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year, 3914; between one and two years, 1674; between twoand five years, 1320; between five and ten years, 523 ;between ten and fifteen years, 239--total, 7670. The totalnumber of deaths of all ages in the city for 1884 was 14,382.It will be at once apparent what a large proportion themortality of infants and children bears to the total number,and that institutions whose object it is to reduce thismortality deserve support.

THE EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY.

Mr. Shadford Walker has resigned the office of surgeon tothe Eye and Ear Infirmary, his term of office having ex-pired. It would be impossible to give any idea of theextent to which the institution is indebted to Mr. Walkerfor his long and valuable services, first as assistant-surgeon,subsequently as surgeon. A greater contrast than the

position of the infirmary as it was when he was firstappointed to it and as it is now could hardly be imagined;and it is only justice to him to say that the change islargely due to his energy and influence. During the year1884 the new eye cases numbered 7647, the new ear cases2455; the former received 29,175 attendances, the latter11,624. There were also 721 patients received into theinfirmary as in-patients; the important operations per-formed among them numbering 460. The infirmary will stillhave Mr. Walker’s services as consulting surgeon.

FEVER IN LIVERPOOL.

At the last meeting of the Health Committee it wasstated that the following cases of infectious disease had beenreported:-Fever 14, of which 11 were removed to hospital;small-pox 6, of which 5 were removed to hospital; scarlatina38, of which 5 were removed to hospital. The report of thecity hospital for small-pox cases was for the week endingJan. 22nd as follows :-Remaining in hospital at date of lastreport, 23; admitted since, 11; discharged convalescent, 4;died, 1; remaining in hospital, 29.

Liverpool, Jan. 27th.________________

NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES.

(From our own Correspondent.)

VOTE OF THANKS TO THE NEWCASTLE POLICE SURGEON.

AT the last meeting of the Council the subject of theresignation of Mr. S. W. Rayne came up for consideration,and in accepting that gentleman’s resignation the Counciltendered a unanimous vote of thanks to him for his

services, during which there has not been a single case ofcomplaint against him. Mr. Rayne has served the town aspolice-surgeon for the long period of forty years, duringwhich he has seen more than one complete change in theCouncil. The vote was ordered to be engrossed on vellum.The committee at the same meeting recommended the electionof Mr. Baumgartner to the vacant office.

LEAD-POISONING IN WORKPEOPLE AT GATESHEAD.

The subject of lead-poisoning, which has come into ratherfrequent prominence in our district of late, came before theGateshead guardians last week. It appears that a girlemployed at one of our large lead works had been orderedto the workhouse with symptoms of chronic lead-poisoning.The chairman said that a short while ago they had reportedtwo other cases to the Local Government Board, but asthese arose prior to the new Act coming into operationnothing could be done. The present case, however, wouldbe one for the Local Government Board to deal with, and itwas agreed to report it.

GERMS AND DISEASE.

Dr. AleAlister of Cambridge recently lectured at New-castle on the subject of "Germs and Disease." The lecturer,after glancing at the figurative use of the word " germ," andthe old germ theory so-called, pointed out that the patholo-gist and disease investigator of the present day looked forthe cause of disease or disorder of the body in some disturb-ing agency introduced from without. Their attention thusbecame fixed on the disturbing entity, whatever it mightbe. The influences might be analysed into three groups,than which it was hardly possible to conceive anythingsimpler-viz., mechanical, chemical, and thermal. Therewas another group of disturbing agents whose action wasmuch more complex, and which had not yet been reduced

to these simple classes or categories. He meant the parasitesof the body. The human body sustained at all times anenormous number of parasites, both animal and vegetable.The animal were less harmful than the vegetable. Some ofthe plants, so to call them, did no harm; others had veryslight and local effects; and others invaded the whole system,took it captive, and caused widespread mischief. It wasto these last that the lecturer principally alluded by theterm " germs," and he showed that our knowledge of theselast had greatly extended during the last fifteen or twentyyears, owing principally to the aid afforded by the micro-scope. He then propounded the question, In what waydo these germs set up disease ? and said we were on the-border of the unknown, and in a region in whichduring the next hundred years probably great discoverieswould be made. The lecturer next alluded to the knownrelation between plant or germ life and zymotic diseases,and said there was overwhelming evidence that the micro-phytes stood in relation of cause and effect to disease; whatwas required to raise it to a point of absolute certaintyremained to be pointed out. In the class of zymotic dis-eases the chain of proof, though nearly closed, could not bepositively connected, owing to the insusceptibility of thelower animals to inoculation; on this point no doubt clearerlight would be shed in a few years. In conclusion, Dr.McAlister said one of the great objects of modern medicinewas the aim to render the whole class of plants concernedin zymotic disease extinct. He was in favour of muchmore stringent laws as to isolation, notification, &c. Thelecturer illustrated his subject very ably, and was listenedto throughout with great attention.Newcastle-on-Tyne, Jan. 21st.

