55THE WEEKLY HEALTH RETURNS OF MANCHESTER.

every member of the profession to truly render the exactmeaning of the unambiguous words of other writers ? 2 Onaccount of the delay which took place in the publication ofmy letter of May 14th (a delay which I can quite under-stand) I sent a copy of it to the editors of the GlasgowMedical Journal, and they, after publishing it and Mr.Lennox Browne’s rejoinder, appended the note which followson this letter. Although a reply has already been givenwith regard to this controversy by the editors of the

Glasgow Medical Journal, I consider it most desirable thatthe Editors of THE LANCET also should express their opinionon this question of ethics. It is not to me a personalmatter. What I want to do is to vindicate professionalethics as applied to such cases.

T a,m. Sirs. vonrs fa,ithfullv.July 3rd, 1894. DAVID NEWMAN.

Editorial Note in the ’° Glasgow Medical Journal. ""We publish Mr. Lennox Browne’s letter, but must at the

same time express regret at its tone and method. Dr. New-man pointed out that Mr. Browne, in what he cites as anexact quotation, alters an important word, thereby changingthe meaning entirely. Mr. Browne does not deny alteringthe word, and we are convinced that his contention that hehas not altered the meaning is not made good. When anauthor who is citing a case as cancerous from the onset statesthat at one period he believed it to be innocent, it is alteringhis meaning entirely to substitute "demonstrated" for"believed," " and to make it appear that he still believes itto be innocent at the time of the first examination. Mr.Browne’s further claim that Dr. Newman was at one time anadherent of the opinion that such innocent growths may bysurgical interference be transformed into malignant tumours,seems to us to be equally devoid of foundation. The passagesquoted by Mr. Browne from Dr. Newman’s writings showthat the latter believes in the transformation of innocentinto malignant growths, but we have not discovered a singleword favouring the idea that he ever believed that instru-mental interference is an element in producing such trans-formation. The long quotations in which Mr. Browneindulges are thus entirely wide of the mark and do not bearout his contention. We have made these remarks withoutconsulting Dr. Newman, and simply to bring back the readerto the points in dispute, which Mr. Browne obscures in acloud of words. EDITORS G.H.J."Gksgow Medical Journal, July, 1894.

THE WEEKLY HEALTH RETURNS OFMANCHESTER.

To t7te Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,—Will you kindly allow me to say that the Manchesterweekly return, of which you speak so highly, and with justice,at p. 1635 of THE LANCET of June 30th, was not drawn up byme, but by the former medical officer of health for Man-chester, Dr. Tatham, now chief of the Statistical Department,Somerset House. I am. Sirs, yours faithfully,City of Manchester Town Hall, June 29th, 1894. JAMES NIVEN.

MANCHESTER.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Small-pox.SMALL-POX still threatens seriously, thirty-five cases, with

one death, having occurred last week. All the cases wereremoved to hospital. Measures have been taken to providefor any further spread of the disease by increasing thenumber of beds very considerably at the Clayton ValeHospital. Existing buildings, part of extensive disusedmanufacturing premises, are fortunately well adapted forhospital wards. It is intended to send acute cases there atonce, the danger from aerial infection being less than atMonsall, where the small-pox wards, though as far from theother portions of the hospital as they could be placed, arenearer than is desirable.

Stockport.The annual meeting of the Lancashire and Cheshire branch

of the British Medical Association was held at Stockport onJune 27th, under the presidency of Dr. Edwin Rayner. Itwas very numerously attended, probably more than 400

members being present. The scientific pabulum on theagenda paper was small in quantity, though no doubt good of £its kind ; but the quality could not be tested, as this portionof the business was not reached. The attraction drawing so-many together was, no doubt, the great midwife question,which seems to have a marvellously stimulating E 11’ect evenon the most phlegmatic temperaments.

Refuse Destructor for ivoss Side.The ratepayers and property owners of Moss Side, a..

southern suburb of Manchester, have been much exercisedin mind on account of the intention of the local board toerect a "destructor" for the district. A deputationattended at the last monthly meeting to urge that nothingshould be done till after the November election. All sorts ofexaggerated fears found expression-that if carried out thescheme would be disastrous to the future of the district ,.,.that ’’ the nuisance caused by the constant passing of night-soil carts, joined to that of the destructor, was likely tocause an injury to property and to Whitworth Park whichcould not be exaggerated." It was explained that the con.-struction provided for the burning of all noxious fumes orgasef, so that they could not escape unconsumed; "that noexcreta would be dealt with atthe destructor, but that theywould be taken direct to farms "; that there would only bethirty loads for twenty-four hours over the whole district, &e.The inhabitants of each district always wish to pass on theirrefuse to the next, and think it a hardship that it is not

allowed ; but by degrees it may be hoped that less selfishand more equitable views will be entertained.

