979 THE LATE DR. HABERSHON. To the Editors of THE LANCET. SIRS,—It is a matter of deep regret that the writer of the obituary notice in THE LANCET of Oct. 26th should have endeavoured to justify Dr. Habershon’s opposition to the change in the system of nursing at Guy’s Hospital by casting an unmerited slur upon those whom time has shown were acting for the best interests of the hospital. The new system of nursing is now fully established, and no one who i knows the hospital in its present condition can doubt, now that the bitterness of the strife is over, that both patients and staff have largely benefited by the change. No progress which is worth making is made without difficulty, and if only those who took part in the controversy will forget its bitterness and recognise the benefits which have resulted, no one will pass a harsh judgment on any step which may have been taken during the heat of the strife. But it would be well to remember that it is no defence of a friend to cast undeserved reproach upon those whose views were not the same as his. I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, Nov. 4th, 1889. CAROLINE D. ACLAND. CAROLINE D. ACLAND. LIVERPOOL. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) The Education of the Deaf and Dumb. A VERY interesting discussion took place at the Medical institution on the 24th ult., on the education of the deaf and dumb and the report of the Royal Commission as to the respective merits of the oral and sign methods. Those who took part in the discussion comprised members who had had I considerable experience of deaf-mutes, and their opinion was clearly in favour of the combined system in preference to the purely oral one. This appeared to be the general opinion of the meeting, and will commend itself to the profession at large. The language of the deaf and dumb has, like other languages, beauties of its own, as well as solid advantages. It comes naturally to deaf-mutes, and to interdict it would be as irrational, not to say impossible, as to forbid hearing children to speak. Death of Francis James Bailey, L. R. C. P. Lonci. Within the last three weeks three well-known local practi- tioners have passed away, the first being Mr. Henry Lowndes, whose obituary has been recorded. Among the professional friends present at his burial was Mr. Bailey, who was on the 29th ult. seized with symptoms of apoplexy, and died on the ’following day, to the grief of a large circle of relatives and friends. He was the only son of the late James Bailey, surgeon, of Blackburn, and came to Liverpool many years ago as partner to Mr. Nottage, then surgeon to the Deaf and Dumb School, who subsequently left Liverpool and now Tesidesin Lancaster. Mr. Baileysucceededtotheappointment, and only a few days before his death took part in a very interesting discussion at the Liverpool Medical Institute on the education of the deaf and dumb, both oral and by signs. He had a large practice, and took much interest in medical and other institutions of which he was a member. He was of a genial, sociable disposition, and was a general favourite with his professional and lay friends. His funeral was attended by a very large number of his medical friends, to whom his death, at the early age of fifty-six, had come as a great shock. He leaves a widow and three children. Death of William McCheane, F.R. C.S. Eng. The third death was that of Mr. William McCheane, which took place on Sunday last. He was a native of ’Liverpool, and was born in 1820. He received his medical education partly at the Liverpool School of Medicine, partly at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, and after obtaining the old double qualification of M.R.C.S Eng. and L. S. A. in 1844 he returned to Liverpool, and was for some time house surgeon to the Liverpool Royal Infirmary. He sub- sequently commenced private practice here, and was in 1849 elected without opposition honorary surgeon to the Liver- pool Lock Hospital, his senior colleague being Mr. Frederick Worthington, who, it may be stated, is living (though ^retired from practice) at the ripe age of eighty, and in the enjoyment of very fair health. Mr. McCheane continued to hold the office of surgeon till his resignation in 1882, on which he was elected consulting surgeon. In 1868 he was elected an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, and subsequently he became President of the Liverpool Medical Institution, which office he held for two years with much dignity and ability. He enjoyed a large practice and was extremely popular with all his patients as well as his professional brethren and friends for his genial disposition, which continued up to the last. He was for many years surgeon and for some years surgeon- major to the militia, from which latter he retired some years ago. For some time past it was noticed that he appeared to be in failing health, and, this increasing, he was attended by his old friend Mr. C. B. Wilson and Dr. Carter with unremitting care until his death, which was both peaceful and painless. The deceased was unmarried, but leaves an only sister to mourn her loss. The