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a slight error into which you have fallen. You speak ofobservations taken by me at my country residence in countyWicklow. I have no country residence, and for the observa-tions in question I am indebted to my friends, Mr. R.Cathcart Dobbs, C.E , J.P., of Knockdolian, Greystones,county Wicklow, and Dr B. H. Steede, the able residentmedical superintendent of the National Hospital for Con-

sumption for Ireland, which is situated near Newcastle,county Wicklow. This is now a fully equipped second ordermeteorological station at which observations of great valueare being systematically taken.

I am, Sirs, yours faithfully.JOHN W. MOORE, M.D. Dub., P.R.C.P. Irel.

Dublin, Oct. lst, 1900.

THE SMOKE NUISANCE.To the Editors of THE LANCET

SIRS,—The Coal Smoke Abatement Society is in no sensemoribund. The funds at present at its disposal onlyadmit of the employment of two inspectors, who are con-stantly at work, and whose reports are submitted to thecommittee every fortnight. These show that the stateof London as regards the smoke nuisance is improvingbut little. and this is due entirely to the negligence ofvestries (and more than negligence) in enforcing theAct and the apathy of the London County Council andParish councils. This negligence and apathy are due tovarious causes ; prominently in the vestries and parishcouncils the offenders are members or friends of members.Until the law is changed and the responsibility of prosecu-tion is withdrawn from the vestries and reinstated in thehands of the police there is little chance of a real diminutionof the evil. Jobbery is rife and bribery is constant. Reportswhich our inspectors have laid before the County Council,parish councils, and the vestries have been ignored or giventhe lie to by inspectors employed by those b)dies. Membersof my committee, myself included, have verified our inspectors’reports, and we knov them to be true. We equally know thatrepresentations furnished by their inspectors to the CountyCouncil, parish couociis, and vestries have been false. A

meeting of my committee will be held at 14, Buckingham-gate, on Thursday, Oct. llth, at 5 P.M. I am goingto try to call a public meeting at Sr. James’s Hall as

soon a-< the elections are over, when I feel sure that you will

give us your valuable aid from the point of view of health.I am, Sirs, your obedient servant,

Hammersmith, Ocb. 2nd, 1900. W. B. RICHMOND.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,&mdash;Every inhabitant of London will be thankful to youfor drawing attention to the smoke nuisance. At the presentmoment I am engaged with a great number of other inhabitantsin South London in comoating the nuisance caused by thesmoke from the chimney of the South London Electric LightCorporation. The said chimney emits volumes of blacksmoke which partly emanates from burning refuse fromthe streets of the parish of Lambeth. The Electric LightCorporation has on several occasions been fined for thesmoke nuisance, but they simply pay the small fine inflicted-each time somebody takes the trouble to institute proceed-ings and the nuisance goes on as before.The inhabitants of Lambeth, as well as those of Catnber-

well, have issued memorials to compel the Lambeth parish totake action, but we fear that the fact of the vestry having acontract with the South London Electric Light Corporationfor the burning of their street refuse will make them veryreluctant to take such action as they are otherwise compelledby Act of Parliament to institule. The smoke containsgases coming from the consumed refuse which are of themost objdctionable description and, in my opinion, are

necessarily injurious to health. We are very thankful forthe assistance we receive from journals of such importanceas yours, as only condemnation by public opinion may suc-ceed in compelling the vestry authorities to do their duty.

I remain, Sirs, yours faithfully,Oct. 2nd 1900. L. H.

VACCINATION PROSECUTION-AT the GloucesterCity police-court on Sept.28th six persons were summonedfor negtecting to have their children vaocinate’l All thecases were eventually dismissed as the vaccination officer was Iunable to prove service of the notices to vaccinate.

MANCHESTER.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Rebuilding of the Manchester Royal Infirmary,A REVOLT against the ascendancy of the pavilion plan of

hospital building has taken place. Some time ago a specialcommittee was appointed by the trustees of the ManchesterRotal Infirmary which has had the proposal to build a newinfirmary under consideration, and a special committee of 11members&mdash;seven elected by the board of management andfour by the medical board-was then appointed to dealwith the question of ascertaining whether or not a hospitalsuitable in every way could be built on a plan other thanthe pavilion system." The medical board expressed the

