597

FREER, E. L., M.R.C.S., has been appointed Honorary Surgeon to theBirmingham Orthopavdic and Spinal Hospital.

FMER, W. C., M.R.C.S, has been appointed Consulting Surgeon tothe Birmingham Orthopedic and Spinal Hospital.

GOSTLING, W. AYTON, M.R.C.S., late House-Physician to UniversityCollege Hospital, has been appointed House-Surgeon to that insti-tution.

HARPER. GERALD, M.B., has been appointed Assistant-Physician tothe Chelsea Hospital for Women.

HOOPER, CHARLES, M.R.C.S., L.S.A.Lond., has been reappointedMedical Officer of Health for the Aylesbury Urban SanitaryDistrict.

KIRBY, E. D., M.B., C.M.Ed., M.R.C.S., has been appointed House.Surgeon and Secretary to the Bridgenorth Infirmary, vice T. LambertHall, M.R.C.S., L S.A.Lond., resigned.

MCGACHEN, F. W. D., L.F.P.S.GIas., L.M., L.S.A.Lond., has beenappointed Medical Officer and Public Vaccinator to the No. 5District of the Newport Pagnel Union, vice F. Deynes, M.D.,resigned.

RABBETH, SAMUEL, M.B Lond., M.R.C.S., has been appointed SeniorResident Medical Officer to the Royal Free Hospital, Gray’s-inn-road.

SPROULLE, THOMAS W., L.K.Q.C.P. I., L.R C.S I., has been ap-pointed Medical Officer for the Mirfield District of the DewsburyUnion.

STATHERS, G. NICHOLSON, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.Ed., has been appointedMedical Officer and Public Vaccinator to the Tenth and EleventhDistricts of the Wycombe Union, vice Henry Hayman, F.R.C.S.Eng.,resigned.

TREVES, FREDERICK, F.R.C.S.Eng., has been appointed Lecturer onAnatomy at the London Hospital, vice Mr. Walter Rivington,appointed Lecturer on Sargery.

VIOLETTE, WILLIAM BRADLEY, M.B., C.M.Glas., has been appointedResident Medical Superintendent of the Little Bay Coast Hospital,Sydney.

WIGAN, GEORGE, M.R C.S., has been appointed Government MedicalOfficer for the District of Armidale, New South Wales. AlsoVisiting Surgeon to the Armidale Gaol.

Births, Marriages, and Deaths.BIRTHS.

DALGAIRNS. - On the 18th ult., at Kamptee, India, the wife ofSurgeon-Major Alfred E. Dalgairns, 7th Regiment M.N.I., of adaughter, stillborn.

LAST-SMITH.—On the 22nd inst., at Mayfield, Torquay, the wife ofEdward Last-Smith, L.R.C.P.E., L.R.C.S.E., of a son.

PAULLEY.—On the 21st inst., at Pulham Market, Norfolk, the wife ofLegge Paulley, L.R.C.P.E., M.R.C.S., of a son.

WOODRUFF.-On the 21st inst., at Parade House, East Cowes, IslA ofWight, the wife of J. Winthrop Woodruff, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.Ed.,of a daughter. -

MARRIAGES.ATKINSON - CLARK. - On the 20th inst., at the Parish Church of

Fangfoss, George Fernley Atkinson, L.R.C.P., of Snaith, to MarySophia, eldest daughter of Edward E. Clark, Esq., of Far House,Cowick, Selby.

BOND-PRIESTLEY.-On the 8th inst., at St. Paul’s Church, Clifton, bythe Rev. M. B. Saunders, assisted by the Rev. Canon Mather,J. W. Bond, M.D, of New-cross, to Ella, daughter of the lateColonel Edward Ramsden Priestley, of ttie 42nd Royal Highlanders(the Black Watch).

HAMILTON — CUNINGHAME. — On the 22nd inst., at St. Ann’s, Dublin,James C. Hamilton, M.B , eldest son of the late Rev. CharlesHamilton, of Gorey, co. Wexford, to Beatrice E., youngest daughterof the late Colonel Gun Cuninghame, D.L., of Mount Kennedys, co.Wicklow, Ireland. -

DEATHS.BROWN.—On the 21st inst., at Brixton-road, after two days’ illness,

Robert Gibson Brown, M.R.C.S., L.S.A.Lond., aged 52.DUCKWORTH. — On the 20th inst., at 11, Grafton-street, Piccadilly,

Elizabeth Dyce, only daughter of Dyce D’jckworth, M.D., aged12 years and 6 months.

