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904 in-patients had been received into the hospital, and12,153 out-patients were seen by the medical staff duringthe twelve months ending December 31st last. Dr. Oxley’sterm of office having expired, the committee expressed theirdeep sense of his valuable services during the fifteen yearshe had held office. They also acknowledged their obliga-tions to the Countess of Sefton, by whoe exertions £1242was raised for the new ward. The report concluded withstatistics furnished by the medical officer of health for Liver-pool, which showed an appalling amount of the mortalityamong children, the number of deaths under the age of fifteenbeing 7558, out of a total of 15,074, just 50 per cent.

AN EPIDEMIC OF STABBING CASES.

Like most seaports, Liverpool has an unenviable notorietyfor cases of cutting and wounding, too often resulting in bomi-cide, from the reckless use of knives by seamen, both foreignand English. Dr. Orr, the senior resident medical officer ofthe Northern Hospital, stated, in a letter forwarded to thelocal press, that within a very short period ten cases ofstabbing had been admitted into that institution, some ofthem being of a very serious nature ; and a fatal case hasrecently occurred, the deceased being stabbed in the neckwithout the slightest provocation on his part.

LOCAL MEDICAL CHARITIES AND THEIR FINANCES.

The debt on the Royal Infirmary amounts to between £3000and £4000, while all the other medical charities are greatlyin need of increased support. Much of this impecuniosityarises from the general depression of trade and commerce.But it ghows the necessity of limiting hospitals and dispen-saries to proper applicants, and also of encouraging patientsto make such contributions as they are able.

MANCHESTER.

(From our own Correspondent.)

DENTAL HOSPITALS.

A FEW months since, Manchester, which had heretoforebeen without any special dental hospital, was provided withan institution devoted to dental surgery, and a numerousstaff was appointed; and recently a prospectus was sentout stating that it was proposed to establish in connexiontherewith a dental school, and a scale of fees and syllabus oflectures, &c., were drawn up and published. During thepast week, however, a second dental hospital has been pro-posed to be established-this one apparently under the

fostering care of the authorities of 0 wens College, severalnames of prominent men who are connected with that bodyappearing in the list of patrons and supporters ; and stepsare now being actively taken to establish it, a public meet-ing having been held for that purpose in the Town Hall onTuesday, the 22nd inst.

THE FORTHCOMING HEALTH EXHIBITION.

On Monday last another ’public meeting was held in theTown Hall, called by the Mayor, to meet a deputation fromthe Council of the forthcoming Health Exhibition, who hadcome to Manchester to solicit the support and co-operationof this city. The deputation consisted of Captain DouglasGalton, Dr. Poore, and Mr. E. C. Owen, who explained theobject of the Exhibition, and in what way they thoughtManchester might furnish help. A local committee wasappointed, including several leading medical men, to furtherthe objects in view, and to take such steps in the matter asthey should deem desirable.

CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES AT THE HOSPITALS.

Many of our hospitals here have been keeping somelittle Christmas and New Year festivities. At the EyeHospital a Christmas-tree and evening’s amusement wasprovided by the chairman, Mr. Philip Goldsmidt, the pre-sent Mayor, who in the course of a speech alluded to thenew Eye Hospital now being erected, and hoped next yearto be able to address the inmates in the new building.At the C4ildren’s Hospital, Pendlebury, the usual gatheringof friends of this institution took place on the 5th inst., towitness the distribution of Christmas-tree presents and othergifts to the children. At the Lunatic Asylum, Cbeadle, on ’’

Christmas Eve, where special amusements had been provided,

an interesting event took place-namely, the presentation t)Mr. Mould, the medical superintendent, of a handsome testi-monial, in the shape of silver plate, as a mark of esteem andgoodwill towards him on the occasion of his recent wedding.At the Convalescent Hospital, the Monsall Fever Hospital,and at the large new hospital at Eccles, belonging to theSalford guardians, various amusements were provided forthe inmates ; but at our leading charity, the Royal lutiraiary,all festivities have of late years been discontinued, the -

authorities having discountenanced them.THE LATE MR. CARRUTHERS.

The public subscription set on foot on behalf of the widowand family of the late Mr. Carruthers, who lost his lifewhilst attending a patient during the violent gale a fewweeks ao, has met with much success, more than £1600 having beea obtained, and it is hoped the total sum willreach £2000.

_____

NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.

THE RECORDER OF NEWCASTLE ON ITS SLUMS ANDFEVER DENS.

(From our own Correspondent.)

THE RECORDER OF NEWCASTLE ON ITS SLUMS ANDFEVER DENS.

