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surgeons, a man of severe views on such matters. Thevalidity of the patent shall be supported if occasion de-mand. I will gladly give apparatus and information to any.surgeon wishing to test the method.

I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,- Glasgow, May llth, 1889. J. B. HILLIARD.

BIRMINGHAM.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

lib Spite of Warning.SOME months ago a lamentable instance was recorded

-8vla.ere a medical student was convicted and sent to

prison for stealing things from Mason College. Thissentence has, unfortunately, not had the deterrent effectwhich might have been expected, for on the 14th inst.another medical student was charged with stealing booksfrom Queen’s College and other articles from fellow-students. A plea of kleptomania was ingeniously set up’on his behalf, and no cause was ascribed for such rash anddisgraceful acts. This, however, proved futile, and thestipendiary magistrate, having regard to the desire for

leniency on the part of the prosecution, fined the delinquent20s. and costs, or a month’s imprisonment. The sentencewas a light one; the disgrace is heavy. Apart from thestamp upon the individual, the act tends to discredit theclass to which he belongs.

Orthopaedic and Spinal Hospital.On Saturday last the Marquis of Hertford opened the

-,new wards at this hospital, which have just been com-pleted. The alterations consist of an extended out-patient-room, new store-rooms, and other outbuildings, being fitted.and arranged upon the most recent and improved principles’with regard to convenience and sanitary details.

An Epidemic of Suicide.On Monday last no less than five inquests were held in

Birmingham and the district on cases of suicide. One was:an exceptional instance of poisoning by phosphorus in afemaleaged twenty-two, who subsequently died at the GeneralHospital. She was a cripple, and had formed a strong:attachment for a young man living in the same house ; wantof work compelled him to leave the house in which he had.dwelt, and the separation was too much for the weak-minded girl, who sought solace in death. Curiously the-evidence at the inquest did not reveal how the poison was’obtained, though such would have been an important- element in the case. The scientific lesson of such a deathwas not lost to the profession, for the pathologist atthe hospital, Dr. Crooke, has made permanent somebeautiful microscopic preparations of the different organs,showing how general was the degeneration produced by theeffects of such a poison upon the body.

Matriculation Examination.

Some correspondence has taken place in the local press inwhich complaints have been made of the unsuitable roomprovided at Queen’s College for this examination, and the.amount of the fee (f2) charged. The Rev. Warden refutesthe charges, but his reply does not apparently carry con-viction to all those interested. The question affects medicalstudents particularly, and it is desirable that, in the neces-sary strain of several days’ bondage, sufficient ventilation,cleanliness, and freedom from noise should be obtained for the;aching heads engaged in the ordeal.

Birmingham Lunatic Asylums.The annual report of the Committee of Visitors for 1888

.’has just been issued. The number of patients admitted inthe year was 331, making a total of 1505. The patients.discharged in the year were 200, and 128 had died, leaving onDec. 31st in both asylums 1177. The average weekly costper patient was 8s. 1115/16d., less 215/16 d. profit on forms &c.The abstract of accounts shows an income for the year of£29,711, an excess on the year’s expenditure of E235713s. lld.£1809 was received on account of private patients.

Coventry Provident Dispensary.The number of members is now about 20,000, the ordinary

.subscription is Id. per week, and last year the income

.reached £2850. This enabled the five surgeons on the staff

e to receive an average remuneration of £323 each. Three com-- petent midwives share the sum of £ 93. 101,526 prescriptionswere made up last year, over £400 being spent in drugs..... v

Birmingham, May 15th.

NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The Lectureship on Anatomy at the Newcastle College.THE resignation of Dr. Mears of the chair of Anatomy at

the Newcastle College of Medicine has called forth manyexpressions of regret. Dr. Mears, I believe, has held thisconnexion with the College for more than eleven years, and,by his resignation, the College will sustain a loss not

readily repaired. 1 suppose no lecturer came so much intointimate relationship with the students as Dr. Mears, andnone was more respected by them for conscientious work orfor attention to their interests. I hear that there arenumerous candidates for the vacant chair.

Scarborough.One of the most charming resorts in the neighbourhood of

Scarborough-the Oliver’s Mount estate, surrounding thehill from which tradition states Oliver Cromwell bombardedthe town-is proposed to be converted into a park. It willbe about 150 acres in extent, and will commence at thewest side of the Mount, at the entrance to the town. TheMere, which at present is about fifteen acres in extent, willbe enlarged to thirty acres, and a continuous drive fromOliver’s Mount on the Hackness and the lovely ForgeValley will be secured. It is also expected that the railwaycompany will make a station close by the Mere. If allthis is soon carried out, the "queen" of northern wateringplaces will be able to boast of additional attractions to allurevisitors, already increasing year by year.

Middlesbrough.It is confidently stated that the local charities of the Mid-

dlesbrough district will benefit this year from the charitygames of football to the extent of at least E250. Last yearthe amount paid over to the medical charities was £91, butthis year the attendance has been very numerous.-Dr. Glenreports that the deaths from pneumonia, which still lingersin the Middlesbrough district, for the past month have beenthree, against five in the corresponding month of 1888.

During the last few weeks the disease has been prevalent,but not to such an extent as last year.

The Measles Epidemic at Wigton.The town of Wigton may now be said to have passed

through the most severe epidemic of measles ever rememberedthere. I have no means of ascertaining the number ofchildren attacked, but seven deaths are known to haveresulted. Happily it may be said to be at an end. All theschools are reopened, and "children’s voices" may again beheard in the streets of the border town.

North Durham.At a late meeting of the County Council, the subject of

the inadequate accommodation afforded by the CountyAsylum at Sedgefield came up for consideration. It appearsthat there are at present over 1000 inmates there, whilemore than 200 patients are away in an adjoining countyasylum, at great expense, and with much inconvenience tothe friends of the patients when they visit. It has becomea moot question whether it is best to enlarge the alreadyhuge establishment at Sedgefield or allow the County Boardsto erect smaller buildings for the requirements of their dis-tricts ; it is to be hoped the latter course will be adopted.

Grange-over-Sands.Dr. A. Thompson has presented his annual report as

to the sanitary condition of Grange-over-Sands, and itshows very favourably for this well-known and beautifulhealth resort. The mortality was only 14 per 1000, butseven of this number were visitors, which reduces therate to 9’3. The infantile mortality was exceedingly low,there being only two deaths under five years. Dr. Thompsonmakes some valuable suggestions to the local healthauthorities, which, if acted on, will tend to further raise andmaintain the sanitary features of the place.Newcastle-on-Tyne, May 14th.