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BELFAST.
990 and Throat Hospital as institutions from which certificates of attendance by students will be received.
was collected, being a decrease of X310 5s. 5d, as compared with the year preceding. Since the establishment of the Fund in 1877 no less than £53,089 8s. 10d. has been obtained, and .E49,334 2s. Gd, distributed among the various hospitals participating in it.
THE BRITISH DENTAL ASSOCIATION.
meeting of the Belfast dentists was held in the Royal Hotel on Friday, under the auspices of the Irish Branch of HOSPITAL, the British Dental Association. We learn that the annual The introductory lecture at the opening of the winter of the Association is to be held in Dublin towards ,session was delivered by Dr. A. Foot on Monday. On the meeting the end of August, 1888. The honorary secretary of the same evening a dinner for the reunion of old students and Irish Branch, Mr. Pearsall, was present at the meeting, and governors took place at the Shelbourne Hotel, presided over explained the objects and aims of the Association, and ’by Sir George B. Owens, M.D. advised all who were not already members to join the Association. We understand that all present promised to do their ROYAL HOSPITAL, DUBLIN. utmost to make the meeting a success, and those who were It is rumoured that this institution will shortly be closed, members promised to join the Association. -and a new barracks erected on the North Circular Road near not already Nov. 8tli. Belfast, ’the Phoenix Park. MEATH
A
DUBLIN.
_________________
ROYAL ACADEMY OF MEDICINE IN IRELAND.
opening meeting of the Pathological Section of the Academy was held on the 4th inst., when Dr. Ball, the President, gave an inaugural address, in which he referred to the necessity of pathological research, and of establishing a pathological institute. Dr. Finny exhibited - an hour-glass contraction of the stomach, and Dr. E. H. Bennett detailed a very interesting case of phlegmasia alba
EGYPT.
The
alolena, and exhibited the parts affected. DEATH OF UR. J. VALENTINE BROWNE OF GALWAY.
An eminent surgeon, one well known in the west of Ireland (Dr. J. Valentine Browne), died last week at his residence, Prospect Hill, Galway. The deceased filled the chair of Surgery in the Queen’s College, Galway, and was surgeon to the County Galway Infirmary. He was also an Examiner in Surgery in the Royal University of Ireland. He - was greatly esteemed, and the utmost sympathy is felt for his family in their sad bereavement. Mr. Henry Quinn has left £200,000 to be expended in charitable purposes in Newry. Dublin, Nov. 8th. _________________
BELFAST.
(From our own Correspondent.) THE BELFAST DISTRICT LUNATIC ASYLUM. ,
WE understand that at their next monthly meeting a rery important matter will have to be decided by the ,governors of this asylum. The population of the districts to which the Belfast Asylum belongs-co. Antrim, Carrickfergus, and the borough of Belfast-is about 450,000, and it is calculated that some 800 or 900 patients must be provided for in the Belfast District Lunatic Asylum. The present accommodation is, in this building, for 550. As in other parts of the kingdom, insanity has been found here to increase concurrently with the increase of the population. The question before the Board has been how to secure the additional accommodation. There are now 560 patients in the house, in addition to eighty others at Ballymena Workhouse, a sort of off-shoot of the Belfast Asylum for harmless patients. It is apparent, then, that the existing
accommodation, which is for 550 patients only,
at the Belfast Asylum is overtaxed, and this in the future will not ’be diminished. Three plans have been suggested to get out of the difficulty. It has been proposed to enlarge the asylum within its present grounds ; but Dr. Nugent, Lunacy Inspector in Ireland, has reported that it would be "inexpedient to make any further additions to the Belfast Asylum, inasmuch as the number of inmates to the extent of the grounds-viz., ventilation, exercise, and occupationwould be disproportioned, and these factors, together with day-room accommodation, form an important feature in the -care and treatment of the insane." Again, it has been suggested to build a new asylum to accommodate 300 patients; but to erect and furnish thoroughly such a structure would cost .630,000. A third plan is to utilise a workhouse, which - might be done for £4000 or £5000. A decision will have to be made on these questions by the governors next month. THE ROYAL UNIVERSITY.
We understand that the
the Belfast
Royal University has recognised Ophthalmic Ilospital and the Ulster Eye, Ear,
(From
our own
Correspondent.)
SANITARY DEPARTBIENT.
