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neglected ovarian disease for septic peritonitis. The tumourwas necrosal and the abdomen distended to its utmost with

grumoua fluid, the intestines and omentum glued togetherwith a mass bound down over the lumbar vertebrae and thewkole peritoneum was covered with lymph. She is nowconvalescent. Dr. Wallace also did nephrectomy for dilatedright kidney, by opening the tumour, the size of a year-oldchild’s head, outside the sheath of the rectus, removing partof the cyst and stitching for drainage in the line of theincision of the remaining portion. Suppression of urine fol-towed, and she died. Dr. Wallace also pointed out a case ofhysterical hyperpyrexia, the temperature varying fromnormal to 108° and even 115°. On Wednesday the samegentleman performed laparotomy for a large solid tumour,which displaced the uterus to the right and filled the pelvicbrim. It was found to be a subperitoneal sessile myoma,attached to the uterus to the extent of nearly three inches.it was enucleated, and its cyst stitched for drainage to thelower end of the abdominal incision. The patient is doingwell.

COMPULSORY SWIMMING IN SCHOOLS.

The suggestion given in THE LANCET of May 22nd hasbeen favourably noticed in a local daily paper. If thechildren of the poor in and around Liverpool were moregenerally able to swim, the number of drowning cases wouldbe greatly reduced. The fondness boys have of bathing isshown by the number seen in the canals and along the sidesof the River Mersey, in spite of frequent warnings and fatalexamples. No children of either sex should be allowed toventure on the ice until they have learnt the simple andnatural art of swimming. The facilities for learning it inthis city are ample, and should be better appreciated.

THE ASSIZES.

Among the cases tried at the present assizes was that ofthe mutineers of the Roman Catholic training ship. One ofthe officers of the latter received a wound in the chest,which, according to Dr. Main, of Rock Ferry, penetrated thelung, the patient being in great danger for some days.Justice Grantham, who presided in the Crown Court, referredfrequently and severely to the number of crimes which hadtheir origin in drunken habits. There were also numerous.cases of criminal assaults on females. In one of these theprisoner was under sixteen years of age, and was thereforesentenced to corporal punishment, the judge lamenting thathe could not award a similar punishment upon offendersabove the age of sixteen.

PRESENTATION TO DR. WATSON OF SEACOMBE.

On the 31st ult., Dr. T. B. Watson, who is leaving Sea-<combe, where he has been practising for eleven years, waspresented with two very handsome testimonials. The first,was in the form of a purse containing one hundred ’’

sovereigns and a beautifully illuminated address, andwas the gift of residents in the neighbourhood. Thesecond was from the inhabitants of Wallasey to thecottage hospital of which Dr. Watson had been medicalofficer, and consisted of a marble timepiece and ornaments.Some of the principal residents were present, and greatregret was expressed at the loss which the district wouldsustain at Dr. Watson’s absence.

THE LIVERPOOL EXHIBITION.

The Shipperies is by no means so devoid of interest tomedical visitors as its name would imply. On Saturdaylast, in what is known as the Indian Village, the visitors hadthe opportunity of witnessing the performances of the so-called " devil-dancers:’ These are the individuals calledin whom the regular medicine men have failed to cure, andthough their gyrations, practised from nine at night untilseven in the morning, never produce any favourable result,the natives repose great faith in them as having a great-effect upon the soul, even though the patient dies. TheVegetarian Society’s restaurant is largely patronised. Itis not intended for profit, but for educational purposes, andto show the pleasantness, variety, wholesomeness, andeconomy of the food products of the vegetable kingdom.Nearly a thousand persons dined here on Saturday, theprice of a good meal ranging from sixpence to tenpence.There are also exhibited invalid carriages by Mr. Bell, ofBasford, Nottingham, who has succeeded in bringing themto a great state of perfection.Liverpool June 1st.

NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES.

(From our own Correspondent.)

THE PRUDHOE MEMORIAL CONVALESCENT HOME.

THE annual meeting of this excellent charity was heldon the 20th inst. at Whitley. The report for the year exhibitedvery gratifying results. The financial statement showedthat the income of the year had been .63566, the three chiefitems of which were: subscriptions, &pound;1261; Hospital SundayFund, S888 118. 2d.; and a legacy from the late Mr. RichardShorthouse, &pound;500. After meeting all expenses there remaineda balance in hand of &pound;78. Dr. Philipson read the medicalreport, in which it was stated that the total number of casestreated during the twelve months was 1444; of these 486were from Northumberland, 484 from Newcastle, 463 fromDurham, 9 from Yorkshire, and 2 from Cumberland. Withregard to the character of the diseases, 1163 were medicaland 281 surgical. Of the whole number, 1296 were cured,102 were greatly benefited, 15 were somewhat better, and31 were in statu quo. Taken altogether, 1413 receivedbenefit, or over 97 per cent.

AMBULANCE WORK IN THE NORTH.

