profession, who would prove that cow-houses were beneficial, rather than otherwise, to health. Did not his friend Dr. Lankester know that St. Bartholomew's Hospital, from its close proximity to Smithfield, was considered one of the most healthy hospitals in the kingdom? Did the learned doctor not know that there was no part of the metropolis so healthy as Smithfield and its vicinity whilst the market was held there?

Dr. Lankester said he had been physician to the Farringdon Dispensary for three years, and he denied this statement.

Mr. Sleigh should have thought the learned doctor, from his position as the judge of a very important court, would have known the rules of etiquette better than to interrupt a counsel in the middle of his address to the bench [laughter], but, however, he should prove what he had stated. He would, however, put it to the bench the great hardship which was attempted to be inflicted upon Henry Banr.ister and the others by this opposition to the renewal of his license, aud he begged to remark that the cowsheds were there long before the houses were built, so that if there was a nuisance, as it had been endeavoured to be shown, the houses had come to the nuisance and not the nuisance to the houses. But what were the facts? These young men had lately had a renewal of their lease for twenty-one years, and the refusal of the license would be to involve them in utter ruin. Not only had they gone to enormous expense in having a proper amount of water laid on, and all the drains and channels of the cow-houses and yard so constructed that the drainage should run into the main sewer, but the yards and places were continually kept clean swept, the manure carted away early every morning, and, instead of the ill-drained, ill-ventilated place which had been described by the opposition, he should show that such was not the case, and also that the requirements of the vestry, that each animal should have a breathing space of 600 cubic feet of air had been complied with.

Dr. P. Black, examined by Mr. Sleigh, said he was a doctor of medicine, and resided in Queen Anne street, Marylebone. On the 7th and 8th of October last he visited these premises. From what he saw, and judging from his experience, he did not think there was any effluvia from that place which could be an injury to the inhabitants of the adjoining houses. As a medical man he should say that cow-houses, properly conducted, were in no way prejudicial to health. They were clean, whitewashed, and there was no accumulation, and he thought the cow-houses sufficiently open to give a good amount of breathing atmosphere to the animals. As to the cows themselves, he was no particular judge, but they appeared, he thought, in good condition and healthy. Did not think that the place could be prejudicial to the health of the inhabitants of Gordon square who had their houses abutting on the yards.

Cross-examined: Went on the 7th and 8th October to examine these premises, for the purpose of giving evidence before that court. Would not say he thought cow-houses beneficial to health, but he would say he considered cow houses not injurious to health-pro tanto all bad smells were injurious, but he had been a good deal about farm-houses, and never felt any injury from cow-houses. Would not swear that cow-houses were not unhealthy, but he did not think they were. Grains, if kept till they got sour, might be so. The place might have been nicely cleaned up when he was there. It was in the afternoon. There was no accumulation. He had not considered the difference of milk from town cows and country cows, but had no doubt there was a difference.

Mr. Holmes Coote said he was one of the surgeons of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, and had been so for 30 years. He had examined the premises of Henry Bannister about the 7th or 8th of that month. He found them adequately ventilated, and well kept. In his opinion, as a medical man, the approximation of a well-conducted cow-house was not at all detrimental or injurious to health. He said most certainly that the relative position of these cow-sheds and the houses of Gordon square were such as not to be likely to affect the health of the inhabitants. During the thirty years he had been at St. Bartholomew's, with the hundreds of thousands of cows, &c., in close proximity, he considered the health of the neighbourhood had never been prejudiced.

Cross-examined: Would not say that cow-houses were beneficial to health, either one way or the other. Should say that those near Gordon square were not so. If there were three hundred cows, with only a space of two yards between each, did not think that it would have any prejudicial effect.

Mr. Charles Monday, member of the College of Physicians and Royal College of Surgeons, had inspected these premises, and considered them, in his judgment, properly ventilated. When the cholera raged in 1849 he had attended a great many cases, and never knew of one to have taken place in a dwelling over or in the vicinity of a cow-shed. Did not consider these cow-sheds could affect the health of the inhabitants in Gordon square. The "sensibilities" might be affected thereby.

