CONFERENCE ON MEDICAL ORGANISATION AT MANCHESTER.

1389

CONFERENCE ON MEDICAL ORGANISATION AT MANCHESTER. (Contiuued from p. 1308.) PUBLIC VACCINATORS. AT the Conference in the afternoon session on May 2nd Dr. Ratcliff.Gaylard’s motion (printed in THE LAXCET,

May 5th,

p.

1306)-

That it is desirable that those who have the carry ing out of the provisions of the Vaccination Act should perform their duties in such a way as not to trench upon the interests of general practitioners, and that instructions to this effect be issued to public vaccinators-

led to some debate. Dr. Ratcliff-Gaylard said that public vaccinators gave their patients to understand that they used That had occurred in his practice a superior kind of lymph. than once. Mr. WOLSTENHOLME, in seconding the motion, said that he knew of two public vaccinators who had used blandishments and almost compulsion to get the opportunity of vaccinating children at public expense. They said that their lymph was Government lymph, that the vaccination would cost the patient nothing, and on one occasion that general practitioners had ceased to vaccinate. Dr. MAJOR GREENWOOD said that a serious charge had been made against a respectable body of men few of whom could be so mean and dishonest. He saw no necessity for thus fouling their own nest. Dr. S. WOODCOCK said that it was almost impossible under the terms of the Act for anything to be done as Dr. RatcliffGaylard suggested. Why did not medical men look after the children and vaccinate them before they were four months old ?7 The public vaccinator was compelled to call and vaccinate such children as the parents were agreeable to submit to him. 50 per cent. of the children in Manchester were not vaccinated properly. In a large union that he was acquainted with he had never heard of a complaint of any undue pressure being put on anybody by a public vaccinator. For them in that Conference to pass such a resolution as was proposed would be to assume that it was a common practice for public vaccinators to abuse their position under the Act under which they were obliged to discharge their disagreeable duties. He considered that it would not only be unjust, but it would be ungenerous, for the Conference to pass such a motion. Dr. F. REES said that the resolution was inadequate because it did not sufficiently call attention to the grievances of the general practitioner with regard to the Vaccination Act. Dr. BRASSEY BRIERLEY said that it was a reckless charge and that no evidence had been brought forward. The accusation ought to have been supported by the most direct and

more

complete proof. The motion to 17.

on

being put

to the vote

was

lost

by

19 votes

THE MIDWIVES BILL. On the third day of the Conference, Thursday, May 3rd, Mr. G. A. WRIGHT (Manchester) took the chair. Dr. GLOVER read a paper on. Some Debated Points in Medical Politics"which will be found reported verbatim in THE LANCET of May 5th, 1900, p. 1306, at which point our report of the proceedings stopped. Mr. G. H. BROADBENT (the Incorporated Medical Practitioners’ Association) said that the title of Dr. Glover’s paper was a misnomer. It was useless to talk of a Bill for the control of midwives and for remedying the difficulties which existed, because the Bill was simply for the furtherance and promotion of midwives, and as to their control and supervision it was worth nothing at all and was altogether mythical. The object of the present legislation was to make the midwife an independent medical practitioner. He considered that Dr. Glover ought to have given notice that his address was to be for the promotion of the Midwives Bill. Mr. R. H. WOLSTENHOLME (Salford) said that though the midwives existed as a fact they were not recognised as a legal class. The profession would not oppose the creation of midwifery nurses, but the Bill formed a new inferior class of medical practitioners from ignorant women who were one day to be at the washtub and the next were to be acting as legalised medical practitioners. Dr. MAJOR GREENWOOD (the Poor-law Medical Officers’ Association) said that the great objection to the Bill was that these women would be made legal practitioners of midwifery.

