of Committees and papers read before it by members: the remainder is devoted to original articles, notices of new publications, and selected matter. A journal got up under the auspices of a large Medical Society, as in the present instance, with the auxiliary means at the command of the editor, ought to succeed, and we can see no reason why it shall not. In this we assure our young friend, the editor, "the wish," at least, "is father to the thought."

YELLOW FEVER.

According to the last accounts, the yellow fever continues to prevail in New Orleans, especially among the unacclimated. The influx of strangers has caused in fact quite an increase in the number of cases. "During the twenty-four hours ending on the morning of the 11th, (ultimo,) nine interments occurred in the city, and five deaths at the Charity Hospital." This, however, is a great decrease, compared with the month of August. In the latter part of that month, the disease pervaded all ranks of society, and the deaths from that cause alone, in the week preceding the 23d, amounted to three hundred and twenty-four.

SHIP FEVER.

This epidemic still prevails to a considerable extent among the emigrants at the port of New York, although very few cases we believe occur now at Philadelphia, owing, perhaps, to the smaller number of subjects. From the Canadian ports and places of landing, we continue to receive distressing accounts of destitution, disease and deaths among this unfortunate class. The number of sick emigrants at one hospital, (Montreal,) on the first of last month, was eight hundred and thirty-five!

MEDICAL HEROISM.

Under this caption, the Annalist copies the following from an arti cle in the British and Foreign Review, with appropriate comments. It is a sublime but just picture of genuine medical character.

"There are few of our readers who do not remember the melancholy impression made on the public mind by the disastrous expedi tion to the Niger, when this was made known in England, through the newspapers. And none, who remember this, can forget that pathetic passage in the story, which represented the noble conduct of the surgeon and the geologist of the expedition, when left alone in the far recesses of the Niger, amid their heroic companions, all stricken to death, or to death-like helplessness, by the fatal fever of the country. In this trying conjuncture, when the salvation of all on

board depended upon the speedy removal of the ship from her actual position, Dr. M'William took the navigation on himself, steering with his own hands, and piloting the vessel through all the intricacies of the river, while his companion worked the engine below. There is something affecting, we had almost said, sublime, in the picture thus presented to the imagination, of these two solitary men of science, assuming offices so foreign to their past habits and knowledge, stripped of all exterior cognizance of their class, standing as humble workmen at the helm and furnace, toiling. by day, watching by night, while the force of the stream and paddles were sweeping their illfated bark, freighted with their dying or dead companions, through the manifold dangers of their unknown course. The author of the

volume before us, (the Report on the Boa Vista Fever,) was the clear-headed and stout-hearted pilot who did this, the undoubted preserver of the ship and her surviving crew; and the slight and simple way in which he speaks of his own exertions, strikingly illustrates the old truth, that the brave man is ever modest.'"

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The following despatch and accompanying remarks, which we extract from the North American of a recent date, show that the same traits characterize the honorable members of our profession everywhere.

MARTYRS TO THEIR DUTY.-The crowded state of our columns has prevented us from commenting upon the following dispatch received at the Navy Department from Com. Perry:

U. S. FLAG SHIP GERMANTOWN, VERA CRUZ, 6th September, 1847. S SIR-I am again called upon to announce to the Department the death of another valuable officer of the Squadron-Passed Assistant Surgeon J. Howard Smith breathed his last yesterday evening at the Naval Hospital.

The death of this and the other Medical Officers, may in part be ascribed to the extraordinary anxiety and labour to which they were subjected in their attendance upon the sick; worn out in body, though not in zeal and courage, they had not sufficient strength to bear up against the effects of disease when it came upon them.

Doctor Smith was attached to the steamer "Spitfire," and volunteered with Doctor Hastings, of the "Mississippi," to take charge of the sick at the Hospital, when Dr. Thornly was taken with the fever.

Words cannot express my feelings on seeing these devoted men, stricken down as they have been by the epidemic, from the fatal malignancy of which their own incessant labours and watching by night and by day have saved so many.

As a proof of the noble self-devotion of Doctor Hastings-an example worthy also the character of his lamented companion, Doctor Smith-I subjoin an extract from the "Sick Report" of the 30th ult. I have the honour to be, with great respect, sir, your obedient servant, M. C. PERRY, Commanding Home Squadron.

(Signed)

To Hon. JOHN Y. MASON, Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

Both the gentlemen, who are the subject of the above feeling eulogy, are Phildelphians, and Mr. Smith leaves many to regret his loss while that regret is solaced by the reflection that he fell when nobly and gallantly engaged in the performance of his duty. It is not alone amid the roar of cannon and the thick smoke of a deadly combat that true courage and manly devotedness can be found. The physician who faces the horrors of infectious disease, and hovers like a ministering angel around the couch of death, achieves a triumph equal to that of the victorious battle field. As soon as Dr. SMITH was taken down, Dr. JOHN HASTINGS made the following tender of his services in a report dated" U. S. Naval Hospital, Salmadina, August 30, 1847."

Aware of the diminished number of medical officers in the squadron, and fearing you might be worried and perplexed on account of the sickness of Dr. Smith, I conceive it my duty to say that I feel myself able to take charge of the sick at present on the island, (number of sick in hospital 124,) and all who will be likely to come. Having been on a previous occasion, from similar misfortunes, called upon to discharge as heavy and important a duty as the present without succumbing, I hope I shall in the present instance again be equal to

the task.'

