204 THE CONTAGIOUS’ DISEASES COMMITTEE.

has taken. The possibility of acquiring licence, reallyavailable for the needs of everyday practice such as ordi-nary practitioner!-) contemplate, by one efficient examina-tion, is not merely a boon to the profession; it is also a realadvance in the direction of that unification of the professionfor which THE LANCET has consistently fought for manyyears. It cannot be concealed that the measure is in somesense revolutionary. No doubt its effects upon the prestigeof Apothecaries’ Hall and the College of Surgeons must bevery serious; for it is hardly possible to conceive that anyconsiderable number of students will deliberately submitthemselves to the worrying powers of two inferior exa- ’,mining bodies, when they can pass one respectable exami- nation and obtain one respectable licence which will servethem for all needful purposes. As a triumph of principle, then, we consider this event thoroughly satisfactory; and I,we have only one word of advice to administer to the Cor-

poration which has obtained so signal an advantage. The ilexamination of the College of Physicians is in most respectsgood; but in view of the important advantages that

body now obtains, we consider that its test of the fitness ofcandidates for practice should be strengthened in two im-

portant directions. In the first place, the examination in

surgery should bo rendered more searching and complete.And, secondly, a thorough system of bedside examinations,both in medical and surgical cases, should be adopted; anda more complete investigation of the candidates’ knowledgeof pathological and clinical specimens by the microscopeshould be instituted. In fact, the College of Physiciansmight pretty safely follow the standard of examination Iwhich rules the Bachelor of Medicine examinations at theUniversity of London. Considering that the candidates Iwould escape the preliminary scientific examinations, which i

constitute the chief terrors of the ordeal through which ILondon University men have to pass, we cannot think that the test here proposed would be too severe for men who areto be allowed all the advantages of practising medicine in ’,

both its branches.

Medical Annotations."Ne quid nimis."

THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES COMMITTEE.

THE surgeons of the Royal Albert Hospital at Devonporthave, in a letter published in another column, called atten-tion to a matter of considerable importance, and one whichmay materially affect the well-working of the ContagiousDiseases Act. Mr. Romaine, late secretary to the Admiralty,appears to have stated to the Committee that the patientsin the Government lock wards of the Royal Albert Hospitalwere visited only once a week by the surgeons of that hos-pital; and to have given it as his opinion that the " visitingsurgeon" appointed by Government under the Act shouldhave power given him to visit and examine patients in thehospital, and that there should he no admission or dischargeof patients without his authority. Mr. Romaine also ex-

pressed an opinion " that local civil practitioners cannotwell be allowed to remain in authority over lock wards."The letter of the surgeons to which we have already re-

ferred is the best answer to the charge of neg’lect of the

patients by the officers of the Royal Albert Hospital, andwe happen to have abundant confirmation of the statementfrom other and independent sources. In fact, the way inwhich the lock wards at Devonport have been worked hasgained the praise of all who have inquired into the subjectunbiased by interested officials. The latter part of Mr.Romaine’s evidence, however, requires more extended notice,since the effort to transfer the whole medical care of lock

wards to the hands of one Government official appears tous fraught with the greatest mischief to the well-doing ofthe patients and the popularity of the Act itself.At present a woman coming under the provisions of the

Act, though sent to hospital by a Government medicalinspector, and under the authority of the police, knows thather period of detention will depend, not upon the will ofany official, but simply upon her civilian medical attendantbeing satisfied that her health is restored. Then, and then

only, without reference to the views of the inspecting sur-geon or the inspector of police, who may know her to be atroublesome person, and be glad to be relieved of her pre-sence in the streets, the woman is discharged. The medicalofficers of the hospital have no possible interest in detaininga patient, for they have nothing to do with her after shequits their wards ; and the woman and the public knowthis, and hence the quiet and satisfactory working of theAct. But supposing that the Government medical officerbecomes the sole responsible officer, all this will be altered.There will be no guarantee that a troublesome patient shallnot be detained de feccto if not de jure in prison for anyperiod which may suit the officials’ views. There will beno appeal from Government officials to well-known and re-spected civilians, and the Act will accordingly become lesspopular, and its general extension will be materially inter-fered with. It is pretty obvious that Mr. Romaine musthave been 11 primed" by persons interested in supersedinglocal civil practitioners" when he said that these latter" cannot well be allowed to remain in authority over lockwards." We believe the civilian medical officers at Devon-

port, Portsmouth, &c., can confidently appeal to the resultsof the last three years in proof of the success which hasattended their zealous and hitherto gratuitous work on be-half of the Government.

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A CRIEVANCE AT THE COLLECE OF SURCEONS.

A LETTER, which will be found at another page, from agentleman who has recently undergone the ordeal of the ex-amination for the membership of the College of Surgeons,deserves some notice. Mr. Edward De Morgan complainson his own behalf, and on that of upwards of ninety com-panions in misfortune, that the arrangements of the Collegeofficials are so defective as very materially to influence the

! result of the examination by rendering the candidates flur- ried and nervous prior to its commencement. We haveascertained the facts to be exactly as stated by our corre-spondent, and we think it high time that some alterationshould be made. The system of receiving the fees for theexamination immediately prior to the examination itself

! dates from the days of the Belfours, father and son, andtherefore is continued at the present time. But there its this

great difference between former and present times-that onthe Friday evenings, which used to be devoted to the exa-minations, the ordinary number of candidates was twelve.and never exceeded sixteen, and it was therefore possible toreceive the fees perfectly easily during the half hour pre-ceding the arrival of the examiners. Now, however, when a

! hundred or more young men are anxious to inscribe theirnames, to insist upon an adherence to the old régime, is -Lninstance of careless stupidity of which only a corporationcould be capable. At the University of London, with a

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much smaller official staff, the fees of five hundred candi-dates for mELtriculation are twice a year received during thedays preceding the examination without the slightest diffi-culty or annoyance to anyone; and as the College maintainsthree clerks to help the Secretary in his arduous duties, atan expenditure of some twelve hundred a year in salaries,we think time might be found for the reception of the feesin question. We anticipate the official answer—that duringthe preceding week the time of the officials is taken up withthe anatomical examination then in progress. Our reply tcwhich is, that the examinations being held in the theatrethe office is not interfered with; and that if the official whchas hitherto sat at the "receipt of custom" has really othe]duties to attend to, it would be possible to appoint anothe]clerk to his post-the College fortunately not absolutelyresembling the Roman hierarchy as to its foundation.

