1114

leaders in our profession, and was told that the mattershould not be concealed. I had every sympathy for Mr. D.Harrisson, and thought I would fully serve the interestsof justice by communicating with the prosecution instead ofthe defence. This I did, the result being that the factswere laid before the judge in private, and he ordered themto be made known in the interests of the prisoner. Howhis lordship felt in the matter was sufficiently shown by hiscurt arrest of my evidence-a curtness for which he veryproperly immediately apologised-as well as by the wordshe addressed to the prisoner, who was, however, not sent tothe gallows. These are the facts, and from them I mayask :-

1. Would such an operation be undertaken in privatepractice without a consultation, and why was not theusual consultation of the honorary surgeons held in thiscase?

2. Inasmuch as the operation failed to find the two thingsfor which it was undertaken-viz., fracture and pus,-andas the post-mortem examination showed only the existenceof inflammation of the membranes, from which one has,according to our authorities, a reasonable chance of re-

covery without operative interference, and as such chanced recovery was utterly done away with by the accident inthe operation, should not the prisoner have that fact for hisdefence?

3. One advice given to me was to say nothing about it,and let the man hang if he were so sentenced. Anotherwas to hold my tongue for the sake of the hospital’s credit,and if the man was to be hanged, to then lay the matterbefore the judge. The third course was that I took, and Iam sure that all in my profession or out of it will allow thatI acted in the fairest and wisest way.With regard to the hard-and-fast line laid down by the

judge I have nothing to say, but I fully agree with asentence contained in to-day’s Daily News apropos of thematter-" It may be very good law, but it is not common:sense." I am, Sirs, yours truly,may 25th, 1889. JOHN S. CLARKE, M.R.C.S., &c.

BIRMINGHAM.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Hospital Saturday Collection. ’

FRESH sums have been coiiiin- in daily to augment theamount previously noted, the total exceeding the sanguineexpectations of the many active workers engaged. Theactual amount received is 8425 8s. 2d., being 91020 lOs. 7d. :in excess of the amount received at the corresponding- date last year. The energy displayed during the presentoccasion has been most laudable and praiseworthy. The’’whole question, however, opens a vast field for reflectionand consideration, and points to the expediency of somefuture changes of a radical kind in connexion with the.administration of medical relief at our hospitals andcharities. The proportion of people seeking the aid ofmedical charity is steadily on the increase, and, apart fromflagrant instances of exceptional abuse, there exists a greatnumber of applicants who would do well to learn the truenature of thrift and the value of provident habits. Theeconomic aspects of this huge problem are intricate, and atpresent not easy of solution. The time, however, is surelycoming when some great alteration will be effected in thewhole system of hospital and charitable medical relief.

Midland Medical Society.The Council of this Society were entertained at a dinner

given by the President, Mr. Ker of Halesowen, on 28th May,at the Great Western Hotel. A pleasant evening wasspent, and thanks were awarded to the President for theopportunity of meeting in friendly union, and also for theable manner in which he had performed the duties of hiseffice during the past session.

The Corporation and Artisans’ Dwellings.At the last meeting of the Improvement Committee a

report of an important character was drawn up, in whichthe City Council are recommended to build some specimendwellings for artisans in Lawrence-street. The site pro-posed consists of 2100 square yards, upon which area theplans provide for the erection of twenty-two houses. Each

house will possess two storeys (not upon the flat system)with a living room, a scullery, and a pantry upon the groundfloor, and three bedrooms above. Washhouse accommoda-tion will be provided for the tenants generally as arranged.and there will be a watercloset to every two dwellings. Thecost of production is estimated at 4000. The scheme iswell worked out, and, if carried to the conclusions setdown, will supply an important want of a huge population,and probably lead to more extended operations in thefuture.

Faitlt-healing Amenities.The craze in this direction is still continuing its experi-

ments at Oldbury, and at times is attended with disorderlyscenes and excitement. The conductor of the services statesthat he is inspired to go at the end of the week. It is to behoped that the impression is a sound one, and that he willbe long’ in returning to disturb the peace of the neigh-bourhood by these undesirable exhibitions.Birmingham, May 2!)th.

SCOTLAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

EDINBURGH.