SCOTLAND.

(From our own Correspondent.)

INVITATION TO THE BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION TOMEET IN GLASGOW.

THE discussion as to the advisability of inviting the above-Association to meet in Glasgow at an early date has nowended in the declaration by the University authorities thatthey are willing to co-operate in sending such an invitationfor the year 1888. As the Faculty of Physicians and Sur-geons has also indicated a desire to co-operate in the sameundertaking, it may be regarded as tolerably certain that inthe above-mentioned year the Association will meet in this.city.

HEREDITY IN CRIME.

Something very like heredity in crime was illustrated ina case which came before one of the Glasgow police-courtsa few days ago. A boy of twelve years of age was foundguilty of stealing a pot of marmalade from a cart in thestreet, and was sentenced to four years’ detention on boarda training ship. In the course of the evidence it came outthat at present the boy’s mother, grandmother, and uncleare in prison, while his father has deserted him.

ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY.

The Senatus of Aberdeen University have had under con-sideration the advisability of enlarging the universitybuildings, principally in connexion with the medical school,so as to adapt it to the growing demands on the presentinsufficient accommodation.

GLASGOW ROYAL INFIRMARY.

The most exciting event of the past week was the annualmeeting of contributors to the funds of the Glasgow RoyahInfirmary, at which the medical element in the managementfor once scored a distinct success. After a very satisfactorygeneral and financial report had been considered and adopted,a question was raised for settlement which ought never tohave gone before a lay jury at all-namely, Is enteric feverinfectious, and is it judicious to treat it in the wards of ageneral hospital alongside other patients, more especiallywhen there exists in the city a special hospital for thereception of such cases? The chairman of the managingboard, together with a few other lay directors, went deadagainst the expressed view of the entire staff and of themedical directors in the matter, and wished to follow whatis described as the invariable practice of the infirmary for

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ninety years, in treating such cases within the institution.On being defeated at the managing board, these laydirectors determined to take the unprecedented step of

bringing this strictly medical question before the generalmeeting of contributors, with the result, however, that thepublic have endorsed the very reasonable attitude taken up bythe medical directors and staff-namely, that in future suchcases should not be admitted for treatment in the wards ofthe Royal Infirmary, an institution in which the treatmentof zymotic diseases was expressly given up some tenyears ago.

_______ __

IRELAND.

(From our own Correspondent.)

MR. RAWDON MACNAMARA has been re-elected repre-sentative of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland onthe General Medical Council.

BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting of the Dublin Branch of thisAssociation takes place this week at the College of Phy-sicians, when the President-elect will deliver an address,and the office bearers will be elected by ballot for the ensuingyear. Notice has been given by Dr. C. F. Knight that hewill move the following resolution : "That in the opinionof this meeting it is desirable that three or four meetings ofthis branch be held during the year for the discussion ofmatters of professional interest, in addition to the annualmeeting, and that the incoming Council be requested tomake the requisite arrangements." The annual dinner willtake place in the evening in the College Hall.

AMPUTATION AT THE HIP.

This operation was performed on Tuesday last at theAdelaide Hospital, Dublin, by Mr. J. Kellock Barton. Thepatient, a girl about fifteen years of age, had undergone anoperation for excision. Mr. Barton adopted FurneauxJordan’s modified operation of skin flaps, with circularincision, which has a good deal to recommend it, moreparticularly as regards the facility for securing the femoral.In this case the operation was rendered tedious and trouble-some by the firm ankylosis which existed, and which obligedllr. Barton to saw the bone across before completingthe operation. Esmarch’s bandage was used instead of Davy’slever. The operation was performed under strict antisepticprecautions.

MEATH HOSPITAL. DUBLIN.The governors of this old and valuable institution have

issued a special appeal for funds, and it is to be feared,should a favourable response not be forthcoming, that aportion of the wards will have to be closed, at all events fora time. The hospital account has been overdrawn by about£1500, but this sum and nearly X4000 of invested capitalhave been expended in carrying out certain improvementswhich were absolutely necessary. These include a disin-fecting chamber, lavatories and dressing-rooms attached tothe fever wards, and two observation wards for the receptionof doubtful cases.

STEEVENS’ HOSPITAL, DUBLIN.An election for a resident surgeon, in the room of Mr.

