587

Medical Annotations."Ne quid nimis."

SANITARY INSPECTION BY POOR-LAWMEDICAL OFFICERS.

NOTWITHSTANDING the objections which have been urgedagainst the employment of Poor-law district medical officersas officers of health, we must repeat our conviction that weare advancing their interests and the general interests ofthe profession also in supporting the proposition for theiremployment in that capacity. We believe that in sparselypopulated districts, where the Poor-law medical officer is thesole resident medical man, where he enjoys the respect andesteem of rich and poor because of his personal services toboth, no one is so well qualified to persuade the proprietorsto remove prevailing sanitary defects. In many cases

he does his best now, and it cannot be doubted that hisefforts would be more successful if he were authorised tointerfere officially, for he would not then be open to theobjection that he is interfering with matters over which hehas no control.Where the Poor-law medical officer is struggling for

bread, and feels his dependence on the goodwill of hisneighbours, there is not, and cannot be, a law compellinghim to alter his present contracts without his free consent.It would, however, be a great misfortune if he were to re-fuse on that account a duty which, if performed withreasonable tact, would not fail to advance his interests and

improve his social position. We do not expect, nor do wewant, a set of Quixotic officers to run an immediate tiltagainst the thousands of sanitary defects which have grownup in the ignorance of past or the selfishness of modern

times; but we do desire that the influence of the professionof which the Poor-law medical officers constitute so large apart shall be officially utilised for the purpose of gradualenlightenment and improvement. We cannot afford to leavesanitary administration to lay inspectors of nuisances or

dilettante chairmen of health committees; and it seems tous that we should be grossly neglecting our duty as

guardians of the interests of the profession if we failed

to insist upon the desirability of keeping the general con-trol of public health administration in medical hands. It

is our right as the pioneers of preventive medicine ; it is a

right that the public will not grudge, because they respectthe disinterested motives by which the profession has beenactuated, and we rely upon the profession to respond to thecall made upon them, and to qualify themselves with theobject rather of persuading than of compelling their neigh-bours to adopt adequate measures for improving the healthand augmenting the wealth of the community.

ANTI VACCINATORS.

WE have long since come to the conclusion that reasoningand common sense were thrown away when used to con-vince anti-vaccinators. A man who does not see that vac-cination, whatever the slight objections to it, is a greatboon, and capable of being made, if freely and repeatedlyused, a perfect preventive of small-pox, is mentally pecu-liar or defective. He might be expected to argue that, seeingthat a railway accident happens occasionally, people shouldnot travel by rail; and, seeing that plenty of fresh air oc-casionally involves a fatal draught, therefore employersshould not be compelled to procure well-ventilated roomsfor their employes, but allow them* to labour in closenesseven till consumption overtakes them. So we do not intend

our remarks for the professional anti-vaccinator, but forsensible people who wish to do what is best for themselves

and their children. We notice that in some parts of thecountry large placards are printed, containing extractsfrom the remarks of many medical men as to the possibilityof conveying other diseases with vaccination, in connexionwith a few cases of a suspicious character which happenedamong the hundreds of thousands of vaccinations whichtook place last year in London. Very few medical mendeny the possibility of conveying other diseases with vac-’ cination from an unhealthy child. But they are careful tovaccinate from healthy children. The very extracts thatwe see in the placards which occasion our present remarksshow that the possibility of such an accident in vaccinationis a moot point, though one generally conceded in the ab-stract. What is maintained by these doctors and all sensiblepeople is, that the accidental conveyance of other diseaseis so rare, and so easily avoidable, as to be no argumentagainst vaccination, or the propriety of compelling peopleto have their children vaccinated, and of encouragingrevaccination in the interest of the State - proce-dures tending to prevent a most loathsome and a verydeadly disease, which will probably go on makinghavoc among every badly vaccinated community in thecountry for two or three years yet to come if honest work-ing men listen to the clap-trap of those who are engagedto abuse vaccination. Only doctors can gain by the neglectof this little and innocent operation ; for they will havework enough to do in attending cases of small-pox. Letit be clearly understood that the doctors quoted by theanti-vaccinators all get vaccinated and revaccinated, andhave their children vaccinated, and recommend vaccinationand revaccination.

____

CORONERS AND MAGISTRATES.WE have more than once lately had occasion to remark

on the excessive folly of any endeavour by magistrates toinvestigate the propriety of inquests that have actuallybeen held by coroners, and we see that this folly has latelybeen repeated at Salford on a scale of unusual magnitude,some dozen inquests having been disallowed. Now, thewhole value of the inquest as an institution depends uponits power to impress the public with the belief that aninquiry will be made into every case of death about thecauses of which there can be any doubt; and, where thedoubts are dispelled by inquiry, and the causes are shownto be natural, such a result should be a matter only for con-gratulation. The coroner is not primarily an officer for thediscovery of criminals, but for the clearing up of uncer-tainty, and his inquisition is to determine "how and bywhat manner of means A. B. came by his death." It is veryeasy for silly country justices to say that, after all, A. B.only died of heart disease or apoplexy, and that there wasno occasion for an inquest. The occasion would be to deter-mine the very point on which these wiseacres after theevent lay stress; and the effect of their proceedings, ifgenerally copied, would be that carefully planned murderswould remain undiscovered; no inquest having been heldlest the cause of death should turn out to have been

natural. We commend the proceedings of the Salford

justices to the attention of the Lord Chancellor.

PUBLIC CRATITUDE FOR PUBLIC SERVICES.

