154

Parliamentary Intelligence.NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.

The Public Health Acts.IN the course of a debate in the House of Lords on Tuesday, June 30th,

Lord Russell of Killowen, Lord Chief Justice of England, said that thesubject of sewers and drains, and the responsibilities in connexion withthem as a branch of the Public Health Acts, was in a most confusedcondition-so much so that he should have no difficulty in pointing outcases in the Queen’s Bench division impossible to reconcile one withanother. He suggested for the consideration of the Governmentwhether the time had not arrived for putting into one Act, in consoli-dated form, the whole provisions which were to be found scattered

’through different Acts of Parliament, not always themselves easilyreconciled, so that the law might be brought into a coherent and simple,form, instead of being, as now, a fruitful source of litigation. TheEarl of Morley, Chairman of Committees in the House of Lords, joinedn this expression of opinion of the Lord Cnief Justice, and it is to behoped that something practical may issue from it.

Cocoa Butler.The Chancellor of the Exchequer has prepared a Bill providing that

tor the future the product of the cocoa bean, usually known as cocoabutter, shall be subject to the same Customs duty as cocoa or chocolate.!ln the past this article, which is largely used in the manufacture of-chocolate and is imported in considerable quantity, has escaped theduty.duty.

Teaching University for London.In the House of Lords on Monday, July 6th, the Bill of the Govern-

ment with regard to the reconstitution of the University of Londonnvas explained and introduced by the Duke of Devonshire, President ofthe Council. The Bill follows the lines of the measure introduced inrthe late Parliament-that is to say, it proposes the appointment of astatutory commission to carry out the scheme, more or less completelyof Lord Cowper’s commission for making the London University ateaching as well as an examining body. As the Duke of Devonshire

.explained, this Bill gives a somewhat wider discretion and larger powersto the statutory commission than did Lord Playfair’s Bill of last year, forwhile the commissioners will be directed to proceed upon the proposals,of Lord Cowper’s commission they will also be directed to inquire into.and have regard to the requirements of both the iuternal and externalstudents. As his lordship further said, power of appeal to the Privy’Council will be given to any body or institution concerned and power<will also be reserved to either House of Parliament to address the Crown

against the statutes or any part of the statutes framed by the statutorycommission.

____

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

TUESDAY, JUNE 3CTH.Vaccination Prosecutions.

Mr. Logan asked the Secretary of State for the Home Departmentilf he was aware that the clerk to the Justices of the Andover PettySessional Division was also Clerk to the Guardians of the Poor within"the same district, and advised both bodies in regard to prosecutions fornon-compliance with the Vaccination Law; whether such a combina-tion was legal; and if he would, under the circumstances, cause theremission ot the fines imposed on a number of defendants in vaccina-tion cases heard at that Court on Fridav last, and particularly that of awidow who was to be imprisoned for six days in default of payment offine or goods to distrain upon.- Sir Matthew White Ridley : The Clerkto the Justices of the Andover Division is also, I am informed, theClerk to the Guardians within the same district. The combinationras, I believe, perfectly legal. The clerk is reported, however as sayingin the newspaper extract which the hon. member was good enough tosend me that he had not advised the guardians in regard to any ofthe cases. Costs only, not fines, were imposed in each case, and these Ihave no power to remit.

THURSDAY, JULY 2ND.The Veterinary Department.

In reply to a question by Mr. Kearley Mr. Long said he was awarethat the veteiinary profession gere --ally is in favour of the arrangement.of business adopted prior to the retirement of Professor Brown at the.end of the year 1893, but he could not admit that the reorganisationwhich then took place could properly be described as the suppressionof the Veterinary Department, or that any real ground for complaint- exists with regard to the status assigned to their veterinary officers. Thestatus of those officers is identical with that usually given to the pror4’essional advisers of public departments, but he recognised that therehas been some misunderstanding on the subject, and as he was most.anxious to give full expression to their indebtedness to the veterinaryprofession he had arranged that the Veterinary Department should be,given a separate place in the list of the departments of the Board, sub-ject to the condition that the status of the other officers concerned is.not thereby affected.

Explosi,ons in Mines.Sir Matthew White Ridley, Home Secretarv, stated, in reply to

Mr. John Ellis, that the number of lives lost in coal mines from.explosions of various kinds had been in lb90, 319 ; in 1891, 76 ; in 1892,146; in 1893,175 ; in 1894, 329 ; in 1895, 76 ; and in the first six months-of 1896, 169.

