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him in quality and action, as well as to place another lastingtestimony on the record of fame that there are men in thenon-combatant as well as the combatant branch who areprepared to lay down even their lives, if needs be, in theexecution of their duty for their Queen and their country.I had telegraphed to you early in the day of the seriouscharacter of his wounds, as well as that of some otherofficers; but from some misunderstanding on the part of thetelegraphic company, all messages now being under a mili-tary censorship prior to being sent away, my report, con-taining ciphers to save expense, was stopped, and handed ’!back to me in consequence.Our list of casualties in this slight action, and the day

day following, when a relieving column was despatchedto the zereba, was heavy enough. Sergeant-Major Nichollswas stabbed to death, and some men of the 2nd Scots,1st Coldstream, and 2nd Grenadier Guards fell mor-

tally wounded by Remington bullets. Major Robert-son, of the Bengal Cavalry, was stabbed by a spearvery severely. Major Harvey, of the 5th Lancers, re-

ceived a bad thrust through his left thigh, but is doingwell. Most of the wounds were gunshot ones, the rebelsnot getting within thirty yards of our squares. The injuriesinflicted by spear thrusts are simple clean fiesh-cuts, theenemy’s weapon having arazor-like edge. These wounds underordinary antiseptic dressing do well, and generally heal byfirst intention. Their large double-edged sword, used withgreat force, held in the two hands, and generally aimed atthe neck and head, produces most ghastly wounds, severingflesh, vessels, and bones in the course of its descent, andkilling its victim outright. No man unhorsed in fightever escapes the fury of these ruffians, nor lives to tell thetale of a hand-to-hand encounter with their active andbrave but relentless, foes. (Vide sketch.)

Corpse of a private after falling into the hands of theenemy. One sword-wound in the neck, severing every-thing through the cervical vertebrw; the rest are spear-wounds on the chest and arm, six in number. (Sketchedat Base Hospital, March 23rd, 1885.)

Saturday (21st) was a quiet day as far as the home forcewas concerned; but much firing was heard in the directionof the Hasheen zereba, although no reports had come infrom them until Sunday, the 22nd.On Sunday (22nd) a large force left the camp before day-

light, taking a southerly direction towards Tamai, twelvemiles distant. Five or six miles out, the camp, whilst themen were building a zereba, was surprised by a large num-ber of the enemy, and a regular stampede among the camelsand camp followers in consequence ensued. The details ofthis affair must sooner or later reach England, and some ex-planation will be required to account for the sad loss of lifethat has taken place amongst the troops and men employed.As I write this an order has reached the Base Hospital fromheadquarters for the medical staff to be in readiness to

receive a large number of wounded from the field. A largeand powerful escort has gone out to bring the woundedin. During the whole of this day (Monday, 23rd) Brigade-Surgeon Hinde, assisted by his energetic staff at the redoubt,have been working hard to have everything in readiness toreceive them. About 100 are expected. In this campSurgeon-Major Tanner can accommodate 70 in beds, 20can be taken in the Auxiliary Hospital at QuarantineIsland, whilst 55 could be removed on board the Ganges.The hospital tents are both roomy and airy, being lined

with double protective covering overhead, and are square,not bell-shaped, as wrongly described by some correspondent.The operating tent, under the superintendence of Surgeon-Major Tobin, is a picture of comfort, method, and order, andreflects much credit on the indefatigable officer in chargeof it.

7 P.M.-Just dusk, and the wounded are being brought in.Poor fellows, I pity them indeed! Their faces, and those ofthe gallant band who have brought them, are so brown andcovered with dust that they are scarcely recognisable; butnever mind-comforts, in the shape of a nice bed, good warmsoup, hot tea, or even brandy-and-water, await each one, asthe necessity of his case demands it. The dressings, more-over, are so carefully adjusted, and the patients seem to havehad such good attention in the field, that they will enjoy thecomfort of a quiet night before their wounds are furtherinquired into.

LIVERPOOL.

(From our own Correspondent.)

MEDICAL FACULTY, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.THE vacancy caused by the resignation of Dr. Ewing

Whittle, of the chair of Medical Jurisprudence and PublicHygiene, has been filled by the election of Mr. Frank T.

Paul, surgeon to the Royal Southern Hospital, and surgicaltutor in University College. Mr. Paul possesses eminent

qualifications for the chair, having been a pupil of the lateDr. Alfred Swayne Taylor at Guy’s Hospital, and havingalso held the appointment of pathologist to the LiverpoolRoyal Infirmary, where he was previously resident medicalofficer for nearly three years. He has personally madeupwards of 1000 post-mortem examinations, and was forsome time demonstrator of physiology. Altogether, theappointment is one on which the College may be con-

gratulated.THE LOCK HOSPITAL : COMPARATIVE RARITY OF

’ SYPHILITIC IRITIS.

