736 was adopted by the corporation, and a sum of Z300 was voted towards the expenses of the first year. It is to be regretted that at no time since this decision was arrived at has there been a pavilion entirely vacant, but rather than delay what is looked upon as a desirable undertaking the corporation has purchased a wooden building which has been used as a hospital during the past few years by Messrs. Aird while they were constructing the new Bristol docks at Avonmouth. It is anticipated that the cost per patient will not exceed one guinea weekly, in view of the fact that the establishment charges will be shared with the present hospital. In the decade 1870-79 the average annual death-rate from pulmonary tuberculosis in Newport was 2 ’ 5 per 1000, but during the past few years this rate has been reduced to 1 per 1000. Vaccination Fees in the CLutton Union. The public vaccinators in the Clutton union have agreed to accept the fees proposed by the board of guardians. These are 5s. for the first case and 2s. 6d. for other cases where the vaccination is performed in the same house within 24 hours after the first one. At the meeting at which the board dis- cussed the question an attempt was made to reduce the higher fee to 4s. 6d., and even 3s. 6d., but the proposal met with very little support and the opinion was generally expressed that although the cost of administering the Vac- cination Acts was greater than formerly the work of the public vaccinators had very considerably increased. Indiscriminate Medical Relief Orders. At the last meeting of the Weobley (Herefordshire) board of guardians Mr. R I. Dansey, one of the Poor-law inspectors of the Local Government Board, drew attention to the too ready manner in which medical relief orders could be obtained. The union is an extensive one and the relieving ofllcer, in order to save the time of those persons likely to apply for relief who lived at a distance, had been in the habit of giving blank orders to the persons in charge of some of the pay stations. These persons had been accustomed to receive applications for medical relief and had filled up the orders at their discretion. If this practice prevails in other unions it behoves Poor-law medical officers to see that it is discontinued. They are exploited quite sufficiently already and should not be saddled with further burdens. The Milk Supply of the Rhondda Valleys. It is satisfactory to find that the milk-dealers in the Rhondda valleys have decided to league themselves together with the avowed object of securing a pure milk supply. They propose to endeavour to secure a warranty with every con- signment of milk instead of a yearly warranty as at present. Milk is not always diluted before it reaches the vendor, how- ever, and one of the latter was recently fined at the Porth police court .610 for adding 30 per cent. of water to the milk he was distributing. His excuse to the magistrate before whom the case was tried was, to say the least, ingenious. He said that he sold it for pastry-making to a baker who required diluted milk. Prosecution of an Alleged ’’Specialist," At Brixham in Devonshire on August 22nd John Fee, a "machinist," of Torquay, was charged in custody "that on July 22nd last he, not being a registered medical practi- tioner, did unlawfully use the title of Doctor Maclaren, thereby implying he was registered under the Medical Acts." Evidence showed that the prisoner called at a house in Brixham and falsely represented that he was sent by Mr. W. J. Quicke of Brixham as a "specialist," and in- con- sequence was allowed to see a female patient who was ill in bed. The prisoner pleaded guilty and attributed the offence to being in an intoxicated condition. The magistrates inflicted a fine of Z10 or two months’ imprisonment. The prosecution was conducted by the Medical Defence Union. An Action for the Recovery of Medical Fees. At St. Austell (Cornwall) county court on August 20th Mr. R. F. Stephens of St. Austell sued a local carrier for 12 for professional attendance. An accident happened to the defendant’s wagoner and the defendant gave Mr. Stephens instructions to attend the man, adding that he would pay for the treatment. Three witnesses stated that they heard the defendant tell the plaintiff that he would pay him. For the defence it was contended that he had not employed the medical attendant, the defendant adding that the witnesses had spoken falsely as to his statement to Mr. Stephens. Judge Granger gave judgment for the amount claimed with costs, adding that the defendant had committed " most impudent pe1 jury" " and that he would consider whether it was his duty to send the papers to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Sept. 3rd. SCOTLAND. