the University authorities, representatives of the Philoso- phical Society and other public bodies, it was decided to ask.the British Association to select Glasgow as the place ofmeeting in 1898. The Lord Provost, Sir James Bell, Bart.,was deputed to convey the invitation to the Association atdts meeting at Liverpool during the present month.

Andersonian Naturalists’ Society.At a recent meeting of this society Dr. Bell Todd exhibited

a, number of micro-photographs of various botanical objects,together with their respective negatives, for the purpose ofillustrating the value of a colour screen in bringing outdetails of structure. The screens employed were simplyfilms of gelatin coloured orange and red and were fixed inthe stage of the microscope between the object to be photo-graphed and the source of the light. The improvement inthe results was generally recognised.

The Rating of Asylums.The valuation court for the upper ward of the county of

.Renfrew has recently disposed of an appeal by the GovanLunacy Board against the valuation of .E2060 put on theasylum and house at Hawkhead. It was contended onbehalf of the board that though the building now in courseof construction was nearer completion than it was last yearthe number of blocks occupied was the same as last yearand there was no increase in the number of patients. Henceit was argued there should be no increase over last year’sassessment - viz., .E1500. To this the assessor repliedthat the principal cause of the increased valuation was thecompletion of the administrative block, and as no part ofthis building must be used for patients the argument basedupon the number of patients did not apply. This view thecourt adopted, dismissing the appeal and confirming theincreased valuation.

The Importation of " Greened Peas."The Glasgow Chamber of Commerce some time ago passed

a resolution deprecating the encouragement of the importa-tion of preserved peas tinted with copper sulphate, and thisresolution was communicated to the London Chamber ofCommerce. The London Chamber replied taking exceptionto the resolution and asking for its reconsideration. This’communication was brought before the Glasgow Chamber onthe 14th inst., and after discussion the Chamber decided toadhere to its former view.

Glasgo7v Cancer Hospital.The directors have decided to appoint an additional

surgeon and also an assistant surgeon. Applications must besent to the secretary on or before the 21st inst.

Sept. l6th. __________

IRELAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Changes in the Dublin Hospitals.As has been already noted, Dr. Martin Dempsey, lately

assistant physician to the Richmond Hospital, has beenappointed assistant physician to the Mater MisericordiæHospital. The vacancy at the Richmond Hospital has justbeen filled by the appointment of Dr. Coleman, recentlyphysician to Jervis-street Hospital. There remains now avacant appointment for a physician at the latter institution.Jervis-street Hospital was at one time one of the foremostof our clinical hospitals and occupied a prominent positionas a high-class surgical and accident hospital, though ofcomparatively small size. It owed this prominence to the factthat it was situated in a business part of the city nearthe river dock, and just in the centre of the purelymercantile and most densely populated part of the town.It was entirely rebuilt some ten years ago, but the governors,instead of replacing the old dirty, inefficient, and out-of-dateinfirmary by a modern, well-endowed, and thoroughly equippedaccident hospital, made the grave mistake of building on thebame site and at great expense a very large institution with.many wards for the reception, not alone of surgical cases, butof medical and even of fever cases. The consequence hasbeen a decadence of the hospital both in the opinion of thegeneral public and in that of the medical profession. Itsfunds have failed to suffice to keep its beds open, while thereputation of Jervis-street Hospital as one of the best of thesurgical hospitals in Dublin has gradually disappeared. Thedebt has, however, at last been almost repaid, and there is

now a prospect of its regaining its original position as a first-class clinical hospital.

Another Epidemic of Beri-beri.A note appeared in these columns some time ago in which

the dangerously overcrowded state of the Richmond DistrictLunatic Asylum was described and the danger of a recur-rence of such another outbreak as took place last year waspointed out. The auxiliary hospital at Portrane has been atlast commenced, but the disease beri-beri, that acknowledgedEastern outcome of dirt and overcrowding, has again brokenout in the wards of the Richmond District Lunatic Asylum,twenty cases being at present under treatment there.

The New Mater Infirmorum Hospital, Belfast.It is expected that in June, 1897, this most efficient

hospital will be completed. It is being erected from thedesign of Mr. Fennell, M.R.I.A.I., and the buildings occupya good open site on the Crumlin-road on the Carlisle-circusside of the county gaol. The site has a frontage of 230 ft.to the Crumlin-road and occupies an area slightly over

one acre. The hospital is built on the "pavilion" system,the central one being for administrative work, the pavilionon the east being for males and that on the west forfemales. On the two upper floors of the centre blockthere are a large number of private wards for such patientsas may want to take advantage of them. The hospital isplanned for 137 beds and 8 cots for children, and for eachbed there are allowed slightly over 1300 cubic feet ofward space, 9 feet of wall space, and 100 square feetof floor space. The nurses’ beds and dayrooms are inthe administrative block, which contains on its groundfloor the reception-rooms, offices, and rooms of the resi-dent medical officers. The entire building will be illumi-nated by electricity, the heating will be by low-pressurehot-water circulating ’through radiators, and there will begarden roofs, where the patients when convalescent can

enjoy the purest air and sunshine. When finished theMater Infirmorum Hospital will be most complete in everydetail and a great advantage to the city of Belfast.

