1115

Notes, Short Comments, and Answersto Correspondents.

MEDICAL MATTERS IN CYPRUS.

b) his report to the Colonial Office on the Cyprus Blue-book for 1909-10SirC.A. King-Harman, K.C.M.G., the High Commissioner, mentionsthat during the year the medical department of the island sustaineda grievous loss in the death of the chief medical officer, Dr. F. C.Heidenstam, C.M.G., who for more than 26 years had ably adminis-tered the business of the department. He was succeeded as head of

the department by Mr. R. A. Cleveland, the district medical officerof Nicosia. Apart from the prevalence of a somewhat extensiveepidemic of cerebro-spinal meningitis (the report goes on to say), thegeneral health of the island during the year was satisfactory andthe general sanitary conditions have been good. Meningitis, whichhad broken out with virulence in 1908, continued fairly prevalentduring the spring months of 1909, but as the warmer and drierweather of summer supervened the cases declined till the epidemicpractically disappeared. There was a slight recrudescence of thedisease in the later months of the year, but there is every indica-tionthat the epidemic wave is passing away from Cyprus and thatthe island will soon be free of a terrible and fatal malady whichappears to defy sanitation and treatment alike. No light was thrownon the means of transmission, but it was invariably reported by themedical officers that cold and moisture seemed to be essential to the

vitality of the specific microbe, while the opposite conditions of heatand dryness inhibit it. During the year under report the totalnumber of cases throughout the island was 1030, of which 546, or50’5 per cent., terminated fatally. Malarial fever of the tertian,quartan, and malignant types was prevalent during the year,but to a considerably less extent than in 1908, the total

number of cases being only 7450, as against 10,746. A case of

Malta, Mediterranean, or undulant fever was discovered during theyear. This fever, which in Malta has been traced to the milk of theMaltese goat, has never before been reported in Cyprus, although theMaltese goat is in the island. The central hospital at Nicosia wasenlarged during the year by the addition of a new wing for the accom-modation of women and children, and a small isolated building withthree beds for the reception of destitute cases of consumption marksthe commencement of an effort to cope with the advance of that fataldisease. There was no extension of the Rural Medical Service

during the year. There are 12 rural stations with a medicalofficer at each, and a total number of 11,815 patients were

treated during the year. The number of inmates at the leperfarm at the end of the year was 102. There were 13 admis-sions and 12 deaths. The chief medical officer reports that the

good effects of ,the system of segregation, compulsory in Cyprus,are beginning to be manifested, and that the disease is on the decline.During the year a trial was commenced of the new treatment bynastin, but nothing very definite has as yet been discovered as to itstherapeutic value. The children from the leper farm now living inthe Home in Nicosia are 11 in number, and there are three othersstill in the farms not old enough to be removed. It is interesting torecord that no evidence of the disease appears among them, nor wasthere any serious sickness or mortality. The total number of

inmates of the lunatic wards in Nicosia at the close of the year was54. The new asylum, on an excellent site a mile outside of Nicosiaand near the leper farm, was commenced. When completed it willconstitute an immense improvement on the existing discreditablearrangements. The absolute mean temperature of the island

during 1909-10 was 66.5°, as compared with 65.5° duringthe previous year. The early summer was unusually hot,and exceptionally high maxima temperature readings were registeredin July on Mount Troodos, the absolute maximum being 94°—40 higher than has ever been previously recorded. A minimumreading of 16° of frost was recorded at the asbestos mines, about4450 feet about sea level. The average rainfall for the whole islandwas 23’80 inches, a maximum of 64-55 being recorded in the districtof Kyrenia, and a minimum of 11’11 in one place in the Nicosiadistrict. The heavy rainfall recorded in the district of Kyrenia is dueto the extraordinary rains which fell at Khalevga, near the northernrange. This concentration of rain at one place in the northern hillssupports the contention that the Kytherea spring, as to the constantsupply of which so many theories have been propounded, is reallysupplied from the rain-water stored in the hills.

