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Prahran Poisoning Case. i

Mention was made in this column on Feb. 4th of a peculiarpoisoning case near Melbourne, in which a mother and two daughters died from symptoms thought to be due to ]ptomaines but afterwards proved to be arsenical poisoning.The third daughter, who was proved to have bought arsenic,was charged with the murder of her mother. At the trialthe jury disagreed.

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Tuberculosis Conference.A conference of health officials from all States except

Queensland (Dr. J. S. C. Elkington being otherwise

engaged) met in Melbourne to discuss the tuberculosis

question from a practical sanitary standpoint. It was re-solved, amongst other matters, that the Health Departmentof the States should ask for legal power to enable officers tosegregate dangerous consumptives. Power to detain thesecases will be required, such power to be obtained through anorder of a court. The patients’ interests would be safe-

guarded by the right to apply for release from the segre-gation locality, an application which might be granted undercertain pathological circumstances and under conditions

regarding precautions. The conference also dealt with the

question of the prohibition of oversea consumptives land-ing in Australia. It was resolved to recommend to theCommonwealth Government an extension of the presentAct covering the examination of persons about to leavefor Australia at the port of departure, and also givingpower to keep in touch with consumptives after arrivalin Australia. Commenting on these proposals the MelbourneArgues gave expression to the following remarks: "Butsuch a segregation should be possible apart from themethod of lodging a criminal in a penitentiary. Nordoes the danger of infection from case to case call forsuch drastic proposals. At present every existing caseinfects less than one other victim. Even so minimal a

personal danger as this may be controlled by the simplestmeasures of cleanliness. It has been truly remarked thatthe public misunderstand the danger of infection in phthisis.but it may also be said that such misunderstanding is notthe fault of the public. The reality of infection has been

pushed by sanitarians to the exclusion of every other con-sideration. As a matter of fact, if compulsory segregationis to become law it would be more effective if directed

against predisposed family strains than against the actualsufferers." The last sentence will not find ready scientificendorsement.

Phenomenal Rainfall.The present summer and autumn have been very wet

throughout Australia generally. In Victoria no similarrainfall for the first three months of the year is on record.The average for six months is a little more than 12 in., andalready more than 13 in. have been recorded in less thanthree months. Typhoid fever has been much less prevalentthan usual at this period of the year, but diphtheria hasshown an increase, and sporadic outbreaks have occurred inseveral places.

-Radium.Dr. L. P. Johnston of Sydney has returned to Australia with

radium to the value of <&4000, to purchase which he made aspecial visit to the continent. The radium belongs to themanagers of the Sydney Hospital and will be used in itsservice. It is expected that Dr. Louis Wickham of Pariswill visit Sydney this year and will make some suggestions asto the best means of employing the radium clinic.April lst.

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Obituary.SAMUEL KNAGGS, M.R.C.S.ENG., L.S.A.,

CONSTLTIN6 SURGEON, HUDDERSFIELD INFIRMARY.

Samuel Knaggs, whose death, at the age of 82, occurredon April 23rd, was born at Clapham, and began his pro-fessional career as an apprentice to a practitioner in

Tooting. In 1850 he received his diplomas from the RoyalCollege of Surgeons of England and the Apothecaries’ Hall,having in the meantime completed his curriculum at Guy’s.An original member of the Old Guyite Club, he was everloyal to his old hospital, and sent to it two of his sons whoentered the profession.

After qualification he was for a short time an assistant

in Huntingdon, and about 59 years ago settled inHuddersfield. For 35 years he was one of the honorarysurgeons to the Huddersfield Infirmary, and whilst for yearshe bore a lion’s share of the work in the wards, operatingtheatre, and out-patient room, he took an active part in theadministration and development of the institution. At theboard meetings his sound judgment and ripe experience werehighly valued. As a token of respect the infirmary fag washoisted half-mast when his death became known. Mr.

