EDINBURGH
1
738 EDINBURGH. (From our own Correspondent.) THE SALUBRITY OF EDINBURGH. THE water of Leitb, a small tributary falling into the Firth of Forth, and traversing in its course some of the western districts of the city, has been for some years a source of annoyance and discomfort to the inhabitants of the localities through which it flows on account of its ,greatly polluted nature. This pollution has been shown by Professor Crum Brown and Mr. Reid to be in some part due to sewage contamination, but to a far greater - degree traceable to waste products of manufactures find- ing their way into the river. It is alleged that this is especially true of the refuse material from paper works, where vegetable matter is allowed to ferment in water tanks to separate the fibrous constituents, just as is done in the preparation of flax. The water from these tanks, loaded with organic matter, and still in a putrescent con- dition, is allowed to enter the river in its higher reaches, and is by no means rendered pure and odourless before its flow through the city. Along its course the river deposits banks of mud, consisting chiefiy of this organic matter originally in suspension in the water, and these mud banks left exposed in summer drought are a source of great annoy- ance. The Corporations of Edinburgh and Leith have at length, after repeated warnings, decided on taking legal measures conjointly for the abatement of the nuisance ; and although this decision on their part has been met on that of the manufacturers by a strong protest in the form of a circular setting forth the harassed and handicapped" con- dition of the British paper trade, it seems now certain that the matter will be pressed forward, and the nuisance, which has for long been a clamant evil, finally and completely removed. THE WINTER SESSION. - The winter session will open two weeks hence, when a further advance in the number attending the University is - expected. The preliminary examinations in general educa- tion now in progress are taken part in by nearly 400 candi- dates, an increase on the usual numbers at the autumn preliminary examination. THE TEACHING OF AGRICULTURE. Professor Wallace, of the Chair of Agriculture, is on his return voyage from India, whither he proceeded some months ago with the intention of becoming acquainted with the agricultural condition of that country. Every facility has been afforded him in his researches, and it is understood that his object has been fully realised. The materials now .at his command will doubtless prove of much value in in- creasing the scope of his course of instruction, and enabling him to prepare students for a much wider area of usefulness than has previously been the case. Edinburgh, Oct. 4th. ABERDEEN. (From our own Correspondent.) ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY. THE winter session commences on the 19th inst., and the preliminary examinations will be held on Monday, the 17th, and Tuesday, the 18th of October, commencing at 10 A.M. - each day. A meeting of the General Council will be held in Marischal College on Wednesday, the 12th inst., and one of the items of business is a motion by Professor Struthers "that the Committee to watch over legislation affecting the University be reappointed." The office of Lord Rector of the University becomes vacant this year, and the Senatus have resolved to recommend to the University Court that Satur- day, November 12th, be fixed as the most suitable day for the election of Lord Rector. AMBULANCE LECTURES. Mr. W. Leslie Mackenzie, M.A., lately delivered five lec- tures on Ambulance Work to railway servants. The lectures were illustrated by diagrams, apparatus, and specimens from the Surgical Museum, all placed at the disposal of the lec- turer by Professor Ogston. The instruction was made as practical as possible. The attendance was very large, but divided into small classes. Each man had practical instruc- tion in bandaging, the application of splints, &c. Mr. Dingwall, A.M., another medical student, delivered a similar course of lectures to the men engaged in one of our large quarries. Here also the instruction was as practical as possible, and the men entered into the work most enthu- siastically. This work of ambulance instruction is carried on under the auspices of the Aberdeen Ambulance Association, and it is intended to hold classes during the winter in most of the large manufactories and works in the city. Aberdeen, Oct. 4th. DUBLIN. (From our o2vn Correspondent.) . KILKENNY. SOME time since the services of Sir Charles Cameron as analyst for Kilkenny were Discontinued, although his salary only amounted to £5 a year. At present there is a good deal of sickness in certain parts of the town, principally diarrhœa, which has been attributed to the water obtained from the pumps being contaminated with sewage. The Corporation are thinking of having the water analysed, and will have to pay a fee of two guineas for the same; while for the salary of £5 Sir Charles Cameron was bound to perform any number of analyses that might be required. Besides, it is not every medical practitioner who is