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injections were well tolerated. They never gave rise toany local or general disturbance. They were very soon fol-lowed by a marked improvement in the general condition ofthe patient. He gained flesh, the appetite increased, thehectic lessened. In one case tubercular infiltration was

progressing rapidly, attended by a high temperature. Itceased to invade the lungs a fortnight after the treatmenthad been commenced. The patient is progressing favourably.He is still making two gaseous injections daily. It is

nearly three months now since he began them. On theother hand, in this as well as in other cases, the bacilli areas abundant as ever; the cough persists, and is, perhaps,more troublesome, a lessened expectoration being one of theconsequences of the treatment. Some of the cases leftCannes before I was able to form an opinion as to theultimate value of this new method, and altogether my casesare too few for me to pass judgment on it one way or theother. I believe, however, that it has done some good,certainly no harm, and with Dr. Burney Yeo I would saythat the remedy is worthy of a more extended trial, andthat something " may come out of it.

I am, Sirs, yours truly,H. BLANC, M.D., F.R.C.P.

THE PULSE.To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,—I have read Dr. Broadbent’s lectures on the Pulsevery carefully; but the good they would otherwise do meis largely lost owing to a somewhat lax phraseology. In

the first place, we are told the pulse is not an expansion ofthe artery, but simply an increase of pressure. Now thereare three typical variations in the calibre of an artery-a maximum calibre occurring at the top of the pulse, aminimum calibre at the end of the diastole, and a meancalibre somewhat midway between these, corresponding tothe mean arterial pressure. If Dr. Broadbent denies thatthe mean calibre or the minimum calibre is convertedinto the maximum calibre during the pulse, of course hedenies the existence of varying calibres at all; and thisis apparently what he means, because his explanation ofthe paise is consistent with this view. Instead of varyingcalibres, he substitutes flattening of the artery, to accountfor the pulse. I may not properly understand him, and amin doubt whether he means that an artery is only flattenedby and during the pressure of the finger on it, or whetherthe natural condition of an artery during the diastoleis one of more or less flattening. If the flattening onlyoccurs when we press with our finger, then the pulsedoes not naturally exist, for take away the pressure of thefinger and the pulse is non-existent. If. on the other hand,an artery is naturally flattened during the diastole, this isutterly inconsistent with that continuous pressure of thearteries on the blood which maintains the circulation duringthe diastole, for from the moment the cylindrical form islost pressure is practically abolished. Then we are toldthat tension and distension are almost similar terms, andmean the same thing. I find, too, by reference to my dic-tionary, that distension is given’as one of the meanings oftension, and that expansion and distension have the samemeanings attached to them. Now, according to Dr. Broad-bent, during the pulse the pressure is increased, but theexpansion of the artery is not increased. If this is so, thenthe distension is not increased, neither is the tension; andthis implies that Dr. Broadbent does not consider pressureand tension as one and the same thing. But, unfortunately,in other portions of his lectures he talks as if they were thesame thing; and between these two views those parts of hislectures relating to arterial pressure are lost on me.

I remain, Sirs, yours obediently,W. NICHOLSON.

RAGS AS CARRIERS OF INFECTION.To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,—I read the able article on the above subject whichappeared in your issue of the 30th ult., and, with your per-mission, would point out that uncleaned rags are oftenemployed for making the flock of the flock bed. InAustralia there are many flock-bed manufactories, and I donot know of one in which the rags are washed or otherwise

cleaned before their conversion into flock. I am told thatin England " it does not pay " to do more than " shake out" the dirt adhering to the rags before putting them in themachine that converts them into that material which com-poses the soft beds of millions. Exceptions to this practicedoubtless exist, but I think medical authority should bebrought to bear upon flock-bed makers who neglect tocleanse the raw material upon which they start.

I am, Sirs, yours truly,R. W. E. MACIVOR, F.I.C.,F.R.G.S., &c.,

Late Member of the Central Board of Health, Victoria.

LIVERPOOL.

(From our own Correspondent.)

THE EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY.

THE report of the Eye and Ear Infirmary, just published,shows that in 1886 there were 6109 new eye cases and 2352new ear cases treated; 68 cataract extractions were performed,in 18 of which irrigation by Mr. McKeown’s method was em-ployed. This plan finds increasing favour with the surgicalstaff in cases of sticky cortex. In a considerable numberof unripe cataracts a preliminary iridectomy and artificialmaturation by stroking the cornea has been found to givegood results.

THE TOXTETH PARK CASE.

