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THE SMOKE NUISANCE.
1028
enabling the Board to enforce upon a defaulting local to be injurious to the lace produced there. This authority the performance of its statutory duties, but it is is a complete answer to the observation that "it is certainly a question worthy of serious consideration whether unfortunately easier to point out the evil than to suggest the putting in force of the powers of the Board in one or two a permanent remedy." It is nothing of the kind. More instances would not have a salutary effect upon other than that, when preventive measures are taken, it is authorities who are exhibiting a spirit of indifference to their a source of added revenue. It is just as important, in our opinion, that our public health authorities should see responsibilities. that the atmosphere which we breathe is untainted as that ALCOHOL AND THE TROOPS RETURNED FROM the water which we drink is unpolluted and the food which -
THE WAR.
we
eat is unadulterated. ___
issue of July 28th (p. 273) we drew attention to the desirability that the welcome offered to those who have fought and bled for their country, and we might add for us who have stayed at home, should not include the treating of them with an overplus of alcoholic drinks. We to return to this subject owing to the are induced announcement that the City of London Imperial Volunteers are expected home about the beginning of November, Some will be convalescent from wounds or sickness or possibly from both. Of the warmth of their reception there can be no doubt and it is fitting that they should be greeted with gratitude as well as with joy. They are the first volunteers as distinguished from regulars to serve in the fighting line who have left these islands ; they have by all accounts seen plenty of fighting and have borne themselves nobly. Their home-coming, therefore, should be marked by a welcome which, although hearty, should be commensurate in dignity with the serious work which they have so well carried out. For these reasons we would beg - enthusiastic friends and countrymen not to mar the return of these or of any troops by temptation to over-indulgence. IN
our
THE
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.
THE first meeting of the Senate of the University of London will take place on Oct. 24th and the members of the various bodies appointed to serve thereon must be soon sleeted. The Royal College of Physicians of London has appointed Dr. P. H. Pye-Smith and Dr. W. H. Allchin, and the Royal College of Surgeons of England Mr. H. G. Howse and Mr. A. Pearce Gould as their representatives. These gentlemen have the advantage of being old graduates of the University and are well versed in the movements for its conversion into a teaching university and the opposition to such a change. On Oct. 9th, at 5 P.M., a meeting of Convocation will be held at the University new building at South Kensington, in the East Conference Hall, for the appointment of the members to serve on the Senate under the statutes made by the Commissioners. The registered graduates in medicine and in surgery are urged to elect Dr. Thomas Barlow and Dr. J. Frank Payne on the one hand, or Dr. S. Ringer and Mr. Quarry Silcock on the other, but two only can be elected. Dr. Barlow and Dr. Payne are frankly in accord with the views put forward by us for the establishment of a real teaching university in London, whilst Dr. Ringer and Mr. THE SMOKE NUISANCE. Silcock have the strong support of the so-called Graduates’ OUR remarks last week about the recrudescence of the Association, urging strongly that the existing work of the smoke nuisance promise to stir up public opinion with good University is to be kept up as far as possible as it now is. The - effect on the desirability of suppressing this intolerable question of external students in arts and science, on which - evil. The newspapers in general expressed the opinion so much stress is laid in the circular of the association, does that we "waxed somewhat strongly" on the subject, not much concern the medical student, but a re-organisation but we do not admit that our words were too emphatic. of examinations, so that he may not be examined twice or The Westminster Gazette in quoting our article added the thrice in the same subject is a far more necessary reform stale remark that ‘°it is unfortunately easier to point out the for the proper teaching of medical science and practice. evil than to suggest a permanent remedy." This remark hardly needs reply from us, since Sir William Richmond THE HARD CASE OF THE ROYAL LONDON promptly cleared the mind of the writer of it on this point. OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL. Sir William Richmond’s answer was as follows:than to allow it to pass It is cheaper to consume smoke WE have alreadyI