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easy to turn the whole proceedings into a farce. It does notseem fair, however, that persons whose consciences are soelastic in some directions should string them up so tightly inothers as to enable them to enjoy the advantages of citizen-ship while they evade its duties.

THE DENTAL HOSPITAL OF LONDON.

THE annual dinner of the staff and present and paststudents will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3rd, at the H6telMetropole (Whitehall Rooms), under the presidency of Mr.Storer Bennett. Gentlemen either now or formerly con-nected with the hospital or medical school who may throughinadvertence not have received special notice and who desireto be present are requested to communicate with the deanat the Dental Hospital, 40, Leicester-square.

PAY WARDS IN BRUSSELS HOSPITALS.

ACCORDING to the report of the Conseil des Hospices inBrussels it appears that last year nearly 1100 persons wereadmitted to the public hospitals as paying patients, the taxiJIvarying from 3 fr. to 15 fr. per diem, for which everything,including professional services and even important opera-tions, was provided. The total amount received last yearwas 70,000 fr. The medical journals are beginning to com-plain that this system of admitting paying patients is veryunfair to medical men and that reform is needed which must

take one of the following shapes : (1) the total abolition ofpaying wards or (2) the permission for paying patients toselect their own professional attendants who must be allowedto have free access to them. It is suggested that theBrussels College of Medical Practitioners should take the

matter up. -

" MUSCULAR DYSTROPHIES."

IN the American Journal of the Medical Sciences for

September, 1898, Dr. A. A. Eshner publishes a paper entitled" A Contribution to the Study of the Muscular Dystrophies."The writer first refers to Erb’s views-namely, that thechanges in the muscles in these conditions are not purelymyopathic, but that they may depend upon impalpablenutritional alterations in the ganglion cells of the anteriorhorns of the spinal cord not capable of demonstration withour present resources-and therefore proposes to designatesuch cases as come under this group as "muscular

dystrophies," thus not indicating definitely any theoryof their pathology. Several types of the disease havebeen described, as, for instance, the idiopathic, the pseudo-hypertrophic, the juvenile or scapulo-humeral of Erb, theinfantile of Duchenne, or the facio-scapulo-humeral of

Landouzy-Dejerine, and the hereditary of Leyden; but

Dr. Eshner thinks it is doubtful if any useful purpose issubserved by this classification, inasmuch as the boundariesof the several so-called types are ill-defined, and many, if notmost, cases present features of two or more varieties. It is

probable that these several forms represent rather differencesin degree and distribution than variations in essential

character. Details are then given of 20 cases. Most ofthe cases are of mixed type, with a predominant tendencyto muscular pseudo-hypertrophy. Of the whole number but 4occurred in females. So far as could be ascertained the first

symptoms in the cases reported were noticed in none laterthan the thirteenth year, in 2 at birth, in 2 during the firstyear, in 2 during the second year, in 2 during the third year,in 2 during the fourth year, in 3 during the sixth year, in 1during the seventh year, in 3 during the eighth year, in 2during the ninth year, and in 1 during the tenth year. The

ages of the patients at the times when they came under obser-vation varied from three to twenty-four years. In only 2 of thecases (in brothers) was it definitely ascertainable that similar

disease existed in any other member of the same family. In 11cases one or more of the infectious diseases had preceded theonset of the dystrophic manifestation. In 3 cases there hadbeen falls upon the back before the advent of the symptomof the muscular trouble. Dr. Eshner calls attention to thecontraction of the muscles of the upper part of the thighnoted in two of the cases, when the sole of the foot was

gently irritated notwithstanding the absence of the plantarreflex.

MEDICO-PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF ’GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

1 EXAMINATIONS for the certificate of the Association in! psychological medicine will be held in London, Edinburgh,1l Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dublin, on Thursday, Dec. 15th,

1898. Candidates intending to present themselves forexamination should give fourteen days’ notice to the

Registrar (Dr. Spence, Burntwood Asylum, Lichfield), from

1 whom any further information may be obtained.

THE DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF KOPLIK’S SPOTS.

