;-i6

Class Xc.] INSTRUMENTS BY PHILP AND AYHICKER, SIMPSON, WEISS, &c.

found for dividing and extracting lengthened sequestra.We noticed also a trephine-crown, which is made capableof expanding and contracting.

In those for operations on the vascular system , we findsome variations of the scarificators for cupping, improvedleech-tubes, and artificial leeches;—for the control ofhaemorrhage, new forms of tourniquetinstruments fortransfusion:—for aneurism, various instruments for hold-ing needles and applying ligatures, and instrumentssubservient to the new method of cure by graduatedcompression;—and for varices, elastic stockings andbandages.

Besides all these praiseworthy attempts to improve andextend the ministrations of the surgeon, we observe thatgreat attention has been paid to orthopedic processes forthe removal of deformities produced by weakness, mis-growth, or habitual position, in the form of spinalsupports, corsets, chairs, and a system of machines exhi-bited by Mr. Caplin for combining gymnastic exerciseswith orthopcedic objects.

In the mechanical compensation of lost parts great suc-cess has been obtained, as will be seen in examining theassortment of artificial eyes, noses, palate, teeth, arms,and legs. Among the arms, the apparatus and tools con-trived by Major Little to meet the loss of the righthand, is well worthy of inspection; and among the con-trivances for supplying the loss of the lower limb, theadmirable mechanism of Mr. B. F. Palmer’s artificialleg (United States , No. 39, p. 1435) deserves particularnotice.

In addition to the above list, the Jury may be per-mitted to draw attention to Chapman’s invalid couch(No. 60lc, p. 476), Dr. Yeitch’s invention, “denominatedthe medico-cliirurgical ambulance” (No. 6, p. 407); andGowing’s instruments of veterinary surgery (p. 475*).

The Jury cannot, indeed, pretend to have noticed inthis report every article worthy of the surgeon’s attention,or to have mentioned all the names of exhibitors whosemerits deserve a permanent record. This remark applies,perhaps, in the greatest degree, to the exhibitors of col-lections of instruments, several of which, sucli as thoseof Charriere (No. 1145, p. 1233), Coxeter (No. 4S2,p. 469*), Evans (No. 274, p. 38), Ferguson (No. 638,pp. 477, 478), Luer (No. 1333, p. 1240), Philp andWiiicker (No. 641, p. 465*), Simpson (No. 642, p. 465*),and Weiss (No. 631a, p. 478), form a complete andinstructive epitome of the instrument-maker’s art.

In concluding this account of the surgical instrumentscontained in the Exhibition, the Jury have to acknow-ledge the valuable assistance they have derived fromMr. Philp; and to regret that, in consequence of hisoffice as Juror, the house of Philp and Whicker (No.641, p. 465*) have renounced all competition in theaward of prizes. The Jury deem it, however, no morethau just to remark that the house of Sayigny, of whichMessrs. Philp and Whicker are the representatives,embraces the history of the manufactory of surgical in-struments in this country for a period of scarcely lessthan two centuries; and that the late Mr. Savigny , as isshown by his well-known work on the subject, was in hisday almost the sole improver of instruments, which up tothat time had been of a very rude construction. Theydesire to add that Mr. Philp has been practically engagedduring the last fifty years in the manufacture of thejustly-prized instruments, for which Savigny ’s firm hasbeeu celebrated, and that on the present occasion Messrs.Philp and Whicker, in the complete and excellent col-lection of instruments which they exhibit, have efficientlysustained the high reputation of their long-establishedhouse.

Thus in the Great Exhibition will be found the com-plete armoury and equipment of a surgeon, comprising achoice assortment of all the instrumental aids, in theirmost perfect form and finish, with which the ingenuityof the artist or artificer can furnish the operator or the (

patient, for the relief of the manifold ills of sufferinghumanity,—as far, at least, as their remedy dependsupon mechanical skill and contrivance. To attempt anycritical examination of this admirable collection wouldbe, however, in the opinion of the Jury, as hopeless as itwould be invidious. The Jury appointed to report onsurgical instruments could not, consistently with theobjects and limits of this Report, enter upon the dis-cussion of subjects which involve references to a largeportion of the surgical records and literature of the lasthalf-century; and they have no wish to make theirReport the vehicle of advertisement, or to render it theoccasion of controversy. They do not arrogate to them-selves any judicial authority to decide on the claims ofinventors, or on the comparative merits of improvers.They have endeavoured conscientiously, as far as theirmeans of judgment have extended, to award prizes inthose cases in which the objects exhibited display in-ventive talent, useful ingenuity, or superior mechanicalskill; and if iu some instances they may have left talentunrewarded, either from the imperfection of their judg-ment, or from the impossibility of acknowledging everydegree of merit, they desire to record most unequivocallytheir sense of the general excellence manifested both inthe contrivance and execution of the surgical instrumentsexhibited.

To the same Jury has been intrusted the duty of exa-mhiing and reporting on the models of anatomy. Ofthese some beautiful examples have been exhibited byAuzoux (No. 13, p. 1170), Simpson (No. 641, p. 465*),Towne (No. 625, p. 477), and Gordon (No. 639, p. 465*).The opinion which the Jury entertains of their meritsthey have expressed, by awarding to each of these con-tributors the Prize Medal. And whilst saying that suchmodels are admirably calculated to aid the teacher in hisdemonstrations, the Jury, without detracting from theirmerit, may be permitted to observe that, especially inrespect of human anatomy, they can never supply theplace of actual dissection. They cannot, however, omitthis opportunity of recording their approbation of thevalue of the labours of M. Auzoux, who, in respect ofthe durability of the material he employs, and of thescientific exactness of the structures he displays in theanatomy of man, and in that of various well-chosenexamples of animals, both vertebrate and invertebrate,lias earned the gratitude of teachers of anatomy and.zoology. And they desire especially to express theiradmiration of the series of models in wax, which displaythe anatomy of the torpedo, not only as highly-interestingspecimens of Florentine art, but as patterns of scientificaccuracy and artistic beauty.

Finally, in accordance with the philanthropic designsof His Royal Highness the Prince Albert , and of thosewho have promoted, under the Royal sanction, this greatnational undertaking, the Jury beg to express theirsincere wish that the department of the Great Exhibition ,on which they report, may contribute to produce thatinterchange of knowledge and of amity which thisassemblage from all parts of the world is calculated tofoster, and which it is alike the interest and the duty ofall nations, as integral parts of the human family, tocherish and to cultivate.

In making the following awards, the Jury intrusted withthis delicate and difficult duty, desire to say, that in con-formity with the directions of the Royal Commissioners,and without the means of marking degrees of merit, theyhave been under the necessity of avoiding a regard tocomparative excellence. Also, that as they do not intendit to be understood, that others than those included inthe prize list might not have properly received sometestimonial of merit, so they trust, that the Exhibitorsdistinguished by the recommendation of the Jury willseverally accept the prize awarded to them, not as ameasure of their merit, but as a tribute to the excellence( of the objects they exhibit.