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high, by slides of the same material, surrounded by outercasing, also.of the same, about 6 in. larger at the sides andback, covered with a jacket of felt and wood about 2 in.thick combined, to prevent conduction of heat. This outer

space is for the reception of a mixture of salt and brokenice. The top should be closed by a lid, hinged in order toput in fresh ice and salt, and a tap should be made at thebottom to let out the meltings. There should be a door ofiron covered with felt and wood, but it would not requireany double casing for ice. The top would be as the door.Such a case to hold six bodies would occupy a space of about7fit. 9 in. long, 5 fit. 4 in. wide, and 6ft. 2 in. high. Ice casesto hold a single body could be constructed on the sameprinciple. When a body was required for examination orfor any other purpose, a table capable of elevation could beplaced before the open door and the shelf run out upon it.In many positions where steam or gas power could be usedan ice-making machine could be employed instead of ice. Itwould be easy to make arrangements at the door end of theshelves, so as to give absolute security against anyinterference with the bodies within.

Cold, it appears to me, offers better advantages over othermethods of preservation, leaving as it does the body com-pletely intact. But by whatever means conservation maybe effected its advantages are at once recognised as embrac-ing the following points.

1. The prevention of disagreeable or dangerous odours.This is especially necessary where the mortuary is situatednear houses or in hospitals; an instance of this latter hascome under my notice where the mortuary is placed in thebasement of the wards. In summer the effluvium finds itsway into the windows of the wards; consequently, when aninquest is to be held urgent messages are sent to get theinquiry over directly, which is often impossible.

2. The coroner’s inquest need not be unduly hurried, andthis is of much importance in populous districts, both fromthe many engagements of the coroner, but also that itenables the jurymen to receive fair notice, so that they mayarrange their own business accordingly, and gives time forthe collection of evidence, thus preventing the necessity of- adjournments.

3. In regard to identification, it gives greater and morecomplete facilities for the recognising of the dead. It willbe at once seen how important this is from a legal andsocial point of view. Hitherto a week only is possible foridentifying a dead body, and not unfrequently only a dayor two. But by the plan suggested there would be no limitof time; and I see no reason why, in cases where the bodyhas not been identified at the time of inquest, it might notbe removed from the local to a central mortuary, and thuspreserved for a period-say, a year. Portions of bodies likethose lately found may in like manner be placed and keptuntil all means of inquiry concerning them should be ex-hausted, or may not the body of one dying far from hisfriends be preserved until arrangements can be made forburial or for a last look ?

I am, Sir, yours truly,A. BRAXTON HICKS,

Barrister-at-Law and Deputy-Coroner forWestminster and Surrey.January, 1885.

THE M.D. EXAMINATION AT LONDONUNIVERSITY.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—We have read with surprise and a certain degree of

amusement the views of your correspondent who signs him-self " M.B.," relating to the " undignified complaint of onewho aspires to a good degree." He evidently regards thepassing of examinations as a much higher test of a man’scapabilities as a practical physician than do we, who mustconfess a certain leaning towards the " schoolboy view " ofyour former correspondent. Moreover, "M.B." probably’possesses a greater faculty for remembering the variousfacts and minutiae which are necessary to ensure success in- an examination like that for the London degree than ispossessed by the majority. On these grounds we canrespect his views. But when your anonymous correspon-dent turns aside and begins casting a slur on the teachersof practical medicine at the various London hospitals, con-tending "that he can count these teachers of clinicalmedicine on the fingers of one hand," we must confess totaking exception at his statement. The most obvious

deduction that can be drawn from this remark is thateither "M.B." has been endowed with an exceptionalnumber of fingers, or that he has been singularly unfortu-nate in his experience. As we form two out of the remain-ing five who had the misfortune to be rejected in logic andpsychology, though passing in medicine, we think that adisclaimer is not uncalled for.

We are, Sir, yours faithfully,WALTER HULL.F. FOORD CAIGER.St. Thomas’s Hospital, January, 1885.

THE CASE OF DR. BRADLEY.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—In last week’s issue I am said to have given it as

my opinion that an epileptic fit would not be recoveredfrom in less than half an hour. That such a statement wasmade by me either in or out of Court I most emphaticallydeny. On the Sunday following the alleged offence I hadan interview with Dr. Bradley. I asked him what kind ofa fit it was that Mrs. Swetmore had, as her mother andfriends had told me that her attacks usually lasted upwardsof half an hour. He said it was a fainting fit. On thispoint I should almost feel disposed to differ from him; forif, as he alleges, she had a fit, it would probably be one ofan epileptoid character. The learned counsel for the defencedid not dwell upon the probabilities of women of a neurotictaint (of which Mrs. Swetmore is a type) suffering from de-lusions. In fact, I do not remember being asked a single ques-tion on this very important subject. That Dr. Bradley did nottake my advice and obtain a professional expert as a witnessis equally as much regretted by me as yourself; but that hehad an "independent witness," and one who sympathisedwith him in his terrible calamity, you may rest assured.

