1164 IRELAND.-PARIS.

river Dodder, and is situated between Rathfarnham and iRatbgar, is now completed. It is designed to accommodate twelve male and an equal number of female convalescentpatients, besides affording accommodation for matron,nurses, and staff. The home is in connexion with theAdelaide Hospital.

Richmond Lunatic Asylum.The report of the medical superintendent for the past year

shows that on the last day of 1893 there was a total ofinmates in the asylum amounting to 1498. The nominallimits of accommodation were exceeded at the end of theyear by 398. The record exhibits the same steady increasewhich has been so marked for several years past. Twohundred and seventy-nine cases were discharged during theyear ; of these 163 had recovered, 97 were relieved, and 19were not improved. Among the relieved was one patientwho was discharged after having been found sane by a juryon a commission de luncctico inquirendo.

Insanity in Ireland.A special report prepared by the inspectors of lunatic

Asylums in Ireland, Drs. O’Farrell and Courtenay, on thealleged increasing prevalence of insanity in Ireland has beenissued as a Parliamentary paper. The report states thatthere is not any conclusive proof that there is a generalincrease of insanity in the country. There is a great increaseof the insane under care, but this is supposed to be anincrease due mainly to accumulation. Some increase of

insanity is apparent in particular districts. This is tracedto hereditary influence, consanguineous marriages, innu-tritious dietary of the poorer population, which tends to pro-duce anasmia and constitutional weakness which favour thedevelopment of scrofulous and neurotic disease, the im-moderate use of certain nervous stimulants, and the mentalstrain and anxiety caused by "acute agricultural depres-sion." The inspectors of lunatic asylums state that there isnot any conclusive proof that there is a general increase ofinsanity in the country; but they had a different opinion lastyear, for if we turn to the Report of Lunatic Asylums for1892, we learn that they state-after excluding certain causeswhich would account for a very large relative increase ofinsanity-" we must adhere to our opinion that they are notsufficient to explain the great increase of lunacy which hastaken place of late years in this country. This opinion isstrengthened by the table relating to admissions to districtasylums, showing as it does an almost uninterrupted yearlyincrease of the number of first admissions in the face of a ’’

declining population."-Yealt7t of Dublin : Quarterly Report.

During the March quarter the births registered in theDublin registration district amounted to 2542, and the deaths2749 ; the births were equal to 29-1, and the deaths to 31 5per 1000. Zymotic diseases caused 382 deaths, being 127over the number for the first quarter of last year. Nearly one-fourth of the mortality from zymotic diseases was caused bywhooping-cough ; the deaths from influenza were almostas numerous, amounting to 87. Measles caused 33 deaths,scarlet fever 17, enteric fever 32, typhus fever 6, anderysipelas 10.erysipelas 10. St. Mark’s Ophthalmic Hospital.A jubilee concert was held on April 30th in aid of this

hospital to clear off a debt of E400. The institution wasfounded by the well-known Sir William Wilde in 1844. Itwas first located in Mark-street, and contained twelve bedsfor patients, but was afterwards transferred to its presentposition in Lincoln-place. During the past fifty years thetotal number of in-door patients was 18,750, of out-door

patients 121,713, while the total number of operations per-formed was 18,484.

City of Dublin Hospital.The Zosmic F6’e, which was held last year at Ball’s Bridge

in aid of this hospital, has resulted in the handsome sumof £ 12,005 14s. 5d. having been obtained for a deservinginstitution.

Death of Dr. Allen Edmond Douglas.Another well-known Ulster practitioner. Dr. Douglas,

passed away at his residence, Coolbawn, Warrenpoint, onApril 25th, after a fortnight’s illness. Dr. Douglas, whowas a son of Captain Douglas, R.M., studied in Dublin,where he was Demonstrator of Anatomy at Steevens’Hospital School of Medicine, and became a Licentiate in1856 and a Fellow in 1874 of the Royal College of Sur-geons in Ireland. He also graduated M.D. at St. Andrews

in 1858. After practising in various places Dr. Douglassettled down in Warrenpoint, where he rapidly acquired theleading practice and won the confidence and respect of a

large circle of friends. He was dispensary medical officerfor Warrenpoint, and for several years was chairman of thetown commissioners of that place ; he was also a justice ofthe peace for county Down and was an active and leadingmember of the Freemasons’ craft. Dr. Douglas, who wasfifty-nine years of age, leaves a widow and two daughters,for whom there is the deepest sympathy. Kind and con.siderate and attentive to his duties, Dr. Douglas was greatlyrespected by the whole community of Warrenpoint.

Queen’s College, Belfast.On Tuesday, May lst, Dr. W. Russell, who has been

appointed Lecturer on Pathology in place of Dr. Barrett (re-signed through ill-health), delivered an introductory addresson the Victories and Aims of Pathology. The Presidentintroduced Dr. Russell and there was a good audience. Thenew chemical and materia medica laboratories are now

open to students.May 1st.

