The Express.
London, England, 1867-03-14 00:00:00

LOCAL AN.ESTHESIA.

The committee of the Society for the Preven-
tion of Cruelty to Animals met Dr. Richardson yester-
day at their rooms, 12, Pall Mall, to witness his de-
monstration of the production of insensibility to pain
by means of ether spray, and to hear his views as
to the extension of the process to the performance of
operations without pain on the horse and other inferior
animals. There were present at the meeting the Earl
of Harrowby in the chair, Mr. John I. Briscoe, M.P.,
Mr. W. Mackinnon, M.P., Mr. S. Gurney, M.P., General
Sir John Scott Lillie, Dr. Fraser, Dr. Sedgwick, Professor
Tuson, and a large attendance of members. Dr. Richard.
son first described why general anesthesia had not been
commonly applied to veterinary operations, and explained
that the difficulties connected with the general method
were all removed by the local process. He next demon.
strated the principle and practice of the local method
by ether spray, and narrated briefly the line of
inquiry which had led him to the invention.
He then demonstrated the process on his own body,
making, with the assistance of Dr. Sedgwick, large surfaces
of his arm insensible to pain and passing large needles
deeply through the benumbed parts. This was repeated
on the flesh of Dr. Fraser, Mr. Gurney, and Mr. Mocatta,
who testified to the painlessness of the operation. In ve-
terinary surgery this local kinesthesia is, he said, applies..
ble to all operations, and it has been practised with entire
success by several veterinary surgeons, especially by the
Messrs. Mayor, of Park-street. The details of many pain-
less operations on horses were next supplied, particularly
the operations of nerving, of firing, of introducing setona,
of removing tumours, of opening cavities of the body when
there was obstruction, and of applying caustics and cache-
reties to irritable and open surfaces of the animal.
The value of the method as • means of removing
pain from inflammation and other causes was also dis-
cussed, together with the application of the plan for
discovering the seat of disease in cases of lameness.
The simple little apparatus used was greatly admired, and
Dr. Richardson showed that the assistance of even an un-
educated person was sufficient to enable the veterinarian
to proceed to pa inless operation. An etherhad been prepared
specially for veterinary purposes, at 4e. 6d. per lb.,
which would suffice for twenty operation. Dr. Richard.
son referred to the varying degrees of sensibility belonging
to different animals, as proved by the degree of anesthesia
required in order to produce perfect local insensibility.
He concluded by stating th►t whenever members of the
community demanded it, every animal that was considered
so valuable as to be • proper subject for a surgical opera-
tion could now be submitted to operation without physical
suffering, and that, too, safely, quickly, conveniently, and
cheaply. It was hardly to be expected in the present
state of civilisation that this process for removing the suf.
faring of the inferior creation would make rapid progress in
the world at large ; but in England it ought to make way, '
and especially if the society addressed would lend its
powerful aid. A vote of thanks was presented to Dr.
Richardaon, and his paper was ordered to be printed for
general circulation. The secretary announced the acqui-
sition of 28 new members during the past month, and 7W.
donations. He also reported 60 convictions obtained by
the society during February. A member of the committee,
Mr. George Wood, presented the munificent gift of 5,00 W.,
which he desired to be expended in the "purchase of free-
hold offices, for the reduction of present expenses, and to
hand down to all time • rent-free building in which to
conduct the operations of the society ; or to supply the
nucleus of a fund for such purposes, to which other mem-
bers of the society should be invited to subscribe." The
noble earl having expressed the thanks of the society to
the donor for his benevolent and considerate gift, • corn-
writhe was formed to carry out the proposal.

THE LATE MR. COBDEN, M.P., UPON THE
REPRESENTATION OF THE MINORITIES.

