349 INDIA. (From a Correspondent.) HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN BOMBAY. THE Corporation of Bombay has been considering recently a proposal to establish hospital accommodation for infectious diseases in a certain district. That in Bombay, as in other large Indian cities, there is a felt want for separate hos- pitals for cholera and small-pox, there can be no doubt. Cholera may be said to be perennial, and so also is small- pox. The sanitary condition of the native town is deplorable, and is favourable in almost every respect for the propagation of both these diseases. If there were separate hospitals established and maintained under proper management and control, it would decidedly be a step in the right direction- so far, at least, as prevention is concerned; and there is no doubt that a certain percentage of those who now die would recover under proper treatment. In this connexion Indian municipalities would do well to provide that in the case of small-pox the infirmary itself be not rendered the fons et origo mali by its gates being left ajar for free ingress and egress. Side by side with hospitals for infectious diseases some attempt at compulsory notification of these should be initiated. The measure would need to be intro- duced gradually and with discretion. It is to be hoped that this important subject will receive from Indian munici- palities their earnest attention and countenance. THE COUNTESS OF DUFFERIN FUND. It would appear from two interesting papers issued by the honorary secretary that, without in any way interfering with the independence and freedom of action of the National Association for Supplying Female Medical Aid to the Women of India, that body has secured the assistance of the Supreme Government in two important matters, which doubtless would go a long way to elevate its locus standi- (1) the Surgeon-General will advise the Association (gratis of course) as to the selection of its employés (2) the work done for the Association in dispensaries, hospitals, and schools will be supervised by medical officials. The Govern- ment, however, desire it to be distinctly understood that its employés are in no way to be recognised as Government servants. E SURGEON-MAJOR JOHN PRENDERGAST, MEDICAL STAFF. I beg to call the attention of the profession to the very painful case of the Misses Prendergast, sisters of the late Surgeon-Major Prendergast, who was recently drowned at Kiskee in India. Mr. Prendergast, it will be remembered, was severely wounded in the battle of Tamai whilst con- tinuing to attend a wounded soldier after (to use a military expression) "the square had been broken up." He was the sole support of his two young sisters, to whom he used to send half of his pay from India, who now mourn their loss and are left penniless and in a most pitiable condition. The case is worthy of kindly support, and I sincerely trust readers of THE LANCET will stretch out a helping hand to the two young ladies thus left destitute. In India a sub- scription has been started at the instance of Surgeon- General Thompson of Bombay, who, I dare say, will be pleased to receive subscriptions from those of your readers who are in this country. The under-mentioned medical gentlemen in Dublin have consented to receive and dispose of subscriptions: C. G. Kilkelly, Esq., J.P., 12, Upper Fitz- william-street; R. F. Tobin, Esq., 59, Stephen’s-green; F. G. Adye Curran, Esq., Lissom-field; and G. M. Dobson, Esq., Portobello. THE CHOLERA. This disease has very nearly abated in Cashmere, but it prevails still in many parts of the country, though not to any great extent. THE SANITATION OF CALCUTTA. Lord Dufferin has recently paid a visit to some of the insanitary native parts of Calcutta. There his lordship must have witnessed dirt and filth in the most noxious forms that a dense population can produce, saturating the ground and contaminating the air. There are groups of huts crowded with people, with open drains and ditches filled with seething, bubbling, and noisome corruption. In close proximity there will be found a tank (one such in which Professor Koch found his comma bacilli) in the water of which the people bathe, wash their clothes and their culinary and other utensils, and carry away the same water for drinking and cooking purposes. Such are the conditions that have been described by Dr- Simpson, the medical officer of health, but they are not dealt with. Prompt measures are needed to cope with such serious evils. The question is, who is to take the initia- tive ? The Calcutta municipality, like the rest of the fraternity, is apathetic, and, instead of setting to work, are eager to take up the cudgels against the health officer, whose zeal and ability are the two very points they so dislike. Side by side with veritable facts, it is amusing to find Sir George, Campbell telling the House of Commons that Calcutta and its suburbs are in nowise in need of sanitary