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PARIS.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Glycerophosphates and their Therapeutical Uses.DR. ALBERT ROBIN, professeur-agrégé of the Paris Faculty,

can lay claim to the distinction of having created as muchsensation last week by the announcement of his discovery ofthe glycerophosphatic treatment as the late Dr. Brown-

Séquard did with his orchitic extract. Inspired by the fact thatmany neurasthenics void in their urine comparatively largequantities of incompletely oxidised phosphorus, the source ofwhich is probably the lecithin of the nerve tissues, the idea

, occurred to him that this nerve waste could be best met by,

supplying the system with phosphorus in organic combina-tion most nearly approaching to that under which it exists aslecithin in the nerve centres. Since 1888 Dr. Robin hasexperimented with the glycerophosphates of calcium, sodium,and potassium, either isolated or associated, and both sub-cutaneously and through the stomach. He asserts that theirinfluence on nutrition is indisputable. Thus, the hypodermic

r injection of twenty-five centigrammes of glycerophosphate oflime increases the total residue of the urine, the onlyingredients remaining unaffected being the uric and phos-phoric acids, the latter body appearing to undergo dimi-

e nution. The glycerophosphates seem to act antagonis-114 tically to antipyrin, which is the remedy for heightened

nervous excitability. Their action when swallowed is less

7 marked than when they are introduced into the system- through the lymphatics. Dr. Robin claims to have had

successes in the following conditions : convalescence from

t influenza, and certain infectious diseases; nervous depression;neurasthenic phosphaturia ; torpid form of chlorosis cbarac-

d terised by diminished oxidation of proteids; phosphaturicalbuminuria ; and simple phosphaturia. He further cites thecase of a young man of twenty-three years affected withAddison’s disease, and very thin and weak. Twenty-five centi-

s grammes of glycerophosphate of lime injected subcutaneously

68 daily, from the 5th to the 25th of January, brought up his,t

weight from fifty-six to fifty-nine kilogrammes, and restoredhis strength in a remarkable degree. He resumed his workon Feb. 9th, and the improvement had continued np toe April 5th, although the pigmentation persisted. Dr. Robin

’r opines that the really active agent in testicular juice isphosphorus in organic combination, and that its frequentfailure in this form may be explained by the instability of thegland extract. This instability is avoided when the artificial

,e product is employed. Tried on ataxies, the glycerophos-m phates were found to increase the body weight, theg average gain being fifty-one grammes a day ; the skin

became moister and the extremities warmer, and locomotionbecame less hesitating ; above all, the lightning pains

s, were markedly diminished ; the incoordination was notn influenced ; and the quantity of urine passed was increased.

During the first few days of the treatment the patients1, complained of formication of the legs and a sense of uneasi-s’ ness, and they were impelled to keep on alternately flexingin and extending their limbs. These uncomfortable effectsr- soon disappeared, however. Amongst other cases treated

there was that of a man aged forty-seven, crippled with

1165MEMORIAL TO THE LATE SIR ANDREW CLARK.

sciatica, which had been rebellious to the methyl chloridespray. From March lst to 7th he received daily a sub-cutaneous injection of fifteen centigrammes of glycero-phosphates in the neighbourhood of the affected nerve.

’On March 16th he was discharged cured. Two similarcases of sciatica were cured in nine and twelve days respec-tively. A woman sixty years of age, who had from tento twelve attacks of tic douloureux (the disease had lastedseven years), was given twenty centigrammes daily in

hypodermic injections at one of the painful spots in the face.This treatment was continued for four days, then she was leftwithout treatment for ten days, and finally the hypodermicinjections were resumed for four days. The attacks ceased

completely for twelve days. On the twelfth day the extrac-tion of two carious teeth brought back the tic, which wasas violent as it was before the treatment. Four dailyhypodermic injections determined the disappearance of theseizures. A failure is chronicled in a case of paralysis ofthe extensors of the hand consecutive to poisoning bycarbon monoxide. The injections, practised with antisepticprecautions, cause no local trouble further than a slightburning sensation and more or less persistent redness ofthe skin. In two cases of locomotor ataxy no results wereobtained, and in another the hypodermic injections pro-voked a condition of cerebral excitability with insomniaand hallucinations.In conclusion, the glycerophosphates may be regarded as

preferable to testicular juice, which acts probably solely invirtue of the organically combined phosphorus contained init. The glycerophosphates possess a definite composition andare unchangeable, whereas the animal substance is uncertain.The chief indication for their therapeutic use is nervousdepression.May Ist.

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MEMORIAL TO THE LATE SIRANDREW CLARK.

IT is not often that physicians are so fortunate in theirpopularity and in their patients as the late Sir Andrew Clark.His funeral was a rare historical event in its numbers, in thepresence of distinguished men, and in the service at West-minster Abbey. We now record below the particulars of agreat public meeting designed to promote some memorial toone who played such a conspicuous part in his profession,and who was, besides, full of public spirit. The meeting wasan uncommon one in the number, the eminence, and theauthority of the speakers, as well as in the number of thosepresent. We defer till next week our remarks on it,and on the principal speeches delivered ; but we maynow safely say that there has not often been such a meetingto commemorate the name and fame of members of our

profession. It behoves those who were present and all

interested in the memory of Sir Andrew Clark to follow the

meeting up with a substantial proof of their sentiments.

