1000 PARIS.-BERLIN.

course of his charge informed the jury that according to lawa statement could be malicious though the person utteringit entertained no ill-will. The following day another actionfor slander by the same nurse against the father of the childDonovan was at hearing before Mr. Justice Johnson, the otherjudge of assize. The defendant in the course of his evidencestated that in notifying the sanitary authorities he wasinfluenced by the desire to prevent other people fromsuffering as he had suffered. The jury that tried the casebrought in a verdict in his favour. The nurse had an actionfor slander against a third party, also in connexion with thedeath of the child Donovan, but counsel of both sides askedfor a postponement till next assizes and the judge ruledaccordingly.April 3rd.

___________________

PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The Prevention of Contagious Diseases in Bathing Resorts.AT a meeting of the Academy of Medicine held on

March 20th M. de Rance called attention to the fact thatthe danger of the propagation of contagious diseases is muchless in villages, where the population is more or less scattered,than in the urban mineral water resorts, where at the heightof the season there is decided overcrowding in some hotelsat certain periods of the year. The aggregation of in-dividuals and the special predisposition to further illnesswhich exists among persons who are already in bad health,weakened, or depressed, are also favourable to the trans-mission and propagation of disease. Moreover, if suchtransmission of disease cannot be prevented and an epidemicis threatening the result may be a panic which will emptythe hotels and villas. Interests which deserve considera-tion are therefore at stake, The medical man oughtaccordingly to place the patient in the best conditionsfor recovery, ought to take all necessary measures for

preventing infection, and in the general interest ought toallay public apprehension. If there is no isolation hospitalreserved for contagious diseases the patient might beremoved to a house or villa fulfilling the conditions necessaryfor isolation and disinfection. Sometimes, however, a patienthad to be kept in an hotel and prophylactic measures, nomatter how carefully designed, were a failure. For theefficient carrying out of such measures it would be necessary,in the first place, to confer the requisite authority on themedical man and the mayor of the district and, secondly, toplace at their disposal a building where strict isolation anddisinfection could be enforced.

Action of the .Extract of Cotton Seed on Human Milk.At the same meeting of the Academy of Medicine

M. Gilbert communicated a paper by M. Barlerin on thechemical modifications presented by human milk under theinfluence of extract of cotton seed. M. Barlerin adminis-tered the extract to women who attended the Belleville dis-

pensary and were about to wean their infants on account oftheir milk being deficient both in quantity and in quality.Among all these women in from two to eight days aftertaking the extract M. Barlerin found an improvement in thequality of the milk. This improvement had reference chieflyto the proportion of the fatty and albuminoid constituents ;the amount of fat contained in the milk increased on anaverage by 18 grammes per litre, or 50 per cent. of the

quantity existing before the experiment. The caseinincreased on an average by from five to seven grammes perlitre, or 48 per cent. of the previous proportion. Fromthese experiments it therefore seems that the administrationof small quantities of extract of cotton seed to women whoare giving milk brings about a considerable increaseof the fat and casein in the milk. This discoverymay have important consequences. All medical men

are unanimous in the opinion that artificial feeding is oneof the causes of the considerable infant mortality whichprevails in France, and especially in some of the large towns.Extract of cotton seed may therefore in the majority of casesrender maternal suckling possible. It must, however, beremembered, on the one hand, that milk which is deficientin fat and casein does not adequately nourish the infant,while, on the other hand, milk which is too rich in casein,and especially in fat, is no less objectionable on account ofits liability to produce gastric and intestinal derangement.

Extract of cotton seed seems to be an active substance andtherefore ought not to be used unadvisedly. The medicalman ought always to watch its effects, to regulate itsadministration according to the weight and state of thechild, and to stop it when the object in view has beenattained.April 3rd.

BERLIN.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Infant Life Protection.AN exhibition dealing with the question of infant life

protection has been lately opened in Berlin under the

management of a committee including medical men and

philanthropists. The care of infants is a subject of deepinterest at the present time, especially in Berlin, where anenormous mortality prevails among the infants of the poorerclasses. The researches of Professor Behring on the trans-mission of tuberculosis bv food, the endeavours which havebeen made to provide the infants with pure milk, and othertopics which have been discussed in the newspapers havefixed the attention of the general public on the matter.The exhibition is therefore of a popular as well as a

scientific character and has for its object the instruc-tion of the public, and especially young mothers, in the

