174T by the State or the commune, and the allowance made to lo hospital staffs, or the reduced payments received from tia benefit and friendly societies, &c. For going some distance t]] in the country the sum paid will be taxed without any p( deduction being made for the cost of a conveyance. The m payment for a licence to practise will not be suppressed. ti The tax collector will have the right to verify the tt accounts and to ask questions as to the persons who paid rt the fees ; professional secrecy will be violated. The tax cl collector will always be able to assert that it was only to li deceive him that the country practitioner professed to receive 0 less for performing the same operation than the high fee w paid to a celebrated surgeon who came expressly from a a2 large town. The practitioner will no longer be at liberty to c; accept smaller fees from needy persons. Finally, it may happen that some of the fees are not paid but the tax- tl collector may refuse to believe it. The members of t] the profession are naturally alarmed by all these threats and from all sides protest loudly. The most import- p ant of these protests has been made at the Union of the c Medical Practitioners of the Department of the Seine p by Dr. Renon who read to this union a report which ri contained much evidence and information and which f; also recapitulated the complaints that had already been q made. He insisted especially on the protestation adopted n by the recent congress of practitioners which was composed of 1400 medical men and more than 100 medical societies, c and some of these latter have more than 1000 members. g This congress adopted a motion urging all its members to s vote against the project. Dr. Renon, therefore, terminated h his report by proposing that the administrative council of t the Union of the Medical Practitioners of the Department of the Seine should adopt the following motion :- That widespread efforts should be made to enlighten public opinion on the dangers to which patients are exposed by the present project. That during the discussion of this project the members of the Parlia- mentary medical group should struggle energetically against the Bill, endeavour to obtain the maintenance of the actual state of affairs, but with some ameliorations in regard to the licence to practise; and, in the event of the Bill being carried must insist that the cost of the working expenses shall be deducted from the receipts made by medical practitioners, and the remaining net income only rendered susceptible to income-tax. Juvenile Tabes with Ocular Complications. 1 r At a meeting of the Ophthalmological Society held on t June 4th M. Cantonnet showed a boy, aged 15 years, who was suffering from scoliosis and hereditary syphilis. When 13 years of age he began to have incontinence of urine. Eight months ago he developed oculo-motor paralysis of the left eye, which condition was much benefited by mercurial treatment. Lightning pains appeared five months ago. He now has diplopia, ataxia of the ocular muscles, inequality of i the pupils with the Argyll-Robertson sign, and diminished sensation in the left side of the face. The patellar and tendo Achillis reflexes are absent. He shows neither Romberg’s sign nor any locomotor ataxy. Sulphzcr Watera and Mereiarial Treatment. M. Desmouliéres and M. Chatin communicated to the Academy of Medicine at a meeting held on June 3rd the result of some investigations undertaken by them to deter- mine the reason why at sulphur water health stations syphilitic patients could take mercury in doses which were four or five times larger than they could take in usual cir- cumstances. Their investigations showed that sulphur waters act, not by the formation of an insoluble sulphate of mercury, but by augmenting the solvent power of the blood serum for albuminates of mercury. Sulphur waters, there- fore, make it possible to give large doses of mercury without danger of mercurial poisoning. Moreover, if there be any accumulation of mercury in the tissues the use of sulphur waters throws it into the circulation, and they are thus of great service in cases of chronic mercurial poisoning. lhe Rearing of Premature Children at the Charity Maternity Hospital. The conditions to fulfil for the successful rearing of premature children-i,e., children born before term, between the sixth and ninth months, whose weight varies from 1500 grammes and less up to 2500 grammes-comprise three essential indications. First, to guard the infants against chill by means of incubation, massage, and hot baths. Secondly, to pive them appropriate diet which should before all things consist of breast milk. Thirdly, to protect them from the results of infection to which their low powers of resistance expose them and at the same’ time to pay careful attention to their hygiene and to isolate- them from every source of infection. Moreover, an im- portant point is that when these children are born in a maternity charity they should be kept there during the whole time necessary for their complete development. It was by the application of these principles, and bv following the- rules so accurately laid down by Budin, that all the premature children born at the Charity Maternity Hospital between 1898 and 1907 were cared for. The results are as follows. Out of 735 children 616 left the hospital alive and well which gives a percentage of 83’ 80 survivals. The