When once the principle had been published that "the inhalation of narcotic and stimulating vapours" produced an unconscious state of brain, there was no great mental effort or merit in others putting the principle into practice, or varying the means of producing the like effect. Dr. Edward Jenner discovered that the lymph from the cow possessed anti-varioloid properties. Vaccination is found to counteract the susceptibility to small-pox. Here a great principle was demonstrated. It is not to be supposed that if any one were to innoculate from any other animal, a goat for instance, that any great merit would attend such a substitution of the lymph of the goat for that of the cow.

It is the want of liberality in confused expressions of this kind that is complained of:We have further no doubt, that had he given up the mesmeric idea "and proceeded systematically with his plan of making the body insensible by inhaling the vapour of alcohol, he would have had no one to dispute with him in priority."

As it is here admitted that the body was rendered insensible by the inhalation of alcohol, in 1842-1843, how the question of priority could be interfered with it is difficult to imagine.

Had the writer understood the true facts as they occurred, he never would have written in such a patronizing style. As no anterior publication has ever been produced to May, 1843, that "the inhalation of narcotic and stimulating vapours produce the nervous congestive state of brain," or anaesthetic state, I ask no sympathizing smiles, no merciful considerations, but a rigid examination of the facts as they existed prior to the date of every other claimant. No man has a right to pass judgment carelessly on his fellow-man because he happens to be entrusted with the editorship of an article on a special topic. The abuse of so sacred a trust is, to say the least, the rankest egotism.

Had the Lancet writer known the ordeal of persecution, ribald invective, and contumacious opposition to which I was subjected from the year 1840 to 1844, in the advocacy of the necessity of producing an anaesthetic state, so that surgical operations could be painlessly performed, he never would have written in such a legere and jaunty manner on a subject of such importance as the alleviation of human suffering.

The inveterate joker is, perhaps, the most dangerous of men; coute que coute, he must be funny in season and out of season. He is continually watching the opportunity to indulge in his sense of the humorous. There is a time for all things; to whistle an Irish jig at a funeral, or to offer up a prayer between the acts of a comedy, would be such violent antagonisms as to be offensive.

There was a judge, it is said, who would rather hang the prisoner than his leg of mutton should get cold; so it is with the writer in the Lancet. He would sooner sacrifice any one than not perpetrate his joke. At one moment Dr. Collyer is compared to Prince Rupert, at the next he is made to wander through the States with his negro "Bob;" the antithesis is perfect. It is the fable of the boys and the frogs. The old frog said to the boys, who were throwing stones, "It may be fun unto you, but 'tis death unto us."

It is the motto, "No matter who sinks, so long as we swim." Repulsive is that wrapt up egotism which measures everything from the standard of self.

Nothing is more facile than to reason after events, then every man is wise - as to what should or should not have been done. To reason from the experience of 1871 as to the course which ought to have been pursued in 1840 to 1844, is as consistent and reasonable as to expect an eminent physiologist like Dr. B. W. Richardson to perform his experiments from the standard of experience that will be obtained in 1900, or thirty years hence. Of course, those who are in existence in 1900 will be shocked at such announcements as these in the Lancet and other Journals of April 22nd, 1871 :Death from Chloroform. - At the Swansea Hospital, a few days ago, a "clog-maker named Barrett died under the influence of chloroform. Three "weeks ago he fractured his leg, and amputation being considered necessary, "the preparations were made with his consent. Before the operation com"menced, and while inhaling the chloroform, he died."

Death from Chloroform. - Lieutenant Colonel Rogers, R.A., was stay"ing with his brother at Cornwood, last week, and while in the garden at the "back of the house, fell over a plant-pot, thereby receiving a compound frac"ture of the leg and a dislocated ankle. The broken bones were set by two "medical gentlemen of Plympton, but Colonel Rogers not progressing, a third "doctor was called, and it was determined that the leg should be reset while "the Colonel was under the influence of chloroform. The latter was adminis"tered and caused almost instant death." - Times, May 15th, 1871.

Death from Bichloride of Methylene. - Mr. Bedford held an inquest "yesterday at the Charing-cross Hospital on the body of David Skelton, a "labourer, aged 41, who died while under the influence of methylene, after "undergoing an operation. Mr. Edwin Canton, surgeon to Charing-cross "Hospital, stated that he attended the deceased on his admission to the hospi"tal, and found the bones of one of the fingers on the left hand extensively "diseased from an injury he had received from a pig's tusk. With the exception "of the bad finger the deceased was in excellent bodily health, and was a "strong muscular man. He advised the deceased to have his finger removed, "to which he consented, and said he should wish to be under the influence of "chloroform while the operation was being performed. On Tuesday last the "operation took place, the deceased having previously inhaled 1 1/2 drachms of "methylene, which was more generally used as a substitute for common chloro"form. The methylene was administered in the presence of witness by the regular "administrator of the hospital, a gentleman of large experience. The "quantity administered was not more than half that usually given.