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Sanitary Inapeetors’ Association of South Wales andMonmouthshire.

The Sanitary Inspectors’ Association of South Wales andMonmouthshire which was established three years ago heldits annual meeting at Aberdare on Jan. 26th. The associa-tion has a membership of 105 inspectors and of 74 otherpersons who are interested in public health matters. Thediscussion which followed the reading of a paper upon House-to-House Inspection at Aberdare indicated the existence ofa full sense of their responsibilities by those who took partin it. Such associations as these ought to do a great dealtowards abolishing the nuisance inspector whose officeis often a sinecure. That the Local Government Boardare anxious to have competent men appointed is well known,and in the case of the appointment of an inspector atWhitland in Carmarthenshire the Board has written to thedistrict council asking for evidence of competency as thetestimonials submitted to the Board referred only tocharacter and not to qualification for the position.

Newport and Monmouthshire Hospital.The financial position of the Newport and Monmouthshire

Hospital is in marked contrast to that of many similarinstitutions. The income- £3041-last year fell short of theexpenditure only by .E31. There were treated during theyear 540 in-patients and 2320 out-patients, and 1268 patientswere visited at their homes. It was stated at the annual

meeting of the subscribers to the hospital, which was held atNewport on Jan. 31st. that the cost of this home visitingamounted to about .S5CO yearly, and in view of the fact thatin the new building there will be twice as many beds asthere are in the present hospital, with a correspondingincrease in the expenditure, the directors advised the discontinuance of this branch of the institution. Many sub-scribers were very much averse to giving up the homevisiting, and after some discussion it was ultimately decidedthat it should be continued only until the opening of thenew building. A pleasing feature in the report of thedirectors was contained in the statement that £ 1000 hadbeen contributed by the workmen’s committee. Three wardsin the new hospital are to be completely furnished by LordTredegar, Alderman H. J. Davis, the chairman of the boardof directors, and Alderman Thomas Jones.

Wage Liueit at the Plymouth Royal Eye Infirmary.The committee of the Plymouth Royal Eye Infirmary

recently decided that single men earning more than 18sweekly and married men earning over 30s. weekly shouldbe ineligible for treatment at the institution, a planwhich could with advantage be followed by other medicalcharities. The Plymouth D strict of Oddfellows, however,do not approve of this procedure, for at their annual

meeting held on Jan. 28th it was decided to reduce theirdonation to the infirmary in consequence.

Bath Royal United Hospital.The annual meeting of the subscribers of the Bath Royal

United Hospital was held on Jan. 31st under the presidencyof the mayor. The medical report stated that 1384 in-patients were admitted during 1900, against 1289 in 1899.The out-patients numbered 9151, an increase of 210 as com-pared with the preceding year. The financial statement wasunsatisfactory, showing that the deficit of .E1100 with whichthe year 1900 commenced had been increased to .E3200.Sanitary improvements in the institution had caused a con-siderable expenditure. The cost of each bed was estimatedat £52 per annum.

Plague in Cardiff.A case of plague was notified to the Cardiff medical

officer of health on Tuesday, Jan. 29th, and the patient,a married man, 38 years of age, died at his own homeon the evening of the following Thursday. Dr. W. G.Savage, the bacteriologist to the Cardiff and county publichealth laboratory, on Tuesday obtained specimens of the

patient,’s blood and after bacteriological examination he wasable to report on Thursday morning that the disease wasplague. On the same day the culture and fresh materialwere sent to Dr. Klein who on Sunday confirmed the positivediagnosis of Dr. Savage. Dr. Rees, one of the medicalinspectors of the Local Government Board, visited Cardiff onSaturday and Sunday. It is stated that in the vicinity ofthe works, which are situated near the docks, where thepatient was employed a very large number of dead rats havelately been found and that it had been part of his work tocollect and destroy the carcasses. When the last case of

plague occurred in Cardiff in October last the chairman ofthe health committee and the medical officer of health wereempowered to take any steps they might think desirable fordealivg with an outbreak of the disease. They have therefore-decided that all men employed in mills or works adjoiningthe docks shall be medically examined by Dr. Walford whowill have the assistance of several other medical practitionersin the town.

Arsenic in Beer at Merthyr.In the Merthyr Police-court on Feb. 4th the Glamorgan

County Council proceeded under Section 6 of the Sale ofFood and Drugs Act, 1875, against a publican who hadsupplied beer which was found to contain one-sixth of agrain of arsenic per gallon. The medical officer of healthof Merthyr, Dr. C. E. G. Simons, stated in his evidence thatamong the workmen employed at the brewery from whichthe beer was supplied there had been several cases ofarsenical poisoning. The stipendiary magistrate imposed afine of Z5 and ordered the defendant to pay the costs.Feb. 5th.

SCOTLAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Small-Pox in Glasgow.ABOUT the middle of last week there seemed some reason

to believe that the epidemic of small-pox had spent its force,but more r. cent reports contradict this hopeful anticipation.On Feb. 2nd it was announced that 16 new cases had beenadmitted to hospi al, three had been dismissed, and one hadterminated fatatly. The number of patients then undertreatment was 407. The report on Feb. 4th shows 21 newcases and two dismissals, making the present total 428. Inhis official report to the corpoiation Dr. A. K. Chalmersatttibutes the rapid extension of the disease to the free move-ment of mild and unrecognised cases which would so easilyand extensively occur during the holiday season. In the

period from Jan. l3th to 21st, 256 persons were attackedwith the disease, this great epidemic virulence corre-

sponding with an added incubation stage of from 10 to14 days a to the opportunities for exposure affordedby the New Year holida3s. A further factor is theinsufficient vaccination of large sections of the population.As far back as June last the health committee, in view ofthe then distribution of small-pox, issued a recommendationadvising revaccination and offered to pay a fee to practi-tioners for every case. This advice, however, fell for themost part on heedless ears. Dr. Chalmers considers that,whilst the rush of cases created by the holiday period haspassed, a secondary increase of cases is -likely to occur at aperiod corresponding to infection on Jar. 17th, the dayon which the maximum amount of infection is known tohave been present among the populatior. In connexionwith the subject of revaccination the medical officer drawsattention to the fact that during the epidemic the membersof the Postal Service, who have necessarily been broughtinto contact with the infected areas and who are all com-pulsorily levaccicated, have enjoyed complete exemptionfrom the disease.

Glasgorw Maternity Hospital.The annual report for the past year shows a con-

siderable increase in the work of the hospital and it isbecoming evident that the directors will ere long have toface a demand for increased accommodation. Last year the

experiment was tried of adding two ladies to the directorateand it is now reported that the result has been a singularlyhappy one. During the year 116 medical students wereenrolled and 42 nurses received a training in obstetricnursing. Dr. Alexander Robertson, who has for many yearsbeen one of the most active directors of the hospital, hasintimated his resignation. Dr. J. M. Munro Kerr has beenappointed one of the obstetric physicians to the hospital andDr. A. W. Russell one of the assistant obstetric physicians.

Glasgow Eye Infirmary.The annual meeting of the contributors to the infirmary

was held on Jan. 31st. Sir James King, Bart., in movingthe adoption of the report, referred to the resignation ofthe senior surgeon, Dr. Thomas Reid, who has for nearly 40years been a member of the hospital staff. On behalf ofthe directors he expressed a very hearty appreciation of Dr.Reid’s services, and cordial good wishes for his happinessand welfare. The in-patients admitted during the year

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numbered 1448 and the out-patients 18,478. From the

report it appears that in 149 cases an eye was removed ; inthree of these the operation was demanded by an injuryresulting from the use of a fork to untie a bootlace; and innine the eye was lost in consequence of blows inflicted by afist. The directors gratefully acknowledge various legacies,including one for .&bgr;1000 from the trustees of the lateProfessor P. A. Simpson, M.A., M.D., who formerly occupiedthe chair of Forensic Medicine in the University of Glasgow.

Glasgow -Royal hyrmary.Each week seems to bring some new difficulties or dispute

in connexion with the reconstruction scheme. The mostrecent is a difference of opinion which has manifested itselfbetween the infirmary managers and the Jubilee MemorialCommittee on the question of financial responsibility. Themanagers, as stated in this column last week, wrote accept-ing the scheme and plan adopted by the committee on theunderstanding that they were not involved in any financialresponsibility. But when this communication was submittedto the Memorial Committee on Feb. lst it produced anexplosion of indignation. Sir David Richmond, in a lengthyspeech, moved that the managers’ letter be not accepted, andthis was passed unanimously. In speaking on the motion SirDavid Richmond described the position of the managers as anattempt to absolve themselves of their proper responsibilitiesand characterised their proposal as an audacious one. TheJubilee Committee had raised £100 000 and now offered tore-build a certain section of the infirmary. When that was

performed their function ceased and the managers must relyon their own resources. This view appeared to find generalacceptance with the committee, but the public are inclinedto ask: If the committee only contemplated a partial actionwhy did they invite a number of architects to submit plansfor a complete reconstruction-plans which it would nowappear they never had any intention to carry out? Thecommittee have appointed a deputation to confer with themanagers with a view to establish a rnodus vivendi, and havedetermined to issue a statement of their case so as to regainpublic sympathy. It is not diffi ;ult to understand thepresent confusion and conflict wben it is remembered thatthe promoters of the plan launched their scheme without anyconsultation with either the managers or professional staff ofthe infirmary.

Feb. 5th.

IRELAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESFONDENTS.)

