929"RIDDEN DOWN."-HEALTH OF BERLIN.

the duration of their lives. And any work contributingto this end shall have THE LANCET for its medium and our

praise for its encouragement.

Medical Annotations."Ne quid nimis."

THE WEATHER AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

THE weather for some months past has been a universalcause of grumbling. Our shores have been strewed with I,wrecks, our low-lying places have been converted into vastlakes, our towns have been rendered almost uninhabitableby reason of the mud, and we are told by the authorities atGreenwich that the humidity of the air has almost reachedthe point of saturation. As a consequence of this, peopleare debarred to a great extent from taking that amount ofexercise which we English consider so essential for health;our patients, though not acutely ill, complain of "not beingup to the mark" and depression of spirits and generalmalaise is the order of the day. Nevertheless, accordingto the Registrar-General’s return, the public health hasseldom. been so excellently good as at present. For the

past three weeks the death-rate for London has been only19 per 1000, and for the week ending the 14th’ the actualnumber of deaths was 523 below the corrected average forthe past ten years. Diseases of the zymotic class were 212,and diseases of the respiratory organs were 196, below thecorrected averages. The marked immunity from diseasesof the respiratory organs is due to the unusual warmth ofthe season, and possibly also to the extremely moist condi-tion of the atmosphere. The floods of rain act probably intwo ways to keep down the diseases of the zymotic type.In the first place the constant flushing of the sewers neces-sarily prevents to a great extent the escape of sewer-gasinto our streets and houses, and in the second place theconstant washing of the air by the down-falling rain freesit from those matters which prove so prejudicial to health.Dr. Angus Smith, in his valuable work " Air and Rain,"has shown that in wet weather there is perceptibly a greatervolume of oxygen and a less volume of carbonic acid thanin dry weather. The rain also has the effect of freeing theair of solid particles, organic and inorganic, and dissolvingout ammonia and acid gases. Thus there can be no doubt

that, although the extreme humidity of the air proves thereverse of exhilarating, the actual purity of the air is

vastly increased by that which is causing us so much annoy-ance in other ways,-and this is the silver lining of ouxrain-clouds.

___

" RIDDEN DOWN."

WE often hear of individuals and classes being riddendown in a metaphorical sense, but it was in the real andmatter-of-fact sense that Hospital Sergeant Mawle recentlymet with his death at Aldershot ; and it has rarely indeedbeen our lot to read of a greater or apparently more un-justifiable piece of barbarity. The facts of the case appearto be as follows :-Hospital-Sergeant Mawle, of the lst

Royal Scots Regiment, was absent from barracks in plainclothes on the night of October 18th, and unprovided witha pass. He was stopped by two mounted provosts, and thesergeant, being unable to produce his pass, was taken incharge. Whilst being conveyed to the guard-room, he veryfoolishly made a run for it. He was called upon to stopunder the threat of being ridden down if he did not; anddeliberately ridden down he was. To say nothing of anyother injuries, both of the unhappy man’s legs were broken.

He was taken to hospital, where, after lingering for sometime, he died in consequence of the injuries he had sus-tained. It is alleged that the unfortunate fellow has twobrothers still serving in the regiment, of which, too, hisfather had been a sergeant, and that he aided materially insupporting the aged mother from whose house he was re-turning when he met with the brutal treatment we havenarrated. How far the mounted provost might have beentechnically or legally justified, is more than we can say. Ifhe were, the sooner the military authorities look to thematter the better. We can only regard it as a disgracefullycruel proceeding. It was not done in time of war, but intime of peace, and near the barracks. There would surelyhave been no difficulty in preventing the man’s escape. Aidcould easily have been summoned from the neighbouringcamp. The case of the deceased sergeant naturally excitedgreat indignation, and his funeral was attended by a numberof military persons of different ranks, as a mark of respectand sympathy. ____

’

VIRCHOW AND CHADWICK ON THE HEALTHOF BERLIN.