Knaggs had also filled the offices of Poor-law medicalofficer, surgeon to the borough police, and surgeon to theragged and industrial school. He was a past president andon the council of the Yorkshire branch of the British MedicalAssociation, and was twice president of the HuddersfieldMedical Society, of which the members, to show theiresteem for him, elected him an honorary member.

Mr. Knaggs gave up practice five years ago. Until joinedfor a short time by Mr. Lawford Knaggs, and afterwards byMr. Frank Knaggs, he had conducted alone a large practice inHuddersfield and a wide area around it. Though he nevertook part in municipal affairs he was one of the best knownmen in Huddersfield. Philanthropic and social movementsalways had his support. It is due in great measure to himthat the excellent district nursing institution was establishedon such efficient and satisfactory lines. In matters touchingthe welfare of medical men he was not infrequently themoving spirit and organiser. He had been chairmanof the West Riding Medical Charitable Society, and bothto it and the ’British Medical Benevolent Fund hewas an almost life-long subscriber. Many other societieswill miss the help his kind and generous nature gavethem. Mr. Knaggs was an independent thinker, as wasshown by his papers on sociology, on the criminalresponsibility of the insane, and the position of homceo-pathy. When he had thrown off the cares ofpractice and was almost an octogenarian he published awarning against Socialism and a volume in support of theChristian religion. As the work of one on the verge of80 years of age the latter is noteworthy. But it is more. Itgives the key to his character, to the gentle kindness, thesterling integrity, the unfailing courtesy, and the brightgeniality which marked him even in old age. Without eitherostentation or display the late Mr. Knaggs was a sincerelyreligious man.

Mr. Knaggs leaves four sons, of whom two are in themedical profession-Mr. Lawford Knaggs, professor of surgeryat the Leeds University, and Mr. Frank Knaggs, ophthalmicsurgeon to the Huddersfield Infirmary. Mrs. Knaggs pre-deceased her husband a few years ago. Mr. Knaggs wasburied at the Huddersfield cemetery on April 26th,when a representative attendance of his professional brethrenand townsmen was present to show respect to his memory.

Medical News.ROYAL COLLEGES OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS

OF EDINBURGH AND ROYAL FACULTY OF PHYSICIANS ANDSURGEONS OF GLASGOW.-At the recent examinations in

Glasgow the following candidates passed their respectiveexaminations :-

First Professional Examination.-Francis Halden, Robert M’Gregor,and John Walker.

Second Profess2onaL Examination.-John Francis Bourke, RolandJohn Croxford, Joseph Vincent Duffy, William Cowan Holburn,Violet Millicent Tracey, and William Neville Pennant Williams.

Third Professional Eixamination.-Chuni Lal Bhatia, Diwan JaiChand, Joseph Moses Coplans, George Agincourt Hodges, RonaLockhart, Frederick Richard Lucas, Tonur Sekharan Nair, JohnScott, Balwant Singb, and Kul Want.

Final Examination.-Alfred Benjamin Bateman, Framrozi LimjiBhajiwalla, Bhalchandra Shivram Bhandarkar, Dhunjiboy BomanjiCama, Rastamji Ratanji Dadina, David Lindsay Hutton, JamesM’Cusker, James M’Manus, George da Silva, John Arthur Smith,and Hugh Francis Williams.

CROWNHILL CONVALESCENT HOME, PLYMOUTH.-The annual meeting of the subscribers of the CrownhillConvalescent Home was held on April 27th. The medicalreport stated that 338 patients had been admitted duringthe year. The financial statement showed a deficit of &pound;26.Dr. C. A. Hingston was re-elected honorary consultingphysician, and Dr. Bertram Soltau honorary physician.

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A grant of .66000 has been made by theDrapers’ Company to the Battersea Polytechnic for theerection and equipment of a department of physiology andhygiene, which will include lecture-theatre, class-rooms,and laboratories suitable for courses of systematic popularinstruction.

ROYAL [DEVON AND EXETER HOSPITAL.-At aquarterly meeting of the subscribers of the Royal Devon andExeter Hospital, held recently, it was reported that at theend of March last the institution had a favourable balance of&pound;597. For the corresponding period of 1910 the adversebalanoeamounted to .E1112.