funeral took place on the 6th, and his remains were followed to the grave by a very large number of friends, including nearly all the leading members of the profession and his colleagues of the Royal Infirmary and Lock Hospital. The Abattoirs. The question as to whether the lease of the Abattoir Company shall be renewed still remains unsettled, and is the occasion of a very fierce war both in the daily papers and’elsewhere. On the one hand are those who would wish to remove from the centre to the outside of the city that which is undoubtedly a very serious nuisance. Moreover, it has been proved beyond any possibility of dispute that the mortality of the district in which the abattoirs and their accompaniments are situated is considerably in excess of that in any other part of the city. Against this is the powerful influence of vested interests. Public opinion will, it is to be hoped, be on the side of sanitation. That slaughter-houses and their accessories of hide markets, pig- geries, gut cleansings, &c., should be outside the city needs no argument ; the region now covered by them would be much more appropriately occupied by dwellings for the lower middle and artisan class, which are greatly needed. Liverpool, Nov. 6th, 1889. BIRMINGHAM. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) MidLand Medical Society. THE inaugural meeting of this flourishing Society is announced for the 16th inst., when Dr. W. T. Gairdner will deliver an address on "Drunkenness and Dipsomania: Medical and Legal Preventives and Remedies." It is difficult to predict what will be given as new upon this subject after the Temperance Congress just held in this city. Unrestrained eloquence apparently dealt with every phase of the drink question in an exhaustive and somewhat exhausting manner. The known ability of the orator on this occasion will doubtless make the evil and its remedies appear in an interesting if not novel aspect. -Dangers of Escaping Gas. There are various degrees of folly exhibited by individuals in the daily routine of life; perhaps no greater one could be adduced than that of searching for an escape of gas with a naked light. A man of mature age has recently had occasion to be impressed with the negligence he displayed in his endeavour to find the origin of an escape of gas in his house. Besides being badly burnt on the face, head, and arms, he became aware at the same time of considerable damage done to his household property. Hospital Sunday. Unfortunately the weather on Sunday last was as bad as on the preceding Sunday ; it was intended to supplement the collections on the latter day by contributions from those whom the wet weather had prevented from going to church on the previous Sunday. Inclement as it was, a sub- stantial addition was made, which will have the credit of placing this year’s subscriptions considerably in advance of many years past. The Abuse of Medical Charity. A meeting of the medical profession in Birmingham is to be called for the 30th inst., to consider a report which has been drawn up by a committee appointed for the purpose of
Transcript
979
THE LATE DR. HABERSHON.To the Editors of THE LANCET.
SIRS,—It is a matter of deep regret that the writer of theobituary notice in THE LANCET of Oct. 26th should haveendeavoured to justify Dr. Habershon’s opposition to thechange in the system of nursing at Guy’s Hospital bycasting an unmerited slur upon those whom time has shownwere acting for the best interests of the hospital. The newsystem of nursing is now fully established, and no one who iknows the hospital in its present condition can doubt, nowthat the bitterness of the strife is over, that both patientsand staff have largely benefited by the change. No progresswhich is worth making is made without difficulty, and ifonly those who took part in the controversy will forget itsbitterness and recognise the benefits which have resulted,no one will pass a harsh judgment on any step which mayhave been taken during the heat of the strife. But it wouldbe well to remember that it is no defence of a friend to castundeserved reproach upon those whose views were not thesame as his. I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,Nov. 4th, 1889. CAROLINE D. ACLAND.CAROLINE D. ACLAND.
LIVERPOOL.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
The Education of the Deaf and Dumb.A VERY interesting discussion took place at the Medical
institution on the 24th ult., on the education of the deafand dumb and the report of the Royal Commission as to therespective merits of the oral and sign methods. Those whotook part in the discussion comprised members who had had Iconsiderable experience of deaf-mutes, and their opinionwas clearly in favour of the combined system in preferenceto the purely oral one. This appeared to be the generalopinion of the meeting, and will commend itself to the
profession at large. The language of the deaf and dumbhas, like other languages, beauties of its own, as well assolid advantages. It comes naturally to deaf-mutes, and tointerdict it would be as irrational, not to say impossible,as to forbid hearing children to speak.
