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GLASGOW.
731 HEALTH LECTURES.
WOOD-WOOL AS A SURGICAL DRESSING.
Health lectures have been delivered lately, at Sunderland, To the Editor of THE LANCET. by Dr. Monro, medical officer of health for South Shields, SIR,—In your last issue mention is made by Mr. Ormsby, Dr. Drinkwater, Dr. Gibson of Newcastle, and others. So o! Dublin, of wood-wool as a useful dressing after ope- that if the town is not the most healthy, it is certainly one of the " best lectured " boroughs of our time. rations. As I have had experience of this material THE OUTBREAK OF SMALL-POX AT NEWCASTLE during the past three or four months, it may be interestINFIRMARY. ing to relate the general impression I have gained of which I referred in a late letter has now The outbreak to the I have material itselt to its value. merely applied have been no fresh cases; the students wounded surfaces, and not in muslin bags nor impregnated subsided, and there are doing well, and may be said to be with antiseptics, as mentioned in THE LANCET, Nov. 24th, who were attacked 1883, p. 908. As a dressing for recent wounds, it is easily convalescent. NEWCASTLE AND THE EDINBURGH TERCENTENARY. applied, is painless and comfortable, and will be found by no means an unimportant styptic. For granulating wounds, its A good many of our confrères may be said to be, if not absorbent and antiseptic properties procure a cleanly exactly "on the wing," at least "congregating " before taking healthy surface, and appear to promote cicatrisation. For flight to the "Northern Athens." Newcastle, although so instance, in a case of amputation of the leg where, owing to far north, has its advantages as a point of departure to many putrefaction, the Listerian dressings had to be discontinued, places of interest: for instance, three hours and a half will the stump was surrounded with a quantity of the wood-wool, suffice to convey one to the Waverley Station ; a little longer .and the discharge was readily absorbed and sweetened, whilst will enable one to reach the Cumberland lakes ; and the short the granulations assumed a healthy character. I believe that route to Ireland, viâ Stranraer to Belfast, may be commenced this material will be found very serviceable in the casualty here, as also the route to Denmark and Norway. I hope in a department of large hospitals, owing to the facility with future letter to give some hints which may be useful in guidwhich it can be applied ; whilst from a financial point of view ing such of your readers who may contemplate a visit to it will be found far more economical than even lint dressing. but these may stand over until my return from The sample I have been using was procured for me at Copenhagen, Edinburgh. my request by Messrs. Krohne and Sesemann. Newcastle-on-Tyne, April 15th, 1884. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, H. A. LEDIARD. Carlisle, April 14th, 1884.
GLASGOW.
VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE MOVEMENT.
(From
To the Editor of THE LANCET. I add another to the list of hospitals
SIR,—May taking part in the Volunteer Ambulance movement, mentioned by Mr. Collingwood in his letter on the subject in your issue of the 5th inst.? A very crowded general meeting was held at St. Thomas’s Hospital to consider the subject in January last, with the result that an ambulance association was formed, under the presidency of Sir William Mac Cormac, chief surgeon to the National Aid Society, and a bearer company organised, which at present numbers more than 100 non-commissioned officers and men. The company has been drilling steadily two and three times a week since the beginning of February last, and though we have been rather late in taking the matter up, we hope to arrive at a fair state of efficiency during the present year. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, E. CARRICK FEEEMAN, Secretary to the Ambulance Association. St. Thomas’s Hospital, April 10th.
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE. (From our own Correspondent.)) SANITATION AT SUNDERLAND.
