401

Africa. This Bill may drive into pauperisation and misery many thousands of natives, yet it will probably be passed.

White Nurses for Natives.At a meeting of the board of the Kimberley Hospital the

other day the Mayor of Beaconsfield moved a resolution pro-testing against the employment of European female nursesin wards where male natives are under treatment. Dr.J. E. Mackenzie offered a spirited opposition to the pro-posal, and made it clear that there was no proof whateverthat what is called " the Black Peril " is affected in any wayby the professional contact of white nurses with colouredmen. He showed, indeed, that the record of this class of Icrime is all against the idea. The proposal did not find a seconder, and the discussion, owing to Dr. Mackenzie’sattitude, quickly fizzled out. Unfortunately, the lay press seems inclined to take the matter up.

Rabies in Rhodesia.At the present time there is occurring what threatens to be

one of the most serious outbreaks of rabies in Rhodesia whichthe Government of that country has had to face. Since theepidemic some years ago, when the whole country was practi-cally swept by the disease, a few cases have appeared hereand there, but confined for the most part to the Victoriadistrict. Now, however, the disease appears to be spreadingthroughout the adjoining districts. Quite a considerablenumber of persons have had to be sent to the Governmentbacteriologist at Salisbury to undergo inoculation after beingbitten by dogs which have been proved, or are believed, tohave been rabid. The Government Veterinary Departmentnow adopts the plan, upon an outbreak of rabies, of com-pelling owners of dogs in an infected district to tie theiranimals up, and the police and private citizens are empoweredto shoot on sight any dog found at large. Despite this step,however, the disease appears to be spreading, and if it is to I,be stamped out more stringent steps will have to be taken. !

Whaling on the South African Coast.During the past two years it has apparently been realised

that there is a rich living to be made in connexion withwhaling operations on the coast of South Africa, for a numberof whaling stations have been established, and numerousapplications for fresh sites on which to establish new stationshave been made to the Government. Unfortunately, the

existing stations have been under no sort of supervision, andmost of the structures that have been erected are woodenones. The process apparently consists in boiling down bysteam the whale blubber, bones, and meat. The stationshave become saturated with oil and grease and emit a stenchthat is apparent for miles around. As a result local autho-rities have opposed most of the recent applications for sitesand industrial enterprise is driven away. If it were recog-nised that a factory, built of reinforced concrete and with amodern automatic plant, could be worked even in the warmclimate of South Africa without becoming a nuisance, it isprobable that those who are responsible for the antiwhalingmovement along the coast would change their attitude andwelcome the establishment of the same. It is understoodthat a modern factory is to be established at Luderitzbucht,in German South-West Africa, and perhaps this will providethe necessary object-lesson.

Death of Mr. B. C. Keilly-Flynn.Mr. H. C. Keilly-Flynn passed away in Pretoria a few days

ago after a short illness. He was generally believed to bea medical man, but as a matter of fact was unqualified,though he had studied medicine in Dublin in 1838. He

appears to have been originally appointed surgeon, in thefree and easy method prevalent at the time, to the17th Lancers, and came out to South Africa in that capacity,and on the return of his regiment he relinquished his com-mission and remained in the country. In 1877 he was inpractice in Rustenburg, and hoisted the first Union Jackwhich proclaimed the annexation of the Transvaal in 1877.In 1881 Mr. Flynn brought this flag into Pretoria, and onAugust 2nd buried it in the presence of the garrison after acoroner’s verdict had been returned of " Death due to awrong diagnosis of Boer character and general bungling ofone man at home." A wooden tablet with an inscriptionending with the word "Resurgam" " was placed over thegrave. When the British troops entered Pretoria on

Sept. 25th, 1900, the deceased was elected by the Englishinhabitants to present an address to Lord Roberts, and

the flag was dug up and presented to the colonel of the21st Lancers. Deceased had at one time many patients,but he was better known for his literary attainments.He was a patriot in the true sense of the term, and sufferedfor his patriotism. The news of his death has been receivedwith genuine regret by a host of friends and by many erst-while enemies, who have come to realise the sterling worthof his somewhat rugged character.

A Sanatorium for Miners’ Phthisis.The sanatorium for miners suffering from miners’ phthisis,

which has been erected at a cost of .E52,OOO at Modder-fontein, was opened recently by the Administrator of theTransvaal. The sanatorium is a two-storeyed building, builtin the shape of a crescent, facing north. There are four six-bedded wards on each floor and a number of smaller wards.The buildings are admirably suited for the purpose for whichthey are intended to be used, but it should have been possiblefor more accommodation to be provided for the money. Themedical superintendent is Dr. J. C. Mitchell, late Govern-ment bacteriologist and pathologist of the Transvaal.

South African Medical Congress, 1912.The preliminary arrangements have been completed for the

next South African Medical Congress, which is to be held inJohannesburg during Easter week next. An entertainmentcommittee is busily engaged in arranging a programme ofentertainments, but it is sincerely to be hoped that festivitieswill not be permitted, as is so often the case at these gather-ings, to interfere with the real business of the Congress.Dec. 27th, 1911.

