252

THE LONDON SCHOOL OF MEDICINE FOR WOMEN.-The science laboratories at the London (Royal Free Hos-pital) School of Medicine for Women will be completed andfitted up in time for the opening of the winter session. Thiswill allow of classes being held for the Preliminary ScientificExamination of the University of London which has beenimpossible hitherto owing to lack of space.A LIBEL ACTION.--Dr. E. J. Parry of Ponty-

cymmer obtained damages amounting to f.5 at Bridgend onJuly 14th against the Bridgend Chronicle. The libel com-

plained of was contained in some anonymous letters inreference to the payment of surgeons to collieries and allegingthat the plaintiff neglected his practice for yachting. Thecounsel for Dr. Parry stated that he did not wish to makemoney out of the case but wanted to teach newspaper pro-prietors that they could not tamper with the private affairsof gentlemen. Judgment in the action had gone by defaultin the High Courts.SWANSEA HOSPITAL.--The annual meeting of

the Swansea General Hospital was held on July 13th.The report for 1898 showed that 1307 in-patients had beenadmitted during the year. The average length of stay ofeach was 30 days and the daily number of occupied beds was84. 4636 out-patients had been treated. The financial state-ment showed that the ordinary income amounted to .64761,being an increase of f.Z72 as compared with 1897. The

ordinary expenditure was .64906, a decrease of .6118 with theprevious year. It was decided to spend Z1000 in extendingthe heating arrangements of the hospital.VACCINATION BY THE NEWTON ABBOT BOARD

OF GUARDIANS.-At the meeting of the Newton AbbotBoard of Guardians, held on July 12th, the VaccinationCommittee reported that the new Act had cost the guardiansduring the past half year Z168 more than the old Act inthe corresponding half of last year. The public vaccinatorsreceived £192 for 591 cases, as against f.45 for 437 cases inthe corresponding period of the preceding 12 months, theaverage cost of each case being 6s. 6d. against 2s. ld. oflast year. The chairman of the committee stated that themedical officers were dissatisfied with their fees and hethought that the committee would be compelled to recom-mend the guardians to increase the fees from 6s. to 7s. 6d.per case.

Parliamentary Intelligence.NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.

The Contamination of Oysters.THE Oysters Bill, introduced into the House of Lords by Lord Harris,

is being considered by a Select Committee consisting of that nobleman,the Duke of Abercorn, Lord Wenlock, Lord Tweedmoulh, and LordIIeneage. The Bill is "for the protection of public health againstdangers arising from the consumption of unwholesome oysters," and itprovides that county councils shall ascertain from time to time thesanitary condition of oyster layings, and when they find that a layingis so situated with reference to an outfall of sewage as to cause seriousrisk of disease they shall make an order requiring oysters taken fromthis laying to be deposited for at least 10 days on another approvedlaying before they are removed for sale as human food. Among thewitnesses who have been examined by the Committee are Sir RichardThorne and Dr. Bulstrode of the Local Government Board.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

THURSDAY, JULY 13TH.

Seats for Shop Assistants.When the Seats for Shop Assistants (England and Ireland) Bill was

considered in Committee amendments were made extending the scopeof the measure to Scotland.

-

HOUSH OF COMMONS.

THURSDAY, JULY 13Tm

Vaccination in Scotland.Mr. COLVILLE asked the Lord Advocate (1) whether he was aware that

the parish council of Bothwell had recently prosecuted two gentlemenfur the non-v accination of their children; and (2) whether the Govern-ment intended to amend the law so as to afford the same relief for theconscientious objector in Scotland which had just 1-been provided bystatute for similar objectors to vaccination in England.--The LORDADVOCATE: The fact stated in the first paragraph of the question is, Iam informed by the Local Government Board, correct. The answer tothe second paragraph is in the negative.

