1861

generally distributed. Squint, unequal pupils, and other

paralytic symptoms have been noted. Herpes on the lipsand a purpuric skin eruption are sometimes present. In someof the children a limited number of spots were present onthe skin from the third day of their illness. These were fewin number, petechial in character, and irregularly distri-buted. In one child they were present on the abdomen andankle and in another on the neck and upper part of the chestand on the inner aspect of the thigh and ankles. They weremore pronounced than a typhus rash and much more limitedin distribution. The pulse and temperature both follow anirregular course and there is usually no relation betweenthem in the early stages. When death results a purulentor sero-purulent exudation may be found on the undersurface of the brain or spinal cord.

Munificent Gift to Paisley Infirmary.The secretary of the Royal Alexandra Infirmary, Paisley,

has received from Mr. Stewart Clark, late of Paisley, a

donation of £5000 towards the Annie Clark (Mrs.Stewart Clark) Fund for Incurables. The fund, which wasinstituted by Mrs. Clark, is for the purpose of relieving intheir own homes out-door patients suffering from incurabledisease. As the demands of the fund had often been inexcess of the revenue derived from it, the directors wereoccasionally compelled to refuse necessitous cases. This,however, will to a great extent be obviated by the hand-some gift of Mr. Clark, which brings the funds up to £12,000.

Deccth of William Davidsoro, M.B., C.M. A berd.At the residence in London of his brother-in-law, Mr.

William Will, of the Sporting Life, there died on

June 13th, Dr. William Davidson, a native of Kinneffand a graduate of the University of Aberdeen. Dr.Davidson was during his studentship at Aberdeen an

assistant to Professor J. W. H. Trail and graduated as M.B.,C.M. in 1886. For some time he was an assistant in

practice in Ayrshire and then at Maryhill, Glasgow, whencehe went to Adelaide. Cape Colony, where he had been inpractice for about 15 years. About two months ago Dr.Davidson visited London for consultation regarding aninternal trouble which has proved fatal. The deceasedwas extremely popular in his colonial district and wasa leader in all the local movements. During the war hewas captain of the town guard of Adelaide and met anattack from Kritzinger’s commando, his defence of the littletown meeting with praise from the authorities. He heldthe medal for service in the war. To personal courage therewas added a kindly heart and he will be much missed. Dr.Davidson leaves a widow and two sons and a daughter.

The Carswell-Gilchrist Fund.The sum of .B534 3s. 8d. has been collected for the

Carswell-Gilchrist Fund, and after deducting expenses-chiefly for printing and postage-a balance of Z520 has beenhanded to Mr. John Carswell and Dr. Marion Gilchrist toassist them in defraying the costs of their defence in therecent litigation in which they were involved.June 25th.

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IRELAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

The Official Report on the Dublen Hospitals.THE annual report of the board of superintendence of the

Dublin hospitals, including all those which received grantsfrom Parliament, has just been published. The board, underthe chairmanship of Sir Francis W. Brady, found no seriousfault with any institution but some valuable suggestionshave been made. In the case of the Cork-street FeverHospital it remarks that the bed linen appeared to bediscoloured and that the fact was reported as being due tothe use of water from the Poddle river in the laundry. Theboard recommended the substitution of the Vartry water,adding that " sheets washed in water so deeply impreg-nated with organic matter are unsuitable for hospital use."In noticing the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital theboard, after approving of the state of the wards, day rooms,and culinary department, says, " We cannot but regret thatthe example of providing day rooms is not followed by thegeneral hospitals of our city ; ...... it is contrary to hygienicprinciples to have convalescent patients eating and livingsurrounded by patients confined to bed." The authors ofthe report allude approvingly to the open-air verandah

which has recently been constructed at Steevens’s Hospitaland also to the satisfactory condition of the House of’Industry Hospital. Concerning the latter institution theysay that the governors have shown great judgment andliberality in constructing in the Whitworth Hospital duringthe past year a well-equipped bacteriological laboratory asan assistance to the diagnosis of disease by modern andapproved methods. In a paragraph referring to the RotundaLying-in Hospital the report says that owing to the conges-tion in the maternity wards it has been decided to erect anadditional wing which will allow of the thorough disinfectionof each ward in rotation.

The Ptcblic Health Appointment in Belfast.At a meeting of the public health committee of the

corporation of the city of Belfast held on June 21st thequestion of the salary to be attached to the office of medicalsuperintendent, which 21 members out of a total of 60 votedshould be Z600 annually, was discussed in an informalmanner. Dr. C. J. Clibborn, medical inspector of the LocalGovernment Board, who attended, expressed himself stronglyof the opinion that the salary ought not to be less than £800,inasmuch as any less amount than that would not have theeffect of attracting applications from men possessing thenecessary qualifications and experience. In view of Dr.Clibborn’s position under the Local Government Board the factthat he was present and expressed himself as he did was

of considerable significance in regard to the views of theBoard which, fortunately, is in a position to enforce them.A very strong memorial has been sent to the Local Govern-ment Board on the whole question, urging it to use itsveto in reference to the smalJness of the salary proposed tobe given to its new medical officer of health by the Belfastcorporation.