suffi- ciently skilled in this particular branch to be able to analyse a sample of water, and it must not be forgotten that the cost of procuring the necessary instruments would amount to a very considerable sum. It follows from this, that should the Corporation require an analysis of the sus- pected water to be made, they may be obliged to obtain the services of Sir C. Cameron, the eminent analyst for Dublin. THE DUBLIN DEATH-RATE. The Public Health Committee of’the Corporation of Dublin have had under consideration the excessive mortality in certain districts of the city, and have adopted the following resolution on the subject :" That the attention of the dis- pensary doctors of Nos. 1, 2, and 3 North City, and Nos. I, 2, and 3 South City, be directed to the very excessive death- rate in their districts, especially in No. 1 South City, where it reached 418, and in No. 2 South City, 52.24; and to re- quest them to report if they can point out any cause for this excessive mortality, and whether it occurs in the infant or adult classes." The epidemic of measles, which has existed for months, during the last few weeks has shown a marked diminution in the mortality from this disorder. The death is recorded of Dr. William Daxon, F.R.C.S.,late resident medical superintendent of Ennis district lunatic asylum. PARIS. (From our Paris Correspondent.) DR. BROUARDEL ON TYPHOID FEVER. DR. BROUARDEL, who represented the French Faculty at the International Hygienic Congress recently held at Vienna, delivered a very interesting address on Enteric Fever. In referring to the etiology of the disease, he stated that whatever be the primary origin cr nature of this affection, it is now certain that it may be propaga- ted through the following principal agents : drinking water, the air which we breathe, the soiled linen of typhoid patients, and through the hands of the nurses attend- ing them. These means of propagation, he added, have long been recognised, but they were hypothetical, whereas now it is possible to assign to each of these agents its proper position in the genesis of the disease, drinking water being the principal vehicle of the germs of typhoid fever, for in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred the cause has been clearly traced to it. Thus it may be seen that, whether the disease owes its origin to the decomposition of organic matter or to a specific virus, it will be easy, by
Transcript of EDINBURGH
738
EDINBURGH.(From our own Correspondent.)
THE SALUBRITY OF EDINBURGH.
THE water of Leitb, a small tributary falling into theFirth of Forth, and traversing in its course some of thewestern districts of the city, has been for some years asource of annoyance and discomfort to the inhabitants ofthe localities through which it flows on account of its
,greatly polluted nature. This pollution has been shownby Professor Crum Brown and Mr. Reid to be in some
part due to sewage contamination, but to a far greater- degree traceable to waste products of manufactures find-ing their way into the river. It is alleged that thisis especially true of the refuse material from paperworks, where vegetable matter is allowed to ferment inwater tanks to separate the fibrous constituents, just as isdone in the preparation of flax. The water from these tanks,loaded with organic matter, and still in a putrescent con-dition, is allowed to enter the river in its higher reaches,and is by no means rendered pure and odourless before itsflow through the city. Along its course the river depositsbanks of mud, consisting chiefiy of this organic matteroriginally in suspension in the water, and these mud banksleft exposed in summer drought are a source of great annoy-ance. The Corporations of Edinburgh and Leith have atlength, after repeated warnings, decided on taking legalmeasures conjointly for the abatement of the nuisance ; andalthough this decision on their part has been met on that ofthe manufacturers by a strong protest in the form of acircular setting forth the harassed and handicapped" con-dition of the British paper trade, it seems now certain thatthe matter will be pressed forward, and the nuisance, whichhas for long been a clamant evil, finally and completelyremoved.
THE WINTER SESSION. -
The winter session will open two weeks hence, when afurther advance in the number attending the University is- expected. The preliminary examinations in general educa-tion now in progress are taken part in by nearly 400 candi-dates, an increase on the usual numbers at the autumnpreliminary examination.
THE TEACHING OF AGRICULTURE.
Professor Wallace, of the Chair of Agriculture, is on hisreturn voyage from India, whither he proceeded some monthsago with the intention of becoming acquainted with theagricultural condition of that country. Every facility hasbeen afforded him in his researches, and it is understoodthat his object has been fully realised. The materials now.at his command will doubtless prove of much value in in-creasing the scope of his course of instruction, and enablinghim to prepare students for a much wider area of usefulnessthan has previously been the case.Edinburgh, Oct. 4th.
