THE BENEVOLENT AGENCIES OF THE PROFESSION.

1929 " The benevolent societies is a privilege of which those medical - contaminated than the crude sewage of Glasgow. bacteria in one gramme of the worst specimen of un- men who are more or less dependent upon the practice of washed flock amounted at blood heat to 4,500,000, in their profession should be but too eager to avail themselves. - Glasgow crude sewage they numbered 197,000, and in If mechanics can see their way to save from 1 guinea to the Loch Katrine drinking water 75." The fact is that 2 guineas a year to contribute to their provident societies, flock is made by the tearing to pieces of old rags, old and many thousands regularly do this, surely medical men clothes, old bits of carpet-in fact, any sort of worn-out ought to manage to follow their example. Several of the useless tissue. This naturally is not only very dirty material, provincial medical benevolent societies appeal for contribubut it may contain specific pathogenic germs, as it includes tions from persons who are not of the medical profession ; sometimes bandages that have been used for dressing wounds but whilst they are perfectly justified in doing this, medical and unwashed underlinen soiled by persons suffering from men should show that they are themselves doing their best typhoid fever and even from cholera or plague, for rags to support their own societies. are imported from distant countries. The only safety deThe British Medical Benevolent Fund. This society makes grants of money to distressed members pends, therefore, on effective disinfection of such material. ’The general process of manufacture is to beat these rags up of the profession, their widows or orphans, and provides in running water by which they are cleaned, though the annuities for them after they have reached the age of 60 water may be contaminated. After rinsing, the rags are years. The report of the committee presented to the last dried in kilns where the heat should reach 2100 F., and these annual meeting shows that in the grant department there two operations are supposed to ensure not only perfect was last year an increase of 193 in the receipts, the total cleanliness, about which there can be no doubt, but amount of grants distributed being £ 1727. It further shows also sterilisation. Only when this has been done are that the annuity department was satisfactory, the number of the rags, &c., torn to pieces by machinery and reduced annuitants having increased by three, bringing the total to fluff or flock. To make a single bed 30 pounds and a number up to 126. The amount distributed in this departdouble bed 45 pounds of such flock are required. At the ment was £ 2459. The grants are paid out of the subscriptions wholesale price of 1¼d. per pound the larger bed costs 56¼d. and donations of the year, and are made either in single sums Our attention, however, was called to the fact that if the or in monthly instalments, the amounts given ranging from 55 rags were at once converted into flock, without any to £ 20. The legacies and large donations are invested, and previous washing or drying, the uncleaned flock could it is from the income derived therefrom that the annuities be sold with as much or more profit at 3/4d. per pound. are paid. The membership subscription is 10s. a year, and a ’Thus the material to stuff the mattress of a double donation of .65constitutes a life member. The honorary secFor the sake’ retary of the Fund is Mr. W. E. SARGANT, St. Bartholomew’s bed would not cost more than 33 3/4d. of 2s. per bed, the public were asked to run grave risks, and Hospital, London, E.C. A guild has recently been formed in even when acquainted with the danger, and ask for and connexion with this Fund to make it more widely known and express their willingness to pay for clean flock, have no to supplement its work by giving help and practical guarantee that they obtain it. All these facts, with details sympathy to its beneficiaries of a more personal character and photographic illustrations, were set forth by our Special than is possible in the case of the parent fund. ContribuSanitary Commissioner, who inspected mills where the raw tions may be forwarded to the honorary treasurer, Dr. MAY material is washed and clean flock made, and other mills THORNE, 148, Harley-street, London, W. ; parcels of clothing where there is no washing process, while specimens of clean should be sent care of Miss RUTH WEST, 11, Chandos-street, and of uncleaned flock were analysed in our laboratory. Cavendish-square, London, W. ’The results clearly showed that the latter could not be used Relief of Widows and Orphans of Medical Men. with safety. The report for the past year states that there are 286 members, which is but a very small proportion of the THE BENEVOLENT AGENCIES OF THE PROFESSION. medical men who are eligible for membership. The subThe various benevolent agencies of the profession have scription is 2 guineas a year, 25 annual payments con,

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carried out their good work unostentatiously during the pastt, year, and it is perhaps owing to the fact that financial help) is rendered without undue publicity that many of the provincial medical benevolent societies have to deplore a paucity of members. From the brief accounts that are given below it will be seen that all the societies are worthy of: support, while some of the older ones are so well endowed that the advantages offered to members are far beyond anyr that can be given by insurance companies. One point to) which we wish to draw special attention is an excuse for ceasing to subscribe which is sometimes advanced by an old subscriber-namely, that a decreasing income is a justification for the withdrawal of his subscription. One moment’s consideration will show that such a financial position is the strongest possible argument for continuing to subscribe, hence the maintenance of the subscription should be managed at all costs. Those who reside in a county in which there is a medical benevolent society would do well to write at once to the honorary secretary for particulars as to. membership, bearing in mind that’in having the opportunity of joining such a society they are in the majority of cases reaping the benefit of the hard work, the loyal support, andl the generous benefactions of those who have gone before them. In other words, membership of most of the medicall .

