302 PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES.

installed in 2650 municipal houses. There is consider-able prejudice against central heating among those,who are accustomed to coal fires. Complaints havebeen received that when sufficient heat is raisedto warm the bedrooms, the living rooms becomeunbearably stuffy. A plebiscite among the tenantsshowed 30 per cent. for and 70 per cent. againstcentral heating, but some of them have changed theirminds as the result of six months’ trial of theinstallation. The corporation now contemplate build-ing houses with sash windows, instead of casement,as being more easily openable in bad weather, andthey are also constructing open fire-places withthe fire in one room and the oven in another. Inorder to remove grounds for complaint in the centrallyheated houses, ventilators are to be fitted in theliving rooms. In some cases the tenants haveneutralised one of the advantages of the Cookanheatsystem by using coal instead of a smokeless fuelThe municipal building programme is being extendedand probably 1500 houses and flats will be erected iin 1929. In all present or future schemes bricksare being used in preference to concrete or otherpatent forms of construction. On the East Hullestate there were 40 parlour houses to let at the endof the year, but there is still a demand for parlourhouses in North and West Hull and a vigorous demandfor the smaller type of corporation house at all-inweekly rentals of 12s. 2d. and 13s. 6d. for two andthree-bedroomed houses respectively. Dr. Daley pointsout, however, that the housing problem is not solveduntil houses have been erected at rentals whichcan be paid by families of five or six with incomesfrom 22 to 23 per week.The Hull medical committee on cancer, at the

suggestion of the Ministry of Health, is to investigatecancer of the breast, uterus and rectum. Lectureson the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer aregiven to medical men and women, and the committeeare taking steps to secure an increased amount ofradium for the treatment of cancer in the city. Hulllike Edinburgh, recorded its lowest infantile mortalityfigure in 1928, and this in spite of a hot summerand an increase in the diarrhoea deaths. The hoursof bright sunshine were 1339 in 1928, 1118 in 1927 and1299 in 1926. Dr. Daley compares the diarrhoeadeaths in 1928 with the hot summer of 1911, wheninfant welfare work was in an undeveloped condition.In 1928 there were 64 diarrhoea deaths under 1 year,8 between 1 and 2 years, 2 between 2 and 5 yearsand 8 over 5, whereas in 1911 there were 423 under1 year, 105 between 1 and 2, 26 between 2 and 5and 54 at ages over 5. There was an outbreak ofsmall-pox during the summer, which lasted untilNovember and gave rise to 65 known cases. Theoutbreak began with a family which contractedthe infection in a town in the West Riding. Theyhad stayed during Whitsuntide in a house wherethere was supposed to be chicken-pox. The diseasewas very mild in character and there were no deaths.In most of the cases the onset was characterisedby headache, dizziness and a feeling of " swimminess,"associated with vomiting; backache was not a

common feature, and in only four cases was sore-throat complained of. Dr. Daley gives full detailsand shows how the spread of infection was apparentlyhelped by continuous desks in the schools. Theinfectivity of the disease was not nearly so great asthat of small-pox of a generation ago. As the firstcases had about four weeks’ start of the intelligencedepartment, the task of searching out new cases in

I

order to restrict the outbreak was one of greatmagnitude. It is hoped to develop an anti-rheumaticcentre in connexion with the medicinal baths.Dr. Daley points out that insured persons in Hullconsumed 22 per cent. more medicine than the averagefor the area.The reductasa test has proved satisfactory as

a preliminary bacteriological test for milk. Of 82

samples of " outside " milk examined for tubercle,eight or ten per cent. gave a positive result. In

following up the eight positive cases, tuberculous

cows were only discovered on three occasions. Inthe remainder the offending cows had probablybeen sold. An East Riding cow-keeper, who senttwo tuberculous cows to a Hull slaughter-house,was fined .825 for failure to notify. A "urinary" "enteric carrier, who was under observation in 1927,was to be considered free from infection if fourconsecutive negative tests were obtained; after threenegative tests in August and September, the Octobersample proved positive and he is still under observa-tion. It has been decided to erect an orthopaedichospital of 100 beds adjoining the sanatorium andisolation hospital at Cottingham. There is a strikingreduction in the notifications of ophthalmianeonatorum during the last two years. During 1928651 cases were admitted to the maternity home for con-finement and there were no maternal deaths. Earlyinduction of labour was needed for 37 of the cases,and 32 of the babies were discharged alive. Of thefive infants who were lost, one was the baby of anepileptic, one of a patient suffering from severe

albuminuria, one was macerated and two died ofpemphigus neonatorum. About 25 per cent. of the