The Diseased Meat Question in Edinburgh.EACH month, as sometimes noted in these columns, there

is a statement of the number of pounds of diseased meatconfiscated by the inspecting authorities in Edinburgh. Inconsequence, there has been a good deal of Pharisaicalcongratulation that we are not as other people, especiallythose of Glasgow ; and there can be little doubt, from whatihas recently transpired, that Glasgow is behind us in thismatter. It is not, however, that we are better, but thatGlasgow is worse. It is all very well to have activemedical officers of health and energetic members of thePublic Health Committee, but these gentlemen cannotundertake the actual inspection of carcases. There are, nodoubt, veterinary experts told off to act as inspectors ofcattle suffering from diseases that come under the Con-tagious Diseases (Animals) Act; but beyond this the staff isquite inadequate to perform the onerous duties that shoulddevolve upon it, as it is certain that it does not includemore than one qualified veterinarian amongst the inspectorsof both abattoirs and markets. The powers of inspectorsare exceedingly limited in one direction, whilst in othersno definite instructions are provided for their guidance.Now that the Local Government Bill is under discussion,surely some provision should be made for a more thoroughinspection of the meat and milk supplies of our large cities.

The 2nd Division of the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps.No less than four different accounts of the Highland

campaign of the 2nd Division of the Volunteer MedicalStaff Corps have appeared in the various newspapers.Surgeons Cathcart, Hepburn, and Woodhead, and forty-nine members of the company, spent three days campingout, each day at a different place, in the beautiful countryaround Loch Katrine. They left Edinburgh on Wednesdayafternoon, taking with them their ambulance waggon, andproceeded as far as Callander, where they spent the night.Next night was spent at the foot of Loch Katrine; the nextat Stronachlachar, at the head of the same loch; and onSaturday the company marched to Aberfoil, and thencetook train to Edinburgh. All kinds of field and camp workwere practised, and from the enthusiastic way in whichthose who joined the camp speak there was also plenty ofenjoyment. It was certainly a capital way to utilise aholiday (the Queen’s birthday); and the esprit de corps willbe strengthened by such an expedition, more than byany number of ordinary drills. Since its formation the2nd Division of the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps has madefor itself a capital reputation both for energy and thorough-ness, a reputation it seems likely to retain.

The Levees at Holyrood.On Thursday, the Lord High Commissioner, Lord

Hopetoun, holds what may be called the non-theologicalprofessional levee at Holyrood, at which he, as Her Majesty’srepresentative at the General Assembly of the Church ofScotland, receives the members of the College of Justice,of the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, of the SenatusAcademicus of the University of Edinburgh, and of the

1115

Faculty of Advocates. It is affirmed that it is a somewhatinteresting sight to see certain distinguished members of ourprofession arrayed in all the glory of Court dress, withsword and buckles complete, making their way through thereception-room. This I can say, that anyone I have seenso arrayed has looked at least as well as his garments, andno one at present appears in the dress who is not worthy towear it.

The Royal Infirmary.There seems to be considerable vagueness in the ideas

extant as to the number of patients who can be accommo-dated in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. During a dis-cussion last week, it was hazarded by one individual that itwould contain as many beds as the Allgemeines Krankenhausin Vienna. It may be gathered from the weekly report ofthe managers of the infirmary that the real number of bedsis somewhere near 700. During the past week 813 patientswere treated in the wards, of whom 631 remained undertreatment. The attendance in the several out-patientdepartments numbered over 1400.Edinburgh, May 28th. -

ABERDEEN.

Aberdeen University Court.AT the last two meetings of the University Court, the

time was chiefly, if not wholly, occupied with appealsbrought up by Professor Struthers against decisions of theSenatus. Some time ago Dr. Struthers, as the representa-tive of the Senatus, appeared at the University Court tobring before the members the proposed scheme for theextension of iviarischal College, and, in explaining anddiscussing the plans, he made remarks which were under-stood to imply that materia medica, compared with such asubject, for instance, as pathology, was not of much im-portance. For these remarks the Senatus, at a subsequentmeeting, passed a vote of censure upon their representative.Against this Dr. Struthers appealed to the Court, and, insupporting his appeal, first of all submitted that theaction of the Senatus was irregular, because notice ofmotion had not been given. A motion to this effect,and sustaining the appeal, was met by one to theeffect "that, before disposing of the appeal on itsmerits, the Court find, on point of form, that there was noirregularity committed by the Senatus." Two membersvoted for each, and it was therefore resolved to com-

municate on the subject with Mr. Goschen, the LordRector. When the matter came up at a second meeting,no reply had been received from Mr. Goschen, and thePrincipal gave his casting vote in favour of the secondmotion. The appeal was then taken up, and ProfessorMilligan made a motion to the effect that, while theSenatus was fully entitled to pass an opinion on the mannerin which its delegate to the Court discharged his duty, thesentence appealed against proceeded on a misapprehensionof the remarks, and that therefore the Court should remitthe matter back to the Senatus in the hope that it mightsee it right to withdraw the judgment appealed against.Principal Geddes moved that "in regard to the merits ofthe question submitted, the Court does not consider itselfcalled on to express an opinion." The opinion of the Courtwas again equally divided, two voting for each motion ; nofinding was therefore come to, and the matter will againcome before the Court in June.-The Court had also beforeit an appeal by Professor Struthers against a decision of theSenatus approving of a report by the Medical Facultyregarding certain proposed changes in the professionalexaminations. The principal changes proposed are thesubstitution of one examination in Anatomy for the twcat present in force, the removal of Surgery from the secondto the final professional examination, and of PathologicalAnatomy from the.final to the second. It was unanimouslyagreed to dismiss the appeal.

