THE RADCLIFFE INFIRMARY SCHEME.1

227

advantage

to him2

ment, that

we

Supposing

even, for the sake of argu-

’, stability to the revenues of the benefiting charities. So far, however, the proposal deals only with a problem presenting

inserted a statement in our editorial columns to the effect that anybody who wore one of ———’s diamond rings would not only be the cynosure of every eye but would also never have either influenza or gout, would 20,000 medical practitioners immediately inform their patients of the fact so that Birmingham would be besieged for diamond rings2 We should say not. Neither, we fancy, would the public be deceived, for a diamond ring is not nearly mysterious enough for the kind of person who takes quack medicines. For such a dried toad or an eelskin But we must allow worn as a garter has far more charm. that it is cheering in these latter days to hear of any trade in which the profits are as much as 150 per cent., and it would be interesting to know how much of this goes to the actual craftsman who makes the watch, or rather minds the machine which makes it. Nevertheless, apart from any question of commercial morality we cannot see the rationale of our correspondent’s offer. THE DEATH OF THE

DUCHESS

OF

RUTLAND.

THE death of the Duchess of Rutland has been regarded by the public with real regret. Her benevolence of life and her charm of character were felt by all who came in contact with her. Her high rank did not hinder the number of such persons being large. It was her merit that she did much by her sympathy and her intelligence to obliterate the sharp distinctions of society or to make them less felt. No personal trouble was too much if she could advance in any way the cause of social progress either in villages in towns by promoting either a library or a or coffee-shop. Such characters are too rare in all ranks and are more than ever needed now to effect by personal influences what mere political and social influences cannot achieve. We offer to her memory the sincere tribute of our

serious

no

difficulty.

The

financing

of

an

institution

so as

to spread the benefit of donations over a period of time is not beyond the compass of an ordinary committee of business It is the getting of the donation of 15 guineas, not its men.

bestowment when got, that presents a formidable difficulty. And this problem, although relegated to a second place in the book, does receive attention from Mr. Jenkins. He thinks that the enthusiasm of the promoters and supporters of charity bazaars will be greatly promoted if the proceeds, instead of being placed unreservedly at the disposal of the committees, are dealt with in the manner outlined above in the way of creating annuities of two guineas and one guinea each, the annuities being received by the hospitals but credited as annual subscriptions to selected persons among the contributors to the success of the bazaar, the selection being determined by chance and the casting of lots. It may be that the prospect of posing as benefactors at other people’s expense would prove sufficiently attractive to a certain number of charitably disposed people to ensure the success of a bazaar organised in this way, but we think that Mr. Jenkins over-estimates the attractiveness of prizes of

that description. THE

SIXTH

-

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS.

OTOLOGICAL

THE programme has been issued for this Congress, which will be held at the Examination Hall of the Conjoint Board, Victoria Embankment from August 8th to 12th. 70 papers have been announced. A general discussion will take pJace on Indications for Opening the Mastoid in Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media, and will be opened by Professor Macewen, Professor Politzer, Dr. Knapp, and Dr. Luc. The museum organised in connexion with the Congress in the same building will display a large collection of specimens relating to diseases of the ear and nose from France, regard. I Germany, Austria, and Holland, as well as from Great THE RADCLIFFE INFIRMARY SCHEME.1 Britain. Professor Politzer will bring from Vienna many valuable specimens. Members of the medical profession THE maintenance of hospital subscription lists is an will be admitted to the museum on presentation of their arduous task which is by no means always successfully cards on Wednesday, August 9th, and Thursday, accomplished by committees, secretaries, collectors, and the visiting from 2 to 4 P.M., and on Saturday, August 12th, 10th, other officials specially responsible for this duty. Thus it August Further particulars of the Congress A.M. to 5 P.M. from 10 frequently happens that established institutions languish and from the be obtained honorary secretary-general, Mr. their resources dwindle away as the result of changes of may Cresswell Baber, 46, Brunswick-square, Brighton. fashion and the off of old whose ------

dying

supporters

places

cannot be refilled. The story is an old one and needs no illustration, for illustrations come only too readily to mind. But a letter in the Times of Feb. 13th last drew the attention of Mr. E. Vaughan Jenkins to this problem and he has now put forward a proposal for dealing with the difficulty under the title of "A Practical Scheme for Maintaining the Continuity of Annual Subscriptions," taking for the purpose of illustrating his proposal the case of the Radcliffe Infirmary. His scheme is, however, equally applicable to the case of any other hospital or indeed of any other charity maintained by voluntary contributions and may be usefully considered in this its broader aspect. Stated in a word Mr. Jenkins’s proposal is to secure annual subscriptions for a definite term of years by bestowing them in the form of terminable annuities payable by the Post He points out that a sum of Office Savings Bank. 15 guineas invested in this way will produce an annual return of one guinea for 10 years and of half a guinea for 20 years thereafter. This idea is worked out with great wealth of illustration in the pages of his brochure and would, if it were extensively adopted, undoubtedly give great 1 The Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford: A Practical Scheme for Maintain ing the Continuity of Annual Subscriptions, Present and Posthumous,

Absolutely Assured.

THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR ’THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN. WE

are now

in

possession

of the

complete report of

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty

for

the

to Children

Some details of the society’s work and 1898-99. financial condition during this period have been already given in our columns.l The gratifying fact of an increasing income has been recorded, and it is further noteworthy that this increase is largely attributable to a rising influx of ordinary contributions. Another important feature in this year’s report is the evidence which it affords of a good understanding and mutual support between the central office and the branch organisations. Nine new branches have come into being since the last annual statement was published and 39 new district committees or secondary branches have also been established. These latest additions bring up the number of the society’s branches formed during the last 10 years to 180, of district and ladies’ committees to 595, and of inspectors trained and appointed to 159. The brief ’l’és1tmé of 10 years’ history given in this report is a narrative of capable and successful work and 1

THE LANCET,

June 17th, 1899, p. 1646.