1843

Committee said that if they built four-roomed cottages onthe land they would cost between E400 and 9600 for landalone, which would mean "a terrible loss to the boroughand if they built four-storeyed tenements there would

be a very costly chief rent on each, and he thought thatthey should try to obtain the sanction of the Local

Government Board for leave to sell the land for other

purposes. It was objected that in this case over 500 houseshad been pulled down and only 61 built to replace them,but in the end the motion was carried that the Local

Government Board should be asked to relieve them from the

obligation to build on the site of the demolished houses. It

is becoming more and more evident that the costly landin large towns cannot be used for workmen’s cottages, noris it desirable on the score of public health that an over-crowded insanitary area should be again overcrowded, theonly difference being that in the latter case the tenementsare new. Cheap and convenient modes of transit to an outerzone may turn out to be the best solution of the difficulty.

THE NEW CORONER FOR THE CITY OFLONDON.

ON Thursday, June 20th, a meeting of the Court ofCommon Council was held to elect a coroner in the room ofMr. S. F. Langham who has retired. Out of 18 candidatesthree had been selected, all of whom were medical men and,in addition, barristers. Their names were: Dr. MajorGreenwood; Dr. H. R. Oswald, deputy coroner for thewestern division of London; and Dr. F. J. Waldo,medical officer of health of St. George-the-Martyr, South-wark, and also to the honourable societies of the Innerand Middle Temples. Dr. Greenwood received 23 votes, Dr.Oswald 52, and Dr. Waldo 96. The Lord Mayor thereforedeclared Dr. Waldo to be elected coroner. Our views uponthe desirability of a coroner being a medical man need norecapitulation here, but we are glad to see that all threeselected candidates were medical men. We offer our sym-pathy to the unsuccessful candidates and our congratula-tions to Dr. Waldo. He has done such good work in hiscapacity of medical officer of health of the parish of St.

George-the-Martyr that we feel sure that the City hassecured an officer in whose hands the honour both of theancient City and of the ancient office will be absolutely safe.

THE INCREASING PREVALENCE OF CANCER INTHE UNITED STATES.

DR. IBYINS PHILLIPS LTON, pathologist to the Universityof Buffalo, contributes an interesting and somewhat Iexhaustive study to the June number of the AmericanJournal oj the Medical Sciences dealing with the increasingprevalence of cancer in the United States, and particularlyin the town of Buffalo. A paper by Dr. G. B. Massey onthe former subject has been referred to in these columnsalready.l The study of the cancer distribution in Buffalofor the period 1880 to 1899 leads Dr. Lyon to favour theparasitic origin of cancer and to regard it as associated withcertain localities, races, and modes of life. Next to direct

histological and bacteriological investigation a promisingfield of research lies, says Dr. Lyon, in the statistical studyof the disease in relation to race, social conditions, and naturalenvironment. On a large-scale map of Buffalo all casesof deaths from cancer (2005 in all) were marked out bycoloured dots. It quickly appeared that while certain partsof the town showed a scarcity other parts showed a concen-tration of such U dots" of mortality. " A remarkable con-centration is shown in the wards inhabited largely byforeigners, and particularly by Germans." Comparing thesefacts with the density of the population in order to avoid

1 THE LANCET, March 10th, 1900, p. 717.

fallacy, it appeared that nearly every ward in the regionshowing a concentration of deaths represented a real andnot merely an apparent concentration of cancer." The

figures for the period of 19 years (1880 to 1899) showed thatGerman wards with a mean population of 104,753 had 888cases of death from cancer, while those inhabited largelyby native-born Americans with a population of 109,5Z7had 450 cases. The German " wards include Poles, as

the latter came from German Poland and it was found

impossible to separate the two races. On the other hand,the Italian quarters, though densely populated, showed a lowratio of cancer mortality. The highest cancer-ratio prevailedamong the Irish population-viz., 6’40 times that of the

native Americans; then came Germans and Poles, whoseratio was 4’81, while among the Italians it was the lowestof all foreigners-viz., 1’93. In the native-born Americans