I am, Sir, yours truly, AMBROSE M. PALMER, M.R.C.S., &c.

Whittington, Jan. 27th, 1885.

LIVERPOOL.

(From our own Correspondent.)

HOSPITAL SUNDAY AND SATURDAY.

THE amount collected on Hospital Sunday has, as wasfeared, fallen short of previous years, owing to the incle-ment weather which prevailed, and also to the greatdepression of trade. It is hoped, however, that thedeficiency may be made up by the improvement in theHospital Saturday Fund, strenuous efforts being made tomake this more generally known among working men, andto ensure more generous support. At the various annualmeetings of the different medical charities which are nowbeing held, the support received from Hospital Sunday iswarmly acknowledged, and indeed is regarded as indis-pensable.

THE HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN.

The annual meeting of the Hospital for Women was heldon the 26th inst., when the medical report read by Dr.Burton showed that the patients came not only from thecity and neighbourdood, but from all parts of Lancashire, fromCheshire, North Wales, the Isle of Man, and elsewhere. The

following was given as the summary of the year’s work :-The number of patients treated at the dispensary departmentwas 3397, with an attendance of 14,375. The in-patientsnumbered 363, with a mortality of 18, which is small con-sidering the dangerous nature of many of the cases and thatthere were 249 operations. The expenditure was .E1800, allof which had been raised, the hospital thus paying its way..E108 was received from fifty paying patients, while thedispensary patients’ contributions amounted to £262.

THE INFIRMARY FOR CHILDREN.

At the annual meeting of the Infirmary for Children itwas reported that the in-patients numbered 998 during theyear 1884, while the out-patients were 12,234, and the dailyattendances 30,779. In consequence of the depression oftrade there was a deficiency of £323 on the income of theinstitution, which to that extent fell short of the expendi-ture. The following statistics respecting the mortality ofchildren in this city was furnished to the committee by themedical officer of health:-Number of deaths under one

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year, 3914; between one and two years, 1674; between twoand five years, 1320; between five and ten years, 523 ;between ten and fifteen years, 239--total, 7670. The totalnumber of deaths of all ages in the city for 1884 was 14,382.It will be at once apparent what a large proportion themortality of infants and children bears to the total number,and that institutions whose object it is to reduce thismortality deserve support.

THE EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY.

Mr. Shadford Walker has resigned the office of surgeon tothe Eye and Ear Infirmary, his term of office having ex-pired. It would be impossible to give any idea of theextent to which the institution is indebted to Mr. Walkerfor his long and valuable services, first as assistant-surgeon,subsequently as surgeon. A greater contrast than the

position of the infirmary as it was when he was firstappointed to it and as it is now could hardly be imagined;and it is only justice to him to say that the change islargely due to his energy and influence. During the year1884 the new eye cases numbered 7647, the new ear cases2455; the former received 29,175 attendances, the latter11,624. There were also 721 patients received into theinfirmary as in-patients; the important operations per-formed among them numbering 460. The infirmary will stillhave Mr. Walker’s services as consulting surgeon.

FEVER IN LIVERPOOL.

At the last meeting of the Health Committee it wasstated that the following cases of infectious disease had beenreported:-Fever 14, of which 11 were removed to hospital;small-pox 6, of which 5 were removed to hospital; scarlatina38, of which 5 were removed to hospital. The report of thecity hospital for small-pox cases was for the week endingJan. 22nd as follows :-Remaining in hospital at date of lastreport, 23; admitted since, 11; discharged convalescent, 4;died, 1; remaining in hospital, 29.

Liverpool, Jan. 27th.________________

NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES.

(From our own Correspondent.)

VOTE OF THANKS TO THE NEWCASTLE POLICE SURGEON.

AT the last meeting of the Council the subject of theresignation of Mr. S. W. Rayne came up for consideration,and in accepting that gentleman’s resignation the Counciltendered a unanimous vote of thanks to him for his

services, during which there has not been a single case ofcomplaint against him. Mr. Rayne has served the town aspolice-surgeon for the long period of forty years, duringwhich he has seen more than one complete change in theCouncil. The vote was ordered to be engrossed on vellum.The committee at the same meeting recommended the electionof Mr. Baumgartner to the vacant office.