The Transfer of Lunatics from the Belfast Asylum to theWorkhouse.

As at several inquests on the deaths of lunatics in theBelfast workhouse allegations were made that their removalfrom the asylum to the workhouse had an effect in hasteningthe death of these patients, the board of governors of theasylum asked that the inspectors of lunacy should hold aninvestigation on the matter. The report of the inspectorswho held this sworn inquiry has just been made public andit completely upsets all these charges. The inspectors, deal-ing with the circumstances connected with the three caseswhich they were asked to inquire into, say it would appearthat for some considerable time past on the death of any lunatictransferred from the asylum an inquest has been held at whichthe coroner has animadverted strongly on the injustice doneto the insane by thus transferring them from the asylum tothe workhouse. As arising out of these statements andverdicts public odium was likely to be raised against themanagement both of the asylum and the workhouse, theBoard of Governors were anxious that a full inquiry should beheld. The inspectors went fully into each case. In the first,in which the jury in their finding say " that the transfer inthe present case contributed to hastening the death of thedeceased," the inspectors report that according to theevidence the transfer to the workhouse did not in any waycontribute to hasten her death. As to the second case, the

inspectors find that, according to the evidence of the workhousemedical officer, the patient died from a stroke of paralysisi.e. from perfectly natural causes. In the last case, in which thejury said that " his transfer from the district lunatic asylumcontributed to the hastening of his death," the inspectorsfind that all the evidence goes to show that this was a suit-able case for workhouse care, as the patient was harmlessand incurable, giving little trouble ; and that by no possi-bility could the transfer have accelerated his death, and thathis transfer was effected with due care. Finally, the

inspectors in their report state: "We are disposed to agreewith the medical evidence, which went to prove that allthese cases were properly removed to the workhouse andthat their deaths were in no way accelerated by suchtransfer." Further, the inspectors think it unfortunate thatat the inquiry no evidence was forthcoming from the asylumcase-books of the condition of the cases when entering orleaving the asylum, and they think such notes should be kept.

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The medical officers of the asylum stated that they knew everysymptom in the cases, and that at the time of entry of thepatients into the asylum they are carefully examined, and onturning up their registered number details of their case canbe found. Unfortunately, owing to the transfer to the newbuildings at Purdysburn, the notes of one of the cases weredelayed in their production. It would seem that the notes ofthe best cases are kept, and the inspectors suggest that thisshould apply to all the cases. The medical officers think thatwith 800 patients to look after to make a record of every oneof these day by day would not be possible. If this is so,probably the best way out of the difficulty would be toincrease the staff. The finding of the inspectors is a com-

plete answer to the coroners’ juries, and its value is increasedby the report of the inspector (Mr. Courtney), who visitedthe lunatic department of the Belfast Workhouse on

Aug. 7th, and who states that ’’ the accommodation pro-vided here [Belfast Union Workhouse, lunatic department]is certainly on a much more liberal scale than that set apartfor the use of the lunatic and imbecile inmates in any otherworkhouse in Ireland." This report of the Inspector ofLunatics was read at a meeting of the Belfast board ofguardians on Sept. 8th.

The Cork TVomen and Children’s Hospital.Considerable structural improvements were recently made

in the Cork Women and Children’s Hospital, and as the com-mittee found they had incurred a debt of 2000 they decidedon making an effort to relieve their financial embarrassment.Accordingly they took steps for holding a very extensivebazaar called "Wonderland." There was quite a variedprogramme of entertainment and the initial expenses aloneamounted to £1000. His Excellency the Lord-Lieutenantgraciously signified his intention of opening the bazaar, and,accompanied by the Countess Cadogan, he performed the cere-mony in the presence of a very fashionable attendance. His

Excellency in an appropriate speech expressed his sympathyand that of the Countess with the objects of the charity;and as politicians of every varied shade of thought regardhis Excellency as a nobleman who takes a lively interest inthe general welfare of the country his patronage tendedmaterially to promote the success of the bazaar. Thoughthe weather was somewhat unpropitious quite a throng ofpeople attended, especially at night, and it is generally ex-pected that the net result will be the addition of a consider-able sum to the resources of the institution.

Contributions by the Royal Irish Constabulary to MedicalCharities.

The Royal Irish Constabulary stationed at Cork con-tributed to the entertainment of the citizens by organising avery successful meeting for athletic sports in the park. A

special feature of the day was the presence of the excellentband of the Constabulary from the depôt. The attendancewas very large, and after paying expenses the promotersfound that they had a sum of C305 to dispose of. Theyallocated it as follows :-Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund of theForce, £100 ; North Infirmary, .E25; South Infirmary, Q25 ;Women and Children’s Hospital, .625 ; Eye, Ear, and ThroatHospital, E25; Mercy Hospital, e25; Fever Hospital, E20;’St. Vincent’s Hospital, .620 ; Protestant Incurable Hospital,£20 ; and St. Patrick’s Incurable Hospital, £20. The Con-stabulary are to be congratulated, not alone on the success ofthe athletic meeting they inaugurated, but also on the

generosity they displayed towards the local medical charities.Sapt. 16th.