By Mr. Lewis: He looked upon the yard as salubrious.
Dr. J. Blake Kirby said he resided on the west side of Gordon

square, next door to Mr. Sturt, and with his house backing on to these cow-yards. He had never been affected by the smells, nor his family. He had lived there since July last. He had examined the premises, and had found the animals healthy, and saw nothing to complain of. If ordure were removed once in twenty-four hours he did not think it dangerous to health.

Mr. Lewis having addressed the court, the chairman and his colleague consulted nearly half an hour, when the former said that they looked upon the case as one of the greatest public importance, and that, for the preservation of the health of the neighbourhood, the renewal of the license should be refused. They did not wish, however, to deal harshly with the parties, and they would, therefore, extend the time to Lady Day, if by that time the parties would give a guarantee to remove.

Mr. Sleigh, having consulted with the parties said they would be prepared to give a pledge that every cow should have the 1,000 cubic feet of air required.

The chairman said that would not do. The parties must confine themselves to the question of removal.

Mr. Sleigh then urged the shortness of the notice, and ultimately the licenses were renewed till the 24th June next, the parties undertaking by that time to quit the premises or abolish the cow-yard.

"Typhus fever has been epidemic in London since December, 1861. The admissions into our hospital from the most available measure of fluctuations of the disease. 1861-2, the admission increased, and reached their highest number Through the winter of in the month of April, when the hospital was nearly full. The fever then appeared to subside as the summer advanced. After a small increase in the cold month of November last, the admission for typhus again experienced a decline, until in the present summer there was room for hope that the epidemic was passing away.

"On August 31st, six weeks ago, there were in the Fever Hospital eighty patients, of whom a considerable proportion were suffering from diseases other than typhus fever. At the end increase being due to typhus, while we write, there are 182 of September there were 134 patients, the whole of the patients in the hospital who are all (with some thirty exceptions) suffering from contagious typhus fever. They have chiefly been brought from the poor districts of the south and east of London, and they all belong to the very poorest class of people.

"We are of opinion that this increased prevalence of typhus, occurring with this extreme rapidity, so early in the autumn, forebodes a very serious amount of the disease in the approaching winter. It is our experience that typhus ordinarily increases intensity until the early spring. during the cold months of the year, and does not reach its greatest

"The London Fever Hospital is the only institution in the metropolis for the treatment of contagious fever. It has 200 beds. The wards for women are already full, and cases of typhus are to-day being refused admission. The male wards also are nearly full. As far as its resources go, the hospital authorities contemplate meeting the demands upon it by providing temporary buildings, and a plan is now under consideration for accommodating 60 additional patients.

"To retain typhus patients in the dwellings of the poor, or to receive them in ordinary hospitals or in workhouses under the same roof with other patients, is inevitably to extend and intensify the disease. We desire, therefore, to point out the extreme importance of providing further accommodation for the separate treatment of typhus, in order to isolate the sick in every practicable instance. "We have, &c.,

"CHARLES MURCHISON, "GEORGE BUCHANAN.

"To the Medical Officer of the Privy Council.”

HYDROPHOBIA. A fatal case of hydrophobia is reported in the' 'Times' of October 24, as having been treated at the Royal Infirmary, Liverpool. The patient, it is stated, at first denied having been bitten by a dog, but afterwards admitted that he had been bitten seven years before.

of Guardians were summoned "to attend on an inquiry on the subject of vaccination," held on the 16th inst., by Dr. Stevens, who had been appointed by your Lordships.

That the undersigned did so attend the inquiry, at great inconvenience and loss of time, all, except one, living from seven to nine miles from the place where the inquiry was held.

Your petitioners, therefore, pray your Lordships to grant them such compensation as you may think fit, for the loss of time they incurred in attending the inquiry of your Lordships appointing, more especially as their attendance was voluntary, and the inquiry not one that was beneficial to them.

(Signed)

October 20, 1863.

