DUBLIN.
1
1346 omission on the part of many householders. In proof of which I may state that at an institution in this city with which I am connected, I frequently see patients suffering from the sequelae of infectious diseases, for which they have had no medical attendance. And why ? Because they fear the trouble notification may bring upon them, and some of them believe that the inspectors may be the carriers of worse infection than that which they are sent to inspect. I would ask our medical officer of health, May not they be right in this fear? And if not, why not ? Is there anything protective in the uniform of the officials or their carbolic odour? I would gladly let our medical officer of health see the practice of this institution-in his private capacity, however, for which I have the highest respect; for I believe it very wrong, and, to my feelings, an infringement of the rights of hospitality, to allow anything in the way of espionage to be practised, and of course it would ruin the popularity of the hospital. I may say that I always certify infectious cases coming under my notice in private practice, which are very few, however, owing to causes which I need not specify here. I do so because it is the "law of the land" as regards this city, and also because I believe the information given may be of some service for statistical purposes. I am not very much surprised that the evils spoken of in my 11 Notes," and described as "fantastic" " by our medical officer of health, have not come under his experience. With his multifarious duties he cannot be expected to know everything, and for ,many reasons he will be the last person to be cognisant of many matters affecting the health of the city; he will just know what his inspectors tell him. But when they get more experience and their powers of observation extended, they will tell him that the dissipation at the" long bars," improper feeding, clothing, and housing are important factors in the generally high death-rate which is causing our citizens so much concern. It is the candid opinion of many ,qualified to judge that a proper inspection of our new streets and houses, with their surroundings, before occupation, would do much to reduce this persistent high death-rate. THE DEATH-RATE OF NEWCASTLE AND SCHOOL CHILDREN. The sub-committee of the Board School have presented a report with regard to the high death-rate from Nov. 25th, 1886, to Nov. 25th, 1887. The number of deaths amongst scholars at the Board Schools was 34, with an average of 1000 on the books. This was rather less than 3’4 per 1000 for the year. The number of deaths from zymotic diseases was 13, or 1’3 per 1000. The statistics showed clearly that the high death-rate was not owing to the deaths of children. It was equally clear that it did not result from pressure put by the officers on the parents to send their children to school before they had fully recovered from infectious diseases. THE UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM AND ITS DEGREES.’ From all sides I hear complaints as to the late action 01 the University of Durham, and its opposition to the amalga- mation of the London Colleges, and some spirited letters have appeared in our papers against the narrow policy oj the University in this matter ; but I suppose the Universit3 and its connexions mean to "hold the field" if they can though no one will for one moment believe that a University should be allowed to stop the progress of a great medica -reform. Newcastle-on-Tyne, December 27th. DUBLIN. (From our own Correspondent.) THE EPIDEMIC OF MEASLES AT CAPE CLEAR. THE outbreak of measles at Hare Island and Cape Clear has assumed considerable proportions, and it is estimated that one-fifth of the population of the latter place are prostrated by the disease. It is satisfactory to learn, how- ever, by recent returns, that there are no dangerous sym- ptoms connected with the new cases, and that the disease seems less virulent, the mortality being much less than heretofore. At a meeting of the Skibbereen guardians last week Dr. O’Farrell, Local Government Board inspector, who had recently visited the island, gave a very graphic report of the prevalence of the epidemic, and adduced cases showing the malignant nature of the disease. In one case a fisherman only survived eight hours after being attacked, and some families had lost several adult members within a few days. Dr. O’Farrell suggested that a tempo- rary hospital should be established on the island with a trained staff of nurses to attend the sick, which has been carried out, and a medical practitioner will reside there for the present, while plenty of beds, bedding, and medical comforts have been sent to the islanders. DUBLIN HOSPITAL SUNDAY FUND. The returns from nearly forty churches have not yet been received, but so far as can be judged it is expected that there will be a decided falling off in the total collected for the fund this year. MERCER’S HOSPITAL, DUBLIN. It is stated that the expenses connected with the recent litigation have amounted to upwards of .El 500. Dublin, Dec. 26th. _______________ PARIS. (From our Paris Correspondent.) TINEA DECALVANS. IN the debate opened by Dr. Ollivier, at the Academy of Medicine, on Tinea Decalvans as it occurs among school children, and which was reported in THE LANCET of Decem- ber 17th, Professor Hardy, in response to the remark made by Drs. Ollivier and Cornil, as to the non-contagiousness or parasitic nature of the malady in question, could not admit that the non-discovery of the micro-organism of tinea decalvans