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.) The West of Scotland Convalescent Homes, Dunoen. THE thirty-eighth annual report of the Seaside Homes at Dunoon was submitted this week to a meeting of subscribers. During the year 4713 persons (exclusive of children under two years of age) were admitted to the homes and of these 4421 were restored to health, 178 were relieved, 87 did not improve, and five died. The total number of persons admitted since the homes were opened in 1869 has been 115,070. The patients come from all parts of the West of Scotland but principally from the great industrial centres of Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire. Since the last report a large addition, providing 50 beds, has been made to the buildings, thus making in all 300 beds and cribs available. The ordinary income of the institution for the year amounted to Z7643 and the expenditure to £6724. The extra- ordinary expenditure, chiefly represented by the cost of the new wing, amounted to £5693. To meet this large outlay the invested funds were drawn upon and were thus reduced from £14,400 to £10,400. A satisfactory point about the financial statement is that of the ordinary income fully one-half was contributed by the working-classes who benefit principally by this institution. At the meeting it was pointed out by the chairman, Sir John Ure Primrose, that although much had been done in the way of providing convalescent homes for adults, very little had been done in that respect for suffering children. He suggested that the churches in various districts should cooperate and have a common convalescent home. They possessed all the machinery, and through their agencies and missions and otherwise they knew where suffering was. Thus by a little expenditure of effort and money homes could be opened for a host of little ones for whom as yet no adequate provision had been made. ,Steeplejack’s Terrible Death. Last week a steeplejack met with a terrible death while engaged in his work at Glasgow. At the time of the accident he was repairing the top of a chimney stack in the chemical works of Messrs. Joseph Townshend and Co. when he fell to the ground. This chimney has the reputation of being the tallest in the world, measuring 468 feet in height, and thus the terrible nature of the man’s fall may be realised. When picked up, nearly every bone in the body was broken. It is suggested that the unfortunate man may have been overcome by the fumes issuing from the mouth of the chimney. Anthrax Dutbreak in Kintyre. A somewhat serious outbreak of anthrax has taken place in Campbeltown parish, two farms being involved. In all eight animals have been destroyed and the carcasses treated by burning. Sept. 3rd. _________________ IRELAND. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Tuberculosis in Ireland. IN the annual report of the Local Government Board for Ireland covering the year ending March 31st, 1907, special reference is made to the present prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in Ireland, where in 1905 there were 12,000 deaths due to tuberculous diseases and particularly to pulmonary tuberculosis and that the death-rate from this particular form of disease stands at a far higher figure in Ireland than in either England or Scotland. The Board thinks many of the difficulties at, present experienced in dealing with the problem of consumption would be overcome if power were given to county councils to establish and maintain, either singly or in combination, suitable institu- tions for the treatment of consumptives. They suggest a
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was adopted by the corporation, and a sum of Z300was voted towards the expenses of the first year.It is to be regretted that at no time since this decisionwas arrived at has there been a pavilion entirelyvacant, but rather than delay what is looked upon as
a desirable undertaking the corporation has purchased awooden building which has been used as a hospital during thepast few years by Messrs. Aird while they were constructingthe new Bristol docks at Avonmouth. It is anticipated thatthe cost per patient will not exceed one guinea weekly, inview of the fact that the establishment charges will beshared with the present hospital. In the decade 1870-79the average annual death-rate from pulmonary tuberculosisin Newport was 2 ’ 5 per 1000, but during the past few yearsthis rate has been reduced to 1 per 1000.
Vaccination Fees in the CLutton Union.The public vaccinators in the Clutton union have agreed to
accept the fees proposed by the board of guardians. Theseare 5s. for the first case and 2s. 6d. for other cases where thevaccination is performed in the same house within 24 hoursafter the first one. At the meeting at which the board dis-cussed the question an attempt was made to reduce thehigher fee to 4s. 6d., and even 3s. 6d., but the proposal metwith very little support and the opinion was generallyexpressed that although the cost of administering the Vac-cination Acts was greater than formerly the work of thepublic vaccinators had very considerably increased.
Indiscriminate Medical Relief Orders.At the last meeting of the Weobley (Herefordshire) board
of guardians Mr. R I. Dansey, one of the Poor-law inspectorsof the Local Government Board, drew attention to the tooready manner in which medical relief orders could beobtained. The union is an extensive one and the relievingofllcer, in order to save the time of those persons likely toapply for relief who lived at a distance, had been inthe habit of giving blank orders to the persons in chargeof some of the pay stations. These persons had beenaccustomed to receive applications for medical relief and hadfilled up the orders at their discretion. If this practiceprevails in other unions it behoves Poor-law medical officersto see that it is discontinued. They are exploited quitesufficiently already and should not be saddled with furtherburdens.
