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,of the Metropolitan Provident Medical Aid Association,will not relax in their efforts to force Dr. Rentoul’s schemeupon the general practitioners, and would therefore suggestto these gentlemen the desirability of their acting in closer- concert than hitherto, for the purpose of giving the schemean organised opposition.

I am, Sirs, faithfully yours,Stockwell-road, S.W., Dec. 16th, 1889. R. H. S. CARPENTER.R. H. S. CARPENTER.

PRIMARY TUBERCLE OF THE KIDNEY.To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SiRS,-Mr. J. Knowsley Thornton, in his lectures deliveredbefore the Harveian Society, draws attention to the raritywith which tubercle occurs primarily in one kidney. MayE ask you to kindly insert in THE LANCET the followingibrief notes of a case which came under my notice when!resident medical officer at the Bootle Borough Hospital?

In last September, a mother brought her boy, aged aboutthree years, to the out-patient department, complainingthat he was unable to pass his urine, and that he appearedto suffer pain in the lower part of the abdomen. No definite,history being obtained from the mother, I examined theboy for stone in the bladder, but failed to find any signs ofone. About three ounces of normal urine were drawn off.A mild purge was given, and the mother was told to bringthe boy again if he were no better. She came two days’later, when the child was evidently dying, comatose, andwith contracted pupils. The bladder being distended, acatheter was passed, and about ten ounces of urine, con-taining blood, were drawn off. A hot bath was given, butthe child died in a few minutes. At the post-mortem"examination the cortex and the medulla of the upper thirdof the right kidney were found to be infiltrated withmilitary tubercles, some of which were becoming caseous.No tubercular matter was found anywhere else in the body,although carefully looked for. The bladder was quitehealthy, and did not contain a stone.

I am, Sirs, yours obediently,R. ATWOOD BEAVER,

Assistant Medical Officer, Lancaster CountyDec. lith, 1889. Asylum, Rainhill.

R. ATWOOD BEAVER,Assistant Medical Officer, Lancaster County

Asylum, Rainhill.

SULPHUROUS MEDICATION IN INFLUENZA.To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SiRS,—Doubtless many of your readers remember theuseful paper of Mr. Dewar of Kirkcaldy upon 11 SulphurousMedication " in ordinary colds. Let me give my personaltestimony of its value in influenza. Some years ago, whenI had an important engagement for 6.30 P.M., I came homeat 5 o’clock to dress. My eyes were then streaming, and Isneezed so violently and so persistently that it was almost;impossible to do anything but sneeze. By sprayingsulphurous acid into my nose and about the room I was,ble to keep my appointment with scarcely any incon-venience. Should influenza come upon us, would it not bematerially prevented from spreading through a family bythe use of the sulphurous spray, which is so destructive toinfectious germs ? Slightly diluted with water, and withthe addition of a little eau de Cologne, it is very agreeablein any sick room. I am, Sirs, yours truly,

Finchley-road, Dec.l7th.l889. R. H. MILSON, M.D.R. H. MILSON, M.D.

DEATH UNDER CHLOROFORMTo the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,-In THE LANCET of Dec. 14th is an annotationunder the above title, in which you say : " When half-waythrough the operation the patient showed signs of dangerousdepression, the pupils became widely dilated, and therespiration and heart’s action ceased." As the ansesthetistresponsible for the case, allow me to say that there wereabsolutely no "signs of dangerous depression," and thatthe pupils were not dilated prior to the sudden cessation ofbreathing. The fact is, everything seemed to be going assatisfactorily as possible without the least sign of either

cardiac or respiratory depression, until a deep sighingInspiration and expiration occurred, which were immediatelyfollowed by sudden cessation of breathing, extreme pallorof countenance, and then dilatation of pupil. The pulse,which for obvious reasons was not noted at the moment ofcessation of breathing, was taken immediately before, and

nothing abnormal detected. Had "signs of dangerousdepression" occurred prior to cessation of breathing, everycare would have been taken to combat them.Thanking you in anticipation for allowing me to correct

an error, which was, I am sure, quite unintentional,I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,

HENRY T. RUTHERFOORD.

!, Queen Anne-street, Cavendish-square, W., Dec. 16th, 1889.HENRY T. RUTHERFOORD.

BIRMINGHAM.

