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terially different. This he afterwards abandoned, for reasons best known to himself, and he did me the honour of adopting mine. The only alteration he made was substituting a steel needle for the flexible one, and not continuing the slit up the whole length of the cannula. I need no other proof of the truth of this statement than the joint testimony of the instrument maker and his man. The reason of my intruding myself in this manner is to clear my character from the stigma which might be cast on it of being an unmeaning copyist. If my name had not been mentioned at all, Mr. Watt should have been most welcome to what little credit may attach to the inventor of such an instrument; but as it has appeared before the public, I certainly wish that things should be represented in their true light. I am also desirous of making this statement to avoid the imputation of having borrowed from the French, without making due acknowledg ment. I feel myself placed in a particularly unpleasant situation, for at the very time that I am attempting to prove that the instrument has been taken from me, I am aware, that I may be accused of having copied from Desault. Since I invented this, to me, unfortunate needle, I have read a description of one nearly similar in: Desault's works edited by Bichat. I have stated the circumstances which gave rise to my instrument; which was the genuine offspring of necessity, fostered by a little turn for mecanics which I have always endeavoured to use for the advantage of my Profession. Similiar causes might have produced the one described by Bichat. But with Mr. Watt and myself circumstances are widely different. He daily saw and examined the instrument which I had invented, whilst he was superintending the making of his own. cannot, I think, for a minute, be supposed that I should attempt so gross an imposition, as to endeavour to pass for my own, an instrument which I knew to be the invention of another; particularly when I should be liable to be detected by every person who perused the works of that excellent. practitioner Desault. As I have now discovered a prior author, shall cede all claim to originality, and deem myself fortunate in introducing into this country an instrument which is likely to be of practical utility. I cannot conclude without thanking Mr. Ramsden for the very unmerited encomium he has been pleased to pass on me, and stating that I am perfectly convinced that had he been aware of the facts which I have imentioned, he would have rendered all this egotism unnecessary. To avoid any further altercation or paper war on a subject which can only be interesting to individuals, I can produce the evidence of Mr. M'Lellan to the veracity of the HENRY EARLE.

above account.

Hanover Square, December 10, 1810.

It

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Medical Journal

[graphic]

A Iliac artery.
B Iliac vein.

C Internal Iliac artery.
D Obliturated artery.

E Obliturated vein.

F Femeral artery.

G Profunda femoris arteria.

Соор

To the Editors of the Medical and Physical Journal:

GENTLEMEN,

IN a Number of your very useful Journal published three

or four years since, I took the liberty of suggesting a mode of treatment in Scarlatina Anginosa Maligna, which was happily attended with the most complete success.

I cannot at this distant period charge my recollection with the circumstances, either local or general, under which the discase made its appearance, or by which its fatality might have been influenced, not having that Number of the Medical and Physical Journal immediately within my reach, but that the disease in a very great and alarming number of instances ran its fatal course in a very short period, notwithstanding both the most rigorous antiphlogistic and antiseptic treatment had been had recourse to, in succession, without the least apparent benefit whatever. By a reference to the paper alluded to, it will be seen that, as soon as the carbonic acid gas was liberated in the pharynx, oesophagas, and stomach, from the supercarbonated kali, its antiseptic powers were immediately apparent in almost every instance. In the hope that, should Mr. Goodwin be induced to make trial of the above treatment, he will be equally successful with myself in this truly alarming disease, I remain, Gentlemen,

Your most obedient humble servant,
JOHN WALDON, M.D.

Bodmin, Cornwall, Dec. 9th, 1810.

To the Editors of the Medical and Physical Journal.

GENTLEMEN,

In the last Number of the Medical and Physical Journal,

page 524, you have inserted a case entitled, "Effect of a
Ligature on the Iliac Artery." By the conclusion of this
paper it is difficult to conceive how the author could venture
to give it such a title. Indeed the whole is so inaccurately
stated, that I am induced to offer you the following abstract
of my notes.*
I am, &c.

Your obedient Servant,
JOHN TAUNTON,

Mr. S, æt. 33, of a spare habit of body, has been. subject to cough, pain in the chest, and difficult respiration,

*The case alluded to by Mr. Taunton, was c›pied verbatim from the last Number of the London Medical Review,

F2

for several winters, which symptoms generally disappeared during the summer months.

There had been an enlargement of the left testicle for upwards of four years. In May last the operation of castration was thought necessary by the professional gentlemen under whose care he had been. I was permitted to be present at the operation.

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In passing the knife through the integuments from the abdominal ring towards the depending part of the tumor, some cists were cut into at the upper part of the testicle. From these a limpid fluid escaped, (probably about two or three ounces.) The integuments being separated from the sides of the tumor, and spermatic process, the latter was then divided. Several attempts were made to take up the spermatic arteries with the tenaculum, but the ligatures had no effect in suppressing the hæmorrhage, probably on account of the retraction of the spermatic arteries within the cellular substance of the cord. The spermatic process (which was very short from the great enlargement of the testicle) receded within the abdominal ring, the incision was then enlarged upwards with a view of exposing the arteries above the external ring. These attempts failing, the bleeding, which was very profuse, could only be restrained by passing a large needle, arned with a very strong ligature, high up under the spermatic process, and enclosing within the ligature the whole surface from whence the haæmorrhage issued.

This succeeded completely with regard to the spermatic arteries; some smaller vessels from the cellular substance were secured, and the patient put to bed in a very weak state from great loss of blood during an operation of nearly two hours.

In the night there was a considerable hæmorrhage from the vessels of the cellular substance; this was stopped by pow dered ice laid on the part with tow.

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From the 25th of May to the 14th of June, I did not visit the patient, but was informed by the gentleman who attended him, that febrifuge medicines were given for some days after the operation. Afterwards a more nutritious diet was allowed and bark given ; that the ligatures had all come away, that the wound looked healthy, and was healing fast on the scrotum.

On the 14th of June a small swelling appeared at the upper part of the wound, which was painful; a poultice was applied. About, eleven P. M. the swelling burst, from the opening of which a large stream of arterial blood issued. Lint and cloths moistened with cold water were constantly

applied

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