THE NETLEY APPOINTMENTS.

SOME correspondence has recently taken place in ourpages and in those of one of our military contemporaries,on the above subject. As far as we are concerned,the objects in view are of a very simple kind - namely,the benefit of the Netley School, and that of the publicservice generally. Regarded in one sense, the two in-stitutions go together. Whatever tends to maintain thecharacter or increase the usefulness of the former, mustconduce to the interests of the latter. The question mootedis this, Ought the assistant-professorships to be permanentor temporary posts? Advocates on the one side or theother alike disclaim-and rightly as we think-all inten-tion of questioning the abilities or fitness of the presentstaff. Now, as regards the professors of a school or univer-sity, we are bound to say that, if you want to secure menof ability and attainments, and require them to maintaintheir information level with the advances made in thesciences they teach-which is clearly what is wanted,-youmust give them the security of a permanency. Proficiencyin skill and teaching will not generally be obtained by theadoption of the temporary system of emplovment.Of course appointments are not made for the benefit of

officers of the Army Medical Department, but for that ofthe Service generally. If we are rightly informed, whenthose of assistants to the medical and surgical divisions of theSchool were recommended, it was held that, beside the ad-

vantages immediately accruing to the School, there wouldbe a great gain to the Service in having a certain numberof staff-surgeons well trained in general hospital work, andready to assume charge of such institutions whenever theymight be required. And, again, with regard to the appoint-ment of assistants to aid the professors of hygiene and pa-thology in the duties of their chairs, it was also held that,by making the posts of a temporary character, a number ofyoung men would be passed into the army having specialknowledge on questions of hygiene and pathology, whowould be at the disposal of the Director-General for anyspecial service they might be required to undertake. Now,were these really the grounds on which these several ap-pointments were originated? The professorships beingpermanent posts, and occupied by excellent men, the highcharacter of the tuition is provided for, and ought notto suffer. They represent what may be termed a fixed

quantity. The diffusion of skill and knowledge in thE

department will be attained, on the other hand, just in pro.portion to the number of men who have the opportunityof acquiring these, provided always that the time allowecbe sufficient for the purpose. In the case of Dr. de Chaumont, however, we can conscientiously say that we shoulcregard his departure from Netley as a serious loss to th

School, and an injury t4-) the service, and for these reasons-The subject he professes to teach is a technical, difficult,and progressive one : he is allowed, we believe, to possess alarge amount of information thereon, which is available forthe School and the War Office at the present time, and heis relatively better fitted than others for the appreciationand acquirement of the advances which are daily beingmade in physiological chemistry and sanitary science inthis country and abroad ; and, lastly, we consider that hewould be a worthy successor to the present occupant of theChair of Hygiene. The Netley School sends forth, sessionafter session, men trained in this subject, and fit to under-take chemical investigations when required at the differentstations; and we think Dr. de Chaumont in doing this is

better occupied than he would be if engaged in an occasionalanalysis of air or water at a foreign station.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

THE mortality returns for the quarter ended June 30thdo not strike us as being of a very qatisfactory character.It is true the Registrar-General tells us that the death-rate was " slightly below the average of the season," but itwas also considerably above the rate of the correspondingquarter of 1868, and in a lesser degree above that of 1867.A greatly reduced birth-rate might have been supposed tohave much more effect in reducing the rate of mortality(always excessive among infants) than appears to have beenthe case; and the conclusion is warranted, therefore, thatinfluences more than ordinarily unfavourable to human lifewere at work during the quarter throughout the country,or at least in many parts of it. Severe fluctuations of tem-

perature, and the prevalence of unusually cold weather,proved fatal to numbers of young children and old peoplewhose lives might otherwise have been prolonged; and it isalso evident that epidemic disease was exceedingly rife inmany localities. The notes of the local registrars, whichconstitute by far the most valuable feature of the return, andwhich might well be amplified and brought into greater pro-minence, show that phthisis and diseases of the respiratoryorgans generally were the causes of an undue proportion ofthe deaths ; and for this the climatic conditions of the seasonare of course mainly answerable. Measles and scarlet fever

prevailed more or less in almost every county, and in manydistricts to an extent alone sufficient to account for theexcess of mortality above the average. A few exampleswill suffice to show how very fatal these two diseases werelast quarter: in the north and middle sub-districts of King’sLynn, measles caused 37 deaths out of 80 from all causes;in the Lyme sub-district of Axminster, 18 out of 40 ; in Lis-

keard, 41 out of 115; in three sub-districts of Stoke Damerel,63 out of 203 ; and in the Atherton sub-district of Leigh, 77 7out of 147. Scarlet fever caused 10 out of 71 deaths inSt. Albans ; 21 out of 68 deaths in Evesham; 6 out of 42

) in the north-east sub-district of Lincoln; and 12 out of 87deaths in Runcorn. Many of the registrars refer to the

prevalence of small-pox, and notably in the following dis-tricts or sub-districts : - St. Matthew (Ipswich), Saltfleet

’ (Louth), Wigan, Manchester, Oldham, Colne (Burnley),Dewsbury, Sheffield, and Hull. The registrar of the Chad-

:. derton sub-district of Oldham, reporting the prevalence ofL small-pox in one part of his sub-district, says: " Complainte has been made to me, whilst out registering in the district,- of children afflicted with small-pox running through the

streets at the same time that both blood and matter werei running down their faces from the sores." Anything more

shocking than this cannot be conceived, nor anything more1 clearly showing the necessity, as a matter of public pro-e tection, for putting a stop to the unlimited freedom of con.

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tagion which exists among the lower orders at this day.We commend these registrars’ notes to the attention of theSanitary Commissioners; they can hardly fail to derivetherefrom some striking lessons in reference to the resultswhich the public will expect to follow from their inves-tigations.

