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REFRESHMENT STALLS IN THE OUT-PATIENT DEPARTMENT OF HOSPITALS.
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depressed, and she was allowed oysters and champagne in curious research to Mr. Berry to account for the large number small quantities. Improvement occurred, and a still more of mere Scotch graduates who have achieved leading conliberal diet was permitted-fish, chicken, &c. The weather sultant rank. Ours is a young University. We cannot then became slightly warmer; the patient was able to take expect its degrees for some time to be held high in popular out-door exercise, and her health considerably improved, esteem. We do expect, however, and have a right to demand but the urine remained unchanged. I awaited her confine- fair play-fair play, above all, from men of light and ment with much anxiety. My fears were, however, quite leading. If candour and public honesty cannot ensure some misplaced, as she had one of the most satisfactory labours I recognition of the strenuous efforts which have been made have ever seen. The pains began at 10 P.M., and the child by the Senate of the Royal University ever since its foundawas born at 3.40 the same night, and although I had forceps, tion to raise the level of its degrees as high as in any of the chloroform, pilocarpine, &c., ready, they were fortunately ancient universities, at least it should secure the Univernot required. For the first few days after the interesting sity from unmerited and systematic disparagement. For event occurred the pulse was not above 80, and the urine, the rest, we do not envy the high prestige of other bodies, carefully obtained by the nurse on the third day, was found May those that deserve it long enjoy it. I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, to be quite normal. F. C. BROWNE-WEBBER. The albuminuria must, I think, have been congestive, Coldharbour-lane, S.E., May 10th, 1888. caused by the pressure of the child’s head upon the I renal vessels, another form of "cyclic," or mechanical albuminuria, mentioned by Dr. Stirling and Dr. Godrich in MEDICAL CHARITY AT HOME (?). THE LANCET of April 28th. On referring to the literature of To the Editors of THE LANCET. the subject, statistics show that about half the cases of albuminuria are accompanied by eclampsia. Dr. Braxton Hicks SIRS,—Within two days I have received (1) the annual considers that the convulsions rather cause the nephritis of the Society for the Relief of Widows and Orphans than conversely, and more recent investigations show that report Alen and (2) the annual election papers of the of Medical the hydrsemic condition of the blood is the most important Medical Benevolent College, Epsom. The first shows that fact or in the etiology of eclampsia, especially when occurring the number of members of this prosperous Society is rapidly in those of an excitable temperament. T n.m Stra T7nva fnHhf"l1u diminishing, being 343 in 1886 and 330 in 1887; whilst the latter gives the usual terrible tale of twenty widows of HENRY W. KING, M.D. 1888. Chester, May 2nd, medical men left " totally unprovided for," who are candiof eight elderly spinster daughters of dates for REFRESHMENT STALLS IN THE OUT-PATIENT doctors pensions; for," candidates for annuities; and "unprovided DEPARTMENT OF HOSPITALS. fourteen " first applications " of fifty sons of medical men, To the Editors of THE LANCET. ranging from eight to fourteen years, candidates for the College. Now, to take only the last fourteen, six of the SIRS,—I read with great satisfaction the statement in last deceased fathers of these boys lived and practised in London week’s LANCET that in some of the metropolitan hospitals or its neighbourhood, and were therefore eligible to become refreshment stalls had been provided for the out-patients. members of the Society for the Relief of Widows and From personal observation I can state how highly the con- Orphans, in which case the widows and children would have venience of a refreshment stall is appreciated by numerous been more than " very slightly provided for." Again, three of the husbands of the candidates for pensions practised in persons attending the out-patient department of a large It is now months since the many weekly London, but they died and left their widows "totally ungeneral hospital. board of the Wolverhampton and Staffordshire General provided for," when an annual payment of two guineas would have secured them £50 per annum. When will Hospital, at my suggestion, placed in the general waiting medical charity begin at home ? room of the out-patients a refreshment bar of an ornaI am, Sirs, yours obediently, mental appearance, at which, at trifling charges, tea, coffee, A SUBSCRIBER TO BOTH CHARITIES. 1888. 