Portadown Water supply.At a special meeting of the Portadown and Banbridge

Joint Water Board held on June 25th it was announced thatthe two service reservoirs were now full and it was arrangedthat on Thursday, July 5th, the water was to be turned on.This new scheme will give an admirable supply of gooddrinking water conveyed from the Mourne Mountains to two.progressive Ulster towns, Portadown and Banbridge.

Irish-speaking Practitioners in Ireland.At a meeting of the Oaghterard board of guardians held on

June 21st a letter was read from the Local Government Boardwith reference to the advertisement issued by the guardiansinviting applications for the medical officership of the

Oughterard workhouse and dispensary district, with theclause inserted that only a man speaking the Irish languagewould be elected. The letter stated that such a provisionwas illegal and that an election which had just taken placeshould be quashed. The law has been obeyed and anothercandidate has been since elected. Oughterard is an outlyingdistrict in the west of Ireland in which it is said that manyof the poor people cannot speak fluent English.

Half-yearly Report of Belfast Union.In his last half-yearly report of the Belfast workhouse

the Local Government Board inspector, Mr. Agnew, statesthat as regards the infirm the state of matters in referenceto their accommodation is not creditable. He recommendsthe provision of a proper children’s infirmary as there cannotbe accurate classification of disease or adequate supervisionin the present buildings which are most unsuitable in regardto light, ventilation, and sanitary arrangements. The follow-ing amounts have been spent on outdoor relief for the yearsended March, 1904, to March, 1906 : 1904, .B367 2s. 6d. ;.1905..6620 18s. 6d. and 1906 .BlO83 8s. There has been amarked increase in the years 1905 and 1906, with an ultimateexcess of .B716 5s. 6d. in 1906 over 1904. This matterdemands very earnest attention on the part of the guardians.The inspector concludes his report by stating that thegeneral management of the workhouse is highly satisfactory,as is also the discharge of their duties by the several officersof the union.June 26th

PARIS.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The Protection of Infant Life.AT a meeting of the Academy of Medicine held on

June 12th Professor Budin submitted some statistics whichsupplied a further proof of the practical utility of dis-

pensaries where mothers can obtain advice as to the rearing:

1862

of their infants. These di9pensaries (consultations de nowrissons) were inaugurated by Professor Budin at tb

H6pital de la Cbarité in Paris during 1892 and are not

being gradually introduced in all the territorial department!Wherever they are in operation the infantile mortalitdeclines and under their influence breast feeding is adoptemore and mo:e in preference to artificial feeding. ThState and the heads of some industrial establishmentare now doing their utmost to encourage breast feeding oinfants by their workwomen and some employers in Parieven allow opportunities for the suckling of infants by theimothers during working hours. At the dispensaries childrenup to the age of two years are examined and weighed once week and such advice as may be necessary is given to thmothers. Breast feeding is recommended but mothers whosenatural supply is insufficient receive an allowance of sterilise<milk of good quality.

The Thyroid Body and the Sensation of Hunger.At a meeting of the Society of Biology held on June 2ni

M. Leopold Levy and M. Henri de Rothschild communicate(a paper giving the results of thyroid treatment in the cas{of 100 patients. Among this number there were 21 wh(showed an increase of appetite and of the sensatioIof hunger. Taking into consideration the feeling o’

hunger experienced after the ingestion of thyroid materia:and the phenomena of hunger observed in exophthalmicgoitre, in myxoedema, in thyroiditis, and in thyroid changesassociated with pregnancy, it was permissible to infer thatthe thyroi body was a factor in the causation of hurigeiand that there was a "hypothyroid anorexia" for whichappropriate treatment was required. In influencing thesensation of hunger the thyroid body acted as a regulator ofthe nutritional ferments as well as of the defensive ferments;it was also a regulator of the bulbar centres-namely, thecentres for the sensation of hunger, for thyroid headache,and for the heart.

Administration of Iodide of Potassium by the Reatuna.At a meeting of the Societe M&eacute;dicale des H&ocirc;pitaux held

on June 8th M. Queyrat showed a patient suffering fromtertiary syphilis which had worked havoc with his lips andnose. The disease was spreading in spite of mercurial treat-ment in all its forms and there was absolute intoleranceof iodide of potassium. In theoe circumstances, M.

Queyrat had recourse to administration by the rectum, a

method which he had used for a long time when patientsfor whom iodide of potassium was obviously indicated werefound to be intolerant of it. He therefore prescribed dailyenemata of 50 grammes of infusion of marsh mallow con-taining progressive doses of two, six, and eight grammes ofiodide of potassium. He has observed that iodide of

potassium absorbed by the bowel has a very remarkable

therapeutic action.Treatment of Tub reulous Disease of the Joints by Injections of

Chloride of Zinc.At a meeting of the Surgical Society held on June 20th

M. Walther showed a woman about 30 years of age whom hehad treated for white swelling of the right knee in 1891 andfor the same disease in the left knee in 1896. On each occa-sion the affected joint was treated with "sclerogenous"

"

injections of chloride of zinc according to the method ofM. Lannelongue. The extended periods of 15 and 10 yearsthat have elapsed since the respective operations enable adefinite opinion to be formed as to the complete success of theresults. The patient treated by M. Walther walks perfectlywell; both knees have the normal range of movement andthere has never been the least sign of relapse.June 26th.

