conceive such a stirring motive to exertion should be introduced into the study of medicine, and fostered, and the defects of its application pointed out and remedied. It is not the successful candidate that alone derives all the benefit of the struggle, superior merit, where it exists in a happy combination with animal energy, without which genius is trodden to the ground, will always force its way: the higher attainments of knowledge will be acquired by a few for the love of distinction and of science. It is mediocrity that requires to be stimulated; and the true and useful character of the profession will depend upon the skill, not of the few, but of the many.

For these reasons, which might readily be amplified, we are not churlish enough to refuse a few lines of our pages to the names of successful students. But should we find the confidence of young men in the fairness of their examinations abused, there is not an abuse in medicine, at which our indignation has been hurled, which shall have roused us into more bitter hostility than such a depraved dealing with the honesty and generous sentiments of youth. We are glad to see that St. Bartholomew's has imitated King's College and the London University in its resolution to bestow prizes. Private lecturers have been long in the habit of exciting the attention of their pupils in a similar

year of his course he undergoes an examination in the subjects of the year, and this for the purpose of his degree in surgery. Compare with this the system of attempting to examine a candidate in surgery, throughout his whole course of study, at a single sitting,-when it is left to the caprice of the examiners, who may happen to be present, what corner of the science it may please them to examine concerning :-the worst prepared may slip through, the best prepared may almost fail, and to none is his proper merit given, because the real extent and accuracy of his knowledge is unknown. We think it, therefore, a thing most desirable to engraft upon our system of instruction a system of periodical examination, preli minary to a degree; into which examination every student should enter in his course. These examinations might he also made subservient to the purpose of rewarding the most diligent students. Of course if, as we recommend, they were required of every candidate for a medical degree, they should be under the control and direction of the central medical power. Teachers would cease to be examiners of their own pupils. As to the distribution of rewards, that would depend upon the sources from whence they were derived. If a particular school contributed its own prizes, its own students should alone share them. But, at the same time, we have that confidence in the public spirit of enlightened individuals, that, in the course of a short time, we should expect to see rewards offered to general competition :and we suggest a small portion of the funds of the College of Surgeons could not be more usefully applied. We know of so many instances of the abuse of College exhibitions, (by which College phrase is understood annual allowances of money for five or seven years generally to the

successful candidates in a certain examination,) that we are no great advocates for that manner of rewarding merit. A sum of money is always an agreeable present—an annuity too often leads to neglect and idleness. Prizes of this nature are, however, upon a scale of magnificence beyond the measure of ordinary liberality. But as other branches of science, mathematics and so forth, have had their liberal encouragers and benefactors in the Universities, so we fondly hope medicine will not be destitute of liberal patrons, to whom our observations may be applicable.

We have said nothing of the encouragement to be given to those already within the profession, in order to promote and extend the practical knowledge of medicine, and enlarge its boundaries. We may engender very useful habits in the student, we may sow in him the seeds of discovery, we may rouse his inventive genius; but it is to the actual practitioner we must look for the augmentation of a practical science; and, although it may be said, in some measure truly, that the genuine disciple of Hippocrates is pretty sure of that best of patronage, the public support, still we believe more money has been made by the authorship of a popular work with a very popular title, whereof our Fellows have published not a few, than by the ablest treatise, purely medical, which is unknown, except to the members of the profession. To such obscurations of talent our profession is peculiarly subject. Of divinity we say nothing. Of law it may be said that, in general, those who enjoy eminent practice give public experience of their fitness; and besides, there is no demand for the power of philosophical deduction in the practice of jurisprudence-it is a system of mere logic. But in medicine, a science of observation never to be exhausted, the judg

ment of the public, as to the merit of the practitioners, is formed upon the most inaccurate grounds. In law, it matters little to a future race how much talent may have been under a cloud in a preceding age. But in medicine, humanity is interested in calling into action the greatest talents of every age. Prizes, as marks of distinction, may do something towards the due promotion of medicine as a science; and still more may be done by a proper disposal of what may be called medical patronage,—the offices of honour or dignity in the profession, which ought to be in the disposal of responsible authorities.

VALUE OF SCOTCH DEGREES IN
ENGLAND.

