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premium will not be high, the sum of &1 yearly being fixedby the companies entitling the medical practitioner to asum of £4000 as a maximum in case of a claim for damages.Apart from this insurance, the Aerztekammer has securedfor the local members of the profession personal insuranceagainst accidents of all kinds, to include also attacks ofinfectious illness and syphilis if these diseases are contractedin the course of professional duty. This will be a decidedimprovement over the conditions in force hitherto, whichwere so unfavourable for the practitioner that he was not ableto obtain any compensation if he, for instance, in treating apatient suffering from typhoid fever or diphtheria, fell him-self a victim to one of these maladies. As a rule the com-

pensation, which will be paid now to the insured practi-tioners, will amount to not less than £1 daily.

Molluscum Contagiosum.At a recent meeting of the Dermatological Society Dr.

Nobl showed a woman, aged 30 years, suffering from anunusual affection of the skin. On the left side of her chinthere was a prominent, hard, flat tumour of the size of a

shilling, round like a coin, imbedded in the skin, which atthe site of attachment appeared pearl-grey. In the centrethere was a scab, somewhat depressed, but fixed to thetumour. The tumour appeared for the first time eight weeksago and grew quickly in spite of the application of severalkinds of ointment. The differential diagnosis between aprimary syphilitic sore, an epithelioma, or a fibrous nævus

and molluscum contagiosum, as the disease really was,depended on the absence of reaction in the neighbourhoodand the extreme hardness of the mass. The rapidity ofgrowth allowed the inference that the morbific agent was ofexceptional virulence. In such cases transplantation of themolluscum was possible and has been successfully tried byDr. Nobl himself. The diagnosis of the disease during thepre-histological epoch was often very difficult, as inveterateacne might simulate it very closely. The only treatment formolluscum was radical excision, which was a very simpleprocedure.An Interesting Cornbination of Pathological Conditions.In a subject dissected by Dr. Sternberg, the pathologist to

the Blunner General Hospital, there was found associated inone patient a series of conditions of which each one wasconsidered to be a rarity. First of all, there was an

aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta which had com-pletely eroded two ribs on the left side and the left half ofthe vertebral column between the third and the seventhvertebras, so that a soft tumour, palpable under the skin ofthe back, resulted. This tumour had been several timesdiagnosed as a cold abscess and had once narrowly escapedsurgical treatment. The cause of death, however, had beena dissecting aneurysm of the ascending part of the aorta,which had permitted blood to ooze between the layers of theaortic wall into the pericardium, thus compressing the heartgradually. The aorta in this part showed signs of anotherrupture of the sac, which undoubtedly had taken placea long time ago and had healed up by scar tissue. After thescars had formed they became thinned until at last the dis-secting aneurysm was established. Chronic aortitis was

present throughout the whole length of the vessel, withmany patches of calcified tissue. On the left foot thecharacteristic sore of perforating ulcer of the foot was foundand tabetic changes of the spinal medulla were distinctlymarked. Clinical manifestations during the life of the manwere in accordance with the conditions found at the necropsy.Syphilitic stigmata were present and notwithstanding thedenials of the patient syphilis was undoubtedly the basisof all these changes.

Report of the Vienna Polyclinic.The thirty-fifth yearly report of the institution known as

the Polyclinic in Vienna has just been published and showsthat a large amount of work has been done during the twelvemonths in question. In 1872 the number of out-patients was11,952, last year it went up to 69,527, and during the 35years 1,500,000 new out-patients were treated. In 1887, whenthe in-patient department was founded, the number of in-patients was 80. Last year the institution had 150 beds and2247 in-patients were admitted, 671 of them being childrenunder 14 years. These patients included 119 cases ofdiphtheria admitted to the isolation ward ; 112 of themreceived injections of serum but the remaining seven arrivedin a dying condition beyond medical aid. The mortality of

diphtheria treated by serum injections has fallen to-3’ 3 per cent. of all cases injected. 1070 majoroperations were performed with a mortality of 4 per cent.115 mastoid operations were performed in the otologicaldepartment, BB ith one death (a case of tuberculousotitis with meningitic complications). A new laboratoryfor x ray work has been provided. The institution is onaof the very few in this city the income of which is derivedfrom charitable contributions or bequests. For the first timesince its erection the expenditure exceeds the income,so that a deficit of about E3000 remains. The polycliniccomprises, as its name states, departments for all branches ofmedicine and the heads of departments are either extra-ordinary professors orwrivat-docenten. It is a rule that onlyfirst-class men are appointed to these posts, as the instituteis in close connexion with the university and the lectures.delivered in it are well attended by graduates from allcountries. It stands even higher in the public estimationthan the general hospital, for with the exception of the headsof departments the staff of the polyclinic are mostly engagedin general practice and the hours of consultation at the

polyclinic are more convenient for the public than at thegeneral hospital.June 10th.

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CONSTANTINOPLE.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The ThermaZ Springs of Turkey.THE authorities last year decided to gather all the neces-

sary data and information concerning the thermal springs ofthe Ottoman Empire, with the view of publishing theirtherapeutic properties, composition, mode of access, andthe like. The question was also considered of opening com-fortable hotels at the watering-places, of constructingnew roads of communication, and of rendering, in otherways, the thermal springs attractive to the generalpublic. This rather extensive scheme is, however, stillunrealised, although plans for putting it into opera-tion were published only recently. As usual in Turkeywant of funds is the stumbling-block. Yet the accom-plishment of the above plans could, in a comparativelyshort time, be a fruitful source of revenue to the OttomanState treasury, the more so as many of the Turkish thermalsprings, especially those scattered throughout Asia Minor,are either near the main railway lines or situated in proximityto the sea. The vilayet of Hudavendighiar, a neighbouringprovince to the metropolis, is the most remarkable and thebest adapted for the exploitation of its hot springs. The townof Brusa, for instance, the ancient capital of the OttomanEmpire, has long been famous for its hot iron and sulphursprings which have a temperature ranging from 112° to178° F. Every year in the spring months it attractsnumerous people and many toarists from Europe. Anothermuch frequented thermal place is Courz-les-Bains-Yalvoa.Patients suffering from rheumatism, from diseases of thebladder, from some forms of paralysis, and from skindiseases are said greatly to be benefited by these baths.They are under skilful medical supervision and of recentyears several new establishments have been added and the-old Roman baths have been improved. Yalvoa is alsovisited by people suffering from different nervous com-plaints. It is within easy reach of Constantinople, com-mands a magnificent view over the Sea of Marmora, and has,pure, exhilarating air. It is a real country place, with theadvantages of a bathing report equipped more or less in amodern style.

Mortality Returns.Last week 238 people died in Constantinople, of whom one

died from scarlet fever, two from small-pox, five from entericfever, 52 from tuberculosis, and three from cerebro-spinalmeningitis.June 7th.

CARDIFF INFIRMARY.-Up to the present £9267have been received towards the £30,000 required by thecommittee of the Cardiff Infirmary for the purpose of

erecting a new wing and making other required additions to-the institution.