286

measures for lessening the nuisance. It does not seem at

present that anything will be done in the matter, as thEright of jurisdiction over the ponds appears to be a mostcomplicated question. We hope the vestry have communi.cated with the Metropolitan Board of Works, who we feelsure will not place any obstacles in the way of a satisfactorysolution of the difficulty. ____

SCARLATINA, although of late the most fatal disease of thezymotic class in the country, yet gives signs of diminishingin severity. During the past quarter the deaths were 691lower than in the preceding quarter. Measles, the next inorder, also shows a slight decline, but in some parts of thecountry it is now very fatal. Whooping-cough, diphtheria,and the different forms of fever also showed a decrease

during the quarter. The deaths from small-pox and diar-rhoea, on the contrary, were more numerous than in theearly part of the year. ____

A VALUABLE collection of statistics has lately been pub-lished relative to the trade and commerce of British Burmah,and some notes are also recorded as to its sanitary condition.From these it appears that the average mortality of theEuropean troops in 1872 was 12-68 per 1000. The death-rateis returned at 12’48 per 1000 of population, but that is mostprobably incorrect, as the return for large towns, where theregister is strictly kept, shows a mortality of 26 per 1000.

THE Pharmaceutical Society shows a laudable desire toprotect the interests of its members, and we commend itsprompt action in instances where the pharmacy laws are in-fringed to the notice of our medical corporations. The

Society last week summoned an unlicensed druggist for un-lawfully selling oxalic acid. When shall we hear of an un-

qualified practitioner being prosecuted by those whose dutyit is to do it ?

____

THE town of Accra, in the neighbourhood of Cape CoastCastle, is still suffering severely from small-pox. Nearly allthe European residents have been stricken with the disease,while there is an absence of medical men and hospitals.There are no attempts whatever made to improve thehygienic deficiencies of the town, which is, by all accounts,in a deplorably filthy state.

A YOUNG Japanese, Susum Sato by name, has obtained,after a highly creditable examination, the degree of M.D.Berlin. His graduation thesis, on the subject of InfantileDiarrhoea, is said to have been exceptionally good. The

rapidity and ease with which Mongolians devoted to studyacquire a knowledge of European languages is remarkable.

THOMAS HiNES, a member of the sect called the "Peculiar

People," who was indicted for having contributed to thedeath of his child by neglecting to provide it with medicalattendance, was this week acquitted at the Central CriminalCourt. The jury received a very clear direction from thejudge, Baron Pigott, and acted in accordance with it.

THE printed form of the regulations of the London Collegeof Physicians now contains a notice 11 that every candidatefor the College licence who shall commence his professionaletudy on or after the first day of October, 1874, will be re-quired to pass the professional examinations conducted bythe Conjoint Examining Board."

IT is a source of gratification to us, and we feel sure tothe profession at large, to learn that Dr. C. J. B. Williamshas been appointed Physician Extraordinary to Her

Majesty the Queen. The honour bestowed on Dr. Williamsis well merited.

LImNGSTONE, proposed as the subject of the Craven prizeat Cambridge, and made the theme of a highly ornate andpleasing poem by the Hon. Roden Noel, has also been pre-scribed by the French Academy as the subject for the fol-lowing year. ____

ON Tuesday last the Crown Prince and Princess ofPrussia visited the Royal National Hospital for Con.

sumption at Ventnor, and, after going over the building,planted two trees in commemoration of their visit.

ONE of the Monthyon prizes was awarded to M. andMadame Besnard, in consideration of their great humanityand skill in treating the wounded-often at much self-pri-vation-during the Franco-German war.

WITHIN the last few days Lemberg has lost her professorof anatomy at the local surgical school. Dr. Nagel diedafter a two months’ illness. He was an excellent operator,and enjoyed a high and widely-extended reputation.

A MARBLE statue of Her Majesty the Queen, from thestudio of Mr. Noble, was this week placed in St. Thomas’s

Hospital. The ceremony of uncovering the statue will takeplace in about a fortnight.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ALFRED JONES, of Wrexham, in aletter to the Standard, proves what has for a long time beendoubted-viz., that sewage farming may be made a profit-able occupation. ____

WE understand that the Government has appointed SirJohn Hawkshaw to examine into, and report on, the meansnecessary for the purification of the river Clyde.

MR. HARRY LEACH, medical officer of the Port of London,has just issued his half-yearly report, a further notice ofwhich we defer until next week.

