The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-05-23 00:00:00

medical treatment. The other case was precisely similar , one-sixth of a grain had been taken. I have experimented upon upwards of sixty animals, dogs, cats, rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, flogs, and toads. The general ap pearance has been a great resemblance in all the cases ; some bore a lesser dose than otters. Generally speaking, about two minutes to twenty, but more frequently five or six minutes, elapsed from the 'injection of the poison to the effects becoming apparent. The poison was in some cases given in a solution ; in other instances in a solid state. I have placed it dry on the back part of the tongue. When administered in a fluid state it has been poured down the animal's throat, and in other cases it has been mixed with butter, suet, and meat ; in some cases I have rolled, it in a portion of the gut of an animal. In frogs and toads they have been placed in a solution of the poison, and I have also applied it direct to the spinal cord and the brain. The first 'symptom were a desire to be still, hurried breathing, and then snapping at the mouth, when the poison had been given at the mouth. Twitching of the ears, a trembling of the muscles, inability to walk, and convulsions of all the muscles of the body followed. The jaws Were generally closed derine the convulsions. Convulsion was followed by a total want of power in the muscles, which, on the least touch, were thrown into violent spasms, with a galvanic-like shock running through 'the frame. Spasms came on if the animals were touched or attempted to move. Oen tfonally the animal is able to move, and the sPasms come on at various periods. The animal dies at different times ; about three hours and a half is the longest period I have known t ) occur bifore death took place. In cases where the animal lives for a length of time spasms occur at frequent intervals. In every case before death the rigidity erases, without a single exception. The muscles are quite soft and flaccid, and the limbs may be put in any position whatever. The death stiffness Comes on at various periods. There is very little difference in the stiffness produced by , strychnia, Compared with other poisons. The symp toms which I refer to occurred in the order I B as well as editorial remark's. have mentioned before the convulsions came on. I lbws' be incidentally mentioned, as reference was have known an interval of half an hour between the -de to the press, that on coming into paroxysms in the animal. I found the heart inv ar i a bly "---*Pant Shee thanked the full on the right side, and very generally the left verticle eeee and ability firmly contracted, and the blood usually dark and fluid. • There is no particular appearance attached to the spine. I have experimented largely with poison producing sudden death on animals, and I have written on the subject. In the case of sudden death of an animal by poison the blood is often fluid after death, but not generally, and it happens also in sudden death from ether causes. The symptoms of Mr. Cook on Sunday night, I attribute to great excitement; and taking the symptoms as described on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, they do not resemble the symptoms I have seen produced by strychnine poison. He had more power or voluntary motion—such as sitting up in bed, moving his hands about freely, swallowing, talking, asking to be rubbed and moved, and also the sudden occasion of the convulsions, and the length of the time which occurred from the taking of the pills supposed to contain strychnine before the symptoms occurred, were greater than any I have known from my experience. I have never seen an animal vomit after taking strychnine nor scream voluntarily. Where there was so much spasm there would be inability to vomit. .Emetics in such cases have been given without effect. The past m ortem examination of Cook differed materially from those I have made of deaths resulting from strychnine—the heart, it was stated, was empty and uncontracted. Lord Campbell : I understand the evidence was " empty and contracted." Baron Alderson : I have it down "the heart was empty and contracted. Examination continued: The state of the lungs and brain appeared to be different from not being congested. The subsidence of the paroxysm its my experience have been gradual. I have experimented on bodies of various animals at various periods after death, and when decom position has set in, up to the 43rd day, to discover strych nia. I have never failed to discover it where I have known the animal had died from it. I have experimente in 15 cases at least. If the person bad died in the first paroxysm after the administration of strychnia, and the stomach to have been taken out the sixth day after death and analysed, in my opinion strychnine must have been found had the proper tests been applied. The witness then stated the process of separating the parts by evaporation, when strychnine would be found crystalised, and in a state for applying the tests. If it be the common commercial strychnine, such as is generally kept by sur geons and chemists, nitric acid would be one test. It. would produce a red colour, which in a great measure disappears on the addition of protochloride of tin. If the strychnine be pure, it does not undergo any change on the addition of sulphuric acid, but on the addition of a mix ture of bi-chromate of potash and several others a beauti ful purple colour is produced, which changes to various shades till it got to a dirty red colour. There are several other tests that will produce strychnine. In my judg trent the contents of Cook's stomach were in a favour able condition to produce strychnia by analysis. it it had been there—it would have given a little extra trouble, but it would not have affected the result, and the same applied to the liver, kidneys, and spleen subsequently sent up for examination and analysis. in the various experiments 1 have made on animals, I have seen a cor responding amount of styrcnnia Sound in the body of the analysers, and I have seen them detect it in the blood. I have seen it done by Mr. Herapath, of Bristol. It is not my opinion that the analysis might be defeated or confused by the existence in the stomach of any other substance that would produce the same colour as styrch nia ; the existence of salacine, for instance, would not affect the finding of styrchnia. Supposing death to have been caused by a dose of styrchnia only sufficient to cause death, it would not be absorbed in the system so as not to be found on a post mortem examination. That has been a great question. These alkalies are not changed in digestion, and may be found in the blood. No amount of putrefaction of an ordinary time would destroy its detec tion, but I not say it is indestructible. I have found it after forty-two days. By the Attorney-General: He experimented with Mr. Morley and some few alone, and the symptoms were generally alike. The experiments made conjointly were with Mr. Morley, and with reference to the Leeds case, and some with ireference to this one. I cannot say who first corresponded about this case. I submitted the onia which I have read. The dose which I have given has generally been half a grain to two grains. In a dog or cat half a grain will kill. Some animals are :more sus ceptible than others. Symptoms have been delayed as long as an hour. I have known the dose to have to be repeated. I have known cats killed by half a grain ; but they were young ones, not old ones. Half a grain in a solid state would be the minimum dose. In a solid state I have found a difference in the attack of the spasms. In some instances animals die with less convulsion ; and in one or two instances there .eta ? has been death after one spasm. That has arisen when : It was frequently so described. the same dose has