1160 MANCHESTER.-WALES AND WESTERN COUNTIES.

incurred such an enormous liability shows that they havemade great progress in the recognition of the principle thatin matters relating to public health what appears to beeconomy is but the worst form of extravagance.

(To be COK<MtM6

MANCHESTER.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

" Peard Ash" Poisoning.THE city coroner on Oct. 17th concluded the inquest on

the body of a man named Brocklehurst, of Hayfield, who wassaid to have died from the effects of taking " pearl ash" "instead of "potash." The deceased received a prescriptionfrom another man named Broadhurst who was, as many ofthe working classes are, somewhat of an amateur doctor,the terms of which were as follows :&mdash;’’ For sciatica or rheu-matism : Take two table-spoonfuls of pearl ash to one pintof water. Boil and add the pearl ash, then let cool andbottle. Take one wineglassful night and morning." The

druggist’s assistant said that he did not remember servingpearl ash. "When asked for pearl ash he would dispensecarbonate of potash," as the former had a strong causticaction. The son of the deceased, a boy, aged 12 years, saidthat his mother sent him for a pennyworth of pearl ashabout two months ago, and he was served with some dark-coloured substance like a stone." It is not clear how muchof the solution was taken. After some time the man wasremoved to the Manchester Infirmary, where he was onlyable to take liquid food, and he gradually sank, dying onOct. 9th. The coroner told the jury that "if a persontotally ignorant of medicine took upon himself to ad-minister dangerous remedies he was amenable to the

law," and if they thought that the person who was allegedto have given the prescription had in giving it been

guilty of "gross ignorance and scandalous inattention"

they must send him for trial on the charge of manslaughter.The jury took a merciful view of the matter and were ofopinion that the man who gave the prescription showed grossignorance but not malicious intention, as he had acted in akindly spirit. Their verdict was "that Brocklehurst haddied from starvation caused by his taking an irritant poisonprescribed by Broadhurst, who had been ignorant of itsaction." " The coroner said that he thought the case ought tobe investigated by the police and magistrates of Derbyshire.The inspector said that he would report it to his superior.This case is a good illustration of the ignorance as to themost ordinary things prevalent among our imperfectlyeducated people, and it is to be feared that little is doneto disperse it by the present-day elementary teaching.

The Leech .1J.femorial Fund.It is proposed in a short time to close the fund now being

raised to found a memorial to the late Professor D. J. Leech.It now amounts to f:1230, and the committee will be gladfor any further contributions to be forwarded to the honorarysecretary, Dr. E. M. Brockbank, 3, St. Peter’s-square,Manchester.

Manchester Schools for the Deaf and Dumb.The committee of the Roval Schools for the Deaf and

Dumb, Old Trafford, ate appealing for increased support. Itis now recognised that deaf children must receive a highereducation than was formerly required to enable them tocompete in the labour market with persons not so afflicted,"and thus the cost of their education has been increased. In ’

1881 there were 157 pupils and the cost per head was.B20 lls. 9. In 1891 there were 190 pupils at a cost of.E27 2s. 7d. per head, and now, in 1901, there are 200 pupils

I

and the cost per head has gone up to k34 19s. 5d. The Ischool premises have had to be enlarged, and while 20years ago there were about half-a-dozen teachers-some of whom were deaf-at small salaries, it seemsthat the educational needs require now 24 teachers, who, 1to comply with the demands of the Education Depart- 1

ment and to teach efficiently on the oral system, must havehad special training. The controversy as to the BlindAsylum still goes on, and the committee of the Deaf and IDumb Schools are anxious to let it be known that " the twoinstitutions are in every respect distinct and separate, andthat the two governing bodies have nothing in common I

beyond the spirit of philanthropy which guides their actions. "

There is a debt to the bankers of e7754 on buildingextension account, to which must be added about .E1123 forcompleting work now in hand. A small sanatorium for theisolation of sick children is much needed, but the committeeare reluctant to build while they are burdened with theirpresent debt. Assuming that the institution is managedfinancially with judgment and economy, a good case ismade out for asking "the community of which Manchesteris the centre " for increased help. The idea that these schoolsare affiliated with the Blind Asylum has no doubt arisen fromthe fact that "the two charities adjoin each other and areunder one continuous roof."

Scarlet Fever.Scarlet fever has for some time been rather prevalent in

Manchester, and in the Moss Side district the cases are verynumerous. Dr. S. H. Owen, the medical officer of health,stated at the meeting of the district council that he hadreason to believe that scarlet fever patients had not beenreported, either from great carelessness or ignorance of theinfectious character of the disease. " There is no doubt thatin many mild cases no medical man is sent for and nonotification is made.