LEAD-POISONING IN WORKPEOPLE AT GATESHEAD.

The subject of lead-poisoning, which has come into ratherfrequent prominence in our district of late, came before theGateshead guardians last week. It appears that a girlemployed at one of our large lead works had been orderedto the workhouse with symptoms of chronic lead-poisoning.The chairman said that a short while ago they had reportedtwo other cases to the Local Government Board, but asthese arose prior to the new Act coming into operationnothing could be done. The present case, however, wouldbe one for the Local Government Board to deal with, and itwas agreed to report it.

GERMS AND DISEASE.

Dr. AleAlister of Cambridge recently lectured at New-castle on the subject of "Germs and Disease." The lecturer,after glancing at the figurative use of the word " germ," andthe old germ theory so-called, pointed out that the patholo-gist and disease investigator of the present day looked forthe cause of disease or disorder of the body in some disturb-ing agency introduced from without. Their attention thusbecame fixed on the disturbing entity, whatever it mightbe. The influences might be analysed into three groups,than which it was hardly possible to conceive anythingsimpler-viz., mechanical, chemical, and thermal. Therewas another group of disturbing agents whose action wasmuch more complex, and which had not yet been reduced

to these simple classes or categories. He meant the parasitesof the body. The human body sustained at all times anenormous number of parasites, both animal and vegetable.The animal were less harmful than the vegetable. Some ofthe plants, so to call them, did no harm; others had veryslight and local effects; and others invaded the whole system,took it captive, and caused widespread mischief. It wasto these last that the lecturer principally alluded by theterm " germs," and he showed that our knowledge of theselast had greatly extended during the last fifteen or twentyyears, owing principally to the aid afforded by the micro-scope. He then propounded the question, In what waydo these germs set up disease ? and said we were on the-border of the unknown, and in a region in whichduring the next hundred years probably great discoverieswould be made. The lecturer next alluded to the knownrelation between plant or germ life and zymotic diseases,and said there was overwhelming evidence that the micro-phytes stood in relation of cause and effect to disease; whatwas required to raise it to a point of absolute certaintyremained to be pointed out. In the class of zymotic dis-eases the chain of proof, though nearly closed, could not bepositively connected, owing to the insusceptibility of thelower animals to inoculation; on this point no doubt clearerlight would be shed in a few years. In conclusion, Dr.McAlister said one of the great objects of modern medicinewas the aim to render the whole class of plants concernedin zymotic disease extinct. He was in favour of muchmore stringent laws as to isolation, notification, &c. Thelecturer illustrated his subject very ably, and was listenedto throughout with great attention.Newcastle-on-Tyne, Jan. 21st.

SCOTLAND.

(From our own Correspondent.)

INVITATION TO THE BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION TOMEET IN GLASGOW.

THE discussion as to the advisability of inviting the above-Association to meet in Glasgow at an early date has nowended in the declaration by the University authorities thatthey are willing to co-operate in sending such an invitationfor the year 1888. As the Faculty of Physicians and Sur-geons has also indicated a desire to co-operate in the sameundertaking, it may be regarded as tolerably certain that inthe above-mentioned year the Association will meet in this.city.

HEREDITY IN CRIME.

Something very like heredity in crime was illustrated ina case which came before one of the Glasgow police-courtsa few days ago. A boy of twelve years of age was foundguilty of stealing a pot of marmalade from a cart in thestreet, and was sentenced to four years’ detention on boarda training ship. In the course of the evidence it came outthat at present the boy’s mother, grandmother, and uncleare in prison, while his father has deserted him.

ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY.

The Senatus of Aberdeen University have had under con-sideration the advisability of enlarging the universitybuildings, principally in connexion with the medical school,so as to adapt it to the growing demands on the presentinsufficient accommodation.

GLASGOW ROYAL INFIRMARY.

The most exciting event of the past week was the annualmeeting of contributors to the funds of the Glasgow RoyahInfirmary, at which the medical element in the managementfor once scored a distinct success. After a very satisfactorygeneral and financial report had been considered and adopted,a question was raised for settlement which ought never tohave gone before a lay jury at all-namely, Is enteric feverinfectious, and is it judicious to treat it in the wards of ageneral hospital alongside other patients, more especiallywhen there exists in the city a special hospital for thereception of such cases? The chairman of the managingboard, together with a few other lay directors, went deadagainst the expressed view of the entire staff and of themedical directors in the matter, and wished to follow whatis described as the invariable practice of the infirmary for