Treatment of Casualty Cases in Glasgow.Sir CHARLES CAMERON asked the Lord Advocate (1) whether the

attention of tue Loc,,[ Government Board for Scotland had been calledto the change of practice recently introduced in Glasgow in dealingwith cases of debility and injury brought to the police offices and sub-sequently removed tu the parochial hospital, whereby pauper patientsare removed to that hospital without any certificate from the parochialmedical officer of their fitness for removal ; (2) whether the criminal[authorities had sanctioned the inspection of the private policebooks by the parochial officers; (3) whether the removal ota moribund person on the data contained in these books andwithout certificate from the parochial medical officer wouldbe held to satisfy the requirements of the Poor-law Act; and (4) onwhom in case of mishap occurring in connexion with a removal so-conducted would legal responsibility rest.-The LORD ADVOCATE: Theanswer to the first paragraph of the question is in the negative. Frominquiries made by myselt through other channels I find that somechanges have been recently made in Glasgow in connexion withremoval. In the meantime I have communicated with the LocalGovernment Board in order that inquiries may be made and if the-hon. Member will repeat his question after an adequate interval I shallbe happy to reply on the subject.

The Condition of Gibraltar.Mr. STEVENSON asked the Under Secretary of State for War whether

the attention of the Commander-in-Chief had been drawn to the urgentnecessity of remedying the sanitary condition of the barracks and hutgoccupied by the troops stationed at Gibraltar; whether he was awarethat in consequence of the grants of leases to private persons of Crownlands in the citv of Gibraltar there was a dearth of house accommoda-tion at reasonable rents for officers and their families stationed thereand that the military medical officers had expressed an opinion thatthe congested condition and overcrowded state of the quarter occupiedby the civil population was dangerous to the health of the troops;and whether the Secretary of State, having regard to the publicinterest, would take stfps in conjunction with the Colonial Office toprevent further encroachments by building speculators and syndicatesupon the few remaining sites available for the erection of defenceworks, naval and military storehouses, quarters for officers and dock-yard officials. and recreation grounds for the troops.-Mr. GEORGEWYNDHAM: The barracks at Gibraltar, though leaving much to bedesired, are not now insanitary. In the past five years some P-26,000have been spent on improving their sanitation. There is a scarcity ofhouses available for ofiicers’ quarters and there is some overcrowdingwhich is bad for the health of all the inhabitants, including the troops.All these points have been considered by the Committee on the con-dition of Gibraltar, and it has been decided that in future no Crownlands which mav be required for any of the purposes stated in thequestion will be let on building leases.

Preservatives and Colouring Matter in Food.In reply to a question by Mr. HEDDERWICK on this subject Mr.

CHAPLIN said: I have appointed a Committee to inquire into the use ofpreservatives and cofourmg matters in the preservation and colouringof food generally. Mv right hon. friend the Member for Wigtonshire(Sir Herbert Maxwell) has consented to act as chairman and the othermembers of the Committee will be Professor Thorpe of the Governmentlaboratory, Dr. Bulstrode, one of the medical inspectors of the LocalGovernment Board, and Dr. Tunnicliffe, of the PhysiclogicalLaboratory, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital.

Smoke Nuisance at Westminster.Mr. BARTlEY asked the Home Secretary whether his attention had

been called to the increasing quantity of smoke and fumes which areemitted from the pottery and drain-pipe works on the river nearlyopposite that House ; whether he was aware that on Tuesday Lambeth-bridge was invisible in the afternoon from this cause, and thatthe Committee-rooms, the Terrace, and the dining-rooms were filledfor hours with most unpleasant fumes ; and whether he could takesteps to require the owners of these works to consume their ownsmoke and not contaminate the neighbourhood with these fumes.-Mr. CaarLm : The Local Government Board have no control over theowners of the works referred to in the question, but I have com-municated with the clerk to the Lambeth Vestrv, in which parish theworks are situated. I am informed that the Vestry have made, andare still making, daily observations with respect to the emission 01smoke from the works of manufacturing firms in the parish andparticularly from the two leading pottery and drain-pipe works on theAlbert-embankment, three inspectors having been specially told off forthis purpose. Proceedings have already been taken in several cases andconvictions obtained in respect of the emission of black smoke. Severalnotices have been served upon the pottery and drain-pipe firms in ques-tion and summonses will be issued whenever any nuisance under theAct can he substantiated. It is understood that large sums have beenexpended by the two pottery firms in altering their furnaces and appli-ances so as to minimise the -moke and fumes arising in the course of theirmanufacturing processes and they have expressed their willingness tomake any further alterations of a practical nature if any such can bssuggested.

FRIDAY, JULY 14T]I.The Case of JI1’. Lamont.

