554 LIVERPOOL.—WALES AND WESTERN COUNTIES.

be seen how infinitely small the proportion ot small-poxcases is to the number of inhabitants. Meanwhile the illwind blows and the good follows in the prevalence of vac-cination both by public vaccinators and by general prac-titioners throughout the country. The chairman of theHealth Committee has shown ar laudable example in beingvaccinated himself, and it is noticeable that a large numberof public functionaries have also submitted to the same

precautionary measure. The medical officer of health hassuggested also that the committee should recommend thatthe Infectious Diseases (Notification) Act, 1889. shall applywithin the city to chicken-pox as if such disease had been

specifically mentioned in the Act. No doubt this recom-mendation will be adopted as a wise provision for discrimina-tion and prevention of the spread of disease.

. Unqualified Dentists.Some discussion has arisen on the question of the registra-

tion of all who practise dentistry. ’ Birmingham suffers,as most towns do, from the presence of a large number ofadvertising dentists. There are difficulties in placing thenames of those upon the Register who have not gonethrough the necessary curriculum ; but the number of thosepractising before the adoption of the Register is now yearlygetting fewer, and in time the question will largely settleitself. The mechanical part of dpntistry must often beworked out under the direction of some superior; the

surgical part is inevitably only to be acquired by long andpatient study in a recognised school of teaching. The

Birmingham School of Dentistry is an exceedingly good oneand abounds in very able and competent teachers.

Feb. 18th. _________________

LIVERPOOL.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. )

The Liverpool School ot Tropical M dicine: : the Anti-mosquito Campaign.

ARRANGEMENTS have been made for Major Ronald Ross,F.R.S., late I.M.S., Walter Myers lecturer in the LiverpoolSchool of Tropical Medicine, to proceed for the third timeto Freetown, Sierra Leone, to assist in the work which is

being vigorously undertaken in West Africa against malariaand mosquitoes. Major Ross will sail from Liverpool onFeb. 22nd. The expedition which he is going to rejoin,the fifth to be organised by the Liverpool School of

Tropical Medicine, went out early in last year under MajorRoss’s direction with Dr. A. Logan Taylor. The work ofthe expedition is being carried on with energy. Dr.Latchmore, the medical officer of the Princess Christian Hos-pital in Sierra Leone, in his report, says that it is at presenttoo early to say anything about the decrease of diseasethere, because the members of the expedition have only beenat work eight months, and because it is very difficult toknow whether such cases of fever as have occurred are

simply relapses in old cases or fresh cases in which infectionhad been contracted since the beginning of operations. Headds that it can only be said guardedly that during this timethere have been very few cases of malaria reported and thatthe health of the Europeans in the town has improved. Healso says that there can be absolutely no doubt that the

expeditions are doing a great work for the health of WestAfrica. Dr. Logan Taylor has succeeded in destroying alarge area of the breeding-ground of mosquitoes, and inconsequence there has been a great decrease in the numberof mosquitoes in the houses. Some houses have been prac-tically free from anopheletes for weeks, whilst others containvery few. He also states that anti-malaria work is beingpushed on up country.

The Royal Southern Hospital: : the Ward for TropicalDiseases.

The ward in the hospital devoted to the reception of

patients suffering from tropical diseases in connexion with theLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine continues to do muchuseful work. 130 cases were admitted in 1901. The follow-

ing nationalities were represented : English, Irish, Scotch,Welsh, Australian, Canadian, Spanish, Portuguese, French,West Indian, African, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch,and East Indian. 18 were Lascars. There were 94 cases ofmalarial fever, 10 of dysentery, six of beri-beri, one of

(tropical) abscess of the liver, and one of enlarged spleen.There were 11 deaths. In order to enhance still further the

value of the work an out-patient department has been openedwhich is under the care of Major Ross and Dr. H. E. Annett.The sixtieth annual report of the committee of the RoyalSouthern Hospital states that the debit balance stands nowat .E5186 118. 4d: .EZ139 had been received from the ex-LordMayor’s Hospital Century Fund, and ;E2010 from the HospitalSaturday and Sunday Fund. The number’of patients treatedin the hospital during 1901 was 12,964, of which 2351 were-in-patients and 10,613 out-patients. The total number ofattendances was 46,343, against 44,175 in the previous year,showing an increase of 2168. The ambulance brought in381 cases, the total number relieved by that means since theinauguration of the service in 1887 being 5875. The averagenumber of beds occupied during the year was 190, the

greatest number of in-patients at one time being 203. Thenumber of deaths was 200, of which 60 occurred within 24-hours of admission ; 18 persons who were brought in deadwere not included in the above.

Small-pox in Liverpool: :Deputation to the President of the" Local Government Board.

