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531 AUSTRALIA.-NEW ZEALAND. retained by him unused until the Minister gives permission to use them. Under the Noxious Microbes Act of 1900 of New South Wales the State Government will have also to pass a regulation sanctioning experiments before anything can be done. In the meantime only laboratory experiments will be carried on. The Health of Melbourne. The annual report of the health committee submitted to the city council of Melbourne showed that the death-rate, 12’ 5 per 1000, was the lowest on record, while that for the last period of five years was also the lowest for any quin- quennial period, viz., 13’96. In a population of 98,000 persons there had been only two deaths from typhoid fever, and while the deaths from this disease in the five years ended 1890 were 250, in the last five years they were only 30. The deaths from diphtheria, comparing the same periods, had fallen from 165 to 30, while those from tuberculosis had fallen from 207 in 1891 to 98 in 1905. The improvement was attri- buted to the extension of the sewerage system. A steady war had been waged against rats and 90,000 had been destroyed. The experiment of appointing a female sanitary inspector had proved a distinct success. The committee advised the appointment of an assistant health officer at a salary of .6300 a jear, his whole time to be given to the service of the corporation. The present health,officer, Dr. Jamieson, is paid E500 a year and does not give his whole time. The proposal was opposed in the council and its consideration was postponed for two months. The objectors considered that either separate officers should be appointed for the different districts or that the present health officer should give his whole time to the duties at a higher salary. Referring to the diminution in tuberculosis in Melbourne during the last ten years Dr. Jamieson stated that much of it must be credited to improved drainage and the results of legislation for the improvement of conditions in factories and shops, but also a great deal to the steady work carried on by the council in the inspection and condemnation of dwellings found to be unfit for occupation. Up to the end of 1905 no less than 2100 condemnation orders had been issued. All cases of known consumption are now kept under supervision by means of the system of notification in force and advice is given by circular and verbally. In case of death or removal prompt steps are taken for the disinfection of occupied rooms. Nevertheless, notification and supervision have led to the infliction of undoubted hardships in individual cases and an obligation clearly rests on the public if, for its own protection, it insists upon these precautions being carried out to make ampler provision for the treatment of cases, especially of advanced cases, who will not be received into boarding houses, hotels, or even often into public hospitals. Public Health Act, Ne1v South Wales: Suggested Amendments. The Board of Public Health of New South Wales has drawn the attention of the Premier to the great need of amendment of the Public Health Act which had become apparent to the Board during its administration. Anzendment of the Medical Act of Victoria. Among the " slaughtered innocents " of last session of the State Parliament of Victoria was a Bill to amend the Medical Practitioners Act. On the list of Bills to be intro- duced by the Government this session is one " to amend the law relating to medical practitioners." It is understood that it will not be so drastic as the previous measure but will increase the course of necessary medical study from three to five years. It will also give power, not at present existing, to strike names off the register. The University of Sydney. The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Sydney has recommended the adoption of by-laws and regulations for a diploma of public health which will testify to the candidate’s proficiency in all branches of study, scientific and practical, necessary for the proper performance of the duties of a health officer. The examination will be in two parts: (1) the general principles of sanitary science; and (2) State medicine and the applications of pathology and sanitary science to public health. The recommendations of the Faculty were adopted by the Senate, and the thanks of the Senate were transmitted to Dr. J. Ashburton Thompson (President of the Board of Health), Dr. F. Tidswell (micro- biologist to the Board), and Dr. E. S. Stokes (medical officer of the Water and Sewerage; Board), for assistance in drawing- up the scheme. The Senate resolved two advise the Bachelors of Dental Surgery to discontinue the use of the title of doctor" and "to communicate with the Govern- ment, urging it to immediately introduce legislation regu- lating the registration and use of foreign degrees of doctors of dental surgery, mechanical surgery, or the like." Dr. A. E. Mills was appointed medical tutor in place- of Dr. G. E. Rennie resigned, and Dr. F. P. Sandes surgical tutor in place of Dr. J. Morton, resigned. The following examiners were appointed: Medicine, Dr. J. Macdonald Gill ; clinical medicine, Dr. E. J. Jenkins ;, ;. surgery, Dr. Charles MacLaurin ; clinical surgery, Dr. T. H. Fiaschi ; midwifery, Dr. S. H. MacCulloch ; gynæcology, Dr. Fourness Barrington ; medical jurisprudence and public health, Dr. R. H. Todd and Dr. G. Armstrong; psychological medicine, Dr. Eric Sinclair; and ophthalmic medicine and, surgery, Dr. W. Odillo Maher. Inebriety The Chief Secretary of New South Wales has personally visited the buildings erected on Rabbit Island in the Hawkesbury river for the treatment of inebriates. He ex- pressed satisfaction with the site and buildings and will bring the matter before the Cabinet.-At a meeting held at the Melburne town hall an association was formed with the following objects : (1) to make public the provisions of the law with respect to drunkenness ; (2) to collect and publish information from time to time about the treatment of inebriety and laws relating thereto in other countries ;: (3) to aid and encourage the establishment of retreats, both public and private, in Victoria, but the association shall not itself establish or conduct any inebriate retreat ; (4) to watch the administration of the Inebriates Act in Victoria ;. and (5) to seek such amendments of the Inebriates Act as experience shows ought to be made.-A Royal Commission was appointed in South Australia some time ago to investi- gate the treatment of inebriates. It has reported that places- of detention should be established for drunkards and that a medical officer should be appointed to prosecute inquiries into the practice of hypnotism with a view to its application in such institutions. July 20th. NEW ZEALAND. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Action for the Recovery of Medical Fees. A CASE that has excited considerable comment lately has- just been settled. The plaintiff, Dr. Borghetti, sued the- father of a patient for the sum of his fees for attendance. The defence was that the plaintiff had agreed with the mother to compound for a less sum than the amount he was now asking. This Dr. Borghetti denied, and I am glad to say that the magistrate has upheld the claim. Dr. Borghetti’s counsel in opening the case said that his client devoted himself entirely to the treatment of diseases of the eye and was not a general practitioner. On Jan. 27th last the defendant’s young son was taken by two of his- brothers to Dr. Borghetti’s residence suffering from an injury to his right eye caused by a blow from a piece of crockery. An operation was performed under chloroform which was administered by Dr. Young; other operations,. including two of a major character, were subsequently performed, and the lad remained under Dr. Borghetti’s care until May 7th. At one time, with the consent. of the defendant, there was a consultation between, Dr. Martin, Dr. Young, Dr. Mackenzie, and Dr. Borghetti as unsatisfactory conditions had made their appearance. Two of the medical men were in favour of excision of the eyeball but the other agreed with the plaintiff in believing that there was a chance of a good result being obtained without this extreme step being taken. The relatives of the lad were extremely anxious that the eye should be saved. The plaintiff, although he recognised the risk he was running by not removing the eyeball, decided to take that risk and to adopt the other form of treat- ment, which he did with success. But when his account was sent to the defendant the latter declined to pay it and tendered a smaller sum which the plaintiff refused to. , accept. Thereupon the defendant took the patient from under his charge and called in another medical man,
