1155

NEW YORK.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Execution by Electricity.PUBLIC EXCITEMENT in anticipation of the execution of

the murderer Kemmler had reached fever heat when theannouncement was made that there was another stay of theexecution. During the past year the case has been con-sidered in every possible aspect. First, the courts dis-cussed every legal phase, and finally, on appeal, the highestcourt decided that execution by electricity was constitu-tional. Then electricians representing different companiesdiscussed the various questions relating to the methods tobe pursued in execution by electricity, the ultimate objectof each company being to secure the contract of setting upits machinery in the several State prisons. The contentionbecame very bitter, and when the contract was finallyawarded the competing company which failed began to ’,,resort to measures of prevention of the execution. Mean-time the successful company erected its apparatus atgreat expense, and after many trials success seemedassured. Everything was in readiness for the execution,when the defeated company appealed to the United’States courts, and the criminal was at once taken fromthe jurisdiction of the State and the execution was

indefinitely postponed. Another move was also madeby this company, the issue of which is pending-viz., theabolition of capital punishment. A Bill is now before theLegislature of this State to accomplish that object, and ithas already passed the lower House. So execution by elec-tricity is likely to remain for some time a theoretical ratherthan a practical subject.

The International Medical Congress.The attendance of American physicians at the Berlin

Congress will be very large. We hear the note of prepara-tion in all medical circles, and as it is annually becomingmore and more the custom to spend the summer monthsabroad, the profession will seize upon this occasion of lowfares and an International Congress to make an ocean tripin unusual numbers.

Removal of the Insane from Country Houses.A Bill has just passed the Legislature of the State of

New York making it unlawful to transfer any insane personfrom a State Asylum to a county house. It also providesfor the erection of inexpensive buildings, to which are to beremoved all of the insane now in county houses. The

policy of this State was long since declared to be in favourof State care of the insane, but adequate provision wasnever made to carry out this policy until now. The reformin the care of the insane which this law will secure willprove of incalculable advantage to this class of dependants.

Medical Education in the United States.The sixth report of the Illinois State Board of Health, on

Medical Education in the United States and Canada, hasjust appeared, prepared by its secretary, Dr. John H. Rauch.To Dr. Rauch more than to any other man we owewhat progress we are making towards a higher educationin our medical colleges. The publication and wide cir-culation of these successive reports, and the provisionEn law in Illinois which prevents any educationallyunqualified person from practising in that State, exercisean influence and even a power over the schools of themost salutary character. The increase in medical schoolsduring the year is 8 ; the number of graduates in 1889 was4337 ; 27 colleges will require four years’ study, against 4in 1889; there are 7 medical colleges for women, and 2for coloured students. There is a large increase of collegesrequiring a preliminary examination of students as toeducational qualifications ; they now number 124. In 119colleges chairs of hygiene have been established, and in 114there are chairs of medical jurisprudence. The totalnumber of medical matriculants last year was 13,714. Thepercentage of graduates to matriculants was 31-6. Thework of the Illinois State Board is more and more aided byother State boards which have adopted similar rules relatingto practice. These State boards control the recognition ofdiplomas in an area embracing 18,000,000 people. Thereare also several State boards of examiners which recogniseno diploma. It appears, therefore, that there is a more oress active supervision of medical education covering a

territory inhabited by nearly one-half of the populationof the United States.New York, May 5th.

Obituary.ARTHUR JULIUS POLLOCK, M.D. ST. AND.,

F.R.C.P.LOND.

THE death of Dr. Julius Pollock on Sunday, May llth,was an altogether unexpected event. It was not generallyknown that he had for some time suffered from albuminuria,for, although he was in the habit of periodically estimatingits extent, he never seemed at all anxious concerning thepossibilities the condition presented. Keenly sensitive tocold weather, and carefully guarding himself against itsdangers, his condition gave but little anxiety to his friends.Early in the year he had a sharp attack of influenza, butfrom this he believed himself to have completely recovered.At Easter he was busily occupied by the epidemic ofmeasles at the Foundling Hospital, in addition to all hisordinary work. On Monday, May 5th, Dr. Pollock visitedhis wards as usual, but in the evening had a rigor, and on thefollowing day complained of pain in the left side. He thenconsulted one of his colleagues, butdid not seem to appreciatethe extent or degree of his illness. On the 7th he wrote lettersarranging with his colleagues to carry on his work until theend of the week, thinking it " wiser to stop in-doors for afew days." But by this time the effusion into the leftpleural cavity was considerable, and the albuminuriaincreasing rapidly. Even the few days’ illness had causedmarked wasting, and when pericarditis supervened hisstrength rapidly gave way, and he died on the morning ofSunday, May llth, from cardiac failure, in his fifty-sixthyear.

Dr. Pollock, as is well known, was a son of the late theRight Hon. Sir Frederick Pollock, Bart., Chief Baronof the Court of Exchequer. He received his medicaleducation at King’s College, and in 1861’ graduated atSt. Andrews. In 1866 he was elected assistant physicianto Charing-cross Hospital. Vacancies in the staff oc-

curred in quick succession, and with an almost uniquerapidity he became senior physician to the hospitaleight years after he first joined the staff. Duringthe earlier years of his connexion with Charing-cross,he lectured on Pathology, and subsequently on ForensicMedicine, but for the last sixteen was Lecturer on Medicine.In 1869, when he had been on the staff but three years, hewas appointed Dean of the School. This post he held forfive years. He then became Treasurer, and may almost besaid to have created this office, for in his person it has cometo be considered one of the most honourable and mostresponsible of the offices held by members of the medical staff.Dr. Pollock was a clear and incisive, but not a voluminouswriter. His " Notes on Rheumatism " are well known.Nearly all his other contributions to medical literaturewere published as lectures or as "cases" in the pages ofTHE LANCET. The shadow his death has cast is much toodeep for any just estimation of his influence to be at presentpossible. His greatest services to Charing-cross Hospitalwere rendered in his administrative capacity. On the staff hesupplied the judicial element. Himself ever leaning to thestattls qaco, he yet recognised with an almost unerring in-stinct the lines along which advance was necessary, andsought to control rather than to check. These characteris-tics, added to a warmth of manner and a degree of courtesyrarely surpassed, made him a favourite with all his juniorcolleagues. He was never too busy, never too little in-terested, to attend either to the suggestions or the grievancesof anyone, provided only that it was the affairs of theschool or of the hospital that formed the subject matter.No better representative of the staff could ever be found,and if delicate negotiations had to be conducted the votewhich entrusted them to his carewa3 invariably unanimous.Dr. Pollock’s oratorical power was of no mean order. Manyinstances of this might be given. Some years ago thesecession of a large body of sisters and nurses from St. John’sHouse divided the council of the hospital into two, for thetime, opposing sections. At the final and decisive meetingthose present will remember that no speech was moreeffective or in better taste than that of Dr. Pollock, who onthis occasion represented the views of the medical staff.On another occasion of a wholly different character a stillmore striking effect was produced. Practices had arisenamong the students which were considered detrimental toproper order and discipline. The School Committee ex-