con- sultations des nourrissons at the hospital allowed 146 of these cases to be followed up over a range of time varying from one month to two years and advice and help to be given to- the mothers in the task of bringing up the children. Of these 146 feeble children five died, a mortality of 3’ 42 per cent., so that the total survivals were 96’ 58 per cent. This proves that premature children can be brought up and can develop physically and intellectually in as great a pro- portion as full-term children. This result, which Budin’s researches had already shown would occur, proves that, far from considering such children as a negligible quantity, we should strive to promote their develop- ment in every possible way. It is also desirable that in accordance with the opinion of M. Paul Strauss feeble children should be considered as " sick," and, like them, given the benefit of the law with regard to gratuitous relief, so that the indigent mother of a premature child can be helped and enabled to devote herself entirely to the difficult task of rearing the infant. June 18th. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON SLEEPING SICKNESS. AT the invitation of the Colonial Office an international conference was opened at the Foreign Office on June 17th, where representatives of the various African colonies and protectorates met to discuss the question of taking concerted action in dealing with sleeping sickness. The delegates- taking part in the conference are :- Great Britain.-Lord Fitzmaurice, Sir W. Foster, Mr.- A. W. Clarke (Foreign Office), Mr. H. J. Read (Colonial Office), and Sir Patrick Manson. Congo Free State.-Colonel Lantonnais (Vice-Govemor-- General), Commandant Tonneau, M. Rutten, and Dr. van. Campenhout. France.-Dr. Kermorgant, Dr. Paul Gouzion, Professor- Blanchard, and Dr. Laveran. Germany.-Herr von Jacobs (Imperial Colonial Office), Dr. Ehrlich, and Dr. Fulleborn. Portugal.-Dr. Correa Pinto. Sudan.-Colonel Hunter and Dr. Andrew Balfour (Gordon, College, Khartum). Lord FITZMAURICE is the president and delivered an, address of welcome. Obituary. BENJAMIN LANE, L.R.C.P. LOND., L.R.C.S. IRBL., BRIGADE SURGEON, ARMY (RETIRED). Brigade-Surgeon Benjamin Lane, who for some years has lived in retirement at Cheltenham, died on June 12th at his residence in that town. He was the eldest son of Dr. W. Lane of Limavady, county Derry, and was born on June 4th, 1827. He entered the army in 1852 as assistant-surgeon and retired in 1882. He received for his services in the Burmese war of 1852-53 with the 80th Regiment the medal with clasp. He was present at the attack at Tomboo and gained distinction in the various operations in its vicinity. On one occasion,. when the whole detachment at Tomboo was prostrate with fever, he devoted himself so whole-heartedly to the care of
Transcript
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by the State or the commune, and the allowance made to lo
hospital staffs, or the reduced payments received from tiabenefit and friendly societies, &c. For going some distance t]]in the country the sum paid will be taxed without any p(deduction being made for the cost of a conveyance. The m
payment for a licence to practise will not be suppressed. tiThe tax collector will have the right to verify the ttaccounts and to ask questions as to the persons who paid rt
the fees ; professional secrecy will be violated. The tax clcollector will always be able to assert that it was only to lideceive him that the country practitioner professed to receive 0less for performing the same operation than the high fee w
paid to a celebrated surgeon who came expressly from a a2
large town. The practitioner will no longer be at liberty to c;
accept smaller fees from needy persons. Finally, it may happen that some of the fees are not paid but the tax- tlcollector may refuse to believe it. The members of t]the profession are naturally alarmed by all these threats and from all sides protest loudly. The most import- pant of these protests has been made at the Union of the c
Medical Practitioners of the Department of the Seine pby Dr. Renon who read to this union a report which ri
contained much evidence and information and which f;also recapitulated the complaints that had already been qmade. He insisted especially on the protestation adopted n
by the recent congress of practitioners which was composed of 1400 medical men and more than 100 medical societies, c
and some of these latter have more than 1000 members. gThis congress adopted a motion urging all its members to s
vote against the project. Dr. Renon, therefore, terminated hhis report by proposing that the administrative council of tthe Union of the Medical Practitioners of the Departmentof the Seine should adopt the following motion :-That widespread efforts should be made to enlighten public opinion
on the dangers to which patients are exposed by the present project. That during the discussion of this project the members of the Parlia-mentary medical group should struggle energetically against the Bill,endeavour to obtain the maintenance of the actual state of affairs, butwith some ameliorations in regard to the licence to practise; and, inthe event of the Bill being carried must insist that the cost of theworking expenses shall be deducted from the receipts made by medicalpractitioners, and the remaining net income only rendered susceptibleto income-tax.
