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SEWERAGE AND DRAINAGE CONSTRUCTION AND CESSPOOL EMPTYING AT CANNES.
251
fulfilled by the free use of any ointment that and of danger to health. But an empty cesspool-freshly contains an antiseptic substance. Practically, I find emptied-is many more times dangerous to health; the full An ointment may cesspool has only the surface skinned over by scum ; an that this is just what takes place. be powerless to cure a patch of ringworm, but will empty cesspool exposes the entire area of bottom and sides, at once prevent its increase. However tedious the cure which gives off putrid gases in tenfold volume, and proof ringworm may be, there is no difficulty in at once bably in tenfold strength for mischief. It is, therefore, a arresting its spread on the scalp. That this can be done by great mistake to disturb cesspools during the season with the mere mechanical effects of fat is shown by an experiment the idea of cleansing them ; far better to leave them alone. I made. A boy, six years old, was brought to me with two I would sooner live in the rowdiest district of America patches of ringworm on the vertex, each about the size of a during the severest revolver practice along the streets than " Let sleeping dogs I to his mother the nature of the experi- in Cannes at cesspool emptying time. ment I wished to make-namely, to observe whether the alone. The municipal authority of Cannes ought to understand fungus would die if air were excluded as perfectly as could be done, and she willingly consented to carry out the treat- that large sewers and large drains are not necessary, but ment. For two months the patches were kept covered with sewers and drains proportioned to the work required to be fat melted with a sufficient quantity of white wax to give done-namely, to receive all refuse water and excreta at the mixture consistence at the temperature of the skin. once, and transmit the same to some outlet where they may During these two months the patches of ringworm remained be disposed of without causing nuisance. The sewers and absolutely stationary. The spread of the disease was at drains should be true in form and gradients, sound, tight, once arrested, although the spores present in the diseased and smooth, and in working use they should remain absohair-follicles still retained their vitality. The boy had a lutely clean. There must be no deposit in any part of the brother and two sisters, under the age of puberty, with whom system. he had constant intercourse, and no precautions were taken The best sewerage and drainage works, such as are indi beyond his wearing a cotton skull-cap ; but none of the cated, will be cheaper, far cheaper, than the large coarse Conothers took the disease then or afterwards, when stimulating tinental sewers usually constructed. The system should be ointments were applied in order to effect a cure. well devised on plans, with full details, and a full and clear Whatever other treatment I adopt in ringworm, I invariably estimate made before starting. Theworksshould then be comcombine it with the free use of some ointment, and if my pleted as a whole, not a portion now and another portion instructions in this respect are carried out I have no fear of subsequently. the disease either spreading on the head of the patient or Scavenging.-It is a mistake to contract for public being communicated to other children with whom he comes scavenging. It is a municipal work, and ought to be perin contact. In cases in young children I find the free use formed by a municipal establishment, for the following of sulphur ointment frequently sufficient both for protection reasons : A contractor must make a living out of his conand cure, and in older children, in whom the greater depth tract. If he puts in a low tender he will shirk his work. of the hair-follicles necessitates more active stimulation, as If he obtains a good contract, and the season is favourable, by the application of Coster’s paste (or, better still, the solu- he will pocket a good round sum. If the season proves tion of the iodine in creasote, as recommended by Mr. Mor- unfavourable he will do as little as possible to save his rant Baker-from two drachms to an ounce), I again use pocket. Fines are no good; they are not a remedy for sulphur ointment as a protective between the applications. neglected scavenging or a satisfaction to the general sufferFor children in whom, from age or strong development of ing who wantclean streets and roads. the hair, sulphur ointment does not stimulate sufficiently, Those who own property and make fortunes at these but in whom the application of strong remedies does not health resorts, Cannes, Mentone, and other similar places, in the first instance seem justifiable, diluted citrine oint- had better look to their pocket interests in time or the ment, or ointments containing sulphur, citrine ointment English will not stay to be poisoned. Grumbling John and carbolic acid in varying proportions, as recommended Bulls are domestic animals, and though they will pay by Mr. Alder Smith in his useful and practical monograph, liberally for discomforts, they will not submit their families which produce may be tried in the first instance. But, in any and every to the deadly risks of enduring nuisances " case, keep the patches covered with ointment. "preventable diseases." The fable of " Killing the Goose I am, Sir, yours truly, If these simple precautions are carried out, and a well- is being repeated. ROBERT RAWLINSON, fitting skull-cap worn, there is no difficulty in boys attending RAWLINSON, C.B. Lancaster Lodge, West Brompton, Feb. 1882. school and carrying on their education other than