"FELIXSTOWE SPA."

1200 ference in food, clothing, and temperate habits-I say I am convinced that these different conditions have a great deal more to do in rendering chloroform anesthesia safe here than any particular difference in the methods we adopt. In regard to the matter of temperance alone, every surgeon in India knows how differently intemperate patients act under chloroform from the usual temperate individuals he has to deal with. We readily notice the difference here because the intemperate are as yet few and far between. Again, our patients never "funk" chloroform as Europeans constantly do. SurgeonLieutenant-Colonel Lawrie, in a late paper of his, has stated that till Hyderabad methods were introduced the patients used to bolt the moment they saw the chroroform bottle. English readers must take this statement as referring to Hyderabad alone. I venture to say there is not another surgeon in India who has had a like experience. Our patients as a rule simply cry out for chloroform for the most trifling operations. I have been watching this closely for the past ten years, and it has always been the same. So the fact is they do not fear it ; the air is pure and warm ; they are temperate, rarely muscular to the European degree, rarely bilious from over-feeding with loaded bowels, and always practically naked-everything in fact as favourable as can be for the ready reception and equally ready elimination of a volatile drug like chloroform. SurgeonLieutenant-Colonel Lawrie seems to approve of holding down a struggling patient. I think this approval is ill-advised. If the patient struggles and his movements are forcibly and completely restrained he closes his glottis that he may the better resist opposition, and elimination of the chloroform in his blood is thereby effectually arrested. Our custom here is to allow a patient’s arms to swing about freely and to restrain only partially all other movements. He is simply prevented from removing the chloroform cap from his face, an attempt he is sure to make when becoming unconscious. I have come to regard this point as of some importance. I am, Sirs, faithfully yours, SOUTH INDIA.

Oct. 22nd, 1892.

"FELIXSTOWE SPA." To the Editors of THE LANCET. SIRS,—IN the current issue of THE LANCET Dr. Jones gives a glowing account of the charms, and especially of the sanitary perfection, of Felixstowe. Oddly enough, however, he does not mention its system of sewerage. Is this because he hesitates to speak evil of the absent ? I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, GOLFER. Nov. 14th, 1892.

NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Sad Boating Fatality on the Tyn

e; a Medieal S’tudent Dro,7vned.

Dr. Maclaren of Carlisle on Alpine Climbing. Dr. Maclaren of Carlisle, who has been in the habit of visiting Switzerland for some years past and has therefore some experience of the pleasures and dangers associated with Alpine climbing, gave an attractive and most interesting lecture on the subject last week in the Viaduct Hall, He thought if all people who were still young Carlisle. would pay two or three visits to Switzerland they would be well repaid in health, and the general interest in nature which would be aroused. Young men, he said, used to cricket and football might commence to climb at once. Three or four could join together with one guide (a guide, though not always necessary, was advisable, and well repaid expense). Tobacco and Snuff for Workhouse Inmates. The Lanchester board of guardians, in reference to the circular of the Local Government Board authorising an allowance of tobacco and snuff to non-able-bodied paupers, have represented to the Local Government Board that it, might withdraw the term "non-able-bodied paupers,"and leave it to the discretion of the master to recommend these luxuries under certain circumstances to working inmates. Old men and women smokers were to be allowed two ounces per week. Miscellaneous Items. The Gateshead guardians have resolved in consequence of the congested state of the County Lunatic Asylum to, appoint a committee to consider the necessity and advantage* of establishing an asylum on the guardians’ land for the reception of the lunatics of the union. From this and other indications apparent in the same direction it appears to me! that the day for huge lunatic asylums is over ; at all events, that they have now reached their limit in the north.-Last week an interesting presentation took place at the Central Hall, Spennymoor, of a purse of gold and a meda suitably engraved with an illuminated address to Policeconstable R. Boal, who discovered the fire at the NorthEastern Hotel and gallantly saved the lives of the inmates.A Local Government inquiry has been held at Eston, near Middlesbrough, to sanction the purchase of land for a sanatorium for the district, to which there was no opposition.Mr. Veitch of Middlesbrough has presented to the museum of that town a stone axe head which had been dredged in the River Tees. It is said to be a very fine relic of the stone age.-One of the events of the week has been the reopening of the Newcastle Art Gallery with a brilliant conversazione, which was attended by the mayor and corporation and our principal citizens. The Newcastle Art Gallery is something unique, for under the same roof it includes the magnificent picture galleries, a concert hall and various club rooms, besides separate rooms large enough for the meetings. of our various scientific societies. There has been a great, need for this in Newcastle, as we have nothing in the way of a, medical institute.-In my last notes I mentioned that the seal had been driven from its haunts on the Northumbrian coast by the steamboat traffic. I have been sorry to hear, however, that on Saturday last a boat proceeded to the Seal Rock (one of the Farne Islands) in search of a female seal and her cub which were seen on the rock. They escaped. Not so a fine bull seal, which the fishermen shot. It is said to weigh forty-five stone, and the skin measures eight feet by five feet.

ON Saturday evening last a sad boating fatality took place on the Tyne, whereby a student at the Medical College and a resident dresser at the infirmary lost his life. The facts are shortly as follow : Mr. Benjamin May and companions hired a four-oared outrigger to have a little exercise on the river, and all went well until about six o’clock, when the evening getting very dark the boat collided with a Newcastle-on-Tyne, Nov. 16th. Blaydon steamer and all the rowers were upset into the river. They contrived to swim to the bank with the exception of Mr. May, who was missed, and although his companions IRELAND. made desperate efforts to reach him his body was not found OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) (FROM until the following day, when it was recovered and taken to the infirmary, where it lies until interment to-day. Mr. May, Royal College of Surgeons. who was in his twenty-first year and had nearly completed AN election a Member of Council in the room of Mr. J, for his curriculum, was distinguished as a stuclent and carried Kellock Barton, resigned, was held on Monday, when Dr. F. T. off many prizes during his course. His remains were followed Professor of Anatomy in the Medical Schools of the by professors, lecturers, and infirmary officials, and by nearly Heuston, was elected by a large majority. College, whom was of his sorrowful he fellow-students, by everyone Graduates’ Memorial Building :Trinity College. held in the highest esteem. A sum of :E6500 has already been received for the Graduates’ Proposed Temporary Hospital for Cholera on Newcastle Memorial of the Tercentenary of the University of Dublin, Tonw Moor. and it is confidently expected that before the year terminates. The sanitary and other committees concerned in the an additional E500 will be added to the amount.’ The of a under erection cholera hospital on the Town Moor have authorities of the University have consented to, governing their consideration a proposal to lay down concrete foundaa suitable site for the proposed building, and the matter tions and to put in the necessary sewers so that in case of a give will soon engage their consideration. visitation of cholera emergency temporary hospitals could be Dublin Hospital Sunday. promptly erected on the enclosed sites of about one and a half acres. The nineteenth annual collection in aid of the Dl1bJin ,