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AEROPLANE AMBULANCES.

THE idea of removing wounded men from the field ofbattle by means of air service is no new -one. Itoriginated in 1910 from Dr. de Mooy, of the DutchMedical Service, was further ventilated before the warby Ilr. Ch. Julliot, of the French Service de Sante,and under pressure from Dr. A. Chassaing, whowas both medicin-major and Parliamentary deputy,was nearly realised on the French front in 1918. Afteran interval of three years French Ministers of State arenow reported to be considering the provision of numbersof large medical aeroplanes for use in colonies whereother transport is difficult. A machine recentlyofficially inspected at the Villacoublay aerodrome is aBreguet biplane to carry two stretcher or four sittingcases in charge of a nurse and is provided with steriliserand operating-table.The aviation department of Messrs. Vickers, Ltd., have

sent us details of a machine of the Vickers Vimy com-mercial type, modified to fulfil the duties of an aeroplaneambulance, and constructed in accordance with the

requirements of the Air Ministry ; it is capable of carry-ing at a height of 6500 feet, and at a speed of 109 milesper hour for five hours, the following load : 1 pilot,1 mechanic, 1 doctor, 1 nurse, 4 stietcher or 8 sittingcases, and 100 lb. weight of medical stores. Fitted withtwo Napier Lion 450 horse-power engines, and carrying awireless installation, the machine can climb with fullload to the above height in 10 minutes ; it can also fly

Interior of the Vickers Vimy ambulance aeroplane, showing astretcher case in. position for transport.

with one engine out of action. The shell is watertightand specially constructed in case a descent on the sea isnecessary; an opening is provided in the front of theluggage compartment (under the pilot’s seat) wherebystretchers may be loaded and unloaded without anyturning of corners. Sitting and walking cases can

be admitted through the ordinary doors in the side,which are constructed of a size adequate for rapidevacuation in case of emergency. In the photographof the interior here given the stretcher racks (whichcan be folded out of the way of seated cases) are shownin position to hold stretchers. Clearance and lateralfloor spaces are allowed for sufficient to facilitate in

every way the handling of stretcher cases ; ventilationis provided by a fan fitted in the front wall of the cabin ;this fan drives air through a screen, which is kept

moist, and can be operated when the aeroplane isstationary on the ground. Regulation of the flow ofwater down the screen will admit the maintenance ofan even and cool temperature in tropical countries. Alavatory pan is provided, supplied with a 15 gallonwater-tank, and flushed into a receptacle which is easilydetached for emptying and disinfecting; a wash-basinis included, and there are separate smaller tanks forwashing, drinking, and cooling water.The uses of such ambulance aeroplanes will be con-

siderable in areas where roads do not exist, or wherethey are too crowded to admit of rapid transport ofurgent cases. For small tropical or mountain expedi-tions a supply of such aeroplanes might be very helpful.

MEDICINE AND THE LAW.

Riders at Coroners’ Inquests.AT a recent inquest held before the deputy coroner

at Brixton, the subject of inquiry was the cause ofdeath of an infant. As to this there was medicalevidence founded upon post-mortem examination, anda verdict was found in accordance with it. ’Evidencewas, however, also given that a medical man who,was not present as a witness, Mr. E. Nundy, had beensent a message asking him to call at the house wherethe mother lived. This he had done on the followingday, as he was attending to the practice of a colleague onwhose panel the woman alleged herself to be. When Mr.Nundy came he found that he was being asked tacertify as to the cause of death of a child which haddied some hours before the summons to attend hadreached him, and he quite properly refused to give anycertificate, satisfied himself that the child was dead,and recommended that the mother should be removedfrom her unsuitable surroundings to the infirmary.She refused to go to the infirmary, but Mr. Nundy,nevertheless, as he informs us, took considerabletrouble in arranging for her removal thither. Thewoman, however, complained at the inquest on accountof his not having treated her, with the result that thejury added a rider to their verdict asking that Mr.Nundy should be censured for not having given herproper attention. Clearly this was a most improperfinding upon a subject quite outside the scope of theinquiry. Apart from the obvious injustice of censuringa man who had been given no opportunity to give hisown version of the occurrence in question, the inquestwas held in order to ascertain the cause of the death ofthe child. The mother’s health and her grievances,real or imaginary, against an absent doctor were not theconcern of the jury or the coroner.

