The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-15 00:00:00

would mournfully and amply testify. Gentlemen, these
ind viduals are beyond the pale—Mr. Watford, on the
contrary, is within the pale—of the law, and you, gentle-
men, are his judges this day. Gentlemen, the medical
profession in this kingdom is divided into four classes—
first, the physician; secondly, the surgeon; thirdly, the
apothecary; fourthly, the druggist. Now, gentlemen,
necessity and the increased requirements of the popula-
tion have, de facto, amalgamated the two latter grades,
or I nfght pehaps more properly say, the former is ex-
tinct, and the latter (via, the legitimate druggist) is the
de facto apothecary of the present slay; and, gentle-
men, to the hour of that respectable body be it
said, that I believe there is not a druggist
from John o'Groat's house to the Land's End who would
have been guilty of a substitution so grave in its charac-
er and injurious in its consequences as the one of which
I complain this day ; for you must bear in mind, that al-
though anybody may practice the art of pharmacy, yet
all respectable druggists hold diplomas from, and are
members of a chartered body called the Pharmaceutical
Society of Great Britain, the council of which society
exercises a strict surveillance over the pharmaceutical
conduct of its members; and I have not the least hesi-
tation in saying, that the council would withdraw its
diploma from any member who gave a man asking him
for Sir James Murray's fluid magnesia, Epsom salts in
substitution for it. Such, gentlemen, is the importance
of the question in its general bearings. I will now, in
()including my case, apply myself closely to the parti-
cular instance in reference to myself which I have
brought before you. Mr. Griffiths then went on to say,
that an attempt had been made by the doctors to get out
of the difficulty by suggesting—they did not venture to
swear it—that he had asked for advice. If he asked
Mr. Walford for advice, why did he ask him for a calo-
mel pill? When you ask a doctor's advice, do you tell
him what to give you? If he had asked his advice and
stood there to take the medicine as recommended, how
came he to be so angry shout the Epsom salts? Could he
have shown so much feeling, if he had taken them under
Mr. Walford's advice? What right would he have had
to say—" You are wrong?" Is that the speech of a
patient to a doctor whose advice he is seeking? Is it
not rather the reproach of a man, who has asked for one
thing and finds hiniself aggrieved by the substitution of
another? Away, then, at once with this flimsy pretence
of his having asked for advice. He was himself a
chemist and druggist, and went into the shop of Messrs.
Lunn and Watford to get the medicine—Murray's fluid
magnesia—which he was in the habit of taking. Mr.
Watford had chosen, from carelessness, or design, or
from the habit of always giving Mr. Lunn's own pre-
parations (a very natural reason), to administer to him
what he did not want. He did so on his own
responsibility, and he must take the con-
sequences. He (plaintiff) would now repeat
what he had before said, that he had no personal helm,
in the matter, and no desire for vindictive damages. It
was the principle in question for which he stood out—
that the drugeist should sell to his customer the
article for which the customer asked him, and
not substitute, at his pleasure, another medi-
cine, because more convenient or more profitable
to himself. The public safety required that this rule
should be rigidly enforced amongst medical men.
" There is no profession," said. Mr. Grriffitba, " in which
we are called upon to place so much implicit faith and
confidence as the medical. Why, almost more than one-
hilf of the secret of success in medicine is the confidence
—the reliance of the patient in the physician. And what
defence have we—what safeguard? If one lawyer de-
ceive us we can go to another; if one clergyman attempt
to lead us from the right path, we have the Holy Book,
where we may track his wanderings and map our own way
back again to the right course, but the doctor! he first
kills you, and Men leaves you to your remedy.—(Great
laughter.) In your hands, gentlemen of the jury, I now
leave this important question, trusting that you will
bring your common sense to bear upon it, and return a
verdict which will teach the medical profession not to
tamper at their will with the health of those who place
implicit reliance on their supposed good faith."
His Hoiloua observed that there were several points
in this remarkable and ably-argued case, which he must
submit to the consideration of the jury. First, whether
the plaintiff asked the defendant for advice. Seondly,
whether he asked for fluid magnesia and received
Epsom salts. Thirdly, whether he received not Epsom
salts, but something equivalent. Fourthly, whether this
was done through gross ignorance or negligence on the
part of the defendant—because, if not, the plaintiff would
not be entitled to recover. Fifthly, whether he had
waived the medicine he had called for by tacitly taking
what was given him in place of it. These points, and
the question of amount of damages he must leave to
their consideration.

The jury, after some discussion among themselves,
retired to consider their verdict.

In the meantime the judge intithated his wish to taste
some of Sir James Murray's ;fluid magnesia, which,
combined with the acid syrup, also of Sir James's pre-
paration, appeared to make a cooling and refreshing
effervescing beverage. Mr. Griffiths politely supplied
his Honour with a glass of the mixture, which he pro-
nounced, ex cathedra, to be delicious." The opposing
counsel and solicitor also requested a " refresher," and
the whole court, as far as the bottle would go, proceeded
to try Murray's fluid 'magnesia; :after which they pro-
nounced a unanimous verdict in its favour. Indeed Mr.
Mellor, the opposing counsel, went so far as to say that
it was fortunate for his client that the jury had not ac-
cepted Mr. Griffiths' offer of tasting it previous to their
retiring, as their verdict would, otherwise, have been
most assuredly in his favour. At this moment the jury
returned to their box, after an absence of half an hour,
and returned a verdict for the plaintiff. •
The trial lasted five hours, and excited an intense in-
ter,st. Mr. Griffiths was highly complimented by all
pries on the able manner in which he conducted his
vase, without prolessiunal assistance of any kind.

