Dunglison on New Remedies. Messrs. Lea and Blanchard will speedily publish an edition of the work on New Remedies, which is completed in the present number of the "Library." MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. Lunatic Asylum at Hanwell, England.-Dr. Conolly.-This learned and skilful physician, whose attention has been largely directed to the subject of insanity, on which he has written a valuable work, has been appointed to the extensive charity in the county of Middlesex, which was previously under the medical management of Sir W. Ellis. Owing to this circumstance, it has been found inconvenient for Dr. Conolly to be associated in the editorship of the British and Foreign Medical Review, and accordingly the fifteenth number-for July last-appears under the sole, but competent, editorship of Dr. Forbes. The pages of the Journal will still, however, be enriched by the contributions of Dr. Conolly. University of Virginia-Dr. Griffith.-Dr. Griffith has resigned his professorship in the University of Virginia. The cause, we regret to learn, is ill health. The situation is very eligible to any one who is competent to fulfil the responsible duties, and fond of literary leisure. The board of visiters will meet early this month to appoint a successor. Cincinnati Medical College, and Louisville Medical Institute.—The former of these colleges, we learn, has been suspended. The latter has received into it Professor Drake, previously in the former. We learn, by a circular of the Louisville Medical Institute, that he has accepted the chair of Professor of Clinical Medicine and Pathological Anatomy-making the eighth chair in that institution. Albany Medical College, and the Comitia Minora of the State.-From a recent number of the Albany Evening Journal, with which we have been favoured by an unknown correspondent, it would appear that the Comitia Minora, of the State Medical Society to which we have the honour to belong, have thought it their duty to notice the proceedings of the Thompsonians in relation to the Albany Medical College, on which we animadverted in a recent number of the Intelligencer. The following is the circular which they have issued: "ALBANY, August 31, 1839. "The Comitia Minora of the State Medical Society, whose duty it is to watch over the interests of the medical profession, during the recess of the society, deem the following proceedings of sufficient importance to deserve publication, in such a form as will make them generally known to the members of the profession, to the intent, that such steps may be taken, in time, by the state and county societies, as the honour and interest of the medical profession demand. It would seem, that a settled determination 13-2 exists, to level all distinctions in our profession, and to place the quack and the regular practitioner on the same footing. From circumstances that have come to our knowledge, we are fearful, that, unless suitable exertions are made, by the members of the regular profession, to counteract the proceedings of the steam practitioners and their friends, the next legislature will remove what little disabilities the latter at present labour under. Comitia Minora will cheerfully aid in carrying out any measures calculated to elevate the character of the medical profession, and to preserve the line between it and quackery as broad and distinct as possible. JON. EIGHTS, The P. VAN OLINDA." To this are appended the transactions of the Thompsonians, which gave occasion to the circular. We are not in the habit of replying to anonymous writers, but the following paragraph, in an article headed "Albany Medical College,” in the journal in question, as it reflects upon others more than ourselves, it may be well to notice. "When the resolutions, passed by the Thompsonians, appeared in the Albany Evening Journal, it was suggested that some explanation should be published; but, on reflection, it was concluded, that as the whole matter was sufficiently understood in this city (Albany), and there seemed no prospect of the resolutions being copied into other papers, it would be advisable to let it pass without notice. But herein the faculty counted too much on the forbearance of their professional brethren. The opportunity of injuring the college was too good to be allowed to pass unimproved, and accordingly some kind friend sent the Journal containing the resolutions, accompanied with what explanations we know not, to the editor of the American Medical Library, at Philadelphia, and procured their publication in that Journal." We trust, for his own sake, that the grounds, on which the writer rests his charges against the Comitia Minora, and others, are more real than in the case of ourselves. The Journal was sent to us anonymously, without a word of comment, or any desire expressed that it should appear in the "Intelligencer." For the article in this Journal, we alone are responsible; and we can assure the friends of the Albany college, that the observations which we made were dictated by no desire to injure the college “at a distance." None of the remarks, indeed, that have been made upon their proceedings, are calculated to do them as much injury as the proceedings themselves, which have very naturally called for animadversion from those who are directly or indirectly concerned in promoting the best interests of the elevated profession to which they belong. Provincial Medical and Surgical Association.