H. S.

N. R.

J. B.
CARU.
C. J. R.

MR. J. Z. LAURENCE'S REFLECTING OPHTHALMOSCOPE. To the Editor of the Medical Circular.

SIR,-An important error occurs in your report of my Reflecting Ophthalmoscope, in your impression of to-day. It stated I "succeeded in faintly demonstrating the optic nerve, &c." For faintly read fairly. Indeed I have exhibited all the details of the fundus oculi in the human subject with perfect distinctness to many of my professional friends, by the aid of my reflecting ophthalmoscope; still, as your report correctly says, "much remains to be done in the details of its construction."

To the Editor of the Medical Circular.

DEAR SIR,-If you think the case here described possesses any interest for your readers you are welcome to insert it in your journal. A medical student of twenty, a relative of mine who spent a few weeks with me lately, drew my attention to the state of his pulse, which he says has been preternaturally slow, but moderately strong and regular since he first noticed it two or three years since, seldom exceeding 50 in a minute, often only 46 or even 44, which I have myself verified on several occasions. His health has always been remarkably good, except when passing through slight diseases peculiar to children. He is stout and active in his habits, having a good appetite. He tells me that he drew the attention of some of the professors of the Queen's College at Belfast, where he is studying, to his case, and that they told him they could not well account for it. I am, &c.. Listowel, Co. Kerry. J. M'C. [The case is by no means so uncommon as is supposed, though it is worthy of record.-ED. MED. CIRCULAR.]

MEDICAL SOCIETIES.

MEDICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. MONDAY, OCTOBER 19TH.

MR. E. CANTON, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR.

Mr. HENRY SMITH read a paper

ON SOME CASES OF TRACHEOTOMY, WITH OBSERVATIONS ON ITS EMPLOYMENT IN DIPTHERIA.

He commenced by referring to the different manner in which tracheotomy was estimated in the present day compared with some years since, and quoted the words of Sir Charles Bell, who stated in his work on Operative Surgery that he had never once performed the operation. Of late years it had taken a high place in our surgical means, and had proved very successful in saving life in instances where death would otherwise have speedily resulted; and surgical writers now spoke with confidence of it, instead of treating the subject with doubt and hesitation. Even in croup the operation, which a few years since was hardly deemed warranted in this disease, had latterly been so successful that it might be recommended in certain instances with confidence; but it was in reference to imflammatory affections of the throat in the adult that he was going to call their attention to it, for it had been found that in such cases the operation was eminently successful. After alluding to the various diseases of the throat and air-passages in which tracheotomy was applicable, Mr. Smith drew particular attention to two conditions wherein the operation was most useful and most beneficial. The first referred to was that state where there had been for some time a chronic inflammation of the larynx going on, and then a sudden aggravation threatening death

from suffocation had taken place. Here tracheotomy, if well executed, and not put off too late, would prove eminently successful. Some very interesting cases were related as illustrations. The other form of disease was one in which there had been syphilitic mischief in the throat for some period, and a sudden attack of dyspnoea had come on. Here also tracheotomy would be eminently successful, and that in two ways; for it would not only immediately arrest death, but time would be allowed for the introduction of those remedies into the system which would counteract the syphilitic poison, and thus cure the disease. A very successful case of this kind was narrated.

The author then made especial reference to the use of the laryngoscope in instances where tracheotomy was performed, stating its great value as a means of determining the exact nature of the disease in the larynx, and thus showing when and how far an operation was called for. A laryngoscope examination was also especially useful in cases where the operation had been performed, for by it we should be able to learn the progress of the case; and more especially would this examination assist us in deciding the question as to the removal of the tube-often a very difficult thing to decide. Cases were mentioned by the author wherein the use of the laryngoscope had been attended with great advantage both before and after the operation.

