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THE TERRITORIAL MEDICAL SERVICE.

(FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

II.-THE SELECTION OF SITES FOR CAMPS, WATER-SUPPLIES, &C.

BEFORE actually proceeding to a camp of exercise, mucuseful work can be done by a Territorial medical officer in tbnature of making inquiries, either in person or by correspon(ence, from the local military authorities of the area in whicit is proposed to locate his unit for field training. As

general rule the actual site of the camp, if on War Deparment ground, is selected and allotted to the different units bthe local military authorities (G.O.C.), and his staff medicoofficer (A.M.O.) is responsible for the sanitary administrtion. Inquiry should be made from the latter, or in hiabsence from the local medical officer of health, as tthe prevalence of infectious diseases in the vicinity of thcamp and of the arrangements to be made for treatincases of infectious disease occurring during a trainingThe writer has known considerable flutter to have arise:in a large Volunteer camp where a case of small-po:occurred, no such inquiry having previously been madeA map of the camp area should also be obtained ani

definite instructions from the local A.M.O. as to th

camp conservancy arrangements, more especially thstandard types or plans with full directions for latrinesurinals, sullage water, and grease pits, and whethelatrine seats have been provided for officers and N.C.0’sThe water-supplies of the camp should be inquire(into, whether if wells or springs they have been protected from surface pollution and fenced round, the

arrangements for providing R.A.M.C. water squads, waterand filter-carts and instructions for cleansing them, als(whether it is necessary that the water should be clarifiedfiltered, or boiled, and the provision of materials (alum, fuel&c.) for carrying out this. The question of provision of arincinerator for the camp and also proper ablution benche.for the men should not be lost sight of. A few days befonthe departure of the main body to camp the sanitary squacunder their N.C. 0. should be sent with the advance party.Definite instructions should be issued to this party by the0. C. unit as to the position and number of latrines, urinals,urine pits, sullage, and grease pits to be dug, not forgettingthe latrines, &c., for the canteens and institutes. Lastly,the address of the engineer officer (0.0. Rye.) of the camparea should be ascertained, as he is the responsible officialfor remedying constructional defects, water-supply, drainage,roads, &c. During camp training every attempt should bemade by senior medical officers to instruct their juniors inall matters appertaining to the relationship of sanitation andpreventive medicine generally to the art of war. In thiscountry the medical profession is very much behindhand inthe matter, whereas on the continent the standard literatureon the subject is very full. It is understood that the WarOffice authorities are at present engaged in the preparationof a handbook.The more military medical officers’ understand of tactics

and strategy the greater will their appreciation be of anygiven situation and the more will their advice on sanitarymatters be recognised by general officers. In peace time

any training, medical, sanitary, or otherwise, to be ofvalue must be on the lines that will be followed inactual war, and the question of the selection of grounds forencampments and bivouacs will naturally be one of import-ance, and one of the greatest possible factors in the preven-tion of disease among troops on field service will be strictattention to all matters relating to camp hygiene.An army in the field encamps or bivouacs with the primary

object of obtaining rest and food, the degree of enjoyment ofwhich depends on security of repose from the enemy’sattack, and also on the quality, quantity, and facilityof obtaining food- and water-supplies; and last, but not

least, upon the sanitation of the ground occupied and itscontinuous upkeep.

R1Ûes for Selection of Site.In time of war the site for a standing camp is selected

chiefly because it presents certain strategical advantages,and will be, as a rule, found on lines of communica-tion and other places more or less of a permanent

nature. The site for a temporary camp, on the other hand,is chosen on account of some tactical advantage which theground may offer, and for this reason the comfort of thetroops occupying it may often have to be much more

neglected than in the case of standing camps. Nevertheless,the nature of the ground on which men have to sleep should,if possible, always be considered, as if men have to rest on

damp or very uneven, stony ground, their rest, and con-, sequently their health, will suffer. Some military leaders,.

Napoleon for instance, considered bivouacs more healthythan living in tents. Bivouacs, however, have one greatdisadvantage-namely, the difficulty of the men gettingundisturbed sleep. In the selection of a site for a camp orbivouac three main considerations may be said to beinvolved: (1) Security against attack from the enemy; (2)convenience for roads and water ; and (3) sanitation. Withthe first of these-namely, security-a medical officer has noofficial responsibility, but when detailed alone or detailed toaccompany an advance guard or reconnaissance party, heshould bear it in mind when looking out for a likely site.With the second consideration, that of convenience of site,a medical officer has an official advisory interest; and withthe third consideration, or that of sanitation, the medicalofficer is the official of all others who does and should bearthe full brunt of responsibility.