Myles, took place last week, when, of five candidateswho competed, Mr. John Neill, of the Ledwich School ofMedicine, was elected unanimously. The selection was ajudicious one, as Mr. Neill is a very successful privateteacher, and has earned golden opinions from all with whomhe has come in contact during his professional career.

COUNTY KILDARE INFIRMARY.

At Naas Court-house last week a presentment for X600 forthe maintenance of the county infirmary being taken up, aPoor-law guardian objected to the grant as a waste of publicmoney, and said the majority of the cesspayers were opposedto it. On a division being taken, the motion recommendingthe grant was adopted by a narrow majority. I congratulateDr. Chaplin, a gentleman of high professional attainments,who is the surgeon to the institution, on the result, andregard the opposition to the grant as most unjustifiable.County infirmaries throughout Ireland have done muchgood in the past, and their extinction would be a matter ofregret to all unprejudiced persons.

Dublin, Jan. 27th.

PARIS.

(From our Paris Correspondent.)

THE SUSPECTED CASES OF POISONING BY COLCHICIN ANDARSENIC.

As mentioned in my letter of last week, the body of thewoman who was supposed to have been poisoned by herhusband with colchicin has been exhumed and taken to the

Morgue for examination, together with three jars filled withthe earth taken from around the coffin. The examinationwas performed by Professor Brouardel, assisted by Dr.Locquay, and in the presence of Al. Ogier, a chemical expert.The report of Professor Brouardel (the details of which havenot yet been published) having advised a chemical analysisof the viscera, these have been forwarded in sealed jars tothe toxicological laboratory of the Prefecture of Police. A

short time ago another case of suspected poisoning wasbrought to the notice of the judicial authorities, whichoccurred under circumstances almost similar to thosementioned in connexion with the florist referred to above.In this case, the supposed criminal, who is a clockmakerby trade, and also a dabbler in chemistry, is suspected ofhaving poisoned his first wife with the view of taking asecond. The examination was performed by ProfessorBrouardel and M. Lhotte, a chemical expert, the result ofwhich was the discovery of undeniable traces of arsenic.M. Lhotte also analysed the earth from around the coffinby means of Marsh’s apparatus, but no trace of the poisonwas found in it; neither was there any discovered in themixtures usually employed by undertakers to preserve thebody. The clockmaker is under close arrest on account ofthe strange disappearance of his servant, who is supposedto have been murdered by him and the body made awaywith, as no traces of her are to be found. He is kept inignorance of his being suspected of having poisoned hiswife, and of the proceedings that have taken place in con-nexion with it. He will be eventually examined on boththese charges.

THERMOMETRIC RECORDS.

The weather just now is extremely cold in Paris, thethermometer having marked yesterday at 7 A.M. 230 F.,at 11 A.M. 28.4°, and at 1 P.M. 32°. To-day it is ratherinclined to thaw. In connexion with this subject, I

may mention that the bulletin of the Paris Observatorynotes that on October 25th last the coldest locality inEurope was found to be St. Maur, just outside Paris,where the thermometer registered 23° ; it was the onlyobservatory in Europe the thermometer of which stoodbelow freezing point; whereas at Haparanda, on theGulf of Bothnia, it marked nearly 25°. At Bodo the ther-mometer stood at 194°. At St. Petersburg and Moscowthe temperature was four degrees higher than that atSt. Maur. At Stornoway, in the north of Scotland, and in agreat part of the northern regions, the thermometer regis-tered 50°.

DRUGS FOR THE PARIS HOSPITALS.

The estimate of the quantity of medicines &c. requiredfor the use of the patients in the Paris hospitals for the pre-sent year is as follows :—24,000 kilogrammes of liquoriceroot, 15,000 of cinchona, 80,000 of linseed, 6000 of mustard,15,000 of cod-liver oil, 20,000 of glycerine, 3000 of orange-flower water, 250 of opium, 2000 of bromide of potassium,50 of nitrate of silver, 500 of the subnitrate of bismuth,60 of sulphate of quinine, 12,000 of carbolic acid, 10,000 ofchloral. In addition to these drugs, the hospitals are

annually supplied with 30,000 fresh lemons and 40,000leeches. Fresh herbs are estimated to cost 1946 francs; dryherbs, 45,000 francs.

HEALTH OF VICTOR HUGO.

It was reported that Victor Hugo’s health was in rather aprecarious state. On inquiry I learned that the illustriouspoet was merely suffering from an ordinary " cold," which,however, at his time of life, he being an octogenarian,would cause some anxiety, particularly as he had beenseized by a troublesome cough. He is, I am glad to say,quite recovered, for he has resumed his usual occupationsand his weekly receptions.

Paris, Jan. 27th.