reform. THE PARSEE LYING-IN ASYLUM. About a year since, this institution was established in Bombay, by voluntary subscription, to meet a much-felt want; and a meeting took place the other day to witness the progress it had made during the period. It would appear that among the Parsees there were 1200 children born during the year, of which number 120 were born here. Mr. Temuljee Nariman is the honorary secretary and physician ; and to him, the committee consider, is due the credit for the success of the institution. At first there was. accommodation for only six at a time, but, as the demand for admission increased, provision had to be made for ten. Up to date, 99 females had taken advantage of the institu- tion, and 188 more had been registered, but owing to the- limited accommodation 580 had to be refused admission. The total funds of the asylum amounted to 28,769 rupees, which included 2861 rupees collected as fees from patients. The total expenditure was 12,489 rupees, leaving a balance of 6280 rupees in hand. Mr. Temuljee is in favour of there being two such asylums : one for the poorer classes, to be maintained by public charity ; and the other for the better- classes, which should be rendered self-supporting. The col-- leagues associated with Mr. Temuljee are Messrs. Cowasjee Pestonjee, Jehangheer Cursetjee, and Dinshaw Master (who give their professional services gratuitously, and also supply medicines free of charge), and Mr. D. N. Parakh, the con- sulting physician. It is to be hoped that this example of the Parsees will be followed by other communities in Bombay. NEW FACTORY ACT. There are many deficiencies in the present Factory Act, which is worked in a very loose way. Children of the age of seven are worked nine hours a day. At present children of eight and nine, palmed off as adults, are employed in adult work. The remedy for this is to insist that childreD’s work be limited to half the day. But then astute mil’ agents will evade the law by working children in one mill for half a day and in another the other half. THE EXTRA PENSION OF THE INDIAN MEDICAL SERVICE. The Government of India have ruled, under date of May 25th, 1888, that in future the application of a medical officer for the extra pension of EIOO per annum must be accompanied by an official application to retire from the service within the year, in order that both the applica- tions may be considered at the same time. SHOCKING FATALITY ON BOARD A CLAN STEAMER. ’, On June 16th, while the steam-ship Clan Mackintosh was on her way to Madras, a series of deaths, due to asphyxia caused by the poisonous emanations from a portion of the hold of the steamer in which stores are kept, occurred almost simultaneously. The chief steward on that date, it appears, accompanied by two others, entered the store-room for the purpose of issuing the week’s rations to the native crew, and another man was left on the second deck to receive the stores as they were handed up. The first three had hardly reached the store-room before they were suffocated by the poisonous vapours, and the man who was left above was also overcome and fell into the hold. Seeing this man fall, a fireman who was close by at the time reported the matter to the second officer, who proceeded with a lighted lamp to investigate. He also had barely reached the bottom of the hold when the lamp was extinguished, and he himself fell down. The first officer then went down, after having slings arranged above. He found the body of the second officer, and had it hoisted
Transcript
349
INDIA.
(From a Correspondent.)
HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES INBOMBAY.
THE Corporation of Bombay has been considering recentlya proposal to establish hospital accommodation for infectiousdiseases in a certain district. That in Bombay, as in otherlarge Indian cities, there is a felt want for separate hos-pitals for cholera and small-pox, there can be no doubt.Cholera may be said to be perennial, and so also is small-pox. The sanitary condition of the native town is deplorable,and is favourable in almost every respect for the propagationof both these diseases. If there were separate hospitalsestablished and maintained under proper management andcontrol, it would decidedly be a step in the right direction-so far, at least, as prevention is concerned; and there is nodoubt that a certain percentage of those who now die wouldrecover under proper treatment. In this connexion Indianmunicipalities would do well to provide that in the caseof small-pox the infirmary itself be not rendered the fonset origo mali by its gates being left ajar for free ingressand egress. Side by side with hospitals for infectiousdiseases some attempt at compulsory notification of theseshould be initiated. The measure would need to be intro-duced gradually and with discretion. It is to be hoped thatthis important subject will receive from Indian munici-palities their earnest attention and countenance.
