256 Surgical Cases in the Finsbury Dispensary. 
following days, when she was asked if she had ever been 
subject to hernia, which question was answered in the ne- 
ative. 
In the afternoon of the 15th J was requested to see her, 
and found her then labouring under symptoms of strangu- 
Jated hernia, situated under poupart’s ligament, on the right 
side, between the femoral vessels and the ilium, not larger 
than a moderate-sized walnut. From the smallness of the 
tumour, and the pain being particularly referred to the um- 
bilicus aud region of the stomach, she could scarcely be 
convinced that the disease arose in consequence thereof. All 
attempts to reduce the hernia were unsuccessful ; enemas 
had been repeated frequently during the preceding night 
without having obtained the desired effect; every thing was 
rejected from the stomach as soon as taken. It appeared 
from the length of time strangulation had existed, from the 
remedies which had been employed, and from the present 
alarming symptoms, that the operation ought to be imme- 
diately performed. From the earnest entreaties of herself 
and husband I was induced to postpone it for two hours, 
giving in the mean time one of the following pills every half 
hour, R calom. gr. vill. opi. gr. iv. f. pil. iv. These were 
immediately rejected by the stomach; and the operation 
would have been performed but for the interference of an- 
cather surgeon, who sent me word ‘ that he had ‘reduced the 
hernia in part, was going to give some medicines, and had 
no doubt of complete success.’”’ By his improper and very 
reprehensible conduct the patient was taken from under my 
care and placed in the hands of one who promised a cure 
on much easier terms than myself: but the event proved the 
fallacy of his pretensions, as the patient died on the morn- 
ing of the 17th, leaving a young family and a disconsolate 
husband to lament the loss of a parent and wife no more. 
It was asserted by the surgeon that he had succeeded 
completely in reducing the hernia in his second attempt 5 
but on examining the part after death he acknowledged his 
error by saying, ‘* that it was not, nor never had been, re- 
duced ;” which was the fact. 
Had 