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BERLIN.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

ji Conference on 2’2cberonlosis.THE annual meeting of the German Committee for the

Sanatorium Treatment of Tuberculous Patients was held onJune lst, under the presidency of Count Posadowski, the

Secretary of State for the Interior. In his inaugural addressthe President said that the measures adopted for the pre-vention of tuberculosis during the last ten years had yieldedexcellent results and that the action of the committee hadcontributed materially to the success of the movement. Themedical profession hoped that their endeavours might incourse of time have the effect of extinguishing this terrible

- disease in the same manner as several diseases prevalent in3 former ages had been extinguished. If that was posibleir the German nation, so prominent in every department of. scientific and practical work and so wealthy, ought to co-

operate with the medical profession in that object. He hoped1 that more sanatoriums might be opened by the committee.3 As the methods of preventing or dealing with tuberculosis

included a good deal more than the treatment of patients inE sanatoriums, a motion was adopted to the effect that the3 name of the committee should henceforth be the Central

Committee for the Prevention of Tuberculosis. Dr. Niedner,i the general secretary, then presented a report showingL details of the work of the committee. He said that 26 000

persons (19,000 men and 7,000 women) had been under treat-ment in sanatoriums in 1905 and that from 1901 to 1905

. about 38,000,000 marks had been spent in the treat-ment of tuberculous patients under the workmen’ssickness insurance law. As long as a specific againsttuberculosis was unknown the sanatoriums must be the

principal centres of origin for measures directed againstthe disease. Professor Kirchner then read a paper onTuberculosis in Childhood. He said that the disease was morefrequent among children than had hitherto been supposed.Whilst the general mortality from tuberculosis had consider-ably decreased-namely, from 319 per 100,000 in 1875 to196 per 100, 000 in 1903, being a decline of 38.4 per cent.-the mortality of children had become greater; from theeleventh year of age tuberculosis was a more frequent causeof death in children than any other disease. In the struggleagainst tuberculosis it was a primary requisite that healthychildren should be protected against infection ; the homemust be regarded as the principal point of issue of the infec.tion and the tuberculous members of families must thereforebe taught how to deal with their expectoration. Frequentcleansing of their rooms and in some cases removal of thepatients from their homes were essential. Notification oftuberculous cases ought to be made compulsory. Althoughtuberculosis was less likely to be contracted in school thanat home the separation of tuberculous from healthy childrenwas very important. The holiday colonies" had done muchin the prevention of tuberculosis. For the curative treat-ment of the disease sanatoriums were as useful in the caseof children as in the case of adults and special institutionsfor the young ought therefore to be established. The confer-ence then terminated.

An International Conference on Cancer.An International Conference on Cancer will be held at

Heidelberg on the occasion of the opening of the new

institution for cancer research under the direction ofProfessor Czerny. Professor Ehrlich has invited the membersof the conference to visit the Institution for ExperimentalTherapeutics at Frankfort where he will exhibit his collectionof specimens bearing on the subject of cancer. An addresswill also be delivered by Professor Leyden.

1’he Prevention of Ophthalmia Neonatorum.Dr. Herff of Basle, writing to the Miinchener Nedicinische

Wockenschrift, recommends a substance to which the name ofsophol has been given as a prophylactic against blennorrhoeaof the eyes of newly born children. He said that instilla-tion of nitrate of silver not only caused swelling andpain but was not absolutely trustworthy, as about 0’2 percent. of the infants treated in this way neverthelesssuffered from blennorrhoea. Protargol was milder andmore efficacious as infection only occurred twice in3009 cases in the Basle clinic. Argyrol was a safe

prophylactic but its high price was a barrier to its

general application. A new compound termed sophol hadtherefore been introduced. Sophol was a nitrate of formo-nuclein ; it had a brownish-yellow colour in solution and waseasily affected by light. Its principal advantage was that itdid not produce any inflammation. A 5 per cent. solutionhad no irritant or painful effect whatever and a 10 per cent.solution produced no more than a slightly unpleasant sensa-tion. Of 1200 children treated by instillation of sophol onlyone contracted blennorrhoea, the case being one in which thelabour required operative help. Bacteriological comparisonsof protargol and sophol showed that the staphylococcuspyogenes aureus was destroyed within fhe and a half hoursby a 1 per cent. solution of the former and a 0’ 3 per cent.solution of the latter. A solution of argyrol of 0’4 per cent.strength required 48 hours to destroy that bacillus. Also

against the bacillus pyocyaneus sophol and protargol weremore efficacious than argyrol.June 25th.