Carriage of lwleat through the Streets.A letter in one of the local papers draws attention to the-

revolting and barbarous fashion in which meat is conveyedthrough the streets of most of our towns from the slaughter-houses. The same applies to imported frozen meat. " It.is quite customary for carts or traps to be loaded with meat.exposed to dust, rain, and sun, except for a partial coveringof apparently old sacking, and frequently I have noticed the-driver and a friend or two seated upon the meat, evidentlypreferring it to a harder substance." This is a perfectlytruthful picture, and the writer’s suggestion that covered

conveyances should be used is one the authorities might take.up, if only for decency’s sake.July 4th.

________________

NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Railway Servants’ Eyesight Test: an Important Modificatian.,THE general manager of the North-Eastern Railway

Company has, it is stated, considerably modified the eyesight.test which certain employes of the company have recentlyhad to undergo, and which appears to have given rise to*much dissatisfaction among the men. With regard to.the wool test, the candidate is not to be deemed "colourblind " if he is able to properly distinguish green from red, or-red from green, and the standard of normal form vision(Snellen’s type test) is 6’6 ; whilst the cases of those who are’as low as 6’18 will be specially considered.

Memorial to Miss Mary Burton.The Bishop of Carlisle has dedicated a chapel which has.

been erected at the Border Counties Home for Incurables",Carlisle, as a memorial of the late Miss Mary Burton, who,practically initiated the scheme for the founding of the home,and whose sisters at the present time are among the most.active and valued supporters of the home, which contains.some twenty-six inmates. The chapel has cost about £500.

Poisoned with White Lead.An inquest has been held at the Gateshead workhouse into.

the cause of the death of Sarah Ann Cairns, aged thirty-three,who died at that institution on the 17th ult. The deceaseclshad been employed at the white lead works at Ouseburnsince March this year. She came home ill on the 7th ult.and was removed to the union workhouse on the llth ult-She was then attended by Dr. Cook, but died six days later.A verdict was returned to the effect that death was due toconvulsions consequent upon lead poisoning.

Home for Destitute Crippled Children.The committee of the Home for Destitute Crippled Children

at a meeting held yesterday completed the purchase from the

56 SCOTLAND.-IRELAND.

Gosforth Park Estate Company of two acres of land on whichthey hope, at an early date, to commence erecting a morecommodious and convenient building than that which they<at present possess. The purchase money was 91300.

Coxlodge Asylum.A commencement has been made with the enlargement of

he Newcastle City Lunatic Asylum at Coxlodge. When the- extension has been completed, the accommodation at the

.asylum will be doubled, and the establishment will be relievedfrom the pressure that has been experienced for so long atime. This pressure was so great a short time ago that the- committee were obliged not only to buy an iron church andhave it fixed on the ground for the reception of patients, butthe chapel in the building had to be requisitioned for,dormitory purposes. It is regrettable that so much accom-modation should be required for such a purpose, but it isstated to be due almost entirely to the rapidity of the growthof the population. Allowing for this increase, it is believedthat the proportion of lunatics to inhabitants is lower in’Newcastle than in many other large cities and towns. Thework at present in progress in connexion with the enlarge-,ment consists in the formation of the foundations. The costof the foundations alone is estimated at from C9000 to

&pound;10,000, while the total cost of the new building will not runfar short of from &pound;80,000 to &pound;100,000.

The Treatment oj the Insane.Dr. Campbell says that in the Cumberland and Westmor-

land Lunatic Asylum the recovery rate has been 39 per cent.on the admissions doling the ten years ending 1872, 47’3 per,-cent. in the ten years ending 1882, and 41’1 per cent. in theten years ending 1892.

The epidemic of measles at Sunderland continues to be of;a mild type. Only three fatal cases were reported lastweek out of over 700 which have been notified to the health.authorities up to the present time.

- Newcastle-on-Tyne, July 4th.

SCOTLAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Small-pox in Edinburgh.AT the meeting of the town council of Edinburgh last

.week considerable discussion took place regarding the site.of the small-pox hospital, the convener of the Public Health’Committee being questioned as to the reason for setting,a small-pox hospital or quarantine station in such a densely,populated locality as the Cowgate. It was intimated that

permission had been obtained from the Board of Works toerect a hospital in the Queen’s Park, and that as soon as itwas ready all small-pox cases would be sent there. It was

hoped, however, that, although accommodation was beingprovided, the epidemic had passed its worst, for there were’ten fewer patients in hospital than there were a week before.