The Local Government Board did not recognise midwives acting independently of medical men. If the Bill were passed the Local Government Board would be compelled to recognise the midwife to be a practitioner in midwifery. If the Bill were passed would the present happy agreement continue by which medical men saw cases with midwives ?1 It might create a sort of conflict between the medical profession and this new class of practitioner which would result in a deadlock and render the Bill unworkable. Dr. A. G. C. IRVINE (Birmingham and District General Medical Practitioners’ Union) said that many medical men held a view quite different to that expressed by many at that conference. Legislation on the subject of midwives was a certainty and could not be avoided. They were blind and foolish who tried to avert proper legislation, but the medical profession could not approve of the present Bill before Parliament. Dr. F. REES (Wigan and District Medical Guild) cordially agreed with every word that had fallen from Dr. Glover. It had been stated at that conference by some of the gentlemen present that whilst recognising the serious evils which existed they were not willing to have any legislation on the matter of registration of midwives. How was the Government to get rid of the evils which these gentlemen acknowledge to exist except by some sort of legislation ?7 Some gentlemen that they would not object to the Bill before Parliament if the midwives were called midwifery nurses, but the Government were simply defining a state of things that was really in existence. The midwives in practice now were women who were engaged to attend confinements and if anything went wrong a medical man was called in to help. There were members of that conference who would be perfectly to see all women removed from attendance on midwilling cases (cries of "Certainly") and their places taken wifery by medical men who would strive to make a living, if that He had a were possible, from the low fees paid to midwives. the of of conduct the medical higher opinion profession than to desire such a state of things. Dr. GLOVER said that Mr. Broadbent considered the title his (Dr. Glover’s) paper to be a misnomer and expressed the opinion that the proposed supervision of the midwives nothing at all-in fact, merely mythical. That was, to say the least, scarcely complimentary to the Midwives Board. It would be to the ultimate advantage of the profession if gentlemen would treat governing bodies with more respect, and he must deny that Mr. Broadbent’s remark was either correct or proper, because the supervision of the If the midwife disobeyed midwives would be very real. the orders and regulations of the Midwives Board she would be taken off the list and prevented from following her work, which would be a greater punishment than merely fining her 10s. Mr. Broadbent objected to the definition of midwife and he (the speaker) personally could not understand the definition ; he did not know any member of the General Medical Council who was satisfied with it; it was therefore to be the subject of discussion with the Government. Mr. BROADBENT said it was not a Government measure, and was proceeding to refer to a letter which he had received from the Leader of the House of Commons when the chairman directed Dr. Glover to proceed. Dr. GLOVER, continuing, said that in regard to its being a Government measure it must be remembered that the Lord President of the Council was in communication with the Government on the subject. It had practically become a Government measure either actually or potentially. It certainly was not correct to say that it was not a Government measure. The Government had said to the promoters of the Bill, " You satisfy the General Medical Council and then we will consider the matter." The Government had assumed that on the main points the General Medical Council had been satisfied, and on any points in which the Council should fail to be satisfied the support of the Government would be withdrawn. Mr. Broadbent with a sweeping style which did not commend itself to accuracy, said that all the safeguards in the Bill were mythical, but he (Dr. Glover) must deny that there was any justification for such a remark. The difference of opinion between them and the Government was that they wanted inserted in the Bill literally that when a midwife got into a difficulty she was to send for a medical man, and to that the Government replied, " You have the whole matter in your own hands already, you are to make the regulations." (Cries of .. No, no.") Replying to this interruption Dr. Glover said that they must allow him to know about the matter, for he had spent half