been given. The limbs are generally darned Sergeant was about examining witness on first affected. In the case of ;the lady at Leeds, the feet eiland's book, when were not more curved than was due to the ordinary e Attorney-General objected. It would be much rigidity of death. I believe, from the heart being er to ask the witness what he knew himself. empty, coupled with the other facts, that Cook's death was not from strychnine. The fact of the heart .Cho Learned Judge concurred in this view of the case being empty would depend upon the way the post td that style of examination was abandoned. mortem examination was made. If begun at the Examination 'resumed by Mr. Sergeant Shee : I have h ea d t h e bl oo d b e i ng fluid wo u ld by or di nary causes re . mown convulsive symptoms to occur at various intervals— cede from the heart. In Cook's case, the post mortem Sometimes hours, sometimes days. I have known patients examination, the chest was opened first. I cannot account S' Ter in two minutes, in other cases two hours. They were for the emptiness of the heart. I ascribe Cook's death to d ependent upon some slight disease of the brain or spinal convulsions. Excitement may induce such a condition cord When death takes place under such symptoms, in of the brain and system that convulsions may come on at eases no trace has been found of disease on a post mor- a future period enough to cause death. He did not die I have formed no opinion on the finding of apoplexy. Ido net think that morphia caused his death, but it might have accelerated .r it. Morphia would ,ales; they might produce effect on the spinal Inhere are specimens in museums where granules not properrom the irritabilityr ug thatto a d c m o i o n k i s w t e a s to ; s . r personom what t sufferingheard found near the spinal cord. I have seen these of the attack Cook said he had in the night, I believe he set in St. Thomas's Hospital. In order to discover such was suffering from delirium. Any convulsion may be granules I should think it would be immediately necessary considered tetanic, it you mean by that term an out efter death to open the body to discover them to ascettain stretching of the limbs. When convulsions terminate in their effect on the spinal cord, more especially if the brain death consciousness is absent. I do not think, from the bad been previously opened. Independent of those granules symptoms describing Cook's death, that the paroxysm it would be possible, after some time had elapsed, to dis- was one of tetanus. (Dr. Jones evidence was then cover the condition of the spinal cord. In order to discover read.) the minutest structure of the nervous system a lens would Witness ;I do not think it was disease at all. be necessary, and that would be required supposing an ex - The Attorney-General : Neither do I. araination took place immediately after death. In the course Witness : I never knew a case of tetanus where rigidity cohstiiinaued from other convulsions Tetanic paroxysms are o f,. my experience I have had cases of traumatic tetanus, and conl n ul e s o io n n r s ul the time of 4 . agree in the opinion that it commonly commences vidgiastsi m on s s t c r i o death n ! l l know no m case where us in the jaw. I have had four cases of idiopathic tetanus ness was retained to the last. Convulsio s n io s n f s ro c ch le the course of my experience. One occurred in my own nine are called tetanic, and very properly so. In lases Three of these cases commenced with lock jaw. I of strychnine the spasms are more violent than in ordinary have had experience by personal practice. The fourth case tetanus. I have not said, nor do I infer, that this was in commenced in the body ; after swallowing easily the any sense a case of tetanus. The convulsions which took 11 Pasins came on. I have made a post mortem examination place after strychnine were called tetanic, and very of two pe r sons who have died through strychnine within properly so. He thought that Cook's was not a case the last two years. I had not seen either of the patients of tetanus in any sense of the word. It did before death, and it was in b cases by chemical analysis not run the course of tetanus. If it had been tetanus he that I ascertained that death had been occasioned by would not have been able to arouse Mr. Jones. He had h strychnine. I found the strychnine. In the first 'case heard that Mrs. Smythe, who was under the influence of the same. asked to have her neck rubbed. Cook did t ., 11 post tnortem examination took place 42 hours after That certainly might shake his faith. In the death, and in the other 30 hours. The body had not been Leeds case lock-jaw came on two hours after . death. touched when the post mortem examination commenced. That was a case in which it was suspected strychnine had The appearances of the body after death were—general been four times repeated. In the Leeds case four animals surface not unnatural, no marks of external violence. The were killed by the strychnine found in the body. eYelids were partially opened, and the expression of the face Mr. Sergeant Shee put one or two questions to the wit dstressed. The muscles of the body were flaccid and could nesses, who the n w i t hd rew , and at h al f- past two the court easily be moved, the feet were somewhat arch ed. The heart adjourned for a short period. had been drained out by the head hanging over the table. Upon the jury returning into court, In the second case the patient was about twenty years of age. Mr. William Herapath, of Bristol, was called, and es were quite flaccid, and the weather was not hot, examined by Mr. Grove : I have been connected with appearance could not have been produced by chemistry and toxicology for upwards of thirty years. I upon practice.strychnia. am I n o n t e v a e n r a s n a a w iy a . have been experimenting in aerie influence. The arms and legs were some- stiffened. The heart was perfectly flaccid, and on living subject. tical chemist. seen a body after death which had been poiso j. n -c ed alnthhamvsetnrychnine. It was about three days right side contained blood ; there was also some pmadecr exilet w o tests,of lead, lon the left side. The notes I have just read are not It the puce coloured bi-chromate of potass, original notes I made on the occasion of the post mortem . araination. I have also seen cases where an over dose oxide. Third, sulphuric acid and per oxide of manganese. 1 strychnine has been taken, but they have not terminated asurtleprhudreiactha'cidl. I also made a fourth test. The last two produceacop atelly. The quantity taken, in one case, was 1-6th of a per colour of strychnine, and the third a purple passing grain. In a very few minutes the symptoms appeared. The to red. Other tests give other colours with common Poison had been taken in a fluid state. The symptoms were strychnine, but not with pure strychnine. The process a went of power in controlling the actions of the muscles. o f the test is to obtain the poison. In the case of the The patient was up walking about when first attacked. human body referred to I made evident the strychnine .The symptoms manifested themselves by twitchings, rigidity, by the coloured test. I have experimented on animals and sudden cramp — more violent in the legs than any other to an extent sufficient to establish the p f rinciple. I have Part of the body. The nature of the twitchings and spasms analysed two cats. I gave one grai e n o ani mal strychnineto take i n i a t but I could . ric get Were not violent at first, but it was six hours before the solid form, voluntarily, and found thecat dead so I left it in the food symptoms disappeared. During the six hours the attacks were in the morning; the body was contorted. intermittent at various intervals. As the poison passed ge Lord Campbell : Rigid ? if they became less frequent. At first two or three seconds Witness : Extremely so. The head was