THE GRAVE OF DR. JAMES BARRY.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—I wish to inform you that the other day I visited the grave inBengal Green of that famous female, Dr. James Barry, inspector-generalof army hospitals, and found it to be in the same deplorable condirionas when I first saw it in 1895. On that occasion, you may remember, aOorrespondence respecting Barry’s wonderful career was carried on for

weeks in the columns of THE LANCET, and among other points the sub.ject of her neglected grave was discussed. The sandstone slab, onceerect, now lies prone on the grass. The inscription was quite unde-cipherable until an attendant had swept it clean with a broom andbucket of water ! The grave is numbered 19,301 in the Kensal GreenCemetery Record-book, Row 6, Square 67. It lies near a by-path froma main road running parallel with the north wall. As a guide to theexact spot it may be mentioned that at the junction of this narrow pathwith the roadway stands a pillar erected to the memory of Harriett, thebeloved wife of Thomas Rogers, Esq.

It is strange that the grave of so eminent a surgeon as Dr. Barryundeniably was should be neglected all this time. The simpleinscription runs thus :-

"Dr. James Barry,Inspector-General of Army Hospitals,Died 15th July, 1865, aged 71 years."

Moreover, it is significant that although her feminine sex had beenmade manifest at the inquest (by Dr. J. G. David, Dr. Mackinnon,and Dr. W. A. White, the army surgeons who were deputed by theWar Office at her death to hold the inquiry), still the inscription refersto a man. The Question, too, arises, who set up this slab ? Who paidfor it ? Presumably whoever succeeded to her property. Why has hergrave been abandoned, to my knowledge, for 15 years ? It could nothave been from ignorance of the fact, for her career was widelyknown and I myself frequently wrote to the papers, and especially tothe Broad Arrow and THE LANCET, suggesting that a militarysubscription should be raised, not only to put the grave in order,but to set up some suitable memorial in marble or bronze, recordingher virtues and professional attainments. Several medical officers inthe services have written tu me on the matter; and I fully believethat if a committee were now formed with this object in view it

would meet with a ready response.I hac-e had the grave-stone erected and photographed for the benefit

of rea lers of THE LANCET. I am, Sir, yours faithfully,E. ROGERS,

Lieutenant-Colonel (Author of "A Viodern Sphinx").London, Sept. 9th, 1910.

FARMER FINED FOR ADULTERATING MILK.

AT the Guildhall police court recently farmer living at Cheshunt wasconvicted and fined upon four summonse- for sellingmilk adulteratedby the addition of atei,. The importance of the case, as was explainedby Mr. Vickery, who prosecuted on behalf of the Corporation, lay inthe fact that sntall traders are frequently prosecuted for sellingadulterated milk to the poor and urge in defence with truth that theyhave sold the milk as supplied to them, when they are either finedfor whac is not their fault, or, because they are able to relyupon a warranty of the putity of the milk given by the

farmer, are acquitted, when the case goes no farther. Thesummons in question was, however, due to the action of

11 16

Messrs. Gibson Brothers, milk-dealers in New North-road, who hadcomplained of the milk they received, and thus had enabled theauthorities to test the adulterated supply at its source, the result

being that four samples were taken from different churns on theirarrival at the London terminns, which showed the addition of waterin the proportions of 8, 12, 14, and 15 per cent. respectively. The

suggestion put forward in defence was that the farmer was inexperi-enced and that his servants had been dishonest. The Alderman,however, was of the opinion that the case was a serious one andinflicted fines, with costs, amounting to a total of £37 14s.

AN INTERVIEW AND AN EXPLANATION.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—In the Daily News of last Thursday an interview with me isreported on the effects of systematic fasting. In publishing this a

mistake has been made, and I write to express my sincere regret. An

article appeared in the D2iLy News some weeks ago describing a fastcure undertaken by the writer. He mentioned certain very interestingfacts, and suggested that a committee of medical men should watch anumber of selected cases and report. Now I am much interested,having had 18 such cases during the last two and a half years, and so I ,,

got in touch with the writer of the article. Last Wednesday a gentle-man called on me from the Daily News by appointment, and I under-stood it was to have been a talk preliminary to the formation of thiscommittee of inquiry. ’

I greatly regret my carelessness in not stating the terms of thisinterview quite clearly, and I am sure that the fault is entirely mine.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,Welbeck-street, W., Oct. 4th, 1910. HECTOR MUNRO.