THE COUNTESS OF DUFFERIN FUND.
It would appear from two interesting papers issued bythe honorary secretary that, without in any way interferingwith the independence and freedom of action of the NationalAssociation for Supplying Female Medical Aid to theWomen of India, that body has secured the assistance ofthe Supreme Government in two important matters, whichdoubtless would go a long way to elevate its locus standi-(1) the Surgeon-General will advise the Association (gratisof course) as to the selection of its employés (2) the workdone for the Association in dispensaries, hospitals, andschools will be supervised by medical officials. The Govern-ment, however, desire it to be distinctly understood that itsemployés are in no way to be recognised as Governmentservants. E
SURGEON-MAJOR JOHN PRENDERGAST, MEDICAL STAFF.I beg to call the attention of the profession to the very
painful case of the Misses Prendergast, sisters of the lateSurgeon-Major Prendergast, who was recently drowned atKiskee in India. Mr. Prendergast, it will be remembered,was severely wounded in the battle of Tamai whilst con-tinuing to attend a wounded soldier after (to use a militaryexpression) "the square had been broken up." He was thesole support of his two young sisters, to whom he used tosend half of his pay from India, who now mourn their lossand are left penniless and in a most pitiable condition. Thecase is worthy of kindly support, and I sincerely trustreaders of THE LANCET will stretch out a helping hand tothe two young ladies thus left destitute. In India a sub-scription has been started at the instance of Surgeon-General Thompson of Bombay, who, I dare say, will bepleased to receive subscriptions from those of your readerswho are in this country. The under-mentioned medicalgentlemen in Dublin have consented to receive and disposeof subscriptions: C. G. Kilkelly, Esq., J.P., 12, Upper Fitz-william-street; R. F. Tobin, Esq., 59, Stephen’s-green;F. G. Adye Curran, Esq., Lissom-field; and G. M. Dobson,Esq., Portobello.
THE CHOLERA.
This disease has very nearly abated in Cashmere, but itprevails still in many parts of the country, though not toany great extent.
THE SANITATION OF CALCUTTA.
Lord Dufferin has recently paid a visit to some of theinsanitary native parts of Calcutta. There his lordshipmust have witnessed dirt and filth in the most noxiousforms that a dense population can produce, saturatingthe ground and contaminating the air. There are groupsof huts crowded with people, with open drains and ditches
filled with seething, bubbling, and noisome corruption. Inclose proximity there will be found a tank (one suchin which Professor Koch found his comma bacilli) inthe water of which the people bathe, wash their clothesand their culinary and other utensils, and carry awaythe same water for drinking and cooking purposes.Such are the conditions that have been described by Dr-Simpson, the medical officer of health, but they are notdealt with. Prompt measures are needed to cope with suchserious evils. The question is, who is to take the initia-tive ? The Calcutta municipality, like the rest of thefraternity, is apathetic, and, instead of setting to work, areeager to take up the cudgels against the health officer, whosezeal and ability are the two very points they so dislike. Sideby side with veritable facts, it is amusing to find Sir George,Campbell telling the House of Commons that Calcutta andits suburbs are in nowise in need of sanitary reform.
THE PARSEE LYING-IN ASYLUM.