(FROM OUR -OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

4c’OMN MMCr the Apothewrics Act.MENTION was made a short time ago of successful actions

in the Police Court against two notorious illegal practi-tioners ; these two defendants on the 17th inst. had paidinto court f87 8s. 8d., the amount of the penalties claimed

against them by the Apothecaries’ Society at the CountyCourt. A number of other cases were down for hearingalso, but as some of the witnesses were engaged at theAssizes they were adjourned until Jan. 13bh. Another caseof some importance was also heard under the same Act,where the defendant, with no legal qualification, was heldup as an example of a class of men who open respectable-looking houses, place their names upon a lamp, set upspeaking-tubes, and give every appearance outwardly ofbeing qualified men. The poor were thereby deceived, andproperly qualified men also deterred from obtaining practice.It was pointed out, also, that inquests often became neces-sary from the inability to get a certificate of death from anunqualified man, and expense was thereby thrown upon theratepayers. The full penalty of £ 20 for one instance wasinflicted upon the defendant, and an order for paymentforthwith was granted. The effect of these prosecutionswill be wholesome and salutary, and will confer a benefitupon the poor as well as on the profession.

Notification of Injectimts Diseases.At a meeting of the City Council held on the 17th inst.,

a resolution was passed, after some discussion, to adopt theInfectious Diseases Act 1889 (Notification), as and fromJanuary 20tb, 1890. An amendment was accepted with it asfollows: "And that the said committee be requested toconfer with the medical profession as to the precautionswhich should be observed by doctors visiting from infectiousor non-infectious cases, and to report." The Chairman ofthe Health Committee pointed out that during the recentscarlet fever epidemic they had to increase their hospitalaccommodation from 80 to 478-the number of patientsunder treatment at one time. There was a gradualdecrease of the epidemic, there being at this time 445 casesin the hospital. With the additional powers given by thisAct, it is hoped that the committee will be able to exercisetheir strength in combating this widespread and banefuldisease.

Heroism in Humble Life.A distressing incident, involving the lives of two men,

lately occurred during the repairs to one of the large gas-holders of the corporation. The necessary alterations in sodangerous a place were undertaken by a firrn at Leeds, whoemployed experienced workmen. Two men engaged for ashort time became unconscious from the effects of the gasand emanations from foul water in the holder. Their rescuewas nobly risked by two others, one of whom and one ofthose previously at work lost their lives. Wide sympathyis felt for the victims and their families.

"

Birmingham, Dec. 18th.

NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Newcastle-on-Tyne.AT a meeting of the Tyne Port Sanitary Authority, held

last week, it was stated that no less than 14,000 visits toinspect their sanitary condition had been made to vesselsin the river during the past year. This of course involveda large expense, but it was believed to have been well spent.The work done in October and November included theinspection of 1269 British steamers, 590 British sailing

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vessels, 362 foreign steamers, and 348 foreign sailing vessels.On the principle that prevention is better than cure, muchgood was done in inspecting the ships and insisting onnecessary alterations, which were all complied with, withthe exception of six vessels, which went away before theycould be revisited.

University of Durham.At the Convocation of the University of Durham, held

last week, the papers report that the restrictions as to theadmittance of undergraduates having been removed, theymustered in strong force, and with the outside flank of themedical men from Newcastle succeeded by their enthusiasmin restoring a good deal of the humour and good naturewhich has for many years been introduced to academicmeetings of this kind.

Death of Dr. E. P. Mead of Whitby.I regret to notice the death on the 7th inst., of Dr. E.

P. Mead, at his residence in Whitby, Yorkshire, where hewas a well-known and active practitioner for about thirty-five years. Dr. Mead, who was a native of Whitby, studiedand graduated in Edinburgh, and, commencing practice inWhitby at a very opportune period, soon attained a largemeasure of success, which amidst many changes he neverlost. His manners were attractive to patients, while hewas extremely kind and considerate. He never tried todo more work than he was able to do well-that is, henever burthened himself with public or professionalappointments, and thus no doubt had often more time todo himself and his patients justice. Dr. Mead, whose agewas fifty-nine, began to fail in health about twelve yearsago. After some rest and continental travel he returnedhome much improved, though afterwards he began to sufferfrom asthma and the painful passage of gall-stones. OnWednesday, the 4th, he was seized with one of theseattacks, which returned on the following day and on theFriday, producing syncope, when death soon followed. Hewas attended by his son, who is in the profession at Whitby,and by Dr. Stewart and Mr. Stonehouse. Dr. Meadhas left a large family. Another son, Dr. Rivis Mead, ispractising in Australia ; and a few months ago I recordedthe distressing death of Dr. Mead’s second son, a fineyoung man, who was mate on board a Tyne steamer, butwho, in the delirium of fever, escaped from his attendants,and leaping overboard was drowned. Dr. Mead’s funeralwas largely attended, as he was a favourite with all classes ;indeed, the town might be said on that day to be in mourning.