MEDICAL SICKNESS AND ACCIDENT SOCIETY.-Theusual monthly meeting of the executive committee ofthe Medical Sickness, Annuity, and Life Assurance Societywas held at 429, Strand, London, W.C., on April 21st. Therewere present: Dr. F. de Havilland Hall (in the chair), Dr.Frederick S. Palmer, Dr. M. G. Biggs, Mr. J. Brindley-James,Dr. H. A. Sansom, Dr. F. J. Allan, Dr. F. C. Martley,Mr. E. Bartlett, Dr. M. Greenwood, Dr. J. W. Hunt, Dr. J.Pickett, and Dr. J. B. Ball. The draft of the report andbalance sheet for 1910, which will be presented to themembers at the annual general meeting to be held at therooms of the Medical Society of London on May 18th at4.30, was discussed and agreed to. They show that thebusiness during the last year has been exceptionally good,and has produced a considerable addition to the already largefinancial reserves of the society. The records of the businessfor the early part of this year are also very good, and in par-ticular the number of new entrants has been greater than inany previous equal period of the society’s working. Pro-

speotuses and all further particulars may be obtained onapplication to Mr. F. Addiscott, secretary, Medical Sicknessand Accident Society, 33, Chancery-lane, London, W.O.

CENTRAL MIDWIVES BOARD.-A meeting of theCentral Midwives Board was held at Caxton House, West-minster, on April 27th, with Sir Francis H. Champneys inthe chair. A letter was considered from the clerk of thePrivy Council as to whether a midwife guilty of a breach ofthe rules of the Board when acting as a maternity nurseunder the direction of a qualified medical practitioner isamenable to the jurisdiction of the Board. It was decided41 that the Board pass the following resolution : TheBoard does not consider that the midwife under thecircumstances was amenable to Rules E." A letter wasconsidered from the clerk of the Privy Council transmittingfor the observations of the Board a copy of a letter.addressed to the President of the Local Government Boardby an applicant whom the Board had refused to certifyunder Rule B.2. The Board decided that the clerk of thePrivy Council be informed that the application was carefullyconsidered by the Board, who, for reasons appearing to besufficient, came to the conclusion that it would be in-advisable that the applicant should be granted a certificate.A letter was considered from the clerk of the Privy Counciltransmitting a copy of a letter from the Devon County Councilin regard to the suggestion of the Board that Section 1 (2).of the Midwives Act, 1902, should be amended by thedeletion of the words "habitually and for gain." TheBoard directed that the secretary do communicate tothe clerk of the Privy Council a list of those local supervisingauthorities who have concurred with the Board’s suggestionfor the amendment of Section 1 (2) of the Midwives Act,1902, by the deletion of the words habitually and for gain." A letter was considered from the Director of Public Prose-cutions informing the Board that a certain woman whosename was removed from the midwives roll on July 12th,1906, had been convicted of manslaughter at the CentralCriminal Court on March 30th and had been sentenced tofour months’ imprisonment with hard labour. The Boarddirected that the communication of the Director of PublicProsecutions be acknowledged with thanks. A letter wasconsidered from the clerk of the Derbyshire county councilinquiring whether the Board would beprepared to defray theexpenses of an appeal from the Chesterfield justices who hadheld that attendance otherwise than at the actual time ofbirth was not attendance "in childbirth." It was decidedthat the Board do approve the reply of the secretary, pointingout that the power and duty of taking proceedings underSection 1 (2) of the Midwives Act, 1902, is conferred on the

local supervising authority by Section 13 of the Act, and thatcorrelatively the duty of bearing the ’’ expenses of any suchprosecution

" is imposed on the authority.THE SOUTH AFRICAN CIVIL SURGEONS’ DINNER.-

Mr. C. Gordon Watson informs us that the dinner announcedin THE LANCET last week for Thursday, June lst, at 7.45 P.M.,will be held at the Criterion Restaurant on that date, and notat the Imperial Restaurant as previously stated.

