217

poverty. "They attributed that to their dietary laws, thehelp afforded by that institution and its medical officer, andthe care which Jewish women took of their children." It

may be remembered that Dr. Niven recently drew attentionto the low death-rate of the Jews in Manchester.

North- Western Branch of the Society of Medical Offleers ofHealth.

At a meeting held in Manchester on the 10th inst., Dr.Wm. Graham of Middleton was elected president, insuccession to Mr. Vacher, medical officer to the CheshireCounty Council; Dr. Robertson (St. Helens), Vice-president;Dr. Porter (Stockport), treasurer ; and Dr. Wheatley (Black-burn), hon. secretary. An interesting paper on " The Venti-lation of Sewers " was read by Dr. Marsden of Birkenhead.

SCOTLAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

The British Medical Association ; Invitation to Edinburgh. AT a special meeting of the Edinburgh Branch of the

British Medical Association held on July 13th in Edinburgh in (

the Royal College of Physicians it was decided to invite theBritish Medical Association to hold its annual meeting inEdinburgh in 1897. A deputation was appointed to submitthe invitation to the meeting in Carlisle. Professor SirThomas Grainger Stewart was recommended as president-elect.

The Edinburgh Obstetrical Society and ProfessionalConfidences.

The Edinburgh Obstetrical Society held a special meetinglast week at which it discussed the confidential relations subsisting between medical men and their patients. Thediscussion was suggested by the Playfair case. Mr.Taylor Innes, advocate, was present by special invi-tation and took part in the proceedings. It is, I

think, unfortunate that no report was allowed to betaken of the proceedings, for many points of greatimportance to the profession and the public were touchedupon or discussed. There are many delicate and difficult

points connected with the subject that individual medicalmen would gladly have had an expression of opinionupon from leaders in the profession; while, even from thepurely legal standpoint, many would have welcomed an

exposition of Scottish law on various points, or an indica-tion of how far the profession are legally bound to do certainthings.

Additions to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.The plans for the new laundry offices for the Royal Infir-

mary have been approved by the managers. The buildingsare to be situated to the west of Lauriston-lane. Themanagers have also approved of the plans for the new medicalpavilion. At the meeting on July 13th some discussion tookplace on the initiative of Dr. Batty Tuke, who made objec-tions to the arrangements for a bathing department and alsoto the expense of introducing the electric light into the Infir-mary. Both these matters were, however, agreed to. Thebathing department is to be in the basement of the newmedical pavilion and is to comprise a Turkish and Russianbath, douche rooms, &.c.

Inverness Medical Society.The summer meeting of this society was held at the

District Asylum, Inverness, on July llth, Dr. Macnee, thePresident, in the chair. After the minutes of the previousmeeting had been read and approved, the secretary read hisannual report, in which it was mentioned that during thepast session ten meetings were held and five new memberselected. Several interesting and instructive papers werecontributed by members. The club question came up fordiscussion at several meetings and the members were

unanimous in refusing to undertake club work unless thescale of rates was in accordance with that suggested by thesociety. The clubs did not see their way to agree to this

arrangement, and the medical officers resigned. Theclubs in town joined togtther and advertised for a

medical officer to undertake the work at their terms.

Unfortunately for the credit of the profession a medicalgentleman, Dr. Callender, formerly of Leeds, accepted theposition, thus frustrating the efforts of the society in theirendeavour to place the relations of the medical practitioners

in Inverness and the clubs on a better financial basis than theyhad been hitherto. A donation of books from the library ofthe British Medical Association was announced. The office-bearers for the session 1896-7 were elected :-President : Dr.James Murray. Vice-Presidents: Dr. Mackenzie and Mr.MacFadyen. Honorary Secretary : Dr. J. Munro Moir. Dr.Keay, superintendent of the District Asylum, exhibited a.series of interesting cases from the wards illustrating the-different phases of insanity.

Aberdeen Royal InfirnaaTy.The medical and surgical stafE have represented to the-

directors that the streets surrounding the infirmary buildingsmight be paved with some material which caused less noisethan granite. It is believed the town council will probablygive effect to this suggestion, at least as regards the carriage’way of Woolmanhill. The matter is, however, only underconsideration and no decision has been arrived at, but wood,asphalt, or tar macadam paving has been proposed as asubstitute for granite causeway blocks.

University of Aberdeen.It has been remitted to Mr. A. Marshall Mackenzie,,

A.R S.A., architect, to report as to accommodating the.natural history department in the proposed new south wing.of the Marischal College buildings.July 15th.