A MEETING has been held lately at Sunderland, at which the Mayor took the chair, to promote the erection of a hospital for the treatment of infectious diseases in the town, the present building having been condemned as inade. quate by the public voice and medical opinion. The Mayor made a very sensible and telling speech, in which he admitted the want of hospital accommodation ; and although a site had been mentioned near some land of his own, which would certainly not enhance the value of his property should the proposal be carried out, yet he said he would, on the larger ground of philanthropy, be sorry as a landlord to throw any obstacles in its way. I fear that the medical speakers were scarcely so practical as the Mayor. One gentleman would have a series of pavilions, taking Glasgow and other great centres as his type; another would have small hospitals, if not on wheels, at least " on turntables," by which perfect ventilation might be secured, for the hospital could be turned round to face every change
in the wind-and in Sunderland, of all places, the changes in the wind are a matter of constant remark. A hospital is certainly required; and it is a pity the medical speakers did not give all the force of their remarks to this point, leaving details of construction for future consideration, in which they would be certain to be consulted.
our own
Correspondent.)
UNIVERSITY CHANGES.
’
THE authorities of the Glasgow University propose making certain important alterations in their examination scheme for medical degrees. They intend to remove pathology from the third to the fourth examination, and, to make room for it by removing therapeutics entirely from the examination as a separately named subject. This cannot but be regarded as a retrograde step. Some years ago the university very judiciously separated materia medica and pharmacy from therapeutics proper, giving a separate examination in these two departments. The candidate was thus enabled to give his attention at the proper time to the more important of these divisions, the physiological and therapeutical action of drugs, with his mind undistracted by botanical and pharmaceutical details. The proposed action of the university simply recalls the old and objectionable order of things, in which everything referring to materia medica, pharmacy, and the physiological and therapeutical action of drugs is jumbled up in one examination. The University of Edinburgh is also desirous of making certain alterations in the curriculum, especially with reference to practical courses, which it demands of candidates for its medical degrees. With regard to practical pharmacy, if this is taken extra-murally, it must be ’’ conducted at the laboratory of a hospital or dispensary, or elsewhere, by a teacher recognised by the University Court," or the candidate must have been " engaged by apprenticeship for not less than two years with a registered medical practitioner, a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, or a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, or a pharmaceutical chemist, or chemist and druggist, registered under the provisions of the Act for regulating the Qualifications of Pharmaceutical Chemists, 1852, the Pharmacy Act, 1868, or the Pharmacy Act (Ireland), 1875, in the bonâ fide compounding and dispensing of drugs, and the preparation of their official and other preparationsunder hissuperintendence." With regard to physiology and midwifery, the following additions or alterations are proposed:—" A candidate must show that he has atfor at least three monthsthe practiceof a midwifery hospital, or that he has attended at least six cases of labour under the superintendence of a registered medical practitioner. That he has attended, during courses of not less than fifty hours’ instruction, classes of practical physiology and practical pathology in the University of Edinburgh, or in a university or school of medicine recognised by Sub-sections 2 and 4 of Section VI. of Ordinance No. 8, Edinburgh No. 3, or upon classes thereof conducted by a
tended
732 teacher recognised Sub-section 4."
by the University Court under the said
THE FACULTY OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS.
PARIS.
(From our Paris Correspondent.)