IT is very singular that at this moment a case is pending in the King's Bench, in which a question is for the first time raised, as to the value and effect of a Scotch Degree in this country. The case is Collins against Colnaghi. The plaintiff has, it seems, a St. Andrew's Degree in Physic, and brought an action against the defendant for some slanderous words

in reference to his character as a Physician, denying that the plaintiff was a Physician, &c., &c. The point now awaiting the decision of the judges is, whether the circumstance of the plaintiff

having a Scotch Degree would enable

him to maintain an action for words

spoken of him in reference to his character of Physician in this country.

This question is now no more interesting than that a decision upon it should

be called for at such a moment.

SIR CHARLES WETHERELL AND THE LONDON UNIVERSITY.

WE opened with some interest the authorised edition of the speech of Sir Charles Wetherell against the London University. We were well aware of the grotesque

humour of this eminent lawyer and statesman. We had often admired the strange melange of sound sense and extravagant incongruous conceits which abound in his speeches; and, upon such a subject, where ardent attachment to his venerable client, the University of Oxford, and as keen contempt of their antagonist and of its public supporters, alike influenced him, we expected no ordinary out-pourings of his peculiar spirit. Although there is enough of Sir Charles's idiosyncrasy in the speech to identify it,

dicating this work to the University of Oxford, in whose behalf he spoke, we would venture to submit, for a dedication, a form of sound words on a former occasion addressed to that learned body. He may say I have brought you some fine biscuits, baked in the oven of charity, carefully conserved for the chickens of the church, the sparrows of the spirit, and the sweet swallows of salvation*."

ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S HOSPITAL.

"My Lords, before I leave this subject, I cannot but remind you of the infinite danger of that principle of liberalism on which this London University is to be founded. It carries with it an absolute contempt of the national church, and what is still more dangerous, a contempt of those feelings of affection and attachment by which the people of this country are bound to it from a sincere belief in the purity of its religion. The King by his charter is to found an atheistical institution, which will operate like the liberal proclamation of indulgence which issued from that ill-fated monarch, James II., in conjunction with his coadjutor, Lord Chancellor Jefferies, sometimes the tool of the sovereign, sometimes misled, and sometimes misleading the sovereign, of whose great seal he had the custody. ... Let any man say whether this is less to injure and insult the established church than was the attempted intrusion of Catholicism by James II.; and not less will the public indignation be excited, and their feelings violated by an attempt to abolish all true religion, and to substitute perfect infidelity.”

Should Sir Charles ever think of de

tribution of prizes was made, in the great hall of this Hospital, to the students of its medical school who had distinguished themselves in the several branches of medical and surgical science.

Sir Henry Halford, Bart., President of the College of Physicians, who received his early medical education at this Institution, was invited to take the Chair.

The following is the List of the Gentlemen to whom prizes were adjudged:

MEDICINE.

Charles West, Amersham, Bucks, 1st Prize. Honorary Certificates were adjudged to H. P. Jones, P. Aldrich, and F. Bell.

CHEMISTRY.

Robert Falkner, Bath, 1st Prize.
Thomas Wilson, Congleton, 2d Prize.
Honorary Certificates.
Wm. Ilott, J. E. Henry, J. E. Beveridge,

and A. B. Evans.

CLINICAL MEDICINE.

William Baly, Lynn, 1st Prize.

SURGERY.

John Gay, Wellington, Somerset, 1st Prize.
G. W. W. Firth, Norwich, 2nd Prize.
G. W. Bell, Edinburgh, 3rd Prize.

Honorary Certificates.
Percival Leigh and Frederick Bell.

ANATOMY.

William Moore, Plymouth, 1st Prize.
R. H. Meade, Bedford, 2nd Prize.
George W. Bell, Edinburgh, 3rd Prize.

Honorary Certificates.

John Henry Clark, Isaac Guillemard, H. P. Jones, W. J. Square, Thomas Taunton, and Thomas Wilson.

*Scott's Life of Dryden, new edit., p. 6.

To the Editors of the London Medical and Surgical Journal.