—The last meeting of this flourishing society-with an account of which we have been favoured by Dr. Hastings, the founder and one of the secretaries-was numerously attended, and the proceedings passed off with much spirit and good feeling. Dr. Gibson, of the University of Pennsylvania, was presented to the meeting by our distinguished friend, Dr. Forbes; and, on Dr. Forbes's motion, seconded by Sir James Murray, was made an honorary corresponding member. The speech of Dr. Hastings, in proposing-at the dinner which followed-the healths of Dr. Gibson, and of Dr. Smith, of South Carolina, embodies international sentiments to which we cordially respond. "The stars of the association," he remarked, "never set; they shone in the east and the west. In America they had several stars of the first magnitude' (cheers); and he believed they would agree with him, that the scintillations of one of those stars had that morning been of no ordinary brightness (applause). The association had had the honour of enrolling amongst its members a respectable and scientific son of America-Professor Gibson, of Pennsylvania (applause). Metaphorically, the attraction of their planet had drawn him there amongst them. They had received him with pleasure and gratification, hoping that, on each returning anniversary, America would continue to send forth her sons to tell them what she was doing, and to exchange good offices with them (cheers). Thanks to the invention of steam, the difficulties of traveling hitherto existing between the two countries were obviated, and they had now become one, as respected every purpose of moral development and of medical science; and he (Dr. Hastings) therefore hoped, that as they had enrolled Professor Gibson as a member of their association, they might reasonably expect the pleasure of seeing him at every annual meeting, to be enlivened by his eloquent orations, and stimulated by his example." Dr. Gibson replied in an appropriate address. Columbian College, Washington, D. C.-The medical department of this institution, which has been suspended for some time, is re-organised. The professors are-Dr. Thomas Sewall, on Pathology and Practice of Medicine; Dr. Thomas P. Jones, on Chemistry and Pharmacy; Dr. Harvey Lindsly, on Obstetrics and the Diseases of Women and Children; Dr. Thomas Miller, on the Principles and Practice of Surgery; Dr. John M. Thomas, on Materia Medica and Therapeutics; and Dr. J. F. May, on Anatomy and Physiology. State Lunatic Asylum for the Insane Poor.-The governor has not yet put his signature to the bill for establishing this useful institution. In a letter, which we have just received from Dr. Carpenter, of Bristol, England -the able author of the treatise on Comparative Physiology, to which we have already referred in the pages of this journal, he thus speaks of the project in acknowledging the receipt of one of the Appeals to the People of Pennsylvania on the subject. "I am much obliged to you for the interesting pamphlet you were kind enough to transmit to me on the subject of the establishment of a lunatic asylum in the state of Pennsylvania. I cannot help feeling surprised that such a measure has not been adopted long since, considering the prevalence of mental disease in your country, and the spirit with which undertakings for the public benefit are there supported. I had occasion recently to pay a visit to my friend Dr. Conolly, who is now physician to the Middlesex County Asylum at Hanwell, and was extremely pleased with the establishment. It now contains above 800 patients; and out of these not above two or three were under continued personal restraint of the slightest kind. The worst feature in the system here pursued, however, is the want of power to treat the disease in a recent stage. Most of the cases admitted have been for some time in the parish poor-houses, and generally much mismanaged; The honorary corresponding members of the association, in America, are Professors Warren, of Boston, Gibson, and the editor.-ED. since the enlargement of the institution, however, some really recent cases have been taken in ; and the success which attends the treatment of these is not inferior to that which is met with in the Massachusetts Asylum, the reports of which my friend Dr. Tuckerman, of Boston, has been kind enough to transmit to me. Bristol, Aug. 24, 1839. 'Rupture of the Aorta.