193WALES AND WESTERN COUNTIES NOTES.-SCOTLAND.

1322 cases of infectious diseases were notified, as against’789 in 1904. 15 deaths occurred from typhoid fever.

Rhondda and Pontypridd Water-supply.About two-thirds of the houses in the Rhondda valleys and

most of those in the adjoining town of Pontypridd aresupplied with water collected from the high lands and storedin a reservoir of 200.000 gallons capacity situated at thehead of the Rhondda Fach or Little Rhondda. From time totime during the past ten years there has been a peaty dis-colouration of this water and although chemical and bacterio-logical examination has shown it to be of excellent qualitymany of the inhabitants, on account of the discolouration,have resorted to questionable supplies from mountain streamsand elsewhere, resulting on one occasion in an outbreak oftyphoid fever. Although the nature of the gathering groundhas from the first suggested the possibility of the waterpossessing a plumbo-solvent action it is only quite recentlythat such action has been detected. In one part of theRhondda urban district there have been definite cases ofplumbism and the medical officer of health (Dr. J. D.Jenkins) has deemed it desirable to issue circulars to theinhabitants of the affected area advising them to draw offfrom the pipes every morning aboat a gallon of water beforeusing it for drinking purposes. The water supplied to ahouse in Pontypridd, closely adjoining the Rhondda district,has been examined at the Cardiff and County Laboratory,when 0’31 grain of lead to the gallon was found in onesample and 0’17 grain in another. Both samples weretaken on the same day.

Water-supply for Upton 5eiidamore.Miss Wheeler of Warminster has given £450 for the

purpose of providing a water-supply for the village of UptonScudamore (Wiltshire).Provincial Meeting of the Incorporated Society of Medical

Officers of Health.The proceedings connected with the annual provincial

meeting of the Incorporated Society of Medical Officers ofHealth usually occupy only a portion of one day. This

year being the jubilee of the society they have been pro-longed over two days. On the afternoon of July 14th ameeting, presided over by Sir Shirley F. Murphy, was held inthe Guildhall, Bath, when Mr. C. S. Loch, LL D., secretaryof the Charity Organisation Society, read a paper upon theRelation of Sanitary Authorities to Charitable Societies, inwhich he pointed out what these two bodies might do incooperation both in individual cases and in special areas.He first of all showed that although in recent yea.rs therewere better health and a lower rate of mortality thanformerly, yet there were more dependence on the Poor-lawand a larger expenditure of charitable resources. This, hemaintained, ought not to be, for increased strength in onequarter should imply additional force in another. Betterhealth should mean greater force of character, more

independence, and greater self-support. He insisted thatboth on the sanitary authorities of the country and on thecharities the duty was imposed on behalf of the nation ofpreventing deterioration and as far as possible the miserythat comes with it and of improving the conditions of thep3or. He dwelt with emphasis upon the importance ofimitation, especially with a low scale of intelligence, as afactor for good or evil. A’s clean room makes B’slook dirty and one man’s open window is discussedby his neighbour who fastens his own down. Headvocated the appointment of health visitors who should actin close cooperation with the medical officer of health butwho should take no active part in the administration ofrelief, although they should be in constant touch with theofficers of the Poor-law and with charitable societies. In thediscussion which followed there was a general agreementwith the views of the reader of the paper, although Dr. J. R.Kaye expressed a doubt as to the willingness of the rate-payer to set up a separate centre for health visiting andcognate work.-Dr. D. S. Davies considered that charitablesocieties might very well come closer together and work ingreater unity with sanitary authorities.-Sir Charles A.Cameron said that already in Dublin there was much usefulwork done in the direction desired by Mr. Loch, andDr. Lionel A. Weatherly considered that the cooperationindicated would be of inestimable value in preventingthe spread of consumption. He described as a cryingscandal the fact that only 23 of the 679 boards of guardiansin this country were doing anything to treat people

who were suffering from the disease.-In the eveningthe members of the society and others dined together at theEmpire Hotel. Mr. D. Maclean, M.P., gave the members amessage from the President of the Local Government Board,in which he attributed the improvement of the condition ofthe people to the efforts of medical officers of health. In

proposing the toast of the society, Mr. Maclean said that hehoped that the Public Health Bill which was now beforeParliament and which sought to give to medical officers ofhealth greater security of tenure of office would soon be

placed upon the Statute Book.

-Death of Grvilym, Evans, L.R. C.P. & S. Edin.,L. F. P. S. Glasg.

Mr. Gwilym Evans died at his residence, Blaengarw,Bridgend, Glamorganshire, on July 8th, after a short illness,in his forty-third year. The deceased, who received hismedical education at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital andGlasgow, took the L R.C.P., L.R.C.S. Edin., and L.F.P.S.Glasg. in 1888, and shortly afterwards commenced practiceat Blaengarw. He was for the past 16 years surgeon to theOcean Collieries. He was very popular and was highlyesteemed for his generosity to the poor. He took a greatinterest in educational matters and was for some timechairman of the Ogmore and Garw school board. He leavesa widow with whom much sympathy is felt. The funeraltook place on July llth at Nantymoel, where Mr. Evans wasborn, and was largely attended.July 17th.