L expectant mothers attended a municipal antenatalI clinic. Among the 1561 women who so attended,

there were only two maternal deaths-i.e., one deathfor 780 confinements whilst among those who did

not attend a clinic, there was approximately one- death for 197 confinements.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN ENGLAND ANDWALES DURING THE WEEK ENDED

JULY 27TH, 1929.

Notifications.-The following cases of infectiousdisease were notified during the week :-Small-pox,129 (last week, 144) ; scarlet fever, 1764 ; diphtheria,933 ; enteric fever, 58 ; pneumonia, 852 ; puerperalfever, 35 ; puerperal pyrexia, 97 ; cerebro-spinalfever, 12 ; acute poliomyelitis, 12 ; acute polio-encephalitis, 1 ; encephalitis lethargica, 20 ; dysentery,4 ; and ophthalmia neonatorum, 120. No case ofcholera, plague, or typhus fever was notified duringthe week.

The number of cases in the Infectious Hospitals of theMetropolitan Asylums Board on July 30th-31st was as

follows :--Small-pox, 161 under treatment, 9 under observa-tion (last week 173 and 3 respectively) ; scarlet fever, 1428 ;diphtheria, 1626 ; enteric fever, 12 ; measles, 317 ; whooping-cough, 330 ; puerperal fever, 25 (plus 12 babies) ; encephalitislethargica, 123 ; " other diseases " 24. At St. Margaret’sHospital there were 15 babies (plus 9 mothers) with ophthal-mia neonatorum.

Deaths.-In the aggregate of great towns, includingLondon, there was 1 (1) death from small-pox, 3 (0)from enteric fever, 33 (5) from measles, 7 (3) fromscarlet fever, 24 (5) from whooping-cough, 13 (2)from diphtheria, 44 (10) from diarrhoea and enteritisunder two years, and 20 (3) from influenza. Thefigures in parentheses are those for London itself.

Liverpool reported 7 deaths from measles, and Manchesterand Bradford 3 each. Liverpool also reported 6 deathsfrom diarrhoea and enteritis, and Manchester and Salford3 each.

IThe number of stillbirths reported during the weekwas 244 (corresponding to a rate of 35 per 1000births), including 34 in London.

, BRITISH DENTAL HoSPITAL.-The annual reportL

of this institution, the primary object of which is the estab-lishment of centres at which dental treatment is available

, for persons unable to pay for private treatment, shows thatlast year the number of patients’ attendances was 19,426.. There are nearly a score of treatment centres and clinics inl various parts of London, some of them with maternity,; tuberculosis, and children’s departments ; at the Lewisham

L.C.C. school dental, minor ailments, and aural central clinic. there were 4815 attendances. Arrangements are being madefor the establishment of additional clinics, and for theJ treatment at reduced fees of adolescents between the ages, of 16 and 21, who are ineligible for dental benefit. Adoles-1 cents between the ages of 14 and 16, who are not insured3 persons, are already provided for by the hospital.

303BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION: EXHIBITION OF DRUGS, ETC.

EXHIBITIONOF

DRUGS, SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, FOODS,AND APPLIANCES AT THE BRITISHMEDICAL ASSOCIATION MEETING.

THE exhibition in the City Exhibition Hall,Manchester, which was open from July 22nd to 26th,was unusually complete and well arranged and gavepractitioners attending the annual meeting of theB.M.A. an opportunity of refreshing their memory ofproducts and appliances new and old. Ample spacewas provided for the exhibits and in every case theattendants were ready with expert advice. It is

impossible to do more than indicate some of theproducts which attracted attention.