The Faculty continues to advance rapidly (at rather a breakBANQUET OF THE SOCIÉTÉ FRANCAISE D’HYGIENE. neck pace many are inclined to think) in the path of reform. THE annual banquet of the Société Française d’Hygiène Some time ago it agreed to a scheme of conjoint examination with the other Scotch Corporations, of such a nature took place on the 5th inst., and was well attended. M. Marie that successful candidates may rejoice in the right to append Davy, the Director of the Meteorological Observatory of about nineteen initial letters to their names. It has insti and opposite to him at table was the tuted a scheme of examination for its Fellowship, but has Par’s, presided, de Lessepg. I may mention that this Society, not yet determined the date at which this desirable change celebrated M. which was founded shall take effect Not satisfied with this, the more ardent only a few years ago by Dr. de Pietra of one the are a will reform the movement which Santa, physicians to the late Emperor, has spirits promo ting Faculty out of existence altogether. They aim at the union of the grown rapidly in numbers and importance, and is in every Faculty with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh to sense of a cosmopolitan character, not only as regards form the Royal College of Surgeons of Scotland, hoping there- nationalities and creeds, but as comprising men of all profes. by to found a national institution, not a local one, which shall sions—doctors, lawyers, enineers, architects, journalists, admits all those who can a sufficient counterpoise to the College of Surgeons of chemists, &c. ; in short, the The title would prove more attractive than those by their knowledge and skill contribute to the development of in use at present to those proposing to enter the profession ; hygiene. Thus the Society bears on its list the names of many and probably a national college would wield more political distinguished hygienists of Great Britain and Germany. power and command more votes in Parliament than the The toasts of the evening were all most interesting, but I two separately can do, as they could appeal to other than cannot do more than allude to them here. I may, however, the members for Edinburgh and Glasgow for suoport. A cite certain passages of the principal speakers. M. Marié committee has been appointed to confer with an Edinburgh Davy spoke of the influence of atmospheric changes on the public health, and of the part played by the air committee on the subject. in the production of disease. Dr. Durand-Fardel, one of THE ROYAL INFIRMARY. the physicians of Vichy, and the highest French authority Things have not been going smoothly at the Glasgow on mineral of a thorough waters, pointed out the Royal Infirmary for a long time. In all the differences and knowledge of hygiene in all its importance He said that bearings. difficulties which arise in connexion with its management, hygiene embraced all the sciences ; there was not a single nothing is more remarkable than the utter powerlessness of science that could not be called into requisition for its the staff and of the medical directors, even when the matters development. He considered it the most important branch under discussion are of a purely professional kind. In the of medicine, and to say, it was only within the yet, strange chloroform controversy of last year the chairman of the last years or thereabouts that it had been recognised board of managers, supported en masse by the lay directors, as atwenty science. M. regular Durand.Claye, an engineer of practically carried all before him, notwithstanding the some note, referred to the intimate connexion that existed unanimous and active opposition of the physicians and sur- between engineering and hygiene, and said that, withgeons of the institution. More recently it has been shown out wishing to encroach on the precincts of medicine that the power of the lay directors and their hostility to proproperly so called, he considered that pure air, sun. fessional opinion have not diminished in the interval. It and uncontaminated water, and these in abunlight, has been known for some time that it was intended to were as essential to the well-being of animals as they dance, reduce the number of physicians and increase the number of were to the vegetable world. M. Anatole de la Forge, a surgeons on the hospital staff. These changes, surely of a deputy, demonstrated how the science of hygiene was being kind with regard to which the voice of the staff should have extended to all parts of the world by the introduction of been heard to some purpose, have also been carried in the Western civilisation, and referred to M. de Lesseps as being teeth of the most strenuous opposition of those interested pro- one of the foremost in that respect. M. de Lesseps, pioneers fessionally, and on grounds which have been unanswerably with his usual good humour, related some amusing anecdotes shown to be perfectly insufficient. It is unfortunate that any of hh travels ; and, in speaking of the Egyptians, said that move or protest made by the staff or their friends on the from his experience he thought they were the most interestdirectorate, when strictly medical interests are at stake, and vet the most ill-treated, people on the face of the should be at once met by the old cry of "trades unionism" ing, From time immemorial they seemed to have been a globe. from the lay directors. So long as such feelings exist to the ambitious proclivities ot surrounding nations. In prey between professional and non-professional managers of the their struggle with other people, acting almost always in infirmary, nothing can be looked for but friction. self-defence, they have invariably