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668 PROPOSED INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL AT KINGSTON.—At a meeting of the Kingston-on-Thames Town Council last week, a resolution was carried with unanimity to strenuously resist the proposal to establish an infectious diseases hospital on the banks of the Thames between the river and Richmond-road, Kingston. The action of the Rich- mond officials and the Dysart trustees was strongly dis- approved by the members of the Council, and the opinion was expressed that Kingston should provide a hospital for its own use. THE OPIUM COMMMISSION.—A preliminary meet- ing of the Royal Commission on the Opium Trade was held on Thursday last to determine the future course of procedure. It is understood that to-day (Friday) Lord Brassey will pre- side in one of the committee-rooms of the House of Lords to hear evidence, and this work will be continued on Saturday and on Tuesday next, after which day the sittings will be held from day to day until the whole of the evidence from witnesses in this country shall have been received. Sir Charles E. Bernard of the India Office is acting as Secretary pro tem. to the Commission. JEWISH BAKERIES.-On the 4th inst. a deputa- tion from the International Bakeries Union waited upon the Chief Rabbi (Dr. Adler) to bring under his notice the evils attending upon the sweating system practised in many of the Jewish bakeries. It appears that in many of these establishments it is not unusual for the men employed in them to have to work from sixteen to twenty-four hours a day. The bakeries were described as in a deplorable con- dition with regard to both filth and want of ventilation. The Chief Rabbi said he would take an early opportunity of visiting some of the worst places complained of, and he hoped to be a-ble by representations made in the proper ’quarter to obtain some amelioration in the condition of both *the employes and their workshops. POPLAR HOSPITAL.-On Monday last a new wing of this hospital was opened by Lord and Lady Knuts- ford. The addition to the resources of this useful institution was necessitated by the long-felt want of further accommo- dation for the numerous applicants for relief in the populous neighbourhood in which the hospital is situated. By this wing 160 beds will be placed at the disposal of the governors, and their liability would have been increased by the ex- penditure of the sum of E22,000 had not the liberality of the friends of the institution reduced that amount to E2000. Mr. A. F. Hills presided at the opening ceremony ,nd congratulatory addresses were made by the senior hon. surgeor, Mr. Corner, and by other gentlemen interested in the progress and work of the hospital. Parliamentary Intelligence. THE HOUSE OF LORDS. THURSDAY, AUG. 31ST. The London Improvements Bill. THE consideration of the Commons’ amendments to the Lords’ emendments in this Bill was commenced by a motion by Lord Hobhouse to tte effect that their lordships should not insist on their amendment to strike out of the Bill the "betterment" clause, which had been reinstaled by the Commons. After some discussion, in which Lord Onslow, the Marquis of Salisbury, the Earl of Kimberley and other Peers joined, the motion was defeated by a majority of 23. FRIDAY, SEPT. 1ST. The Coittagioits Diseases (Animals) (Swine Fever) Bill. ’This Bill was read a third time. THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. THURSDAY, AUG. 31sT. Vaccination. Mr. Hopwood asked the Secretary of State for the Home Depart- ment whether he would inquire into the case of F. W. Smith, of Clarence-road, Hunslet, Leeds, under sentence of fourteen days’ im- prisonment for neglecting to vaccinate his child : whether two police officers about midnight of Aug. 17th knocked loudly at and broke in the outer door to arrest Smith ; and whether he would take Hteps to prevent such a course being pursued in the future.-Mr. Herbert Gladstone, who replied, 8aid that the Home Secretary had made I further inquiries into this case and had received a report from the chief .constable, from which it appeared that Smith had evaded payment, having stated that he did not intend to pay, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. As the officer could not see him during the day he pro- ceeded to his house at night. He did not in the first imtance break open the door. He knocked, and Smith replied that he would surrender when ready, but instead of that he escaped by a back door. The officer afterwards burst open the door and found that Smith was gone The chief constable further said that if he had been consulted beforehand he would not have authorised the attempt to arrest the man at night The proceedings did not appear to have been illegal. The War Office and Medical Reports. Mr. Alpheus Morton asked the Secretary of State for War whether the officer at the War Office who supervises the quarterly medical reports, and to whom the whole sanitary responsibility of the army is left, iq only a junior officer, holding the rank of surgeon-major ; whether he will arrange to have the principal medical officer’s inspections made twice a year in India, as in this country; and whether he will make a more stringent order requiring the commanding officers to go round with the principal medical officer on his half-yearly inspections.