1360 I,OOKING BACK.—MEDICINE AND THE LAW.

Looking Back.FROM

THE LANCET, SATURDAY, Nov. 15th, 1828.

CENTRAL POINT OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.—DIVISION OF

THE NERVES, AND SUBSEQUENT RE-UNION OF

THEIR ENDS.

M. Flourens has recently endeavoured to determine thelimits of the central and vital point of the nervous system.From various experiments, he infers that this point beginsat the origin of the eighth pair, and extends no further thanone-fifth or one-sixth part of an inch towards the medullaoblongata. On dividing the brain above this point it is

deprived of life, but the spinal chord continues to live ; on

dividing the spinal chord below it, the reverse takes place.In another memoir M. Flourens gives the result of his ex-

periments on the division of the nerves, and the subsequentre-union of their ends. In most cases, the re-union was com-plete, and by it the nerves recovered even their sensibilityand influence on motion. M. Flourens being desirous ofknowing whether the ends of two different nerves wouldunite, having brought them into close contact, kept them inthis situation, and found that, in all the cases, completeunion took place; in some of them the function of the nerveswas restored ; in others it remained imperfect ; but, in all,the irritation of the lower was communicated to the uppernerve, so that we can hardly doubt of the formation of realnervous substance between the divided ends.

MEDICINE AND THE LAW.

Medical Men under no Obligation to attend Patients.AT a recent inquest at Wolverhampton evidence was given

that a medical man who was called upon and asked to attendthe deceased late at night refused on the ground that he wastoo tired, and as the jury seemed to be inclined to condemnhim for his refusal the coroner very rightly pointed out thata medical man is under no obligation to respond to thesummons of any person who may desire his attendance. Twoor three other facts mentioned in this case are worth noting.The practitioner in question had on a previous occasionattended the same patient and had received for his adviceand a bottle of medicine the sum of ls. The deceased hadrecently been removed by his relatives from the workhouse.The coroner, after hearing the evidence, told the jury thatthere were other medical men in the district who might havebeen asked to attend but were not ; that he had no doubtthat medical aid could have made no difference to the

result; and that the patient would have been better attendedhad he been allowed to stay in the workhouse. There aremembers of the public who blame a medical practitioner insuch circumstances as those described but who forget thathe has his living to earn and his own health and the welfareof his patients to consider; that the Poor-law is organisedwith a view to provide medical aid to the poor ; and thatif medical men are to convert themselves, so to speak, into" charitable institutions even these as a rule are allowedto regulate their alms according to their resources or theirdiscretion and are not compelled to relieve all applicantswithout power to refuse or to discriminate.

The Depositions and Declarations of DeceasedPersons.

In the proceedings now pending against a prisoner chargedwith murder by the performance of an illegal operationcounsel for the Treasury has called attention to the difficultywhich besets the reception of evidence as to statementsmade by the deceased and bearing on the charge. Thf

depositions of a deceased witness or of one too ill to attendthe trial may be read in court if the evidence has originallybeen given on oath before a magistrate in the presence ojthe accused and with full opportunity for cross-examination,These conditions naturally must often be impossible to fulfilin the case of a person dying as the result of a crime,

On the other hand, evidence of a statement, or as it is

popularly called, a I I dying declaration," made by a deceasedperson whose death is the subject of inquiry upon a charge ofmurder or of manslaughter may be received if the deceasedwhen making the statement did so with a " settled hopelessexpectation of death." Anyone to whom such a statementis proved to have been made can give evidence with regardto it. The condition, however, mentioned above that thepatient knows himself to be dying and has no hope of

recovery is not easily established. As Mr. Muir, appearingfor the Treasury in the case referred to above, observed,medical men naturally abstain from telling their patientsthat they are dying even when there is no hope of their

recovery, and he might have added that persons to whomsuch information might be given are frequently not ina condition to volunteer a very definite account of whathas happened, nor would it be humane to ply them withquestions. The admissibility of statements of this latterclass is, of course, based on the belief that a person in thepresence of imminent death would shrink from telling anuntruth, although not pat upon his oath or subjected tocross-examination.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OFENGLAND.

