2
40 102° for brevity, as they do not affect the evidence of the action of kairin on the temperature. Twenty days only are recorded above, but the next twelve showed temperatures very similar. I am, Sir. yours faithfullv, Kendal, June 21st, 1884. T. B. GREEN. "PHYSIOLOGY OF THE FEET." To the LcG2tor of THE LANCET. SIR,—While reading with great interest Mr. Ellis’s article on the above subject (THE LANCET, June 21st, 1884), I was surprised to find that so careful an observer had fallen into the common error of supposing that, in walking, the toe or anterior part of the foot touches the ground first. The error seems to be widespread, and is taught by some very good physiologists. Text-books on medicine also state that a peculiarity of the gait in locomotor ataxy is that the heel touches the ground first. It is quite true that it does so, because it would be difficult to place the foot otherwise ; the peculiarity is in the clumsiness with which it is done. Our plantigrade relatives among the carnivora walk chiefly on the anterior part of the foot, using the heel rather during rest ; but the upright attitude of man, with the straight position of the knees, throws the weight largely on the heels in walking. When the foot is put forward the heel is the part nearest the ground, and touches it first ; the ball of the toes touches immediately after, and the toes them- selves last of all, the action of the foot somewhat resembling that of a rocker. Should anyone have any doubt on the matter, let him watch the passers-by in a public thoroughfare. He will there see walkers, good and bad, of all ages; but they will invariably place the heel first on the ground ; a man who did otherwise would be supposed to be practising a bur- lesque step for the stage. The form of the ankle-joint is suit. able to this action, the articular surface of the astragalus being wider in front than behind. Through this arrangement the impact of the heel on the ground, by driving the astragalus forward, slightly separates the articular surfaces, and friction is thus reduced. Here I would make a conjecture as to the origin of raised heels to our boots. Most persons acknow- ledge the comfort of shoes " with no heels " ; and for this reason, presumably, slippers are made without them. Why, then, do we ever wear raised heels ? May it not be because the impact of the heel wears out the posterior part of the shoe-leather before the anterior, so that it has been found economical for outdoor walking to have a thick piece over the heel ? For the same reason, apparently, the skin over the back of the heel is the thickest on the foot. Of course this does not explain the fancy of women for extremely high heels, which is as unphysiological in its origin as the fancy for " dress-improvers. " I am. Sir. vours faithfullv. F. J. ALLEN, M.A.Cantab. Royal Southern Hospital, Liverpool, June 28th, 1884. THE BROMPTON CEMETERY. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,—" How long will a man lie i’ the earth ere he rot ?" is the question asked of the gravedigger by Hamlet, and we all know the facetious reply given. Walking through the Brompton Cemetery, I passed by the grave of one who was for many years the best impersonator of the First Gravedigger upon the English stage, and I thought of the well-remem- bered scene in the churchyard at Elsinore. There was no earth here, however; but only flint stones, sand, and gravel. In this necropolis thousands of bodies are lying, some of them actually resting upon shelves placed in bnild- ings er cted above the ground. The emanations arising from these decomposing bodies poison the air, and the soluble parts, washed out by the rain, must be disseminated under the houses and streets, which are now built close to the burying-place. Day after day processions of hearses and mourning coaches (" a ghastly band") arrive at this cemetery ; a,nd the enormity is perpetuated of burying under gravel, sand, and flint stones a mass of human remains in the midst of their living fellows. The gates of this ceme- tery ought to 1 e closed at once and for ever, and the office at No. 12, Hay market, appropriated to some less horrible purpose than the one it is now used for. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, July 2nd, 1884. JOHN TOPHAM, M.D., F.R.C.P. Lond. LIVERPOOL. (From our own Correspondent.) ) CITY HOSPITAL FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES. AT the monthly meeting of the City Council a letter from the Local Government Board to the Mayor was read. In this it was stated that the Board were clearly of opinion that the Mill-road Workhouse should cease to be used as a small-pox hospital as soon as the City Council made the necessary arrangements for the accommodation of patients. It was resolved to provide temporary hospitals on a site either at the southern or eastern extremity of the borough. It will be remembered that it was stated in THE LANCET some months ago that the use of workhouse hospitals for other than pauper patients could not be justified. THE CASE OF POISONING YEAST. At the city sessions, held last week, two men named Gilder, father and son, yeast-dealers, were convicted of maliciously damaging five baskets of yeast belonging to a firm of flour-dealers by poisoning it with carbolic acid. The Kecorder, in sentencing the elder prisoner to six months’ and the younger to three months’ imprisonment, characterised the offence as a very serious one. THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH’S ANNUAL REPORT. Dr. Stopford Taylor’s annual report has just been issued, and contains many interesting details. The total popula- tion of Liverpool is estimated at 566,753 ; the births were 19,207, a decrease of 591 ; while the deaths were 15,074, an increase of 256 over the previous year. Small-pox is rarely absent, owing to its frequent importation by visitors, emigrants, and others. Scarlatina caused 388 deaths, and measles 618. The deaths of infants below one year amounted to 3686. THE LIVERPOOL PARISH INFIRMARY. The parish of Liverpool is one of the largest and most densely populated in the kingdom. Some idea of this is shown in the numbers of inmates in the workhouse and its branches. These are in all 2648, including 1325 sick and infirm. These, again, include 732 persons under medical treatment, 51 being infectious cases. THE WEATHER. The weather for the last few weeks has been remarkably fine, and the heat almost tropical in its intensity. It has, however, been tempered to a considerable extent by the sea breezes, of which Liverpool has the benefit, except in unusually calm weather, and so far there have been no cases of sunstroke. DISCOVERY OF A BODY IN AN EMPTY HOUSE. While a corporation official was engaged on Tuesday last in an inspection of a house which has been empty for more than a year, he found in a closet in the yard the body of a woman reduced almost to a skeleton. The discovery in the hand of the deceased of a newspaper dated 6th July, 1883, limits the death to within that period. The body was found doubled up, and has not yet been identified. An inquest will be held in due course. IRELAND. (From our own Correspondent.) QUEEN’S COLLEGES COMMISSION. THE Commissioners, after visiting the three Queen’s Col- lege, roceedei to hold an inquiry in Dublin, and to receive evidence in respect of various matters bearing on the subjects to be investigated. Among those who gave evidence was the Rev. Dr. Walsh, President of St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, who thought that inconvenience arose from the fact that examiners of the Royal University were professors iu colleges, so that students not taught by them did not stand on equal terms with those who were. Dr. Curtis, who had been Professor of Natural Philosophy in Galway College, was of opinion that the matriculation examination fulfilled the purposes for which it was intended ; while Mr. Brougham Leech, who was Secretary to a Treasury Commission which