said

of was

1390 hour in consultation with the Solicitor-General and was from actual personal experience. The Government said, when told what they wanted in the Bill, that the medical profession were empowered by the Bill to make all the rules in regard to the matter and that it was entirely in the hands of the General Medical Council ; therefore Mr. Broadbent and his friends might go on denying the fact till the end of time, but it would not alter matters. Mr. Wolstenholme had said that the midwives did not exist as a legal class, but was there any gentleman present there who would take a midwife into a court of law and say that she was using an illegal title ?7 Was there any gentleman there who would deny that a midwife had been able to recover her fee in a court of law ?7 Mr. R. B. ANDERSON (the Corporate and Medical Reform Association, Limited) said that he was surprised at the question: a midwife could not recover her fee in a court of law. Dr. BRASSEY BRIERLEY (Manchester Medico-Ethical Association) said that in that district a midwife had thus recovered her fees. Dr. GLOVER, continuing, said that he challenged Mr. Anderson to prove the correctness of his contradiction. He (the speaker) had taken legal advice on the matter and had been informed that the services of a midwife had been recognised in a divisional court as quasi-medical or surgical. [Dr. GLOVER was here subjected to considerable interruption which did not subside till Mr. R. B. ANDERSON had replied in the affirmative to the question, Did he consider that a midwife was liable to prosecution under Section XL. of the Medical Acts ?7 Dr. GLOVER having been called upon by the audience to "Go on " and " Never mind Mr. Anderson," continued his reply.] What was the use, he said, of the General Medical Council trying to raise the profession if Parliament was to be told that medical men in large numbers were to be found willing to attend midwifery cases at 5s. 6d.? (A voice : 11 It was not true.") He agreed with the gentleman, though perhaps the point had been made in a somewhat monosyllabic manner, and he put it to the meeting whether he was not supporting the dignity of the profession in that matter. It was not until the Bill came forward that it became a crime to recognise a midwife. He himself thought that the best term to use was I midwifery nurses," but it was impracticable to urge that ; it was not even within the power of Parliament to obliterate the word 11 midwifefrom their language, and that was a commcn-sense view of the matter. His friend and neighbour (Dr. Major Greenwood) objected to the midwife being raised to the position of a medical practitioner, but the Bill said specifically that she was not to be placed in that position. In answer to Dr. GREENWOOD Dr. GLOVER said that he considered that the Obstetrical Society in labeling their documents as diplomas did very wrong and he voted for that to be stopped. Last year he voted that the General Medical Council should withdraw their recognition of the present document issued by the Obstetrical Society, but he would not be a party to accusing men like Sir John Williams, Dr. C. J. Cullingworth, and Dr. F. H. Champneys of being guilty of infamous conduct in a professional respect. Such a charge would only bring the General Medical Council into an

speaking

ridicule.

Dr. Jepson concluded by pointing out that a small annual registration free from medical men would produce sufficient to secure that two representatives should be sent to the

House of Commons to support the interests of the medical

profession. Dr. S. CRAWSHAW (Ashton-under-Lyne), honorary secretary to the conference, moved the following :That in the opinion of this conference no scheme of medieal organi sation can be considered satisfactory unless it provides the following

machinery ;-

1. Local or district associations formed wholly or partly for the discussion of medico-ethical or medico-political topics, to which all practitioners in the locality shall have the right to belong, such associations to be formed for this purpose where not already existing. 2. An annual conference of delegates from these associations, at which conference only medico-ethical and medico-political topics shall be discussed. 3. A central executive committee which shall be nominated and elected by the local associations, every member to retire annually, but to be eligible for re-election.

Dr. T. W. HIME (Bradford and West Riding Medical that instead of "all practitioners" the words should read, "all registered medical practitioners of good repute," otherwise the wording was so general that the untidy, dirty, and drunken women of whom they had been speaking would have the right to belong. Mr. J. S. WHITAKER (the Incorporated Medical Practitioners’ Association of Great Yarmouth) said that every registered practitioner prepared to conform to the rules of an association should have the right to belong, otherwise they drifted into local jealousies and dislikes. Dr. S. WALKER (North of England Branch of the British Medical Association) said that the object should be to bring the black sheep into the fold. If these small societies were formed in every town and district so that the local intelli. gence of the practitioners was best able to be brought into force they would have a better organisation of the profession. He considered that the real work would be done by the little local associations. Mr. R. B. ANDERSON suggested an addition to the resolutions of a paragraph dealing with a well-considered platform of common objects and methods. Mr. WHITAKER opposed this addition. The mass of the practitioners must say what they want and let the central organisation carry out their dictates. Dr. A. B. RITCHIE (Lancashire and Cheshire Branch of the British Medical Association) said that the organisation should be grafted on to the British Medical Association. Dr. MAJOR GREENWOOD said that smallness of size in societies in regard to ethical questions was not satisfactory, because the ethical conduct of members was not a subject for decision by small associations. After further discussion Dr. CRAWSHAW’S motion was carried in the following form :That in the opinion of this conference no scheme of medical organisation can be considered satisfactory unless it provides the following machinery:1. Local or district associations formed wholly or partly for the discussion of medico-ethical or medico-political topics, to which all registered medical practitioners in the locality who agree to conform to the rules of such associations shall have the right to belong, such associations to be formed for this purpose where not already existing. 2. An annual conference of delegates from these associations, at which conference only medico-ethical and medico-political topics shall