was any proof in favour of their theory, as there are other affections in which no micro-organism or microbe has ever been seen, and yet no one could doubt their being con- tagious-such, for instance, as measles, scarlatina, and many others. Under the circumstances, and until proof to the con- trary is adduced, Professor Hardy thought that the benefit of the doubt which exists should be accorded to the pupils in health by separating them from those who are affected with the disease. In taking up the debate at the meeting of the Academy last week, Dr. Hardy recalled, in support of his argument, that in 1875, after an epidemic of tinea decalvans that occurred at the Lycée of Vanves, it was decided by a commission that the pupils affected with the disease should be sent to their homes. Since that period, as the example was followed by other schools, the disease became much less frequent in these institutions. Dr. Hardy further observed that tinea decalvans is certainly not fatally con- tagious. To develop itself, the disease requires certain conditions, and of greater part of these conditions we know nothing. We know only that the disease affects particularly young subjects, debilitated and nervous per- sons, and those who have been under the influence of great sorrow. The Professor then cited a great number of facts, in which are found incontestable proofs of the con- tagiousness of the malady. Thus, when the 122nd Regiment of Infantry was stationed at Montpellier, it was joined by two recruits, last spring, who were affected with tinea decalvans. In the month of December following, there were more than eighty men affected with the disease. Dr. Coustan, surgeon-maj r of the regiment, who has published a very interesting report on this epidemic, considered the scissors with which the soldiers’ hair is cut to have been the cause of the propagation of the malady. Measures were taken to remedy this evil, and the epidemic disappeared. At the Saint-Louis, the well-known hospital for skin diseases, it has been observed that the medical men and students attached to the hospital are much more frequently affected with tinea decalvans than medical men and students at any of the other hospitals. Bazin admitted two sorts of this affdction: the one parasitic, the other due to a simple perturbation of the nervous system. This, Dr. Hardy said, was possible, but as they followed the same course and had the same symptoms, and as, in fact, they cannot be distinguished rhl’l one from the other, the pupils affected with the, disease must be kept away from the schools. Dr. Hardy’s discourse was frequently ap- plauded, and although Dr. Ollivier was somewhat shaken
Transcript of DUBLIN.
1346
omission on the part of many householders. In proof ofwhich I may state that at an institution in this city withwhich I am connected, I frequently see patients suffering fromthe sequelae of infectious diseases, for which they havehad no medical attendance. And why ? Because they fearthe trouble notification may bring upon them, and someof them believe that the inspectors may be the carriers ofworse infection than that which they are sent to inspect. Iwould ask our medical officer of health, May not they beright in this fear? And if not, why not ? Is there anythingprotective in the uniform of the officials or their carbolicodour? I would gladly let our medical officer of health seethe practice of this institution-in his private capacity,however, for which I have the highest respect; for I believeit very wrong, and, to my feelings, an infringement of therights of hospitality, to allow anything in the way ofespionage to be practised, and of course it would ruin thepopularity of the hospital. I may say that I always certifyinfectious cases coming under my notice in privatepractice, which are very few, however, owing to causes
which I need not specify here. I do so because itis the "law of the land" as regards this city, andalso because I believe the information given may be ofsome service for statistical purposes. I am not very muchsurprised that the evils spoken of in my 11 Notes," anddescribed as "fantastic" " by our medical officer of health,have not come under his experience. With his multifariousduties he cannot be expected to know everything, and for,many reasons he will be the last person to be cognisant ofmany matters affecting the health of the city; he will justknow what his inspectors tell him. But when they getmore experience and their powers of observation extended,they will tell him that the dissipation at the" long bars,"improper feeding, clothing, and housing are importantfactors in the generally high death-rate which is causing ourcitizens so much concern. It is the candid opinion of many,qualified to judge that a proper inspection of our new streetsand houses, with their surroundings, before occupation,would do much to reduce this persistent high death-rate.THE DEATH-RATE OF NEWCASTLE AND SCHOOL CHILDREN.
The sub-committee of the Board School have presented areport with regard to the high death-rate from Nov. 25th,1886, to Nov. 25th, 1887. The number of deaths amongstscholars at the Board Schools was 34, with an average of1000 on the books. This was rather less than 3’4 per 1000for the year. The number of deaths from zymotic diseaseswas 13, or 1’3 per 1000. The statistics showed clearly thatthe high death-rate was not owing to the deaths of children.It was equally clear that it did not result from pressureput by the officers on the parents to send their children toschool before they had fully recovered from infectiousdiseases.