Darlington.A dentist here met with a rather curious accident the

other day. He was asked to go to the infirmary to reducea dislocated jaw, but in the reduction, the teeth snappingon his fingers, he received some very unpleasant wounds,followed by blood poisoning. Fortunately he was insuredin an accident company, who met the claim.Newcastle-on-Tyne, Dec. 17th.

SCOTLAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

EDINBURGH.

The Universities Commission.IN anticipation of the meeting of the Universities Com-

missioners in January next, there seems to be a verygeneral flutter and activity in the "cots" of those whothink that they will be in any way affected by the de-cisions. One hears of very little else just now; it is thesole topic of conversation in medical teaching circles, andall the arrangements and appointments in the colleges andin the schools are made with a view to what has to bebrought up before the Commission. The Colleges ofSurgeons and Physicians have both appointed committeesand sub-committees, whose duty it is to prepare evidence,examine past legislation, and recommend what action shallbe taken by the Colleges. The University authorities havealso been asked, or will be asked, to prepare statementsand offer suggestions or evidence for the consideration of theCommission, so that all these bodies will be adequately repre-sented. The lecturers in the Extra-mural Medical Schoolare also conferring amongst themselves, and, from what hasleaked out as to the results of their deliberations, there

seems to be a strong leaning on the parb of the majority othe extra-mural teachers towards free trade in both teachingand examining. It is probable that some of these matterswill be spoken of at the College of Physicians’ annualdinner, which takes place on Thursday, so that if anyof the Fellows of the London College are present they.may hear in private what is never reported to the public.Those first in the field with any public reports of their pro-ceedings are the students’ Representative Councils of Edin-burgh and Glasgow. The Edinburgh committee report thatthey are prepared to advise that the following, amongstother points, be raised and pressed before the Commission --

that a Faculty of Science should be created in EdinburghUniversity ; that the course in medicine extend over a.

curriculum of five years; that there should be a short pre-liminary course in medicine and surgery before the coursesusually taken; that there should be short compulsory courses.on diseases of the eye and ear, for which the fee should not.be more than one guinea; that there should be a matricula-tion examination for all students entering the Universitywith a view to graduation, and that at least four compulsorysubjects in that examination be passed at one time. If theother bodies go to work in the same business-like fashionas the Students’ Representative Council has done, it may be-anticipated that the work of the Commissioners will be verymuch less arduous than they could at one time hope to be’the case. There are many other matters that the students.might take up, but they prefer to rest content with indicat-ing the general lines on which they think that reform shouldtake place.

The Royal Asylum at Morningside.It is a matter for some congratulation that the Craig-

lockhart Hills question has at length been satisfactorily andamicably settled. It was pointed out in the columns of’THE LANCET at the early part of this year that it would-be a great boon to the asylum and its patients, and very-little, if any, loss to the community, if certain lands weretaken in exchange for part of Easter Craiglockhart Hill.This opinion was maintained and endorsed by ProfessorSir Douglas Maclagan, Dr. Sibbald, and others. It has.now been decided by the Parochial Board authorities to’hand over ten acres and a quarter of the Easter Hill," which from its contour and situation is of no great valuefor recreative purposes," and to take in return from the-asylum trustees nine acres and a quarter of valuable arable-land, which will in all probability become more and morevaluable as the city boundaries extend. The splendidasylum buildings, of which a short account appeared at the:time the plans were submitted, can now be completed.

The Royal Society.At the meeting of the Royal Society held last night, Sir

Arthur Mitchell, M.D., presiding, two papers of consider-able medical inteiest were read: the first, by Dr. Ashdown," On the presence of certain Substances in the Urine thatreduce Oxide of Copper in the presence of an Alkali"; thesecond, by Dr. G. E. Cartwright Wood, " On EnzymeAction in the Lower Organisms."

The Health of the City.In presenting the monthly reports of the medical officer

of health of the city, Baillie Dr. Russell called attention to.the fact that the death-rate for the past month was slightlyhigher than that for November of last year, and than the-average for the last five years. This was accounted for-chiefly by an outbreak of measles in the Old Town, and wasconfined mainly to children under five years of age. There-were at present 204 patients in the City Hospital.

’[ New Entries in the University of Edinburgh.Up to Dec. 2nd 340 first-year medical students had entered

in the University of Edinburgh, of whom 140 began theirstudies last summer session.Edinburgh, Dee. 17th. -

GLASGOW.

Social Problems in Glasgow: Housing of the Poor.On Nov. 6th last, Dr. J. B. Russell, on retiring from the

Presidentship of the Glasgow Philosophical Society, gave-another of those addresses which have perhaps done morethan anything else to stir up in the people of this city asense of their responsibility with regard to the wretchedcondition of the very poor in our midst. There are fewwho have access to such sources of accurate statistical