HICKMAN. -On the 19th ult, suddenly, at Jhansi, Central India(Rifle Brigade), the result of an accident at polo, Arthur Hickman,M.D., L.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.. Surgeon, Army Medical Department,second son of the late W. V. F. Hickman, M.A., of Athenry House,co. Galway, and Dublin, aged 30.

NICHOMON.—On the 21st inst., at Grove-road, St. John’s-wood, JohnNicholson, M.D., formerly of Lincoln, in his 70th year.

TEEVAN. - On the 22nd inst., at North End House, Croydon, JohnTeevan, M.R.C.S , of Woodside Court, near Croydon, in his 83rdyear.

THOMSON.—On the 21st inst., at Palace gardens-terrace, London, AllenThomson, M.D.. D.C.L., LL.D., F.RS., formerly Professor ofAnatomy in the University of Glasgow, aged 75.

N.B.-,4 fee of 5s. is charged for the Insertion of Notices of Births,Marriages, and Deaths.

Medical Diarry for the ensuing Week.Monday, March 31.

ROYAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL. MOORHELDS.—Operations,10 A.M. each day, and at the same hour.

ROYAL WESTMINSTER OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1P.M. eachday, and at the same hour.

METROPOLITAN FREE HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.ROYAL ORTHOPÆDIC HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.MST. MARK’S HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M.; on Tuesday, 9 A.MHOSPITAL FOR WOMEN, SOHO-SQUARE.-Operations, 2 P.M., and on

Thursday at the same hour.MEDICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.-8.30 P.M. Dr. Norman Chevers, "On

Febris Exanthematica Orientahs," otherwise Beriberi Fever."

Tuesday, April 1.

GuY’s HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M., and on Friday at the f4ame hour.Ophthalmic Operations on Mondays at 1.30 P.M., and Thursdays at2 P.M.

WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M.WEST LONDON HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2.30 P.M.ROYAL INSTITUTION.-3 P.M. Professor Gamgee, "On Animal Heat."PATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.-8 30F.M. The following specimens

will be shown :-Spine from a Case of Spastic Contraction ofSterno-Mastoid (card); Juvenile Osteo-Malacia; Bone Diseasein Animals; Ulceration of Small Intestine and Disease of Skull,probably Syphilitic; Acne Keloid ; True Cystic Disease of Liver,with Yellow Fever and Tuberculosis; Three Cases of MalignantDisease of the Bronchial Glands ; Obstruction of One CoronaryArtery (card); Cirrhosis of Liver, free Coagula in Pulmonary Vein(card); Extreme Obstruction of Coronary Artery (card); Chondro-Epitrochlearis Muscle on both sides (living specimen).

Wednesday, April 2.

NATIONAL ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL.-Operations, 10 A.M.MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HospiTAL.—Operations, 1 P.M., and on Saturday

at the same hour.-Ophthalmic Operations on Tuesdays and Thura-days, at 1.30 P.M.

ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 p.M.—SMn Department9.30 A.M., on Tuesdays and Fridays.

ST. THOMAS’S HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1 P.M., and on Saturday at thesame hour.

LONDON HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M., and cn Thursday and Saturdayat the same hour.

GREAT NORTHERN HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M.SAMARITAN FREE HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.—Operations,

2 P.M.UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M., and on Saturday

at the same hour.-Skin Department: 1.45 P.M., and on Saturday at9.15 A M.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF LONDON.-5 P.M. Lumleian Lecture ?Dr. James Andrew, "Etiology of Phthisis."

OBSTETRICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.-8 P.M. Specimens will be shownby Dr. Godson and others.—Mr. Atban Doran, " On the Relation ofProlapse of the Vagina to Hernia, illustrated by two Pedigrees."-Dr. Kilner, " Upon the benefits derived from the Induced Currentduring Parturition."-Dr. Arthur Mitchell, "On Strong MentalEmotion affecting Pregnant Women as a cause of Idiocy in theOffspring."