No one perhaps is better known for excellent sanitarywork, at least in the suburban districts of the metropolis,than Dr. Alfred Carpenter, of Croydon. For years past hehas with remarkable industry and judgment personallylaboured to promote the health of Croydon, and to hisexertions the sanitary improvement of the place is eminentlydue. But the gratitude which the public feel towards

588

sanitarians is sometimes shown in a curious manner, and much as the execution of the Orders in Council, datedDr. Carpenter, in return for the good he has done the July 29th and August 3rd, 1871, respectively, has been, andpeople of Croydon, instead of being placed as usual at is likely to be, hampered by these financial disputes, it isthe head of the poll as a member of the Board of Health, specially necessary that the law should be at once deci-has been ousted by the votes of the ratepayers. We have sively and authoritatively defined.received a number of communications upon the matter, and the proceedings of the ratepayers are given at length in THE FORCEPS IN MIDWIFERY.

the local press. The real reason for the present antagonism DR. J. TUORBURN, Le

...

to Dr. Carpenter seems to lie in his having tried and suc- DR. J. THORBURN, Lecturer on Midwifery and Diseases

ceeded in getting healthy dwellings for the poor; the land- of Women, Manchester, has published in pamphlet form

lords, in consequence of the expense they have been put to, " Remarks on 113 Cases of Forceps Delivery," with, strictlyhave, however, raised the rents, and the onus thereof has speaking, only one maternal death. In a second case of

been saddled upon Dr. Carpenter’s back, and his opponents death the mother was dead before the forceps were applied.having embittered the lower orders against sanitary work, The sole maternal death after the forceps was that of athe result has been that the small holders voted against him. middle-aged primipara after a tedious labour of about thirtyWe are glad, however, to be able to state that Dr. Carpenter hours, with adherent placenta that had to be extracted.has lost nothing by his non-election, for since that event On the third day adynamic peritonitis set in, of which shehe has been sworn in as a magistrate of Surrey, and his soon died. The maternal mortality from the instrument, inopportunities for enforcing sanitary law against sanitary this series of cases at least, seemed nil. In 103 of the

evils will be much greater, especially in relation to the cases where delivery was effected by the forceps alone, the

new Public Health Bill, when it shall have become law. infantile fate was as follows:-85 were born alive, 14 dead,The foolish people of Croydon will no doubt yet learn that and 4 unaccounted for, but probably alive. These 4 ex-

the step they have recently taken is not one likely to cluded, the mortality of children was 14-1 per cent.; 9 ofadvance the material interests of themselves or their town. the 14 Dr. Thorburn attributes to the severity of the

labours, and considering how fatal any prolonged delay in-

the second stage is to the child, especially in primiparæ-THE COST OF SANITARY WORK AFLOAT. the proportion of which in these cases, by the way, is not

SINCE we referred to this subject in an annotation in THE given,-he is probably right. The forceps were applied at

LANCET of the 13th instant, the magistrates of Waterford or above the brim in 23 cases, in the pelvic cavity in 42,

have attexnpted to justify the course of action that they and at the outlet in 48. The maternal lesions were slight,have attempted to iustify the course of action that they ..,, ., face forwards, ,. , would notpursued last year in saddling the master r a vessel with except in one case, with the face forwards, which would notpursued last year in saddling the master of a vessel with rotate. The choice was between destroying the child and

fees for medical inspection. Although the matter was in rotate. The choice was between destroying the child and

this case settled provisionally by Lord Granville, was in using force that rent the perineum. The child was saved,this case settled provisionally by Lord Granville, it is evi- ," the perineum healed without

permanent fistula. mident that the present condition of the law on the subject is and the perineum healed without permanent cases The avery loose, inasmuch as another case, involving the same chief reasons for using the forceps in the cases were aprinciple, occurred some few weeks ago at Shields. The slight disproportion between the propelling force, the captain of the Monkshaven engaged his crew at the ship- pelvic space, and tne bulk of the fœtus (48 cases); decidedcaptain of the Monkshaven engaged his crew at the ship- want of explosive force (22 cases) 19 cases) iping-office on the 9th of February, and it was agreed that want of deficient force (22 cases); and of 19 cases cases) goesthey should commence work four days afterwards. Work cidedly deficient space, &c. This series of cases only goeswas begun accordingly, but on the days afterwards. Work to enforce the established doctrine that the forceps is awas begun accordingly, but on the 15th it was discovered

most safe ..,. ,,,.., when , withthat one of the seamen was suffering from small-pox, most safe and valuable obstetric instrument when used withthat one of the seamen was suffering from small-pox. most safe and valuable obstetric instrument when used withThe captain landed the man, applied to the police autho- any thing like care and propriety. Indeed this belief is so

rities for an order to the small-pox hospital, but was com- general now among British authorities that it appears to

pelled to pay order before the patient was admitted, and was us that the time has come for asking of all candidates for

told by the magistrates that he was legally responsible. A obstetric diplomas certificates that they have seen a few

correspondence was hereupon commenced between the cap- cases of delivery by the forceps.

tain of the vessel, the Board of Trade, the Shields Local -

Marine Board, the Tynemouth Local Board, and the Local MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SEAMEN.

