124

to believe that the information thus afforded has been of iiconsiderable assistance to those who have to work with n

anti-diphtheritic serum and has contributed in some measure Mto the improvement of the serum treatment in this country o

and to putting the dosage on a rational and intelligible basis. Before leaving the serum question it must be pointed a

out that anti-streptococcic serum and anti-tetanic serum have o

both been successfully prepared at the laboratories of the n

British Institute of Preventive Medicine, but as yet the cases c

treated with them are not sufficiently numerous to afford any t

very satisfactory statistics. Quite recently Dr. Washbournhas announced that he has been able to produce a serum e

which exerts a distinct protective action against the strepto- s

coccus of pneumonia. In connexion with this work, too, he c

has been able to produce what must be looked upon as a c

saprophytic or non-malignant form of the pneumococcus and 1from old cultures an extremely resistant and persistent form r

of the same. 1One of the great questions of the year has been the value I

of the various modifications of Pfeiffer’s reaction in regard to c

the diagnosis of various diseases. The reaction first indi- (cated by Bordet and worked out by Durham has, in the s

hands of Widal, Grunbaum, Wyatt-Johnston, Del6pine, and iothers, given most accurate results in the case of typhoid 1fever, and there is every prospect that this method will, before long, come into very general use and give as accurate z

results as have been obtained in diphtheria by microscopical ! (

and cultural examinations. Durham observed that the action ) of dilute serums of highly immunised animals on susceptible ’ j fmicrobes was to cause them to become aggregated into aclumps even in vitro and observable with the naked eye, 1the clumps falling to the bottom of the tube and leaving aclear supernatant fluid. Using this method for diagnostic 1

purposes in the case of typhoid fever the reaction can be observed under the microscope and also in vitro. All the observers who have done work on this point have come tothe conclusion that the antitoxic property of typhoid serumis developed at a comparatively early stage of the disease,and that once developed it enables the diagnosis to be made with a comparative degree of certainty. :

The outbreaks of typhoid fever that have been supposedto be associated with infection through the ingestion ofoysters from beds or " layings" contaminated with typhoid-laden sewage have led to the appearance of two importantreports on this question of infection through oysters.Dr. Cartwright Wood in his report brings forward mostimportant evidence as to the possibility of infection

by oysters contaminated with typhoid sewage. Heshows that cholera organisms may be demonstratedexperimentally as continuing within the oyster for

eighteen days, whilst in infected water in which oysterswere placed they could be found for as long a period as twomonths, whilst typhoid organisms under similar conditionsremained for three months. Dr. Klein says that these

organisms may persist in sea-water tanks for two or moreweeks, the typhoid bacillus retaining its characteristics

unimpaired. In one case Dr. Klein found Eberth’s typhoidbacillus actually within the oyster. All this evidence goes to

prove that disease germs are much more persistent in sea-water than has been generally imagined, and although it maybe, as Dr. Thorne Thorr.e insists, that it is only under specialconditions that we find typhoid fever and cholera ensuing asthe result of consuming oysters laid in pollnted waters, suchcases as are traced to this source necessarily form a very smallpercentage of the cases actually so infected, whilst these,again, bear a very small proportion to the cases that areinfected by them. The whole bearing of these reports onthe question of infection is extremely important, and thebacteriological investigations published during this yearwill have a wider bearing on the subject of the contaminationof water, whether fresh or salt, than has any work that hasbeen done for a considerable period.The outbreak of bubonic plague in India affords a most

striking object lesson or demonstration of the modificationof a pathogenic organism, as evidenced by the virulence ofthe disease set up by it at different periods of an epidemic.When first it was announced that the plague had brokenout in Bombay the percentage of deaths was exceedinglylow, and for some time a large proportion of the cases

attacked were comparatively mild. Recent reports, how- i,ever, indicate that not only has the number of cases

increased at an alarming rate, but the percentage death-rate has gone up in a corresponding fashion, whilst we havefurther evidence of the increased virulence of the organism

! in the fact that Europeans, who in the first instance were. not affected, are now attacked in considerable numbers.