E2-plosions in Coal Mines Bill.This Bill, which by the promise of the Home Secretary to with-

.draw the clauses with reference to check weighing and deductions has<now become a measure solely for the protection of lifr, at this sitting

was read a second time by the unanimous consent of the House andreferred to the Standing Committee on Trade.The Home Secretary, in moving the second reading, said that dur’ng

the past twelve months there had been sad demonstration of thenecessity for further regulations if possibla to diminieh lisk andloss of life in coal mines. The principal difference betweenthis Bill and the Bill brought in last year by his predecessor(Mr. Abqu’th) was that it did not propose the constitution of a centralboard. There was a proposal in the Bill of last year that after fiery anddusty mines had been certified as such there should be an appeal to acentral board in London, and if a mine had been proved to be fiery anddusty it should be under special rules as to management, which shouldbe the subject of arbitration under the general Act. The proposedcentral board had not proved popular either with owners or workmen,and was regarded as a cumbrous method, and therefore it was not to befound in the present Bill. What the Bill proposed was to give theSecretary of State certain powers to impcse, amend, and modify specialrules under the general Act, and greater power than he possessed atpresent with regard to lamps, explosives, and the mode of using them,the number of persons to be permitted to remain in the mine, wateringor damping the mine and general precautions for the prevention ofaccidents.Mr. Asquith delivered a strong speech in support of the Bill. He

declared that it was impossible to exaggerate the urgency of thedangers with which it dealt and appealed to the House to carry themotion for the second reading with unanimity. It was not, he said,until the investigation of the Royal Commission was completed thatthe difference of opinion which had previously existed amongst expertsas to how far coal dust was an effective cause of colliery explosions wasfinally set at rest. But since the completion of that Commission.amplified and extended in other countries as well as our own, he did notbelibve there waa any difference of opinion worth considering at all onthat point; and they were now coming rapidly round to the view thatnot only was coal dust an effective means, but was far more than anyother means the cause of dangerous and ftisastrous explosions in ourmines. The existing law-the Act of 1887-was vyholly inadequate todeal with that particular form of danger, for the fimple reason that atthe time the Bill was prepared the attention of experts was directed todangers arising from gas and falls of roof ; and the danger of coal dusthad not yet been accurately gauged. It appeared to him the momentthe report of the Commission was presented, con mining in an authenticform evidence to sustain those conclusions. that it was the duty of thoseresponsible for the administration 01 the mining laws to invite theattention of Parliament to the matter and to place upon the Statute-book more effective safeguards for the lives and limbs of the miningpopulation.

MONDAY, JULY 6TH.-

Cholera in Egypt.Replying to a question by Mr. Pierpoint Mr. Curzon said: In a

memorandum annexed to Lord Cromer’s Report on Egypt (Egypt,No. 1, 1896) Rogers Pasha, head of the Egyptian Sanitary Department,states (see p. 34) that it is difficult to say how Alexandria becameinfected with cholera, that the disease was certainly imported (seep. 35), and again (p. 6) that he has no doubt that the probability, ifnot the certainty, of the introduction of the epidemic by pilgrims willbe fully established. The various projects for the Nile Reservoirs, in-cluding the Rayan scheme, were referred to a Technical Commission.the majority of which approved, with certain modifications, the pro-posals of the Egyptian engineers for a dam and reservoir on the firstcataract at Assouan The general questions of water-supply, sanita-tion, and irrigation are dealt with in Lord Cromer’s report at pages 14.18, 29, 30, and 31.Mr. Pierpoint asked the Unier Secretary whether it was not the fact

that the scheme for a dam at Assouan has been practically given up.Mr. Curzon : It may have been temporarily suspended, but it is not

within my knowledge that it has been given up.TUESDAY, JULY 7TH.

The Duties of Relieving Officers.In reply to a question put by Sir Walter Foster on this subject Mr.

Chaplin said that he had directed that a statement should be preparedas to the duties of relieving officers for the information of those officersand the boards of guardians, and he proposed in a circular letter accom-panying that statement to remind the guardians of the views of theHoyal Commission on the Aged Poor as to the importance of the out-door relief granted being adequate to meet fully the extent of thedestitution and other matters connected with the administration ofrelief.

Seizures of Meat in London.Mr. Chaplin, replying to Mr. T. J. Farrell, said that he was informed

that the largest seizure of unsound meat in the City of London in anyone month was during the four weeks ending June 27th last. Thegreater portion of that meat was putrid and not necessarily diseased.He was told there was no such thing known as meat being voluntarilysurrendered by the owners before being offered for sale, but that thesalesmen to whom the meat was consigned frequently called the atten-tion of the inspectors to meat after the same became unfit for food.

