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expended large sums for this purpose. It is not fair toexpect men of science to go round with the collecting hat.They thus expose themselves to insults and sometimes to

very."cruel and unjustifiable suspicions. Money collectingforms no part of a scientific education. Science demands tobe placed high above the corrupting influences of money.Therefore the premises and money needed for these con-

gresses should come from the State, and only from the State.The breath of scandal has never reached the many congresseswhich have been held under these conditions.

TUBERCULOSIS IN CANADA.

(BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

NORTH America is a large continent and in many respectsthere is a sharp line of demarcation between Canada andthe United States, but in matters of education and in greatsocial questions there are wonderful unanimity and cöordina-tion. No sooner did we (the delegates from France, England,Scotland, and Ireland to the International Congress of Tuber-culosis at Washington) land in Montreal (than we found thata great wave had spread from Washington to the easternside of Canadian territory, at any rate. The first Montreal

newspaper that fell into our hands, after referring to theWashington Congress, gave some account of the prevalence oftuberculosis in Montreal and the Province of Quebec, andannounced that the Association for the Prevention of Tuber-culosis in Montreal was entering upon an extensive movementagainst this scourge, and that Dr. R. W. Philip of Edinburghwas to open the campaign by giving an account of histuberculosis dispensary system as carried out in the capitalof the North. I had the opportunity of attending thismeeting which was held in the library of the MontrealBoard of Trade. The meeting, which had been " convened

"

most carefully, was attended not by medical men only but bysome of the most influential of the citizens, many of whomseemed to be impressed deeply by Dr. Philip’s clear andconcise statement of his case.

Professor J. G. Adami, in introducing Dr. Philip, spoke ofthe excellent work carried out in the capital of North Britainand suggested that what was possible in Edinburgh waspossible also in a city like Montreal. He was glad to saythat they had already made a beginning and that the Asso-ciation for the Prevention of Tuberculosis had determinedto hold an exhibition, to give lectures, and to train teachersand children in hygiene especially in its bearing on tuber-culosis. Professor Adami, I learned afterwards, is chair-man of the exhibition committee and is throwing himselfwith great energy and effect into the work of organisationof what promises to be a most successful movement.Taking the ’’ dispensary as his starting point, but pre-

mising that this dispensary should be kept in closest touchwith the medical officer of health’s office, Dr. Philip madeit clear that cases of tuberculosis could be sought out,sorted, educated, and treated by the dispensary officialsmore readily than by any other agents. The dispensary,in fact, was to be not only an information bureau buta clearing house. The patients who came for treatmentcould be kept under observation and other patients asso-ciated with them could be discovered. These couldthen be sorted into "lots," each of which shouldreceive instruction and treatment suited to their specialconditions and circumstances, and, if necessary, drafted tothe hospital for the treatment of advanced cases, to thesanatorium for early cases, or receive such instruction aswould render them more helpful to themselves and less

dangerous to the community. Such, put very briefly, was thesketch placed before the business men of Montreal. Insupport of his thesis Dr. Philip gave a series of statistics

bearing on the results obtained. Comparing Edinburgh andLondon and taking two periods of ten years each he showedhow, as the outcome of the general measures taken tocombat tuberculosis, there had been a steady and regularfall in both London and Edinburgh during the first ten

years and that in London the fall had continued at the same

steady rate during the second decade. In Edinburgh, however,during the second period, in which the dispensary organisa-tion had been completed and brought into full operation,the fall had gone on much more rapidly and the death-rate from tuberculosis had fallen,to a figure lower than

that met with in almost any of the large towns inthe country. Dr. Roddick, who occupied the chair, in

thanking Dr. Philip, asked any of those present to putany difiiculties which they might have before the lecturerwho, he was sure, would be glad to answer any questions.Several other speakers called attention to the importance ofthis question to a large working community like Montreal.It was evident that tuberculosis was an infective disease, theinfectivity extending over a very long period, though theresults of infection might not manifest themselves for someconsiderable time. Still, if slow it was sure. Tubercu-

losis, however, though such a fatal disease was not only a,curable disease if taken in its early stages but a preventabledisease. If preventable why did they not prevent it? Fromthe purely business point of view, it was well worth makingan effort to eradicate a scourge which played such an

important part in lowering the efficiency of their, workers.Some questions put by members of the audience brought outthe fact that many people would be glad to undertake theirshare of the work of the crusade if they could only make uptheir minds as to what they ought to do. Dr. Philip, inanswering these questions, made it clear that the dispensarykept in close touch with the medical officer of health mustbe the centre of all the work, and that this should be madea first charge on any funds, corporate or private, whichmight be raised. The hospital for the treatment of advancedcases of pulmonary tuberculosis should be the special chargeof the municipality, as this was the most important factorin "prevention." The sanatoriums or "curative" " estab-lishments might then be left to private liberality and themore such private liberality was exercised the sooner wouldpreventive measures become less and less burdensome on thecommunity.