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THE COLLECE OF PHYSICIANS OF EDINBURCHAND THE CENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL.

WE understand that, at the meeting of the Royal Collegenf Physicians of Edinburgh held on Tuesday last, the 3rdinst,., the following resolutions were unanimously agreed toon the motion of Dr. Alex. Wood;, the representative of theCollege in the Medical Council:-

" That this Collpge, after ten years’ trial of the MedicalAct (2] & 22 Viet., cap. 90), is satisfied that it has not fnl-filled either the wishes or the requirements of the profession.That the College, while gladly admitting that the MedicalCouncil have done a good deal to improve medical educa-tion, is nevertheless of opinion that it has failed to deal withsufficient firmness with several examining boards who haverefused to carry out the recommendations of the Council." That this College is of opinion that the Medical Council

is not the best body to inaugurate any new measure ofmedical reform.

°‘ That the College, therefore, remit to the Council, withpowers to prepare, for the approval of the College, a me-morial to her Majesty’s Government in regard to the neces-sity of a new Medical Bill, and to hold conferences with anyother bodies in regard to it.That the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh is

of opinion that the multiplicity of examining boards, eachgiving separate diplomas, is an evil." That the College is of opinion that it would be desirable

if the various examining boards in Scotland would unite toform an entrance examination, leaving it to each of themto bestow, in addition, such diplomas as their charters en-title them to confer.

" That the College remit to the Council to endeavour topromote such a view by conference or otherwise."When such resolutions as these emanate from the licensing

bodies themselves, anything that we, or other outsiders,may have said of the Medical Council, must appear reason-able and moderate. We commend the last resolution butone to the consideration of all the licensing bodies in Eng-land, Ireland, and Scotland. The day of numerous com-petitive licensing boards is over, and the only thing theycan now do is to anticipate the future, and by mutual con-cessions try to have a representation in the one completeexamination which is in contemplation for each division ofthe kingdom.

WOMEN AND THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

ONE of our lay contemporaries is greatly gratified at thefact that at last there is a University in Great Britain wherewomen may study medicine, albeit in separate classes-anarrangement not thought necessary in either France orAmerica. A majority of the members of the Senate of theUniversity of Edinburgh have decided to this effect. Webelieve the sanction of the University Court and of theCouncil of the University must be given to this permissionbefore it can be acted on. It is scarcely likely that thesebodies will reverse the concession of the Senatus; and if

they do not, it will rest with the ladies of the country tomake up a medical class or classes in the University. We

do not see with our contemporary that because women

have bodies they should study medicine. Children havebodies too, whose diseases have special characters of theirown; but nobody ever thought they should become practi-tioners. The best reason for giving ladies an opportunityof studying medicine is that by so doing an alleged griev-ance is removed. They will find it more difficult to become

medical practitioners than to complain that they are pre-vented from doing so. There is a notion that medical

practice is a good calling for women. It is doubtful if anycalling is more unsuitable to their nature, whether we haverespect to considerations of health or of taste. The diseasesof women and children might be studied by them withoutviolence to those feelings of delicacy which at present,rightly or wrongly, would debar them from practice amongmen. But it is a very grave question whether ladies arefitted to do the laborious work which is implied in mid.wifery practice, and which is exceedingly trying to strongmen. Fancy a young lady just out of her teens commencingpractice, and receiving a summons in the middle of thenight to a distant case. We can imagine no solution ofsuch a difficulty so natural as a friendly understanding withthe youngest practitioner of the other sex that he wouldgallantly act in such emergencies. And we need not sugagest the kind of partnership in which such obvious amenitieswould he likely to end. It is said ladies would prefer ladypractitioners: this is very doubtful.

THE SOLDIER’S KNAPSACK.

IN the Fourth Report of the Committee appointed to in-quire into the effect on health of the present system ofcarrying the accoutrements, ammunition, and kit of the

infantry soldier, which we noticed some months since, itwas stated that about twenty-three corps had worn, forperiods ranging from two to four months, the new valiseequipment, and that all, with the exception of the 92ndRegiment, had reported in its favour. The Committee alsostated that they did not think that any further trialswould lead to the discovery of any better system than thatwhich they had devised; and that the time had arrived forcoming to a decision on this important question. They feltthat they had found the best, and perhaps the only, way inwhich the military weights can be carried with completefreedom to the chest and without injurious pressure on im-portant parts; these weights being placed low down, andthe hip bones being made to sustain the greater portion ofthe burden which hitherto has been thrown on the chest, onlyto confine its movements in the act of respiration, and to in-terfere with the action of the heart, especially under extraexertion, as in the execution of rapid movements or sus-tained effort of any kind. At the same time it was hintedthat steps would be taken to compare the respective meritsof Col. Carter’s knapsack and of the Committee’s pack, asit had been implied (erroneously, however, in the opinionof the Committee) that the valise plan is not fitted forkilted regiments. We learn from a supplement to theFourth Report that, when the latter was submitted to themilitary authorities, both Mr. Cardwell and the Commander-in-Chief, after careful consideration, deemed the labours of £

the Knapsack Committee conclusive; and decided that theequipment recommended by the Committee should be

adopted for the army. It was at this time that Col. Carter

complained that his knapsack had not been fairly tried;and Mr. Cardwell directed that fifty Carter’s knapsacks andfifty 11 valises" should be supplied to the Highland real-ments-viz., the 42nd, and the dep6ts of the 78th, 79th,92nd, and 93rd-for competitive trials. As these werekilted regiments, the merits of the Carter knapsack andthe applicability of the 11 valise" to kilted regiments couldthus be determined at one and the same time. The 92nd,which originally reported in favour of Col. Carter’s knap-sack, is the only regiment which now speaks in its favour.The reports from the other depôts are strongly in favourof the valise equipment. This being the case, the Com-mander-in-Chief considers the latter should be now gene-

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rally adopted, and that ten regiments should be suppliedannually. At any rate Col. Carter has had fair play, andthe men who reject his knapsack do so on the ground that" it hurts them in the small of the back, and no arrange-ment of the kit appeared to remedy this fact;" that it ismore fatiguing to carry than the valise; and that it doesnot give so much freedom to the arms as the latter does.The new pattern of English infantry equipment has beencarefully tested by the Prussians, who seem to speak highlyin its favour ; and an interesting letter from Col. Walker,the military attache at Berlin, is printed in the supplement.The old knapsack, or " the monkey," as the Prussian soldierscall it, will soon therefore disappear from the British army,to the comfort of the soldier, and an increase of his efficiency.

