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disease and the tendency to recovery. By this method ofdiagnosis very slight pathological changes could be re-

cognised ; it gave information as to the state of the blood-forming organs and as to the degree in which certain toxinsmight be present in the organism.

Neoropsies in the Army, the Navy, and the Colonies.In the army the rules of the service relative to necropsies

give the medical officer the right of making them or of havingthem made under his direction whenever he considers themto be necessary. In practice necropsies are only made (1)when death has been sudden and unexpected ; (2) when ithas occurred out of hospital either in town or in barracks ;and (3) when it has been the result of accident or is ascribedto ill-usage or neglect. The formal report of these necropsiesis taken into consideration at the inquiry which in thesecases is always held by the military authorities. In the

navy the general idea is the same, but in addition, sincemany sailors are married, necropsies are made for the

purpose of establishing, if necessary, the claims of thewidows and orphans to a pension. According to M.Grandjux, who has just made a communication on thissubject to the Society of Legal Medicine, a recent cir-cular of the Minister of Marine orders that post-mortemexaminations shall be made on the bodies of all sailors whohave died in hospital. This decision has been come to in con-sequence of a family protesting because a pension had beenrefused them on the ground that the Conseil de Santé hadnot been able to obtain a necropsy as the relatives had claimedthe body immediately after death. For vessels at sea a

decision of March 16th, 1899, orders that unless there is someinsurmountable obstacle necropsies shall be made in the casesof all men dying from ill-defined diseases, always with theview of establishing the claims of widows and orphans to apension when death has been due to causes connected withthe duties of the deceased. The same conditions hold good inthe colonies. Speaking generally, says M. Grandjux, in thearmy, the navy, and the colonies, necropsies on the onehand by fixing responsibility protect individuals against ill-nsage and neglect, and on the other hand for the families ofthe deceased they serve to establish a right to pensions.Necropsies are therefore a means of social defence and

protection.Arsenic in Beer.

At its last meeting the Conseil d’Hygiene et de Salubritéof the Seine adopted the following motion :-Having regard to the cases of poisoning which have occurred in

England, and especially in Manchester, although arsenic has not yetbeen found in imported beer in Paris, the Council requests the Prefectof Police to call the attention of the responsible Ministers to the pos-sibility that foreign beer, syrup, confectionery, &c., imported intoFrance may contain unwholesome substances or even poisons.May 14th.

BERLIN.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The Battle of the Clubs in Leipsic.THE strike of the medical officers of the Leipsic sick

club has now come to an end through the mediation of themunicipal authorities. It has been agreed: (1) that thecommittee of the medical officers’ union shall consist

exclusively of members engaged in club practice and not ofother medical men ; (2) that a permanent court of arbitra-tion shall be created, consisting of members of the Leipsicmedical chamber and members of the committee of the club,presided over by the chief medical officer of the city ofLeipsic, and empowered to settle any dispute arising betweenthe club and its medical officers ; and (3) that the clubshall maintain the free choice system and shall notissue orders direct to the medical officers withoutreference to their committee. Both parties have acceptedthese conditions and the strained relations so unpleasant toboth the medical officers and the club members have nowhappily disappeared. It is. however, an advantage thatpublic attention has been drawn by these events to the stateof medical practice in Germany and especially to clubpractice, and it is to be hoped that in the forthcoming legis- Ilation relative to sick clubs the interests of the medical profession will be regarded more than has hitherto been the.case.

Pharmaceutical Cltemists and Sick Cluba.A dispute of a different nature and one in which the

medical profession is only concerned indirectly deserves to

be noticed as it affords a good example of the aggressivepolicy pursued by the sick clubs. The scene of the

present conflict is in Berlin, the opposing forces being themajority of the clubs on one side and the Berlin licensedpharmacies on the other. To make the position of affairsintelligible it will be necessary to give some account of theGerman law relative to pharmaceutical businesses. Thenumber of pharmacies (Apotheken) is limited for every townby the authorities and is increased only in proportion to thegrowth of the population. When a new pharmacy is to beestablished in a district of any town candidates, who of coursemust be qualified pharmaceutical chemists (Apotheker)are invited to make application to the local authority, andthe licence is, as a rule, given according to seniority.Formerly, the licence could be sold at once to any otherqualified pharmaceutical chemist, but this is no longerpossible under the law. When the licence has been grantedthe holder is bound to establish the pharmacy in thedistrict assigned to him within a certain time and to.conduct it himself. He cannot sell it, but if at any time hewishes to retire he has to give back his licence which isthen granted to another applicant. If he dies, the businessmay, however, be conducted on behalf of the widow andchildren by an authorised representative for 10 years. Thelicensed pharmacies are all under Government controland the official requirements as to the state of thepremises, the quality of the drugs, and the laboratoryarrangements must be strictly observed. A good dealof money is therefore required for establishing a phar-macy and many of the licensees, especially in the

