1077VACANCIES.—BIRTHS. MARRIAGES. AND DEATHS.

FULHAM INFIRMARY, St. Dunstan’s-road, Hammersmith, W.-AssistantMedical Supertntendent, unmarrierl. Salary E150 per annum. in-creasing to £175, with board, apartments, attendance, and washing.

HAMPSTEAD. BOROUGH of.-Medical Officer of Health. Salary JE660per annum

HAMPSTEAD GhNERAL HOSPITAL.-Two Honorary Assistant MedicalOthcers.

HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTION AND DISEASES OF THE CHFST, Brompton.-Resident House Physicians for six months. Honorarium ,c25.

HOSPITAL FOR WoMKf*. Soho-square, W.-House PhBsician for sixmonths. Salary E30.

HULL CITY AND COl’N 1 Y LUNATIC ASYLUM.-Second Assistltnt MedicltlOfficer, unmarried Salary ,c150 per annum, with board, apart-ments. washing and attendauce.

HULME DISPENSNRY, Dale-street. Stretford-r(,ad, MFitichesler.-HotiseSurgeon. Salary C150 per annum, with apartrnents, attendance,coal, and gas.

LANCASTER, COUNTY LUNATIC ASYLUM.-Assistant Medical Officer,unmarried. Salary JE1&0 per annum, with board, lodging, andwashing.

LEAMLNGTOtv, WABNKFORD HOSPITAL -House Surgeon. Salary ,c100per annum, with board. washing, and apartme, ts

LEEDS IImsPLTAL FOR WOMEN AND CHLI,DHr.N -Resident HouseSurgeon for six months. Salary at rate of B8 per annum, withboard. Also Resident Clinical Assistant for three months. Board,residence, and washing.

LINCOLN OOUN1Y HOSPITAL.-Junior Male House Surgeon, unmarried.for six months. Honorarium of ,c25, with board, residence, andwashing

LINCOLN, THE LAWN, LUNATIC HOSPITAL.-Assistant Medical Officer.Salarv £100.

LONDON HOSP1’l’AL MFDTCAL COLLEGE.-Demonstrator of Biology.LONDON HOSP1’l’AL, Whitechapel, M. Assistant Physician.LONDON LoCK II, SPITAL, Soho -House Suogeou to the Male Hospital. ISalary B80 per annum, with board. lodging and washing.LONDON ’TBttOAT HOSPITAL, 204, Great Portland- street, W.-Third

Honorary Ansehthftist.LOU8HHOR’)UMH AND DISTRICT GENERAL HOSPITAL AND DISPFNSARY.

Resident. House Surgeon. Salary ,c80 a year with rooms, attend-ance. and board.

MANCHESIKR ROYAL INFIRMARY AND DISPFNSARY.-Fourth HonoraryAssistant Surgeon.

Mf-’TBopoHTAN HOSPITAL, Kingsland-road, N.E.-Assistant Physician.MIDDLESRX HOSPITAL, W.—Assistant Surgeon.MOUNT VERNON HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTION AND DISF.ASFS OF THE

CHEST, Hampstead and Northwood, Middlesex.-Assistant Phy-sician.

NEWPORT AND MONMol1THSHIRE HosplTAL.—Junior Resident MedicalOflicer. balary £70 per annum, with board, residence, andwashing.

NORTHAMPTON GFNFRAL H’ SPITAL.-Honorary Assistant Physician.PADDI’G’ION GRFFN CHII DR..N’S HOSPITAL. London W.-IlolJse Phy-

sician and House Surgeon for six months. Salary at rate of 50guineas a year, with board and residence.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE’S LYING-IN HOSPITAL, Marylebone-road. N.W.-Assistant Resident Medical Officer for tour months Salary at rateof £ 50 per annum with board, residence, and washing.

ROYAL hRKK HOSPITAL, Gray’s s Inn-road, W.c.—(r) House Physician;t2) Casualty House Surgeon; (3) Secoiid Anaesthetist; (4) Dt’IItalSurgeon (ó) House (femalp); (6) House Surgeon(female); (7) Assistant. Anaesthetist (female).

ROYAL LONDON UPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL, City-road, E.C.-AssistantSurgeon.

ST. THOMAS’S HOSPITAL.-Assistant Surgeon.:STOCRPOR1’ UKioN, STEPPING HILL HOSPITAL.-Itesident Assistant

Medical Officer. Salary £130, rising to :El50. with apartments,rations &c.