The Milk Supply of the Rhondda Valleys.It is satisfactory to find that the milk-dealers in the
Rhondda valleys have decided to league themselves togetherwith the avowed object of securing a pure milk supply. Theypropose to endeavour to secure a warranty with every con-signment of milk instead of a yearly warranty as at present.Milk is not always diluted before it reaches the vendor, how-ever, and one of the latter was recently fined at the Porthpolice court .610 for adding 30 per cent. of water to the milkhe was distributing. His excuse to the magistrate beforewhom the case was tried was, to say the least, ingenious.He said that he sold it for pastry-making to a baker whorequired diluted milk.
Prosecution of an Alleged ’’Specialist,"At Brixham in Devonshire on August 22nd John Fee, a
"machinist," of Torquay, was charged in custody "that onJuly 22nd last he, not being a registered medical practi-tioner, did unlawfully use the title of Doctor Maclaren,thereby implying he was registered under the Medical Acts."Evidence showed that the prisoner called at a house inBrixham and falsely represented that he was sent by Mr.W. J. Quicke of Brixham as a "specialist," and in- con-
sequence was allowed to see a female patient who was illin bed. The prisoner pleaded guilty and attributed theoffence to being in an intoxicated condition. The magistratesinflicted a fine of Z10 or two months’ imprisonment. The
prosecution was conducted by the Medical Defence Union.An Action for the Recovery of Medical Fees.
At St. Austell (Cornwall) county court on August 20thMr. R. F. Stephens of St. Austell sued a localcarrier for 12 for professional attendance. An accident
happened to the defendant’s wagoner and the defendantgave Mr. Stephens instructions to attend the man, addingthat he would pay for the treatment. Three witnessesstated that they heard the defendant tell the plaintiffthat he would pay him. For the defence it was contendedthat he had not employed the medical attendant, thedefendant adding that the witnesses had spoken falsely as
to his statement to Mr. Stephens. Judge Granger gavejudgment for the amount claimed with costs, adding thatthe defendant had committed " most impudent pe1 jury" " andthat he would consider whether it was his duty to send thepapers to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Sept. 3rd. ____ __
SCOTLAND.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)
The West of Scotland Convalescent Homes, Dunoen.THE thirty-eighth annual report of the Seaside Homes at
Dunoon was submitted this week to a meeting of subscribers.During the year 4713 persons (exclusive of children undertwo years of age) were admitted to the homes and of these4421 were restored to health, 178 were relieved, 87 did notimprove, and five died. The total number of personsadmitted since the homes were opened in 1869 has been115,070. The patients come from all parts of the West ofScotland but principally from the great industrial centres ofLanarkshire and Renfrewshire. Since the last report a largeaddition, providing 50 beds, has been made to the buildings,thus making in all 300 beds and cribs available. Theordinary income of the institution for the year amountedto Z7643 and the expenditure to £6724. The extra-ordinary expenditure, chiefly represented by the costof the new wing, amounted to £5693. To meetthis large outlay the invested funds were drawn uponand were thus reduced from £14,400 to £10,400.A satisfactory point about the financial statement is that ofthe ordinary income fully one-half was contributed by theworking-classes who benefit principally by this institution.At the meeting it was pointed out by the chairman, Sir JohnUre Primrose, that although much had been done in theway of providing convalescent homes for adults, very littlehad been done in that respect for suffering children. Hesuggested that the churches in various districts shouldcooperate and have a common convalescent home. Theypossessed all the machinery, and through their agencies andmissions and otherwise they knew where suffering was. Thusby a little expenditure of effort and money homes could beopened for a host of little ones for whom as yet no adequateprovision had been made.
,Steeplejack’s Terrible Death.Last week a steeplejack met with a terrible death while
engaged in his work at Glasgow. At the time of the accidenthe was repairing the top of a chimney stack in the chemicalworks of Messrs. Joseph Townshend and Co. when he fell tothe ground. This chimney has the reputation of being thetallest in the world, measuring 468 feet in height, and thusthe terrible nature of the man’s fall may be realised. Whenpicked up, nearly every bone in the body was broken. It is
suggested that the unfortunate man may have been overcomeby the fumes issuing from the mouth of the chimney.
