1251SCOTLAND.-IRELAND.

University cf Aberdeen: Chair of Midwifery.Professor R. G. McKerron, who has been appointed

to the chair of Midwifery in the University of Aberdeen in- succession to Professor W. Stephenson, retired, has given hisfirst lecture. There was a large attendance of students, alsoof professors and medical men. Principal George Adam Smithformally introduced the new professor to his class. He saidthat he wished to say how glad they were to see ProfessorStephenson among them that day. For 37 years Professor.Stephenson had filled the chair, and he went into his well-.earned retirement with the affection and goodwill of all who’knew him. He did not think anyone could estimate whatProfessor Stephenson’s services had been to the University whohad not heard the testimony of his students after a few yearsin practice. It had been his (the Principal’s) privilege inmedical gatherings in England to hear one man afteranother tell of what inestimable value Professor Stephenson’sinstruction had been in the practical work of their profession.In introducing Professor McKerron, the Principal said that-the new professor came among them as a friend, first of

.all, of the students themselves. He had shown a deepinterest in everything that interested the students, and theywould receive him now to the full charge of the chair, as amost competent, able, and experienced teacher. ProfessorMcKerron returned thanks and proceeded with his lecture.

Aberdeen Town Council and Medical Fees under theIn81lrance Act.

At a meeting of the public health committee of Aberdeentown council held on Oct. 18th reports of the recent- conferences were submitted from the county councils ofAberdeen, Banff, and Kincardine, recommending that thethree medical officers should report on the joint scheme inconnexion with the sanatoria clauses of the NationalInsurance Act. The second report dealt with the reception- of the deputation from the sanatorium committee of theLocal Insurance Committee, which urged upon the publichealth committee the need of establishing, at an early date,a tuberculosis dispensary and the appointment of a tuber-- culosis officer, and generally tackling the disease of tuber-culosis. The third report related to the conference with theprovisional local medical committee, and dealt with the,question of paying the medical men in the city a fee of 5s..-for notification of tuberculosis plus a report, instead of thepresent fee of 2s. 6d. for a notification alone. The com-mittee reported that the medical men had expressed them-selves willing to accept a 5s. fee and also to supply therequired information, and to leave the public health com-mittee quite free to sell. if they feel disposed, the informa-tion thus acquired to the Local Insurance Committee. The

.public health committee agreed to recommend to the town<council that the fee of 5s. should be paid to the local medicalmen for notification and report.

Elgin and Nairn Insurance Committee.A meeting of the Provisional Insurance Committee of

Elgin and Nairn was held on Oct. 22nd at Elgin, Dr. G. M.Cullen, Edinburgh, being present. At the last meeting ithad been agreed to recommend that the two counties shouldA)e divided into four districts-namely, Elgin, Nairn,Grantown, and Forres. The chairman and clerk had a

-subsequent meeting with the Commissioners and the Com-missioners did not think there was much necessity for-district committees. In view, therefore, of the railwayfares of members at a distance being paid, it was moved.and carried that there be only one district for the

- county. It was afterwards agreed to support the resolutionQof the Norfolk National Health Insurance Committee to the-effect that travelling expenses, &c., ought to come out ofimperial funds, as it otherwise would reduce benefits in arepresentation to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Letterswere submitted to the effect that Elgin fever hospital"was not available for patients suffering from tuber--culous complaints ; neither was Leanchoil Hospital, Forres.’ Gray’s Hospital, Elgin, could only admit surgical cases ; butthe small-pox hospital at Elgin, which had been erected severalyears ago and never used, might be available. One shelterhad been obtained, and another three had been authorised bythe Commissioners. Provisional regulations and model rulesfor administration and benefit were submitted and explair edlby Dr. Cullen.

Medical Attendance and the Insurance Act in Dundee.The Medical Benefit Committee under the Insurance Act

for Dundee has decided not to fix any income limit.Regarding remuneration of doctors the Medical Committeeconcluded that the capitation system should be adopted forinsured persons who are members of Approved Societies inDundee and who require medical benefit while resident there,and that the method of payment by attendance should applyto insured persons temporarily resident in Dundee, whobelong to Approved Societies elsewhere. During the month28 applications were made in Dundee for sanatorium benefit,the total number on the register now being 30, of whom 7are at Sidlaw Sanatorium, 17 receiving home treatment, 4dispensary treatment, and 2 are at King’s Cross Hospital.

Medical Service in the Highlands and Islands.The Highlands and Islands Medical Committee heard

witnesses recently at Dunvegan from the parish of

Duirinish, and subsequently at Portree it examined wit-nesses from the parishes of Portree, Snizort, and Kilmuir.It discussed the club system of payment for medicalattendance in use in certain parishes, the majoritybeing of opinion that though in some districts thecollection of the subscription was unsatisfactory, on thewhole the system was the most feasible one for providing asatisfactory income for the medical practitioner. By feesobtainable from patients the medical man could not makean adequate income ; the parish councils have therefore topay a somewhat high salary, which provides not only forattendance on paupers, what it is ostensibly paid for, butalso provides medical attendance for poor non-pauperpatients. The committee met in Perth on Oct. 23rd andthere heard further evidence as to nursing and hospitalprovision.Oct. 29th.