_____________

IRELAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Milk Aditlteration in Dublin.THE guardians of the south Dublin union and the corpora-

tion have recently instituted a series of prosecutions for food.adulteration, more especially in regard to milk. Sir Charles-Cameron gave some interesting evidence, and a number ofwell-deserved fines were inflicted. In one case the certificate-stated that there was 16 per cent. of added water and 2 per.cent. of starchy matter added in order to give the appear-ance of cream. Sir Charles Cameron stated that it was-

many years since he had met a case of adulteration bystarch, that he had made a microscopical examination of the.specimen, which would certainly be injurious to health ifswallowed, and that the case was undoubtedly one of gross.adulteration by starch. Mr. Rice, representing the corpora-tion, said, in applying for an adjournment, that if Sir Charles.Cameron’s analysis be corroborated by the authorities at,Somerset House he would ask that this case be dealt with..under a section of the Act under which there is a fine of £50for the first offence and six months’ imprisonment for the-second. The case was accordingly adjourned.

Proposed Isolation Hospital for Scarlet -FeV6r.A meeting of the special committee, consisting of the-

representatives of the boards of the north and south Dublinunions, was held on the 13th inst. for the purpose of making-arrangements with regard to the provision of hospital accom-modation for scarlet fever and other infectious diseases.The meeting had under consideration proposals for the pur--chase of land on which to build an isolation hospital and’also examined various offers which were brought before themof existing premises which might prove useful for hospitalpurposes. A site on the Crumlin road was speciallyconsidered and thought worthy of investigation andthe presentation of a report to the next meeting. Themaster was, moreover, directed to make inquiry inreference to fee-simple property for sale in the neighbour--hood of the city, and the clerk instructed to advertiserat once for a large house with land situated withinone mile of the city and suitable for the purposes of a tem-porary hospital. The epidemic seems now to be rather onthe decline, but its history shows that there is urgent neces--sity for better arrangements than at present exist for-the treatment of such an unwelcome visitor. Since Jan. lst-of this year and up to the end of the second week of this.month there have been registered in the city 734 cases ofscarlet fever with 45 deaths.

The Ulster -ilfedieal Society.The annual meeting of the Ulster Medical Society was

held in Belfast on July 9th, Professor Sinclair, the President,in the chair. The reports submitted by the secretary and>the treasurer showed that the condition of the society is at-present most satisfactory, there being 130 members and

218

good balance in hand. A long discussion took place inreference to the question of rooms for the society’s meetings.and library, when it was decided to leave the present place,and a subcommittee was appointed to look out for, and toselect, new rooms so as to have them ready for next session.The following office-bearers were then appointed for thesession 1896-97 : President, Professor Symington; vice--

presidents, Dr. Kevin and Dr. Calwell ; secretary, Dr.

McKisack; treasurer, Dr. McCaw ; pathological secretaries,Dr. Lorrain Smith and Dr. Lynass ; librarian, Dr. Shaw ;council, Dr. Lindsay, Dr. Campbell, Dr. Dempsey, Dr.Gaussen, Dr. Bingham, and Professor Byers.

Londonderry Lunatic Asylitm.At a meeting of the board of governors held on July 9th a

,resolution was unanimously passed " that the attention of,the board of control be specially drawn to the overcrowdingof the asylum on the male side and to the necessity thatmow exists that an immediate remedy be provided by thegovernors." It was reported by Dr. Hetherington, theresident medical superintendent, that excessive crowding- exists on the male side owing to the large number of admis-sions, and of late the cases admitted have been of an un-promising nature as regards recovery or discharge. SirH. Bruce, who presided, gave notice, as an endeavour on,his part to save a large expenditure, that at their next

’meeting the governors should consider the advisability of.acquiring the grounds and buildings of Foyle College if they.are for sale. The governors think the board of control arevery dilatory in reference to the proposed new asylum, andthe conference between them and the governors which wasto have taken place on July 9th was postponed by the formernot being able to attend owing to I circumstances havingarisen." This refers to the difficulty the Government find,themselves in owing to the strong opposition to the newasylum scheme which has sprung up all over County Derry. In,reply to Sir Thomas Lea (member for the Southern Divisionof County Derry), who asked the Chief Secretary for Irelandif he would consent to receive a deputation from the Grand.Jury and representatives of the ratepayers of the county ofLondonderry in reference to the building of this new asylum,Mr. Gerald Balfour stated on July 9th that the whole matterwas receiving the further consideration of the Government,and that before any further steps were taken towards(passing an order in Council, a communication would be madeto the gentlemen who desired to form the deputation. On

.July 13th a meeting was held in Limavady to protest againstthe heavy taxation likely to be imposed upon the county bythe proposal to build a new lunatic asylum. Stress was laid

boy the speakers on the fact that at present great agriculturaldepression made it impossible for farmers to be saddled withmore taxation," and it was suggested that portions of theColeraine and Limavady workhouses could be set apart for(the housing of the more harmless lunatics. The meetingalso approved of the suggestion of Sir H. Bruce, to pur-chase Foyle College and grounds, as this plan would render,unnecessary a new asylum.