While engaged in the duties which he had thus assumed, Passed Assistant Surgeon JOHN HASTINGS was himself attacked by fever and for a long time his recovery was doubtful. Providence, however, interposed, and he has been preserved for other duties and other missions of self-sacrifice and devotion. Well may we feel proud to enrol such gallant spirits among the sons which Philadelphia has sent forth to the war. Tears for the departed one, and the encomiums of the public upon the surviv or, are but feeble evidences of the esti mation in which they are held. Dr. SMITH "sleeps the sleep that knows no waking, while Dr. HASTINGS will soon be restored to the friends whom he has made so proud of him, and we trust his return may be accompanied by some expressive token from his fellow citizens."

The following notice of the late Dr. Kearney we also take from the North American. We had the pleasure of Dr. K.'s acquaintance and friendship, during several years that he was stationed at Philadel phia, and can bear witness that the eulogy of his brother officers is not strained. It will be seen that he met his death in the voluntary performance of a most hazardous duty. Dr. Kearney's age and long service exempted him from so arduous a task, but his sympathy for his brother soldiers prevailed over all considerations of domestic ease and comfort, and even his own health and life, and, like those whose names we have already chronicled, he fell a sacrifice to what he deemed his professional duty.

NAVAL.-The Officers of the Navy attached to this station, and

others now in Philadelphia, met at the Navy Yard, on the 22d inst. Commodore CHARLES STEWART was called to the Chair, and Purser ROBERT PETTIT appointed Secretary.

The Chairman, in a short and feeling address, stated that they had convened for the purpose of offering some testimonial of their respect, to the memory of a brother officer, Doctor JOHN A. KEARNEY, late "Fleet Surgeon" of the Home Squadron, who died on the 27th of last August, at Salmadina, in the Gulf of Mexico.

A Committee consisting of Surgeons James M. Greene, W. S. W. Ruschenberger, and Purser Robt. Pettit, was appointed to prepare a notice and resolutions, expressive of the respectful sentiments and feelings of the meeting. The Committee reported the following, which was adopted:

We are impressed with no common feelings of sorrow, when we reflect, that only a few short weeks have elapsed, since the lamented subject of this notice, was on duty with us, in fine health and spirits, and with every prospect of a long and useful life; and that now he is numbered among the last victims of that disease, the fell scourge of strangers within the tropics!

We cannot permit an occasion so melancholy to pass, without a slight tribute to the memory of one with whom most of us have passed many happy hours, in our varied duties of a life at sea; or amid the social circle, with our friends on shore.

Doctor Kearney entered the service at an early age, and during a career of nearly forty years, passed with distinguished honour through the various ranks of the Medical Corps of the Navy. He served as Surgeon's Mate, Surgeon, Member and President of Medical Boards, and Fleet Surgeon of different squadrons.

In the war of 1812 he was Surgeon of the Frigate Constitution, in her triumphant encounter with two of the enemy's vessels and a larger force.

The deceased was a warm advocate for strict discipline, and willingly showed the utmost deference for those whose rank or seniority placed them in command-while he used every honorable means to promote the consideration which he believed was due to skilful and well instructed medical officers. Nor was he less strenuous in his efforts to advance the interests of others in the different departments of the service; and in 1835 had the pleasure to witness the passage of a law in Congress, improving the condition of every rank in the Navy.

Doctor Kearney was a noble hearted and generous man-he was a kind, affectionate husband, a tender parent, most sincere friend, and acquitted himself in all the relations of life, as a Christian and polished gentleman.

But it was in the exercise of his profession, either in the hospital, or on board his ship, that he was seen to most advantage-there, his whole time and attention were given to the sick, and no comfort or luxury was spared that could alleviate the sufferings of the patient, or tend to his recovery.

As friends of the deceased, we only join in the common expression

of sorrow, at the loss which his family, the public service, and society have sustained in the death of Doctor KEARNEY-and it is therefore

Resolved, That we sympathise with his family and relatives in their bereavement, and that we offer them our heartfelt regret, and most sincere condolence.

Resolved, That when time shall have assuaged the sorrows of his mourning relatives, they may direct his children to contemplate with becoming pride, a father's patriotism, his unsullied reputation, and the bright example of his virtues.

Resolved, That we appreciate his services in co-operating with the Army, in its struggle with the ruthless Seminole of Florida, and in voluntarily joining the squadron, now amidst disease and death in the Gulf of Mexico.

Resolved, That we will cherish with grateful recollection the me mory of the deceased, as a skilful and efficient officer, a pleasing associate on duty, and as an accomplished gentleman.

Resolved, That these proceedings be signed by the Chairman and Secretary, and published in the papers of this city, and that a copy of them be sent to the Secretary of the Navy, with a request that he forward it to the family of the deceased, and also that a copy of it be sent to the Secretary of War, for Col. James Kearney, of the Topographical Engineers, only surviving brother of the deceased. CHARLES STEWART, Chairman.

Robert Pettit, Secretary.

U. S. Navy Yard, Philada. Sept. 22d, 1847.

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RECORD OF MEDICAL SCIENCE.

THE IRISH IMMIGRANTS' FEVER,

GROS ISLE, 33 miles below Quebec, August 27th, 1847.

To the EDITOR of the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal.

DEAR SIR,-Through the politeness of Mr. W. Stevenson, of Quebec, who runs a small steamboat for the government, I have been able to make a short visit to this quarantine station, and am now on my return to Quebec; or shall be, as soon as our little steamer takes on board the last of the convalescents from the fever hospitals, which I see waiting on the dock. Presuming that our brethren generally, throughout the United States, feel a lively interest in the disease which is prevailing here and up the St. Lawrence, even to our own country, I propose to give you a rapid and superficial sketch of what I have seen, and what I may hereafter see; although, as I have been travelling for more than two months, and seen but few medical jour nals, I do not know but others have already done for you what I am