been conquered and DEATH OF DR. CASSELLS. oppressed, but could never be subjugated by or amalgaDr. J. Patterson Cassells, well known as an aural surgeon, mated with their various conquerors, who, owing to climatic died a few days ago, at the comparatively early age of forty- influences, could not live in the country for any length They-that is, the pure Egyptians or fellaheen eight. Dr. Cassells was a surgeon of great energy and ability, of time. and did much to establish his specialty on a firm basis in who inhabit the valley of the Nile-are to this day as and isolated a people as they were in the time Glasgow. He originated, and, for some time years, entirely distinct of the Pharaohs. and it was Ear the for They are inimical to admixture with Diseases ; supported Dispensary ether races, whether of a social, political, or physical kind; mainly through his exertions and influence that the present and if perchance there be any mixture of blood, the Hospital for Ear Diseases was erected. Dr. Cassells was the author of many important papers on aural affections. offspring never survive beyond one or two generations at the most. The climate is very unhealthy, and the country RICKETS. almost and this circumstance alone ought to A paper was recently read before the Philosophical Society make uninhabitable ; reflect before they decide upon conquerors intending Mr. James on in GlasRickets of Glasgow, by Thomson, it. permanently occupying gow and the West of Scotland, and its relation to the food The Minister of Public Instruction has intimated to the and water used. There can be no doubt as to the very great of Medicine that he will be officially represented prevalence of this disease in our midst. Mr. Thomson attri- Academy butes it to deficiency of lime in the Loch Katrine waters, this by Prof. Trélat at the International Congress of Medical which is to be held at Copenhagen on the 16th of deficiency telling not only directly on bone formation, but Sciences,next. also indirectly, in permittino, the water to take up more lead August The Academy of Medicine of Paris has designated from leaden pipes than harder water would take up ; to the excessive use of tea, sugar, and white flour bread, to the M. Henri Guéneau de Muasy to represent it at the Cenexclusion of oatmeal and such bone-forming foods; and to tenary of the University of Edinburgh. Paris, April 8th, 1884. early weaning and an impure atmosphere : factors which beyond a doubt are all present in a greater or lesser degree. There are many in the profession who will be pleased to A COMMISSION has been appointed by the New learn that Prof. M. Charteris has quite recovered from his York State Assembly for the purpose of investigating and recent prolonged illness, and has returned to duty at Glasgow reporting upoa the condition of the dwellings of the poorest University. parts of the city.
England. prove
Society
WOOD-WOOL AS A SURGICAL DRESSING.
Health lectures have been delivered lately, at Sunderland, To the Editor of THE LANCET. by Dr. Monro, medical officer of health for South Shields, SIR,—In your last issue mention is made by Mr. Ormsby, Dr. Drinkwater, Dr. Gibson of Newcastle, and others. So o! Dublin, of wood-wool as a useful dressing after ope- that if the town is not the most healthy, it is certainly one of the " best lectured " boroughs of our time. rations. As I have had experience of this material THE OUTBREAK OF SMALL-POX AT NEWCASTLE during the past three or four months, it may be interestINFIRMARY. ing to relate the general impression I have gained of which I referred in a late letter has now The outbreak to the I have material itselt to its value. merely applied have been no fresh cases; the students wounded surfaces, and not in muslin bags nor impregnated subsided, and there are doing well, and may be said to be with antiseptics, as mentioned in THE LANCET, Nov. 24th, who were attacked 1883, p. 908. As a dressing for recent wounds, it is easily convalescent. NEWCASTLE AND THE EDINBURGH TERCENTENARY. applied, is painless and comfortable, and will be found by no means an unimportant styptic. For granulating wounds, its A good many of our confrères may be said to be, if not absorbent and antiseptic properties procure a cleanly exactly "on the wing," at least "congregating " before taking healthy surface, and appear to promote cicatrisation. For flight to the "Northern Athens." Newcastle, although so instance, in a case of amputation of the leg where, owing to far north, has its advantages as a point of departure to many putrefaction, the Listerian dressings had to be discontinued, places of interest: for instance, three hours and a half will the stump was surrounded with a quantity of the wood-wool, suffice to convey one to the Waverley Station ; a little longer .and the discharge was readily absorbed and sweetened, whilst will enable one to reach the Cumberland lakes ; and the short the granulations assumed a healthy character. I believe that route to Ireland, viâ Stranraer to Belfast, may be commenced this material will be found very serviceable in the casualty here, as also the route to Denmark and Norway. I hope in a department of large hospitals, owing to the facility with future letter to give some hints which may be useful in guidwhich it can be applied ; whilst from a financial point of view ing such of your readers who may contemplate a visit to it will be found far more economical than even lint dressing. but these may stand over until my return from The sample I have been using was procured for me at Copenhagen, Edinburgh. my request by Messrs. Krohne and Sesemann. Newcastle-on-Tyne, April 15th, 1884. I am, Sir, yours faithfully, H. A. LEDIARD. Carlisle, April 14th, 1884.
