THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE AND THE EXTENSION OF SCIENCE TEACHING.

638 be sent to each subscriber. Subscriptions, limited to 10s. 6d., may be sent to Surgeon-Captain W. W. Webb, M.D., the honorary secretary, at Odstock, Netley Abbey, Hants. THE OPIUM COMMISSION. of this The report Commission will soon be in circulation. Its publication is no doubt anxiously awaited in India, as the subject is one gravely affecting the social life, habits, and customs of the native population and the finances of that country. Meanwhile, it must be very satisfactory to the Government of India to have the assurance of the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the cost of the Commission is to be borne by the English and not by the Indian revenue. We think that most people will concur in the justice and expediency of this decision. THE ARMY MEDICAL STAFF IN!INDIA. In future medical officers proceeding to India will receive intimation of the command to which they will be posted for service in that country. It will be remembered that some time ago it was a subject of complaint that they were put to inconvenience by not knowing the presidency in which they would have to serve. This has now been rectified by the Secretary of State for War and India Office. THE ARMY ESTIMATES. The Navy and Army Estimates for the year have just been issued. We hope to be able next week to give a brief statement of these estimates as regards the medical services. INFLUENZA AT ALDERSHOT. The troops at Aldershot, as might have been expected, have not escaped the prevailing epidemic. A large number of sufferers from influenza have been under treatment as well as cases of disease of the respiratory system. The hired transport Victoria arrived at Portsmouth on the 27th ult. She brought home 300 patients for the Royal

Victoria

drug in such large doses as to produce cerebral symptoms ? Three to five grains given in an effervescing draught every three or four hours markedly controls the course of the disease and rarely gives rise to"cinchonism."The large doses of quinine given on the continent in this disease appear to be quite unnecessary and not altogether devoid of danger, for I have seen fifteen grains given every three hours produce marked cardiac depression, particularly in elderly people. Thus, whilst quinine given in these comparatively small doses in the form of an effervescing saline draught undoubtedly in many cases exercises a controlling influence on the course of the disease, yet the pyrexia with its attendant symptoms may be but slightly relieved, and for this purpose three to five grains of phenacetine combined with a few grains of citrate of caffein acts as a safe and efficient antipyretic and anodyne, I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, J. H. MARSH, M.R.C S., L.R.C.P. L.R.C.P, LOND.

I

Hospital, Netley.

Correspondence. ..

Audi alteram

partem."

THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE AND THE EXTENSION OF SCIENCE TEACHING. To the Editors of THE LANCET. SIRS,-May I call attention to an advertisement, which appears in the columns of THE LANCET of this date, of an invitation to qualified medical men to come up to Cambridge for a course of demonstrations and lectures. It seems to us there must be many men resident out of reach of large schools who would derive much advantage from seeing the work done in our laboratories and hearing what is going on in modern medicine and the ancillary sciences. The fees, including board and lodging (probably in college), The University professors have are fixed as low as possible. generously offered their services, and will open their laboratories for the demonstrations, and some cases of special clinical interest will be shown by members of the honorary staff of the hospital. It will not be possible, of course, to arrange for private workers on such an occasion, but if the opportunity seems to be valued we hope to repeat the invitation in future years, and perhaps to extend the time a little. Believe me, Sirs, yours faithfully, T. CLIFFORD ALLBUTT, Regius Professor of Physic in the University of Cambridge. Cambridge, March 7th, 1895. P. S. -- It is of great importance to us to receive early applications that we may know how to prepare for our visitors.

"THE TREATMENT OF INFLUENZA." To the Editors of THE LANCET. SIRS,-In THE LANCET of March 2nd Dr. Barney Yeo directs attention to the value of quinine in the treatment of influenza. May I venture to suggest that since quinine is not

completely excreted from the tissues for some days, it is necessary, in order to produce its specific effect, to give

not

the

The

Infirmary, Macclesfield,

March 2nd, 1895.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRs,-I read with much interest Dr. Yeo’s valuable letter on

the Treatment of Influenza in last week’s issue of THE

LANCET, and should like to endorse what he says in reference to the deleterious effects of antipyrin in the treatment of this scourge. In comparing notes of the cases which have pre. sented themselves for treatment during the past five years it has forcibly struck me that the mortality has been gradually diminishing, and the period of convalescence shortened in each successive epidemic. I do not consider this due to any lessened virulence of the much-maligned bacilli, but to the

fact that antipyrin and similar depressants are being with. held in the treatment of this disease. During the first epidemic five years ago I noticed the great prominence given to pneumonia as a complication by all writers on influenza. My own firm conviction is, and has been all along, that the antipyrin treatment was entirely responsible in many cases for the onset of the pneumonia, and that ordinary cases of influenza with bronchitic trouble ended frequently in bronebo-pneumonia when antipyrin was administered. During the past three epidemics I have not seen a single case of pneumonia complicating influenza excepting in asthenic cases in very old persons. So long as we have therapeutic agents such as quinine and alcohol we need not be afraid to combat this year’s epidemic.-I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, FRANCIS WILLIAM GRANT, GRANT, M.D., M.D., B.SC., B.Sc., C.M.Edin. Elgin, March 4th, 1895.

W. R. SMITH AND THE MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE HOSPITALS OF THE METROPOLITAN ASYLUMS BOARD."

’PROFESSOR

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS.-My attention has been drawn to certain editorial remarks in THE LANCET of the 2nd inst. dealing witha report in the Times of a speech made by me as a member of the Metropolitan Asylums Board on Saturday, Feb. 2nd. I regret that you have considered it necessary to allude to the subject, but as your remarks may give an erroneous impression as to the facts of the case I shall be obliged by your kindly inserting this letter. In the first place it is true that I called upon you on Feb. 27th, and this to express my regret that I had not received your letter of Feb. 6th, and further to state that your letter dated Feb. 21st I had only received that morning, consequently I had not been able to reply to them. I think these facts should have been mentioned, as otherwise some discourtesy on my part would be inferred. The main point at issue cannot I think be properly appreciated unless considered in the light of a knowledge of the action of the Metropolitan Asylums Board relative to the diagnosis and treatment of diphtheria, in which I have taken a somewhat prominent part. The managers have made arrangements by which a bacteriological examination shall be made of all cases of diphtheria, both upon their admission and before their discharge from their hospitals, and in addition-with the object of providing a proper supply of antitoxic serum-have placed stabling &c. at the disposal of the director of the Research Laboratories of the Royal