turned round WV elapsed. These symptoms were not combated with to the side, the eyes protruding and the iris expanded so THE R UGELEY POISONINGS. TRIAL OF PALMER AT THE CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT :FROM OtJR OWN REPORTER) 3. ? St.lltiv examination. gra THE NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY. as to be almost invisible. In the urine which had been ejected I found strychnine, and I also found it in the stomach. I found it by the coloured test. The second case was also a cat. I gave the same quantity in a solid form and it swalloWed It. The animal remained very quiet for 15 or 16 minutes, with but fewy;,,,j riatill 35 minutes, when it lii tt Terrible spasm. I watched the animal fur about three hours when it had a second spasm, and then I thought it would have died. but it re covered and remained trembling all over. During two hour's and a half the animal was in a peculiar state; touching it had the effect of electrifying it all over. The slightest touch produced this effect. I left the animal for three hours thinking it would recover, but in the morn ing I found it dead in the same indurated contorted con dition the former animal had been found. I examined the body 36 hours after death, and found strychnine in the urine, in the stomach and upper intestines, in the liver and in the blood of the heart. In all cases I have examined I have found the poison. In cases where strychnine has been taken it has been discovered, and I have also found the nux vomica. In one case the animal had been buried two months. I have experi mented with strychnia mixed purposely with a putrifying matter and detected it in all cases. lam of opinion, as a chemist, that where strychnia has been taken in sufficient quantity to kill, it will be found. I have heard the eVi denee respecting the jar taken to Dr. Taylor, and I think if strychnia had been there it ought to have been discov ered. The experiments I have just mentioned were made in Bristol. I have made experiments in London of a similar nature. _ _ THE MONSTER GUN SECOND SUCCESSFUL TRIAL YESTERDAY. The second trial of the wonderful monster gun took place yesterday, at the same locality as Oil the previous day, and the success was as equally marked as were the experiments of Wednesday. The attendance of the public was more numerous than on the &al day, and the interest taken in the proceedings Cross—examined by the Attorney-General: 1 am not a physiologist. I made a chemical experiment on the Bth of the present month with a view to this case. I have experimented about sine times. I have experi mented on the tissues of both a cat and a dog. I gave the dog a grain. I have a strong opinion from the newspaper reports that strychnia had been given in this case, and I might have said that Dr. Taylor had not taken the right way to find it. lam perfectly satisfied that if a 50-1000th part of a pure grain had been taken, it ought to have been detected. I can put ten grains in a gallon of water, take a drop of that water, and detect the presence:of strychnia. I can find even the one-thousandth part of a grain. I found it in 1i ounce of fluid in a dog. He had given one grain. Mr. R - ogers examined: I am professor of chemistry to the St. George's School of Medicine. I have made one experiment on an animal. I commenced at the end of the year, and finished a short time ago. It was a dog, and I gave it two grains of strychnia between two pieces of meat. The dog died, and three days afterwards I removed the stomnch, and took some of the blood, which became putrid in about ten days ; and I then examined it to discover the strychnia. I separated the strychnia, but I cannot say how much; but I knew it was present by three tests. A month or five weeks after I proceeded to analyse the stomach and its contents. It had become decomposed. Strychnia was found in large quantities. I have heard the evidence relative to the jar containing the stomach of John Parsons Cook, and lam of opinion that if strychnia had been contained in the jar, it ought to have been found. By the Attorney-General : It the stomach had had no contents the washings of it would give a result. I have made no experiments, but, as the poison resists putrifac tion, it would have been found in the body even at this time. Time would'pake no difference. had increased. Amongst the military personages present were Sir D. M‘Dougall, Captain Va,ndeleur, float the proof depart ment of the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, who came down specially to witness the trial ; Admiral Grenfell ; Captains Middleton and Adams; Lieutenants• Richard, Southern, and Wildon, with sergeant-major and twelve men, from the militia artillery stationed at the fort. The Messrs. liorstalls, and Mr. Clay, the manager of the works, were also in attendance Dr. Henry. Letheby examined by Mr. Keneally : I am a Professor of Medicine in the London Hospital. I am, also, medical officer of health to the city of London. I have been engaged for some time in the study of poison and of its action on living bodies. I have often been employed by the Crown, I may say in every case tried at this court for the last fourteen years. I have heard and attended to the evidence given of the death of Mr. Cook. I have witnessed many cases of the lower animals poisoned by strychnia, and several persons poisoned by nux vomica. The symptoms of the animals I have seen do not accord with this case. I have never seen so long a time elapse before the symptoms came on as in this case. The longest interval I have noticed in animals has been three quarters of an hour, and then the poison Wasadministered under disadvantageous circumstances, in order to prolong its effects. It was admin istered on a full stomach. I have seen the poison take effect in five minutes, and in all the cases I have seen a quarter of an hour is the average time before the poison exhibited itself. In all animals and human beings, I have see❑ the system has been in an irritated state, so that the slightest excitement, such as an effort to move, a noise, or breath of air will set them off into convulsions. I don't believe it at at all probable that a person to whom strychnine had been given, and it had exhibited itself, that he would be able to pull a bell; it would bring on spasms, and he would be convulsed. It was not likely that a person in this nervous irritation would submit to have his neck rubbed. When a case of strychnine does not terminate fatally, the first paroxysm is followed by others less powerful ; there would not be an entire cessation of the symptoms. I have seen antidotes administered in cases of nux vomica. Strychnine is meat easy of detection. The longest period at which I have detected it has been one month ; that was in de composed remains. If strychnine is pure, I can detect the 12,000 th part of a grain. I can detect the tenth part of a grain in a pint of any liquid, whether pure or putrified. I have detected it in a pint of the most putrid liquid, when it has been standing three months Upon an animal I recovered all hut a very small portion of what I had given. I could positively detect ifs presence in bodies where it had been. I never failed in those animals so poisoned. I always found the left side of the heart full of blood: The physical cause of that I hold to be the fixing of the muscles of the chest, and the blood being unable to relieve itself through the lungs, remains in the heart. The lungs would be congested from that cause. I agree with Dr. Taylor as to the muscular contractions produced by the poison, I agree with. Dr. Taylor that the absorption takes place in the blood, but not that it becomes changed to such an extent that it is undiscoverable. Not any mixing of the contents of 'the stomach with tl e intestines would prevent the possibility of an analysis being made and the poison detected, It might be detected from the mucous membrane of the stomach, If a dose of anti mony was taken in brandy and water it would not produce any burning sensation. Cross-examined by the Attorney-General—l am not a member of the College of Physicians. I used to be employed by the crown. The last case was in 1851, when I stated that arsenic had been taken four times before death. I was the cause of her being respited. Some of the medical pro fession challenged my opinion. I hold the same opinion now. I have operated upon five animals within the last two months. I have given one grain in a pill, and some times in a pill and sometimes upon the tongue. In the case of a dog who had it given with a full stomach, the poison kneaded into hard bread, the symptoms did not come on for three quarters of an hour. The least noise or breath of air will cause a recurrence of the paryoxysm. 