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Looking Back.FROM
THE LANCET, SATURDAY, Sept. 3rd, 1831.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
PRELIMINARY STEPS ADVISED TO BE TAKEN ON THE FIRSTAPPEARANCE OF CHOLERA.
IT is of great importance that each town or village, par-ticularly those on the coast, should be prepared with thebest-arranged means to meet such a calamity as the breakingout of the disease now raging in the North of Europe, so asto prevent confusion upon the emergency of the moment, andbe ready to act upon a well-considered system for preventingthe spreading of infection.With this view the Board recommends the formation of a
local board of health at each place, to consist of the chiefmagistrate, the clergyman, one or more medical gentlemen,and two or three of the principal inhabitants, who mayimmediately, and as occasion requires, correspond with theBoard of Health in London, the medical members of thelocal boards being deputed to write upon all subjectsrelating to any symptoms of the disease.The best means of preventing the spreading of infection
are, the immediate separation of the uninfected from the sick,by their prompt removal from the house of any infectedperson, or by the removal of any individual affected with thedisease, if possible, to some house in a dry and airy situa-tion appropriated to the purpose ; but in the event of suchremoval not being practicable, on account of extreme illnessor otherwise, the prevention of all intercourse with the sick,even of the family of the person attacked, must be rigidlyobserved, unless the individuals who desire to stay shallsubmit to such strict rules of quarantine as the public safetymay demand, and the local Board of Health, advising withthe Board of Health in London, may consider expedient.As success in the treatment of this disease, and preventing
it spreading, have been found greatly to depend upon earlymedical assistance, it is of great importance that the headsof families should be vigilant in guarding against conceal-ment or delay in making known every case which mayoccur.
On the removal of diseased persons, the rooms they mayhave inhabited, and the house generally, should be thoroughlyexposed to a constant current of air, and recourse had to allthe well-known means of purifying houses, particularly theuse of chloride of lime ; and the bedding and clothing ofthe sick person, after removal, should be soaked in a slightsolution of the chloride in water, and well washed. It is
impossible that ventilation and cleanliness can be carried toofar in the houses of the sick after removal; whitewashing,and a variety of means of effecting so important an object,will no doubt occur to the :local Boards of Health, and acontinuance of ventilation for some days, as the best meansof preventing contagion.
In large towns the local Board of Health should be com-posed of sufficient numbers to admit of subdivision intodistrict committees, always attaching to each committee atleast one medical gentleman.
For the information of the public, and to secure a readyand instant reference to authorised persons, the names andresidence of the persons composing the local Boards of Healthshould be placed on the church door.
In the event of so great a calamity falling upon thiscountry as the introduction of this disease, rules and regula-tions upon an extensive scale, suited to the rigid system ofquarantine which such an event would demand, will be im-mediately circulated by the Lords of his Majesty’s MostHonourable Privy Council, who will, upon the earliest inti-mation of the existence of the disease, send down a medicalpractitioner, who has been acquainted with the disease as itoccurred in India. 1
In the name of the Board,HENRY HALFORD, President.
1 In October, 1831, the Asiatic cholera having extended its ravagesfrom Moscow to Hamburg, the full precautions to be taken were pub-lished in the London Gazette and an extract from them was published
MEDICINE AND THE LAW.
