1452 FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE "LOCOMOTIVES ON HIGHWAYS" ACT.

receiving his preliminary education in his native town hecame to London and entered King’s College. Here he

gained many distinctions and prizes. Subsequently he waselected an Associate of the College. In 1866 he marrieda daughter of the late Lieutenant-Colonel W. Simondsand settled in practice at Blackheath. In 1893 he wasas a Mason a Senior Grand Deacon of England. Dr. Goodingwas until recently the senior member for Greenwich on theLondon County Council (1895 to 1898) and was vice-chairman of the Public Control Committee. He was theonly coopted poor-law guardian in the Greenwich district;was a late trustee of Roan’s Charity ; and was parishwarden of Greenwich (1893 and 1894) and chairman of theBoard of Governors and Directors of Poor (1893 and 1894).He was also a late commissioner of public baths and wash-houses (1893 to 1894), a commissioner of taxes for Blackheathdivision, and a member of the Greenwich Vestry and theGreenwich District Board of Works (1892 to 1894) and

consulting surgeon to the Railway Passengers’ Assurance

Company.Barnsley.-Mr. J. Fletcher Horne, M. D. St. And., F. R. C. S.

Edin., F.R.S.E., is a justice of the peace for the Borough ofBarnsley. Born at Barnsley, he was educated at the LeedsGrammar School, and later entered as a student at theLeeds School of Medicine, and qualified in 1874. He after-wards held the post of assistant medical officer at the LeedsGeneral Infirmary. He commenced practice at Barnsley in1876. He is senior surgeon to the Beckett Hospital andmedical referee under the Workmen’s Compensation Act forthe district. In 1888 he won a seat on the school board,and in 1891 successfully competed for a seat on the towncouncil which he still holds, and which has not been con-tested since. He was elected mayor on Nov. 9th by aunanimous vote. Dr. Horne has found time to dabble inliterature. He has written a book on ’° Trephining in itsAncient and Modern Aspects (1894), whilst "The Mirage ofTwo Buried Cities," a beautiful and fascinating book deal-ing with the artistic and other remains of Herculaneumand Pompeii, was favourably reviewed in THE LANCET ofMarch 17th of this year.Dewsbury.-Mr. Robert Beattie (re-elected), M.D.,

M.Ch. R.U.I., after qualifying in 1876 went to Northleach,Gloucestershire, for a couple of years to assist Dr. Webband was also assistant medical officer to the workhouse there.He was then at the Loughborough Infirmary and Dispensaryas house surgeon for over two years. After this he enteredon private practice in Canterbury, but only remained there ayear or two. Over 15 years ago he went to Dewsbury. Thesanitation and water-supply of that town have engaged hisattention for many years and four years ago he entered thetown council. Five years ago he was appointed medicalofficer of health to the Soothill Upper District Council andabout the same time he was appointed honorary surgeon tothe Dewsbury and District Infirmary. Quite recently he hasbeen elected alderman and chairman of the Watch Committee.Harrogate.-Mr. J. A. Myrtle (re-elected), M.D. Edin.,

J.P., late consulting physician to the Harrogate Bath Hos-pital, joined the town council three years ago, since whichtime he has advocated the purchase of the spa grounds atHarlow Moore and identified himself with other progressivemunicipal movements such as the extension of the electriclighting works.

Launceston.-Mr. W. Andrew, M.B., C.M. Edin., has beenin practice since 1873 and has been a member of the towncouncil for 22 years. He was elected mayor in 1885-86 andhas been alderman for the borough and justice of the peacefor 12 years.

Lost7vitAiel.-Mr. Robert Barclay-Allardice (re-elected) wasborn at Hamilton, Canada, and lived in the United Statesfrom 1850 to 1869. He the holds American degrees of M.A.and M.D. In 1898 he was elected a town councillor withoutopposition.Ruthin.-Mr. J. Medwyn Hughes, M.B., C.M. Edin., has

been appointed Mayor of Ruthin for the fifth time. He is analderman and has been on the council for 12 years. He

graduated M.B., C.M. Edin. in 1886, and has been in prac-tice for 14 years. He was medical officer of health forRuthin District for seven years, and he now fills the offices ofunion medical officer and public vaccinator. He has alwaystaken an active interest in educational matters, both localand county.