Appointments.Successful applicants for Vacancies, Secretaries of Public Institutions,

and others possessing information suitable for this column, areinvited to forward it to THE LANCET Office, directed to the Sub-Editor, not later than 9 o’eloek on the Thursday morning of eachweek for publication in the next number.

BOND, F. T.. M.D. Lond, M.R.C.S., has been re-appointed MedicalOfficer of Health for the Chipping Sodbury Rural SanitaryDistrict.

BRODIE. W. H., M.D.Edin., F.R.C S . D P H., has been appointedMedical Officer for the Workhouse of the Battle Union.

BROWN. HADYN, L.R.C.P., L.H.C.S. Edin., has been appointed ClinicalAssistant to the Chelsea Hospital for Women.

DATE, W. H., M.R.C.S., has been re-appointed Medical Officer ofHealth by the Culmatock Rutal District Council.

155

DAVIES, THOMAS B. P., M.D. Lond, has been appointed House Surgeon to the Bulawayo Hospital.

DAY, E. J., M.R.C.S., has been re-appointed Medical Officer of Healthby the Dorchester Town Council.

DELMEGE. L. E., L.R.C.P. Edin., L.R.C.S.Irel, has been appointedMedical Officer for the Burton Sanitary District of the KendalUnion. I

DENNY. CRAS. J., L.R.C.P.Irel., M.R.C.S.. has been re-appointedMedical Officer of Health for the Hartley Wintney Urban Sanitary District.

DREAPER. R. H., L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. Irel., has been appointed MedicalOfficer for the No. 12 Sanitary District of the Ashton-under-LyneUnion.

DURRANT, T. A., L.R.C P. Lond., M.R.C.S., has been re-appointedMedicai Officer of Health by the Matket Harborough UrbanCouncil.

ESKRIDGE, R. B., L.R.C.P. Edin., M.R.C.S., has been appointed MedicalOfficer of Health by the Royston Urban District Council.

EVERS. C. J., M.D.Durh., MR C.S., has been re-appointed MedicalOfficer of Health for the Faversham Urban Sanitary District and tothe Port Sanitary Authoiity.

GOLDSMITH, G. H., M.B. Lond., has been appointed House Surgeon tothe Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital.

GRAHAM, ARTHUR, L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. Edin., L.S.A. Lond., has beenappointed Medical Officer and Public Vaccinator for No. 7 Districtof the Newmarket Union; also Certifying Factory Surgeon forSoham and Fordham.

HAYMES. H. E., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., has been appointed AssistantMedical Officer to the Royal Berks Hospital, Reading.

HORSFALL, H., M.D. St. And., M.R.C.S., has been appointed MedicalOfficer for the Masham Sanitary District of the Leyburn Union.

JACOBSON, WALTER H. A., M.B., M.Ch., F.R.C.S., has been appointedExaminer in Anatomy for the Fellowship of the Royal College ofSurgeons of England.

LITTLEJOHN, H. H., M.B., B.Sc. (Pub. Health), F.R.C.S. Edin., hasbeen re-appointed Medical Officer of Health for Sheffield.

LrcAS, R. C., M.B. Lond., B.S., F.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., has been appointedExaminer in Anatomy for the Second Examination of the KoyalCollege of Surgeons of England.

McLAY, R., M.D. Glasg., has been appointed Medical Officer of Healthby the Horncastle Urban District Council.

MEADOWS, R. T., M.D. Edin.. D.P. H. Eng., has been appointed MedicalOfficer for the No. 4 Sanitary District of the St. Germans Union.

MICKLE, GEO., M.B., C.M.Aberd., has been appointed Medical Officerof Health by the Kirklington-cum-Upsland Urban District Council.

MILLETT, G. B., L.R.C.P. Edin., M.R.C.S., has been appointed Medical’ Officer of Health by the West Penwith Port Sanitary Authority.PARTRIDGE, THos., M.R.C.P. Irel., M.R.C.S., has been re-appointed

Medical Officer of Health for the Stroud Rural and Urban SanitaryDistricts.

PEPPER, H. W., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., has been appointed HouseSurgeon to the Royal Berks Hospital, Reading.

REED, WALTER HuGO, M.R.C.S., L S.A., has been appointed MedicalOfficer of Health for the Westbury (Wiltshire) and WhorwellsdownRural Sanitary District.

REYNOLDS, F. M., M.B., C.M. Edin., has been re-appointe MedicalOfficer of Health by the Ottery St. Mary Urban District Council.