In all cases of selection of camps, a medical officer (eitherthe Sanitary Officer, Army Headquarters, when the camp isintended for the main army, or the sanitary officer of a

division, if the camp for such is under consideration) shouldaccompany the combatant staff officer sent forward, and anofficer of the Royal Engineers should also be present if

possible, as some details connected with water-supplies,drainage, or the like, may require his special and individualattention. Such representatives must be regarded as experts,who will examine the proposed site from different points ofview according to their own branch of the service, and theopinion of each should be weighed as circumstances allowwhen the final selection is made. No officer of this com-mittee should be detailed to choose a camp on his owninitiative alone, as, assuming each to be an expert in his ownparticular line, he will be an enthusiast, and enthusiasts mayat times be dangerous, being liable to be more or less pre-judiced in favour of their own special profession. Selection

by a mixed quorum will always be found a wise precautionarymeasure, from the fact that it will neutralise any such

tendency. ’’ When military and sanitary decision in theselection of a camp clash, as they may frequently," saysLord Wolseley, "the point must be settled according totheir relative importance in each case. If a great battleis impending everything must give way to strategical or

tactical exigencies of the moment, and troops may have tobivouac for many nights in positions that may be

objectionable in a purely sanitary point of view. It may,however, be accepted as a general rule that when beyondtwo days’ march of the enemy sanitary conditions are tobe accepted first.The special sanitary officer who aids in the selection of a

camp site must take into consideration the following points;he should also be in a position to make a concise writtenreport on each if necessary.

1. Fitness of the site in point of salubrity as to soil andsubsoil, shape of ground, nature of cultivation, suggestionsas to best form of camp, and precautions necessary for itssanitary conservancy.

2. Water-supplies, their quantity, quality, and precautionsnecessary for their upkeep, distribution, and protection frompollution.

3. Position of latrines, cook-houses, and refuse trenches.4. Local supply of provisions and fuel.5. Roads leading to camp, and means of lateral communi-

cations.Fitness of the site in point of salitbrity.-In selecting the

site of a camp the following suggestions as to its generalsalubrity may be considered. One of the most importantpoints to remember is to avoid encamping on ground that hasbeen previously occupied as a camp, if possible, and if thisis unavoidable for military reasons, go as far to windward aspossible of the old site. Should an army be obliged to

occupy a defensive position for any length of time on whichan attack is expected to be made, pitch the camp or bivouacin advance of such position, so that when the enemy approachthe vicinity clean ground can be retired on if necessary and

417

your adversary is forced to occupy a polluted site for his own or

camp should he move to attack you. Similarly, when water- uni

supplies come under consideration always camp up-stream ha’and protect your water-supply. Avoid camping near marshes; bethe banks of running rivers are good. The presence of an wa

abundance of green vegetation generally indicates a damp wa

and more or less unhealthy locality, but such places should an,

be noted and borne in mind in the event of water being wa

scarce, as by digging or boring wells or by sinking Norton’s th{tubes in such places water can probably be obtained. A cic

grass country with sand or gravel as a subsoil, which flaacts as a natural drain, is the best possible site for a ou

camp ; especially is this the case if the ground is inllevel and on the top of a rise or ground gently an

sloping to the east or south. Sites on granite, meta- th

morphic, clay-slate, and trap-rocks are also good, unless bl;these rock strata be disintegrated, when they are un- be

healthy ; limestone and magnesian limestone sites are also be

healthy when not marshy, and although the water-supplies haare hard they are good. Chalk strata by themselves, WI

when unmixed with marl, are good, and so is the water in mtheir vicinity. When, however, marl and chalk exist be

together they usually form impermeable strata and the soil as

is damp and water-logged. Permeable sandstone sites itare generally most healthy. Avoid flat country lying below msloping ground, and low-lying meadow land. Land with a pcclayey or marl subsoil is damp and becomes unbearable in towet weather : the ground becomes a bog; men’s feet, bEblankets, and clothing become wet-so such soil should be wavoided. The shade of the trees, either in camp or near at frhand, is of great value in sheltering men and animals from U1

the sun ; but decaying vegetation, jungle, and forestsrecently cut down are all dangerous in tropical and rimalarious countries. ir

