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SCOTLAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS. )

EDINBURGH.

The Scottish Universities Bill.

IN view of the feeling on the part of many of the Scottishmembers that the second reading of the Universities Billshould be taken immediately after the Local GovernmentBills have been read a second time, and before further pro-gress is made with the measures dealing with parochialboards and private legislation, the action of the sub-com-mittee of the Edinburgh Town Council on the UniversitiesBill is well worthy of imitation by other bodies who have aninterest in the measure. The members of this sub-committeereport that they feel that the Town Council, as representingthe community, has hardly got fair play, seeing that theacademic representation has been so largely increased,while the public representation has received no correspond-ing addition. They then go on to state that although theyare desirous of expressing this opinion, and although theywould suggest certain modifications, they do not think itexpedient, in view of the benefits likely to be conferred bythe Bill, to oppose that measure. If this is the spirit inwhich the Bill is to be discussed outside the House, itshould be met by both parties in the House, and a goodworkable measure should be the result.

The West Meadows.Those who visited the Edinburgh Exhibition will re-

member the fine open area on which it was placed. UntilSaturday last the process of re-turfing was not consideredcomplete. The week before that, part was thrown open tocricketers, and last week Councillor Colston threw open theremainder for the recreation of young women and girls only.A large club has been formed of the young women whoattended the recreative evening classes during the winter,and the members of the Girls’ Gospel Temperance Brigadealso intend to take regular recreation there. To the formerclub Mrs. Percival King has given a regular outfit of acouple of tennis sets and a croquet set. In presenting these,she expressed opinions which might be echoed (especiallywith similar accompaniments) in all our large towns. Shesaid that she had long thought that girls confined for a longday in shops and workrooms required some such recreation.She hoped that girls would spend many pleasant eveningsat their games. Those who brought this about can scarcelybe sufficiently thanked for their well-directed efforts. At thepresent time there is scarcely a single direction in which anequal amount of good can be done as in the one of providing,first, open breathing spaces in our large towns and cities,and, secondly, well-organised means for providing healthfuland innocent recreation for young women and girls. Thecommunity gains incalculably by all such movements, notonly physically, but mentally and morally.

The Health of Edinburgh.April has this year been what may be called a healthy

month in Edinburgh. This is shown not only by the lowdeath-rate, but by the comparatively small number of casesin the Fever Hospital. The death-rate is about 2’5 per 1000of the estimated population below the average mortality forthe month of April during the five preceding years, being15’91, as against 18’42. The greatest diminution is in theNew Town, where the death-rate is 12’05, against 16-91;next on the south side, 11-03 against 15.79; and least in theOld Town, where the death-rate per 1000 is a fraction higherthan the average-22-41, as compared with 22-14. Duringthe month 167 cases of infectious disease were reported,against an average of 533 for the corresponding monthduring the last five years. The number of patients in theCity Hospital at the close of the month was 111, as com-pared with 136 on March 31st. The quantity of unsoundmeat seized during the month was 20,2601b. This indicatesvery considerable activity and vigilance on the part of theinspecting authorities, and augurs well for still furtherimprovement in the bill of health for the city.

IVinclo?c-cleanin,q Accidents.The most recent of a considerable run of fatal falls from

windows is recorded this morning. A man was paintingwindow frames at an hotel, when he fell to the ground from

a height of eight stories. Such accidents befalling windowcleaners are far too common in this town. Protection or safeguarding of some kind should be insisted on by the police.Edinburgh, May 14th. - -

GLASGOW.

Anderson’s College Medical School.Several changes have taken place in the professorial staff’

of this school. The governors have appointed Mr. James,R. Watson Professor of Chemistry, in room of ProfessorDittmar, F.R.S., who has resolved to remain in the Tech-nical College (into which the old Andersonian College hasbeen transformed), and not to transfer his services to the.new Medical School in the west-end of Glasgow. Mr.Watson has had a distinguished career, and is expected tomaintain fully the reputation of the chair of Chemistry inAnderson’s College. In the chair of Midwifery also there is.a change to report, Dr. W. L. Reid having been appointedProfessor in room of Dr. A. Wallace, who has migrated.to London.

Public Health.

During the fortnight ending May 4th there were

registered 577 deaths in Glasgow, representing a death-rate of 28’4 per 1000 living, in place of 29-2 in the previousfortnight. Fifty-one per cent. of the deaths occurred ininfants under five years of age. The fatality of measles andwhooping.cough has increased. The epidemic of measleshas now for ten weeks contributed an average of 30 deaths.per week, and shows no sign of abatement; the fatalityof whooping-cough also has steadily advanced. The death-rate from these two diseases combined has during the lastfortnight been the highest yet reached-viz., 6’4 per 1000’living; so that without their contribution the general death-rate would not have exceeded 22.

