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haemorrhage. This was the cause of death. A verdict in

accordance with this evidence was returned. The coroner

censured Mr. Wells, pointing out that he (the coroner)had in his order made a special note to the effectthat the principal organs were to be examined. Mr. Wellshad not done this and he should disallow his expenses.Mr. Wells replied that he considered he had found enoughevidence in the lungs as to the cause of death and, more-over, the post-mortem room was anything but luxurious.We do not think for a moment that Mr. Wells wishedto mislead the jury, but there is no doubt that he did not

perform the post-mortem examination strictly in accord-ance with the coroner’s instructions.

BARBER’S ANTISEPSIS.

THE choice of an antiseptic is a matter of some importanceto the hairdresser since his customers commonly expect himto be a man who can furnish them with a so-called

hair tonic or wash to improve the condition of the scalpand to prevent dandruff or scurf. It is a matter ofstill greater importance to the public, as unwittingly thebarber may be administering a hair-wash possessingdangerous properties. Seborrhcea (dandruff) is a con- !,dition caused by a micro-organism and an antisepticis therefore indicated in such a case. There are no

diplomas granted to the barber with a view of qualifyinghim for his business and he is not generally a man possessingany knowledge of pharmacy. He should on no account

therefore be tempted to employ highly poisonous antiseptics.Yet a solution of corrosive sublimate is a favourite applicationwith not a few. In the majority of cases the hairdresser isquite ignorant of the dangerous nature of such a preparation,but under certain conditions, as in abrasions, mercurywould be readily absorbed and mercurialism might result.Corrosive sublimate should never be used for the

purpose, and carbolic acid and other corrosives should

be avoided, especially as there are a great number of

.equally effective and comparatively non-poisonous antisepticsto choose from. Such, for example, are salicylate of soda,benzoate of soda, tincture of gum benzoin, borax, beta

naphthol, and resorcin, with which can be combined suchpleasant aromatic as well as antiseptic oils, as eucalyptusand thymol. -

NEW YORK PORT SANITARY DISTRICT.

DR. A. H. DOTY, the health officer of the port,sremarks in his annual report for 1897 that during thatyear 220,186 immigrants arrived in the United Statesand of this number no less than 192,004 disembarkedat New York. It is interesting to observe that nearlyhalf the total number of foreign vessels arriving at NewYork during the year were British, but we notice alsothat a very large number of immigrants are carried byGerman lines. The total number of immigrants arriving atNew York varies enormously year by year. In 1891 therewere 445,290 ; in 1892, 388,486; in 1893, 364,700; in 1894,188,164; in 1895, 258,560 ; in 1896, 252,350; and in 1897,192,004. The great falling off in 1894 was caused by the preva-lence of cholera in Europe which interfered very markedly withthe tide of immigration. As regards the inspection of vesselsarriving at New York Dr. Doty states that the immigrantsare in all cases examined, but that on the transatlantic ormail steamers the crews and saloon passengers are not as arule inspected, the deposition of the captain and surgeonbeing accepted. If, however, a suspicious case of infectiousdisease has occurred on the voyage, or is detected on arrival,a thorough examination is made, as is also the case whenthe vessel comes from an infected port, more especially fromone where yellow fever is present. Owing to the preva-lence of this latter disease at Panama during 1897 and the

occurrence of cases on board vessels bound for New Yorka sharp look-out was kept. The patients were removedto Swinburne Island Hospital and the remaining steeragepassengers were transferred to Hoffman Island for observa-tion during five days, the crews being allowed to pro-ceed in the ship to the docks where they also were keptunder observation. Every vessel arriving from Panama

during the’prevalence of yellow fever there was disinfected.So, too, with regard to persons from Havana it was deter-mined to insist upon a medical examination prior to

departure. If those wishing to sail were natives or had hadyellow fever they were allowed to sail, but otherwise theywere kept under observation for five days. The ships’ crewswere not allowed on shore at Havana. Vessels arriving fromBrazil when yellow fever was present were detained at NewYork for four or five hours only, as the length of the passagewas regarded as sufficient" quarantine." The cabin and

forecastle, the clothing of the crews, and the bedding were,however, disinfected in all cases. We are glad to hear thata bacteriological laboratory has been erected on SwinburneIsland and that some useful work is being done thereon.

THE JERSEY MEDICAL SOCIETY AND

TUBERCULOSIS.

THE Jersey Medical Society recently appointed a com-

mittee to examine into the question of human and bovinetuberculosis in the island. The report is now published andthe committee find as follows. In the town of St. Helierwhich was chosen instead of the whole island on account ofthe imperfection of country death registers twenty yearsago the tuberculous death-rate from 1872 to 1876 inclusivewas 542, being a mortality of 4’2 per 1000 living perannum and of 182’5 per 1000 deaths, reckoning the

population at 27,000. From 1892 to 1896 inclusive thetotal of tuberculous deaths was 305, being a mortalityper 1000 living of 1-05 per annum and 106-57 per 1000

deaths, the population being reckoned at 29,000. Asto bovine tuberculosis the committee find that it can hardlybe said to exist. It must be remembered that the ChannelIsland States have instituted State slaughter-houses and

recommend that all meat should be killed there and strictlyexamined. The committee would like to see this regulationmore strictly enforced than at present. In London we havenot got as far as that yet. 833 years ago the ChannelIslands conquered England. It is time that we followedour conquerors’ example.

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DANGEROUS INCOMPATIBLES.

AN important case, but with a sad sequel, has been reportedto us by a correspondent in Johannesburg. The death of a

young woman was caused by the administration of a

medicine containing liquor strychnise in conjunction withliquor arsenicalis. We do not know the precise circum-stances of the case, but it should be instrumental in drawingserious attention to the question as to whether such a com-bination should be given together in a mixture in a bottle.Of course the alkali of the liquor arsenicalis precipitatesthe strychnine in the form of the pure alkaloid, andthe residue, which may amount to an excessively poisonousdose, may be taken in the last dose in the bottle. We haveno hesitation in saying that such a mixture shouldnever be dispensed, although we find it stated in books on

dispensing that " liquor strychnine and liquor arsenicalisare sometimes prescribed together. In this form the alkaliof the latter precipitates the strychnine, so that a shake-the-bottle label must be used." 1 The risk, we con-

sider, is too great to countenance such a mixture being

1 Vide " The Art of Dispensing," fourth edition, 1889, page 195,published at the offices of the Chemist and Druggist, 42, Cannon-street,