WADSLEY. NRAR SHFFFIFILD, WEST RIDING ASYLUM.-Fifth AssistantM&tica) OtBcer. Salary .E140. rising to JE160. with board, &c.

WESTMINSTR GENERAL DISPENSARY. Resident Medical Officer.Salary at, rate of £120 per annum, with rooms, gas, coal, andattendance.

-

THE Chief Insppetor of Factories, Home Office, S.W.. gives notice of avacancy as Certifying Surgeon, under the Factory and WorkshopAct, at Roy ton in the county of Lancaster.

Births, Marriages, and Deaths.BIRTHS.

BIGGS.—On Sept. llth. at Brookdene House, Northeote-road, Wandsworth Common, the wife of George Nixon Biggs, M.B., B.S., ofa son.

DAUBER.-On Sept. 27th, at, Charles-strept, Berkeley-square, W., thewile of John H. Dauber, M.B., M.R.C.P., of a son, stillborn.

MARRIAGES.CHARNOOK SMITH-PEARSON.-On Sept. 7th, at St. Michael’s. Malton,

Yorks, Charles Chftrnock Smith. M.Ii.C.S., L.R C.P.. of Steyning,Sussex. to Hermione, eldest daughter of Hugh W. Pearson ofMalton.

PARETT-RAINE.-OTI Sept. 28th. at the Minster. Beverley, EdwardMrratt Parrett, B.A., M.It.C.S., L.R.C.P., to Martha AnnieThompson Hame. of Motescroft. Beverley. Yorkshire.

SPARKS—CAREY BATHES-On Sept. 26th. at St. Peter’s. Hersham,Charles Edward Sparks M B.. B.C., B A. Cantab., to Mabel, eldestdaughter of T. E. Carey Bates, Esq., of Hersham.

DEATH.MACSwiNEY.—On Oct. 3rd, Colonel E. V. MacSwiney, A.M.S. (retired).N.B.-A fee of ba. is charged for the insertion of IVotices of Dirtha,

Marriages, and Deaths.

Notes, Short Comments, and Answersto Correspondents.OVERCROWDING IN TRAINS.

IN THE LANCET of August 6th, 1904, while referring to this subject wemade the remark that " there seems to be a general opinion abroadthan when the lines of some of the chief offending railwaysare ’electrified’ overcrowding will (lislppear, but it must not

be forgotten that although the managers of those railwayswill be granting increased faciliti--s they have stated that

they expect a large access of traffic, and how far that

increase of traffic will counterbalance or outweigh the new

facilities remains to be seen. It is possible that the generalpublic may be too optimistic as to the good results which will arisefrom ’electrification.’ Judging g by the complaints which have

recently been sent by passengers on the electrified MetropolitanDistrict Railway to a daily contemporary, which has denominated thediscomforts experienced in travelling on that line during certainhours as "strapitis," it seems that our misgivings were

justified, for now the general public are finding out that" electrification is not a synonym for emancipation. Theword " strapitis coined to meet the occasion, is derived fromthe fact that the new electric coaches have a verv large numberof straps ranged along each side of the coach. so that those whocannot find seats may hang on to the straps It is argued that thelarge number of straps supplied shows a condemnatory prescience.This sort of thing cannot go on and the railway companies con-cerned will have to be put on the same footing in this regard as thetramway and omnibus companies in not being permitted to carrywith impunity an excess of passengers over the certified number.

MOTOR-CARS FOR MEDICAL MEN.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,-At the recent meeting of the British Medical Associationat Leicester there was a large show of motor-cars specially designedfor medical men. With the exception, I think, of one or two steam-cars all were driven by means of petrol, and there was a very generalinquiry for something smaller, handier, and less noisy for use byprofessional men. I have had a long exrerierrce of the various

types of motor vehicles and except for long distances I rejectthe petrol car as unsuitable for professional work on accountof the dust and noise it creates and the cost of its upkeep; for sometime I thought I had found everything that was desirable in a steamcar; it was quiet, clean, thoroughly under control, and handy; couldbe at the door within seven minutes when ordered, and could climb anyhill, but it required the whole attention of a skilled mechanic, the firehad a tendency to blow out in stormy weather, the cost of upkeep wasconsiderable, and finally I one day found myself enveloped in flamesfrom no cause that I could discover. My latest car is, I venture to

