1151
otmethoda of fiting. The general average of 179 chimneyswas 102 minutes each in ten hours, varying from 423 in theworst to 4 in the best. The report, which is of an exhaustivecharacter, has not yet been printed. The Chairman (Sir H.Roscoe) said it had now been proved that manufactoriescooId be carried on without the emission of black smoke."That was an important result to have arrived at " In
the afternoon Mr. Herbert Philips spoke as to the objects ofthe Smoke Abatement League, the formation of which wasdecided on at the previous meeting. It was expected thatbesides those already named other towns would joinshortly. The work of the league was simple. It wasshown that the nuisance was unnecessary and the lawmust be put into force. He believed that people onlyrequired to be convinced that the nuisance was prevent-able and that they would support those who took action.Mr. Cohen of the Yorkshire College spoke of the work donein Leeds and urged the appointment of Government insteadof local smoke inspectors-men of scientific attainmentswho would not condemn unless they had adequate cause fordoing so and who would give advice when required. Other
gentlemen continued the discussion, and Mr. Horsfall said thatmAncoats the enforcement of the law was a farce. His ownhouse was practically smokeless, and he used an old methodfor which there was no patent-the grate of the late Dr. NeilArnott. Dr. G. H. Bailey of Owens College read a paper onthe Air of Schools, in which he described the results ofexaminations of the air of certain elementary Board schoolsin Manchester and Salford, for which facilities had beengiven pby the School Boards. They were made in summerand he hoped to repeat them in the winter. Even thoughthe windows were kept open the whole of the school-timethe air in the largest and best rooms had a very distinctodonr, while in the class-rooms it was very oppressive, givingrise to headache where it had to be endured for half anhour together. In some of the schools matters were muchworse; three were named where the excess of C02 was, as arule, 12 to 15 in 10,000, and the odoar, in the ctass-roomsespecially, simply unbearable. It was clear that, even underfavourable conditions, the fresh air supply was too limited.Mr. E. Hewitt read a careful paper on the Warming andVentilation of Schools. Out of six in Manchester and Salfordhe only found one in which there was any adequateattempt at a scheme of ventilation. He advocated a
mechanical as distinguished from the "natural" system.Mr. W. Spuka of the Yorkshire College followed with apaper on the Drainage and General Sanitary Arrangements ofSchools which was of a very practical character. Dr. EmrysJones gave an admirable paper on the Lighting of Schools,and on the evils produced by imperfect light-myopia,asthenopia, and spinal curvature. The best aspects forwindows were east and west, and the light should come fromtheleft of the pupil. EKtra-good light should be providedfor the girls’ sewing classes, and a room lighted froma glass roof would be the best. He urged the use ofthe electric light in all schools. He said that not5 per cent. of the schools in Manchester and Salfordwould stand a most moderate test of efficiency as re-
garded lighting. The Dean of Manchester, who is Chairmanof the School Board. said he could not sufficiently expresshis thanks for Dr. Emrys Jones’s paper, notwithstandingthe severity of his la,sh, and would bear in mind what he hadbeen told. On Thursday, the 26th ult., papers were read forCardinal Vaughan and Lord Meath, both of whom were un-avoidably absent. Lord Meakh’s paper was on Open Spacesfor Recreation. In London there was an acre of open spacefor 768 inhabitants, but there was still a crying need formore breathing spaces. Though Manchester has done a gooddeal no one could pass through the streets of the city with-out seeing there was need for more being done if she were tohave a low death-rate and a high average of physical health,strength, and happiness. He advocated large parks, butmae especially small playgrounds divided into two portions-one for bovs and the other for girls and small children.Cardinal Vaughan’s paper dwelt on the need for winterrecreation halls for the poorest localities capable of accom-modating 500 or 1000 people, well heated and lighted, andwhere mubic and entertainmentp, with refreshments atcost price, should be provided on certain evenings inthe week. In the discussion which followed the generalopinion seemed to be that the cost of providing music &c.for places so small would be prohibitory. Mr. CharlesRoberts gave an exceedingly interesting and comprehensiveaddress on Recreation generally. It was illustrated with
diagrams showing how till about the age of ten boysand girls advanced in growth para passu, and then thatfor two or three years the girls shot ahead, but after thatwere passed by the boys, who then kept the lead. In
strength, however, the boys always stood Srst, and theirrecreations and games should be duly proportionate. He
placed running at the head of out-door exercises, and spoke-favourably of fencing, military exercises, boxing, wrestling,billiards, and dumb-bells for in-door recreations. He thoughtthere was a danger lest the children should forget how to play,and mentioned games, such as rounders, which had become-almost forgotten. In the afternoon of the 25th ult. a large-audience, chiefly of ladies, met to discuss the subject ofWomen’s Work in Sanitary Reform. The first paper wasread for Mrs. Hardie, president of the committee of the-Manchester Ladies’ Health Society, in which the great advancein sanitary matters was acknowledged. " It was doubtful,however, when they contemplated the densely populated dis-tricts of Manchester and Salford and compared them with the-condition of things when fish could be caught in the Irwellnear the Cathedral, and when Greenhey and Kersal Moorwere really rural spots, whether improved knowledge and lawsbad made up for what we had lost." She then gave-details of the work the society had carried on, andappealed to the ladies of the district for personal help.Mrs. Charles Hughes addressed the conference on the
teaching of home nursing, as distinguished from nursingas practised in hospitals and by the trained nurse. The great.difficulty was the ignorance of the people, "who had no idea,of the most ordinary cleanliness, and whose notions ofcomfort consisted of the very barest remove from povertyand destitution." Mrs. Clay said the ignorance of the
people in sanitary matters was simply appallirg. She moved,.and it was seconded and resolved, "That the necessity ofcottage bath-houses fitted with warm baths in the denselypopulated parts of Manchester having been forced upon theattention of the Ladies’ Health Society, this conference is ofopinion that the corporation would confer a great benefit uponthe people by providing such bath-houses" ; and a deputationwas appointed to wait upon the Baths Committee of thecorporation, with a view to obtain the carrying out of theresolution. The proceedings of Friday consisted chiefly ofan address from Sir B. W. Richardson on Sanitation : a,
Review of the Past, and an Ideal for the Future. Dr.
