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acid, Professor Ewald said that it might be either normal or a

increased or diminished and an excess of hydrochloric acid cwas therefore by no means’ characteristic of gastric ulcer, c

whilst lactic acid was often absent. It followed from this that the chemical examination of the contents of the stomach did not contribute much to the diagnosis of "ithe disease. Hæmatemesis occurred in 54 per cent. of (

the cases ; this symptom was, however, present in other 1diseases also, such as uraemia, cirrhosis of the liver, septic diseases, and in so-called vicarious menstruation. It was 1not possible to localise an ulcer of the stomach although the apylorus was known to be affected in the majority of cases. Speaking of the complications of gastric ulcer he said that <

hour-glass contraction of the stomach might be ascertained by direct inspection with the gastroscope, but no satis-

factory form of this instrument had yet been made. Perfora- tion of the ulcer into the abdominal cavity was attended by Jsymptoms so characteristic that the diagnosis was very 1

easy, but perigastric adhesions were difficult to recognise.In a good many cases the diagnosis was uncertain.Patients suffering from chlorosis, the early stage oftuberculosis, gall-stones, cancer of the gall-bladder, and

gastric troubles connected with tabes were often supposedto be the subjects of gastric ulcer.

Professor FLETNER (Heidelberg) gave some account ofwhat had been done by early observers of gastric ulcer,stating that it was known to Hippocrates whose dietetic

prescriptions were judicious. He further mentioned theresearches of Cruveilhier, Trousseau, Brinton, Leube,and Kussmaul. Treatment, he said, aimed at obtain-

ing cicatrisation of the ulcer, and this might be accom-plished by means of rest, adequate food, and appropriatemedicines, especially salts of bismuth. The patient shouldeat as little as possible and in the beginning of the treatmentshould have only ice to suck, whilst milk was to be givenby the rectum. No other food than milk should be allowedfor four weeks ; meat and vegetables might then be given,but fruits, acids, meat extracts, and other gastric irritantswere to be prohibited. For convalescents a visit to the

country was preferable to a course of treatment at a mineralspa. Relapses sometimes happened, especially when thepatient had not been confined to bed for a sufficient time. Inthese cases irrigation of the stomach with a solution contain-ing bismuth was the best treatment, for the bismuth oftenadhered to the floor of the ulcer and had been found there afterthe lapse of several days. The compound of bismuth protectedthe ulcer against irritation ; it was also a disinfecting agentand promoted healthy granulation. Professor Fleiner hadtreated 500 cases of gastric ulcer without any death.

Surgical aid was advisable, especially in stricture of the

pylorus, and should be resorted to at an early period beforecachexia developed. Gastro-enterostomy was the operationwhich gave the best results. In profuse haemorrhageoperations were, as a rule, useless.

In the discussion Professor LEO (Bonn) said that he wasopposed to the use of tubes because they irritated the ulcer.

Dr. PARISER (Homburg) drew attention to erosions ofthe stomach, a condition which ought to be distinguishedfrom gastric ulcer proper.

Professor SAHLI (Berne) expressed the opinion that ingastric ulcer operative interference should be avoided as

much as possible, for the great majority of these ulcershealed under internal treatment.

Dr. ADOLPH SCHMIDT (Bonn) discussed the genesis ofgastric ulcers. He had discovered by experiments onanimals that in lesions of the mucosa the contractility ofthe muscular coat was increased so that the edges of thewound were brought together, but in chlorosis the contrac-tility of the muscular coat was diminished so that thelesion was left open and was liable to be attacked by thegastric juice.

Dr. HIRSCHFELD (Berlin) said that the development ofcancer in a cicatrised gastric ulcer was less frequent thanwas generally believed.

Tile Parasites of Cancer.Professor VON LEYDEN (Berlin) said that the increase of

cancer in Germany and England had induced a great manyobservers to study its etiology. He then discussed thevarious themes of Cohnheim, Hausemann, and Ribbert.Cancer from an anatomical point of view consisted in a pro-liferation of epithelial cells together with a destruction ofall the other cells. The exciting cause of this proliferationhad not yet been discovered. Various parasites had beencredited with possessing this power, but none of these hypo-theses had stood the test of further investigation, so that

any new discovery in that direction was received with some-distrust. Very likely the parasites of cancer lived within thecells. Ribbert had asserted that a parasite living in a cellwould destroy it but would not produce proliferation. Thisview, however, could be disproved by botanical analogies.There was sometimes in cabbage a growth very similar tocancer and known as "kohlhernie," in which plasmodia had,been discovered by Dr. Woronin, a Russian savant. Theseplasmodia grew within the cells and produced first a

proliferation and then a destruction of them. The an&aelig;miaand the alterations of the urine which occurred in cancermust be taken as symptoms of a general infection. Moreover,cancer had been communicated experimentally from oneanimal to another, of course of the same species. Professorvon Leyden also mentioned a case where by accident a,

student had drunk a fluid consisting of the gastric juice of apatient suffering from cancer of the stomach, the result.

being his death from cancer within two years. He thendescribed plasmodia which were found within the prolifer-ated cells in cancer, especially in fresh specimens, and werevery like those discovered by Dr. Woronin ; the plasma ofthe cells appeared as if destroyed by the parasites. Professorvon Leyden recently discovered masses of theee corpuscles.in capsules which were supposed to be sporangia. Similarmasses had also been met with in a case of cancer of the-

lungs.(To be continued.)