________________

IRELAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

j?7’MA Universities and the Home Rule Bill.IN the House of Commons on Oct. 21st the Government

agreed to accept in substance an amendment, moved by theRight Hon. J. H. Campbell, to deprive the Irish Parliamentof power of dealing with Trinity College (the University ofDublin) or the Queen’s University of Belfast.

The National Insurance Act and Irish Feeling.At the present time-both in medical and lay circles-

people are waiting to see if the Chancellor of the Exchequerwill be able to satisfy the medical profession. Little pro-gress is being made in Ireland in providing sanatoriumbenefit. At a meeting of the conjoint committee of theIrish and British Medical Associations, held in Dublin onOct. 16th, it was decided to appoint a special subcommitteeto consider the question of the admission of tuberculosispatients into Irish hospitals and infirmaries. At this meet-

ing it came out that the Irish Insurance Commissioners

appointed-on their own initiative-12 medical men on thevarious County and Borough Insurance Committees not

nominated by the medical profession. On the matter beingexplained to them seven of these practitioners resigned,but five have refused to do so. The main subject under dis-cussion at present is how to provide sanatorium benefit, andapparently the Insurance Committees are finding greatdifficulty, especially in regard to the non-pulmonary or

surgical cases. Some hospitals propose to take them in,others have decided against this course. The matter wasunder the consideration of the subcommittee of the conjointcommittee of the Irish and British Medical Associations inDublin last week, and the opinion of the majority was thatif such cases were admitted into infirmaries or hospitals thestaff who attended on them should be paid-a suggestionalready made by the British Medical Association. The

feeling is growing in Ireland that after Mr. Redmond’s

question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Oct. 24thmedical benefits will be extended to Ireland, otherwise thegreatest confusion will arise if Scotch or English insuredworkers come to Ireland. On the whole the medical pro-fession in Ireland are not enthusiastic over the new termsoffered by Mr. Lloyd George, as they see that what he giveswith one hand he takes away with the other. Of course, as

1252 IRELAND.-PARIS.

medical benefits do not, at least as yet, extend to Irelandthe profession in this country is not so concerned with theChancellor’s terms as are our colleagues in England andScotland.

The Friendly Societies and the Profession.The Friendly Societies in Dublin are struggling to rouse

public feeling against the medical profession, and with thisobject in view it is proposed to hold a public meeting at theMansion House at an early date. Meantime, the Poor-lawguardians of the North Dublin Union have passed a resolu-tion couched in extraordinary terms. They have, "in con-sequence of the action of the Dublin Medical Committeein refusing medical attendance to members of FriendlySocieties," directed that in future no bodies be removed fromthe union to the schools of anatomy. They further threatento break their contracts with their own medical officers and

pensioned medical officers, if such are found to be " assistingthe Dublin Medical Committee in their cruel medical

boycott." In Limerick a union of the Friendly Societies hasbeen formed, and advertisements have been issued for whole-time medical officers.

The Peamount Sanatorium.The promoters of the Peamount Sanatorium, on the borders

of the counties of Dublin and Kildare, have met with manydifficulties. First, they had to face the strong opposition ofthe residents in the vicinity. Part of the new buildingswere wrecked by a mob some months ago. An action torestrain the promoters from proceeding with their project isentered in the High Courts, and is expected to be heard thisterm. A more serious natural difficulty is now encountered.So far, it has not been found possible to obtain a water-supply suitable for drinking purposes, and, according toinformation given by Mr. Birrell in Parliament last week, alldrinking water used at present has to be carted a distance oftwo miles. It is said that all attempts to find water in thePeamount demesne itself have failed. The fact that theLocal Government Board advanced some &pound;17,000 of publicmoney for the erection of the sanatorium, without satisfyingthemselves that water was procurable, is giving rise to muchcriticism. Indeed, the Women’s National Health Associa-tion, in choosing Peamount in the first instance, seems tohave acted precipitately.

The Royal College of Physicians.The annual meeting of the Royal College of Physicians of

Ireland was held on Oct. 18th, St. Luke’s Day, when thenew president was elected. The choice of the College fellon Dr. Charles E. FitzGerald, who has been a Fellow since1886. Dr. FitzGerald practises as an ophthalmic surgeon,and is surgeon oculist in ordinary to the King in Ireland,and consulting ophthalmic surgeon to the Richmond Hos-

pital. On the 19th, the morrow of St. Luke’s Day, theannual dinner was held in the College hall. A large numberof Fellows and guests attended.

Royal TTictomia Hospital, Belfast.The medical session for the present winter began at this

institution on Oct. 17th, when a most suggestive introductoryaddress was delivered before a large audience by Dr. ThomasHouston. After an interesting r&eacute;sum&eacute; of the past history ofpathology in the Belfast Medical School, Dr. Houstondescribed in detail the methods of combating acute bacterialdiseases.

