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"SALICYLIC SILK."To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—In reference to the use of the mackintosh with thesalicylic dressing, will you allow me to say that, althoughthe mackintosh was used in the cases published by me inTHE LANCET last year, it was shortly afterwards discon-tinued, according to Mr. McGill’s original suggestion.

Yours faithfully,WALTER H. BROWN,

Late House-Surgeon to the General Infirmary, Leeds.

SCOTTISH NOTES.

(From our Correspondent.)

IT is announced that Dr. Macintosh, F.R.S., at presentSuperintendent of Murthly Asylum, Perthshire, has beenappointed to the chair of Natural History at St. Andrews,rendered vacant by the translation of Dr. Alleyne Nicholsonto Aberdeen. Not only the many scientific friends ofDr. Macintosh, but all interested in the welfare ofSt. Andrews, will rejoice at the excellent selection made bythe patron, the Marquis of Ailsa. Besides the work done in

zoology by Dr. Macintosh, and kaown to all scientists, hehas at Murthly surrounded himself with a collection, in thevegetable as well as the aninij.1 world, which of itself wouldform a respectable museum, while his efforts to the same

end, in so completely furnishing the Perth Museum, showfurther his enthusiasm for the subject he will now becalled upon to teach.An important motion was under discussion at the last

meeting of the Aberdeen Town Council. The Lord Provostproposed, and it was unanimously agreed, that a CityImprovements Bill should be proceeded with next session.He went on to detail the alterations which he thoughtshould be embraced in the scheme, which is altogether ofan extensive character. By the method mentioned manyadvantages from a health point of view are likely to accrue,as several of the best known rookeries will be removed thatthe new and necessary thoroughfares may be provided. TheLinks, it would appear, are now owned in part by others aswell as the corporation, and it is proposed that those interestsshould be purchased. These valuable recreation groundswill also be more accessible if Castle-street is extendedthereto as proposed, and if the other drives mentioned areformed. The excellent bathing facilities will then be moreeasily obtained, and these it is proposed to increase by largeadditions to the bathing establishment. The Bill, as fore-shadowed, seems specially intended to afford better means ofcommunication throughout the town, to meet the wants otthe rapidly increasing suburban population, and to extendthe city boundaries; but such demolitions are involved aswill have a most wholesome influence upon the publichealth.Long lists have been published as advertisements in the

daily papers, recording the successes of students during thepast session. When well deserved, such a stimulus is likelyto be useful, but honourable mention and certificates shouldindicate more than medium merit, and that this is scarcelyso is indicated by the fact that fifty per cent entitles thestudent to a place among the distinguished ones. Whatexcuse is offered by the unsuccessful it is difficult to surmise,but, perhaps, the mention of almost 150 names in one classso reduces the number of the disappointed that the triflingresiduum needs little consideration. If fifty per cent. entitlesa student to honours, the not unnatural question arises,What is the percentage necessary for a pass or for honoursin the M.B. Examination ?The bathing season is this year peculiarly prolific of

accidents in Scotland. As many as eight fatalities havebeen thus caused in one day, and the season’s sacrifice pro-mises to be very large. One would imagine that some oithe sea-coast towns would find it to their advantage toprovide and offer special guarantees against a form of deathso common and expected as scarcely longer to deserveclassification as accidental. In private establishments menare kept ready for rescue in an emergency, and the frequencywith which they require to act, as well as the immunityfrom accident which those useful institutions enjoy, point tc

stricter police regulations and the employment of goodswimmers to carry these out, as likely means for the savingof life, at least in the more frequented towns and villages.

It is marvellous how little is done in Scotland to renderthe popular health resorts more attractive. We take ourcures from change of air just as seriously as we do physic.In almost none ot the watering-places have we any provisionmade for rational enjoyment, aud such common seasidepastimes as promenade concerts, balls, &c., are scarcelyknown, while floating baths, aquaria, picture-galleries, andeven proper boating facilities are unheard-of luxuries, ex-cept at Rothesay, where some attempts have been made tofollow southern models. The variety so necessary to theconvalescent or overworked is difficult to find, and thetown which would energetically engage to provide fittingamusements would be amply repaid.The public health of Brechin is so bad at present that

Drs. Anderson and Lawrence have felt it their duty jointlyto call the immediate attention of the authorities to thesubject. They forcibly point to the laxity with which com-plaints as to defective drainage, suspected water, &c., are

considered, and mention instances where both of these areevidently the cause of the typhoid fever so prevalent atpresent. As is usual in these cases, the first effect of theindependent criticism is disagreement all round. The ownersof the suspected well write to say that on the authority ofan analytical chemist their water is pure. The chemist pub-lishes his report, and shows that he give but a qualifiedapproval. The magistrates are not allowed to take a sampleof water from this private source for analysis, even thoughone of the partners is provost of the town; and the ontysatisfactory action taken is with regard to the drainage,which will have immediate attention. The medical menurge that notification of infectious diseases should be en-forced, and are evidently prepared to accept the duty.Typhoid fever has also broken out in Cupar, but precau-

tionary measures have been at once adopted against its

spread.