The Leit7a Sanitary Authorities.Immediately in the wake of the trouble with the town

- council of Leith and the small-pox epidemic there has arisen.a feud between the sanitary officials. The feud began by the. medical officer of health making charges against the sanitaryinspector. These were remitted to a committee for investi-gation, and necessarily much of what takes place is findingits way into the newspapers. With reference to the state-ments and denials, charges and counter-charges, it is not mybusiness to deal, but it may be pointed out that this is

simply an example of what may occur in any sanitary. district owing to the position in which public healthofficials at present stand to one another. The sanitaryinspector is quite independent of the medical officer of<health, and the Board of Supervision has not seen its way torecognise that he is under the medical officer of health.This has led to considerable friction, which is not generally.known or heard of, but it none the less exists, and matterswill not be right until the medical officer is clearly andunambiguously head of his own department with the sanitary ’’

’inspector under his direction and authority.Forfarshire Medical Association.

The thirty-sixth annual general meeting of the Forfarshire,Medical Association was held in the White Hart Hotel,Arbroath, on Thursday, June 28th, Dr. Russell, Arbroath,President, in the chair. The members present included Drs.

Russell, Dewar, Laing, Peters, and T. F. Dewar, Arbroath ;e Drs. MacEwan. A. M. Anderson, Duncan, Raw, McGillivray,y and Mr. Peter Campbell, Dundee ; Drs. Lawrence, Key, Have-

lock, and Mr. Gunning, Montrose ; Drs. McLagan Wedderburnand Mr. Cable, Forfar; Dr. Rorie, Dundee Royal Asylum; and

f Dr. Durran, Kirriemuir. Professors Ogston and Finlay, Aber-deen, and Staff-Surgeon Pearson, R.N., were present as

e guests. The yearly financial statement was considered satis-factory, and Dr. J. W. Miller was appointed auditor ofaccounts for the current year.-On the motion of Dr.MacEwan, seconded by Dr. Lawrence, it was agreed to give

3 a donation of three guineas to the British Medical Bene-

t volent Fund.-Dr. Key proposed that the meeting for 1895

r should be held in Forfar, and that the following gentlemenshould be appointed office-bearers for the current year :

. President, Mr. Alexander (Forfar) ; Vice-Presidents, Dr. A.K. Mill (Kirriemuir) and Dr. A. M. Stalker (Dundee) ;Council, Drs. Charles Moon, J. W. Miller, Sinclair, Buist,Lennox, and Mackie Whyte ; hon. treasurer, Dr. McGillivray,13, Airlie-place, Dundee; hon. secretary, Mr. Peter Camp-

- bell, 29, Springfield, Dundee.-The President (Mr. Russell)then read a paper on the Evil Effects of Over-pressure in

) Schools, Colleges, and in the Ordinary Business of Life.-After the business meeting the members dined together inthe large hall of the hotel, under the chairmanship ofDr. Russell.

The Death-rate in the Eight Principal Towns.-

The death-rate in the eight principal towns during theweek ending Saturday, June 30th, 1894, was 16’9 per

> 1000 of the estimated population. This rate is 5’0 belowthat for the corresponding week of last year, but 0’3 abovethat for the previous week of the present year. The lowest

E mortality was recorded in Edinburgh-viz., 13’1 per 1000-and the highest in Aberdeen-viz., 22-1 per 1000. Thedeaths from bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy amountedto 74, being 9 above the number for the previous week.July 4th.

IRELAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

University of Dublin.ON Thursday, the 28th ult., the Senate of the University

of Dublin held a meeting for the purpose of conferringdegrees. Honorary degrees were conferred upon Lord Rassellof Killowen, the Bishop of Iowa, and the Bishop of NorthDakota.

Memorial to Surgeon-Major Park,e.The sculptor has now completed the model in clay. The

deceased officer is represented in the dress he wore in Africa;the head is thrown back, while the right arm rests on thebarrel of a Winchester repeating rifle, and the left foot onthe skull of an antelope. In a short time the statue willbe cast in bronze in Belgium, and in a few months will beerected in Dublin. The site has not yet been determined.

Richmond Lunatic Asylum.At a recent meeting of the governors the architect reported

that certain works in connexion with the female divisionwould cost ;E25,000, and that a like sum would be necessary forthe male division. The probable cost of the improvements inthe female hospital, he estimated, would be between &pound;4000and f:5000. He thought it would not be prudent to spend somuch money for the improvement of the female division, andsuggested greater accommodation for females at Portrane, alsothe disposal of eight acres of ground at Grangegorman; thesechanges would save an expenditure of .E25,000 on the buildingfor females. It was ultimately decided that in the new build-ing at Portrane accommodation should be provided for at least1200 patients, male and female.

Outbreak of Glanders and Babies in Cork.A meeting of the local sanitary authority was held last

week, when the outbreak of glanders and rabies in the citywas under consideration. A communication was received fromProfessor McFadyean suggesting that the horses sufferingfrom glanders should be inoculated with mallein, which, heasserted, was an infallible mode of diagnosing the disease.With reference to the outbreak of rabies, the police com-plain that they were unable to effectually carry out theirduty in the matter, owing to the want of a place in whichto put any stray or unmuzzled dogs they might seize. The