Winchelsea.-Mr. John R. Skinner, M.B., C.M. Aberd.,who has been in practice in the town for some nine years,was elected mayor of the Unreformed Borough on lastEaster Monday.

CELEBRATION OF THE FOURTH ANNI-VERSARY OF THE "LOCOMOTIVES

ON HIGHWAYS" ACT.

UNDER the auspices of the Automobile Club of GreatBritain and Ireland and in commemoration of the inaugura-tion of the above Act (1896) a very successful tour was madeon Nov. 10th in magnificent weather from London to Southsea,a distance of about 80 miles. The start was arranged totake place from the Horse Guards-avenue, Whitehall, at

9.30 A.M., and the motor-cars were timed to arrive at

Portsmouth about five o’clock. Allowing for an interval forlunch at Godalming of three-quarters of an hour the timeallowed for the whole distance of 80 miles was thussix hours and three-quarters. This gives an averagespeed of 12 miles an hour. Of course, the actual speedattained sometimes exceeded this and sometimes it fell shortof it. The ascent of the Hindhead was a feature ofthe tour, and there were some remarkable accomplishmentsup this famous " rise." The arrangements throughout wereadmirable and upwards of 100 motor-cars reached theirdestination without any serious breakdown and in lessthan the time allotted. The complete success of the"meet" was due in a large measure to the excellentinjunctions drawn up by the committee and to the observanceof them by the drivers in regard to certain precautionsto be taken on the road. According to the rules of the clubthe speed of the motors was carefully to be moderatedto eight miles an hour in passing through all the townsand villages, and within the villages passing on the offside at a speed exceeding eight miles an hour was pro-hibited. The drivers were also requested to observe everycaution in turning corners and in passing through towns andvillages, and two show every consideration for other users ofthe road, especially those in charge of restive horses....... Thetour is in no sense a race, and as it is desired by its meansto popularise motor vehicles drivers are besought to avoiddriving at unlawful speeds." Again, it was enjoined that ifany motors were used on Sunday drivers should sound motorhorns as little as possible when passing places of worshipduring hours of service. We repeat that the strict obser-vance of these excellent injunctions accounted for the

complete success of the tour. It is the contravention ofrules of this desirable kind that has brought motor-carsinto a certain discredit, a discredit which need never havebeen incurred. Some amount of prejudice is bound toremain, but even this is giving way and on the occasion ofthis tour it was interesting and satisfactory to notice thathere and there timid horses were brought out by coachmenand grooms to face the procession in order to accustom themto the horseless vehicles.The greater number of the cars participating in the

Southsea tour derived their motive power from petroleumspirit; a few were driven by electricity and a fair numberby steam. Some improvement is undoubtedly being madein the direction of diminishing the noise and vibration ofmotor vehicles. Although most of the petroleum-drivenmotor cars are still noisy, yet earnest attempts have evidentlybeen made to remove this reproach as well as the objection-able smell arising from the escape of unburnt oil. Tosome extent progress has been made in these importantrespects, but the steam-driven car must be given the palm,we think, in regard both to noise and smell. The steammotor car is as noiseless as a self-propelled vehicle can wellbe, while it is free from objectionable oily fumes. There is,however, a small escape of exhaust steam which doubtless withcare could be avoided. The reduction in the number of cogsand chains in favour of cranks and rods would appear to givethe steam motor car an advantage in respect of noise. Our

impression, however, was that the oil-driven car required theleast attention in the way of repairs or adjustment. It isa remarkable fact that three or four gallons of petroleumspirit are sufficient to take four persons in a six-horse powercar a distance of 80 miles. Reckoning the cost of petroleumspirit at 10d. a gallon this would come out at about 9d. ahead for the trip, or less than one-eighth of a penny perhead per mile.