THE NICE HOSPITALS AND THEVICTORIA MEMORIAL.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL SANITARY COMMISSIONER.)

A Proposed Cottage Hospital for English-speaking Patientsat Nice. - The Difficulty of Dealing gvitlb Infectious Casesin Hotels.-T7,,e 11-ar Department and the MunicipalHospital. THE prevalence of small-pox on the Riviera has greatly

stimulated the efforts of all who had already endeavoured toimprove the hospital accommodation. At Nice especiallythere has been quite an agitation among the American andBritish visitors and residents in favour of building a cottagehospital. Some time ago the newly appointed British Consulat Nice. Mr. Alec McMillan, proposed that a memorialshould be established at Nice in honour of the late QueenVictoria. Of course there was a clergyman who suggested thatthe memorial should take the form of a stained-glass windowfor the beautification of his church. The British residentsand their American friends displayed, however, a more

practical turn of mind. They warmly supported the proposalof Dr. A. W. Gilchrist who argued that a cottage hospitalwould be of far greater service than a stained-glass window,particularly as there is no hospital with modern requisites inthe town. A public meeting of American and Britishresidents and visitors was held on March 16th last. In thecourse of a lengthy and interesting speech delivered on thisoccasion Dr. Gilchrist related the pathetic case of an Englishlady who was seized with a serious illness last year. Shehad been refused admittance to the Asile Evangeliqueand was removed to the Hopital de la Croix. " You.know," said Dr. Gilchrist, " the pitiful circumstances ofher death. In the middle of the night, amidst the gloomand desolation which befit the antiquated institution that,

gave her refuge, she drew her last breath, not only deprivedof those subtle influences which can rob even death of someof its terrors, but without the possibility of expressing herlast wishes to anyone of her own tongue." Then anothercase was described of a lady who was eligible for admissioninto the Asile Evangelique, but this patient required the careof an experienced surgeon not available at the Asile, where.the insanitary surroundings and restricted space render it

unwise to attempt major surgical operations. Her end washastened because there was no suitable hospital where shewould have received the constant attendance and skilled

, nursing which she needed. In many such cases English-, speaking medical men and trained nurses are absolutely

necessary. Another instance given was that of a young lady. of French parents but born and bred in England. Though- endowed with an exceptionally fine physique she had to.

undergo an operation rendered necessary through insufficienti care during childbirth. There was nothing particularly seriousi or dangerous about this case ; but being a Roman Catholic- she could not enter the Asile Evang&eacute;lique, and thereforet-he went to the General Hospital, where she died from

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blood-poisoning. There are many other such accidents onrecord, and the French as well as the practitioners have often’complained about the unsuitable and insanitary conditions ofthe General Hospital.

The Asile Evangelique is more suited for a convalescent’home. There are no proper provisions for serious surgical.operations, no lying-in ward, no isolation pavilion for infec-,tious cases, and it is only available for Protestants andmembers of the Orthodox Greek Church; Roman Catholics and- Jews are not admitted. It therefore in no wise meets the most

,urgent requirements. What is wanted is a cottage hospital,or rather several cottage hospitals, where English-speakingpatients, without any distinction of creed, can be treatedunder the best and most modern sanitary conditions by,English-speaking medical attendants and fully-trained nurses.There should be a well-equipped operating-room, a surgicalward, a medical ward, a lying-in ward, and an isolated

pavilion for infectious cases. Some of the beds, and these<would constitute the Victoria Memorial, should be gratuitous ;the others should be for paying patients attended by theirown physicians. Of the latter there would be a considerable:number, for in any serious case of illness it is obvious that

,many persons would prefer such a hospital to remaining inan hotel. They would also have a better chance of recovery.In regard to; infectious diseases the need of such an insti-’tution is still more obvious, for there can be no doubt thatthe infectious fever cases and small-pox should not be treated.at an hotel. The hotel-keepers are in considerable perplexitywhen such cases occur. If they compel the patient to leavethey may be accused of inhumanity and may become un-.popular among their customers. If they keep the patientthe customers may take fright and leave the hotel. Underthese circumstances many hotel keepers are willing tosubscribe to the proposed cottage hospital. Cases haveoccurred where well-to-do patients have died in an out-house, a shanty, or an abandoned workshop because therewas no room to isolate them in their hotel. Of the six casesof small-pox which occurred this season among the British- and American visitors one of the patients lived in a largetenement house. He was nursed by his brother and sisterwho were to be seen daily riding in the trams. Othertenants dwelling in the same house wanted to get away buthaving hired apartments for the season could not do so. It

may be said that this patient could have been removed to thehospital of La Croix where infectious cases are taken in andwhere private rooms can be hired. But it is an antiquatedinstitution devoid of modern requirements and there are onlyuntrained Italian sisters who sometimes render themselves

objectionable to Protestants.Considering that the welfare of Nice depends largely on its