, IN the Nero York Medical Journal of Oct. 15th, 1898, Dra- J. Sobel confirms the claims of Koplik’s spots as a pathogno-r monic sign both in the pre-eruptive and eruptive stage of- measles. As stated in an annotation in THE LANCET ofr April 30th, 1898, these spots are limited to the mucoust membrane of the cheeks and lips and are small, irregular,f and bright red. In the centre of each is a minute speck,) bluish-white in strong daylight, which, according to Koplik,l is absolutely pathognomonic of measles. In the early stages of 35 cases of measles Dr. Sobel never found this sign

wanting. On the other hand, he never found them presentin 1000 adults suffering from a number of affections or inchildren affected with various eruptions-varicella, scarlet

fever, vaccinia, rötheln, congenital syphilis, urticaria, pur-r pura, erythema multiforme, miliaria, eczema, and bromide

and antipyrin rashes. He corroborates Slawyk’s observation, that the spots occur most frequently opposite the region of

the lower molar teeth. -

THE SMOKE NUISANCE

ON Nov. 12th a summons was heard at the West London

police-court at the instance of the Vestry Clerk of Hammersmith against the East India Produce Company for allowingtheir chimney at Albert Mills, Upper Mall, to emit blacksmoke in such quantities as to be a nuisance. The principalwitness against the company was Sir William Blake Rich"mond, who said that the smoke issuing from the chimneywas

" as black as his coat and so thick that he could not see

through it." A vestry sanitary inspector gave similar evidence. The defence was that only yellow and brown smokeissued from the chimney and that smoke-consumers hadbeen applied some two months ago. We do not doubtthis fact, but it is quite evident that the smoke-consumers’do not do their work properly. Mr. Rose, in describingSir William Richmond as a public benefactor, referred tothe difference of opinion as to the colour of the smoke, andsaid that that gentleman from his profession was the mostfitting witness to describe it. He should make a prohibitoryorder for the prevention of the recurrence of the nuisanceand should allow the vestry five guineas costs. We are

glad to see that the incriminated company did not put for-ward any plea about not being able to get Welsh coal, forwhether they can or not that has nothing to do with it. Weshould like to see the sanitary authorities take in hand thecase of certain big restaurants and hotels which are much toblame as regards polluting the air, and also we should like toknow whether there is any power by which the LondonCounty Council can make it obligatory on the builders andarchitects of any new house or houses to fit the fireplaces

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with some kind of smoke-preventing apparatus. If the’

council has not such powers the sooner it applies for themthe better. New houses are being built every day, and it is

ridiculous to allow new centres of pollution to arise withouthindrance.

___

THE RECORDER AND THE SUPERINTENDENT.

OUR special correspondent at Belfast called attention lastweek to the extraordinary action of the Belfast Recorder indeclining to allow Dr. Graham, the medical superintendentof the asylum, a fee for making an affidavit in reference tothe condition of a lunatic and for attending the court.

Dr. Graham’s action has now received considerable official

support, as will be seen in our special correspondent’s letterin another column, and he is to be warmly congratu-lated upon the dignified way in which he has pressedhis rights. It is to be hoped that the Recorder, who is onall accounts a most kind as well as honourable gentleman,will, now that both his statements in reference to Dr.

Graham’s predecessor have been disproved and his legaldecision called in question, see that the proper course is toreverse his previous judgment. In our opinion life would

be intolerable to medical men if they were to be compelledto attend civil courts and prepare important medical reportssimply because they are Government officials.

ANKYLOSTOMUM DUODENALE.

Iv the Berliner Klinische Wochenschrift, leo. 36, 1896,Dr. W. Ginn and Dr. Martin Jacoby published certain observa-tions which they had made on the presence of the ankylosto-mum duodenale and other parasites in the intestines of nativesof India and they arrived at two main conclusions : (1) whenthe ankylostomum has gained a hold amongst a native tribeof India it spreads with great rapidity amongst the membersof the tribe ; and (2) it appears very probable that a personmay have the ankylostoma in his intestine without beingthe subject of ankylostomiasis. In the summer ofthis year, 1898, the same observers had opportunitiesof examining the stools of several natives. Of the faeces of8 natives of Ceylon, in 8 the ova of ankylostomum duodenalewere found, in 7 those of the trichocephalus dispar, and in6 those of the ascaris. In the stools of 6 natives of Madras

in 6 were observed the ova of ankylostomum duodenale,in 6 those of trichocephalus dispar, and in 5 those of ascaris,and in 2 of the Madras natives the larvas of anguillulaintestinalis appeared. The first of the above proportions wastherefore corroborated by the new investigations. As sup-

porting the second of their conclusions Dr. Ginn and Dr.