________________

NOTES FROM INDIA.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Sanitary Administration in Bengal.FROM the report of the Sanitary Commissioner for the

Province of Bengal we learn that in 1910 the birth-rate was39-72 per 1000, an increase of I - 93 over the rate for theprevious year, due to an improvement in the health of thepopulation and a greater abundance of food-supply. Thedeath-rate, however, was also higher, 33 10 compared with30 - 55 per 1000, owing to the prevalence of cholera andplague. These ratios are based on the figures of the 1901Census-viz., 50,521,604. According to the 1911 Census thepopulation amounted to 52,457,011, but the figures are notyet available for statistical calculations.Among the populations of India there is a natural

increase in their numbers with favouring conditions ofthe food-supply and of health, which under the peacefulGovernment of the British raj would soon producea state of overcrowding were it not for occasionalepidemic visitations. Bengal, however, has by no meansthe most prolific population, as in the Central Pro-vinces the birth-rate was as high as 55’ 42 per 1000,the highest recorded during the last 30 years, and the resultof a healthy and prosperous season in 1909. In the UnitedKingdom the years are nowadays always healthy andprosperous in regard to essentials, yet the birth-rate hasfallen to 25 per 1000 in 1910. The statistical figures indicatethe point of view of the people ; the poorest Bengali considersit a disgrace not to have a family, and has no anxiety as to itsmaintenance after the period of childhood, a matter whichhe entrusts to Providence and the Government.

The higher mortality in Bengal during 1910 was dueto the prevalence of fever, cholera, and plague in somedistricts. The town of Jamalpur had a death-rate of62-82 per 1000, 41 per 1000 being due to these threediseases. Monghyr lost 60’53 per 1000, the deathsfrom plague amounting to the very high proportion of28’ 51. Throughout the province generally the agriculturalout-turn was satisfactory, food was cheap, and a furtherrise in the birth-rate may be expected. Cholera pre-vailed throughout the province in 1910, especially in Bihar,the death-rate from this cause being 3-21 for Bengal asa whole, and 9’15 for the district of Shahabad. Patna and

Muzaffarpur suffered nearly as badly ; deficiency of properwater-supply and fouling of surface wells are the principalcauses. Treatment of the wells with permanganate ofpotash is getting to be adopted and appreciated. The death-rate from small-pox showed a great decrease, the mortality

402

’being only 0’14 per 1000, compared with 0-52 for the pure- Iceding five-year average. There was, unfortunately, anincrease in plague, which caused 46,584 deaths, or a mortalityof 0 - 92 per 1000, compared with 0’23 in the previous year.This increase was chiefly due to a limited prevalence in theTirhut and Patna divisions, the rest of the province sufferingbut slightly. Evacuation is stated to have been the most

popular means of prevention, disinfection and rat destruc-tion being also carried out. The heading of fevers accountsfor more deaths than all other causes put together-namely, 20 - 42 out of a total mortality of 33 10 ; thiswas, however, the lowest ratio for many years past, and wellbelow the quinquennial mean of 22.’79. A special malarialcommittee has been constituted to deal with the problemsconnected with fever prevalence in the province, and a

medical officer and assistant surgeon have been selected tomake a particular study of the subject.

, Sanitary works in the way of improved water-supplies anddrainage schemes are being carried out as funds permit. Itis very satisfactory to learn that septic tank installationshave proved a success ; it is stated that these sanitaryappliances are extremely efficient and, speaking generally,very well looked after. This excellent result is, no doubt,largely due to the good work that has been done in thisbranch of sanitary science by Major W. W. Clemesha, I. M.S.,the Sanitary Commissioner, who has made it his especialstudy, and who is to be congratulated on the issue of this, his’6rst, annual report..

Plague in India.The plague statistics for the whole of British India for the

week ending Dec. 23rd last show 8643 seizures, resulting in7189 deaths. The provincial figures were : Bombay, 1886 deaths ;Madras, 261 ; Bengal, 329 ; the United Provinces, 1934 ; thePunjab, 37 ; Barma, 41 ; and the Central Provinces, 830. Therewere 317 fatal cases in Mysore, 1504 in Hyderabad, and 44in Rajputana. No cases of plague occurred in Eastern

Bengal, Assam, or the North-Western Frontier Province.for the week ending Dec. 30th there were 9932 seizures and7903 deaths from plague in all India, of which Bombayreturned 1816 deaths ; Madras, 302 ; Bengal, 947 ; the UnitedProvinces, 1798; the Pllnjab, 141; Burma, 31 ; the CentralProvinces, 822 ; Central India, 312 ; Mysore, 299 ; Hyderabad,1378 ; and Rajputana, 50. No cases occurred in Eastern

Bengal, Assam, the North-Western Frontier Province, or

Baluchistan.