—Mr. Campbtll-Bannetman said that the officer in question was not a junior officer, but one who had had neady twenty )ears’service. The Sani- tary responsibility of the army did not rest solely with him, or even with the Director-General, the interests of the army in this respect being secured by the Army Sanitary Committee, of which the officer in question was a member. The second question was one entirely for the Indian Government to answer. It was not proposed to alter the regu. lation at present existing as to the officer who was to accompany the medical officer on his half-yearly visit. This duty was imposed upon such officer, not below the rank of captain, as the officer commanding might appoint; and he was also accompanied by an officer of the Engineers.-Mr. Morton asked whether the right hon. gentleman was aware that the medical officer was often accompanied by an officer of lowpr rank than captain.-Mr. Campbell-Bannerman said that this would be strictly against the regulations. Importation of Rmgs. Mr. Macdona asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Senate of Hamburg has issued an order to prevent the im. portation into Hamburg. and has prohibited transit over territory under its control, of rags and bedding imported from Rus-ia, actuated by the experience of what the people of Hamburg suffered in 1892; and whether he will consider the advisability of adopting a similar course in this country.-Mr. Henry Fowler said the only information he had as to the order referred to was contained in a telegram from Berlin to the effect that the Hamburg Senate had issued orders with reference to old clothes and dirty body and bed linen from Russia, passengers’ luggage excepted. The order of the Local Government Board dealt in a similar manner with articles of a like character. The existing order prohibited the landing in England of dirty bedding or disused or filthy clothing, whether belonging to emigtants or otherwise, except under specified conditions.-In reply to further questions on the same subject Mr. Fowler said that the Local Government Board prohibited the importation into this country of all dirty and filthy rags or disused clothing or bedding. There were descriptions of rags called "merchan. dise" and these rags were not prohibited in any European country. Bethlem and St. Luke’s Hospitals. Replying to a question put by Mr. A. C. Morton as to the govern- ment, finances &c. of the above hospitals, Mr. H. Fowler gave par- ticulars on these points in respect of the two institutions. The right hon. gentleman said the hospitals formed part of the general provision for the insane of the United Kingdom as public institutions and for patients not of the pauper class. The Commissioners of Lunacy had stated that the managers of both charities deserved praise for their work in connexion with them. Laundries and the Factory Act. Mr. H. Gladstone, in answer to Mr. Beith, said he had received a resolution from the Trades Council of Inverness in favour of placing laundries in which women were employed under the Factories Act, and the inspectors had received instructions to make special inquiries into the question. FRIDAY, SEPT. 1ST. Importation of Infected Rags. Mr. H. Fowler, replying to a question put by Mr. Macdona, who wished to know if the President of the Local Government Board was aware that there were now hing on the wharves at London Bridge over 300 tons of rags from infected districts, said no trace of the rags spoken of could be tound, but if the hon. member would give him private information the Board would order a full investigation. As to the suggestion that it would be advisable that the oraer of Aug. 6th be rescinded, he must be guided by the advice of the competent medical advisers of the Board. Glanders in Scotland. Sir H. Maxwell asked if any information had been received of repeated outbreaks of glanders in Wigtownshire and whether the local authority had repudiated any responsibility in the matter.- Mr. Gardner was sorry to have to confirm the accuracy of the report respecting the outbreak. It had been stated that the epidemic had been introduced into the county named from Billantrae, Ayrshire, but this was disputed; anyhow, it was important that both local authori- ties should take active measures to restrict and if possible to stamp out the disease. MONDAY, SEPT. 4TH. Infectious Diseases in London. Sir Walter Foster, replying to questions put by Mr. E B Hoare and Mr. Weir on this subject, sud he had been informed that it had beea found to be impossible to establish a system of registration of applica tions for admission to the Metropolitan Asvlums district hospitals such as had been suggested. The average number of actual admi-sions per week during the last fourteen weeks had been 390. The actual admissions during June, July and August were respectively 1633, 1736 and 1083. It was not possible to receive all applications, but a selec- tion was made from amongst those cases which appeared to be the most urgent. With regard to the average interval between the actt,31 requisition for removal and the admission of patients, his (Sir Walter Foster’s) information was not precise, but the interval was, in the majority of cases, of brief duration.