THE work of sanitation is slowly progressing in spite of much passive resistance and an empty exchequer. During the past summer a monthly periodical called El Salia (Hygiene) has been started by the Government as a useful means of spreading sanitary knowledge among the native, doctors. It consists of thirty-two pages of closely written Arabic character, and at present 500 copies are sold every month at Is. each. It contains translations of papers from English and French journals and original articles by a committee of supporters. This publication does not in any way interfere with its native colleague, The Cure, which treats of matters purely medical and surgical. Five dispensaries have lately been established in provincial towns, and eight others will shortly be opened. These supply a long-felt want, and gratuitously give medicines to the poor, while the Government charges small sums to rich patients. There are now nine Englishmen in the sanitary service, all hard-working sanitary officials. It is three years and a half since the first E aglishman was appointed to this department. HEALTH OF THE BRITISH TROOPS.
The strength of the troops in Cairo and its desert suburb of Abbasiyeh is to-day 3600, with a sick-rate from all causes of 380, or 10 5 per cent. The sick are made up of 144 simple con-
tinued fever cases, 45 enteric, 13 scarlatina, and 178 venereal and other diseases. The scarlatina cases are all very mild, and include one officer, and are only of interest because the disease is very rare in Egypt. There is no evidence to show that these cases can have had the disease transmitted to them from England by letters or other articles by post. The enteric patients, like those always to be seen in this country, occur among young soldiers less than twenty-four years of age. The simple continued cases are greatly in excess of the ordinary rate, and account for the general high percentage. They come chiefly from the Welsh Regiment, which has had a sick-rate during October varying from 103 to 16’5 per cent. This is partly due to the regiment having previously suffered from malaria at Mauritius and the Cape of Good Hope, and partly because the Kasrel Nil barracks have been inundated by the exceptionally high Nile. The regiment has now been placed under canvas in the desert, and it is confidently expected that the fever will at once disappear. The Royal Engineers, occupying the same barracks, have had a sick-rate during October of from 5’3 to 101 per cent. The Cheshire and 7th Fusilier Regiments, which are in the Citadel barracks, presumably removed from all damp and malaria, have yet had sick-rates varying from 6 to 11 and from 5 to 10 per cent. The 20th Hussars, who occupy barracks at Abbasiyeb, surrounded by the healthiest desert air, have had an October sick-rate of 25 to 5 per cent.only. But it may be mentioned here that the Egyptian army, numbering 1500 natives, all quartered at Abbasiyeh, had only six cases of simple continued fever admitted to hospital during September, while in October the number has been raised to thirty-eight. The Cheshire Regiment is under orders for Rangoon, and will be relieved by the Rifle Brigade, who are at once to be quartered in camp on the Mokattam heights above the Citadel. In Alexandria the strength of the occu-
was collected, being a decrease of X310 5s. 5d, as compared with the year preceding. Since the establishment of the Fund in 1877 no less than £53,089 8s. 10d. has been obtained, and .E49,334 2s. Gd, distributed among the various hospitals participating in it.
THE BRITISH DENTAL ASSOCIATION.
meeting of the Belfast dentists was held in the Royal Hotel on Friday, under the auspices of the Irish Branch of HOSPITAL, the British Dental Association. We learn that the annual The introductory lecture at the opening of the winter of the Association is to be held in Dublin towards ,session was delivered by Dr. A. Foot on Monday. On the meeting the end of August, 1888. The honorary secretary of the same evening a dinner for the reunion of old students and Irish Branch, Mr. Pearsall, was present at the meeting, and governors took place at the Shelbourne Hotel, presided over explained the objects and aims of the Association, and ’by Sir George B. Owens, M.D. advised all who were not already members to join the Association. We understand that all present promised to do their ROYAL HOSPITAL, DUBLIN. utmost to make the meeting a success, and those who were It is rumoured that this institution will shortly be closed, members promised to join the Association. -and a new barracks erected on the North Circular Road near not already Nov. 8tli. Belfast, ’the Phoenix Park. MEATH
A
DUBLIN.
_________________
ROYAL ACADEMY OF MEDICINE IN IRELAND.
opening meeting of the Pathological Section of the Academy was held on the 4th inst., when Dr. Ball, the President, gave an inaugural address, in which he referred to the necessity of pathological research, and of establishing a pathological institute. Dr. Finny exhibited - an hour-glass contraction of the stomach, and Dr. E. H. Bennett detailed a very interesting case of phlegmasia alba
EGYPT.
The
alolena, and exhibited the parts affected. DEATH OF UR. J. VALENTINE BROWNE OF GALWAY.
An eminent surgeon, one well known in the west of Ireland (Dr. J. Valentine Browne), died last week at his residence, Prospect Hill, Galway. The deceased filled the chair of Surgery in the Queen’s College, Galway, and was surgeon to the County Galway Infirmary. He was also an Examiner in Surgery in the Royal University of Ireland. He - was greatly esteemed, and the utmost sympathy is felt for his family in their sad bereavement. Mr. Henry Quinn has left £200,000 to be expended in charitable purposes in Newry. Dublin, Nov. 8th. _________________
BELFAST.
