259

THE Q,uEEN’s HOSPITAL, BIRMINGHAM.—At the weeklyBoard of the Queen’s Hospital, held last week, Thomas Upfill,Esq., in the chair, Messrs. E. T. Cox, Drs. Birt Davies, G. B.Knowles, J. Bowker, James Busby, G. Taylor, W. H. Osborn,S. V. Horton, F. J. Welch, and M. Banks being present, aletter having been received from Mr. J. F. West, resigning hisappointment of Resident Medical Officer to the Institution, itwas proposed by F. J. Welch, Esq., seconded by Dr. J. BirtDavies, and resolved unanimously-, That this Board, beingfully sensible of the valuable services of Mr. West, which havebeen so ably performed for a period of three years, cannot re-ceive his resignation without expressing the satisfaction theyhave had in witnessing the way in which his duties have beenso diligently and earnestly performed, and they regret verymuch that this valuable charity should lose the highly qualifiedservices of a gentleman they so much esteem and value. "-Mr.West is held in high estimation throughout the town of Bir-mingham, and is, we understand, a candidate for the office ofsurgeon to the Queen’s Hospital.EXTRAORDINARY LONGEVITY AND FECUNDITY.—In a

paper on the " Statistics of the Population of the RussianEmpire," it is stated that, in 1853, the population was

67,000,000 : the births amounted to 2,782,636, and the deathsto 1,950,132; of these deaths, 26,200 only took place above50 years, 2181 above 90 years, and 130, 100 years; 7 from 125 ’,to 130 years, and, in the neighbourhood of Pskow, a man

attained the age of 145 years. " The following facts relatingto the fecundity of the women are so marvellous," says theEdinburgh Medical Journal, " that they might well inspiredoubts, if they were not accompanied with so many details :-’On the 21st of March, the peasant, Kirilow, was presented,along with his wife, to the Empress. The peasant was mar-ried, for a second time, at the age of 70. His first wife wasconfined 21 times: 4 times of 4 infants at a birth, 7 times of3 infants, and 10 times of twins-in all, 57 children then alive.The second wife had already been delivered 7 times: once oftriplets, and 6 times of twins-in all, 15 living children;making a total of 72 children born to one man. This astonish-

ing fecundity has been observed in other cases in Russia: thusthe wife of a peasant, Gastorawa, of the village of Dolgam,was delivered on the lst of March, 1854, of 6 infants, 2 boysand 3 girls, who all died the same day. At Torgowa, thewife of a Talmuck, had a quadruple birth; one of the childrendied the next day. In the village of Iwokina, on the 26th ofMay, 1854, the wife of a peasant had a quadruple birth, allthe children surviving; and in November, 1854, another similarbirth is recorded in the government of Vladimir. Many otherexamples are given."’THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION has made choice of Leeds

for its sittings of next year. The question was whether Leedsor Manchester should have that honour; and we may supposethat Manchester will be selected for the year that is to follow.

PUBLIC DINNER AT ISLEWORTH TO MR. MAY, CHAIR-MAN OF THE BOARD OF GUARDIANS OF THE BRENTFORD UNION.—ON Thursday, the 27th of August, a public dinner took placeat the " Northumberland Arms," Isleworth, in pursuance of adesire expressed by the guardians and officers of that Union,as well as by many ratepayers, that Mr. JOHN MAY, theChairman of the Union, should receive some Testimonial forhis long and disinterested services. Mr. May was appointeda guardian upon the formation of the Union, twenty-one yearssince, for thirteen years of which period he presided as chair-man and maintained the confidence and respect of his col-leagues, as well as of the ratepayers and officers of the Union.Amongst the latter must be specially mentioned the medicalofficers; because, owing in no small degree to the enlightenedspirit in which Mr. May has presided over the proceedings ofthe Board, the Brentford Union has become honourably dis-tinguished for the liberal manner in which the services of themedical officers are remunerated, and in this and other respectsit presents much that is worthy of imitation in other Unions inthe kingdom.