Death of Francis James Bailey, L. R. C. P. Lonci.Within the last three weeks three well-known local practi-
tioners have passed away, the first being Mr. Henry Lowndes,whose obituary has been recorded. Among the professionalfriends present at his burial was Mr. Bailey, who was on the29th ult. seized with symptoms of apoplexy, and died on the’following day, to the grief of a large circle of relatives andfriends. He was the only son of the late James Bailey,surgeon, of Blackburn, and came to Liverpool many yearsago as partner to Mr. Nottage, then surgeon to the Deaf andDumb School, who subsequently left Liverpool and nowTesidesin Lancaster. Mr. Baileysucceededtotheappointment,and only a few days before his death took part in a veryinteresting discussion at the Liverpool Medical Instituteon the education of the deaf and dumb, both oral and bysigns. He had a large practice, and took much interest inmedical and other institutions of which he was a member.He was of a genial, sociable disposition, and was a generalfavourite with his professional and lay friends. His funeralwas attended by a very large number of his medical friends,to whom his death, at the early age of fifty-six, had comeas a great shock. He leaves a widow and three children.
Death of William McCheane, F.R. C.S. Eng.The third death was that of Mr. William McCheane,
which took place on Sunday last. He was a native of’Liverpool, and was born in 1820. He received his medicaleducation partly at the Liverpool School of Medicine, partlyat St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, and after obtainingthe old double qualification of M.R.C.S Eng. and L. S. A.in 1844 he returned to Liverpool, and was for some timehouse surgeon to the Liverpool Royal Infirmary. He sub-sequently commenced private practice here, and was in 1849elected without opposition honorary surgeon to the Liver-pool Lock Hospital, his senior colleague being Mr. FrederickWorthington, who, it may be stated, is living (though^retired from practice) at the ripe age of eighty, and in theenjoyment of very fair health. Mr. McCheane continuedto hold the office of surgeon till his resignation in 1882,
on which he was elected consulting surgeon. In 1868 he waselected an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons,and subsequently he became President of the LiverpoolMedical Institution, which office he held for two yearswith much dignity and ability. He enjoyed a largepractice and was extremely popular with all his patientsas well as his professional brethren and friends for hisgenial disposition, which continued up to the last. Hewas for many years surgeon and for some years surgeon-major to the militia, from which latter he retired someyears ago. For some time past it was noticed that heappeared to be in failing health, and, this increasing, hewas attended by his old friend Mr. C. B. Wilson and Dr.Carter with unremitting care until his death, which wasboth peaceful and painless. The deceased was unmarried,but leaves an only sister to mourn her loss. The funeraltook place on the 6th, and his remains were followed to thegrave by a very large number of friends, including nearlyall the leading members of the profession and his colleaguesof the Royal Infirmary and Lock Hospital.
The Abattoirs.The question as to whether the lease of the Abattoir
Company shall be renewed still remains unsettled, and isthe occasion of a very fierce war both in the daily papersand’elsewhere. On the one hand are those who would wishto remove from the centre to the outside of the city thatwhich is undoubtedly a very serious nuisance. Moreover,it has been proved beyond any possibility of dispute thatthe mortality of the district in which the abattoirs andtheir accompaniments are situated is considerably in excessof that in any other part of the city. Against this is thepowerful influence of vested interests. Public opinionwill, it is to be hoped, be on the side of sanitation. Thatslaughter-houses and their accessories of hide markets, pig-geries, gut cleansings, &c., should be outside the cityneeds no argument ; the region now covered by them wouldbe much more appropriately occupied by dwellings for thelower middle and artisan class, which are greatly needed.
Liverpool, Nov. 6th, 1889.
BIRMINGHAM.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
MidLand Medical Society.THE inaugural meeting of this flourishing Society is
announced for the 16th inst., when Dr. W. T. Gairdner willdeliver an address on "Drunkenness and Dipsomania:Medical and Legal Preventives and Remedies." It isdifficult to predict what will be given as new upon thissubject after the Temperance Congress just held in thiscity. Unrestrained eloquence apparently dealt with everyphase of the drink question in an exhaustive and somewhatexhausting manner. The known ability of the orator onthis occasion will doubtless make the evil and its remediesappear in an interesting if not novel aspect.