GLASGOW.
VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE MOVEMENT.
(From
To the Editor of THE LANCET. I add another to the list of hospitals
SIR,—May taking part in the Volunteer Ambulance movement, mentioned by Mr. Collingwood in his letter on the subject in your issue of the 5th inst.? A very crowded general meeting was held at St. Thomas’s Hospital to consider the subject in January last, with the result that an ambulance association was formed, under the presidency of Sir William Mac Cormac, chief surgeon to the National Aid Society, and a bearer company organised, which at present numbers more than 100 non-commissioned officers and men. The company has been drilling steadily two and three times a week since the beginning of February last, and though we have been rather late in taking the matter up, we hope to arrive at a fair state of efficiency during the present year. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, E. CARRICK FEEEMAN, Secretary to the Ambulance Association. St. Thomas’s Hospital, April 10th.
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE. (From our own Correspondent.)) SANITATION AT SUNDERLAND.
A MEETING has been held lately at Sunderland, at which the Mayor took the chair, to promote the erection of a hospital for the treatment of infectious diseases in the town, the present building having been condemned as inade. quate by the public voice and medical opinion. The Mayor made a very sensible and telling speech, in which he admitted the want of hospital accommodation ; and although a site had been mentioned near some land of his own, which would certainly not enhance the value of his property should the proposal be carried out, yet he said he would, on the larger ground of philanthropy, be sorry as a landlord to throw any obstacles in its way. I fear that the medical speakers were scarcely so practical as the Mayor. One gentleman would have a series of pavilions, taking Glasgow and other great centres as his type; another would have small hospitals, if not on wheels, at least " on turntables," by which perfect ventilation might be secured, for the hospital could be turned round to face every change
in the wind-and in Sunderland, of all places, the changes in the wind are a matter of constant remark. A hospital is certainly required; and it is a pity the medical speakers did not give all the force of their remarks to this point, leaving details of construction for future consideration, in which they would be certain to be consulted.
our own
Correspondent.)
UNIVERSITY CHANGES.
’
THE authorities of the Glasgow University propose making certain important alterations in their examination scheme for medical degrees. They intend to remove pathology from the third to the fourth examination, and, to make room for it by removing therapeutics entirely from the examination as a separately named subject. This cannot but be regarded as a retrograde step. Some years ago the university very judiciously separated materia medica and pharmacy from therapeutics proper, giving a separate examination in these two departments. The candidate was thus enabled to give his attention at the proper time to the more important of these divisions, the physiological and therapeutical action of drugs, with his mind undistracted by botanical and pharmaceutical details. The proposed action of the university simply recalls the old and objectionable order of things, in which everything referring to materia medica, pharmacy, and the physiological and therapeutical action of drugs is jumbled up in one examination. The University of Edinburgh is also desirous of making certain alterations in the curriculum, especially with reference to practical courses, which it demands of candidates for its medical degrees. With regard to practical pharmacy, if this is taken extra-murally, it must be ’’ conducted at the laboratory of a hospital or dispensary, or elsewhere, by a teacher recognised by the University Court," or the candidate must have been " engaged by apprenticeship for not less than two years with a registered medical practitioner, a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, or a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, or a pharmaceutical chemist, or chemist and druggist, registered under the provisions of the Act for regulating the Qualifications of Pharmaceutical Chemists, 1852, the Pharmacy Act, 1868, or the Pharmacy Act (Ireland), 1875, in the bonâ fide compounding and dispensing of drugs, and the preparation of their official and other preparationsunder hissuperintendence." With regard to physiology and midwifery, the following additions or alterations are proposed:—" A candidate must show that he has atfor at least three monthsthe practiceof a midwifery hospital, or that he has attended at least six cases of labour under the superintendence of a registered medical practitioner. That he has attended, during courses of not less than fifty hours’ instruction, classes of practical physiology and practical pathology in the University of Edinburgh, or in a university or school of medicine recognised by Sub-sections 2 and 4 of Section VI. of Ordinance No. 8, Edinburgh No. 3, or upon classes thereof conducted by a
tended
732 teacher recognised Sub-section 4."