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102° for brevity, as they do not affect the evidence of the actionof kairin on the temperature. Twenty days only are recordedabove, but the next twelve showed temperatures very similar.

I am, Sir. yours faithfullv,Kendal, June 21st, 1884. T. B. GREEN.

"PHYSIOLOGY OF THE FEET."To the LcG2tor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—While reading with great interest Mr. Ellis’sarticle on the above subject (THE LANCET, June 21st,1884), I was surprised to find that so careful an observer hadfallen into the common error of supposing that, in walking,the toe or anterior part of the foot touches the ground first.The error seems to be widespread, and is taught by somevery good physiologists. Text-books on medicine also statethat a peculiarity of the gait in locomotor ataxy is that theheel touches the ground first. It is quite true that it doesso, because it would be difficult to place the foot otherwise ;the peculiarity is in the clumsiness with which it is done. Ourplantigrade relatives among the carnivora walk chiefly onthe anterior part of the foot, using the heel rather duringrest ; but the upright attitude of man, with the straightposition of the knees, throws the weight largely on theheels in walking. When the foot is put forward the heelis the part nearest the ground, and touches it first ; the ballof the toes touches immediately after, and the toes them-selves last of all, the action of the foot somewhat resemblingthat of a rocker. Should anyone have any doubt on thematter, let him watch the passers-by in a public thoroughfare.He will there see walkers, good and bad, of all ages; butthey will invariably place the heel first on the ground ; a manwho did otherwise would be supposed to be practising a bur-lesque step for the stage. The form of the ankle-joint is suit.able to this action, the articular surface of the astragalus beingwider in front than behind. Through this arrangement theimpact of the heel on the ground, by driving the astragalusforward, slightly separates the articular surfaces, and frictionis thus reduced. Here I would make a conjecture as to theorigin of raised heels to our boots. Most persons acknow-ledge the comfort of shoes " with no heels " ; and for thisreason, presumably, slippers are made without them. Why,then, do we ever wear raised heels ? May it not be becausethe impact of the heel wears out the posterior part of theshoe-leather before the anterior, so that it has been foundeconomical for outdoor walking to have a thick piece overthe heel ? For the same reason, apparently, the skin overthe back of the heel is the thickest on the foot. Of coursethis does not explain the fancy of women for extremely highheels, which is as unphysiological in its origin as the fancyfor " dress-improvers. "