With regard to the employment of tracheotomy in diphtheria, Mr. Smith admitted at once that this was a difficult and unsatisfactory question; for, although the operation had been tried on many occasions, the want of success attending it had been so marked as to lead us to put little faith in it. The reasons for this want of success were considered at some length. The most obvious one in his opinion was, that the patient was suffering, not from a local complaint, but from a highly poisoned state of the blood; so that even if relief were given for a period by the introduction of air, the patient would sooner or later relapse into his former poisoned condition. He had been called to cases in which, for this reason, he had refused to operate; and he was sorry to say that in those cases where he or his personal friends had performed tracheotomy in diphtheria, death had almost invariably resulted. Nevertheless, it there was the least chance of the operation saving life, he thought it should be performed; and that there was this chance was proved by a case narrated lately by Dr. Hillier, where undoubtedly the patient-a member of the Medical profession-was snatched from the jaws of death by the operation, performed when he was rapidly sinking from diphtheria.

Mr. Smith concluded his paper by some observations on the best mode of performing tracheotomy. In the last paper which he had read before this Society, he had considered the dangers and difficulties of the operation somewhat fully, and the best mode of meeting them. After having had a large experience of this operation at every age and under every condition, he was inclined to the opinion that tracheotomy was thought too lightly of by many, especially by those who had merely made themselves acquainted with it in the anatomical theatre or deadhouse. For his own part, he had often met with great difficulties in its performance: and he believed the best way of avoiding them was to use the simplest instrumentsviz., a sharp scalpel and a hook, to abjure all those injurious contrivances which were intended to facilitate the operation; and, above all, taking due care to get out of the way of important parts, to cut rapidly down upon the trachea instead of making a slow and cautious dissection.

A discussion ensued, in which Dr. Gibb, Mr. W. Adams, Dr Webster, Dr. Rees, Dr. Palfrey, Dr. Greenhalgh, and Dr. Rogers took part.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26TH.

MR. E. CANTON, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION.

Mr. ROGERS HARRISON exhibited a patient, aged fifty, who was the subject of

GANGRENE OF THE HANDS, AND ANNULUS OF BOTH EYES.

He had lost the ends of four fingers of the left hand, and one was now affected with gangrene; he had lost the end of the thumb of the right. The case was looked upon as one of atrophy of the heart, and disease of the coronary arteries. The patient was a great martyr to spasmodic asthma when living in the country, but since he came to London he has been free from it, the air being so much drier. His feet are becoming like his hands, and in each eye is a complete bluish white annulus. He was taking cod liver oil and iron with great benefit.

Dr. GIBB inquired whether the arteries of the arms and legs were calcified.

The PRESIDENT asked why he thought the coronary arteries were affected and the heart atrophied.

Mr. HARRISON believed there was no valvular disease of the heart, but a want of rhythm, with subdued action and diminished impulse. The arteries of the limbs were calcified.

Dr. ALTHAUS thought electricity might have been found useful. Dr. GIBB remarked that he believed the patient was more likely

to die ultimately of disease of the lungs than of the heart, as so often occurs in calcareous degeneration, but not in the atheromatous disease.

Dr. FALFREY related the particulars of a

CASE OF PLACENTA PRÆVIA,

and exhibited the uterus and placenta. The patient was in her fifth pregnancy, had hemorrhage from the vagina, was in labour about two hours, and twelve minutes after the arrival of the midwife she was dead. At the autopsy, thirty-one hours after, the body was blanched, and the uterus occupied the whole cavity of the belly up to the diaphragm. The walls of the uterus were very thin and friable; no blood was in it, but much liquor amnii; the placenta was attached to the posterior wall, and one third of its circumferance was over the os, which admitted only two fingers. A full-grown dead child was extracted. Dr. Palfrey inquired, Ought we not to perform Cæsarean section at once in such a case as this ?"

Dr. GREENHALGH said that death must have occurred from the sudden loss of blood and not the quantity. He considered we were not only justified, but did not do our duty unless we performed the Cæsarean section in such a case as Dr. Palfrey's. He related a case in his own practice in which he did the operation, where the child was alive, although of between six and seven months of utero-ges

tation.

Dr. ALTHAUS said all the French authorities were opposed to the operation.

Mr. HENRY SMITH saw tracheotomy performed upon a Woman in Edinburgh once, when passing through the town. As she was advanced in pregnancy, the operation was done. She died in a few hours.