by the University Court under the said
THE FACULTY OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS.
PARIS.
(From our Paris Correspondent.)
The Faculty continues to advance rapidly (at rather a breakBANQUET OF THE SOCIÉTÉ FRANCAISE D’HYGIENE. neck pace many are inclined to think) in the path of reform. THE annual banquet of the Société Française d’Hygiène Some time ago it agreed to a scheme of conjoint examination with the other Scotch Corporations, of such a nature took place on the 5th inst., and was well attended. M. Marie that successful candidates may rejoice in the right to append Davy, the Director of the Meteorological Observatory of about nineteen initial letters to their names. It has insti and opposite to him at table was the tuted a scheme of examination for its Fellowship, but has Par’s, presided, de Lessepg. I may mention that this Society, not yet determined the date at which this desirable change celebrated M. which was founded shall take effect Not satisfied with this, the more ardent only a few years ago by Dr. de Pietra of one the are a will reform the movement which Santa, physicians to the late Emperor, has spirits promo ting Faculty out of existence altogether. They aim at the union of the grown rapidly in numbers and importance, and is in every Faculty with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh to sense of a cosmopolitan character, not only as regards form the Royal College of Surgeons of Scotland, hoping there- nationalities and creeds, but as comprising men of all profes. by to found a national institution, not a local one, which shall sions—doctors, lawyers, enineers, architects, journalists, admits all those who can a sufficient counterpoise to the College of Surgeons of chemists, &c. ; in short, the The title would prove more attractive than those by their knowledge and skill contribute to the development of in use at present to those proposing to enter the profession ; hygiene. Thus the Society bears on its list the names of many and probably a national college would wield more political distinguished hygienists of Great Britain and Germany. power and command more votes in Parliament than the The toasts of the evening were all most interesting, but I two separately can do, as they could appeal to other than cannot do more than allude to them here. I may, however, the members for Edinburgh and Glasgow for suoport. A cite certain passages of the principal speakers. M. Marié committee has been appointed to confer with an Edinburgh Davy spoke of the influence of atmospheric changes on the public health, and of the part played by the air committee on the subject. in the production of disease. Dr. Durand-Fardel, one of THE ROYAL INFIRMARY. the physicians of Vichy, and the highest French authority Things have not been going smoothly at the Glasgow on mineral of a thorough waters, pointed out the Royal Infirmary for a long time. In all the differences and knowledge of hygiene in all its importance He said that bearings. difficulties which arise in connexion with its management, hygiene embraced all the sciences ; there was not a single nothing is more remarkable than the utter powerlessness of science that could not be called into requisition for its the staff and of the medical directors, even when the matters development. He considered it the most important branch under discussion are of a purely professional kind. In the of medicine, and to say, it was only within the yet, strange chloroform controversy of last year the chairman of the last years or thereabouts that it had been recognised board of managers, supported en masse by the lay directors, as atwenty science. M. regular Durand.Claye, an engineer of practically carried all before him, notwithstanding the some note, referred to the intimate connexion that existed unanimous and active opposition of the physicians and sur- between engineering and hygiene, and said that, withgeons of the institution. More recently it has been shown out wishing to encroach on the precincts of medicine that the power of the lay directors and their hostility to proproperly so called, he considered that pure air, sun. fessional opinion have not diminished in the interval. It and uncontaminated water, and these in abunlight, has been known for some time that it was intended to were as essential to the well-being of animals as they dance, reduce