Selection of TVater-S1tpplies for a Camp. T

Having considered the fitness of the site of a camp in a1point of salubrity as to the soil and subsoil, and the 1

main features of the ground with reference to its 11

shape and general position, the next point to consider wis the facility it affords for obtaining water, wood, and aforage. As the subject of water-supplies is of greatestimportance it will be considered first. The presence or a

absence of water will on all campaigns compel a General FOfficer Commanding to fix the length and direction of his Pmarches and almost dictate the plan of campaign. It was dthe absence of a proper water-supply that compelled General "

Buller to give up the hope of relieving Ladysmith after the 1I

successful battle of Vaal Krantz. It was on account of thewant of a proper water-supply that the Duke of Wellington ’1

was compelled to occupy a position at the action of Vimiera hwhich he had to change almost at the moment the French f,attacked. So a sanitary survey of water-supplies will 11always be a matter of the greatest importance in war, andin reporting on a water-supply in war time the first factor is s" quantity"; if this is sufficient the question of "quality" " r

can be gone into. The permanency of water-supplies when r

they come from springs or wells is a matter of importance. c

In a flat country the permanency of a spring is doubtful unless the water is very cold : this will indicate that it comes lfrom deep strata ; on the other hand, springs from the foot 1of hills are, as a rule, permanent. In districts where sand- s

stone strata exist springs are usually permanent, as suchstrata are subject to the formation of subterranean reservoirs from the action of carbonic acid in the rock. There are Iusually few springs in chalk districts on account of the

porous nature of the soil; below chalk strata springs may exist. In granite and trap districts all forms of small streams are suspicious as to permanency unless theyoriginate in lakes, otherwise they are very variable as to supply. Whatever water-supply is selected it should begood and ample for the force and safe from pollution by the drainage of the camp. ’

Never put a camp or a station above its water-supply.This is of great importance when a camp is to be occupiedfor more than one night ; if it has unavoidably to be occu-pied longer construct a drain to intercept any possible pol-lution between the camp and the water-supply. When itis necessary to search for water by borings they should bemade at low levels in a plain, or in places where long rankgrass exists or where vegetation is more luxuriant, such asthe low levels, at or near the bottom of hills, at the

junction of dry or damp water courses of two or more valleys,

where mist rises in the evening, or under cliffs, order the highest side of a valley. The sanitary officer

.ving selected the water-supplies they should at once

, marked with distinguishing flags (and put in charge ofater-guards) for drinking, watering animals, bathing, andashing ; a red flag should denote water for drinking, a red-id-black for watering, and a black flag for bathing andashing. If the supply is derived from a running streamie greatest care must be taken to prevent men from washingothes or bathing up-stream above the drinking-waterag. In the case of streams the flags should at once markIt the water ; above the first or red flag the water for drink-g and cooking to be drawn ; between the red and the red-id-black flags horses and cattle to be watered; betweene black-and-red and black flags bathing ; and below theack flag washing of clothes. When drinking water has toe obtained from a river with high banks, buckets should note used, but a light hand-pump with a hose. The hose shouldave a strainer attached to the end of the suction pump ; theater can then be pumped into tarpaulin sheet baths, andiud, if present, allowed to settle. On no account should mene allowed to dip their water-bottles in such water-supplies,s they only stir up the mud ; they should be made to draw; from water carts which can be filled from the tarpaulin byaeaus of a hand pump. When water has to be taken from aool the same system ought to be adopted, and when it has) be taken from a broad dry river bed small wells shoulde dug a few feet from the edge into which the waterwill filter through the sand. The water can be takenrom these by pumps ; by this means the main supply isntouched and not disturbed.