A Central Laboratory for the Irish Asylums.THE Chief Secretary for Ireland on Jan. 29th received a

conjoint deputation from the Royal Academy of Medicine inIreland and the Irish division of the Medico- PsychologicalAssociation of Great Britain and Ireland, with reference tothe project of establishing a central laboratory, devoted topathological research in connexion with insanity, for theasylums of Ireland. The object of the deputation wasto request the good offices of the Chief Secretary with aview to affording asylum committees the power, which theydo not now possess, to contribute to such an institution, theidea of which has met with general approval not only fromthe medical profession, but from the daily press, bothUnionist and Nationalist, and from various influentialmembers of Parliament on both sides of the House. The

deputation consisted of Dr. Lombe Atthill (President of theRoyal Academy of Medicine in Ireland), Professor D J.Cunningham, F.R.S., Mir Christopher Nixon, Mr. A. D. O’C.Finegan (secretary of the Irish -division of the Medico-Psychological Association), Mr. Conolly Norman, and Dr.W. R. Dawson.

Dr. Atthill, having introduced the deputation, referredto a general statement of its objects, which had already beenlaid before the Chief Secretary, and said that they werethere to afford him any additional information that he mightdesire.

Sir Christopher Nixon then spoke at some length on thedesirability of a central laboratory for the Irish asylums,explaining that it was to be of a similar nature to thelaboratories already established by the London CountyCouncil for their asylums and by the Scottish asylums atEdinburgh. He thoaght that it ought to be done thoroughlyand that the estimate made by Dr. Dawson of about R600 ayear was not enough to allow for its support.

Profesbor Cunningham pointed out that he understood thatthe laboratory of the Scottish Asylums was only costingabout .f.600 a year. Ireland was very badly off for labora-tories for pathological research as compared with the sisterkingdom and he hoped that the Chief Secretary would see hisway to assisting in the matter.The Chief Secretary expressed complete approval of the

project of establishing the laboratory. He thought thatperhaps the strongest argument in its favour was the exist-ence of similar institutions in England and Scotland. Hewas of opinion that the proper mode of approaching thesubject was not on the merely utilitarian side, but that thescheme was deserving of all encouragement as a means offurthering scientific knowledge by research. There wouldbe the less difficulty in conceding the request of the deputa-tion that no expenditure was asked for, but he feared thatit might be objected that the money contributed by theasylums would ultimately have to be supplied from somepublic source, and he wished to know whether the Irishasylums had any fund at their disposal from which this

expenditure might be drawn.Mr. Norman explained that the public asylums in Irelandhad no endowment, but were supported partly by a fixedcapitation grant from the Treasury and partly from the rates.The expense, therefore, would fall ultimately on the rates.The Chief Secretary, resuming, thanked Mr. Norman for

his clear statement. He mentioned one or two minor diffi-culties and said that he could give no actual promise as hedid not know when a Bill would be brought in into whichthe permissive clause desired could be introduced, and thatthe Government would not think of putting a’.y pressure onthe public bodies concerned with the view of compellingthem to contribute ; but, so far as the permissive clausewent, he would be glad if he obtained the approval of hiscolleagues to insert it into a suitable Bill, and he thought that,he might say that this would in all probability be done. Hestrongly advised, however, tt at the matter should not be le tto the Government merely, but should be urged on the publicbodies concerned and brought before the public generally ina way to secure the widest possible support. The Z25 or.E30 annually which would be required from each county wasa very trifling sum. °

,

After a few remarks from Dr. Dawson and Mr. Finegan,Dr. Atthill thanked the Chief Secretary for his receptionand the deputation then withdrew.

The Election of a Direct Representative for Ireland, on theGeneral Medical Council.

Mr. T. Laffan is contesting the position of Direct Repre-sentative for Ireland in the General Medical Council withSir William Thomson. Mr. Laffan’s independence and deepinterest in medical education are well known, but if he hasno possibility of success his movement will not be for the.benefit of the medical profession. The expenditure con-nected with the Irish Branch Council in the present state of itsfinances should not be increased, which must be the effect ofa contest. There is, too, a decided advantage in avoiding acontest if the iesult is certain beforehand. It gives addi-tional strength to a candidate unanimously elected. ThusMr. Laffan incurs great responsibility in his action which

, only considerable success at the poll will justify., The Irish Poor-law Meddcal Service.

A deputation representing the Irish Poor-law Officers’L Association waited on the Chief Secretary for Ireland on

Jan. 31st and laid before him the necessity of extending taeland the English Act which makes it compulsory on local

, bodies to grant superannuation allowances to all their. officials. In reply to Mr. T. W. Russell, M.P., who. introduced the deputation, Mr. Wyndham said that if a. plivate Bill was introduced into the House of Commons he. would be prepared to support it, although he could not

promise that the Government would introduce legislation on1 the subject. Another deputation representing the Irish Poor-i Jaw medical service waited on the Chief Secretary on the

following day (Feb. lst) in reference to the grievancet of medical officers as regards superannuation. In reply

Mr. Wyndham stated that he was not in favour ofe drawing a line between the medical and lay officers COL-, cerned with the administration in Ireland, but that he woulde do all that a member of the Government could do to facili-

y tate a private Bill if brought in with something approachingt to general consent. A private Bill, he said, which was noty contentious, passed through the House of Commons witha very little difficulty, as its stages were automatically taken.

The accounts of the interviews of these deputations occupied