AN ordinary meeting of the Council was held on Nov. 8tb,Mr. HENRY MORRIS, the President, being in the chair.

It was resolved to issue diplomas of Membership to 120successful candidates.

A letter was read from Mr. R. J. Godlee and Mr. C. H.Golding-Bird reporting their attendance as the Repre-sentatives of the College at the second meeting of thedelegates of the various learned societies interested in thevivisection laws.A letter was read from the Royal Commission on Vivi-

section inquiring whether the College was desirous ofnominating a representative to give evidence before them.It was resolved to request the President to represent theCollege. Professor Howard Marsh was elected theRepresentative of the College on the Court of Governorsof the University of Sheffield.A letter was read from Dr. Winslow Anderson of San

Francisco reporting that his diploma of Membership, datedJuly 30th, 1891, was destroyed by fire on April 19th, 1906,at San Francisco during the general conflagration in thatcity, requesting that he may be granted a certificate of

having received the diploma of Member, and inclosing anaffidavit in support of his application. It was resolved toissue the certificate as requested.The opinion of Mr. Danckwerts, K.C., in reference to the

admission of women to the diplomas of the College wasreceived. It was resolved to refer the opinion to a com-mittee to consider and report.The agenda paper for the annual meeting of Fellows and

Members on Nov. 15th was approved.The PRESIDENT reported that the Bradshaw Lecture

would be delivered by Mr. Edmund Owen on Wednesday,Dec. 12th, at 5 P.M., and that the subject of the lecturewould be, " Cancer : its Treatment by Modern Methods."

ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF EDINBURGH.—A quarterly meeting of the Royal College of Physicians ofEdinburgh was held on Nov. 6th, Dr. J. Playfair, thePresident, being in the chair. Robert Cranston Low, M.B.,Ch.B. Edin., was introduced and took his seat as a Fellowof the College. Robert Brooks Popham, M.R.C.P.Edin.,F.L.S., of West Ealing, was admitted by ballot to theFellowship of the College. On a ballot the followingcandidates were admitted to the Membership of the Collegeafter examination: William Herbert Fawcett, L.R.C.P.Edin.,F.R.C.S.Edin., D.P.H., of Bournemouth; Robert DurwardClarkson, M.D., C.M., B.Sc.Edin., of Falkirk; RobertWilliam Johnstone, M.B., Ch.B. Edin., of Edinburgh ; andHugh Angus Stewart, M.B., Ch.B. Edin., of Pitlochry. TheRegistrar reported that since the last quarterly meeting ofthe College 49 persons had obtained the licence of the Collegeby examination. Dr. Alexander Goodall was recognised asa lecturer on physiology.

1361GAS STOVES: AN INQUIRY INTO THEIR GENERAL EFFICIENCY.

GAS STOVES:AN EXPERIMENTAL INQUIRY RELATING TO THEIR

THERMAL EFFICIENCY AND TO HYGIENIC

CONSIDERATIONS.

REPORT BY THE COAL SMOKE ABATEMENT SOCIETY.

THE tests were commenced on May 5th and completedon June 6th, 1906. The report is divided into three partsas follows : Part I. contains a general description of

the tests and the methods adopted, and also of the

stoves; Part II. contains the results of the tests, chieflyin tabular form ; and Part III. is a general considerationof the results and a comparison between gas and coalfires.

I.-A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TESTS AND METHODSADOPTED AND ALSO OF THE STOVES.

The rooms in which the tests were carried out weresituated round a square court in the new Public Offices,Westminster, and all the rooms were on the same floor andof approximately the same cubic capacity, containing about4000 cubic feet each. The walls were of brick, unplastered ;the floors and ceilings of coke breeze concrete, laid betweeniron girders, no flooring boards being in position. Each roomhad one window, which fitted practically airtight, and waskept closed, and one door opening into a continuous corridorrunning completely round the square. The doors were soarranged that they would not close completely, but each hada stop fitted which gave half an inch clear space on the latchside when closed, thus allowing air from the corridor toenter the rooms, and this being the only inlet to the roomsthe corridor thermometer recorded the temperature of theinlet to the rooms. There was no furniture in the rooms.The flues were all 68 feet high and 9 inches in diameter,being lined throughout with 9’inch glazed stoneware pipe.The conditions were therefore exceptionally favourable forobtaining fair tests, since they were alike for all the stoves.Each stove was tested for a period of eight hours con-

