124 BIRMINGHAM.-IRELAND.

districts near Manchester. Although there was but littleprecipitation last week, there were nevertheless frequentshowers of snow and sleet, which, accompanied as they wereby bitter easterly winds of some force, often partook of thecharacter of a "blizzard." Although the cold weather,whilst it lasted, caused evident t distress in our poorer quarters,it is to be hoped that with a fairly plentiful supply otfuel nogreat loss of life will result. As yet it is, of course,too early to form an estimate of the increase in thedeath-rate from pulmonary diseases which is almost cer-

tain to accrue from the recent extreme depression of tem-perature, for the deaths thus caused will not be regis-tered until another week or fortnight has elapsed. Itis satisfactory, however, to note that according to theofficial returns the mortality from influenza is still decreasingin spite of the recent severe weather. The canal tramc inthe neighbourhood of Manchester has been entirely dis-

organised by the frost. The water everywhere has been.-covered with ice several inches thick, and up to yesterday theice-boats have in vain endeavoured to make a way for theordinary craft to pass. There are, of course, the usual cropof ice accidents to record, for skating has been general fromThursday last, and our Lancashire youth are very venture-some.

Small-pox.This loathsome disease still continues to linger, if not to

spread, in many of the large manufacturing towns which arein daily communication with Manchester. In spite of theexperience which has been purchased at the cost of so muchloss of life both here and elsewhere, vaccination and re-

vaccination are still neglected, and it is doubtful whetheranything short of a frightful epidemic will bring people tor’.heir senses. In Oldham the disease has been prevalent fora considerable time, but it is in the Yorkshire towns more

.especially that the disease seems to have effected a lodg-ment. In view of the fact that the anti-vaccinationists arestill at work with unabated energy, it is much to be regrettedthat the Royal Commission on Vaccination cannot yet seetheir way to publish the report which has been so long andso anxiously looked for, and which will, it is to be hoped,do something in the direction of settling this much-vexed.question.

Jan. 9th. ______________

BIRMINGHAM.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Christmas at the Hospitals.THE usual exhibitions of benevolence and charity have

this year shown no diminution at the various institutions inthe city. The General and the Queen’s Hospitals have beendecorated with taste and much attention, and the fare for thepatients made appropriate to the festive season. For theyoung ones. Christmas trees have borne a variety of pleasingpresents which have gladdened the hearts of the juvenilerecipients. Father Christmas visited the Children’s Hospitalin person, and made useful and cheering gifts to the sixty-nine in-patients. The presence of numerous willing workersand visitors rendered the extra duties of the season lighterto the resident staff than they would otherwise have been anddivided the honours of the different occasions.

Sanitation versus Infectious Disease.This was the title of the last of the series of public health

lectures given at Mason College, and the question was ablydealt with by Dr. Bostock Hill before a large and appre-ciative audience. The necessity of accurate disinfection andthe importance of inspection were fully dwelt upon. At thepresent time there are 197 small-pox patients in the CityHospital ; information on the above subject is thereforeuseful and much needed. The diffusion of knowledge onsanitary matters cannot be too strongly enforced in the- midst of a closely packed and teeming population. Perhapsno subject is surrounded with more individual selfishnessthan sanitation, both of the individual and the community.

Periodical Colleetioli for Local Charities.At a recent meeting of the Hospital Sunday Committee it

was stated that the collections made on Sunday, Oct. 29th,In 261 churches, chapels, and other places of worship,amounted to £4499 4s 2d. After deducting expenses thebalance was JM346 lls. 7d. The usual votes of thanks werepassed.

Jan- 3rd.

SCOTLAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

The Edinnurgh Royal Infirrmary.THE annual meeting of the contributors to the Edinburgh

Royal Infirmary was held last week. Lord Provost Russell

presided. The annual report of the managers was submitted.The number of patients remaining in hospital on Oct. lst,1892, was 561 ; the patients admitted during the succeedingyear was 8863, making a total of 9424 ; of this number 617had died. Of the cases brought to a termination, 3930 weremedical and 4831 surgical. The average daily number ofpatients in the hospital was 690, the greatest number at anyone date being 734. The average time the patients remainedunder treatment was 28 4 days. In the various waiting.rooms about 25,000 patients had been treated. The ordinaryincome was £30,769 5s. 3d., being a slight increase over thepreceding year, and there was a decrease of over £400 inthe revenue from investments. The income from the sale ofhospital tickets had increased by £59218s. The fees paid fortraining nurses had fallen off For the first time the threenorthern counties of England had contributed a sum of

:&78 9s. 6d to the funds of the infirmary, this being the resultof a special appeal. It was reported that the housecommittee had gone thoroughly into the question of theincrease in the annual expenditure, but could not fix uponanything that warranted complaint ; they considered thatit might be advantageous to call the attention of the heads ofdepartments to the increased expenditure, and request theircooperation in maintaining economy with efficiency. Theordinary expenditure for the past year had risen to

£43,931 17s. 6d an increase of .&1961 18s. Id. on the previousyear, which was more than explained by the increase in thedaily number of patients in hospital, the number being 690against 652 in the preceding year. The cost of maintenance

per occupied bed was 10s. 04’d. less. The annual cost ofeach bed during the year was £63 13s. 4¼d. Duringthe year £14,618 4s. 2d. had been received in legacies anddonations of .E100 and upwards. The new Home for Nurseshad been completed and had been occupied with the happiestresults. Reference was then made to the difficulty themanagers had to face in providing the necessary beds forthe female students, and the arrangements that had beenmade were detailed. Mention was also made of the proposalto enlarge the hospital, and it was pointed out that action inthis matter had been delayed owing to the amount of Scottishmoney indefinitely locked up owing to the banking crisis inAustralia, but that as soon as a favourable opportunityoccurred steps would be taken to lay the scheme before thepublic. Reference was also made to the extension of theConvalescent House. The average daily number of patientsthere had been 77 6. The report was adopted, on the motionof the Lord Provost.

Glasgow,.According to the report of the medical officers of health

there has been a decrease of 30 in the number of cases ofinfectious disease in the various districts of Glasgow. On

Friday last 861 cases were reported, whereas on the previousFriday the number amounted to 890. The number of casesrecorded as being in hospital was 631, and the number athome 230.

Jan. 9th. ________________

IRELAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Allegations against Dublin Hospitals.IN reference to the censure of Sir Patrick Dun’s and Mercer’s

Hospitals by the coroner’s jury, as noted in last week’sissue of THE LANCET, a special meeting of the governorsof Sir Patrick Dun’s Hospital was held recently to inves-tigate the matter. The governors adopted a resolutionthat no charge of neglect had been substantiated againstany official of the hospital. According to the long-establishedJUle of the house, all emergency and accident cases aredetained until the patients are able to return home;bat this rule is subject to the discretion necessarilyvested in the visiting surgeon for the time on duty. Onthe evening in question the house surgeon, being of opinionthat the case was one requiring to be detained in the house.said to Dr. Brooks, one of the surgeons and whom thehouse surgeon believed to be on duty, "I suppose we