THE UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM AND ITS DEGREES.’From all sides I hear complaints as to the late action 01
the University of Durham, and its opposition to the amalga-mation of the London Colleges, and some spirited letters have appeared in our papers against the narrow policy ojthe University in this matter ; but I suppose the Universit3and its connexions mean to "hold the field" if they canthough no one will for one moment believe that a Universityshould be allowed to stop the progress of a great medica-reform.
Newcastle-on-Tyne, December 27th.
DUBLIN.
(From our own Correspondent.)
THE EPIDEMIC OF MEASLES AT CAPE CLEAR.
THE outbreak of measles at Hare Island and Cape Clearhas assumed considerable proportions, and it is estimatedthat one-fifth of the population of the latter place areprostrated by the disease. It is satisfactory to learn, how-ever, by recent returns, that there are no dangerous sym-ptoms connected with the new cases, and that the diseaseseems less virulent, the mortality being much less thanheretofore. At a meeting of the Skibbereen guardians lastweek Dr. O’Farrell, Local Government Board inspector,who had recently visited the island, gave a very graphic
report of the prevalence of the epidemic, and adducedcases showing the malignant nature of the disease. In onecase a fisherman only survived eight hours after beingattacked, and some families had lost several adult memberswithin a few days. Dr. O’Farrell suggested that a tempo-rary hospital should be established on the island with atrained staff of nurses to attend the sick, which has beencarried out, and a medical practitioner will reside there forthe present, while plenty of beds, bedding, and medicalcomforts have been sent to the islanders.
DUBLIN HOSPITAL SUNDAY FUND.
The returns from nearly forty churches have not yet beenreceived, but so far as can be judged it is expected thatthere will be a decided falling off in the total collected forthe fund this year.
MERCER’S HOSPITAL, DUBLIN.It is stated that the expenses connected with the recent
litigation have amounted to upwards of .El 500.Dublin, Dec. 26th.
_______________
PARIS.
(From our Paris Correspondent.)
TINEA DECALVANS.
IN the debate opened by Dr. Ollivier, at the Academy ofMedicine, on Tinea Decalvans as it occurs among school
children, and which was reported in THE LANCET of Decem-ber 17th, Professor Hardy, in response to the remark madeby Drs. Ollivier and Cornil, as to the non-contagiousness orparasitic nature of the malady in question, could not admitthat the non-discovery of the micro-organism of tineadecalvans was any proof in favour of their theory, as thereare other affections in which no micro-organism or microbehas ever been seen, and yet no one could doubt their being con-tagious-such, for instance, as measles, scarlatina, and manyothers. Under the circumstances, and until proof to the con-trary is adduced, Professor Hardy thought that the benefit ofthe doubt which exists should be accorded to the pupils inhealth by separating them from those who are affected withthe disease. In taking up the debate at the meeting of theAcademy last week, Dr. Hardy recalled, in support of hisargument, that in 1875, after an epidemic of tinea decalvansthat occurred at the Lycée of Vanves, it was decided by acommission that the pupils affected with the disease shouldbe sent to their homes. Since that period, as the examplewas followed by other schools, the disease became muchless frequent in these institutions. Dr. Hardy furtherobserved that tinea decalvans is certainly not fatally con-tagious. To develop itself, the disease requires certainconditions, and of greater part of these conditions weknow nothing. We know only that the disease affectsparticularly young subjects, debilitated and nervous per-sons, and those who have been under the influence ofgreat sorrow. The Professor then cited a great number offacts, in which are found incontestable proofs of the con-tagiousness of the malady. Thus, when the 122ndRegiment of Infantry was stationed at Montpellier, it wasjoined by two recruits, last spring, who were affected withtinea decalvans. In the month of December following,there were more than eighty men affected with thedisease. Dr. Coustan, surgeon-maj r of the regiment, whohas published a very interesting report on this epidemic,considered the scissors with which the soldiers’ hair is cut tohave been the cause of the propagation of the malady.Measures were taken to remedy this evil, and the epidemicdisappeared. At the Saint-Louis, the well-known hospitalfor skin diseases, it has been observed that the medicalmen and students attached to the hospital are much morefrequently affected with tinea decalvans than medical menand students at any of the other hospitals. Bazin admittedtwo sorts of this affdction: the one parasitic, the other dueto a simple perturbation of the nervous system. This,Dr. Hardy said, was possible, but as they followed thesame course and had the same symptoms, and as, in fact,they cannot be distinguished rhl’l one from the other, thepupils affected with the, disease must be kept away fromthe schools. Dr. Hardy’s discourse was frequently ap-plauded, and although Dr. Ollivier was somewhat shaken
