203

dated June 9th, in alluding to a fatal case of typhus feverthat had occurred in a house up one of the narrow passagesleading out of King-street, remarks that " these premisesare utterly unfit for the habitation of a family of seven oreight persons as at present occupy it ; indeed, I might sayof a family at all. It consists of two small rooms, one abovethe other, built against the back wall of the house behind,with no means of ventilation, save by a small pane of glassin the window opening on hinges. There is no privy accom-modation whatever. Fancy a boy ten years old lying ill oftyphus fever in the one little room upstairs, with no meansof venti!ation save the little pane of glass on hinges, inhalingall day the air made poisonous by his own excretions ! Andwhat mmt have been the condition of the room when therest of the family at night betook themselves to it for

repose ?"From my own experience, Sir, I could give you many

other cases equally bad and incredible, but perhaps theseare sufficient ior the present. But what are we to say orthink of an authority that permits such a state of affairs toexist in its mid-t without taking one single step to abate orremedy it? They cannot plead ignorance, because the re-port of Mr. Spear beings conviction home to the mind ofevery intelligent being that, in this and all other respects,the sanitary condition of the town is a disgrace to any com-munity claiming the least affinity to civilisation ; and yet Iam quite convinced that, unless compelled by the LocalGovernment BJard, nothing will ever be done by the localauthority to carry out the recommendations of Mr. Spear.

Your obedient servant,

dated June 9th, in alluding to a fatal case of typhus feverthat had occurred in a house up one of the narrow passagesleading out of King-street, remarks that " these premisesare utterly unfit for the habitation of a family of seven oreight persons as at present occupy it ; indeed, I might sayof a family at all. It consists of two small rooms, one abovethe other, built against the back wall of the house behind,with no means of ventilation, save by a small pane of glassin the window opening on hinges. There is no privy accom-modation whatever. Fancy a boy ten years old lying ill oftyphus fever in the one little room upstairs, with no meansof venti!ation save the little pane of glass on hinges, inhalingall day the air made poisonous by his own excretions ! Andwhat mmt have been the condition of the room when therest of the family at night betook themselves to it for

repose ?"From my own experience, Sir, I could give you many

other cases equally bad and incredible, but perhaps theseare sufficient ior the present. But what are we to say orthink of an authority that permits such a state of affairs toexist in its mid-t without taking one single step to abate orremedy it? They cannot plead ignorance, because the re-port of Mr. Spear beings conviction home to the mind ofevery intelligent being that, in this and all other respects,the sanitary condition of the town is a disgrace to any com-munity claiming the least affinity to civilisation ; and yet Iam quite convinced that, unless compelled by the LocalGovernment BJard, nothing will ever be done by the localauthority to carry out the recommendations of Mr. Spear.

Your obedient servant,W. B. MATHIAS.

P.S.-As an instance of the manner in which disinfectionwas carried out by the sanitary authority, I may relate whattook place in a miserable baclc dwelling in one of thepassages between Catherine-street and Queen-street,whence a case of typhus fever had been removed to theinfirmary, and which terminated fatally a few days after. Iasked the woman if the house and furniture Ind beendisinfected, and she replied, " Oh, ye;4." " What wasdone to it?" "Well, the inspector gave me some litneand lent me a brush and told me to whitpwash the walls,and I did." "D:d anyone help you ?" "No." "Were thebedcloches washed and disinfected?" " No, how could theywhen we were using t 1em" " (it was scarcely necessary tohave asked that question, as their appearance sufficientlyattested the fact of their non-acquaintance with soap andwater since they le’t the shop); "but I put the mattressout ia the air for a good bit, and made it as sweer, as anut." Thus it will b seen that tbo4e things in the house,such rs the furniture, and above all, the bed and beddingwhere The infection is sure t’) he the most tenacious, wereabsolutely left in the same condition as when the fever casewas removed from them.