I am. Sir. vours faithfullv.F. J. ALLEN, M.A.Cantab.

Royal Southern Hospital, Liverpool, June 28th, 1884.

THE BROMPTON CEMETERY.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—" How long will a man lie i’ the earth ere he rot ?"is the question asked of the gravedigger by Hamlet, and weall know the facetious reply given. Walking through theBrompton Cemetery, I passed by the grave of one who wasfor many years the best impersonator of the First Gravediggerupon the English stage, and I thought of the well-remem-bered scene in the churchyard at Elsinore. There was noearth here, however; but only flint stones, sand, andgravel. In this necropolis thousands of bodies are lying,some of them actually resting upon shelves placed in bnild-ings er cted above the ground. The emanations arisingfrom these decomposing bodies poison the air, and thesoluble parts, washed out by the rain, must be disseminatedunder the houses and streets, which are now built close tothe burying-place. Day after day processions of hearses andmourning coaches (" a ghastly band") arrive at this

cemetery ; a,nd the enormity is perpetuated of burying undergravel, sand, and flint stones a mass of human remains inthe midst of their living fellows. The gates of this ceme-tery ought to 1 e closed at once and for ever, and the officeat No. 12, Hay market, appropriated to some less horriblepurpose than the one it is now used for.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,July 2nd, 1884. JOHN TOPHAM, M.D., F.R.C.P. Lond.

LIVERPOOL.

(From our own Correspondent.) )

CITY HOSPITAL FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

AT the monthly meeting of the City Council a letterfrom the Local Government Board to the Mayor wasread. In this it was stated that the Board were clearlyof opinion that the Mill-road Workhouse should cease to beused as a small-pox hospital as soon as the City Councilmade the necessary arrangements for the accommodation ofpatients. It was resolved to provide temporary hospitals ona site either at the southern or eastern extremity of theborough. It will be remembered that it was stated in THELANCET some months ago that the use of workhouse hospitalsfor other than pauper patients could not be justified.

THE CASE OF POISONING YEAST.

At the city sessions, held last week, two men namedGilder, father and son, yeast-dealers, were convicted ofmaliciously damaging five baskets of yeast belonging to afirm of flour-dealers by poisoning it with carbolic acid. TheKecorder, in sentencing the elder prisoner to six months’ andthe younger to three months’ imprisonment, characterisedthe offence as a very serious one.

THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH’S ANNUAL REPORT.Dr. Stopford Taylor’s annual report has just been issued,

and contains many interesting details. The total popula-tion of Liverpool is estimated at 566,753 ; the births were19,207, a decrease of 591 ; while the deaths were 15,074, anincrease of 256 over the previous year. Small-pox is rarelyabsent, owing to its frequent importation by visitors,emigrants, and others. Scarlatina caused 388 deaths, andmeasles 618. The deaths of infants below one year amountedto 3686.

THE LIVERPOOL PARISH INFIRMARY.

The parish of Liverpool is one of the largest and mostdensely populated in the kingdom. Some idea of this isshown in the numbers of inmates in the workhouse and itsbranches. These are in all 2648, including 1325 sick andinfirm. These, again, include 732 persons under medicaltreatment, 51 being infectious cases.

THE WEATHER.

The weather for the last few weeks has been remarkablyfine, and the heat almost tropical in its intensity. It has,however, been tempered to a considerable extent by thesea breezes, of which Liverpool has the benefit, except inunusually calm weather, and so far there have been no ,

cases of sunstroke.