About a year since, this institution was established inBombay, by voluntary subscription, to meet a much-feltwant; and a meeting took place the other day to witnessthe progress it had made during the period. It wouldappear that among the Parsees there were 1200 childrenborn during the year, of which number 120 were born here.Mr. Temuljee Nariman is the honorary secretary andphysician ; and to him, the committee consider, is due thecredit for the success of the institution. At first there was.accommodation for only six at a time, but, as the demandfor admission increased, provision had to be made for ten.Up to date, 99 females had taken advantage of the institu-tion, and 188 more had been registered, but owing to the-limited accommodation 580 had to be refused admission.The total funds of the asylum amounted to 28,769 rupees,which included 2861 rupees collected as fees from patients.The total expenditure was 12,489 rupees, leaving a balanceof 6280 rupees in hand. Mr. Temuljee is in favour of therebeing two such asylums : one for the poorer classes, to bemaintained by public charity ; and the other for the better-classes, which should be rendered self-supporting. The col--leagues associated with Mr. Temuljee are Messrs. CowasjeePestonjee, Jehangheer Cursetjee, and Dinshaw Master (whogive their professional services gratuitously, and also supplymedicines free of charge), and Mr. D. N. Parakh, the con-sulting physician. It is to be hoped that this example of theParsees will be followed by other communities in Bombay.
NEW FACTORY ACT.
There are many deficiencies in the present Factory Act,which is worked in a very loose way. Children of the age ofseven are worked nine hours a day. At present children ofeight and nine, palmed off as adults, are employed in adultwork. The remedy for this is to insist that childreD’s workbe limited to half the day. But then astute mil’ agentswill evade the law by working children in one mill for halfa day and in another the other half.THE EXTRA PENSION OF THE INDIAN MEDICAL SERVICE.
The Government of India have ruled, under date ofMay 25th, 1888, that in future the application of a medicalofficer for the extra pension of EIOO per annum must beaccompanied by an official application to retire from theservice within the year, in order that both the applica-tions may be considered at the same time.
SHOCKING FATALITY ON BOARD A CLAN STEAMER.
’, On June 16th, while the steam-ship Clan Mackintosh wason her way to Madras, a series of deaths, due to asphyxiacaused by the poisonous emanations from a portion of thehold of the steamer in which stores are kept, occurred almostsimultaneously. The chief steward on that date, it appears,accompanied by two others, entered the store-room for thepurpose of issuing the week’s rations to the native crew,and another man was left on the second deck to receive the
stores as they were handed up. The first three had hardlyreached the store-room before they were suffocated bythe poisonous vapours, and the man who was leftabove was also overcome and fell into the hold.Seeing this man fall, a fireman who was close byat the time reported the matter to the second officer,who proceeded with a lighted lamp to investigate. Healso had barely reached the bottom of the hold when thelamp was extinguished, and he himself fell down. The firstofficer then went down, after having slings arranged above.He found the body of the second officer, and had it hoisted
350
on deck, himself following shortly after. It appears hfwent down into the hold a second time to recover the bodyof the chief steward, but in this noble endeavour he wasovercome, and fell beside the other four victims. The secondofficer, the third engineer, and two quartermasters, besidesseveral of the native crew, were with difficulty resuscitatedby the exertions of the surgeon and others.Bombay, July 17th.
Medical News.UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.—The following have passed
the Intermediate Examination in Medicine held in July :-Entire Examination.
First Division.-Ellen M. Tinné Berthon, London School of Medicinefor Women; John Henry Bryant, Guy’s Hospital; Archie TillyerCollum, Charing-cross Hospital ; Douglas Drew, University College ;Bertram Whewell Hogarth, Guy’s Hospital; Yarnold Hubert Mills,London Hospital; Richard Walter Richards, St. Bartholomew’sHospital; Sidney Herbert Snell, University College ; Wm. HowardSturge, London Hospital; Herbert Tilley, University College;Lewis Williams, University College.
Second Division.-Harold Wm. Colmer Austen, St. Bartholomew’sHospital; Frank George Bushnell, University College ; John NortonCollins, London Hospital ; James Dickinson, Westminster Hospital;Emily Louisa Dove, London School of Medicine for Women ; Herbert Annesley Eccles, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital ; John Grimshaw, ILondon Hospital ; William Jn. Hancock, B. Sc., Owens College;Harold Hodgson, Guy’s Hospital; Wm. Willoughby Kennedy, St.Bartholomew’s Hospital ; Ronald Edward S. Krohn, UniversityCollege ; William Britain Morton, University College ; Chas. CarterMoxon, St. Thomas’s Hospital; John Ernest Paul, UniversityCollege ; William Penberthy, London Hospital ; Arthur EdwardPrice, St. Thomas’s Hospital; Eric Law Pritchard, King’s College ;Richard Henry Read, Owens College; Frank Allan Roberts, York-shire College ; Leonard George Scudamore, St. Thomas’s Hospital;Abraham Thomas, Guy’s Hospital; Ethel Newton Tribe, LondonSchool of Medicine for Women; Walter Twyford, Owens College;H. Woolmington Webber, Guy’s Hospital; A. Stanley Wohlmann,Guy’s Hospital; Thos. Jason Wood, University College; JohnYoung, Guy’s Hospital.
