466 LIVERPOOL.-NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES.

also included in the fee. The laboratories of this stationare larger than those at Drobak. The number of work-tables is greater, and there are good opportunities forscientific work. The water-supply is provided for by apump conveying 120 litres of sea-water per minute into thereservoirs in the top storey, the pump being moved by awater-motor of two horse-power, whilst in Drobak the water-supply is provided for by a hand-pump conveying only asomewhat small quantity of water. This station at Bergenis the largest and best station on the North Sea, and is theonly one which can possibly be compared with the excellentstation at Naples, though it is considerably smaller than thisone.

The annotation was also incomplete in another respect,the writer ignoring the two English statipns on the NorthSea-viz., at Granton and at St. Andrews.

I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,Bergen. BIOLOGIST.

HOSPITALS, "VIVISECTION," AND MENTALCONFUSION.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,-Adherents of the anti-vivisection doctrine have notbeen fortunate in the most recent exhibition of their views.A meeting convened by them a week ago at World’s-end,Chelsea, was distinguished no less by the mass of mate-rial provided for its discussion than for the violentunreason which mingled one grievance with anotherin a hopeless confusion of protest. Hospital adminis-tration and vivisection were condemned with equal iigour.Those of us who have followed the course of the recentinquiry into the management of the Chelsea Hospital forWomen, and have marked the impartial justice which hascharacterised it, will nevertheless be slow to regard it as

unsatisfactory solely on the ground that working men,so - called, were not numbered among its constituents.It is difficult, indeed, to see what element of strengthwould have been added by their presence, nor does it appearby what principle of representation they can claim a positionof influence in hospital management. The opportunityshould be taken at once, surely, of denying in the mostemphatic manner a statement made at this meeting-namely, that the poor in hospitals are frequently experi-mented on for the benefit of the rich. Probably nowhereis the poor man so certain to obtain the most carefuland considerate attention as in the ward of a publichospital. A like denial were too courteous an exposureof the absurdity to which another speaker committedhimself on this occasion. "Experiments on hospitalpatients," he informed his hearers, "are the directoutcome of experiments on living animals." No more

need be said. Such wild criticism as that of the World’s-end orators, if it fall upon the ears of men capable of calmreason, be they poor or rich, will go far to conquer the pre-judice which, in opposing the formation of a Pasteur Insti-tute in London, would deny to the inhabitants of theseislands their only remedy against a terrible disease.

I am, SiIs, yours faithfully,M.D.

" We may refer our correspondent to a leading articlewhich appears under the above heading in our presentissue.-ED. L.

LIVERPOOL.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Citizens’ Golden Wedding Gifts.MR. JOHN BRANCHER, the chairman of the Liverpool Dock

Board and a citizen highly esteemed by all classes, hasrecently celebrated his golden wedding. As a gracefulacknowledgment of this happy event he and his worthypartner of fifty years have presented, inter alia, the follow-ing gifts to local medical charities : Royal Infirmary, .E200 ; ;Northern Hospital, £ 150 ; Royal Southern Hospital, .1;,150;Infirmary for Children, £100; Home for Epileptics, Maghull,£50 ; Woolton and New Brighton Convalescent Institutions, £ 50 each. These gifts are not only especially welcome atthe present time, when medical charities are feeling theeffects of the depression of trade, &c., but, unlike legacies, arepaid in full without the serious deduction of 10 per cent. forduty.

The Attacka on -Dr. Joseph Wiglesrvortk.It is very gratifying to be able to report that on this, the

fourteenth day after he was wounded in the manner describedin THE LANCET of last and the preceding week, Dr. Wigles-worth continues to make satisfactory progress towards

recovery. It may be well here to state that after Dr.Wiglesworth reached his room pressure was kept up by Dr.Buss and Mr. Hines until the arrival of Mr. Damer Harrisson,wro, after the administration of ether, carefully examinedand then enlarged the wound, subsequently placing a ligatureupon the common carotid artery ; he then put a plug uponthe distal end of the wounded internal carotid artery. Onthe following day Mr. Rushton Parker was called in consulta-tion, and the plug was then removed without any recurrenceof hæmorrhage. The case is an extremely interesting one,both in a surgical and a medico-legal aspect, and it is theintention of Mr. Harrisson to publish a full report of it.

The Death-rate of Liverpool.At the last meeting of the Health Committee reference

was made to the abnormally high death-rates which hadrecently been reported as prevailing in Liverpool. Dr. Hopeexplained that it was due to the large number of deaths ofinfants from diseases of the digestive organs, arising pre-sumably from improper feeding. Two very significant cir-cumstances were also pointed out by Dr. Hope, one being thevery early age of many of the infants, the other the localitiesin which the deaths occurred. Out of 117 infants 34 wereunder twelve weeks of age, 39 were from three to six months,and 44 were from six to twelve months. The localities werethose parts of the town where the most poverty and priva-tion prevailed. Dr. Hope also pointed out that a large pro-portion of these children were illegitimate, and he likewisealluded to the fact referred to in a previous letter-viz., thatat present the boundaries of the city do not include thesuburbs, as is the case with other large towns and cities.When they do so the mortality ratio of Liverpool will comparevery favourably with that of any city.

