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Company officials, being naturally unwilling to keep stinking a

fish at their station, in order to get rid of them sold them for s<

manure to the defendant, a man named Crawley, who thus i)obtained six barrels containing 2800 herrings for 4s., or pbetween four and five dozen for ld. In his purchase he had t

as a partner another man who went at once to try to find La purchaser of the herrings as manure, during which time t

Crawley obtained a hand-barrow and proceeded to offer them ias food in one of the poorest parts of the city. Here a s

sanitary inspector found him trying to sell the putrid fish as n

"fresh herrings " at 3d. per dozen, and a boy who had been to

engaged to help to push the barrow gave evidence that some c

had actually been sold. An order was obtained for the s

destruction of the fish and Crawley received a well-merited r

sentence of two months’ imprisonment, being perhaps lucky 1in having been so early detected in his attempt upon the c

health of his neighbours. t1

Another Garbage-monger Fined. iThe herrings bought wholesale at Exeter as manure and t

retailed by their purchaser for human food might appro- t

priately have been followed on the dinner table by certain 1

meat of which 27 pieces weighing 154 pounds were seized <

recently at Manchester. Upon the prosecution of a butchernamed Geoige Thompson of Medlock-street, Hulme, forexposing the meat for sale, evidence was given which showedthat he had bought about 300 pounds on a Saturday 1morning at 1. per pound, that on the evening of sthe same day when seen by an inspector of the markets <

committee it was turning green and was in an advancedstage of decomposition, and that it had been cleverly dis- <

guised by being mixed with better meat, a piece of sound 1frozen meat being in one case found skewered to a pieceof the bad meat so as to cover and to conceal it. For thedefence it was said that half the meat bought had been soldand that only one customer had complained of it, that it hadbeen a bad day for keeping meat, and that the low price wasdue to the wholesale traders’ desire to get rid of their stocksbefore Sunday. The magistrates ordered Thompson to befined <&bgr;ZO and costs and expressed the opinion that bettersupervision at the slaughter-houses on Saturday morningwas needed.

evidence before Coroners.At an inquest held before Mr. Wynne E. Baxter upon the

body of a barmaid who was stabbed at a public-house asomewhat animated discussion seems to have taken placebetween the coroner and the solicitor representing a personarrested for the crime who was present in custody. The dis-

pute was not upon a point of direct medical interest but somany medical men are appointed coroners that it may beuseful to call attention to it. A medical coroner may havereceived some legal training and yet not have had the oppor-tunity of rendering himselt familiar by practice in the courtswith the points which may be raised at any moment beforehim. In this instance it may be observed that the coronerwhose mode of putting a question was objected to said that hehad had 25 years’ experience in his office, to which the object-ing solicitor retorted that he on his side had had 40 years’practice in advocacy. The Daily Telegraph thus reports thematter. The coroner asked a witness, ’’ Have you ever heardthe prisoner threaten the deceased?" "Yes." " Mr. Arm-

strong (the solicitor) : " Is not that a leading question andhardly fair to the prisoner?" " The Coroner: "There is no

question of leading questions in a coroner’s court." Mr.

Armstong: "The law of evidence applies here, I

suppose? " The Coroner : "Only to a limited extent." "

Mr. Armstrong: " It would not be accepted where they knowthe law." The coroner appears to have been perfectly rightin his estimate of his position and the form in which he puthis question was not an unfair one. The law of evidenceonly applies in a limited sense to a coroner’s court in that theinquest is held, or rather conducted, by the coroner only forthe purpose of ascertaining the cause of death. There areno parties before him, no one intervenes in the interest ofany person suspected or otherwhe except by the coroner’spermission, and the coroner is responsible for the elicitingof the truth. It is a court of inquiry merely. A leadingquestion is one which suggests its answer and is objection-able on these grounds. That is to say, an advocate is rightlynot allowed by the form of his question to put into themouth of his own witness the answer which he desires toobtain. The coroner is not an advocate, nor is he a judgeholding even the balance between two advocates ; he is