DRUGS AND PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS.

1. General Drug Exhibits.[12] and .[35] Oppenheimer, Son and Co., Ltd.

(179, Queen Victoria-street, E.C. 4), showed a seriesof preparations with the hall-mark " O.S. & Co.,"including Roboleine and Vitad, the latter being theunsaponifiable fraction of cod-liver oil containing ahigh concentration of vitamins A and D, a palatinoidbeing equivalent to one-half or a whole teaspoonfulof cod-liver oil.-[23] Bayer Products, Ltd. (19,St. Dunstan’s-hill, E.C. 3), drew attention to a rangeof well-tested synthetic remedies including Adalin,Helmitol, Luminal, Phanodorm, and especiallyAvertin, a basal anaesthetic administered per rectumwith advantages alike for surgeon, patient, andanaesthetist; also the Iso-double ampoule of Neo-salvarsan.-[33] The Saccharin Corporation, Ltd.(72, Oxford-street, W. 1), showed among theirspecialties Novocain, Glaucosan, Trivalin, andCausticin.-[36] Boots Pure Drug Co., Ltd. (Notting-ham), had a large exhibit of fine chemicals andpacked specialties including Sulphostab and Stabi-larsan, an improved " 914 " for intramuscular injec-tion, approved by the Ministry of Health. Bismostab

contains a high concentration of metallic bismuth inisotonic glucose. Among other preparations Hexyl-resorcinol and Acriflavine were shown as well as

Ephedrine and Insulin, at a present price to thepatient of Is. 8d. per 5 c.cm. ampoule of 100 units.-[48] Burroughs Wellcome and Co. (Snow Hill Build-ings, E.C. 1) exhibited products resulting from recentscientific research and other preparations of out-standing importance in various branches of medicine,including micro-organism displays of scarlet fever,diphtheria, syphilis, influenza, pneumonia, leprosy,tuberculosis, and malaria. A number of plantsselected from their Dartford farm reminded visitorsthat certain alkaloid-yielding plants can be cultivatedto perfection in England.-[49] Sandoz ChemicalWorks (5, Wigmore-street, W. 1) had on view a newmethod of administering allium sativum and examplesof Calcium-Sandoz, Sandoptal, Felamine, Femergin,Lobeline, and Scillaren.-[50] Schering, Ltd. (3,Lloyd’s-avenue, E.C.3), called attention to Veramonas a safe and successful analgesic, Atophan, a popularuric acid eliminant, and Solganal, a new gold productof low toxicity for intravenous injection in tubercu-losis and leprosy.-[61] and [62] Crookes Collosols(22, Chenies-street, W.C. 1) were showing originalcolloidal preparations for medicinal use with especialemphasis on Collosol Calcium, as employed in osteo-malacia, tuberculosis, urticaria, and menorrhagia.-[67] Hoffmann-La Roche Chemical Works, Ltd.(51, Bowes-road, N. 13), over and above the well-known Omnopon total opium alkaloids, Sedobrolsedative bouillon, exhibited a tasteless non-toxicaperient known as Isacen with the compositiondiacetyl-di-hydroxy-phenyl-isatin. They also supplyThyroxin.-[70] Reynolds and Branson, Ltd. (Leeds),had on view a large series of elixirs, liquors, syrups,and tablets along with a vaccine for rheumatoidarthritis.-[71] May and Baker, Ltd. (Battersea,S.W. 11), commenced an exhibit with Novarseno-