the æsthetic one of having the head covered. With boys from eleven to thirteen years of age the unsightliness of a skullTHE MILITIA SURGEONS. cap may sometimes be a small premium to pay for the To the Editor of THE LANCET. their of school terms unbroken. advantage having I am, Sir, your obedient servant, SIR,—You are aware that some months ago I addressed a GEORGE THIN, M.D. circular to the militia surgeons of the United Kingdom, 1882. Jan. Queen Anne-street, W., 31st, asking them for subscriptions towards a movement that was for to the Government, by means of a SEWERAGE AND DRAINAGE CONSTRUCTION intendedof applying to the retiring pensions granted by obtain petition rights, AND CESSPOOL EMPTYING AT CANNES. several Acts of Parliament (and none of which were repealed To the Editor of THE LANCET. until 1875) to all militia surgeons who had served conSIR,—Will you again allow me through your journal to tinuously for twenty years or upwards, or who were retired offer a few words of advice, warning, and instruction on from age or infirmities. From all surgeons who had been or were about to be retired, I suggested a subscription sanitary works and scavenging to the local authorities of retired, of E5, as they were likely to be more immediately benefited, Cannes. The number of the former was and from all others £1. In the first place, it is possible to sewer Cannes in such about 30, and of the latter 150. I regret to state that this manner as to remove safely all the sewage as rapidly as appeal met with but scant support, only ten of the thirty formed and transmitted to the drains. It is also possible to subscribing E5, two subscribed £3 3s., five subscribed E22s., and twenty Eleach. so construct, lay, and ventilate these sewers and drains that Having submitted our case to two eminent Queen’s all air from such sewers and drains shall be dispersed into we were advised that from certain technical counsel, the external atmosphere, so as not to cause nuisance or reasons we could not proceed for a petition of rights, but that a petition to the House of Commons properly prepared, endanger health. It is not possible to empty cesspools of putrid matter by presented, and permission obtained to have it read at the any process, night or day, which shall not cause nuisance table of the House, and a motion made to have our case most dangerous to health. It is not possible to dispose of referred to a committee or a royal commission, offered a such refuse in agriculture, in its putrid state, without certainty of obtaining redress for the cruel hardship inflicted causing nuisance most offensive to any persons who may on the militia surgeons by compulsory retirement at sixtycome within a distance at which stench is perceptible. five, depriving them of a large portion, and in many cases A cesspool full and overflowing is a suurce of nuisance the whole, of their income. are
florin. explained
"
public,
fulfilled by the free use of any ointment that and of danger to health. But an empty cesspool-freshly contains an antiseptic substance. Practically, I find emptied-is many more times dangerous to health; the full An ointment may cesspool has only the surface skinned over by scum ; an that this is just what takes place. be powerless to cure a patch of ringworm, but will empty cesspool exposes the entire area of bottom and sides, at once prevent its increase. However tedious the cure which gives off putrid gases in tenfold volume, and proof ringworm may be, there is no difficulty in at once bably in tenfold strength for mischief. It is, therefore, a arresting its spread on the scalp. That this can be done by great mistake to disturb cesspools during the season with the mere mechanical effects of fat is shown by an experiment the idea of cleansing them ; far better to leave them alone. I made. A boy, six years old, was brought to me with two I would sooner live in the rowdiest district of America patches of ringworm on the vertex, each about the size of a during the severest revolver practice along the streets than " Let sleeping dogs I to his mother the nature of the experi- in Cannes at cesspool emptying time. ment I wished to make-namely, to observe whether the alone. The municipal authority of Cannes ought to understand fungus would die if air were excluded as perfectly as could be done, and she willingly consented to carry out the treat- that large sewers and large drains are not necessary, but ment. For two months the patches were kept covered with sewers and drains proportioned to the work required to be fat melted with a sufficient quantity of white wax to give done-namely, to receive all refuse water and excreta at the mixture consistence at the temperature of the skin. once, and transmit the same to some outlet where they may During these two months the patches of ringworm remained be disposed of without causing nuisance. The sewers and absolutely stationary. The spread of the disease was at drains should be true in form and gradients, sound, tight, once arrested, although the spores present in the diseased and smooth, and in working use they should remain absohair-follicles still retained their vitality. The boy had a lutely clean. There must be no deposit in any part of the brother and two sisters, under the age of puberty, with whom system. he had constant intercourse, and no precautions were taken The best sewerage and drainage works, such as are indi beyond his wearing a cotton skull-cap ; but none of the cated, will be cheaper, far cheaper, than the large coarse Conothers took the disease then or afterwards, when stimulating tinental sewers usually constructed. The system should be ointments were applied in order to effect a cure. well devised on plans, with full details, and a full and clear Whatever other treatment I adopt in ringworm, I invariably estimate made before starting. Theworksshould then be comcombine it with the free use of some ointment, and if my pleted as a whole, not a portion now and another portion instructions in this respect are carried out I have no fear of subsequently. the disease either spreading on the head of the patient or Scavenging.