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gradually increasing in suddenness, extent, and foulnessduring the last forty years, and we all know that cancer hasbeen increasing coincidently, almost pari pcssec with theincrease of this flood nuisance, which is a disgrace tosanitary science and the cause of many more preventabledeaths than even cancer contributes to the mortality recordsof our country. Until this growing evil is cheeked, we mayexpect the local prevalence and general increase of cancerto continue. I am, Sirs, yours obediently,July 16th, 1890. ALFRED HAVILAND.

ASYLUM NURSES.To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,—The letter of " Verax " which appears in thecurrent number of THE LANCET is most refreshing, andtends entirely in the right direction. By all means letthere be a Commission if possible, and let the evidence betaken from the nurses themselves. I think "Verax" putsthe time of service at rather an extreme limit when he saystwenty or twenty-five years. Few people are able to forma comprehensive idea at all of what is meant by spendingsuch a length of years (almost a lifetime) among and inclose contact with the insane. Speaking generally, too, thehours are rather longer than he seems to think. Nursesand attendants are on duty from 6 A.M. to 8 P.M. Duringthis time their anxiety is constant, they are surrounded bythe most harrowing pictures of humanity, and are, as arule, bathed as it were by an atmosphere whose tendency itis to deprave those that breathe it morally, physically, andintellectually. Their periods of leave may be reckoned asfollows : Fourteen days annually and forty-two hours out ofeach month. In other words, they are at their work for4434 hours every year out of a possible 5110. In generalhospitals nurses may come and go, and the patients willnot suffer much. In asylums it is not so. The more a nurseknows the individual peculiarities of the patients under hercare the better is she enabled to guard against accidentsand casualties and attend to and supply their wants. Longservice is to be desired, and should therefore be encouraged.

I am, Sirs, faithfully yours,Aug. 3rd, 1890. NON NOBIS SOLUM.

EVIDENCE OF NURSES AT THE LORDS’COMMITTEE ON HOSPITALS.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.SIRS,—In THE LANCET of July 26th, I observe a short

letter from Mr. Roberts, Secretary to the London Hospital,in which he endeavours, in courteous terms, to discredit astatement made by me, in your impression of July 12th,concerning a probationer who was dismissed from theLondon Hospital. It would probably be difficult in Mr.Roberts’ position for him to arrive at the truth of such atransaction ; and, indeed, his letter seems to indicate but aslight acquaintance with the arrangements of the nursingdepartment. The probationer in question was attached toa nursing institution, of which, under present arrange-ments, all the probationers are always trained at the LondonHospital, and was therefore virtually a probationer of theLondon Hospital. I therefore adhere to my statement thatshe was dismissed without warning, and without sufficientreason. If the institution to which this probationer wasattached had had other means of training, the authoritieswould gladly have retained her services.

I am, Sits, your obedient servant,Tottenham, Aug. 5th, 1890. E. HOOPER MAY.

LIVERPOOL.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The Assizes: Trials for Murder.ON the 1st inst., John Duckworth Pickavance, a shoe-

maker, and his wife were tried for the wilful murder ofMr. Henry Granger Foster, a colliery proprietor, residing atBrook Lodge, Rainford, on July 7th last. The case hasattracted much local attention, the crime having been sorecently committed, and the incidents being well known inall its details. The social position of the deceased was a

superior one. The alleged former relations between him andthe female prisoner were presumed to be the motive forthe murder; while the crime was of so cold-blooded acharacter as to invest the entire proceedings with muchinterest. This was intensified by the nature of thedefence, and by the evidence of Dr. Wiglesworth and Dr.Barr, both of whom were called to speak as to the maleprisoner’s state of mind. The former considered him to be,though not actually insane, of insane temperament. Dr.Barr, who saw him daily for eleven days, was of opinion thathe was able to control his actions and to discriminatebetween right and wrong. Mr. Barlow of Prescot, who hadseen him nine months ago, stated that he complained ofpains in his head and that he heard noises; he consideredhim to be of unsound mind. The facts of the murder werenot disputed by the counsel for the defence. Dr. Murdock ofRainford found the left little finger shattered, probably by abullet, a circular wound of the left temple which penetratedto the bone, a corresponding laceration of the brain, and onthe surface of the right side of the brain a clot of blood. In-side the brain he found a clot of blood on the right side anda bullet. On the right shoulder blade there was a bulletwound penetrating half an inch, and on the left side of theabdomen a contused wound, into which the clothing hadpenetrated. Another bullet was found in the lining of thedeceased’s coat. It was stated that the deceased had seducedthe female prisoner, and that her husband had been alwaysjealous of him. The jury acquitted the male prisoner onthe ground of insanity, and found the female prisoner notguilty. The trial commenced at 9.30 A.M. on Aug. 1st;the judge did not commence his summing up until a latehour in the evening, and it was after midnight when the juryreturned into court, after nearly three hours’ deliberation.On the 4th inst., Leah Charlton, a married woman, aged