1 have known animals die in the first paroxysm. I have said I should not feel surprised that a person should be able to sit up in bed and ring the bell. I heardl the account about his death, and think it quite likely, but have not seen symptoms that convinces me of that result. There was nothing in tha symptoms exhibited by him upon the night of his death differing from those of tetanus by strychnine. One of the symptoms is an increase of breathing, and a difficulty when the spasms came on, and sitting up would be a most likely position for a person in bed. The symptoms of Cook's death are guile irreconcileable with anything I ever heard. (Great sensation.) Re-examined by Mr. Sergeant Shee : Such convulsions might arise from some cause which an early examination of the spinal cord might have developed. Cook's death is quite irreconcileable with every cause of death, tither natural or artificial. Touching an animal during the premonitory symptoms would bring on the spasms. I do not think that I have displeased the government by the case of assenic alluded to. I have been engaged since. In that case Dr. Pereira came to me and asked me to write a letter to him, to the effect that there was a possibility that the poison might have been taken more than four hours, and I did so, but denied that it was probable. The respite came one hour after my letter, Mr. Robert Edward Gay examined by Mr. Sergeant Shee : I am a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. In October, 1855, I attended a person of the name or Fester, who was labouring under tetanus. The symptoms were those of an ordinary cateract. Upon the fourth day an increasing stiffness of the muscles and feet came on, and upon the evening of that day the jaw was locked, pains came on in the muscles of the bowels and legs, he became convulsed with violent contractions of arms and hands, with a difficulty of swallowing, which so increased up to the 10th day that not any food, solid or liquid, could be taken, and upon anything being attempted to be fed with a spoon he became violently con vulsed, as also did feeling the pulse He com plained of great hunger, and said " What should he do if he could not eat." He was kept alive by injections. About the twelfth day he became insen sible and weaker, and convulsed until the 14th day, when he died. He had been an omnibus conductor, and suffered from a sore throat. The disease was an inflamatory sore throat, from exposure to cold. He became tetanic from his extremely nervous and anxious disposition. lie had a large family. His sister died a week before of pulmonary sore throat, . , There wore a considerable Cross-examined by the Attorney-General : This patient only had remissions of the severer symptom, there was always a twitching of the muscles, The insensibility was produced from congestion of the brain brought on by the convulsions. At this stage the Court adjourned. Mr. Sergeant Shee, in answer to his Lordship, said he would, if possible, conclude the evidence for the defence to morrow (this day.) A deputation from the Manchester General Cemetery, con sisting of the Right Hon. T. H. Gibson, M.P., Mr. J. Kershaw, M.P., Mr. Gregory, and Mr. W. Crippin (chair man), transacted business on Tuesday at the Home-office. MILITIA. MOVEMENTS.—Yesterday the 2nd Warwickshire regiment of militia arrived here by the Cleopatra, from Dublin, and immediately proceeded by rail to their county, previous to their disembodiment. The Cleopatra afterwards embarked the Roscommon militia, under the command of Colonel Fitzstephen French, M. P., for Dublin, en route for Roscommon. This regiment has been encamped at Aldershott, and is also on the eye of being disbanded. number of the people of the locality present also. Captain Vandeletir took a deep interest in tho prodeeding9; and made elaborate notes both of the gun and its performance Of the complement and unqualified success of this wonderful instru ment, there can he no doubt whatever, as the tests already applied put the matter beyond question. It is most gratifying therefore to find a Liverpool house capable of producing such a machine, and well may the town be proud of the scientific mechanics who wrought at the work to its perfect consumma- Lion. The average weight of the shells (loaded with lead) fired yesterday was 3101b5., and the average of the round shot wa 2821ba Everything being prepared, the gun wai elevated to an angle of 10 degrees, and was 10a 4 .4d with 201bs. of powder, and an unloaded shell. The shot was fired by Sir D. It w about a mile and a 1 iti'Dougall. If before this shell grated first, arid then went on to a great length. The rebound :mice, was 3 feet 7 inches, as the EIGHTH DAY. LONDON, TB URSDAY. usual The Proceedings were resumed this morning at the p hour, and, though the rain fell heavily, the ap r°aches to the court were most densely crowded through :lit the day, the opening of the evidence for the defence ttP e aring to have added considerably to the intensity of InlntereEt which has prevailed from the commencement toe unparalled investigation. The jury were escorted 11 , court as usual, from the London Coffee-house, by i' e e „: 3 Efiers in charge, and the learned judges, Lord Camp. 1 _ 1 ! Mr. 13 iron Alderson, and Mr. Justice Cresswell, ""k their seats at precisely at ten o'clock, when the Duke C • alb ge and other celebrates also took up positions 1917 e, bberidnch. , n /V ben again placed at the bar, the prisoner looked th xi "us, fatigued, and careworn, but he still listened to , )n, evide nce w i th watchful attention, and occasionally '7e( l notes woon it to his counsel. re7i " ll o V to the first - witness being called, ifCampbell said : I hope that until the conclusion frntliis trial the public journals will continue to abstain I n any comments upon any points in the case. The .oro be fr o lety of such abstaining is too obvious to require ..,Li k tn , Inc any remarks. His lordship also further added 11 1 ,, - , 1 ": P elf, and brothers upon the bench, wish it to be ender tood that our remarks apply to the insertion of It as editorial remarks. incidentally mentioned, as reference was u . adicially made to the press, that on coming into ibis morning, Mr. Sergeant Shee thanked the ' - ‘tives of the press for the great care and ability and all had reported his speech in mitl~Vcli R'l tlef e ,„ e of t ►urination of the witnesses for the defence was rnenced. The first witness called was omas Nunnely, who was examined by Mr. ,C.: lam a Fellow of the Royal College of and Professor of Surgery to the Leeds School eiue. and several other learned societies. I have Practice, and have made both classes of tetanus How many cases of idiopathic tetanus I have seen four. . Did they all terminate in lock jaw ?No ; tti 2 one out the number, and they did not prevent Person swallowing during the whole course of the thee I have been present during the trial, and heard sv lnPtotns described, and also read the depositions. From both of those sources, what opinion draw as to the cause of the death of Cook ? From convulsive disease. (3, rove 3rove : Upon what do you found that opinion? the different symptoms described before the court -e Coal desitio. licercl Campbell ns interposed, and said it would be better less should give his opinion on the viva voce and the depositions generally. hAlr. Baron Alderson thought that the difference between 31,,,epositions and the evidence was a question for the „ 40 Nl Campbell said, if the learned counsel persisted in 4`laroining him in reference to the depositions _ he must go 13 7L 1 them separately. The examination of the witness was then taken up by 'Ar er eant Shee, as follows— ' ,• Sereant Shee : From what you heare- ..eribek, A the ofthe symptoms of Cook's health have previousl d y d to e final a tt ac k a t R uge l e y, an d th e fit s an d p arox y sms , i s rld ' the particulars of the post mortem examination, what 3rour opinion? ii. Witness : From what 1 have heard I should assume lel to be a man of delicate constitution. That for a long period he felt himself to be ailing, and for which he had "ecra under medical treatment. That he had suffered from That him lungs were diseased, and had an old *3 tanding disease of the throat. That he had led an irre gular life, and was Enbject to mental excitement. The :l•ataination of the body showed the syphilitic taint and 'diseased condition of the body. The lungs were not alt from hY, being in a state of emphysumatous or distension wind. The scars were from syphilitic ulcers. There as a very unusual appearance of the membranes and 'Dinal marrow. The lining of the aorta was in an unusual state. of Sergeant Shee: You have heard the accounts given Z 4 the attacks which he had during the night, and when Ve said that he was mad for three minutes, what is the Inference you draw from those attacks and their periodi- That they were of a convulsive character. Air. Sergeant Shee egree and form? Are not convulsions very various in As various as possible. Shee: Is it not impossible to place some t the classes described ? It is. ae : Are there not forms of convulsions rich patients retain their consciousness ? There are. Sergeant Shee: Name them. Hysteria. Are there not also forms of epilep- Mr• Sergeant Shee ~y? So it is stated (1 Campbell: I have not met with a case. r g eant Shee : Would not the patient be liable to ity? Yes ; and in such a state of system other ,ysical causes, such as moral ones, would cause Jility, such as any excitement or depression. The rganised state of the bowels, and vomiting for some 4 vs previously, would affect the nervous system of a 6ubjeet like the deceased more than a healthy person; so -418, 3 would the cold and wet more easily affect such a 'ersol), and with such a constitution convulsions would more likely to supersede. Convulsive attacks are some 's followed with spasms and rigidity of some parts of Ddy, assuming sometimes the appearance of tetanic n, such as the convulsive diseases of infancy, which xactly tetanus. I agree with Dr. Copland's work 'rday. Worms in children will produce convul• bh :ns, in adults disease of the brain and spinal cord. Hys teria. "Me from chloroform, and eating indigestible food, do 'cot know of convu'sions from retching. ' l l'' , Sergeant Shee : Do you agree with Dr. Copland as 'P.o convulsions sometimes ending in death ? Yes. 'r. Sergeant Shee : What is the immediate proximate of death in such cases ? Asphyxia. Shce : Do you agree with Dr. Copland as to recurrence of the symptoms ? I Campbell : Du you call death from spasms of the /e.ad v;; of tho gun, in this ins lg stage was aMOy soaped and smooth. The second shot was of the same weight of metal, but with a charge of This was also fired by Sir D. M'Dougall, trav'ersii, 3011)s. of powder Lnd was a fine discharge, the ball going far beyond the other, before it dipped. The recoil of the gun was four feet and half an inch in this shot. Loud cheering followed this discharge, and the people seetuel quite delighted. The third shot was the largest charge of powder yet put into the gun, namely, 451bs. This excited universal interest amongst all present. The shot weighed 3101bs. It was fired by Captain Middleton, but the report was n)t louder than that made by smaller charges. The ball graieneyond 2,500 yards, and finally ceased at about three The elevation of the gun in the three shots was the ame, namely, ten degrees, and in the last shot the recoil was seven feet ten inches, but the elevation was not at all influ enced. The fourth, and last shot, for the day, was with a charge similar to the last, but with au elevation of one degree only. Of course, at this elevation, the ball grated at a nearer space, but it went on lashing sand and water for nearly two miles. The recoil of the gun was exactly five feet. This ended the day's experiments, and we heard the highest adviration expressed by the military and scientific authorities present as to the capabilities of the gun almost for any work. At present it would he impossible to calculate on the extreme range of this Splendid piece of ordnance. To-day there will be target practice on the strand, and to-morrow the first public trial will take place. COUNTY COURT .-YESTERDAY. (BEFORE JOSEPH POLLOCK, EsQ MAGINNIS v. BOWER.—This was an action brought by Alexander Maginnis, of No. 8, Strand street, to recover a commission of £3 10s, from B. C. Bower, captain of the ship Packingham, now lying in the Prince's Dock. Mr. Gray appeared for the plaintiff. It appeared that plaintiff stated to the defendant, that he was authorised by a merchant to arrange with him for a cargo of salt. Defendant did not know that plaintiff was a broker, but on discovering that fact, declined to have any dealings. Defendant did, however, effect an arrangement with the merchant, and this action was accordingly brought by plaintiff. His Honour said he knew of no law or custom entitling the plaintiff to recover. It was not the ordinary custom for the brokeg, when they wanted to introduce themselves, to walk dow n on board a man's vessel, and endeavour to make out a trade in that way. They had an established mode of conduct ing their business. If a man entered into negociations with a broker, knowing him to be such, he was liable for the commission, but not so, when, on discovering that the party was a broker, the defendant declined at once dealing with him, or holding any conversation with him. A verdict was given for the defence. POLICE COIIRT -YESTERDNT, (BEFORE MR. SANDS.). SUPPOSED ROBBERY OF PLATE.— A woman, named Susannah Conner, about forty years of age, was brought up by Inspector Carlyle, of the detective force, charged with having been found in possession of a quantity of silver spoons and other articles, supposed to have been stolen. Carlyle met the prisoner on Wednesday in Great Howard-street, and observing something bulky under her arm, followed her up Dublin.steeet, and accosted her. She denied that she had any property about her, but on being searched, the bundle was found to contain fifteen silver spoons, a silver curb chain, four silver pencil cases, and a crown piece of Charles IT., dated 1671. She stated that she had bought the silver in Manchester. Notice having been received - by-the police of the robbery of property of this description in that city, the prisoner was ordered to be taken there. ROBBERY OF A DlGGER.—Catherine Rooney, a woman of the town, was convicted of robbing a foreigner, named Charles Wendt, of £7O. The prosecutor had just re turned from the diggings, and on Wednesday afternoon he was proceeding to Isis lodgings in Wolf-street. Being a stranger in the town he placed himself under the' direction of the prisoner, whom he met in the street, but in plaoe of being taken to his lodgings, he was led into a house in Marr-street, and there plundered of his hard-earned money. The prisoner was committed for trial. SUPPOSED ROBBERY OF WATCHES.