Workhouse Tfetlieal Officers’ Salaries.A matter of great importance to Poor-law medical officers

came before the Belfast guardians at their weekly meetingon Oct. 15th. A letter was received from Dr. George Elliott,honorary secretary of the Belfast Medical Guild, forwardingresolutions passed by the council of that body-

1. That in the opinion of the council the minimum salary for a qualifiedresident medical practitioner should be &pound;130 per annum, with boardand rooms, giving suitable accommodation for the position he holds.

2. That in the opinion of the ccuncil no qualified medical practitionershould accept less than 25 5s. per week while acting as locum tenens toany dispensary appointment.In a covering letter Dr. Elliott pointed out that theexpense of the medical curriculum had been more thandoubled in recent years, and the standard required forexaminations had been greatly advanced. A long reportwas also received from a subcommittee of the infirmarycommittee appointed to consider the question of the futureappointments, &c., of resident medical officers under the

bo ird, with certain suggestions to make the position of these

officers more attractive. A motion by Mr. J. Macintosh to.fix the salaries of resident medical officers at f’,13Q was putto the meeting, but an amendment was carried to the effectthat the question of salary should be taken into considera-tion by the infirmary committee when it had obtained’information on the matter from other unions.

Death of Brigade-Surgeon Thomas B. Moriarty, M.D.With sincere regret the medical profession of Cork and

the citizens generally last week heard of the death, at theage of 75, of Brigade-Surgeon Moriarty. Dr Moriarty was-a student of the Cork Queen’s College, and graauated in.arts and medicine at the Queen’s University. Soon after

taking his degrees he entered the Army Medical Service, wasstationed in India and on the West Coast of Africa, andwent through the Afghan campaign. On retiring from the-army he was gazetted Brigade-Surgeon and started privatepractice in Cork. Soon afterwards he was appointedsurgeon to the city and county jails and also became’

physician to the Cork Fever Hospital. He was an ex--

president of the Cork Medical and Surgical Society.He had decided literary tastes, and the annualmedical reports of the Cork fever hospital written by himas senior physician were models of lucidity. In private life-Dr. Moriarty was very highly esteemed. He was an

excellent genial host and had many friends. Although itwas notified that the funeral was to be strictly private, bykind permission of his relatives a very large number of the-profession attended to show their respect for one who hadbeen a dear friend and an honoured colleague.

Oct. 22nd. _______________

PARIS.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The French Congress of Medicine.THIS Congress, the thirteenth since its foundation and the

second since the creation of the Association of French-

speaking Medical Men, was especially interesting. ThePresident was Professor Chauffard. The opening meeting-was held on the evening of Oct. 13th at the Sorbonne, under-the presidency of the rector, M. Liard, who delivered!an admirable address. Speeches were also made byM. Bar, the secretary-general of the association, M.

Teissier, the secretary-general of the Congress, M.

Chauffard, M. Stoicesco (on behalf of the foreign medicalmen), and M. Lanotot on behalf of the French-speaking profession, and M. Landouzy, the doyen. M.Lanotot invited the Congress to hold its next meeting in-

Quebec. The scientific meetings began on Oct. 14th at the-Faculty of Medicine. In the morning the Congress dis-cussed oxal&aelig;mia and oxaluria, on which subjects M. Loepferand M. Lambling presented an elaborate report. Oxal&aelig;mia,it was ’ stated, presents analogies in behaviour to gout,although quite different in nature ; probably, also, it repre-sents a true diathesis. The afternoon session was devotedto anaphylactic conditions in clinical medicine, and papers-were read thereon by M. Landouzy, M. Bezan&ccedil;on, M.Achard, M. Armand-Delille, M. Legn,6, M. Thibierge,M. Gougerot, and M. Courmont. On the 15th a discussion.took place in the morning on acute infectious colics. Dr,

Cade, of Lyons, revived the conception of typhlitis andperityphlitis, which have been not a little overshadowed byappendicitis of late. The conduct of the case, however,so far as the practitioner is concerned, remains thesame. M. Cade further allotted a place in the origin ofcolitis to autogenous infections, through augmentation ofthe virulence of the ordinary intestinal parasites. Accordingto M. Hutinel and M. Nob6couTt, colitis of infectious origin inthe infant is quite common from the second year. But the

pathogenic germs are numerous and variable, and aid invarious ways (poor alimentation and hereditary predisposition)in determining the degree of inflammation. The afternoonsession was devoted to a long discussion on antityphoidvaccination. M. Chantemesse had performed 17,000 vaccina-tions in one year, giving four injections of serum to eachvaccination. Professor Vincent, of Val-de-Grace, from the-results obtained with his polyvalent vaccine (cultures killed byheat) in Morocco, in Algeria, and more recently at Avignon,argued that the absence of any case of typhoid fever in vacci-nated persons, even in the midst of epidemic foci, definitely,