’ At a recent meeting of the Medical Institution, Dr.Bernard, surgeon to the Lock Hospital, read a paper on "The-Treatment of Constitutional Syphilis," in which he remarkedon the rarity of cases of syphilitic iritis seen in the hospital.The total number of patients treated averages over 600-annually, of whom the larger proportion are suffering fromconstitutional syphilis. Mr. Shears, senior assistant-surgeonto the Eye and Ear Infirmary, who took part in the subse-quent discussion, observed that syphilitic iritis was veryfrequent among the out-patients of that institution. Sub-sequent inquiries showed that in a period of ten years (May,1875, to March, 1885) there had been only seventeen casesobserved in the Lock Hospital, and in the majority of thesethe eye is affected either on admission or very shortly after-wards. A very probable explanation is that the cases seenat the Eye and Ear Infirmary are those of patients who haveneglected the primary disease, the influence of mercurialtreatment in both preventing and curing syphilitic diseasesof the eye in particular, being now undisputed.

STREET NOISES.

For some years past most of our leading thoroughfareshave become insufferably noisy, there being an incessantroar of traffic from a very early hour in the morning untilvery late at night. The wood pavement does not appear tofind much favour with the local authorities, who have onlypermitted a very limited use of it in the neighbourhood ofthe Northern Hospital, in Bold-street and part of Church-street, thoroughfares devoted to fashion. The asphaltepavement deadens the sound somewhat, though it has thedisadvantage of being very dusty. Medical practitioners,who are obliged to live in or near leading thoroughfares,suffer much from this annoyance, as also from much noise

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which might be avoided, such as street music and singing,newsvendors’ cries, &c. A recent local Act, which does notappear to be generally known (Liverpool Improvement Act,1883), contains a section (29) which requires every streetmusician or singer to depart from the neighbourhood andfrom within hearingof any householders on being requested todo so by the latter, or any member of his family, or servant,or by any constable. A refusal to comply with thisperfectly reasonable request renders the offender liable to apenalty of 40s.

CITY CHURCHYARDS.

This city contains within its corporate boundaries a largenumber of intra-mural churchyards and cemeteries which,since the year 1854, have been closed absolutely against allinterments. Their appearance, until very recently, has beendismal in the extreme, presenting a dreary outlook ofneglected graves and tombstones, while some have been madethe receptacle for all the refuse of the adjoining street.Some years ago the incumbent of St. James’s Church,Toxteth-park, the churchyard of which was in a mostdisgraceful condition, took steps to improve it, includingthe planting of trees. The experiment has proved bothsuccessful and contagious, other churchyards and ceme-teries having been planted with trees and made intorecreation-grounds. Another churchyard, St. Luke’s, isnow being laid out; and it is probable that in the courseof years every intra-mural burial-ground will have beensimilarly transformed. This will conduce greatly to thehealth and comfort of the inhabitants in their neighbour-hood.

THE ROYAL SOUTHERN HOSPITAL.

At the Royal Southern Hospital there are several cases ofoperation for the removal of new growths, under the care ofMr. Paul. A recurrent melanotic sarcoma of the neck,

primary in a submaxillary gland, is worthy of note. Theoriginal growth was removed two years ago from a managed forty-eight; he has since been in good health, but therecurrence was very extensive and deep, so that, althoughthe wound is healing well, the ultimate prospect is notencouraging. Among the most interesting are two cases ofcarcinoma of the antrum, involving removal of the wholeof the upper jaw and contents of the orbit. Mr. Paulrefers to six cases of this nature which he has recently metwith, all of them presenting the same clinical history, andone which enables the diagnosis from sarcoma to be madewithout reference to the microscope. In all, the first sym-ptom noticed by the patient was a formation high up inthe nostril on one side, which easily bled and gave riseusually to some unpleasant discharge ; subsequently, at theinner angle of the orbit, a small soft tumour grew, dis-placing the eye, and this was the immediate cause of thepatient’s applying for admission to hospital. In no casewas the antrum distended, as in sarcoma. The growthevidently began in the mucous membrane of the antrum,fungated into the nostril, and then spread up, probablyalong the nasal duct, to the inner angle of the orbit.Microscopically, two of the cases were of the ordi-

nary squamous epithelioma, and the remaining fourthe normal cylindrical-celled carcinoma of this part.Both the patients have recovered temporarily from thisextensive operation, but one already has a recurrence. Anepithelioma of the back is another case not very common;and two old cases, come up to show themselves in goodhealth, were encouraging-one, an excision of the rectumfor cylindrical epithelioma nearly four years ago, still free;the other, a colotomy for the same growth in the sigmoidflexure of the colon six months ago. Mr. Paul has two casesof compound fracture of the leg into the ankle-joint, in whichvery good results have been obtained by treatment with hissplint and wiring the bones; and two or three cases of talipes,in his splints, undergoing a gradual improvement.

NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES.

(From our own Correspondent.)

HEALTH LECTURES AT MORPETH.

A COURSE of six lectures of a popular nature has beencommenced at Morpeth, and it is satisfactory to know thatthe public have taken a considerable interest in the matter,as evinced by an attendance which is said to have fully

tested the capacity of the Town Hall. A few years ago a

popular lecture by one of our professional brethren was arare event in the North, and only "the leading men " ven-tured to address the public, and then on non-professionalsubjects as a rule. Now the younger members come forth,to the great advantage of the public, who desire, and willhave, medical information and light on sanitary subjects.The first lecture was by Dr. David Drummond of New-castle, and his subject, "House Sanitation," was ablytreated, dwelling with force and lucidity on the importanceof ventilation and drainage, and giving a number of verystriking illustrations of how such diseases as scarlet andtyphus fevers and consumption were generated by neglect ofthe principles laid down. The second lecture was given byDr. Byrom Bramwell of Edinburgh (whom we claim here asa Tynesider); his subject, "Common Diseases, their Causeand Prevention," was very ably treated, and the Hall,if possible, was more crowded than on the former occasion.It is as well to mention, as bearing on the success of thesesanitary lectures, that the experiment was tried, which hasproved so successful, of charging one penny for admission toeach lecture. This has been shown to be a better plan thanfree admission; for what people get for nothing theygenerally attach little or no value to.

THE CHLORAL HABIT.

A very distressing case has occurred in Durham City sincemy last letter. A lady, the wife of a prominent citizen, wasfound dead in her bed. It was stated at the inquest that shesuffered from sleeplessness, for which she was in the habitof taking chloral without medical advice, and it was shownthat death had taken place "from syncope, accelerated bychloral, self-administered."

AN EXAMPLE FOR TRAVELLERS IN SUNNY LANDS.

Sir George Elliott, Bart., M.P., has sent large boxes ofbeautiful flowers from the south of France to Durham

County Hospital, Sunderland Infirmary, and Newcastle In-firmary, with instructions that they should be dispersedamongst the sick wards. Sir George has frequently shownhis sympathy with the sick poor of the north before, but Iventure to say this last act of his will be felt by them asmost graceful and considerate.

MEASLES AND ROTHELN IN THE NORTH.

There is now rather a smart epidemic of measles prevalentat Gateshead. I have heard of as many as forty pupils inone school being absent from this cause. Several adultshave been attacked, and, as usually observed, have sufferedmore severely than children. Some cases have been evi-dently of the character of rotheln ; but as a rule the epi-demic has not shown the severity nor the fatality of theSunderland outbreak, which, I regret to say, still prevailsin a bad form in that borough.

TRIPLETS IN THE NORTH.

Since the New Year set in several cases of triple birthshave occurred in the north, both sides of the Tyne havingreceived augmentation to their population in this way, andalso some of the mining districts of Northumberland. Ifwe suppose that the usual midwifery statistics are correctas showing triple births to take place once to every 6000cases, we must allow that the experience of Mr. JohnFoggin, a young surgeon in practice here, has been quiteunusual, for many practitioners will not have a case oftriplets in a lifetime, while Mr. Foggin has had a case onJanuary 8th last, two boys and a girl born alive; and againon March 28th, three boys born alive, and still living. I be-lieve Mr. Foggin has been successful in obtaining the RoyalBounty for the first case, and is also hopeful of getting itfor the last; both have occurred in the wives of poor andindustrious people.Newcastle-on-Tyne, April 6th.

PARIS.

(From our Paris Correspondent.)

THE SUSPECTED ARSENICAL POISONING CASE.

IN my letter of Jan. 31st I gave an account of a

suspected case of poisoning by arsenic. The supposedcriminal, whose name is Pel, and a clockmaker by trade, issoon to appear before the Court of Assizes of the Seine. Thetrial promises to be most interesting, and at the same