—A young man, named William Wadsworth, recently employed as bar man, at Ryde's Vaults, Park-lane, was brought up and c h a rged under the following circumstances :—From the statement of Home, one of the detective force, it appeared that they had information at the police office of a robbery of a watch, on the 20th July, 1854, in Lime street, from a man named William Scott, residing at Windsor. The robbery was effected by violence, and was committed by a man and woman. The police had been unable to trace the perpetrators of the robbery, until Wednesday, when a watch was offered for pawn, at Byford's, Dale -street, by a woman named Evans, the wife of a yardsman, at Mr. Hollinsworth's, Hood-street. A messenger was immediately forwarded from Mr. By ford's, to the police, and on their arrival, the watch was identified as that which had been stolen from Scott. On enquiry, Evans declared that he had bought the watch for £3 from the prisoner, and this the latter admitted, but stated that he had bought it from a sailor Aft e rwards, however, when l o d ge d i n b r id ew ell, he de_. dared that he had bought it from a man named Frost, who was transported in 1854. Horne, the officer, then made further enquiries, and ascertained that the prisoner's wife kept a house of ill-fame in Hurst-street. He proceeded at once there, and on searching, found in the house three gold watches (one of considerable value), three silver watches, and two gold chains. The prisoner in his defence, stated that he had purchased the gold watch, but could not account for his possession of the other property. He was remanded for seven days. (BEFORE MR. MANSFIELD.) Several parties were convicted before the court this day for using light weights, &c., and were fined in various penalties. DISSOLUTIONS OF PARTNERSHIP.--W. Thorburn and W. Hargreaves, Shanghai, China, merchants, J. Hanson and T. Backhouse, Sheffield, coach builders. J. Dawson and R. Dawson, Leeds, dressers and finishers. J. Dyson and G. Dyson, Huddersfield, furniture brokers. T. Marsden and T. B. Marsden, Bury, Lancashire, joiners. W. Lay cock, J. Laycock, J. Bland, and M. Bland, Bradford, Yorkshire, plasterers, so far as regards W. Laycock and J. Laycock. THE PRUSSIAN DUELLISTS.—The affair of Her Von Rochow, and his trial for duelling, has for some time past been removed from the ken of the public. The verdict of the court martial was duly forwarded to the general auditor, and by him, after careful consideration, laid before the King. The King has confirmed it, and the sentence itself is five years' confinement in a f grtress. Herr von Marwitz, the umpire, is acquitted, in consequence of his proving that he used every possible means to bring about a reconcilia tion between the two adversaries. From the circumstance that the same grounds were manifestly in favour of Herr von Munchausen, Hinkeldey's second, the public prosecutor refrained from taking any proceedings against him. THE REPRESENTATION OF LICHFIELD.--The city of Lichfield was much astonished on Friday last by the an nouncement in public handbills that it was the intention of Lord Waterpark to retire from the representetion of that city, in consequence of not being able to devote his time to parliamentary duties as he could wish, and that his lordship would accept the Chiltern Hundreds. As is well known, Lord Waterpark sits in the Anson," or Lichfield interest ; the other member being Lord Alfred Paget, in the " blue," or independent. Viscount Sandon, eldest son of the Earl of Harrowby, a cabinet minister, is a candidate, end will, no doubt, step into the seat so soon as it is rendered vacant. Lord Sandon is well spoken of, and his father is known and respected at Lichfield. He will commence his canvass on Monday next, and the election will probably take place on Thursday week. — Wolverhampton Chronicle. PILOT COMMISSIONERS CONSERVANCY OF THE MERSEY A meeting of the Pilot Commissioners for the port of Liverpool, was held at twelve o'clock, yesterday, in the Town Hall, to take into consideration the report of the Board of Trade to the House of Commons, dated April last, on private bills for harbours, docks, and navigation, and to adopt a petition to Parliament against the design therein suggested, of supeVseding the present pilot establishment of the port of Liverpool, and of vesting all the duties connected with the conservancy, lights, and pilotage of the harbour, in a body of conservators, to be hereafter constituted. The meeting was very numerously attended. The Mayor, John Stewart, Esq , presided. The notice convening the meeting having been read by Mr. Rowlands, the secretary, Mr. F. Shand said that their object in coming together that day, was to adopt such measures as would obtain for their; a locus standi to oppose, at a prJper time, the project of the Bo trd of 'Trade; by which it was contem plated to transfer the powers of the commissioners to a body of trustees or conservators, " for the general management," as it was set forth iii the report, " of the trade of the river Mersey." To him, the Board of Trade appeared like some great bird of prey, hovering over the town, and looking for what they might lay their talons on ; for, after having determined on their attack on the dock estate arid corporate property in the - they then discovered that such a body as the Piht Com missioners existed in Liverpool, and at once included it in the category of their contemplated spols. To arrive at their own conclusion, that there was no body in Liverpool truly representing the trade of the Mersey, they had set forth their own false premises, and having thus built up their case, the Board of Trade then recom mended that the Liverpool corporation and dock trustees should, next session, introduce a bill arwangst other things, to enable parliament to vest all duties coimeeted with the conservancy, lights, and pilotage of the bar- boor, in a body of conservators, to be thereby consti tuted. No charge of inefficiency or neglect in the discharge of their duties, had been made against the commissioners, nor were they themselves aware of any neglect or defect in the manner in which their duties at present carried out. (Hear, hear.) Indeed, -ere vain enough to believe, that there was no part world, where the system - of pilotage was in better they v in the than in Liverpool. or where its duties were better _ . performed ; but they were at the same time quite sensi ble, that they had incurred the displeasure of the Board of Trade, inasmuch as they had refused to license the masters and mates of vessels, unless they showed them selves equally qualified to fulfil the duties as ordinary pilots. He was aware that the Board of Trade was upheld in this feeling by the steamship interest, but the committee felt that they were only doing their duty to the public in persisting to refuse to license masters and mates of vessels unless they showed themselves as well qualified as ordinary pilots for the duties which they sought to pedant. Only three applications had come before them as commissioners. One was a gentleman, a master of a steam vessel, whose qualifications Were con sidered greater than either of the other candidates, and there was a very strong disposition on the part of the examining committee to pass him, but after the fullest examination, it was found that he had not the requisite kunwledge, and the committee had, therefore, been obliged to refuse to license him as a pilot. He, therefore, appealed to the Board of Trade, and the board, instead of taking the responsibility on themselves and granting him a licence, as they had the power to do, wanted to have him re-examined in the presence of one of their officers. To that the committee objected, stating that they had no objection to the presence of an officer from the Board of Trade at any future examination, but that having disposed of the application in question, they could not again entertain it under