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1324 Notes, Short Comments, and Answers to Correspondents. AN INQUEST ON A CHILD FOUND ON A DOORSTEP. A MALE infant about three months old was found on a doorstep at Wandsworth and removed to the workhouse on Oct. llth. On the 22nd he was placed in the infirmary, where he died a few days later. At the inquest no evidence was forthcoming as to the child’s condi- tion when he first reached the workhouse, the medical officer of the infirmary being only able to testify to what he had observed while the deceased was under his care. The child had suffered from rickets and death had been due to exhaustion following colitis. The coroner in summing up to the jury observed that when a child was admitted to a public institution on a c01d foggv night in such circumstances as witnesses had described, the condition on admission should be properly observed and recorded. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence and requested the coroner to censure the workhouse authorities. THE APPEAL ON BEHALF OF MISS E. B. PELLATT, L.S.A. To the Editors of THE LANCET. SIRS,-As the time for closing this fund is rapidly approaching will you permit me on behalf of the committee cordially to thank you for the help you have given in allowing the appeal to appear in your columns and the lists of contributions to be duly reported, and also at the same time warmly to thank those who have so generously con- tributed. The result has been that a sum of about E525 has been received, the annual income accruing from which will greatly assist towards the attainment of that "modest competence " for Miss Pellatt which was the object the promoters had in view when they originated the appeal. May I add further that suggestions have been made to form an "annual subscription list" of one guinea or less and four individuals have already expressed their wish to contribute to it. The committee has concurred in this suggestion and should anyone else also be disposed to join in it the treasurer, Surgeon-Colnnet F. H. Welch, 8, Brandram-road, Lee, S.E., will be glad to receive their names. I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, E. F. DRAKE-BROCKMAN, F.R.C.S. Eng. Welbeck-street, W., Oct. 31st, 1904. EELS IN VINE&AR. WITH regard to the letter upon this subject which appeared in our issue of Oct. 22nd, p. 1192, a correspondent writes :- "Eels" in vinegar or paste are small varieties of nematode "worms," generally belonging to the genus Anguillula. Their rate of multiplication is very rapid, they are of the usual threadworm shape, are nearly transparent, and have a very thick cuticle. They have an extraordinary power of resisting desiccation and the eggs (possibly the adult form) have been described as existing alive in a dried state for fourteen years. Some at least of the Anguillilse (A. macroura and A. appendiculats) are found in a sexual form in the intestine of the cockroach (Blatta orientalis) [Van Beneden, quoted from Radkewisch]. The eggs pass with the fisces of the cockroach and are probably the channel of infection of paste, vinegar, and putrefying cereal foods. Van Beneden classes the " vinegar eel" as possibly a form of rachitis (nematode) akin to Anguillulina dipsaci which attacks the flowers of the teazel (Dipsacus Fullonum), but it is difficult to see how this nematode could gain access to vinegar or paste. It is much more probable that the forms of Anguillilae known to exist in cockroaches are the ones found in vinegar. Though there is no absolute evidence that these varieties of nematodes do propagate in human intestines, the extraordinary vitality of these animals ould render such an experiment very risky and should be quite sufficient ground for condemning any article of food in which they have been found to exist. The life-history of these nematcdes is highly interesting his- torically, as their resuscitation from a desiccated state was one of the most important points of evidence claimed years ago by such untrained observers as G. H. Lewes for the establishment of the theory of " biogenesis." A form of Anguillulina (A. tritici) which infests various cereals was described by Needham most carefully in 1747. MILK AND REST CURE. A CORRESPONDENT writes that he would be very much obliged to any of our readers who could give him the address of a sanatorium or institution where a milk and rest cure similar to those which obtain on the continent could be carried out. SIX CHILDREN AT ONE BIRTH. THE October number of the Pacific Medical Journal quotes Dr. Vortisch, physician of the Basle Mission on the Gold Coast, West Africa, as saying : " attended the birth of six babies at Accra, the chief town of the Gold Coast, some years ago. The mother was a native negress. She had been a mother five times before. The second time she brought forth twins, the third time four babies, the fourth time triplets. Of the six children born in my presence five were boys. All had the appearance of healthy children save one, which died soon after birth. The other children lived from a week to ten (lays, and died of their motltcr’s neglect, not on account of some constitutional weakness." P. R. S.