P.S.-As an instance of the manner in which disinfectionwas carried out by the sanitary authority, I may relate whattook place in a miserable baclc dwelling in one of thepassages between Catherine-street and Queen-street,whence a case of typhus fever had been removed to theinfirmary, and which terminated fatally a few days after. Iasked the woman if the house and furniture Ind beendisinfected, and she replied, " Oh, ye;4." " What wasdone to it?" "Well, the inspector gave me some litneand lent me a brush and told me to whitpwash the walls,and I did." "D:d anyone help you ?" "No." "Were thebedcloches washed and disinfected?" " No, how could theywhen we were using t 1em" " (it was scarcely necessary tohave asked that question, as their appearance sufficientlyattested the fact of their non-acquaintance with soap andwater since they le’t the shop); "but I put the mattressout ia the air for a good bit, and made it as sweer, as anut." Thus it will b seen that tbo4e things in the house,such rs the furniture, and above all, the bed and beddingwhere The infection is sure t’) he the most tenacious, wereabsolutely left in the same condition as when the fever casewas removed from them.

SALICYLIC SILK.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-Mr. Lockhart Gibson, in your issue of to-day, givesthe results of cases treated in Mr. Chiene’s wards by meansof salicylic silk. He states that the method of treatment ,,

adopted " differed from that used in Leeds in this essential- Iviz., ia the use of no mackintosh." In this he is mistaken.Since I first brought this dressing before the notice of theprofession, some eighteen months ago, I have used no other

dressing in antiseptic cases, and have always used it withoutthe mackintosh. I have reason to know that the practiceof the surgeons of the Leeds Infirmary has been the same.Indeed, the csiief advantage of salicylic over carbolic aciddressings li.;s in the fact that they can be usd without themackintosh; the wound is thus kept comparativelp dry,putrefaction is less likely to occur, and early healing isinduced. The only difference between the Edinburgh andLeeds practice seems to be that in Edinburgh the dressing iscompleted by covering the silk with a large pad of g tuzewhile in Leeds we dispense with the gauze pad, and sub-stitute for it one of silk enclosed within two layers of gauze.This is a matter of little moment, but our plan has theadvantage of economy, and a larger experience has shown itto be equally efficacious.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,-Mr. Lockhart Gibson, in your issue of to-day, gives

the results of cases treated in Mr. Chiene’s wards by meansof salicylic silk. He states that the method of treatment ,,

adopted " differed from that used in Leeds in this essential- Iviz., ia the use of no mackintosh." In this he is mistaken.Since I first brought this dressing before the notice of theprofession, some eighteen months ago, I have used no other

dressing in antiseptic cases, and have always used it withoutthe mackintosh. I have reason to know that the practiceof the surgeons of the Leeds Infirmary has been the same.Indeed, the csiief advantage of salicylic over carbolic aciddressings li.;s in the fact that they can be usd without themackintosh; the wound is thus kept comparativelp dry,putrefaction is less likely to occur, and early healing isinduced. The only difference between the Edinburgh andLeeds practice seems to be that in Edinburgh the dressing iscompleted by covering the silk with a large pad of g tuzewhile in Leeds we dispense with the gauze pad, and sub-stitute for it one of silk enclosed within two layers of gauze.This is a matter of little moment, but our plan has theadvantage of economy, and a larger experience has shown itto be equally efficacious.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,A. F. MCGILL.

GLASGOW.(From our own Uorrespondent.)

’ THE usual graduation ceremony at the University tookplace on Thursday, July 27th. Of the 109 aspirants toacademical degrees in medicine only seventy-six were suc-cessful. Professor Charteris’ valedictory address to thosewho had just been " capped "was full of interest and in-

struction ; it took the form mainly of plain and practicaladvice regarding the various careers open to those justlicensed to practise medicine, and was evidently listenedto with enjoyment and profit. He pointed out the advan-tages likely to be derived from a residence at one of theforeign schools of medicine, though he wa,4 inclined to thinkthat these were not so great as is generally supposed, main-taining that in the application of the theories and factsof science to the treatment and prevention of disease theEnglish are vastly ahead of the continental nations. Hethen very properly warned the graduates against continuinglong in the mercantile marine service should they haveoccasion to go to sea as ship surgeons ; and concluded byindicating the qualifications necessary for success in thevarious branches of modern practice.

It is generally understood that our Royal Infirmary isabout to lose the services of Dr. M. Thomas as superinten-dent. Dr. Thomas has fulfilled the duties of this very tryingposition for many years now with general satisfaction.