Juvenile Tabes with Ocular Complications. 1 r
At a meeting of the Ophthalmological Society held on tJune 4th M. Cantonnet showed a boy, aged 15 years, whowas suffering from scoliosis and hereditary syphilis. When13 years of age he began to have incontinence of urine.Eight months ago he developed oculo-motor paralysis of theleft eye, which condition was much benefited by mercurialtreatment. Lightning pains appeared five months ago. He now has diplopia, ataxia of the ocular muscles, inequality of ithe pupils with the Argyll-Robertson sign, and diminishedsensation in the left side of the face. The patellar andtendo Achillis reflexes are absent. He shows neitherRomberg’s sign nor any locomotor ataxy.
Sulphzcr Watera and Mereiarial Treatment.M. Desmouliéres and M. Chatin communicated to the
Academy of Medicine at a meeting held on June 3rd theresult of some investigations undertaken by them to deter-mine the reason why at sulphur water health stations
syphilitic patients could take mercury in doses which werefour or five times larger than they could take in usual cir-cumstances. Their investigations showed that sulphur watersact, not by the formation of an insoluble sulphate of
mercury, but by augmenting the solvent power of the bloodserum for albuminates of mercury. Sulphur waters, there-fore, make it possible to give large doses of mercury withoutdanger of mercurial poisoning. Moreover, if there be anyaccumulation of mercury in the tissues the use of sulphurwaters throws it into the circulation, and they are thus ofgreat service in cases of chronic mercurial poisoning.lhe Rearing of Premature Children at the Charity Maternity
Hospital.The conditions to fulfil for the successful rearing of
premature children-i,e., children born before term, betweenthe sixth and ninth months, whose weight varies from 1500grammes and less up to 2500 grammes-comprise threeessential indications. First, to guard the infants againstchill by means of incubation, massage, and hot baths.Secondly, to pive them appropriate diet which shouldbefore all things consist of breast milk. Thirdly, to
protect them from the results of infection to which their
low powers of resistance expose them and at the same’time to pay careful attention to their hygiene and to isolate-them from every source of infection. Moreover, an im-portant point is that when these children are born in a
maternity charity they should be kept there during the wholetime necessary for their complete development. It was bythe application of these principles, and bv following the-rules so accurately laid down by Budin, that all the prematurechildren born at the Charity Maternity Hospital between1898 and 1907 were cared for. The results are as follows.Out of 735 children 616 left the hospital alive and wellwhich gives a percentage of 83’ 80 survivals. The con-sultations des nourrissons at the hospital allowed 146 of thesecases to be followed up over a range of time varying fromone month to two years and advice and help to be given to-the mothers in the task of bringing up the children. Ofthese 146 feeble children five died, a mortality of 3’ 42 percent., so that the total survivals were 96’ 58 per cent. This
proves that premature children can be brought up andcan develop physically and intellectually in as great a pro-portion as full-term children. This result, which Budin’sresearches had already shown would occur, proves that,far from considering such children as a negligiblequantity, we should strive to promote their develop-ment in every possible way. It is also desirable thatin accordance with the opinion of M. Paul Strauss feeblechildren should be considered as " sick," and, like them,given the benefit of the law with regard to gratuitous relief,so that the indigent mother of a premature child can behelped and enabled to devote herself entirely to the difficulttask of rearing the infant.June 18th.
__________________
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ONSLEEPING SICKNESS.
