The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-03 00:00:00

'OCIATION

MEDICAL BENEVOLENT FUND.

The report, signed by the president of the fund, Sir James
Clark, was read by the secretary, and was to the following
effect :

" Commencing the year with a debt of about £l5
to their late respected treasurer, Mr. Newnham, the
committee were soon released from all difficulty by a
munificent gift of 500 guineas from Mr. Toynbee. With
a plentiful balance to resort to, your committee
have thus been able to deal out bountiful aid in these dis-
tressing cases where immediate and liberal pecuniary
assistance can alone be of service. They have accordingly
ventured to bestow larger grants than formerly, at the same
time that they have increased the numbers of the recipients
of their charity. In one instance they gave the sum of
£5O; it was to the widow and family of a medical man,
who, having struggled hard but unsuccessfully in ill-health
and in misfortune, died, leaving wholly unprovided for 11
orphans, and his poor widow about again to become a
mother. £3O was voted to each of two other cases, and
£25 to each of two more. The sum of £792 10s. was
expended in the assistance of urgent cases during the year,
while £'2l4 was given to annuitants, six of whom are living
rent free in Mr. Bailey's comfortable houses at Chippenbam.
" Your committee hav3 also the grateful satisfaction of
knowing that, by the careful investigation of the cases
\brought before them, and then by placing the money they
have voted in the hands of some friend, who watched over
its disposal, they have been enabled to uplift the fallen from
a condition of degradation and misery, to one in which they
have successfully struggled to obtain a livelihood for them-

selves and their families.
" The experience of your committee confirms more and
more deeply the wisdom and beneficence of the founders
of the Medical Benevolent Fund and its subsequent sup-
porters, in delegating to a committee the duty of investi-
gating the applications for relief, and of distributing the
funds. Conscious that they are influenced only by a strong
desire to do full justice t 9 all, by giving aid according to the
real necessities of each case, they venture to express their
conviction that in selecting the true and worthy objects of
charity, by aiding them silently and as liberally as their means
permit, and afterwards by watching over them, the Medical
Benevolent Fund approaches,as near as a public charitycan ap-
proach, to that which it trusts never to supersede—the private
Christian charity which let teth not the left hand know what
the right hand doeth." Further than this, your committee
are happy in feeling that instead of superseding private
charity their operations tend to call it forth and foster it;
for in many instances the expression of their intention to
give aid, only as an addition to any that may he supplied
by friends, has called forth friends and their effective
assistance.
" The committee, nevertheless, do not conceal from them-
selves the serious difficulties which beset them in the perfor-
mance of their duties. To investigate every month the cha-
racter of so large a number of applicants for relief as come
before them to decide upon those that are worthy of aid, and
then to administer the funds according to the claims of the
several cases, are duties attended by no ordinary anxiety and
responsibility; and the committee wish to impress upon the
subscribers and friends to the fund, that these difficulties
are greatly increased when the funds at their disposal are
very small.
" Sincerely thanking the subscribers for their liberal assist-
ance, the committee urge the necessity of constant exertion
on the part of those who have confidence in the unobtrusive
principles upon which the Medical Benevolent Fund is con-
ducted ; and they especially suggest to medical men that
they may do essential service by laying the present report
before their friends and patients. By means of Mr. Toyn-
bee's large donation during the past year, and by the in-
crease of funds arising from the recent festival, at which its
chairman, Earl Granville, with equal sympathy and elo-
quence, most successfully advocated the claims of the fund,
the committee have at present, as will be seen by the trea-
surer's report, a considerable balance in hand. This
balance is, however, liable to disappear, or at least
to be greatly diminished at any meeting where numerous
and urgent cases are brought forward, demanding large
and liberal aid. It is evident that without abundant means
the committee can no longer bestow the assistance which
has so often elicited the touching, because heartfelt, ex-
pressions of gratitude from the downcast medical man,
his destitute widow, or orphan children; expressions of
gratitude, of which some are quoted in an appendix, be,
cause the committee wish the subscribers to feel, that
they provide the bountiful aid, they also can enjoy the in
expressible consolation of knowing
" That they have been
Themselves the fathers and the dealers out
Of some small blessings • have been kind to such
As needed kindness."