In standing camps the approach to the intake from aiver or stream should be roughly paved and the surfacen its vicinity cleared of bushes and rank vegetation.he stream should, if necessary, be slightly deepened,t the intake and all weeds removed. If required, a

mall dam should be thrown across the river just below thentake. If several pools or wells are used, drinking waterveils should be selected at a higher level than watering,Lnd watering at a higher level than washing or bathing.Neither surface nor subsoil pollution should be permitted inany place where it is likely to pollute the drinking water.For this reason water for washing purposes is to be

pumped off by a light hand-pump and hose or, failing this,lrawn in buckets and used some distance away at a placendicated by a black-and-white flag. When bathing is

ndulged in men are not to use soap, and when clothes arewashed they are to be washed at the black-and-white flag.rhis is an arrangement of the first importance both forhealth and comfort, and when a position is to be occupiedfor any length of time these regulations are of still greatermoment.

If the water-supply is from springs, small reservoirsshould be made to catch and hold the supply thatruns off during the night, so that every gallon of water

may be available; or barrels may be sunk with guttersconnecting each to receive the overflow as each is filled.A small well ’with a limited supply can be improvisedby sinking a barrel perforated all round with half-inch

holes ; from this the water can be easily drawn. The

surroundings of this well should first be thoroughly freedand cleansed of all vegetation, dead leaves, and debris ; aclear area of at least 20 yards’ radius should be railed off toprevent contamination, and no troops or animals should beallowed in the vicinity. All water from such wells ought to bedrawn in clean metal buckets, or better still, it should be

pumped by a light hand-pump with a protected suction hoseinto a tarpaulin bath sheet, and again from this into watercarts. In the selection of wells the water should be analysedif possible, and the inhabitants living in the vicinity closelyquestioned as to its pureness and permanency. Wells that

dry up in the hot weather months should be rejected infavour of permanent ones ; preference should also be givento wells that are in a good state of repair and not overhung bybushes or rank vegetation ; their position as regards freshlymanured fields and villages must also be considered. In

standing camps wells should be thoroughly cleaned out and asmuch water as possible drawn off before being taken intouse, and water should never be drawn except by pump ormetal bucket. The surface ground in the immediate vicinityof a well should be drained to carry away all water spilled.No water should be judged from chemical or bacteriological

418

tests alone ; it is also necessary to see its source and cour!and also use common sense. If chemical tests are n(

available, next to smell, taste, and ordinary common sensla fair estimation can be made of water in a well by attentioto the following points :-The construction of the well, thsource of water and its depth, its immediate surrounding!and its relation to obvious pollution. The meteorologiesconditions prevailing when the water is examined must bremembered, and it must be ascertained if any specific waterborne disease is supposed to exist in the locality.When a large pond, tank, or reservoir has to be used fc

drinking purposes as well as watering animals and wherpumps are not available, the supply for drinking purposeshould be obtained as far away as possible from the placewhere the animals are watered or washing done. Animalshould water from the shallow side of a pond and a pumshould also be connected here, if possible, leading to a trougfor washing purposes. Water for drinking should be drawfrom the deepest part and be pumped out if possible. Iall cases sentries must be posted over the water-supplyand it should be laid down as a rule that the captaiiand subaltern of the day on duty for each battalion must visiduring their tour of duty the sources from which the wateis supplied to their men and see that no irregularitietake place there. It is also advisable that the fiellofficer on duty and the orderly medical officer of th

day pay surprise visits to see that the conservane,of these water-supplies is being maintained, and an officeshould accompany all watering parties. In arranginthe common water-supply of a camp, where there are severadivisions, an understanding must be arrived at by the stafofficers of each division as to the guards to be mounted dail3over the water and the regulations to be enforced.

Drinking water should, if possible, only be taken fronsources which are above suspicion. If such sources are noiavailable we must of necessity attempt purification by meansof filters or boiling. The simplest, most suitable, andmost certain means is boiling. Permanganate of potashis useless unless employed in very large quantities.Sterilising tablets are not suitable for the British soldier.

Bisulphate of soda is generally unserviceable, but for short,forced marches not exceeding three days it should provevaluable ; after a few days’ use it acts as a purge. Ozone asa purification agent acts very well and will possibly be thesteriliser of the future ; it is, however, expensive to generate.For troops on service the following line of water prophylaxisseemed to be indicated from our experience in recent wars :(1) Griffiths or Forbes Waterhouse sterilisers for troops instanding camps ; (2) candle filters with preliminary strainerscarefully protected by packing in baskets and carried ontrained mules for troops on the line of march; and (3)bisulphate of soda tablets for forced marches of not morethan three days. Whether sterilisation be employed or not,as soon as time and labour are available all water-sourcesshould be improved and new ones of irreproachable characterselected and established.

