Half-yearly. HALF-YEARLY ABSTRACT OF THE PROGRESS OF MEDICAL SCIENCE -Mr. Churchill, New Burlington-street. BRAITHWAITE'S RETROSPECT OF MEDICINE, SURGERY, ETC.-Messrs. Simpkin and Marshall, Stationers'-hall Court. Annually. LONDON AND PROVINCIAL MEDICAL DIRECTORY-Mr. Churchill, New Burlington-street. MEDICAL DIRECTORY FOR IRELAND-Mr. Churchill, New Burlington street. MEDICAL DIRECTORY FOR SCOTLAND—Mr. Churchill, New Burlington street. MEDICO-CHIRURGICAL TRANSACTIONS-Messrs. Longman and Co., Paternoster-row. GUY'S HOSPITAL REPORTS-Mr. Churchill, New Burlington street. FEES CLAIMABLE BY MEDICAL WITNESSES. AT a coroner's inquest for attending and giving medical evidence, in obedience to the order framed according to schedule A of the 6 and 7 William IV, cap. 89,, commonly called "The Medical Witness Act" 17. 18. Od. If the witness has also, by direction of the Coroner, according to the like form, made a post-mortem examination of the body of the person deceased, then, on attending the inquest, and giving evidence thereon, the witness is entitled to receive a fee of 21. 2s. Od. The order to make a "post-mortem examination" comprehends a chemical analysis of the contents of the stomach, if such be necessary, as well as an analysis of any other fluid or substance placed in the hands of the witness by direction of the coroner, under suspicion that it was concerned in the demise of the person deceased; the chemical analysis is a part of the autopsy, and no separate or additional fee is recoverable for such analysis. A medical witness to whose skill a post-mortem examination is confided, is presumed to be competent to make every portion of a pathological or anatomical inspection; or, if he derive aid in his investigation from a professed chemist, or other such specially accomplished person, he must himself prove at the inquest all the appearances detected at the autopsy. For attending to give medical evidence at trials in the criminal courts and in suits at law 17. 1s. Od. to 27. 2s. Od. Medical witnesses who, at inquests, are bound over by the coroner to appear at the sessions or assizes to give evidence at a trial for manslaughter or murder, are paid for attending at the trial, in addition to the payment at the inquest, a sum per day not fixed by law, but varying according to the practice of the county. The sum is probably nowhere less than a guinea per day. When a medical witness is examined at a police court, or before a bench of magistrates, he obtains no fee for his evidence there, and is remunerated/ only at the criminal court where the trial of the prisoner takes place. This is unjust in principle, as it opens a temptation to strain evidence against the accused at the preliminary enquiry. The medical witness on such occasions should obtain from the committing magistrate or justices a certificate of his claim to be paid at the trial, and present it at the office of the clerk of the arraigns, or other place where the fees of witnesses for attending the criminal court are paid. A surgeon, called by a police officer to treat an accident, or a person in a state of insensibility, has a legal claim upon the patient, or his or her friends.. If, however, he be summoned by the police to attend a sick person at the station-house, he is allowed 3s. 6d. for a visit in the day-time, and 7s. if after nine o'clock at night. These fees are paid by the police authorities. The statute is so very precise in relation to the attendance and claims of medical gentlemen at coroners' inquests, and it is so necessary that it should be clearly comprehended, in order to save them needless trouble, that we subjoin the following exposition of the law : First and chiefly it should be understood, that to entitle a medical witness to receive a fee in the coroner's court, he must have received an order to attend the court, or to open the dead body, signed by the coroner, framed in you are required to day of o'clock "By virtue of this my order, as coroner for . appear before me and the jury at the place aforesaid, on the. one thousand eight hundred and . on the at noon to give evidence touching the cause of the death of the aforesaid person; and make, or assist in making, a post-mortem examination of the body, (with an analysis of the contents of the stomach, if such be necessary,) and report thereon at the said inquest. "To Mr. "A. B., Coroner.” When any legally qualified medical practitioner has attended upon any inquest in obedience to any such order, as aforesaid, of the coroner, the said practitioner shall, for such attendance at any inquest in Great Britain, be entitled to receive such remuneration or fee as is mentioned in the table marked B in the "Table of Fees."-Section III of the Act. At the same time that it provides for the payment of medical witnesses who previously had no security for payment, the Act throughout indicates that the summoning of witnesses to make post-mortem examinations and give medical testimony, shall rest with the coroner himself, expressed by the "order" above printed, and not be subject to the whim or discretion of any officer of Police, constable, beadle, or headborough; and without the possession of the "order" in question, a medical witness cannot legally claim the payment of the fee. The statute, however, does not exonerate medical gentlemen from the duty of obeying a common summons signed by the constable, under the warrant to assemble the inquest, since it may happen that professional men may be the proper persons to testify to facts that do not possess a medical character, and they are in law as fully bound to obey that summons as the express medical order of the coroner. ACTS OF PARLIAMENT BEARING UPON, OR OF INTEREST TO, THE PROFESSION. WILLIAM IV. SECOND AND THIRD YEAR. Cap. x and xi. For the Prevention of Cholera, or Spasmodic or Indian Cholera. Cap. xxvii. Amendment of the above. Cap. lxxv. For Regulating Schools of Anatomy. "Whereas a knowledge of the causes and nature of sundry diseases which affect the body, and of the best mothod of treating and curing such diseases, and of healing and repairing divers wounds and injuries to which the human frame is liable, cannot be acquired without the aid of anatomical examination; and, whereas the legal supply of human bodies for such examination is insufficient."