Metschnikoff’s experiments on cholera and on the exaltation. of the virulence of the organism, the difference between infection by the blood and infection by the alimentary cana),Iand his observations on the toxins produced by cholera. organisms are of very great interest ; whilst the observations made by numerous other observers on the production ofs cholera and typhoid toxins and antitoxins continue to add to

the sum of our knowledge on these subjects.IThe filtration of water, especially in relation to theelimination of bacteria, during the year occupied con-- siderable attention ; whilst, as was pointed out in the Report: of our Special Commissioner on the Utilisation of Micro-t organisms in the Purification of Sewage,l certain advances1 have been made as regards the conversion of sewagei materials into inert substances by the action of bacteria,

This question, started on a practical scale by Mr. ScottMoncrieff, had been suggested as a possible method bychemists some fifteen years ago. Mr. Dibdin of the London

- County Council has proved that the chemically treated3 sewage may be further enormously improved by passingi it through coke breeze filters in which numerous organisms1 have been allowed to grow ; whilst Mr. Cameron, borough, surveyor of Exeter, has carried out a long series of experi-e ments in which he has been able to confirm the results.1 ’ obtained by other workers, starting, as Mr. Scott Moncrieildoes, with the crude sewage. In all these cases the puri-e iloation, as indicated by the amount of oxygen absorbed,oamounts to something like 75 per cent., and the whole of

this is put down to the action of bacteria.a During the year the Royal College of Physicians of Edin-c burgh opened its magnificent new laboratories for the

e carrying on of pathological, bacteriological. and genera)e experimental research. A well-equipped pathological ando bacteriological institute was, under the direction of Professorn Joseph Coats, added to the Western Infirmary, Glasgow,!, in connexion with the teaching of these subjects in thee Glasgow University. Among the more important books

issued during the year may be mentioned Pearman and l2oor’sd Applied Bacteriology " ; the fourth edition of Crookshank’s)f " Text-book of Bacteriology " ; Clifford Allbutt’s "System of1- Medicine," by various authors, in volume 1 of which is anit admirable account of infectious diseases, immunity, &c. ; ands. finally Sternberg’s 11 Text-book of Bacteriology," which con-st tains, revised and brought up to date, that portion of his

Manual of Bacteriology," published in 1892, relating topathogenic bacteria, omitting the detailed descriptions of non-

:d pathogenic forms and the extensive bibliography included in)r the larger work. The bacteriological work of the year togetherrs forms a solid and permanent contribution to scientific and

applied medicine and surgery and it certainly offers a most

lS powerful argument to those who wish to see the subject ofse bacteriology made part of the curriculum of every medicalre student.

CHRISTMAS AT THE HOSPITALS.

SPECIAL efforts are made at Christmastide on the part ofthe medical and nursing staffs to brighten the lives of theinmates of our various hospitals. The wards are gailydecorated with evergreens and flowers, gifts are presented,entertainments are provided, and as far as practicable thedietary scale is added to and made to resemble somewhatthe festive fare enjoyed by those in health at this period ofthe year.

King’s College Hospital.-In the early morning of Christ-mas Day a suitable gift was placed by the bedside of everypatient in the hospital. These gifts were provided by manykind friends and consisted to a considerable extent ofarticles of warm clothing and many toys for the children.For dinner there were turkeys, plum pudding, &c., for allthe patients who were well enough to enjoy such fare.During the afternoon the patients received their friends.After tea there was a special musical service with carolsinging in the chapel, which was decorated with excellenttaste. On Boxing Day in the wards, which were alsodecorated admirably and illuminated with hundreds ofcandles and fairy lights, there was festival tea for all thepatients at half-past four o’clock and an entertainment

1 THE LANCET, Dec. 5th, 1896, p. 1631.

125

in each ward. The entertainments were given by theresident medical officer, students, and nursing staff, assistedby friends. All passed off most successfully, and bothon Christmas Day and Boxing Day the spirit through-out the whole institution was that of happiness, goodtemper, and enjoyment. The resident medical officers andnursing staff were untiring in their efforts to give pleasure tootbers.