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SCOTLAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

School of Medicine of the Royal Colleges, Edinburgh.AT a meeting of the governing board of the School of

Medicine of the Royal Colleges, Edinburgh, the secretaryand registrar, Mr. R. N. Ramsay, reported that the numberof students attending the school during the winter session1905-06 was 1284 and during the summer session 1906 thenumber was 996.

St. Andrew’s Ambulance Association.The annual meeting of this association was held last week

in Glasgow, the Marquis of Breadalbane, president of theassociation, being in the chair. The twenty-third annualreport, which was read at the meeting, shows that duringthe past year in Glasgow alone the number of calls has been4396. Out of the total 2708 were cases of accident, while1688 were cases of illness. In 176 cases the wagons werenot required on arrival. Of the 2708 calls to accidents,866 were from police offices, houses, and stairs; 929 werestreet accidents, 352 were from public works, 230 fromdocks and wharves, and 155 from railways and stations.The Royal Infirmary, the Western Infirmary, the VictoriaInfirmary, and the Maternity Hospital received 3624 of thetotal number of cases, the remainder being taken to theirhomes or other institutions. Owing to the generosity of twoGlasgow gentlemen the council of the association has beenable to place with the Argyll Motor Company, Limited, anorder for a four-cylinder 16-20 h.p. motor ambulance wagonfor use in the Glasgow area. This will necessitate increasedexpense in the upkeep and an appeal has been made to thepublic for more support.

Dumfries Hospital Dispute.In connexion with the erection of the new hospital for

infectious diseases to be built near Dumfries there hasbeen a good deal of friction between the various parties con-cerned. The burghs of Dumfries and Maxwelltown sometime ago agreed to combine in the erection of a fever hos-pital. The Dumfries council selected a piece of ground onits own property at Castledykes as the site, and securedthe approval of the Local Government Board. Maxwelltownthen objected to the situation, being close to Dumfriessewage works, and they were supported in their objections byDr. J. Maxwell Ross, medical officer of the burgh. A publicmeeting of the ratepayers of Dumfries was next held, whenthe site was unanimously condemned and the council wasrequested to look out for a new site altogether. Finally thetown council met and decided to ignore the fincting of thepublic meeting. Last week, however, the town clerk ofDumfries received a letter from the Local Government Board

suggesting to the council that it should seek a new site.

194 SCOTLAND.-IRELAND.-PARIS.

Caledonian Medical Society.The twenty-sixth annual meeting of this society was held

last week in Stirling public hall under the presidency ofDr. W. A. Mackintosh of Stirling. There was a representativeattendance from both sides of the Border. In his presidentialaddress Dr. Mackintosh dealt with the present position andprospects of the Gaelic language. He referred to the apathyof the Gaels in Scotland in regard to the matter and showedthat the only way to prevent the language from entirelydying out was by systematic teaching in the schools. TheScottish Education Department had done a great deal in

providing opportunities for learning Gaelic and he hopedthat advantage would be taken oE these. In the evening theannual dinner of the society was held in the Golden LionHotel.

Aberdeen Public Health Committee.A meeting of the public health committee of the Aberdeen

town council was held on July llth. Letters were read fromthe British Women’s Temperance Association requesting thatseveral copies of circulars and posters issued by the associa-tion should be circulated throughout the city bearing thesignatures of the Lord Provost, the town clerk, and the medicalofficer of health. Councillor Kemp spoke strongly in favourof this being done. Councillor Dunn also supported theproposal but the committee could not see its way to grantthe application and it was ultimately decided to request themedical officer of health to prepare a circular pointing outthe detrimental effects on the health of the citizens of theexcessive use of alcohol and to submit the circular to a futuremeeting of the committee. It was agreed to give effect to arequest put forward by the Local Government Board to drawup a circular, to be circulated by medical practitioners andothers, with reference to the feeding and treatment ofinfants by their parents. The sanitary inspector was

instructed to appoint two female health visitors in place ofthe one retired at a salary of .E65 or Z70 per annum. Thecommittee visited the City Hospital and found everything ingood order.

Quatercentenary of the Unirersity of Aberdeen.The subcommittee consisting of the conveners of the

several committees having charge of the arrangements inconnexion with the celebrations has adopted the followingprogramme subject to the approval of the general com-mittee :-

Tuesday, Sept. 25th.-1O.30 A.M. Service in the chapel at King’sCollege. 2.15 P.M. : Procession to the Strathcona Hall (the temporaryhall which is to be erected on the vacant ground in Gallowgate for theaccommodation of from 4000 to 5000 persons). 3.30 P.M. : Presentationof the addresses from other Universities and from learned societies inthe Strathcona Halt. 8 P.M.: Town council banquet in the MusicHall. 8 P nz. : Students’ torchlight procession.