The latest report of the medical officer of health ofLiverpool places the number of patients suffering from

small-pox at 42. A fortnight ago there were only 18cases, but the increase need not be considered alarmingas the addition to that number was largely causedby the arrival of the s. s. Kansas from Boston on,

Feb. 6th, having on board 14 persons suffering fromsmall-pox. The utmost vigilance was exercised by theport sanitary authorities to prevent the ship from coming-in contact with any other vessel, and the Kansas proceededup to the Sloyne, a part of the Mersey at some distance fromthe landing-stage, whilst the patients were removed to the-port sanitary hospital. The latest patient is a man wholanded nearly three weeks ago from the steamer Devonian,.also from Boston. The illness was of a type so mildthat he did not suspect the nature of it. He presented him-self at one of the general hospitals of the city on Sundaylast in regard to some ’’ spots" on his body, when the-nature of the disease was determined. This individual, in.the opinion of the authorities, had no doubt been the source-of infection to two of the cases previously reported inwhich infection at that time had not been traced.-Mr.Walter Long (the President of the Local Government Board)will receive a deputation from the Port Sanitary Authorityof Liverpool on Feb. 20th in reference to the difficultyexperienced by that body in dealing with persons who hadbeen exposed to the risk of small-pox on board vessels.

arriving in Liverpool.Febt 18th.

__________________

WALES AND WESTERN COUNTIES.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Small-pox.IN Ystalyfera, near Swansea, small-pox appears to be

dying out, but in the borough of Swansea fresh cases areoccurring, one having been reported on Feb. 10th and two onFeb. 15th.-The Swansea Corporation discussed on Feb. 12th-the desirability of adding chicken-pox to the list of diseasesnotifiable in the borough. Although formal notice had beengiven in accordance with the provisions of the InfectiousDisease (Notification) Act, 1889, the motion giving effectto the addition of chicken-pox was lost in favour ofone instructing the town clerk to communicate withthe medical men practising in the town, respectfullyrequesting them to seek the advice of the medical officer-of health in all doubtful cases of measles or chicken-pox coming under their care.-In Cardiff at present there hasoccurred only one case of small-pox, the patient being aman who was admitted to the tramp ward of the workhouseon Feb. 4th. On the 5th he went into the workhouseinfirmary and on the following day was found to be sufferingfrom small-pox and was removed to the isolation hospital.The man had never been vaccinated. At a meeting ofthe board of guardians the chairman of the boardanimadverted upon the removal of the patient whenhe fell ill to the infirmary instead of to the isola-tion ward. It seems almost impossible for a lay-man to understand that the diagnosis of small-poxcannot be made on the first day of the disease, and if the-suggestion that every ailing tramp should be placed in an

555WALES AND WESTERN COUNTIES.-SCOTLAND.

isolation ward is to be carried out many more such wardsmust be erected speedily, for it is obvious that if there is.more than one patient in the ward it ceases to serve the

purpose of isolation.-At Gloucester there is one case of

small-pox, the patient being a sailor who had come fromBristol. There has recently been erected at Gloucester, at acost of about £15,000, a very well-equipped permanentisolation hospital with accommodation for 28 patients inthree pavilions.-A case of small-pox has occurred in a farm-house about five miles from Hereford, the patient having-contracted the disease in Liverpool.

Disinfection after Pht7tisis.In spite of the public meetings which have been held and

the literature which has been scattered abroad in SouthWales upon the subject of tuberculosis there appear to bestill some members of sanitary authorities who are ignorantof the precautions necessary to combat the disease. After.a death from consumption in Oystermouth, a district near toSwansea better known as the Mumbles, the medical officerof health, Mr. A. Lloyd Jones, very properly had the housein which the patient died disinfected-a proceeding whichmembers of the district council characterised as quite un-necessary, and the chairman thought that the medical officerof health should be given an opportunity of stating hisreasons for ordering the disinfection. When these reasonshave been given the district councillors will perhaps realisethat if they desire to attract visitors to their town they mustencourage their officers to carry out these and similar pre-- cautionary measures.

Cardiff Infirmary.An appeal has been issued by the Board of Management of

the Cardiff Infirmary for f.5550 to carry out certain projectedimprovements in the infirmary buildings. The form of the.appeal is novel in that the improvements desired are definitelystated and the approximate cost of each is specified. Amongthe most important are an accident receiving ward which isto cost £1000, a room for delirious patients to cost .650, anda mortuary at a cost of f.25.

Attack upon a Medical Man.Mr. W. A. Reidy, a medical practitioner in Fleur-de-Lis, a

Monmouthshire village near Cardiff, was subjected, thoughhappily without serious consequences, to an alarming attackon Feb. 8th. On the evening of that day while sitting inhis dining-room a bullet was fired through the window andwindow shutter and it fell at his feet. In connexion with the

-outrage a woman who had been a patient under the care ofMr. Reidy and whom a short time before he had refused tosee is under remand.

Isolation Accomnaodataon in Worcestershire.A conference was held on Feb. 8th between the sanitary

committee of the county council and the district councils ofWorcestershire to consider what steps should be taken toprepare for an outbreak of small-pox. The population ofthe administrative county is 360,000 and there are within thecounty 13 urban and 17 rural districts. In only three of theurban and one of the rural districts, having a total popula-tion of 100,000 persons, is there any provision made forisolating small-pox. It was decided by the conference torecommend the county council to divide the county into sixdistricts and to erect in each district an iron hospital withsteam disinfector, &c. It is estimated that the cost of thisscheme to the county will be about £3000, an amount equalto -2’d. in the pound upon the assessable value of the county.