foreign visitors and that the fear of small-pox has kept manyof them away during the recent winter season the questionnaturally arises why the municipality has not taken activesteps to provide proper accommodation, at least for theisolation of cases of infectious fever or small-pox. Thebetter to answer this obvious question I called on the Mayorof Nice. The present Mayor, M. Sauvan, has not been verylong in office, but from gossip in medical circles I had

already ascertained that he had manifested more than usualinterest in all matters relating to the public health, and hopesare entertained that under his administration more rapid pro-gre-s will be achieved. In any case M. Sauvan received memost courteously and was ready to supply the information Imade bold to demand. He insisted that the grievance in regardto the condition of the hospitals had been a subject of anxietyto the municipality for a long time and many efforts atreform had been made. Unfortunately until recently themunicipality was not master of the situation It hada partner, and a very obstructive partner, in the person Iof the Minister of War. This is a difficulty which certainly would never occur to the mind of a British or American Ivisitor when tempted to criticise the municipal deficiencies i.of Nice. We cannot conceive a British or American muni-cipality being debarred from providing proper hospitalaccommodation by the action of the War Office, and this,too, in the piping times of peace. But the fact is that theGeneral Hospital of Nice is a military as well as a civilhospital. Now the War Department is not in the leastconcerned about the welfare of Nice as a fashionablewinter resort. The military authorities were satisfied withthe hospital as it stood and were not going to trouble them-selves about alterations. Negotiations were opened bythe municipality with the War Office, plans were proposedand .schemes devised, but the military authorities invariablyput spokes in the wheels whenever the civil authorities tried

to move in the matter and this caused endless delay. Asolution of the difficulty has, however, at last been found.A contract has been signed by which the municipality takesover the entire management of the hospital. It will be ableto select a new site and to build a new hospital without havingto consult and to obtain the approbation of the War Office. Onthe other hand, the municipality undertakes to receive in itshospital all soldiers who are ill in exchange for a fixed

payment per head per day from the War Office. Already ithas been decided to abandon the present hospital andto build according to modern principles and on the

pavilion system a large hospital some four or fivemiles away from the centre of the town. There will beno financial difficulty in the accomplishment of thismuch-needed reform. Nice is the most prosperous ofthe large towns of France. Its population now numbers127,000 inhabitants and has increased to the extent of 20,000during the last five years. The mayor thinks that the newhospital will take some two or three years to build and there-fore he insisted that the solution of the difficulty which I hadexposed was now in sight. In regard to infectious casesthere will, of course, be one or more pavilions separatedfrom the rest of the hospital and reserved exclusively forisolation purposes. In response to this explanation I venturedto suggest that as the land had not yet been bought it wouldbe preferable to secure two different sites well apart fromeach other. There was no advantage-there might be somedanger-in having both hospitals in the same grounds ; theycould not be kept too far apart. The mayor graciouslypromised that good note would be taken of this observation.Of course, it is still too soon to say how far the building of

this new municipal hospital will lessen the need of a cottagehospital for English-speaking patients. For the latterpurpose &pound;1500 have been collected. Hopes are entertainedthat &pound;10,000 will be obtained and it is proposed to make astart as soon as &pound;4000 are in hand. If these hopes are con-firmed something may be done long before the new municipalhospital will be built. Also the new general hospital,however perfect it may be, will not meet the requirements ofthe British and American residents who want the attendanceof fully trained English nurses and English-speaking medicalpractitioners. There might, however, be some arrangementmade for an English ward at the general hospital and thismight cost less than a separate hospital for English-speakingpatients.

In the meantime, and whatever may be the value of thesesuggestions, it is most urgently necessary that better meansfor treating and isolating cases of small-pox and infectiousfevers should be provided. Even if such accommodation beof but a provisional character, it should be forthcomingbefore the opening of the next winter season.Nice, April.

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LIVERPOOL.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Opening of the New Hartley Botanical Laboratories atUniversity College.

THE magnificently-equipped botanical laboratories pre-sented to University College, Liverpool, by Mr. W. P.

Hartley were opened on May 10th, when Mr. Hartleyformally presented the buildings to the college authorities.In place of the customary ceremonial opening there was apresentation to Mr. Hartley of a gold key, and a similarmemento was presented to Sir William Thiselton-Dyer,K.C.M.G., the director of Kew Gardens, in recognitionof the address on the Study of Botany with which hefavoured the large audience who assembled in the artstheatre of the college to witness the proceedings. The

gathering was presided over by Mr. E. K. Muspratt andincluded Professor Marshall Ward (Cambridge University),Professor B. Farmer (Royal College of Science), ProfessorWeiss (Owens College, Manchester), Professor Potter

(Durham University), Professor Bottomley and ProfessorMillar Thomson (King’s College), Professor Smith (York-shire College), Sir John T. Brunner, Principal Dale (Uni-versity College, Liverpool), and a number of the collegestaff. Mr. Hartley, on making the presentation, said thathis object in providing the laboratories was to help inthe discovery of truth and in the encouragement ofscience in its pure as well as in its applied branches-knowledge which not simply made their wealth more andtheir comfort greater. but which improved the mind and,