1354 NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES.-SCOTLAND.

simultaneously will be avoided.-The Hulme Healthy HomesSociety held their inaugural meeting last week. Dr. Collins,the indefatigable honorary secretary, had evidently takenconsiderable trouble to secure both a large audience and awell-arranged programme for their amusement. ProfessorLeech, M.D , of the Owens College, presided, and indicatedthe lines on which the operations of the society should becarried on. He pointed to the great success achieved by theolder sister society in Ancoats and recommended that a work-ing committee should be formed who should divide themselvesinto small subcommittees and apportion the whole district ofHulme among them.-The Angel Meadow Healthy HomesSociety likewise held their opening meeting on Thursdaynight. Several members of the city council were present atthe meeting, and one of them took the chair. A pleasantlecture was delivered to the poor people of the district, whowere evidently greatly interested in this new project for theirbenefit. It is much to be desired that similar societies shouldbe organised in others parts of our rapidly growing city.Nov. 21st.

NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Nervcastle and Gateshead.

THROUGH the munificence of Lord Armstrong and of thlate Mr. William Dinning, engineer and naturalist of Newcastle, the Hancock Museum of the Natural History Societyof Newcastle is shortly to receive a very handsome additionMr. Dinning left some time ago some rare fossils to tb{museum on the condition that the Society provided cases forthem, but as the Society was without means for this purposeit was unable to avail itself of the legacy. Now LorcArmstrong has stepped in and generously given the money-£ 1500-required for the purpose.

Infectious -Disease.The medical officer of health has reported a somewhai

serious outbreak of scarlet fever in Newcastle. This so far isfairly well confined to the west end of the city, where influenzaalso is now very prevalent. Gateshead, too, is suffering frominfluenza and is not free from diphtheria.

The Tees Valley.Mr. Barry’s report on the late outbreak of enteric fever in

the Tees Valley (whereby such towns as Darlington, Stocktonand Middlesbrough were shown to have been infected bythe pollution of the Tees water and notably by pollu-tions from Barnard Castle) has produced a good effect, as

the.Barnard Castle sanitary a,uthority has given the necessarynotice to have the sewage of the district diverted from theTees. -With regard to the water-supply of Morpeth, the LocalGovernment inspector has made a favourable report based onthe analysis of Professor Frankland. He agrees with themedical officer of health for Morpeth that the source-

namely, the bore-hole in the market-place-must always belooked upon with suspicion owing to the possibilities ofcontamination.-The ex-mayor of Stockton (Major Ropner)has generously apportioned his salary among the medicalcharities of the town.

Sunde7’land.

The Sunderland Sanitary Reform Association held its firstmeeting last week. There was a good attendance, and itwas stated that Sunderland should be one of the healthiesttowns in the kingdom. To this the town clerk demurred,saying that the geographical position of Sunderland, exposedas it was on the north-east coast, with a clay subsoil and allthe liability attaching to it as a seaport, to the importationsof disease, precluded that happy condition ; but it is thestrong opinion of many inhabitants that the sanitary con-dition of their town can he improved, and with this objectthey have established the Association.

Effects o f the late Gale.The late gale has crowded our hospitals with accidents.

From the Solway to the Tyne and from the Tweed to theHumber severe surgical cases have been brought in daily,and the resources of our institutions have been well tried.New castle-on.Tyne, Nov. 22nd.

SCOTLAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Health Lectures in Edinburgh.ON Saturday last Professor McFadyean delivered the last

of his three lectures on "Diseases of Animals Transmissible! to Man " Principal Whalley of the Royal Veterinary College’

of Edinburgh occupied the chair. The subject the lecturer: specially dealt with in this lecture was the diseases caused

by vegetable parasites or germs which man may acquire by: means of meat or milk. The first of these taken up was, anthrax. He pointed out the character of the organism and

its spores, and how animals became infected. The flesh ofanimals dead from anthrax was dangerous if taken as food,but the danger in this country was less than it appearedto be because, as a rule, the temperature was lower thanwas required for the formation of spores, and it was

the spores which were most dangerous, as they were

not destroyed in the stomach. A considerable numberof anthrax carcases reached the market, but the sendingsuch flesh for sale was a crime for which a fine was no

adequate punishment. The more common mode of infec-tion to man was through skinning and dressing animals deadfrom the disease, malignant pustules resulting from inoculationthrough a scratch or abrasion. Occasionally infection wasthrough the lungs. the spores being inhaled, as in wool-sorter’s disease. For the prevention of human anthrax thepublic health authorities were to be looked to to keep allinfected flesh out of the market by a thorough system of meatinspection. There were many places where the system ofinspection in force gave no guarantee that the flesh of anthraxanimals would not find its way into the market. He referredto the prevention of infection by inoculation. The lecturerthen referred to actinomycosis. This disease occurred mostfrequently in cattle, but man was liable to it. It was