Sir CHARLES CAMERON, in Committee of Supply, on the vote for thesalaries and expenses of the office of the Secretary for Scotland, calledattention to the case of Mr. Lamont, recently medical officer of SouthUist in the Hebrides, who was arrested in Glasgow on a charge ofgranting certificates of successful vaccination when he had not seenthe children after the operation, was imprisoned there from a Saturdayuntil a Monday, was taken north in custody, and when tried wasfound not guilty of the charge made against him.-The LORDADVOCATE dt-fended the prosecution as right and justifiable, sayingthat the evidence collected was such as amply to warrantthe authorities in sending the case to trial. He expressedregret, however, that Mr. Lamont should have been put to the

indignity of arrest and thought that the Procurator-Fiscal in this con-nexion had erred on the side of severity.-Sir WALTER FOSTER, SirW1U.IAM PRIESTLEY, Dr. FARQUHARSON, and several other Membersurged that Mr. Lamont had been harshly used and was entitled to somesort of compensation.-The LORD ADVOCATE speaking again said that he

253

agreed that the arrest should not have been ordered and undertook tocensure the Procurator-Fiscal.-Mr. ALEXANDER CROSS declared thatthe case offered a very good illustration of the need for medical officersin Scotland having a right of appeal to the Local Government Board.-After the discussion had proceeded further Mr. ARTHUR BALFOURdelivered a speech. He expressed his regret that in the present stateof the law medical officers in Scotland had no protection against thearbitrary action of the local authorities. Though perhaps 99 out of100 local authorities in Scotland would use their powers with absoluteequity, he thought that the Government ought to possess the power toprotect medical officers whose duties must occasionally bring theminto collision with and subject them to the arbitrary action of thosewho were their employers and whom at the same time it might betheir duty to proceed against. That was the law at the present timeand no vote of this House in Supply could affect it one way or another,directly or indirectly. There remained the question. Could any actionbe taken against the local authorities who, it appeared from the dis-cussion, were the real "villains of the piece" ? He had no means ofascertaining whether the charges brought against them by thosehon. Members who had investigated the case were true or untrue.He could not say whether they had been misled by passion, pre-judice, or personal aversion ; but one thing at least was certainand that was that the medical officer had done all that mancould do to earn the grateful thanks of the community heserved. Again, however, the Secretary for Scotland had no meansof punishing the local authority or even of suggesting inany official wav his reprobation of their conduct. Of course, if it couldbe shown that in the legal sense there had been a conspiracy against themedical officer it would be the duty of the Public Prosecutor to take upthe CMC and punish the offenders with the utmost rigour of the law.Bnthetookit that however well founded their suspicions might be asto the motives of the local authorities there was nothing before theLord Advocate or the Public Prosecutor in Scotland which wouldpermit or justifv in any legal or technical sense the institution ofcriminal proceedings. But both the local authorities and. Mr. Lamontmust feel that in this debate the sense, at all events, of the Committeeof the House of Commons was strongly in favour of the medical officer,and that the action taken against him was viewed with distrust, if notwith something much stronger.-The LORD ADVOCATE. at the close ofthe discussion, announced that he had the authority of the First Lordof the Treasury (Mr. Balfour) to say that he considered himself bound

Ito look into the question of compensation.

MOXDAY, JULY 17TH.Tlte Plague Convention.

Sir WALTER FOSTER asked the Under Secretary of State for ForeignAffairs whether the attention of the Government had been rlirecteri tothe danger of the advance of plague by way of Persia and Turkey intoEurope; and whether they were taking, or would take, steps to obtainthe codperation of the Great Powers in inducing the Governments ofPersia and Turkey to take effectual measures for checking the advanceof plague in thoe countries ?-Mr. BRODRICK: Her Majesty’s Govern-mentbelieve that the principles of the Venice (Plague) Convention of1897 are sufficient to protect any country adopt.ing them from thedanger of an invasion of plague. That Conventiou is based on theprinciple that a country should place its sanitary organisation in sucha condition that it can easily deal with any case of plague which may beimported into or be detected in its territory. Her Majesty’s Govern-ment would be very glad to see the Governments of Persia and Turkeyplace their sanitary organisation in a condition which would enablethem to adopt the Convention and !1arry out its provisions and have inconcert with the other signatory Powers taken steps to make theiryiews known to the Governments in question.

