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New Inventions.THE "VONDA" VAGINAL SYRINGE.

THE accompanying illustration represents a new vaginalsyringe, called the "Vonda," just introduced to the noticeof the profession by Messrs. J. G. Ingram and Son, HackneyWick, E. It is constructed with double tubes, one for injection

kept up continuously and as long as desired, without with-drawing the vaginal tube. The suction is capable of

removing all morbid secretions and of cleansing the

parts. The widened end of the vaginal tube plugs theentrance to the vagina, so that an astringent or caustic

injection can be held in contact with the walls of the

vagina and neck of the uterus as long as may be desirable.The instrument also distends the folds of the vagina suffi-

and the other for waste, the valves in the tubes on one side

opening in a direction opposite to those on the other side,and the bulb and vaginal tube being each divided into twocompartments. The following appear to be its chief advan-tages : It is double-acting, douche and suction taking placealternately and water being first injected into the vagina andthen withdrawn by suction. This alternate action can be

ciently to ensure the application of the medicament employedto all parts of the canal. The same water is never usedtwice. A rubber ring, for use in cases of prolapsus uteri,slips over the vaginal tube and can be adjusted so as to

shorten the tube in proportion to the distance the uterus hasslipped down. Syringes on the same principle of alternatedouche and sucticn are made for washing out the stomach.

A NEW BOOT DRIER AND WARMER.

MESSRS. E. & W. BELDAN, 167, Great Dover-street, S.E., have constructed an addition to the ordinary boot-tree whichby a simple device ensures the equitable heating and dryingof the boot whilst it is on the tree. The tree is hollowed out

and the necessary heating is obtained by inserting a smallpiece of metal, previously heated by a spirit lamp, in thehollow part. A thick sock of an absorbent material is let

into the bottom of the tree. This arrangement secures thethorough warming of the boot and maintains at the sametime its proper shape, whilst the leather is not liable to beinjured by direct heat.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LOCALGOVERNMENT BOARD FOR IRELAND.

FROM the twenty-first annual report now issued it appearsthat there has been a further decline in the average dailynumber of persons relieved in the workhouses, whilst therehas also been a decrease in the average daily number of

persons who received out-door relief. The average dailynumber in the workbouses was 40 454 and of those in receiptof out-door relief 59,137, the latter forming a percentage

of 1’27 on the average daily number of the population. Thenumbers for the previous year were 40 742 and 62,229 respec-tively, or a total decrease of 3480. During the year endedMarch 4th last the total number of deaths in the variousworkhouses was 9531, showing a decrease of 1356 as com-pared with the number for the preceding year. Of thesephthisis caused 1139 deaths, against 1171 ; lung disease 1707deaths, against 2208 ; fever 307 deaths, against 337 ;heart disease 565 deaths, against 598 ; brain disease357 deaths, against 363 ; cancer 231 deaths, against 222.There were for the twelve months ended Sept. 29th last

52,601 persons admitted into the workhouses for illness,being an increase of 4976 as contrasted with the previousyear. In the various dispensary districts the medicalofficers attended 400,858 new cases at the dispen-saries and 187,500 at their own homes and gave cer-tificates for 1938 dangerous lunatics. The vaccinationreturns show a decrease of 4493. The presence ofAsiatic cholera on the Continent rendered necessary the issueof orders prohibiting the importation of rags, filthy beddingand clothing from certain foreign countries and infectedports. In addition to circulars advising sanitary authoritiesas to the precautionary measures to be adopted in viewof the possible extension of cholera to the United King-dom, the Board’s medical inspectors had visited their dis-tricts and had conferred with sanitary authorities with theobject of completing arrangements d-eemed essential formeeting the threatened dangers. Plans and specificationsfor cholera huts were also prepared of an inexpensive cha-racter, designed to meet any local emergency calling foradditional temporary accommodation ; while the CholeraHospitals (Ireland) Bill recently passed confers upon localauthorities in Ireland additional powers for obtaining sitesfor cholera hospitals. The Board are of opinion thatthe manner in which the provisions of the Public HealthAct have been carried out has placed the country ina better position than at any former time for resistingthe extension of this formidable disease. The medicalcharities expenditure amounted to 164,538, under whichheading is included the cost of medicines and medicalappliances (28,161), salaries of medical officers and apothe-caries (£95,057), vaccination fees and other expenses (9815),showing a decrease of .&1792 as compared with that of theprevious year. The Board sanctioned loans amounting to£168,535 to various towns in Ireland, principally for sewerageand water-supply, which, added to previous sums allocated,constitute a total of 2,441,838 for the eighteen years endedMarch 31st, 1893. The total number of lunatics, epilepticlunatics, idiots, and epileptic idiots in workhouses on the lastday in December was 4334, against 4307 in the previous year,or an increase of 27.