The Sun.
London, England, 1840-02-03 00:00:00

" Dr. Turnbull has directed much of his attention to
the diseases of the ear ; and has succeeded in discover-
ing some remedies which appear to act instantaneously
on that organ, by removing all impediments to the
healthy exercise of its functions. When it' is evident
that the disease arises from an affection of the nerve, we
have seen immediate good result from the use of his ap-
plication. We have been particular in investigating
some extraordinary cases of deafness, which have been
treated successfully by this physician, because when re-
lated they eppear almost incredible ; and we feel much
pleasure in testifying to Dr. Turnbull's fairness, absence
of all mystery, and willingness to permit every circum-
stance connected with the patients under his care to be
thoroughly sifted.
" At present it is not known what the remedies are
which Dr. T. has discovered, and which have such ex-
traordinary efficacy ; but we feel assured that so soon
as the Doctor has matured his views, and brought to a
conclusion the series of experiments in which he is now
engaged, he will make known to the medical public the
result of his unwearied, laborious, and patient researches,
and thus remove any suspicions which the profession
may feel disposed to entertain, in consequence of the re-
medial agents which lie employs being known only to
himself. It would be doing Dr. T. a great injury to
disclose prematurely the discovery lie has made. 'The
matter is as yet only sub judice. The exwriments are
far from being finished—much has yet to be done before
his views can be laid with'any degree of satisfaction be-
fore the public. Hitherto (and we speak from personal
observation) the result has exceeded the most
.sanguine
expectations. The most apparently obstinate cases of
deafness appear to be incapable of resisting the potency
of the application which is used ; and what at first sight
astonishes us the most is, that the effect is instanta-
neous. We have seen cases in which the defect was
so great, as to prevent the patient from hearing the
ticking of a watch when pressed closely to the ear, and
yet in a few minutes after the application was made, the
sound was audible to the person when the watch was
held two yards from him.
" But the most extraordinary cures which this
physician has been enabled to effect we have yet
to mention. Dr. Turnbull has for some years been
engaged in a series of experiments respecting the
treatment of children horn deaf and dumb ; and he
haS so fir matured his discoveries, that he- has suc-
ceeded 'in restoring a number of children to a
healthy use of the , organs of speech and bearing-
who had been pronounced by other members of the
faculty as incurable. We have in the presence of many
distinguished individuals had the gratification of wit-
nessing the process-which the Doctor has recourse to,
and we can vouch for the triumphant success which
attends his noble efforts to relieve the sufferings of his
fellow-creatures. We have seen no less than two
hundred patients at Dr. Turnbull's house in Russell-
square, in one morning, many of them of course gratui- •
tons. He is unremitting in his attention to the most
humble of his patients.
•
" Dr. Turnbiall's manners are extremely gentlemanly
and engaging. His knowledge is by no means confined
to his profession ; his mind appears to be generally well-
informed on all subjects. We do not hesitate in af-
firming, that if merit has its just reward, this physician
will one day hold a proud rank among the medical phi-
losophers of his
.day ; and he will be considered as
having done much to diminish the amount of human
affliction, and, to enlarge the boundaries of medical
science."

INFA NOUS CONDUCT OF THE
LOCAL MAGISTRATES OF ST. LUCIA.

(From the St. Lucia Independent.)
On the estate of Mad. Rowdier, in the quarter of Ls-
boric, the sickness of a member of the -family, rendered it
necessary to dispatch a boat to the town of Soufriere--
to recall some °thar members of the family to attend to
their sick relative. Application was made to some indivi-
duals residing on the estate—and three men formerly ap-
prentices attached to the estate, volunteered to row the
boat. The men started from Laboric in the night ; and,
on arriving at Souffriere, they communicated their message
to Miss Rowdier, the person they were sent to fetch home.
This lady embarked in the boat, accompanied by Dr. Giraud, •
a medical practitioner, residing in Soufriere. On arriving at
the estate in I..borie, Dr. Giraud, after visiting- his patient,
announced his intention to return immediately to Soufriere;
when it was proposed to the same three men, to take the
oars, to pull back again the fifteen miles they had already
rowed over twice—they declined, on the ground of ex-
treme fatigue, and alleged, that it would incapacitate them
to return to that labour, from which they earned their sub-
siszence.

It appears the family, subsequently, found other per-
sons to row Dr, Giraud back to Soufriere, for on his
arrival there he sent in a written complaint to the Justices
of the Peace, against these three individuals, for having
dared to refuse to return with him !
On this complaint, the Justices of the Peace, residing in
Soufriere, issued a summons to the three men residing in
Laborie, ordering them- to appear at the Justices Courtin Soufriere.—This summons was intrusted to a police-
man, who presented himself at the dwelling-house of Mad.
Roudier, and informed one of the ladies, that the three
labourers complained against, were to attend before the
Justices at Soufriere I—in this way the writ of summons
was executed !—No notice was given to either of the
parties interested—and of course they did not appear.
But this was immaterial, the three Justices of the Peace
at Soufriere did hold their Court, and in the absence of
all the parties—Plaintiff and Defendants, on the writ-
ten complaint of Dr. Giraud—not sworn to !.and
without the examination of a single witness!—condemn three men, to pay,
each, a fine of ten round,dollars
__and in default of nayment—to fifteen days' imprisonent,
with hard labour !!I—These warrant to execute
thisjudgment, was put into the hands of the Police, and
the presentation of the warrant and a demand for the im-
mediate payment of ten dollars or go to jail—was the first
intimation these unfortunate men received that they had
been guilty of a crime, meriting fine or imprisonment—
when they refused to row a boat, thirty miles gratuitously,
to convey De. Giraud from Laborie to Soufriere.
The men not having the money to pay the fine, were
forthwith dragged away to. Soufriere, and arriving there
on Saturday night, they were locked up hi the cells of the
.prison, and on Monday morning turned out to hard labour
with the rest of the gang ! ! After enduring the imprison-
ment and hard labour for live days, they made application
to the committing Justices to be allowed to return to their
homes, to endeavour to raise the emouet of the fine ; this
was granted, on their giving security.
One of the three
raised the full amount, and paid it ; a second caned only
muster six dollars; and the third had not realised the
amount of his fine, when the case was brought under the
notice of the officer administering the Government, by
Mr. Stipendiary Magistrate Johnstone, the superintendent
of the district in which the sufferers have their domicile.
We understand his Excellency Colonel Everard di-
rected immediate inquiry into the case, and we are sure
he will see snbstantial justice done to - the injured parties ;
at the same time it certainly does appear to us that a strict
adherence to the directions so distinctly laid down by Lord
Glenelge.would be much more effectual in.- preventing
further injury to ene class of the community, and pro-
ducing coofiience in the ficture impartial administration of
the law than any other plan.