Institution of Science Degrees.The Senatus of the Aberdeen University have resolvec

to institute the degrees of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) amDoctor of Science (D.Sc.), in accordance with the scheme oconditions and regulations agreed upon and reported to theUniversity Court on Feb. 23rd. This scheme gives in detail(1) The subjects included in the preliminary examination(2) The course of study. Attendance on qualifying classemust extend over three academic years, one of which musbe passed at the University of Aberdeen. (3) The subject

B for the degree of Bachelor of Science. For this degree ther

are to be two examinations, conducted by written questions.as well as orally and practically. The fee for the degree isJE5 5s. (4) The conditions upon which the degree of D.Sc.is to be granted. The fee for this degree is also ;f5 5s.

Health of the City.Dr. Matthew Hay, medical officer of health for the city,

has issued a long and interesting report on the state of thepublic health during the first three months of the present-year. This period, he says, shows a more healthy record,than the same quarter of any year during the previousdecade. The death-rate was lower by fully 4 per 1000, andrepresents the large saving of about 125 lives during thequarter. The death-rate from phthisis shows a remarkablysteady fall since 1879, and indicates "that general hygienicmeasures are gradually but surely diminishing the ravages ofthe most voracious of all diseases." The death-rate amongchildren under five years of age reached a much lower pointthan it had reached during the same quarter in any previousyear; there was a saving of life among children of this age to.to the extent of 85 individuals, as compared with theaverage, and this in spite of an epidemic of measles. Theepidemic of measles broke out in December, during whichmonth 20 cases were reported, and it steadily gained ground,so that for April 406 cases were reported. The proportion ofdeaths from measles has been low, but there are signs of its.becoming higher. One case ofsmall-pox was reported duringthe quarter. It was found that the patient caught infectionfrom a sister who works among raw flax and jute at one ofthe mills. This sister was ill about four weeks before, andhad a slight eruption on her face, but was away from workonly three days. The flax and jute were chiefly importedfrom Russia. A part of the report is specially devoted tothe City (epidemic) Hospital. Dr. Hay says: ° As there still,exists in the minds of some of the citizens a prejudice againstthe hospital, it may interest them to compare the proportionof deaths among patients admitted with the proportion ofdeaths among patients treated at home." He selects scarletfever and measles as the two diseases most suitable forsuch a comparison, and the nguies cover the first quarterof each of the four years 1886-89. There were 2969 cases ofmeasles treated at home, and the deaths were 5’9 per cent.;94 were treated in hospital, and the deaths were 2’1 percent.; 226 cases of scarlet fever were treated at home, andthe death-rate was 3’1 per cent.; 216 were treated in thehospital, and the death-rate was 2 3 per cent.Aberdeen, May 28th.

IRELAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

DUBLIN.

State Honours.Sm GEORGE H. PORTER, M.D., D.L., Surgeon in Ordinary

to Her Majesty in Ireland, has received the honour of abaronetcy. Sir George Porter is esteemed for the high pro-fessional position he occupies and for his many good qualities.He was eminently marked out for a distinction of the kind,but it is a matter of regret that the slight thrown on the pro-fession in this country last year, when Jubilee honours weredistributed broadcast in both the sister countries, has onlybeen reraired in a half-hearted manner. The profession ex-pected un that occasion that Dr. Banks would have receivedan honour similar to that now conferred upon Sir GeorgePorter, and the non-bestowal of the distinction to theeminent physician in question does not reflect much creditfor tact upon the leaders of Her Majesty’s Government. Imust, however, add it is stated that Dr. Banks has beenoffered, and has accepted, a K.C.B.

Royal College of Surgeons ’Ï’n Ireland.Great interest is felt in the result of the election to the

Council, which will take place on Monday next, June 3rdFor the nineteen places on the Council there are twenty-nine candidates, an unusually large number, all of whom,with two exceptions, are resident in Dublin. Fellowsmay talk about wishing to have the provincial Fellowsrepresented, but with the exception of Mr. Chaplin, oKildare, who resigned last year, there has not been fora very considerable time a provincial Fellow on theCouncil of the College of Surgeons. The contest will be anexciting one, and although the proposed scheme of amalga.-