upbringing of infants. The exhibition includes six de-

partments, the first of which is devoted to statistics anddisplays statistical tables compiled by the Imperial HealthOffice and the statistical offices of several towns showingthe mortality of infants and the dependence of this mortalityon food, climate, the prevalence of tuberculosis, &c. Thesecond department deals with the development and thediseases of infants. Graphic curves showing the weight ofchildren reared on natural and on artificial food respec-tively, anatomical specimens, &c., may be seen here. Thethird department is concerned with the physiology andpathology of nutrition. Chemical researches on human milkand on that of the lower animals, specimens of the bacteriapresent in milk, and descriptions of the method ofmilking are the principal objects of this department. Thefourth department gives details of the official work done forthe health of infants, such as the providing of dispensariesand homes for them, the examination of milk and thecontrol of its sale by the authorities, model cow houses, &c.Much apparatus and many appliances for the sterilisationand the transport of milk and for the supply of it to thelarger cities are striking features of this department. Thefifth department has for its subject the care of infants infamilies; it contains model nurseries with beds, milk bottles,sterilising instruments for ;private use, &c. The sixth andlast department deals with the care and supervision offoster-children and the control of the foster-parents by theauthorities and by societies. It may be seen from the abovedescription that the exhibition contains abundance of

interesting material. It has been visited by thousands ofmothers and it may therefore be hoped that it will contributeto the welfare of the future generation.

Poisoniwg by Saccharin.Dr. Luth of Bajohren, a town on the Russian frontier,

writing to the Berliner Tilinische Wochenschrift, describesthe case of a woman who after a dispute with her husbandhad swallowed about two grammes of saccharin. Whena medical man arrived about 15 minutes later he found herlying on the floor and her condition was at first supposed tobe due to alcoholic intoxication. She was unconscious, herface was flushed, she foamed at the mouth, and sufferedfrom convulsive attacks with choking ; her respiration wasfrequent and her pulse was weak, very quick, inter-mittent, and irregular. Under artificial respiration andmassage of the heart the pulse within half an hourbecame stronger and regular and the respiration becamenormal. After about 45 minutes the patient awoke and wasquite well. Poisoning by saccharin is rather rare. It isremarkable that severe symptoms occurred within only a fewminutes and as rapidly disappeared. In Germany saccharinis sold to the public only on medical prescription and thewoman had therefore purchased the drug from a neighbouringRussian pharmacy.

The Association for the Prevention of Venereal Diseases.The German Association for the Prevention of Yenereal

1001BERLIN.-EGYPT.-NEW YORK.

Diseases held its annual meeting on March llth in Berlin,Professor Neisser of Breslau being in the chair. Dr. Blaschko,the general secretary, reported that the association had now5000 members and included 22 local committees ; 1,500,000copies of the pamphlets or leaflets published by the associa- I,tion had been distributed to the public. He also saidthat the newspapers now permitted subjects of this kindto be discussed in their columns and that there wereonly a few places where the work of the associa-tion was opposed by false prudery. After the inauguralbusiness had been transacted a question relative toclubs under the Workmen’s Insurance Laws was discussed.The principal sick clubs had on several occasions sent

delegates to hygienic congresses, but one of the law courtshad recently decided that it was illegal for these clubs touse their funds in paying the expenses of the delegates. As it is highly desirable from a hygienic point of view that I,representatives of the working classes should continue to take part in this and other hygienic congresses a motionwas adopted requesting the Government to amend the legisla-tion on that subject. Tbe association then discussed the statistics of venereal diseases and adopted a motion to the ’,effect that a collective investigation concerning the spreadof these diseases should be carried out under the control ofthe Government medical department. Medical practitionersand the hospitals would be invited to take part in the

investigation which would, of course, be strictly confidential.Dr. Blaschko then drew the attention of the association to a

point raised in the Prussian Diet where Dr. Munsterberg, amedical member of the House, had adverted to the laws

concerning prostitution. He had suggested the appoint-ment of an extra parliamentary commission for the purpose ofdiscussing this question and recommending alterations of the ’,,laws at present in force which were quite inefficacious. TheMinister of the Interior had agreed with Dr. Munsterberg andDr. Blaschko wished that the association should also beinvited to send delegates to the Government commission.He said that two parties of essentially divergent views-namely, those who were opposed to any control of prostitu-tion and those who were in favour of such a control-were both represented in the association and that they hadbeen able to cooperate notwithstanding their differences ofopinion. A motion, proposed by Dr. Blaschko, was adoptedto the effect that the association desired an amendment ofthe laws and regulations concerning prostitution and that itwas advisable that delegates of the association, men andwomen, should take part in the work of the extra-

parliamentary commission appointed by the Government.April 2nd.