________________

ROME.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Professor Palmieri.THE science or sciences that deal with the earth’s crust

:n movement and repose have lost a very able votary inthe Director of the Vesuvian Observatory, Professor LuigiPalmieri, who died on the 9th inst., aged sixty-nine years.In seismology, the honour of developing and systematisingwhich he shares with the late Padre Denza, of the VaticanObservatory, and the Count Michele di Rossi, he was anacknowledged master; while in meteorology and climatologyhe contributed greatly to their preciser and wider knowledgeby numerous papers in that mine of industry and research,the " Annali dell’ Osservatorio Vesuviano." Not only on thetheoretical side of these subjects did he evolve many

ingenious and suggestive ideas, but as a practical worker headded more than one valuable instrument to the scientificarmoury-notably his "electrometer for the observation ofatmospheric electricity," his "pluviometer" (or rain gauge),his "seismometer," and suchlike. Such a revolutiondid he effect in the domain of terrestrial physics thatin his hands it became almost a new science, in recognitionof which the University of Naples founded a chair for its

teaching and made him its first professor, while at the sametime he was appointed Director of the Physical Observatoryin that city. A first-rate mathematician, his training inexact science formed an admirable prelude to his physicaland natural history studies, and (such was his many-sidedcapacity) he was able to lecture ad interim on moral andmetaphysical philosophy when Baron Galluppi, the dis-

tinguished interpreter of Kant to his compatriots, ceased tohold that chair. But his real post was at the Observatoryon Mount Vesuvius, whose eruptions he described withscientific lucidity and classic elegance, and all of which forthe last forty-two years he personally witnessed, often, asin the memorable one in 1872, at the risk of encounteringthe fate of the Elder Pliny. He was courtesy and kindnessitself to English-speaking visitors-to none more than tothose of the medical profession, as can be attested by nota few who explored the Neapolitan Riviera after the Inter-national Congress of Medicine and Surgery held at Rome inthe Easter of 1894.

Getting Rich by Degrees."Three years ago the sale of bogus degrees had reached pro-

portions in Bologna which incurred the intervention of thepolice, and their manufacturer is still, I believe, serving histime in one of the local prisons. But the summary examplemade of him has not, it would appear, proved much of adeterrent. At least, from information gathered in Italythe "industry" is still a paying one, if the number of" graduates" whose scholastic record is rather dim may bereceived as a test. This time the University which confersthe " summi in medicina honores " is not Bologna, but Berne,whose "sigillum magnum " was stolen, or in some way gotat, so as to be counterfeited to perfection. The allegedthief or forger has been arrested, but the corpus delictiwas not found in his possession and is still to seek.So the world is not yet safe against the illicit creationof graduates (medical and other, but chiefly medical), ofwhom, it seems, there are already about 250 vaunting them-selves "laureati" of the leading Swiss University! Scan-dinavia and Germany boast the majority of such graduates,"while there are some fifty or so practising in (or on ") theEnglish-speaking public in both hemispheres. The rest arechiefly to be found in Italy, Austria, and the East.

Mushroom Poisoning.Italy is greatly in want of a handy book or chart indicating

the edible and non-edible fungi. So far as I know shepossesses nothing like that excellent descriptive treatiseon the subject compiled by Mr. Plowright and noticed inTHE LANCET of Feb. 25th, 1893. The consequence isthat even among the educated middle classes the con-sumption of poisonous mushrooms is of frequent, oftenof fatal, occurrence, as, indeed, a glance at any urbanor provincial Italian newspaper will suffice to show. I

open one of these and find that at Cadignano, in theBrescian province, a respectable family, nine in number,has just lost seven of its members by the ingestion ofmushrooms belonging to the variety called ovolus "

in Italian classification, and resembling in size and forma hen’s egg. The tenesmi preceding the death of thevictims are described as " agonising," the stomach-pump having been applied too late, and the usualremedies (emetics, catharto-emetics, demulcent draughts,and ether in strong doses) proving inert or inefficacious.I turn to another paper and read, this time in

Piedmont, of a family consisting of father, mother,and four children, ranging from six to eleven yearsof age, and an uncle of these having eaten heartily of mush-rooms and, not till some days afterwards, succumbing totheir effects. Grave intestinal disturbance, increasing as tointensity, followed the meal, till first the children died, thenthe uncle, and only the parents (thanks to constitutions

exceptionally robust) survived. The necropsy proved thecause of death to have been "mushroom poisoning," but

the description of the fungi is not given. In the large cities(Rome. Florence, Naples, and Milan, for example) the sani-tary officers continually impound unwholesome mushrooms