It was very interesting to note how keenly the differentstatements were followed and with what applause the morepractical parts of the address were punctuated by some ofthe shrewdest business men in the world, and I shall be muchastonished if there is not some early and useful outcome ofthis significant .meeting.

MANCHESTER.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Humane Slaughtering.MANY people who are not vegetarians feel some qualms

when they think of the methods of slaughter adopted inkilling animals intended for food. The pole-axe and pithingare the means chiefly used in these northern parts, but ademonstration was given on Nov. 25th of a method that maybe called new here, though it is used more or less in some ofthe southern districts. It consists of a short revolver barrel

ending in a square-shaped extension which enables the

operator to put the instrument in the correct position. This isconnected with a shaft at right angles to it, down the centreof which runs a wire to a hole at the end. The barrel beingplaced on the forehead, the bulleted cartridge, 450 smoke-less, fired by the wire trigger at the end of the shaft, makesa hole in the animal’s head large enough to admit of theinsertion of a cane for pithing purposes. An official of theRoyal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals gavea demonstration of the effectiveness of the instrument andthose present expressed approval of the great humanity ofthe method. In no case was more than a slight con-vulsion observed in the fallen animal which was, killedinstantly.

’ ,

Workhouse Beem. ,

There is no uniformity in this district in regard to allow-ing the inmates of the workhouses beer. at. Christmas. InSalford this vexed question has been settled, in a. kind ofsplit the difference " way, by the officers having a barrel ofbeer brought in for use’ at Christmas while the pauperinmates are to have none. The conscience of the guardianswill therefore be clear as far as the, paupers are concerned.One of the guardians was so imbued ,with logic that hethought if beer was bad for the inmates it was also bad for theofficers. Another said that the workhouse committee withoutcomment agreed as to the’officers but that there was a stormwhen beer was suggested for the inmates. Another guardiansaid that he " was not against beer " but it was not reason-able to treat the officers and inmates alike in this matter..

1779

So it seems as if the question of beer being good or bad forpeople at Christmas time depends very much on social

position. This gentleman could not deny that many of theinmates were in the workhouse owing to a liking for strongdrink and that it was undesirable to reintroduce beer to

.them. He paid, by the way, a somewhat ambiguous com-pliment to the officers by saying that they had not broughttheir condition to that of the paupers "up to the present."A lady guardian said that the inmates expressed themselvesas satisfied without beer. The amendment to give them beerwas rejected and probably, on the whole, wisely. But it is

a. curious position for the guardians to have the tea-pot onone side and the beer barrel on the other. They, however,stand on a higher plane.

Overhead Telegraph Wires.The various committees of the Manchester City Council do

not always see eye to eye. The city is already well suppliedwith overhead wires, too well by far, but there is a dangerof still more being added to the hideous and dangerous net-work that threatens us in the principal streets. A long dis-cassion took place the other day at a meeting of the highwaysand paving committee in regard to an agreement entered intobetween the watch committee and the Postmaster-Generalgranting leave to the latter to erect telegraph posts incertain streets of the city. When first this proposal camebefore the council it was rejected by a large majority. Underthe new agreement the watch committee seemed tothink that the difficulty had been got over by giving thepoles "a double debt to pay," and arranging that

they should serve the purpose of bearing the telegraph wiresand also those connected with the Gammell fire alarm systemwhich the corporation has decided to adopt. The highwayscommittee is practically unanimous in opposing the schemeand passed a resolution that no poles should be erected andthat all wires connected with the Gammell system should beput under ground, or attached to. the tramway standards, sonow there is a prospect that the further disfigurement of ournone too beautiful streets may be prevented. Besides beinga disfigurement, these overhead wires are a dangerousnuisance. It is to be hoped that the opposition to thescheme will be successful.Dec. 8th.