AT the invitation of the Colonial Office an internationalconference was opened at the Foreign Office on June 17th,where representatives of the various African colonies and
protectorates met to discuss the question of taking concertedaction in dealing with sleeping sickness. The delegates-taking part in the conference are :-
Great Britain.-Lord Fitzmaurice, Sir W. Foster, Mr.-A. W. Clarke (Foreign Office), Mr. H. J. Read (ColonialOffice), and Sir Patrick Manson.
Congo Free State.-Colonel Lantonnais (Vice-Govemor--General), Commandant Tonneau, M. Rutten, and Dr. van.Campenhout.France.-Dr. Kermorgant, Dr. Paul Gouzion, Professor-
Blanchard, and Dr. Laveran.
Germany.-Herr von Jacobs (Imperial Colonial Office), Dr.Ehrlich, and Dr. Fulleborn.
Portugal.-Dr. Correa Pinto.Sudan.-Colonel Hunter and Dr. Andrew Balfour (Gordon,
College, Khartum).Lord FITZMAURICE is the president and delivered an,
BRIGADE SURGEON, ARMY (RETIRED).Brigade-Surgeon Benjamin Lane, who for some years has
lived in retirement at Cheltenham, died on June 12th at hisresidence in that town. He was the eldest son of Dr. W. Laneof Limavady, county Derry, and was born on June 4th, 1827.He entered the army in 1852 as assistant-surgeon and retiredin 1882. He received for his services in the Burmese war of1852-53 with the 80th Regiment the medal with clasp. Hewas present at the attack at Tomboo and gained distinctionin the various operations in its vicinity. On one occasion,.when the whole detachment at Tomboo was prostrate with
fever, he devoted himself so whole-heartedly to the care of
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the sick that his assiduous attention to those under his carewas singled out for particular commendation in GeneralOrders by the commander in-chief. In the storm and stressof the Indian Mutiny his sterling worth and inherent
capacity to deal with the most untoward emergenciesgained for him the well-earned reputation of an able andenergetic officer. On March 5th, 1858, his zeal and ex-
perience were utilised at the action on the banks of the.Jumna, for which he received the medal. For 14 years hisduties kept him in close touch with the 4th King’s OwnRoyal Regiment at home and abroad. He leaves three
daughters and one son who is well known in the medicalprofession, Mr. W. Arbuthnot Lane.
Brigade-Surgeon Lane was buried in Cheltenham cemeteryon June 15th and the ceremony was attended by the imme-diate relatives and by a great gathering of his old militaryand other friends, amongst these "being General Winson,General Prendergast, Colonel Croker King, Commander Dillon,R.N., Lieutenant-Colonel Harvest, Colonel Farwell, ColonelAbbott, Colonel Burlton-Bennett, and Colonel Mortimer.
Medical News.. ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.-
The ordinary Council of the above College on the 13th inst.conferred Diplomas of Fellow upon 26 candidates who passedin the subjects of Surgery, Surgical Anatomy, and Pathologyat the recent examination, for which 63 candidates presentedthemselves. The following are the names and qualifications4)f the new Fellows of the College:-
Reginald George Turner, L.R C.P., M.R.C.S., St. George’s andLondon Hospitals; Stanley Edward Denyer, C.M.G., M.D., M.A.,B.C. Cantab, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., D.P.H., Cambridge Universityand Guy’s Hospital; Richard Horace Paramore, M.D.Lond.,L.RC.P., M.R.C.S., St. Bartholomew’s Hospital; James VereArkle, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., New Zealand University and St.Thomas’s Hospital; Frank Arthur Hepworth, M.A., M.B., B.C.Cantab., L.R.C.P., M.R C.S., Cambridge University and St. Bar-tholomew’s Hospital; William Lawrence Cripps, B.C.Cantab.,L.R.C P., M.R.C.S., Cambridge University and St. Bartholomew’sHospital ; Francis Willoughby Goyder, M.B., B.C. Cantab.,L.R.C.P., A-1 R.C.S., Cambridge University and St. Mary’s Hos-pital ; Frank Alexander Gallon Jeans, M.A., M.B., B.C.Cantab.,L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., Cambridge University and St. Bartholomew’s