twenty-eight, was charged with the wilful murder of herson, William Robert Charlton, on May 8th last, at Waver.tree, near Liverpool. Other indictments charged her withthe murder of two daughters at the same time and place.From the evidence of Mr. Michell, surgeon, who was calledin at the time of the occurrence, as well as that of Dr.Wiglesworth and of Mr. Beamish, of H. M. Prison, Walton,it was perfectly clear that the unfortunate woman wassuffering at the time from melancholia and was not account-able for her actions. She was therefore acquitted on theground of insanity.

The New Brighton Mitrder.Circumstances made this case one of much local interest,

the scene of the tragedy being well known to many whohave their place of business in Liverpool, but reside in NewBrighton. The murder was, as described by Mr. JusticeStephen, of a most horrible character. The prisoner, afteryears of ill-usage towards the woman who was the motherof his children but not his wife, sought to revenge himselfupon her for non-compliance with his unreasonable demands,

first by informing her landlord that she was not his wife,and therefore not entitled to bear his name (Spicer), andnext by murdering two of their children. He was caughtliterally red-handed, but some time had elapsed, and it wasthe very careful examination of Dr. Ross of New Brighton,of the county analyst, and of the local police, which placed thecrime beyond all possibility of doubt, and the jury foundtheir verdict after a few minutes’ deliberation.

Pemarkable Case of Fractiered Ribs.An inquest has been held at the County Asylum, Rainhill,

by Mr. Brighouse, the county coroner, upon the body of a,labourer, forty years of age, who was admitted into theasylum on the 24th ult. from the hospital of the WestDerby Union, and who died on the 30th ult. On a post.mortem examination being made, nine ribs were found tobe fractured, but how this was caused remains a mystery.The man was removed home from his work by a fellow-labourer, at the manager’s request, on account of his strange-ness of mind. This was on May 30th. On June 17th he wasremoved to the Union Hospital, Mill.road, and examinedby Dr. Chapman, who found him suffering from generalparalysis. After some days he became excitable andquarrelled with the other patients; there were some bruiseson his chest, but no evidence of any fractured ribs. Hewas removed with two other patients, in a landau, by therelieving officer, and on his arrival there was examined byDr. Drummond, who found numerous bruises on the chestand a swelling on the left side. Mr. Beaver, under whosecare the deceased was placed, found one rib fractured, and

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after death nine ribs were found to be fractured ; the boneswere fragile, and could be broken between the thumband finger. Dr. Wiglesworth, medical superintendent ofthe asylum, who had seen the case from first to last withthe exception of a short interval, was of opinion that thefractures had taken place ten days previously to admissioninto the asylum. The jury returned a verdict of "Deathfrom paralysis and pneumonia, accelerated by the fracturedribs, but how such injuries were sustained there was notsufficient evidence to show."

Milk Adulteration: Inadequate Penalties.Two farmers were prosecuted for selling milk largely

diluted with water to the authorities of the BluecoatHospital, and were fined, the penalties amounting to about£10 in one case and £7 in the other. As milk forms aprincipal part of the children’s diet, this fraud was a verycruel one. A similar fraud was perpetrated on the patientsof the Royal Infirmary not long ago, and as the penaltiesinflicted did not act as a warning, it is to be hoped thatsome means may be found of preventing such cruel fraudsin the future. Imprisonment, without the option of a fine,would not be too severe a punishment for such offenders.

Liverpool, Aug. 4th.

NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The Sanitary Condition of the City of Durham.DR. E. JEPSON’S letter on the insanitary condition of

the working-class dwellings in the city of Durham hasaroused some controversy and newspaper correspondence.A writer in one of our local papers says that if Dr. Jepson’sviews are to prevail it might be necessary to " level to theground a a considerable portion of the city of Durham, asit is an old town. Dr. Jepson is of course able to defendhis own statements and position, but I will merely say that,from observation, a considerable portion of the city nowoccupied by workmen is unfit for the purpose, incapable ofrepair, and deserves to be demolished.

Carlisle and Silloth.The Distribution Committee of the Carlisle Hospital

Sunday Fund have divided E746 amongst the following-Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle Dispensary, and Working-ton Infirmary. Suffident information is not obtainable toenable a comparison to be made between this and last yearas to the amount collected.