RIDLEY, WM. W., L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S.Edin., L.F.P.S. Glasg., has beenappointed Assistant Medical Officer at the Gateshead Dispensary.

ROBERTS, L., M.D. Lond., L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., has been appointedMedical Officer for the Workhouse of the Newtown and LlanidloesUnion.

RusTON-HARisoON, G. H., M B., C.M. Edin., has been appointed HousePhysician to the Royal Berks Hospital, Reading.

SANKEY, J. J., L.lt.C,P. Lond., M R.C.S., has been appointed MedicalOfficer for the Sixth Sanitary District of the Tunbridge Union, viceP. W. Streatfield, resigned.

SNADDEN, JAS., M.B., C.M. Edin., has beenre-appointed Medical Officerof Health for the No. 1 Sanitary District of the Wortley Union.

STARLING, E. H., M.D. Lond., B.S., M.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., has beenappointed Examiner in Physiology for the Fellowship of theRoyal College of Surgeons of England.

STEVENS, THos. G., M.D.Lond., B.S., F.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., has beenappointed Examiner in Elementary Biology for the First Exami-nation of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

THOMSON, J. A. M., L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. Irel., has been re-appointedMedical Officer of Health by the Bradford-on-Avon Rural DistrictCouncil.

TONKIN, J. H., M.B. Lond., L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., has been appointedMedical Officer for the Camborne Sanitary District of the ItedruthUnion.

TUKE, G. M., M.R.C.S., has been re-appointed Medical Officer of Healthby the Hollingbourne Rural District Council.

TURNER, R. T., M.D., Ch.B. Vict., has been appointed Medical Officerof Health by the Nantwich Rural District Council.

VAWDERY, GEO., L.R.C.P. Edin., M.R.C.S., has been appointed MedicalOfficer of Health by the Farnborough Urban District Council.

WAGSTAFF, FRANK ALEXANDER, M.R C.S., L.R.C.P., has been ap-pointed Surgeon to the SatTron Walden Hospital.

WALCOT, THOS., M.D. Edin., C.M., has been appointed Medical Officerof Health by the Frimley Urban District Council.

WOODFORDE, A. P., M.R C.S., has been appointed Medical Officer ofHealth by the East Hampstead District Council.

WRIDE, F. G., L.K.Q.C.P. Irel., M.R.C.S., has been appointed MedicalOfficer of Health for the Cricklade and Wotton Bassett RuralSanitary District, vice J. M. Kirkman.

VacanciesFor further inJormation regarding each vacancy reference should be

made to the advertisement (see Index).

CENTRAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL, 238, Gray’s-Inn-road, W.C.-House Surgeon.

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, Nottingham.-House Surgeon (non-resident)for six months. Salary at the rate of &pound;100 per annum.

DENBIGHSHIRE INFIRMARY, Denbigh.-House Surgeon for twelvemonths. Salary &pound;80 per annum, with board, residence, andwashing.

GENERAL INFIRMARY AT GLOUCESTER AND THE GLOUCESTER EYEINSTITUTION.&mdash;Assistant House Surgeon, for six months. Board,residence, and washing provided.

GLASGOW SAMARITAN HoaPtTaL FOR WOMEN, Victoria-road, Glasgow.-Resident (lady) Clinical Assistant.

GREAT NORTHERN CENTRAL HOSPITAL. Holloway-road, X -HouseSurgeon, for six montns. Salary 60 per annum, with board.lodging, and laundry provided in the hospital. Also Junior House-Surgeon, for six months. Board, lodging, and laundry provided inthe hospital.

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY ASYLUM.&mdash;Assistant Medical Officer. SalaryE100 per annum, with board and lodging, &c., but without alcohoLApplications to the Medical Superintendent, Whitecroft, near

Newport, Isle of Wight.JOINT COUNTIES ASYLUM, Abergavenny.&mdash;Junior Assistant Medical

Officer. Salary &pound;100 per annum, increasing by two yearly instal-ments of E25 to &pound;150, with board, lodging, and washing.

LONDON THROAT HOSPITAL, 204, Great Portland- street, W.-JuniorAssistant Surgeon.

METROPOLITAN ASYLUMS BOARD.-Two Assistant Medical Officers, un-married, at the Eastern Fever Hospital, Homerton, N E. Salary&pound;160 during the first year, E180 the second year, and E200 the thirdand subsequent years of service, with board, lodging, attendance,and washing. Also an Assistant Medical Officer, unmarried, at the-North-Eastern Fever Hospital, St. Ami’s-road, N. Salary &pound;160during the first year, B180 the second year, and C200 the third and subsequent years of service, with board, lodging, attendance, and’washing. Applications to the Clerk of the Board, Norfolk House,Norfolk-street, Strand, W.C.

