1465SCOTLAND.-IRELAND.

widow for the endowment of a chair of Materia Medicaand Therapeutics.Nov. 13th.

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SCOTLAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Professor Fraser on the Plague in India.ON Nov. 9th Professor T. R. Fraser, of Edinburgh

University, delivered the inaugural address of the sessionof the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh, in the society’shall, Melbourne-place. The chair was occupied by thesenior President of the Society, Dr. Stewart. ProfessorFraser took as his subject The Plague Commission in

India," of which commission he had been chairman. Hefelt, he said, as if he were a young man again when hefound himself standing on that rostrum and addressing alarge number of medical students. He had also the gratifica-tion of making before that society his first semi-public remarksin connexion with his journey to India. It was not possible,however, for him to do more than touch on some ofthe most interesting matters which had come under hisobservation. He had been profoundly impressed with themagnificent success of British government in India.Perfection, however, had not yet been arrived at, owing,principally, to native prejudices. Insanitation was every-where present in its most repulsive aspects. The symptomswhich he had observed of the plague in India were sufficientto show that it was absolutely the same disease as hadfor a great many centuries devastated the whole world.There did not exist before 1800 any historical record ofplague in India. Since then, however, there had been at leasttwo great plagues in India, both of them occurring in thenorthern parts of India. Of the first of these they were toldthat it laid waste the country for eight years and that at thesame time the land was overrun with mice. The plague hadbeen endemic in India for an unknown time. Of thevarieties of plague there was to be noted first the pestisminor (the slight or ambulatory form) and the pestismajor, which took various forms. The pulmonary form of

pestis major was seldom recovered from. As to the bacillus. itself it was one which had little vitality. It throve best in

darkness and shade. Rats had been one of the most potentmeans of spreading the disease in India. Disinfectionby chemical agents had proved disastrously unsuccessfulin stopping the spread of plague. From the evidence laidbefore the commission he did not see that any material

- success had attended any measure except the observation ofseaports and the total-not the partial-evacuation of anyplague-affected town or village. Evacuation was abso-lately necessary owing to the gross insanitation of dwellingsthere. The whole question was one of sanitary reform, andthat must be a wide-sweeping reform, not only restricted toproviding windows in houses, removing filth, and layingdown sewers, but including an alteration in house construc- tion so that the houses of the natives would resemble in a simple and inexpensive form the bungalows of Europeans in India. At the close of his address Professor Fraser was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks. ,

The late Principal Williams of the New Veterinary College, aEdinburgh. j

Principal Williams of the New Veterinary College, iEdinburgh, died very unexpectedly at his residence in Edinburgh on Nov. 12th. He had suffered from a bronchial iattack for a few days previously to his death, but up to that (

day no serious symptom had manifested itself. He wasable to attend to his duties at the college until a few days rbefore his death. William Williams was born in North Wales in 1832. He was descended from a race of veterinary isurgeons He had a brilliant career as a student at theDick Veterinary College. From 1866 to 1872 he acted asprincipal of the Dick Veterinary College, at which time, owingto some friction which had arisen between him and the trustees, ihe dissociated himself from that college and founded the New iVeterinary College which is now established in Leith-walk. 1Principal Williams held many posts in connexion with veteri- inary matters and he was the author of two text-books, The s

Principles and Practice of Veterinary Surgery" and The e

Principles and Practice of Veterinary Medicine," which have r:run to the ninth and eighth editions respectively. As a fskilled veterinarian Principal Williams occupied a foremost b

place in his profession. He was often called on as an expertwitness in difficult cases and was frequently consulted byColonial Governments regarding diseases abroad. He was

editor, assisted by his son, of the Veterinary Toitrial.Principal Williams is survived by three sons and two-

daughters, his eldest son having been for some years his.partner and practical manager at the New VeterinaryCollege.Nov. 13th.

_____________

IRELAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Return of the Irish Hospital from South Alriea.IT is announced that the Dilwara, with the staff of the

Irish Hospital on board, will not arrive at Southampton untilthe morning of Nov. 19th. This will, however, allow ample-time for them to be present at the dinner of welcome at thehouse of the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin on the 24th

Death of F. J. B. Quinlan, M.D. Dub., of Dublin.Dr. F. J. B. Quinlan, who died on Nov. 8th at his residence

in Lower Fitz william- street, was a well-known physician andteacher in Dublin for the last 40 years. He was consultingphysician to St. Vincent’s Hospital for some years and Pro-fessor of Materia Medica in the Catholic University for morethan a quarter of a century. He graduated in Arts and inMedicine in 1857 and in 1862 he took the degree of M.D. Hewas a familiar figure at the meetings of the Senate of DublinUniversity and he was also a Fellow and Examiner of theRoyal College of Physicians of Ireland.