9th, May can be milk, buns, bread-and-butter, rolls, &c., purchased. The attendant states that the amount of bminess done very much varies, but she is assured by many of the out-patients UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS. that a long-felt want has been supplied, and many exTo the Editors of THE LANCET. pressions of thanks have been heard at the great convenience which this highly appreciated addition to the other benefits SIRS,—May I be allowed to state, in reply to numerous of the out-patient department is felt to be. inquiries and to remove misapprehension, that in the new I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, regulations which we seek to obtain at St. Andrews there T. VINCENT JACKSON. will be no limitation to the number graduating in each year. Wolverhampton, May 6th, 1888. The names of nearly three hundred medical men have already been forwarded to the Senate, but as fresh signa"THE VICTORIA UNIVERSITY." tures still keep arriving it will be necessary to send in To the Editors of THE LANCET. another batch towards the end of the month, until which by yours truly, SIRS, Referring to some quite gratuitous remarks in date they will be gladly received B. JONES. Leigh, Lancashire, May 5th, 1888. Mr. Berry’s letter, allow me to say that graduates of the Royal University will be grateful if those who may have occasion to quote it will kindly testify, as far as may be NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES. after due inquiry, and from competent knowledge of its (From our own Correspondent.) aims and requirements. 1 fear Mr. Berry has not made due did he not think it worth while; inquiry-perhaps but, NEWCASTLE. any way, he cannot have read the Calendar of the Royal University, or he would not have classified its degrees with MR. H. E. ARMSTRONG, the medical officer of health for those of Durham or the Scotch Universities. Without making the slightest comment on these institutions-I am not com- the city of Newcastle-on-Tyne, has presented his annual petent to do so,-I object to the classification, which Mr. report for 1887 to the City Council. The principal features Berry’s context shows had a contemptuous and offensive of the vital statistics for the year as compared with the purport. The Royal University require!? an Arts course and previous one are a slightly lower birth-rate and an ina practical training in physical and biological science precrease of 3 per 1000 in the death-rate. Mr. Armstrong vious to medical studies. In these chief points it differs from believes that the increased mortality is very largely due to the present requirements of Durham and the Scotch Univer- the often severe vicissitudes of temperature and weather sities. The entire course for medical degrees in the Royal is one generally experienced last year in the north. The tables of the most prolonged in these kingdoms. Several require- show that small-pox has affected very few persons in the ments are almost peculiar to it of all licensing bodies; and city, and none fatally. No child under two years of age its examinations are very numerous, and, pace Mr. Berry, of has suffered. There has been a small outbreak of typhus. a high standard. The offensivenoss of "a standard sufficient Diphtheria has. relatively, been the most fatal (34 per cent.) for the ordinary practitioner" I pass over. It should be a of the zymotic diseasee, except puerperal fever, of which there -
depressed, and she was allowed oysters and champagne in curious research to Mr. Berry to account for the large number small quantities. Improvement occurred, and a still more of mere Scotch graduates who have achieved leading conliberal diet was permitted-fish, chicken, &c. The weather sultant rank. Ours is a young University. We cannot then became slightly warmer; the patient was able to take expect its degrees for some time to be held high in popular out-door exercise, and her health considerably improved, esteem. We do expect, however, and have a right to demand but the urine remained unchanged. I awaited her confine- fair play-fair play, above all, from men of light and ment with much anxiety. My fears were, however, quite leading. If candour and public honesty cannot ensure some misplaced, as she had one of the most satisfactory labours I recognition of the strenuous efforts which have been made have ever seen. The pains began at 10 P.M., and the child by the Senate of the Royal University ever since its foundawas born at 3.40 the same night, and although I had forceps, tion to raise the level of its degrees as high as in any of the chloroform, pilocarpine, &c., ready, they were fortunately ancient universities, at least it should secure the Univernot required. For the first few days after the interesting sity from unmerited and systematic disparagement. For event occurred the pulse was not above 80, and the urine, the rest, we do not envy the high prestige of other bodies, carefully obtained by the nurse on the third day, was found May those that deserve it long enjoy it. I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, to be quite normal. F. C. BROWNE-WEBBER. The albuminuria must, I think, have been congestive, Coldharbour-lane, S.E., May 10th, 1888. caused by the pressure of the child’s head upon the I renal vessels, another form of "cyclic," or mechanical albuminuria, mentioned by Dr. Stirling and Dr. Godrich in MEDICAL CHARITY AT HOME (?). THE LANCET of April 28th. On referring to the literature of To the Editors of THE LANCET. the subject, statistics show that about half the cases of albuminuria are accompanied by eclampsia. Dr. Braxton Hicks SIRS,—Within two days I have received (1) the annual considers that the convulsions rather cause the nephritis of the Society for the Relief of Widows and Orphans than conversely, and more recent investigations show that report Alen and (2) the annual election papers of the of Medical the hydrsemic condition of the blood is the most important Medical Benevolent College, Epsom. The first shows that fact or in the etiology of