the number of physicians and increase the number of were to the vegetable world. M. Anatole de la Forge, a surgeons on the hospital staff. These changes, surely of a deputy, demonstrated how the science of hygiene was being kind with regard to which the voice of the staff should have extended to all parts of the world by the introduction of been heard to some purpose, have also been carried in the Western civilisation, and referred to M. de Lesseps as being teeth of the most strenuous opposition of those interested pro- one of the foremost in that respect. M. de Lesseps, pioneers fessionally, and on grounds which have been unanswerably with his usual good humour, related some amusing anecdotes shown to be perfectly insufficient. It is unfortunate that any of hh travels ; and, in speaking of the Egyptians, said that move or protest made by the staff or their friends on the from his experience he thought they were the most interestdirectorate, when strictly medical interests are at stake, and vet the most ill-treated, people on the face of the should be at once met by the old cry of "trades unionism" ing, From time immemorial they seemed to have been a globe. from the lay directors. So long as such feelings exist to the ambitious proclivities ot surrounding nations. In prey between professional and non-professional managers of the their struggle with other people, acting almost always in infirmary, nothing can be looked for but friction. self-defence, they have invariably been conquered and DEATH OF DR. CASSELLS. oppressed, but could never be subjugated by or amalgaDr. J. Patterson Cassells, well known as an aural surgeon, mated with their various conquerors, who, owing to climatic died a few days ago, at the comparatively early age of forty- influences, could not live in the country for any length They-that is, the pure Egyptians or fellaheen eight. Dr. Cassells was a surgeon of great energy and ability, of time. and did much to establish his specialty on a firm basis in who inhabit the valley of the Nile-are to this day as and isolated a people as they were in the time Glasgow. He originated, and, for some time years, entirely distinct of the Pharaohs. and it was Ear the for They are inimical to admixture with Diseases ; supported Dispensary ether races, whether of a social, political, or physical kind; mainly through his exertions and influence that the present and if perchance there be any mixture of blood, the Hospital for Ear Diseases was erected. Dr. Cassells was the author of many important papers on aural affections. offspring never survive beyond one or two generations at the most. The climate is very unhealthy, and the country RICKETS. almost and this circumstance alone ought to A paper was recently read before the Philosophical Society make uninhabitable ; reflect before they decide upon conquerors intending Mr. James on in GlasRickets of Glasgow, by Thomson, it. permanently occupying gow and the West of Scotland, and its relation to the food The Minister of Public Instruction has intimated to the and water used. There can be no doubt as to the very great of Medicine that he will be officially represented prevalence of this disease in our midst. Mr. Thomson attri- Academy butes it to deficiency of lime in the Loch Katrine waters, this by Prof. Trélat at the International Congress of Medical which is to be held at Copenhagen on the 16th of deficiency telling not only directly on bone formation, but Sciences,next. also indirectly, in permittino, the water to take up more lead August The Academy of Medicine of Paris has designated from leaden pipes than harder water would take up ; to the excessive use of tea, sugar, and white flour bread, to the M. Henri Guéneau de Muasy to represent it at the Cenexclusion of oatmeal and such bone-forming foods; and to tenary of the University of Edinburgh. Paris, April 8th, 1884. early weaning and an impure atmosphere : factors which beyond a doubt are all present in a greater or lesser degree. There are many in the profession who will be pleased to A COMMISSION has been appointed by the New learn that Prof. M. Charteris has quite recovered from his York State Assembly for the purpose of investigating and recent prolonged illness, and has returned to duty at Glasgow reporting upoa the condition of the dwellings of the poorest University. parts of the city.
England. prove
Society