DISCOVERY OF A BODY IN AN EMPTY HOUSE.

While a corporation official was engaged on Tuesdaylast in an inspection of a house which has been empty formore than a year, he found in a closet in the yard the bodyof a woman reduced almost to a skeleton. The discoveryin the hand of the deceased of a newspaper dated 6th July,1883, limits the death to within that period. The body wasfound doubled up, and has not yet been identified. Aninquest will be held in due course.

IRELAND.

(From our own Correspondent.)

QUEEN’S COLLEGES COMMISSION.THE Commissioners, after visiting the three Queen’s Col-

lege, roceedei to hold an inquiry in Dublin, and to receiveevidence in respect of various matters bearing on the subjectsto be investigated. Among those who gave evidence wasthe Rev. Dr. Walsh, President of St. Patrick’s College,Maynooth, who thought that inconvenience arose from thefact that examiners of the Royal University were professorsiu colleges, so that students not taught by them did notstand on equal terms with those who were. Dr. Curtis, whohad been Professor of Natural Philosophy in Galway College,was of opinion that the matriculation examination fulfilledthe purposes for which it was intended ; while Mr. BroughamLeech, who was Secretary to a Treasury Commission which

Page 2: IRELAND

41

inquired into the working of the Queen’s Colleges in 1876,said that he was greatly impressed with the high value andexcellence of the work done by them. Various medical gen-tlemen, including Drs. Knight, Macnaughton Jones, Thom-son, Roche, and Smith, also gave evidence, and statedgenerally that opportunities for learning in Cork Collegewere remarkably good, particularly in histology, anatomy,and practical physiology; but hospital practice was not sogood as in Dublin, and opportunities of studying morbidanatomy and pathology were defective. The weak point inthe Galway College was the clinical material, and the feesfor the medical curriculum were too low in the colleges.Several witnesses thought it desirable that a student of thecolleges should come to Dublin for his last year. TheCommissioners have adjourned their inquiry until furthernotice.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.

The vacant Professorship of Surgery will be filled up bythe Council of the College on the 24th inst. Although threenames have been mentioned as candidates for the post, I amstill of opinion that Mr. Edward Hamilton, ex-President ofthe Council, has the best chance of success.

ADELAIDE HOSPITAL, DUBLIN.The Hudson Scholarship and Prizes obtained at the recent

examinations were conferred last Saturday on the successfulcompetitors. Mr. Bewley, who obtained the scholarships-agold medal and £ 30-this year has been awarded in theUniversity of Dublin first class honours, a classical scholar-ship, first senior moderatorship, first medical scholarship,and other distinctions. He answered 90 per cent. of thequestions in ophthalmology, gynaecology, medicine, surgery,and pathology. Mr. Day was awarded the Hudson Prize,consisting of a silver medal and £10 ; while Mr. Wynnereceived the medical, and Mr. Healy the surgical prizesrespectively. It is to be hoped that next year some betterarrangements may be made as regards examining for thesurgical prize. One or two days at the furthest, instead ofnearly three weeks, ought to afford ample time, and all thecandidates ought to be examined together, and, save in theclinical part of it, in the theatre of the hospital openly beforethe other students.

The Provost and Senior Fellows have awarded theSurgical Travelling Prize, value £100, to Charles R.Kilkelly; and a prize of E25 to Henry J. Bewley.At the last meeting of the Board of Trinity College, Dr.

Charles B. Ball, surgeon to Sir Patrick Dun’s Hospital, wasappointed an examiner in the place of Mr. R. G. Butcher,who had resigned.The proposed amalgamation of the Carmichael College

with the College of Surgeons Medical School is still talkedof, but the difficulties to be overcome appear to me to beinsurmountable.Mr. Keenan, F.R.C.S.I., has been presented with an

address accompanied by a purse of soveieigns, on the occa-sion of his retirement from the post of resident surgeon toMercer’s Hospital, Dublin.Dr. Cruise has been appointed Physician in Ordinary to

the Viceregal household.Dublin, July lst, 1884.