SURGEON-GENERAL C. A. GORDON, M.D., C.B., who isabout to sail for Madras, will be succeeded at Aldershot bySurgeon-General Bent. ____

IT is intended to invite the Social Science Association tohold its annual congress of 1875 in Brighton.

THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BRITISHMEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

AT the public dinner, held on Wednesday evening in St.Andrew’s Hall, a large number of members attended. TheDuke of Connaught, who is with his regiment at Norwich,was expected to attend, but it was announced that his en-gagements did not permit him to do so.

After the usual loyal toasts, the Chairman, Dr. COPEMAN,proposed the "Health of the Bishop and Clergy of theDiocese." Canon HEAVISIDE, in responding to the toast,said that the members of the Association had met to solvethe most interesting problems affecting human life. An

assembly of that kind had also an indirect advantage inremoving some of the asperities and prejudices that mighthave been produced in medical controversies. There weredoctors of divinity as well as doctors of medicine, and theone class perhaps disagreed as much as the other. Thereverend gentleman concluded his speech by suggesting anact of uniformity for the medical profession-a suggestionthat was received with very general marks of dissent.Mr. TUFNELL, in responding to the toast of " the Army,

Navy, and Auxiliary Forces," said that the honour andhappiness of the country were promoted by the appoint-ment of thoroughly qualified medical men to attend to thesoldiers. Replying to the same toast, Dr. WADDELL sug-gested that special attention should be paid to the depart-

287

ment of military surgery, and that a distinct branch of theAssociation should be formed next year, to be entitled theMilitary Branch of the British Medical Association. Dr.WATERS replied for the Navy.The toast " Prosperity to the Association " was given by

Sir JAMES PAGET, who said that the Association had neverbeen so prosperous, influential, and useful as at the presenttime. He alluded, in complimentary terms, to the presenceof the ladies who had entered the hall after dinner, andhoped that the example would be followed on future occa-sions. Mr. SOUTHAM, in responding, said that many of thesuggestions made at the last meeting of the Association inNorwich, twenty-eight years ago, had since been carriedout, and he had no doubt that a similar result wouldfollow from the addresses and discussions of the presentgathering."The Health of the President" was proposed by Dr.

QUAIN, who alluded to Dr. Copeman’s eminent services andto his special contribution to medical science in regard tothe inappropriateness of bleeding in many cases of paralysis.The PRESIDENT, in replying, said he was most thankful ifhe had done anything to promote medical science, and thathis constant effort had been, in all his investigations, toattain results of a practical character.The Rev. Dr. HAUGHTON proposed "The Mayor, Sheriff,

and Corporation of Norwich," and referred to the fact thatBuxton, the fellow-labourer of Wilberforce, and the grand-father of the mayor, was educated at Trinity College, Dub-lin, because Oxford and Cambridge were not open to RomanCatholics and Nonconformists. The MAYOR and theSHERIFF returned thanks for the toast."The Health of the Treasurer" was proposed by Dr.

SIBSON, and the toast was acknowledged by Dr. FALCONER.Dr. BATEMAN then proposed " The Health of the Visitors,"

which was responded to by Mr. COLMAN, M.P. (who dwelton the indebtedness of the public to a profession that haddone so much to alleviate the sufferings of mankind), Dr.MARION SIMS, of New York, and Dr. PETRE, of Paris.

Dr. DUNCAN proposed 11 The Health of the Local Com-mittee of Management," which was acknowledged by Mr.CADGE.The concluding toast of "The Ladies" was proposed by

Mr. MICHAEL.The concluding general meeting of the Association was

held on Friday, Dr. COPEMAN in the chair.Dr. EuMSET suggested that the report of the State 1%ledi-

cine Qualification Committee should be referred to threegentlemen for consideration, namely-Dr. Lyon Playfair,Mr. Hastings, and Dr. Haughton. After a short discussionthe report was referred to the Council for consideration.

Dr. MARION SIMS stated that he and Dr. Seguin, of NewYork, had been appointed as delegates to come to Englandto ask for the nomination of a commission to prepare auniform plan of instruments, scales, and tables of observa-tion, the said commission to enter into communication withFrench, American, and other commissioners appointed forthe same object, and to report from year to year to theBritish Medical Association.The proposal was referred to the Committee of Council.On the motion of Dr. SiDNEY RINGER, seconded by Dr.

