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THE NEW GOVERNMENT LABORATORIES.
926 But these were not pressed last year when the pressing of them would have involved no opposition to one of the most brilliant and, we will add, one of the most active members of the Association, so that we may be allowed to express our feeling that the prominence given to them now is a little inopportune. The result will soon be known. Whichever of the two candidates is elected the cause of Direct Representation will not suffer, and we may expect the Council to go on its way without those explosive incidents which are injurious to its reputation as the controlling body of the medical profession and as an intermediary between that profession and the State.
ability.
Annotations. II
Ne
quid nlml.."
THE NEW GOVERNMENT LABORATORIES. THE English nation is supposed to move slowly in regard to the application of science to industrial processes, and of late we have heard a good deal of the necessity for educating men in special scientific work with the view of applying their knowledge to the manufactures and arts. Germany we know is a long way ahead in this respect, but in the completion of the new buildings last week close by King’s College Hospital, which contain admirably equipped laboratories for carrying on the duties of an important department of revenue work, this country has taken an initiative. For not the least interesting feature about the new building is that it is the first State laboratory in this or any other country which has been specially designed for the departmental work which was formerly carried out in a few incommodious rooms in Somerset House. Thejwork of the Somerset House chemists has increased enormously during the last decade. Originally-and it is now more than fifty years ago-the principal work done for the Government This was that of detecting the adulteration in tobacco. The laboratory soon extended to the examination of beer. then consisted of a few rooms situated in Arundel-street, Strand. So rapidly did the field for Government analysis widen that special rooms were provided in Somerset And here the services of the House in the year 1859. chemists proved to be in request by almost all the Government departments. Thus to them were referred the stores, provisions, and other supplies for the troops, and perhaps the India Office put forward more claims to the skill of the department than any other section of the Government. Later, when in 1875 the Food and Drugs Act came (into operation, the onus of reference was thrown upon the staff at Somerset House who thenceforward came to be regarded as officially the Government analysts and referees. All this has involved, as might be imagined, a large increase in the working staff and a need for better accommodation suited to the increasing requirements. In 1867 the laboratory accommodation at Somerset House consisted of at the most three rooms, but later twenty rooms were occupied for the purpose. In 1867 again the number of was in and 1887 39,224, and last year 9055, analysed samples These figures no less than 64,664 samples were analysed. appealed to the Treasury Office when they were brought to their notice, with the result that it was agreed to provide a separate establishment for the work, and Dr. Thorpe, who was appointed the Principal of the Government laboratories a year or so ago in succession to Dr. Bell, undertook to draw up the plans of the new laboratories and to supervise their construction. All this has been done, and the laborataries are practically complete and occupied by a staff
numbering over seventy. It need hardly be added, in view of Dr. Thorpe’s great practical knowledge of the construction of the leading laboratories abroad, that the new Government laboratories are equipped with appliances and apparatus that are fully in compliance with modern requirements. The sum voted by the Treasury towards the completion of the work was nearly 30,000. Our own interest in the new Government laboratories is centred of course in the administration of the Food and Drugs Act, in the disputed cases coming under which the chemists at the new laboratories are the referees. The public analysts have from time to time entered many complaints of the reticence of the Government chemists as to the methods they employ and have taken very’stroi3g exception to the apparently low standard of food, and especially of milk, which they have adopted in reference cases. We confidently expect that these objections will be met when the new Bill comes into operation. It cannot be doubted that the work of reference is entrusted to skilled men, and it is only as to the interpretation based upon the results of analysis that the differences of opinion have occurred. But we believe that the standards thus adopted by the referees were not below those capable of justification under :the present law. In the proposed new Bill a court of reference is suggested which should be empowered to deal with the subject of prescribing limits and standards of the quality and purity of food as well as with other matters such as the use of antiseptics. In whatever way the administration of the Acts may be modified in regard to referred samples it is evident that the new laboratories and the increased accommodation will considerably facilitate the work of this department and add to its usefulness inthe interests of the general community.
THE HEALTH OFFICER OF THE CALCUTTA CORPORATION. SANITARY science has conferred many benefits on the but a cordial public recognition of the fact is so uncommon an event that an instance of it deserves special notice. It happens now and then that medical or surgical services rendered to individual patients may be substantially rewarded, but the care of the public health seems not to appeal either to sentiment or to the popular imagination; its results are not always immediately apparent, and from the nature of the case it is inevitable that some departments of medical practice must dwindle in proportion as preventive medicine advances. The union of sanitation and preventive medicine has had the effect of prolonging the average duration of human life, of raising the general standard of health, and of controlling epidemics so that they are now but little more than semblances of what they used to be in the pre-scientific To the readers of THE LANCET these are mere era. commonplaces, but the public at large bestow only vague and casual attention on such subjects unless their interests are touched by the inconveniences of quarantine in foreign countries or by the heavy outlay entailed by modern drainage systems or by the demolition of insanitary buildings. Under these circumstances it is gratifying to find that at Calcutta the work of Dr. W. J. R. Simpson, the health officer of the corporation, is so highly appreciated that on the occasion of his retiring from his appointment an influential public meeting was held for the purpose of presenting him with a farewell address. The ceremony took place in the Dalhousie Institute on Sept. 4th, and among the numerous company were the Honourable Mr. Justice Rampini, Mr. W. R. Bright, chairman of the corporation, Colonel Wilford, Mr. E. N. Baker, collector of Calcutta, Mr. W. Parsons, secretary of the Bengal chamber of commerce, and Mr. L. P. D. Broughton, Administrator-General of Bengal; many members of the corporation were also present, both British and natives being represented. Mr. Bright
community,
ability.