Simpson presided. The address was too important to
allow of any attempt to sketch even its outlines, but.no doubt it will before long be published in an accessibleform. Dr. A. W. Ward, Principal of Oivens College,proposed a vote of thanks to Sir B W. Richardson for his,able and impressive address. He said they desired to thankhim, not only for the admirable address he had delivered,but for the life’s work which that address embodied. Itwas seconded by Mr. T. C, Abbott, a member of the corpora-tion, who drew attention to the fact that Manchester mightbe credited with having been the birthplace of one of thefounders of modern sanitary science, the late Sir E. Cbad-wick. The resolution was carried by acclamation. In a.brief reply Sir B. W. Richardson pointed out that nothing hehad advanced as to the ideal future was so remarkable as,many things which had occurred in the past hundred years,.With the customary votes of thanks the conference concluded.May lst.
SCOTLAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
The Muirhead Trust.THOSE trusting University reformers who believed that the
operation of the Universities Act would rapidly be followedby the application of numerous colleges to the various.Universities have recently bad a series of disappointingexperiences. The agreement between University College,Dundee, and the University of St. Andrews has been pro.-nounced illegal by the House of Lords. Queen Margaret Col-lege, which at one time appeared to be on the eve of affiliationwith the University of Glasgow, suddenly changed its policy,gave up all independent existence, and allowed itself to beabscrbed by the University ; and now negotiations betweenthe same University and the proposed Muirhead College bave-come to a deadlock. It may be remembered that the lateDr. Muirhead of Cambnslang left a sum of money, amountingto .630,000 or thereabout, in the hands of trustees for the-
1152
purpose of founding an institution for the education 1
of women in medicine and in the physical and biological 1sciences. In a codicil it was suggested that this "Muirhead "
,
College should be built near to the Victoria Infirmary.As Queen Margaret College was already in existence forthe purposes proposed in Dr. Muirhead’s will, the trusteesapproached the University Court with a view to devise,if possible, some joint scheme by which opposition betweenthe University and the Muirhead College should be avoided.After several conferences the trustees offered certain pro-posals in which they suggested that the first two years ofmedical education should be provided by the University atQueen Margaret College, whilst the remaining three yearsshould be undertaken by the Muirhead College, to beerected in the vicinity of the Victoria Infirmary, where thenecessary clinical instruction could be obtained. Thisscheme would prevent the institution of two colleges com-peting with one another in a comparatively limited field, andwould secure to women students-free from the intrusion ofthe opposite sex-the necessary lectures and laboratoryinstruction in the immediate neighbourhood of a well-
equipped hospital. The University Court, however, act-
ing on the report of a committee concerned in the
negotiations, has rejected the proposals of the Muirheadtrustees and has refused to put forward any counter-
propositions. Whatever view may be taken of the refusal ofthe court to submit a scheme of its own, it can scarcely bequestioned that there are valid reasons for its action in
rejecting the proposals of the trustees. Apart from thedifficulty incident to a system of dual control, and of makingin practice a cleavage between the first two and the lastthree years of the medical curriculum, the proposal made bythe trustees involves the renunciation on the part of the
University of its right and duty to give to certainof its students instruction during the last three years ofthe medical curriculum, and to this the University couldnot be expected to assent. On the other hand, the respon-sibility for the non-success of the negotiations must notbe placed entirely on the shoulders of the Muirheadtrustees. They, of course, are bound by the terms ofthe will, and these seem to compel them to establish anindependent institution in the neighbourhood of the VictoriaInfirmary, so that the basis for their action is limited.There are also other clauses which may possibly cause diffi-culty in any scheme for coördinate work between the Collegeand any other institution. Thus Dr. Muirhead does not wish
any clergyman to have anything to do with the managementof the College, on the ground that I I creeds are the firmestfetters to intellectual progress," and medical men, we under-stand, are also forbidden, for a reason equally complimentaryand suggestive. In any case it is a matter for regret thatinfluences which might in combination have placed Glasgowin an altogether exceptional position as a centre for theUniversity training of women students in science and medi-cine are likely to diif into mutually disadvantageous opposi-tion.