(From our own Uorrespondent.)’ THE usual graduation ceremony at the University tookplace on Thursday, July 27th. Of the 109 aspirants toacademical degrees in medicine only seventy-six were suc-cessful. Professor Charteris’ valedictory address to thosewho had just been " capped "was full of interest and in-

struction ; it took the form mainly of plain and practicaladvice regarding the various careers open to those justlicensed to practise medicine, and was evidently listenedto with enjoyment and profit. He pointed out the advan-tages likely to be derived from a residence at one of theforeign schools of medicine, though he wa,4 inclined to thinkthat these were not so great as is generally supposed, main-taining that in the application of the theories and factsof science to the treatment and prevention of disease theEnglish are vastly ahead of the continental nations. Hethen very properly warned the graduates against continuinglong in the mercantile marine service should they haveoccasion to go to sea as ship surgeons ; and concluded byindicating the qualifications necessary for success in thevarious branches of modern practice.

It is generally understood that our Royal Infirmary isabout to lose the services of Dr. M. Thomas as superinten-dent. Dr. Thomas has fulfilled the duties of this very tryingposition for many years now with general satisfaction.

SCOTTISH NOTES.

(From our Correspondent.)

PROFESSOR STRUTHERS was in his war-paint last week.The fighting attitude is not an unusual one with him, assome of his colleagues very well know. His hits are hard,for the most part well considered, and with an almost certaindelivery. He had a congenial subject on which to addresshis students at the end of the summer session, and had nodifficulty in proving to their satisfaction how fortunate theywere to come so far north for their instruction. He showedthat white in regu’d to the Arts course the Scottish Univer-sities were perhaps behind those of England and Germany,such could not be said of the medi,’at. Those connectedwith medical education in England believed that whateverexists there is by far the best, whereas in his opinion therewas no country in Europe so far behind as England-their sys-temof medicatedacationwttSpositively the worst. The medicalteaching in Scotland was excellent, and if Cambridge didbut a tenth part of what is done in Aberdeen in this con-nexion, the world would hear of it. Hard work is the cha-racteristic of the Aberdeen Medical School. Certainly,when Dr. Struthers looks around at his splendid facilities .

for teaching, and feels how much these are undoubtedlydue to his own exertions, when he considers his own devotionand constant assiduity as a teacher, he may well feel proudand complacent. In each of the Scottish Universities theteachers of the purely scientific branches are men whoseenergies and lives are devoted solely to one subject, andthey may be excused for their occasional hint at the oppositeconditions which obtain further south. Again, our Gaird-ners, Pirries, Maclagans, &c., devote their best efforts toteaching, and only lay aside their gowns when, from old age,they feel that they are no longer tit to do justice to theirstudents. Throughout life their highest honours come fromteaching, and success in practice is not allowed to detainthem from their classes or their wards. All this is highlyfavourable to good teaching ; but Professor Struthers is

perhaps wrong in assuming that the English do not admitthe excellence, as for many years an entirely disproportionatenumberof students come from that and other English-speakingcountries-the best pruof of the real opinion held on thequestion. The prize-lists of the Aberdeen University showanother element of strength which the teachers fullyacknowledge : I notice that in one class the first four menhave their M.A. degrees. This is material easily wrought.During the past few weeks severdl prosecutions-the first

in Scotland - have occurred under the Factories Act.Medical men luve long known that young women fre-

quently made complaint of the lengthened houra duringwhich they were called to work on but sliolit necessity.

(From our Correspondent.)

PROFESSOR STRUTHERS was in his war-paint last week.The fighting attitude is not an unusual one with him, assome of his colleagues very well know. His hits are hard,for the most part well considered, and with an almost certaindelivery. He had a congenial subject on which to addresshis students at the end of the summer session, and had nodifficulty in proving to their satisfaction how fortunate theywere to come so far north for their instruction. He showedthat white in regu’d to the Arts course the Scottish Univer-sities were perhaps behind those of England and Germany,such could not be said of the medi,’at. Those connectedwith medical education in England believed that whateverexists there is by far the best, whereas in his opinion therewas no country in Europe so far behind as England-their sys-temof medicatedacationwttSpositively the worst. The medicalteaching in Scotland was excellent, and if Cambridge didbut a tenth part of what is done in Aberdeen in this con-nexion, the world would hear of it. Hard work is the cha-racteristic of the Aberdeen Medical School. Certainly,when Dr. Struthers looks around at his splendid facilities .