Some fifteen or sixteen years ago the late Dr. Stephens,the surgeon to the Tynemouth Artillery, established an

ambulance class. This has been continued with little inter-mission up to the present. About twelve months ago Dr.Mears, who holds the chair of Anatomy at the NewcastleCollege of Medicine, took the position of surgeon to the corps.Since then he has devoted much time and attention to theambulance corps, which is now composed of about fiftymembers, of whom some thirty are medical students fromNewcastle, who have joined the Tynemouth corps owing tothe absence of such a body at Newcastle. They were inspectedon the 21st instant by Surgeon-Major Irvine, of the ArmyMedical Department. The class, which is the largest in thecountry, were put through a rigorous drill by SurgeonMears. After the examination the inspecting surgeon said,addressing the class, that he had carefully watched the twohours’ severe drill they had had, and was highly pleasedwith all he had seen. On Saturday (the 22nd) an ambulanceceremony took place at North Seaton, at which were presentthe members who have successfully passed the examinationsand attended the course of lectures qualifying them torender " first aid to the wounded." Dr. Clark Newton ofNewcastle gave an interesting and concise address on

" Ambulance Work." A supper and concert gave variety tothe evening’s entertainment, and a very fitting conclusionwas made by the presentation on the part of the mem-bers of the class of a handsome timepiece to Dr. Evers,who had spared no pains in the efficient instruction ofhis class, and who, in the words of the chairman, hadgiven it every attention "in will and skill."Newcastle-on-Tyne, May 24th.

EDINBURGH.

(From our own Correspondent.)

PROFESSOR SIR DOUGLAS MACLAGAN.

THE announcement that Her Majesty has bestowed thehonour of knighthood upon Professor Douglas Maclagan hascreated a widespread sense of satisfaction in Edinburgh invery many other spheres besides that of medicine, whilstamongst medical men generally, and especially amongstthose alumni of the University and the Royal Colleges ofEdinburgh who have come in contact with its recipient,this honour is regarded with the greatest personal gratifica-tion, as bestowed upon one pre-eminently fitted to sustainit. Sir Douglas Maclagan’s honours in connexion with medi-cine have been both numerous and varied, and his long andbrilliant career as a teacher in the Edinburgh School hasrendered him in a very special manner representative ofmedical institutions in this city. But it would give a verypartial view of the nature of the feeling elicited by thisevent were its relations to the medical world alone portrayed,for Sir Douglas Maclagan is as closely associated with theScottish school of law as he is with that of medicine, andthe many-sided nature of his personality is further evidenced

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by the numerous official or honorary positions that he fillsin connexion with various important institutions concernedin promoting the public weal-the advancement of scienceand national security. By his tenure of the Chair of MedicalJurisprudence in the University, Sir Douglas Maclagan isdirectly concerned in carrying out the curricula in the Facul-ties of Law and Medicine. He is President of the RoyalCollege of Physicians of Edinburgh, and was formerly Presi-dent of its Royal College of Surgeons. By his Vice-Presidencyof the Royal Society of Edinburgh and his Fellowship of theBotanical and Chemical Societies he is intimately associatedwith scientific interests; and he is honourably connectedwith the public services as Surgeon-General to the Queen’sBody Guard for Scotland and Surgeon-Major to the Queen’sEdinburgh Volunteer Brigade. He has been a professor in theUniversity for twenty-five years, and previously to that wasa lecturer in the Extra-Academical School for eighteen years,and during the whole of his career as a teacher he has beenconsulted by the Crown authorities in cases of medico-legalimportance. As a writer he has attained eminence in twowidely different spheres-those of toxicology and thera-peutics on the one hand, and of poetry on the other. Manyof his songs have become national property, and he is theauthor of the most popular and best known of our studentsongs. Add to these characteristics the qualities which hepossesses as an eminent physician, a cultured scholar, and agenial and widely esteemed friend, and it will give someexplanation of the great feeling of satisfaction which hasspread itself through the Edinburgh community generallyin regard to Sir Douglas Maclagan’s most recent honour.Edinburgh, June 1st.

IRELAND.

(From our own Correspondent.)

ROYAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND.

A MEETING of Convocation will be held on July 27th, toelect two members of the Senate in the vacancies caused bythe decease of ex-Archbishop Trench, and the expirationof Dr. Curtis’s term of office. As probably Dr. Curtis willoffer himself for re-election, one vacancy may only beconsidered, and for this it may be expected Mr. Farrelly,recently a member of the Senate, will compete. Dr. Knightis not likely to be a candidate on this occasion.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS IN IRELAND.