MEDICAL WOMEN IN INDIA.

A MEETING of the United Kingdom Branch of the Association ofMedical Women in India was held on Sept. 28th to meet Miss A. M.Benson, M.D., First Physician of the Cama Hospital, Bombay, inorder to hear from her some proposals as to the formation of anorganised female medical service for India, and to receive informationon the present working conditions of the Dufferin Fund. Mrs.Scharlieb, M.D., presided. The meeting was unanimously of theopinion that the secretary of the Countess of Dufferin’s Fund shouldbe a qualified medical woman; that at least one qualified medicalwoman should have a seat on the central committee of the Fund (atpresent, except the President, Lady Minto, no woman is on the com-mittee) ; and that an efficient service of medical women for Indiashould be organised. For the furtherance of these objects it was

resolved that the Secretary of State for India and Lady Hardinge (whois the President-Elect of the Dufferin Fund) should be asked toreceive some members of the association in order that a brief explana-tion of the urgency of the need in India for an efficiently organisedservice of medical women may be set before them.

A MODIFICATION IN THE METROPOLITAN WATER-RATE,AND A HINT TO LANDLORDS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,- It is important for your readers to know that the London WaterBoard is now levying a special rate on dentists ; this has been " sprung

"

on householders without any notice. It dates from April 1st, and thefirst demand is for the two quarters extending from that date to

Sept.30th. The Board declines to recover the rate from dental surgeonswho are sub-tenants; and it will therefore be necessary in lettingconsulting-rooms to make provision for this contingency, because theamount charged a householder may suddenly rise to an extent whichwas not anticipated. At present it varies from JE1 to £3 per annum perdental surgery; but this is likely to be further increased. Beingspecially a rate levied on every dentist, it would be fair that a clause beinserted in every agreement that this rate, whatever it be, should berefunded to the householder by the sub-tenant. That I should do in myown case were I having an agreement drawn up re a consulting-room.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,Sept. 29th, 1910. WEST-END.

WANTED, SUGGESTIONS FOR TREATMENT.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Can any of your readers advise me as to treatment for thE

following case ? A female, aged 28 years, has cystitis due to B. coliwhich has lasted some months ; the urine has no albumin, but a few pu<cells have been present from time to time. She has been treated witthelmitol and urotropin, and for about a month the B. coli disappearedbut have since returned. The uterine functions are normal, and ther!is no evidence of renal calculus and no calculus could be seen with th<X rays. The uterus and appendages are normal. She is losing weightand a different form of treatment is imperative.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,A. BUODLE CREAK, M.R.C.S. Eng.

Balholm, King’s Heath, Birmingham, Sept. 30th, 1910.

tS’.7)’., M.R.C.S, Ne.&mdash;The suggestion of our correspondent that tbi

digested bacilli of swallowed sputum iu phthisis might possibly fornin the blood of the infected individual an antibody which woul<

increase his resisting power and bring about a cure of the disease,is a view of the possibilities of vaccine therapy which is both noeland comforting.

M.B., B.C.-Tlie insurance is a protection of the employer againstthe claims of the employed, and has nothing to do with the matter.The tradesman who summoned our correspondent appears to us tobe liable for the charges, and we believe that this view would besupported by most county court judges.

COMMUNICATIONS not noticed in our present issue will receive attentionin our next.

A DIARY OF CONGRESSES.

THE following Congresses, Conferences, and Exhibitions are announcedfor 1910 :&mdash;

Oct. 10th-15th (London).-Town Planning Conference." 13th-15th (Paris).-Eleventh French Congress of Medicine." 16th-22nd (Barcelona).&mdash;First International SpanishCongress

of Tuberculosis.Nov. 7th-12th (Cape Town).-Twelfth South African Medical

Congress (1910).

Medical Diary for the ensuing Week.SOCIETIES.

ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE, 15, Cavendish-square, W,(temporary address during building of new house).FRIDAY.

CLINICAL SECTION (Hon. Secretaries: Albert Carless, JamesGalloway): at 8.30 P.M.

Dr. George Oliver : Two New Methods (Auscultatory and Visual)of Reading Arterial Blood-pressure.