Reum habetis confilentem! ! Berlin owns her unhealthiness

through the mouth of her most distinguished physician.In a lecture delivered by Virchow on the sanitary conditionof the North German capital, the professor showed anenormous increase in the mortality in the fifteen yearsbetween 1854 and 1868. If in 1854 the death-rate was1000, in 1859-63 it rose to 1164, and in 1864-8 to 1817. Itis among infants under one year that this mortality mainlyoccurs, more than one-third of all the cases of death beingdue to this almost Egyptian visitation. In Berlin;, more-over, the seasons of mortality are different from those ofany other European capital. The death-rate - becomesheavy, according to Professor Virchow, in summer, in-creases in July, culminates in August, and rapidly dimi-nishes thereafter. This, says he, is the reverse of the rulein Europe, while it coincides with the experience of suchtowns of the United States as New York and Chicago. Butfor the infant death-rate, however, Berlin would be noworse than her neighbours as to health statistics. Curiouslyenough, mortality and the birth-rate proceed pari passu.In Louisenstadt almost 34 per cent. of the children underone year die, 19 births to the 100 being the opposite - pro-portion. On the other hand; in the Friedrichstadt, the mor-tality being 17 and a considerable fraction per cent., the birthsare only 7 and a small fraction. Professor Virchow confesseshimself unable to give the cause of the infant mortality,while other physicians suggest that it is in some way con-nected with the rise and fall of the water.Mr. Chadwick, as the result of a recent visit to Berlin, con-

firms Prof. Virchow. Starting with the rule that local con-ditions of disease may be inferred from the death-rates, andthat as these conditions press most heavily on infantile life,the death-rates of children dying in their first year serve

to afford important primary indications, Mr. Chadwick de-clares that he had never before met with such sad death-rates for a whole city as those furnished for Berlin by Dr.Schwabe, the Chief of the Statistical Department. It has

, been a reproach to Manchester that one in five infants dieswithin the year of its birth, and that half of all bornthere are dead soon after their fifth year; but in Berlin oneout of every three dies within the first year, and half of all

. born are in their graves within two years and a half after’ their birth. The mean age of all who died in Berlin (which’ has a better natural site than London) was, in 1866, 22-47

years; in 1867, 21’63 years, and last year it was only 19-54years; whilst the proportion of deaths to the population

. was 39 per 1000. The death-rates prevalent in the ill-

930

conditioned sub-districts of London, exclusively occupied bthe wage classes, have been 30 per 1000; but in the work.men’s model dwellings, in which rudimentary sanitary prin.ciples have been applied, the death-rates have been reducecto 17 per 1000. Not only is Berlin a very unhealthy place,but, owing to the absence of any proper system of drainage,it is, as might be expected, also declared to be one of themost stinking capitals in Europe. We may, however,venture to prophesy that the seat of the Government of thenew and great German Empire cannot long continue to beso distinguished in these respects.Mr. Chadwick points to the remarkable success that has

followed properly executed systems of sanitary engineer-iig, by tubular drains and canals, such as those at Rugby,Croydon, Romford, and Aldershot in this country, so as tosecure the constant removal and direct application of thefresh manurial water to land; and he also refers to thesanitary improvements in Hamburg and Dantzig, based onthe principle of constant circulation, with the view of de-monstrating the success of this system in Germany, andits applicability during the long winter of that country.The plans prepared by Mr. James Holbrecht, the chief officerof works, for the improvement of Berlin, are considered byMr. Chadwick to be excellent in general design, and calcu-lated, if properly carried out, to advance the capital as the Iforemost in sanitary administration in Europe.

THE ADULTERATION ACT.

AT a recent meeting of the Liverpool Chemists’ Associa.tion an interesting discussion took place with reference tcthe Adulteration Act, and to the difficulty that would pro-bably be experienced in putting its clauses into operation.The Chairman, Mr. E. Davies, expressed the opinion thatthere was no real wish on the part of the Legislature to putdown adulteration; and that, if such wish existed, the onlyway of proceeding would be in all cases to fix responsibilityon the seller of the adulterated article, and to punish sellerafter seller until the actual adulterator was reached. AMr. Shaw, who took part in the proceedings, raised a

question which is likely, we think, to be brought prominentlyforward at no distant time. He said, "if they went to awine merchant’s cellar and examined some rich old port, itmight be a question to decide what foreign ingredients itcontained." Now we have no doubt that one of the first

questions raised under the Act will be whether a 11 fortified "or brandied wine is an adulterated article within the mean-

ing of the clauses. Pure wine contains about 8 per cent.of absolute alcohol, and the liquids sold as wine in thiscountry contain sometimes as much as 20 per cent. In the

opinion of most people the addition of alcohol to wine isdistinctly injurious, either on moral, Tsthetic, or sanitarygrounds; and magistrates will certainly be called upon todetermine whether the " People’s Port" can be sold with

I.impunity, except under the designation of 11 a mixture."