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stituting a life member. Membership registered medical practitioner who at

is open to any the time of his election is resident within a radius of 20 miles from Charing Cross ; but should any member move beyond the limits he does not forfeit his membership. The invested funds amount to £ 100,071, bringing in annually £ 3121 interest ; subscriptions and donations amounted to £ 645. As the society disbursed last year in grants £ 3017, the value of membership is very grcat, hence the directors urge upon members of the profession, especially the younger ones, the desirability of joining the society. The secretary is Mr. E. J. BLACKETT, 11, Chandos-street, Cavendish-square, W. THE LANCET Relief Fund. The twentieth annual report of the almoners of this Fund states that the amount distributed since its inauguration in 1889 is £ 6119. Last year the number of applications for assistance received was 48, but 19 of these had either to be rejected as being outside the scope of the Fund or to be declined for other reasons ; 9 of the forms of application sent out were not returned to the secretary, probably owing to the fact that the applicants realised that they were not eligible for the benefits, and the remaining 20 applicants were assisted by gifts or loans of money ranging from £5to £ 25. As hitherto, the assistance was rendered in some cases within

1930 few hours of the application being received, and in morethan one instance the financial help enabled the applicant to keep his practice together when pressing monetary difficulties would otherwise have broken up his home and ruined his chance of making a livelihood. The almoners once more emphasise the fact that the Fund is not intended to relieve persons who are in what may be termed a chronic condition of distress, but solely for cases of sudden emergency, where timely financial help is likely to result in permanent benefit. It will therefore be a kindness if those who are asked to recommend cases will bear in mind that poverty alone is not a claim for help from this Fund ; if it were, the available funds would be exhausted in the first month of the year. The almoners are the President of the Royal College of Physicians of London, the President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the President of the General Medical Council, and the Editor of THE LANCET. The secretary is Mr. C. GOOD, THE LANCET Office, 423, Strand, London, W.C.

PROVINCIAL SOCIETIES. Birmingham Medical Benevolent Society. The eighty-seventh annual report shows that in 1908 there was a falling off in subscriptions of .654 as compared with 1907, but it is explained by the fact that in the latter year a large number of arrears were paid up. The total number of’ benefit members for the year remained unchanged. The invested funds amount to .615,940 ; the total of the grants voted in 1908 was .6757. The directors draw attention to the very large number of practitioners in the district who have not yet availed themselves of membership of the society. The value of the relief granted can be appreciated from the following cases : a surgeon’s widow received in grants 61295 after only .677s. had been paid in subscriptions ; a widow received in grants .B1247 after R15 15s. had been paid in subscriptions ; an invalided member received .B686 after paying B15 15s. in subscriptions. The annual subscription is 1 guinea ; the honorary secretary is Dr. J. E. H. SAWYER,

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93, Cornwall-street, Birmingham. Royal Medical Benevolent Fund Society of Ireland. The Devon and Exeter Benevolent Medical Society. The sixty-seventh annual report of this society states that This society was founded in 1806, and has invested funds grants were made by the committee amounting to f.1166, and that subscriptions, donations, and bequests amounted to to the value of £ 3287. The subscriptions for the past year f.748. In moving the adoption of the report last June the amounted to .64019s., and the total of the annual grants voted President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland stated was .670. The subscription for membership is £ 11s. annually, that there are approximately 3000 members of the profession or life membership may be obtained by paying a donation of on the Medical Register in Ireland, but there are less than 921. The honorary secretary is Mr. ELGAR DOWN of Wing500 contributors to the society for which he was appealing. field House, Stoke, Devonport. The annual meeting is held He said that the old story of increased expenditure in in one of the principal towns of the county, as may be awards and of diminished receipts in subscriptions was appointed by the president. much more marked that day. The contribution that made Essex and Herts Benevolent Medical