Oct. 23rd. ________________

WALES AND WESTERN COUNTIES.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Intemperance and Insanitary Dwellings.THE chairman of the Glamorganshire Quarter Sessions

which were held at Swansea on Oct. 15th dwelt at some

length upon the great increase in the number of indictableoffences in the county. He said that drunkenness was onthe increase to such an extent that unless something verydrastic took place they would be having such a state of thingsthat they would never be able to hold up their heads amongthe inhabitants of other counties not only of Wales but ofEngland. No particular remedy was suggested, though theprovision of rational forms of amusement was spoken of withfavour. To those who live in the densely populated districtsof South Wales there can be no doubt that the insanitaryconditions of many of the working-class dwellings accountto a large extent for the drinking propensities of theinhabitants. The responsibility for the existence of theseconditions rests primarily with the sanitary authorities, butthe Local Government Board, though aware, through thereports of the medical officers of health, of the state of mostof the districts, has dealt very tenderly with the short-comings of the authorities. One instance may be given.In the year 1895 Dr. R. Deane Sweeting reported to the LocalGovernment Board upon the insanitary condition of theAmman valley district in Carmarthenshire, and made certainsuggestions as to the improvements necessary, but whenDr. S. W. Wheaton visited the district in the spring of thisyear he found that little or nothing had been done in thedirection of carrying out Dr. Sweeting’s suggestions, andthat there was still no proper system of drainage or of

scavenging, that no means were taken to prevent the spreadof infectious disease, and that there was no systematicinspection of the district for the discovery of nuisances.

The Prevention of Consumption.Upon the advice of the medical officer of health (Mr. E.

Davies) the Health Committee of the Swansea Corporation hasdecided to invite the voluntary notification of phthisis fromthe medical practitioners in the town and to pay a fee of2s. 6d. for each notification csrtincate received.-At thefirst meeting of the South Wales and MonmouthshireBranch of the National Association for the Prevention ofTuberculosis it was decided that the principle of sub-division should be adopted and that sub-branches shouldbe formed. Circulars are to be sent by the committee tocounty and district councils emphasising the necessityfor establishing sanatoria. Dr. C. T. Vachell expressedthe opinion that an institution supported solely by volun-tary contributions would not be likely to succeed.-The Bath Board of Guardians at a recent meeting discussedthe treatment of consumptive pauper patients, and eventuallydecided to wait and see what the Bristol Board of Guardianswould do in the matter of treatment of these cases. At the

meeting of the guardians held on Oct. 16th the medicalofficer urged the guardians to act promptly and to provideproper accommodation for the treatment of phthisical cases.

1161WALES AND WESTERN COUNTIES.-SCOTLAND.

The Bristol Guardians had suggested that the Bath Board ofGuardians and themselves might jointly provide an institu-tion for the treatment of these patients. Eventnally it wasdecided to appoint a sub-committee to confer with theBristol Guardians.

Insanitary Dwellings in Ca7’diff.The two most prominent public health questions at the

present time are the housing of the working-classes and theprevention of tuberculosis, and they are questions whichadmittedly have a very close connexion. Nearly all the

speakers at the recent Cardiff conference on tuberculosis

emphasised the importance of providing dwelling-houseswith a sufficiency of air-space and sunlight and with abso-lute freedom from damp surroundings. It is a little dis-

heartening, therefore, to find that when steps are taken bythe Cardiff Corporation to improve the dwellings of the poor,not only, as might be expected, does opposition come from theproperty owners, but that these are supported in their opposi-tion by members of the medical profession. In January lastthe medical officer of health (Dr. E. Walford) presented areport to the corporation upon the courts and unhealthydwellings in the town, and although there are practicallyno slums in the borough he was able to refer specificallyto 134 houses in various parts which he considered shouldbe dealt with, not as insanitary areas under Part I. ofthe Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, but

separately under Part II. of the Act. Proceedings weretaken on Oct. 17th before the deputy stipendiary magis-trate with respect to six houses which, according to Dr.Walford’s report, were provided, in common with five

adjacent houses, with only a single water-tap and with onlytwo water-closets, each defective in construction and withoutany water-supply for flushing, and in which most of tle roomswere dark and damp-those on the ground floor being pavedwith stone and being without back doors or back windowsand without floor ventilation. The houses generally weredescribed as being old, in a bad state of repair, andmuch shut in by high buildings surrounding them on allsides and obstructing light and ventilation. Dr. Walfordasked that these houses should no longer be occupied.Three local medical practitioners stated that in their

opinion they were not unfit for human habitation and thattheir occupation would not be dangerous to health. The

deputy stipendiary, after asking Dr. Walford if he wasaware that in Leeds almost all the cottage houses are builtupon the "back-to-back" principle, remarked that Leedswas not an unhealthy town and lie subsequently refused tomake an order to close the houses in question. The dangerwhich lies in a little knowledge is thus once more

illustrated, for if the magistrate will pur;,ue his inquiriesa little further he will find that not only has Leedsa high death-rate from all causes, a high zymoticdeath-rate, and a high infantile mortality-rate, but hewill also learn that it has been conclusively shown in otherparts of Yorkshire by comparisons extending over a series ofyears that the death-rate among the occupants of back-to-back" houses is considerably higher than among those wholive in "through" houses, although the conditions of thetwo classes of dwellings as regards age, construction, classof occupant, sanitary conveniences, &c., are precisely similar.If the deputy stipendiary magistrate desires to raise thedeath-rate in Cardiff which last year was 16 ’5 per 1000, tothat of Leeds which was 20 ’2 per 1000, he will continue torefuse the applications of the medical officer of health, butthe responsibility must be his and not Dr. Walford’s.