MILLER HOSPITAL AND ROYAL KENT DISPENSARY, Greenwich-road,.S.E.-Junior Resident Medical Officer for six months. Salary atthe rate of &pound;30 per annum, with board, attendance, and washing.

NORTH-WEST LONDON HOSPITAL, Kentish-town-road.-Assistant Resi-dent Medical Officer. Also Assistant Surgeon.

OWENS COLLEGE, Manchester,-Senior and Junior Demonstrator inPhysiology. Stipends oil50, rising to JE200, and &pound;100, rising to &pound;150respectively.

PARISH OF ST. GILES, Camberwell.-Third Assistant Medical Officer,.of either sex, for the Infirmary at Havil-street, Camberwell, and-the Workhouse at Gordon-road, Peckham ; also for relief duty atthe Constance-road Workhouse of the Parish, for one year. SalaryE50, with apartments, board, and washing. Applications to theClerk to the Guardians, Guardians’ Offices, 29, Peckham-road, S.E.

ROYAL ALBERT HOSPITAL, DEVONSHIRE.-Assistant House Surgeon.L Board, residence, and washing provided.

ROYAL EYE HOSPITAL, Southwark, or ROYAL SOUTH LONDON OPHTHaL-MIC HOSPITAL.-House Surgeonship. Remuneration &pound;50 perannum, with free board and lodging in the hospital.

UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN. - University Assistant in Physiology.Salary &pound;150, rising by annual increments of E25 to ,c200. Applica-tions to Professor MacWilliam.

WARNEFORD HOSPITAL, Leamington.-House Surgeon for six months.Salary &pound;100 per annum, with board, lodging, and washing.

WOLVERHAMPTON AND STAFFORDSHIRE GENERAL HOSPITAL, Wolver-hampton.-Resident Assistant for six months. Board, lodging, andywashing provided.

1

Births, Marriages, and Deaths.BIRTHS.

BANKS.&mdash;On July 4th, at Lind-terrace, Ryde, the wife of Alfred Banks,-F.R.C.S.Eng., D.P.H., of a daughter.

BOWER.-On July 8th, at Langton Lodge, Hendon, the wife of WilliamBower, M.B., of a son.

BROADBENT.-On July 4th, at SeJmour-street, Portman-square, W.,the wife of Dr. John F. H. Broadbent, of a daughter.

HARRISON.&mdash;On July 2nd, at Rossetti mansions, Chelsea, S.W., the wife-of Dr. C. J. Harrison, of a daughter.

MESSITER.-On July 4th, at Charlton House, Dudley, Worcs., the wife-of M. Arden Messiter, M.R.C.S., of a daughter.

MONTAGUE.-On July 2nd, the wife of A. J. Helm Montague, M.D..of M.B., 35, Potter-street, Worksop, of a son.

PINKERTON.&mdash;On July 2nd, at Craven-park, Harlesden, N.W., the wife-of Robert L. Pinkerton, M.A., M.D., of a son.

MARRIAGES.ATKINSON-NEWCOME.-On July 7th, at Long Clawson, by the Rev.

Canon J. C. Atkinson, father of the biidegroom and Vicar ofDanby, assisted by the Rev. J. S. Gardner, Vicar of the ParishGuy Christopher Barton Atkinson, M.R.C.S., to Elizabeth Emma.Newcome, eldest daughter of Chester Pern Newcome, Esq., and’niece of the late W. W. Phipson, Esq., M.Ii3st. C.E.

GABRIEL-Piza.-On June 24th. William Maurice Gabriel, M.R.C.S.and L.D.S. Eng., of Ludgate-hill and Porchester-terrace, two’Leah, fourth daughter of the late Jacob Piza, of Warrington-crescent, W.

RANDALL&mdash;BRADBROOK.&mdash;On July 7th, at Emanuel Church, WestHampstead, by the Rev. Stanley Bradbrook, M.A., MetropolitanSecretary of the Church Pastoral Aid Society, brother of the bride,assisted by the Rev. E. N. Sharpe, M.A., Vicar, Ernest BidgoodRandall, M.D., of Romford-road, Forest-Gate, London, E., to Lydia,youngest daughter of Mrs. Bradbrook, of Boscombe, Hants.

DEATH.STEVENS.-On July 5th, at Sway, near Lymington, Robert Stead Jones.

Stevens, M.D., aged 70 years.

N.B.-A fee of 58. is charged for the insertion of Notices of Births,Marriages, and Death8.