ADDRESS ON THE PRESENT STATE OF SURGICAL
SCIENCE.
Professor MILLER gave a most interesting sketch of the
vast progress of surgical science in later times, and dwelt
with great effect upon the achievements of conservative sur-
gery. In one respect, however, he remarked the knife is busier
now than before—namely, in removing diseased portions of
a part in order to preserve the whole. Operative surgery,
mutilating or destructive, we desire to curb; and as our
art truly advances, this deparment of it will be found within
still narrowing limits; but operative surgery, which is
conservative, is widening its field of work, and with the
happiest results. In surgery, as in medicine, and perhaps
more especially, we have to guard against a common error
in believing that progress and 'amendment are necessarily
connected with the discovery of what is striking and new.
The flash of novelty is one thing—the steady light of progress
is quite another thing. The foremost man is not he who
jerks himself into the front by some royal road or short cut,
but he who has come by the old ways, and uses these
as his basis of operations in advance. To be safe we must
occupy a space between two extremes—not blind to inno-
vation on the one hand, not blinded by innovation on the
other. The rule of conduct is plain and infallible—" Prove
all things; bold fast that which is good." (Cheers.) Pro-
fessor Miller then referred to one or two points of recent
interest.
thecaseof thch regard
e W
almost all that could be desired. Its effect is both rapid
and easy. It annihilates an agony which otherwise would
have proved a sad penance to both surgeon and patient ;
and we are seldom troubled with anxiety or alarm in its
i

ADDRESS ON THE PRESENT STATE OF MIDWIFERY.
Dr. SIMPSON delivered an address on "The Progress o
Midwifery." He began by describing the careers of three
neighbouring country doctors established in Hamilton and
Lanark 130 years ago—viz., Dr. William Cullen, Dr. Wil-
liam Hunter, and Dr. Smellie, and by showing that the two
last were the founders of the modern school of British Mid-
wifery. He proceeded to trace in rapid succession the
various advances in the science and art of obstetric medicine
and surgery from Swale's day to our own, and specially
insisted on the fact that gradually from an increased know-
ledge of obstetric physiology there was less and less meddle-
some interference in the way of obstetric practice. He dwelt
at some length on the history of the introduction of anaesthe-
tics into midwifery. If their use was irreligious, then
modern agriculture was irreligious too, because it made
use of many implements and appliances to diminish or do
away with that curse which permitted man to till the
ground "in the sweat of his brow" alone. In this way,
irreligion was the characteristic of all the studies of the
physician that tended to annul those pains which the
curse entailed, and to avert that death which was its
peculiar sting. And in this way, irreligion must be charged
against divines, whose earnest life-long labours were
directed towards the abolition of sin, and so to the abroga-
tion of the primeval curse. Nor was the practice more
unnatural or more an unnecessary interference with pro-
videntially arranged functions, as some had averred, than
were any of the practices of civilisation, for they all
appeared at first unnatural, and they all interfered
with functions providentially arranged. Pain in labour was
no more " salutary and conservative" than pain in other
circumstances; in fact, it could most easily be statistically
shown here to be dangerous and destructive. The mission
of the physician was twofold—to preserve human life, and to
alleviate human suffering, and he who in any case omitted
to do the latter, failed in his duty to his patient, and wil-
lingly descended from the high platform of active philan-
thropy on which members of the medical profession should
ever stand. No one dared refuse his skill to remove other
pains; why did any one hesitate to remove the pains of la-
bour? The probability was, that with this as with other
beneficent innovations, the reform in practice from which
the profession held back would be forced on them in the end
by their suffering patients, in the same way as the punish-
ments of crime had been mitigated at the unanimous de-
mand of a people, and in opposition to the stern re_
sistance of chancellors and lawyers who thought the Bri
tish constitution must have gone to ruin if a petty
theft were punished by a milder means than the
hangman's rope ; and as, but for the laity, the clergy might
still be firing the faggot round the heretic's stake. Some
of the medical objections—suds as that anaesthesia in labour
would lead to idiotcy, puerperal fever, mania, and compli-
cations of all kinds, expbrience bad shown to be utterly
unfounded ; and as for the convulsions which chloroform
was to have produced, chloroform had proved Itself the
most certain remedy for the disease. The dread that it
would often prove fatal had turned out to be unfounded as
far as regarded its administration in labour, for not one
fatal case had been reported from among the many thou-
sands in which it had been used ; and in some of those
surgical cases where anaesthesia had been blamed for the
fatal issue, the blame might have been unjust, seeing
that patients had not unfrequently died en the operating
table suddenly, and without a sign, to whom no anesthetic
had been administered. That chloroform would cause
death, he (Dr. Simpson) bad shown in his earliest paper on
the subject; but so could opium, Epsom salts, and almost
every other dreg when used in large full doses. It had now
become a domestic remedy with many families in Scot-
land ; and with due care it might be used with as much
confidence as most other drugs in the pharmacopceia.
Many practitioners who had at first opposed it had now
come to employ it in natural labour, either from the con-
viction of its utility or on the compulsion of their patients.
After making some observations on the mode of its admi-
nistration in labour, Dr. Simpson concluded his address by
laying down a few rules to be observed in using it, insist-
ing particularly on this, that the vapour should be exhibited
only during a pain, and should be removed entirely during
theintervals.
During the delivery of his address Professor Simpson
was repeatedly interrupted by bursts of applause. From
the strictly professional character of some parts of it our
analysis is necessarily imperfect.
A vote of thanks was given to Dr. Simpson on the motion
of Mr. I. B. BROWN of London, seconded by Mr. STED-
MAN of Guildford.
VISIT TO THE BOTANIC GARDENS.
The party assembled in the class-room where Professor
Balfour exhibited and described drawings of many inter-
On the tables
estin medcinal and econoical lants.
were g placedi living specimens m
of the p British ferns, including
the rarer Scottish species. There were also on the tables
some most interesting alpine plants of Scotland. The
Botanical Museum was examined, the general arrangement
of the gardens, and various Indoor collections were visited.
The scammony plant was seen covered with flowers in the
also the jalap plant with numerous flower
open ground,
buds. The weather was propitious and the great natural
and scientific attractions of the gardens were seen and felt
in great perfection.
At six p.m• a large party of members dined together in
the Hopetoun Rooms. Professor Chistison presided, the
f president's health being too feeblee for the excitement
necessarily connected with such y
as