Wedne8day, Sept. 26th, -11 A.M. : Conferring of degrees in theMitchell Hall. 2 P.M. : Sports at King’s College. 3 P.M.: Receptionby the University at King’s College. 8 P w. : Students’ ball in theMusic Hall. 9.30 P.m. : Reception in the Art Gallery.Thursday, Sept. 27th.-1 P.M.: Arrival of the King at Marischal

College and opening of the new University buildings by His Majesty.8 P.M.: The Chancellor’s dinner in the Strathcona Hall. 9 P.M.: Towncouncil’s fireworks display.Friday, Sept. 28th.-Excursions in the city and neighbourhood in the

early part of the day. 9 P. it. : " At home " at Marischal College.10 P.M. : Students’ symposium in the Strathcona Hall.

Aberdeen Lunacy Board.At a meeting on July 10th the chairman said it was

gratifying to see that the estimate, compared with lastyear, for the upkeep of the asylum buildings and

plant was lower by .E’250. It seemed to him thatthere had been good management on the part of Dr.C. Angu8, the medical superintendent, and Mr. Peters,the steward. During the past year they had main-tained 419 patients at £10,517. The estimate for 436

patients for the current year was £10,700-£1130 less thanthe amount paid in 1903 and .61456 less than in 1904 Theamount to be raised by assessment for the providing accountwas .E9519, a less sum compared with last 3 ear’s accounts.The reduction of the tax would in consequence amount tofrom one farthing to three-eighths of a penny in the pound.He was sorry that Dr. Angus was not with them that nightand they hoped he would have a speedy recovery. Dr. Angusdeserved their best thanks for his services at the asylum.Referring to the Banff Asylum, the chairman said that in1868-69-when the buildings were new-the cost for main-tenance and providing per patient was .E37 13s. 8d. in1903-04 the providing account was reduced to 085 12s. 3d.,the net cost of both maintenance and providing being£27 8s. 10d. That showed that as time went on there was a

tendency, with good management, to reduce the cost of the-maintenance of lunatics.July 17th.

___________________

IRELAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Irish Medical Association.THE committee of council of the Irish Medical Association

held a meeting at the Royal College of Surgeons on July 10th.Seven new members were elected and the following motion-was carried :-The committee of council strongly urge upon the secretaries of the-

county branches the necessity to have inserted in the local newspapersextracts from the "Journal" relating to the unions in which thesalaries of medical officers have been revised, and all other matters.which would seem to improve the condition of the dispensary medicalofficers.

The Tinned Meat Scare.The public analyst of Belfast has reported to the public

health committee that during the quarter ended June 30th,491 samples have been sent for analysis, a much largernumber than can be done carefully and skilfully by oneperson, and he asks that if the number be continued eitheran assistant should be paid by the corporation or that allow-ance should be made for the payment of one. Some of thesamples received, such as corned beef, cooked beef, tinnedsalmon, chicken and veal, &c., are subjects for a skilledbacteriologist, as chemical analysis can do little beyondindicating the presence of preservatives or colouring matter.

Irish Food Factories.In the annual report of the Chief Inspector of Factories

and Workshops for 1905, which has just been published as.a Blue-book, there are some startling disclosures relative tothe conditions under which workers are employed andthe manner in which food products are dealt with.It is reported how little attention is paid to cleanliness inthe majority of food-producing places. The bottle-washingrooms, in which empty jam-pots from which it is desirableto remove the dirt and old labels are washed, are not onlyunsatisfactory from the point of view of the workers in thembut would probably very disagreeably impress the customers.The jam, confectionery, biscuit, condensed milk, and

margarine factories in Ireland present an alarming state ofaffairs. The personal cleanliness of the workers is animad-verted upon and it is said the matter of cleanliness hasreceived scant attention in many of the Irish factories. Thestatements made by the inspectors in this Blue-book withreference to the conditions under which work is carried on inIrish food factories are of a very startling and distressingcharacter and they indicate a state of matters which shouldbe remedied at once if the industries referred to in the reportare to make any real progress. Altogether, the facts disclosed,if proved, are of a very damaging character and must bedealt with without any delay. The Chicago scare has

probably drawn attention to the matter.County Antrim Infirmary.

From the annual report of the County Antrim Infirmary.just issued, it appears that during the past year 338 internand 509 extern patients were treated (an increase of 18 of theformer and a decrease of 42 of the latter as compared withthe previous year). There were 293 accident casas-217extern and 76 in the hospital, and there were 118 operations.Financially there is a deficiency in the year’s working, theexpenditure having considerably exceeded the income. Theannual expenditure on each patient for drugs and dressingswas E4 17s. 7d. and for food £ 11 12s, lOd,

Post-Graduate Lectures in Belfast.’ The course of post-graduate demonstrations and lecturesgiven by the staff of the Royal Victoria Hospital began onJuly 16th and a large class is in attendance.July 17th.

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PARIS.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

’The Writing of Scholars.AT a meeting of the Society of Pablic Medicine andHygiene held on June 27th M. Desnoyers read a paper