for teaching, and feels how much these are undoubtedlydue to his own exertions, when he considers his own devotionand constant assiduity as a teacher, he may well feel proudand complacent. In each of the Scottish Universities theteachers of the purely scientific branches are men whoseenergies and lives are devoted solely to one subject, andthey may be excused for their occasional hint at the oppositeconditions which obtain further south. Again, our Gaird-ners, Pirries, Maclagans, &c., devote their best efforts toteaching, and only lay aside their gowns when, from old age,they feel that they are no longer tit to do justice to theirstudents. Throughout life their highest honours come fromteaching, and success in practice is not allowed to detainthem from their classes or their wards. All this is highlyfavourable to good teaching ; but Professor Struthers is

perhaps wrong in assuming that the English do not admitthe excellence, as for many years an entirely disproportionatenumberof students come from that and other English-speakingcountries-the best pruof of the real opinion held on thequestion. The prize-lists of the Aberdeen University showanother element of strength which the teachers fullyacknowledge : I notice that in one class the first four menhave their M.A. degrees. This is material easily wrought.During the past few weeks severdl prosecutions-the first

in Scotland - have occurred under the Factories Act.Medical men luve long known that young women fre-

quently made complaint of the lengthened houra duringwhich they were called to work on but sliolit necessity.

204

Certifying Surgeons would assist these poor people, as wellas the interests of justice, were n otes of the complaints madein the con-uling rooms, both with regard to overtime andviriated atmosphere, kept for the uie of the inspectors inevery case wuere the same employers were frequently shownto he a-, id.ult. aud especially where private remonstrance isineffectual. Tue prosecutions in Edinburgh, Dundee, andAberdeen were merely meant as reminders ; but in futuregreater severity will be used.While satisfaction is generally expressed with regard to

the appointment of Mr. Caieue, there was, apparently, sur-prise te by many who deemed themselves tha poisessoriofspecial knowledge. So much is this the case that one pro-posed candidate at least, and a most creditable one, felt itadvisable not to put forward his claims, as he was assuredthat another than Mr. Chiene was certain of the appoint-meat. To the majority of the curators-gentlemen nomi-ndoted by the town council-the choice mut have been mostirksome, aud, though they have for once been judicious intheir seLection, the profession would most gladly see theirpatronage transferred to other hands.

Certifying Surgeons would assist these poor people, as wellas the interests of justice, were n otes of the complaints madein the con-uling rooms, both with regard to overtime andviriated atmosphere, kept for the uie of the inspectors inevery case wuere the same employers were frequently shownto he a-, id.ult. aud especially where private remonstrance isineffectual. Tue prosecutions in Edinburgh, Dundee, andAberdeen were merely meant as reminders ; but in futuregreater severity will be used.While satisfaction is generally expressed with regard to

the appointment of Mr. Caieue, there was, apparently, sur-prise te by many who deemed themselves tha poisessoriofspecial knowledge. So much is this the case that one pro-posed candidate at least, and a most creditable one, felt itadvisable not to put forward his claims, as he was assuredthat another than Mr. Chiene was certain of the appoint-meat. To the majority of the curators-gentlemen nomi-ndoted by the town council-the choice mut have been mostirksome, aud, though they have for once been judicious intheir seLection, the profession would most gladly see theirpatronage transferred to other hands.

IRELAND.

(From our own Correspondent.)

THE Belfast Hospital for Skin Diseases is a very valuableinstitution, as evidenced by the increased numbers who availthemselves of the advice and care which by it are placedwithin their reach. Many of these cases are among the mostpainful and trying, and others are of so contagious a naturethat it is of importance to the community that every pre-caution should be taken against their spreading. The number Iof patients treated last year was 1167 (79 intern and1088 extern), those admitted to the wards being very muchin excess of the previous year. The expenditure was inexcess of the income, but a bequest of £ 1000 will shortly beobtained from the executors of the late Mr. George Bann.A vacancy has arisen in the City of Dublin Hospital for a