such circumstances. That was the only difference they had ever with the Board of Trade, and the course which they had taken the committee were quite prepared to justify, _(Heat., hear,) In conclusion, Mr. Shand proposed for adoption the following PETITION. To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the Commissioners of Pilots of the post of Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster. Sheweth,—That your petitioners have been informed that a report has been lat,ly presented to your honourable house from the Board of Trade upon the private bills for harbours, docks, Pavigations, &e., in which report the board reviews the hill now before your honourable house intituled "A Bill for carrying into effect certain provisions of the Birkenhead Docks act, 1855, for providing for the construction, completion and management of the Bit konhead docks, and for other purposes ;" and the Board of Trade in their said report suggest that a die tinct provision be inserted in the bill, to the effect that the Liverpool corporation and the Liverpool dock trustees shall next session introduce a bill to effect the following objects :- 1. The re-organisation of the Liverpool Dock Trust. 2. The transfer of the Birkenhead docks and all the estates and property purchased by the Live:pool corporation, under the acts of last session, to a new body of trustees. 3. The notices of the proposed bill of next session to be so framed as to enable parliament to consider the propriety of vesting all duties connected with the conservancy, lights, and pilotage of the harbour in the body of conservators to be thereby constituted. That your petitioners submit that a pilot establishment to be effective must necessarily be under the direction and management of persons conversant with ships and shipping, and resident near such pilot establishment ; and as the present Liverpool pilot establishment not only reflects the trading interests of the port, but is as effective as any establishment of the kind in England, your petitioners deprecate any interference with them, and consequently the insertion of any provision in the said Birkenhead Dock Bill requiring the Liverpool corporation and dock trustees to give any notices whatever with the view to any change in the constitution of the Liverpool pilot esta blishment. Your petitioners, therefore, most humbly pray that the said suggestion of the Board of Trade may not be carried into effect, and that no provisio❑ may be inserted in the said Birk enhead Bill having for its object any change in the constitution of the Liverpool pilot establishment. And your petitioners pray that they may be heard by them selves, their counsel, agents, and witnesses, before the com mittee to whom the said Birkenhead bill is referred, against the insertion of any such special provision, and against such other clauses of the said bill as may affect their interest. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c. Mr. Mondel asked if this was the proper time to petition ? Mr. Lowndes (solicitor to the commissioners) replied in the affirmative. The Chairman said that, the system of placing the Board of Trade over local management had already been productive of mischief enough ; and he. t herefore, hoped that the present attempt towards that end would be unsuccessful. The pilots did not require to have the jurisdiction in any way changed, but if any improvement could be suggested in the local administration, it would ' be at once adopted. Mr. Mondel observed that the report charged them with partiality, but he considered their position as ship• owners, placed them above the imputation of being partizans of the pilots. (Elear, hear.) Mr. Clint seconded the motion, and the petition was unanimously adopted. The meeting then separated: SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB The annual examination of the pupils belonging to the Liverpool School for the Deaf and Dumb took place in the Royal Institution, Colquitt-street, at twelve o'clock yesterday. There was a considerable attendance of ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Richard Ratbbone pre sided, and in opening the proceedings, expressed his regret at the absence of the president of the institution, the Rev. Rector Campbell, who had been for some weeks past out of town, and was unable to return in time for that occasion. The chairman then read the yearly report, which was adopted at the recent annual meeting, and on that occasion published in our columns. The examination of the pupils was then conducted by Mr. David Buxton, principal of the institution. Beginning at the lowest grade, a little girl, eight years old, who, oa entering the school had apparently but a very limited range of intellect, and for five or six months made no progress whatever. Mr. Buxton gradually proceeded upwards until he reached that section of the scholars whose quickness, general knowledge, and facility of com prehending and answering would have been remarkable in pupils of the same age possessed of fully-developed natural faculties. All grades of childish acquirement were thus exhibited from the pupil whose knowledge and capability of expression, reached, as yet,. only the power of describing animals by some gesture imitative of their most remarkable characteristics, up to the scholars who gave the readiest answers to the most difficult questions in scripture andgeneral history, and wrote their answers with sing ular readiness and most correct expression. The wonderful quickness with which the slightest gesture, or even glance, of the teacher was comprehended, although scarcely perceptible to a spec tator, was one of the most remarkable features of the examination, and most calculated, perhaps, of a ll to enc ourage almost unlimited hope for the development of faculties so susceptible of a cultivating power. It is scarcely necessary to add that the interest felt by those who witnessed the examination was such as could not be adequately represented by any written description. To those who had not witnessed such an examination pre viously, the occasion was one which displayed a capacity for progress and cultivation in the deaf and dumb exceeding any previous expectation. The proceedings closed with the usual votes of thanks, m%oinsiterit DOCK COMMITTEE.-YEETERDAY The usual weekly meeting of this committee was held a t one o'clock yesterday. Mr. Charles Turner presided, and the other members present were--Mesers. Shand, Palmer, Robin son, Grerson, Glialoner, James Holmes, Barber, Rounthwaite, Mondell, Gladstone, liubbock, Rankin, Smith, Evans, Lockett, and Langsdale. A report was produced from the surveyor, upon the comple tion of the north docks low level railway, which stated that the connection between the line of rails belonging to the dock trustees, at the north end of the Sandon•dock, and the loco level line of rails of the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway, crossing the street, was made on the 18th instant. The whole of the line of rails along the dock quay, can now be travelled u pon by the Lancashire and Yorkshire, and London arid North :stern Railway Companies The report was referred to the committee of works, to determine what regulations and charges should be recommended It was agreed, o❑ the recommendation of the committee of works, that about 1,000 square yards of laud, at the corner of Lightbody-street and Great Howard -street, should be let to Mr. Wm. Jordan, at is 6d per square v ird, possession to be recovered by the committee at six wecii The warehouse sub-committee rccommt I that Jaw Formby, who had been on trial, should h ,ppointed landing at a survey In of the xonco to ion to the idi et; that ence of clerk at the Albert-dock warehouses, which was a marine department, it was recommend of the channel, at the ❑orthern branches thonld be made, and that litli ,phed plans should be prepared Mr. Mondell said the marine surve.l able alteration in the channel, ronderic complete survey o')tained: The recommendation was agreed to t necessary to have THY. DAY OF PUBLIC RFJOICINC A letter was read from the town c! , rK, requesting whether, on the 79:11 instant, the Wapping warehou works in progress at the Queen's-dock, and the wori north end, would be thrown open for the inep public. A report was read from Mr. Hartley, in this question, stating that he could see opening of the Wapp'ng warehouses; but the other works should not be throw the danger of accidents, &c .r of cards should he The Ch iirman suggested that a nuN , printed, to be distribuod to very respe upon application, and that, with this limitation, the works should be all thrown open. Mr. Evans : That is certainly carrying ant lowest point. 