In calculating the amount of water necessary per manfor drinking and cooking, six pints should be the minimumallowance in temperate, and eight pints in tropical, countriesper diem. The maximum quantity required for all purposeswill not exceed five gallons per head except in hospitals,where eight ought to be allowed. The following is the dailyallowance for animals : elephants, 25 gallons; camels,10 gallons (these animals are not regular drinkers) ; horses,oxen, mules, and ponies, five gallons each. (Horses, oxen,mules, and ponies drink one and a half gallons at a time andtake at least three minutes to drink every time they are

watered.) In calculating water in bulk it may be useful toremember one cubic foot of water contains six gallons. The

transport for carrying water is very great and also verycostly when it has to be brought for any distance. Duringthe military operations at Suakin 13,000 gallons of waterrequired 700 camels to accompany the force that went toHasheen. During the operations in Natal all the water

required at Frere had to be moved by train in railway water-tanks from down country, and at the battle of Colenso thesewater-trucks supplied the troops with water on the field ofbattle. In the Soudan campaign, at the advance dep6t andat the base, the iron tanks used for holding water on boardship were used. A sanitary committee assembled at Cairoduring this war, considering the various patterns of water-carrying appliances, gave it as their opinion that iron tanks

se were at all times preferable to wooden ones for either storageot or transport of water, and recommended their use for thee, Suakin expedition.m Filters.-No existing type of filter suitable for field serviceie appears to be free from the danger of becoming a focus ofs, infection ; most of the filters tried in the field in recental years are all too liable to choke with mud and become too>e slow in delivery, others are too complicated in theirr- mechanism, easily injured in transport wagons, and require

time to set up and work. When they arrive in camp theyor are generally too late for the companies that should marchre out on night picket before the wagons get in. The filterss used by troops, British and continental, for the last fews years have all been of the candle type, such as the Pasteur-Is Chamberland, Mallie, and Berkefeld, all of which can

IP efficiently sterilise water in standing camps and with troopsh under conditions of peace, but, generally speaking, have notn proved satisfactory in the field when used with a movingn field army, as breakage or cracking of the candles so often7, occurred. The candles are also very prone to loosen at theirn attachment and leakage then occurs, allowing unfilteredit water to pass through and mix with the filtered. Another;r objection to such filters is the frequent necessity to cleanis them, as the filtering medium, the candle, gets cloggedd and water will not pass through until it is brushed, ande brushing and sterilising bougies not only wear them out buty cause minute cracks which impair their germ-stoppingir properties. Filters which require daily sterilisation are im-g practicable for motile columns on field service. Berkefeld

filters were supplied extensively to the South African Fieldff Force in the late war, and proved most efficient when care-y fully husbanded by intelligent workers who understood

what their purpose was intended for, and who clarified water1 with alum preparatory to filtration, thus avoiding cloggingt with mud ; but it is only in places like standing camps,s hospitals, or officers’ messes that the instructions, as laidi down in the directions that accompanied each filter, were1 carried out, and even in such places constant supervision. was necessary. The Berkefeld filter is much more rapid in. its delivery, but is not so durable as either the Mallie or, Pasteur-Chamberland, neither is it so efficient, as the porosity of the candles is greater. In multiple bougie

filters, where more than one candle is used, experience has proved that they are very unreliable, as breakage, cracks, or

flaws of one or more candles are of so frequent occurrence: that the probability of leakage is always present, so that: the purity of the water has to be frequently tested bybacteriological examinations, which are often impossible on: field service. We may sum up the disadvantages of all bougieor candle filters as follows : (1) their delivery is too slow,

and this is especially the case when the water is foul and thepressure feeble ; (2) the output diminishes in proportion tothe length of time the candle is in use, and the filter requiresfrequent cleaning; (3) the cleaning requires to be carried outby a skilled attendant, using considerable care on account ofthe fragility of the candles ; (4) as it is difficult to noticebreakages or cracks which may occur during cleaning andwhich completely neutralise the good effects of the filtermuch illusory security exists ; (5) these filters are not asuccess on field service, when they require to be frequentlytaken to pieces for transport; on the line of march their