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN.

The half-yearly report of the directors, to be presented at
the meeting of Saturday, was issued yesterday. It states
the half-year's accounts now submitted show the net re-
venue for the six months ending June 30, 1858, after
deducting interest on loans, and all other preferential
charges, to be £150,573 6s. 9d. ; to which is to be added
surplus at December 31, 1857, £7,234 13s. 4d. ; leaving a
balance available for dividend of £157,808 Os. ld. From the
above sum the directors recommend that a dividend at the
rate of £4 ss. per cent. per annum, payable on the 21st day
of August, be declared, amounting on £7,197,850115. 4d.
of capital paid up to £152,954 6s. 5d.; leaving to be carried
over to next half-year, £4,853 13s. Bd. The decrease in the
gross revenue for the half-year, in comparison with the
corresponding period in 1857, is £13,514. The prolonged
depression in trade has continued to exercise an unfavourable
influence ou the traffic of the last half-year, but the receipts
of this company will bear a favourable comparison with those
of other metropolitan lines. A revival of trade, which may be
reasonably anticipated, will materially increase the traffic re-
ceipts. At the half-yearly meeting in August, 1856, discre-
tionary powers were conferred on the directors for the disposal
of the share capital then remaining unissued, and a consider-
able portion was immediately afterwards allotted to the
proprietors. It has now become necessary to take further
action respecting the still remaining share capital, when-
ever the directors may consider the state of the money mar-
ket and other circumstances favourable. It is therefore
proposed at this meeting to revive the powers delegated to
the directors in 1856, and to extend their application to the
capital as authorised and settled by the Amendment Acts of
1857 and 1858. A resolution to effect this will be submitted
to the meeting. The total paid-up capital of the company
in consolidated stock at the present time i5:.£7,713,650 , the
preferential stocks, £185,676; the ordinary debenture debt.
£2,850,176 ; the amount raised on the perpetual 4 per cent,