OUR Recorder (Mr. W. D. Seymour, Q.C.), in chargingthe grand jurythisweek, referred to the unhealthy conditionof the city as evidenced by the late high death-rate, and thespecial report of our medical officer of health, and further, heremarked that he had spent a day in company with the Bishopof Newcastle and some of our police inspectors in visitingand inspecting some of the worst localities. In quoting ourmedical officer’s report, which he said was drawn up withmedical acumen and skill, he s1id it gave a picture of thesocial condition and health of Newcastle, which was of astartling character. It showed that there were 145 slaughter-houses in the city, 156 cowhouses, 500 stables, 49 pigatyes,and 20,000 open middens or ashpits. Each of these middenswas on an average eight feet square, and a great source of

disease. Si.op9 from the sick room were thrown upon themidden, the rain came and fermented them, the sun dried themup, and the air disturbed them, and thus the germs of diseasewere carried to the mansions of the rich, bringing them bya simple link in connexion with the slums of the poor.Another equally bold and fearless report, he said, was that ofMr. George Law?, the city engineer, relating to the newstreets and settlements at Byker at the east end of the town.Mr. Laws exhibited with a clear pen the scandalous con-dition of the streets in this district. "At Byker there wasdiscovered a state of things which he had no hesitation insaying ought to be made criminal." There were drains fromhouses not properly connected with the main sewers, andthere were drains that were stopped, and other instances ofan insanitary state of affairs. Drains stopped some inchesabove the main sewer caused cesspools and increasing formsof mischief and disease in the neighbourhood. " He hopedthese jerry’ builders, who were a curse to a neighbourhood,would be prosecuted." The Recorder went on to say that"he hoped the two reports to which he had referredwould lead to one of two things—either that the corporationwould endeavour to secure bye-laws to enable them to re-cover penalties from persons responsible for work like that,or that the corporation would take upon themselves theduty of seeing that proper drains were put in and properlyconnected with the main drains, and charge the cost ot thework to the builders." The Recorder then described whathe had seen in company with our bishop in the worstslums and fever dens, and pointed out the immediate neces-sity of dealing with the plague spots, and, quoting Mr.Bruce, saying, "If you are to restore life like the prophetof old you must lay upon the body, you must put yourmouth to his mouth, and your eyes to his eyes, and yourhands upon his hands, and stretch yourself before thebody shall wax warm." He (the Recorder) hoped in thatsplendid and happy metaphor the moving force of Chris-tian charity might be revived in those dark and sad scenesthrough which he had walked. Altogether the address ofthe Recorder was powerful and pointed, and likely, inthe opinion of many here, to aid in moving our inertcorporation and bringing about some of the many urgent

, sanitary reform?.

186

HEALTH LECTURES IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND.

The lecture season may be said to have " set in in thenorth with unusual severity." Mr. Williamson, of the New-castle Infirmary, has been holding forth in Sunderland onthe "Eye and Sight," under the auspices of the Ladies’Sanitary Association. Mr. Williamson’s lecture was thefirst of a course, and was presided over by the Mayor. Thelocal newspapers speak well as to Mr. Williamson’s qualitiesas a popular lecturer. Mr. C. Jeaffreson, of our Eye Infir-mary, also gave some interesting demonstrations with theophthalmoscope the other night at the Tyneside Students’soir6c; these were well attended, and excited a good dealof interest. At South Shields Dr. Monro, the medicalofficer of health, has inaugurated a course of lectures on"Elementary Physiology," intended for ladies, and includ-ing such subjects as the sanitary management of the house-hold, nursing, &c. As a rule, these lectures in our districtare delivered by men who have given special attention totheir subjects; so that the following advice once given to ayouth is no longer applicable : "My son, before you goto a lecture be sure that the lecturer knows what he is lec-turing about," and it behoves him to know it about here, forfrequently very pertinent questions come from the audience.Newcastle-on-Tyne, Jan. 16th, 1884.

SCOTTISH NOTES.

(From our own Correspondent.)

SANITARY PROTECTION ASSOCIATIONS.

AT a large and influential meeting held in Dundee lastweek, it was agreed to form a Sanitary Association for thetown and district on the lines of the Edinburgh Society.The success of the method elsewhere, and the great need forsuch a Society in Dundee revealed by the recent statementof the medical officer of health, ensured a public welcome tothe scheme of Professor Ewing ; and none have been moreforward in helping the movement than the practitioners ofthe town, of whom no fewer than sixteen are on the pro-visional committee. Dr. Sinclair well expressed the feelingof the profession in favour of preventive medicine, and wasconfident that the work of the new Society would not inter-fere with that of the sanitary staff of the corporation. Hestated that about one-third of the mortality of the kingdomwas due to disease caused or favoured by neglected housesanitation ; that typhoid fever and diphtheria especially aredue to defective drainage and other evils easily righted ;that every well-drained house is a benefit to the whole com-munity ; and that the only desire of those favouring thisAssociation was the exclusion of preventive ailments fromtheir family circles. It is stated in the prospectus. thatmembers will have the privilege of securing the inspectionof houses other than their own, at a low fee ; and thus theSociety may be of great value to the working classes.It was mentioned a few days later, at the annualmeeting of the Edinburgh Association, that a similarprovision was made in their bye-laws, but that prac-tically nothing had been done in the direction indi-cated. This was much regretted by Professor FleemingJenkin, who now believes that, beyond the first duty tothe members, these Societies will be useful chiefly throughtheir effect on public opinion, and in bringing pressure tobear upon Government in favour of sanitary legislationgenerally, and more especially in suggesting that theirsystem of inspection should be made compulsory in theinterests of the poorer classes. The Edinburgh Society,with a membership of 700, is now in its eighth year, andcontinues its career of usefulness with decreasing difficultiesyearly. During last year 900 inspections have been made,and over 160 houses in the country have been visited by theengineers. There can be no question of the wide field opento such Societies as these, and the day may soon come whenevery considerable town will take this means of self-protection.