-Dangers of Escaping Gas.There are various degrees of folly exhibited by individuals
in the daily routine of life; perhaps no greater one could beadduced than that of searching for an escape of gas with anaked light. A man of mature age has recently had occasionto be impressed with the negligence he displayed in hisendeavour to find the origin of an escape of gas in his house.Besides being badly burnt on the face, head, and arms, hebecame aware at the same time of considerable damagedone to his household property.
Hospital Sunday.Unfortunately the weather on Sunday last was as bad as
on the preceding Sunday ; it was intended to supplementthe collections on the latter day by contributions fromthose whom the wet weather had prevented from going tochurch on the previous Sunday. Inclement as it was, a sub-stantial addition was made, which will have the credit ofplacing this year’s subscriptions considerably in advance ofmany years past.
The Abuse of Medical Charity.A meeting of the medical profession in Birmingham is to
be called for the 30th inst., to consider a report which hasbeen drawn up by a committee appointed for the purpose of
980
inquiry into the subject of hospital abuse. The report isintended to show that the voluntary hospital system asat present administered in Birmingham and elsewhereneeds reconsideration and reform. Special attention iscalled to the following points: (a) That the originalpurpose of our medical charities has been widely de-parted from ; (b) that as a result of this departure thedemands made upon them are greater than they canadequately meet, and are increasing from year to year ;(c) that a constantly increasing proportion of the communitydepends upon charitable medical relief in times of sickness,rather than on providence and self-help, and that this is un-just to the subscribing public, injurious to the recipientsthemselves, and an imposition upon the medical profession ;(d) that in order to bring about a better state of thingsthe voluntary hospital system needs to be reorganised,so that, on the one hand, it may work harmoniously withand supplement the Poor-law system; and, on the otherhand, it may encourage and not hinder, as it now does, thedevelopment of provident institutions for medical treat-ment of the industrial classes. Tables are given to showthe growth of the hospital system, which is given as
147 per cent. During the same period-from 1867 to1887--the population increased by about 35 per cent.,or that in twenty years hospital patients had increasedmore than four times as rapidly as the population.The figures show that in 1867 about one person infive received gratuitous medical treatment, and that in1887 the proportion had arisen to the astounding heightof one in every 2’6. It is true that many of the patientscome from surrounding districts, and also that many ofthese comprise patients with venereal tickets. It is nowtwenty years since the late Mr. Gamgee drew attention tothese circumstances in a forcible manner. It remains to beseen what will be the outcome of the proposed deliberations.Birmingham, Nov. 6th.
NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
Newcastle.
I HEAR that the governors of the Royal Infirmary areabout to take into consideration the propriety of reopeningthe doors of the institution to out-patients. It will beremembered that when the infirmary was made a freehospital, and the ticket system was abolished, the out-doorpatients also disappeared. It was supposed that attendancefor this class was unnecessary, as they were alreadyprovided for by the dispensary and many excellent specialhospitals of the city. I may mention that the Eye Infirmaryhas an out-door attendance of over 7000, while the Throatand Ear has an out-door attendance of close upon 3000.There will be, it seems, some strong opposition to this returnon the part of the governors of the infirmary. It seems tobe forgotten that there may be some difficulty in gettingout-door patients back. As before explained, they havefound their way to other institutions, and it will be a pity ifwe see again the overlapping of medical aid which calledforth some remonstrance some few years ago.-I hear thatMr. Williamson’s case of excision of the entire uterus forcarcinoma has so far done well.--Mr. Jeaffreson is about tocommence a course of lectures for students and practitionersat the Eye Hospital. A course is also announced at theThroat and Ear Hospital, by the senior surgeon, on the ear.These lectures will utilise the large amount of clinicalmaterial to be met with at the special hospitals.-The col-lections for the Sunday Hospital Fund were very generallytaken at the various places of worship in Newcastle, Gates-head, and district on the 28th ult. Although the day, atleast as regards the evening, was not very favourable as toweather, it is understood that the collections upon the wholerather exceed those of last year. The Saturday collectionshave to take place yet, and it is hoped, from the prosperousstate of work in the district, that they may be also inexcess.-A very sad accident took place at Wyl am on Satur-day last, by which a fine young man, Mr. Henry Atkinson,aged twenty-three, the youngest son of the late Dr. Atkin-son of Wylam, lost his life. He had been home a few daysfrom sea, and, being a good horseman, he was trying anew but rather spirited animal. In the course of theride the animal bolted and got beyond control, and,in attempting to clear a six-foot gate, threw Mr. Atkinson
with great violence against the gate-post, by which hesustained a severe fracture of the skull. Mr. Foulis ofWylam, his brother-in-law, was soon on the spot, and hadhim removed home, where he was shortly afterwards seenby his brother Dr. Atkinson of Newcastle, and also byDr. Arnison ; but Mr. Atkinson never regained conscious-ness and died in a few hours. Great sympathy is felt bymany here for this bereavement occuring to a well-knownand highly respected medical family so closely connectedwith Newcastle and the district.-I regret to hear thatMr. Hardie, house surgeon of the Gateshead Dispensary,has been compelled, owing to delicate health, to resign hisappointment in order to take a sea voyage.