tinuously, being lighted at 9 A.M. and turned out at 5 P.M.The pressure of the gas was kept constant at twelve-tenthsof an inch of water. The meters used were specially con-structed five-light meters arranged to register tenths of acubic foot. The flues from the gas stoves passed through asheet-iron plate, fixed against the opening of the main stone-ware flues, and closing them completely, except the openingleft for the stove flues. The entrance of air to the mainflues was therefore entirely prevented except that which

passed through the stoves.There were 25 different makes of gas stove tested, a short

description of each of which follows :-The "Whitby," by Messrs. R. and A. Main (49, Queen Vietorice-atreet,

London, E.C.). Maker’s n2sraber, oG’1.-This stove was fitted with a3½-inch diameter flue four feet long. Clay ball fuel made incan-descent by Bunsen burners. The stove stood upon its own base inthe room.

The "Barless," by Planet Co. (2, Stoneeratter-street, London, E. C.).Maker’s number, 177 BF interior.—This was rather like a well fire, letinto the wall of the room, fitted with duplex burners of the Bunsentype, and clay ball fuel. The main flue was connected directly withthe back of the stove, there being no small flue. The fire was fitted ’,with a sliding canopy with a large fire-brick back. The canopy could ’.,,be pushed home so as to close the flue completely, and was thus asource of danger.The "Waverley," by Richmond (132, Queen Victoria-street, London,

E.C.). Maker’s n2snaber, 2486.—Fitted with 3-inch diameter flue fourfeet long. Clay ball fuel heated by Bunsen burners. Fitted with asmall burner on top of stove for boiling.The "Ilford," by Richmond. Maker’s number, 215.—Fitted with a

3-inch diameter flue four feet long. Also with a hot-air chamber. Clayball fuel heated by Bunsen burners.The " Cambridge," by Richmond. Maker’s n2cnzber, 2569.—Condenser

stove, no flue, but intended to condense the products of combustioninto a liquid, which collects in a pan plaoed under the stove. Hal twolarge Argand burners with glass chimneys, giving a white light. Theproducts of combustion are caused to pass through several verticalhollow columns, where some of the water produced by combustioncondenses and trickles down the columns, where it is intended todissolve the injurious products of combustion and prevent theirpassage into the room. There are 12 such hollow columns in thisstove.The "Syphon," by Clarke (58, Holborn Viaduct, E.C.). Maker’s

number, 2.-Similar in principle to the previous stove and intended

to condense its own products ; it has, therefore, no flue. Fittedwith one Argand burner with a glass chimney and gives a whiteflame. Condensation takes place as before in vertical hollow columns,of which there are two.The "Syphon Radiator," by Clarke. Maker’s number, 26.—This also is

a condensing stove of similar principle to the two last but is fitted aswell with a cast-iron radiator on the top. Has two Argand burnersgiving a white light, and eight condensing columns.The " Trident," by Davis (00, Cambe1’well-road, London, S.E.).

Maker’s number, D.-Fitted with a four-inch flue four feet long.Has a peculiar arrangement of burner called the "Trident" whichconsists of several vertical tubes running from inlet pipe to top of fireand perforated by holes at short intervals. In front of these tubes ishung a curtain made from asbestos, which becomes incandescent onlighting the jets from the vertical tubes, the flame being an atmos-pheric one. The curtain is not continuous but somewhat like a netand made from asbestos fibre twisted into vertical wires.The "Albany," by Davis.-Fitted with a 4-inch flue two feet long.

Clay ball fuel heated by Bunsen burners. Has two large heatingchambers and duplex burners, each section regulated independently.The "Beaufort," by Davis.-Fitted with a 4-inch flue two feet long.

Has a large heating chamber like the "Albany" and twin burners,each section acting independently. Clay ball fuel and Bunsenflames.