Union) suggested

be discussed and voted

on.

3. A central executive committee which shall be nominated and Mr. BROADBENT asked if poorer men were wanted. elected by the local associations for a period of three years, one-third The CHAIRMAN interposed with the remark that Mr. of such committee to retire annually and be ineligible for re-election Broadbent should not have said such a thing and considered for one year. that it was an improper remark. Dr. ALFRED Cox (Gateshead) brought forward the followDr. GLOVER, continuing, said that Dr. Major Greenwood ing motion :feared that if Parliament passed the Bill the friendly That this conference is of opinion (1) that the pressing need in assistance granted to the midwife by medical men would be medical organisation is concentration; (2) that the multiplication of withheld, but he, Dr. Glover, did not believe that. Perhaps associations other than those purely local is to be deprecated; (3) that one or two might consider it their duty to act in that the size, position, and wealth of the British Medical Association make it the most suitable national medical organisation; and (4) that the manner; he did not think that that would be the general efforts of all medico-ethical and similar associations and of the conferof action the medical profession. ence should be directed to the conversion of the British Medical Association into an energetic body really representative of the nrofession. MEDICAL ORGANISATION. Dr. E. JEPSON (Durham) read a paper on Medical Organisa- He said that the British Medical Association was a played-out tion in which he advocated the organisation of the medical body as far as medico-ethical matters were concerned. They profession into a number of unions or guilds throughout the felt strongly that in the past their energies had been dissicountry from which provincial councils could be chosen on pated by forming many associations all with practically the same lines as the National Union of Teachers. These similar objects, and it seemed to him foolish not to use the councils would then work through the Council of the British accumulated funds of the British Medical Association. Medical Association. He suggested that members should The British Medical Association had lasted 60 odd years attend in force the Ipswich meeting of the British Medical and it had attained a position of importance which Association and demand a handsome annual grant for three enabled it to go to Parliament and the Governyears towards the complete organisation of the profession. ment with more or less responsibility, chiefly less. Most -

1391 comfortable living did not care but every man should join his branch of the British Medical Association ; the constitution of that body should be altered and the funds secured by collaring " the British Medical Association. Dr. BRASSEY BRIERLEY said that on the council of the British Medical Association he had received support not from the general practitioners there but from the consultants. The branches should pay the men they sent up to the council and could then demand that they did the work they were" deputed to perform. He deprecated the "highfalutin’" fashion of talking adopted by Dr. Cox. Dr. HIME saidthat he could not ask his society to accept the view that their whole duty was the conversion of the British Medical Association. Dr. R. E. HOWELL (Middlesbrough and District Medical Society) said that the plan would necessitate every member of the medical profession becoming a member of the British Medical Association, which was an excellent idea, but there might be men who objected to that. Dr. Cox’s motion was put to the vote and declared

practitioners making

a

straw about these

a

things,

carried.