The annual election for President, Vice-President, Secre-tary, and Council, will take place on Monday next, the 7thinst. It is gratifying to find that the present Vice-President,Mr. William Stokes, the eminent surgeon, will not be opposedfor the presidency, notwithstanding a rumour which pre-vailed lately to that effect. There will be a contest for theVice-Presidentship, a circumstance greatly to be regretted, Mr.Corley and Mr. Frazer being the candidates. 1 have alreadysaid as much on this subject as is necessary, and shall notagain discuss the subject. Mr. William Colles will be re-elected secretary without opposition. As regards theCouncil, there are twenty-two candidates for nineteen places.A meeting will be held on Saturday next, the 5th inst., toreceive the annual report of the Council and discuss anymatters that may be brought before the Fellows; and, inthe evening the Council and Examiners and their guestswill dine together at the College. ,

CASTLEREAGH DISPENSARY: CHARGE AGAINST DR. CROEER.

An extraordinary meeting of the dispensary committeewas held last week for the purpose of investigating a chargeof alleged neglect on the part of Dr. Croker, the medicalofficer of the district. The case had already been the subjectof a question in the House of Commons, and much interestattached to the inquiry. The committee went thoroughlyinto the alleged matters, and examined several witnesses,including Dr. Gibson, who proved that the case was not ofthe urgent or difficult character that had been stated.Finally the committee unanimously found that Dr. Crokerwas not guilty of any negligence in the discharge of hisduty.

DEATH OF DR. GRATTAN.

At Drummin House, Carbury, Richard Grattan, M.D., diedon May 27th. The deceased was, I believe, the oldest medicalman in Ireland, having arrived at the mature age of ninety-

eight years. Dr. Grattan was the Senior Fellow of theCollege of Physicians in Ireland.

COUNTY KILDARE INFIRMARY.

The half-yearly presentment for the support of this usefulinstitution has been thrown out, and the cesspayers mayregret their foolish conduct in refusing a grant to a deserving:charity. Probably those who have taken an active part ir,opposing a grant to the hospital may be rather surpriseto learn that, by the terms of the lease, the landlordwill come into possession of the building directly th&

infirmary ceases to be used for its present purpose. ! Ihave been informed that at a special meeting of thegovernors held recently, it has been decided to close the-institution after the next Kildare Assizes. One cannot but

sympathise with the surgeon to the infirmary, who hasalways performed his duties in a satisfactory manner, andwho, for no fault of his own, is deprived of the emolumentsof the office he has held for so many years. I may add thatthe infirmary and residence of the surgeon are held on leasefrom the Duke of Leinster at a nominal rent of 2!d. a year.During 1885 there were twenty-seven county infirmaries inIreland, and over 800 beds were in daily occupation; theaverage cost per head being X37 7s. 8d., while the amountlevied by presentments last year was &pound;23,643.The Queen has, upon the recommendation of the Lord-

Lieutenant, been pleased to appoint Sir John Lentaigne, C.B.,a member of Her Majesty’s Privy Council in Ireland.The vacant surgeoncy in the Mater Misericordi&aelig; Hospital,.

Dublin, occasioned by the death of Mr. Kilgarriff, has beenfilled up by the appointment of Mr. Arthur Chance, surgeonto Jervis-street Hospital.

Dublin, June 1st.

PARIS.

(From our own Correspondent.)

THE LATE COLONEL HERBINGER.

A SHORT time before his death, which took place a few days,.ago, Colonel Herbinger, who was accused of intemperatehabits during his field service at Tonquin, for which he wasrecalled to Paris, where he was summoned before a court ofinquiry and honourably acquitted, called on Professor Peterto consult him, as he did not feel very well. Professor Peterstates in a note published by him that he was struckwith the countenance of the Colonel, which was expressive-of profound suffering, and formed in his own mind an un-favourable prognosis. From the oppression evinced by theColonel when he presented himself before the Doctor, andfrom other concomitant symptoms, the latter concludedthat his malady was not of recent date, and expressedhis astonishment that, if he was so oppressed in havingascended only a few steps, he could have supported the-fatigues incidental to such an expedition as to that ofTonquin. To this the Colonel replied that when he felthis strength failing him he mounted his horse nevertheless,and ordered his men to watch and support him in case he-should fall. At this moment Dr. Peter formed his diagnosis,.which, although a posthumous one, is considered sufficient.to refute the calumnious charges that were brought againsthim. " One of the consequences," the Doctor went on to say," of cerebral ansemia to which the Colonel was subject was-the absolute impossibility of his maintaining his equilibriumowing to the attacks that he felt at certain moments ofsymptoms of giddiness similar to those produced by the-abuse of alcohol. Moreover, patients affected in this waywear a purple hue on their countenances, which are also-bloated like those of persons whose necks are violently con-stricted. I am persuaded," added the Doctor, "that theseexternal signs were sufficient to originate the terrible accusa-tion that was brought against Colonel Herbinger." 1 sendyou this note that it may serve as a lesson to those who areever ready to attribute to drunkenness the symptoms abovedescribed.

COW BYRES IN TOWNS.

At a recent meeting of the Council of Hygiene a discussiontook place as to the advisability of preventing cows beingkept in the town, alike on sanitary grounds, and becausethe milk of the animals so confined is prejudicial tohealth, on account not only of its deteriorated condition,