THE SUPPLY OF DRUGS IN IRELAND.

IN our recent account of the Irish dispensary system wealluded to the defective mode of supplying drugs. An

illustrative case has lately occurred in Waterford, where,upon analysis, it was found that the sulphur precipitatiumsupplied by contract consisted of 52 per cent. of gypsum,and only 33’4 per cent. of pure sulphur. The contractor hadthe temerity to tell the guardians that " sulphur precep.(sic) is an article in which sulphur is only a very small item,lime and water being of necessity exhibited in large andsmaller quantities." We cannot say much for the pharma-ceutical knowledge of the highly respectable Dublin firmfrom which this extraordinary statement emanated; butwe must say less for that of the guardians, who treated thematter as one of those differences of opinion which amongstdoctors is supposed to be very common, and they expressedthemselves as quite unable to judge as to which was right.Surely this case affords sufficient evidence to show that thedrugs should be supplied from a central store, the articlesbeing properly examined and tested by a skilful analystbefore being issued for use.

THE VACCINATION ACT.

THE deaths from small-pox in Leeds, which in 1866 were59, in 1867 were 46, and in 1868 only 17. This admirableresult was attributed, at the recent meeting of the BritishMedical Association, to the persevering efforts of the Boardof Guardians in pushing vaccination and in recommendingrevaccination. We would at once encourage and humble theLeeds authorities by reminding them that the whole annualmortality from small-pox in Ireland is little more than hap-pened last year in Leeds. The Report of the Inspector ofVaccination contains a practical refutation of the statementthat the people dislike vaccination. Out of the 1491 cases

of children returned and found unvaccinated in the year,there are only three parents who have refused to allow theirchildren to undergo the operation. The penal clauses havehad to be applied in only six cases during the year, and inthree of these the law was afterwards complied with. The

inspector reports that the mortality amongst unvaccinatedchildren is greater than that amongst the vaccinated. Itis refreshing, in the midst of much sensational nonsensethat is being talked about vaccination, to come upon suchfacts; and the authorities of Leeds deserve credit for sc

energetically applying the Act.

THAMES MUD.

OF course we may expect the usual scientific scandal in th(dispute as to the quality of the mud collecting in BarkingCreek. Drs.Odling and Millar have been retained by thtMetropolitan Board of Works, and swear that it differ!

nothing from ordinary river mud; and no doubt the Thames

Conservancy will produce the analysis of some eminentchemists to prove the contrary. Let us hope, however, thata place will be left for common observation and commonsense. No one can look at the black, slimy deposit, studdedhere and there with traces of straw and organic matter,and permeated by very fine grit, without recognising thedifference from the brown mud which forms the usual de-

posit on a river bank. Not long ago, also, the engineers ofthe Metropolitan Board of Works were obliged to employscavengers to remove a very extensive deposit in the longoutfall sewer leading from Deptford to Crossness; and itwould be simply nonsense to suppose that huge quantitiesof debris from the streets are not brought down with thebulk of sewage. This at least cannot be annihilated in halfa mile, as the romantic engineer of the Board would haveus think; and what more natural than that it should fall tothe bottom, carrying with it a considerable portion of blackorganic matter. It is difficult to estimate the value of thismaterial as manure ; but we should think it at least as valu-able as the sand we saw unloading at a manure manufactoryclose by. Whatever the result of Mr. Rawlinson’s inquiry,we regret to think that it will afford a fresh instance ofconflicting scientific and expert evidence, brought togetherby various public corporations, all of whom are supportingtheir special views by the aid of other people’s money, andwho ought to be equally interested in the one object ofeliciting the truth.

THE COTTACE HOSPITAL AT VENTNOR.

ON Wednesday, July 28th, as briefly noticed in our issueof last week, the ceremony of laying the foundation stoneof the National Cottage Hospital for Consumption and Dis-eases of the Chest was performed, in the presence of a largeand influential gathering, and amidst much rejoicing, byher Royal Highness the Princess Louise, who was accom-panied by the Prince and Princess Christian. The Princessacted for and represented her Majesty the Queen, who takesa deep interest in the success of this new and importantmedical foundation-an interest strongly portrayed in themore than usually pointed and gracious reply accorded tothe address customary on such occasions. The PrincessLouise and her Royal relatives inspected minutely, afterthe ceremony, the houses already completed, with whichthe utmost satisfaction was expressed; and before quittingthe very beautiful grounds of the hospital, each of thePrincesses planted trees memorial of the eventful occasion.At the termination of the ceremony proper a luncheon was

provided, at which nearly three hundred ladies and gentle-men sat down, under the presidency of Lord Eversley, theGovernor of the Isle of Wight. Some excellent and effectivespeeches were made, the principal speakers being the Chair-man, Sir Lawrence Peel (late president of Guy’s), Sir JohnSimeon, M.P., C. W. Martin, M.P., the Mayors of Ports-mouth, Newport, and Ryde, Sir Walter Stirling, Sir John

Cheape, and Dr. Hassall. The whole of the proceedings weremarked by the greatest warmth and cordiality; and nolittle praise was justly awarded to Dr. Arthur Hill Hassall,the founder of the hospital, whose exertions in its behalfhave been as energetic and unceasing as they have beensuccessful.