___

hanged, but surely Mr. Horder would agree that. the man must commit the murder first and then the case must be proved before the man was hanged. There was no one but would admit that these two preliminary steps were at least necessary, and if Mr. Horder would present a case he would promise him the attention of the Council in accordance with its resolution that was passed last year.

be

Dr. HIME declared that Dr. Glover had made a perfectly and nobody was disappointed in the least. In the British Medical Association there was a system of election of the same set from generation to generation and the government was too much from headquarters. Dr. BRASSEY BRIERLEY said that the funds of the association were their own money and they must use them. It had been decided that the council of the association was bound to carry out the resolutions of the annual general meeting. The association was a limited liability company and the council was an illegally constituted body. If the annual meeting chose to elect the council it could do so as the directors of the company. Mr. GARRETT HORDER said the time had come for the redistribution of the branches of the association. In regard to the General Medical Council it had given warning that it disapproved of touting by medical associations, and it was not reasonable of Dr. Glover to say,"Send up a concrete case," because he (Mr. Horder) was certainly not going to send up the names of medical men in Cardiff who were connected with medical aid associations and render himself liable to action for libel. The CHAIRMAN suggested that this might be done by some association and the discussion closed.

charming answer

The final session of the conference was held on the afterof May 3rd, when Mr. GEORGE JACKSON (Plymouth) occupied the chair. Mr. T. GARRETT HORDER (Cardiff) read a paper on the British Medical Association from a General Practitioner’s Point of View, in which he urged that the association in question did not possess that power which it ought to and that it had failed to support the interests of the profession. Its financial condition was in a most satisfactory position, THE CONCILIATION BOARD. but it failed to support and defend the rights of the general that he asked the conference to approve of Dr. A. Cox said practitioner. Mr. Horder then proceeded to discuss - in the general principle of a conciliation board chiefly on the detail the constitution of the council of the British Medical Association. In his opinion no reform would ever be brought grounds that such a board could not do any harm. He had about in the council unless the branches themselves elected heard ’no reason adduced why they should not have this board. They had not been told of any other method by men who were in favour of such reforms. He considered that which they would get better terms from the friendly the term of office of councillors should be limited. He advoIn regard to the appointment of the representatives societies. cated the redistribution of branches, limitation of office to a it was suggested that the British Medical Association should certain period of all officials, and an alteration in the mode a committee to confer with the friendly societies, of voting. Before Mr. Horder resumed his seat after having appoint if the council of the British Medical Association could and read his paper he said that they had felt disappointed, not to do it he asked who could ?1 say hurt, that some further definite action had ,not been notMr. BROADBENT suggested the conference they were proposed by Dr. Glover, the chairman of the Medical Aid attending. Association Committee for the General Medical Council, Dr. Cox said that the ’conference could not do it because after having passed the resolution with regard to medical it had not enough influence. Dr. Cox concluded with the aid associations disapproving of those bodies touting for motion :patients. Ten months had passed since that resolution had following this That approves of the general principle of a conciliaa but been declared to be otherwise than pious opinion, they tion board onconference the understanding that the findings of such a board are were at the present time just in the same position as they not necessarily binding on the profession and request the council of were then. the British Medical Association to appoint a small committee to confer Dr. MAJOR GREENWOOD discussed the question of the with the representatives of the friendly societies for the purpose of size of the branches of the British Medical Association and drawing up a scheme for the formation of such a board. declared that general practitioners were not so systematiMr. WHITAKER seconded the motion and, in reply to cally kept down as described, and there was no attempt Mr. Broadbent’s suggestion that that conference should made to put hospital men with appointments before practi- appoint the committee, said that the conference represented tioners, though undoubtedly practitioners had a tendency to nobody but a small number of societies scattered throughout bow the knee before consultants. the country. He did not consider that they ought to adopt Dr. Cox said that the voting in the branches should be an impracticable non possumus attitude on all - public through the post and it was ridiculous to propose important questions. resolutions at annual meetings attended as they were at the Dr. W. GRAHAM moved as an amendment present time and they must have proxy voting. Men must That this conference deems it undesirable to encourage contract be sent to vote in a certain way and must give an account practice and furthermore declares that if any proposed representative conciliation board re club practice be constituted it should be elected of their stewardship. Mr. WHITAKER said that as to the size of the branches from general practitioners. each part of the country must work out its own salvation. Mr. BROADBENT seconded this amendment. To attempt to reform the whole constitution of the British Dr. RATCLiFF-GAYLARD objected to a conciliation board. Medical Association was a business that it was useless to No one had a right to ask medical men to go and try to undertake. conciliate the friendly societies. Club practices existed for Dr. RITCHIE said that he could see no insurmountable the good of friendly societies, not for the benefit of the medical men. Medical men were not averse to having a condifficulty in transforming the British Medical Association. Dr. GLOVER said that he thought the General Medical ference, but they were averse to anything like a conciliation Council had passed a resolution which had met with the board. Dr. F. REES pointed out that the General Medical Council general support and approval of the profession with regard to touting by medical aid associations, and he was independent of the practitioners and ought not to noon