Government Board; and from none of them has any satis- IT is proper to direct attention to this subject oncefactory reply been received. Shipowners and shipmasters and again, because recent experiences in the Greenlandvery naturally object to pay for the prevention of disease seal fishery have fitly furnished us with a text. The last

among any particular section of the community over and advices from Dundee report that soon after the ship Narwhal’above their fair share of local taxation ; and it appears to reached the fishing grounds small-pox broke out among herus an unsound item in the system so admirably inaugu- crew. Six men were soon confined to their berths, and ae-rated and carried on by the Tyne sanitary authorities that cording to a paragraph that has been going the round ofthe hospital now established should in the ordinary sense of the daily papers, " but for the continuance of a severe frostthe term be self-supporting. We must infer, however, that during the whole time the fleet remained at Greenland,the balance oj law, as it now stands, is in their favour. the results might have been terrible." It is possible thatHence, if cholera comes to us this year, and Mr. Stans- the writers of this paragraph, as well as a large proportion of

feld’s Bill is not in action, the question as to who is to pay the readers thereof, may not be aware that legislative meanswill be raised continually, and we may prophesy pretty con- exist that were expressly enacted with the view of prevent-fidently that the port of London will be a chief arena for ing these terrible results, results which might have proveddiscussions of this nature. The Commissioners of Sewers "terrible" to the pockets of the Dundee shipowners asare about to present a report to the President of the Board well as to the crews of their ships. The 10th Section ofof Trade indicating, among other things, that the waterside the Merchant Shipping Act of 1867 provides for the medicaldistricts should not be called upon to pay the sanitary ex- examination of seamen, before signing articles, by an officialpenses of the port, but that the entire metropolis should be inspector, at the rate of 2s. per man. The instructionsrated. There can be no reasonable doubt that this view of issued to these inspectors by the Marine Department of thethe matter will be adopted by the Government; but inas- Board of Trade direct, among other things, that the men

589

shall be examined as to vaccination, so that a ship-captain interference with local action as now exists in the Poor Law,would be acting sensibly in declining to take any unvacci- we are of opinion that the Local Government Board shouldnated seamen. Indeed, there is no doubt that the crews of enjoy the power of refusing the grant from the Consolidatedthese fishing vessels ought to be all vaccinated before going Fund whenever their inspectors fail to secure, by properto sea. The masters of the Grimsby smacks, comprehend- representations to the local boards, the appointment ofing the risk incurred last year in shipping hands for the good officers, the requirement of actual service, or the pay-spring and autumn work when small-pox was rampant in ment of sufficient salaries. The principle is not novel, andthe town, called upon the Board of Trade medical officer to in the industrial and pauper schools works admirably.inspect all their seamen at the shipping office before they When the managers propose to effect a job, and put somestarted, and more than 200 were examined. But with this incompetent person in a place, the inspector interferes. Heexception, and some few cases at various outlying ports, says, "Gentlemen, you can of course appoint this person ifthis section of the Act is still a dead letter, and the Local you choose; but as I consider him unfit I cannot allow anyMarine Boards in London and Liverpool have not, up to the portion of his salary to be paid from the Consolidated Fund."present time, even taken the trouble to appoint an official Or suppose they desire to offer an inadequate salary; theinspector.

- inspector then tells them his opinion, and says plainly, " If

- -

you’give so much only, gentlemen, you must pay the wholePRACTICAL PHYSIOLOCY IN RU RE. out of your pockets; but if you give so much as will enable

SOME little while ago a great deal of virtuous indignation me to complain with justice if the work is not properly

was expended, chiefly by anonymous writers in the daily performed, I shall recommend the Local Government Board

press, on certain alleged acts of "cruelty" practised on to assent to a moiety being paid from the Consolidated

dumb animals by professors in their physiological demon- Fund." We hope, therefore, that this equitable mode of

strations. Of course 11 cruelty"-that is, the infliction of influencing local administration will be adopted by the

needless suffering-is always to be sternly condemned. But Government, and we are sure that the medical professionthe complainants in the case referred to, were, we make bold

will reap the advantage of having the countenance andto say, in the belief of all reasonable people, non suited in support of a power capable alike of appreciating and reward-

the court of public opinion. The recent stir among the ing their labours. ————

agriculturists has, however, recalled attention to a social VALUE OF QUININE.physiological experiment, not on rabbits, but on human VALUE OF QUININE.

beings-carried on, not under the merciful agency of anses- IT is refreshing in sceptical times like these to have

thetics, but under circumstances calculated rather to quicken evidence of the value of medicines. The value of quininesensibility. The experiment consists in endeavouring to will be admitted by the most laissez faire practitioner,ascertain how long a certain number of people can subsist on though different illustrations would be given by differenttenpence a week each! This real but almost incredible cruelty physicians. Those who have practised in malarious districtsis thus testified to by Mr. R. Arthur Kinglake, a magistrate at home or abroad would tell the most eloquent facts. Notfor Somersetshire :-" Having visited a house where severe the least interesting cases would be those of personsillness existed, I was induced to inquire into the means and labouring unconsciously under some unsuspected or vaguecircumstances of the family. I found the husband to be a form of malarial poison, going about the world miserablyfarm labourer, having 8s. per week, with three pints of until some shrewd physician guesses at the malarious

cider, to maintain himself, wife, and four children; so that, character of their malaise, and tests his diagnosis by thera-deducting 2s. rent, ls. fire and candles, only 5s. per week peutics. The relief of the various neuroses, includingremain to support father, mother, and four children, or at herpes zoster, would be adduced. The power possessed bythe rate of 1Od. each per week for all purposes." We would quinine of lowering temperature, illustrated very lately inventure to suggest that the tender-heartedness which was our columns by two cases of typhoid, would appear to someso violently excited by the imaginary squeak of a pained minds the most striking control over vital processes.

guinea-pig might with at least equal propriety be aroused More matter of fact people still would be impressed by theby the piteous wail of masses of human beings suffering exchanges of quinine. Mr. MacCormac tells us, in his

the tortures of chronic starvation. interesting account of his Ambulance experience during the____

late war, that a colonel, the Marquis de Galliflet, asked him

LOCAL - r./-B)n if he could give him some quinine as he was suffering fromLOCAL TAXATION. an accession of African fever brought on by heavy rains