Ulster Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital.At a meeting of the committee of this hospital held on

July 10th it was reported that the intern department was sofilled that it was necessary to put up stretcher beds for,accommodation of the patients. As the additional part ofthe hospital is now in course of erection, it was decided that.another storey be added to it to provide further room for thelarge number of intern cases. The committee feel that in a ifshort time even a further extension will be necessary, for z,which two methods are available-either adding a fourth ’,storey to the old hospital or building a wing behind.

’

Cork District Lunatic Asylurn: -Important Report by anInspector of Asyltlllls.

An inmate of the Cork Lunatic Asylum committed suicideon the 24th ult. by suspending himself by means of a,necktie from a hook connected with one of the pipes of aurinal. An inquest was duly held, but it was considereddesirable that Dr. O’Farrell, inspector of asylums, shouldinvestigate all the circumstances of the case. As the result.of his inquiries Dr. O’Farrell has furnished the board of

.governors with a very able and exhaustive report, in whichhe points out that the patient had exhibited active suicidaltendencies and that the structural and nursing arrarngementsat Cork did not permit of the proper amount of supervisionbeing given to such cases.July 14th.

BERLIN.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESTONDENT.)

The German Practitioners’ Association.THE twenty-fourth annual meeting of the German Practi-

tioners’ Association (I I Deutsrher Aerztetag ") was held inNuremberg, Dr. Aub - (Munich) being in the chair. Anaccount of the objects and constitution of the associationwas given in THE LANCET of July 13th, 1895, p. 127. Afterbhe introductory business was disposed of motions of theBerlin and Frankfurt branches concerning certain alterationsof the by-laws were considered but did not meet with

approval. The next subject of discussion was the questionof the courts of honour, which are already at work in thekingdom of Saxony and will probably be very soon

established by law in the kingdom of Prussia. The

speakers complained that the civil and military medicalofficers are specially exempt from the jurisdiction of thesecourts, but they are nevertheless eligible as membersof the provincial medical boards (Aerztekammer), and thusmay become judges in these courts. The interference ofthe administrative element was another grievance. The

delegates of the Breslau branch proposed that a code ofethics should be published previously to the formation of thecourts, but this motion was rejected. The following resolu-tion was then carried : That this meeting approves generallyof the new law concerning medical etiquette, that alterationsof some articles are advisable, that the law is for the mostpart in accordance with the wishes expressed at the lastmeeting of the association, and that it ought to be universallyintroduced throughout the empire. The "free choice system"in connexion with the workmen’s sick clubs was then dis-cussed, the subject being introduced by Professor Eulenburg,editor of the Deutsche Medicinische -Wochenschrift. Member-ship of a sick club is, as readers of THE LAXCET mayrecollect,1 compulsory on the working class of this country,and a number of medical men have been appointed asmedical officers to them at fixed rates of remuneration. Thisconcentration of club practice in the hands of a few hasnaturally evoked protests, and alterations have been sug-gested principally by an association of junior practitionerswho induced the clubs not to employ specially appointedmedical officers, but to allow their members to be attendedby any practitioner who was willing to accept the clubterms. This system, called the "free choice system," hasbeen in force in Leipzig and other towns for several

years and was introduced into Berlin as well, but obstacleswere thrown in the way by the local authorities andthe Prussian Government. The clubs are in fact under thecontrol of the various municipalities, which according to theGerman workmen’s insurance laws must aid them financiallyif they become unable to provide for their members as

ordained by the law. The free choice system was accordinglyprohibited in Berlin and some other towns on the ground thatexperience had shown it to be costly, and a so-called mixedsystem was recommended. Professor Eulenburg refuted thearguments which had been directed against the free choicesystem and pointed out that the recent measures of the govern-ment were at variance with the right of combination grantedby the constitution to the inhabitants of the country. Dr.Windels said that this was a local question affecting Berlinonly and therefore unsuitable for discussion in the generalmeeting. Dr. Mugdan, president of the Free Choice Societyof Berlin, replied that a club could never be ruined by theexpense of medical attendance; the financial position ofthese clubs being entirely dependent on the general con-dition of the working class, scarcity of employment usuallyhas an unfavourable influence on their affairs. Dr. Peck

explained that the system prohibited in Berlin hasbeen in full action in Nuremberg for several years,to the general satisfaction of the workmen, as wellas of the medical profession. The meeting then signified itsformal approval of the free choice system, just as on theoccasion of the meeting at Eisenach in 1895, and pledgeditself to oppose any measure prejudicial thereto. A shortdebate then took place on certificates given by certainmedical men to dealers in pharmaceutical preparations, foodsfor invalids, and other commercial products, and the meetingexpressed the view that medical opinions on drugs, &c.,ought to be given in the interest of science only, and neverfor the purpose of advertisement. A somewhat peculiar

1 THE LANCET, Feb. 2nd, 1895, p. 317, and July 13th, 1895, p. 127.