fittings get loose, and this danger is increased when theyhave to be entrusted to careless and clumsy hands. Soldiers,in order to get water more quickly, may break the candles tolet it run through, and the writer has known instances wherethe candles were deliberately removed and the water pumpedthrough the outer case for appearances’ sake. Recently theFrench War Department have made exhaustive trials inbarracks of the Pasteur-Chamberland filter with Andre’scleaning apparatus attached with favourable results, butthis does not appear applicable for field service on

account of the weight and fragility. This apparatusfacilitates the use of the filter by removing the riskof breaking the candles and allows cleaning to beentrusted to inexperienced hands, so that the wear

and tear is almost nil, even after two years’ work.Andre’s apparatus is said to increase the output of thecandles when the filter is working under pressure, althoughthe original water may contain more than an average amountof impurities. The candles are cleaned by an india-rubbercomb worked by a crank, and jets of water play on thecandles at the same time. These combs in turn touch every

419

portion of the surface of the candles, and cinder and fine slcharcoal dust is put in to render the cleaning more certain. Charcoal dust is also put into the filter after cleaning and slbefore refilling it with water. The minute particles of te

charcoal envelop each candle and form a shield, keeping mgelatinous deposits away from the pores of the candles. The

most suitable powders are those of Kieselguhr, or ground wcharcoal refuse. ir

It is, however, very desirable that officers should have dsome ideas, before starting a campaign, as to improvised w

filters, or rather water-strainers, and the means of making b

them, by converting barrels, oil cans, biscuit tins, and t<

various other utensils into filters, and also the means of T

improvising and turning to account all kinds of con- t]trivances to suit various purposes. In standing camps, h

improvised strainers have been made in many ways, fiof which the following may be mentioned :-1. In the dcase of muddy pools, wells were sunk at a short bdistance from the water-supplies and the soil was made Ito act as a natural filter. 2. Clean, empty beer barrels were sawn in half and a hole a foot square was cut out 1:of their bottoms, and fine cloth, linen, and khaki in v

several layers were stretched over the aperture. This iacted as an excellent strainer for mud. This tub-strainer c

was placed over another complete barrel, which received r

the strained water, and this, when finally drawn off by E

a tap below, came out clear. A lump of alum rubbed round the inside of the barrel when full of water for a few I

seconds (if the water is very muddy) will hasten the deposit fof sediment and will not affect the taste of the water. If desired the water can next be filtered through a Berkefeld (

filter, through which it will now easily run, and, finally, it may be boiled, as filtration does not do away with the neces-sity of boiling. If strictly carried out boiling will preventwater being a source of enteric fever and dysentery. Swamp lwater, or water containing vegetable d6bris, which gives it a l

rusty tinge, should always be boiled. Dysentery is especially prone to be produced by it in the tropics-for instance,Burma. Much of the water in Baluchistan and CentralAsia is so impregnated with salts as to cause severe diarrhoea.A salty-tasting water favours the growth of cholera germsand must be looked on with suspicion.Mud never at any time is a favourable adjunct to the

food of man and acting as an irritant to the intestinal tractproduces an acute gastro-intestinal inflammation, which

inevitably results in diarrhoea. Acute gastro-intestinalinflammation easily tends to become chronic; this is

especially manifested and aggravated on service when troopsare fed on preserved field rations and biscuits. When thechronic stage is reached the condition is most grave. From

faulty digestive power the soldier emaciates and becomesmuch debilitated, and the state of the mucous membrane ofthe intestines is such that a suitable nidus is presented to thegerms of enteric fever or dysentery should they be presentin any further water drunk.

(To be continued.)

QUACKERY AND SECRET REMEDIESIN SWEDEN.

(BY AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT.)

SWEDEN to-day is a happy hunting ground for quackswhose main grievance must surely be this, that their "pro-fession " is overcrowded. The yearly increasing number offoreign patent medicines with which the country is delugedhas led the chemists and medical profession to join hands inagitating for reforms the character of which was discussedin the Swedish Medical Society early this year.