billon, Metarsenobillon, Metarseno-argenticum, run-ning on through Stovarsol, Tryparsamide, andStovaine to a series of vaccines and other remedies.-[73] Alien and Hanburys, Ltd. (48, Wigmore-street,W. 1), in addition to the various Allenburys foodsand the " Byno " series of tonics, showed a numberof " Polyglandin " preparations, as well as Insulin,Chrismol, liver products, and a selection of sera andvaccines prepared by the Lister Institute.-[76] Evans,Sons, Lescher, and Webb, Ltd. (50, Bartholomew-close, E.C. 1), demonstrated specialties manufac-tured at Liverpool and Runcorn. The biologicalproducts included Hepatex, a convenient form ofliver extract for oral administration, Haemex, andInfundibulin ; among pharmaceutical specialties wasBi-drox, a stable form of hydrogen peroxide.-[85] Parke, Davis and Co. (50, Beak-street, W. 1)had on view many preparations manufactured at theirHounslow laboratories, including Metatone, Alophenpill, and Cascara evacuant. Their standardised cod-liver oil contains in each fluid ounce at least 13,500units of vitamin A and 3000 units of vitamin D.Gland preparations included Estrogen, an extract ofreproductive gland tissue, standardised in terms ofrat units ; also Pituitrin, Pitocin, Pitressin, and apreparation known as Thio-Bismol for intramuscularinjection which being water- and tissue-fluid solubleis painless.-[91] Hough, Hoseason and Co., Ltd.(Bridge-street, Manchester), showed pharmaceuticalspecialties including elixirs of Formasal, Uralia,Lecitone, and Cardiotone.-[97] C. J. Hewlett andSon, Ltd. (35, Charlotte-street, E.C.2), had a largeexhibit of original preparations including Antisepticcream, Liquor santal, Mist. pepsinae co., Mist. damianaeco., and Hormonigen.-[99] British Drug Houses,Ltd. (City-road, N. 1), illustrated their pioneer workin the synthesis of vitamin D and the manufacturefrom natural sources of vitamins A and B, with anexhibit of Radiostol, Radiostoleum, and Radio-Malt.Other products shown were Acetylcholine, LiverExtract, Ephedrine, and Thyroxine.-[108] LambertPharmacal Co. (St. Louis, Mo. Agents : S. Maw,Son and Sons, 7-12, Aldersgate-street, E.C. 1)exhibited Listerine Brand antiseptic and demon-strated its germicidal action on various bacteriologicalcultures.

2. Special Drtlg Exhibits.[11] Reed and Carnrick (Jersey City, U.S.A.

Agents: Coates and Cooper, 41, Great Tower-street, E.C. 3) offered samples of such glandularpreparations as Peptenzyme, Nephritin, Protonuclein,Pancrobilin, and Trophonine.-[30] Bristol-Myers Co.(112, Cheapside, E.C. 2) offered Sal Hepatica, Ipanatooth-paste, and Ziratol, a non-toxic haemostaticantiseptic.-[31] J. F. Macfarlan and Co. (32, BethnalGreen-road, E. 1) exhibited Opoidine, a Britishpreparation of alkaloids of opium, and catgut ligaturesin glass tubes in American style, prepared accordingto Lister’s and other formulae.-[32] Anglo-AmericanOil Company, Ltd. (Camden Town, N.W. 1), had onview three well-established preparations : Nujol, anintestinal lubricant, Mistol, a combination of menthol,camphor eucalyptol, and chlorbutol for use in anatomiser, and Flit, a liquid insectide in spray form.-[53] Bemax Sales, Ltd. (7, St. James’s-street, S.W. 1),called attention to a natural vitamin food and tonicin highly concentrated form. A month’s supply ofBemax for an adult costs 2s. 6d.-[54] Fassett andJohnson, Ltd. (86, Clerkenwell-road, E.C. 1), besidesAngier’s Emulsion, Bemax, and Californian Syrup ofFigs, showed a large range of Seabury and Johnson’splasters.-[58] Kaylene, Ltd. (7, Mandeville-place,W. 1), offered a colloidally reversible hydrated silicateof alumina of great purity and other combinations ofKaylene, as well as Colonol Liquid Paraffin.-[60]Scott and Turner, Ltd. (Gallowgate, Newcastle-on-Tyne), showed Andrews Liver Salt, a pleasant salineaperient with brisk effervescence, leaving a clearsolution.-[64] and [65] Deshell Laboratories, Ltd.(Braydon-road, N. 16), offered the Petrolagar BrandEmulsion, for the treatment of intestinal stasis, con-taining 65 per cent. of pure medicinal paraffin