The Belfast Workhouse.The condition of the Belfast Workhouse and its general

arrangements are anything but satisfactory. It is evidentfrom the report of the meeting of the guardians on Nov. 6tb,that there is friction among the internal officials, and theinfirmary committee has sent back the plans for the exten-sion of the nurses’ homes to the architect, as they do notprovide sufficient accommodation for the necessities of thecase. A motion was proposed to the effectThat, in view of the inadequate accommodation in the house, as.

declared by the Local Government inspector’s report, the question bereferred to a sub-committee to consult with the Board’s areiiitectgs to-the changes necessary and the accommodation wanted" the report to-include a statement of accounts.

This motion, which would have tended to introduce somesystem into the arrangement of the workhouse, was lost.Instead of this there are plans for schools, laundry, bath-rooms, dining-halls, plans for extensions here and enlarge-ments there, but no real systematised plan for a complete,reorganisation of the whole institution.

The Tyrone and Fermanagh Lunatic Asylunt.At the monthly meeting of the committee of management

of this asylum, held on Nov. 8th, a report was read from themedical inspector of lunacy, Dr. E. M. Courtenay, in whichhe drew attention to the improvement in the condition of theasylum and the influence which such improvements had hadon the mental condition of the patients. Instead of noise andexcitement everyone was quiet and busy, the women beingengaged in doing light work, and there was plenty of roomfor all. Suggestions were made by the inspector forimprovements on the male side of the house, and he believedthat when the hospital for infectious diseases was completedit would be of great service to the asylum. The erection ofcottages for the male attendants was approved of. Therewere at present 658 patients in the institution and the death-rate was still high-higher, in fact, than in any other asylumin Ireland. The quiet and order prevailing in the house theinspector characterised as very praiseworthy.

Coal-gas Poisoning in Belfast.In Belfast last week there were two cases of coal-gas poison-

ing, fortunately not fatal. The present gas supplied to BelfastLS a very poor illuminant, many of the streets which areit by it being almost dark at night, but, in addition, it is

mpregnated with the so-called water-gas," and has con-sequently a large proportion of CO, which is so deadly in itseffects. The old coal-gas had a pungent smell and so

people had notice of its escape in a room, but the presentBelfast gas is not nearly so easily detected by its odour,lence its greater danger.

1466 IRELAND.-PARIS.

The Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.It is now announced, in an official letter to the Lord Mayor

of Belfast from the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, that thevisit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Belfast to laythe foundation stone of the new Royal Victoria Hospitalwhich is to commemorate Her Majesty’s Jubilee will takeplace towards the end of April, 1900. While in the north ofIreland their Royal Highnesses will stay at Mountstewartwith the Marquis of Londonderry. Various committees inconnexion with the construction of the hospital met lastweek and a good deal of important work was transacted.

The Lord C7tancellor’s Visitor in Lunacy.Dr. William Calwell, physician to the Royal Victoria Hos-

pital, Belfast, and secretary to the medical staff, has been.appointed in room of the late Dr. R. S. Smith, LordChancellor’s Visitor in Lunacy for Belfast and district. The

appointment will be regarded as very suitable by all whoknow Dr. Calwell.

The Cork North Infirmary.At the last monthly meeting of the governors of the

Cork North Infirmary applications were received from Dr.Daniel Joseph O’Mahony and Dr. Nathaniel Henry Hobartfor the post of intern surgeon. Both gentlemen heldthe positions of extern surgeons, Dr. O’Mahony beingthe senior. There was rather an acrimonious dis-cussion, and finally all of Dr. O’Mahony’s supporters,with the exception of one, withdrew from the room

and Dr. Hobart was declared elected. The discussionwas then transferred to the local press and a memberof the county council gave notice that he wouldmove that the grant of .8700 a year given by thecouncil to the infirmary he withheld if the election ofDr. Hobart should not be declared invalid. Dr. O’Mahony’sfriends urged that he ought to have been appointed as he wassenior in the extern department, while some of Dr. Hobart’ssupporters alleged that Dr. O’Mahony could not adequatelydischarge the duties of intern surgeon as he was medicalofficer to one of the city dispensaries, and the latter view wasendorsed by the existing intern staff in a joint letter whichthey addressed to the Board. At the monthly meeting heldlast week the whole question came up for discussion again.Some of the governors stated that they had received nonotification of the previous meeting, and claimed, there-fore, that the election of Dr. Hobart was null and void.After a prolonged discussion a suggestion was thrown outthat both gentlemen should be appointed. Four of thegovernors were nominated to ascertain the views of the twocandidates, and finally a decision was arrived at that both beelected, Dr. Hobart to be senior with a larger number ofbeds. It is singular what an interest the election evokedeven outside medical circles. Professor Dundon has been

.appointed extern surgeon to the infirmary.The Cork South Infirmary.

Dr. P. J. Cremen and Mr. Norman Ian Townsend have’been appointed respectively consulting physician and internphysician to the Cork South Infirmary.