Gallant Action by a Medical Man.At St. Agnes coastguard station on Feb. llth the divisional

officer (Lieutenant R. Ayscough, R.N.) presented two coast-guards with bronze medals and diplomas which were awardedto them by the Dutch Humane Society for rescuing one of thecrew of the ship Voorspoed off Perran Beach, Cornwall, onMarch 7th, 1901. Mr. Frank Postlethwaite, M. R. C. S. Eng.,L.i::1.A., of Perranporth, received a silver medal from thesociety for boarding the vessel to render assistance to theman.

Taunton and Somerset Hospital.The annual meeting of the subscribers of this institution

was held on Feb. 13th under the presidency of the Hon.E. W. Portman. The medical report stated that the numberof in-patients discharged during 1901 as ’’ cured or relieved "was 736, against 593 in 1900. 4500 out-patients were treated,compared with 3968 in the previous year. The report men-tioned that the recent appeal for £6500 for hospital improve-ments was liberally responded to. the sum of ,f,6050 having

been received already. During the past year the late Mr.R. B. West of Exeter had bequeathed £1000 to the institu-tion. At the close of the meeting Major W. Barrett promised.B400 towards the deficit on the building fund.

Feb. 17th. __________________

SCOTLAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Edinburgh University :Death of the Lord Re,ctor.BY the death of the Marquis of Dufferin the University of

Edinburgh has lost its Lord Rector. To those who were

present at the rectorial address which he delivered in theM’Ewan Hall some months ago and who noted his profoundanæmia and extreme debility the Marquis’s death has beenno surprise. On Feb. 15th the Senatus of EdinburghUniversity gave expression to its sorrow at the death ofthe Lord Rector by holding a service in St. Giles’s Cathedralat the hour of the funeral. The students of the university

! through their Representative Council decided to give ex-

pression to their deep regret by holding a religious service inthe M’Ewan Hall on the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 16th.This service was largely attended and was presided over bythe senior president of the Students’ Representative Council.The meeting was addressed by the Rev. John Kelman, whodwelt upon the brilliant career and the high character of thedeceased Lord Rector.

The late Dr. R. Peel Riteltie.In THE LANCET of Feb. 15th, p. 481, I made reference

to the death of Dr. R. Peel Ritchie. Preaching in St.Cuthbert’s Church on the morning of Sunday, Feb. 16th,the officiating clergyman paid the following high tributeto his memory. He said : " In his relation with us as amember and office-bearer he leaves behind him the memoryof a pure, straightforward, and upright Christian gentleman.Amid the differences of opinion which arise in the work oflife he was always clear in stating his views, but he cherishedno feelings save those of brotherly charity and friendshipbetween man and man. Essentially a public-spirited anddeeply religious man he gave much of his time to the publicservice, especially on behalf of the suffering and the destitute.As an elder of the church he was always marked by hisfaithful devotion to duty, by his high-mindedness and sincereChristian principle."

" Reference was also made to Dr.Ritchie’s strenuous labours in the cause of Church defence, acause which lay very near his heart.

The late Charles Stuart, MD., L.R. C. S. Edin.By the death of Dr. C. Stuart of Chirnside, Berwickshire,

the border counties have lost a well-known medical man.He was a graduate in medicine of Edinburgh University ofthe year 1846 and had practised in Chirnside since 1848. Inaddition to his medical interests Dr. Stuart was a lover ofplants and flowers and devoted considerable attention to theproduction of new varieties by cross-fertilisation. He alsowrote papers on the botany, archaeology, ornithology, andmeteorology of his district. He had retired from active work

during the last few years of his life.

Edinburgh Ton:a2 Council : Notification of Consumption.A special meeting of the Town Council of Edinburgh was

held on Feb. 12th to consider reports by the Public HealthCommittee recommending the magistrates and council, as thelocal authority, to consider the passing of a resolution thatthe notification of pulmonary consumption should be madecompulsory within the district, and suggesting the provisionof a hospital with 100 beds for consumptive patients. The

meeting was well attended at the outlet, but at the close ,

only about 30 members were present. The motion was givenby Mr. Lang Todd, convener of the Public Health Committee,and ran as follows :-

(1) That the magistrates and town council, as local authority,resolved to meet on a date to be afterwards fixed in term, of thestatute to pass a resollltioll that the Infectious Diseases NotificationAct, 1889, shall apply to pulmonary consumption within their owndistrict; and (2) that the magistrates and council generally approve ofthe suggestion that provision should be made tor consumptive patients,but not exceeding 100 beds.

’ Mr. Todd dicussed the hopefulness of the prospect in attempt-ing the prevention of consumption, now that consumption

- was recognioed to be not a hereditary but an infectious. disease. He showed that the mortality from pulmonary con- j sumption greatly exceeded the combined mortality from the