improbable that the disease was communicated to man fromcattle. Cattle contracted it probably from straw on which thegerm was growing, and this was most likely to be the source-of infection in man, so that chewing a straw might not be asharmless as farm labourers regarded it. He next dealt withtuberculosis, and referred to its prevalence in cattle and inman ; to the experiments made in France in 1865 and 1868,which proved that it could be experimentally transmittedfrom one to another, and from man to animals ; and to thediscovery by Koch in 1882 of the bacillus of tubercle.These discoveries gave rise to much discussion amongstsanitarians as to the danger of tuberculous meat, one

section maintaining that no measure short of seizureand total destruction of every carcase affected in anydegree with tuberculosis would sufficiently safeguard the

public health, and the other section protesting thatno such wholesale destruction was required, since only theactually diseased parts in a tuberculous animal contained thegerms. At the International Congress for the study oftuberculosis, which met in Paris in 1888, the advocates of totalseizure had it nearly all their own way. This decisionawakened public interest, and the Government appointed aRoyal Commission to report on the subject. Their report hadnot yet been received. Meanwhile we should consider thedanger and decide upon what measures ought to be taken toprotect ourselves. Between 10 and 15 per cent. of allcattle slaughtered for human food in this country were

affected. Of the cows in Edinburgh giving milk probablyover 20 per cent. were tuberculous ; of these only a smallproportion of cases had their udders affected. He pointed outthe danger of eating raw tuberculous meat, which was not asa rule done by people in this country. With referenceto milk he pointed out its dangers when the udder was tuber-culous. Unless the udder was tuberculous he had found byexperiment that the milk was not dangerous. The most com-plete security against infection from milk was obtained bysteaming it before use. The custom of steaming or boilingmilk had not come into general use because the flavour of themilk was distasteful to many people. It might be said thatsince, by merely abstaining from the use of under-done meatand raw milk, everyone can absolutely protect himself againstthe danger to which he is exposed, the public healthauthorities had no duty in the matter beyond disseminatingknowledge. This, however, he did not think the public wouldagree to, and it would be reasonably expected that ifthere were any simple and not too expensive means of

1355IRELAND.-PARIS.

keeping tubercle bacilli out of the market those who weretrusted to look after the public health would see that these,means were put inforce. He then referred to the means that

might be taken to keep tuberculous meat out of the marketby inspection and the abolition of private slaughter-houses.With regard to unwholesome milk, compulsory inspection ofdairy cows at short intervals by trained inspectors was neces--sary. He further pointed out how the prevalence of tubercleamongst cattle might be reduced. He then biiefly referredto foot and mouth disease, which occurred from time to timeas an epidemic among human beings by means of milk fromaffected cows. Boiling or steaming made the milk safe.

Meat-poisoning, as distinguished from meat-infection, was thelast point dwelt upon, and he pointed out its nature, and howthe former differed from the latter.

Lord Roberts in Edinburgh.During Lord Roberts’ visit to Edinburgh last week the

University conferred upon him the honorary degree of L L. D.After the ceremony the students took him through part of the- town in an open carriage from which the horses had beenremoved.

Post of Librarian to the Aberdeen University.The candidates for this post have now been reduced to a

short list of two gentlemen-viz., Mr. P. J. Anderson,M.A., LL.B., and Mr. A. W. Robertson, M. A. Mr. Andersonwas till recently Lord Rector’s Assessor in the University- Court, and has for a number of years shown an active interestin the welfare of the University. Mr. Robertson has donegood work as the Curator of the Aberdeen Public Library.

The Election of Lord Rector to the Aberdeen University.The election of the Lord Rector of the University took

.place on Saturday, the 18th inst., when the Marquis of Huntlywas re-elected. The voting was conducted in the usual time-,honoured manner, the students being divided into fournations, according to their respective birthplaces, and in three.,of these Lord Huntly had a majority. The fourth, at thesame time the smallest in number of voters, showed itself tobe in favour of the other candidate, Dr. Wm. Hunter, MP.,by a majority of 15 votes. In the evening the students, tothe number of about 500, held the customary torchlight pro-cession, which was an unqualified success. Many wore fancydress, and the effect under the light of the flambeaux was,grotesque and at the same time most picturesque as theymarched through the chief streets of the city.

IRELAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Ulster Medical Society.ON Wednesday, Nov. 15th, the first meeting of the present

session of the Ulster Medical Society was held, when Dr.Whitaker vacated the chair, which was taken by the new Pre-sident, Professor Byers, M.D. The latter delivered his intro-

ductory address, which dealt principally with obstetrical andgynæcological questions. At its conclusion he was accorded a

hearty vote of thanks on the motion of Dr. Redfern, secondedby Dr. O’Neill. The annual dinner is to be held on Nov. 30th.