IRELAND.

(From our own Correspondent.)

THE rapid development of the medical sciences, especiallyphysiology, has demanded an outlay at all large medicalschools, so as to allow the teaching to keep up with the ad-vances that have ben made. The School of Physic of theUniversity of Dublin, and the Medical School of the RoyalCollege of Surgeons have had large sums expended for thispurpose, and the Board of the Ledwich School of Medicineand Surgery have very wisely determined to make certainalterations and additions at their institution, so as to con-stitute it thoroughly efficient in every respect. Contractshave been signed and the work is now being rapidly carriedon, the estimated cost baing upwards of £500. It will in-clude a physiological laboratory, a chemical laboratorycapable of accommodating at least seventy students, a mu.seum for the teaching of pathology and osteology, a lava-tory supplied with hot water, spirit tanks for subjects, &c.The annual report of the President of the Queen’s College,

Galway, for the session 1881-2 shows that the College hassteadily progressed, and it is worthy of note that the successof the Queen’s Colleges was never so marked as at the timethey lost their special privileges and vested educational in-terests as the constituent parts of the Queen’s University.The number of students in the Colleges, which was 375 in theopening session, 1849-50, and which rose to 958 in 1879-80,was increasing at a much more rapid rate during the last twosessions of the University. The number stood at 1010 in1880-81, while the closing session 1881-2 exhibited resultsmore satisfactory than any previously recorded, the numberof students receiving instruction being 1154. One hundredand twenty-two students attended lectures during the pastsession in the Faculty of Medicine at the Queen’ College,Galway, the highest number yet recorded.From the tweuty,fourth report of the Board of Superin-

tendence of Dublin Hospitals, it appears that nine institu-tions receive grants from Parliament. The number ofpatients admitted during the year was 8970, which, with798 previously in the hospitals, made a total under treatmentof 9768. The deaths amounted to 452, or a mortality of

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5’12 per cent. on those treated to a termination ; and thetotal average daily number of beds occupied was 718. Theincome was £38,653 18s. Id., and the expenditure£37, 807 3s. 1d., the large sum of £8381 2s. 2d. for salariesof officers and wages of servants being included in the latter.There is a considerable difference in the average annual costof a bed formaintenance in these nine institutions respectively.For example, in Cork-street Fever Hospital the cost was ashigh as £ 87 18s. lld., while in the Westmoreland Lock it wasjE28 16s. 4d., and in the Incurables as low as £10 18s. 10d.It is satisfactory to learn that the apartment which is placedunder the seats of the operating theatre at the RichmondHospital, and in which autopsies were heretofore conducted,is no longer to be used for that purpose.The state of the Recorder’s Court in Dublin has long

attracted attention, and last week, prior to his lordshiptaking his seat, a suitor, owing to the excessive heat andbad ventilation, fainted. The Recorder has on more thanone occasion represented the state of Green-street Courthousebuildings to the authorities at the Castle, and these repre-sentations found their way from the Castle to the Corpora-tion, who were the responsible parties ; but with that bodythe matter remained a dead letter. At a meeting of theTown Council last Monday, one of the members said thatnothing could be worse than the condition of the courts inquestion. The cells beneath were simply "pest-houses,"and the sanitary and other arrangements were absolutelydisgraceful. The Corporation had applied to the Govern-ment and to the Grand Jury to make the necessary altera-tions, and ultimately a presentment was put for £2500 tobe expended in remodelling the courthouse. This was cutdown to £500, and eventually thrown out by the GrandJury. There are some who consider that a new site and anexpenditure of some £50,000 will be required, as to en.deavour to alter the present structure would be throwingmoney away.An association has been formed for opposing the Compul-

sory Notification of Infectious Diseases by medical practi-tioners, as it has been ascertained that many, while in favourof notification in the abstract, protest against the impositionof such compulsion upon the medical attendant. It is fearedalso that should the Bill at present pending in the House ofCommons, and specially intended for England and Wales,be adopted, it would be followed by an extension of the samelaw to Ireland.The annual Report of the Local Government Board is

satisfactory in reference to the considerable decrease whichhas taken place, as compared with the previous year, ofpersons receiving in-door relief. A large decrease has alsooccurred in the number of sick admitted to the variousworkhouses, and to the number suffering from fever andother contagious diseases.At the recent examinations for the Indian Medical Service