opinion that it was uncertain whether the pavilion systemwas as absolutely perfect as it had been thought to beand that it might be well to consider whether some othersystem which required less ground could not be adopted.Opinions on the subject were requested from Lord Lister,Sir William MacCormae, Sir Thomas Smith, Sir SamuelWilks, Professor Macewen, Professor Thomas Anuandale,Dr. T. Clifford Allbutt, Dr. J. F. Goodhart, Mr. FrederickTreves, Mr. Howard Marsh, and Mr. Timothy Holmes. Ofthese, Lord Lifter. Sir Thomas Smith, Professor Macewen,and Str William Mac Cormac thought that the pavilion planwas ideally the best, but that it was quite possible to builda satisfactory infirmary 11 on other than the pavilion system."Mr. Holmes was opposed to the pavilion plan, and Mr. Marshconsidered that it was not only not essential but that it wasin some respects inconvenient and open to positive objection.Dr. Clifford Allbutt and Professor Annandale thought thatthe pavilion form was the best. Dr: Goodhart, Mr. Treves,and Sir Samuel Wilks expressed no opinions. The report ofthis committee was considered by the board of managementon Sept. 24 :,h, and after discussion it was acceptedunanimously. Mr. J. Hardie, the chairman of the medicalboard, wrote " Our report is really a most importantone. I know of none to equal its importance. Not only hasno consensus of professional opinion been before obtained,but no such inquiry as we have made has ever been carriedout. Hitherto it has been thought that medical opinion waswholly in favour of the pavilion plan exclusively. Wehave found that that is a complete mistake. The con-

sequence of this is that in future hospital authoritieswill be less fettered and will give effect to their wishesat lessened cost." It was resolved that the special committeeshould be instructed to carry out the second part of theresolution adopted by the board of management on

Feb. 9th which gives authority to take steps to obtainsuitable plans and estimates and to incur any necessaryexpense in connexion therewith. Everything, there-fore, seems to promise plain sailing for the scheme of

rebuilding on the present site. But the present site is notthe best for the infirmary in every respect, though it is thebest for a much-yvished-for scheme that might be carriedout if the corporation could only purchase the whole ofthe ground. A noble art gallery and free library couldbe built on t,he site if the corporation could affordto buy it, and a hot-pital might be built elsewhere on

a site more suitable to the present condition of thetown, and according to plans embodying modern knowledgeand wisdom so far as attainable. But the corporation hasgreat schemes on hand that draw heavily on its resources,so the question is whether it can afford to buy the ground.On the other hand, no encroachment on the open spaceround the infirmary will be allowed and it is very doubtfulif the increase of hospital accommodation urgently requiredcan be obtained without extending the present area of thebuilding. So that it seems as if, to quote a leading articlein one of the local papers, "the new century will open withmatters in about the same position as they were seven yearsago."

I’arious Senage Difficulties.In THE LANCET of August llth, 1900 (p. 464), the con

dition of the ,Black Brook," which diffuses its noxiousodours most liberally as it flows through Birch Park, one ofthe open spaces of Manchester, was mentioned in terms

perhaps scarcely strong enough to express truly its pre-eminence as a nuisance It is satisfactory, therefore, toknow that, the Reddish Urban District Council have beenfind E20 for one case of pollution and &pound;5 for a second,with z5 cost". The Me sey and Irwell Joiijt Committee

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made an order as to the purification of the stream so long ago as 1894, but with as little result as if the council hadbeen composed of Chinese mandarins. The council now,however, promise immediate attention to the sewage worksand in the meantime they will take temporary steps forthe abatement of the nuisance. It is intimated that theGorton Urban District Council are likewise about to besummoned for fouling the brook. At the meeting of thePresttvich Urban District Council on Sept. 12th it was saidthat they were doing everything possible for dealing withthe sewage. But as to a scheme for the Rainsough partof the district they had a grievance against the LooalGovernment Board, and the facts seem really to justifythe heading of a paragraph in a local journal - " TheStrange Ways of the L G. B." " The Board suggestedcertain alterations in the scheme of the council whichwould add Z162 to the cost. To save time the alterationswere accepted and an application was made for leave toborrow the extra money, but no reply was received and thework was therefore delayed. The council did not seem tothink that that was fair treatment and they considered that ifthe Board brought district councils into existence it oughtto help them to carry out their work. As a member said :" People talked about the state of the War Office, butthat was nothing in comparison with the state of the LocalGovernment Board." On this point there is a remarkable

unanimity among district councils. The Withington UrbanDistrict Council and the Stretford Urban District Councilare suffering from somewhat strained relations, for thesewage farm of the former offends the senses of the clientsof the latter, and the Local Government Board have writtena letter on the subject, to which the clerk and surveyor ofthe Withington Council have "been instructed to preparea suitable reply." They are also informed by the

Mersey and Irwell Joint Committee that their "effluentafter land treatment was very unsatisfactory on July 2ndand 10th." The clerk was instructed "to explain the positionof the council," which position the committee no doubtknow quite well, "and to state that they were doing all intheir power to improve matters." These are wholesome

signs of activiy, and real work is being done to lessen thepollution of the streams. The consequences of ignoranceand neglect in times gone by may press somewhat heavilynowadays, but the noxious and disgusting condition of mostof our streams is such a disgrace to the civilisation of theday that the crusade against it must be carried out to asuccessful termination. Since the above was written theGorton District Council have been fined a nominal sum onpromise of constructing additional works within six monthsto deal with the increased quantity of sewage. Five yearsago sewage works were constructed, but since then the

population has increased from 16,000 to nearly 30,000, andthey are now inadequate. At the meeting of the HeatonNorris District Council on Sept. 20th the pollution of thisnow notorious brook-in this part of its course called GoreBrook-was mentioned as greatly affecting Heaton Norris,and satisfaction was expressed that so firm a stand hadbeen taken by the Mersey and Irwell Joint Committee."