believed that he spoke the mind of his colleagues when legislate he said that the Council was quite prepared to give practical effect to the resolution they had passed last year

as

soon

as

they

had

an

actual

case

before them.

Did Mr. Garrett Horder or any other member present there really expect that the Council should act without an actual and concrete case before them? The law of the land was that if a man committed a murder he was to

on

this matter.

ference between real

They

did not

object

to

a

con-

&OK&6 representatives of the general practitioners and the friendly societies. Mr. WOLSTENHOLME said that the friendly societies contended that it would be a semi-legal board to settle finally the questions between the societies and the medical men, with the acceptance on the part of medical men that they gave up their contention for a wage limit.

1392 Dr. A. B RITCHIE said that the easiest way to find out indeed been demonstrated on previous occasions, while what the friendly societies proposals were was to ask the others were quite familiar. Mr. SHENSTONE’s demonstration of the "workability"" British Medical Association to get the information for them. Gentlemen at that conference had spoken in ignorance of of silica in the oxy-hydrogen blowpipe attracted, perhaps, the efforts that had been made to get these details, of the most interest. He showed several forms of apparatus conlong correspondence that had taken place to find out what structed of vitreous silica, including a long tube for use with this conciliation board really meant. The practical outcome a platinum thermometer, a mercury thermometer, bulbs was that it had been found that the only way to influence and stems for thermometers, a Geissler tube, a small the friendly societies was to go to the men at the head of distilling tube and rods, and tubes of various sizes for affairs. These societies must be worked from the top and not various purposes. The fused silica presents exactly the from the bottom. appearance of blown glass, but of course its melting Dr. HIME said that to talk of their going to consult the point is infinitely higher. Mr. H. B. HARTMT, with Mr. H. L. BOWMAN, M.A., gave a very friendly societies in the vague way proposed was to bring whom was demonstration of the properties of crystals that conference into contempt. He asked what was meant interesting doubly-refracting liquids on fusion. Hence by a conciliation board. Whom were they to conciliate and yielding the term ° liquid crystals." Certain crystalline organic what or about what was the conciliation to be ?7 to give, on melting, liquids The CHAIRMAN then put Dr. W. Graham’s amendment to compounds have been found of the double refraction and dichroism possessing properties the meeting and declared it carried. even under conditions wherein a state of strain is impossible. Dr. A. Cox explained to the conference that it was per- When these an-isotropic liquids are further heated they fectly well understood that any conciliation board or what- change at definite temperatures of transition into ordinary ever they cared to call it would not have the power to bind isotropic liquids. The intermediate bodies have been the profession. called "liquid crystals"because while the evidence Mr. WOLSTENHOLME said that he had seen it stated in of their elasticity, viscosity, and dielectric capacity the medical papers that the board was to be a quasi-legal shows them to be undoubtedly liquids, yet like crystals conference. they possess both double refraction and dichroism. Mr. GARRETT HORDER said that the men to meet the A very successful demonstration was given in which the changes indicated as taking place on a microscope friendly societies were those who had clubs. He considered physical that the members of the General Medical Council who had slide were projected by means of the electric lantern and met the members of the friendly societies had given the microscope upon a screen. In the next room a clock was whole case of the profession away. The members of the shown under control at some distance by wireless teleor Hertzian waves. The exhibit is the invention friendly societies laid it down distinctly and the members graphy of the General Medical Council agreed that a wage-limit of Mr. Isaac H. Storey, and it consists of a receiving instrument with a coherer attached to