the male cases of cancer were to the female cases as 50 or60 to 100. Among the German inhabitants, however, thesexes were affected in nearly equal proportions-viz., 93males to 100 females, and this applied not only to Buffalo butto the whole of the United States. The Germans and Polesalso stood out in contrast with the native-born population, andprobably also in contrast with other foreigners, in showing aremarkably high rate of death from cancer of the stomach andliver-viz., 43’8 per cent. of all cancer cases, as against 21 percent. for the natives. Conversely, a low rate of cancer of theuterus and breast prevailed among German women-viz., 344per cent,, as against 61’6 per cent. for females born in theUnited States. " The lower rate of cancer of the uterus and

breast in German than in American women seems," says Dr.Lyon, "to be a weighty argument against the embryonictheory [of cancer], as it is well known that the birth-rateand habit of nursing at the breast are greater among theGermans than the native-born, and therefore, if the

embryonic theory were correct, cancer ought to be morefrequent in these organs in Germans, because of their

relatively greater use and exhaustion. The reverse is shownto be the fact." From a consideration of habits, food, andsocial environment Dr. Lyon favours the view of infection,mainly from bad food, as a favouring cause of cancer, asupheld by the observations of Behla.2

THE DEGRADATION OF THE POST OFFICE.

WE should like to ask His Majesty’s Postmaster-Generalwhether something cannot be done to stop the flood of

objectionable circulars which are daily and hourly distri-buted to His Majesty’s faithful subjects by means of thedepartment over which he presides. There are the delectablecirculars of Mr. Charles Carrington, the swindling noticessent out by Tanqueray, the allurements of money-lenders,and the filthy little books sent out by the blackguard whocalls himself Dr. Bell-to say nothing of numerous others.These, however, are sent in closed envelopes and so they maypossibly not be recognisable. But there can be no excuse forthe distribution of circulars advertising the virtues of variousproprietary medicines which mostly emanate from America.Only recently a correspondent sent us a post-card which hadbeen dropped into his letter-box. on which was inscribeda puff of a preparation said to be an absolute cure for

painful menstruation, and now several correspondents haveforwarded to us the wrappers of circulars dealing withcertain pathological conditions and drugs for the same, thesaid circulars being emblazoned in large letters, 11 Constipa-tion Number." This sort of thing should be stopped and thePostmaster-General could easily do it if he liked. It isridiculous to say that officials have not time to investigate.They have time to examine letters and to surcharge them fortrivial breaches of the regulations. Only the other day we

2 Zeitschrift für Hygiene und Infektionskrankheiten, 1899.

1844

saw an instance in which a quantity of cards had been sentout. They were all printed with the usual notification of an" At Home," but the date had been filled in in ink. These

cards were sent in an open envelope with a halfpenny stampand had been in many instances surcharged as being of " thenature of a letter." Now, if the Post-office authorities

have time to do this sort of thing they could easily detaincirculars of the sort to which we have referred. And theywill have to do so. ___

THE LONDON HOSPITAL LODGE OF FREE-MASONS.

WE are glad to be able to announce another recruit to theranks of Medical Freemasonry, a warrant having beengranted by the M.W. Grand Master of the United GrandLodge of England for the foundation of the London Hos-pital Lodge. The date of consecration is fixed for Oct. 2nd,at the Hotel Cecil. We believe that the officers named in thewarrant are A. E. Sansom, M.D. Lond., F.R.C.P. Lond., asWorshipful Master, and F. S. Eve, F.R.C.S. Eng., and F. J.Smith, M.D. Oxon., F.R.C.P. Lond., as Senior and JuniorWardens respectively. The London Hospital is the sixth

metropolitan hospital to attach to itself a Masonic lodge.Freemasons connected with the London Hospital will findfurther information in our advertising columns.

ORGANISED RESCUE WORK IN COLLIERIES.

A MOST praiseworthy proposal is receiving, we are glad tolearn, very serious consideration by colliery owners. It is theestablishment of practical rescue stations in colliery districts.It seems remarkable that such an admirable suggestion hasnot before been acted upon. We have organisations for the’rescue of life at sea, at bathing stations, at rivers, or in theevent of fire, but no such organisation has apparently ;,beenaeriously attempted in colliery districts where too often