Oct, 2nd. ________________

IRELAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

The Threatened Dutbreak of Bubonic Plargue.No case of bubonic plague has occurred in Dublin. Some

alarm was, however, caused recently by the report that asailor on board a vessel which had just arrived from

Glasgow was suffering from illness. Dr. J. M. Day (,f Cork-street Fever Hospital, who had taken the precaution to

make himself familiar with the symptoms of bubonic plaguein Glasgow, made an examination of the man and pro-nounced that ’the disease was not plague. It seems veryfortunate that no cases have occurred in Dublin, for thedifficulty about isolation still exists. Mr. Ryan, the publichealth officer of the Glasnevin district, reported to the ruraldistrict council on Sept.26th that Beneavin, the house proposedto be used for the reception of plague patients, was uncuit-ablebecause it was situated by the side of the public road andwithin a velY short distance of the town and of the congesteddistrict of Finglas. The sanitary arrangements were, more-over, stated to be defective and objectionable. It wasdecided to send a copy of the report to Sir Charles Cameron.

. the New 1,-eterinary College in Dublin.A deputation from the new Veterinary College waited on

the Pembroke Urban Council on 0(,t,. lat in reference to someopposition to the site of the new buildings. The deputationcomprised Sir Christopher Nixon, Sir Thornley Stoker,Professor George Fitzgerald, F.T.C.D , Sir Charles Cameron,C.B., Mr. James Talbot Power, D.L., and Professor Mettam,principal of the college. Sir C. Nixon urged the council notto oppose the institution and he expressed the regret of thegovernors of the college that their architect had failed tosubmit their temporary plans to the council. The authorities-were pledged to open the college to students on Oct. 3rdand some alterations in the present buildings were necessaryuntil the permanent offices of the college should be ready..The permanent buildings, he went on to state, would costabout Z25 000 and would be of the most up-to-date type. He-believed that this college was of the greatest importance r.othe national and scientific interests of the country, and hehoped that the council would not throw ary difficulties inthe way of its establishment. After the withdrawal of the

deputation the council passed a motion that the plans of thepermanent buildings of the college should be sent to the

surveyor of the council for a report by him to the PublicHealth Committee.

Meath Hospital and County Dublin Infirmary.The vacancy on the surgical staff of the Meath Hospital

caused by the lamented death of Sir William Stokes wasfilled on Sept. 27th by the election of Mr. Richard Lane-Joynt, M.D. Dub., F.R.C.S. Irel.

St. Yincent’s Hospita7, Dztblin.The introductory address in t:3t. Vincent’s Hospital for

the present medical session was delivered on Oct. 2nd byDr. M. McHugh, who rlealt with the threatened outbreaks ofbubonic plague. Sir John W. Moore, President of the RoyalCollege of Physicians of Ireland, occupied the chair.

The Belfast Workhouse Children.At a meeting of the Belfast Board of Guardians on

sept. 25th a letter was read from the Local GovernmentBoard for Ireland relative to what they term a "fraud"

practised for an unascertained period on the children of theworkhouse by the abstraction of a large portion of their

daily food, and the Local Government Board characterisethe action of the officers concerned in allowing such a con-dition of things to exist as most discreditable. Theysuggest certain plans to check these "disgraceful irregu-larities" and they urge upon the guardians the necessity ofcontinuing to use every effort to eradicate the abuses whichhave crept into the management of the workhouse and aregradually being brought to light, and they consider that the-vigilant action of the infirmary committee in discovering theparticular fraud referred to is a striking proof of the goodresults to be anticipated from frequent inspections byintelligent visiting committees. It would seem that childrenwho were supposed to get eight ounces of bread were onlygetting four and a half, and the full allowance of milk wasalso withheld.

Irish University -F.ducat2on.The Council of the Royal University of Ireland Graduated

Association have issued a statement on the eve of the generalelection in relation to Irish University education. There arenow 5000 graduates of the Royal University who should haveconsiderable influence in guiding public opinion on such asubject and they, as we 1 as graduates of the old Qneen’sUniversity, are requested to support those candidates whoendorse the programme on Irish University education whichthis association recommends : (1) The association objects tosectarian universities ; (2) it objects to persons professirgany particular religious creed having any special advantagesor endowments on that account as contrary to justice and allmodern ideas; (3) the association recommends that the affairs-of Trinity College, of the University of Dublin, and of theRoyal University should be investigated. The examination ofthe affairs of Trinity College should be conducted (theassociation recommends) from several points of view: (a)A.s to financps. The authorities of Trinity College refuse, it isf-aid, to give any information on this point. In 1873 Mr.Gl,-tdstone estimated the income as &pound;78,000 a year and its

Expenses as &pound;66,000, and he considered Trinity (collegethe most richly endowed college in Christendom. Owingto reduction in rents and other causes its income has

very much shrunk, and unless it can effect economiesor receive further private or Government aid, it will