The following Honours candidates have been recommendedior a pass :-John Alfred Codd, B.Sc., Yorkshire College; Richard Hamilton,Owens College; Frederick Johnson, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital;William James Potts, Owens College.
Excluding Physiology.First Division.-William Barker Bale, Owens College; ReginaldSpencer Pearson, Owens College; Mildred E. K. Staley, LondonSchool of Medicine for Women; Seymour Graves Toller, St. Thomas’sHospital.
Second Division.-Edward Mansfield Brockbank, Owens College;Theodore Henry Ionides, University College ; Charles EwbankLansdown, St. Mary’s Hospital; Elizabeth Margaret Pace, LondonSchool of Medicine for Women ; John Gratton Wilson, LondonHospital; James Yeomans, University College.
Physiology only.Second Division.-James R. Andrew Clark, University College ; WilliamAdams Clark, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital; Harold Andrew Kidd,St. Mary’s Hospital; Harry Lambert Lack, King’s College ; EdwardRoberts, Guy’s Hospital; John Alfred Waring, University College.
The following candidates have passed the Intermediate.Examination for Honours in the subjects indicated :-
Anatomy.First Class.-George F. Blacker (Exhibition and Gold Medal), Univer-
sity College ; Herbert Horrocks, B.Sc. (Gold Medal), Owens College ;*Florence G. Longbottom, London School of Medicine for Women.
Second Class.-Joseph J. Whitaker, B.A., University College; MaryDarby Sturge, London School of Medicine for Women.
Third Class.-Annette Matilda Benson, London School of Medicineand Mason College.
Physiology and Histology..Second Class.-Annette Matilda Benson, London School of Medicine
for Women ; Augustine Griffith, University College ; George FrancisBlacker, University College.
Third Class.-Alice McLaren, Minnie L. C. Madgshon, and Ethel MaryN. Williams, all of the London School of Medicine for Women.
Organic Chemistry.First Class.-Sasi B. Mitra (Exhibition and Gold Medal), University
College ; Thomas Grigor Brodie, King’s College.Materia Medica and Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
First Class.-Geo. F. Blacker (Exhibition and Gold Medal), UniversityCollege; Annette Matilda Benson, London School of Medicine forWomen; William McAdam Eccles, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital.
Second Class.-Ellen Margaret Farrer, London School of Medicine forWomen.
Third Class.-Augustine Griffith, University College ; Alice McLaren,London School of Medicine for Women; William Griffiths, B.Sc.,Melbourne University and Middlesex Hospital.* Obtained the number of marks qualifying for a Gold Medal.