ABERDEEN.(From our own Correspondent.)
ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY.
THE winter session commences on the 19th inst., and thepreliminary examinations will be held on Monday, the 17th,and Tuesday, the 18th of October, commencing at 10 A.M.- each day. A meeting of the General Council will be held inMarischal College on Wednesday, the 12th inst., and one ofthe items of business is a motion by Professor Struthers"that the Committee to watch over legislation affecting theUniversity be reappointed." The office of Lord Rector of theUniversity becomes vacant this year, and the Senatus haveresolved to recommend to the University Court that Satur-day, November 12th, be fixed as the most suitable day forthe election of Lord Rector.
AMBULANCE LECTURES.
Mr. W. Leslie Mackenzie, M.A., lately delivered five lec-tures on Ambulance Work to railway servants. The lectureswere illustrated by diagrams, apparatus, and specimens fromthe Surgical Museum, all placed at the disposal of the lec-
turer by Professor Ogston. The instruction was made aspractical as possible. The attendance was very large, butdivided into small classes. Each man had practical instruc-tion in bandaging, the application of splints, &c. Mr.Dingwall, A.M., another medical student, delivered a similarcourse of lectures to the men engaged in one of our largequarries. Here also the instruction was as practical aspossible, and the men entered into the work most enthu-siastically. This work of ambulance instruction is carried onunder the auspices of the Aberdeen Ambulance Association,and it is intended to hold classes during the winter in mostof the large manufactories and works in the city.Aberdeen, Oct. 4th.
DUBLIN.
(From our o2vn Correspondent.)
. KILKENNY.
SOME time since the services of Sir Charles Cameron as
analyst for Kilkenny were Discontinued, although his salaryonly amounted to £5 a year. At present there is a gooddeal of sickness in certain parts of the town, principallydiarrhœa, which has been attributed to the water obtainedfrom the pumps being contaminated with sewage. The
Corporation are thinking of having the water analysed,and will have to pay a fee of two guineas for the same;while for the salary of £5 Sir Charles Cameron was bound to
perform any number of analyses that might be required.Besides, it is not every medical practitioner who is suffi-ciently skilled in this particular branch to be able toanalyse a sample of water, and it must not be forgottenthat the cost of procuring the necessary instruments wouldamount to a very considerable sum. It follows from this,that should the Corporation require an analysis of the sus-pected water to be made, they may be obliged to obtain theservices of Sir C. Cameron, the eminent analyst for Dublin.
THE DUBLIN DEATH-RATE.
The Public Health Committee of’the Corporation of Dublinhave had under consideration the excessive mortality incertain districts of the city, and have adopted the followingresolution on the subject :" That the attention of the dis-pensary doctors of Nos. 1, 2, and 3 North City, and Nos. I,2, and 3 South City, be directed to the very excessive death-rate in their districts, especially in No. 1 South City, whereit reached 418, and in No. 2 South City, 52.24; and to re-quest them to report if they can point out any cause for thisexcessive mortality, and whether it occurs in the infant oradult classes." The epidemic of measles, which has existedfor months, during the last few weeks has shown a markeddiminution in the mortality from this disorder.The death is recorded of Dr. William Daxon, F.R.C.S.,late
resident medical superintendent of Ennis district lunaticasylum.
PARIS.
(From our Paris Correspondent.)
DR. BROUARDEL ON TYPHOID FEVER.
DR. BROUARDEL, who represented the French Facultyat the International Hygienic Congress recently held at
Vienna, delivered a very interesting address on EntericFever. In referring to the etiology of the disease,he stated that whatever be the primary origin cr natureof this affection, it is now certain that it may be propaga-ted through the following principal agents : drinkingwater, the air which we breathe, the soiled linen of typhoidpatients, and through the hands of the nurses attend-ing them. These means of propagation, he added, havelong been recognised, but they were hypothetical, whereasnow it is possible to assign to each of these agents itsproper position in the genesis of the disease, drinkingwater being the principal vehicle of the germs of typhoidfever, for in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred the causehas been clearly traced to it. Thus it may be seen that,whether the disease owes its origin to the decomposition oforganic matter or to a specific virus, it will be easy, by
