688

more than £ 4700 was reported on the ordinaiy income overexpenditure, whilst no less than upwards of ;C10.000 inaddition was received from legacies to add to invested funds.A revised code of rules for the management of the institu-tion has been drawn up and adopted, with one exception.The one referred to had provided that each student uponentering for clinical work should pay a fee towards the in-firmary funds ; this means either that the student’s feesmust be increased, or else that the members of the medicalstaff must forego some portion of the fees which havehitherto been received by them for the clinical instructionto the students. This rule was eliminated for the timebeing, and the Board of Management and the staff are

requested to confer, with a view to settle the question.Deaths under Chloroform.

Whether the percentage of deaths under anaesthetics toadministrations has increased the last few years, or not,may be a moot point, but there is no doubt that in thisdistrict the total has been greater of late. Since the deathunder the administration of methylene reported in THELANCET, two more deaths under chloroform have occurred-one in the city on a patient aged sixty-two, undergoingoperation for haemorrhoids by one of our most experiencedsurgeons; the other at Blackburn Infirmary, where anamputation of the forearm in the person of a lad was inprogress. In this latter case death appears, however, tohave been caused by vomited matter entering the airpassages.

Boards oi Guardians ana Matters Medical.At several of our Boards of Guardians matters pertaining

to their administration of medical relief have been some-what prominent of late. At the Manchester Board a livelypassage of arms was caused by one member reflecting in un-measured terms on the way in which " the medical officers,to get rid of their responsibilities, ordered sick people intothe workhouse." Indignant protests were sent from eachof the medical officers concerned, and at the next meetingthe gentleman who had thus criticised them apologised forwhat he had said, and admitted that the data and figuresupon which he had founded his conclusions were all wrong.It is only just to say that the majority of the Board entirelyrepudiated the above gentleman’s remarks, and a resolutionwas passed, "that the district medical ofticers have per-formed their duties, often under trying circumstances, tothe entire satisfaction of the Board." At the HopeHospital, belonging to the Salford Guardians, thingshave again been "breezy." One week the guardianspassed a resolution that in future all candidates for anypost at their hospital should be required to state theirreligious opinions. The next week, after a stormy dis-cussion, this resolution was rescinded. At the same meet-ing complaints were made from the nursing staff that thequantity, quality, and cooking of their food was anythingbut satisfactory to them. It seems strange that matters ofthis sort cannot be arranged without always being thusbrought before the public. The Chorlton Board of Guardianshave recently made an innovation at their large infirmaryat Withington by appointing a lady (Miss Porter) as assist-ant medical officer there. She has had hospital practice inLondon, and the board appear to have made the appoint-ment as an experiment.

River Pollution.Dr. Simpson, after many years’ good work in the

medical school and on the infirmary staff, has now directedhis energies into another and no less useful channel. Asa member of the City Council he shows how valuable theservices of members of our profession may be in themunicipal government of a large community. He haslately been calling attention to the urgent need for someresolute action in dealing with our open cloaca yclept theRiver Irwell, and which within two years will be thechief source of water-supply to the Manchester ShipCanal. Manchester is taking steps to put her own housein order, and Salford also is attempting to deal in asatisfactory manner with the sewage; but of the hundredand one offenders higher up the river extending many milesno such report is forthcoming. Surely if Manchester andSalford combined their forces something might soon bedone to stop the pollution now going on. The Shelforcllocal -board have petitioned the County Council to inter-fere and use its powers, but County Council wheels grindvery slowly; whether they grind surely is yet to be seen.Manchester, Sept. 16th.

BIRMINGHAM.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

A Windfall for Charities.The death of Miss Villers Wilkes on the 9th inst. set free

the sum of about .C100,000 left by the late Mr. Wilkes, herbrother, to the General Hospital and the Midland Institutein equal shares. A curious rumour at one time circulatedin the medical profession of the town with regard to onemoiety of this amount. It was alleged that the deceasedintended to leave the money to the then newly formedMedical Institute, but by an assumed clerical error it waswritten Midland Institute, the former place being hardlyknown. However this may have been, no one will grudgethe receipt of this valuable gift by the large and importantinstitution, which, in this industrial centre, does suchsubstantial and varied benefit to the community. Theaccession of a similar amounc by the General Hospital willcome as a timely aid to the new buildirg, and partly, it isto be hoped, to the endowment fund. Miss Wilkes wasseventy-seven years of age. Her death was due to a strangu-lated femoral hernia, which was ably operated upon anclreduced, but to the effects of which she succumbed thirty-two hours afterwards.