think, an "ideal" one for town work and within a radius of tenmiles. With no noise, no dust, and no offensive odour, the" Electric Imperial Runabout" " glides from door to door, themedical man. in his ordinary professional garb, locks the wheelswith the foot brake and removing the little aluminium controllingkey can leave his vehicle securely in charge of a small boy withoutfear of mishap. The total weight is 815 pounds, the battery consists of12 cells of the Plante type and when loaded to its full cal acity it willrun 40 miles on the level road, the distance being discounted by steepgradients, head winds, and bad surface. It is an excellent hill climberand is easily driven by any member of the family, no special servantis needed to keep it in order, and with a charging plant in the motorhouse the car is always ready for service, and as the whole gearingruns on ball bearings, with boxed-up grease cavities, very littlelubrication is necessary. As regards upkeep, from three to four units at4di. per unit provides for the day’s work. One new set of Fisk t resat about E16 will last a year. It is well to provide a second batteryto save wear and tear and in case of accidents it is useful to fit a

weather glass front, for this with the hood gives complete protection.It will thus be seen that all the objectionable features of the petrolcar are eliminated, as well as the more expensive details, such as

chauffeur, explosive petrol, heavy and costly tyres, constant lubrica-tion, complicated machinery, and not infrequent accidents. The

electric car is not a touring car, but for professional purposes it is, Ithink, unrivalled. I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,

Shide, Isle of Wight, Oct. 2nd, 1905. G. M. LowE, M.D. Edin.

RETENTION OF URINE FOR SIX WEEKS AFTER LABOUR.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,-In reference to my letter on the above subject which appearedin THE LANCET of Sept. 16th the patient, aged 30 years, was a primiparaand had a tedious labour. Version was performed and then forceps wereapplied on the after-coming head. The retention was complete for siaweeks and then pow er returned to pass the urine naturally.

I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,Leeds, Oct. 3rd, 1905. f. J. PICKLF,9. M.R.C.S. Eng.

1078 NOTES, SHORT COMMENTS, AND ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

THE LONDON TEMPERANCE HOSPITAL AND TEMPERANCE STATISTICS.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,-In a report furnished by Dr. Dawson Burns, honorary f,

secretary of the London Temperance Hospital, highly favourable figures e

are produced with the idea of showing from the total abstainer’s point v

of view the advantages of the non-alcoholic treatment of disease. May c

I therefore be allowed to point out what appears to me to be thefallacy of these statistics ? According to the report in questionthe admissions in general hospitals were 65,656 with a death-rateof 9’1 per cent. On the other hand th admissions the London Temperance Hospital were 1337, with a death-rate of 7’3 per cent.Now, Sirs, it seems fairly obvious that the tendency of a temperancehospital would be to attract in the aggregate those who were eithertotal abstainers or extremely moderate consumers. The consequence of this would be that the Temperance Hospital would tend to escape theravages and degenerative changes produced by excessive alcohol onthat section of the public which would be thrown on the general hos-pitals. Not only this, but the Temperance Hospital would likewisetend to escape the secondary consequences which may be due to intem-perance, such as venereal disease or other forms of debauchery, whichsomehow in many cases run parallel with intemperance. If, therefore,my contention holds water there can be no surprise at the apparentsuccess of the non-alcoholic treatment of disease.In THE LANCET of July 18th, 1891, p. 146, you kindly published a letter

from me under "Alcohol and Longevity advocating my present doctrineand I subsequently wrote a letter which you could not find space toinsert and in which I attempted to develop my suggestions. I do notthink I was understood by the temperance advocates at the corre-sponding period. Anticipating, however, your kind and possible in-sertion of this letter it may shed some light upon what I was thentalking about. However this may be, I now hold that if any suf-ficient number of the Temperance Hospital candidates were comparedwith an equal number of general hospital patients, it would be foundupon searching investigation that the previous history of the Temper-ance Hospital patients would show in greater or less numbers a decidedadvantage over the general hospital patients, hence the less likelihoodof the former to succumb to disease.

It is worthy of note that overtures have been made to general hos-litals to attempt the experiment of non-alcoholic treatment. May Iinquire why this should be ? It appears fairly evident that in

order to carry out such experiment wards must be appor-tioned for the purpose. Further, I presume it would be neces-

sary to render the public cognisant of the new treatment, so

that patients might have the choice whether to enter a temperanceor a general ward ; consequently the same process of elimination whichI have attempted to demonstrate would prevail at the general hospitalas I now maintain prevails at the Temperance Hospital; hence therewould be no better evidence to establish the superiority of non-alcoholictreatment of disease than already exists. It is true the evidence infavour would be increased in bulk, not, however, in kind.