THE PREMIER ON EDUCATION.

COMMENTING on the educational performance of the olderuniversities as compared with their opportunities, Mr.Gladstone observed at Liverpool the other day that theirendowments and those of the foundation schools were pro-bably equal in amount to those of all similar institutions onthe continent of Europe put together; and what is theresult ? P We do not stand well in comparison with eitherScotland or Germany. In the latter country, said Mr.Gladstone, 11 with means so much more slender as to be quiteout of comparison with our own, the results are so much moreabundant that in the ulterior prosecution of almost everybranch of inquiry it is to Germany and the works of Germans

that the professional student must look for assistance."This fact does not imply that the German is superior to theEnglishman in natural gifts, but that 11 the educated classesin Germany are far more in earnest about education thanour own "; and that the Germans, as a people, have not yet" learnt to undervalue or even to despise simplicity of life."There is more in this remark than may at first sight appear.Success in practice brings with it, as a Nemesis, loss of timefor scientific research, till it is notorious that the progressof medicine owes less to its most prominent members thanto men who occupy a humbler position in the eyes of theworld. The remedy for this state of things lies not so muchwith the profession as with the public, whose education oughtto teach them to discriminate between man and man, andto be less guided by mere fashion.

THE DUBLIN SANITARY ASSOCIATION.

THE sub-committee of this Association have given in areport on the threatened approach of cholera towards ourshores in relation to Dublin being attacked by the epi-demic. They recommend that arrangements should bemade at once for the inspection of all vessels arriving inthe Liffey and at Kingstown, if known to come from aninfected part ; that an isolated hospital be prepared, eitherfloating or within a convenient distance of the river, towhich patients suffering from cholera should be instantlyremoved; that proper conveyances should be provided forthe removal of patients, one being connected with everydispensary; that a vigilant inspection should be institutedto examine into the dwellings of the poor, and, if necessary,to thoroughly cleanse and purify them, to prevent over-crowding, and to provide privies where required, and tosee that all accumulations of refuse be removed daily; alsothat disinfectants should be provided gratuitously, so thatin any case of cholera, the discharges, the latrines, and theclothes of the sick may be instantly disinfected; and thatall wells should be closed except it be certified that thewater is perfectly pure. These measures, if carried out intheir entirety, will undoubtedly be of immense service

should Dublin be visited by this most malignant disorder.

THE WESTMINSTER PLAY.

IN spite of utilitarian criticism, this time-honoured insti-tution continues to flourish. The Adelphi of Terence wasthis year selected for performance, and the dramatis personcewere sustained with considerable ease and effect. The pro-logue and epilogue were of unusual merit, the former beingespecially felicitous in its allusions to deceased alumnisuch as Mr. Manuel Dasent, who was drowned at SandfordLasher; and the latter hitting off the various "movements"of the day, political and social, with much humour of con-ception and neatness of phrase. The conclave of the

Emperors, the International Congress, and the women’srights agitation, were the three 11 conventions" of the yearon which the satirist dwelt, the ambition of certain strong-minded females to compete for medical and forensic honoursbeing criticised with a good deal of fun. One sister says:

Scribendo, memini, recitandoque ac numerandoVici olim fratres, parva puella, meos !Cur non, astatis quum census simus adultee,Omnes curriculum nos ageremus idem?

To which another objects:Ambitiosa nimis, soror, es: eontenia egomet sumCurriculo binis quale agitatur eqnis.

But this weak-minded preference of the curricle of the

park to the curriculum of the university is sternly deridedby her first sister:

Cur ego non medica illustris, chirnrgave flam ? PQuid prohibet fore vos lumina clara Fori?