Dr. PLAYFAIR remembered a case in the Maternity Hospital, Edinburgh, where the operation was done by the house-physician a quarter of an hour after the death of the mother, and the child lived.

Dr. HARDING said the question was, Is the operation of any use in placenta prævia? for the child would likely be dead too.

Dr. ROGERS thought large doses of brandy and plugging might have been successful in Dr. Palfrey's case.

Dr. SYMES THOMPSON related a similar case to Mr. Henry Smith's, occurring in King's College Hospital; the mother was eight months pregnant; the child was dead.

Mr. HENRY SMITH related

A CASE OF DEATH FROM CATHETERISM.

A gentleman, aged eighty-two, with irritation of urinary organs for some months, and who had instruments passed in the country. He passed an instrument, which went in by its own weight and with little or no pain. Next day he was in bed, feverish; rapid pulse; had rigors subsequently; became insensible, and died in forty-eight

hours.

WESTERN MEDICAL AND SURGICAL SOCIETY.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16TH.

DR. BARCLAY, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR. THE PRESIDENT congratulated the members on the commencement of another session, expressing his hope that the meetings of the Society would tend to the development of the warm and more kindly feelings of professional brotherhood in the prosecution of scientific research. He then referred to his own position as medical officer of health for the same district, and went on to select from the sanitary department two subjects for their consideration that evening. In speaking of this department of practice, he wished to protest against the idea that there was anything antagonistic or uncongenial to ordinary practice, and to express his conviction that the best practitioners were the best sanitarians; and that, in fact, all that had been done was only the carrying out of principles in which all had been educated and all had believed. There was, on the one hand, the great disadvantage that the so-called sanitary reforiners rode their hobby to the very verge of charlatanry; but, on the other hand, it must be admitted that their earnestness and zeal had hastened forward the adoption of measures which might other wise have been indefinitely postponed.

The first subject was small pox and its prevention by vaccination. The speaker asserted broadly his conviction that the benefit of vaccination was not wearing out or becoming less operative. He

called the attention of the meeting to what may be called, in the language of Sydenham, "the epidemic influence," contending that to the greater or less intensity of this influence is due the more or less spread of the epidemic. He cited the instance of "cholera" as a type, in which, whatever the theory of its propagation, every one admitted, whether they believed in atmospheric influence, or in the accumulations of dirt, foul privies, and bad drains, as being chiefly concerned in its spread, or looked to the water supply as the medium; yet the very same conditions of air, earth, and water, are found without the spread of cholera when the epidemic influence is absent. In the same manner proof of such an influence was seen very distinctly in the rise and fall in the number of patients in the Fever Hospital suffering from true typhus or epidemic fever, while the number of those labouring under typhoid or endemic fever was comparatively stationary. He further stated, from his own knowledge of the fact that Chelsea parish was much better prepared against small-pox last year than it was three or four years ago, when an epidemic threatened, but that the cases had been far more numerous now than they were then. He expressed his conviction that the Compulsory Vaccination Act failed entirely as a measure of compulsion, and regretted that the labours of a committee which had sat for some time and suggested very slight emendations, which would have made the Act perfectly workable, had been entirely ignored.

The second subject was the adulteration of bread with alum, which had recently attracted much attention in the district of Chelsea, in consequence of a report which he (the president) had made to the Board of Guardians about the adulteration of the workhouse bread. He explained the evils arising from this adulteration, and detailed the method which he had adopted for its detection; at the same time he exhibited a colour test which was to a certain extent useful as a rapid mode of raising a suspicion of the presence of alum. A portion of the bread which had been the cause of his first report was submittel along with other samples to the test, and indicated a very remarkable change of colour.

Births, Marriages, and Deaths.

BIRTHS.

ALLINSON.-On the 17th ult., at Woolwich, the wife of A. W. Allinson, M.R.C.S. E., of a son.

COWAN. On the 23rd ult., at Elliott place, Stoke road, Gosport, the wife of M. W. Cowan, M.D., Assistant-Surgeon R.M.L.I., of a daughter.

