756

exists in ordinary malt, and effects the transforma-tion of the starch of the grain into sugar, which

is the first stage in the production of alcohol.In the animal economy the digestion of starch is accom-

plished by means of a special princip’e contained in thesaliva, and when the natural secretion is either insufficient...:.n quantity or inactive, giving rise to certain forms of

dyspepsia., the deficiency may to some exent be remediedby the use of one or other of the numerous preparations ofmalt. Malt, however, is too saccharine for some gouty anddyspeptic patients, and for them Mf. Armstrong of Buxton,writing in the Liverpool Medico-Chirurgical Journal, recom-mends taka-diastase in doses of from three to five grains,given in powder with or immediately after meals. He hasused it with excellent rasults in a considerable number of

cases, both of amylaceous dyspepsia, and of the form of

gout which seems to be associated with that condition. He

finds that flatulency and acidity are greatly diminished, thatthere is less strain on the intestinal digestion, that the

gouty symptoms are mu:h relieved, and that not the slightestdiscomfort, loss of appetite, or digestive disturbance is ever produced in consequence of the treatment. 1.

THE INSPECTION OF MEAT AND MILK INCANADA AND THE UNITED STATES OF

AMERICA.

THE Provincial Board of Health of Ontario has issued,through Messrs. Warwick Brothers and Rutter, of Front-street, Toronto, a pamphlet giving a variety of informationuseful to those who are interested in the quality of our

meat-supply. The importance which the question has forthis country sufficiently appears from the fact that duringnine months of 1896 we imported 436,223 cattle, ofwhich the United States sent 308,159, and Canada

71,670; while the bacon from the United States duringthe same nina months amounted to 207,000,000 pounds.In 1896 the Legislature of Ontario passed an "Actfor the Inspection of Meat and Milk Supplies inCities and Towns," empowering municipal councils to

establish public slaughter-houses and authorising localboards of health to take measures for ascertaining the purityof public milk-supplies and the general health of the

cows ; local boards are further authorised to provide for the

testing of every such cow with tuberculin by a veterinarysurgeon. Councils or boards availing themselves of the

powers conferred by the Act are required by it to conform tothe regulations in that behalf from time to time adopted bythe Provincial Board of Health, and with a view to

encouraging the introduction of meat and milk inspectionthe Provincial Board has now published a description of aslaughter-house suitable for a town population of 5000

persons, together with a plan, an elevation, and an estimateof cost. In the testing of cows with tuberculin a 10 percent. solution of normal tuberculin is to be injected to theamount of from one to four cubic centimetres according toage of animal....... The temperature must thereafter be takenregularly every three hours for a period of from twelve tofifteen hours....... Any notable rise of temperature indicatesthe existence of tuberculosis." Cows that give the tuberculinreaction, if they are wasting and show clinical signs of lungdisease, shall be destroyed and the carcasses safely disposedof; but if they are in fair condition they may be either

fattened as speedily as possible for slaughter, or their milk,after boiling for half an hour, may be given to pigs or calves.Tne pamphlet concludes with a description of the inspectionof meat at Buffalo in the United States, and is signed byDr. P. H. Bryce, Secretary to the Provincial Board of Healthof Ontario.

THE public meeting to promote the National JennerMemorial is fixed for March 31st. The chair will be takenby the Duke of Westminster.

THE festival dinner of the Irish Schools’ and Graduates’Association will take place at the Cafe Monico on Wednes-day, March 17th, Dr. Alexander Macalister, F.R S , occupyingthe chair. Tne guest of the evening will be Lord Lister,P.R S., and amongst those present will be Sir John Gorst,Sir Algernon West, K.C.B., Professor Jebb, M.P., Mr. MarcusStone, Sir Ambrose Shea, and Professor Clifford Allbutt.

WE regret to announce the death on the 10th inst. ofDr. George Bretherton Barron of Southport. Dr. Barron,who was a member of the Council of the British Medical

Association, was an admirably typical example of the generalpractitioner of this country, and we hope to be able topublish a record cf his life and work in a future issue.

THE Medico-Psychological Association have appointedMay 3rd for the next examination for their certificate in

nursing and attending on the insane. April 5th will be thelast day upon which candidates can enter their names.Schedules may be obtained from the registrar, Dr. Spence,Burntwood Asylum, near Lichfield.

THE Festival Dinner of the National Hospital for the

Paralysed and Epileptic (Albany Memorial) will be held inthe Whitehall Rooms of the Hôtel Métropole on Friday,April 2nd, when H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, K.G., will.preside.

,

DR. G. H. DARWIN of West Didsbury, Manchester, hasbeen selected for admission as a Knight of Grace of theOrder of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England.

PROFESSOR CHARLES KELLY, M.D. Lond., has resignedthe Chair of Hygiene in King’s College, London, after atenure of office of eighteen years.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.-The Rebman Pub-lishing Company, Limited, announce that owing to a fire attheir binders a large consignment of the" American Year-Book of Medicine and Surgery," issue of 1897, edited byDr. George M. Gould, has been completely destroyed, in conse-quence of which they regret that they will be unable to deliversubscribers’ copies for about three weeks.

PRESENTATIONS TO MEDICAL MEN.-Mr. DuncanFletcher, L R.C.P., L.R.C.S. Edin., L.F.P.S. Glasg., hasbeen presented by his friends, on leaving the Isle of Man,where for fifteen months he was a medical officer atthe union Mills lunatic asylum, with a silver-mountedTantalus, containing cut-glass spirit decanters. - Mr.A. McLeod Ross, M.B, C.M.Edin., F.R.C.S. Eng.,of Aigburth-road, Liverpool, has been the recipient frommembers of the Brnnswick Class, No. 3, of the St. JohnAmbulance Association, of a handsome double set ofcarvers in a case, in appreciation of his instructive lecturesto the class. -The members of Court Prosperity, 1762,Ancient Order of Foresters, Nottingham, have presentedMr. Joseph Thompson, L.R.C.P. Lond., M.R,C.S. Eng., whohas been associated with the court for upwards oftwenty-five years as medical officer, and who is now relin-quishing that post, with a valuable sterling silver salver,beautifully engraved, with an appropriate inscription of thepresentation.-Dr. Alfred M. Saunders, on the eve of his

leaving Downby, Orkney, was entertained at dinner on the18th ult. by a number of friends at the Smithfield Inn andpresented with a large marble clock and, for Mrs. Saunders,a silver cake-basket, as testimonials of their social giftsand the professional ability and courtesy shown byhim during the seven years he had resided at Downby.-Mr. R. T. Caesar, jun., L.R.C.P. Lond,, M.R.C.S. Eng., ofMaidstone, has been the recipient of a handsome oakstationery case from the boys attending the ambulanceinstruction in connexion with Sir Charles Booth’s Trustcontinuation classes, as a token of appreciation of the courseof ambulance lectures he had given them.