Thursday, April 3.ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.MST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL.-1 P.M. Surgical Consultations.CHARING-CROSS HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.CENTRAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL.-Operations, 2 P.M., and on

Friday at the same hour.NORTH-WEST LONDON HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2; P.M.ROYAL INSTITUTION.-3 P.M. Professor Tyndall, "On the Older Elec.

tricity.’HARVEIAN SOCIETY.-8.30 P.M. Mr. H. Cripps Lawrence will open 9,

Discussion on Scarlet Fever-(1) Etiology, (2) Surgical, (3) Puerperat,(4) Differential Diagnosis.

Friday, April 4.

ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL.—Ophthalmic Operations, 1 P.M.ST. THOMAS’S HOSPITAL.—Ophthalmic Operations, 2 P.M.ROYAL SOUTH LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.KING’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL.-Operations. 2 P.M.ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF LONDON.-5 P.M. Lumleian Lecture:

Dr. James Andrew, "EMotogy of Phthisis." ’

ROYAL INSTITUTION.-8 P.M. Professor T. G. Bonney, "The Buildingof the Alps."

Saturday, April 5.

KING’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.ROYAL FREE HOSPlTAL.—Operations. 2 P.M.ROYAL INSTITUTION.—3 P.M. Captain Abney, "On Photographic

Action."

598

METEOROLOGICAL READINGS.

(Taken daily at 8.30 a.m. by Steward’s Instruments.)

THE LANCET OFFICE, March 27th, 1884.

Notes, Short Comments, and Answers toCorrespondents.

It is especially requested that early intelligence of local eventshaving a medical interest, or which it is desirable to bringunder the notice of the projession, may be sent direct to thisOffice.

All communications relating to the editorial business of the ,

journal must be addressed" To the Editor." ,

Lectures, original articles, and reports should be written onone side only of the paper.

Letters, whether intended for publication or private informa.tion, must be authenticated by the names and addresses oftheir writers, not necessarily for publication.

We cannot prescribe, or recommend practitioners.Local papers containing reports or news-paragraphs should

be marked.Letters relating to the _publication, sale, and advertisingdepartments of THE LANCET to be addressed "To thePublisher. "

A WARM QUARTER.ACCORDING to tables published by the Government meteorologist atSydney, New South Wales, the temperature taken in the town ofBourke, some 500 miles irom Sydney, showed an average at the hottestperiod of the day for the first fifteen days of the present year of110 6° F. The lowest figure for any of the days was 103 5° F., and thehighest 122° F., which was reached two days in succession.

A Parent.-We should be glad if our correspondent would obtain andforward to us the report referred to and an analysis of the watersupplied to the institution.

"ENLARGEMENT OF THE MAMMARY GLANDS ININFANTS."

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—I have noticed in the last two numbers of THE LANCET some corre-spondence about enlargement of the breasts in newly-born infants, withsnggestions for its treatment. Will you allow me to say that I havearrived at the firm conviction, after having been frequently annoyed bythe occurrence of such enlargement and its often running on to abscess,that in every, or almost every, case it is due to faulty dressing of thechild—viz., to some of its clothing being too tight and pressing uponand irritating the breasts. If your correspondents will not mind takingthe trouble personally to investigate this, as by passing their hand under-neath the clothing, I think they will find either that the usual bandageround the navel is too broad (a common fault), and has probably alsoslipped up, so that its upper edge irritates the breast, or that thereis some tight string round the child’s chest, a common and faultymode of fastening an infant’s clothing, as it is very apt to be accidentallydrawn too tight. When these sources of irritation are removed, allthat is necessary is a soft pad of cotton-wool over each breast to protectit from pressure or rough contact, when, if the inflammation has notalready proceeded to abscess, it will rapidly subside. Friction with oilor any other application is, in my experience, unnecessary, and oftenfinjarions, as it is friction or pressure by the dress which has given riseto the evil in the first instance.-I am, Sir, yours faithfully,North Shields, March 19th, 1884. ROBERT S. PEART, M.D.

SPORADIC CRETINISM.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-In your report this week(p. 526) of my case of Sporadic Cretinismwith appearance of Myxoedema, shown before the Medical Society ofLondon on March 17th, you state that the surface temperature was45" F. This is of course a misprint for 95° F.

I am, Sir, yours very obediently,AMAND ROUTH, M.D., B.S.

Upper Montagu-street, W., March 21st, 1884.

ENGAGEMENTS Of MONTHLY NURSES.