THERE is now every indication that the Government will after the collapse of Sedan. Mr. MacCormac gave thebe compelled to make some concession in the relief of local quinine, and the marquis begged him in return to accepttaxation, and although Mr. Stansfeld was not prepared his beautiful Arab horse. We have been informed that inon Tuesday to state in what way, and to what extent, the Mauritius the price of quinine at one time lately, duringassistance is to be given, he promised to inform the House the prevalence of fever, reached £28 10s. per ounce.on an early opportunity, when the Public Health Bill is ____

considered in committee. The medical profession is deeplyinterested in this very important question, for so long as VERY LIKE SPONTANEOUS GENERATION.

remuneration for medical services, and particularly for DR. J. C. DALTON, the well-known Professor of Physiologysanitary services, is left to the uncontrolled ignorance and at New York, recently delivered two lectures at the Collegeparsimony of local boards, there will be little hope of of Physicians and Surgeons of that city on " Spontaneousobtaining proper salaries, or that efficient support from the Generation," an abstract of which appears in the New Yorkcentral authority which is necessary for a firm discharge of Medical Journal for February last. The lecturer considered

duty. We have always regarded the part payment from his subject mainly from the historical aspect; his objectthe Consolidated Fund of the salaries of all administrative being to offer an account of the progress of opinion andofficers as the only sound method of influencing local discovery from the earliest periods, and the present condi-action. The whole country is interested in raising the tion of our knowledge in regard to it. Adverting to theefficiency of the administrative staffs, whether lay or inherent difficulty of the subject, and to the very pardon-medical, and although we do not advocate such a perpetual able mistakes made by the earlier naturalists, Dr. Dalton

590

remarks that there is no point connected with the habits in violently attempting to rob a stranger. Our contempo-of animals surrounded by so many obstacles to a complete rary, Punch, in his satirical cartoon of this week, has doneelucidation as that of their reproduction. The deposit of excellent service in directing public attention to one of theeggs in one season, which are not hatched until the parents disgraces of our boasted civilisation.are dead, or have disappeared, for example, Prof. Dalton ————

illustrates by the case of an American locust (Cicada ONE SOURCE OF SKIN DISEASE.septendscim). A period of seventeen years elapses between , of nature, who signs himself "R.M.," ,1 i , i . r period of 1,1 years elapses between . A CORRESPONDENT of Nature, who S]gns himself "B. M.,the hatching of the larva and the appearance of the perfect states that he has satisfied himself that certain attacks of insect, the larva 11 this time remaining buried the

states that he has satisfied himself that certain attacks ofinsect, the larva all this time remaining buried in the « ground, while the life of the insect in its perfect state the eczema of the face to which he was formerly liable wereground, , 1 , while . the life , of the t i. insect i c in its perfect i state does , i due to the use of impure soap for shaving

. purposes. He not last over six weeks. A brood of these locasts appeared due to the use of impure soap for shaving purposes. Hein the city of Now York in 1843, and again in 1860. If they

declares that the "prime old brown Windsor soap" of thein the city of New York in 1843, and again in 1860. If they perfumers’ ,, .’.,.... manufactured from ,

return, the Professor remarks, with their accustomed regu- perfumers’ shops is chiefly manufactured from bone grease.return, the Frotessor remarks, with their accustomed regu- This, as extracted 11 i 1 . of boilinglarity, their next app,earance will i in 1877 i. n

This, as extracted from the bones by the action of boilingrarity, their next appearance will be in 1877. This, as extracted from the bones by the action of boiling ’ their next appearance will be in 1877. ’ water under pressure, is of a dark tarry brown colour, and-

. of an abominable odour. By various processes it is more

THE GLASGOW MEDICAL SANITARY STAFF. or less defæcated, bleached, and deodorised, and is sepa-

PROFESSOR GAIRDNER has written a very dignified and rated into two or three different qualities, the most inferior

important letter to the Lord Provost on the changes con- of which goes to the formation of railway or other machinerytemplated by the Police Board in the sanitary department greases, whilst the better kind is saponified and highly per-of the city, with a view to a reduction, not of the large fun-ied. The natural brown colour of the grease gives it

mortality of Glasgow, but of expenditure. According to the right tint in the cheapest way without the colouring byDr. Gairdner, the entire cost of the existing medical staff caramel, which was the original method of manufacture.is £740; and the committee propose to save .8140 under a Some bars of brown Windsor contain a rich which, beforenew system, the essential feature of which will be the small, sharp angular fragments of bone, which, before

dismissal of Dr. Gairdner and the appointment of a medical boiling, were putrid. " S- M." states that, on three separateofficer prepared to give his entire time to the duties. The occasions, shaving with such soap, whilst he was otherwisewhole medical world will doubt the economy that would in perfect health, induced an attack of eczema, which re-save £140 a year in Glasgow by losing Dr. Gairdner; sisted medicinal treatment but disappeared on ceasing to

and Dr. Gairdner shows in his letter that he has use the soap. ————

medical colleagues on the sanitary staff, conspicuously Dr. THE ROYAL MEDICAL AND CHlRURGICAL7 medical colleaoues n on the sanitary staff, conspicuously Dr. THE ROYAL MEDICAL AND CHIRURGICAL

