1867

SCOTLAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Glasgow University.THE University has settled down again to its usual routine

after the excitement of the public celebrations. A steadyinginfluence on a large number of the medical students is theimpending ordeal of the final examinations which will

occupy the next three weeks or so. The June meeting ofthe University Court was mainly occupied by matters of nogreat interest. The secretary reported that a notice ofassessment for inhabited house duty on the Bute and

Randolph Halls had been received, and that the EdinburghOourt had decided to appeal against a similar assessmentmade on the MacEwan Hall. It was decided to take jointaction against the assessments. A memorial was read fromthe University Staff Club-which consists of some of the

professors, lecturers, and assistants-requesting the estab-lishment in the University of a common room where membersof the staff might meet for various purposes. After somediscussion the memorial was remitted to the committee incharge of the question of University extension. TheRev. Professor Stewart, D. D., has been appointed to repre-sent the University on the Carnegie University Trust.

Glasgow Western Infirmary. ’

The directors have issued an appeal for funds to enablethem to proceed with the erection and equipment of a newout-patient department. The matter has been urgent forsome time, but in view of other claims on the public it hasnot been pressed. The interests alike of the staff, the medicalschool, and the patients do not, however, permit of furtherpostponement. The sum required is £40,000, towards whichsubscriptions amounting to £20,000 have already beenreceived, including .65000 from the Bellahouston trusteesand B1000 from the Corporation of Glasgow. It is intendedto provide the new dispensary with every equipment neededfor the treatment of patients and for the clinical instructionof students.

Glasgow Water-supply.Glasgow has for many years had reason to be proud of a

water-supply which has brought to the city so many sanitaryand commercial advantages. The enterprise and publicspirit which nearly 50 years ago secured an abundant supplyof pure water from Loch Katrine was recognised by theopening of the works by Her late Majesty Qaeen Victoria.It was no doubt at that time believed that ample provisionhad been made, not only for present wants, but also to meetthe reasonable probabilities of the future. The Act ofParliament under which the Corporation of 1855 proceededgave authority (1) to raise Loch Katrine four feet above itsprevious summer level and to draw it down three feet belowthis level, making seven feet in depth to which the lochcould be drawn upon; (2) to take 50,000,000 gallonsof water per day for the supply of the city andsuburbs ; and (3) to construct a line of aqueducts forconveying the water to the city-a distance of 34½ miles.In 1885 the corporation deemed it advi-able to obtain fromParliament more extended powers. These included permis-sion (1) to raise Loch Katrine another five feet, thus giving atotal of 12 feet free to be drawn up jn ; (2) to raise LochArklet 25 feet above its then level and to lead the water fromthis loch to Loch Katrine; (3) to take a further 60.000,000gallons per day for the supply of the city and suburbs;and (4) to construct a duplicate line of aqueducts and servicereservoir with lines of pipes to the city. These several under-

takings have been in progress during the past 15 years andhave now been brought to a successful completion. The new

aqueriuct is 23½ miles in length and is capable of discharging70,000,000 gallons per day. The new reservoir has a watersurface of 88 acres and a capacity of 700 000,000 gallons.Added to the original reservoir this means that the two com-bined are capable of storing 24 days’ supply at the rate of50,Of 0,000 gallons per day. The cost of the works has been£1,213,280. It is noteworthy that the water from LochKatrine undergoes no filtration other than being made topass through fine gauze netting with a view to separatecoarse mechanical impurities, such as leaves, sticks, &c. Witha view to avoid pollution the corporation some years agoacquired at a cost of .E17,000 the feuing rights of the wholedrainage area of Lochs Katrine and Arklet and thus havepo wer to prevent the erection of any houses or buildings in

the district. From what has been stated above it is obvious’that the practical result of the works just completed is todouble the water-supply of the city. Since the opening ofthe first aqueduct 42 years ago there has been an enormousextension of the city both in area and population. For thisand for a continuation of the same procesxes during manyyears it is calculated the new aqueduct and the undertakings.associated with it secure a full and adequate supply of anatural water which in point of purity as well as inabundance is hardly susceptible of improvement.

The Sale of Poisons by Medical Men.A meeting of medical practitioners was held in Glasgow

on June 19th, to receive a report from the deputationrecently sent to the General Medical Council in regard to thesale of poisons in open surgeries by assistants not qualifiedunder the Pharmacy Act. It will be remembered that theCouncil declined to receive the deputation on the groundthat it proposed to deal with questions still szcb judice. Thedeputation therefore had no report to make other than torepeat the decision of the Council as this was expressed inthe statement made by Sir William Turner. Dr. W. Watson,who presided over the meeting and who was a member of thedeputation, stated that the result of their action was in allrespects satisfactory. They had succeeded, he considered,in getting the action of the Council into line with the law-of the land and he felt certain that no charge similar tothe one which gave rise to their action would ever again bebrought against a member of the profession so long as heshowed reasonable care in the management of his business.Professor Glaister, however, doubted if this consolatoryconclusion was altogether justified. The finding of the-Council by no means showed that the question was finallysettled, but rather indicated the probability of further

developments. After Some discussion it was decided tocontinue the committee with instructions to take action ifcircumstances rendered this necessary. The question wasalso referred to at a recent meeting of the PharmaceuticalSociety in Edinburgh, when the chairman claimed that theGeneral Medical Council had decided that any medicalpractitioner who habitually left an open surgery stockedwith scheduled poisons in charge of an unqualified assistantwas liable to be jadged guilty of conduct infamous in aprofessional respect.