endeavouring to get at the facts in the interests of the public

and very often has but little to help him in so doing. Con-

sequently he not only may, but sometimes must, put questionsin a form which would not be permitted in the case of aprosecuting counsel upholding a particular theory with regardto a crime as against that propounded by the defence.Moreover, the question put by Mr. Wynne Baxter was onlyto a very small extent a leading question. It suggested theidea of threats but there was nothing in the form of it toshow that a particular answer was expected and the replymight have been " yes " or "no." " Had he asked Have younot heard the prisoner threaten the deceased ? he wouldclearly have suggested a response in the affirmative. Had hesaid, putting the words actually used into the witness’smouth, I Did you once hear the prisoner say I I will put herlight out’? " he would have caused the answer ’ Yes " tocover a detailed statement of matters with regard to whichthe witness should have given evidence spontaneously and tohave done so would have interfered with the fairness of the

inquiry. It is true that Mr. Wynne Baxter might have saidto the witness Have you ever heard the prisoner speak ofthe deceased ? " and on obtaining the answer ’ Yes " mighthave followed up the first question by asking In what termsdid he do so ? " and so on until he arrived at the wordsactually used. To do this would be open to no objectionfrom the advocate appearing for a suspected person butunder such conditions the coroner might not find it easy toget through his work in the time at his disposal and mightalso find it very much more difficult than it now is to arriveat any conclusion at all. The accused person is protectedfrom any possible injustice by the fact that at his ultimatetrial, if he be committed, a stricter practice prevails thanthat of the coroner’s court.

MEDICAL SCHOOL DINNERS.

The Middlesex Hospital.-Adhering strictly to precedentthe past and present students of the Middlesex Hospitaland their friends assembled on Oct. lst at the TrocaderoRestaurant to celebrate the commencement of the academic

year. There was a good attendance, 141 sitting downto dinner, under the chairmanship of Dr. William Pasteur,physician to the hospital. The guest of the evening,the Hon. Mr. Justice Wills, had presided during theafternoon at the opening ceremony in the medical school,distributing the scholarships and prize swith much genialityand interest. Lord Sandhurst, K.C.S.I., having resumedhis old position in the direction of affairs as chair-man of the weekly board, was also present with othermembers of the governing body and of the consulting andactive staff. After the royal toasts had been duly honouredthat of "The Services" was proposed by Sir Richard

Douglas Powell who referred to numerous officers in allbranches of the public service who had received theirmedical education at the Middlesex Hospital. Lieutenant-Colonel M. W. H. Russell responded, alluding to the servicesof the medical department in the field during the recentwar and acknowledging the appreciation of the personneleven if criticism had fallen on the former system of the RoyalArmy Medical Corps which had recently undergone exten-sive modifications and reforms. The toast of ’’ TheMiddlesex Hospital and the Medical School " was then

given by the chairman who dwelt upon the steady progressof both and referred to the recent additions and improve-ments which rendered the school not only complete inall essentials but placed it in the first rank in researchand laboratory equipment. Lord Sandhurst replied on behalfof the hospital, mentioning his unbroken association withmedical organisation, since the interval between his formerand present tenure of the chairmanship had been devotedto the Presidency of Bombay in the period of plague andfamine, where he had still further proof of the devotion andsympathy of the members of the medical profession. Mr.John Murray, the Dean, spoke on behalf of the medicalschool the full achievement of which he had given in theafternoon. The health of the past and present students wasproposed by Dr. Sidney Coupland in an excellent speechfull of reminiscences of an earlier phase of hospital workand was replied to by Dr. Edward Norton and Mr. W. A.Rees, representing respectively the former and presertpupils of the school. The health of the visitors was prc-posed by Mr. Stephen Paget in a humorous and appropriatespeech and was responded to by the Hon. Mr. Justice

1044

Wills and by Mr. Wilhelm Ganz, under whose direction,with the assistance of Mr. Bovett, Mr. Hugh Peyton, andMr. Charles Deacon, a most enjoyable musical programmewas given. With the toast of "The Chairman," proposedby Mr. A. Pearce Gould and feelingly acknowledged, a mostenjoyable gathering terminated shortly after 11 P.M.