Society. subscriber to the Fund was so small that no man had an This which was instituted in 1786, granted in 1908 society, excuse for not being able to help it, at some time or other, E320 in seven grants, ranging in amount from .620 to 680, at any rate. He attributed the lack of support given to the and received f.98 in subscriptions and donations. The society to the fact that many medical men do not know of the existence of the charity, and many more do not realise capital is represented by £ 11,103 2 per cent. Consols. The the value and importance of the charity and of the work membership subscription is 1 guinea annually, but persons done. The subscription for membership is 1 guinea annually, not of the medical profession who subscribe half a guinea or for life membership E10 in one payment. The secretary per annum are constituted governors of the society and are is Dr. CHARLES M. BENSON, 65, Lower Baggot-street, Dublin. entitled to vote in all its transactions. The secretary is Mr. VERNON AUSTIN of Hertford. Royal Medical Foundation of Epsom College. Kent Benevolent Medical Society. At the last annual general meeting of the governors the This society, which was instituted in 1787, is actively council presented a satisfactory report, showing that there’ engaged in carrying on its good work. The funded was a surplus on the ordinary income and expenditure property of the society is represented by £ 8650 22 per cent. account last year of .E432. The fact is emphasised that a Consols and .61200 India 3 per cent. stock ; a sum of 6330 sum of E4500 must be obtained annually by means of volun. was spent last year in grants. There are 105 members who tary contributions in order that the council may maintain subscribe £ 11s. annually; and the value of membership may the full number of 50 pensionerships of £ 30 a year for aged seen from the fact that since the foundation of the society members, or widows of members, of the medical pro- no fewer than six families have received relief exceeding fession and the 50 foundation scholarships providing board,’ 61000 in amount, whilst 16 others have received Z500 and education, and clothing free of charge at Epsom College There are three honorary secretaries-namely, for for necessitous sons of medical men. There are also 25 eastern district, Mr. H. G. SADLER of Canterbury; for other beneficiaries whose annuities are provided out of middle district, Dr. CHARLES E. HoAR of Maidstone; special funds, and 17 pensioners have their annuitiessand for the western district, Mr. H. C. BURTON of Lee increased from other funds, the amount being raised in 14 The assistant secretary is Mr. JAMES WILTSHIER of cases to E50 a year. The council is erecting a new St. George’s-place, Canterbury. 25, gymnasium, new music rooms, and a new workshop, and aree Lincolnshire Medical Benevolent Society. providing a central heating plant having sufficient power tc0 At the 106th annual meeting of this society held last July heat all the new buildings, together with Granville House,:, to the extent of E120 were voted to widows of the large school, and the chemical laboratory. These ex.:. grants in substantial sums of .B30, 640, and 650 members the tensions and improvements, which are now nearing comple.;. are 93 subscribing members of the There tion, will probably cost over £ 8000 ; but though the sum isLs respectively. the annual subscription being 1 guinea. The value large the council feels assured that a consistent and definitEe society, is the investments scheme of extension is the most economical course that carn of 63505 ; the honorary secretary is Dr. be followed. They urge upon all friends of the institution t(o W. A. CARLINE of Lincoln. do their best to secure fresh annual subscribers to th Medical Benevolent Society for the East and North Ridings of Yorkshire (inculding the City of York). Foundation, since death removes annually many who ham’e The first annual report of this society shows that good been staunch supporters. The secretary is Mr. J. B. LAMB3, There are over a hundred process has been made. 37, Soho-square, London, W. a

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1931 members and many more medical men have promised to ’become subscribers, so that the prospects are favourable. The balance in the hands of the treasurer is £ 164; the annual subscription is 1 guinea. The committee expresses: the hope that a personal canvass will soon be made, with a resulting large increase in the membership. It also appeals for donations and benefactions from those who are not members of the medical profession, observing that the: neighbouring West Riding and Lincolnshire benevolent medical societies have received very large sums in this way. The honorary secretary is Dr. EDWARD TURTON of 1, Albionstreet, Hull. ,

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HONOURS TO MEDICAL MEN.

Strictly speaking, there were no New Year honours, early in January Surgeon-General BOMFORD, C.LE.,

but the

Director-General of the Indian Medical Service, was promoted to a Knight Commandership of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, while Major HOOD ORR, LM.S., civil surgeon of the Bohraich District United Provinces, and Lieutenant-Colonel JOHN TASMAN WADDEL LESLIE, 1. M.S., Sanitary Commissioner with the Government of India, were appointed Companions of the same Order.

Birthday Honu2crs.