There is no question that the inauguration of this hos-pital constitutes an era in the public treatment of consump-tion and diseases of the chest. In it the patients will besubjected to every known influence favourable to the alle-viation and cure of consumption: a mild and genialclimate, a southern aspect, sea air, protection from the moreadverse winds, a remarkably dry soil, with special meansof ventilation and warmth, and the cottage system of

management, with all its attendant comforts and advan-

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tages, physical, moral, and mental. It is well for the under-

taking that it fell to the lot of Dr. Hassall, than whom itwould have been very difficult to have found anyone better

qualified, by the energy of his character and his sanitaryand medical knowledge, to bring it to a most successfuland triumphant issue. ____

THE HOLIDAYS.

Oun, remarks upon the great British pilgrimage and itsdangers have been noticed in the L’xccn2iaaer of last weekin an article which it publishes upon ’’ The ComingHolidays," and in which it is very justly observed, in

illustration of our warning, that many people go to theseaside merely because they are recovering from some

dangerous illness. When it is remembered what a largenumber of different families, under all sorts of circumstancesof health and cleanliness, a single lodging-house at a sea-side watering-place will house successively in the course ofa, " good season," the chances of something being pickedup, whether zymotic or parasitic, would seem to be neces-sarily great, and in practice we believe they are so. Thereare few persons who, in choosing a house as a permanentresidence, do not inquire into its drainage, and employ astrict process of cleansing, ere they venture to inhabit it;but Paterfamilias takes his brood to Margate, and " temptsthe unknown" with the most reckless confidence, apparentlyunder the impression that there is something in sea air

which destroys iufection. The Registrar-General wouldprobably entertain a very different opinion.

THE LADIES’ SANITARY ASSOCIATION ONVARIOUS SUBJECTS.

A FEW gentlemen and a few ladies seem to have interest-ing conferences under the auspices of the Ladies’ SanitaryAssociation. Sometimes vaccination is the subject discussed,and sometimes " the effect of sea air on heart disease." Weshould have been disposed to defer greatly to the ladies in con-ference, and to listen attentively as they discussed the lattersubject, illustrated by their experience gathered in variousvisits with the young ladies of their families to Brighton,Scarborough, &o. Dr. A. Haviland, we believe, conductedthe conference. No doubt the ladies supplied the facts,and the Doctor gave their physiological and pathologicalimport. The exact significance of a little palpitation inMiss Sophia on the evening of a ball at the Grand Hotel,and of a little hysteria in Miss Julia the day after, woulddoubtless receive their scientific expression. It will be a dull

day for the young ladies of the country if Dr. Haviland andtheir mammas come to the conclusion that the seaside isbad for heart disease. They must appoint a deputation tothe next conference on the subject, to set forth that, how-ever bad it may be for these complaints to go to the sea-side, it may be much worse for them to stay at home.But though we pay infinite deference to the views of the

Ladies’ Sanitary Association and Dr. Haviland on the effectof sea air on heart disease, we demur rather to their settingnp as authorities on vaccination and the Vaccination Act.The Sanitary Commission is to be favoured by a deputationfrom the Association, the views of which may be gatheredfrom the following resolution, proposed by Dr. A. Haviland,seconded by the Countess De Noailles, and carried unani-mously :-

11 That the Compulsory Vaccination Act implies an exacti-tude of scientific knowledge upon the subject of small-poxand cow-pox which does not really exist at present; thatthe scientific data upon which it was founded were insuffi-cient to warrant such an infringement of the liberty of thesubject which it entails; and that the law as it now standsis obnoxious not only to science generally, but especially

oppressive to the poor, who cannot afford to resist it, andtherefore are obliged to submit their children to the ill con-sequences of inoculation from diseased subjects."The deputation is to offer to bring forth evidence on the

subject. We only hope it will be something different fromthe rambling nonsense of Dr. Collins, who, having vacci.nated many children in the course of twenty years, in hiscapacity of public vaccinator, declares that he recognisesthem now as lunatics and idiots in the St. Pancras W ork-

house, and that he believes their lunacy to be a result oftheir vaccination. It looks as if much vaccination hadaffected the operator as well as the unfortunate victims ofhis operation. Another conclusion to which he has been

brought by long experience is, that vaccination in someconstitutions produces the most virulent small-pox. The

greatest twaddle talked at such meetings is of the preju-dices of the poor against vaccination. The best refutationof such statements is the experience of the authorities inworking the Act at such places as Leeds, as related else-where.

_

AN HONOURABLE ACQUITTAL.ONR of those unfortunate trials for manslaughter, ui

which the feelings of relatives and friends lead to the gross-est injustice towards the medical attendant, has recentlytaken place at Downpatrick. Mr. Joseph Connolly, of

Belfast, was put upon his trial for the manslaughter of anunfortunate woman who died in labour while under his care.The only point in the case was, that after a long attend-ance, Mr. Connolly left his patient undelivered, and thatshe died three hours afterwards in his absence. No impu-tation, however, seems to have been thrown upon his skill.Baron Deasy directed an acquittal in the following terms :"He appears to have given every possible attention, and

did not save himself. He remained in that wretched,miserable cabin, where there was no chair, the chair heused having to be brought from some other house. Underall the circumstances, I think he is not only entitled to averdict of acquittal, but he is also entitled to it upon thehighest grounds put by his counsel-namely, that there wasno want of attention, and no want of skill. He appears tohave been engaged previously in similar duties; and, ac-cording to the evidence of the relieving officer, his conductwas most satisfactory. He appears, also, to have acted asa physician during the cholera time, and we have it in evi-dence that he received a vote of thanks for his skill andattention to the poor. It is not likely that a gentleman ofthat standing would risk his professional future by anythingwhich might have the appearance of inhumanity, as hiRwhole future professional life must depend upon his skilland attention."

THE PRIVILECE OF MEDICAL WITNESSES.