LOVER THAMES VALLEY MAIN SEWERAGE SCHEME.On the 3rd inst., the Select Committee, presided over byMr. Giles, resumed the hearing of the scheme for dealingwith the sewage of the Lower Thames Valley at Mortlake.The Chairman remarked that they did not want anyengineering evidence. Mr. Melliss, an engineer, was

cross-examined by Mr. Stephens, Q.C., as to the reasonswhich had induced him to adopt the intermittent treatmentinstead of the continuous, which latter he had recommendedgenerally as against the intermittent process. Mr. Mellisexplained that the engineering exigencies of the site ofthe proposed works at Mortlake, there being but a smallquantity of land, had decided him in favour of intermittenttreatment. When asked whether he had any plan givingthe details of the scheme, he said that he had nothing but apencilled plan, and that the whole matter would have to begone into after the Committee had decided whether thelands ought to be taken. The Chairman did not think itnecessary to go into further details of the scheme, for itwould not matter to them whether it was the continuous orthe intermittent process. The details would be gone intoby the Local Government Board.

THE SERVICES.

ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. -Deputy Surgeon-GeneraWilliam George Nicholas Manley, V.C., is granted retireepay, with the honorary rank of Surgeon-General; Surgeon.Major Robert Alexander Peter Grant is granted retired paywith the honorary rank of Brigade-Surgeon; SurgeonMajor James Saltus Conyers, M.D., is granted retired paywith the honorary rank of Brigade Surgeon ; SurgeonMajor Thomas Kingston, M.D., from half-pay, to be Surgeon-Major, vice H. H. Burford, placed on retired pay.ADMIRALTY.-Fleet Surgeon Edward Townsend Mortime

has been promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector-Generaof Hospitals and Fleets in Her Majesty’s Fleet. SurgeonHenry Beale Collins and Staff-Surgeon Thomas TraverRiordon have each,been placed on the retired list of his rank

The following appointments have been made :-Fleet Surgeon Thomas E. H. Williams, to Chatham Division Roya aMarines (for Walmer depot) ; Fleet Surgeon Archibald GColquhoun, to the Trincomalee. Surgeon James O’BWilliams, to Plymouth Division Royal Marines; SurgeonEdward H. Williams, to the Imogene.

MEDICAL NOTES IN PARLIAMENT.

The Cholera.IN the House of Lords on Friday, Lord Carrington stated

that it was intended to ask Parliament to renew the CholeraAct which was passed last session, and which expires inSeptember next. The noble lord described the precautionsnow in force against the importation of cholera, and inti.mated that it was not intended to send a medical com-missioner to Toulon, as the report of the French commis-sioners would supply the necessary information. LordCarnarvon expressed his disappointment at the determina-tion of the Government to save expense in so serious amatter.

Over-pressure in Schools.Earl De la Warr raised a debate on school pressure ; and

Lord Carlingford, in defence of his department, declaredthat the new code mitigated the strain on children, and thecry of over-pressure was a huge spectre. He admitted,however, that there was some small residue of fact" "

behind it.The Medical Bill.

As announced in our second edition last week, the Bill wasread a second time on Thursday evening, an opportunity forit having unexpectedly arisen through the MlIapse ,of the

,

debate on the third reading of the Franchise Bill.On Monday night, at a late hour, the Committee stage of

the Bill was reached, after two divisions, and the con-

sideration of amendments was postponed to Monday next.Amongst those upon the paper is one by Mr. Selator Booth,

, proposing the appointment of a Pharmacopoeia Committee,’

consisting of six medical practitioners and five pharmaceu-tical chemists. Several petitions in favour of the Bill have

r been presented during the week, and five from London; against it.

Criminal Lunatics Bill.On the motion of Mr. Hibbert this Bill was read a second

time on Thursday night, and on Friday it was referred tot the Grand Committee on Law.

l Market Refuse.On Monday, in the course of an answer as to cholera

regulations, Mr. Russell assured Lord Claud Hamiltonthat the Local Government Board would consider the

t alleged insanitary state of the streets surrounding Covent-garden and other markets in London.

The Small-pox Epidemic.3 On Monday, Mr. Russell informed Dr. Cameron thatt during this year 2628 cases of small-pox had been admittedt to the Asylums Board hospitals, and 282 had proved fatal.r Outside these hospitals there had been 107 deaths.

On Tuesday, Dr. Cameron called attention to the small.pox epidemic in London, and moved a resolution calling