The June list of honours contained the names of Mr. Jfedioal Charitable Society for the West Riding of the County HENRY MORRIS and Sir DYCE DUCKWORTH, upon of York. Lieutenant - Colonel The eighty-first annual report of this society states that whom baronetcies were conferred. although the list of applications for assistance is slightly W. B. LEISHMAN, R.A.M.C., received a knighthood; shorter than that of the preceding year, the general tendency Surgeon-General LIONEL DixoN SPENCER, LM.S., was for many years has been in the direction of a rapid and made a Knight Commander of the Bath ; and Surgeonalmost annual increase. Whilst the society is in a position General HAYWARD READER WHITEHEAD, R.A.M.C., to meet any immediate requests for assistance, it must be and Colonel DE BURGH BIRCH, A.M.O. Territorial Force, remembered that the sum received from annual subscriptions were made Companions of the same Order. Lieutenantin recent years has not equalled one-half the amount dis- Colonel ROBERT NEIL CAMPBELL, I.M.S., and Mr. EDGAR tributed in grants, and that as membership increases so does THURSTON, L.R.C.P., received Companionships of the Order liability to claims for help. At the last annual meeting of the Indian Empire; Professor WILLIAM JOHN RITCHIE grants were made to the extent of £ 1625 ; the total value of SIMPSON, M.D., C.M. Aberd., F.R.C.P. Lond., a Companionthe investments is £ 29,464 ; the annual subscription for ship of the Order of St. Michael and St. George; and Dr. membership is 1 guinea. The honorary secretary is Mr. TEMULJI BHIKAJI NARIMAN the Kaisar-i-Hind gold medal. Sir HENRY MORRIS, the late President of the Royal College MICHAEL A. TEALE of Park-square, Leeds. of Surgeons, is well known to all medical men as surgeon, Tile Norfolk and Norwich Benevolent Medical Society. anatomist, and authority on medical education, as well as This society was established in 1786 for the relief of for his munificent gifts to the Middlesex Hospital and his members who are incapacitated from continuing to practise, energetic work in support of Epsom College. Sir DYCE and of their widows and orphans if these do not marry. Full DUCKivoRTH is well known as a consulting physician to particulars as to the conditions of membership can be St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, and has been medical referee obtained from the honorary secretary, Mr. C. J. MURIEL, to the Treasury since 1894 and treasurer of the Royal 42, St. Giles-street, Norwich. The annual meeting is held College of Physicians of London since 1884. Lieutenantin the month of July. Colonel Sir W. B. LEISHMAN is distinguished for his researches in bacteriology and protozoology, as appears The Surrey Benevolent Medical Society. from other sections of this annual summary. SurgeonThis society was instituted in 1812, and the last statement General Sir LIONEL DIXON SPENCER is an honorary surgeon of account shows that in 1908 a sum of E90 was distributed to His Majesty. Surgeon-General HAYWARD READER WHITEin three pensions of £ 30 each, a sum of £ 70 was expended HEAD is principal medical officer, Southern Command ; in grants to members, and three scholarships for girls and Lieutenant-Colonel ROBERT NEIL CAMPBELL is officiating two extra scholarships for boys cost E224. The society has Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals in Eastern Bengal and the right in perpetuity of nominating four scholars to Epsom Assam ; and Mr. EDGAR THURSTON is the superintendent of College. The invested funds amount to Ell,875, and there the Government Central Museum of the Province of Madras. are 61 members. The entrance fine is £ 5, and the annual Professor WILLIAM JOHN RITCHIE SIMPSON has done but the latter may be commuted according admirable subscription £ 2, public service in plague. The to a fixed table. subscription is not payable for longer In the November list were the names of Mr. HENRY WILLIAM than 30 years, after which time the subscriber is considered L.F.P.S. Glasg., Mr, JAMES MATTHEW MOODY, NEWTON, a life member. A payment of E30, in addition to the entrance L.R.C.P. Edin., M.R.C.S.Eng., Mr. GEORGE HERBERT fine of £ 5, constitutes the contributor a member for life. The POLLARD, M.P., M.D., C.M. Edin., who received the honour honorary secretary is Mr. W. A. BERRIDGE, of Redhill, of knighthood, and Mr. JAMES AUGUSTINE HARAN, Surrey. M.D. Dub., who was made a Companion of the Most DisThe Sussex Medical Benevolent Society. tinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George. Sir HENRY In submitting the fourth annual report the executive WILLIAM NEWTON is the "father"of the city council of committee states that the relief of necessitous members will Newcastle and has done excellent work in the interest of begin, in accordance with the rules, on May 1st, 1910. There public health. Sir JAMES MATTHEW MOODY has been the are at present only 62 subscribing members and the invested medical superintendent of Cane Hill Asylum for a quarter of funds amount to £ 302. The committee, therefore, appeals for a century. Sir GEORGE HERBERT POLLARD, M.P., is a new members in order that the society may become a barrister-at-law of the Inner Temple, and has been a Member prosperous one. We cordially endorse its appeal, and trust of the Eccles Division of Lancashire since 1906. Mr. JAMES that medical men in Sussex will endeavour to secure AUGUSTINE HARAN is a medical officer of health at Mombasa contributions from those outside their profession, since this in the East Africa Protectorate. policy has helped to establish some of the strongest medical Royal Victorian Order. The importance of a substantial benevolent societies. reserve fund cannot be over-estimated. The annual In connexion with the visit of the King of Portugal to subscription is 1 guinea; the secretary is Dr. L.’A. PARRY, of this country His Majesty the King conferred upon 83, Church-road, Hove, Sussex. Dr. DE MELLO BREYNER, Physician in Ordinary to King -