The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-22 00:00:00

THE LEEDS DEPUTATION UPO

EDUCATION.
The deputation appointed by the meeting of persons
favourable to the Government measure of fducation,
held at the Court House of Leeds, on Monday, the Bth
of March, at which the Mayor presided, consisting of
the Rev. Dr. Hook, Mr. J. G. Marshall, the Rev. W.
Sinclair, Mr. J. Gott, the Rev. C. Wicksteed, and Mr.
H. Stansfeld, had an interview on Fii lay with the Pre-
sident of the Council at the Privy Council-office; they
were introduced by Lord Morpeth and Mr. Aldam,
Member.for Leeds. His Lordship received them very
courteously, and entered at once upon the subject. The
deputation stated the reason of their soliciting an inter-
view, and read the resolutions passed at the meeting
They then stated what were the popular objections to
the measure:-
1. The unconstitutional manner in which it was
alleged that the measure was brought forAtrd by a
single vote of the House of Commons; to this his Lord-
ship replied, that this, as the resolution just read to him
showed, brought the question annual!) before the con-
sideration of Parliament, but he remarked that in addi-
tion to the vote of the House of Commons, both on pro-
posing the grant and bringing up the report, it could
only have the force of law by the Appropriation Ac;,
which went through all the forms of the House, and
when carried to the House of Lords might there be ob-
jected to and thrown out in,any stage, ou the ground of
its containing this very vote.
2. It was mentioned that objections were raised to the
prospects held out to the pupils of normal schools, wile
might not show qualities fitting them for the office of
teacher. that they should be provided for by situation•
in the revenue department ; to this his Lordship replied,
that instead of increasing, this rather put a cheek upon
the patronage at the disposal of the Government ; these
situations were now in their gift, and were conferred
without any control ; that under the proposed regula:-
tion, instead• of being given to any one whom the
-Minister might please to appoint, they would be bestowed
upon deserving young men trained in normal schools, if
not thought qualified for teaching.
3. An objection was stated that a large amount of
patronage would by these minutes be placed at the dis-
posal of Government, by the appointment of pupil
teachers and stipendiary monitors ; to this his Lordship
replied, that the patronage would really be vested in the
hands of the local managers, and not in those of the
Government ; and he could not see how a patronage
subjected to so many checks and to full publicity could
possibly be abused.
4. On its being mentioned to his Lordship that a great
clamour had been raised against the minutes, as de-
signed to increase the influence of the Church, he re-
marked that it was very unfounded, for the minutes
were framed in the most anxious spirit of fairness, and
were intended to improve education, not to interfere
with the religious opinions of the people.
5. On its being stated that fears were entertained lest.
if several schools were applying at the same time for
grants, and the funds at the disposal of Government
were limited, an unjust preference might be given to
one school over another, his Lordship replied that the
principle to be adopted would be that the first applica-
tion should be the first attended to.
6. It was urged the.t many entertained apprehensions
lest inspectors might be appointed to visit shoots who
might be tile-I:ions to the religious denomination to
which these schools belonged; his Lordsnip expressly
declared that ail bodies of Dissenters should enjoy the
same safeguard us the Church, and that no inspector
should be appointed unacceptatle to the religious coin
munion with which the schools were connected.
7. On its being remarked that much opposition would
probably cease if it were dsstinctly shown that any
school not built with the aid of public money, but which,
on requesting inspection, had received annual grants fcr
its support, might free itself from inspection by ceasing
to receive the annual grant, his Lordship, after some
di,eussion and consultation with the other members of
the Education Committee then present, declared that he
should at cede to this proposal, and be authorised the
deputation to make known this determination to those
inter, sted in the matter.

The deputation left his Lordship with the full convic-
tion that the measure is proposed and intended to be
carried out with perfect fsirness to all parties.

FATAL EFFECTS OF ETHER.