It is a curious coincidence that Mr. Nundy shouldhave found himself the subject of a rider to a

verdict at an inquest, arrived at in his absence, in a.

case in which he had no evidence to offer as tothe death the subject of inquiry. In a pamphletbefore us, entitled " Coroners’ Courts: Their Uses andAbuses," 1 he has made his principal topic for criticismand protest the licence accorded to coroners’ juries tofind " riders." It is to be noted that Mr. HensloweWellington in his work on coroners 2 can find noauthority justifying the addition of the " rider,"as an expression of opinion accompanying a verdict,which latter is a finding of fact. Nor do they appearto have any history, but have probably grown upand increased in frequency more or less unnoticed.They do not seem either to have any great effect inpromoting legislation or otherwise. Perhaps, when thelong-postponed reform of the law relating to coronerstakes place, this detail of the procedure in their court&may receive consideration. There seems to be no

parallel in other courts for the rider, except perhapsthe recommendation of a prisoner to mercy at a

criminal trial. That, however, deals with a topic oflimited scope, and relevant to the matter in hand. Therider at inquests frequently is neither, and if not usedwith more restraint may work grave injustice.

1 Reprinted from the Medical World.2 The King’s Coroner, vol. ii., p. 74.

611

Everett v. Griffiths and Anklesaria.

The House of Lords recently dismissed the appeal ofthe plaintiff Everett in this action. It will beremembered that he sued the first-named defendant,the chairman of the board of guardians of St. Mary,Islington, and Mr. K. A. Anklesaria, the medical officerof the workhouse, for damages in respect of his allegedfalse and unlawful certification as a person of unsoundmind. At the original trial the Lord Chief Justice,upon the jury failing to agree, entered judgmentfor the respondents on the law. The Court of

Appeal, by a majority consisting of Lords JusticesBankes and Scrutton, Lord Justice Atkin dissenting,refused to grant a new trial, and dismissed the

plaintiff’s appeal. In the House of Lords Lord Haldanedelivered a judgment of considerable importance, inwhich he reviewed at length the evidence given andthe law governing such cases. In holding that therewas no evidence to go to the jury that the respondentGriffiths, empowered by the Lord Chancellor to signorders in the case of pauper lunatics, or the defendantAnklesaria had failed to observe the law, Lord Haldanepointed out that their lordships were not tryingthe question whether the appellant was actually of un-sound mind at the time of the inquiry, but the differentquestion whether, on the facts as they stood, therewas want of reasonable care in coming to the con-clusion expressed in the certificate and the receptionorder. He had already laid stress on the fact that thejustice has to act promptly in ordering the temporarycare of an alleged lunatic and to be guided by con-sideration of the safety not only of the person in ques-tion but of the public. After referring to the Rulesof the Supreme Court governing the powers of theHouse of Lords in such matters, Lord Haldanelaid down that the question was not whether therewas literally no evidence to go to the jury on the issueas to want of proper care, but whether there was nonethat ought reasonably to satisfy the jury that in pointof fact such care was not taken. With regard to therespondent Griffiths, he added that assuming that hehad actually satisfied himself, acting honestly andbona fide, in arriving at his conclusion and proceedingupon it, he had done the very thing which the statutetold him to do and no further question arose. Fourother Lords of Appeal, including Lord Moulton, whoseregretted death has since occurred, gave judgment tothe same effect as Lord Haldane.

. A Dangerons Woman.