Army Medical Service Examinations.Captain GREVILLE asked the Under Secretary of State for War

whether his attention had been called to the fact that the date, fixedfor entry, July 17th, and of examination, July 23th, of candidates forthe Army Medical Service would have the effect, of excluding fromcompetition young men who might have obtained their diplomas at theVictoria University and other examining bodies during the month ofJuly, but the results of whose examinations were not published tillJuly 27th ; and, whether it would be possible to postpone the dates ofentry and examination for a few we’’k’! in order to allow successfulstudents to compete.-Mr. GEoRaE WYNDHAM: The date of theexamination was nntified on May 10th and appeared in the newspaperson May 12th. The first intimation that the date would debar Univer-sity candidates reached the War Office on July llth when i6 was toolate to alter the arrangements.

Sale of Food and Drugs Bill.When the motion came on for the report stage of the Sale of Food and

Drugs Bill an amendment was moved for the rejection of the measure,and after it had been discussed at considerable length it was negativedwithout a division. The House then proceeded with the report stage.Sir CHARLES CAMERON moved the adoption of a new clause providingthat a Standing Committee of reference on food standards shnuld be set up by the Local Government Board.--Mr. WALTER LONG opposed theclause saying that the clause put in by the Government giving power tothe Board of Agriculture to make regulat.ions as to the analysis of milk,cream, butter, and cheese, would sufficiently carry out the recom-mendation on the subject of the Select Committee and the requirementsof the public. On a division the proposed new clause was rejected by194 to 84 votes.-Mr. EEABLEY then moved the adoption of a clausegiving inspectors power to enter sale rooms, warehouses, stores, quays,ships, &c., where food or drugs were offered for sale or deposited for thepurpose of carriage and to take samples. After a long debate the clausewas rejected by 177 to 50 votes. Further proceedings on the reportstage were adjourned.

TUESDAY, JULY 18TH.Sale of Food and Drugs Bill.

The report stage of the Sale of Food and Drugs Bill was resumed atthis sitting of the House. Mr. GEORGE LAMBERT moved the adoptionof a new clause prohibiting the manufacture and sale of ma-garineemlourel to imitate or resemble butter.--Mr. WALTER LONG opposedthe clause as an undue and uncalled-for interference with trade, andon a division it was rejected by 297 to 68 votes. A clause proposingthat it should be made unlawful to sell or import any milk, cream, or

condensed, separated, or skimmed milk to which colouring matter hadbeen added was rejected by 238 to 57 votes.-Mr. CIIANNING moved toinsert these words : " It shall be unlawful to sell or import for sale anymargarine, butter, milk, cream, or bacon with which boracic acid,salicylic acid, formalin, bisulphite of lime, or other preservativeexcepting salt has been mixed." This proposal was rejected by 157to 19 votes. Other proposed new clauses having been dealt with, theHouse proceeded to the consideration of the clauses in the Bill andbefore the adjournment it had got as far as the fourth clause.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19TH.Sale of Food and Drugs Bill.

Further progress was made to-day with the report stage of this Bill.The chief subject of discussion was Clause 8, limitir g the quantity ofbutter fat allowed in margarine to 10 per cent.-Sir CHARLES CAMERONmoved the omission of this clause and on a division he was defeatedby 166 to 83 votes. ,

Appointments.Successful applicanta for Vacancies, Secretariea of Public Institutions,

and others possessing information suitable for this column aretnvited to forward it to THB LANCET Office, directed to the Sub-Editor, not later than 9 o’clock on the Thursday morning of eachweek, for publication in the next number.

BAKER, J. E., M.B, B.S. Durh., has been appointed Medical Officer forthe North Shields and Tynemouth Dispensary, vice D. H. Stephens,resigned.

BENNETT, ROBERT A., M.B. Lond., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. Lond., has beenappointed District Medical Officer, Niger Coast Protectorate, WestAfrica.

BERRY, JAMES, B.S., F.R.C.S., has been appointed Surgeon to theNorth London Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Chest,vice W. Watson Cheyne, resighed.

COCK, GEORGE HERBERT, Civil Surgeon, M.B., C.M., B.Sc. Edin.,L.R.C.P. Lond., M ltC.S., D.P. H. Eng., has taken over the medicalcharge of the Crownhill Barracks, Crownhill Fort, and WoodlandsFort, Devon.