IT has fallen to the lot of Dr. Bateman, of Norwich, tobring to light a question of great public importance. He

has called attention to the fact that a medical man, whensummoned as a witness, has no privilege to conceal mattersthat have come to his knowledge only in the course of hisprofessional duties. An attorney, it is well known, has thisprivilege; and, practically speaking at least, a clergymanalso has it. The public opinion that makes law would re-sent any endeavour to force from a clergyman matters thathad been communicated to him-in the discharge of his

spiritual functions. But a doctor has not this privilege,although the reasons why he ought to have it are so nume-rous and so manifest that probably most doctors havehitherto taken their possession of it for granted. It seems,however, that any man’s medical attendant may be put intothe witness-box, and called upon to divulge the whole medi-cal history of his patient’s life. Dr. Bateman cited the caseof a female servant, to whom a legacy had been left by hermistress, and who was charged by the heir-at-law with

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having exercised undue influence over the testatrix. Some

years before, the legatee had aborted; and it was sought todamage her character by calling her medical adviser, andexamining him with regard to the nature of the illness forwhich he had attended her. He refused to reply; and hisrefusal came before Vice-Chancellor Rindersley, who de-cided against him, thus putting him to an expense of .E30for costs.

Now, the common sense of the matter lies in a nutshell.Perhaps once in ten years, or once in twenty, a criminalmight escape from justice, or a civil suit might be wronglydecided, for want of some piece of evidence known only toa doctor, and known to him only in his professional capacity.On the other hand, it is a matter of daily and continualimportance to the community, that sick people should telltheir doctors the whole truth, without any reservation; andthis confidence will be sorely shaken when it is generallyknown that the truth thus imparted may be hereafterbrought against them in a court of law. Our professionhas no sympathy either with criminals or with injustice;and its members, if they had the privilege for which wecontend, would be very unlikely to claim it without gravereason for doing so. But it seems strange that the law,which will not allow a magistrate or a policeman to receivea statement from an uncautioned prisoner, should tear awaythe veil that hides the sanctity of the consulting room.

THE BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ATHARROCATE.

UPWARDS of a hundred members of the British MedicalAssociation were entertained at Harrogate, in order thatthey might be made personally acquainted with the locality,its pure and bracing air, and the peculiar virtues of itswonderfully varied mineral waters. The reception was ar-ranged by a Committee of medical men, Dr. Bennett beingchairman, and Dr. Deville hon. secretary. The visitorswere conducted in numerous private carriages to the variouspoints of interest; and the composition of the now cele-brated chloride-of-iron spring was explained by its dis-

coverer, Dr. Sheridan Muspratt. Very great interest wasmanifested at the extraordinary bog field, where, within aradius of 100 yards, no less than seventeen mineral springsrise, each spring differing more or less in its mineral im-pregnations. With such resources, we can scarcely wonderat the marvellous reputation Harrogate has acquired forthe treatment of disease. The visitors were entertainedat a déjeûner à la fourchette, munificently provided by Mr.and Mrs. Milner, proprietors of the Queen’s Hotel; and it isimpossible to doubt that the reputation both of the townand its curative agencies will be extended by the visit of solarge a number of gentlemen, well qualified to appreciatethe advantages offered.

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SANITARY STATE OF KIDDERMINSTER.

MR. ARNOLD TAYLOR, the Home Office inspector, has beenholding an inquiry at Kidderminster, into the complaint ofthe Board of Guardians against the Town Council forneglecting to provide proper drainage and water works forthe borough. The evidence of Mr. Stretton, Dr. Roden, andDr. Rose, medical officers of the union and infirmary, wasconclusive upon the facts of insanitary condition ; and otherwitnesses having also described circumstances to the sameeffect within their knowledge, the inspector said he hadcome to the conclusion that the drainage and water-supplywere both in as bad a state as they could well be. TheTown Council had offered literally no defence at all, andtherefore his duty was simply to report to the Home Secre-tary that an order should be at once issued requiring the

necessary works to be done without delay. The Corporationhad plans already before them, and they need only sendthem up to the Home Office in order to get power to borrowthe money, and the works might be commenced within amonth. At the present time the whole filth of Kidder-minster is run into the Stour, rendering the river mostoffensive and dangerous to health; and Mr. Taylor said thatthe plans which he had examined would certainly removethat source of danger, as the sewage would be by them in-tercepted and carried on to the land. The guardians andtheir medical officers deserve the warmest thanks of theinhabitants for their energetic and persistent efforts to

bring the Town Council to reason. As the inspector justlysaid, the duty thus ably discharged must, in many respects,have been a very unpleasant one, and they may well becongratulated on the success they have at last obtained.The beaten party will, we trust, see the wisdom of ac-

quiescing in the decision arrived at, and will, like goodEnglishmen, do all they can to facilitate the measures whichthe inspector’s report will cause the Home Secretary to en-join. _____

THE LIVERPOOL NORTHERN HOSPITAL.

MUCH dissatisfaction has been expressed at the way inwhich the election of a physician to this hospital was con-ducted the other day. The gentleman elected was Dr. Glyn.Two other candidates were to be proposed and seconded,but before the gentlemen who had to do this service couldarrive the election was declared to be over. One gentle-man, who was to have proposed Dr. Carter, says he arrivedat five minutes past one, the hour fixed for the election. Inthe meantime, the chairman, at one o’clock, had askedwhether there was any other candidate, and, not receivinga reply, he pronounced Dr. Glyn elected. To say the least,this is very sharp practice, and looks like indecent haste.Moreover, it is doubtful whether it is in accordance withthe rules of the hospital, the nineteenth of which stipulatesthat "the honorary medical officers shall be appointed byballot, at a general meeting of the trustees, to commenceat one and close at three o’clock." Five minutes is butlittle grace to allow to busy men in such a place as Liver-pool, and it is very doubtful if the interests of the hospitalwill be served by such proceedings as the above.

DR. BEATTY ON POPULATION.

WE are glad to observe that Dr. Beatty, in his addresson Midwifery before the British Medical Association, raisedhis voice in condemnation of the "beastly contrivances"for limiting the number of offspring that have recentlyfound some few advocates. The authors of the annualaddresses read before the Association are the spokes-men of the profession upon the matters that fall withinthe province of each; and although it is the most plea-sant part of their work to record advance and to chro-nicle improvement, it is no less their duty to warn or tocondemn when circumstances have rendered warning orcondemnation necessary. We do not think that the prac-tices to which we have been already compelled to refer, andto which we refer again with reluctance, would be toleratedeven as subjects for discussion by more than a very smallnumber of medical men; but these have contrived to obtaina wide publicity for their peculiar views, and it was there-fore fitting that Dr. Beatty should point out the way inwhich these views are regarded by the great bulk of the

profession. The task was one that it was unpleasant to dis-charge, and from which it would have been easy to shrink.Our thanks are all the more due to Dr. Beatty for havingdischarged it so plainly, so courageously, and so well.