St. Tohn Ambulance Association at the Ditrbar.His Majesty the King Emperor has been pleased to bestow

his Coronation Durbar medal on Major R. J. Blackham,R.A.M.C., in recognition of special services at the Corona-tion Durbar at Delhi. Major Blackham was commandant ofa Coronation Durbar Contingent of the St. John AmbulanceBrigade, consisting of nearly one hundred of all ranks, whichserved at Delhi throughout the Durbar period-i.e., nearly afortnight. The contingent was well equipped in everyrespect and had the following transport establishment-viz.,3 transport carts, 15 ambulance carts, 36 transport ponies,and 30 riding ponies, specially provided for the occasion byHis Highness the Maharaja of Jaipur. The St. John menwere officially recognised by the Durbar authorities and wereattached to the Civil Ambulances, under the command ofColonel C. J. Bamber, C.Y 0., I. M.S. They rendered valuableservices to many hundreds of cases and were fortunate enoughto be on the scene at the only two serious accidents whichoccurred in the immediate vicinity of Their Majesties. Thisis the first occasion on which voluntary ambulance workershave been officially employed in India.

Jan. 10th. __________________

AUSTRALIA.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Health of Queensland.THE annual report of the Government statistician for

Queensland states that the total population on Dec. 31st,1910, was 599,131. The general prosperity of the past fewyears was reflected in the marriage-rate, which was thehighest for 30 years. The recent State-aided immigrationprobably contributed to raise the rate. The birth-rate, 27’ 3,was satisfactory, and illegitimacy shows no increasing ratio,

although Queensland and New South Wales show higher ratesin this respect than the southern States. The infant mortalityfigure was the lowest on record. The deaths from phthisistotalled 308, and 75 per cent. of the victims had lived20 years or over in Queensland. The most common causeof death was organic heart disease, and tuberculosisranks fourth, the second place being occupied by cancer.The report shows clearly that the Queensland climate hasnothing about it to preclude the well-being of a whitepopulation, and its mineral and pastoral resources are un-bounded. Unquestionably it will be the treasure-house ofthe Australian continent when its millions of acres are

populated.Venereal Prophylaxis.

Practical measures for the limitation of spread of venerealdisease in Victoria are slow in taking shape, although somestir was recently made by the press and the medical profession.An advisory committee was nominated to assist the Govern-ment in introducing legislation, but so far nothing has beenforthcoming. It was recently announced that this com-mittee had secured lock wards at the Alfred and theWomen’s Hospitals, but this is now denied. The Minister forPublic Health recently stated that the Government were

anxious and willing to do anything in reason and that thematter must not be allowed to drop.’ 8tattJ Purchase of -7?adiitm.

The acting State Premier of Victoria recently askedthe President of the Victoria Branch of the BritishMedical Association to report upon the advisability ofa State purchase of radium, for use either at hos.

pitals or on loan. An expression of opinion was askedfrom the honorary staffs of the Melbourne, St. Vincent’s,Alfred, Women’s, Children’s, and Eye and Ear hospitals, andthey have, through representatives, signed a joint report. Inthis they point out that radium is still on trial, and thatso far as is known its curative power has not been establishedin any deep-seated disease. It is stated that certain super-ficial skin affections are curable by radium and that someforms of epithelioma have apparently been cured. Thereport advises against any large purchase of radium, but

suggests that comparatively small amounts (worth, say £ 1000)might be kept at one or more hospitals for special cases. The

report considers that the establishment of a radium bankfor loan of specimens would be a great mistake and open tograve abuses.

tYeather in Vieto’J’ia.

The present year in Melbourne is the wettest on record.The rainfall to date (Dec. 23rd) is 37 inches, which is nearlydouble the average. The total in 1908 over the same periodwas 17 8 inches. The highest figures are 40 inches recordedin 1840, but there is some question of their accuracy. No

particular detriment to the public health is so far observableas a result of the heavy rainfall.

Medical P’J’aotitione’J’s Bill.

The medical profession of Queensland are at variance withthe Government over some new legislation affecting the

! registration of medical men in that State. The Government’ insists on including provisions for registering herbalists andi hydropathists, and recognising opticians. The members ofLthe Queensland Medical Board have stated that if the Bill ispassed in its present form they will at once resign theirpositions. One very remarkable clause in the Bill is as

3follows:-

But no person shall be deemed to practise medicine or surgery whoattempts or endeavours to cure or heal the sick or to restore others tohealth by prayers, faith, or religious methods, or by mental treatment,provided that no drug, medicine, or instrument is thereby prescribedor used whether directly or indirectly or whether internally or

externally.Health Act.

The Queensland Government has introduced a Bill givingmuch wider powers to the Board of Public Health and pro-

viding for the registration of nurses by the State.Comlimentary Dinner.

v A complimentary dinner was tendered to Dr. F. Antille Pockley by a number of colleagues on Nov. 30th at the!i University Club, Sydney. The chair was taken by Sir Philip, Sydney Jones, and the occasion was to mark the appreciation, of the manner in which Dr. Pockley had directed the affairs