Portadown Water-supply.The engineers appointed by the Town Commissioners of

Portadown to report on the relative merits of the various,schemes for supplying the town with water recommend that’the supply be taken from the river Bann, immediately aboveWhitecoat Point, as the water is, on analysis, found to begood and is unlimited, and as this is the cheapest possible.

Children’s Hospital, Belfast.The following changes have taken place in consequence of

the resignation of the senior physician, who has been placedon the consulting staff. Dr. Howard Sinclair becomesphysician, and Dr. S. B. Smyth has been transferred fromthe assistant surgeoncy to the assistant physicianship.After a very keen contest Dr. J. S. Morrow was on Friday,Nov. 17tb, elected assistant surgeon.

Belfast Royal Hospital.The annual meeting of the friends of this charity was held

on Monday, and from the report I learn that during the yearthere were 2992 intern patients in the Royal, Convalescent,Consumptive, and Children’s Hospitals, while during the same

period 21,749 extern cases were treated. The death-rate aftersurgical operations was 4 7 per cent. Chloroform was adminis-tered 171 times, ether 20 times, the A.C.E. mixture 12 times,and methylene 33 times ; 170 students were in attendanceduring the winter aad 97 during the summer session. Witha view to improving the clinical teaching and to keeping arecord of the history of all the cases admitted to the hospital,Dr. Calwell has been appointed registrar. The financial yearcommenced with a balance in favour of the hospital ofoC414138 4d. and ends with a deficiency of C145 13s. ld. Theexpenditure for the year has been .E8815 6s. 6d., and thereceipts were £9605 Os. ld. While the current account shows asmall debt, a substantial addition has been made to the in-vestments, which now stand at oC24,715 15s. lld. for the RoyalHospital, oC8740 for the Convalescent Home and Children’sHospital, and oC6588 10s. for the Consumptive Department,making a total of oC40,044 5s. lld. Dr. Lindsay, who sub-mitted and moved the adoption of the medical report, saidthat the staff felt very strongly on the question if theenlargement of the hospital, because if the increase in thedemands upon the institution continued much longer it wouldbe quite unable to meet them. Comparing the last year’swork with that of a decade ago (1883), there had been 2404intern patients as against 1599 in 1883, and 21,749 externpatients as against 10,514 in 1883.

Deat7a of Dr. Courtenay.It is with great regret that I announce the death from

influenza, on Nov. 19th, of one of the oldest medical practi-tioners in Ulster, Dr. Thomas Courtenay of Galgorm, Baily-mena, co. Antrim. Dr. Courtenay became a M. R. C. S. Eng. in1836 and an M. D. Glasg. in 1846. He was for a very lengthenedperiod medical officer of the Galgorm dispensary district andat the time of his decease was eighty-three years of age.He was greatly respected in the district for his kindness,skill, and extreme individuality of character.Nov. 22nd.

PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Dz-aodoforvz and the Treatment of Chancre.EVERY surgeon must have arrived at the conclusion that

as a dressing for soft chancres nothing equals iodoform ; butthe odour of this valuable compound militates greatly againstits use, and attempts have accordingly been made to replaceit by such iodine compounds as aristol, antiseptol, &c. Effortshave again been made to cover the odour of iodoform bymeans of coumarin, otto of rose, balsam of Peru, &c. Havewe at last discovered the long-looked-for succedaneumin di-iodoform ? MM. Maquenne and Tainel have beenrecently engaged in investigating the properties of thisnew substance, which is an iodide of carbon, its ultimateanalysis yielding: carbon, 4 62 ; iodine, 95 ’38. It is freefrom any trace of hydrogen and is remarkably rich iniodine. It is insoluble in water and only slightly so inalcohol and ether ; it is easily soluble in chloroform,sulphide of carbon, benzene, and especially hot toluene. It

crystallises in fine prismatic needles, which are quite distinctfrom the hexagonal scales of iodoform. It remains prac-tically odoutless while it is kept in the dark. Exposed tothe light it turns brown and disengages gradually a charac-teiistic but slight odour. For this reason it is well to keepit in coloured bottles. It is a very stable compound, resistingthe action of boiling nitric acid. Hot alcoholic solution of

potassium alone decomposes it with formation of iodide ofpotassium. Di-iodoform is prepared by acting on periodateof acetylene with iodine in excess, as also by the action ofliquor potassas and iodine on barium carbide held in suspen-sion in benzene or chloroform. M. Hallopeau is engaged instudying its therapeutical effects in his skin wards at St.Louis. He has tried it in cases of soft chancres and finds itseffects to be identical with those of iodoform. A propos ofthe local treatment of simple chancres, Dr. Balzer of theHopital du Midi expresses himself as highly satisfied withthe following method : wash the surface with a 1 in 1000solution of corrosive sublimate or in a solution of boric acid,and then apply to the chancre on a thin dossil of ungreasedcotton-wool some europhene. The surface soon becomes red

1 Societe de Therapeutique, Nov. 8th. 1893.