GRIFFITHS. On the 21st ult., at Aberhiriath hall, Cemmes, the wife of Richard Griffiths, M. R.C.S., of a son.

PHILSON. On the 21st ult., at Cheltenham, the wife of W. Philson, M.D., of a son.

RUDGE. On the 25th ult., at Sandgate, the wife of A. Rudge, M. R.C.S. E., Surgeon Royal Artillery, of a daughter. WILLIAMSON.On the 26th ult., at Marine Parade, Dover, the wife of James Williamson, M.D., of Mildmay park, N., of a son.

MARRIAGES.

LAKIN-M'ADAM.-On the 15th ult., at Belfast, Dr. J. H. Lakin, of Sutton Coldfield, to Catherine, daughter of the late J. M'Adam, Esq., of Belfast.

PERRY-SMITH.-On the 27th ult., at Upton-Snodsbury, Worcestershire, Dr. Perry, of High street, Evesham, to Harriett H., second daughter of S. Smith, Esq., of the former place.

WILLY-CHALK. On the 22nd ult., at Eythorne, Kent, Ambrose Willy, Esq., of Cecil square, Margate, to Caroline, fourth daughter of Frederic A. Chalk, Esq., of Eythorne.

DEATHS.

BRAYBROOKE.-On the 23rd ult., at Woolwich, Wm. Braybrooke, M. R.C.S. E. Staff Surgeon-Major Army, aged 46.

TRONDSELL. On the 19th ult., at Westbourne place, Queenstown,
Phoebe E. Deacon, the wife of John L. Trondsell, M.D., Surgeon,
R. N., aged 27.

DREW.-On the 23rd ult., at Lochcarrig, near Middleton, E. P. Drew,
M. D., of Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, aged 56.
LIDDERDALE.-On the 22nd ult., at Kintbury, Berks, John Lidderdale,
M.D., eldest son of the late Captain John Lidderdale, of Hungerford,
in the same county, aged 61.

APOTHECARIES' HALL.-The following gentlemen passed their examination in the science and practice of medicine, and received certificates to practise, on the 22nd ult.:-Thomas Samuel Barrow, 4 Halsey terrace, S. W.; George Herbert Clifton, Burwell, Cambs.; Arthur Evershed, Guy's Hospital; Montague Frederick Evershed, Billinghurst, Sussex; Charles Frederick Knight, Brill, near Thame, Oxon; Thomas Lucas, Burwell, Cambs.; Selby Mars Morton, 25 Haverstock hill; Joseph Smith, York The following gentleman also on the same day passed his examination as an assistant:-George Robert Gowland, Sunderland.

THE COLLEGE LIST.-The annual list of the fellows, members, licentiates in midwifery, and of persons who have received the certificate of qualification in dental surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, has just been published, of which the follow

ing analysis may prove interesting to our readers. It appears that the total number of fellows who, it will be remembered, have alone the privilege of electing the councillors of the college, amount to 1296. Of this number, 286 have undergone the examinations for the honour. The members amount to 13,900. The licentiates in midwifery make but a poor show, only thirty-eight gentlemen having obtained the L.M. from the College of Surgeons during the past year; the total number amounts to 878. The number of persons who have obtained the certificate of qualification in dental surgery amounts to 192, being an increase of 58 over last year. The council, which consists of 24, has only five life members surviving-viz., Messrs. Lawrence, Swan, Green, Arnott, and South, the remainder being elective members. Of the Court of Examiners, which consists of ten members, including the president, Mr. F. Carpenter Skey, no less than six of these gentlemen have twice filled the president's chair-viz., Messrs. Lawrence, Green, Arnott, South, Hawkins, and Luke. The financial condition of the college is equally interesting. It appears that the receipts of the institution from Midsummerday, 1862 to 1863, amounted to 12,410. 1s., or 1,725l. 12s. less than those of the preceding year. The principal sources of income were from examinations for membership, which produced 9,3841. 15s. The next largest amount is for rent of chambers, which yielded 6787. 118. 6d. The fellowship examinations produced 4091. 10s. The certificates of qualification in dental surgery realised 5141. 103., and from the midwifery licence only 1917. 2s. was obtained. The disbursements amounted to 12,418 17s. 1d., being a reduction of 1,8717. 10s. 5d. of the expenditure of the preceding year, and 87. 16s. 1d. more than the receipts of this year. The most expensive portion of the establishment is what is termed the college department, including fees to council, examinations for diploma of member, dental and midwifery boards, auditors, fellowship, diploma stamps, list of members, coal, salaries, wages, etc., which absorbed 7,5851. 5s. The museum department, including catalogues, specimens, spirit, bottles, salaries, wages, etc., required 2,3247. 18s. 3d. The library department is more moderate, and has been carried on at an expense of only 5741. 8s. 8d. for the purchase and binding of books, salaries, wages, etc. 1,130. 16s. and 9d. is given for miscellaneous items, including taxes, insurance, pensions, etc. The balance remaining in the hands of the bankers at Midsummer day last amounted to 3,0817. 1s. 4d.

SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION.-A meeting of the local committee was held at Edinburgh, on Wednesday last, for the purpose of receiving the report of the honorary local secretaries, and winding up the affairs of the late congress. Professor Archer read the report, which refers to the gratifying way in which the people of Edinburgh had sustained their reputation for hospitality, and to various bodies and persons to whom the thanks of the Association are due-including the Hon. General Secretary, Mr. G. W. Hastings; and the Assistant Secretaries, Miss Isa Craig and Mr. Randall. It stated that the working men's meeting was a feature of special interest, no fewer than 34,960 applications having been received for admission, of which only about 3,600 could be gratified, and the order of the meeting, and deep interest taken in the proceedings, were such as to excite the admiration of all. The report concluded by adverting to the great success which had attended the excursions. Mr. Curror, City Treasurer, read the financial report, which stated that the revenue of the general fund from the sale of tickets was 1,7471. 14s., and the disbursements 2081.; leaving a balance of 1,5391. The local subscription fund amounted to 905l., and the disbursements to 8021., leaving a balance of 102. It was proposed to transmit immediately the sum of 1,500l. to the Association in London. The reports were approved, and votes of thanks were tendered to all who had given their services or in other ways promoted the success of the meeting, special notice being taken of Professor Archer, on whom the great bulk of the work, as the acting local honorary secretary, had devolved. A vote of thanks to the Lord Provost for presiding closed the proceedings.

DEATH FROM STARVATION.-Mr. Humphreys, coroner for East Middlesex, lately resumed an inquest at the Champion Tavern, Weymouth-terrace, Hackney-road, upon the body of Mrs. Caroline James, aged 42 years. The deceased was stated to have been a person of wealthy connexions, and the wife of a silk salesman, who has been, however, for six months in prison. She had nine children; the eldest was 18 and the youngest two years of age. Five of the girls earned from 8s. to 14s. a week, and the son, who was 16, earned 12s., but he had mortgaged the whole of that sum to get 10l. to stock a shop with confectionery. The rent of the shop 37, Wellington-street, Bethnal-green, was 123. a week, paid weekly. The failure of the shop reduced the family to extreme

want.

The deceased was without food, and was greatly emaciated. On Sunday the neighbours got an order for the parish doctors to attend her, and the son of Dr. Moore, the district medical officer, attended, and advised her immediate removal to the infirmary. Mr. Christey, the relieving-officer, refused to do so, and said that he would take no orders from Mr. Moore, jun., as he was not the parish officer. Dr. Moore, on his return from his rounds, visited