FALMOUTH HOSPITAL.-On April 19th thePrincess Alexander of Teck laid the foundation stone of thenew operating theatre which is being added to the FalmouthHospital as a local memorial to the late King. Thecommittee appealed for a sum of S500 for the building, andin a short time &pound;550 were raised.

HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN, GREAT ORMOND-STREET, W.C.-The summer session of lectures at thishospital will be opened on Thursday next, May llth, by Mr.H. Stansfield Collier, who will lecture on the Diagnosis ofthe Surgical Abdominal Diseases of Childhood. OnMay 18th Dr. Batten will give a Demonstration of SelectedMedical Cases. The lectures are given at the hospital onThursdays at 4 P.M., and are open free to all medical practi-tioners. Further information will be given by Dr. A. F.Voelcker, Dean of the Medical School of the hospital.PRESENTATIONS TO MEDICAL MEN.-On

April 27th, at a largely attended meeting of the IrishDivision of the Medico-Psychological Association, heldat the Richmond Asylum, Dublin, Dr. W. R. Dawsonwas the recipient of a handsome presentation from themembers of the division on his resignation, owing to hisrecent appointment as inspector of lunatics, of the divisionalhonorary secretaryship, which he had held for the past nineyears. The presentation, which was made in suitable termsby Dr. T. Drapes, President-elect of the Association, consistedof a silver salver and a large silver-mounted ivory paper-knife, the former bearing the following inscription: "Pre-sented to W. R. Dawson, Esq., M.D., F.R.C.P.I., by theMembers of the Irish Division of the Medico-PsychologicalAssociation of Great Britain and Ireland in recognition ofhis valuable services as Divisional Hon. Secretary 1902-1911." In the evening many of the members were enter-tained by Dr. Dawson at a farewell dinner at the ShelbourneHotel.-At the recent annual distribution of prizes andcertificates to the members of the St. John Ambulance class,Yeovil, in connexion with the employees of the London andSouth Western Railway Company, Mr. Harold Robert Unwin,M.B., B. C. Cantab., F. R. C. S. Eng., L. R. C. P. Lond., waspresented with a silver-framed calendar in appreciation ofhis services as honorary instructor.

Parliamentary Intelligence.HOUSE OF COMMONS.

THURSDAY, APRIL 27TH.Gun Deafness in the Navy.

Mr. FITZ Roy asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he wasaware that although gun deafness did not cause many cases of invalidityfrom the Navy, there were many cases of officers and men whose hearinghad been impaired from this cause; whether he was aware that the use ofcotton-wool as a preventive was considered by the medical professionto be of little use; whether he was aware that a mixture of plasticineand cotton-wool was recommended by the Home Office in workshopsand factories where noise deafness was prevalent; and whether hewould see that similar material was issued by the Admiralty for use onboard ship by officers and men.-Mr. MCKENNA answered: I am awarethat there are many cases of officers and men whose hearing has beenimpaired for the reason given without resulting in their being invalidedfrom the Navy. Testa have been carried out upon various preven-tives, but opinions differ very widely as to their relative efficiency. Anear paste is already prepared and is issued when demanded.

Alleged Shortage of Medical Staff at Parkhurst Barracks.Mr. PHILIP FOSTER asked the Under Secretary of State for War

whether his attention had been called to the case of suicide of SergeantStokes, R.A.M.C., dispenser at Parkhurst Barracks; and, taking intoconsideration the fact that complaints had already been made onaccount of the shortage in the medical staff there, he would cause aninquiry to be made into the circumstances. -Mr. ACLAND (FinancialSecretary to the War Office) answered : I will reply at the same timeto this and other questions on the same subject. No informa-tion on this case beyond what has appeared in the public presshas yet reached the War Office, but orders have already beenissued to the general officer commanding-in-chief for a searchinginquiry. There was a suicide at Parkhurst on August 29th last, which