visiting physician, in consequence of the appointment ofDr. J. Magee Finny to the King’s Professorship of thePractice of Medicine in the School of Physic of theUniversity of Dublin, which carries with it the post ofphysician to Sir Patrick Dun’s Hospital. It is generallybelieved that Dr. Duffey, at present attached to Mercer’sHospital, will be selected to succeed Dr. Finny, whichwould cause a vacancy for a physician to Mercer’s Hospital.The latter institution is one which requires purchase moneyfor its medical and surgical appointments, the price averagingfrom £ 1000 to £ 1500.Dr. Henry MacCormac, of Belfast, has recently published

a pamphlet on the Etiology of Tubercle. Dr. MacCormacbelieving, as he does, that the cause of phthisis is due to theinhalation of rebreathed air, and that perfect ventilation isthe antidote, is antagonistic to Koch’s theory as to thecause ot the disease-viz., that tuberculosis is a parasiticdisease, the parasite being a bacillus about as long as ablood corpuscle ; and that the affection is communicable byinfection, or conveyed into the system by dust. The authordoes not contend that bacilli are not found in tuberculoussubjects, but his chief argument appears to be that beforethere can be tuberculous bacilli the man or brute must betuberculous.The emigrant lodging-houses in Queenstown appear to be

very much overcrowded, and the attention of the Board ofTrade has been directed to the suhject, which is at thepresent time of importance, as fever prevails in the town.It has been publicly stated that as many as 170 persons of anight have been kept in one or two of these lodging-houses;a condition of things which could not exist if the Town Com-mi-sioners would insist on the regulations required by lawbeing strictly enforced.Two men were suffocated on board the vessel TVoodlawn

last March, and the owners were last week fined £ 30 fortheir negligence in not having the forecastle properlyventilated.The death is reported at Coppenagh of a widow, Mar-

garet Melody, at the mature age of 105.An election for a medical officer to Portaferry Dispensary

District, in the room of the late Dr. Filson, will be held

THE Belfast Hospital for Skin Diseases is a very valuableinstitution, as evidenced by the increased numbers who availthemselves of the advice and care which by it are placedwithin their reach. Many of these cases are among the mostpainful and trying, and others are of so contagious a naturethat it is of importance to the community that every pre-caution should be taken against their spreading. The number Iof patients treated last year was 1167 (79 intern and1088 extern), those admitted to the wards being very muchin excess of the previous year. The expenditure was inexcess of the income, but a bequest of £ 1000 will shortly beobtained from the executors of the late Mr. George Bann.A vacancy has arisen in the City of Dublin Hospital for a

visiting physician, in consequence of the appointment ofDr. J. Magee Finny to the King’s Professorship of thePractice of Medicine in the School of Physic of theUniversity of Dublin, which carries with it the post ofphysician to Sir Patrick Dun’s Hospital. It is generallybelieved that Dr. Duffey, at present attached to Mercer’sHospital, will be selected to succeed Dr. Finny, whichwould cause a vacancy for a physician to Mercer’s Hospital.The latter institution is one which requires purchase moneyfor its medical and surgical appointments, the price averagingfrom £ 1000 to £ 1500.Dr. Henry MacCormac, of Belfast, has recently published

a pamphlet on the Etiology of Tubercle. Dr. MacCormacbelieving, as he does, that the cause of phthisis is due to theinhalation of rebreathed air, and that perfect ventilation isthe antidote, is antagonistic to Koch’s theory as to thecause ot the disease-viz., that tuberculosis is a parasiticdisease, the parasite being a bacillus about as long as ablood corpuscle ; and that the affection is communicable byinfection, or conveyed into the system by dust. The authordoes not contend that bacilli are not found in tuberculoussubjects, but his chief argument appears to be that beforethere can be tuberculous bacilli the man or brute must betuberculous.The emigrant lodging-houses in Queenstown appear to be

very much overcrowded, and the attention of the Board ofTrade has been directed to the suhject, which is at thepresent time of importance, as fever prevails in the town.It has been publicly stated that as many as 170 persons of anight have been kept in one or two of these lodging-houses;a condition of things which could not exist if the Town Com-mi-sioners would insist on the regulations required by lawbeing strictly enforced.Two men were suffocated on board the vessel TVoodlawn

last March, and the owners were last week fined £ 30 fortheir negligence in not having the forecastle properlyventilated.The death is reported at Coppenagh of a widow, Mar-

garet Melody, at the mature age of 105.An election for a medical officer to Portaferry Dispensary