A chemical examination of the stomach of the deceasedgirl, and of such of its contents as could be obtained, wasmade by Mr. Edward Davies, F.C.S., of the Liverpool RoyalInstitution, but with a negative result, none of the mineralpoisons being found, except a small quantity of bismuthwhich had been given medicinally. The inference, there-fore, is that death resulted from natural causes.

THE CLINICAL STUDY OF SMALL-POX.

Dr. Hope, assistant medical officer of health, has beenappointed by the City Council visiting physician at thePark-hill Hospital. This will afford facilities to the studentsof the Medical Faculty of the Liverpool University Collegeto become conversant with small-pox in its various phases,Dr. Hope, who is the lecturer on hygiene, being most anxiousthat such opportunities should not be lost.

HOSPITAL SATURDAY.

The 7th inst. being Hospital Saturday, boxes and cageswere freely displayed in all parts of the city. Out of over1000 boxes only 112 have been returned, the contents ofwhich amounted to £397. There is every prospect of theresult being considerably in advance of that obtained last year.

Liverpool, May 10th.

NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES.

(From our own Correspondent.)

’ NEWCASTLE JUBILEE EXHIBITION.

ON Saturday last I was, as your representative, privilegedto a private view of our Industrial Exhibition, now all butcomplete, and we can, in the words of our local poet, Dr.Hodgkin, in his very fine opening ode-

.

" Upon a bleak Northumbrian moorBehold a palace raised."

For palace it is, regarded either as to cost, extent, wealth,or variety of exhibits. Much as I was prepared to seewonders from the articles in our daily press, I must saythat all my anticipations were far exceeded when in thebuilding. First as to the site. It is in a park forming partof the Town Moor, and in the northern suburbs ofour city. It is only one mile from the CentralStation, tramcars passing the building at very shortintervals. The space at the disposal of the Execu-tive Committee covers thirty-one and a half acres, or alittle in excess of that provided for the late exhibition atEdinburgh. There is thus provided ample room and vergeenough, not merely for the exhibition, but for the show ofthe Royal Agricultural Society of England, which, for thethird time in its history will be held in the month of Julynext in Newcastle. As regards the building, it is con-

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structed upon the systems adopted at the exhibitions atSouth Kensington. It contains a theatre to seat 1500persons, art galleries, machinery in motion, and an internalgarden which covers two and a half acres, while around itruns a pleasant verandah giving shelter from the sun

.and rain. The band stand is surrounded by pleasantwalks and well-arranged parterres. The exhibits are full- of interest, and many have a special interest for our pro-fession, which 1 shall notice in future letters.

NEW HOSPITAL FOR SUNDERLAND.

It is now more than four years ago since the pressing need-of anew hospital for fever at Sunderland was pointed outin THE LANCET’S sanitary report on the borough, and it is.only just now we read that a commencement is to be madeby the laying of the foundation stone, which is fixed totake place next Saturday.

NEWCASTLE INFIRMARY.

At the last quarterly meeting of the infirmary, a grati-fying report was read, showing that the income hadincreased and the expenditure diminished. Dr. Philip-.son moved the following resolution, which was carriedunanimously: " That in consideration of the life governors,the annual subscribers, and weekly contributors havingagreed to relinquish their privilege of recommendingpatients, with the object of making the hospital accessibleto the public, Her Majesty the Queen be respectfully invitedto allow the institution in the future to be designated the" Royal Infirmary." It is as well to say that it is to be hopedthat the governors will not allow their zeal for economy inthe management to extend so far as to deprive patients ofany necessary comfort. That there is a tendency that waywill be apparent when I mention that a governor took-strong exception to the amount expended on aerated waters-about £12, I believe for the quarter; indeed, he went so far.as to say aerated waters "were a great humbug," and askedwhy the patients were not given "cold water"; but if thisgovernor had the misfortune to suffer from surgical fever,with irritability of the stomach, he would be in a betterposition to appreciate the value of aerated waters.

NEWCASTLE DISPENSARY.

A curious dispute took place at the late meeting of thespecial court of governors called for the purpose of electinga physician. I told you in my last letter that Dr. Beatley,the late resident physician, was the selected candidate,canvassing being prohibited. The chairman ruled that, therebeing only one name put forth by the Committee of Selec-tion, the election could not take place. There was agood deal said about canvassing, and, although the letter ofthe rule may have been adhered to, it was plain that thespirit had been somewhat infringed. Candidates havenot canvassed, but the governors have been influenced byfriends, and of course the candidate who gets the most.governors’ influence is elected. As it was, the governorspresent held that, as there was only one name before them,there was no choice, and so the election was postponed.