Glasgow Hospital for Skin Diseases.In the past year there have been treated at this hospital

1492 new cases, making 33,948 since the opening of the in-stitution in 1861. Ninety-one students had attended the’special classes conducted in the hospital, as against fifty-five in the previous year.

Glasgow Ear Hospital.During the past year, 859 out-door patients were treated’

in this institution, and 53 in-door. Of these, 555 were casesof purulent disease of the ear, a condition frequentlydangerous to life. Two classes for students and practi-tioners were conducted by Dr. Barr, at which the attendancewas over fifty.

Glasgow Maternity Hospital.The opening lecture of the usual summer course was

delivered on Friday, May 3rd, by Dr. Murdoch Cameron.On the Wednesday previously Dr. Cameron had again per-formed the Caesarean section with complete success, in the-case of a woman only forty-eight inches in height and verymuch deformed. The mother and child are both doing well_

Overcrowding.Notwithstanding the vigilance of the sanitary officers,.

overcrowding is still very common in Glasgow. How to.

prevent it appears to be an insoluble problem. Certainlyoccasional prosecutions do not seem to check it, and it isgenerally admitted that if the law against it were rigidlyenforced there would be large numbers of cases before the.courts every morning, instead of one aggravated case nowand then. The evil is particularly prevalent in the poorerdistricts on the south side of the river, where it is said that30 per cent. of the people dwell in overcrowded houses. An-exceptionally bad case came before the court a short timeago. In a house of two apartments, measured and "ticketed"for five inmates, there were thirteen adults and children; ofthese, two were in the kitchen and eleven in a room eightfeet square. It was pleaded in extenuation that several ofthe inmates were strangers or lodgers.

Sale of Diseased Meat.No little stir has been created in Glasgow owing to recent.

disclosures as to the shortcomings of the method of meatinspection, of the local slaughterhouses, and meat markets,it being alleged that immense quantities of unwholesomeand diseased meat are being sold, notwithstanding the so-called "inspection," and that Glasgow is widely known inthe trade as a depot for meat of this questionable descrip-

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tion. It is complained that a great many anomalies existin the system of inspection, that there is a want of uni-formity, and that meat frequently escapes inspectionaltogether. It is said to be the practice that, when ananimal is affected with pleuro-pneumonia, tuberculosis,foot-and-mouth disease, or pleurisy, the diseased portion ofthe carcase is destroyed, and the remainder is passed as fit-for consumption. To bring the whole question to an issue,a test case has been raised in the courts and should be’decided soon. Unusual importance attaches to the result;a hot fight is expected between the " trade " and the health.authorities ; and scientific witnesses, including pathologists,microscopists, and veterinary experts, have been retained by’both sides to give evidence.Glasgow, May 15th.

DUBLIN.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. )

Royal College of Surgeons.ON Thursday, May 16th, the Council will elect

’examiners for the Letters Testimonial and Fellowship ofthe College. For some unexplained reason the Councilhave reduced the number of examiners in Anatomy andSurgery by two each, and have added one in Chemistry andPhysics. Mr. Barton, who is senior of the examiners inAnatomy, retires, as also does Mr. Thomson as examinerin Surgery, neither being eligible for re-election; whileMr. H. Gray Croly will not seek re-election, inasmuch as heis a candidate for the Vice-Presidency of the College onJune 3rd. Hitherto the examiners were paid by fees for eachcandidate examined, but henceforward they will receive afixed salary. A meeting of the Fellows will be held onSaturday, June 1st, to receive the annual report of theCouncil; and on June 3rd the election of President, Vice-President, Council, and Secretary of the College for the.ensuing year will take place. Dr. Austin Meldon will beduly elected President, while a contest for the Vice-Presi-,dency will lie between Mr. H. Gray Croly, ex-examiner andex-member of Council and senior surgeon to the City ofDublin Hospital, and Mr. Robert H. Moore, a well-knownDublin dentist. It is probable that there will be two orthree seats vacant on the Council. One has been causedby the death of Dr. McDonnell, the second by the’retirement of Mr. Tobin, who seeks for an examiner-.ship in Surgery, and the third (if the rumour be correct)by Sir William Stokes offering himself as a candidate’for an examinership in Surgery. Mr. William Stoker hasalso resigned his seat on the Council, to become a can-didate for an examinership in Surgery. Some of thesegentlemen, if not elected, will no doubt offer themselves ascandidates for Council on the first Monday in June. Inaddition to the name of Dr. William Frazer, whom I have- already mentioned as a candidate, may be added that ofMr. Francis T. Heuston, surgeon to the Adelaide Hospital.There will be about thirteen or fourteen candidates for thefour examinerships in Anatomy and Surgery, and willinclude the following: *C. B. Ball, *F. A. Nixon, *L. H.Ormsby, J. D. Pratt, *C. H. Robinson, Harrison Scott, *W.T. Stoker, Sir William Stokes, Wm. Stoker, and R. L.:Swan. (Those marked with an asterisk are the outgoing- examiners who seek re-election.)