Fired with this generous ambition, the ladies resolve (in

931

spite of Mr. Ayrton) on holding a monster "indignationmeeting" in Hyde-park, to assert their right to medical,legal, and political distinction.

Conventum Urbano in Campo statuamus habendum(aedilis Doster nolit an ille velit !)Immensum!

But, enter emperors, internationals, and police, and form atableau with the ladies whose intended meeting is aban-doned in favour of that best of all meetings, the West-minster Play! Such academic performances are among thethings they manage better in France, where dramatic im-personation and recital are quite common in the classicalschools, to the distinct advantage of the pupil, not only inscholarship, but in the physical accomplishments whichthe systematic study of elocution and delivery invariablyconfers.

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PARSIMONY OF THE CROWN.

IT has often been our duty to comment upon the wretchedparsimony of the public authorities, which would risk

the failure of an inquiry into the true cause of a person’sdeath rather than allow the proper fees to a medical manfor a post-mortem. This miserable economy is not, how-ever, confined solely to medical fees at coroner’s inquests.In an important trial last week, at Durham assizes, wherefour men were being tried for murder, the greatest possibleinconvenience was caused by there not being a mapof the lowsin quo in court. The judge indignantly inquired why sucha map had not been prepared ? The reply he received wasnoteworthy. H The map had not been prepared becausethe costs of its preparation would not be allowed by theCrown !" In his charge to the jury, Mr. Justice Denmancommented severely on the ill-judged economy which forthe sake of saving 11 a paltry sum of three or four guineas,"risked a miscarriage of justice in a trial for the most seriouscrime known to the law. We wish Mr. Justice Denman allsuccess in his crusade against Treasury niggardliness, butthe painful experience of our own profession forbids, weconfess, our entertaining much hope of his success.

PROFESSIONAL REMUNERATION.

THE Evening Standard, a paper that is usually extremelywell informed on medical matters, has published some soundand timely observations on medical fees, which support ourrecent argument for the suppression of doctors’ bills. Aftera slight sketch of the way in which hospitals are besiegedby patients who ought to pay, and doctors are importunedfor " friendly " prescriptions and advice, the writer observesthat, after all, " the medical profession have the remedy intheir own hands." We have said something like this al-ready, and we trust that our readers will discern the truthand apply it. -

THE SUPPRESSION OF VICE.

THE days of obscene literature-at least as written andcirculated under pseudo-medical colours - will soon be

numbered, if the prosecution of offenders is carried on withits present vigour. On Saturday, the 21st, the Liverpoolmagistrates nned " Doctor" A. Louis 20s. and costs for dis-tributing indecent publications; while atMarlborough-street,on the same day, the three " gentlemen" who conduct Dr.Kahn’s Museum, in the unavoidable absence of their

superior, were committed by Mr. Knox for trial, each de-fendant to find two sureties in .6100. The detective, onwhose evidence the "gentlemen" were committed, onentering the museum was shown into a private room, andtold that Dr. Kahn was there. He saw only Mr. Dennison(one of the defendants), to whom he said he had purchasedone of his books, and, before consulting him, asked if he

used mercury in his treatment. Mr. Dennison replied thathe occasionally did; and, in answer to another question,said his fee was one guinea. Ultimately, 8700 copies of the"Philosophy of Marriage" were seized on the premises, andthe three " gentlemen" were summoned on a warrant. The

Society for the Suppression of Vice has a Herculean labourbefore it, but its progress in cleansing the Augean stableof obscene literature is already marked enough to stimulateit to redoubled efforts. All guardians of the public health,whether moral or physical, should bear a hand in the goodthough repulsive work. -

THE SMOKE NUISANCE IN BELFAST.

AT the recent annual meeting of the supporters of theFrederick-street General Hospital, Belfast, the committeepresented a report in which they strongly urged the sup-pression of the smoke nuisance. They alleged that thewindows of the hospital are frequently kept closed duringthe entire day in consequence of the clouds of smokevomited forth by the chimneys of adjacent manufactories;also that the public health of the town suffers, andthat pulmonary complaints are produced by the irritationof the lungs caused by the vitiated atmosphere. Thereare few things more curious than the vigorous vitalityof admitted evils. Everybody interested in the cure ofthe sick, or in the sanitary state of the population,is well aware of the ill effects of a smoke-loaded atmosphere.

