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steps as may be necessary to obtain an abatement of thenuisance." This is no doubt a plausible expression of opinion,but the difficulty of how it is to be carried out is a great anda genuine one. The evil is of long standing and has engagedthe discussion of various litigants for a number of years. TheDrainage Board have recently acquired at a great expense anadditional quantity of land and it is possible that the con-duct of operations upon it may relieve the present trouble.The land which has been worked upon hitherto is saturatedand waterlogged-the long spell of hot weather with the con-cretion of lime which has been used as a dressing hasrendered it inoperative for practical purposes-hence theaggravation of the foul smell and its diffusion through theair of the surrounding district. Apart from the disagreeableodours the proof of material risk to life and health is an un-doubted reason for some speedy and effectual mitigation ofthe nuisance by the aid of scientific knowledge in dealingwi’-h this large area of sewage matter.

Black Country TVater-supply.The large district known as the Black Country, comprising a

vast population devoted chiefly to mining and iron industries,has lately suffered from the want of a free supply of water.On August 30th a conference was held at Dudley, under thechairmanship of the mayor, to consider the question ofthe water-supply of the area alluded to. Various localauthorities were represented and considerable discussiontook place as to the best methods of obtaining an

cnicient supply, several local medical men giving testimonyof the inadequacy of the present supply in respect to

quantity and quality. Ultimately it was resolved that in theopinion of that conference it was desirable that the whole ofthe authorities represented and such other authorities as theycould get to join them should take united action with theview of obtaining an improvement of the present conditionof the water-supply.Sept.5th.

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LIVERPOOL.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Precautions against the Importation of Plague into the Portof Liverpool.

A CIRCULAR letter from the medical officer of health ofthe City and Port of Liverpool (Dr. E. W. Hope) has beenissued to the members of the medical profession bearing onthe plague which is now prevailing in Portuguese ports. Thetrade carried on between Liverpool and Portugal is a veryconsiderable one and at the present time vessels on arrivalfrom Portuguese, ports are submitted to a careful inspection.The letter lays stress on the possibilities of sailors landingwhilst in an incubative stage of the malady, as the voyage ifrom Oporto to Liverpool is usually accomplished in fourdays, whereas the incubative period of plague has been esti-mated by the Venice Convention to vary from five to ten days. I

Special attention should be directed to seafaring personscoming under notice in early stages of illness. Every pre-caution is now being taken by the officials of the health

department to retain under observation sailors arriving fromPortuguese ports. Their names and addresses are taken andthe persons themselves are visited by members of the staff ofthe medical officer of health.

The Proposed Joint Parochial Hospital for TuòerC1Ûosis.A further hitch has arisen in connexion with the erection

of the joint parochial hospital for the treatment of tuber-culosis. The whole subject appears to bristle with difficulties.From the reports of the proceedings of recent meetings ofthe West Derby and Toxteth Boards of Guardians it wouldappear that it was the desire of the select vestry and ofthe West Derby Board of Guardians that the erectionof the proposed hospital should be undertaken by theToxteth Board of Guardians, the latter body being quitewilling to proceed with the work. It appears that theselect vestry do not now agree to this conditionalproposal, consequently the scheme under which theToxteth guardians were to build the hospital has fallenthrough. The next step in the matter would be the

appointment of a joint hospital committee of 12 persons,four from each union, a proposal which now awaits thesanction of the Local Government Board. The hospital iscomputed to cost 10,000, towards which amount theToxteth Board of Guardians, as reprosenting the smallest

union, will contribute a proportion of one-fifth. So far asthe select vestry are concerned an important minority donot favour the erection of the hospital at all. They considerthe whole subject of the treatment of tuberculosis to be inan experimental stage. They argue that under presentcircumstances it would be more logical to send their pauperpatients to the building which is in course of erection atDelamere Forest by the Liverpool Hospital for Consump-tion, from which they could be withdrawn in the eventof failure of treatment, while in the event of success

the select vestry might continue to send their patients to thatinstitution or might build a sanatorium on their own account.With this point in view Mr. James Lowry has given noticethat at a future meeting of the select vestry he will move :-That the resolution of the select vestry of the llth day of July

last having reference to the provision of a hospital for the accommo-dation of tuberculosis patients belonging to the three Poor-law districtsbe rescinded and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the LocalGovernment Board with a request that the preparation of the proposedOrder be not further proceeded with.

The Disco1-’ery of the Malarialllfosquito by Major 1?onaldRoss, I.M.S.

Two members of the commission despatched by the jointcommittee appointed by the Colonial Office and the RoyalSociety are now on their way home from the east side of thecontinent of Africa where their investigations have provedabortive. It is believed that they will be intercepted ontheir way home by instructions to proceed to the head-quarters of Major Ross on the other side of the continent toassist him in the researches in which he is engaged. MajorRoss intends to send home at an early date specimens of themosquito which he regards as the cause of the ravages ofmalaria. As you have already announced the authorities ofthe Liverpool School of Tropical Diseases have decided tosend out Dr. Fielding-Ould to Sierra Leone to assist in theinvestigation of the discovery of the malarial mosquito. Dr.Fielding-Ould is an alumnus of University College, Liver-pool. He is an Oxford graduate in arts and medicine andhas recently devoted himself to research work under thetutelage of Professor Boyce.Sept.4th.