District, in the room of the late Dr. Filson, will be held

next week. The salary attached to the post is £ 115 peranoum, and fees.Mr. Thomas Higgins, L. R. C. S. L, medical officer of

Clonaslee Dispensary Diatrict, has been elected a coronerfor the Queen’s Couuty.

next week. The salary attached to the post is £ 115 peranoum, and fees.Mr. Thomas Higgins, L. R. C. S. L, medical officer of

Clonaslee Dispensary Diatrict, has been elected a coronerfor the Queen’s Couuty.

PARIS.

(From our Special Correspondent.)

YESTERDAY afternoon the Academy of Medicine held itsannual meeting, and a list of the prizemen and medalist"was read by the Secretary. In one instance there was no

award, because no memoir had been sent in for the prize,and in others the competing essays were not considered tobe of sufficient merit. The C lvrieux prize of 960 went toDr. Ballet; the Capuron prize ( £ 80) to Dr. Belugou. TheDesportes prize was divided between Dr. E. Vidal, for hiswork on the Traatment of Prolapsus of the Rectum by Hypo.dermic Injections of Ergotine, and Dr. Campardon. MM.

Lucas-Championniere and H. Toussaint were awarded 948and ;e32 respectively, the total forming the Prix Amussat.An important prize of 10,000 francs ( £ 400), but which is onlyawarded once in six years, was divided between Drs. Bige-low (of Boston) and Th. Auger, the former taking .S240 andthe latter :E160. M. Toussaint, of Toulouse, receives anencouragement to continue his researches concerning thecholera of fowls and acute experimental septicæmia in theshape of the Barbier prize, the value of which is £ 240. Theenumeration of all the awards would be tedious, but it mayinterest your readers to know what are the prizes and whatthe subjects for 1883. Perhaps some industrious workers inEngland may be stimulated to enter the list. The Prix de1’Academie is 1000 francs ; the subject, to determine theClinical Value of Antiseptic Methods in Surgical Practice.Prix Portal, 1000 francs, Is Tubercle of Parasitic Nature?Prix Civrieux, 2000 francs, Hysterical Para’yses and Con-tractures. Prix Capuron, 2000 francs, on the Influence ofSea-bathing in the Scrofula of Children. Prix Godard,2000 francs, for the best work on External Pathology(Surgical Disease). Prix Barbier, for the Discovery ofa Cure for any Disease reputed to be Incurable, such asEpilepsy, Hydrophobia, Cancer, Cholera; part of it maybe awarded for advancement in this direction. Prix

Desportes, 1500 francs, for the best work on MedicalTherapeutics. Prix Daudet, 1500 francs, Lymphadenoma.A prize of 2000 francs, under the name of the Prix de1’Hygiene de 1’Enfance ; subject, to determine by preciseObservation the Rôle of First Dentition in Infantile Pathology.Prix Amussat, 2000 francs, for a work based upon Anatomyand Experiment leading toprogress in Surgical Therapeutics.Prix Samt-Lager, 1500 francs, for the Discovery of a Cure forGoitre. Prix Saint Paul, 25,000 francs, for the Discovery ofa Cure for Diphtheria; the interest of the capital maybeawarded as an encouragement for work in this direction.The account given in the last letter of M. Laborde’s lecture,

and the disturbance created by a lady anti-vivisectionist,does not appear to be quite correct. The meeting, insteadof breaking up in confusion, was only interrupted for a fewminutes, during which time the fair zoophite let off hervirtuous indignation, and declared that the intended demon-strations should only take place after her blood had beenmingled with that of the frogs. Force being out of thequestion, and the lady having determined to occupy theposition she had achieved, M. Laborde invited her to sharethe professorial chair, and act, as it were, as censor, promisingto pay attention to any objections she might make. Thanksto his tact, the lecturer was able to carry out his programme;and when he had finished he congratulated his unexpectedcolleague on the opportunity she had given him of vindi-eating science. This correction is worth making, the moreso as a great deal of unnecessary fuss and misrepresentationhave crept into the papars about the incident.At the present momeat there is a case of nervous dis-

ease in the Beaujon Hospital which seems to interestall Pdris. The daily papers publish bulletins concern-

ing the dormeuse, as the patient is termed; and as heridentity is unknown, everyone is looking forward withcuriosity to the time when the sleeper shall awaken andunravel the mystery. Briefly the facts are as follows : Be-tween two and three months ago, on May 12th, the police