The "L.D." by Davis.-Has a 3-inch flue four feet long. Clay ballfuel and Bunsen burners.The "Jersey," by Fletcher (134, Queen Victoria-street, London, E.C.).

-Fitted with a 4-inch flue three feet long. Clay ball fuel and Bunsenburners.

The "Victory," by the Cannon Co. (57, Holborn Viaduct, E.C.).Maker’s number, 2108.—Fitted with a 3-inch flue four feet long.Has a heating chamber and clay ball fuel heated by Bunsenburners.The " King," by Wright (21, Queen Victoria-street, London, E.C.).

Maker’s number, B2010.—Fitted with a 3-inch flue three feet long.Clay ball fuel and Bunsen burners. Has also a "heat-savingapparatus."The "Grosvenor," by the Cannon Co. Maker’s number, 2142.—Fitted

with a 3½-inch flue three feet long. Clay ball fuel and Bunsen burners.Has internal heating chambers.The "Kent," by Davis.-Has a 4-inch flue two feet long, a large heat-

ing chamber, and duplex burners with independent regulating cocks,and clay ball fuel heated by Bunsen flames.The "Victory" (donble burner) by the Comom Co.-Has a 3-inch

flue four feet long, fire brick bottom, with cellular back brick and largehot-air chamber. Clay ball fuel and Bunsen burners.The "Iris," by the Cannon Co. Maker’s number, 2101.-Has a

3;[-inch flue four feet long and clay ball fuel with Bunsen burner.The "Chelsea." by Main. Maker’s nutaber, 1020.—Has a 3--inch flue.

seven feet long, waste heat extractors, and clay ball fuel with Bunsenburners.The " Royal Sovereigia," by Richmond -Has a 4-inch flue six feet

long, a heat-saving apparatus, and clay ball fuel heated by Bunsenburners.

The "Delpht," by Wilsons (76, Qtteen-street, Cheapside, London, E.C.).-Fitted with a 3-inch flue four feet long. Has a thin layer of clayball fuel, exposing a large surface to the room. Is arranged to fig-against a wall and is provided with two adjustable ventilators in thetop through which air may be admitted to the main flue. These werenot used during the test.The "Uranus," by the Planet Co. Maker’s number, 360.-Fitted with

a 4-inch flue four feet long. Clay ball fuel and Bunsen burners. It has.a canopy, fitted with radiating gills, placed over the fire.The I’ India," by Fletcher. Maker’s rzumber, 12.-Has a 32-inch flue

three feet long, and heats by means of sprays of cast iron madeincandescent by Bunsen flames.The "Edward VII.," by the Cannon Co.-A condensing stove without

a flue. Has a large radiator of vertical hollow columns, similar tothose used for hot-water radiators; there are ten of these columns.The fire is clay ball fuel heated by Bunsen burners and the productsof combustion are intended to pass into the radiator where the water,condensing, runs down into a tray placed beneath, as in the con-densers previously described.The " Coronation," by the Cannon Co. Maker’s nttmber, 6.-A con-

denser somewhat similar to the last, but with only six columns. Thefire consists of Bunsen burners playing under the columns, and it isquite inclosed and invisible from the outside until a door is lifted.

The tests were directed towards finding out (a) the thermalefficiency of the stoves, considered as apparatus for heatingthe air of rooms ; and (b) the effect of the stoves upon theair of the rooms thus heated, considered from a hygienicpoint of view. The first was therefore mainly a question ofgas burnt and heat given to the air passed through the room.The second involved an analysis of the air of the rooms forinjurious products of combustion.The following is a list of the data obtained for the purpose

of determining the thermal efficiency. 1. The number ofcubic feet of gas burnt per hour during the test. 2. Thecomposition of the gas burnt and its calorific value. 3. Thetemperature of the air in the corridor whence air wasadmitted to the rooms. 4. The temperature produced inthe rooms under test: (a) at the level of six feet above thefloor and six inches from the wall opposite to the fire ; (b) at18 inches below the ceiling in the centre of the rooms ; and(0) at six feet in front of the fire and six inches above thefloor, exposed to the radiant heat. 5. The temperature ofthe flue gases issuing from the top of the flue taken by a