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praise on the examiners, and at the same time, in these daysof turbulence and reform, give to the College a very greatan irresistible power in elevating the importance of itsdiplomas in the estimation of the world, and their justveneration by the recipients of them. I should more

especially wish to see an equal fairness shown in theexaminations for the diploma of Fellow, and particularly inthe Primary examination. Your powerful and weightyarticle in exposing the glaring unfairness in the papers setlast May, did much, I believe, to bring about a markedchange. There is the greatest difference between stringencyand unfairness, which I fear have only too frequently beenassociated. It is devoutly to be hoped that the examinerswill continue in the noble course which they have chosen,and that we shall see the value of the diploma of Fellow,and more especially the Primary, increased tenfold by thefact of its becoming a fairer and more honourable examina-tion. I am, Sir, yours faithfully,London, April 30th, 1883. AN OBSERVER.

"THE PICRIC ACID TEST FOR ALBUMEN."To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SiR,-In spite of my father’s distinct statement thatneither he nor I was aware of the existence of Dr. Kirk’sreference to picric acid as a test for albumen in the GlasgowMedical Journal until he informed us of it, Dr. Kirk stillpersists in insinuating that I was cognisant of his work pub-lished two years ago, and that my acquaintance therewith,and the first employment of picric acid by my father aboutthat time, stand to one another in the relation of cause andeffect. His only ground for expressing this belief is that Iread and commented on a paper of his on the "Frothing ofUrine," a paper in which picric acid is not even mentioned,and which was published in the G’to .Mscco Journalsome months after that on the picric acid. This statementof Dr. Kirk’s happens to be true, but the inference drawn byhim that I "dipped into the Glasgow Medical Journal" isfalse. The paper in question was cut out and sent to me forreview, and until within the last three days I had neverseen a volume or an entire number of the Glasgow MedicalJournal. But now, having for the first time referred toDr. Kirk’s paper on albumen, I find that he begins his.account of picric acid as a test in the following terms:-"Picric acid is said to be a delicate test for albumen, andin all instances in which I have compared it with theothers I have found it so." Here, at any rate, is no claimof originality; but it now appears that his sole claim forpriority is based upon his having proposed what he callsthe "contact method," which consists in bringing the picricacid solution into contact with the albuminous urine " with-out allowing any admixture of the two liquids."A few days since Dr. Johnson received from a country

practioner a letter in which he described his failure to findalbumen in an unquestionably albuminous urine in conse

quence of having at first allowed the picric acid solution tofloat on the surface without admixture of the two fluids.This result proves that it is possible with extreme care to sofar fulfil the apparently impossible instructions of Dr. Kirkas to ensure complete failure of the test. The fact is that,as everyone must have observed who has used the test at all,a rather large proportion of saturated solution of picric acidmust be mixed with an albuminous solution in order toensure coagulation of the albumen. Therefore, if Dr. Kirk’soriginal method be carefully carried out, the test could notfail to fall back into that obscurity which was its fate beforeDr. Johnson elaborated and described the best method ofapplying it. I am, Sir, yours truly,King’s College, April 30th, 1883. G. STILLINGFLEET JOHNSON.

LIVERPOOL.(From a Correspondent.)

THE INFIRMARY FOR CHILDREN.

THis excellent charity commenced in 1851 as a dispensary,and only out-patients were seen until 1856, when a housewas taken and fitted up as a hospital, with eight beds. In1869 a new infirmary was erected in Myrtle-street, a leadingthoroughfare, and it is one of the most prominent objects in

the city. The number of beds is seventy, and during theyear 1882 the number of in-patients was 730. The out-patients numbered 10,602, while the daily attendancesamounted to a total of 29,464. Increased accommodationbeing urgently needed, and there being ward space for tenbeds, the Countess of Sefton, one of the lady patronesses hascollected over £1000 to provide and start the working ofthese beds. The committee have decided to open theward at once, and new and increased subscriptions are

coming in.TWO REMARKABLE SURGICAL CASES.

In the Northern Hospital there are now under Mr. Puzey’scare two cases illustrating the very different effects whichmay be produced by the same cause-i.e., alighting on thefeet when falling from a great height. In one case thepatient, a middle-aged foreign seaman, got out of a windowwhen suffering from erysipelas with slight delirium anddropped forty or fifty feet on to some stone pavement. Heescaped with a fracture of the condyles of the right femurand a sprain of the left ankle. This occurred six weeks ago,and the case has progressed without a bad symptom. Inthe other case the patient, a healthy young Irishman, ina sudden fit of delirium (after heavy drinking) jumped froma considerable height from a lodging-house window. Hemust have come down direct on his heels. On admission hisfeet were so swollen that it was impossible to decide posi.tively as to the exact amount of damage done; hut crepituswas readily detected in the region of the astragalus and oscalcis of both feet, and the tension was so great that it wasfeared that both feet would slough. In the right foot thishas occurred, and the separation of a large slough from theheel and posterior part of the sole disclosed extensive com.minution of the os calcis and vertical fissure of the astragalus.Several large pieces of the os calcis have been removed andmore will come away, but the wound is clean and the patientin good condition. The other foot has done well, no slough.ing has occurred, and the fractures are uniting.

INSTRUCTION IN AMBULANCE DUTY.

The annual course of ambulance lectures to the membersof the Liverpool Brigade of the Royal Naval Artillery Volun.teers, which commenced on March 2nd at the School of Medi-cine, was concluded on the 20th inst. The class evinced thegreatest interest in the practical and other instructionafforded them by Dr. A. Bernard, the lecturer for this session;and a few weeks ago those members of the City Police Forcewho have undergone instruction in ambulance drill from Dr.A. Cresswell Rich were examined by the GovernmentInspector and acquitted themselves very creditably.

MANCHESTER.(From a Correspondent.)

THE annual report of St. Mary’s Hospital has just beenissued. Some time ago the board were compelled to reducetemporarily the number of occupied beds, in consequenceof the depressed condition of the finances. This difficultyhas been got over by the energy and influence of the vice-chairman of the hospital, Duncan Matheson, Esq., who col-lected over £2000 amongst his friends. It is to be hoped thatthe usefulness and success of this old and important charity willnot be seriously crippled for want of the necessary funds. Areference to the report shows that there have been upwardsof2000 more patients treated during the last year than in anyprevious year since its foundation. The following figuresshow the number of patients in the various departments:-In-patients, 446; maternity patients attended, 3243; out-patients, 10,667 ; home patients, 1540. Total number ofoperations performed in the hospital, 124, of which 31 werecases of ovariotomy.An interesting meeting of the Medico-Ethical Association

was held on Friday evening last, under the presidency ofDr. Lloyd Roberts, when a paper on an Epidemic of

PuerperalFeverinaManchesterSuburbanDistrict,consideredfrom an ethical point of view, was read by Dr. SamuelBuckley. There was a full attendance of members, and thediscussion was of considerable interest. An opinion wasexpressed by several members that by thorough ablutionand complete antiseptic precautions the dangers and risksof infection and contagion may be obviated. I hear that areport of the meeting is to be sent to THE LANCET.