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THE LATE DR. EDWARDES.

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SiR,—As it appears from Dr. Edwardes’ letter in THELANCET of Feb. 3rd that Mrs. Edwardes is not in a positionto require a testimonial of a pecuniary nature from the pro-fession, I think it would be a graceful act on the part ofmedical men to present her with an address expressive oftheir sympathy with her and respect for her late husband.I enclose my card, and am, Sir, your obedient servant,February 6th, 1883. C. H.

GLASGOW.(From our own Correspondent.)

IN last week’s number of THE LANCET, Dr. R. Macpherson,in criticising my account of the notification of infectiousdiseases agitation in Glasgow, professes to find and to pointout a suggestio falsi in the statement that " professionalopinion was dead against" Dr. Russell in this matter. Ibelieve that only one who was looking painfully and labo-riously for such a thing would be likely to find a suggestio !,falsi in these words. As they appeared in my report theyreferred solely to the discussion at the Philosophical Society, I

and viewed in this relation they are absolutely correct ; nomedical voice save Dr. Russell’s alone was there raised in Ifavour of the official side of the question. But even if taken Ias descriptive of the attitude of the profession as a whole inregard to this question, they are substantially true. At butone professional meeting on the subject, that called by the ’Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, did the official pro- Iposals find any support; here two medical gentlemen spoke Iin their favour. If to these be added the name of Dr. I

Macpherson, we have the sum total of the medical practi-tioners in Glasgow who so far have given any sign of sym-pathy with the notification clauses as they stand. It is,doubtless, possible, as Dr. Macpherson states, that there areother sympathisers with the official view among the profes-sional men of Glasgow; but- up to the present time theyhave given no public evidence of their existence, and therehas been no dearth of opportunity of doing so in the discus-sions before medical and other societies and in the course ofa long newspaper correspondence.The report furnished by the Managers of the Glasgow

Royal Infirmary at the recent annual meeting of the quali-fied contributors to the institution is one of more than ordi-nary interest. It shows over all a large increase in theamount of work done. The admissions to the infirmarynumbered for the past year 5601, as against 5107 in theprevious year. The mortality was 8 per cent., as against8’6 last year, or, excluding the deaths which took placewithin forty-eight hours after admission, 6 2 per cent. Thenumber of out-door patients treated was over 26,000. Thetotal ordinary income was 18,914 7s. 5d., while the ordi-nary expenditure amounted to j623,974 Is. 6d., leaving adeficit of over E500ù. Extraordinary income, JE74S2 3s. lld.;extraordinary expenditure, .61804 6s. 3d. The report indi-cates the resolution of the managers to increase the numberof surgeons by one, and to reduce the staff of physiciansby a like number. Other alterations are hinted at, thoughnot specified ; it is understood that these include proposalsto appoint the physicians and surgeons of the staff for one yearonly, and to reduce their honorarium from .S100 to E50 perannum. These and other changescompleted and contemplated,together with the recent passing of the obnoxious chloroformresolutions in the face of the unanimous protest of the entirevisiting and dispensai staff, have developed a feeling ofuneasiness among the professional supporters of the infir-mary, and have brought the staff and the management intodirect collision. In intimating that the negotiattons for theamalgamation of the Infirmary School of Medicine and thatof Anderson’s College had fallen through, the unfortunateremark is made that this is not "a matter for regret, asAnderson’s College had nothing to offer except teachers, forwhom they wished accommodation gratis, and with thesethe infirmary is already amply supplied" ; this is certainlynot conciliatory or at all in good taste, to put it mildly.The infirmary is now in communication with the TelephonicExchange; for this it pays the usual rates, having some

time ago declined the offer of the Telephone Company to fitup the necessary apparatus free of expense. The practice ofcharging the honae-physicians and house-surgeons a certainsum for board is now very properly discontinued. As awhole, this year’s Royal Infirmary report may be said to bemore interesting than satisfactory ; with the sole exceptionof the favourable death-rate, things do not seem to be goingsmoothly, or as they should in the institution.

SCOTTISH NOTES.lrroaaa our own Correspondent.)

THE GILCHRIST LECTURES.THESE lectures have now concluded another very successfu

course on science subjects in various towns in the north,Dr. Andrew Wilson, speaking on some forms of lower animallife, appears to have excited the displeasure of some of theover-orthodox, and this has been plainly put forth in news.paper correspondence ; but the lecturer is an expert con.

troversialist as well as a successful platform orator, ardhad no difiiculty in justifying his right to discuss evolutionwhen dealing with such a subject as that mentioned.

HOSPITAL CHARITY.The abuse of charity at our larger hospitals has frequently

received notice in the pages of THE LANCET. Coincidentreference to the work of these institutions by the LordProvost of Edinburgh and his brother magnate in Glasgowseems worthy of notice, as both of these gentlemen, wellknown for philanthropic effort, appear to court the use ofthe Royal infirmaries over which they preside in a waywhich must lead to grave abuse. At Edinburgh it is statedthat the infirmary is useful to rich and poor alike, in thatboth may obtain gratuitous services from the most distin.guished physicians and surgeons there ; while in Glasgow itis said that the institution is maintained for the benefit ofthe better among our working classes, equally with the poorand needy. Taken together, these statements of course

plainly invite the general public to partake of the charity,which is surely intended for the poor only; and if the adviceof these right honourable gentlemen be taken they mustlook for largely increased subscriptions to meet the greaterdernand, while the medical profession must be prepared fora diminution in the field for remunerative employment, suchas has not hitherto been hinted at. It is perhaps morecharitable and correct to consider these statements as unin.tentional slips, as men so distinguished for patriotic workwould be the first to recognise the pauperising tendency ofan indiscriminate charity.

THE POLICE BILL.Mr. Grant, when addressing his constituents at Leith last

week, expressed the opinion that Government has largelyentrusted to ex-Provost Lindsay of that town the construc.tion of the General Police Bill for Scotland, to be introducedduring next session. The country has profited largely bythe former Lindsay Act, and looks with confidence for theforthcoming measure. The Bill was in the printer’s handslast week; but I hear on the best authority that its issuehas been delayed in consequence of alterations deemednecessary.

NOTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES.After a discussion which occupied the Perthshire Medical

Association for two meetings that Society has resolved infavour of direct notification of infectious diseases by themedical attendant. Though not expressed in the resolution,there was a consensus of opinion that in all cases the medicalofiicer of health should be entirely free from private practice.Up till now the medical men in Perth have optionallyintimated the existence of these diseases, at the request ofthe authorities, but it appears that the Commissioners havedisallowed the fees for such reports, and it is unlikely thatthey will be continue,l. This, in the face of recent experi-ence, is surely a penny-wise policy, as well as a breach of animplied agreement.

Professor Struthers has commenced a series of popularlectures at Aberdeen on the " Relation of Man to the LowerAnimals." The lectures are free, and excite considerableinterest.