Our Future Water-supply.This was the subject of an address by Mr. Councillor

Barclay on the 7th inst. There was a large and appreciativeaudience, presided over by Sir Thomas Martineau. Thesubstance of the lecture consisted largely of figures relativeto the future supply and prospective growth of the city.The present supply was said to average 17,000,000 gallons’a day, and it was estimated that in twenty-five years’ timethere would be required 11,000,000 gallons a day more.The Welsh source lately described by the Water Committeeof the Town Council’s report was illustrated by diagramsand its advantages pointed out, with an account of thecharacters of the water. The lecture will be an authorita-tive reference on this great question, and will no doubtafford much interesting information. The complaints as tothe present supply and defects in the water have lately beenfrequent, and although the imaginative faculties have beencalled in as an aid to colouring statements, there is nodoubt some amount of truth in the description of thingsseen, small and great, in the water of various taps whichsupply domestic dwellinga. a

The Causation and Spread of Epidemic Diseases.Instruction by lectures is always a popular mode of con.

veying information, particularly if the lecturer is apt andthe illustrations interesting. Dr. W. H. Line, at therequest of the Midland institute, gave an inauguraladdress on this subject on the 14th inst. The attendancewas not so good as it should have been. The subject wasably dealt with, the difficulties, dangers, and measures forsafety pointed out, and much valuable knowledge given.The subject does not commend itself to a large number ofpeople, but nevertheless is of considerable importance inthis densely populated area. Doubtless the teaching ofsanitary knowledge in this form comes to be felt moreirksome and dry in comparison with the many more excitingand interesting subjects so vigorously dealt with by generallecturers. Of these less attractive matters it may be said-

" The tired mechanic at his lecture sighs,And which of the learned, with all his lore,Hath leisure to be wise."

Sept.16th. _______________

NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The University of Durham College of Medicine.IT is announced that the Medical College of the

University of Durham, at Newcastle, is to be opened forthe session on Oct. lst, and that the Marquis of Londonderrywill distribute the prizes and scholarships and address thestudents. The llight Hon. John Morley, M.P., the Mayorof Newcastle, and other prominent persons have promi&ed.to attend.

Tgrzernoutla and the In,fectious Diseases Act.At a special meeting of the Borough of Tynemoath Towrs

Council, acting as the urban sanitary authority for the

689

borough of Tynemouth, the Infectious Diseases (Prevention)Act of 1890 was adopted, and is to come into force onOct. 14th next.

Hospital Saturday at Scarborough.. .

The usual Hospital Saturday collection has been observedat Scarborough. Numbers of ladies stood by the boxes,and the visitors contributed freely. More than f:300 wasthus collected. Tnese Saturday collections are getting quitegeneral in the northern counties, and, as well as the sub-stantial aid rendered to the local medical charities, an in-creased interest, and sympathy with them is thereby created.It is not very long since working men rarely contributed,out now they are frequently governors, and many of theinstitutions are declared free, with the letter systemabolished.

Sunderland.The Sunderland Town Council have adopted the recom-

mendation of their selection committee, who have advisedthe purchase of seventy-five acres of land at Ryhope, at acost of E9000, for the erection of a new borough lunaticasylum.-A demonstration of Friendly Societies has takenplace at Sunderland, under the auspices of the mayor andclergy of the town. Collections were made in aid of theSunderland Infirmary, the Eye Infirmary, and the Monk-wearmouth Hospital. A public meeting was held in thePeople’s Palace, which was crowded in every part.Dr. Mitchell of Barnard Castle has resigned his appoint-

ment of medical officer under the Teesdale Union, after atenure of twenty-five years.

It may interest those of your readers who questionextreme longevity to know that the vicar of Chillingham,who officiated at the funeral of the son of the Earl ofTankerville on Saturday last, will in a few months enter hisone hundredth year, and that the rev. gentleman was dis-tinctly heard by all who attended the service.

It is computed that there were 100,000 persons in thestreets of Newcastle at the Trades Congress demonstrationlast Saturday, and there was no accident of any consequence.Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sept. 15th.

SCOTLAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Nursing in the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.FOR some little time reports have been reaching the

public that grave dissatisfaction exists in the nursing staffof the Royal Infirmary. The matters complained of aretwo: that the food supplied for the nurses is bad, badlycooked, and badly served ; that the nurses are overworked,that their hours are too long, and that, as a necessaryinference, the nursing staff is too small. It is stated that someare kept on duty for from fourteen to sixteen hours daily ;one nurse is said to have been on duty for sixteen hours dailyfor nine consecutive days, another to have worked thirty-oneand a half hours, with an interval of three and a half hours’rest. These charges are serious, and are made publicly bysome of the nurses themselves, supported apparently by theentire resident staff of physicians and surgeons. The wholematter is being inquired into by a committee of managers,and it is stated that, as their report will be most exhaustive,it will not be issued for some time.