ROYAL COLLEGES OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONSOF EDINBURGH AND FACULTY OF PHYSICIANS AND SUR-GEONS OF GLASGOW.—At the July sittings of the Examiners
! of the Conjoint Board the following candidates passed theFinal Examination :—
W. H. Large, Llandudno ; Patrick O’Callaghan, Carndonagh, countyDonegal; C. Lucius Strangman, Carriganore, co. Waterford ; ThomasBurns, Edinburgh; C. B. Humphreys, Glasgow; E. D. Duffett,Glasgow ; A. E. Huband, Tamworth ; C. H. Jackman, London ; W.Vaughan Griffith, Tremadoc, North Wales; C. B. Richards, London;Joseph Buck, Whitby ; J. Hunter, Ayr; J. Westwood, Edgbaston,Birmingham ; Sarah Gray, London ; J. M’Cartney, Partick; JamesW. Chapman, Belfast; Bertram B. Hoggan, Brighton ; Cuthbert S.Morrison, Edinburgh ; Jonathan Steele, Cumberland ; MontagueS. W. Gunning, Partick ; Patrick Rowan, Dublin; John CaldwellThomas, M.D., Whiteabby, co. Antrim ; H. Stedman, Towcester.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS IN IRELAND.-Atmeetings of the Court of Examiners held on the 7th inst.and following day the undernamed obtained the Fellowshipof the College :-
Battersby, John, Army Medical Staff.Mosse, Charles G. Drummond, Army Medical Staff.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.-In the list of names published in our last issue of thoseadmitted Members, for " Smith, Henry Lyon, Chester-le-Street," read Smith, Harry Lyon, L.R.C.P.Edin., Chester-le-Street.
PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR has consented to act asPresident of the Great Northern Central Hospital, the newbuildings of which were lately opened by their Royal High-nesses the Prince and Princess of Wales.
VACCINATION GRANT.—Mr. J. H. Hughes, publicvaccinator of the Ombersley district of the Droitwich Union,has received the Government grant for efficient vaccinationin his district (seventh time).
SUPERANNUATION.—Dr. John Woodhouse, latemedical officer for the first district and the workhouse of theHertford Union, has received a superannuation allowanceof £80 per year.
PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL SUNDAY AND SATURDAYCOLLECTIONS. -The third annual Holbeck, New Wortley,and District Infirmary Festival in aid of the Leeds Infirmary,held on Sunday last, produced £50 10s. The first HospitalSunday collection at Hertford, which took place on the 5thinst., on behalf of the Hertford Infirmary and the HertsConvalescent Home, realised £138 3s. 3d.
A SCOTTISH CREMATION SOCIETY.-Last week ameeting was held in Glasgow by those favourable to the.formation of a Scottish Burial Reform and CremationSociety. Dr. Cameron, M.P., occupied the chair. Resolu-tions were passed disapproving of the existing methods ofburial in Scotland, and expressing a desire for the substitu-tion of less expensive and more sanitary methods of dis-
posing of the dead, approving in particular of cremation.A society was subsequently formed, under the title ofthe Scottish Burial Reform and Cremation Society, to effectthe objects in view.OPHTHALMIC PRACTICE IN A RUSSIAN RURAL
HOSPITAL.--According to a report issued by Dr. Tepliashin,the medical officer of the Glasoff rural hospital, the numberof eye cases treated between November, 1885, to the end of1887, was 4289. Of these 54 per cent. suffered from affec-tions of the cornea, 39 per cent. from conjunctival affections,32 from diseases of the lids, 2-3 per cent. had glaucoma, and2’7 per cent. disease of the lens. Altogether 1542 opera-tions were performed, 1242 of which were for entropion andtrichiasis, Paquelin’s thermo-cautery and Gaillard’s suturebeing the treatment usually adopted. Extraction of cataractwas performed 76 times, and iridectomy 176 times.CARMICHAEL COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.-The follow-
ing schalsrships and prizes have been awarded for theSession 1887-88 :-Carmichael Scholarship : J. Fullerton.Mayne Scholarship: G. Penrose. Prizes: Anatomy, firstyear, V. Cooke, J. Boon, A. Arthur; second year, J.Thompson. Materia Medica: J. Wilkin, E. Keeble.Botany and Zoology: C. Crawford. Chemistry: G. Farmer,W. Russell, H. Bentley. Physiology : J. Thompson. His-tology : E. Du Cane. Surgery: G. Joyce. OperativeSurgery : R. Mawhinney (gold medal), Marie Rockstro(silver medal). Practice of Medicine: E. Du Cane. Prac-tical Chemistry: E. Du Cane. Medical Jurisprudence:Marie Rockstro (silver medal), J. Falkiner. Midwifery:R. Mawhinney.