the clock. A transmitting should never be discussed at the conciliation board. instrument in another part of the room sets up the waves Dr. RATCLIFF-GAYLARD proposed the following amendwhich actuate the movement of the hands of the clock ment :which are under complete control. Of course there are no That whilst in the opinion of this conference the proposed concilia- wires or tubes intervening and the demonstration was tion board is unnecessary it will welcome a conference for the purpose instructive in showing how movement could be of finding some means of agreement. The members of such confer- very excited without any visible means of communication. ence shall be general medical practitioners in actual practice. The exhibitor, Mr. RICHARD KERR, F.G.S., suggests This was put to the meeting by the CHAIRMAN and carried a system of synchronising clocks in this way from a as was also the following addition proposed by Mr. central clock keeping standard time and also the guiding of WHITAKER :boats or torpedoes. Mr. WIMSHURST, F.R.S., showed a And that it be referred to the Provisional Committee of this con- powerful influence machine constructed with 12 plates of ference to consider how this resolution can be carried into effect. vulcanite which is suitable in size, durability, and efficiency for either screen or photographic work in the hospital or on Mr. WOLSTENHOLME made the following propositions the battle-field. which were carried :A beautiful collection of examples of leadless glazed ware That the conference appoint a Provisional Committee to carry out was shown by Professor T. E. THORPE. We may point out its decisions. that more than a year ago we invited the medical profession That this Provisional Committee be instructed as follows :-1. To lay to inspect in THE LANCET Laboratory similar examples the resolution on medical organisation before the Council of the British of lead less glazed ware which had been carefully tested Medical Association and request them to organise a permanent medicoour Commissioners with results which, as regards by and medico-ethical on lines therein the described. department political 2. Failing success, to formulate rules for the formation of an entirely lead, were quite negative. Despite the hostile criticism new organisation on the lines described in that resolution and to which our inquiry provoked we now find all the submit the same next year to a conference similar to the present one leading pottery manufacturers sending specimens of for consideration and adoption. leadless glaze to the Royal Society Conversazione as The following were appointed members of the Provisional examples of what can be done without the use of lead at Committee with power to add to their number: R. H. all. Amongst the prettiest experiments, though not conWolstenholme, S. Orawshaw, A. Cox, G. H. Broadbent, T. ducted on a very large or striking scale, were those by Garrett Horder, A. B. Ritchie, J. S. Whitaker, T. W. Hime, Professor MINCHIN in which he showed the flashes induced G. A. Wright, G. Jackson, L. Browne, M. Greenwood, J. A. ’, in a helion tube by Hertzian waves. Macdonald, A. G. C. Irvine, H. E. Dixey, W. A. Carline, E. i Some amusing experiments were shown by Professo1 Jepson, F. Rees, R. R. Rentoul, T. M. Dolan, J. Ratcliff- SILVANUS P. THOMPSON, in which he reversed the De I& ! Rue’s Gaylard, and W. M. Smith. experiment, employing a floating magnet instead of a A complete outfit of instruments for the The proceedings of the conference then terminated. , floating battery. use of travellers desirous of making anthropometric observations on native races or on the inhabitants of any special locality whether at home or abroad formed the interesting exhibit of Dr. J. G. GARSON. By taking impressions THE ROYAL SOCIETY’S of the lines on the thumb the identity of a person could be established and thus an interesting system could be set up by means of which the identification of criminal IF the exhibition held annually in the rooms of the Royal could be established. Dr. PATRICK MANSON showed an Society at Burlington House may be taken as in a measure excellent series of microscopical mounts of longitudinal an index of a year’s scientific work then the record of the sections of filariated mosquitoes, showing that filaria past year must be of the dullest possible description. At M’’
CONVERSAZIONE.