Every man of sense knows that it is sheer waste and follyto send a largd percentage of fuel into the air unconsumed,and every householder can form some estimate of thedestruction to clothes, paint, furniture, books, and pictures,which smoke accomplishes every day. And yet the presentsixpence reigns supreme. Like many other places, Belfastprobably spends every year, in paying for the effects ofsmoke, ten times as much money as would once for allprovide grates and furnaces in which it would be consumed.

PHILADELPHIAN DECREES.

WE have information, which seems to come from anauthentic source, that owing to one most important portionof the Acts repealing the charters of certain American

colleges that trafficked in degrees having been undesignedlyomitted, advantage has been taken of the omission to con-tinue the traffic in England. A °° Dr." agent from NewYork has been calling on medical men and others, repre-senting that diplomas can be received from the PennsylvaniaUniversity for ten dollars. Circulars to a similar effecthave been sent to us in great numbers. After recent ex-

posure there is no excuse for any who take an American

degree in absentiâ or on terms of purchase. We are in-formed that the defect in the Acts referred to will be

speedily remedied. The sooner the better. We trust thatthe various States of the Union will take this whole subjectinto consideration, and pass such laws as will secure therespectability of degrees, which has been so rudelydamaged.

THE ____THE BROWN INSTITUTION.

’i AT the last meeting of the Senate of the University ofLondon, the following resolution was passed :-

cc That an opinion be obtained as to the limits withinwhich the investigation or study of the diseases of animalscan be legally carried on by means of the funds of theBrown Institution, or otherwise, in the buildings of theBrown Institution or one of them."

THE Hereditary Grand Duke of Russia is reported to beill of typhus. The symptoms, however, according to thelatest information, were not alarming.

932

MucH excitement prevails in scientific and academ:circles in Paris by the declaration of a M. Rondelet and twjustices of the peace for the 6th arrondissement, that Ch. Robin, a member of the Institute and a Professor ithe School of Medicine, is incapacitated by his religioubelief from serving on a jury. M. Robin’s opinions are ncmore pronounced on theological questions than those c

many savants among ourselves; but their disqualifyinnature it has been reserved for Paris," the seat c

liberty," to declare. M. Robin has done admirablservice as a medical witness in criminal trials, and i

regarded as one of the first forensic physicians in EuropEBut it seems, like Chaucer’s leech, "his reading is but littlin the Bible," and he is interdicted from the jury-boaccordingly. Demonstrations in his behalf have been mad,

by the students of the Latin quarter, and, in short, a stonlhas been set rolling which may reach further than th,

apostles of Parisian 11 regeneration" dream of.

AT a meeting of. the managers of the Edinburgh RoyaInfirmary, held on Monday last, the following resolutioiwas adopted:-" That the managers of the Royal Infirmarresolve to admit females already enrolled in the studentsregister for Scotland to receive clinical instruction, at Eseparate hour from that at which male students are ad.mitted into the hospital, and in a stated number of wards.containing eighty beds, to which the female students musiconfine their visits; and remit to a sub-committee to makethe requisite arrangements and alterations."

ENTERIC FEVER and scarlet fever are reported to be

alarmingly prevalent in Moseley and Balsall Heath, nearBirmingham, and the sanitary precautions in force are soglaringly deficient that the ratepayers are preparing amemorial to the Local Government Board, complaining ofthe apathy of the local health authorities in the matter.It is stated that in the greater part of the district there isan utter absence of any system of drainage. We trust that

an inspector from Gwydyr House has already appeared onthe scene.

--

A NEW guillotine has been adopted in Paris, which hasthe novelty of not demanding from the victims the exertionof clambering up a flight of steps, as in the old and cum-brous machine. The new work of art is level with the

ground, and would probably charm M. Samson, could hecome to life, by its simplicity and elegance. In the case ofa young murderer decapitated by its means a few days agoit was found to work well.