Mr. L. V. Cargill : Acromegaly associated with Tumour (Cystic?) ?)of Pituitary Body.

Mr. Douglas Drew: (1) Rupture of Cord of the Brachial Plexus;(2) Separation of the Lower Epiphysis of the Humerus withDisplacement; (3) Tumour of the Rectus Abdominis in aChild.

Dr. H. D. Rolleston: Multiple Fatty Tumours (? AdiposisDolorosa).

Mr. Albert Carless : Early "Dercum’s Disease."And other cases.

MEDICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, 11, Chandos-street, Cavendish-square, W.MONDAY.-8 P.M., General Meeting. 8.30 P.M., Opening Address:&mdash;

Mr. C. Symonds (In-coming President) : The Treatment ofChronic Abscess of Bone by Means of Metal Drains (illustratedby patients, preparations, and radiograms). A Discussion, to beopened by Sir Watson Cheyne and Mr. A. E. Barker, willfollow.

HUNTERIAN SOCIETY, London Institution, Finsbury-circus, E.C.WEDNESDAY.-8.30 P.M., Dr. H. D. Rolleston: Acute Arthritis of

Doubttul Origin. _____

LECTURES. ADDRESSES, DEMONSTRATIONS.&c.MEDICAL GRADUATES’ COLLEGE AND POLYCLINIC, 22,

Chenies-street, W.C.MONDAY.-4 P.M., Mr. J. E. R. McDonagh: Clinique (Skin). 5,15p,M.,

Lecture :-Dr. N. Tirard : Some Cases of Diabetes.TUESDAY.&mdash;4 P.M., Dr. E. Wynter: Clinique (Medical). 5,15r.M.,

Lecture:-Dr. G. Pernet: Syphilitic Headaches.WEDNESDAY.-4 P M, Mr. A. P. Gould: Clinique (Surgical). 5.15P.M.,

Lecture i-Mr. W. Stuart-Low The Nasal and OperativeTreatment of Asthma.

THURSDAY -4 P.M., Dr. L. Guthrie: Clinique (Medical). 515 P.M.,Lecture :-Dr. F. J. McCann: On Some Common Mistakes inthe Diagnosis of Cancer of the Uterus.

FRIDAY.-4 P.M., Dr. D. Grant: Clinique (Ear, Nose, and Throat).

POST-GRADUATE COLLEGE, West London Hospital, Hammersmith.road, W.MONDAY.-10 A.M., Surgical Registrar: Demonstration of Cases

in Wards. 12 noon : Pathological Demonstration:&mdash;Dr.Bernstein. 2 P.M., Medical and Surgical Clinics. X Rays. Opera-tions. 2.30 P.M., Mr. Dunn: Diseases of the Eye. 5 r.M.,Opening Address.-Dr. D. W. C. Hood, C.V.O.: Specialism inMedicine.

TUESDAY.&mdash;10 A.M., Dr. Robinson: Gynaecologieal Operations.11.30 A.M.: Demonstration in Minor Operations. 2 P.M., Medicaland Surgical Clinics. X Rays. Operations. Dr. Davis: Diseasesof the Throat, Nose, and Ear. 2.30 P.M., Dr. Abraham: Diseasesof the Skin. 5 P.M., Lecture :-Dr. Saunders: Clinical (with

cases).’ WEDNESDAY.-1O A.M., Dr. Saunders: Diseases of Children. Dr.Davis: Operations of the Throat, Nose, and Ear. 12.15 P.M.,Lecture: Dr. G. Stewart: Practical Medicine. 2 P.M., Medicaland Surgical Clinics. X Rays. Operations. Mr. B. Harman:Diseases of the Eye. 2.30 P.M., Dr. Robinson: Diseases ofWomen. 5 P.M., Lecture :-Dr. Beddard: Practical Medicine(Lecture I.).

THURSDAY.&mdash;10 A M., Surgical Registrar: Demonstration of Casesin Wards. 2 P.M., Medical and Surgical Clinics. X Rays.Operations. 2.39 P.M., Mr. Dunn: Diseases of the Eye. 5 P.M.,

l Lecture :-Mr. Baldwin: Practical Surgery (Lecture I.).