TYNEMOUTH INFIRMARY.

At a meeting of the Building Committee of the TynemouthInfirmary, held in the Town Hall, North Shields, on Fridaylast, the architect presented his plans for the new building,and it was decided to ask the Dowager Duchess of North-umberland to perform the ceremony of laying the founda-tion stone on the Queen’s Jubilee day.Newcastle-on-Tyne, May 9th.

EDINBURGH.

(From our own Correspondent.)

THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS.

CONSIDERABLE interest in Edinburgh has centred in therecent election of the representative of this College on the’General Medical Council, in the room of the late Dr. Ruther-ford Haldane. The election of Dr. Batty Tuke has been tomany a surprise, and it indicates clearly the direction in’which public opinion is now gravitating amongst theFellows. There can be little doubt that Dr. Tuke owes hiselection to something approaching a declaration of inde-pendence among the younger Fellows, and that his returnshows a tendency to a new departure in the internal policyof the College. He has frequently identified himself with

movements of a liberalising nature, and that he is the choiceof a majority of the electors shows that such changes in thedirection of the College procedure would be received with alarge measure of satisfaction. In other respects also theCollege is to be congratulated on its choice, for Dr. Tuke isgenerally recognised as a man of exceptional ability in theconduct of affairs, and his wide popularity with the pro-fession in Edinburgh can but react favourably in the in-terests of the corporation he now represents.

THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS’ LIBRARY ANDLABORATORIES.

I have had occasion in previous letters to notice thesplendid library equipments possessed by the College, andthe generous terms on which it placed these advantageswithin the reach of medical men engaged in study andresearch. Of late a rule of the College has been rigor-ously insisted on that indicates a reactionary feelingon the part of the College Council. All applicants forthe use of the library not possessing the privileges ofFellowship are now refused access to the books unlessthey are accompanied by a Fellow in propriâ persond.This results in the exclusion of many of our most diligentworkers from their only local sources of information on specialpoints in medical literature, and the continuance of such astate of matters must react very disadvantageously upon thevitality of the Edinburgh school. This is not, as far as isknown, the result of any abuse of the previous generosity of theCollege, but seems to have arisen from some increased senseof jealous proprietorship almost inconceivable in a leadingmedical corporate body. There are hopes that the Collegewill recognise the widespread feeling now abroad on thissubject, and will add the grace of liberality to the virtue ofloyally maintaining the present effectiveness of its library.In respect to its new laboratories, the College merits thehighest praise for its efforts towards creating a greaterearnestness in original research. The laboratories are

rapidly approaching completeness under the auspices ofDr. Woodhead, who has handsome provision supplied himfor making the equipment of the institution complete inevery respect. The tariff proposed in relation to work doneis no less generous, as it is understood that medical menare to be accommodated as workers free of charge and withthe ordinary laboratory necessities supplied at the expenseof the institution. In a few weeks these well-furnishedrooms will be open for the prosecution of research.THE COUNCIL ASSESSORSHIP IN THE UNIVERSITY COURT.

On Tuesday the election of an assessor in the Uni-versity Court was concluded, and resulted in the returnof Dr. Heron Watson by a majority of 587 votes, in agross poll of over 5000 in number.Edinburgh, May llth.

DUBLIN.

(From our own Correspondent.)

THE CARMICHAEL PRIZES.

A MEETING of the Royal College of Surgeons was held onMonday last to hear the awards of the judges (Messrs.Robert McDonnell, P. C. Smyley, and S. Chaplin) selected toadjudicate the Carmichael Prize Essay. Sir William Stokes,President of the College, who occupied the chair, saidthat however opinions might differ as regarded eitherthe wisdom or the utility of the design of the founderof these prizes, yet it was satisfactory to learn thatthe great majority of the essays sent in possessed very con-siderable merit. More especially was this the case with theessay which had obtained the first place. It was a workof exceptional merit, and the judges had stated that itwas one likely to be of great utility as a work of refer-ence. The first prize has been awarded to Mr. WalterRivington of London, for his essay on "Every Man is aDebtor to his Profession," and the second prize to Mr. T.Laffan, for his paper on "Aristides." It is a circumstanceworth noting that on the last occasion when the Carmichaelprizes were awarded both these successful essayists respec-tively obtained first and second prizes.

MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION.A meeting of those interested took place at the Ledwich

School of Medicine last week to consider the proposed