'Who is to decide which are the res householders ? The Chairman : Well, say every householder. Mr. Evans : No, sir ; you have only to take care Ora there are policemen there. You have no reason to apprehend any injury. In fact, there is nothing there but bare walls and iron pillars. Mr. Shand : Yon are speaking now of the warehouses. Mr. Evans : Yes, I am. Mr. Shand ' I don't think there is any objection to their being thrown open. Mr. Evans : No doubt the chairman has his criterion for every respectable householder. It is very presumptuous i❑ us to think of deciding who are respectable persons out of 40,000 or 600,000. The Chairman : I think Mr; Evans misunderstood my views. In all large population; such as this, exceeding 400,000 persons, there must be a very large proportion of a roving population, about whom nobody know: anything at all, and who have no places of residence of any kind or description, and by whom many annoyances may be caused. Mr. Evans : Ido not see why you iced exclude them. Have persons put there to take care. I have aiiTady said that the premises cannot be injured. The Chairman : I think they can. Mr. Evans : There is nothing but walls and iron pillars, whicfr can receive no injury. There is no ground for making any distinction. They ought to be open to all Englishmen, and every one who has the protection of society. Mr. Holme : I see no objection to opening the Wrapping warehouses ; but I do see very decided objections to admitting the people, indiscriminately, into the Queen's-dock, because if there be a crowd we shall have accidents. _ _ , cracy to the Mr. Evans : I am not talking about the Queen's-dock. Mr. Holrne : I fully agree with the chairman that, where there is a roving population, it is quite necessary to protect our property. Mr. Evans: Have you officers there, to see that no injury is done. - - - - - M. Heinle : I differ with you altogether. I should like to know what chance our officers would have such a day as we witnessed in Liverpool last week ? I know something of the difficulty we had, in connection with our railway, in doing any thing with the crowd. If there is to be anything in the shape of such a crowd, I entirely differ with Mr. Evans. Mr. Evans : The baton of a policeman is everything. The Chairman : I have no objection to extend the admis sion to every householder in the town. lam sure that we shall be quite safe in doing so. But I strongly object myself, and I recommend the committee not to allow it, to large masses of people coming in from all over the country, and. without any guarantee as to who they are, being admitted. Although there are only bare walls, there aro windows and doors, and we might have a great many accidents. Mr. Holme said the last time he went throng, be ware- houses, the traps were open. It would never do to admit the public without these traps being closed. The Surveyor said they would be all closed. The Chairman still strongly recommended that tl should be by ticket ut, because Mr Evans : The public will just go it there will be nothing to detain them. There will be no cold round of beef, or anything of that ki (Laughter.) Mr. Gladstone thought accidents were far more likely to occur on the river among those who went to look at tho I suppose. regatta. Mr. Holme moved that the public be admitted to the Wapping warehouses by ticket. Mr. Lockett seconded the motion. Mr. Robinson : Would it not be be persons there to keep order ? The Chairman : You must have them be Mr. Rankin : I don't think the public for the works which are only in execution. Mr. Evans denied that the whole pope' infantile as the chairman seemed to think when he spoke of accidents occurring from the windows. How came it that people did not all fall into the docks, or over the pierheads ? He thought it was not at all likely they would jump out of the windows. Finally he moved, as an amendment, that the public bo admitted without ticket to the Wapping warehouses. Mr. Smith seconded the amendment: The committee divided, when there appeared— For the amendment : Messrs. Gladstone, Langsdale, Greg son, Robinson, Evans, Rankin, Palmer, Barber, Rounthwaite, Smith, Mendell, and Chaloner-12. Against : Messrs. Helme t Hubback, Lockett, Shand, and Turner-5. The amendment was accordingly carried. It was agreed, without a division, that the north works and the Queen's dock should not be thrown open at all, in cense. quenee of their unfinished state. Mr. Evans : I think instead of a (lay of rejoicing it should be rather one of mourning for such a peace The committee then adjourned to next Wednesday, in con sequence of Thursday being the appointed day of rejoicing. cr to have additional will care a straw HEALTH COMNIITEE.-YESTERDAY The usual weekly meeting of this committee was held at half-past two o'clock yesterday, in the Town Hall, Mr. Langsdale in the chair. The other members present were : Messrs. Beckwith, Robertson Gladstone, Hodson, McGuffie, Dover, Haydock, Halhead,Jolinson, Shell, Crosthwaite, and Godfrey. HEALTH OF THE TOWN. The medical officer of health reported that the mortality of the borough still continues about twenty per cent, below the corrected average of the same period of former years, the total deaths last week having been 178, the average being 222. In the parish 129 dea th s took p lace ; in the out-townships 49. From zymotic diseases the registered deaths were only 29, including from scarlatina 7, typhus 6, pooping-cougli 6. diarehcea 3, measles 2, syphilis I. There was an increased mortality from diseases of the lungs, which caused 75 deaths, against 56 in the previous week. A married woman aged 50, died from excessive drinking. The air was cold in the latter half of the week. Tho mean of the week was 52 degrees, against an average of 53 7-10 degrees. Rain fell on four days of the week, amounting in all to half an inch. DEPOSITS OF CEEMICAL REFUSE. A number of gentlemen connected with the chemical and soap manufactories in the town waited on the committee to request that the prohibition against the deposit of chemical refuse within the borough might be rescinded. They stated that for some time back they had been able to dispose of the refuse outside the borough, but lately that channel had been closed up against them, but not in consequence of any nuisance arising from it. When properly laid out and be nuisance could arise from such deposits, and if in question were withdrawn, they would t refuse was so deposited that no jimmy down no to prohibition care that the cc could be experienced from it. The Committee intimated that if the atements of the deputation were correct, the prohibition in question could not affect them. If the refuse could be so kid out as to cause no nuisance, the committee could not prevent the deposits being but if, on the other hand, they proved to he a snisanee then the committee would be bound in duty to lay infornia. tions against the offending parties. A communication presented by Mr. Crosthwaite, in reference to the sewerage of Poplar-street, Breck-road, was referred to the b trough engineer. The committee then adjourned.