Charing Cross Hospital.-Mr. C. Carter Braine pre-sided on Oct. lst at the annual dinner of the pastand present students of the Charing Cross Hospitalwhich took place at the Hotel Cecil, London. The toastof "The Hospital and Medical School" was given by Mr.Braine who spoke of the loss which the institution hadsustained by the retirement of Dr. T. H. Green fromthe medical staff. He said that the name of "TommyGreen" was known throughout the entire medical worldin connexion with clinical teaching. Although the medicalschool of Charing Cross Hospital must be always a smallone they must make up for the paucity in numbers bythe quality of the men. Mr. Braine made a short speechbecause, he said, that as an an&aelig;thetist it was his duty tokeep his eyes and ears open and his mouth shut. Dr. F. W.Mott in responding described the way in which Dr. Green’sbook on Pathology bad stimulated him as well as others intheir work. Mr. H. F. Waterhouse then gave the toast of"The Visitors" and told his audience how he had beencharged by Sir Charles Wyndham to express his regret athis unavoidable absence from the dinner. Sir CharlesWyndham had also requested him to convey to the studentsof the hospital an invitation to come on any date they mightfix to his theatre where he would be glad to welcomethem. A telegram accepting the invitation was dulydespatched to Sir Charles Wyndham. Mr. P. J. Freyerreplied for the visitors. Mr. Stanley Boyd in a neat speechproposed the toast of "The Chairman’s Health" and anenjoyable dinner was brought to a close by a very heartyacknowledgment being accorded to the two honorarysecretaries, Mr. G. S. Welham and Mr. Sidney Boyd, for themanner in which they had carried out the duties of theiroffice.

St. Bartholomew’s Hospital.-The annual dinner took

place on Oct. lst in the great hall of the hospital. Mr.W, Bruce Clarke occupied the chair and 183 personswere present. In proposing the toast of the evening thechairman congratulated the hospital on having passed throughthe late crisis and referred warmly to the good feeling andclose connexion between the hospital and the school. Mr.Alderman Alliston responded, the treasurer being unavoidablyabsent. He spoke heartily and cheerfully of the future andin behalf of the lay administration thanked the chairman forhis cordial expressions of loyalty and goodwill. The toast of" The Guests " was proposed by Dr. S. J. Gee, who expressedthe hearty desire of the school to contribute toward thesuccess of the University of London. The Principal of theUniversity, Sir A. W. Bucker, in responding, referred warmlyto the energy and capacity shown by Mr. H. T. Butlin asDean of the Faculty of Medicine and gave some remarkablefigures to illustrate the increase in the number of under-

graduates. Mr. Butlin then proposed the health of thechairman and with the usual vote of thanks to the secretarythe dinner ended.

St. George’s Hospital.-There was a record attendanceat the annual dinner of the medical school held on

Oct. lst in the Whitehall Rooms of the Hotel M6tropole.The chair was occupied by Dr. T. Clifford Allbutt, RegiusProfessor of Physic at the University of Cambridge, whoin proposing the toast of the evening expressed his con-viction that the time had come when more research workmust be accomplished at the great hospitals of the

metropolis. The ordinary clinical material should be usednot only for the benefit of the patients attending the hos-pitals but for the purpose of guiding scientific thought andenriching medical science. In this way it would be possibleto make medical discoveries which would inevitably promotethe well-being of the general public. To their infinite creditthe governors of St. George’s Hospital had approved of theprinciple that the medical men who gave their entire timeto the services of the hospital in positions such as thatof medical registrar should do so free from financialembarrassment. That was a new departure and they wereall agreed that it was eminently calculated to advance

English medicine. The toast was responded to by the dean,Dr. Arthur Latham, who said he was glad to state thatSt. George’s Medical School still stood at Hyde Park Corner.Success had attended their efforts in every department

. during the past year and the prospects of continued successwere never greater. As Professor Allbutt had said, owing

, to the enlightened policy of the governors, St. George’sHospital Medical School was now in a position to offer

. greater facilities to men who wished to devote themselvesto medical and surgical research after obtaining theirqualifications than any other hospital in England. A

; number of other toasts were honoured. Professor G. SimsWoodhead, responding for the toast of "The Guests," said

, that he esteemed it a great honour to be allowed to dine withSt. George’s men. He congratulated the school on its well-deserved success and on its virility. During the evening itwas suggested that a hearty greeting should be sent to Dr.E. A. Wilson who was icebound in the Antarctic circle onboard the Discovery. The suggestion met with the approvalof the chairman and the enthusiastic indorsement of every-body attending the banquet.

University College Hospital.-Dr. Walter Rigden presidedon Oct. 5th at the annual dinner of the old and presentstudents of University College Hospital, which was held atthe Hotel Cecil. The first toast after that of "The King" wasproposed by Dr. Frederick T. Roberts and was that of "ThePresident of the Royal College of Surgeons of England."Dr. Roberts explained that Mr. John Tweedy, the President,had been called away from London and was unable to bepresent. He congratulated the Royal College of Surgeons ofEngland on its choice and was glad to see it widening itselectoral field by selecting for the first time an ophthalmo-logist to the honourable post of president. Dr. Rigdenproposed "The Medical School and University CollegeHospital," which was responded to by the dean of the

faculty of medicine, Dr. Sidney H. C. Martin, who discussedthe question of proper endowment for the prosecution ofhigher research studies. The majority of men found it sohard to make a living that they had no time for research.Well-paid professorships were required of such value thatmen could live on them and then men would be found toinvestigate the processes of disease. Mr. Christopher Heath,in a eulogistic speech, proposed the health of the chair-man, which Dr. Rigden acknowledged. An enjoyableevening was concluded by a speech from Dr. E. Rayner ofStockport in praise of the successful efforts of the two

honorary secretaries for the dinner, Mr. Raymond Johnsonand Dr. H B. Shaw.

King’s College Hospital.-The old students of King’sCollege Hospital held their annual dinner at the Hotel Cecilon Oct. lst. For the last few years this gathering hasbeen more fully recognised as a means of reviving oldfriendships of student days and on the present occasionthe average of attendances was well maintained. Dr. C. H.

Allfrey of St. Leonards-on-Sea, a past student whoserecord dates back to the early "sixties," was in the chairand that his selection for the post was a happy one wasevidenced by the number of personal friends and contem-poraries who were present to support him and bythe admirable manner in which he presided. TheRev. A. C. Headlam, the recently appointed principal ofthe college, was an honoured guest, and Sir John A.Cockburn, K.C.M.G., himself a former student, whohad delivered the address and distributed the prizesat the formal opening of the medical session in the after-noon, also attended. The past members of the staff wererepresented by Dr. I. Burney Yeo and the majority of theexisting staff were present in person. Lieutenant ColonelA. T. Sloggett, C.M.G., R.A.M.C., responded to the toast of" The Services," proposed by Mr. W. Watson Cheyne, C.B.The toast of the evening, "King’s College and King’s CollegeHospital, was proposed by the chairman and responded to bythe Rev. A. C. Headlam. Mr. Reid, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Turtle,and Mr. Dunkerton contributed an excellent selection ofmusic. Greetings were exchanged with the Charing CrossHospital dinner, which was being held in the same building,and altogether a very enjoyable evening was spent.

St. Mary’s Hospital.-The annual dinner of the past andpresent students was held in the Whitehall Rooms of theHotel M6tropole on Oct. 2nd, Dr. R. Farquharson, M.P.,being in the chair. There was a good attendance, 175 beingpresent, and the guests included Mr. Henry Harben, chair-man of the hospital board, Sir A. W. Rucker Principalof the University of London, and Mr. F. G Hallett.The loyal toasts proposed by the chairman were dulyhonoured. The chairman in proposing "Prosperity toSt. Mary’s Hospital Medical School" said that the toastrecalled old memories to him as a physician and former

1045

student of the ho,pital. The progress of St. Mary’s Hospitalduring the last 40 years had been extraordinary, and heattributed this to the strength of its staff and the hightraditions of work and duty which it had established. Herecalled the services of the late Mr. Samuel Lane and Mr.James Lane to whom the hospital owed so much, andcongratulated the school on retaining the services ofthe third generation in the person of Mr. Ernest Lane.The Dean, in replying for the teaching staff, referred tothe growing numbers and increasing influence of their paststudents in every department of professional work. CaptainRogers, I.M.S., replied for the past students and Mr. J. R.Rous for the present students. Mr. Page gave the toast of"Our Guests," coupled with the names of Mr. Harben andSir Arthur Rucker. Sir Arthur Riieker, in replying, congratu-lated the school on the increase of its students this session.He was glad to say that there had been a general increase inthe university entries. In June there were 700 more candi-dates and in September 400 more for matriculation than inthe previous year. The work of coordination had received an

important stimulus from the work of Dr. Waller in relationto the higher teaching in physiology, and similar advanceshad now been made in biology and in the faculty of arts. SirWilliam Broadbent proposed the health of the chairman whoin his reply said that many years ago he had severed hisconnexion with St. Mary’s Hospital with great regret, andthat was only atoned for by anything he might have done topromote the welfare of the medical profession.

Looking Back.FROM

THE LANCET, SATURDAY, OCT. 8, 1825.

THE INTRODUCTORY ANATOMICAL LECTURES DELIVERED INLONDON ON THE FIRST OF OCTOBER, 1825.

WE this week present out readers with the introductoryaddresses of all the anatomical lecturers of London, with theexception of those of Mr. Carpue and Mr. Mayo. 1 Theformer of whom is not in the habit of delivering an intro-ductory lecture, which, to use his own expression, he con-siders a flash in the pan; and the latter called at our officefor the express purpose of stating that he objected to thepublication of his lecture. We did not attempt to inquireinto the grounds of Mr. Mayo’s objection, but we are

disposed to give him credit for having exercised a soundjudgment. Posterity may, indeed, suffer from Mr. Mayo’sresolution, but as cruelty to posterity is not yet made anoffence by the humane Mr. Richard Martin, we know nothow to avert the threatened calamity, if Mr. Mayo chooses tocontinue inexorable.

Mr. Mayo is a private lecturer, and he has a righttherefore to exercise his own discretion with respect to thepublication of a private lecture ; but our friend Mr.ABERNETHY stands, we maintain, in a very different situa-tion, and we have no scruple, therefore, in publishing hisintroductory lecture in order to complete the series, eventhough he may on this, as on former occasions, be inclinedto recalcitrate. As a Hospital lecturer, independently of themonopoly which he has procured for himself by the CollegeBye-law, he must abide by the consequences of his situation ;we are anxious to bring this question to a fresh hearing ; weare prepared to meet our friend, even though he shouldthink fit to invade the retirement of Lord ELDON for a

fresh injunction. Mild and gentle as we know Mr. Abernethyto be in all other respects, as a public Hospital lecturer weconsider him as much ferc&aelig; natur&aelig; as the partridges whichthe Lord Chancellor, not having the fear of Richard Martinbefore his eyes, is now bagging at Encombe.The order in which the lectures stand, has been adopted

with a view to our convenience, and is by no means to beconsidered as a test of their respective merits.

1 The addresses reported are by the following lecturers :&mdash;Mr.Abernethy, Theatre of Anatomy, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital;Mr. Brookes, Theatre of Anatomy, Blenheim-street ; Mr. BransbyCooper, New Theatre, Guy’s Hospital; Mr. Headington, Theatre,London Hospital; Mr. Grainger, Theatre of Anatomy, Webb-street,Maze Pond; Mr. Sleigh, Theatre of Anatomy, Chapel-street,Grosvenor-square; Mr. Dermott, New Theatre of Anatomy, LittleWindmill-street, Golden-square; Mr. Charles Bell, Theatre ofAnatomy, Great Windmill-street; and Mr. Green, Theatre, St. Thomas’sHospital.