Public interest in the motor car does not subside, and itis probably only the great initial expense connected with itwhich militates against its becoming rapidly a universal

1453THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

means of travel. The arrival of the cars at Portsmouthwas heralded by a great and enthusiastic crowd of

people. The vehicles filed in single order past the Town-hall at a slow speed to enable the Mayor and hiscolleagues, who stood in a group at the foot of the steps, toinspect the vehicles. A prize was awarded for that carwhich was deemed to be in the best condition after the run.So-called "non-stop" diplomas were also awarded to thosewho completed the journey without a break, excepting, ofcourse, the interval for luncheon. These awards should beinstructive in demonstrating the liabilities of a motor carto irregularities, break-downs, or detention from other causesincidental to a long run.

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

IMPERIAL YEOMANRY HOSPITALS.

A GENERAL meeting of the committee of the ImperialYeomanry Hospitals Fund was held at 20, Curzon-street, onNov. 8th, with the object of considering the question of pro-longing the period during which the Yeomanry hospitalswould remain in South Africa. The Countess Howe presidedand reported having received a letter from Lord Lansdowne,the Secretary of State for War, in which his lordshipmentioned that Lord Roberts had expressed a strong desirethat these hospitals should continue their valuable servicesuntil the return of the Yeomanry to England. The report ofthe treasurer on the question of finance having been con-sidered the committee assented to this request. Friends andrelatives of the members of the hospital staffs cannot, underthese circumstances, hope to see them home at present. Ithas, however, been found possible, in consequence of thediminution of serious surgical cases at Deelfontein, to dispensewith the services of a few of the members of that staff, someof whom have already returned and others are en route, whilsta small percentage of the staffs of each of the branchhospitals bave been invalided home.Lady Howe subsequently read a letter which she

had received from Lady Roberts speaking in the highestpossible terms of the work which is being done by theYeomanry hospitals. Amongst other things, Lady Robertswrote :-

,

It has been a grand piece of work, and you, the committee andthe generous subscribers to the Yeomanry Hospital Fund, have earnedthe deep gratitude of all who have the welfare of soldiers at heart, bethey Yeomen or regulars....... The Imperial Yeomanry Hospital atDeelfontein has done splendid work....... Since the Imperial YeomenryBranch Hospital has been established here [Pretoria] all Yeomen whohave been wounded or fallen sick near Pretoria, or who have beenbrought in by train, have been taken straight there, though there arestill a few in other hospitals who had been taken to them before theirown hospital was opened, and to whom it would have been a danger,or caused suffering, to be moved. I think you and the subscribersmay rest assured that as far as circumstances and the well-being of thepatients would admit, the Imperial Yeomanry hospitals have beendevoted to the service of the Yeomen.

Lady Howe also read to the committee a communicationwhich she had received from Colonel A. T. Sloggett,R.A.M.C., enclosing a letter written to him by the residentmagistrate at Richmond, S.A. This letter gave much satisfac-tion to the committee, as it proved that besides the goodwork which the hospital had been able to accomplish froma medical point of view the effect on the farmers in thesurrounding district had been beneficial politically, andhad produced a better feeling in the locality. The letterran as follows :-

SIR,-As there appears to be every probability of the ImperialYeomanry Hospital at Deelfontein being shortly sent back to England,I take this opportunity, as civil commissioner and resident magistrateof the district of Richmond, in which Deelfontein is situated, to expressto you that in my opinion the establishment of the Imperial YeomaoryHospital in this district has had a most beneficial effect upon theinhabitants in the neighbourhood. All the farmers resident aboutDeelfontein are Dutch, and for some little time after the hospital wasopened they*’kept aloof, but I did all in my power to persuade them tovisit the hospital, and am very glad to say that a very largenumber have done so, and one and all have nothing but praiseand good words to say about their visit. They have always beenreceived by you and your officers with every possible courtesy andhave been entertained and shown round the hospital in a most friendlyspirit, and many of the Dutch farmers who for a long time held aloofregret not having sooner paid you a visit. The courtesy and friendlymanner in which they have all been received has had a most excellenteffect upon the farmers, and I am of opinion if more opportunitiescould be found for our Dutch farmers to meet Englishmen in the samefriendly spirit that they have been received at Deelfontein, it would

materially assist in establishing a better feeling between the Dutchand English in South Africa than exists at present.-I have the-honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,

G&ORGE J. BoYES, Resident Magistrate.It will be interesting to subscribers to know that up to

the middle of October, the date of the last weekly reportsreceived from the different principal medical officers, about7000 sick and wounded had been successfully treated inthese hospitals.,

-

THE IMPERIAL YEOMANRY FIELD HOSPITAL ANDBEARER COMPANY.