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THE CASE OF FANNY OLIVER.

WE have no design of complaining that the sentence ofdeath has not been carried out on this poor woman. Thecommutation of sentence is, indeed, a most illogical course.Either her guilt was shown, and she merited capital punish-ment; or her guilt was not made clear, and she should beacquitted; and we incline strongly to the latter view. Thereare one or two medico-legal points in the case to which wethink the attention of jurists, medical and legal, should hedirected. A large number of physicians and surgeonssigned a petition from Birmingham to the Home Secretary,the chief burden of which was that provision ought to bemade in such cases for having more than a single witnessof the scientific facts of the case. Without imputing anyblame to Dr. Hill, it is remarkable that he should havefailed to find arsenic with Reinsch’s test, and sncceededwith Marsh’s. But we agree with the Birmingham peti-tioners in thinking that in such cases as this, the issuesof which are so momentous, the scientific facts ought to beattested by more than one witness, and that the witnessesshould act independently of each other.

THE LATE DR. STEPHENSON, OF MILE-END.THE widow of Dr. Stephenson, of Mile-end, has made an

application for some allowance from the Board of Guardiansfor the loss she and her children have sustained. As we sus-

pected, the inadequate salary of the deceased did not enablehim to do more than maintain his position, and no provisionwhatever has been made for his family. The guardians re-gretted their inability to entertain the application, butunanimously voted the payment of the salary for the quarterjust commenced. This is a case of real distress, and shouldbe brought under the notice of the Poor-law Board.

HEALTH-CONDITION OF THE CONTINENT.

THE warm weather which has marked the month of Julyin Paris has during the last fortnight been accompanied bythe prevalence of gastric and intestinal disorders of varyingintensity. From July the 18th to the 24th, the bulletinspublished by the Prefecture de la Seine mention twenty-seven deaths from diarrhcea, and four fatal cases of sporadiccholera. Dysentery is on the increase. Simple indigestion,with diarrhcea, is most frequent in both private and noso-comial practice. At Lyons, also, cases of typhoid fever,dysentery, and cholerine are on the increase. At Marseillestyphoid fever now reigns epidemically, and, through the ex-hausting effects of the season, has assumed an adynamicform.Some alarm had prevailed in Paris on account of a report

which became current about a week ago, to the effect that

a ship coming from the West Indies had imported yellowfever into Marseilles, where it had rapidly extended, imme.diately bearing off several victims. This report has sincebeen denied.The same tendency to certain diseases which we have de-

scribed seems to involve the greater part of Europe. In

Belgium and in Germany diarrhcea, more or less attendedby cholerine, is prevalent. At Liege it is reported to beepidemic. The same remark applies to Berlin. In this lattercity phthisis still forms the most important item among thecauses of death.

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PRISONERS AT THE GAMBIA.

THE discussion in the House of Commons last week onthe ill-treatment of prisoners by Admiral Patey at theGambia will lead in time, we hope, to the abandonment ofthese African colonies by the British Government, whose

European subjects find them little else than a grave. Atthe same time we may join Mr. Buxton in his protest againstthe ill-treatment of the prisoners, and specially against thepractice of" shot-cliill" on insufficient food. Admiral Pateyappears to have carried with him one of the worst featuresof the naval discipline of former days; and no one who hasnot witnessed it can believe the exhaustion induced by con-tinuously and slowly lifting a 24-pound shot, even withsufficient food to go upon. 11 Boilecl rice at 10 o’clock, anda very small allowance of bread and meat at 5 o’clock," isan allowance barely si-ifficient to maintain the life even ofa negro; and we fully agree with Dr. Walters, the staffassistant-surgeon, in thinking that a man who has been 16½hours without food is not fit to be put to shot-drill.

MEMORIAL TO A NURSE.

A VERY tasteful monumental brass, edged with an elegantpattern in mosaic and sunk into marble, has been lately putup in the chapel of King’s College Hospital to the memoryof a nurse who died at her post. The inscription runs asfollows:—" To the memory of Anne Cole; for upwards often years a faithful, kind, and skilful nurse in the surgicalwards; who died May 26th, ]868, aged 35. This tablet hasbeen erected by the surgeons, house-surgeons, and dressers,in grateful recognition of the services rendered by her tothis institution." The credit of instituting this memorialis due to Messrs. Royes Bell and Napper (late house-sur.geon); and the tablet is the work of Messrs. Hart and Son.

THE TREATMENT OF PAUPER CHILDREN.

WE are happy to observe that the Government haveaccepted the proposal of Mr. M’Cullagh Torrens to inserta clause in the Metropolitan Poor Bill which will enablethe guardians to pay for the boarding-out and education ofpauper children in the cottages of the labouring class, andto obtain repayment of the cost from the common fund, thesame as if they had been placed in the pauper districtschools. We hope that the guardians will avail themselvesof these powers to give the Scottish system a fair trial.

THE WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL.THE election of an assistant-surgeon to the Westminster

Hospital resulted in Mr. George Cowell heading the poll byeighteen votes. On a scrutiny, however, there appeared tobe some question of an informality in the stamping of hisproxy papers, and the declaration of the election is therefore

postponed until legal opinion has been obtained. It appearsto us somewhat hard upon Mr. Cowell that the distinct voteof a majority of governors should be endangered by somepetty legal quibble.

SUPERANNUATION OF ENCLISH POOR-LAWMEDICAL OFFICERS.

WE are authorised to state that Dr. Brady, M.P., intendsto give notice that he will introduce a Bill for the exten-sion of the principles of superannuation to the EnglishPoor-law medical officers early in the next session of Parlia-ment.