Death of John Richard Burke, M.D. R.U.I., of Douglas,Co. Cork.

Last week the members of the medical profession in Corkand the citizens generally heard of the death of Mr. Richard J.Burke with sincere regret. Mr. Burke received his medicaleducation at Queen’s College, Cork, and soon afterwardswas appointed medical officer of the Douglas dispensarydistrict. Mr. Burke was the most amiable of men and madefor himself a host of friends. He had a particularly sweet,well-trained tenor voice, and was constantly in evidence atconcerts inaugurated for charitable purposes. His funeralwas a very large one. and the number of floral wreaths con-tributed by his sorrowing friends was so great that a specialhearse had to be provided to convey them.Nov. 14th.

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PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The New Department of Stomatology at the St. LouisHospital.

THE new buildings of the department of stomatology anddental surgery in the St. Louis Hospital have recently been

opened. Of late years this department has become of con-3iderable importance. In 1894, when it was open two dalsa week, the number of patients was 2000 per annum. In1898 the number had risen to 3361, and in 1899 to 5086.The want of room and the marked deficiency of the" plant" gave rise to perfectly justifiable complaints on thepart of Dr. A. Combe, the surgeon in charge. If any gravecomplications of dental origin came up for treatment such asnstufse, necrosis of the jaws, or burrowing abscesses they hadto be seen to in the operating ro 1ms allotted to the generalsurgeons who always courteously did what they could tohelp. Besides this the strict antisepsis necessary forsuch operations, especially in a hospital devoted to suchcases as are treated at St. Louis, was difficult to canyout. The new block contains a large clinical room

and an operating theatre separated by a sterilisingroom, from which sterilised water, both hot and cold,is supplied to the adjoining rooms. Here also are

stoves for sterilising instruments and dressings. In thetwo adjoining rooms there are 10 wash-hand basins andsinks with running water, together with tables of whitevitrified material on which are boilers for the sterilisation ofinstruments such as forceps. Large bow windows giveplenty of light and all the paint is white. There are fivecouches for the examination of patients and the electricinstallation is particularly full. There are lamps for use ondark days, small lamps to illuminate the mouth, a trans-

forming-board for heating cauteries off the light circuit, andin a dark room there are electric lamps for trans-illuminationof the face whereby to diagnose sinusitis and affections ofthe antrum. Opening out of the operating-room is a roomin which patients may rest after having been anaesthetised,so that in the case of out-patients they need not be sent outimmediately. The surgeons’ room is fitted up with microscopesand other apparatus. This beautiful installation is the first

complete one of the kind to be supplied to a Paris hospital.Lead Poisoning in Lapidaries.

At the meeting of the Academy of Medicine held onOct. 30th M. Fiessinger read a paper upon the subject ofLead Poisoning in Lapidaries. He pointed out that thoughthe trade of a lapidary was not usually reckoned among thosewhich expose their members to a danger of lead poisoningyet it was very important to remember that the cutting ofprecious stones employed thousands of workmen of whom alarge number daily inspired particles of lead. On the highground of the arrondissements of Nantua and of St. Claudeare a great number of such workmen-about 4000. In thecommune of Lajoux there are 200 lapidaries out of a popula-tion of 553. Some of these only work at stone-cutting inter-mittently, others, on the contrary, spend their whole time inthis work and are employed some 15 hours per diem. Allpastes, crystals, doublets, and certain precious stones suchas amethysts are cut on a leaden wheel. The wheel iswetted and sprinkled with emery powder. The lapidary startsthe wheel and applies the stone to be cut to it, when cloudsof dust arise made up of particles of emery and of lead.The stones as they ate cut are placed in a small basket ;when a sufficient number are collected the workman takesthis basket in his hand and brushes the stones with a drybrush. Clouds of lead dust are again raised. The workmanbreathes lead and his hands are also covered with lead.Poisoning shows itself most frequently in the form of colic ;afterwards come dyspepsia, hysteria, neurasthenia, nephritis,epilepsy, and anaemia. Paralysis is relatively rare. No caseof gout has been noted. The manner of living to whichmountaineers are prone no doubt accounts for this immunity.They eat very little meat and that only twice or

thrice a week ; neither do they drink wife as a rule,while they never - take it between meals. So tem-

perate a diet is certainly not enough to bring abouthepatic insufficiency, and, as Murchison pointed out,it is this which prepares the ground for gout. Climateis also a factor. These lapidaries live at an alti-tude of from 800 to 1500 metres. At such an altitudetissue-change activity is increased and elimination of wasteproducts is more easily performed than in the low country.Although when he does work at stone-cutting his hours arelong the lapidary does not spend his whole year at stone-cutting. In the summer he works in the fields and devoteshis time to raising cattle, thus leading an active life.Lapidaries, too, are aware of the dangers incident to theirtrade and take care of themselves. Wine they know to bedangerous because it favours the absorption of lead. They