THE REPRESENTATION OF CAITHNESS-SHIRE.

The Scotsman states that a meeting of the Caithness LandLaw Reform Association has been held for the purpose ofconsidering what action should be taken in regard to therepresentation of the county when the seat becomes vacant.After long consultation, it was agreed to submit the objectsof the Association to " Dr. Clark of London," and if he ap-proved of the principles therein set forth, he was to be invited

to come and address the electors, the committee in themeantime pledging themselves not to ask any other candi.date until Dr. Clark had full opportunity afforded him ofexpressing his political opinions. I am not aware whetherthe paragraph refers to the distinguished physician andbaronet who recently visited Caithness in company with hisillustrious patient and political chief.MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE IN THE ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY.

At a meeting of the Senate held a few days ago, it wasagreed that, in future, medical jurisprudence should betaught as a summer class. I do not know whether the pro.fessor or the students should be most congratulated on thischange. For many years a series of a hundred lectures Onthis subject and on medical logic has been looked uponas an infliction, and helpless students, knowing that fiftylectures were deemed enough in every other school, have invain sighed for deliverance. A winter class of medical juris.prudence and a summer hundred-lecture course of materiamedica were too anomalous for existence, and both subjectswill now be taught in proper course.

It appears that the now famous Dundee whale will behanded over, after it is no longer fit for exhibition, to thelocal museum, where the skeleton will be set up. Theexcitement over the monster recalls that shown in connexionwith the removal of Jumbo, and last Saturday 12,000peoplepaid for admission to view the "remains." Aberdeen andother universities in Great Britain, and even in Germany, havesought to purchase the skeleton, but their gold has not beenenough to tempt the Dundee patriot. Notwithstanding this,it is said that Professors Struthers and Turner will dissectthe massive "subject."While on his recent visit to Edinburgh Mr. Mundella had

a private conference with the professors on the Medical BilL

PARIS.(From our Paris Correspondent.)

AFTER a service of more than half a century as directorof the Gobelins Manufactory, M. Chevreul, the illustriouschemist, has been placed on the retired list, and althoughin less than two years he will have completed 100 years ofage, he considers that he has not been well treated. Itwould appear, however, that, in order to spare the feelingsof the old gentleman, he has been allowed to retain hisappointment with the full salary attached to it. TheMuni-cipal Council of Paris have given his name to a new streetin this city, an honour rarely conferred on persons whileyet living. The following short account of his habits maybe of some interest. He is generally lightly clad, andwears no hat unless under circumstances in which he isobliged to appear in one; indeed, he hardly needs a hat, ashe has most luxuriant hair. He is constantly at work,allowing only ten minutes for each of his meals, of whichhehas but two a day. He breakfasts at seven, the repastconsisting of a plate of meat and another of vegetables,which he eats together, the whole being washed downwith two tumblers of water. He is said to have never

drunk a glass of wine in his life. He dines at seven in theevening, and takes nothing between the two meals except asmall loaf at noon, which he eats standing and by the side ofhis alembics. The writer who relates this states that on avisit to M. Chevreul he found him in the attitude justdescribed, and on expressing his surprise at the frugalmanner in which he lived, M. Chevreul observed: "I a!l1very old (this was in 1874), and I have yet a great deal todo, so I do not wish to lose my time in eating." Thisexample of longevity is certainly a good argument in favourof temperance and regularity of living.

SPONTANEOUS COW-POX.

A case is reported from Cerons, in the depa.rtment of theGironde. Two heifers were inoculated with the matter fromwhich several children were vaccinated. According toProf. Layet the eruption of spontaneous cow-pox does notpresent the classical characters described in books. Thepustules are not umbilicated or cup-shaped. U mbilicationis the character essential to the eruption when transmitted.

VALUE OF DISTILLED WATER FOR INFUSIONS.

The Jo2crncrZ cles Brasseurs recommends coffee beingmade with distilled water instead of common water, and