(From our own Correspondent.) THE BELFAST DISTRICT LUNATIC ASYLUM. ,
WE understand that at their next monthly meeting a rery important matter will have to be decided by the ,governors of this asylum. The population of the districts to which the Belfast Asylum belongs-co. Antrim, Carrickfergus, and the borough of Belfast-is about 450,000, and it is calculated that some 800 or 900 patients must be provided for in the Belfast District Lunatic Asylum. The present accommodation is, in this building, for 550. As in other parts of the kingdom, insanity has been found here to increase concurrently with the increase of the population. The question before the Board has been how to secure the additional accommodation. There are now 560 patients in the house, in addition to eighty others at Ballymena Workhouse, a sort of off-shoot of the Belfast Asylum for harmless patients. It is apparent, then, that the existing
accommodation, which is for 550 patients only,
at the Belfast Asylum is overtaxed, and this in the future will not ’be diminished. Three plans have been suggested to get out of the difficulty. It has been proposed to enlarge the asylum within its present grounds ; but Dr. Nugent, Lunacy Inspector in Ireland, has reported that it would be "inexpedient to make any further additions to the Belfast Asylum, inasmuch as the number of inmates to the extent of the grounds-viz., ventilation, exercise, and occupationwould be disproportioned, and these factors, together with day-room accommodation, form an important feature in the -care and treatment of the insane." Again, it has been suggested to build a new asylum to accommodate 300 patients; but to erect and furnish thoroughly such a structure would cost .630,000. A third plan is to utilise a workhouse, which - might be done for £4000 or £5000. A decision will have to be made on these questions by the governors next month. THE ROYAL UNIVERSITY.
We understand that the
the Belfast
Royal University has recognised Ophthalmic Ilospital and the Ulster Eye, Ear,
(From
our own
Correspondent.)
SANITARY DEPARTBIENT.
THE work of sanitation is slowly progressing in spite of much passive resistance and an empty exchequer. During the past summer a monthly periodical called El Salia (Hygiene) has been started by the Government as a useful means of spreading sanitary knowledge among the native, doctors. It consists of thirty-two pages of closely written Arabic character, and at present 500 copies are sold every month at Is. each. It contains translations of papers from English and French journals and original articles by a committee of supporters. This publication does not in any way interfere with its native colleague, The Cure, which treats of matters purely medical and surgical. Five dispensaries have lately been established in provincial towns, and eight others will shortly be opened. These supply a long-felt want, and gratuitously give medicines to the poor, while the Government charges small sums to rich patients. There are now nine Englishmen in the sanitary service, all hard-working sanitary officials. It is three years and a half since the first E aglishman was appointed to this department. HEALTH OF THE BRITISH TROOPS.
The strength of the troops in Cairo and its desert suburb of Abbasiyeh is to-day 3600, with a sick-rate from all causes of 380, or 10 5 per cent. The sick are made up of 144 simple con-
tinued fever cases, 45 enteric, 13 scarlatina, and 178 venereal and other diseases. The scarlatina cases are all very mild, and include one officer, and are only of interest because the disease is very rare in Egypt. There is no evidence to show that these cases can have had the disease transmitted to them from England by letters or other articles by post. The enteric patients, like those always to be seen in this country, occur among young soldiers less than twenty-four years of age. The simple continued cases are greatly in excess of the ordinary rate, and account for the general high percentage. They come chiefly from the Welsh Regiment, which has had a sick-rate during October varying from 103 to 16’5 per cent. This is partly due to the regiment having previously suffered from malaria at Mauritius and the Cape of Good Hope, and partly because the Kasrel Nil barracks have been inundated by the exceptionally high Nile. The regiment has now been placed under canvas in the desert, and it is confidently expected that the fever will at once disappear. The Royal Engineers, occupying the same barracks, have had a sick-rate during October of from 5’3 to 101 per cent. The Cheshire and 7th Fusilier Regiments, which are in the Citadel barracks, presumably removed from all damp and malaria, have yet had sick-rates varying from 6 to 11 and from 5 to 10 per cent. The 20th Hussars, who occupy barracks at Abbasiyeb, surrounded by the healthiest desert air, have had an October sick-rate of 25 to 5 per cent.only. But it may be mentioned here that the Egyptian army, numbering 1500 natives, all quartered at Abbasiyeh, had only six cases of simple continued fever admitted to hospital during September, while in October the number has been raised to thirty-eight. The Cheshire Regiment is under orders for Rangoon, and will be relieved by the Rifle Brigade, who are at once to be quartered in camp on the Mokattam heights above the Citadel. In Alexandria the strength of the occu-