Opinions may differ as to whether the particular objectfavoured by the meeting should be the exclusive one. Nonecan deny that Sir Andrew Clark himself was deeply identifiedwith and interested in the London Hospital, and that to

associate his name with any effort to make it more safe ormore perfect as a refuge for the teeming population aroundit would be a use of his name which he would have greatlyappreciated. It is fortunate when the form taken for a

memorial, as well as the person to be commemorated, socommends itself to the public mind. This commendationwas very evident from the numbers who attended the meetingheld on Thursday, May 3rd, in Princes’ Hall, Piccadilly, overwhich H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge so kindly presided.Evidences of interest and enthusiasm were everywhere appa-rent among the audience, in the front row of which Mrs.Gladstone was an appreciative listener.The CHAIRMAN said : Ladies and Gentlemen, -It is

necessary for me, in opening the meeting, to explain howit happens that so unworthy a person as myself shouldtake the chair. The fact is that, being Presidentof the London Hospital, I felt I could hardly do

otherwise than obtrude myself upon even such a largeassembly as this, on an occasion like the present. Wehad a meeting some time ago in the early part of thewinter, a preliminary meeting, to discuss thoroughly thequestion we have to deal with to-day, and it was thenresolved that a small committee should be formed in orderto carry out the details. Those details have now beenbrought to a point at which those who surround me willhave the opportunity of putting forward the object with whichthe meeting is assembled and the result we hope to derivefrom it. In doing so I am bound to tell you that we are veryaggressive in one respect, because we require a considerableamount of means to carry out the object in view. Thatobject is in every respect, both in itself and in the intentionwith which this gathering is assembled to do honour to thegreat and able medical man, Sir Andrew Clark. (Cheers.)The object is such that I hope this meeting, supportedas it is by the right hon. gentleman on my left (loud cheers),will result in the possibility of carrying out that whichwe wish to bring before your notice. I do not wish todetain you. I am glad to see such a large assemblyhere to-day, and I will now call on the right hon. gentleman,Mr. Gladstone. (Loud applause.)

The Right Hon. W. E. GLADSTONE, M.P., who wasloudly cheered, asked permission to speak from his seat,which was granted by the chairman with the heartily ex-pressed concurrence of the meeting. He said :-May it

please your Royal Highness, I will make no apology,after the words that have fallen from your Royal High-ness, for availing myself of the permission which has kindlybeen granted to me, to say, without rising from my seat, thefew words that it may become me to say upon the presentoccasion. I am very glad, Sir, Dot for the first time, nor thesecond, nor, perhaps, the tenth or twentieth time, to find

myself for a great public object under your Royal Highness’sauspices, and I will say with great confidence that I donot believe you have given the advantage of your countenanceand high position to a worthier cause than the cause thathas brought us here to-day. For my own part, Sir, it hasbeen with some small effort that I have come here to bearmy humble part in the proceedings of the day. To have beenabsent from them, to have missed the opportunity of bearingtestimony to the noble life of Sir Andrew Clark, would havebeen to me a standing cause of grief and mortification. Sir,I have the honour to address an audience which iscomposed, I have no doubt, in no inconsiderable degree,of Sir Andrew Clark’s brethren in the noble profession towhich he belonged, and in truth, although Sir AndrewClark himself was a person whose name in itself con-

stitutes an ample warrant and apology for a largegathering such as I see before me, yet I feel also that thisis an occasion which associates itself with the professionat large. Undoubtedly, it was to me a matter of mostlively satisfaction when I observed, as the whole worldmust have observed, on the death of Sir Andrew Clark,the tone of affectionate interest which ran through thewhole of that great profession, as judged from the referencesin the medical press, the sense of a heavy loss sus-

tained, and the desire to render some worthy and ade-quate testimony to such a memory as that of Sir AndrewClark. (Cheers.) The profession itself is one with regardto which it is impossible, I think, not to be conscious that,great as has been its position in our generation and somegenerations previous, it is a position continually advancingand continually rising. In truth, your Royal Highness, if wego back some distance, we find that the other learned pro-fessions, as they are sometimes called, undoubtedly had astart of the medical profession. I think as much as fouror five hundred years ago, in the first beginning of thecommerce of this country, the lawyers in scores andhundreds sprang up, I might almost say, like mush-rooms from the ground to dispose of the disputes whichnecessarily arise wherever property has been broughtinto existence. At that time medical men had hardlybeen heard of. But the position of the medical professionto-day is becoming one of vital and commanding interest tothe whole of society, and I anticipate that that interest mustcontinue. While wealth increases, while inventions anddiscoveries increase, wants will increase and enjoyments willincrease; and, in connexion with those wants and enjoy-ments there will, I fear, your Royal Highness, be a corre-sponding increase of infirmity and disease, and the medicalprofession braces itself to grapple with the situation whichhas been created, and continually advances in knowledge