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SCOTLAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

University of (]las{Jorv.IN connexion with the resignation of Lord Kelvin the

University Court have recorded the following minute, a copyof which has been sent to his Lordship :-The Court have received with the deepest regret Lord Kelvin’s

petition for leave to resign the chair of Natural Philosophy. In grant-ing that petition, as they feel it their painful duty to do, the Courtdesire to record the sorrow with which they anticipate the close of aservice that for more than half a century the University has seengrowing in influence and usefulness, and in beneficent application ofthe inventions of science to the wants of life, tto the lightening oflabour, to the comfort of the dwelling, to the safety of the travellerby land and sea, to the promotion of the facilities of commerce, andthe means of human intercourse.They recall with pride the renown which Lord Kelvin’s scientific

triumphs have reflected on the University of which,he has so long beenthe illustrious ornament. They grieve to think that the circle ofcolleagues and fellow-workers, to whom he has been endeared by thekindness of his heart, the uprightness of his character, and thehonourable simplicity of his life, must lose the immediate offices of afriendship so highly prized as his. And they beg him to carry withhim into his retirement from academic life the assurance of their warmpersonal regard, of their sincere respect for the fidelity with which hehas discharged his duty to-the University, of their gratitude for thelustre which his achievements have shed upon it, and of their hopethat the evening of his days may, under the blessing of God, be pro-longed and peaceful.

Signed by the Principal and individual members ofthe University Court.

In acknowledging the minute Lord Kelvin expresses the

hope of retaining a permanent connexion with the Univer.sity in an appointment as Research Fellow "for which," hestates, " I have made application to the Senate." The neworder of Research Fellows is certainly to be congratulated onthe acquisition of so distinguisheda recruit.-It is announcedthat the advanced classes in bacteriology and pathologicalhistology, which were inaugurated by the late ProlessorCoats, are this year to be somewhat extended. Each classis to commence on Oct. 2nd and to meet thrice weekly for aperiod of eight weeks. The joint fee for the two courses isfixed at five guineas, and the classes are open to graduatesand senior students.-In more than one quarter regret is

746

often expressed that an endeavour is not made on a moreserious scale to encourage post-graduation study in theGlasgow school. The clinical and laboratory opportunitiesare of the best, and it only needs a well-organised andsustained effort to secure a decided success.

Glasgow Corporation.There seems no limit to the responsibility which some of

the civic fathers are prepared to assume. At the last meetingof the Glasgow Corporation one of the councillors moved forthe appointment of a committee to consider the advisability ofestablishing a municipal crematorium. On the same occasiona medical councillor proposed that an inquiry should bemade with a view to secure the foundation in the city ofone or more centres for the supply of pure milk. As eachresolution was successfully opposed by "the previous ques-tion " it would appear that the majority consider that, atleast for the present, such proposals are beyond the legiti-mate limits of municipal enterprise.

Sept. 5th. _____

IRELAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Deatla of Lieutenant- Culonel J. J. Greene, -B. A.M. C.THE attendance at the funeral of Lieutenant-Colonel

Greene, which took place at Glasnevin on August 21st, waslarge and representative. The remains were followed tothe grave by a company of the Royal Army Medical Corps,under the command of Lieutenant Barrow, many otherofficers being also present. Lieutenant-Colonel Greene, whowas a graduate of the University of Dublin, retired from theArmy Medical Service in March last. For some time beforehis retirement he had charge of the Royal Military Hospitalat Arbour Hill.

Medical Appointments in West Africa.The following announcement appeared in the Irish Times

of August 29th over the signature of the Rev. J. P.

Mahaffy, F.T.C.D. :-SIR,-I wish to notify to our younger graduates in medicine that I

have received from the Colonial Office a minute relating to medicalappointments in West Africa, which I have placed in Mr. Miller’s officefor their perusal. In the midst of the Long Vacation there seems no oother way of bringing the matter to their notice, and if we delayed tillafter the vacation we might be told that our applications were late.Trinity College, Dublin, August 28th.

Death of Pl’ofe8so’l’ Cuming.By the lamented death of Professor Cuming considerable

changes will take place in the Belfast School of Medicine.He was Professor of Theory and Practice of Medicine atQueen’s College and for this chair, which is a Crown

appointment, Dr. J. A. Lindsay, physician to the RoyalHospital, who acted as locum-tenent for Professor Cumingduring a part of last session, is a candidate. Dr. WilliamCalwell will be made full physician at the Royal Hospital inProfessor Cuming’s place (for the past 18 months he has hadcharge of the late professor’s wards), and for the post ofassistant physician, vacated by Dr. Calwell, Dr. H. McKisack,who has for the past two years been medical registrar, is

applying. It is believed that he will not have any opposition.Stimulants in the Belfast WO’l’khou8e.