Una Hanley, 29 years of age, who was recently finedfor falsely representing herself to be a registeredmedical practitioner, has since been sentenced to sixmonths’ imprisonment for bigamy. In marrying Mr.Hanley in 1911 she gave her name as Bowen, and herfather’s name as David Bowen Bowen, Gentleman. In

going through the form of marriage in 1920 at a registryoffice, the subject of the charge of bigamy, shedescribed herself as Margaret Patricia Crawford, M.B.,B.S. London, and gave her father’s name as Major-General James William Keogh, deceased. As a matterof fact she was the illegitimate daughter of a womannamed Bowen. Her desire to extract profit from falselyassociating herself with the medical profession was notshown for the first time when she committed bigamy.While living with her husband, and without his know-ledge, she had defrauded many people, and on oneoccasion obtained more than £3000 from an officer withthe help of a story that she was about to open a nursinghome and that she was to be helped in so doing by well-known medical practitioners.

DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS.-The late Mrs.Elizabeth Alcock Scott, of Fernbank, 8a.ndrock-road,Tunbridge Wells, has left by will X500 to the Homceopathic IHospital, Tunbridge Wells; X1000 to the Zenana Bible andMedical Mission ; and £500 to Dr. Barnardo’s Homes.-Theresidue of the estate of the late Mr. J. E. Darby, of Claygate,Surrey, will be divided among hospital charities at thediscretion of the trustees in the event of the failure ofcertain trusts.

NOTES FROM INDIA.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

MADRAS PRESIDENCY.

Medicine and the New Legislative Council.Now that the elections of the first Legislative Council

under the new reforms are complete, medicine andsanitation, which are transferred subjects, have beentaken over by the Minister in charge, Mr. Ramunna-rengar, who assumed office early last month. This is,perhaps, as momentous a change as any which hastaken place under the Reforms Act, although it mustbe added that during the last five years Sir P. Rajago-pala Chariar, who has vacated his membership of theExecutive Council to become President of the new

Legislative Chamber, has held the medical port-folio with conspicuous success. There is no doubtthat a very largely increased expenditure is neces-

sary if curative and preventive medicine are to doall that is required of them in this Presidency. Itremains to be seen whether the new Legislative Councilwill be prepared to impose increased taxation for theraising of the money required to erect new medicalcolleges, new hospitals and dispensaries, and forextensive campaigns against epidemic disease. Madras

Presidency, with a population of 42 millions, is at

present provided with one medical college, which canaccommodate only about 500 students. There are inaddition four or five medical schools for the training ofsub-assistant surgeons, but the total number of medicalmen passing out yearly is terribly inadequate for thepopulation.On the preventive side, the sanitary department may

be scarcely said to have any existence. The SanitaryCommissioner’s post is at present vacant. There arethree Deputy Sanitary Commissioners, all Indians,each with a population of about 14 millions under hissanitary charge. In face of the lethargy and passiveresistance of municipal councils and district boardswhere public health measures are concerned, it iswonderful how these Deputy Sanitary Commissionersmaintain their enthusiasm. But it is not surprisingthat even the largest towns in the Presidency havefailed to keep health officers, as their position has beenjust as precarious as was the case in England untilsecurity of tenure was obtained.

The Public Health Board.

Meantime the new Minister has introduced a PublicHealth Board for the Presidency which meets once afortnight for the discussion of important health

problems. The Minister in charge is president, andthe members include the Surgeon-General (chairman),the Chief Engineer to Government, the Sanitary Com-missioner, the Sanitary Engineer, and the Secretary.Local and Municipal Department of Government, whenmatters connected with medical research, hospitaladministration, or medical education are discussed theDirector, King Institute, Guindy, the Superintendent,Madras General Hospital, or the Principal, MedicalCollege, as the case may be, will attend the meeting ofthe Board. The Board of Health has absorbed theexisting Sanitary Board and the Malaria Board. Thesetwo last had been in existence for many years in thisPresidency, and whilst during the years of war theiractivities were curtailed, they performed useful func-tions, and were the first attempts to coordinatemeasures for the improvement of public health. Thenew Health Board has already met on several occasions.

Personnel of the Consultative Council.Probably as a result of its deliberations the follow-

ing communique was issued to the press a day ortwo ago : " The Ministry of Local Self-Government hasappointed the undermentioned persons as members ofthe Consultative Council of Public Health, Madras,"and then follows 21 names, including the Surgeon-General, the sanitary commissioner, the chiefengineer, the sanitary engineer, the secretary, localand municipal department, the Commissioner of