The Express.
London, England, 1855-02-03 00:00:00

SCUTARI HOSPITAL.

(11011 TIl COYIJLIMPONDINT 07 TIIII DATLY Yaws.)
CONSTANTINOPLE, JAN. 22.
Yesterday I visited the British hospital at Scutari,
and feel the highest satisfaction in being now in s
position to report progress. All is improved, much
improved, since my list excursion. All looks as cheery
as may be expected under existing eircumetauces ;
nor is there any longer a trace or what I had the
misfortune to witness, and to deplore deeply, on my
first visit, after the battle of Alma. We are still, no
doubt, far behind the splendid nosocomical arrange-
ments of our provident French allies ; but you may
rest assured that all material requisites have been
amply and liberally supplied—whether from private
benevolence or government efforts at the eleventh hour,
it boots not and that the asylum of our
sick and wounded heroes is, at the present moment,
on a decent, respectable footing, and replete with
homely comforts.
The corridors are now effectually closed into com-
partments, by wicket-partitions, the atmosphere
pure and wholesome, and the temperature raised
equably by means of stoves placed at convenient inter-
vals throughout the entire establishment. There are
bedsteads, although of rude construction; mattresses,
blankets, covering of every description, in great
abundance ; as also hospital apparel, sheets, been,
eec., and a change to be had for mere asking. Fur-
niture of all kinds, cooking utensils, and all the
requisites of dinner service, have been also provided ;
there was not even a coffee-mill to be bad, I recol-
lect well, on my first visit, in the whole establish-
ment.

The wrappers and clothing of the convalescents
appeared to me quite as it should be, although it
seems that a quantity of these articles had been
carried up to Balaklava, owing to the confusion
which exists in the direction of our transport service.
All this, and innumerable other mischances, might
have been averted by the simplest of all expedients.
such as the French have adopted from the very out-
set. Two of their officers are stationed from morning
till night at the Health-office, and thus their ships
are directed without the possibility of mistake to the
destined point.
. . .

With respect to alimentation, the hospital is pro-
vided with the best of every thing, and neither
pains nor expense is wanting to ensure that
object. Beef, mutton, poultry, vegetables, fruit, and
every other item is supplied on a liberal scale.
Moreover, in passing through the wards, I took the
greatest pains to ascertain from numbers of the suf-
fering inmates whether they had any complaint to
make in reference to the regularity of the medical
attendance, the vigilance of tho nurses, the quantity
and quality of their food, and lastly, whether
wine, porter, tea, coffee, and other little
comforts were liberally provided by the hospital
authorities. On all these points you will learn with
satisfaction that I heard not a eagle murmur in the
whole course of my rounds. The only subject qui
laissait u desirer, was the lateness of the dinner hour,
4 p.m., and this, it must be admitted, is a
deviation from hospital practice all over the
world. I had an opportunity of witnessing
the attention of the nurses and Sisters of Mercy, in
the vestal garb of their order, dispensing to a long
array of sufferers medicine and words of consolation.
It was, indeed, a goodly eight, to contemplate this
baud, of various sects, united in peace and love--one
heart, one mind, one arm—all devoted to the accom-
plishment of their angelic mission. Truly, it augurs
well of the times !
The medical staff at Scutari amounts to about 26,
besides an equal number of dressers and assist-
ants; and the sick and wounded, if I am
rightly informed, shipping included, to about
4,000. A variety of successful operations
have been performed—others have failed, owing to
secondary symptoms, vulnemry fever, hospital gan-
grene, and such like.
With regard to the sick, the great majority of
cases at present in the hospital consist of various
intestinal ailments, and more especially diarrhema. I
conversed with many of the men affected with this
latter complaint, and according to their relation they
had been suffering, generally speaking, for a long
time, and one even from the month of April last. I
inquired of the nurses, as well as the patients, in
respect to the treatment and diet usually adopted in
the hospital for the cure of this malady. According
to their statement, the principal remedies consist in
pills, opiate they supposed, an astringent mixture, and
the starch enema occasionally. Animal food is
allowed to some in a fluid, to others in a solid form,
and one man in the latter category told me that after
each meal the symptoms of his disease were certain
to ensue. On returning home I related these facts
to a medical man of long standing and extensive
practice in this country; and as I am myself utterly
incompetent to judge of these matters, it may not
be uninteresting to give you in substance his opinion.
and outline of treatment, generally speaking, in such
cases:

Numbers of officers and civilians arriving from the
Crimea, and affected with diarrhoss, have been under my
care; and the following mode of treatment appears to me best
adapted to the conditions of this climate. It has, at least,
been generally attended with success in those cases which
have come under my observation, and that in the apace of
5, 10, or 20 days at the utmost. Those patients, I may
remark, had been, in the first instance, using in vain
opium, brandy, wine, and various stimulants, as well as
nutritious food, to combat evident debility, which is mote or
less attendant on all chronic complaints. Nevertheless, I
Imes not hesitated to consider the primary cause of the
eto consist in irritation, more or less, of the whole
latentlnal tract, aggravated necessarily by the remedies em-
ployed, and directed my attention accordingly to this
Oat. I have, therefore, almost invariably had to
apply leeches locally to different parts of the ab-
domen and ad ammo, according to circumstances ;
linseed poultices day and night in abundance ; dry cupping
occasionally; internally, copious mucilaginous drinks, and
a thick entire linseed enema immediately after each tlejeo-
tion. Irritation having been thus combated, it has been
sometimes necessary, in the stage of convalescence, to use a
decoction of columbo, a few grains of Dover's powder, and
a table-spoonful of port wine in • tumbler of water, at
meals. It has been'
to cauterise the last

of sulphate of capper,
diet in thew moo has

matte n of arrowroot,

On arriving at tu.
tune to meet, in limits*,

Mr. B—, who, -_
countrymen, without
measuring from head
hie protNtiolli tOudeeted

rarely necessary, swept in dysentery,
intestine, by mesas of • w
,r, or nitrate of silver . .91111111 P.,
as consisted tbronglion 1, '3" fg),
t, sago, or pound rice. = (-4/ 4
the hospital, I had rei 4 , • _
,imine, a most amiatei
strange to say, nnl* • r rl
out a preliminary in 111 .7.
head to foot, took ma ;it:"
endlleted me thrnuF ,Y 0 L;
••.1

A

introduced zee to the hospital antliontses, and even to
Miss Nightingale. She was in the midst of
her staff, ruling and moderating all, and still I most
My. received me with the greatest kindness and
courtesy. Mr. B--, I may add, and his humane
lady, accordiog to all accounts, figure conspicuously
in this Huh, host of good Samaritans.
I meat close for the post, and am in the greatest
hurry. I have only time to say, that the Russians
In a small body crossed the Danube at Tultcha
cu
a marauding expedition, and after having carried off
many families, cattle, and other property, returned
whence they came. All this as a supplement to the
pacific offers of the Czar, in which you all appear to
place implicit confidence.

FRANCE.