BY CHARLES STONHAM, F.R.C.S. ENG.,CHIEF SURGEON AND OFFICER COMMANDING THE IMPERIAL YEOMANRY.

FIELD HOSPITAL; SENIOR SURGEON, WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL, ETC.

In my letter from Barberton I I gave you a short outlineof our marches and work up to the time of our return toPretoria from Springs on July 17th. In this letter I proposeto take you with us in our march to Balmoral, back toPretoria, and thence westwards to Rustenburg to the relief

1 of General Baden-Powell, and to bring you back to Pretoria,again, and my next letter will carry you over the moun-tains to Barberton and, I hope, back with us to Pretoria.

-

On July 17th, early in the morning, we entered Pretoria,S sending our convoy to our old camping ground at Arcadia,I and Major G. E. Hale, D.S.O., R.A.M.C., and I went to

report to the principal medical officer and to obtain further)

orders. It was decided that we should leave a detachmentof the field hospital and bearer company with some of our:

transport animals and wagons at Pretoria, while the main,body marched to rejoin General Mahon’s brigade. We

[ accordingly left Mr. Openshaw and Dr. Purves Stewartwith 50 men, five wagons, and the necessary equipment and

. stores for the formation of a rest camp hospital, and the-next morning we marched with the remainder to find

’ General Mahon. We came up with him in the afternoonat Kameelsdriit. There had been two days’ fighting hereand we did not leave the ridge until the 20th, on which daywe passed Pretorius’s farm and spent nearly all day in-

’ crossing the Pienaars river. The drift was very steep andhence the wagons, and especially the heavy guns, requiredmany teams to drag them over.These drifts are passages of the usually rocky beds of

rivers, with comparatively little water at this season ofthe year. During the rains there may be as much as 40 or50 feet of water at the drifts, which are then consequently.impassable. Many drifts have very steep banks and,abominable approaches, which, when a few wagons havepassed over, are often a foot deep in mud and slush, in-which carts sometimes stick and it becomes necessary to -

employ double, cr even treble, spans of mules or oxen to pullthem out. I need hardly say that the passage of such drifts -by ambulance wagons causes very considerable suffering tosick and wounded men, and delay to the whole convoy whichmay extend for many miles. On some days we have had to,pass as many as half a dozen drifts, our march being con--sequently slow and most arduous, not to mention the wearand tear to transport animals. Drifts are a very severe testof the strength and durability of a wagon, and in this respectwe certainly have much reason to thank the builder of ourwagons. They are most excellent and they have stood thewear and tear admirably, and I think I may say that they arethe best in the country. Our ambulance wagons are built.

differently to those in use in the army, which only carry twopatients lying down, whereas ours will take four and are-

much lighter.The following day at 8.30 A.M.-it is time after this

digression to get on with our march-heavy firing was heardabout 10 miles ahead of us, and it continued at intervals allday until we reached our camp, where we found that theBoers had been shelling Colonel Hickman’s force near a

spruit. Colonel Hickman with 800 men was camped hereand on the next day he transferred our sick to his field hos--

pital, which was going back to Pretoria. On the 22nd,General Mahon’s brigade joined General Ian Hamilton’sdivision at Rustfontein, where we remained the next day togive General Pole-Carew and General Clery time to march upon our right flank. Just before reaching camp at dusk Iregret to say that one of our wagons came to grief in a hole,the native driver being killed and the wagon orderly receiving,two very severe scalp-wounds.On the 24th we camped at Bronkhorst Spruit, the enemy

1 THE LANCET, Nov. 10th, 1900, p. 1378.