THE ASSOCIATION OF SANITARY INSPECTORS.

307 intestinal mucous membrane, as urged by some writers. He would rather regard it as a form of intractable diarrhoea, from deranged intestinal digestion; and, in support of his .contention, he points to the fact that the tongue remains .clean and the appetite unimpaired. His main arguments are, however, derived from the result of treatment, for he finds in santonin a drug which acts as effectually in such cases as ’Ipecacuanha does in dysentery. He was led to employ santonin from suspecting the presence of ascaris lumbricordes as a cause of the diarrhoeal symptoms; but, although in

no case was

this

parasite

met

with,

the

drug

had

a

tremarkable effect in restoring a healthy state of the bowel -function. His view is that "sprue"is due to the action of a microbic parasite upon the products of digestion, which, being altered and rendered unfit for absorption, act as ’Irritants to the intestine and cause the intractable diarrhœa; and in support of this view he quotes Dr. Thin (who, however, regards the affection as due to a condition of the mucous membrane, which ultimately passes into atrophy), who describes several kinds of organisms in the fluid motions, notably a special form of bacillus. The value of santonin in other than cases of intestinal worms .could not be better shown, a dose of five grains (fcr adults) - once daily sufficing to cure the diarrhoea in a few days. THE ASSOCIATION OF SANITARY INSPECTORS. DR. B. W. RICHARDSON presided at the seventh annual dinner of this Association in the First Avenue Hotel, Holborn, when over one hundred persons were present. In giving the toast of " The Association and its President, Sir Edwin Chadwick," Dr. Richardson sketched the history of ,the Society, and remarked that, though the first race of inspectors was largely untutored, now they had learned their duties and understood the importance of them. The duties of the Association were to teach its members how their tasks should be carried out, and to protect them in the execution of them. He hoped the apathy shown by many sanitary inspectors to the Society would last no longer. Referring to Sir E. Chadwick, he said the record of the work he had done was written in the history of the century, !he having for a period of sixty years spread sanitary light

throughout England.

-

BURIAL UNDER A CHURCH. SOME time ago an application was made to Chancellor Espin for a faculty to open a vault beneath the parish
of worship is altogether opposed to the spirit and tenour of recent legislation and of modern sanitary science, and in this particular case is strongly objected to by the parishioners of Bebington. This court would not be justified in permitting, so far as it has any jurisdiction in the matter, any such interments, except on the most clear and indisputable proofs that it would take place without prejudice either to the building or to the worshippers in it. It may be useful to point out for the benefit of those who may in future wish to make similar applications that it would save both expense and annoyance were the application made to the Home Secretary, and not to the ecclesiastical authorities. It must not be assumed that all chancellors possess the qualities which are requisite to give so sound a judgment as that of Chancellor Espin. One less endowed with legal knowledge and sound common sense might have judged differently. What would have been the result ? An appeal to the Home Secretary, who would have made an inquiry through the inspector of burials, and it is tolerably certain that, faculty or no faculty, the right to commence making a charnelhouse under a church used by a large congregation would not be granted. Even granting a certain prescriptive right to the

vault, this

can

to the old

only be regarded as a technical

law, which

one, subject says, " circumstances alter cases." Chancellor Espin’s judgment is amply warranted by the fact that within the last twelve months two churches within the City of London have been compulsorily closed in consequence of noxious emanations arising from bodies placed in the vaults underneath. Whether in future years it will be necessary to close Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Bishop Auckland Chapel for similar reasons we will not speculate. But as advocates of burial reform, and wishing to be perfectly consistent with the views so often previously expressed in these columns, we must confess to a feeling of regret that the burials of the bodies of thefamous poet, the learned bishop, and the gallant warrior who have recently passed away were not in accordance with sanitary laws; and that such favourable opportunities of setting a good example were not taken advantage of. Lord Napier’s funeral was no doubt a solemn scene. But it would have been far more impressive and would have afforded increased satisfaction to thousands of his fellow countrymen and women had it taken place in a suburban cemetery ; the increased route enabling many to pay the last mark of respect without any risk of being crushed to death. Robert Browning’s remains might most appropriately have been buried in the country which was so long his home. Bishop Lightfoot’s whole life was a model of simplicity and quiet retirement, and he was (we believe) with other bishops a vice-president of the Burial Reform Association. The burial of his body therefore in strict accordance with their oft-repeated recommendations instead of its entombment in a vault beneath Bishop Auckland Chapel would have been a fitting termination to his simple life, and we must regret that this was not done. ___

PROFESSOR TYNDALL ON THE GERM THEORY. IF lucid and full exposition is sufficient for instruction, the address lately delivered in the Ulster Hall, Belfast, by Professor Tyndall must have left his audience with a fairly clear idea of the part played by living organisms in disease and putrefaction. The facts connected with this notable discovery of modern times were marshaled by the speaker with great skill and in a descriptive manner which could hardly fail to interest the most casual hearer. The close connexion between Lister’s experiments and the conspicuous triumphs of recent surgery were briefly but clearly explained. The important part played by the genius of Koch in disclosing the germ origin of tubercle, splenic fever, and cholera was discussed at some length. An illustrative