Legislation alone is worse than useless. There are stilllaws on the statute books which, though unrepealed, are ofhistorical interest only. As early as 1688 the status of bothphysician and apothecary was clearly defined, and theirrights were jealously guarded. Quackery and the sale ofsecret remedies were as the sin of witchcraft for whichthe offender had to pay the then ruinous sum of50 dalers. This fine was equally divided between theCollege of Medicine and the poor. Repetition of the offencemeant a 100 dalers fine plus " exemplary punishment." Whatthis punishment consisted of is not stated : that it erred onthe side of leniency is highly improbable considering the

spirit of the age. A more recent law enacts that the illegal’lealer in medicines dangerous to the life or health of man,hall be punished with hard labour lasting from two to.en years. In the eighteenth century an attempt wasnade to combat the evils of secret remedies by buying andpublishing the secret of the inventor. The purchase-moneywas supplied by the State or the College of Medicine, whichnust often have made a very poor bargain. A remedy forlysentery proved to consist of rhubarb, nutmeg, andwax ; after swallowing this compound the patient was givenoarley gruel and melted wax. A cure for ague was foundto contain cobwebs, rhubarb, and the bark of alder and aspen.rhe princely sum of &pound;3000 was paid by the State only forthe right to import a cancer "cure" " which appears tohave contained sulphur, arsenic, and powdered ranunculusflammula. This compound was applied to the&Prime;cancer " indry form or mixed with yelk of egg. Patenting of medicines-had assumed such proportions in 1856 that a law was passedprohibiting the practice. By registering the name of hisI I cure " the inventor not only evaded this law but also.became entitled to the profits of his invention for ever,whereas on the expiration of a patent, the price of theinvention could no longer be arbitrarily fixed. Registrationof the name of any preparation was refused when its source,nature, and use were common property. Since 1908, how-ever, this restriction has been removed on internationalgrounds, and the inventor may now register even thenames of preparations which are notoriously fraudulent. Inface of penalties, drastic enough on paper, the modern quacksells for 10 marks his 88 grammes of cigar ash as a cure fordropsy, for 9.50 marks 4 grammes of boracic acid are dis-pensed as "philosophic gold salt," and for Kr.8.75 a.

small quantity of vaseline and tinc. cantharidis is sold asa hair-grower to the bald and beardless. The vendor of thislast remedy, however, ran foul of the law in Denmark, wherehe was forcibly detained. About 1400 letters, value from.E200 to E300, were addressed to him at this period.Under the leadership of Professor Morner the " Bureau for

Information about Medical Advertisements " was started in1903. This institution, which is subsidised by the Society ofApothecaries, aims at providing the public with gratis trust-worthy information as to the composition, action, and realvalue of advertised remedies. From time to time it pub-lishes the results of its investigations in pamphlet formunder the heading, "About Fraudulent Medical Remedies andMethods." A systematic watch is kept over advertisements ofsecret remedies, which are collected by hundreds and

analysed. The bureau is aided by a section of the pressin exposing the worst frauds to the public. It is also intouch with similar foreign institutions, the publications ofwhich are collected for reference. The bureau has recentlyexposed a quack by name Olsen, who spelt his namebackwards, and did a roaring trade in "Sequa’s rheu-matic ointment, the chief constituent of which was vaseline.A portrait of "Dr. Sequa " on the wrapper proved on

investigation to be really that of a well-known authorIllustrations of "Dr." Neslo’s chemical laboratory were’taken from photos of the Swedish Telegraphic Bureau. By ahappy slip a number of applications for medicine addressedto Neslo’s chemical laboratory were delivered at anotherchemical laboratory, which responded by sending out thebureau’s pamphlet. Olsen has now abandoned the treat-ment of rheumatism and sells a cure for phthisis, consisting ofbarley meal and wax, which too is engaging the embarrassingattention of the bureau. Another fraud, the truth aboutwhich the bureau published in pamphlet form, consisted of a"Kr. 3.50 a bottle " cure for phthisis styled" Woodjuice." This was composed of 99’ 85 per cent. water and 0 15 percent. wax, resin, &c. The bureau stated that the mostvaluable constituent of the "cure was the empty bottle.The exposure of a quack remedy is repeatedly followed

by the remedy’s reappearance in another and more potentform, but if the cooperation of pharmacists is forthcomingthe evils of the traffic in fraudulent cures can beat any rate moderated. An enterprising pharmaceuticalchemist has devised the plan of dispensing drugs ina wrapper on which some of the bureau’s exposuresof frauds are printed. The latest edition of these

wrappers for distribution by chemists appeared in an

edition of 500,000 copies. The bureau’s assistance is some-times sought by the medical journals when these are in doubtas to the advisability of accepting certain advertisements.