A medical report presented to the Belfast Guardians as tothe quantity of stimulants distributed to patients in the

infirmary for the three years ended March 25th, 1899, bringsout the following facts. For the year ended March 25th,1897, there was a daily average of patients in the infirmaryof 1431, and by these 74,126 ounces of whisky and 70,556ounces of wine were consumed at a total cost of.E575 13s. 10d., the average cost being 8s. ; for the yearended March 25th, 1898, the average daily number ofpatients in the infirmary was 1532, and 110,867 ounces ofwhisky and 81.262 ounces of wine were consumed, the totalcost being L781 15s. and the average cost 10s. 2d. ; for theyear ended March 25th, 1899, the average daily number ofpatients in the infirmary was 2000, and 158,417 ounces ofwhisky and 111,906 ounces of wine were consumed at atotal cost of 1077 17s. 2d. and at an average cost of10s. 9d.

Proposed lYater Scheme for Portado,7vn.The engineers for the proposed scheme to supply Pdrta-

down by taking the water from the River Bann estimate the f

probable cost at .615.000 and they agree to do the wholeengineering work for Z500 if the local authorities will agreethat in the event of the total cost not exceeding .615,000 bymore than 5 per cent. thereof they shall be entitled toreceive an additional sum of .6100, making in such a case atotal of .6600. This proposal was agreed to by the towncouncil, the sum to cover all past expenditure. There is nodoubt that many of the inhabitants of Portadown do not likethe idea of taking the water-supply from a river, fearinglocal and surface pollution.

Bangor Cottage Hospital and Home.From the report for the year ending July 31st, 1899, it

appears that 68 patients have passed through the hospital,most of them being convalescents from Belfast coming torecruit at this home, so conveniently situated on the borderof Belfast Lough. There are at present in the hospital fivemen from the Channel Fleet which during July and Augustwas in Belfast Lough. The income for the year was t247and there is a balance in hand.

The M1lzzling Order for Dogs in Ireland.The muzzling order in force in Ireland since 1897 has been

relaxed in certain districts by a very recent decision ofCouncil. There is some reason to think that this measure ispremature. At Finglas, in the neighbourhood of Dublin,two children were savagely attacked last week by fiveterriers and injured so severely that one of them still remainsunder treatment at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital. Somethree weeks ago a woman was bitten by a dog at BaltinglasShe has just returned after a course of treatment of 18 daysat the Pasteur Institute in Paris. In this case there isstrong evidence that the dog was suffering from rabies.It was at once destroyed and its brain, &c., were sent toProfessor Sullivan of Trinity College for examination.The pathological report stated that the brain presented theusual appearances found in rabies-congestion of the vesselsof the pia mater, &c. Moreover, rabbits inoculated with

portions of the medulla showed early symptoms of the

paralytic variety of the disease. There is another patientat present under treatment at the Pasteur Institute, a gentle.man from Dublin.Sept. 5th.

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PARIS.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Dr. Doyen and Maitre Labori.DR. DOYEN, a celebrated Paris surgeon, has had an un-

pleasant experience arising out of the murderous attackmade at Rennes on Maitre Labori, one of the counsel forDreyfus. Immediately after receiving his wound Maitre

Labori was attended by four medical men who were presentat the trial-namely, Surgeon-Major Renaut, Dr. Paul Reclus,Professor Brissaud, and Dr. Widal, the two latter being Parishospital surgeons. Examination of the patient showed thatthere were no alarming symptoms and no fever, whereuponall four decided not to interfere surgically but to leavethe bullet undisturbed in the tissues, where it appeared tocause no irritation. It was then announced in the news.papers that Dr. Doyen was going to Rennes at therequest of Maitre Labori’s family, the real fact being, asDr. Doyen afterwards explained, that he went of his ownaccord to ascertain the condition of the patient who hadbeen a schoolfellow of his, and as he did not know whatsurgical treatment would be adopted he took his instrumentswith him so as to be prepared for any emergency. He wasdisappointed at finding on his arrival in Rennes that hecould not see Maitre Labori, who was not allowed to receivevisitors, so he sent a message to Dr. Reclus expressing awish to be present at the next consultation between themedical men, but he did not get any reply. Having succeededin meeting Dr. Reclus he asked that he might be allowedto be present when the dressings were changed, but Dr.Reclus refused permission. In spite of further perseveringattempts Dr. Doyen was not able to see the patient andaccordingly returned to Paris, where he was interviewedby a journalist from whom he did not conceal his indignationat being kept at arm’s length through manifest personalhostility, neither did he disguise his uneasiness on findingthat his friend Maitre Labori was in the hands of one of thelast representatives of the old school of expectant surgery.He added that the bullet, as localised by the Roantgen rays,