ASYLUM REPORTS.

-Dundee Royal Asylum (Annual Report for 1902).-Theaverage number of patients reident during the year was 436,comprising 176 males and 260 females. The admissionsduring the year amounted to 201-viz., 87 males and 114females. Of these 155 were first admissions. Dr. JamesRorie, the medical superintendent, states in his report thatthe advanced age of many on admission still continues tobe a prominent feature, one patient being 67, one 69, three70, one 72, one 73, one 75, and one 81 years old. Ofthe admissions 28 were paupers from other asylums. The

physical condition of the patients on admission has been verysimilar to that of former years. The number of patientsdischarged as recovered during the year amounted to 59-viz., 25 males and 34 females, or 13.5 per cent. of the

average number resident. The deaths during the yearamounted to 40, or 9.1 per cent. as calculated on the samebasis. Of the deaths three each were due to cardiac diseaseand cerebral paralysis, four to pulmonary tuberculosis, fiveto senile decay, ten to general paralysis of the insane,and the rest to other causes. "The principal featurein the mortality," says Dr. Rorie, "is again the largenumber of deaths due to general paralysis, this andother organic brain diseases accounting for 55 per cent.of the total number of deaths." The mortality has beenchiefly amongst those recently admitted. One patient,however, had been a resident in the asylum for over

54 years. "For a considerable time he had been outon parole and had practically complete freedom. Being inpossession of a small annuity he was in the habit of takinghis sister with him to various parts of the country for a fort-night’s holiday yearly. The delusions from which he sufferedwere of a harmless nature towards the end of his career butremained vivid to the last." In consequence of the recentserious accident by fire at Colney Hatch Asylum, London,the arrangements for extinguishing fire have been carefullyinspected by the superintendent of the Dundee fire brigadeand found equal to meet all contingencies. The Commis-sioners in Lunacy state in their report that the patients werefound to be in a satisfactory condition as regards clothingand personal neatness, that the care and treatment of thesick and of newly admitted patients continued to be skilfuland efficient, that all parts of the institution were in goodorder, and that the medical case-books and registers werefound to be accurately and well kept. The committee of

management states in its report that arrangements are inprogress for the purchase of a property and buildings at

Westergreen to increase the capacity of the asylum. Theconditions of sale and purchase require the sanction ofParliament and a Bill au:horising the purchase has passedthrough both Houses and only awaits the Royal Assent.

Lincoln County Asyl2cm, Kesteven (Animal Repot for1902).-The asylum was opened in June, 1902. The averagenumber of patients resident during the year was 146, com-prising 64 males and 82 females. The admissions duringthe year amounted to 93-viz., 25 males and 68 females. Ofthese 40 were first admissions. Dr. J. A. Ewan, the medicalsuperintendent, states in his report that the chief event ofthe year was the removal of the patients accommodated atthe temporary asylum at Grantham to the present building,which was accomplished without mishap on June 20th, 19C2.Of the admissions 40 were brought directly from the unionsof the county of Lincoln. Of these &deg; &deg; a large proportionconsisted of the restless, old and feeble, or paralysed, whoundoubtedly require care and nursing ; and for this classof case such attention at present, in country districts atleast, can seemingly only be obtained in a lunatic asylum,although, perhaps, the workhouses would be a more fittingshelter. " Only about 25 per cent. of those admitted weredeemed curable. The number of patients discharged asrecovered during the year amounted to eight-viz., fourmales and four females, or 5’ 4 per cent. of the averagenumber resident. The deaths during the year amountedto 17-viz., 11 males and six females, or 11.6 per cent. ascalculated on the same basis. Of the deaths two each weredue to epilepsy and bronchitis, three to general paralysis ofthe insane, four to cardiac disease, and the rest to othercauses. "It is satisfactory to note," says Dr. Ewan, "thattubercular disease was again absent from the death list."The male wards are still in an unfinished condition but allthose on the female side have been coated with duresco andfive out of the seven are in full occupation. One ward hasbeen set aside for paying patients and it is intended to