YESTERDAY afternoon the Academy of Medicine held itsannual meeting, and a list of the prizemen and medalist"was read by the Secretary. In one instance there was no

award, because no memoir had been sent in for the prize,and in others the competing essays were not considered tobe of sufficient merit. The C lvrieux prize of 960 went toDr. Ballet; the Capuron prize ( £ 80) to Dr. Belugou. TheDesportes prize was divided between Dr. E. Vidal, for hiswork on the Traatment of Prolapsus of the Rectum by Hypo.dermic Injections of Ergotine, and Dr. Campardon. MM.

Lucas-Championniere and H. Toussaint were awarded 948and ;e32 respectively, the total forming the Prix Amussat.An important prize of 10,000 francs ( £ 400), but which is onlyawarded once in six years, was divided between Drs. Bige-low (of Boston) and Th. Auger, the former taking .S240 andthe latter :E160. M. Toussaint, of Toulouse, receives anencouragement to continue his researches concerning thecholera of fowls and acute experimental septicæmia in theshape of the Barbier prize, the value of which is £ 240. Theenumeration of all the awards would be tedious, but it mayinterest your readers to know what are the prizes and whatthe subjects for 1883. Perhaps some industrious workers inEngland may be stimulated to enter the list. The Prix de1’Academie is 1000 francs ; the subject, to determine theClinical Value of Antiseptic Methods in Surgical Practice.Prix Portal, 1000 francs, Is Tubercle of Parasitic Nature?Prix Civrieux, 2000 francs, Hysterical Para’yses and Con-tractures. Prix Capuron, 2000 francs, on the Influence ofSea-bathing in the Scrofula of Children. Prix Godard,2000 francs, for the best work on External Pathology(Surgical Disease). Prix Barbier, for the Discovery ofa Cure for any Disease reputed to be Incurable, such asEpilepsy, Hydrophobia, Cancer, Cholera; part of it maybe awarded for advancement in this direction. Prix

Desportes, 1500 francs, for the best work on MedicalTherapeutics. Prix Daudet, 1500 francs, Lymphadenoma.A prize of 2000 francs, under the name of the Prix de1’Hygiene de 1’Enfance ; subject, to determine by preciseObservation the Rôle of First Dentition in Infantile Pathology.Prix Amussat, 2000 francs, for a work based upon Anatomyand Experiment leading toprogress in Surgical Therapeutics.Prix Samt-Lager, 1500 francs, for the Discovery of a Cure forGoitre. Prix Saint Paul, 25,000 francs, for the Discovery ofa Cure for Diphtheria; the interest of the capital maybeawarded as an encouragement for work in this direction.The account given in the last letter of M. Laborde’s lecture,

and the disturbance created by a lady anti-vivisectionist,does not appear to be quite correct. The meeting, insteadof breaking up in confusion, was only interrupted for a fewminutes, during which time the fair zoophite let off hervirtuous indignation, and declared that the intended demon-strations should only take place after her blood had beenmingled with that of the frogs. Force being out of thequestion, and the lady having determined to occupy theposition she had achieved, M. Laborde invited her to sharethe professorial chair, and act, as it were, as censor, promisingto pay attention to any objections she might make. Thanksto his tact, the lecturer was able to carry out his programme;and when he had finished he congratulated his unexpectedcolleague on the opportunity she had given him of vindi-eating science. This correction is worth making, the moreso as a great deal of unnecessary fuss and misrepresentationhave crept into the papars about the incident.At the present momeat there is a case of nervous dis-

ease in the Beaujon Hospital which seems to interestall Pdris. The daily papers publish bulletins concern-

ing the dormeuse, as the patient is termed; and as heridentity is unknown, everyone is looking forward withcuriosity to the time when the sleeper shall awaken andunravel the mystery. Briefly the facts are as follows : Be-tween two and three months ago, on May 12th, the police