424 Scientific Intelligence. — Political Economy. 
found some nearly resembling those made use of at the present 
day ; as, for instance, elevators for the operation of trepanning, 
lancets, spatulas, instruments for the application of the actual 
cautery, &c. There has not been found one single building 
which could be regarded as a school of surgery or anatomical 
museum. 
POLITICAL ECONOMY. 
28. Benefit Societies . — In our last Number, (p. 169.) we 
noticed a work, which was then in the press, on the principles 
according to which Friendly Societies ought to be conducted. 
That work has since been published, and, from the very able 
manner in which the Report has been drawn up, reflects the 
highest credit upon Mr Oliphant, and the other gentlemen of 
the Committee, by whom it has been brought forward. 
Since so much has thus been done for Friendly Societies in 
general, it remains with the members of such as now exist, to 
apply the rates and calculations to their own respective cases, in 
order to ascertain how far their funds are in such a state as to af- 
ford a fair prospect of permanency ; for it has been shewn to 
demonstration, that unless the funds in hand, together with the 
future contributions of the existing members, be equivalent to 
the whole future allowances to the existing members (without 
calculating upon the admission of any new member at all) the 
Society is not in a solvent state ; and, consequently, if they con- 
tinue at the same rates of contribution and distribution, they 
must sooner or later fall into the same state of ruin, as the nu- 
merous Societies which have preceded them in a similar course 
of delusion. 
We believe, that there are many Societies which are already 
ruined, and that almost beyond remedy ; but that there are 
many others whose affairs may yet be brought into a sound and 
permanent condition, by investigation and amendment. The 
means of making such investigations are amply afforded by the 
Report ; and no very high degree of arithmetical knowledge is 
necessary to enable the members to conduct such investigations 
themselves. But should they have any diffidence in their own 
abilities for such an undertaking, they may easily obtain the 
assistance of those who have devoted much of their time and at- 
tention to the subject, and who may, consequently, be consider- 
ed capable of making up a distinct and accurate state of their af- 