-It is a mistake to contract for public being communicated to other children with whom he comes scavenging. It is a municipal work, and ought to be perin contact. In cases in young children I find the free use formed by a municipal establishment, for the following of sulphur ointment frequently sufficient both for protection reasons : A contractor must make a living out of his conand cure, and in older children, in whom the greater depth tract. If he puts in a low tender he will shirk his work. of the hair-follicles necessitates more active stimulation, as If he obtains a good contract, and the season is favourable, by the application of Coster’s paste (or, better still, the solu- he will pocket a good round sum. If the season proves tion of the iodine in creasote, as recommended by Mr. Mor- unfavourable he will do as little as possible to save his rant Baker-from two drachms to an ounce), I again use pocket. Fines are no good; they are not a remedy for sulphur ointment as a protective between the applications. neglected scavenging or a satisfaction to the general sufferFor children in whom, from age or strong development of ing who wantclean streets and roads. the hair, sulphur ointment does not stimulate sufficiently, Those who own property and make fortunes at these but in whom the application of strong remedies does not health resorts, Cannes, Mentone, and other similar places, in the first instance seem justifiable, diluted citrine oint- had better look to their pocket interests in time or the ment, or ointments containing sulphur, citrine ointment English will not stay to be poisoned. Grumbling John and carbolic acid in varying proportions, as recommended Bulls are domestic animals, and though they will pay by Mr. Alder Smith in his useful and practical monograph, liberally for discomforts, they will not submit their families which produce may be tried in the first instance. But, in any and every to the deadly risks of enduring nuisances " case, keep the patches covered with ointment. "preventable diseases." The fable of " Killing the Goose I am, Sir, yours truly, If these simple precautions are carried out, and a well- is being repeated. ROBERT RAWLINSON, fitting skull-cap worn, there is no difficulty in boys attending RAWLINSON, C.B. Lancaster Lodge, West Brompton, Feb. 1882. school and carrying on their education other than the æsthetic one of having the head covered. With boys from eleven to thirteen years of age the unsightliness of a skullTHE MILITIA SURGEONS. cap may sometimes be a small premium to pay for the To the Editor of THE LANCET. their of school terms unbroken. advantage having I am, Sir, your obedient servant, SIR,—You are aware that some months ago I addressed a GEORGE THIN, M.D. circular to the militia surgeons of the United Kingdom, 1882. Jan. Queen Anne-street, W., 31st, asking them for subscriptions towards a movement that was for to the Government, by means of a SEWERAGE AND DRAINAGE CONSTRUCTION intendedof applying to the retiring pensions granted by obtain petition rights, AND CESSPOOL EMPTYING AT CANNES. several Acts of Parliament (and none of which were repealed To the Editor of THE LANCET. until 1875) to all militia surgeons who had served conSIR,—Will you again allow me through your journal to tinuously for twenty years or upwards, or who were retired offer a few words of advice, warning, and instruction on from age or infirmities. From all surgeons who had been or were about to be retired, I suggested a subscription sanitary works and scavenging to the local authorities of retired, of E5, as they were likely to be more immediately benefited, Cannes. The number of the former was and from all others £1. In the first place, it is possible to sewer Cannes in such about 30, and of the latter 150. I regret to state that this manner as to remove safely all the sewage as rapidly as appeal met with but scant support, only ten of the thirty formed and transmitted to the drains. It is also possible to subscribing E5, two subscribed £3 3s., five subscribed E22s., and twenty Eleach. so construct, lay, and ventilate these sewers and drains that Having submitted our case to two eminent Queen’s all air from such sewers and drains shall be dispersed into we were advised that from certain technical counsel, the external atmosphere, so as not to cause nuisance or reasons we could not proceed for a petition of rights, but that a petition to the House of Commons properly prepared, endanger health. It is not possible to empty cesspools of putrid matter by presented, and permission obtained to have it read at the any process, night or day, which shall not cause nuisance table of the House, and a motion made to have our case most dangerous to health. It is not possible to dispose of referred to a committee or a royal commission, offered a such refuse in agriculture, in its putrid state, without certainty of obtaining redress for the cruel hardship inflicted causing nuisance most offensive to any persons who may on the militia surgeons by compulsory retirement at sixtycome within a distance at which stench is perceptible. five, depriving them of a large portion, and in many cases A cesspool full and overflowing is a suurce of nuisance the whole, of their income. are
florin. explained
"
public,