Anthrax Dutbreak in Kintyre.A somewhat serious outbreak of anthrax has taken place in
Campbeltown parish, two farms being involved. In alleight animals have been destroyed and the carcasses treated by
burning.Sept. 3rd. _________________
IRELAND.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
Tuberculosis in Ireland.IN the annual report of the Local Government Board for
Ireland covering the year ending March 31st, 1907, specialreference is made to the present prevalence of pulmonarytuberculosis in Ireland, where in 1905 there were 12,000deaths due to tuberculous diseases and particularly topulmonary tuberculosis and that the death-rate from thisparticular form of disease stands at a far higher figure inIreland than in either England or Scotland. The Boardthinks many of the difficulties at, present experienced indealing with the problem of consumption would be overcomeif power were given to county councils to establish andmaintain, either singly or in combination, suitable institu-tions for the treatment of consumptives. They suggest a
737
plan consisting of four elements : (1) Segregation in hospitalof advanced cases ; (2) sanatoriums for incipient cases ; (3)tuberculosis dispensaries in large centres of population ; and(4) local committees appointed by sanitary authorities todeal with the question of consumption. But in addition theIrish Local Government Board wisely follows the memoran-dum of the Scotch Board and recommends compulsory notifi-cation of pulmonary tuberculosis carried out by speciallegislation, safeguards being provided to insure that no
unnecessary restraint is placed upon the liberty of consump-tive patients. Special reference is made to what is beingdone by the Belfast guardians at their Abbey Sanatorium,where £34,000 in all will be spent (when the place is com-pleted) on the site and the erection of the buildings andwhere there will be accommodation for 265 consumptivepatients. Finally, the report refers to the TuberculosisExhibition, of which details are given below.
Women’s National Health Association of Ireland : Tuber-cl.losis Exhibition.
A meeting of the consultative committee of the Women’sNational Health Association of Ireland, composed ofdelegates from medical societies, county councils, and urbanand district rural councils throughout Ireland, was held atLeinster House, Dublin, on August 29th, to confer as to thebest methods for making the forthcoming TuberculosisExhibition as effective as possible. This exhibition, the firstof its kind established in the United Kingdom, is to be heldat the Home Industries Section of the InternationalExhibition during the month of October. The Countessof Aberdeen presided and said that when the Women’sNational Health Association of Ireland, which was formedin March of this year, began to consider the subjects withwhich it would have to deal, naturally the first was thatdisease which caused such terrible ravages in Ireland-tuber-culosis-and in collecting literature on the subject theirattention was directed to a plan which had been adopted inGermany and the United States of America of forming anitinerant exhibition which would show the need of an educa-tional campaign against this dread disease. After being openedat the great exhibition in Dublin, the Tuberculosis Exhibitionwould be sent to the poorer parts of Dublin and then to theother cities and rural districts of Ireland. Those havingcharge of the various sections of the Tuberculosis Exhibitionthen gave short descriptions of the details of those sections,the Deputy Registrar-General presenting diagrams andstatistics showing the extent in Ireland and gradual increaseof tuberculosis. Professor E. J. McWeeney described thepathological and bacteriological section, Dr. Lily A. Baker thecooking section, dietary, and milk sterilisation ; Dr. Alfred E.Boyd dealt with the literature (including illustrations fromother countries) section ; Dr. W. J. Thompson described thesection which would have appliances and various exhibitsbearing on treatment ; and Dr. M. F. Cox spoke of thesection for arrangement for lectures and demonstrating.Professor Mettam of the Irish Veterinary College is to havecharge of the important section bearing on tuberculosis inveterinary medicine. The following motion-That we, the members of the consultative committee, having had
placed before us a statement of the steps taken by the executive com-mittee with the object of furming a representative and instructivecollection of objects illustrating in a popular manner the subject oftuberculosis and its prevention, do hereby approve the same, and wehereby pledge ourselves to do all in our power to make this exhibitiona success-