GENTLEMEN,-The following case of fracture of the lower jaw, with the means successfully adopted to obviate the difficulties which presented themselves, will, I trust, prove of sufficient importance for insertion in your valuable pages.

July 21st. J. H—, ætat. 9, was thrown from a horse, and received a violent kick on the chin. On examination, I found a perpendicular fracture of the lower jaw on the left side near its angle; on the corresponding portion of the right side was a comminuted perpendicular fracture. Two dentes cuspidati on the right, and the bicuspis on the left side, were knocked out; the front incisors, with their alveolar processes, were broken off and lay under the tongue, forming a horizontal fracture communicating with the perpendicular ones. On the posterior superior angle of the right parietal bone was a lacerated wound of the scalp, produced probably by the fall, and another under the left side of the chin. The intermediate portion of the jaw, drawn down by the action of its muscles, lay loose, and made the mouth appear as wide open as occurs in dislocation, from whence blood, mixed with saliva, was flowing copiously, presenting altogether an appearance most deplorable. I should add, there was considerable hæmorrhage from the right ear.

My much esteemed preceptor, the late Mr. Abernethy, when speaking of fractures of the jaw, used to say," Well, what is to be done

in such a case? You must put the bone into its old situation, and then you must keep the jaw still. And for splints, get some thick pasteboard, soak it in water till soft, and shape it to the jaw, and keep it steadily compressed till the pasteboard gets dry." This The was the plan first pursued in my case. wound was dressed with simple cerate, and the bone being put into its "old situation," was secured in a pasteboard splint. The diet to consist of gruel, tea, or toast and water, sucked through a quill.

22nd. Has passed a very restless night. Saliva, mixed with blood, still continues to flow from his mouth. The alveolar processes and teeth have fallen into their former situation; they were again replaced, and the jaw bound up as before. Aperient medicine was given.

23rd. This morning there is considerable fever, with hot dry skin, heaviness, and stupor; the medicine has not acted. Ordered to take a powder of calomel and jalap every hour until stools are produced. The teeth, &c., had again become displaced, though an attempt had been made yesterday to secure them by ligatures of silk to other teeth; they required the same assistance as yesterday, and the intervening portion of bone was more displaced than hertofore.

24th. The bowels have been copiously evacuated, and the unpleasant symptoms of yesterday have disappeared; had some quiet sleep, and is perfectly sensible. A little veal broth was ordered in addition to his diet. The jaw again displaced, and again put into its old situation.

Failing in all my attempts to keep the fractured ends of the bone steadily in situ, I took a cast of the boy's jaw in wax, and had a metallic splint, as represented in the drawing, made by Mr. Felton, a very ingenious mechanic in this neighbourhood. In the centre is an upright piece of Britannia metal, which, being flexible, is easily adapted to the form required, and regulated in height by the screw (c).

On the morning of the 28th, the jaw-bone being accurately brought into its old situation, the splint (a a), well padded, was put on, and retained by a broad piece of leather, with two straps on each side, put across the head, and buckled to another piece fastened on the side of the splint at the holes e e. The teeth being also replaced, were confined by the centre

piece. The boy suffered very much from the pain occasioned by resolving the fracture, and pulling the teeth into their proper places; yet in less than half an hour after he was busily engaged sucking the part in his mouth: this had the effect of causing him to retain his saliva, which, up to this time, he had been unable to do. From this period his health continued to be good, and the case went on so favourably, that a cure was effected without leaving any deformity, a circumstance I could not at first have expected.

The apparatus was worn for six weeks, though at the end of five he could bite a hard crust, and masticate his food with as much ease and freedom as before the accident. It was kept on the last week at his own desire, to remove the apprehension which he enterFig. 1.

tained of the possibility of the fracture giving way when he was eating.

The instrument I consider applicable to all cases of fracture of the lower jaw, the centre piece of course being taken off where its use is not needed; and the great benefit derived from its application in the case related, leads me to hope that, in other hands, it will be found equally serviceable. With this hope, I send the instrument to my respected Demonstrator, Mr. Stanley, of St. Bartholomew's, where cases of this description are of more frequent occurrence than in private country practice.

I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN LEE.

Market Bosworth, May, 1834.

a a The Splint.

rately.