larger towns, where house-rent is very high, have to borrowmoney and topay heavy interest, so that their financial positionmay from the beginning be rather precarious. In additionto the licensed pharmacies there exist, especially in thelarger towns, drug-stores which are not under specialGovernment control, but are subject only to the generallaws affecting workshops and trades. Their number istherefore not subject to any limitation and no licence is

required, but they must not sell poisons, neither may theycompound medicines. Their business consists only in theso-called Handverkauf (sale of simple remedies suchas may be purchased without the written prescrip-tion of a medical man). To return to the above- .mentioned conflict between the clubs and the pharmaciesit has to be explained that hitherto it has been the rule thatthe club members were allowed to order their medicines inany licensed pharmacy in Berlin. When they showed a

prescription written by a medical officer of their club on avoucher with the club stamp they had nothing to pay, as thedruggist’s charges for all drugs, medicine, &c., were settledquarterly at the club offices. Medicine was thus obtainedon credit and other facilities which it would take too

long to explain were granted to the club members by thepharmacies. The clubs, on the other hand, agreed toinstruct their members to order everything from the licemedpharmacies even those compounds which were obtainablein ordinary drug-stores. This state of things bad gone onas long as sick clubs had existed in Berlin, but some timeago a movement was set on foot which was intended to havethe effect of withdrawing some of the custom of the clubsfrom the pharmacies. It was alleged that the pricescharged by the pharmacies, although fixed officiallyby the Government, were much too high, that greatprofits were exacted even from the poorer classes, and thata discount of at least 10 per cent. ought to be granted tothe clubs. The Association of Proprietors of Licensed Phar-macies declined to allow any abatement of their ordinaryprices and the great majority of the Berlin clubs then de-cided to boycott the pharmacies so far as the law permitted,the members being instructed to deal as much as possiblewith the drug-stoies. For obtaining poifonous substances,and specially compounded medicines which could only be soldby licensed pharmacies, the committee of the united clubsselected out of the 200 pharmacies in Berlin and its suburbs60 with which club members were authorised to deal to theexclusion of the rest. In this way the clubs hoped that dis-union would arise among the licensees and that their resis-tance would be broken. The licensed pharmaceuticalchemists had, however, previously to the announcement ofthe boycott agreed among themselves not to enter into anynegotiations with the clubs without the consent of thepharmaceutists’ union and to pay a fine in the eventof failing to keep their agreement. Moreover, the moneypaid by the clubs to the 60 selected pharmacies was to bedivided according to the previous year’s income among all

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the 200 pharmacies which were open. The pharmaceutists’union also issued public notices to the effect (1) that theproceedings of the clubs were not in the interest of themembers who, when they required medicine, instead of

applying at the nearest pharmacy, might have to walk atnight for half an hour before coming to one of the selectedpharmacies; (2) that the drugs kept in the drug-stores, notbeing inspected by the district medical officer as in the phar-macies, were not of reliable quality; and (3) that the drug-stores being subject to the general trade laws must be closedon Sundays and from 9 P.M.’ to 7 A.M., whilst the pharmacieswere open every day and medicines could also be obtainedthere at night. The conflict between the pharmacies and theclubs is still going on, to the great inconvenience of the clubmedical officers, as the system to be followed in givingprescriptions is now more complicated than before. Thereis, however, no doubt that the boycott will very soon

be withdrawn, firstly because the club patients will not wil.lingly submit to all the arrangements connected with it, andsecondly because it will be useless, owing to the strongorganisation of the licensed pharmacies. These circum-stances are now described at length because they are ofmore than mere local interest, illustrating as they do thepresent state of club practice, a question of much import-ance to the medical profession in Germany. If the.organisation of the medical profession were made as strong as.that of the pharmaceutical profession things would becomebetter than they are now.May 13th.

ObituaryJOHN CAVAFY, M.D., F.R.C.P.LOND.

DR. CAVAFY, for many years one of the physiciansto St. George’s Hospital, died suddenly in London on

April 28th. He was born on June 12h, 1837, his parents,George John and Mary Cavafy, being of Greek descent, andhe received his early education at Brighton and UniversityCollege, London. He was destined for business and forfour years worked in his father’s office, but his tastes

appeared to have another direction, for from boyhoodhe always showed great interest in natural history,- especially botany and ornithology. Ultimately he deter-mined to relinquish the business career on which hehad entered and to devote himself to medicine, for whichpurpose he entered St. George’s Hospital as a student I,in 1861, being then, of course, rather older than the