MARION SiMS, the thanks of the Association were givento the East Anglia Branch and to the profession and citizensof Norwich and the county of Norfolk for their cordial andhospitable reception. Thanks were also voted to the localcommittees, their secretaries, and the local treasurer, Mr.S. G. Buckstone, for their zealous and active services.Thanks were likewise tendered to the local secretaries (Dr.J. B. Pitt, Mr. H. S. Robinson, and Dr. Beverley), to Mr.J. J. Colman for his hospitality in giving a déjeûner in thegrounds of Carrow House, to the Mayor and Corporation ofNorwich, to Lady Lothian, Lady Crossley, Mrs. Ketton,Mrs. Prangley, Mr. R. Leeds, and Mr. C. B. Adams, fortheir hospitality, and finally to Dr. Copeman, for his suc-cessful services in presiding over the Norwich meeting.The PRESIDENT acknowledged in suitable terms the vote

of thanks to himself, and thus brought the proceedings toa close.In the evening an entertainment was given to the mem-

bers of the Association at Carrow by J. J. Colman, Esq.,:fi1.P. for Norwich. The changeableness of the weather pre-vented the original intention being carried out of holding agarden party, and the guests, to the number of 550, after

strolling through the gardens and grounds, sat down to anelegant repast in the schoolroom at Carrow House. Afterthe usual loyal toasts, the host proposed the health of thePresident of the Association, and Dr. Copeman, in respond-ing, said he had received the most gratifying testimonyfrom all sides as to the success of the meeting. ,Thehealth of Mr. and Mrs. Colman," and one or two other toasts,were given, and thus hospitably concluded the meeting of1874.

ROYAL ALBERT HOSPITAL, DEVONPORT.

A SPECIAL MEETING of the governors of and subscribersto the Royal Albert Hospital, Devonport, was held at theinstitution on Monday last, to consider a number of resolu-tions submitted by the Managing Committee, with the viewof taking the election of officers out of the hands of sub-scribers, and placing it in the hands of a select committee,elected annually for the purpose. On the motion of Dr.

Row, Mr. Thomas Woollcombe, the Chairman of the

Managing Committee, was voted to the chair.In commencing the business, the Chairman said-Gentle-

men, the Managing Committee have thought it their dutyto convene this special meeting to-day for the purpose ofcarrying out an alteration in the rules, which, I may say,the Managing Committee are quite unanimous in recom-mending to your notice. There is no doubt that the tendencyof persons subscribing to and supporting institutions ofthis kind is to support their own particular friends whenan opportunity offers of putting them into situations oftrust and confidence. Of course there is nothing to be saidagainst that, except this, that inasmuch as charities of thisdescription are established, not for the benefit of subscribersor friends of subscribers, but really to do good to the poor,it seems to me that the imperative duty of the governors ofsuch institutions is, on all occasions, to secure the besttalent which can be procured for the services of a hospitallike the present. We have already secured for our hospitalan exceedingly good name, and I believe we stand as highin point of general management and professional conductas most provincial hospitals can. In one particular depart-ment of it we are second to none, and for that I have thehighest authority - namely, the Government, who are

large contributors to the charity, and members of which,on all sides of politics, have told me we stand No. 1amongst all other establishments of the same kind.However, important as this is to the hospital, I must sayit is somewhat foreign to the object of this meeting. Myduty is to submit to you alterations in the rules, copies ofwhich have been sent round to you, so that you might com-pletely understand the whole question you are called todecide upon. I may shortly state, however, that the schemewhich we submit to you is this, that all medical and otherappointments in this hospital shall be made upon the abso-lute personal responsibility of the selected members, whowill have to go into the appointments themselves. We shallask you to-day to nominate three governors, whose nameswill be submitted to you presently for your consideration.If you pass that resolution, the next step will be for theManaging Committee to select three from their own body,and the medical staff will select a like number from them-selves. The nine members so appointed will hold office untilthe next general meeting, or until their successors are ap-pointed ; and on them will devolve the entire duty of makingall appointments. And in order that we may secure the in-dividual responsibility of the parties who make these ap-pointments, one of the alterations we shall suggest is that noappointment will be valid unless made under the hands of,at least, six out of the nine members of the Select Com-mittee. In that way we shall secure the greatest amount ofindividual responsibility as to making the choice, and I hopein that way we shall be able to secure the best availabletalent we can find in any part of England. I havetherefore now to move the following resolution:—" ThatRule 58 be amended by adding to the powers of theManaging Committee as follows: - (k) The ordinarymembers shall from time to time choose by ballotthree from their own body; the medical staff (ex-officiomembers) shall choose by ballot three from their own body