jesty's last illness, as well as all the symptoms under which the King had laboured.

The immediate cause of His Majesty's dissolution was the rupture of a bloodvessel in the stomach.

HENRY HALFORD.

MATTHEW JOHN TIERNEY. ASTLEY PASTON COOPER. B. C. BRODIE.

Those who are in the habit of attending to the symptoms of diseases during life, and examining their causes or effects after death, need not be told that the ossification of the semilunar valves, in the above case, must have been of old standing-must have been in the very same condition six months ago, when His Majesty was driving about, in apparent health, as when, on the 15th April, the embarrassment of breathing was first announced. This ossification of the semilunar valves (even if the origin of the aorta was contracted, which does not appear on the record) could have had nothing to do with the sudden attack of dyspnoea. That phenomenon was clearly the consequence of the serous effusion into one or both sides of the chest. But what was the cause of this effusion? Not, we think, the ossification of the semilunar valves: first, because we frequently find these valves ossified in elderly people, without any effusion of water-and secondly, be"cause we still more frequently find hy drothorax without any ossification of the above-mentioned apparatus. But the disease which was clearly at the bottom of all, in this case, was the degeneration of the muscular structure of the heart, the great deposition of fat, and the passive dilatation of the left chambers. These diseases (in the King's case) were, no doubt, going on for months or years;-but when they arrive at a certain height, or the organ happens to be become embarrassed by the accession of any inflammatory affection of the lungs, then effusion is the usual consequence, and a new train of symptoms is developed, which often obtains a new name, without good cause. And now let us hear the name which the sticklers for names (Mr. Wakley and his prompters) have given to the complaint of the King.

"In what terms can we speak of the "incompetency of the medical atten"dants? For, with a stethoscope in "his hand, and an ear in his head, a tyro in the profession might have dis"covered, in May last, the existence of HYPERTROPHY of the heart, and disease of the aortal valves."-Lancet. Thus this censor of the medical press -this censurer, or rather slanderer of all that is respectable in the profession, is so grossly ignorant of pathology, that he calls a heart whose muscular structure was rotten-whose surface was covered with fat-and whose chambers were passively dilated, an hypertrophied heart! Such is the pseudo-pathologist who does not know ramollissement of the muscular structure and obesity from HYPERTROPHY!!!* It is for such a state of heart that the Ex-Warden of St. Giles would have prescribed a "regulated system of depletion." Oh! yes. The LANCET is an admirable remedy for “a tender and lacerable heart." The pathologist of St. Giles's tells us that "the embarrassment in the King's breathing arose from a disordered state of the heart's action, the blood not being propelled with its natural regularity and velocity through the lungs." Indeed! A heart in a state of hypertrophy (as he affirms it to be in) or superbundance of muscular structure, not able to drive the blood through the lungs! True it is, that the dissectors inform us that there was nothing unusual in the right or pulmonary chambers of the heart— while it was the left chambers that were dilated, and consequently incapable of throwing the blood with vigour or velocity through the aortic system. But all this is Arabic to Squire Wakley, who appears to know as much about the propelling powers of the heart, in the morbid condition above recorded, as he does of the inhabitants of the Moon.

"The inflamed action of the membrane covering as well as lining the heart's cavities (!!) continued unabated; hence was laid the foundation for the watery effusion, the deposition of lymph into the pericardium, producing adhesions, the thickened irregular state of the aorta, and ossification of its valves." What is this membrane which covers the heart's cavities? Where is there any mention of inflammation of the membrane lining those cavities? The membrane covering the heart's parietes had been inflamed at some remote period; and as for the "watery effusion into the pericardium," it amounted to half an ounce-an obvious post-mortem effusion. The ossification, too, of the semilunar valves was produced (according to the Lancet) by the same inflammation which caused the watery effusion-namely, between March and June of the present year! What a pity that Mr. Wardrop's advice was not taken on the 28th March, as it went to the effectuation of a revulsion of all this pathological condition (then considered gouty) to the lower extremities!