St. George’s ITospital.-On Christmas Day, the wards beingvery prettily decorated by the nursing staff, the patients whowere able to partake of such "good cheer" were provided withroast beef and plum pudding. On the evening of Dec. 28tha "Christmas Tea took place for all the patients in theirseveral wards, presided over by the lady visitors and theirfriends, and on Jan. 2nd an entertainment for the patients iwas given in the Board-room, consisting of "animatedphotographs," music, &c. Entertainments for the nursingstaff have been arranged for Jan. 7th and 8th (to-day,Friday), comprising a dramatic performance given by oneof the visiting surgeons and his friends; and on Jan. 14thand 15th entertainments will be provided by the residentmedical staff.

lictoria Hospital for Children., CJtelseu.-fihe usualChristmas tree was given to the children on Christmas Day.The annual treat will be given in the second week in

January. The wards were prettily decorated for ChristmasDay, and the usual dinner of game, turkeys, and plumpudding was partaken of by the patients. ’"

Flospatal for Sick Children, Great Ormond-street.-Noefforts were spared at this institution to make Christmastideas bright and happy a time as circumstances would allow.The wards were charmingly decorated, and, needless to state,the little ones were not forgotten by Santa Claus. OnDec. 26th a Christmas entertainment was given for thepatients and on Monday the out-patients were entertained.

City of London Hospital for Di.sea°es of the Chest, VictoriaP.—On Christmas Day the usual Christmas dinnerwas provided for the patients, at which some members of thecommittee of management and other visitors were present.Christmas cards, books, periodicals, &c., were distributed,together with dolls and toys for the young patients. In the

evening a musical entertainment was given, which affordedmuch amusement and pleasure to the inmates of thehospital.German Hospital, -Dalston.-Christma,s tt ees were placed

in all the wards, and there was a distribution of useful

presents to patients and inmates on Christmas Eve. Thecarol singing was much appreciated.

Chelsea Hospital for Wo7iten..-On Christmas Day, from afund collected by the ladies’ committee, each nurse andmember of the household staff received a present, and theChristmas dinner and tea for both patients and staff wereprovided from the same fund. Each patient was allowed onevisitor to tea, during which time the nurses sang carols. OnEoxing Day the nurses and their friends gave the patients a Eoxing

concert, consisting of part-songs, solos, and Haydn’s Toy ISy7rtp7ion.y, which had been caref ully rehearsed. On Jan. l2ththe ladies’ committee will give a variety entertainment, to be 1

preceded by a tea.Middlesex Hospital.-On Christmas Day all the patients I

who were able to do so partook of turkeys or geese, {

plum puddings, &0. There was a monster Christmas (tree in the board-room, from which each patient able 1to attend received a present ; for those unable to Ileave their beds a bran-pie was provided. The wards were vdecorated and tne patients’ friends were allowed to visit them (for two hours in the afternoon. In each of the children’s Iwards there was a special Christmas tree, the one in Princess t

Ilay Ward being-lighted by electricity, c

lhùmptùn Zlocpatal.-Tbe Christmas festivities at this t;’.nstitution gave, as in many former years, great pleasure to bthe inmates and were as successful as willing hearts and t:hands could desire. The various wards and galleries were I

elegantly decorated by the sisters and nurses with coloured dlights, mottoes, and evergreens. The creature comfortsincluded turkeys, with port wine. oranges, and tobacco. tl

r),.rii3g the festive season a Christmas tree and a concert t]were given. r:

Paddington Children’s Hospctal.-The Christmas tltreat and entertainments to the little patients in this hos- clpital were given on the 6th inst. at 4 o’clock. The wards ilwere tastefully decorated with coloured ribbons, &c., by the oimatron and nurses. A Panch-and-Judy show was provided a