Dr. Mackinlay, of Isleworth, acted as treasurer of the fund,and Mr. John Goodchild, of Ealing, Mr. Edward Davis, of OldBrentford, Dr. Litchfield, of Twickenham, and Mr. Chapman,of Hounslow, district medical officers, united with many othergentlemen of the Union in composing the committee for theorganization of the same.A large assemblage was present at the dinner, the chair

being taken by George Clarke, Esq., of Little Ealing, who, onvacating it at a subsequent period of the evening, was suc-ceeded by Mr. Horatio Day, surgeon, of Isleworth. Amongst

the company present, we noticed Mr. Alfred Clark, of Twicken-ham, and several other surgeons, who, although not officiallyconnected with the Union, met cheerfully to do honour to theguest of the evening.Mr. May’s testimonial, which was conspicuously exhibited

in the room, consisted of two chased silver salvers, with in-scription, silver coffee- and tea-services, &c., a handsome ink-stand, and a large and elegant gilt chimney-clock, the wholeof which cost between X 170 and .6180, the subscriptions havingbeen absolutely limited to one guinea each. ,

After the usual loyal toasts, the health of Mr. May (accom-panied by the presentation of the plate) was proposed by theChairman, who, in his address, dwelt on the harmony whichhad in general characterized the proceedings of the Board ofGuardians under the presidency of Mr. May, as well as theuniversal respect in which that gentleman was held.

Mr. MAY, in responding, gave a very interesting sketch ofhis career in life, both before and since attaining the distinctionwhich he so worthily holds, and he spoke of the possibility ofcarrying out in a manner so as to be beneficial to the recipientsof parochial relief, the ratepayers, and the officers, the provi-sions of the Poor-law Amendment Act-a measure so capable,however, of being put into operation after modes at once harsh,cruel, and oppressive. Mr. May announced that, from the.first, he had strenuously set himself to work to fulfil the inten-tions of the legislature in a humane and benevolent manner,and this, with the assistance of his colleagues, he had had thesatisfaction to find fully succeed, as the records of the Brent-ford Union abundantly testify.The toast of " The Ratepayers, and the Subscribers to the

testimonial," proposed by Mr. Trumper, was responded to by J.Farnell, Esq., of Isleworth; that of " The Guardians andOfficers of the Union" was acknowledged by Mr. Sherborn, ofHounslow, Dr. LitchField, and Mr. J. R. Brown ; and that of"The Managing Committee," proposed by Mr. Horatio G.Day, was appropriately answered by Dr. Mackinlay. Thehealths of the Chairman, of the Vice-Chairman, Mr. WilliamRuston, hon. Secretary, &c., then followed; and Dr. Mackinlaythen proposed " The Medical Press, and its leading organ, THELANCET," instancing the advantages which had been conferredon the public by our journal in the exposures of the Adultera-tions of Food. and its pre-eminent exertions in the spread ofmedical and sanitary science. Dr. Litchfield next proposedthe health of Mr. Wakley ; and both of the latter toasts wereresponded to by a representative of THE LANCET, who had beenexpressly and courteously invited to be present on the occa-sion. The festivities of the day were kept up to a late hour,and were enlivened by the exertions of some professionalsingers, amongst which an impromptu song by Mr. Bruton,alluding to various members of the company assembled, affordedmuch entertainment.

WE regret to learn that the Commissioners have rati-fied the decision of the Kenmare Gurdians, and cut downthe salary of two of the physicians, reducing that of Dr.M’Carthy by £20, and that of Dr. Taylor by .610. They allowthe salary of Dr. Maybury to remain as it was.

MEDICAL DIARY OF THE WEEK.

MONDAY, SEPT. 7 .....

TUESDAY, SEPf. 8 .....

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10..

FRIDAY, SEPT. 11.......,

SATURDAY, SEPT. 12..

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1½ P.M.METROPOLITAN FREE HOSPITAL. - Operations,.. 3P.M.ROYAL ORTHOPÆDIC HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2L r.M.

Guy’s HOSPITAL.-Operations, 1 p.M...WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL.—2 P.M.(ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.UNIVHHSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL.— Operations,

2 P.M.ROYAL ORTHOPlEDIC HOSPITAL. - Operations, 3;L P.M.

(MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL.—Operations, 12½ P.M.! Sr. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.

.. CENTRAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL.Operations, 1 P.M.

LONDON HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1½ P.M.

OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL, MOORFIELDS.— Opera-

) tions, 10 A.M.., WESTMINSTER OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL. - Opera-tions, 1½ P.M.

CHARING-CROSS HOSPITAL.—Operations, 12 P.M. ST. THOMAS’S HOSPITAL.—Operations, 1 P.M.

..( ST. BAitTH.OLOMEW’s HOSPITAL.—Operations, 11P.M.

LKiNG’s COLLEGE HOSPITAL.—Operations, 2 P.M.