Death of Dr. H. R. Dale of Sunderland.Much regret was felt in Sunderland on the news of the
death of Dr. H. R. Dale, lately a well-known practitionerin Sunderland, who died in London last week. Dr. Dalecame to Sunderland in 1878, after a distinguished career asa student, and until last July, when he was obliged torelinquish his practice on account of ill-health, he waslooked upon, among the poorer classes of the town especially,as a most popular medical man. He was a great suffererfrom a nervous affection, and died of exhaustion at the earlyage of thirty-three. He leaves a wife and two children tomourn their loss. Dr. Dale studied at University College,London, and at Brussels. He was a medalist or honours manin all his classes. He was a leading witness a few years.ago in the celebrated " McMann" case, as to the applicationof electricity as an aid to diagnosis in paralysis &o.Newcastle-on-Tyne, Nov. 5th.
EDINBURGH.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
The Action by Edinburgh Lady Medical Students.IN connexion with this now somewhat famous case, it.
will be remembered that Lord Kyllachy, before whom theaction was raised, recommended the disputants to try tocome to some amicable arrangement before the opening ofthe present session. This good advice was not taken, forwe now have before us the decision of the judge. Thepursuers sought for declaration that they were entitled toreadmission to the school as professional students to com-plete their course of study. Otherwise payment of f500 toeach of the pursuers was sought. The following is anabstract of the judgment. Lord Kyllachy thought that.before 1887 the defendants had not agreed to provide a fallcurriculum, but that after the issue of the prospectus ofJanuary, 1887, matters were put on a totally differentfooting. A committee had then been organised, pupils hadbeen secured, and there was now an express offer or under-taking to provide a full and complete curriculum ofinstruction, that curriculum extending over four years, andthe classes for each year being specified ; the fee was to bepaid for the whole course, and if not paid in one sum, whichit might be, the sums paid in each year were to be paid a&
instalments. When the two pursuers entered their secondyear’s course-in October, 1887,-they did so under the newprospectus, and from that date were entitled to receive a.complete courseof instruction, which the defenders hadunder-takento provide. In retuin, the pursuers were,in his opinion,not bound to abstain from criticism of the arrangements.made for their tuition, whether by the executive com-mittee or by the organising secretary. If the regulations.laid down by the secretary seemed unnecessary or unreason-able, they were entitled to discuss them and to complain oilthem, and, while obeying them, to do so, if they pleased,under protest. They were not children sent to school bytheir parents, but grown-up women, who were providingthemselves with medical education, which the defendershad agreed to furnish on specified terms. The lady studentswere not, in his opinion, bound to submit to be lectured bythe organising secretary, still less to be insulted by her,Upon the matter of contract, the defenders did not dismissthe pursuers on the ground of any alleged fault. They didso, or rather Miss Jex Blake with the consent of Dr. Bal-four did so, because they thought that at the end of thesession they were entitled to do so without reason assignedand at their pleasure. The two specific charges against theconduct of the pursuers now advanced by the defenders