z1 Certificate of the Ca1lse of Death folloned by an Inquest.A MEDICAL correspondent has written to us concerning the
following case in which he gave a certificate of the cause ofdeath but in which, nevertheless, the coroner decided tohold an inquest. Our correspondent operated on a Sundayupon an appendix abscess which he opened and drained. Thepatient was under chloroform for 35 minutes and appeared torecover satisfactorily from the effect of the anesthetic, buteventually died on the Saturday morning following the opera-tion, his symptoms causing the surgeon to certify the causeof death as appendix abscess and, secondarily, chloroform
poisoning. The registrar, on receiving this certificate, didnot register the death but communicated with the coroner,who held an inquest, a course which is hardly surprising,although it seems to have been unexpected by the surgeonwho gave the certificate in question. If the coroner
had not decided to hold an inquest the registrarwould have registered the death as certified. The
Departmental Committee, which has recently consideredthe question of deaths due to the administration of anaes-thetics, may possibly recommend some special mode of
inquiry with regard to them. At present a coroner has todecide for himself whether the facts known or believed toexist with regard to a particular case render it one in whichthe law makes it his duty to hold an inquest. In a largenumber of cases death follows upon surgical operationsnecessitated by physical conditions arising more or less
naturally, and no inquest is held. This is presumably uponthe ground that such deaths are primarily due to the naturalcauses which the operation failed to remove, and are not violentor unnatural deaths or sudden deaths of which the causeisun-known. In any case it is an established practice not to hold in-quests upon them, although coroners are not unanimous in theiropinions on the subject. With regard to deaths due to theadministration of anaesthetics the case is different. Suchadministration conducted by qualified persons under normalconditions is not dangerous, and it is not unreasonable to
regard a death ensuing upon, and stated to be due to, the ad-ministration of chloroform as sufficiently unnatural or open tothe suggestion of doubt as to its cause to justify an inquest.The whole question of coroners’ inquests, including thatarising out of deaths due to anaesthetics, as has been said, isunder consideration, and legislation upon the subject may beexpected to follow in due course. It may be observed thatthe process by which notice of the death reaches thecoroner, whether from the registrar or otherwise, hasbeen the subject of evidence before the Committee. At
present the registrar has duties to perform not entirelydefined by statute. Here, again, certain matters may be
regarded as being regulated by practice, and there are in-structions of the Registrar-General for the guidance of theofficials under him. Another correspondent, Mr. Ellis
Pearson, who addresses us upon the subject discussed byDr. E. J. Toye and Mr. F. W. Lowndes in letters toTHE LANCET of July 31st and August 7th, sends us a formupon which in certain specified cases registrars are directedto report,deaths to the coroner and not to register them untilthe latter has informed them that he will not hold an inquest.The same form requests the coroner either to forward thefinding of the jury in due course or to give his reply, to theeffect that an inquest will not be held, at his earliest con-venience. With regard to the contention of Dr. Toye, in
which Mr. Pearson concurs, that a medical man should givein THE LANCET of Oct. 29th, 1831, p. 158. The instructions wereissued by the Privy Council at the instance of the Board of Health.The Board of Health comprised the following gentlemen: Sir HenryHalford, President of the Royal College of Physicians, President; Dr.Holland, Dr. Maton, Dr. Turner, Dr. Warren, Dr. Macmichael, Fellowsof the Royal College of Physicians; Sir T. Byam Martin, Comptrollerof His Majesty’s Navy; Hon. Edward Stewart, Deputy Chairman ofBoard of Customs; Sir James M’Grigor, Director-General of ArmyHospitals; Sir William Burnett, Commissioner of Victualling Office; SirWilliam Pym, Superintendent-General of Quarantine; and Dr. EdwardJames Seymour, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Secretary tothe Board. The "General Board of Health" was created some yearsafterwards by legislation entitled " An Act for Promoting the PublicHealth," passed August 31st. 1848 (11 & 12 Vict. c. 63), which THE LANCETconsidered to be in a leading article (August 26th, 1848) "the firstcomprehensive measure of the kind for the hygienic regulation ofthe community." The "anti-cholera" clause in it was introduced byLord Morpeth.
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a certificate in all cases, it must be recollected that thesection of the Births and Deaths Registration Act referred towas passed in 1874 before the passing of the Coroners Actnow in force, and that it only casts the duty of certifying upona medical man who has attended the deceased "in his last ill-
ness"; that a certificate might conceivably be given correctlyin terms which might cause the registrar to register a death intowhich a coroner ought to inquire, and into which the medicalman giving the certificate knows that the coroner ought toinquire ; that the registrar is not bound to register the deathon receipt of the certificate, but may first communicate withthe coroner, as in the case referred to above ; and that amedical certificate will not be needed if an inquest is held.The most important point, however, seems to us to be theelement of doubt which in some cases, and especially inthose where there is a suspicion of criminal conduct, rendersit undesirable for a medical man to bind himself down un-
necessarily to a formal written statement which may after-wards be proved to be erroneous.