:MeGill, whose services have been invaluable to the city, SOCIETY.and who will be disparaged by the proposed changes. Dr.Gairdner cannot be a loser. Relief from grave and often THE usual bi-monthly meeting of this Society was heldthankless sanitary duties will doubtless enable him to de- on the 23rd inst., and the evening was exclusively devotedvelop his just reputation as a physician and a medical to the reading and discussion of an elaborate paper by Dr.teacher of a very high order. But Glasgow can scarcely C. Theodore Williams on the results of Warm Climate in the

fail to suffer in losing the services of such a staff with Treatment of Pulmonary Consumption. The remarks were

such a leader, and in making these changes, as appears founded on an analysis of 251 cases, and several sets of

from Dr. Gairdner’s own account and that of an esteemed statistical tables were displayed in the room, and sent

correspondent, without adequate consideration to those whose round for reference, containing analytical lists of moist andlabours in many a past epidemic crisis entitle them to very dry climates, the percentages of improvement or the reversedifferent treatment. in various classes of cases, &c., the compilation of which

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must have involved a great deal of continuous care andCANDIDATES FOR CORPORAL PUNISHMENT. labour. Dr. Wilson Fox criticised some of the conclusions

Fon many years we steadily used every effort to get drawn by the author. Dr. Leared, Mr. C. Brooke, and Dr.

corporal punishment abolished in the public service, and it Heywood Smith, gave the Society some of their cosmo-

may sound somewhat paradoxical to say that we now advo- politan experiences, and Dr. C. J. B. Williams, Dr. Hermann

-cate in the service of the public the application of corporal Weber, Dr. Sutro, and Dr. Dobell also took part in thepunishment to a class of people who seem to us to richly

discussion.

merit it. Hospital surgeons have frequent opportunities of An invalid couch, designed by Dr. Dobell, and manu-

witnessing the injuries received by poor women who have factured under the superintendence of Mr. Heather Bigg,

the misfortune to be united in a bondage for life to brutal was exhibited in the rooms during the evening.

husbands. A medical officer at one of our ophthalmic -

hospitals lately called attention to the subject, and very MEDICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.

properly declared that the brute who ruptured his wife’s THE old library of this Society had a narrow escape from’eyes by kicking her in the face certainly deserved flogging destruction by fire on Wednesday last. About 9 o’clock onas much as the criminal who attempted to garotte old the morning of that day, the registrar, Mr. Poole, dis-

gentlemen returning from their clubs. The latter possess covered flames proceeding from a cupboard where the gas-political influence, which the unhappy women do not, and meter was placed. Happily the fire was quickly got underthe Legislature stepped in to their aid, and supplemented before it reached the great library; therefore the damagethe punishment of imprisonment by the administration of a will be comparatively small. Had the fire extended, a totalflogging, with very beneficial results to all parties. It is destruction of some of the most curious and valuable books

surely time that the Legislature interfered in behalf of the known would have occurred. The Society have therefore tounfortunate victims of brutal husbands. If wife-beating thank their trustees, who, before they accepted the office,invariably carried husband-flogging with it, we should soon made it a sine quâ non that there should be a responsiblehear less of the former, and the police columns of our papers officer in residential charge. We are glad to learn that thewould not contain so ma.ny proofs, as they now do, that a effects of the Society are insured, and that the fire will in noman legally runs less risk in beating his wife to a jelly than way interfere with the ordinary business.

591

VALUE OF MEDICAL EVIDENCE. engage in such undertakings, ever make any inquiry into..

the value of the institutions they are intended to support.THE sudden death of Mr. Wyld, the editor and proprietor We cannot too often repeat that the intended to support.of the Licensed Victuallers’ Guardian, and the charge made We cannot too often repeat that the treatment of defor- of the Licensed YicLua,llers’ Guardvau, and the charge made mities is now a perfectly well understood and very simpleagainst his widow of having caused his death by throwing branch of general surgery, practised and taught as sucha gum-bottle at his head, furnish a striking example of the at every general hospital in London. That there should alsovalue of medical evidence in some cases of supposed crimi- be four special institutions for their relief is simply a mis-nality. The gentle attention referred to was clearly proved direction of charity and a scandalous waste of money.to have been paid to her late husband by Mrs. Wyld shortly without a single compensating advantage.before his death, but Dr. Mills, one of the divisional sur- ____ geons of the police, and Dr. Saunders, proved as clearly, by THE MASTER AND SERVANTS (WACES) BILL.a post-mortem examination, that there was extensive fatty

IT is to be hoped that the select committee to which the. degeneration of the heart, and that death was due to IT is to be hoped that the select committee to which thenatural causes, which would hardly even be accelerated in consideration of this Bill has been referred will regard the

their operation by the gentle impact of a gum-bottle thrown fact that the Truck Commissioners, in their report issued

by a lady’s arm. If Mrs. Wyld should by-and-by find a in June last, while properly condemning the truck system,consoler in her widowhood, she will, we may venture to excepted provisions for medical and educational purposes,

hope, have learned to employ other methods of persuasion, for contributions to friendly societies and savings banks.

and will not forget the peril in which she for a time stood, It would be a very responsible piece of legislation to with-

and from which she has only been delivered by medical draw the sanction of law from arrangements which secure

science. efficiency, and which alone can ensure medical attendance-

on masses of men and their families, which are generallyTHE CROWN PRINCESS OF CERMANY. approved by working men themselves, by the medical pro-

fession, and by the Truck Commissioners. We believe veryTHE accouchement of the Crown Princess of Germany grett i-nisery would result. It would look more like goodtook place shortly after ten o’clock on the 22nd inst., in legislation to give a higher legal support to such providentthe most favourable manner, and we hear from Berlin that arrangements, always on the understanding that the menHer Imperial and Royal Highness and child are progress- themselves have a voice in the election of those who are 4.

ing in every way most satisfactorily. The confinement was attend them.so quickly over that although Mr. Odo Russell and the

’