Glasgow UniversityDr. Thos. Barr and Dr. Walker Downie, the recently
appointed Lecturers on Diseases of the Ear and Throat re-spectively, were on April 26th introduced to their classes
by Professor Gairdner, the Dean of the Medical Faculty.Each lecturer delivered an introductory address. In conse-
quence of indisposition Professor Simpson has been granted aprolonged leave of absence, and the duties of the chair ofForensic Medicine are bei1Jg discharged by Dr. T. K. Dalziel,who is assisted by Dr. Gavin McCallum. Dr. A. MaitlandRamsay has been appointed by the University Court to lectureon Diseases of the Eye to the students at Qaeen MargaretCollege.
The John Reid Prize.The trustees of this prize have awarded the sum of £10
to Dr. Alex. Maclennan, Glasgow Western Infirmary, in
recognition of the merits of his thesis on I I Some New Methodsfor the Purification of Artificial Salicylic Acid." ’
Glasgow District Lunacy Boa,,tl.The position of consulting physician to the new asylum at
Gartloch has been accepted by Dr. Alex. Robertson, and thatof superintendent by Dr. L. R. Oswald. The latter has forseveral years been senior assistant to Dr. Yellowlees at theRoyal Asylum, Gartnavel.
Small-pox in Glasgow.Small-pox has been a recognised quantity in Glasgow since
the beginning of the year, but has been kept within limitedbounds by the energy of the sanitary authorities. Recently,however, the number of cases has shown a disagreeab!etendency to increase, and there are now sixty-three cases inthe hospital. Most of these come from the western district,and in one street is a tenement, usually occupied by tbirttmfamilies, now completely deserted, the inhabitants havingbeen removed either to the hospital or to the reception house,
Police Appointments.,
Dr. Jno. A. Boyd has been elected a casualty surgeon to theGlasgow western district. The salary is £50 per annum. TheHealth Committee of the Police Commission has recommendedthat the salary of Dr. A. K. Chalmers, the junior medicalofficer of health, be increased from £400 to £500 per annum.April 30th.
______________
IRELAND.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS)
Queen’s Coll,ege, Belfast : the New Laboratories,THE erection of a large new block of buildings to be
devoted to physiology and pathology is just being com.menced at Queen’s College, Belfast. An excellent site hasbeen selected for it adjoining the existing medical buildingsand the lately erected chemical laboratories, with both ofwhich it will ultimately communicate. The ground floor willbe devoted to phy siology, which will have a large practicalclass-room, lecture theatre, physiological chemistry room, andprofessor’s private work-room &0,, all supplied with fittingsand apparatus of the most approved type. The first floorwill be given up to pathology, which will be provided withpractical class-room, lecture theatre, private laboratory,general work and research room, culture room, &c. The build.ing is to be heated with hot water. It is being built bythe Board of Works, according to plans prepared by Mr,Robert Cockrane. F.S.A., in which the ideas of Dr. W.H.Thompson and Dr. J. Lorrain i5mith, who are respectively atthe head of the departments of physiology and pathology inBelfast, have largely been embodied. The new buildingswill undoubtedly prove a most valuable acquisition to themedical school and the entire college. It is expected thatthey will be ready for occupation next year.
The Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.The out-patient work having increased very much of late,
the staff have recommended the board of management toappoint two additional members-an assistant physician andan assistant surgeon.
Oil-lamp Accidents in Belfast.Accidents of this nature have become very frequent in
Belfast of late. On Monday, April 29th, one of tne ambulancewaggons brought to hospital a woman who just beforemidnight was in the act of extinguishing a paraffin oil.lampwhen it exploded, the result being that her clothes becameignited, and in a few minutes she was enveloped in flames.Two policemen after a time succeeded in putting out theflames, but not before the poor woman had been very badlyburned. On the same evening an inquest was held in theBelfast Royal Hospital in reference to tne death of a womanfrom the effects of burns received at her residence on theprevious Wednesday by the explosion of an oil-lamp. Herson had also died from the same cause. The jury in theirfinding added a rider requesting the coroner to communicatewith the Members of Parliament for Belfast and the countiesof Down and Antrim with the object of calling the attentionof the Government to the many cases of accidents whichoccurred in the city of Belfast and elsewhere from oil-lamp
, explosions, and requesting the Government to carry out the: recommendations of the Select Committee upon Petrole1Wl,
which reported last session.
Epileptics in the Belfast Workhouse.This vexed question has cropped up again. It seeo
t. that a man aged forty-four was admitted to the workhoUieon April 22nd and died there on the 25th. There is nOreception-room for patients at the workhouse, but they areexamined in a ball which is a public place, and whenexamined they are classified and sent to various department!of the house. This man was seen by two of the resident staff
3 in consultation and they came to the conclusion that he wa