was proposed by Sir H. R. Swanzy, President of the RoyalCollege of Surgeons in Ireland, who said the exhibitionwas a big undertaking, but he hoped that everything pos-sible would be done to make it a success. Lord FrederickFitzgerald seconded the motion, which, having been sup-ported by Mr. J. Lentaigne (Vice-President of the RoyalCollege of Surgeons in Ireland), Mr. D. Jamison (medicalofficer of health of Newtownards), and many others, wasunanimously carried. Dr. W. Calwell (delegate from theUlster Medical Society) in proposing the next motion-That we consider it of urgent importance to the welfare of the
nation to elicit opinion and diffuse information as to the best meat.,of dealing with an overwhelming evil which is destroying the vitalityof our people; and that this meeting desires to draw attention of localpublic bodies and of philanthropic organisations in Ireland to th(educative value of the forthcoming exhibition, and recommends thalsteps should be taken to bring visitors to inspect it, and that arrangements should be made to take it to different parts of the country-
said that while there was an overwhelming evil to be com-bated they found in this exhibition a means of doing so. I:
Ireland had the same mortality from tuberculosis as wasfound in England and Scotland some 3000 or 4000 peoplewould be alive at the end of the year 1907 who, with theexisting mortality in Ireland, would then be dead. He saidthey would make an effort in Belfast to support such anadmirable scheme. Mr. P. J. O’Neill, J.P., chairman of theDublin county council, having seconded the motion, SirJohn Byers very warmly supported it. He showed thatwhile, since about the year 1870 to the present time,both in England and Scotland the mortality from tuber-culosis had fallen one-half in women and one-third in menno such decrease had taken place in Ireland, where thedeaths from the disease had actually increased. Whatthey wanted to do was to educate the people as tothis terrible mortality and to show them that tuberculosiscould be prevented, and that there were great hopes oftreating it in the early stages. How better could such factsbe brought before the people than by the objective teachingand demonstrations given in such an exhibition ? Speakingfor the profession in Belfast, they would do everything intheir power to make this Tuberculosis Exhibition a successwhen it visited their city. The motion having been carried,a very hearty vote of thanks was passed to Lady Aberdeenfor presiding. No delegates from the Belfast public healthcommittee were present.
Health of Belfast.It is satisfactory to find that the death-rate of Belfast for
the four weeks ended August 17th has fallen to 15 4 as com-pared with 18’ 3 in the previous month and 17’ 8 in the cor-responding period of last year. It is the lowest death-rateever registered in Belfast. There is a marked reduction inthe infectious diseases.Sept 3rd.
_________________
PARIS.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
An Accion for Damayes on account of Alleged Burning byElectricity.
AT the Congress of the French Association for the Advance-ment of Science held at Reims in August M. Laquerri6regave some account of a singular case. A man had receivedsome injury in the course of his employment and the
diagnostic methods which were resorted to includedthe application of electricity. He thereupon chargedthe medical man with causing him personal injury bynegligence, and when it was evident that he hadnot sustained any harm he changed his tactics andclaimed compensation on the ground that he had beenfor two months incapacitated for work by the procedures.A medical expert who was consulted found some slightcicatrices at the site of the alleged injury but was of opinionthat there had been no scorching brûlure thermique) of thetissues as the patient had felt nothing unusual immediatelyalter the examination. There was no distinct evidence thatan " electrical burn " (brûlure électrique) had occurred, andin the result the charge brought against the medical manwas dismissed.
The Responsibility of a Nursing Association for a DishonestNurse.
In response to a patient’s request for a male nurse theSocket des Ambulances Parisiennes sent a man who appro-priated money to the amount of 2250 francs (£90) and wassentenced to three years’ imprisonment for the offence. The
patient, holding that the Société des Ambulances Parisienneswas responsible for the acts of a nurse in its employment,then brought an action against it for the recovery of themoney and judgment was given in his favour.
Scarlet Fever in Paris.
I have already mentioned the epidemic of scarlet feverwhich commenced last spring and continued through thesummer. During the week ended July 20th there were 583cases notified, but during the ensuing three weeks there wasa marked decline, so that during the week ended August 10ththere were only 255 cases notified. There is therefore aprospect of the disease subsiding to its usual level of about50 cases per week.