____________________

EGYPT.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Normal Schcol for Girls in Cairo.TEN years ago the census taken in Egypt showed that of

the female population more than 99 per cent. were unable toread or to write. Since then encouragement has been given toparents to send their girls as well as boys to the elementaryschools called kuttab " and this they seem quite willing to do.The normal school, now in its third year, is for 40 boarders,all Mohammedans of the poorer class, who during twoyears are trained to become teachers of the kuttabsfor girls. They vary in age from 12 to 18 yearsand are taught by a competent Corsican lady and severalnative assistants. On being drafted from the kuttabs theyalready know the rudiments of reading and writing Arabicand can recite by heart passages from the Koran. They aremade proficient in these subjects and are also taughtarithmetic, geography, history, gardening, cooking, laundrywork, and ironing. They learn the theory and practice ofteaching by means of a special kuttab of 90 girls, aged fromsix to ten years, who go every day to the normal schoolto be taught. They are given a free lunch, consisting ofbread, lentils, and vegetables, with meat twice a week, allcooked by the pupil teachers. A playground is attachedto the school, where skipping seems to be the favouritepastime. At the end of the two years’ training the girlsundergo an examination and are appointed as teachers orassistant teachers in the kuttabs under the supervision ofthe education department. This is the first time that anyserious effort has been made in Egypt to give instruction tothe girls of the poorer folk. I was much struck with the

general air of health and cleanliness among the teachersand the taught, who are visited daily by Miss C. B. S.Amos, M.B. Lond., who has lately been appointed medicalinspector of all the girls’ schools belonging to the

Egyptian Government. The building in which this schoolis situated in Bulak awakens memories in an old resident.30 years ago it was the only lunatic asylum in Egypt,notorious for ill-treatment, starvation, heavy chains,and flogging. Then when the hapless lunatics had beenmoved to their present quarters in the desert it becamea prison for females and a temporary nucleus of malaria.Then it was renovated, the breeding places of mosquitoeswere destroyed, and it was opened as the first reforma-tory for boys. When the law courts discovered its existenceand filled it with young thieves it had again to be abandonedand is now the happy home of many bright-eyed maidens.13 of the existing teachers in the elementary schools havebeen trained in this normal school.

Central Sanitary Board for the Soudan.Sir R Wingate, the Governor-General of the Soudan,

approved last October the establishment of a new board toadvise the Soudan Government on general medical and

sanitary questions, including the treatment of epidemics.The president is Colonel G. D. Hunter, D.S 0., R A M.C.,and the members are eight in number, including the directorof the Soudan Medical Department (Dr. J. B. Christopher-son), the medical officer of health of Khartoum (Dr. A.Balfour), three medical officers of the Egyptian army, and asanitary engineer. This is a great advance, for the boardwill have to examine all schemes for medical and sanitarydevelopment, besides all legal ordinances and budgetaryproposals connected with the public health.

Sleeping Sickness.It is be1ievEd that this disease is not likely to occur in

Egypt but the Egyptian Government has voted a sum of£1000 towards the cost of the programme proposed by theRoyal Society for work in the direction of Uganda and willprobably continue this grant for two more years.

Cairo, March 26th.

NEW YORK.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Prevention of Tuberculosis among Government Employees.AN important order has been issued by direction of Pre-

sident Roosevelt, the object of which is to protect Govern-ment employees from tuberculosis. The order is based onthe report and recommendations of a committee appointedto inquire as to the dangers of tuberculosis in Governmentoffices. The President’s order directs the surgeon-generals ofthe Army, Navy, and Public Health Service to cause animmediate inspection to be made of the public buildings andworkshops under their respective departments, and to reportall insanitary conditions immediately remedial, and all in-sanitary conditions requiricg structural changes. The publicbuildings not in these departments are to be inspected inlike manner under the direction of the surgeon general ofthe Public Health Service. The order further provides thatwhenever there is a doubt with regard to any person inthe Government service as to whether the said person isaffected with pulmonary tuberculosis an order shall beissued for the said person to present himself (or herself) atone of the Government laboratories for examination andto present to the department, from the director or otherauthorised officer of the said laboratory, a certificate show-ing the result of the said examination. Having obtainedthe names of all persons affected with tuberculosis in

any department the head of the said department shallpresent to each person so affected the rules prescribedby the committee for their observance. The non-observanceof such rules by the employee shall, in the discretionof the head of the department, be considered as a justcause for separation from the service. It is also madethe duty of the head of each executive department at

Washington to cause to be transmitted to all the federal

buildings under his control the rules prepared by the com-mittee to prevent the spread of tuberculosis in the build-

ings and to cause their display by the custodian in suchmanner and in such number as is necessary to carry out theintent of the rules.