————

German minister who officiates on such occasions were TESTS FOR DETECTINC STRYCHNIA.summoned at once, the special train was unable to bring THE Popular Science Review states that Dr. Filhol, in athem .,. to Potsdam. A compliment is paid to the

THE Popular Science Review states that Dr. Filhol, in athem in time to Potsdam. A compliment is paid to the recent paper on this subject, inainiains that strychniaprofession in England in the fact of Dr. Gream having been recent paper on this subject, maintains that strychniaprofession in England in the fact of Dr. Gream having been should, in cases of poisoning, be obtained in the solidcalled to Potsdam for the fourth time on a similar errand, should, in cases of poisoning, be obtained in the solidand we add with no little pleasure that he worthily sustains state ; the alkalinity of its solution should be ascertained,for us the dignity of the profession when in Germany:

. as well as its intensely bitter taste; its behaviour withfor us the dignity of the profession when in Germany. chlorine, and its blue coloration under the influence of____

chlorine, and its blue coloration under the influence of

sulphuric acid and oxidising substances, should also beSEA-WATER IN LONDON. seen; while, lastly, as a very delicate reaction, Dr. Filhol

WHEN we ventured, some time since, to suggest in these observes that, with chloride of gold, strychnia (in solution)columns the hygeian advantages that would a(3crue to the yields immediately a crystalline precipitate, which, althoughpopulation of this great city if the Serpentine were filled slowly, is yet distinctly formed in solutions containing one-with salt water, the idea, though ridiculed by some as too tenth of a milligramme of the alkaloid. This precipitate-chimerical ever to be realised, was not deemed by us an and that formed by chlorine are at once dissolved by con-impossibility by any means; and the correctness of our centrated sulphuric acid, and, chromic acid being added,premises is borne out by the fact that there is now before the well-known blue coloration that strychnia yields withParliament an unopposed Bill, which has passed the second this last reagent is produced. The presence of alcohol in

reading, for empowering a company to bring the sea-water liquids to be tested for strychnia should be avoided.direct from the ocean to London. The water is to be drawn ————

from a pure source some quarter of a mile below low-water- PATHOLOCICAL SOCIETY.

mark, west of Brighton, and raised by a series of pumping- AT the next meeting of this Society on May 7th Dr.engines to the summit of the Dyke Hill, whence it will Burdon Sanderson, F.R.S., will bring forward for discussiongravitate through enamelled pipes to London, there being the subject of Pyaemia; he will illustrate his views byintermediate reservoirs at Hand Cross and at Merstham. specimens. The subject is one of considerable interest,The engineer’s calculations are for the delivery of half-a- and the more so as’we understand that Dr. Sanderson hasmillion gallons every twenty-four hours; and the ex- lately been directing his attention to this subject, and hastremely moderate charge at which the sea-water will be been carrying on a series of experiments upon animals insupplied will bring its use within the reach of all classes his laboratories. We doubt not that we shall have someof the community. By the medical profession especially fresh licht thrown upon the pathology of this disease.the introduction of sea-water to the metropolis will be ____

regarded as an invaluable acquisition. BEER FOR THE AGED INMATES OF- -

WORKHOUSES.THE NATIONAL ORTHOPÆDIC HOSPITAL. WE are no advocates of an extensive use of alcoholic

THE supporters of another so-called hospital, which con- stimulants in workhouses, but we have a very strong objec-sists, we believe, of a house in Great Portland-street, and tion to depriving the aged inmates of their "glass of beer."which is entitled the "National" Orthopaedic, have been Whilst wages remain as low as they are in agriculturalholding festival and making speeches at the London Tavern, districts, and there is no adequate machinery for saving upunder the presidency of the Marquis of Lorne. We should for old age, it must happen that a considerable number ofliketoknowwhetherroyaland noble personages, before they poor but honest labourers end their days in the workhouse,

592

and it is a great shame to put them on what is often worse THE "NATIONAL HOSPITAL" ACAIN.than penal diet. We therefore rejoice to find that ourapplication diet. guardians of the Chertsey union for an WE had occasion recently (February 10th) to notice, notapplication to the guardians of the Chertsey union f or an in the most flattering terms, an institution dubbed by its

explanation as to 1 it was that the aged inmates had had in the most nattering terms, an institution dubbed by itsexplanation as to why it was that the aged inmates had had promoters the "National Hospital," and i learn from thetheir beer stopped, has attracted attention, and that at promoters the National Hospital, and we learn from thetheir beer stopped., has attracted attention, and that ’.

that . the , Annual Court of Government of the

the medical officer has been applied to for its restoration, daily papers that the Annual Court of Governors of the

this being the only way in which it can be legally allowed. charity has recently been held. In this report the ludicrous

The guardians were anxious for it to be known that it was statement is repeated that the hospital is "for the special

not their wish that the beer should be stopped, but the treatment of epilepsy, paralysis, nervousness, the primarynot their wish that the beer should be stopped, but the treatment of epilepsy, paralysis, nervousness

,

’

’ affections

order came from the Local Government Board. stages of insanity, and all diseases arising from affectionsorder came from the Local Government Board. of the heart." Under these circumstances we cannot regretTHE EMPRESS EUGENIE.

that the accounts showed X131 due to the treasurer, andTHE EMPRESS EUGENIE. that the annual subscriptions were put at the modest sum