T am- Sir- vniir- faithfnllv_

Brighton, Oct. lst, 1905. ^

"M

CLEMENT H. SERS.

.

Mr. R. G. Neave, a druggist of Witney, Oxfordshire, has forwardedto us a sample of soap pencils intended for use as a suppository incases of constipation in infants. The introduction into the rectumof a small piece of soap has long been a well-known method oftreatment in cases of constipation in infants and Mr. Neave’s pre-paration is certainly convenient. Although it is quite easy to cut asuitable piece of soap from an ordinary cake it is often difficult,especially in the poorer class of house, to find a cake of soap which isclean and not sodden with water, so that for the medical man toknow that he has at hand a really pure dry soap pencil should be veryuseful.

" LOTA."

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,—A correspondent of the West Indies asks me "for a remedy’or the disease known as Iota or white spots." Perhaps some of your’eaders can tell me what Iota is.

am, Sirs, yours faithfully, I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,TRINIDAD.

EXPERIMENTS ON CONDEMNED CRIMINALS.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRs,—Experiments on condemned criminals seem doomed to failure.In 1731 Charles Ray was reprieved on condition that Cheselden shouldperforate the drum of his ear to find out whether the perforationwould cause deafness. Unfortunately, the man fell ill of a fever beforethe operation and the public became so excited that the experimentwas stopped. In 1763 a man was reprieved on condition of permittinghis leg to be cut off and a new styptic tried upon it. This man was

inconsiderate enough to die before the trial could be made. In 1767John Benham was reprieved for a similar purpose, as was imagined,but when Mr. Pierce, who had prepared a new styptic, waited upon theSecretary of State to find whether he might experiment he was toldthat the intention was entirely laid aside, His Majesty being of opinionthat it was quite improper to try such experiment.

I am. Sirs, yours faithfully,Henrietta-street, W., Oct. 2nd, 1905. A. W. OXFORD.

IIEATING APPARTATUS.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,-I would like to know which is the best heating apparatus ;

for supplying pure and warm air in a medium-sized residence (very !elevated), the occupier being affected with bronchitis during the ’winter months. Does the Grundy system answer as well as any other? if not, what are its real drawbacks ? j

I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, jOct. nd, 1905. ANXIOUS PRACTITIONER.

** Possibly the letter which appears on p. 1062 from ColonelA. C. MacLeod will help our correspondent.-ED. L.

Dr. F. P. Atkinson.-A normal solution of formic acid is one containinga molecular weight in grammes per litre. The molecular weight offormic acid, H.COOH, being 46, such a solution would contain 46grammes in 1000 cubic centimetres, or approximately 400 grains ofreal formic acid per pint. Under the continental custom of using themetric system liquids are usually ordered by weight. Dilution aloneis not sufficient to take away the pungent taste of formic acid.Chloroform water is a suitable vehicle and the addition of glycerineis desirable to mask the pungent taste. In prescribing formicacid it should always be well diluted, as the strong acid pro-duces blisters on the skin in the same way as a nettle sting does. In France formic acid has been used largely in the form of the sodiumsalt, H.COONa, as mentioned in THE LANCET of April list, 1905, p. 892.It is deliquescent and readily soluble in water and is more palatablethan the acid. 400 grains of the acid are equivalent to 591 grains ofsodium formate. It is possible that the sodium salt might be usedinstead of the acid itself in the treatment of tremor, as is the casewhen the drug is employed as a tonic to the muscles.

B.Sc., F.R.C.S.-Such advertisements should not be constantlyrepeated and when this is done they become an abuse, but a simplestatement made once or twice, or through one or two channels,contradicting a rumour is considered permissible.

COMMUNICATIONS not noticed in our present issue will receive attentionin our next.

Medical Diary for the ensuing Week.OPERATIONS.

METROPOLITAN HOSPITALS.MONDAY (9th).-London (2 P.M.), St. Bartholomew’s (1.30 P.M.), St.