. Hospital; William Girling Ball, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., St. Bar-tholomew’s Hospital; Herbert Wilberforce Perkins, L R.C.P.,M.R.C.S., L.D.S., Middlesex Hospital; Albert James Walton,13.Sc. Lond., L.R.C.P., ill.R.C.S . London Hospital; Ivor GordonBack, M.B., B.C. Cantab., L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., CambridgeUniversity and St. George’s Hospital; John Clarke Mead,L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S.. St. Bartholomew’s Hospital; William IsaacCumberlidge, B.A. Cantab., L.R C.P., M.R.C.S., St. Bartholomew’sHospital; Ebenezer Ross Faulkner, B.A., M.D., C.M. Dalhousie,L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., St. Thomas’s Hospital; Paul Leon Giuseppi,M.B., B.S.Lond., L R.C P., M.R C.S., St. Bartholomew’s Hospital;Melville Birks, M.B., B.S. Adelaide, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S , AdelaideUniversity and London Hospital; Robert Dow Forbes, M.D.,McGill University, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., McGill University and St.Thomas’s Hospital; Francis Edmund McKenty, M.D., C.M. McGillUniversity, L.R.C P., M.R.C.S., McGill University; David ThomasBarry, M.D. Royal University of Ireland,, D.P.11., Liverpool Uni-versity and London Hospital ; Raymond Broadley Etherington-Smith, M.A., M.B., B.C. Cantab., Cambridge University and St.Bartholomew’s Hospital; Arthur Charles Goodwin, M.B., M.Ch.Oxon., Oxford University and London Hospital; Richard EugeneHarcourt, M.D., M.Ch. Royal University of Ireland, Belfast andLiverpool University; John Swift Joly, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O., M.D.Dublin, Dublin Unversity and London Hospital; Francis ScobieMackenzie, M.B., Ch.B., Ch.M. Edinburgh, Edinburgh University,King’s College, and London Hospitals; and Henry Herbert Rayner,M.B., Ch.B. Victoria, London Hospital and Manchester Uni-versity.
Licences to practise Dental Surgery were also conferred bythe Council on the undermentioned gentlemen who havecompleted the necessary examinations: -Leonard Charles Attkins, Middlesex and National Dental Hospitals;Alfred Newman Balkwill. Charing Cross and Royal Dental Hos-pitals ; Edgar Playle Barnett, Guy’s Hospital; William GordonBatt, Middlesex and National Dental Hospitals; Edwin LeonardBrown, Guy’s Hospital; Reginald William Clayton Cooper, ArthurBasil Cross, and William Allison Cuttriss, Charing Cross andRoyal Dental Hospitals; Harold John Dear, Guy’s Hospital;Frederic Leonard Denty, Charing Cross and Royal Dental Hos-pitals ; Rupert Woodward Elvy, D.D.S Penn., St. Mary’s Hos-pital ; Alverstone Harold Gabell and Reginald Algernon Glindon,Guy’s Hospital; William Henry Ireland and Cecil Augustus Joll,B.Sc. Lond., University College, Bristol; Jamshedji Jivanji Modi,L.M.& S. Bombay, Bombay University and Royal Dental Hospital;Lionel Alexander Burke Moore, GuV’s Hospital; William CharlesAugustus Ovey, Charing Cross and Royal Dental Hospitals; Ralphltedpath, Guy’s Hospital; John Alfred Rose, Middlesex andNational Dental Rospitals; Bertram Barnett Samuel, Guy’s lios-pital; Wilfrid Tom Sansom, Birmingham University; Thomas I
Lionel Smith, Guy’s Hospital; Percy Sidney Charles Sutcliffe,Westminster and Royal Dental Hospitals; Healey Clarence Visick,Guy’s Hospital; and William Hubert Willsher, Middlesex andRoyal Dental Hospitals.