Washington Hall, Durham.I mentioned in these Notes some time since that Sir

Lowthian Bell, Bart., the proprietor, had kindly offered topresent Washington Hall to the Corporation of Newcastle,to be used as a convalescent home for the sick poor of thiscity. For some reasons the Corporation did not avail itselfof the offer ; but it appears it is, notwithstanding, to be usedfor a philanthropic object—namely, as a home for waifs andstrays. A home of this nature has been carried on forsome time at Gosforth by Miss Watson, and this offer ofSir Lowthian Bell will enable her to greatly extend hergood work. It may be mentioned that from the family ofWessington, who held this manor (temp. Richard III.), JohnWashington was descended, from whom the ninth in descentwas George Washin gton, first President of the United States.The old Hall is still frequently visited by Americans.

Harrogate and Ripon Hospitals.The Mayor of Harrogate, Mr. Sampson Fox, J.P., has

given £ 150 to the Harrogate hospitals-viz , £75 to the BathHospital, and £75 to the Cottage Hospital. Last week theHarrogate town band went over to Ripon and gave a per-formance in the market place for the benefit of the RiponCottage Hospital, in which they were joined by the RiponVolunteers band, a handsome collection being made atthe termination of the performance.

Sunderland.I am glad to hear that some important contributions have

been lately given to the Sunderland Infirmary. The SouthHelton Coal Company have subscribed nearly j6200 ; andthe three local bankers in Sunderland-viz., Messrs. Back-house, Woods, and Lambton and Co. -have given E100 each.

Will of a Newcastle Benefactor.It is stated that the will of the late Mr. John Clayton

(whose bequests to Newcastle charities I have alreadynoted in your columns) has been lodged for probate, and thatthe personalty has been sworn at £723,405 8s. 10d. net.Newcastle on-Tyne, August 7th.

EDINBURGH.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Graduation Day at the University.FRIDAY, Aug. lst, was medical graduation day at the

University. Over fifty graduates obtained their doctoratein Medicine, and 146 obtained the degrees of M.B., C.M. Anumber of the theses for the M.D. were commended, andmany of the subjects were of so much interest that it cannotbut be regretted the University does not provide for theirpublication. Professor Simpson addressed the graduates.He first referred to the necessity for physical exercise, andrecalled his own student days when there was nothing inthe arrangements at the University to suggest that theywere to be turned out more than medical machines, butthat now there was the athletic club, with its nume-rous branches and its gymnasium. Next he paid a pass-ing tribute to the Volunteer service, and expressed regretat the unwisdom of the military authorities as regardsthe question of relative rank. He then indicated theadvantage to be gained from the Student’s Representa-tive Council; and laid special stress on some of themovements towards which, as is well known here, heis specially sympathetic—namely, the Total AbstinenceSociety, the White Cross Society, and the Sunday eveningmeetings which are held by Professor Drummond, andwhich are immensely popular.

The British Association.’

At a meeting of various public bodies called by the LordProvost, it was resolved to renew the invitation to thi&Association to meet here in 1892.

Registratdon of Plumbers.A Congress of Councils connected with the national

registration of plumbers was held here at the end of lastweek. The congress expressed its opinion that steps shouldbe taken to assist the municipal authorities in drawing upand enforcing suitable by-laws bearing on plumber workin buildings. It was also urged that plumbers, whethermasters, men, or apprentices, must be made to realise theresponsibility which lay upon them for the public health,and that they must be brought to this not only by convic-tion but by compulsion.

Royal Maternity and Simpson Memorial Hospital.Mr. J. Lawson William", M.B., C.M., and Mr. E. F.

Armour, M.A., M.B., C.M., have been appointed housesurgeons to this hospital.

Health of the City.The mortality last week was 14 per 1000. Diseases of the

chest accounted for 21 deaths, and zymotic diseases for 13.The intimations included 6 of typhoid, 4 of diphtheria, 25 ofscarlatina, and 35 of measles.

A New Bursary for the University.A new bursary of £150 per annum, tenable for two years,

has been placed at the disposal of the University. It isone of those founded by the Royal Commission of the 185,1Exhibition, and is intended for students who have passedthrough the usual curriculum and given promise of futurework in physical science.

Female Medical Students and the Royal Infirmary.It was intimated here that application had been made to.

the managers of the Royal Infirmary to admit women to.clinical instruction in the wards. The matter has beenreferred to the staff by the managers, but, as has been alreadysaid, the question is surrounded by great difficulties.Edinburgh, Aug. 5th.

PARIS.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

B Experiments in Ancestheties.

AT the Surgical Society of Paris M. Regnier recentlycommunicated his experiences of the method of administer.-ing chloroform, preceded by hypodermic injections of a.combined solution of atropine and morphine, which has.