CONNON. MIDDLET&dgr;N, M.B., C.M. Aberd., D.P.H., has been appointedPolice Surgeon for the Montrose Burgh.

COTMAN, HAROI.D H., L.S.A.. has been appointed House Surgeon tothe Seamen’s Hospital Dreadnought, Greenwich.

DAVIES. E. T, M.D., F R.C.S Edin., has been re-appointed an

Honorary Surgeon to the Samaritan Hospital for Women,Liverpool.

DUNCAN, ANDREW, M.B., B S.Lond., F.R.C.S., has been appointed aPhysician to the In-patients’ Branch Hospital, Seamen’s HospitalSociety, Greenwich.

ELLIMAN, A. C , L.R.C.P. Lond., M R.C.S., has been appointed MedicalOffieer, pro tem., by the St. Saviour’s Board of Works, Southwark.

FREEMAN, W. T, M.D. Durh., F.R.C.S Eng., has been appointed Sur-geon in charge of the Department for Diseases of the Skin at theReading Dispensary.

HATFIELD, RONALD, M.B. Lond., L R.C.P., M.R.C.S., has beenappointed Senior Resident Assistant Medical Officer for the Work-house, Bradford.

HAWKINS-AMBLER, G. A., F.R.C.S. Edin., M.R.C.S., has been re-

appointed an Honorary Surgeon to the Samaritan Hospital forWomen, Liverpool.

HAYCROFT. CHARLES HENRY, M.R.C.S., L.S.A., has been re-appointedMedical Officer for the Colebtooke and Coleridge District by theCrediton (Devon) Board of Guardians.

HUTCHINSON, F. A. 8., L.R.C.P. Lond., M.R.C.S., has been appointedMedical Officer for the Dunmow Sanitary District of the DunmowUnion, vice R. C. Lyle.

jESSop. W. H. H., M.B. Camb., F R.C S. Eng., has been appointed theHonorary Surgeon-Oculist of the Royal Masonic Institution forGirls, London.

LEE, MARY B., L.R C.P., L.R.C.S. Edin., L.F.P.S. Glasg., has beenappointed an Honorary Physician to the Samaritan Hospital forWomen, Liverpool.

McKELLAR. GEO., M.D. Edin., D.P.H., has been appointed Surgeon inconnexion with the British Ophthalmic Hospital at Jerusalem,belonging to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England.

McLAREN, J. B., M. B , B.Ch. I rel., has been appointed Medical Officerfor the Salford Workhouse. vice A. W. Stocks, resigned.

MEACHER, J. H., L.R.C.P. Lond., M.R.C.S., has been appointed MedicalOfficer for the No. 2 District of the Bodmin Union, vice F. G.Stewart, deceased.

NEWBY, T., M.D. St. And., M.R.C.S., has been re-appointed MedicalOfficer of Health by the Clecthf rpe Urban District Council.

O’CALLAGHAN, ROBERT THOMAS A.. F.R.C.S. Irel., has been appointedSurgeon and Gynæcologist. to the French Hospital and Dispensary,Shaftesbury-avenue, London.

POLLOCK, Jonx ROBERT RUSSELL, L.R.C.P. Lond., M.R.C.S., has beenre-appointed Medical Officer of Health for Tiverton.

ROSE, FRANK H., L.R.C.P. Lond., M.R.C S., has been appointedAnaesthetist to the Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children andWomen, vice H. Elwin Harris.

SIMPSON, FRANCIS 0., L.R.C.P. Lond., M.R.C.S. Eng., has been ap-pointed Senior Assistant Medical Officer to the County Asylum,Rainhill. near Liverpool.

SKEEN, W. ST. JOHN, M.B., C.M. Aberd., has been appointed MedicalSuperintendent of the Durham County Asylum, vice R. Smith,resigned.

STAINTHORPE, W. W., M.D., C.M. Glasg., D.P.H. Edin, has been re-appointed Medical Offiner of Health by the Loftus Urban Conned.

STOKES, SiR WM.. M.D., F R.C.S. Irel., Surgeon-in-Ordinary t,o theQueen, has neen appointed an Honorary President of the Inter-national Medical Congress to be beld in Paris.

STooKr,.s, A., M.B., C.Tvl. Edin., L.R.C.S., has been appointed AssistantSurgeon to the Samaritan Hospital for Women, Liverpool.