Thomas’s (3.30 P.M.), St. George’s (2 P.M.), St. Mary’s (2.30 P.M.),Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), Westminster (2 P.M.), Chelsea (2 P.M.),Samaritan (Gynaecological, by Physicians, 2 P.:B1.), Soho-square(2 P.m.), City Orthopaedic (4 P.M.), Gt. Northern Central (2.30 P.rt.),West London (2.30 P.M.), London Throat (9.30 A.M.), Royal Free(2 P.M.), Guy’s (1.30 P.M.), Royal Ear (2 P.M.).

TUESDAY (10th).-London (2 P.M.), St. Bartholomew’s (1.30 P.M.), St.Thomas’s (3.30 P.M.). Guy’s (1.30 P.M.), Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), West-minster (2 P.M.), West London (2.30 P.M.), University College(2 P.M.), St. George’s (1 P.M.), St. Mary’s (1 P.M.), St. Mark’s(2.30 P.M.), Cancer (2 P.M.), Metropolitan (2.30 P.M.), London Throat(9.30 A.M.), Samaritan (9.30 A.M. and 2.30 P,M.), Throat, Golden-square (9.30 A.M.), Soho-square (2 P.M.), Chelsea (2 P.1S.), CentralLondon Throat and Ear (2 P.M.).

WEDNESDAY (llth).-St. Bartholomew’s(1.30p.M.), University College, (2 P.M.), Royal Free (2 P.M.), Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), Charing Cross, (3 P.M.), St. Thomas’s (2 P.M.), London (2 P.M.), King’s College

(2 P.M.), St. George’s (Ophthalmic, 1 P.M.), St. Mary’s (2 P.M.),National Orthopaedic (10 A.M.), St. Peter’s (2 P.M.), Samaritan(9.30 A.M. and 2.30 P.M.), Gt. Ormond-street (9.30 A.M.), Gt. NorthernCentral (2.30 P.M.), Westminster (2 P.M.), Metropolitan (2.30 P.M.),London Throat (9.30 A.M.), Cancer (2 P.M.), Throat, Golden-square(9.30 A.M.), Guy’s (1.30 P.M.), Royal Ear (2 P.M.), Royal Orthopaedic(3 P.M.).

THURSDAY (12th).-St. Bartholomew’s (1.30 P.M.), St. Thomas’s(3.30 P.M.), University College (2 P.M.), Charing Cross (3 P.M.), St.George’s (1 P.M.), London (2 P.M.), King’s College (2 P.M.), Middlesex(1.30 P.M.), St. Mary’s (2.30 P.M.), Soho-square (2 P.M.), North-WestLondon (2 P.M.), Gt. Northern Central (Gynaecological, 2.30 P.M.),Metropolitan (2.30 P.M.), London Throat (9.30 A.M.), St. Mark’s(2 P.M.), Samaritan (9.30 A.M. and 2.30 P.M.), Throat, Golden-square(9.30 A.M.), Guy’s (1.30 P.M.). Royal Orthopaedic (9 A.M.), Royal Ear

>. (2 P.M.).d FRIDAY (13th).-London (2 P.M.), St. Bartholomew s (1.30 P.M.), St.n Thomas’s (3.30 P.M.), Guy’s (1.30 P.M.), Middlesex (1.30 P.M.), Charing

Cross (3 P.M.), St. George’s (1 P.M.), King’s College (2 P.M.), St. Mary’sit (2 P.M.), Ophthalmic (10 A.M.), Cancer (2 P.M.), Chelsea (2 P.M.), Gt.

Northern Central (2.30 P.M.), West London (2.30 P.M.), Londong Throat (9.30 A.M.), Samaritan (9.30 A.M. and 2.30 P.M.). Throat,IS Golden-square (9.30 A.M.), City Orthopaedic (2.30 P.M.), Soho-square,7 (2 P.M.), Central London Throat and Ear (2 P.M.).

SATURDAY (14th).-Royal Free (9 A.M.), London (2 P.M.), Middlesex(1.30 P.M.), St. Thomas’s (2 P.M.), University College (9.15 A.M.),

ld Charing Cross (2 P.M.), St. George’s (1 P.M.), St Mary’s (10 P.M.),Throat, Golden-square (9.30 A.M.), Guy’s (1.30 P.M.).

At the Royal Eye Hospital (2 P.M.), the Royal London Ophthalmic(10 A.M.), the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic (1.30 P.M.), and theCentral London Ophthalmic Hospitals operations are performed daily.