Glasgow Ophthalmic Institution.A handsome stained-glass window has been presented to

this institution by Dr. A. Maitland Ramsay. At a meeting-of the directors of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary and othersDr. James Kerr Love explained that the window wassubscribed for by the members of Dr. Ramsay’s post-graduate class and was intended to express their apprecia-tion of the good work done by Dr. Ramsay. In acceptingthe window on behalf of the directors, Mr. Hugh Brown,Chairman of the Ophthalmic Committee, thanked Dr.Ramsay for his gift and for the extended sphere of useful--ness which the Ophthalmic Institution had acquired as aresult of the post-graduate courses which have been given.during the past few winters.June 25th.

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IRELAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

National Association for the Prevention of Consumptionand other Forms of Tuberculosis.

A MEETING of the executive committee of the Dublinbranch of the National Association for the Prevention ofConsumption and other Forms of Tuberculosis was recentlyheld at the house of the Royal College of Physicians of-Ireland. Dr. Lombe Atthill occupied the chair andthere were also present Sir Christopher Nixon, SirJohn William Moore, Sir Charles Cameron, ProfessorAnthony Roche, Dr. Alfred R. Parsons, Mr. F. P. Fawcett,Dr. Edmond J. McWeeney, Dr. James Craig, and Mr.J. Knox Denham, honorary secretary. The honorarysecretary reported that the Local Government Board for-Ireland had consented to have the large poster entitled"Information for Consumptive People and for Those whoLive with Them" hung up in every workhouse, hospital, anddispensary waiting-room in Ireland. Dr. Starkie, the Resi--dent Commissioner of National Education for Ireland, had

1868

informed the honorary secretary that he would afford everyfacility for the giving of the course of lectures proposed’by the association to be delivered to the King’s scholarsin the training colleges at Drumcondra, Marlborough-street, Kildare-street, and Baggot-street. The names of thefollowing gentlemen were suggested as lecturers to the

King’s scholars in the autumn : Dr. McWeeney, Dr. Craig,fDr. Parsons, and Professor Roche.

An Action for Dam-ages.It may interest some of the readers of THE LANCET

’to know that the action for damages brought by theson of the late Mr. Wheeler of Dublin, the well-known surgeon, against the Commissioners of PublicWorks in Ireland has been decided in his favourafter appeal. It is now over a year since Mr."Wheeler’s eye was seriously injured by an accident causedas alleged by the imperfect state of the ornamental ironrailings in St. Stephen’s Green Park. The commissionerspleaded that they were not the owners of the park and there-fore were not liable. The Court of Queen’s Bench decidedagainst them and now after a delay of a year the Lords- Justices of Appeal have by a majority supported thatdecision. The case is looked upon in Dublin as one of muchinterest and importance, and arrangements are now beingmade for an ultimate appeal to the House of Lords.

Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons in Ireland.A public announcement has appeared stating that material

changes have been made in the course for the preliminaryexamination for the year 1902.

Armagk Sewerage.At a special meeting of the Armagh Urban Council, held

on June 19bh, Mr. Kaye-Parry, consulting engineer, showedand explained sketch plans for a scheme for the treatment of90 gallons of sewage per head per diem. The estimatedcost was .f:4500, and adding Z500 for a storm-water

filter, the total cost of the works would be E5000. Inthis way they would have a scheme capable of treating threetimes as much as the former scheme which was only ableto cope with 30 gallons of sewage matter per head per diem,while the English Local Government Board had laid it downthat any disposal works should have as their minimuma capacity for the treatment of 90 gallons per headper diem, because 30 gallons was the average dry-weatherflow, but in wet weather the flow was sometimes equal to asmuch as 100 gallons per head per diem ; thus, any works themaximum capacity of which was 30 gallons would be quiteinadequate. The Armagh Urban Council approved of thisscheme and requested Mr. Kaye-Parry to prepare the plansas soon as possible.