Glasgow University and Professor Helmholtz.The principal and professors of the University have

forwarded to Professor Helmholtz of Berlin an addresscongratulating him on the occasion of his completing hisseventieth year. The address refers in eulogistic terms tothe contributions made by Helmholtz to mathematics,physics, physiology, and aesthetics, and in particular to hisfamous works on vortex motion, electro-dynamics, physio-logical optics, and sensations of tone.

The Use of Tinned Peas.A case of some importance has, in the meantime at any

rate, been decided in the Sheriff’s Court of Glasgow. A fruitmerchant was charged, at the instance of the sanitaryauthorities, with having sold a tin of green peas which onanalysis was found to contain 0’005 per cent. of copper,equivalent to 1’4 grain of sulphate of copper per poundof peas. In trying the case there was the usual un-fortunate conflict of scientific evidence, Professors Char-teris, Simpson, and Dalziel, and Dr. J. B. Russell

giving evidence that such an amount of copper is in-jurious, while Professors Dougall, Glaister, and Barlow,and Drs. Sloan and Macphee, thought that 1’4 grain perpound of peas could hurt no one. All admit that thesulphate combines with the legumen of the peas and formsalbuminoid of copper, which is insoluble and does not enterthe system ; but Professor Charteris and the witnesses forthe prosecution think it is again dissolved by the acids ofthe stomach-at all events, to some extent,-while ProfessorDougall and the witnesses for the defence think that is notso. Dr. Russell says the insoluble parts are indigestibleand so injurious. Professor Dougall admits they would tosome extent be indigestible, but to an immaterial degree.Professor Simpson has met with cases of chronic copperpoisoning. Professor Dougall has had 40,000 patientsthrough his hands and has not met with a case. ProfessorDalziel felt colic and slight diarrhoea after two doses ofsulphate of copper, and Dr. Russell has felt bad effects fromgreen peas coloured with it. The witnesses for the defenceand their families have used the peas and found no bad effects.The sheriff, in his interlocutor, passed most of this evidenceby, and referred largely to text-books on materia medicaand medical jurisprudence, and felt himself compelled todecide for the defendant. It thus becomes legal to sellpeas with the above amount of green colouring matter.His lordship pointed out that by the third section of theFood and Drugs Act, 1875, " no person shall mix, colour,stain, or powder ...... any article of food with any ingredientor material so as to render the article injurious to health,"&c. The colouring with copper sulphate in this case wasacknowledged, but the plea was that the quantity is notinjurious to health, and that was therefore the only ques-tion left for trial. The sheriff noted as an important factthat though sulphate of copper in large doses is poisonous,yet it has been used for greening peas for thirty-six years, the trade has reached 20,000,000 tins perannum, and no case of serious injury has yet been substan-tiated. It is understood that the sanitary authorities arenot satisfied with the learned sheriff’s decision, andintend carrying the case to a higher court. Inreviewing the very interesting evidence given in this caseit seems that at least two points were not pressed: Thatthe combination of albumen and copper, though insolublein water, is soluble in the gastro-intestinal juices, par-ticularly the bile, and thus undoubtedly reaches the circula-tion ; it is, in fact, in this way that even the salts of copper,which are soluble in water (the sulphate, for example), enterthe blood. Then, again, the attention of the court wasdirected specially to the possible occurrence of acute copperpoisoning; but the frequent use of "coppered" peaswould give rise, not to diarrhoea, but to constipation. It iswell known that in chronic diarrhoea, especially in the tropics,few astringents are of such value as sulphate of copper insmall repeated doses; and it is used and valued by manypractitioners in this country in the same capacity. Thewhole question is one of much interest, and worthyof a fuller investigation than it has yet received.

Post-graduate Session at Edinburgh.The post-graduate session begins in Edinburgh on Mon-

day, the 21st inst. A number of men have already in.timated their intention to be present, and the sessionpromises to be a successful one. Much attention has beendevoted to making the courses of instruction thoroughlypractical. The main danger lies in the wealth of choiceprovided and in the attempt on the part of those attendingthe course to do more than can be comfortably done in the, limited time. The course lasts for three weeks, and thewinter session opens immediately afterwards.

Visiting Physician to the City Hospital, Edinburgh.It is reported that Dr, Allan Jamieson is to be succeeded

by Dr. Muirhead as visiting physician to the City Hospital.- Dr. Muirhead completes his term of office as an honorary

physician to the Royal Infirmary in a few weeks; and,should he thereafter be appointed to the City Hospital, theselection would be a popular one, and it would keep himfor some time longer connected with the teaching staff of the

school. The hospital is used for clinical instruction in fevers.Health of Edinburqh.

, The mortality last week was 79, making the death-rate 16 per 1000. Diseases of the chest caused 20 deaths, and- zymotic diseases 2. The intimations for the week comprised- 6 cases of typhoid fever, 1 of diphtheria, 18 of scarlatina,1 and 4 of measles.