the woman, and gave the following order:-" Urgent.-17th October I hereby certify that I have examined Caroline James, and found her in a delirious state, from privations and distress; and I advise that she should be immediately admittel into the infirmary.Signed, EDWARD MOORE, surgeon.-To Messrs. Christey, Sadler, and Runciman, Relieving-officers, Bethnal-green Workhouse." Mr. Sillett, salesman to a wine and spirit merchant, took that order to Mr. Christey, who abruptly said he would have nothing to do with the case, and when pressed for an answer ordered Mr. Sillett out of the house, and upon his keeping his legs in the doorway in order to get an answer, kicked him. The deceased was taken to her mother's house, and died on the following Wednesday. Dr. Unthank Wallace said that deceased was greatly emaciated. Death resulted from consumption, accelerated by want of food and care. The stomach and intestines presented no trace or remains of food whatever. She could have had no solid food for days, and for months she must have been suffering from want. Dr. Moore also said that deceased had suffered from long and very severe starvation. Mr. Charles Christey, relieving officer, was then examined by Mr. Howard, solicitor, the clerk to the Board of Guardians. He said that he did not know deceased was other than a private patient of Mr. Moore, jun., when that gentleman's order was brought to him, and he did not attend to Dr. Moore's order subsequently, because he ascertained in the interim that the family were removing to Hackney-parish, and that they had a vanload of goods. He then said, "Well, let the good woman be taken wherever the goods are going to." The Coroner said that it was proved that Mr. Christey was distinctly told that deceased was not a private patient, but a parish one, and, though Mr. Christey was given a certificate that deceased was delirious from privations, nothing was done for her from Saturday till Wednesday. The jury returned a verdict of "Death from consumption, accelerated by want of food; and the jury find that great censure is due to the relieving officer of Bethnal-green."

SICKNESS AND MORTALITY OF THE PAST SUMMER AND AUTUMN.

The deaths in the quarter just ended were actually as numerous, within a thousand or so, as those of the summer of 1854, when cholera was slaying its hundreds daily. The returns for that season gave 113,843 as the tale of deaths; those for last summer give 112,384. A correction should, of course, be applied for the increase of population in the interval, but the approximation will still be very striking. The mortality, however, now recorded was singular in character. It was almost universally diffused, so that heavy results were produced without any local visitations of such alarming severity as distinguished the pestilence of 1854. It was also mainly confined to one class of the population-children of tender years. The diseases which became so unusually active were the special diseases of children-scarlatina, measles, and that summer complaint known as cholera infantum. Thus, as the gaps made by death were less conspicuous, and no great focus of contagion was seen, a mortality little below that of a season of plague occurred without any general perception of what was going on. The whole year has been unhealthy, but the last quarter especially It is not that the number of deaths had been actually increasing since January, for they gradually sank, as they always do, with the departure of winter, and the approach of warmer weather, but whereas the third quarter in the year is naturally the healthiest, its mortality has on this occasion been proportionately the highest. The deaths for the winter, spring, and summer quarters have been 128,524, 118,375, and 112,3°4. Last year for the corresponding periods, they were 122,192, 107,555,, and 92,225.

80.

HEALTH OF THE ARMY ABROAD.-The statistical, sanitary, and medical reports which are now issued every year from the Army army to pass before the eyes of the public periodically. The volume Medical Department cause all the foreign stations of the British for 1861 has made its appearance. From the Mediterranean stations the returns are generally satisfactory, but Gibraltar contributes a high ratio of invalids from pulmonary and cardiac diseases; and disease resulting from immorality, though much less than in the army at home, has increased, notwithstanding the police regulations. In Canada, also, there is an increase of this class of cases, but the amount is still much below that shown in the home returns and the returns of sickness generally, both from Canada and Nova Scotia, present a very satisfactory result when compared with those relating to the troops serving at home. The report from British Columbia indicates a remarkably healthy condition of the troopsa detachment of the Royal Engineers. In a force of 130 men there was but one death-that of a Sapper, who was frozen to death while returning to head-quarters from a surveying expedition. From the West Indies the returns show a great improvement over the previous year, but the mortality among the black troops is still very beavy. In Jamaica the ratio constantly sick was only 29.87 per 1,000 among the white troops, but 52:23 among the black-a difference which is traced to the circumstance of the black troops being quartered in the lowlands, where intermittent fevers are rife, while the white troops were in the more healthy climate of New