Such is the jumble of political pathology which the LANCET has brought forth with the aid of its prompters. A more monstrous mass of ignorance and imbecility never graced the pages of that publication-and that is the strongest term of reprobation which language can convey.

As to the political and personal malignity of this "composition of mud and blood," (an expression applied by the preceptor of TIBERIUS to that worthy prototype of the LANCET) we shall not sully our pages by any examination of them. They are disgusting and revolting monuments of the depraved appetite for vulgar slander and scurrilous abuse in a liberal and learned profession! We have exposed the astounding ignorance and utter incapacity of the medical writers in the LANCET, and this is the only function which we consider ourselves as called upon to perform.*

* We cannot conscientiously close this subject, without stating that we have information the most unequivocal, that His Majesty's physicians were well acquainted and convinced of the exis,

One reflexion may be permitted in conclusion :-Much as His late Majesty suffered, during the last six weeks or two months of his life, he narrowly and fortunately escaped years of tor ture. Had the calculus not become sacculated, what a series of sufferings would the King have been exposed to -and how formidable would have been the operation of lithotomy in such a subject!

Excessi e vitæ ærumnis facilesque lubensque, Ne pejora ipsa morte dehinc videam.

XIV.

SUPPOSED POISONING BY MERCURY, –

M. ORFILA has published a long paper on this subject in a recent number of the ARCHIVES, the proximate cause of which may be first succinctly stated...

On the 3d of July, 1829, a female named VILLOING, residing at St. Brisson, having then been ill for five or six days, was visited by Dr. Carron, at her, own request. She complained of great oppression at the epigastrium fre quent inclination to vomit, and occa sional discharges of bilious matters→ full pulse-flushed face-eyes and countenance yellow. The husband said that the cause of his wife's illness was fa

tence of organic disease of the heart, in His Majesty's case, many years ago. The proof of this will shortly appear, In respect to the infamous and libellous charge made against Sir Matthew Tierney, in the LANCET, we pledge ourselves (from the most authentic sources of information) that it is false as Hell. There is not one word of truth in the accusation; the whole of which is a fabrication, founded in blighted ambition, and personal spleen. When a villain makes a charge against an honest man, he is called upon to prove it. The onus probandi unquestionably falls on the slanderer; and if he can shew no ground for his calumny, he is properly punished. It is not for the honest man to come forward and prove that he is honest-but for the traducer to shew some evidence to the contrary,

tigue. Dr. Ce ordered a grain of tartaremetic by lavement, and desired the husband to report next day. A report was made that she was rather better, but still harrassed with sickness. He prescribed an opiate. Two days after wards the doctor was summoned in great haste to the patient, but did not find her worse, according to appear ances, and still considered the complaint as a bilious affection, reiterating. the opiate medicine. He prognosticated a speedy recovery: but on the morning of the 7th July, he was astonished to learn that the patient had died the preceding evening. The vomitings, he was informed, had become extremely frequent for some hours before death. Several poisonous substances, as oxymuriate of mercury, arsenic, &c. were found in the house. The body had been buried, without any suspicion of poisoning; but was disinterred some days afterwards by orders of the PROCUREUR DU ROI. The examination of the body by Drs. Carron and Ballot, took place on the 22d July, 15 days after interment. Considerable decomposition had taken place, and the most horrible effluvium issued from the body. The thorax, the heart and lungs offered nothing remarkable. The internal membrane of the oesophagus was injected, but neither softened nor ulcerated. On opening the abdomen, the dissectors were astonished to perceive that the abdominal viscera appeared to be those of a corpse recently deprived of life. No effusion, no adhesion. There was a considerable quantity of air in the intestines; but the sides of the stomach were in close contact. On closer examination, two perforations were found in the stomach at its inferior and anterior part, together with several discoloured spots, both on the exterior of the stomach and of the intestines. The liver was greatly enlarged, and its surface emphysematous. The pancreas and spleen, although of a dark color, were not altered in texture by putrefaction. The same with the kidneys. The stomach was very large, and a patch of intense redness, two inches in extent, was visible on the mucous membrane of the smaller curvature, and the two perforations abovementioned, the external apertures of

