58 MANCHESTER.

profession and the public by paragraphs announcing the factthat the Rev. - has been ordered by his medicaladvisers to take several months’ holiday, and that he has goneto the Canaries, the Mediterranean, or on even more distantvoyages. The return of the reverend gentlemen from thesetravels to their sphere of duty is also duly chronicled, therest and change being generally of great benefit. It is quitewithin the recollection of middle-aged men that a clergymanwould have thought himself very hard-worked indeed hadhe been left to take two full services by himself on Sunday.The Rev. Charles Honeyman sighed when invited by ColonelNewcome to breakfast at nine ; what would he have thoughtof services at eight or even an earlier hour followed bymorning, afternoon, and evening services every Sunday, withdaily services and frequent sick calls 7 The architecture ofmany local churches is rather behind date, and the loftypulpit in which the preacher is subjected (especially in theevening) to an over-heated and vitiated atmosphere must bevery trying to the health.

rave-plots in lieu of Vaults.At the seventeenth annual meeting of the Church of

England Burial, Funeral, and Mourning Reform Association,which was held on Wednesday, June 26th, in Stafford House,London, by permission of the Duke of Sutherland, the reportfor the year was read. In this report the thanks of thesociety are rendered to Mr. F. W. Lowndes of Liverpool forsuggesting that grave-plots be substituted for vaults, burialin a grave-plot being the only mode which really meets thewishes of those who desire to rest together in death. Avault becomes full, to the disappointment of the survivors,and a new vault, probably in another place. must be pro-vided ; whereas a grave-plot of sufficient length and breadth,surrounded and separated from the adjoining earth by coping,might contain the remains of families for generations if thepractice be adopted of "side-by-side" burial in perishablecoffins at reasonable distances of time. Such plots might bemade small gardens, a tree planted, and flowers grown fromyear to year to tell of a joyful resurrection.July 3rd.

_______________

MANCHESTER.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Dr. Niven’s Report for the First Qarter of the Year.LAST winter was so exceptionally severe that a few facts,

taken from Dr. Niven’s summary of the weather, may well benoted. The mean temperature for the thirteen weeks was4’4°F. below the average for the first quarters of the last tenyears. There was much less than even our usual poor allow-ance of sunshine, the Jordan’s Photographic Recorder inOldham-road registering ninety-nine hours, which period onlyequals 11 per cent. of its possible duration. The averageamount for the quarter during the previous three years was164 hours. At the Stonyhurst Observatory the amount forthe quarter was 210 hours and its proportion 23 per cent.The only factors likely to cause this difference are the sparse-ness of the population and the absence of manufacturingsmoke at Stonyhurst. No doubt the severe cold causedincreased smoke from household fires, which would add tothe dark cloud above, but one manufacturing chimney equalsin smoke production that of very many private dwellings,as evidenced by the immensely greater density of the fumessent forth. The mean height of the barometer was 29-841in., being practically identical with the average in the cor-responding periods of the previous five years. The amountof rain measured at the City Observatory was 6’848 in ,being about half an inch above the decennial average for thequarter. January was marked by squally weather with muchrain and snow, becoming colder as the weeks passed by. Themean temperature was 336°—i.e., 57° below the average ofthe corresponding period of the previous ten years-thecoldest day being the 28th, when the mean temperature was250°. During the month we had twenty-two hours of sun-shine-at Stonyhurst there were sixty-three hours-but ourtwenty-two hours were above the average of January, whichfor the last three years has been nineteen. February wascolder even than January, the mean temperature for thefour weeks being 315°, which is 9° below the averagefor the month during the previous ten years. On the 6th-thecoldest day-the mean for the twenty-four hours was 224°.The mean height of the barometer was 30’130 in., being higherby 0’148 in. than the average of several years. Very little rain

fell, and we had forty-three hours of sunshine in the fourweeks, while the average for the month during the last threeyears was thirty-seven hours. Frost occurred on twenty-sixdays. In March the weather became rapidly milder, butthere was very little bright sunshine. Rain fell on eighteendays of the four weeks to the aggregate amount of 3’181 in.,being nearly 1’5 in. above the average. The mean temperaturefor the month was 4Z3° which is slightly higher than theaverage and nearly 11° above that of February.’ .Bty!’A.—During the thirteen weeks of the quarter 4791births were registered in the city, equalling an annual rate of36 5 per 1000 of the population.

Sickness treated at the public expense.-The cases treated atthe public hospitals and dispensaries were 12, 030, an increaseof 1678 as compared with the number treated in the firstquarter of 1894.

Infectious sickness.-665 fresh cases were notified, against.1025 in the preceding quarter, and 820, the average for thefirst quarters of the previous three years. Small-pox wasabsent during the whole of the quarter. Scarlet feverwas rather more prevalent than is usual, the notifiedattacks equalling an annual rate of 3’17 per 1000, theaverage being 2 96. In the last quarter of 1894 the ratewas 5 57. Diphtheria was less prevalent than usual, thereported attacks being equal to an annual rate of 0’87 per1000. Enteric fever also was less prevalent than usual. Itis curious that there was less scarlet fever and enteric feverin the old townships than in the other and more salubriousdistricts of Manchester. The mortality returns indicate agreater prevalence of measles and fewer cases of whooping-cough than we generally have in the quarter. Influenza,again visited Manchester during this quarter, 2 fatal casesoccurring in January, none in February, and 106 in March.Since then it has been declining, but it has not yet left us..Z<x.&mdash;These, influenced no doubt by the low tempera-ture, equalled a corrected annual rate of 26’8 per 1000 of thepopulation at all ages estimated to the middle of the year,which is more than 9 per cent. above the mean rate for thequarter. In the old township the rate was equal to 37 per1000, in North Manchester it did not exceed 20 4, and inSouth Manchester it equalled 24’0 per 1000. The Manchesterrate exceeded that of the thirty-three great towns by 1’6 per1000. In London the death-rate was 26 0, in Edinburgh 30 5,in Glasgow-34 8, and in Dublin 37 1. The rate of infantile

mortality was 165 per 1000 during the quarter, against 168in the first quarter of 1894, and ranged from 138 in NorthManchester to 208 in the old, or Manchester, township, this

high rate telling plainly of bad sanitation and a degradedsocial and moral condition.’ Dr. Niven again expresses his regret that in Manchester,with more than 500,000 inhabitants, so few direct complaints-are made to him on matters concerning the public health-only sixty during the three months. The people themselvesare apparently indifferent, but they owe a deep debt ofgratitude to the Chief Constable and the police for the 202separate informations given to the medical officers of health.during the quarter.

Degree Day, Victoria :Jnive’l’sity.On the 29th ult. a large assemblage took place in the

Free Trade Hall to witness the conferring of degrees. TheVice-Chancellor, Professor Ward, presided, and was supportedby the Principals of University College, Liverpool, and York-shire College, Leeds. He said that the annual statementwas a plain record of steady progress, and spoke of theUniversity having now I I definitely made good its title to a.place of its own among the chief educational institutionsof the kingdom," and of the impress which time hadalready left in the death, at the beginning of the session,of Dr. J. G. Greenwood, the first Vice-Chancellor and !late Principal of the Owens College, and within the last fewdays of Professor W. C. Williamson. To the memoryof both he paid a graceful and touching tribute. The candi-dates presented for degrees numbered 118. In June, 1894,there were 115 and in June, 1893, ninety-one. Among themwere a Doctor of Science and five Doctors of Medicine. Pro-fessor Ward said he had no doubt that the number ofgraduates in the faculty of medicine during the presentsession would make possible an equally favourable com-

parison, although for this the results of the July examina-tions would have to be awaited. He also mentioned the factthat the Victoria University has been included among theuniversities at which selected candidates for the Indian CivilService are allowed to pass their probation.

July 2nd.

59SCOTLAND.-IRELAND.

SCOTLAND.

(FBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Mr. 6ladstone’s Faremell to Midlothian.AT a meeting of the Midlothian Liberal Association held

in Edinburgh on Wednesday afternoon last Mr. Gladstone’sformal letter of farewell to his constituents was read. Sucha communication can hardly be treated as a matter of

politics purely, much less as a matter of party politics, bythe most prejudiced of partisans. And to our profession ithas a special interest, being the closing scene in a career ofunexampled endurance. For sixty years Mr. Gladstone hasbeen in the van of his party, ever contesting, pleading, con-ciliating, proselytising, and leading, and it is impossible toestimate the strain upon even his physical system that thisperpetual intellectual restlessness, coupled generally with nolight demands upon his bodily strength, must have been.Yet at the advanced age of eighty - five he remains thepossessor of a physique that many a young-old man of fortymight envy him, Politics purely apart, Mr. Gladstone mustalways be an object of respectful interest to the medicalman as a remarkable example of a perfect combination ofthe highest intellectual and physical qualities.

Edinburg7t Royal Infirmary.The much-talked-of enlargement of the buildings of this

institution has at last got one step forward, as the managersat their last meeting have adopted the report of a commissionappointed to consider certain questions of rebuilding.

Me Harveian Festival.The Harveian Festival took place at the buildings of the

Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh on Friday last.Jane 28th, when Dr. David Yellowlees delivered the annualoration.

Sir Henry ])nnaan Littlejohn.The announcement that Her Majesty has been pleased to

.grant to Dr. Henry Duncan Littlejohn, the medical officer ofhealth of Edinburgh, the honour of a knighthood has beenreceived with general satisfaction, not only by the friends ofthe recipient of the honour, but by the inhabitants of thecity over whose public health he watches untiringly.

The New Secretary for Scotland.The appointment of Lord Balfour of Burleigh to be thE

mew Secretary for Scotland will be learned with more interestthan usual by medical men, as his lordship is the sponsor ojthe Midwives Registration Bill. Lord Balfour is a SCOtCDrepresentative peer, and therefore in possession for a term oJ-a seat in the House of Lords, and has been ParliamentarySecretary to the Board of Trade.July 3rd.

IRELAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Workhouse Hospital R form.UPON Jane 25th a deputation organised by the Irish

Medical Association waited upon the Irish Local GovernmentBoard to consider the subject of workhouse hospital reform.The deputation, which was received by Mr. George Morris,the Vice-President of the Board, and Mr. H. Robinson, con-sisted of the following members : Dr. Henry Oalton, chairmanof council; Dr. Arthur Benson, secretary of council ; Dr.jacob, secretary of association, as representing the IrishMedical Association ; Dr. Walter Smith, president; Mr.Andrew Horne, vice-president, as representing the RoyalCollege of Physicians of Ireland ; Dr. Thornley Stoker,president; Dr. William Thomson, vice-president, as repre-senting the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland ; Dr. JamesLittle, president, as representing the Royal Academy ofMedicine in Ireland ; and Drs. Moorhead (Cootehill), Wilson(Castleblayney), and Leeper (Rathdrum), representing theworkhouse medical officers. There were no reporters but itwas expected that the result of the conference would soon bemade public.

Trinity College, Dublin.Dr. Charles Ball has recently been appointed University

Anatomist and Dr E. H. Tajlor University Examiner inAnatomy.

Ulster Medical Society.At the annual meeting of the above society held on

rune 27th the following were elected office-bearers for thesession 1895-96 :-President : Professor Sinclair. Vice-Presidents : Dr. Bingham and Mr. Mackenzie. HonoraryFreasurtr : Dr. Kevin. Pathological Secretaries : Dr. LorrainSmith and Dr. Lynass. Librarian : Dr. Shaw. Secretary:Dr. McKisack. Council: Dr. Lindsay. Dr. McCaw, Dr.Dempsey, Dr. Calwell, Dr. Bigger, and Dr. McDonnell. Itwas decided that during next session the meeting shall beleld at 8.30 P. M, instead of at 4 o’clock.

The Ballymacarrett I ’Mystery."On Friday, June 28tb, an inquest was held in Soldierstown,

near Moira, county Down, in reference to the death of awoman named Robinson, regarding whose decease someridiculous rumours had been put in circulation through certainparts of Belfast. As the coroner (Dr. Mussen) stated inopening the inquiry, the deceased died on May llth, and shewas certified as dying from a certain disease; but rumoursoccurred among the relatives that the real cause of deathwas not what was certified by the medical men who attendedher, and these coming to the ears of the authorities, theydeemed it right that the matter should be cleared up and forever set at rest in connexion with the death of the deceased.The coroner regretted that these suspicions had not beenmooted earlier to the authorities, as it was now seven weeksfrom the woman’s death ; but he thought it was betterthey should be cleared now, both for the satisfaction of therelatives as well as of the medical men in charge of thecase. From the evidence it would appear that MargaretRobinson, a young married woman twenty-seven years of

age, living in Ballymacarfett, Belfast, gave birth to a malechild on May 4th, the infant being born when Mr. Cathcartarrived. She went on quite satisfactorily until about eighto’clock in the evening of the second day, when in conse-quence of a message he paid her a visit (he had alreadyseen her in the forenoon of that day) and found her inpain and vomiting, and on examination he detected aswelling on the right side. Looking upon her case as

serious, Mr. Cathcart thought it advisable to have anotheropinion, and a neighbouring medical man, Dr. Smylie; wascalled in. After examining her they satisfied themselvesthat the uterus was empty, but that she had a tumour, andthat as far as her confinement was concerned she was suffer-ing from no ill effects from it. They then asked thatanother medical man should see her, and Dr. Campbellwas brought in consultation. He agreed with them that therewas a tumour, and told the husband that an operationwould be necessary on an early day if there was any pro-spect of saving her life, and urged her removal to theSamaritan Hospital. Her husband declined to take thiscourse, and Dr. Campbell retired from the case. The womangetting no better, Dr. Darling of Lurgan, who knew her andher friends, as they had come from his neighbourhood, wasnext brought to see Mrs. Robinson on Tuesday, May 7th,with Mr. Cathcart. He agreed with the diagnosis alreadymade, and recommended the woman’s removal to a hospital.The relatives said they thought a child was left in the uterus,but he assured them that there was nothing of the kind.Finding that his wife was getting no better, the husbandat last had her removed to the Samaritan Hospital onTuesday, May 7ch, but on condition that no opera-tion was done without his consent, and on Saturday, eMay llth, she died in that institution, the husbandnot having given his consent to an operation being performed.Dr. Campbell was most anxious for a necropsy andrecommended the husband to allow this to be made, andpointed out to him how dissatisfied he (Dr. Campbell) wasthat he had not been allowed to treat the patient in the wayall the medical men had agreed was right. The husbandasked Mr. Cathcart for a line to enable the body to be takento Soldierstown, and after the medical man found that he(the husband) was averse to a necropsy being made he didso, but he also wanted a post-mortem examination. Thewoman’s husband taunted Dr. Cathcart in reference to thecertificate, remarking that if he knew what was thecause of death there was no reason why he shouldnot give a certificate. When the husband asked Dr.Campbell for a certificate on the evening of the day hiswife died, he declined, as he naturally wished the matter

, cleared up by a necropsy. This, however, as I have said,. was refused, and when the husband returned to Dr. Campbell

on the day he had buried the body he (Dr. Campbell) gave