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PAUPER LUNATICS.THERE are at this moment three epileptics, one of whom

is very dangerous, in the Holborn workhouse, awaiting re-moval to a lunatic asylum. They cannot be received eitherat Colney Hatch or Hanwell, and the relieving officer wasinstructed to write to several private establishments in

various parts of the country to know whether they could be

there received. This is obviously a most improper state of, things.

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THE Bill to Amend the Contagious Diseases Act, 1866, inaccordance with the recommendations of the Committee ofthe House of Commons which recently sat upon the subject,was brought from the House of Lords on the 2nd inst., andhas been printed by order of the House of Commons.

WE understand that Dr. Gedge, of Caius College, Cam-bridge, who has for some time acted as assistant to Pro-fessor Humphry, and who was lately candidate with Dr.Rutherford for the Professorship of Physiology at King’sCollege, will accompany Sir Samuel Baker into Africa assuperintendent of the medical staff, and collector of naturalhistory specimens for the Viceroy. We congratulate SirSamuel on having secured the services of so good a man,whose well-known zeal is an assurance that he will makethe most of the opportunity of obtaining information of thenatural history of the district.

THE Sanitary Commissioners of Gibraltar have givennotice that they expect to be able to supply water from thenew well at the North Front through their mains to all

parts of the town in about a couple of months hence; andthey declare themselves to be ready to receive applicationsfrom householders for the laying of communication pipes tcpremises requiring to be supplied with water and a perma-nent service. This is a satisfactory announcement so fa]as it goes. ____

THE Russian Government has been compelled to closethe greater number of its schools of medicine, owing to theagitation of the students. ____

THE number of students in medicine during the summersession has been 409 at the University of Berlin; 329 at

that of Wurtzburgh ; 246 at Munich ; 134 at Zurich ; 141at Halle; and 141 at Marburg. During the same sessionthere were 487 students at the Faculty of Strasburg.

THE Bridgwater guardians have lately had under con-sideration a request from their medical officers to be sup-plied with cod-liver oil, quinine, and other expensive medi-cines, in addition to their salaries. The application was acceded to in respect of cod-liver oil and quinine.

DR. ILIFF, medical officer of health for the parish of New-ington, has again brought under the notice of the vestry11 the lamentable deficiency of water-supply afforded by theSouthwark and Vauxhall Company." Complaints of thissort are frequent enough in the districts south of the

Thames. ____

THE Daily News states that the cattle in some parts ofSurrey have been attacked with an epidemic of a contagiouscharacter. The disease is said to be of a similar type to thatwhich preceded the outbreak of rinderpest in June, 1865,and it is spreading rapidly through the county.

THE death of Mr. Rutter, the coroner for Salford, is an-nounced. We hope soon to hear of a medical candidate forthe office. The mortality of Salford is a scientific fact of

great interest, and a medical coroner is strongly indicated.

DR. ARMSTRONG, R.N., Director-General of the MedicalDepartment of the Navy, has left the Pier Hotel, Southsea,for the Admiralty, on his return to London, after havingmade a minute official inspection of the naval medicalestablishments at Portsmouth, and of her Majesty’s shipsin the port.

THE members of the clinical surgery class in the Univer-

sity of Edinburgh have presented an address to Dr. JosephBell, expressive of their appreciation of the manner in whichthe class was conducted by him during the illness of Prof.Syine.THE new Convalescent Hospital at Eastbourne has been

opened by the Bishop of Oxford, in the presence of a largeand influential assemblage. The building when completedwill accommodate about 300 inmates.

THE munificent gift of £5000 has been received by thetreasurer of the Ashton District Infirmary from Mr. RobertHiggin, a wealthy merchant residing near Liverpool.

: IN the week ending July 24th, the mortality in Birming-,

ham was at the remarkably low rate of 14 per 1000.

THE sewage irrigation works at Harrogate are said to be in very successful operation.

REPORTOF THE

THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THEBRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

HELD IN LEEDS, JULY 27TH, 28TH, 29TH, AND 30TH.

THURSDAY, JULY 29TH.

AT the meeting of the new Council yesterday, in additionto the appointment of Mr. Husband, as already mentioned,to be President, the following gentlemen were chosen forthe Committee of Council:--Dr. F. Sibson, Mr. M. H.

Clayton, Dr. T. P. Heslop, Mr. Southam, Dr. A. T. H.

Waters, Dr. Wilkinson, Dr. Embleton, Mr. T. H. Smith,Mr. T. Nunneley, Mr. C. G. Wheelhouse.

This morning the third General Meeting of the Associa-tion was held in the Philosophical Hall, at ten o’clock.Mr. WILLIAMS (the Secretary), at the commencement of

the proceedings, remarked that they were all aware of thecircumstances under which they were deprived of the Presi-dent’s presence, and it had been arranged that, in thenecessary absence of Mr. Husband, the chair should betaken by Dr. Radelyffe Hall.The CHAIRMAN first read a resolution of the Local Com-

mittee, which expressed the opinion that Dr. Heaton wasthe proper person to act as Dr. Chadwick’s representativeat the public dinner. At the request of the Committee, Dr.Heaton had accepted the duty. He also intimated that Dr.Spark would be happy to play for an hour, at two o’clock onFriday, for all who wished to hear more of the beautifulinstrument they had heard the previous night in the Vic-toria Hall.

Dr. WATERS (Chester) was then called upon to read thereport of the Representation Committee. Before doing so,however, he stated what the action on the question hadbeen during the last two years. In 1867, Mr. Husband, thePresident of the Council, suggested that a sub-committeeshould be formed, with the view of ascertaining how far itwas desirable that the profession generally should be directlyrepresented on the General Medical Council. That Com-mittee was appointed, and it made a report at the anniver-sary at Dublin, in which it was submitted that the profes-sion ought to have on the General Medical Council eightrepresentatives, four for England, two for Scotland, andtwo for Ireland. The Report was discussed at Dublin, firstin council, and carried unanimously; and next in generalmeeting, where it was adopted almost unanimously. TheCommittee continued its labours, and had an interview withthe General Medical Council, at which they simply requestedthat in any Amended Acts Bill they would agree to theadmission of direct representatives of the profession on theCouncil. The Committee wished to be at one with the