expressed our sympathy with the into the atmosphere. Smoke is wasted fuel. At a com- movement which has for its object the exemption of hosparatively small cost all factories, electric lighting stations, pitals and similar charitable institutions from the payment &c., can be provided with smoke-consuming apparatus. This of local rates, and a case has just occurred which shows being the case the public has only to demand a clear with from far as the smoke as factories, painful clearness how seriously this burden may affect atmosphere-anyhow steamers, and railway engines is concerned-and they will the financial position of a hospital. The Governors of the get it. The vestries and the L.C C. do not enforce the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital (Moorfields Eye Hospital), law against smoke partly on account of apathy, but chiefly received a summons for non-payment of because in those bodies there are many smoke-makers, City-road, E.C., rates to £324, and although the secretary amounting or friends of such. at the hearing of the case that it was Sir William Richmond wrote a similar letter in the Daily explained for so large a sum to be forthcoming impossible Graphic, Oct. 3rd, à propos of our remarks. As a refer- i at present, the court held that it could do no more ence to our correspondence columns this week will show, than make an order for payment in 14 days. This Sir William Richmond has also addressed us upon the claim seems to be particularly hard in view of the fact that subject. We most sincerely hope that his appeal will re- the new building has only been occupied for one year, and ceive the support of all who are interested in keeping "a during that time the hospital has actually paid £540 in rates. clean sky" and stopping once and for all the vestries Besides suffering like all other charities by the diversion of and other authorities from "making it dirty." It is sheer to the various war funds and the Indian subscriptions nonsense to say that smoke cannot be prevented. The fact Famine Fund, this hospital has to meet an increase of is the question is not seriously considered. It has been expenditure consequent upon the occupation of larger demonstrated again and again that properly constructed buildings in the way of an increase in wages and in the cost boiler furnaces when properly fixed need not smoke. of lighting and heating. It also has now to pay £1210 a The best example that we know of in this connexion year ground-rent, whereas the old property at Moorfidds was is in the case of Nottingham, where black smoke 1 THE nuisance proved was practically abolished because the LANCET, March 10th, 1900, p. 715.
enabling the Board to enforce upon a defaulting local to be injurious to the lace produced there. This authority the performance of its statutory duties, but it is is a complete answer to the observation that "it is certainly a question worthy of serious consideration whether unfortunately easier to point out the evil than to suggest the putting in force of the powers of the Board in one or two a permanent remedy." It is nothing of the kind. More instances would not have a salutary effect upon other than that, when preventive measures are taken, it is authorities who are exhibiting a spirit of indifference to their a source of added revenue. It is just as important, in our opinion, that our public health authorities should see responsibilities. that the atmosphere which we breathe is untainted as that ALCOHOL AND THE TROOPS RETURNED FROM the water which we drink is unpolluted and the food which -
THE WAR.
we
eat is unadulterated. ___
issue of July 28th (p. 273) we drew attention to the desirability that the welcome offered to those who have fought and bled for their country, and we might add for us who have stayed at home, should not include the treating of them with an overplus of alcoholic drinks. We to return to this subject owing to the are induced announcement that the City of London Imperial Volunteers are expected home about the beginning of November, Some will be convalescent from wounds or sickness or possibly from both. Of the warmth of their reception there can be no doubt and it is fitting that they should be greeted with gratitude as well as with joy. They are the first volunteers as distinguished from regulars to serve in the fighting line who have left these islands ; they have by all accounts seen plenty of fighting and have borne themselves nobly. Their home-coming, therefore, should be marked by a welcome which, although hearty, should be commensurate in dignity with the serious work which they have so well carried out. For these reasons we would beg - enthusiastic friends and countrymen not to mar the return of these or of any troops by temptation to over-indulgence. IN
our
THE
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.