which were wider than the internal. The mucous membrane of the organ was intensely red about the cardiac orifice, and this redness spread along the lesser curvature. The great cul de sac was also the seat of red arborization, in which were erosions. The internal orifices of the perforations were clean cuts, as if made by a circular chissel, and without any surrounding redness. There was nothing unusual in the appearance of the pylorus. In the stomach, duodenum,-in short, throughout the whole tube were found numerous globules of mercury, and about two drachms were collected pure. The membranes themselves were covered with a kind of mercurial dew (rosée mercurielle) formed by globules infinitely divided. Numerous experiments made on the contents and on the tissues of the stomach, intestines, and other organs of the body, could not detect any trace of poisonous substance, beyond the metallic mercury abovementioned.

The two physicians made the following remark. As there is no other way of proving the administration of corrosive sublimate, after it has combined with the tissues and formed submuriate of mercury, than by reproducing the metal, and as crude was already found in the stomach and bowels, such revivication of the metal would not afford any proof of poison, since it might be said that the metallic mercury recovered from the tissues, was only the metallic mercury that had penetrated into them previously. Nevertheless they thought such a reproduction would afford suspicions of poison having been taken.

M. Orfila then set about making two series of experiments-the first by exhibiting to dogs the oxymuriate of mercury, with the view of obtaining the crude metal from the tissues with which it had combined-the second, by exhibiting the same oxymuriate, along with substances that are known to be capable of decomposing it in our laboratories. In respect to the first series :If thirty or forty grains of sublimate are given to a dog, he is destroyed in a few hours-from four to ten or twelve. If the body be buried for three or four months, then disinterred, and examin

ed, no crude mercury can be discovered. But if the tissues are exposed to the action of potassa at a white heat, crude mercury will be volatilized from the state of calomel in which it had been transformed by the combination with animal matters. This proves, therefore, that the decomposition of sublimate in the body does not present globules of mercury but submuriate of quicksilver.

Second series. Corrosive sublimate, dissolved in water, is decomposed, so as to furnish metallic mercury, by iron, copper, zinc, arsenic, and phosphorus. Albumen, gelatine, alcohol, or oil have not this effect.

By numerous experiments and reasonings, however, which we have not room for here, M. Orfila comes to the conclusion that there was no proof whatever afforded that any of the salts of mercury had been swallowed by the deceased VILLOING. He stated that the probability was that the post-mortem appearances were the result of disease, (inflammation) and that crude mercury had probably been administered under the popular notion that obstructions are cleared away, and pains alleviated by that metal.

XV.

ral practitioners, is using the influence of a partial and unprincipled press, to quash the association altogether! And for what reason? For the avowed reason that the title of "GENERAL PRACTITIONER" is a degrading title—and consequently that the society is a degrading society! Such is the ostensible objection-the real one being mortification at not being admitted a member, and not being able to convert the associa tion into a political engine of discord in the profession. How Mr. Wakley, who was a general practitioner himself, and, whose only elevation since that time, has been into that of general libeller, can make it out that the term is degrading, we know not. HIPPOCRATES and CELSUS, among the antients, were 64 GENERAL PRACTITIONERS"--and Morgagni, among a host of eminent moderns, was the same. It is absolutely preposterous to attempt to gull the medical public by such a ridiculous charge against a society, when it is well known that Mister Wakley tried all in his power to wriggle himself and his hopeful partner, Mr. Lambert, into the said society, but without success-hinc illæ lacrymæ !

But the name of a society, like the title of a book, will never damn it if it be good, nor save it from dissolution, if bad. If the objects which the Society has held forth be bona fide objects, they need not fear success-and indeed we

PRACTITIONERS.

OUR readers have seen in our last number that the nucleus of an association has been formed, among a large and very influential class of medical society the GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, for their mutual and individual interests-for the increase of their own respectability for the attainment of beneficial lawsfor the periodical assemblage of the members-for the cultivation of social intercourse and for the establishment of a benevolent fund applicable to charitable purposes.