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE.-The late Pro-fessor Newton has bequeathed to the University his zoologicalcollections, copyrights, and books, together with £1000 forthe upkeep of the zoological library.-The general boardproposes that two new lectureships, one in the physiology ofthe senses and the other in experimental psychology, shall beestablished in place of the lectureship in psychophysics nowheld by Dr. W. H. R. Rivers, of St. John’s.-The honorarydegree of Doctor of Science is to be conferred on a numberof distinguished foreign geologists in connexion with theapproaching centenary of the Geological Society.-TheRaymond Ilorton-Smith prize for the best M.D. thesis ofthe year has been awarded to Dr. J. Mellanby, M.A.,Emmanuel College. The subject was "The Properties ofDiphtheria Antitoxin and its Relation to the Proteids ofNormal Serum."-At Congregations on June 13th and 15ththe following degrees were conferred :M.D.-T. G. M. Hine, King’s: G. T. Western, Pembroke; J.Mellanby, Emmanuel; and E. B. Leech, Christ’s.
M.B. and B.C.-F. Gayner, King’s; H. P. Crampton and H. W. Wilt-shire, Clare; and C. Cassidy, H. P. Gibb, and H. Dimock, SidneySussex.
M.B.-C. E. Droop, Trinity; H. C. Cameron, St. John’s; J. W.Linnell, St. John’s; A. R. Jordan, Clare; and E. Lloyd.
B C.-L. H. L. Mackenzie, Trinity.D. Sc.-A. Scott.
FOREIGN UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.-Berlin: Dr. Bockenheimer, Assistant in the ZiegelstrasseSurgical Clinic, Dr. Adolf Lazarus, privat-docentof Medicine,and Dr. Boas, Sanitatsrat, have been granted the title ofProfessor.-Bonn : Dr. Garre of Breslau, where he has onlybeen for a single year, having succeeded the late Professorvon Mikulicz-Radecki, has been appointed Professor ofSurgery in succession to Dr. von Bergmann who goes toBerlin.- Constantinople: Dr. Wieting has been appointedDirector of the Medical School in place of Dr. Deyckewho has returned to Hamburg.- Copenhagen: Dr. Chr.
Heyerdahl has been recognised as privat docent of Neuro-logy.-Gottingen: Dr. Knapp has been recognised as
privat-docent of Psychiatry and Neurology.- Greifs7vald:Dr. Eduard Allard has been recognised as privat-docent .
of Medicine. Dr. August Martin, Professor of Gynaecology,is retiring at the close of the summer semester; Dr. M.Kochmann has been recognised as privat-docent of Pharma-cology and Dr. Mangold of Jena as privat .docent of Physio-logy.-Kazan: Dr. Zimnitski of St. Petersburg has been
appointed Extraordinary Professor of Medicine.-Naples:Dr. Alfonso Montefusco has been recognised as privat-docent of Infectious Diseases.-Odessa : : Dr. MikhaelDiterikhs has been recognised as privat.docent of Ortho-
paedic Surgery.-S’trasburg Dr. Georg Weill, privat-docentof Ophthalmology, has been granted the title of Professor.-Vienna: Dr. Schiiller has been recognised as privat-docent of Mental and Nervous Diseases and Dr. Ludwig Wickas privat .docent of Balneology and Hasmatology.THE COMPULSORY NOTIFICATION OF PULMONARY
TUBERCULOSIS.-The question as to the desirability of thecompulsory notification of pulmonary tuberculosis was
answered in the affirmative at a conference of repre-sentatives from 28 of the 29 metropolitan boroughcouncils held on June 6th in the Town Hall, Paddington,the Mayor of Paddington being in the chair. Mr.W. J. Nolan (Paddington), in moving that it is desirablethat the notification of pulmonary tuberculosis should becompulsory, said that tuberculosis was infective and curable.He contended that compulsory notification was essential forproviding the groundwork of future legislation and could be" gently worked " without interfering with the liberty of thesubject. The conference before voting in favour of thismotion rejected by 36 to 12 an amendment stating that it isdesirable that voluntary notification of pulmonary tuberculosisshould be general throughout Great Britain and Ireland.This amendment was moved by Dr. F. H. Alderson(Kensington) who declared that it was impossible to con-sider tuberculosis from the same standpoint as small-pox.The effect of compulsory legislation would be to make theunfortunate consumptive patient a "social leper" andsufficient sanatoriums could not be provided without ruina-tion to the ratepayers." Dr. A. J. Rice Oxley (Kensington)observed that the general public would not tolerate such avexatious measure as compulsory notification which would be