07 THII 7,11.1 LT 171W7.)
PARIS, THURSDAY EV17170.
The political interest of the moment is entirely
concentrated on London, but to-day public curiosity
is baffled by the weather. None of the London
papers had arrived, at least none had been distri-1
bitted by post, up to 6 this evening. The telegraphio
wires do not work well, and the few despatches that
have arrived are late. One of these says that the
Queen has Bent for Lord Derby, upon which fact this
evening's Frew remarks that it is difficult to con-
ceive that the head of the tory party can be able to
form a cabinet under present circumstances. The
.Patrie, however, in its latest news, says it is
thought the new ministry will be half tory and half
whiz. All the Paris morning
.pspers take it for
granted that Lord Palmerston is indicated by the
5' situation as the statesman to whom the Queen
must give a carte blanche.
The Constautionnel concludes an article with the
following remarks, which as an Englishman I cannot
but quote with pleasure from • French government
journal:—
Whatever may be the dosorrement of the ministerial crisis
there is one point on which we feel enure beforehand,
namely, that the now ministry will be animated by the
national spirit which dictated the remit vote, and that the
French government will find in it that perfect good under-
standing and confidence to which it has become accustomed,
sad which so entirely espresses the intimate oonnezion be-
tween the two countries. The elements thcmselves of the
vote which has produced the crisis would seem to promie
the formation of a cabinet in which men belonging
to many of the traditional parliamentary sections
will unite on the ground of that common patriotism
which prevails at this moment so enthusiastically
throughout Gnat Britain. Whoever may be the statesmen
called to the councils of the new administration, whether
belonging partly to the old government, or to still older
elaseifications, or whether they be selected according to the
present situation of the homes of parliament, the essential
for France is to have so passible doubt about the feelings
and sentiments of England, and to be certain that in the
character of her ministers, whether old or new, there shall
be a guarantee of the union and concord so necessary to the
triumph of the gnat cuss which the two nations maintain
together.
The Siecle, expressing its hopes that Lord John
Russell will be in the new administration as well as
Lord Palmerston, says:
We Gan a believe, remembering the circurnstasses
in which Europe, end especially England herself, is situated
at present, that personal pretensions will be permitted to
binder two statesmen of such weight from forming a savers-
sent capable of responding to the views and ezpectatiess
of their country, and of repairing the deplorable di eases
brought upon it by the late shert-sighted administrative.
The settlement in the rente to-day was pronounced
to be heavy. The majority of the premiums were
abandoned. The rent*, after being as low as 67.25,
became somewhat firmer, and closed at 67.40, with a
fall of 15c. Railways were in demand in the after-
noon, and most of the fines rose from 2to 51. It was
said that Austria appeared to be disposed to abandon
her requisition for the mobilisation of the federal
contingent.
We read in the Coeerrier du Havre :—" The com-
mercial movement between our port and London has
more than tripled since the liberal modifications were
made by the government of the Emperor in the cus-
toms tariff. it is not only the quantity, but also
the variety of the article. which this commercial
movement between our port and London has increased.
The following numbers will give the best idea of
it :—Duriog the first six months of 1854 the imports
at Havre from London amounted to 3,000 tons;
during the last six months they were 9,000.
The Mondeur publishes the official returns of the
price of wheat by which the tariff of bread is regu-
lated. The highest price is 28f. 810. per hectolitre
in the.markets of Toulouse, Gray, Lyons, and Mar-
seilles; and the lowest 24f. 82e. in those of &emu.
Mantes, and Marans. The average for the whole of
France is 271'. 241 e. per hectolitre, being 15j0.
higher than the last return.
According to the official returns just published, the
manufacture of beetroot sugar continues to decrease.
The number of manufaotones at work at the end of
December, 1854, was 207, being 95 less than at the
corresponding period of 1853. Since the commence-
ment of the season, the quantity made has been
28,406,080 kiloge., against 51,458,800 kilogs. made
in the preceding year.
I am assured that M. Magne's long expected ap-11
pointment to the post of Minister of Finance,l
vice Benean resigned from ill health, has
been actually signed. M. Magne is one of
the many statesmen of the new regime of
whom the European public know very little. He
was a member of as obscure family in Perigord, and'
was introduced to public life in Paxis by Marshal
Btraud, a native of the same part of the country.
Originally appointed a clerk in the treasury, he rose
to become secretary of finance. His great adminis-
trative ability was remarked by M. Fould, who is
commonly said to have been the founder of his poli-
tical fortunes. As a member of the constituent and
legislative assemblies M. Magna occupied no leading
position as a debater. Occasionally, however, he
made practical speeches which were always listened
to with attention. His Ministry of Public
Works, now of long standing, is generally
admitted to have been very successful. It
has been his lot to conclude many most important
treaties with the great railway companies, and,
during his career of office, he has personally inspected
not only all the principal lines of France, but also
those of other countries, to enable him to judge of
improvements. His known talents augur well for
the new administration of finance, but it is objected
by members of a certain party in the state that he
is likely to be too much under the influences of M.
Fould.
A horrible scene took place yesterday at the
execution of the murderer Leecaro, in the Place de la
Roquette. When strapped upon the fatal plank, and
a moment before the knife was about to fall, he got
half loose, by a sudden convulsive motion, and threw
himself out of the position in which he had
been placed. When the executioner approached to
replace him, the criminal seised his hand with his
teeth, biting it through to the bone. A deadly,
struggle took place, dreadful to behold, and there
were many spectators. But all was over in a few
seconds.

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