majority of his classmates. In 1867 he took the M.B. degreeat London University, on which occasion he had a place inthe first class, and in 1869 be became M.D. In 1868 he wasadmitted a Member of the RoyaL College of Paysicians ofLondon and in 1876 he was elected a Fellow. At St George’sHospital he held a number of appointments, being at fir6tdemonstrator in histology and afterwards lecturer in com-parative anatomy, medical registrar, and lecturer on physio-logy and medicine. In 1875 he was assistant physician andin 1883 he became full physician. He was also phy-sician to the skin department at St. George’s Hospital,and during the International Medical Congress heldin London in 1881 he was honorary secretary to the sectionof skin diseases. His other appointments included those of examiner in medicine in London University and to theRoyal College of Phvsicians of London, consulting physician to ’,St. Pater’s Home, Kilburn visiting physician to the Atkinson-Morley Convalescent Home, and physician to the VictoriaHospital for Children. In 1896 he suffered from entericfever which permanently impaired his health, and in 1898 herecognised that his best course would be to resign his dutiesat St. George’s Hospital, of which he was then senior

physician, and to leave London where he had long re.ided inUpper Berkeley-street. He was accordingly elected consult-ing physician to St. George’s Hospital and went to resideat Hove, Sussex. Dr. Cavafy married Marigo, the

youngest daughter of Mr. Antonio Ralli, and has left onedaughter. He was the author of numerous contributions toSt. Gaorge’s Hospital Reports and the Transactions of varioussocieties. In THE LANCET be published articles on UrticariaPigmentosa and on the Education of the General Practitionerin 1880, and a description of a case of Yellow Atrophy of theLiver in 1897.

A medical friend of Dr. Cavafy, an intimate acquaint-ance of more than 40 years’ standing, writes: "In Dr.Cavafy’s death the profession has sustained a heavy losswhich will be felt deeply by everyone with whom he cameinto contact; most deeply by those who knew him best.From the moment he joined the medical school at St. George’sHospital it was felt by all connected with it that a man hadcome among us of exceptional ability with very varied attain-ments. It was immediately recognised by his contemporariesthat John Cavafy was a man to be appealed to on

subjects outside the profession and to be trusted wheneverhe expressed his opinion. Having served for a time asmedical registrar at St. George’s and as curator at the West-minster Hospital he became assistant physician at theformer, and it was then that the opportunity was affordedhim of displaying his power of observation and his specialskill in imparting knowledge. Always clear, alwaysemphatic, very rarely dogmatic, he had few equals as ateacher of medicine. Remarkable accuracy characterisedall his work. Whether it was a chemical analysis, whetherit was the compilation of a lecture, or the correction ofa proof,-all was done with the same scrupulous exact-ness. He was a really good linguist, and it was duechiefly to this that in his knowledge of medical literature,both English and foreign, he was superior to most of thephysicians of his time. To bis talents as an artist somevery beautiful water-colour drawings in the mmeum atSt. George’s bear ample testimony. It was ever a matterof regret among his friends that he devoted so little ofhis time to his brush. Dr. Cavafy was an excellentmusician, he possessed a most delicate ear and a highlyretentive memory. But apart from these varied attain-ments he will be best remembered for the affectionate

nature which endeared him to his friends, and for his intenseaversion to anything snobbish’ or underhand. Thesecharacteristics influenced his every action in life. Courteousand genial to all, he was always indulgent to the faults ofothers ; he had no harsh word for the conduct of anyone,unless it were tainted with injustice or dishonour. Withintellectual qualities of the highest order, with an infinitesense of humour, with a keen and ready wit, he was a mostdelightful companion. He was a learned physician; he wasa just and honourable man. No man ever made firmerfriends or fewer foes."

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I CHARLES HITCHMAN BRADDON, M.D. ST. AND.,M.R.C.S. ENG., L.S.A.

THE death of Dr. 0. H. Braddon of Manchester, at the ageof 64 years, has caused widespread regret among hisnumerous friends. Dr. Braddon was the eldest son of thelate Charles Braddon, surgeon, of Upton-on-Severn. Hereceived his medical education at St. Thomas’s Hospital,where he held the post of resident accoucheur. He thenbecame assistant medical officer in the Derby CountyAsylum, from which place he went to Manchester. In

1862 he was appointed resident physician’s assistant to theManchester Royal Infirmary. In December of the same yearhe became assistant medical officer of the Bridge-streetWorkhouse. In 1864 he was appointed medical officer of theCathedral district. In these offices he acquired thatintimate knowledge of fevers which qualified him tofill so well the position of chairman of the HospitalsSub-committee of the corporation. About this timehe started in practice in Cheetham-bill, and in 1866 he wasappointed surgeon to the Strangeways Prison, a positionwhich he held for more than 20 years. For many yearshe acted as visiting physician to the Clifton Asylum.In 1872 he became secretary and treasurer for theManchester district to the Royal Benevolent College,Epsom, and worked strenuously to obtain fresh adherentsto that admirable institution. Since its inception he actedas treasurer of the Manchester Clinical Society ofwhich he bad also been chairman. For many years hewas secretary to the Manchester Medico-Ethical Society.He also acted as medical officer to the Bethesda Homefor Crippled Children, in which he took a deep interest.Recently he was elected chairman of the ManchesterMedical Guild. His public services were by no meansentirely of a professional character. In 1892 he was

elected to the City Council as one of the representatives ofCheetham Ward, a position which since that time be has,retained with the goodwill of all. He served on three