eclampsia, especially when occurring the number of members of this prosperous Society is rapidly in those of an excitable temperament. T n.m Stra T7nva fnHhf"l1u diminishing, being 343 in 1886 and 330 in 1887; whilst the latter gives the usual terrible tale of twenty widows of HENRY W. KING, M.D. 1888. Chester, May 2nd, medical men left " totally unprovided for," who are candiof eight elderly spinster daughters of dates for REFRESHMENT STALLS IN THE OUT-PATIENT doctors pensions; for," candidates for annuities; and "unprovided DEPARTMENT OF HOSPITALS. fourteen " first applications " of fifty sons of medical men, To the Editors of THE LANCET. ranging from eight to fourteen years, candidates for the College. Now, to take only the last fourteen, six of the SIRS,—I read with great satisfaction the statement in last deceased fathers of these boys lived and practised in London week’s LANCET that in some of the metropolitan hospitals or its neighbourhood, and were therefore eligible to become refreshment stalls had been provided for the out-patients. members of the Society for the Relief of Widows and From personal observation I can state how highly the con- Orphans, in which case the widows and children would have venience of a refreshment stall is appreciated by numerous been more than " very slightly provided for." Again, three of the husbands of the candidates for pensions practised in persons attending the out-patient department of a large It is now months since the many weekly London, but they died and left their widows "totally ungeneral hospital. board of the Wolverhampton and Staffordshire General provided for," when an annual payment of two guineas would have secured them £50 per annum. When will Hospital, at my suggestion, placed in the general waiting medical charity begin at home ? room of the out-patients a refreshment bar of an ornaI am, Sirs, yours obediently, mental appearance, at which, at trifling charges, tea, coffee, A SUBSCRIBER TO BOTH CHARITIES. 1888. 9th, May can be milk, buns, bread-and-butter, rolls, &c., purchased. The attendant states that the amount of bminess done very much varies, but she is assured by many of the out-patients UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS. that a long-felt want has been supplied, and many exTo the Editors of THE LANCET. pressions of thanks have been heard at the great convenience which this highly appreciated addition to the other benefits SIRS,—May I be allowed to state, in reply to numerous of the out-patient department is felt to be. inquiries and to remove misapprehension, that in the new I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, regulations which we seek to obtain at St. Andrews there T. VINCENT JACKSON. will be no limitation to the number graduating in each year. Wolverhampton, May 6th, 1888. The names of nearly three hundred medical men have already been forwarded to the Senate, but as fresh signa"THE VICTORIA UNIVERSITY." tures still keep arriving it will be necessary to send in To the Editors of THE LANCET. another batch towards the end of the month, until which by yours truly, SIRS, Referring to some quite gratuitous remarks in date they will be gladly received B. JONES. Leigh, Lancashire, May 5th, 1888. Mr. Berry’s letter, allow me to say that graduates of the Royal University will be grateful if those who may have occasion to quote it will kindly testify, as far as may be NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES. after due inquiry, and from competent knowledge of its (From our own Correspondent.) aims and requirements. 1 fear Mr. Berry has not made due did he not think it worth while; inquiry-perhaps but, NEWCASTLE. any way, he cannot have read the Calendar of the Royal University, or he would not have classified its degrees with MR. H. E. ARMSTRONG, the medical officer of health for those of Durham or the Scotch Universities. Without making the slightest comment on these institutions-I am not com- the city of Newcastle-on-Tyne, has presented his annual petent to do so,-I object to the classification, which Mr. report for 1887 to the City Council. The principal features Berry’s context shows had a contemptuous and offensive of the vital statistics for the year as compared with the purport. The Royal University require!? an Arts course and previous one are a slightly lower birth-rate and an ina practical training in physical and biological science precrease of 3 per 1000 in the death-rate. Mr. Armstrong vious to medical studies. In these chief points it differs from believes that the increased mortality is very largely due to the present requirements of Durham and the Scotch Univer- the often severe vicissitudes of temperature and weather sities. The entire course for medical degrees in the Royal is one generally experienced last year in the north. The tables of the most prolonged in these kingdoms. Several require- show that small-pox has affected very few persons in the ments are almost peculiar to it of all licensing bodies; and city, and none fatally. No child under two years of age its examinations are very numerous, and, pace Mr. Berry, of has suffered. There has been a small outbreak of typhus. a high standard. The offensivenoss of "a standard sufficient Diphtheria has. relatively, been the most fatal (34 per cent.) for the ordinary practitioner" I pass over. It should be a of the zymotic diseasee, except puerperal fever, of which there -