HUNGARIAN S YiIIt'ATHY IN

CARLISLE.

A few members of the Temperance Reading room,
Market place, sympathising with the brave Hunga-
rians now struggling for liberty, held a meeting in
their own reading-room for the purpose of r a
subscription in behalf of those patriotic people, such
subscription to be forwarded to the London com-
mittee. "Living formed a committee, the members
pres,-nt ent,red into a subscription amounting to
21. 4i., which has since been increased to 101

A deputation from the above committee waited
upon their respected townsman, Joss-ph Ferguson,
Esq , of Fisher-street, fur the purpose of consulting
that gentleman as to the propriety of calling a
public meeting. A public meeting was agreed upon
and held this evening (Monday) in the lecture room
of the Athenmutn, when the following resolutions
were unanimously agreed, to :-
1. That th s mei tirig deeply sympathizes with the
p-ople of Hungary in the fearful strut/4,1e in which they
are so nobly ongiged for the maintenance of their inde-
pendence mid the right to govern themselves against the
unprincipled, injusi.itiable, and tyrannic conduct of the
Austrian and Russian Governments.
" 2. That this meeting holds in the utmost detestation
the conduct of Russia, in its urmod interference to aid
Austria in forcing upon Hungary a tyrannical and op-
pressive Government; and loudly protests again:t this
attempt to overpower, by a blood-thirty war, a gallant
people, righteously and nobly struggling for their in-
dependence.
"3. Tr,at a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to
Lora. Palmerston, with a request that he will recommend
to her Majesty the Queen to take such steps, either by
way of remonstrance or otherwise, as may tend to stop
the effusion of blood in Hungary, and restore to the
gallant people of that country the blessings of peace,
liberty, and self•government."
At the close of the meeting a collection was entered
into amounting to 4/. 3s. 9d. 'We understand that
the subscription list will continue open for a few days,
when the amount will be remitted to the London i
committee.

A tenant-right meeting was held last week in
Coicraioe, Ireland, at the Town-hall, Dr. Boyd, M.P., in
the chair, supported by all the influential gentlemen of
the place. Resolutions were passed, callinc, on the
tenant farmers of Ireland to form an association,' to seek
by all legitimate and constitutional means, for such
i changes n the law as will effectually protect their just
rights.—lrishmax.
HULL AND SELBY RAILWAY.—The half-yearlye g -
nPral meeting of the shareholders in this company was
y
held on Saturday, at the offices at Hull; Mr. Watson
pre-
sided. Mr. Locking, the secretary, read the report, which it appeared that the sum of 29,0141. 133.4 d.
was available fur the payment of a dividend, out of
which the directors recommended that a dividend of
21. 93. 6d. per share on the 501. shares, and IL 4s. 9d.
on the 25/. shares, being at the rate of 91. 18s. per
cent., less income-tax, should be paid. With reference
to the lease of the line to the York and North Midland
Company, the report says :—" Rumours having been
circulated that there are doubts as to the validity of
the agreement for the perpetual lease of the Hull
and Selby Railway to the York and North Midland
Company, on the terms at present existing, the direc-
tors beg to a3aure the shareholders that no such doubts
are entertained by them or their law adviv-rs, nor has
any official communic .tion of any such doubts been made
to your board of directors by the board of the York and
North Midland Company. The existing agreement fur a
Perpetual lease is under the seal of II ,th companies, held in
due form, and confirmed by the Hull and Selby Put chase
Act of 1846. The deeds were prepared by eminent counsel,
anti your directors have again recently submitted them to
counsel, whose opinion
has altogether confirmed the con-
-9 ierwo of your eruments." The ;:tors in the perfect validity of these
rt, on the mo.ion of the chairman,
was adopted. re!ul ut
‘on. declaring a dividend of 2/.
9,6 d on the original shares, and 1L .li. 9:I. on the 25/.
rha having been carried, a
vote
of thanks closed the
proceedings.
DEATH OF THE REV. C. AIURPIIir
have to a n.,unce the death of the above n
\vv. Gentle-
m an, Chaplain of the North Dublin
who was cut down in he prime of life, on Tuesday
at his residence, Royal Cattal•terrace, by a violentit illness
of bruit duration. was univer.ally respected by all
classes in his capacity as a minister of the (ospel, and as
A private friend he was beloved by all who had the plea-
sure -'f hi) acqueintance.—lrtshman (Dublin paper).
STATE OF TBADE.—MANCLIESTEL—Trade in this
market continues exceedingly prosperous. Home trade
for the autumn season is now setting. in, and promises to
be as prosperous as the export trade has been for some
time past. A good amount of business was transacted
yesterday, and during the past week. Though the de.
'nand for exportation is not now so brisk, yetitis ex-
pected that the call for goods for home cuntiumptiou will
muck increase. Many manufacturers are now drawing
near the close of their engagements, and are more ready
than. for some time past to accept fresh orders. Prices,
ovve.ver.kev pxcetdii4gly.fura, alacialiero boa bow little,
if au) giviug'way: