750

miles east from the latter well-known winter resort, on thevery summit and edge of the cliff bathed by the EnglishChannel, has of late years risen a now much-valued s-potcalled " Southborne, suitable not only for summer, but alsofor winter, quarters. The graphic description of Boscombeby Dr. Chepmell would, mutatis mutandis, almost applyto Southbourne, where in 1he hot days, at the beginning oflast August, it was delicious to stay, after breathing therelaxing atmosphere in the public gardens of Bournemouth.The contrast between the two places-within cannon shot

of each other-was as marked as is the difference, to personsin health between the bracing warm air of Nice and the relax-ing, fatiguing heat of Mentone during the month of January.Southborne has, I feel confident, a great future before it,both socially and as a health resort, and must eventuallyreceive the marked notice of all specially interested in theappropriate hygiene for the various thoracic diseases of ourclimate. It is within an easy walk of Christchurch, whichis fortunate in possessing one of the finest of our Englishchurches, and within a no less easy ride of the New Forest,where picnicing one glorious day during our outing, thegambols of many "enfants terrible around the magnificentbeeches and oaks, made each senior (after luncheon),

" Recubans sub tegmine fagi,"

dozingly believe that "Oberon," "Titania," and" Puck"were still present in the flesh in this " our merrie England."

I am, Sir, yours obediently, - -

ROBERT FOWLER, M.D.Old Burlington-street, W., Oct. 20tb, 1883.

MEDICAL BULLETINS.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-Is it not time that the medical profession uttereda decided protest against the novel practice of publishingdetailed symptoms occurring in the illness of men of

public note in the daily papers ? Surely the conclusionsarrived at by the doctors ought to be sufficient for the ’,lay public without the grounds on which those conclu-sions are based, and we ought to maintain as strict a

secrecy about the intestinal troubles of the Duke of -- asabout those of Mr. Smith or Mr. Jones. Some of theseparagraphs, too, bring forward with unfortunate prominence,as it seems to me, the name of the medical attendant. Therewas, I think, a general feeling that too much was said aboutthe illness of the late Archbishop of Canterbury, and I hopedthat such. like bulletins would have ceased to appear, but Ihavenoticed lately a repetition of these objectionable reports.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully.Oct. 22nd, 1883. A. R. G.

"CASES OF ASIATIC CHOLERA AT SLIGO."To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-Dr. Laird, in last week’s issue, expresses surprise atmy stating in THE LANCET for Sept. 29th that two cases ofAsiatic cholera had occurred in Sligo ; but, from the historyof the cases (both fatal), I am still of the same opinion.The man Kelly, when admitted under Dr. Murray’s care

in the Sligo Fever Hospital, was in a state of collapse, withextremities cold and livid, suppression of urine, pulsationimperceptible either in arms or legs, eyes unken, voicehusky, tongue dark, and rice-water stools. If these are notcharacteristic symptoms of Asiatic cholera, I do not knowwhat the disease is.

I expressly mentioned tha,t Dr. Laird denied that this casewas other than one of English cholera occurring in abroken-down constitution; but, with the information I hadin my possession relative to the cases, I do not feel in anyway inclined to change my former statement.In conclusion, I may add that Dr. Murray, under whose

care the man Kelly was in the Fever Hospital, holds, I aminformed, a similar opinion as

Oct. 22nd, 1883. YOUR IRISH CORRESPONDENT.

THE Duke of Westminster, who has recentlylevied a small charge on visitors to Eaton Hall for theprivilege of going through the ouse and grounds, on thel7th inst. sent the proceeds of the season, a sum of d6560, tothe Chester Infirmary.

BIRMINGHAM.(From our own Correspondent.)

THE MEDICAL SCHOOL.

THE recurrence of the present month brings with it freshactivities in the public life of the profession, and awakensinterests which have lain quietly in repose during the periodof the vacation. At its commencement-on the lst of themonth-the session was opened at Queen’s College by anintroductory address by Mr. Bennett May, which hasalready been noticed in the columns of THE LANCET. Thesubstance of it was practical, and full of sound advice tothose seeking to enter the professional portals, and from Mr.May’s well-known ability as a teacher his opinions are

entitled to thoughtful consideration. On the following daya similar duty was performed at the Mason College by Pro.fessor Poynting, the subject being "University Training inProvincial Schools." He pointed out the advantages to bederived from this institution in enabling students to gainhabits of independent thought, and to learn the best of alllessons-how to teach themselves. The social aspects ofuniversity life were dwelt upon and its benefits enforced,while the opportunities afforded by the young Mason Collegein relation to the various courses of teaching were well andclearly expressed. One contrast in the two addresses wasnoticeable, and calls for emphatic condemnation in theunseemly behaviour of the students at Queen’s College.They appeared to lose sight of the facts that noise is notknowledge, and that rowdyism is not in the present day anessential adjunct to medical education. A well-meritedrebuke was administered by one of the professors, whoexpressed his conviction that those who created thesedisturbances would not be found in the prize lists at the endof the session.

MEDICAL SOCIETIES.

At a meeting of the Branch held on the llth inst., paperswere read by Dr. Sawyer and Mr. Bartleet respectively on theTreatment of the Severer Forms of Constipation and In.testinal Obstruction, and on the Operative Treatment of thesame class of cases. An animated and interesting discussionfollowed, in which a number of those present took part. Atthe Midland Medical Society, on the 10th inst., a paper wasread on Porro’s Operation, in which two cases were mentionedas having been successfully performed. Some sharp criticismtook place, in which it was pointed out that the writer ofthe paper had not given the details of the second case, andthat in the opinion of the speaker it was neither an expe,dient, necessary, nor justifiable case for an operation of thismagnitude and risk.

INGLEBY LECTURES.

The Ingleby Lectures for the present year were deputedby the Council of Queen’s College, in whom the trust illconfided, to be given by Dr. Malins, the Obstetric Physician tothe General Hospital, who accordingly delivered them on thellth and 18th inst. The subject chosen was Pelvic Hsemato-cele, in relation to which the lecturer traced the history ofthe disease as established first in France, and gave illustra-tive cases from his own practice as to the course and treat-ment. The lectures were listened to by an appreciativeaudience, and will probably be published in a separate form.

ACCIDENTAL SUFFOCATION OF CHILDREN.

The borough coroner held four inquests on the 18th inst, oninfants who had been overlain in bed. He called attentionto the frequency of these cases now that the winter is ap-proaching, and expressed his opinion that there must be somecarelessness on the part of the mothers. There appearsto be a large sacrifice of life in this respect, and some legis.lation is required to further its diminution. The remedyobviously consists in providing cots for children as enforcedby law on the Continent, and unless some plan of this kindis adopted it is not easy to see how such a waste of life canbe avoided in the wretched homes, where the parents oftengo to bed the worse for drink, regardless of the danger tothe sleeping baby. The line between the accidental andintentional disposal of infants is allowed to be very in-distinct.

HOW INFECTION IS SPREAD.

Occasion was taken in a recent letter to call attention tothe dangerous habit of pawning clothes from infected