Dr. Taylor and -Dr. Hope.Referring to the letters written by Dr. Stopford Taylor, the

late medical officer of health, and by Dr. Hope, his successor,the chairman of the Health Committee observed that theyas a committee had nothing to do with the report of themedical officer beyond receiving it and ordering it to beprinted, the medical officer for the time being having theresponsibility of its contents on his own shoulders. Withregard to what had transpired between Dr. Hope and Dr.Taylor as to certain matters of etiquette the committeecould, of course, leave those two gentlemen to decide thematter for themselves. It is to be regretted that anydifference should have arisen between them, and it isa difficult and delicate subject on which to comment.Each has written, and the letters have been published.It is clear that Dr. Taylor presented his report on March 22ndand bad every opportunity of securing that it should beprinted. It is equally clear that the tables which form soprominent a part of the report were not ready till long after-wards, and that for these Dr. Hope, and not Dr. Taylor, wasresponsible. It is to be hoped now that the matter will beallowed to rest. Dr. Taylor has retred, full of 3ears andhonour, to enjoy well-earned rest. Dr. Hope has commenced

, his labours in an office which ought to secure for him thecordial assistance, cooperation, and good wishes of everyone of his professional brethren, Dr. Taylor himself included.Aug. 21st.

_________________

NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

7’ees Port Sanitary A uthomity.THE monthly meeting was held at Middlesbrough orn

Monday, the mayor of Tbornaby pr esiding. It was reportedthat during the month he had inspected 251 vessels fromforeign ports and coastwise. Since the last meeting therehad not been a single case of infectious disease notified,although vessels had arrived at the port from places inRussia which were supposed to be infected with cholera.

The Apparently High Death-rate of Morpetk.At a meeting of the Morpeth town council, the mayo

presiding, the report of the medical cfficer of health statedthat the death-rate for the month was 24 per 1000, that therewas nothing unusual in the causes of death, and that not one

467IRELAND.

case of infectious disease had been notified, but that onecould not compare Morpeth with many other places; they hadtwo very large institutions, the asylum and the workhouse, inboth of which deaths were necessarily frequent. The popu-lation at the asylum, patients and officials together, wassomething like 700. and the inmates of the workhouse weremostly old and infirm persons, drawn from no fewer thanseventy-two townships.

IJeath of a Newcastle Surgeon.Mr. George Newton, of Eldon-place, Newcastle, died on

the 15th inst., after an illness of about ten days. Whilston a visit to his wife’s parents at Morpeth he had a suddenattack of pleurisy, which compelled him to take to hisbed. He soon developed symptoms of pneumonia and died,as above mentioned, in his forty-fourth year. He re-

ceived his training as a student in medicine at the DurhamCollege of Medicine, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and had a dis-

tinguished career. He was a Dickinson scholar and won foursilver medals in addition to numerous prizes and honourscertificates. He was a good surgeon and gynaecologist. Hemarried the youngest daughter of Mr. W. Davidson, B.A.,headmaster of Morpeth Grammar School, and leaves a widowand son. He was attended by Dr. Dickie of Morpeth, inconsultation with Dr. Oliver of this city.

Small-pox in West Hartlepool.At the last meeting of the Hartlepools port sanitary

authority the medical officer (Dr. Biggart) reported thateleven cases had been admitted into the hospital during thepast month. Of these, seven cases were small-pox. Thedisease was not of a virulent type, but the cases had comefrom nearly as many different parts of the town. It had beenin the town for some time, and had either not been reco-gnised or had been suppressed. So far there had been nodeaths from it. On the recommendation of the medicalofficer instructions were given for the appointment of anadditional nurse at the hospital.

Monkwearmouth and Southwick Hospital.The annual meeting of the governors of this institution

was held at Sunderland, under the presidency of the Rev.C. J. Hopkinson. The annual report showed that the hos-pital had attained its majority this year. The total numberof cases treated during the past year was 3843, exclusive of255 dental cases. The expenditure amounted to upwards ofE800, and the balance on current account at the bank hadbeen increased from 228 to 379. The report was adopted,after which the officers were elected.

Propcsed Mediecal Charity Festival.Preparations are being made for a great medical charity

festival to be held in the Tyneside district in the course ofthe next few weeks. The programme includes numerousathletic meetings, special theatrical performances, &c. Dr.Oliver is the president. It is expected that the carnival willbe the most imposing ever organised locally.Newcastle-on-Tyne, Aug. 22nd.

IRELAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The Oictbrecck of Small pox in Dublin.FRESH cases of small-pox occur every day, chiefly in the

northern part of Dublin, and last week about forty new caseswere admitted into the Cork-street Fever and the HardwickeHospitals. A special meeting of the North Dublin UnionDispensary committee was held last week to receive reportsfrom the medical officers with regard to various matters con-nected with the outbreak. Dr. Donnelly thought an assistantrelieving officer should be appointed to assist in finding outthe cases, but as far as vaccination was concerned themedical officers did not require any assistance. He thoughta cab should be kept at the workhouse for the purposeof conveying cases of small-pox to the hospitals, andthe moment an order was given the cab should besent. With reference to the children born in the RotundaLying-in Hospital it was very hard to vaccinate them. Onan average these births numbered 2000 yearly, and in thefirst place the parents of illegitimate children gave wrongaddresses, and so did many who were ashamed to acknow-ledge that they were in receipt of charity. As to the workof vaccination itself, they could manage it without any addi-tional medical aid, but the increased clerical work was very

serious, and if it increased they should obtain assistance.Mr. Garland alluded to the necessity of isolating the familie&infected with the disease. The outbreak in Grenville-street.arose through a child five months old; the mother came bachfrom the hospital and communicated it to the family. A

deputation was appointed to wait on the Public Health Committee with a view to the providing of cabs for cases of small-pox, and also a house for isolating suspected cases. TheDublin Sanitary Association have issued placards to be

posted throughout the city showing the benefits of vaccina-tion and revaccination, and adducing rules and regulations as.to vaccination, disinfection, isolation, &c. At the weeklymeeting of the South Dublin Union a deputation consistingof the Lord Mayor, Sir Charles Cameron, and the chairmanof the Public Health Committee waited upon the board to

urge the necessity of putting into force the provisions as to.compulsory vaccination. The Lord Mayor said that the PublicHealth Committee did not think that the accommodation at

present available in the hospitals was sufficient to meet theoccasion, and they considered that some better arrangementshould be made than that of putting a large number of cases.in the Hardwicke and Cork-street Fever Hospitals. The Kil-mainham sheds should be utilised for the purpose and got inorder without delay. Sir Charles Cameron agreed that it was.most undesirable to accommodate small-pox cases in generalhospitals. Mr. Stafford (Local Government Board inspector)*pointed out that the guardians were the proper authorities to.provide hospital accommodation. He considered that themedical officers should be asked if they were willing to go from.house to house in their respective districts to vaccinate, andkeep their dispensaries open in the evening from 7 to 9 o’clockto vaccinate all comers. If not willing, extra men should beappointed. Mr. Stafford said that if the guardians wished to-employ extra medical men and extra officers to help the-existing officers in looking up defaulters, the Local Govern-ment Board would agree to the arrangement without theslightest difficulty. Small-pox was communicated so muchby the air that it would be undesirable to have a small-pox.hospital in or near a large town. Both the Cork street and the-Hardwicke Hospitals were undesirable for small-pox, and hewould urge on the guardians to find some place in a rural dis-trict for the accommodation required. He did not wish to-create a scare, but there was no question that they ought to>look ahead. A deputation attended also from the Cork-streetFever Hospital, who stated that there were at present 47small-pox patients in the hospital, 25 of whom had comein within the past three days, and that they could notaccommodate more than 80 more small-pox patientso.On Saturday last a special meeting of the South UnionDispensary committee was held when the medical officers ofthe city districts gave evidence. They all declared they didnot require any additional assistance for the present. But ifa house-to-house visitation was carried out, and the dis-pensaries were kept open from 7 to 9 P.M., they would requireassistance. Mr. Stafford said that as there were 76 cases.at present in Dublin he thought the time had arrived to takemeasures to prevent other people contracting the disease..The only known remedy was vaccination and revaccination,and he would desire that the committee should ask theirofficers to devote a certain period of the day to that purpose,going from house to house, and also open the dispensarybetween 6 and 7 o’clock in the evening for the same

purpose. He was also of opinion that they ought to appoint*one medical officer in addition to attend to the tickets in eachdistrict. The following resolution was adopted after some dis-cussion :-" That our medical officers be informed that the-committee are prepared to afford them any assistance that theywill require in the discharge of their duties, whether medical or-scrivenery work, and they be requested to inform the com-mittee if they will be willing to make a house-to-house-

inspection for the revaccination of all who choose to acceptit and perform the operation at the house of the party.""The medical officers of each district are vaccinating from 5Dto 100 persons daily. Durirg the week ended last Saturday,the 18th inst., three deaths were registered from small-pox inDublin. One was that of a man aged thirty-seven years, un-vaccinated ; the second that of a male infant eight weeks.old, also unvaccinated ; and the third that of a woman aged-,fifty-one years, who had been vaccinated "in infancy andhad one small, bad mark." Thirty-seven cases were admittedto hospital during the week, being 11 over the number ofadmissions for the previous week, and 78 remained undertreatment. The medical officers of the four dispensary districts in the South Dublin Union have consented to carry out