A case of considerable importance, as affecting the
practice lately introduced into toe medical world of
subjecting persons about to be operated upon to the
influence of ether, by causing them to inhale its
vapour in order to render them insensible to pain, has
just occurred at Spittlegate, in the county of Lincoln,
in which death has resulted from that mode of treat-
ment. It appArs that a respectable woman of the
name of Ann Parkinson, aged twenty-one years, the
wife of a hair-dresser at Spittlegate, who had been
married eighteen months, and had a child nine months
old, had been afflicted with a tumour on the under part
of her left thigh for about twelve months, which had
gradually increased in size until, from its situation,
it became a perpetual torment to her, as she was
unable either to sit down or lie in bed with any
degree of comfort. Under these circumstances, having
read of the many successful cases of operations per-
formed without pain under the inflaenoe of the vapour
of ether, she expressed a wish to her medical attendant,
Mr. Robbs. of Grantham, to have ether applied,
and the tumour removed. To this, after consult-
ing other medical men, he consented ; and on Tuesday,
the 9th inst., at one o'clock, she was subjected to the
influence of the ether, and the operation was performed
by Mr. Robbs in the presence of three other medical
men. Unfortunately, however, the poor woman never
rallied, but remained in a state of complete prostration
until five o'clock on Thursday morning, when she died
without the slightest reaction having taken place subse-
quent to the operation.
At the inquest, held on Monday, evidence was given
that the deceased was of an extremely delicate constitu-
tion, and that ether was administered to her several
times previous to the day fixed upon. for the operation,
in order to try its effects, and she was found to bear it
very well. On the appointed day, Mr. Robbs (who
acknowledged he had no faith in the ether part of the
affair) performed the operation, in the presence of seve-
ral medical man. For about ten minutes Mrs. Parkin-
son was reduced to a state of unconsciousness, when
the operation of removing the tumour commenced, and
she appeared to feel the first cut, as she made a deep
moan, whereupon ether was again applied. Tile ope-
ration proceeded during the time the vapour was in-
haling the second time. Mrs. Parkinson was laid upon
her stomach upon a table, and upon every incision made
during the operation she moaned, and appeared to feel
it ; but, she did not appear to feel anything when the
different vessels were being tied up. When sbe was
taken from the table and laid on the bed, she had a little
brandy and water before the operation was over, which
she swallowed readily, and a little more when she was
tpbuot two
obuendd.
wS
ahse diddre
sns oe
ut aapipt ar r
the to ose
operation much blood,and
hatn
daged, and when put to bed she appeared to be conscious.
She did not appear to rally at all from that time. On
the following day she remained iu the same low state,
and Mr. Robbs saw her more than once, and sent her
medicine, which was administered, and a little thin gruel
and tea was given her by his dtrections, which was all
the nourishment she took On Wednesday she om-
plained of a numbness in both legs and the 1.,w. r part
of her back, and ho. bottles were uppli d by Mr. Roehs'
directions, but she was not relieve d. On the Thur.day
morning, about twenty minutes past five o'clock, she
died without uttering a groan. From the time the
operation was performed till her death she never moved
by her own power.
At the conclusion of the ev:det ce, the CORONER, having
duly cautioned Mr. Robbs, requested to linow whether
he was desirous of making any statement relative to the
case? Upon which that g ntlemln deser bet the rum-
ner in which the vapour tad be n inhaled, ani stated
that thy operation lasted 25 minutes, incl,dieg ;he t
of the vessels, the remainder ut the tune being
by the inhala ion and the neees,my windagin, &c. U.
also stated that he believed the deceased tell as tun h
I pain as if she had not inhale ! the vapour, as she cite
out and struggled at each cut. Ile then I roes ded to
read accounts of the twiner, ue operations V\ t)/eh :lad been
performed by the most eminent surgeons in the public
hospitals and other places where the ether had been
used with success, :led stated that nothing bad been
done in this case but what bad b. en fully warranted by
the pract cc of the leaiery of the profession. He
otherr al.so!
stated that he bad attempted to produce reactwn ot
he t zheiebsaoa
The CORONER then summed
deliberated a short time, pronounced a verdier, '• That
outo esuesi. of ammonia and
up,
app
the sice
jury,
hawviitihlg
the deceased Ann Parkinson died from the effects of the
vapour of ether, inhaled by her for the purpose of alle-
viating pain during the removal of a
tumour from her
left thigh, and not from the effect of the operation, or
from any other cause."
h eAf
fully ltyh the conclusion
the cause of death,
in
rfh
the
oveneercdawisoeats, Dal
sr..
he Robbs
hads stated that
th a
doubtt
The verdict was then signed, and the inquiry termi-
nated.
owed. to the public to say whateverand i t
wasthaadtutthyedoheneit

THE LATE COAL-PIT EXPLOSION NEAR BARNSLEY.
—On Thursday morning G. D. Barker, Esq., Deputy-Coroner,
resumed his inquiries into the cause of the deaths of the
late unfortunate sufferers at Oaks-colliery. After hearing
the evidence of G. Pickering, Nicholas Wood, coal viewer,
of Newcastle (whom the coroner had sent for to attend the
inquest), Joseph Hardcastle, Joseph Beaumont, agent to
Field, Cooper, and Co. at Wotshro', T. Drury, Wm. Cooke,
David Crossley, Jas. Ilttley, Matthew Haigh, and Mr. George
Wilson, the Coroner summed up, and the jury retired. After
as absence of about forty minutes, the jury returned into
Court, and the foreman handed in the following verdict :
Acei6ental death. " The jury at the same time wish to
state that they are of opinion that efficient regulations are
not enforced in this district to prevent the use of naked
lights in those parts of mines where inflammable gas is
known to exist, and are further of opinion that the recurrence
of accidents involving so large a loss of human life, demand
e
regulations as
Ne i mining opera-
the immed m
ia:e attention of her Majestv's Governent, and
justify Paniament in passing such a code of
ouhi give security to persons employed ii
lions. That SI:, it opinion is recommended to be illin
forwarded
to the Secretary of State." Titre
coroner said
with the request of the jury, and, h
their attention during th;s important investigation, thanked them fir
investigation, the in-
quiry closed. The body of Abramhe should comply
Matthews, the last re-
maining sufferer in the, 't pit, was gut out to-day.