____

TyPaus and small-pox are making frightful ravages inthe districts flooded by the Po. At Sermide, fhe old hospitalbeing under water, a temporary lazzaretto had to accommo-date forty patients, among whom there were but six

mattresses, ten pillows, and a few scant coverlets. Surelythe efforts of the various relief committees in London andelsewhere must be redoubled, if North Italy is to be saved froma pestilence as disastrous as those recorded by Boccaccioand Manzoni.

____

THE Rotherham Town Council have ordained that allowners and occupiers within the borough shall place gulliesoutside their premises, the object being to make a sever-ance between the sinkstone and the sewer, and thus preventsewer contaminated gas from entering dwelling houses.

M. LITTRE, the greatest of medical scholars, has com-pleted his dictionary of the French language-one of themost remarkable feats of the century. The work is espe-

cially rich in its etymology and definition of medico-scientificterms.

THE President and Secretary of the St. Thomas’s Hospit:, Medical and Physical Society (Mr. Wagstaffe and Dr. EvanE

gave a microscopical soiree on Thursday evening, Decembe19th. Some excellent specimens of healthy and diseasetissues were shown by members of the staff and others, anCohnheim’s experiments of migration of corpuscles werexhibited.

-

AT the last sitting of the Academy of Sciences, ParisDr. Decaisne complained of the reckless manner in whic]cod-liver oil is now administered without taking into consideration the physical peculiarities of the patient. Di

Decaisne has almost a sacred veneration for the valuableoil which is our mainstay and sheet-anchor in so man;wasting diseases.

-

THE Edinburgh Town Council, alive to the sanitarybackwardness of the city, have directed Dr. Littlejohn t<report to them on the duties of his office and on the stafand organisation he deems necessary to ensure the needecreforms. Intramural sepulture and factory nuisances arEamong the subjects on which Dr. Littlejohn will havE

specially to report. __

.

BETTER late than never, Sweden is about to erect a monu.ment to her great naturalist, Linnseus. On the 10th of next

month, 100 years after his death, his statue will be un.veiled at Stockholm.

____

ON Saturday, the 21st inst., Dr. Letheby presided at ameeting of the Association of Medical Officers of Health anddelivered an address on the working of the new Adultera-tion Act.

____

DR. BURDON SANDERSON will deliver next year a course

of lectures on the Comparative Pathology of Inflammation,which will duly appear in our columns.

DR. MICHAEL J. MOORHEAD has been appointed a

Justice of the Peace, to carry out the Towns ImprovementAct in the town of Tullamore, Ireland.

AN inquiry is being prosecuted into the sanitary condi-tion of the public schools at Oldham, which is stated to bethe reverse of satisfactory.

DR. CORNER, medical officer of health for Mile End, hasbeen appointed analyst for the district.

LONDON INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1873.

THE second meeting of the Committee on Surgical In-struments and Appliances was held on Monday last in theoffices, Gore Lodge, South Kensington. Among those pre-sent were-Mr. Csesar H. Hawkins, F.R.S., in the chair-Sir Wm. Fergusson, Bart., F.R.S., Dr. P. Allen, Mr. W.Bowman, F.R.S., Mr. R. BrudeneIl Carter, Mr. W. WhiteCooper, Dr. W. T. Domville, R.N., Dr. Arthur Farre,F.R.S., Dr. G. T. Gream, Mr. Prescott G. Bewett, Mr. J.Hilton, F.R.S., Mr. J. Hinton, Professor J. Marshall, F.R.S.,Mr. T. W. Nunn, Dr. W. S. Playfair, Mr. R. Quain, F.R.S.,and Mr. Edwin Saunders. Lftters received from the RoyalCollege of Surgeons and the Royal Medical and ChirurgicalSociety were read, and it was stated that many of theleading surgical instrument makers in London, Dublin,Paris, and other capitals had signified their intention tocontribute. It was suggested that the Exhibition shouldbe brought before the notice of the British Medical Associa-tion at its meeting in August, 1873. The Committee re-solved to recommend the Royal Commissioners to invitecorresponding members in foreign countries, and, after thetransaction of general business, adjourned till Monday, the20th January, 1873.