Overcro7vding in the Londonderry Asylum.At a meeting of the committee of management of the

Londonderry Asvlum, held on June 21st, a report was receivedfrom the architect and medical superintendent in reference totheir visit to Scotland to acquire information as to theselection of buildings and arrangements most likely to besuitable for the proposed extensions at Gransha. In refer-ence to present wants, and with a view to future economy,the following schemes were suggested : (1) to build the twohospitals and infirmaries for male and female patients, 100of each, and to use what would be the future female side foradministration ; (2) to build the male hospital and infirmaryfor 100 patients each, one of the villas to be used at presentfor administration; and (3) to build the male hospital andinfirmary for 100 patients to the future administrative blockof the asylum, and the parts of the administrative block notat present required for administrative purposes could be usedfor the temporary accommodation of a few more male

patients. No. 1 scheme was recommended. The matter isto come up for consideration at the next meeting, some ofthe members being in favour of No. 1 scheme, while othersthink that the building should be deferred until after the.consideration of the Local Government Board’s recentcircular anent workhouses.

Treatment of Chronic Harmless Lunatics.The Limavady guardians having had under their con-

sideration the circular issued by the Local GovernmentBoard in regard to the treatment and maintenance of chronicand harmless lunatics which was remitted to them from theDerry County Council decided at their meeting on June 24thto recommend the Asylum Committee to adopt the suggested- course (No. 2) out of the difficulty, that is, to add,

subject to the Lord Lieutenant’s direction, by the erectionof buildings less elaborate than the original ones, a newdepartment to an existing asylum and to place it under theresident medical superintendent of that asylum. In this

way a due measure of care and comfort would be preservedto the class of asylum inmates in question and at the sametime the whole of the very inadequate grant in aid madeby the Government in respect of all classes of the insane whoare kept in immediate connexion with the county or districtasylums would be retained.June 25th.

PARIS.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The Law as to Workmen’s Compensation for Accidents andMedical Aid.

OF late the Chamber of Deputies have been discussing anewthe law as to compensation to workmen for accidents sustainedwhilst at work. A committee of the Chamber have proposedsome alterations in Clause 4 of the law of 1898. The clauseas amended runs thus :-any workman who sustains an

injury may choose his own medical attendant and his owndruggist, but in that case the employer shall not be heldresponsible for medical expenses and for drugs, dressings,or the like, to an extent greater than a sum which shall befixed by the j2cge de paix of the parish in which the accidenthappened. This sum shall be arrived at in conformity withthe rates adopted by the department for medical aid, or, ifsuch do not exist, with the fees usually ruling in the neigh-bourhood. Also, if the injured man refuses the medical andpharmaceutical aid offered by the employer and chooses togo to hospital, the employer shall, in addition to the hospitalexpenses, only pay three-quarters of the daily indemnity.The employer may, in certain cases laid down in precedingparagraphs, submit for the consent of the juge de paix thename ot a medical man who shall certify monthly as to thecondition of the injured workman. M. Poulain put forwardan amendment as regards the right of the workman tochoose his own medical man. He demanded guarantees infavour of medical men who are now always exploited by theassurance societies. He also asked for the insertion of aclause specifying that surgical operations when necessaryshould be paid. for by the employer. There is no doubt thatsurgical operations should be paid for by the employer if

they are the consequences of an accident.

Cyto-diagnosis in Cerebro-spinal Fluid from Cases of MentalDisorder.

M. Leglas and M. Nageotte reported to the Hospitals MedicalSociety at the meeting held on June 7th tuat they hadexamined the cerebro-spinal fluid from seven cases of earlydementia and had found no lymphocytes in it. A chronicalcoholic, of feeble intellect, with delusions of grandeurand epileptiform attacks, was found to give a normal fluid.A syphilitic patient, aged 36 years, who 55 days previously tothe examination had had his first epileptiform attack showedno lymphocytosis. On the other hand, five patients in whombefore lumbar puncture was performed general paralysishad either been definitely diagnosed or was strongly sus-pected showed marked lymphocytosis. M. Joffroy said thatin his opinion the interesting point from the practical sidewas to know whether lymphocytosis existed in the earlystages of general paralysis. In asylums patients were hardlyever seen at an earlier stage of the disease than that of somemonths. In one instance, however, he had found lympho-cytosis at a very early stage before there was either oculartrouble or defect of speech upon which to found a diagnosis.M. Dupre said that be had practised lumbar puncture ineight patients. In two general paralytics the results werepositive. In six others-a case of senile dementia, a case ofdementia due to a central lesion, a case of very earlydementia, and in three cases of melancholia with delirium-the results were negative. M. Nageotte said that ill-effectsfollowed those operations where there was a small quantityof fluid and where the results were negative. M. Widal saidthat, as a rule, it was better not to take more than three, orat the very most six, cubic centimetres of fluid. After the

operation the patient should lie down in bed for the rest of theday with the head low. Fine and very sharp needles shouldbe used so as not to make a large hole in the dura mater, sothat there was less chance of the fluid escaping on