WE regret to learn that the Empress Eugenie is labour- of £57. We are in a position to deny the truth of theing under an attack of acute inflammation of the parotid statement that " the hospital is on the cottage principle,"gland, not specific but due to cold. The affection is at- and we cannot but regret to find Mr. Brady, M.P., lendingtended with severe constitutional disturbance, with great the sanction of his name to such an institution by takingpain in the course of the facial and cranial nerves. This the chair on the recent occasion.form of parotid inflammation is always a source of great ____

anxiety to the physician, both from its tendency to involve A CASE OF ICNORANT CRUELTY.important adjacent parts and from its occurring chieflyin a state of great depression of the strength. Baron FROM Oswaldtwistle, in Lancashire, we get a report of anCorvisart is in attendance upon the Empress, and Sir inquiry before the local magistrates into the treatment of aWilliam Gull has been called in consultation. boy of thirteen by his parents, resulting in the committal

- of the father for trial. It was found that the child, who is

ROYAL NATIONAL HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMP- imbecile, had been confined to the house for the last seven

TION, VENTNOR. years in a state of nudity, and the medical evidence went to

ON Monday evening the biennial festival in connexion show emaciation and neglect, but no actual cruelty.ON Monday evening the biennial festival in connexion We have nothing to say B behalf of the ignorant father with this exellent and promosing institution was held at We have nothing to say in behalf of the ignorant fatherwith this excellent and promising institution was held at of the child, but we are astonished i j find that Mr. Nuttall Willie’s Rooms, Right Rev. Bishop of Manchester , . ot the child, but we are astonished to find that Mr. Nuttall,

Willis’s Rooms, the Right Rev. the Bishop of Manchester in a chemist, and the landlord of the house, had been aware of of,, chair.. There was a numerous assembly of ladies ,;. and a chemist, and the landlord of the house, had been aware ofthe chair. There was a numerous assembly of ladies and the condition of the child during the whole period of sevengentlemen present. The sanitary arrangements of this

years, and had frequently seen him crouched before the fire.hospital are of a very high order, and reflect great credit Still more extraordinary is it that the facts were reported ,its originators and promotors. The patients are scat-Still more extraordinary is it that the facts were reported

upon its originators and promoters. The patients are scat- Still relieving officer is it that the facts were reportedupon its originators and i - The patients are scat- to the relieving officer five years ago, and yet nothing wa.stered through a series of houses in eight blocks, well shel- done. The child is five years ago, and and mischievous,tered , ,. unfavourable winds. It ia replete with domestic done. The child is doubtless imbecile and mischievous,tered from unfavourable winds. It is replete with domestic and, according to his parent’s account, tears up his clothes

comforts, and each patient has a separate bedroom. It and, according to his parent s account, tears up his clothes.comforts, and each patient has a separate bedroom. It This may " may not , , , we ,’,, . , moreappeared from the report that the building is now rapidly This mayor may not be true, but we really think moreappeared from the report that the building is now rapidly than

approaching completion, when it will be able to receive blame is due to those who have not intertered earlier, than

approaching completion, when it will be able to receive to an . , , , to whom , . , of a ,.,.,,. is100 in-patients. During the past year 53 male and 36 to an Irish labourer, to whom the sight of a naked child is100 in-patients. During the past year 53 male and 36 probably not an unaccustomed ,

°

female patients had been treated. After a very eloquent probably not an unaccustomed one. ,

address from the Right Rev. Chairman, subscriptions and --

donations amounting to over .63000 were received during THE EXAMINATION OF PAUPER LUNATICS.

the evening. We prophesy for the Ventnor Hospital a THE Poor-law Department have just issued the followinglong career of usefulness and honour. instructions to the medical officer of the Lambeth Work-

- house, and we think them important for the guidance of allTHE PECULIAR PEOPLE. who have to deal with pauper lunatics. The medical officer

SINCE the man Hurry, an elder of the sect known as the is-(1) to examine carefully the whole surface of the bodies

Peculiar People," was committed for trial, another of his of lunatic patients both on their admission to the work-

children has died from small-pox. At the inquest held last house and upon their departure from it, and to record the

week on the elder daughter, Cecilia, the mother was in the result of such examination; (2) to give written orders for

room with the child during the proceedings, although the the use of restraint whenever he deems it necessary; (3) to

latter at the time was sickening for small-pox. Notwith- keep a record of the description and duration of the re-latter at the time was sickening for small-pox. Notwith- . ’ . , (4) to keep , of restraint , , ,

standing the warning the mother had received last t i straint used; (4) to keep the means of restraint under lockstanding the warning the mother had received last week, -, ...,,,.,.

she still refused to call in medical aid, but placed her faith and key, retaining the key in his own custody.she still refused to call in medical aid, but placed her faith key, retaining the key in his own custody.

in the "elders of the church." These latter, on being -

summoned, went through the idle form of laying their WATERWORKS IN LIVERPOOL.

hands on the child’s head and anointing it with oil. The AT length the reports of Mr. Pole on the constant water-child got rapidly worse, and died on Sunday morning. On supply of Manchester and Norwich, long since noticed inWednesday evening, an inquest was held, when the coroner this journal, have attracted the attention of the Liverpoolstrongly animadverted on the conduct of the mother, and, in Water Committee. Manchester is supplied on the constantadjourning the inquiry, observed that remonstrances and system, and consumes 14 gallons per head per day forarguments were thrown away upon such people, who should domestic, and 7 gallons for trade purposes; whilst Liver-be controlled by legal restrictions, and treated as madmen pool has a supply limited to ten hours daily, and theand madwomen. He ordered the elders to attend at the domestic supply is 21-5 gallons per head, and the tradenext inquiry, and threw out a significant hint as to their supply 5-4 gallons. As a gallon per head per diem repre-legal culpability. We commend the observations made by sents a rate of one halfpenny in the pound, it is probablethe coroner, who seems fully alive to the gravity of the that immediate attention will be given to the sources ofquestion. waste.

593

CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINCITIS.

THE death of a woman was registered in Chelsea lastweek from the following cause as certified :-" Intense painin lower part of spine; purpuric spots over the body;bleeding from the mouth; cerebro-spinal meningitis or

purpuric fever about thirty hours."From the weekly returns which are supplied officially to

the Registrar-General by Dr. Russell, the chief medicalstatist of New York, it appears that between the 13th of

January and the 17th of March there were 31 deaths regis-tered in that city from cerebro-spinal meningitis, and thatthere were respectively 12 and 18 fatal cases in the two suc-ceeding weeks. ____

THE POOR PICEON.

THE newspapers that devote a considerable portion oftheir columns to what is called 11 sport," are again begin-ning to be filled with the details of pigeon slaughter; and)t seems probable that this disgraceful pastime will, thisyear as last, be the chief delight of a few empty-headedfashionables, and of the counter-jumpers who imitate them.When the late Mrs. Manning was hanged in a black satingown, that material ceased to be in request for the apparelof ladies. We wonder very much whether, if the "claimant"should chance to be convicted on the charges now pendingagainst him, his favourite amusement will at all decline inpopularity ?

____

THE PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.

THERE is very little hope of any immediate progress forthe Public Health Bill. The Government are of opinionthat it is not desirable to go into committee upon it untilthe Ballot, Scotch Education, and some other importantmeasures have been disposed of, nor until some degree ofcontinuous attention can be given to the amendments tobe proposed.

-

Ms. MUNDELLA’S Bill for the further restriction of thehours of labour of children, young persons, and females in

any factories that are within the scope of the Factories

Acts, enacts that no child, &c., shall be employed for anypurpose after one o’clock on Saturday, and not for more thannine hours and a half on any day, nor for more than fifty-four hours per week (except in recovering lost time).

WE are glad to hear that the Society for the Relief ofWidows and Orphans of Medical Men has granted anannuity of £50 per annum to the widow of the late Dr.

Steggall-a piece of information that Mrs. Steggall with-held from us in the first instance. The same Society hasreceived notice of two legacies, one of £200 from Mrs. Ann

Hammond, and the other of £500 from Mrs. Jane Lyon.

THE Quarantine Board of the colony of British Guianahave lately amended their rules, and have issued verystringent orders as to the fumigation of mails landed fromsteamers that have had on board any infectious or conta-

gious disease. The regulations also indicate a quarantineof forty days in the case of any vessel arriving from a placeinfected with small-pox.

THE Gower board of guardians, Glamorganshire, haveagreed to double the salary of Mr. Ellis, one of their dis-trict medical officers. Not too soon, we opine ; for Mr.Ellis had the charge of a district of 48,651 acres, with apopulation of 4641 persons, at a salary of £35 a year !

THERE are 15 medical men among the deputies in theItalian Chamber and 187 lawyers !

THE Indian troop-ship Malabar arrived at Spithead onWednesday morning from Bombay, uiu the Suez Canal, withseveral cases of measles and small-pox on board, and hasbeen ordered by telegram from the Admiralty to remain at

’ anchor until further orders, and to hold no communication- with the shore except by signal.

’ MR. PALMER, Surveyor to the Rugby Local Board of

Health, has published a letter in The Tinies contradicting’ Dr. Letheby’s assertion of the offensive condition of the’

sewage farms in operation throughout the country, and’

stating that, as far as Rugby is concerned, his description’

is purely imaginary. ____

THE " Erratics " will give one of their excellent perform-ances on Wednesday evening, May 1st, at St. George’sHall, Langham-place, in aid of the Royal Hospital forDiseases of the Chest, City-road.

DR. PROSSER JAMES has been authorised by the Presidentof the Medical Congress at Lyons to receive the names ofEnglish medical men desirous of supporting the Congressby becoming membres adhérents. This entails no pecuniarycontribution.

__

THE Melbourne Argus expresses dissatisfaction with thecomposition of a commission for inquiring into the causesof diphtheria, which has long been a fatal scourge in thecolony. It is a great misuse of authority and public moneyto assign such duties to any but competent men.

WE are informed that the annual dinner of the MedicalOfficers of the Army, Navy, and Indian Services will beheld this year on the 30th of May, at the Freemasons’Tavern, Sir J. Ranald Martin, C.B., in the chair.

GENERAL BOURCHIER is suffering from an attack of dysen-tery, induced by the hardships of the late Looshai campaign.

THE British Medical Association has just published abalance-sheet, which shows a deficit of £314 17s. 10d.

Public Health.DUTIES OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH.

No. V.-HOUSE-DRAINAGE.

PERFECT house-drainage implies a dry and wholesomefoundation and the means of discharging liquid refuse intothe sewers without danger. To the first sufficient attentionhas not been paid by public authorities. There is scarcelya large town in the kingdom where houses have not beenerected on ill-drained ground without any precautions being

I taken to prevent the rising of damp. The walls, for ex-

ample, are raised upon the surface of an undrained field,and the floor-boards are laid upon the ground without anyspace underneath or openings for ventilation. In manycases hollows have been filled in with ashpit refuse, andwhen such deposits have been considerable, there is acontinuous exhalation of foul gases, which gives rise todiarrhcea and fever. The town authorities of Liverpoolhave now fully recognised the impropriety of buildinghouses on such impure foundations, and they have sug-gested that a clause forbidding the practice should be in-serted in the Public Health Bill. But if the Bill shouldenable local authorities to make efficient bye-laws, it willsimply be necessary to enact that no new structures and nore-erections should be made until the site has been in-

spected by the officer of health and surveyor, and a certifl-