Mr. T. B. Potter, M.P., publishes the following
letter on the above subject, addressed to him by the late
Mr. Cobden—being the last ever written by Mr. Cobden
" 23, Suffolk.street, March 22, 1865.
"My dear Potter—l return Mill's letter. Everything
from him is entitled to respectful consideration. But I
confess, after the best attention to the proposed repre-
sentation of minorities which I can give it, lam so stupid
as to fail to see its merits. He speaks of 50,000 electors
having to elect five members? and that 30,000 may elect
them all, and to obviate this he would give the 20,000
minority two votes.
" But I would give only one vote to each
elector and ono representative to each constituency.
Instead of the 50,000 returning five in a lump
I would have five constituencies of 10,000, each
returning one member. Thus, if the metropolis,
for example, were entitled, with a fair distribution of
electoral power, to 40 votes, I would divide it into 40 dis-
tricts or wards, each to return one member, and in this
way every class and every variety of opinion would have •
chance of a fair representation. Belgravia, Marylebone,
St. James's, St. Wks's, 3Vhitechapel, Spitalfields,
would each and all have their members. I don't know
any better plan for giving all opinions • chance of being
heard ; and, after all, it is opinions that are to be Terre.
aented. If the minority have a faith that their opinions,
and not those of the majority, are the true ones, then let
them agitate and discuss until their principles are in the
ascendant. This is the motive for political action and the
healthy agitation of public life. Ido not like to recog-
nise the necessity of dealing with working men as a class
in an extension of the franchise. The small shopkeeper
and the artisan of the town are socially on a leveL The
subject is, however, too large for a sheet of note paper.
—Believe me yours very truly, " RICHARD COBDEN.
" Thomas B. Potter, Esq."

REPRESENTATION OP BOSTON. —On Tuesday,
Captain German, who had announced himself on the pre-
vious day as ► liberal candidate for Boston, came to the
conclusion that it was not advisable for him to press his
claims. The gallant captain accordingly retired from the
field, leaving Mr. T. Parry, of Sleaford, once more master
of the situation. As Lieutenant-Colonel Gourley. of Sun-
derland, hats not reaponrk*l favourably to a requisition itr-
viting him to come forward, Mr. Parry will, probably, be
now returned without opposition. Mr. Parry is a moderate
iberal.

REFORM MEETING AT Hiatt WYCOMBR.—A
crowded meeting was held on Tuesday evening in the
Town-hall, under the auspices of the Vl'yoombe Liberal
Association to consider the present aspect of the reform
question. The chair was taken by Mr. H. Lucas, who vu
supported by Mr. .1. It. Mills, one of the members for the
borough, and several 'Mennen and influential inhabitants.
The Hon. C. R. Carington, in a letter which elicited
marked disapprobation, stated that he did not consider it
his duty to join the emaciation or to attend the
meeting. Mr. Mills, in his address, strongly reprobated
the vague and vacillating policy of the government
and expressed his opinion that if Mr. Disraeli
had persevered with his resolutions there would have been
R majority of 400 against him. He (Mr. Mills) felt sure
that in giving his &Regius. to Mr. Gladstone he was
doing that which would best promote the interests of the
country and the settlement of the question. The question
remained in the hands of the liberal party, but he believed
more was to be obtained from a conservative government
in • minority than from • liberal government with a satis-
factory majority in the House of Commons, but unable,
perhaps, to drive their measure through the House of
Lords. He hoped to see the question of the franchise
settled this year, that of the redistribution of seats
must then bo settled ere long ; but he did not
think it wise to endanger • useful measure with
reference to the franchise by challenging the votes of mem-
bers whose seats it was proposed to take away. In the
course of the speeches a general opinion was expressed that
household suffrage in boroughs and • 101. qualification in
counties would be satisfactory,as the agricultural labourers
were considered too little educated to be at present en-
trusted with votes. A resolution declaring the necessity
for more stringent provisions against bribery was met by an
amendment in favour of the ballot, which was carried una-
nimously. A resolution urging on all the liberal members
the propriety of uniting with Earl Russell and Mr. Glad-
stone, and rendering them every possible assistance, was also
carried by acclamation.