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WALES AND WESTERN COUNTIES NOTES.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

University College, Cardiff, Medical School.THE increasing number of students entering the medical

department of the University College of South Wales andMonmouthshire at Cardiff is seriously taxing the limitedaccommodation provided for them. The College buildingsconsist of a three-storey stone building which was ’originallythe Cardiff Infirmary, supplemented by wood and ironstructures which have been erected from time to time as theywere required. The medical school is provided for on the top-most storey of the main building where there are two lecturetheatres, a dissecting-room, a museum, and a room for practicalhistology and practical physiology. In the department ofphysiology ProfessorJ. B. Haycraft has found great difficultyin carrying on his work to the best advantage owing to thelack of accommodation for demonstration purposes. In aletter which he recently sent to the College council askingthat some steps should be taken to lessen the difficulties ofteaching in such cramped quarters, he pointed out that thenumber of medical students entering the Cardiff College wasgreater than in any other provincial school except Cambridgeand that the number was exceeded in only three of theLondon schools. The council will be well advised if it makesthe necessary provision asked for by Professor Haycraft withas little delay as possible.

Water-supply of Glamorgan.The Glamorgan county council has realised almost from

the time of its formation that the provision of an adequatesupply of water was a question of serious concern and onewith which the council would have ultimately to deal. The iquestion has grown more and more urgent in recent years owing to the rapid growth of the colliery districts andto the necessity for obtaining a supply well outside thecoal-field. The council promoted a Bill in the last

session of Parliament to empower the council to make

inquiries and surveys with a view to the utilisa-tion of water-supplies in South Wales and to formwater districts and for other purposes. The power toform water districts was not conceded by Parliament,but the council was fully empowered to make inquiriesand surveys and this power has been sufficiently utilised tojustify the council in promoting a Bill in the next Parlia-mentary session having for its object the preservation ofwater areas for the benefit of various districts in the countyand the formation of a water board which it is intendedshould include representatives from the local sanitaryauthorities. It is proposed in the Bill that the board shouldbuy up the ’ existing sources of supply of all the areas

within the administrative county. The three countyboroughs within the county, Cardiff, Swansea, and MerthyrTydvil, are already well supplied with water for their

present needs and the Cardiff corporation is activelyengaged in securing a sufficiency for the anticipated increasein the population of the town. The county water board will keepin its own hands the sources of supply and the reservoirs andwill supply the water in bulk, at a maximum charge of 4d.per 1000 gallons, to the local authorities who will have thecontrol of the distribution within the areas of their adminis-tration. The principal undertakings which it is intended topurchase are those of the Pontypridd Water Company and ofthe Rbymney and Aber Gas and Water Company. Theformer has a storage reservoir of 200 million gallons fromwhich supplies are delivered to a portion of the Rhonddavalleys, the town of Pontypridd, and to portions of the urbandistrict of Caerphilly.

Damages against a Cardiff Hoirdresier.A Cardiff lady has obtained damages to the amount of .c41

against a hairdresser in the town in circumstances whichare fortunately of somewhat rare occurrence. While havingwhat was styled a ’’ brightening shampoo " she declared thatthe wash which was being used burned her head, took awayher breath, and made her eyes water, and that subsequentlyher hair changed colour and broke off both at the roots andat the ends. Medical -evidence was given on behalf of thehairdresser in support of his contention that the conditiondescribed by the lady was not due to the wash which wasused, but in the end, as already stated, the county courtjudge gave judgment in her favour.

Dec. 8th. __________________

SCOTLAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Edinburgh and Leith Medical Practitioners’ Association.THE inauguration of this association was referred to some

weeks ago. It has now concluded its first attempt to dealwith public questions affecting practitioners and the resultsare deserving of note. Dr. Alexander James read a paperbefore the association on the relations of the practitioner andthe public health authorities. In this paper the develop-ment of the medical officer of health and of the inspectingofficer in board schools was traced. In both cases the objectwas to protect the community as a whole from disease towhich they were exposed as the result of the aggregation ofindividuals in communities and in schools. He emphasisedthe fact that the medical man was an expert whose opinionthe public were not in a position to judge of and that it was,as a consequence, of the utmost importance that the medicaladvice should not lead to responsibilities and burdens beinglaid on the community when they ought to be left on theshoulders of the individual. This proposition was pre-liminary to Dr. James expressing the opinion thatan impartial examination of the health statistics ofthe last 25 years showed that public health enactmentshad not been followed by the improvement whichthe public had been led to expect, and that in certaincases harm had resulted therefrom. He thought that at thepresent time what was desirable in the public interest was alessened rather than an increased interference on the part ofthe public health authorities in the ordinary relationsbetween the public and the medical profession. In con-clusion, he suggested that the association might be asked togive its opinion on each of the three following points: (1)