-A patient has a perfect right to change his medical man at his own pleasure. With regard to the practitioner, who assisted our correspondent upon a former occasion, taking up the case, we do not think that he can be held to be acting nnprofessionally provided that he has acquainted our correspondent with the fact that the patient has applic(l to him. Many medical men, however, in the eircum- stances would have been reluctant to take the case, and would only have done so upon a clear assurance from the patient that, whomsoever lie employed, he would not call in his original medical adviser. Such awkward occurrences should never be allowed to interlere with professional relations between medical men. Res. Jled. Officer.-Our correspondent is bound, under protest it may be, to say what he knows to be a fact, but it is no part of his duty in the circumstances to speculate on the possible or probable duration of infectivity. Dry Rot.-The subject is dealt with in an annotation in our present number. Medical Diary for the ensuing Week. OPERATIONS. METROPOLITAN HOSPITALS. T , METROPOLITAN HOSPITALS. MONDAY (7th).-London (2 P.M.), St. Bartholomew’s (1.30 P.M.), St Thomas’s (3.30 P.M.), St. George’s (2 P.M.), St. Mary’s (2.30 P.M.), Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), Westminster (2 P.-4.), Chelsea (2 P.M.), Samaritan (Gynaecological, by Physicians, 2 P.M.), Soho-square (2 P.M.), Royal Orthopedic (2 P.M.), City Orthopedic (4 P.M.), Gt. Northern Central (2.30 P.M.), West London (2.30 P.M.), London Throat (9.30 A.M.), Royal Free (2 P.M.), Guy’s (1.30 P.M.). TUESDAY (8th).-London (2 P.m.), St. Bartholomew’s (1.30 P.M.), St. Thomas’s (3.30 P.M.), Guy’s (1.30 Y.ryt.), Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), West- minster (2 1’.)1.), West London (2.30 P.M.), University College (2 P.M.), St. George’s (1 P.M.), St. Mary’s (1 P.M.), St. Mark’s (2.30 P.M.), Cancer (2 P.M.), Metropolitan (2.30 P.M.), London Throat (9.30 A.M.), Royal Ear (3 P.M.), Samaritan (9.30 A.M. and 2.30 P.M.), Throat. Golden-square (9.30 A.M.), Soho-square (2 P.M.), Chelsea (2 P.M.), Central London Throat and Ear (2 P.M.). WEDNESDAY (9th).-St. Bartholomew’s (1.30P.M.), University College (2 P.M.). Royal Free (2 P.M.), Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), Charing Cross (3 P.M.), St. Thomas s (2 P.M.), London (2 P.M.), King’s College (2 1’.)1.), St. George’s (Ophthalmic, 1 P.M.), St. Mary’s (2 P.M.), National Orthopedic (10 A.w-), St. Peter’s (2 P.M.), Samaritall (9.30 A.M. and 2 30 P.M.), Gt. Ormond-street (9.30 A.M.), Gt. Northern Central (2 30 P.M.), Westminster (2 P.M.), Metropolitan (2.30 P.M.), London Throat (9.30 A.M.), Cancer (2 P.M.), Throat, Golden-square (9.30 A.M.), Guy’s (1.30 P.M.). THURSDAY (lOth).-St. Bartholomew’s (1.30 P.M.), St. Thomas’s (3.30 P.M.), University College (2 P.M.), Charing Cross (3 P.M.), St. George’s (1 P.M.), London (2 1’.211.), King’s College (2 P.M.), Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), St. Mary’s (2.30 P.M.), Soho-square (2 P.M.), North-West London (2P.M.),Gt. Northern Central (Gynsecological, 2.30 P.M.), Metropolitan (2.30 P.M.), London Throat (9.30 A.M.), St. Mark’s (2 P.M.). Samaritan (9.30 A.M. and 2.30 P.M.), Throat, Golden-square, (9.30 A.M.), G uy’s (1.30 P.M.). FRIDAY (llth).-London (2 P.M.), St. Bartholomew’s’ (1.30 P.M.), St. . Thomas’s (3.30 P.M.), Guy’s (1.30 P.M.), Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), Charing Cross (3 P.M.), St. George’s (1 P.M.), King’s College (2 P.M.), St. Mary’s e (2 P.M.), Ophthalmic (10 A.M.), Cancer (2 Chelsea (2 P.M.), Gt. Northern Central (2.30 P.M.), West London (2.30 1’.211.), London Throat (9.30 A.M.), Samaritan (9.30 A.M. and 2.30 P.M.), Throat, Golden-square (9. 30 A.M.), City Orthopedic (2.30 P.M.), Soho-square ’ (2 P.M.). Central London Throat and Ear (2 P.M.). ’ SATURDAY (12th).-Royal Free (9 A.M.), London (2 P.M.), Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), St. Thomas’s (2 P.M.), University College (9.15 A.M.), Charing Cross (2 P.M.), St. George’s (1 P.M.), St. Mary’s (10 P.M.), Throat, Golden-square (9.30 A.M.), Guy’s (1.30 P.M.). At the Royal Eye Hospital (2 P.M.), the Royal London Ophthalmic (10 A.M.), the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic (1.30 P.m.), and the Central London Ophthalmic Hospitals operations are performed daily. SOCIETIES. v v TUESDAY (8th).-MEDICO-LEGAL SOCIETY (22, Albemarle-street, W.).- 8.15 P.M. Sir W. Collins: Presidential Address. -Papers:-Dr. T. C. Shaw : Obscure Form of Alcoholism involving Irresponsi- bility.-Mr. S. B. Atkinson: Definitions of Accident and Accidental. PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN (17, Bloomsbury- square, W.C.).-8 P.M. Pharmaceutical Meeting. Papers :-Dr. E. Drabble and Mr. F. A. U. Smith: The Botanical Source of Derbyshire Valerian. Communication from the Compendium Committee:-Prof. Greenish: Official Processes for Galenical Preparations (The Results of an Examination of some suggested Modilications). ROYAL MEDICAL AND CHIRURGICAL SOCIETY (20, Hanover-square, W.).-8.30 P.M. Papers :—Dr. W. Thorburn : The Seventh Cervical Rib and its Effects upon the Brachial Plexus.-Dr. G. N. Pitt: Two Cases of Fungating Endocarditis followed by Convalescence. WEDNESDAY (9th).-DERMATOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON (11, Chandos-street, Cavendish-square, W.).-5.15 P.M. Demonstration of Cases of Interest. SOUTH-WEST LONDON MEDICAL SOCIETY (Bolingbroke Hospital, Wandsworth Common).-9 P.M. Paper:-Dr. W. W. H. Tate: The Diagnosis and Treatment of Tubal Gestation in the Early Weeks. HuNTEBlAN SOCIETY (London Institution, Finsbury-circus, E.C.).- 9 P.M. Lecture: Dr. R. Bradford; The Treatment of Bright’s Disease.