THE first meeting of the Senate of the University of London will take place on Oct. 24th and the members of the various bodies appointed to serve thereon must be soon sleeted. The Royal College of Physicians of London has appointed Dr. P. H. Pye-Smith and Dr. W. H. Allchin, and the Royal College of Surgeons of England Mr. H. G. Howse and Mr. A. Pearce Gould as their representatives. These gentlemen have the advantage of being old graduates of the University and are well versed in the movements for its conversion into a teaching university and the opposition to such a change. On Oct. 9th, at 5 P.M., a meeting of Convocation will be held at the University new building at South Kensington, in the East Conference Hall, for the appointment of the members to serve on the Senate under the statutes made by the Commissioners. The registered graduates in medicine and in surgery are urged to elect Dr. Thomas Barlow and Dr. J. Frank Payne on the one hand, or Dr. S. Ringer and Mr. Quarry Silcock on the other, but two only can be elected. Dr. Barlow and Dr. Payne are frankly in accord with the views put forward by us for the establishment of a real teaching university in London, whilst Dr. Ringer and Mr. THE SMOKE NUISANCE. Silcock have the strong support of the so-called Graduates’ OUR remarks last week about the recrudescence of the Association, urging strongly that the existing work of the smoke nuisance promise to stir up public opinion with good University is to be kept up as far as possible as it now is. The - effect on the desirability of suppressing this intolerable question of external students in arts and science, on which - evil. The newspapers in general expressed the opinion so much stress is laid in the circular of the association, does that we "waxed somewhat strongly" on the subject, not much concern the medical student, but a re-organisation but we do not admit that our words were too emphatic. of examinations, so that he may not be examined twice or The Westminster Gazette in quoting our article added the thrice in the same subject is a far more necessary reform stale remark that ‘°it is unfortunately easier to point out the for the proper teaching of medical science and practice. evil than to suggest a permanent remedy." This remark hardly needs reply from us, since Sir William Richmond THE HARD CASE OF THE ROYAL LONDON promptly cleared the mind of the writer of it on this point. OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL. Sir William Richmond’s answer was as follows:than to allow it to pass It is cheaper to consume smoke WE have alreadyI expressed our sympathy with the into the atmosphere. Smoke is wasted fuel. At a com- movement which has for its object the exemption of hosparatively small cost all factories, electric lighting stations, pitals and similar charitable institutions from the payment &c., can be provided with smoke-consuming apparatus. This of local rates, and a case has just occurred which shows being the case the public has only to demand a clear with from far as the smoke as factories, painful clearness how seriously this burden may affect atmosphere-anyhow steamers, and railway engines is concerned-and they will the financial position of a hospital. The Governors of the get it. The vestries and the L.C C. do not enforce the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital (Moorfields Eye Hospital), law against smoke partly on account of apathy, but chiefly received a summons for non-payment of because in those bodies there are many smoke-makers, City-road, E.C., rates to £324, and although the secretary amounting or friends of such. at the hearing of the case that it was Sir William Richmond wrote a similar letter in the Daily explained for so large a sum to be forthcoming impossible Graphic, Oct. 3rd, à propos of our remarks. As a refer- i at present, the court held that it could do no more ence to our correspondence columns this week will show, than make an order for payment in 14 days. This Sir William Richmond has also addressed us upon the claim seems to be particularly hard in view of the fact that subject. We most sincerely hope that his appeal will re- the new building has only been occupied for one year, and ceive the support of all who are interested in keeping "a during that time the hospital has actually paid £540 in rates. clean sky" and stopping once and for all the vestries Besides suffering like all other charities by the diversion of and other authorities from "making it dirty." It is sheer to the various war funds and the Indian subscriptions nonsense to say that smoke cannot be prevented. The fact Famine Fund, this hospital has to meet an increase of is the question is not seriously considered. It has been expenditure consequent upon the occupation of larger demonstrated again and again that properly constructed buildings in the way of an increase in wages and in the cost boiler furnaces when properly fixed need not smoke. of lighting and heating. It also has now to pay £1210 a The best example that we know of in this connexion year ground-rent, whereas the old property at Moorfidds was is in the case of Nottingham, where black smoke 1 THE nuisance proved was practically abolished because the LANCET, March 10th, 1900, p. 715.