In one ward and a lantern display in the other. Following c(

he this the large cracker twelve feet long, filled with toys, wased "pulled" and the toys were distributed amongst theth children. The number of patients then in the wards was 37.h- The parents took tea with the children on Christmas)d Day.id Royal 07thopadie Hospital.-As usual at this season,to the various wards were decorated for Christmas, the material

for which had been kindly supplied by a member of theig medical staff. On Tuesday evening, Dec. 22nd, an entertain-10 ment was given to the patients and nurses by the Tudor’.h Black and White Minstrels, under the direction of Mr. W. H.jh Harris, consisting of choruses, songs, banjo solos, &c. Their programme concluded with a Christmas carol, renderedir in good style by the whole troupe. On Christmas Day eachts patient received a present through the kindness of a member’d of the committee and the usual Christmas fare was provided.g In the evening the patients met together in the Victoriar, ward and had "high tea."Ie National Hospital for Diseases of the Heart, Soho-square.-h On Christmas Eve an entertainment for the patients wastt given in the women’s ward. Tea was given in the day

ward. The room was decorated with holJy, mistletoe, andachrysanthemums. At one end a small stage was placed onr. which Beauty and the Beast, the merchant, the wickedn sisters, and the Fairy Silver-star duly appeared. This was,s preceded by songs, recitations, and dances. Christmas carolsn were admirably sung by the St. Anne’s choristers. Proceedings

were for a short time interrupted by the arrival of Father0Christmas.e London jB<Mjpt.&mdash;The patients in the London Hospital. thoroughly enjoyed their Christmas. Before daybreak on

!, Dec. 25th the nurses bore fairy lamps round the wards andn sacg carols. As soon as breakfast had been finished Fathere Christmas (one of the medical staff) made a joyous progress

through the wards, bringing in his train a much appreciatedx and valuable distribution of gifts. Warm clothing forr nearly all, knives, books, and other small presents and toyse for the children had been freely provided, and were most. gratefully appreciated by the poor patients to whom

, they were given. The wants of these sufferers are

e well known to the sisters and none were left out.1 The patients’ friends were specially admitted from 2 P.M. toe 3 30 P.M., and at 4 P.M. tastefully arranged teas were pro-

videcl. From then onwards to 8 30 P.M. happiness reignedI supreme. The Christmas festivities concluded on Ilonday,1 Dec. 28th, when the annual Christmas trees were provided in Queen and Beatrice wards.

Bast London Hospital for Ohildren, Shadzell.-The usual Christmas entertainment for the in-patients was held at thel Children’s Hospital, Shadwell, E., on Dec. 30th, wheni a large number of subscribers and friends of the charityi were present. The wards were tastefully decorated andi were inspected by the visitors between 3 P M. and- 4 P.M. APunch and Judy show and two very large Christmas trees

, formed the chief items in the programme and afforded thegreatest pleasure to the children. During the afternoona selection of popular airs was performed by a militaryband.

St. Thomas’s Hospital.-All the wards were prettily deco.rated with festoons of holly and evergreens and gay withartistic coloured drapings, Chinese lanterns, and fairy lights.On Christmas Day the patients’ fare consisted of ribs ot Englishbeef, Christmas pudding, and ale for those able to take it.

Pipes and tobacco were supplied for the men. Each patientwas permitted to invite one friend to tea with him or her.On Boxing Day the matron was "at home" in the NightingaleHome at 4.45 P.M. At 6 P.M. a band of the nurses, led bythe Home Sister, went from ward to ward singing Christmascarols. On the other days there were various musical enter-tainments given in the different wards by residents in thehospital and their friends. On New Year’s Eve the Christmastree entertainment was held in the Children’s Ward (Victoria).This ward is for children under six years of age, but on thisday the sister invited all the older children.

U,niv6rsit?l College 11-ospital.-The Christmas entertainmentto the patients at this hospital was given on Dec. 30th,the cost of the entertainment being defrayed out of fundsraised by means of a special appeal made to the members ofthe staff, the committee, and supporters of the charity. Thechildren’s and other wards were prettily decorated andilluminated. After tea there was a distribution of tovs andother things, and there was a presentation to each patient ofa parcel of warm clothing. In the course of the evening aconcert was given.

126

SIR JOSEPH LISTER: THE FIRST MEDICAL PEER.

WE have pleasure inpresenting to our readersa portrait of Sir JosephLister, the first medicalpeer. Sir Joseph Lister,Bart., President of the

Royal Society, was bornin 1827, and educatedat the University of

London, where he tookthe degree of B.A. in

1847 and M.B. in 1852,in which year he also

became F.R.C.S. Eng.He was appointedRegius Professor of

Surgery in the Uni-

versity of Glasgow andlater Professor ofClinical Surgery in the

University of Edin-

burgh, taking the

degrees of F.R.C.S. Ed.in 1855 and F.F.P.S.

