr. LEE; Pityriasis, Dr. CUMIN; Plague, Dr. BROWN; Plethora, Dr. BARLOW-Large 8vo. pp. 127. London: Sherwood, Gilbert, and Piper.

The Origin and Progress of the Malignant Cholera in Manchester, considered chiefly in their bearing on the Contagiousness and the Secondary Causes of the Disease. To which are added, some Remarks on the Treatment. With an illustrative Chart. By HENRY GAULTER, M.D., of Magdalen College, Oxford, &c.—8vo. pp. 206. Longman, London. Part XX. The Principles and Practice of Obstetric Medicine, in a Series of Syste matic Dissertations on Midwifery and on the Diseases of Women and Children. Illustrated by numerous Plates. By D. D. DAVIS, M.D., &c.-4to. John Taylor, London. Sketches from the Case-book, to illustrate the Influence of the Mind on the Body; with the Treatment of some of the more important Brain and Nervous Disturbances which arise from this Influence. By R. FLETCHER, Esq., Surgeon to the Glocester General Hospital, &c.-8vo. pp. 391. London: Longman and Co.; Simpkin and Marshall

Clinical Lectures on the Contagious Typhus, epidemic in Glasgow and the Vicinity, during the Years 1831 and 1832. By RICHARD MILLAR, M.D., Senior Physician to the Royal Infir mary, &c.-8vo. pp. 144. London: Longman and Co.

A Treatise on some Nervous Disorders; being chiefly intended to illustrate those Varieties which simulate Structural Disease. By EDWIN LEE, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons; formerly House Surgeon to St. George's Hospital.-8vo. pp. 152. London: Burgess and Hill.

88

APOTHECARIES' HALL.

NAMES OF GENTLEMEN to each of whom the Court of Examiners have granted Certificates:

METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER,

By Messrs. HARRIS and Co., Mathematical Instrument Makers, 50, High Holborn.

Thermometer Barometer. Hygrometer Winds.

De Luc's

9 a.m. max. min./9a.m. 10p.m.9a.m. 10p.m.19 a.m. 10p.m 9 a.m. ¡2 p.m.
60 66 55 29.90 29.92 76 74

Medical and Physical Journal.

414, VOL. LXX. x.]

AUGUST 1833.

[86, New Series.

"For many fortunate discoveries in medicine, and for the detection of numerous errors, the world is indebted to the rapid circulation of Monthly Journals; and there never existed any work to which the Faculty in Europe and America, were under deeper obligations than to the, Medical and Physical Journal of Loudon,' now forming a long but an invaluable series."-RUSH.

ORIGINAL PAPERS.

STRYCHNINE IN PARALYSIS.

Observations and Reflections on the Employment of Strychnine in the Treatment of Paralysis. By E. GEDDINGS, M.D., Lecturer on Anatomy and Surgery, Charleston, S. C. [American Journal of Med. Sciences.]

THE materia medica is subject to incessant revolution. Daily experience unfolds to us some new therapeutical resource; and, while hundreds of new remedies, which have been issued into notice by the most extravagant encomiums, are perpetually passing into a speedy and well-merited oblivion, bountiful Providence reveals to us many invaluable properties in others, which we have been accustomed to overlook, or consider as possessing but feeble claims upon our attention. But a few years ago, and the principles upon which the efficacy of Peruvian bark and opium depends were unknown, and those articles could not be divested of the disagreeable concomitants which necessarily attended their administration. But what are the lights of modern chemistry not capable of accomplishing? Guided by its influence, what an inestimable blessing has the ingenuity of Pelletier, Caventou, Sertuerner, &c. conferred upon mankind, by their discovery of the active principles of these articles! a discovery scarcely less important than that of the circulation of the blood. It is moreover but a short time since nux vomica was suffered to moulder upon our shelves; but this neglected substance was destined to furnish, to the researches of Fouquier results capable of leading to the consummation of the most important purposes. This distinguished physician has ascertained that in nux vomica we possess a most efficient means of treating paralysis, a disease which, under all circumstances, is exceedingly difficult to manage, and which, under our former resources, too often baffled our best directed efforts. Chemistry has more414. No. 86, New Series.

N

over taught us that these important properties reside, in a concentrated form, in a peculiar substance which has been designated strychnine. It is with a view of adding our feeble weight of testimony to that which has been already furnished in favour of the remedy in the treatment of paralysis, that the following cases have been drawn up. The results which they have furnished have tended much to heighten our faith in the efficacy of the article, and we shall feel pleased if the communication of our own experience should incite others to make trial of it under similar circumstances.

The first case we shall detail is one of hemiplegia of the whole of the left side of the body. The individual was a male, aged about fifty, who was employed as a boat hand. He was placed under our care about the 20th of July, 1829; and, from all the particulars of his case which we were able to collect, it appeared that he had been very suddenly attacked with the disease, about a month previously, whilst engaged in cutting wood. He was seized with violent pain of the head, left arm and leg, fell down in a state of insensibility, to which succeeded in a short time a total loss of sensation and motion of the leg and arm, and double vision. He was still in this condition when we first saw him, with the exception that the double vision had disappeared, and he was so far sensible, as to reply rationally when addressed in a loud voice. There was no febrile disturbance, no impediment in the powers of speech, and the principal difficulty consisted in a loss of sensation and motion on one side. The leg and arm could be violently pinched or pricked without the patient evincing the slightest feeling, and the only pain he complained of was in the head and back of the neck.

He was ordered an active cathartic of calomel combined with jalap, principally with a view of creating a revulsive impression from the head to the lower intestines. Directions were also given to have his head shaved and blistered, and to have sinapisms applied to the legs.

21st. The medicine has operated, and the blister has drawn well, but without producing any improvement in the condition of the patient, except a slight amelioration of the pain of the head and neck. He is restless, and his mind somewhat wandering.

22d. The same condition. Cathartic directed to be repeated, and cups to be applied to the nape of the neck, the part afterwards to be covered by a blister.

23d. No improvement. Ordered sinapisms to the legs, and stimulating frictions to the paralytic members.

24th. The same condition continuing without any amelioration, we resolved to put him upon the use of the strychnine. The following was therefore directed: R. Strychnine, gr. vj.; alcohol, 3i.; of which six drops were administered morning and evening.

25th. The dose of the medicine was increased to ten drops twice a day.