Annotations. II
Ne
quid nlml.."
THE NEW GOVERNMENT LABORATORIES. THE English nation is supposed to move slowly in regard to the application of science to industrial processes, and of late we have heard a good deal of the necessity for educating men in special scientific work with the view of applying their knowledge to the manufactures and arts. Germany we know is a long way ahead in this respect, but in the completion of the new buildings last week close by King’s College Hospital, which contain admirably equipped laboratories for carrying on the duties of an important department of revenue work, this country has taken an initiative. For not the least interesting feature about the new building is that it is the first State laboratory in this or any other country which has been specially designed for the departmental work which was formerly carried out in a few incommodious rooms in Somerset House. Thejwork of the Somerset House chemists has increased enormously during the last decade. Originally-and it is now more than fifty years ago-the principal work done for the Government This was that of detecting the adulteration in tobacco. The laboratory soon extended to the examination of beer. then consisted of a few rooms situated in Arundel-street, Strand. So rapidly did the field for Government analysis widen that special rooms were provided in Somerset And here the services of the House in the year 1859. chemists proved to be in request by almost all the Government departments. Thus to them were referred the stores, provisions, and other supplies for the troops, and perhaps the India Office put forward more claims to the skill of the department than any other section of the Government. Later, when in 1875 the Food and Drugs Act came (into operation, the onus of reference was thrown upon the staff at Somerset House who thenceforward came to be regarded as officially the Government analysts and referees. All this has involved, as might be imagined, a large increase in the working staff and a need for better accommodation suited to the increasing requirements. In 1867 the laboratory accommodation at Somerset House consisted of at the most three rooms, but later twenty rooms were occupied for the purpose. In 1867 again the number of was in and 1887 39,224, and last year 9055, analysed samples These figures no less than 64,664 samples were analysed. appealed to the Treasury Office when they were brought to their notice, with the result that it was agreed to provide a separate establishment for the work, and Dr. Thorpe, who was appointed the Principal of the Government laboratories a year or so ago in succession to Dr. Bell, undertook to draw up the plans of the new laboratories and to supervise their construction. All this has been done, and the laborataries are practically complete and occupied by a staff
numbering over seventy. It need hardly be added, in view of Dr. Thorpe’s great practical knowledge of the construction of the leading laboratories abroad, that the new Government laboratories are equipped with appliances and apparatus that are fully in compliance with modern requirements. The sum voted by the Treasury towards the completion of the work was nearly 30,000. Our own interest in the new Government laboratories is centred of course in the administration of the Food and Drugs Act, in the disputed cases coming under which the chemists at the new laboratories are the referees. The public analysts have from time to time entered many complaints of the reticence of the Government chemists as to the methods they employ and have taken very’stroi3g exception to the apparently low standard of food, and especially of milk, which they have adopted in reference cases. We confidently expect that these objections will be met when the new Bill comes into operation. It cannot be doubted that the work of reference is entrusted to skilled men, and it is only as to the interpretation based upon the results of analysis that the differences of opinion have occurred. But we believe that the standards thus adopted by the referees were not below those capable of justification under :the present law. In the proposed new Bill a court of reference is suggested which should be empowered to deal with the subject of prescribing limits and standards of the quality and purity of food as well as with other matters such as the use of antiseptics. In whatever way the administration of the Acts may be modified in regard to referred samples it is evident that the new laboratories and the increased accommodation will considerably facilitate the work of this department and add to its usefulness inthe interests of the general community.
THE HEALTH OFFICER OF THE CALCUTTA CORPORATION. SANITARY science has conferred many benefits on the but a cordial public recognition of the fact is so uncommon an event that an instance of it deserves special notice. It happens now and then that medical or surgical services rendered to individual patients may be substantially rewarded, but the care of the public health seems not to appeal either to sentiment or to the popular imagination; its results are not always immediately apparent, and from the nature of the case it is inevitable that some departments of medical practice must dwindle in proportion as preventive medicine advances. The union of sanitation and preventive medicine has had the effect of prolonging the average duration of human life, of raising the general standard of health, and of controlling epidemics so that they are now but little more than semblances of what they used to be in the pre-scientific To the readers of THE LANCET these are mere era. commonplaces, but the public at large bestow only vague and casual attention on such subjects unless their interests are touched by the inconveniences of quarantine in foreign countries or by the heavy outlay entailed by modern drainage systems or by the demolition of insanitary buildings. Under these circumstances it is gratifying to find that at Calcutta the work of Dr. W. J. R. Simpson, the health officer of the corporation, is so highly appreciated that on the occasion of his retiring from his appointment an influential public meeting was held for the purpose of presenting him with a farewell address. The ceremony took place in the Dalhousie Institute on Sept. 4th, and among the numerous company were the Honourable Mr. Justice Rampini, Mr. W. R. Bright, chairman of the corporation, Colonel Wilford, Mr. E. N. Baker, collector of Calcutta, Mr. W. Parsons, secretary of the Bengal chamber of commerce, and Mr. L. P. D. Broughton, Administrator-General of Bengal; many members of the corporation were also present, both British and natives being represented. Mr. Bright
community,