-Thomas Cooper, a private in the Blues, forty years old, had been very unwell for the last four months; he complained of pain in the chest and shortness of breath, and had a little cough. Two days before his death he went to the regimental hospital, and took an emetic, as he informed Mrs. Horner, a witness at the inquest. On Saturday morning, Aug. 3d, he went to Mrs. Horner, in the store-room of the barracks. He had been pipeclaying his trousers, and Mrs. H. asked him to clean a few knives for her. He said that he would. He spoke as cheerful as ever. Witness left him in the room; in six or seven minutes afterwards he came running into witness' room very quickly, put up his hands, and said, “I must go to the hospital, I have broke—” he had not power to say what. The witness saw no blood about him then. He turned round and ran down the passage. Witness overtook him at the bottom of the stairs. He seemed in great pain, and began to vomit blood in large quantity—a full spout from his mouth. Witness with difficulty supported him, and called a soldier, who tried to lead him to the hospital, but the deceased sank on his knees, and died in three minutes, in the open air. Post-mortem examination, by the surgeon of the regiment.--In the descending aorta were several atheromatous deposits, with softening of the coats of the vessel. In one of these patches, exactly opposite the left branch of the trachea, rupture had taken place into the trachea, the opening of communication being large enough to admit the little finger. There was no dilatation of the vessel. The heart was altogether very large, the left ventricle particularly so, being much dilated, and its walls thickened. The other organs were generally healthy. Lithotrity.-M. Sanson, of the Hôtel Dieu, has recently undergone the operation of lithotrity with the happiest result. During the whole period of treatment M. Sanson was not compelled to forego his consultations for a single day. BOOKS RECEIVED. From the Author.-Prize Thesis-Inaugural Dissertation on the Physiological Inferences to be deduced from the structure of the Nervous System in the Invertebrated Classes of Animals. Submitted to the Medical Faculty of the University of Edinburg, in conformity with the rules for graduation, by authority of the very Rev. Principal Baird, and with the sanction of the Senatus Academicus. By William B. Carpenter, M. R. C. S., late President of the Royal Medical and Physical Societies of Edinburgh, &c. and Candidate for the degree of Doctor of Medicine. 8vo. pp. 83, two lithographs. Edinb. 1839. Catalogue of the Officers and Students of the Medical Institute of the City of Louisville, Jan. 1, 1839. (The catalogue-to which we have before referred-is again circulated to announce the appointment of Professor Drake.) 1 London Lancet, Aug. 31, 1839, p. 833. 2 Inquest held on August 6th, 1839, at the Canteen, Regent's park barracks. 3 London Lancet, Aug. 24, 1839, p. 816. ART. I.-CASE OF POISONING BY ERGOT. Philadelphia Hospital (Blockley), Sept. 27th, 1839. Dear sir,-The following letter and communication from Dr. John Beckwith, of Raleigh, N. C., upon the narcotic and poisonous properties of ergot, was received a few days since. Dr. Beckwith is one of the most distinguished physicians in the state. Should you deem this additional information to the experiments made by Dr. Cottman and myself to determine its sedative influence worthy of attention, you are at liberty to make use of it as you may think proper. To Professor Dunglison, M. D. W. H. McKee, M. D. Very respectfully, W. H. MCKEE. Raleigh, Sept. 21, 1839. My dear sir,-In the number of Dunglison's Medical Intelligencer for Sept. 2d, I observe some experiments made by you, at the request of Dr. D., with the view to determine the narcotic properties of ergot. If you think the subjoined case will in any degree aid your enquiries, it is at your service. Mrs. a lady of our acquaintance in this city, aged 30, enjoying excellent general health, was taken in her fifth labour on the 8th of August last, and was induced to take thirty grains of ergot, a short time before the termination of a natural and easy parturition, for the purpose of restraining a real or supposed tendency to hemorrhage, after the expulsion of the pla centa. Nothing remarkable occurred, and all went on very well till the lapse of an hour, when she began to complain of nausea and palpitation at the heart, and presently of dimness and confusion of sight. Vomiting was encouraged, and she threw up most of the ergot; the effect, however, continued and increased. The pulse, usually about 80, sank to about 40, with frequent intermission, and so continued through the night, (the article was taken at eight in the evening,) double vision soon followed, and then entire blindness. In two hours more delirium came on, succeeded by heavy sleep and snoring. She could be roused, not to consciousness, but to low muttering wanderings; temperature of the skin low, with free perspiration. Nearly this state of things continued till 8 o'clock next morning, when the hands, feet, ears, and nose, became purple, and much of the surface assumed a mottled aspect; then came on strong and general convulsions. When they subsided, her colour slowly returned, and from that time all the symp |