Damages Recovered against a Hospital in Scotland.In the Edinburgh sheriff court recently damages were
awarded to a plaintiff who claimed them in respect ofinjuries sustained by her through being burned on the leg bya hot-water bottle when under an anaesthetic for an opera-tion. The claim was made against the Edinburgh Hospitaland Dispensary for Women and Children, and consequentlyfrom the report before us the sheriff substitute, who foundfor the plaintiff, or pursuer, adopted a different view of thelaw from that enunciated recently by the Court of Appealin the case of Hillyer f. the Corporation of London, com-mented on in THE LANCET of July 31st, p. 317. Thejudgments of the Court of Appeal in England are not bindingupon the inferior courts of Scotland, or vlce versd, althoughthey are often cited and should receive the consideration dueto them. It will be interesting to see whether appeal followsin the case referred to and with what result, and whether thequestion comes ultimately in one case or the other before theHouse of Lords.
Qitack Medicines and Sta2ibp Duty.Dr. F. J. Waldo recently made some plain-spoken observa-
tions upon the policy of the State in deriving a revenue fromthe sale of stamps for nostrums and "patent" medicines,which cause the ignorant to believe that the merits of thearticle thus distinguished are certified by the Government ofthe country. In the case before him, the infant child of anomnibus driver had died when being taken to Guy’s Hos-pital, the death being stated by a member of the staff of thehospital to have been due to status lymphaticus, and thecoroner’s remarks on the subject of quack medicines andstamps were evoked by an admission on the part of themother that she had been treating her child herself with a"teething powder." Dr. Waldo elicited medical evidencefor the benefit of the jury and others present as to the
dangerous drugs present in many of the secret remedies soldand their effect in increasing the high rate of infant
mortality.
BRITISH MEDICAL BENEVOLENT FUND.AT the August meeting of the committee 16 cases were
considered and grants amounting to E155 made to 15 of theapplicants. Appended is an abstract of the cases relieved :-Widow, aged 39 years, of M.D., C.M.Aberd. Left penniless at
husband’s sudden death three years ago. and now endeavours to supportherself by letting lodgings. Two children, aged 11 and nine years.Relieved twice, B10. Voted ;E12.Daughter, aged 53 years, of late M.R.C.S., L.S.A. Used to act as a
nurse-companion, but is now unable to obtain a post on account offailing health. Relieved seven times, ;E61. Voted .E12.L.R.C.P. Edin., aged 65 years. Used to have a good practice, but
family troubles have exhausted his means, and he is now compelled togive up work owing to ill-health. Children unable to help. Voted ;E18.Daughter, aged 58 years, of late M.R.C.S., L.S.A. Has supported
herself since father’s death 40 years ago, but is now in feeble health.Voted .E10.Daughter, aged 59 years, of late L.R.C.P. Irel. Since father’s death in
1870 has maintained herself by teaching, but now finds it impossible toget pupils and is dependent on an elder sister whose income is only15s. a week. Voted .E12.M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., aged 41 years. Practises near London, but is in
temporary difficulties owing to ill-health. Four children, aged 12 toseven years. Voted ;E9, with leave to apply again in six months.Lady practitioner (L.R.C.P. & S. Edin.), aged 34 years. No income,
and has been incapacitated for the last three years by ill-health.Friends unable to help. Voted B18.
Daughter, aged 60 years, of late M.R.C.S. Maintained herself as adispenser for several years, but is now unable to obtain another post.Small earnings by wood-carving and slight help from a sister who hasto earn her own living. Relieved three times, .B36. Voted £ 10.M.R.C.S., aged 70 years. Incapacitated by locomotor ataxy. Only
income an Epsom College pension of jE30. Slight help from sonearning a small weekly wage. Relieved twice, JE24. Voted .E5 in onesum.