Jacoby found that a large number of Asiatics and Africansin whose stools the ova of the ankylostomum were foundexhibited no signs of anaemia. Amongst certain tribes

there seemed to exist a certain immunity from anky-lostomiasis. But the immunity was limited and by no

means absolute. ___

THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY.

WHEN the idea was mooted more than half a century ago offorming a chemical society doubts were expressed by severalchemists as to whether success would attend the experiment.The Chemical Society is now amongst the most activescientific bodies connected with the parent Royal Society.We believe, too, that financially its position is very satis-

factory. The work done by the Fellows of the ChemicalSociety during the past fifty years embraces some of themost important discoveries which have appeared in the annalsof the world of scientific research. Amongst the fellows aresix past presidents who have belonged to the society for halfa century. These are Sir Joseph Henry Gilbert, Sir EdwardFrankland, Professor William Odling, Sir Frederick AugustusAbel, Dr. Alexander William Williamson, and Dr. John Hall

Gladstone. The death of Lord Playfair a few months agoremoved a member who had also served as a president.A banquet in honour of these scientific men was projectedearly in the year and was eventually arranged to take-

place on June 9th. In consequence, however, of the death-’of Lord Playfair the banquet was postponed till Nov. llth,when a very representative company of distinguished men ofall branches of science entertained the surviving past presi-dents who have been Fellows for half a century and whosenames appear above. In replying to the toast of ’’ The Past.Presidents" which was given by the present President,Professor Dewar, each veteran gave a most interesting his-torical sketch of the progress of chemistry during the last five’decades. The guests present included Mr. Haldane, Q.0.,M.P., and Dr. Bottinger of the Reichstag, who replied’to the toast proposed in their honour by Dr. T. E.

Thorpe, the treasurer of the society. Congratulations.were received and announced from the Russian andGerman chemical societies. Professor Michael Foster, who>followed Lord Lister in an interesting speech, remarked that.when the British Association met their French friends.at Dover and Boulogne next year Fashoda would have beenforgotten and they would not be using the resources ofscience to make the two nations as small as possible but eachwould be using the resources of the other to advance their-common knowledge. -

THE SPECTACLE MAKERS’ COMPANY’S OPTICALEXAMINATION AND THE EXAMINATION OFTHE BRITISH OPTICAL ASSOCIATION.

OUR contemporary the Optician gives in this week’s issue-the questions set by the examiners of the above bodies for-their optical examinations. The examination of the Spectacle-Makers’ Company is the first of them and is divided into two-parts-a vivd voce and a written, the latter occupying twohours and’a quarter. It is stated that 93 candidates presentedthemselves and that amongst these there were a large-number of old members of the industry, the provinces beingwell represented by candidates from Leeds, Tunbridge Wells,Deal, Tenby, Carlisle, Kilmarnock, and other places. The-

questions seem to have been carefully thought out, and if’

anything like satisfactory replies were obtained the standardof knowledge in the possession of the opticians is veryhigh, and it is clear that those who pass the examina-tion will not only be thoroughly grounded in their

subject, but will be very competent judges of the-

prescriptions sent to them by ophthalmic surgeons.As it is certain that a large proportion of the public do, andwill always continue to, apply to the optician for incipientfailure of vision it is obvious that the glasses selected by the-optician should be given with judgment and a sound know-ledge of the principles of optics. At the same time the-

opticians should remember the motto, "Ne sutor ultra.

crepidam," and take care when unusual or suspicious phe-nomena are observed to recommend the patient to obtain.

the advice of the surgeon. We append a few of the ques-tions set at the former of these examinations. 1. How would

you determine the focal length of a simple biconvex lens with,faces of equal curvature? Give all the practical methods.you know of. 2. In what way is the position of the-

principal focus of a lens dependent upon the choice of the-curvatures ? Illustrate your answer by reference to.

the positions of the front and back foci of a plano-convex lens of + 20 D. Does it matter which surface you,turn towards the source of light as regards definition ?3. A prescription is given you as follows : - 3 D. C. axis.horizontal 0 + 1-5 D. C. axis vertical R. &.L. State the-different methods of working such a lens and give reasons foryour choice of curves. 4. A boy, aged ten years, has vision.=1/40/0 and with - 2-5 D. S. he sees 2 11, but on testing, his P.P.is found to be at 12 cm. What is probably his defect and