-Secretary of State to grant Licences to practise Anatomy to any person lawfully qualified to Practise. Secretary of State to appoint Inspectors of Schools of Anatomy; Inspectors to make returns of subjects removed for Anatomical examination, and to inspect places where Anatomy is practised. Persons having lawful custody of bodies may permit them to undergo Anatomical examination in certain cases. Provision in case of persons directing Anatomical examinations after their death. The body not to be removed from the place where such person may have died without a Certificate. Professors, Surgeons, and others may receive bodies for Anatomical examination. How bodies are to be removed for examination. Provision for interment. Persons described not to be liable for having possession of human bodies. Act not to prohibit post-mortem examination. Repeal of so much of George IV, Cap. xxxi, as provides for the dissection of murderers. Offences against Act-Penalty, three months' imprisonment, or penalty of £50. Cap. lxxxiii. To authorize, for one year, the removal of Prisoners from the several gaols in Ireland, in cases of Epidemic Diseases. Cap. cvii. For the Care and Treatment of Insane Persons in England. THIRD AND FOURTH YEAR. Cap. ix. Seamen's Hospital Society Incorporated. Cap. xxii. To amend 23rd Henry VIII, cap. v, 3rd and 4th Edward VI, cap. viii, and 13th Eliz., cap. ix, relating to Sewers. Cap. ciii. For Regulating the Labour of Children in Mills and Factories. Cap. lxxv. To continue the above Acts relating to Cholera in England and Scotland.__ (2nd and 3rd Caps. x, xi, and xvi.) Cap. xcii. For Explaining and Amending 5th Geo. III, Cap. xx, and 54th Geo. III, Cap. lxii, for Erecting and Establishing Infirmaries, Hospitals, and Dispensaries in Ireland. Cap. xxxvi. To Diminish the Inconvenience and Expense of Commissions de Lunatico Inquirendo, and for the Better Care and Treatment of Idiots, Lunatics, &c. Cap. lxiv. To Amend 2nd and 3rd Will. IV, Cap. cvii. Lunatics. FOURTH AND FIFTH YEAR. Cap. i. Amending 3rd and 4th Will. IV, Cap. ciii. Ireland. Cap. xxvi. Hanging Criminals in Chains Abolished. Factory Children. Cap. lxxvi. Amendment and better Administration of Laws relating to the Poor in England and Wales. § 45.-No Lunatic to be detained in a Workhouse more than fourteen days. § 48.-Parish Officers to be under Order of Board, and Removable by them. § 52.-Relief to Poor out of the Workhouse. Medicine given in Cases of Emergency against Regulations not to be disallowed. § 54.-Justice may give Order for Medical Relief in Dangerous Illness. § 95.-Penalties on Officers disobeying Guar dians, not exceeding £5. § 93.-Salaries may be Stopped, and applied to the Payment of Penalties. § 109.-(Interpretation Clause)-The word “Officer” shall be construed to extend to "any person duly licensed to Practise as a Medical Man." in FIFTH AND SIXTH YEAR. Cap. liii. To Repeal 9th Geo. IV, Cap. xxi. Carriage of Passengers Merchant Vessels to North America, and to make further provision. § 9.-Every Ship, carrying 100 Passengers, to have "some person, duly Authorized by Law to Practise as a Physician, Surgeon, or Apothecary;" in Ships carrying a smaller number, Medicines of a sufficient amount and kind to be carried. Penalty not less than 57., nor more than 20%. Cap. xxii. Continuing for Three Years, 2nd and 3rd Will. IV, Cap. cvii, and 3rd and 4th Will. IV, Cap. lxiv. sane Persons. Care and Treatment of In Cap. xvii. Extending 1st Will. IV, Cap. lxv (Lunatics), to Ireland. SIXTH AND SEVENTH YEAR. Cap. lxxxvi. For Registering Births, Deaths, and Marriages in England. Cap. lxxxix. To Provide for the Attendance and Remuneration of Medical Witnesses at Coroner's Inquests. § 1.-Coroner to Summon Medical Witnesses, and direct Performance of a Post-mortem. § 2.-Majority of Jury may require Coroner to Summon additional Medical Evidence, if the first be not satisfactory. § 3.-Fees to be paid out of Poor Rates. § 4.-No Fee for Post-mortem made without Order. § 5.-In case of Inquest held on deceased persons in Public Institutions, Medical Officer of such Institution not entitled to be paid as a Witness. § 6.-Penalty for Nonattendance, when Summoned, 57. § 7.-Act not to extend to Scotland. The Fees are as follow:-Giving Evidence, without post-morten, One Guinea; making post-mortem, with or without Analysis, and giving evidence, Two Guineas. SEVENTH YEAR. Cap. i. To Suspend the Operation of 6th and 7th, Cap. lxxxvi, for a Limited Time (from March to June, 1837). VICTORIA. FIRST YEAR. Cap. xxii. To Amend 6th and 7th Will. IV, Cap. lxxxv (Regis tering Births, Deaths, and Marriages). Cap. xxiii. Abolishing the Punishment of the Pillory. FIRST AND SECOND. Cap. Ixiii. Disembodied Militia. § 6.-Allowance to Surgeons, Mates, serving in the Militia when last Disem and Assistant-Surgeons, |