Messrs. Greenfield & Abbott, of Queen Victoria-street, ask for referenceto the record of a case in which a monthly nurse, unable to continueattendance during the whole period for which she was engaged, hasbeen refused payment for her services till called to another engage.ment, the probability of her being thus summoned having beenmentioned by her, and tacitly acquiesced in by the lady employing her.In the case referred to by our correspondents the nurse was tele.

graphed for eighteen days after the confinement of the lady, who wasthen convalescent. Payment for services rendered during this timewas refused, and the matter being taken to the county court, thejudge maintained the justice of this refusal, and non-suited the nursewith costs.

A Constant Subscriber.-We believe it is customary for life offices to

require all necessary evidence to be furnished by claimants at theirown cost.

MEDICAL REGISTRATION OF DEATHS ON THE SEAS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—The Social Science Association advocates medical registration ofdeaths at sea and coroners’ inquiries as a mode of diminishing mortalityat sea. The Parliamentary " return relative to the deaths of seamen inthe British merchant service, reported during the year 1882," owes itsorigin to the administration by the Board of Trade of deceased seamen’swages and effects. It pretends, however, to tabulate the thirty-ninediseases from which they died, as diagnosed by the captains, aided bythe eighteen mercantile marine superintendents (usualy sailors), or bythe 116 collectors of customs. These excellent men report that therewere 1011 deaths of seamen from disease or natural causes out of a totalof 4659 deaths on the seas and abroad, and that 2131 were drowned byshipwreck, 1036 otherwise than by wreck, and 286 killed by other acci.dents, making 3453 so-called accidental cases. Except the privateinquiries of the persons above named, duly reported to the Board ofTrade, there were special inquiries only in fifteen cases, resulting in oneoffender being cautioned by the Board of Trade. But in no one of these3453 cases of death by so-called accident was any coroner, magistrate, orother officer of the law invoked.The causes of death are, in short, little more than guessed at, and in

151 cases are said to be "unknown." Moreover, the return does notinclude the deaths of captains nor those of seamen dying after they arelanded in the United Kingdon; it includes some deaths in colonialships. No rate of mortality can be deduced from this return, for if wededuct 3167 drowned, a death to which landsmen are not liable, thedeath-rate for comparison with landsmen would be only 5’9 per 1000 or4’2 per 1000, according as we exclude or include colonial crews in theratio; whereas between the ages of fifteen and sixty-five the ratio onshore is about 14 ’3 per 1000. It is plain, then, that the various statementsas to the death-rate in the mercantile marine, based on this return, areutterly fallacious.The freedom from all law as to life naturally begets fatal impunity, so

that more than three-fourths of the recorded deaths are by violence.The Social Science Association thinks this impunity is the root of theevil, and it suggests that sailors should share with landsmen the protection of the ordinary laws of the realm, so far as life is concerned. TheSocial Science Association recommends :-

"(a) That it is advisable to secure medical registration andiegatinquiry by the coroner in the case of deaths on the high seas inregistered British ships, with a view to diminish mortality in thBritish mercantile marine.

"(b) That in case of all deaths during the voyage, the causes andtreatment should be inquired into by a medical officer appointed toattend the shipping office when the crew is being paid off, and that beforwarded without delay to the Registrar-General, a medical certificateof the cause of death, the same as would have been required had thedeath occurred on land.

" (c) In case of suspicious, accidental, or violent death, that themedical officer or Registrar-General of England should invoke the aidof the coroner of the district as if it had taken place on land, and thebody were lying in the district in which the ship is paid off, althoughthe body shall not be forthcoming."(d) In case the coroner’s jury inculpates any person in connexion

with the death, that the local police, acting under the direction of theAttorney-General or Solicitor of the Treasury, shall take charge of theprosecution.

"(e) The expenses of the medical registration of deaths at sea mightbe defrayed out of the unclaimed wages of deceased seamen."Space prevents more. but to those who would study the matter

further, I commend Colburn’s Magazine for July and August, 1883,where it is more fully developed.-1 am, Sir, yours, &c.,March 17th, 1884. A COMMANDER, R.N.

A Young Practitioner has not enclosed his card.Tyro.-The error has been corrected.

"TREATMENT OF ERYSIPELAS BY WHITE LEAD."To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,—Will Mr. Day kindly state the proportions of the compoundused by him in the case mentioned in THE LANCET of March 8th?

I am, Sir, yours, &c.,March 22nd, 1884. HOLLINS CROSS.