Glasg. in 1860. Sincethese dates the follow-

ing honours have beenawarded him : - F.R.S.Lond. and Edin.,LL.D. Edin., M.D.(lwn. caus.) Dub., LL.D.Glasg., D.C.L. Oxon.,LL.D. Cantab., M.D.

(hon. oa1ls.) Wiirzburg,and M.D, (hon. caus) )Bologna. In 1880 Sir

Joseph Lister receivedthe Royal Society’smedal in recognition of

SIR JOSEPH LISTER’: THE FIRST MEDICAL PEER.

his magnificent dis-coveries in scientificmedicine, and in 1883 hewas created a baronet.In 1897 he becomesthe first medical peer,the honour now donehim by Her Majestybeing received withunanimous applause bythe whole country. Inthe spring of 1896 wewrote as follows uponthis point:&mdash;’’ It wouldhave afforded us the

greatest satisfaction andpleasure...... if therecent list of peersamong the BirthdayHonours had includedthe name of one whoseservices to the nationand to humanity in theintroduction of anti-

septic surgery have re-ceived universal recogni-tion. Such services areindeed beyond reward,.but the admission of thePresident of the RoyalSociety ...... would addlustre to the peerage.It is from such men thatthe second estate of therealm should be reo

inforced if, as it should,it is to contain the realnobility of our land." SirJoseph Lister marrieda daughter of JamesSyme, the celebratedEdinburgh surgeon, buthas no issue. Lady Listerdied in 1893.

SPECIAL ADDRESS OF THE COMMITTEEOF THE ASSOCIATION OF FELLOWS

OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OFSURGEONS OF ENGLAND:

INVITATION TO FELLOWS OF THE COLLEGE TO JOIN THE

ASSOCIATION AND TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN

FORWARDING ITS OBJECTS.

WE have been desired by the Committee of the Associationof Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of England topublish the following address to the Fellows of the

College:On the Fellows of the College at present devolves the

election of the governing body and consequently the controlof the policy and work of the institution. Since this control,limited as it is, was conferred in 1843, when the order ofFellows was instituted, it can be claimed with satisfactionthat in important particulars the Fellows have widened thepolicy, improved the work, increased the utility, andadvanced the development of the College.During the first thirty years of this control none of these

results became apparent, but during that time the recogni-tion of existing abuses and imperfections was forming andgrowing-the necessary preliminary of all improvement.During the last twenty years several distinct advancesand definite improvements have been effected, some of whichhave come from without, the result of concomitant advancesin professional and public requirements-as, for instance,the gradual improvement in our system of education and

methods of examination, in which we have played rather apassive than an active part; but others influencing our

collegiate vitality and activity have arisen within the Collegeand are distinctly due to our exercise of our electoral func.tions and to the more or less consistent selection of membersof Council pledged to promote those advances. Other factorsthan the desire to attain these objects often interfere, suchas the elements of personal and hospital influence, and tothat extent our course has been wavering and inconstant.Among the advances may be mentioned the institution of

the annual general meeting of Fellows and Members and o!the annual report of the Council submitted to that meeting;the provisioa made for extraordinary general meetings; theuse of voting papers at the annual election of members ofCouncil, and, more recently, the simplification of the rulesoriginally framed by the Council for their distribution andreturn; and the institution of separate half-yearly meetingsof the Fellows for consultative purposes, by all of whichadvances the Council is brought into touch with its con-

stituency, free discussion of interesting topics is elicited,and moral support afforded in matters of doubt and difficulty,such as the admission of women to its diplomas. A degreeof vitality and of communion of thought and interest has thus

been imparted to the whole collegiate body corporate whichbefore was entirely wanting.The policy which has effected these improvements and

advances found its expression and the force of systematicaction in the formation of the Fellows’ Association in 1884,and since its organisation the association has systematicallyand undeviatingly promoted such improvements with no

slight measure of success, and has resolutely supported themaintenance of concessions from the Council to the Fellowsand Members whenever such concessions appeared as