Brentry Inebriates’ Home.The Swansea Corporation has decided to contribute the

sum of Z1000 to the board of management of the BrentryHome, thereby securing a share in the management andseven beds for Swansea patients during the next 25 years.The chief constable has stated that there are now in Swansea13 persons eligible for admission to the home. The corpora-tion of Bath has entered into an agreement to secure threebeds in the home during the next six years upon payment off.27 7s. 6d. annually.

Employment of District Nurses by Sanitary Azcthorities.There is no provision for isolating cases of infectious

disease in Ebbw Vale, a colliery district in Monmouthshirewith a population of 21,000 persons. Owing to severe out-breaks of diphtheria and typhoid fever the district councilrecently engaged two district nurses, but the Local Govern-ment Board now state that there is no legal authorityempowering the council to pay nurses for .attending patientsat their own homes.

Hrvreford Uo2cnty Asylttm.Extensive additions to the Hereford Asylum were formally

opened on Oct. 15th. They consist of new quarters for theassistant medical ofticer and for the matron, a one-storeyblock to accommodate 50 male patients, and a two-storeyblock for 100 female patients. The dining-hall and thechapel have been enlarged and the laundry accommodationhas been increased. The new buildings like the old areventilated and warmed on the Plenum" system. The costof the extensions is about <&40,000. The asylum was erectedin the year 1871 on a site of 10 acres, with 100 acres ofgarden and farm lands, at a cost of E67,000, with accommo-dation for 187 men and 213 women. At the present time,therefore, 550 patients can be accommodated. The institu-tion serves the city of Hereford and the county of Hereford-shire with a total population of 114,000 persons.

Plym01ttlt Royal Eye Infirmary.This new building, although occupied by patients for the

past 12 months, has not been formally opened, the ceremonybeing postponed owing to the death of Queen Victoria. Ithas now been arranged for the formal opening to be per-formed by the Countess of Morley on Oct. 30th. The cost ofthe institution, including furnishing, has been E12,000, andthe committee make an urgent appeal to the public for moresubscriptions.

Oct. 22nd. ________________

SCOTLAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Death of Dr. Foylis of Edinbllrgh.By the death of Dr. James Foulis on Oct. 14th Edinburgh

has lost one of its leading and most successful practitioners.He was a native of New South Wales, his father having been amedical man in Sydney. He was born in 1846 and he graduatedat the University of Edinburgh in 1874. He was a thesis

gold medalist of the University. He succeeded Dr. GeorgeKeith in practice and rapidly became a busy family practi-tioner. He took a keen interest in some biological questionsand did important work on diseases of the ovary. Of late

years he took a very active interest in the question of thetransmission of infectious diseases by means of milk, andhis voice and pen were used to enforce his views upon theprofession and the public. He was a man of distinctintellectual capacity ; he had the gift of ready and effectivespeech ; he formed strong opinions which he did not fear toexpress, and he had a faculty of imitation which sometimesgave a humorous effect to some of his communications. Hewas altogether a unique personality in the profession inEdinburgh, and although he was neither a teacher nor a

hospital physician no man in Edinburgh was looked uponwith greater interest by his brethren, and his patients weredevoted to him. He died of cardiac disease aggravated byan attack of influenza last spring.

Direct Representation on the General 1’iT.dicccl Council.Dr. W. Bruce of Dingwall intimated some time ago that he

would seek re-election as the Direct Representative forScotland on the General Medical Council. It has justbeen announced that he is to be opposed by Dr. NormanWalker of Edinburgh. It will be remembered that whenDr. Bruce was elected he won the seat over Dr. Sinclairof Dundee. The idea prevalent at that time was thatno teacher need stand, as the general practitioners haddecided to have one of their own body to representthem. It was thought that all persons connected withuniversities or corporations had the interests of those bodiesmore at heart than the interests of the general practitioners,and that the wrongs, either real or imaginary, of practitionerswould have a better chance of being rectified by the voice ofa general practitioner than of anyone else. I have no meansof knowing whether the profession in Scotland is satisfiedwith its present representative, but a contest has at least theadvantage of stirring up the stagnant pool of professional .

apathy. So far as Scotland is concerned it does not seemthat there are any burning questions agitating the mind ofthe general practitioner at present, and he, of course, holdsthe voting power.

General Council of the Uni1Jt rsity of Edinburgh.The half-yearly meeting of this body is to be held on

Friday, Oct. 25th. Motions dealing with the reorganisationof the medical curriculum and the time spent by professorsin teaching their pra,ctical classes have been given notice of