debenture stock is £47,862 ; the amount of consolidated
stock remaining unissued is £515,799185. Bd. The report
of the locomotive superintendent shows a diminution of the
expenses chargeable against the revenue in that depart-
ment of £2,491 12s. 4d., notwithstanding that two engines
have been built at the expense of revenue during the half-
year, and added to the stock. The permanent way has been
maintained in good working condition. Although the
amount of expense incurred during the present, exceeds
that of the corresponding period of 1857, it will be ob-
served that £8,802 have been expended in relaying portions
of the line during the latter half-year at the expense of re-
venue. The doubling of the Southampton and Dorchester
line has progressed rapidly, and will be completed within the
time reported to the Board of Trade. The works on the
Exeter extension line are also proceeding satisfactorily.
The bill introduced by the company into Parliament for
authorising the several objects sanctioned by the share-
holders at their special meeting in December last, has re-
ceived the royal assent, and in addition to those objects
other powers of practical value have been incidentally
secured to the company. The Northam Junction line au-
thorised by the above act is completed, and will effect a
saving of time of about half an hour in the journey between
London and Weymouth. This saving will be increased so
soon as the double portion of the Dorchester line is finished.
The works on the Topsham branch must in terms of the act
be completed in two years, and as they can be executed with
greater economy whilst the Exeter extension is in progress,
the directors have agreed with the contractor for that line
for the construction of the principal part of the works on
the branch, including the purchasing of the land neces-
sary for tbem. The directors see no reason to doubt
that the branch will be completed for £60,000. The respec-
tive working arrangements provisionally entered into, under
the sanction of the shareholders, with the companies who
own the lines from Topsham to 'Exmouth, and from Wim-
bledon to Epsom, including a subscription of £30,000 to-
wards the share capital of the latter, are now, under the
powers of the Act of 1858, capable of being finally concluded.
Resolutions will be submitted to the meeting for effecting these
objects. Parliament has extended the time for the completion
of the Salisbury and Yeovil Railway and has authorised the sale
or lease thereof to this company. By the Salisbury and
Yeovil Company's Act of 1857, this company is authorised
to guarantee the debenture debt of the Salisbury and Yeovil
Company. The proprietors sanctioned the acquisition of
these powers, and, subject to their approval, the directors
have agreed to act on them, the Salisbury and Yeovil Com-
pany being now in a position to exercise their borrowing
powers, and having applied for the guarantee of this com-
pany, so as to enable them to borrow on better terms, a
result which will be beneficial to both companies. A resolu-
tion authorising the completion of this arrangement will be
submitted to the meeting. The directors anticipated that
they would be able to submit to the meeting a provisional
agreement with the Stokes Bay Railway and the Isle of
Wight Ferry Companies for the working of this company
(.f the Stokes Bay Railway, and securing a punctual and
efficient sea service to the island in connection with it.
Circumstances, beyond the control of the directors, have
prevented the completion of this arrangement, and the
board, instead of submitting such an agreement as they
anticipated, will ask of the meeting discretionary powers
for making one so soon as satisfactory terms can be con-
cluded. In the district of Brentford and Richmond the com-
pany have succeeded, after a protracted contest, in pro-
curing the rejection of a bill, by which the broad gauge
would have been extended to Richmond, and a hostile
company have been established to compete unnecessarily
for the traffic between Richmond and the north and north-
eastern pacts of London. In connection with this question,
the directors, in or.ier to show the company's disposition to
facilitate every proper public requirement in their own dis-
trict, established au additional service of trains, to run (via
Barnes) between the terminus of the North and South-
Western Junction line and Richmond, and for the purpose
of improving this service the directors contemplate the
execution of certain works at the Kew and Barnes Junc-
tions. These will provide the best answer to any renewed
proposal of the rejected scheme, should such be attempted.
The bill for converting the Andover Canal into a railway
has received the sanction of Parliament. This line of rail-
way, when made, will for its entire length of 24 miles be
parallel to the company's main line between Basingstoke
and Southampton. The directors offered every opposition
in their power to the bill in its progress through Parlia-
ment, being convinced that, although as a merely local line,
which its promoters were careful to charactise it in Parlia-
ment, it could do little mischief except to those who might
subscribe the capital for constructing it, yet that, if once
sanctioned, it might afford a pretence for a more direct
aggression on this company's interests. The directors con-
tinue so to regard it, and it will be the imperative duty of
the company, by readily according every accommodation
which the public can reasonably demand, and by watching
their new neighbours, to anticipate and prevent the success
of any such attempted aggression.