It would be difficult to imagine what possible objection could be started against the formation of a society, having such laudable purposes in view. Yet not only have objections been started, but the self-elected patron of the gene

their professions as well as honorable in their intentions. There is one object not stated in the prospectus, but which we have reason to think is contemplated by the Society-the possession of a house, or chambers, where a library and reading room may be established-and where, as in a club, the members may meet and have refreshments or dinners at a very moderate rate. This would be a great benefit and accommodation. Indeed, we are astonished that such an extensive profession, as the medical, has not yet established a club-an establishment which is so easily formed, and so certain of success. The clubs, in fact, are the most flourishing and productive speculations that have been projected in modern times. There is not the smallest doubt but that they will multiply an

nually. Now the GENERAL PRACTITION ERS have it easily in their power to effect the formation of a club, where they can meet to transact business, as well as to associate around the festive board and that at very economical expense. We wish them every success, and they may rest assured that the scurrilous or rather JUDAS-LIKE salutations of the reptile press will do them no injury.

XXVI.

ON THE FORMATION OF CLOUDS. By DR. THOMSON

In a very able volume on Heat and Electricity, lately published by Prof. Thomson of Glasgow, we have some ingenious observations on the formation of clouds, vapour, fogs, &c. He observes that though the presence of vapours cannot be detected in the atmosphere by their colour, yet we can easily judge when the air is loaded with them, because we can see to a much greater distance, and the outline of the distant mountains is much more distinct than when the air is dry.

"In this country it is a comparatively rare thing to see the sky perfectly transparent. Much more frequently the vapour assumes a visible form, or becomes that opaque fleecy looking matter which we denominate a cloud. Sometimes these clouds are very high, very thin, and very small in size. At other times they sink lower down and envelope the whole face of the sky. Sometimes two or even three layers of clouds can be seen at different heights above each other. Whenever this happens, one of the layers is moving with more velocity than the others, or we observe one layer moving in one direction, and another in a different one. Sometimes these clouds sink down to the very surface of the earth and envelope it, in which case they are known by the name of mists or fogs.

There seems little reason to doubt that the cause to which Dr. Hutton ascribed the formation of rain, is in reality the cause of the formation of clouds. Dr. Hutton showed, by experiment, that when air of different temperatures, each containing as much va

pour as is compatible with the temperature, are mixed together, a precipitation of moisture always takes place."

Now whenever moisture is precipitated from air, in consequence of the mixture of air of different temperatures, this precipitated moisture always assumes the appearance of a cloud or mist. We have a good example in the cloud formed when steam issues from the spout of a boiling tea-kettle. The steam has the temperature of 212°, and -we shall suppose the air at 60°, and saturated with moisture.

Force of vapour at 60° is 0.52 inch

Do. do. 212° is 30 The mean of which is 15.26 But the force of vapour at 136o, the intermediate temperature, is only 5 14 inches. Hence a great proportion of the vapour, must be precipitated. But this precipitated vapour, instead of assuming the form of drops of water, which one would have expected, is converted into a cloud or mist.

Now mist or a cloud consists not of solid drops; but of a multitude of very thin vesicles of water, enclosing some aerial substance within them, similar to the vesicles usually blown from soap suds. That this is the structure of clouds and mists was affirmed by Derham and others, his contemporaries. Derham informs us, that he examined them by means of a microscope, and found them to be vesicles. Indeed the vesicular structure is obvious from the circumstance of clouds continuing elevated at a considerable height in the atmosphere, and that fogs may be often seen elevating themselves up the sides of mountains. If clouds or fogs consisted of round drops, their precipitation would be rapid. whose diameter amounted to 18th of an inch would acquire a velocity of nine or ten feet per second. Whereas we see clouds hover at a small elevation for hours, and they can in consequence be transported from the sea, lake, river, or marsh, from which they are raised, far into the country or to the tops of mountains, where the requisite supply of moisture cannot be had any other way.

For a drop

M. de Saussure, senior, while travelling in the Alps happened to be enveloped in a mist which was almost