Dr. Charles, who obtained first place, was a most dis-tinguished student of the Queen’s College, Cork, gaining allthe pcholajsbips and prizes of his course, and the threeexhibitions at its close. He is also a Gold Medalist of theQueen’s University, graduating with first honours.Dr. Michael Kinane of Templemore, Tipperary, died on

the llth inst., after two hours’ illness. The deceased gentle-man had been married only a few days. ,

The Rev. Dr. Egan, late President of the Killaloe DioceqanCollege, has been appointed a Fellow of the Royal Universityof Ireland.

Small-pox has disappeared from Dublin for upwards of ayear, but it exists to a slight extent in Belfast and Clonmel.

AMBULANCE CLASSES FOR THEPOLICE.-At ScotlandYard last week certificates were presented to seventy-ninepolice officers who had passed the examination of the St.John Ambulance Association. Dr. Sieveking presided ; andthere were also present-Dr. Steet, medical officer, GeneralPust Office; Colonel F. Duncan, R. A., director of the Asso-ciation ; Captain H. C. Perrott, secretary ; and others.

ON Saturday afternoon, the 12th inst., the remainsof Dr. James Miller, of Great Percy-street, Clerkenwell,were interred in Kensal-green Cemetery. Dr, Miller, whodied somewhat suddenly, had been one of the police divisionalsurgeons of the G or Clerkenwell division for some ten years,and the police, to show their respect, gave him a publicfuneral. ,

PARIS.

(From our Special Correspondent.)

THE last Compte Rendu of the Biological Society containsthe description of a new instrument presented to the Societyat a recent meeting by Dr. Danillo of St. Petersburg andcalled the "Reflexometer." It is used for measuring theforce required to obtain the phenomena known as "re-flexes" nr myotatic movements. as well as for indicating

the exact momentat which percussiontakes place. The in-ventor thinks thatinvestigation as tothe changes of me-dullarv reflectivitv

under pathological con-ditions will be renderedmore exact when its phy-siological variations are

better known. The in.strument consists of a

metallic rod, fifteen centi.metres long by five willi.metres wide. The freeextremity carries the per-cutor, whilst the other ismovable around an hori,zontal axi?, at the junctionof a second rod parallelwith the first and itshandle. A glance at thefigure kindly furnished by

the maker, M. Galante, willmake matters clearer. Percup-sion is obtained by a semi-circular spring, one end of whichis fixed at the junction of therod and handle, whilst the otherpresses upon the rod. A segmentof a circle, with a scale repre-senting the force of the spring ingrammes, is attached to the im.movable part of the apparatus; twhile a cursor on the movablerod gives the reading. The forkon the lower branch is applied tothe muscle or tendon under ex-

amination, and the percutor is raised by a little transversal barin front of the cursor to the required height. The contact ofthe percutor with the tendon corresponds with the parallelismof the two rods, and with the contact of a screw on the movablebranch, with the insulated binding screw of the immovablebranch. This is announced by a Deprez signal worked by abattery, the rheophores of which are connected, one with thebinding gcrew already described, and the other with a screwplaced at the junction of the handle and rod. Dr. Danillo’sapparatus is the modification of an instrument proposed forthe purpose and described by M. Biissand in his inauguralthesis.The same bulletin contains a communication by Pro-

fessor Charles Bouchard, on the presence of ptomaines,or cadaveric alkaloids, undfr some circumstances, in theurine. The investigations of Brouardel and Boutney broughtto light a test which shows that there is a great analogybetween these alkaloids and the poisonous fungi. On theother hand, the ptomaines only appear in animal matterwhere microscopic vegetable organisms are found. Hencethe supposition that cadaveric alkaloids ars the product ofdissimilation of vegetable organisms. If bacteria living in deadanimal matter produce ptomaines, it is possible that thebacteria of a living animal organism may produce analogoussubstances. Starting from this hypothesis, 1’rafe;sorBouchard submitted the urine of a number of patients toanalysis, after having carefully arranged their diet, and ex-cluded all alkaloids from their medication. In order alsoto prevent any fermentation or putrefaction, the urine wasdischarged into a recipient containing a sufficient quantityof powdered boracic acid to saturate it. These researcheswere made in a number of cases of typhoid fever, two of in.fectious pneumonia, one of infectious pleurisy, and one of