ghastly losses of life take place. We are sure that if

colliery owners could see the benefits to be derived from alocal centre from which a body of men could be drawn incase of accident quickly to restore ventilation and affordrelief in other matters in connexion with a collieryexplosion they would not hesitate to unite in sections andto establish stations throughout the whole of the collierydistricts. Dr. J. S. Haldane has clearly shown in his ableinvestigation undertaken for the Home Office that a gooddeal more might be done towards saving the lives of thosestruck down by that most poisonous product of explosionsin collieries-carbon monoxide. Taking the average of a(number of explosions he computed that some 77 per cent.of the men whose lives had been lost might have escapedbut for the deadly nature of the after-damp. Undoubtedly,if oxygen could be quickly brought into the mine manylives would be saved, while the rescuing party could,of course, be provided with a means of access and a

means also of supporting their own lives during theirwork of exploration and rescue. Steel cylinders con-

taining compressed oxygen have been suggested for the

purpose, and the most recent form of apparatus for breathingin a noxious atmosphere by means of compressed oxygen isthe pneumatophore. But, as is pointed out by Mr. M. A.Habershon in a valuable and instructive paper read

before the Institution of Mining Engineers, although anumber of colliery owners have provided themselves

with apparatus comprising one or two pneumatophoresdt is to be- feared that their value in an emergencywill be considerably less than it should.be because men.are not being trained to use them and the apparatus is

likely to become only a trap. Again, in order that the

pneumatophore may be of real use in any actual work ofrescue or exploration it is essential, as Mr. Habershon points.out, that there must be at hand without any serious lapse of

time, not only a number of these appliances, all of whichmust be in proper working order, but also an adequatesupply of compressed oxygen cylinders, of bottles of

caustic soda, and, what is more important still, a number ofmen experienced in the use of the apparatus. The delayconsequent on having to telegraph for, and to await the

arrival of, a supply of oxygen would probably render anyproposed use of pneumatophores by a rescue party too lateto be of any service in saving life and certainly toolate for the work of exploration which is generally ofimmediate importance. A few trained men with pneu-matophores and electric lights and a proper reserve supplyof oxygen would be able to penetrate any atmosphere, how-ever noxious, and if they could get into the pit during thefirst few hours after an explosion might obtain informationwhich would be invaluable to those in charge and wouldfacilitate the work of reaching any men who might beshut off from access to the shafts. Of course assistanceat the same time could be readily given to any men metwith in proximity to the pit bottom. As regards the con-stitution of rescue corps it is intended at the Normantoncollieries to select a number of deputies of workmen fromeach colliery or pit in the group, only strong, healthy,resolute, and intelligent men who are fit for such work

being chosen. Preference will be given to those who areholders of first aid certificates. These men will be requiredto attend practices or drills with the apparatus at thestation until they become sufficiently experienced and obtainthe necessary dexterity in the use and handling of theapparatus. A list of the names and addresses of efficientmembers of the corps will be posted up at the station andwill be supplied to each colliery. It is further intended thata sufficient number of the men employed by each of the sub-scribing companies shall be trained so that eventually eachcolliery will have a rescue party composed of its own

men. We cannot conceive an organisation with a nobleraim than this, and everyone will most heartily wish it God-speed. -

DEATH UNDER CHLOROFORM WITH UNUSUAL

PHENOMENA.

A SOMEWHAT unusual form of circulatory failure follow-ing the inhalation of chloroform is reported to us from theRoyal Berkshire Hospital. The patient, an anaemic boy,aged eight years, suffering from tuberculous cervical glands,was given chloroform by an accredited officer of the

institution with the view of an operation being performedfor the removal of the diseased glands. A drop-bottle wasemployed, the chloroform being dropped upon lint. The

quantity used is not known. The patient was nervous andhe cried during the administration. At first he dozed offbut was aroused and finally was narcotised, the breathingbeing regular and the pupils contracted. The operationwas then commenced. After the skin incision was made andwhen traction was exerted upon the layer of cervical fasciasurrounding the glands the pupils became widely dilatedand the respiration grew shallow, although regular and slow,while the pulse was scarcely perceptible. The operation wasat once stopped and strychnine was injected, a slightimprovement in the pulse taking place. As this was notmaintained ether was injected, artificial respiration was com-menced, and hot-water bottles were applied, and the boy wasremoved to the ward. The breathing again improved, amore natural colour appeared, and the pulse grew per-ceptible. The pupils were now contracted to about normal,the left one (i.e., on the side of the operation) beingslightly the smaller. Failure of respiration and circula-tion again occurred and inflation of the lungs with stimu-lation by faradaism did not prove successful, the lad

dying in about 35 minutes from the first onset of dangerous