Daughter, aged 61 years, of late M.R.C.S., L.S.A. Used to be a house-keeper, but has had two slight epileptic strokes. Relieved three times,;E36. Voted 212.Daughter, aged 63 years, of late M.D., M.R.C.P. Lond. Was at one
time amply provided for, but mortgaged her property to assist herfather, and all its realisation was barely able to repay the loan. Hasjust obtained a pension from another charity. Relieved twice, .B22.Voted .85.Widow, aged 50 years, of L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. Edin. Quite unprovided
for at death of husband a few years ago ; slight help from a brother-in-law and small earnings by needlework. Two children, aged 18 and 16years. Relieved four times, E40. Voted JE12.Widow, aged 79 years, of M.R.C.S., L.S.A. Has a small income but is
obliged to maintain three deaf and dumb children. Relieved seventimes, .B60, Voted .B5.Daughter, aged 57 years, of L.F.P.S. Glasg. Has earned a living since
the age of 16 years and helped to support her mother until her death.Now unable to command a salary but receives a home in return forservices. Relieved twice, £ 10. Voted 25.Widow, aged 54 years, of L.R.C.P. Edin. No income, and at husband’s
death two years ago the practice realised barely sufficient to payunavoidable debts. Slight help from children. Relieved twice, .B20.Voted JE10.
Contributions may be sent to the treasurer, Dr. Samuel
West, 15, Wimpole-street, London, W.
VITAL STATISTICS.
HEALTH OF ENGLISH TOWNS.
, IN 76 of the largest English towns 7815 births and 3721deaths were registered during the week ending August 21st,The annual rate of mortality in these towns, which hadbeen equal to 10 5 and 11’ 5 per 1000 in the two precedingweeks, further rose to 11-8 8 in the week under notice. Duringthe previous weeks of the current quarter the annual death-rate in these towns has not exceeded 11 2 2 per 1000, the ratein London during the same period having been so low as10 - 8. The lowest rates of mortality recorded in these76 towns were 4’4 in Hornsey, 5’2 2 in East Ham, 5’7 inWalthamstow, and 6-3 in Ipswich; the rates in the othertowns ranged upwards to 17’1 1 in Sheffield, 17-3 3 in Bootle,17’9 9 in Blackburn, 18-8 in Middlesbrough, and 20 - 2 inSwansea. In London the recorded death-rate was 11’ 1 per1000, and slightly lower than in the previous week. The 3721deaths in the 76 towns showed a further increase of 89upon the low numbers in the two preceding weeks, andincluded 604 which were referred to the principal epidemicdiseases, against numbers increasing from 314 to 412 in thefour previous weeks; of these 604 deaths 429 resulted fromdiarrhoea, 63 from measles, 42 from whooping-cough, 30from diphtheria, 25 from scarlet fever, and 15 from "fever
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(principally enteric), but not one from small-pox. The 604deaths from these epidemic diseases during the week undernotice were equal to an annual rate of l’ 9 per 1000, against1 - 0, 1-1, and 1’ 3 in the three preceding weeks. No deathfrom any of these epidemic diseases was registered in Hornsey,Ipswich, Grimsby, Stockport, Wallasey, or in West Hartle-pool ; the annual death-rates therefrom ranged upwards,however, to 4-8 8 in Nottingham, 4-9 9 in Aston Manor,5-0 in Sheffield, 6 - 0 in Bootle, and 9 - 0 in Swansea.The deaths, mainly infantile, attributed to diarrhoea in the76 towns, which had steadily increased in the six precedingweeks from 63 to 208, further rose to 429 in the week undernotice, and caused annual death-rates ranging upwards to 4 - 2 2in Nottingham, 4 - 3 in Aston Manor and in Warrington, 4 - 9 9in Sheffield, 5 .3 in Bootle, and 8 .0 in Swansea. The 63fatal cases of measles showed a further decline from thenumbers in recent weeks ; the highest death-rates from thisdisease were 1’1 1 in Salford and 3-3 in Newport (Mon.).The deaths from whooping-cough, which had been 52 and37 in the two preceding weeks, rose again to 42 in the weekunder notice. The 30 fatal cases of diphtheria were fewerthan in any recent week, but caused death-rates equal to1-1 1 in Salford and 1 . 7 in Barrow-in-Furness. The25 deaths from scarlet fever also showed a declinefrom recent weekly numbers ; they included 10 inLondon and its suburban districts, and five in Birmingham.The 15 deaths referred to ’’ fever corresponded with thenumber in the previous week; two were recorded in Halifax