The Statesman.
London, England, 1819-05-12 00:00:00

OPTRALIIIC HOSPITAL.

Mr. J. P. GRA NT rose to mo►e for some Papers re.
'peeling the establiehmeat of a Military Opthalwria
Hospital rod Sorrow', now, for the first time, intro..
dosed let. the Army Estimates as a heed of charge.
At first ibe Secretary at War *amassed a wish to ham
the rebate Establishment investigated; bet who. h•
(Mr. Greet) showed the Noble Lord the motion ow
luteeded to submit to the Hesse. he was astonished
to be told, that the Papers could scot he panted.—
It appeared to his a sprestioeseble mestere to est'.
Wish au OptMltwle Hospital, when the disease (first
brought f►om Egypt) was rapidly declining in the
Army. It also appeared to hies singator, that the
patients should be takes from ander theca', of Army
Sergeant, who had made the disease th►ir study, and
placed ender the mire of an °cornet who we' irs
the Army, soil of whose abilities he enfold not
I "peak. He t homer, it • bt sahjeet of enquiry • if
net we the wore of economy, yet to boner, why this
Hospital had been tyken net of the hoods of Army
Surgeons? Ile then moved for Reports impertimi
the Oprholmic liospitala. ortrectally the new use, at
ebe bead of which is Sir W. Adam..

Lord PALMERSTON ihneght the Mese would
be of upiusiats, that the "Winn less 111111•CI.Sary.—
There ass as °robslmic 11.•ipitel at Wissnr ; bet
the treatment of the patients was not altoeether
faciory. He did not say this tomtit any reflection on tiro
officer who was at the heed of that establishment, who.
however, Ihueght he should have been pitted at olio
heed of the atilt Hotpitai ; hut some Chelsea roc.
airiness hating been ',lucid under the care of Sir W.
Adams, by way of es Demerol, and by a report of Sir
11. Ilalford, Dr. Lisil:ie, Mr. A. Coei.er, Mr. Cline.
, Mr. Aberuethie, &c. it appeared to have sacceeded
much beyond the method of cure adopted by Mr.
ticeeders. Oa this account, Sir W. Adams was
placed at the head of the 1101/ esiablishment. Up to
the present moment Sir W. Adams had discharged
his duty without any remener•tiou whatever, !caw-
ing it to the Government to grant him what might
be thought a fair compensatiou fur his labours.
Sir W. Adams bad succeeded in relieving many
who had been unsuccessfully treated by Military
Surgeons. Ile read l cases is proof of
this; amongst others, that of a etas who bad been
blind for seventeen years, and was se ft. relieved by
Sir W. Adams as to distinguish what o'clock it was
by a watch. He read a •letter from one Army Ser-
goon to soother, requesting him not to iaterfere with
the eyes of two men whom be wished to set op ea a
proof that Si, W. Adams's method of practice wee
liable to produce relapses in discreet of the eye.—..
This letter came to his hand, in consequence of let-
ter, en artily basinets being transmitted throogh the
Office of Hie Secretary at W2l, in order to save ea-
' pence of postage; but they must be open, and not
contain private besioest ; and the Clerk whose fogy
it wee to inspect them. finding this letter not on at-
my burhiest, broeght it to hint (Lord I'.). The prac-
tice siT Sir W. Adams had been the of prieted
controversy, and by the decision of the Public it
ought to stand or fail, end not be brought by mo-
tions for papers before the House. As to ties Est..
bilibeievit itself. it dill nni east above 1500:. a-year ;
and he wished Members would inspect it, to hear the
gratitude of thud who had been relieved from being
a harden to their fritods,and who have been restored
to comfort in the evening of their days.
Sr J. MACINTOSH said, the question was, who.
tiler they would enquire into the origin and con-
temners of this Establishment. The judgment of all
F.erope was, that our Army sod Navy Medical
Officers had contribated greatly to the advancement
of their science. The Noble Lord ought to have
mentioned the acme of the writer of the letter he had
read, in order that the House might know whom to
reprobate for such unworthy condect, end in order
that the medical men might not be generally pre-
jediced by the conduct of one of their body. The
Noble Lord had quoted the opinions of eminent Mr.
diell 111t11 in Greer of Sir W. Adams's practice in
1814; bat had not some of the first medical men in
Leaden since given an opinion against it ?
Mr. C. lIUTCIIINtONpraised the zeal of the Nes.
We Lord (Palmerston) in taking every pains that so
painful a disease should be relieved; but be was sfraid
it was not yet eradkated.
Mr. BARHAM thought the papers that had been
moved foe wale totally soseeroseeey N form a jailer
Seat hi thhi matter.
Lord EBRINGTON also agreed with hit NM..
Friend in the eulogise he had tattered on Sir W.
Adams.

Lord CASTIERF.AGII thought the Ilene woe
Aravelliag a tad. oat of their owl coarse. The
duty of the Hoene was to consider whether the
.establislimest was necessary, sod the eapentlitet•
economical. Both these points were acknowledged.
Theklease had never, on former Measjoni, attempted
tointerfere in the appointment of either the military
or the medical staff of the army ; and be trusted the
iloold would not now sanction a motion which sr.
peered to have that object.
Mr. J. P. GRANT rep!ied. lie 4611 retained tie
same opinion as to the propriety of the !loose having
the information for which lie had morel; bet as the
opinion of the noose was against him, he should not
prPPs the question to a division.
'pm several motions wire taro pat, and negatived
without a di•ibion.

Mr. S. COOPER gate notice, ohs, he should, nn
Monday nett, mete for Irrtr to bring in a Bill to
limit the Number of Pasaeuge,s to be carried by
Meil•coacbet.

Th. POD( Itoes Mi<iriviiratinn Bill wag, on 'he
goalies of Mr. S. BOURNE, ordered lo be mad a
'Komi iine (Hs Nuntlay nest.

!HMI CLERK OF THE PEACE.

Sit J. NEWPORT mowed the Order of the Dsy
for tbe seam] reading of the Clerk of the Pelee in
Ireland Regulation Bill.
Lard CAP.IIISII' tippled the Bill. TLe