The late Dr. Robert Mc Donnell.

At a recent meeting of the Council of the Royal College.of Surgeons a resolution was unanimously adopted ex-

pressive of the profound regret of the Council at the sudden,death of Dr. Robert McDonnell, and of its sense of the losswhich the College, the profession, and the public have sus-tained in his unexpected removal from them. At a specialmeeting of the Council of the surgical section of the RoyalAcademy of Medicine the following resolution was unani-mously adopted:-"That in order to mark their sense of thegreat loss sustained by the Academy in the death of theirimmediate past President, Dr. Robert McDonnell, the meet-ing of the section on May 10th be adjourned to June 7th."

The Meath Hospital.On last Monday the prizes obtained by the pupils of this

fuospital at the recent examinations in medicine and surgerywere distributed. The first medical prize was awarded to

C. H. Burchaell, and the second to Arthur McComiskey.The surgical prizes were four-two for senior and two forjunior. Henry Pierce obtained the first senior surgicalprize, A. McComiskey the second; while C. B. Scott wasawarded the first junior and G. M. Thompson the secondjunior prizes respectively.

Cork District Lunatic Asylum.At a recent meeting of the governors of this institution a

resolution was adopted increasing the salary of Mr. Wilson,one of the assistant medical officers of the asylum, by f25per annum. It was also recommended that Mr. JamesonDwyer, the resident medical superintendent, should have anaddition of JE100 a year to his pay. Plans have beenprepared for the new building, which it is arranged shall beadded to the asylum, so as to give the additional accommoda-tion which is urgently required, but the Board of Controlhave not yet sanctioned the loan to carry out the necessaryalterations.

Steevens’ Hospital, Dublin.It is believed that Mr. McCausland will be appointed to

the vacant surgeoncy in this hospital, which has taken placeby the decease of Dr. Robert McDonnell. Mr. McCauslandis already connected with the institution as resident surgeon,and was a relative of Dr. McDonnell, the late surgeon.Dublin, May 14th.

PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Birds as Carriers of the Contagion of Diphtheria.WITH reference to the letter of Mr. E. H. Hare on

diphtheria, published in THE LANCET of last week, thefollowing note, taken from the Journal de la Santé, may befound of interest : " Dr. Bild, who has been in practice forthe last thirty years in the principal town of an island ofGreece-the Isle of Skiatos,-had never seen in that placea case of diphtheria. In June, 1884, however, Dr. Pauliniswas called to see seven children who were affected at thesame time with diphtheria ; five died. The epidemic in-vaded the whole town, and in five months 125 persons wereaffected, of whom thirty-six died. In investigating thecause of the sudden appearance of this malady, it wasascertained that in the quarter where the children had beenaffected, there was a poultry-yard containing turkeys thathad recently arrived by boat from Salonica. All theseturkeys presented false membranes on the soft palate, andall perished except one; the latter was attacked by paralysisof the feet, which completely prevented its walking." Incommenting on this observation, Dr. Vallin remarked thatit had already been shown that domestic fowls can transmitdiphtheria to man. He would therefore recommend thatrain-water falling from the roofs of houses should be divertedas far as possible from wells, as it contains the dejections ofbirds of all sorts which rest on the roofs. It is a popular ideathat water from roofs is excellent. It is at least chargedwith putrescible excrementitious matter, which infects thewells. It has never been proved that this water does notconvey the seeds of diphtheria, or that the fowls of thepoultry yard do not sow the seeds of this disease on thedung-heaps of farms.

Opening Abscesses of the Liver with a Bistoury.Dr. Chauvel, Professor of Operative Surgery at Val-de-

Grace, read a note at the Academy of Medicine on theadvantages of freely and directly opening abscesses of theliver with a bistoury, accompanied by the usual antisepticprecautions, and without suturing the liver to the parietalwound. Dr. Chauvel had performed the operation on fourpatients, three of whom had arrived from Tonquin and onefrom Algeria. Two were cured, and the other two diedfrom exhaustion. From these cases Dr. Chauvel draws thefollowing conclusions. 1. The direct opening, with the bis-toury, of abscesses of the liver does not present any dangeras regards peritonitis, provided that it be practised withantiseptic precautions. 2. This opening must be large, andplaced in such a way as to lead directly to the seat of thepus. , Owing to the ascent of the liver after the evacuationof the liquid, it is advisable to make the opening at ashigh a point as possible. If the opening should becomenarrowed by the retraction of the ribs, the resection of afragment of the latter may become necessary. 3. It is