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Bute offered to give a site for the building and £5000 pro-vided an additional £30,OOO were subscribed. Upon thedeath of the marquis la,,t year it was found that he had

empowered his executors to contribute any sum up to

£20,000 unconditionally, and the work of preparing thefoundations for the building was commenced. Owing to theformation of the land this has proved both difficult and

costly, 131 piers having had to be constructed, and &pound;6000have been expended before the actual building ha< been

begun. The foundation-stone of the hospital was laid onAugust 8th by the Marquis of Bute, who. has recently attainerlhis majority and who declared it to be his intention to takea special interest in the institution. The cost of the hospitaland furnishing, apart from the foundations, is estimated at

&pound;24,000.Hereford Dispensary.

The Hereford Dispensary was established in the year 1835and has both a charitable and a provident department. Theannual report, which has recently been issued, shows that inthe former department 3616 patients were treated during theyear. In the provident department 428 households con-

tributed in weekly pence &pound;232, of which sum E162 weredivided between the three medical officers and the balancewas carried to the charity account and towards the workingexpenses of the institution.

Tlte Deatlt of Mr Joseph Reynallt Jantes, L. R. C. P. Edin, ,

M. R.. C S. Eng.The members of the medical protes-ion in Cardiff received

the news of th death of Mr. J. R. James on August 3rd withgreat regret, for although lie had been ailing for severalmonths it was not anticipated that his illness would have afatal terminatioo. Mr. James came to Cardiff about 25years ago, when the town was increasing in population byleaps and bounds, and has -ince carried on an t’xten;,ive

practice. At one time he took an active part in the publiclife of the borongh and was a prominent member of the towncouncil. He leaves a widow and five children.

Exeter Cittl Asylum.The fifteenth annual report of the Exeter City Asylum was

presented at the meeting of the Exeter city council held onAugust 6th. It stated that 48 male and 25 female patientshad been discharged cured during 1901 and that 19 male and13 females had died during the -ame period. On Dec 31st,1901, there were 167 males and 205 females remaining in theinstitution. The maintenance rate chargeable for the Exeterpatients was lls. 6d. per week. The committee in its

report mentioned that the condition of the asylum wasexcellent and added an appreciative remark on the mannerin which the medical superintendent performed his duties.

Vaccination Expenditure.At the meeting of the Barnstaple (Devon) board of

guardians held on Augu,t lst a discussion arose over theresolution of -the metropolitan boards of guardians for thereduction of the vaccination fees. The guardians took noaction in the matter, the chairman remarking that the con-ditions in the country, where the public vaccinator often hadto travel several miles for the purpose of vaccination, werevery different from those in metropolitan unions.-TheMo mouth board of guardians on July 31st unanimouslypassed a resolution in support of the views of the metropolitanboards of guardians.August 2nd.

IRELAND.

(lrh0b UUK OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland: a Loyal Address.A DEPUTATION from the Royal College of Surgeons in

Ireland waited on Earl Cadogan at Dublin Castle on

August 12th and was introduced by the President, Mr. L. HOrmaby. The loyal address was as follows:-To His Most Excellent Majesty Edward the Seventh of the United

Kingdom nt Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominionsbeyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, and Emperor ufIndia.

-AIAY ir PLKASK YOUR GRACIOUS MAJESTY,-We, the President.Vice-President,, and Council of the Royal College of Surgeons inIreland. beg most respectfull to offer our loyal and cordial congratula-tium on the auspicious occasion of the Coronation of your Majestyand ot Queen Alexandra as King and Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and of the Dominions beyond the Sea. We ieet pride ill

being the subjects of a Sovereign who has ever been totemost I

)- in all works of charity and mercB for promoting the com-

effort and alleviating the suffering of iiumanity, not only as

_. exemplified br the lifelong interest taken in hospital extension andefficiency, but also as instanced bv such movements as the housing of

0 the working classes, the Tuberculosls Congress, and the Cancer Com-mission. We rejoice that the happy ec-ent of the Coronation should

have an additional splendour conferred upon it by the declaration ofepeace in South Africa and the permanent extension of the empire. WeJ. trust the time is not far distant when Your Majesties will visit this0 country as Ireland’s King and Queen. and we venture to express our

confidence that in no part of the ralm would there be a deeper feelingof gratitiitie and welcome. A, a Royal College of Surgeons we e have forover a century been responsible for the training and education of a largenumber of surgeons who hae setved. not without distinetion, in YourMajesty’s navy and army. We beg to assure Your Majesty of our

L determination to maintain the loyal and dutiful relations with ourSovereign which has always characterised the Royal College of

Surgeons in Ireland. We rejoice that Your Majesty has recoveredfrom your recent illness. Signed on behalt of the council,

LAMBKMT H. ORMSBY, President.ARTHUR CHANCE. Vice-President.CHARLES A. OAMERON, Secretary.

Medical Expenses in the Belfast L nion Workhouse.At a meeting of the Belfast board of guardians held

recently a letter was read from the Local Government’

Board in reference to the recent inquiry as to the allegedexcessive expenditure on medicines and appliances, held by

! its medical inspector, Dr J. Smyth. The Board directs theguardians to convene a meeting with a view to determinewhether the medicine contractors should any longer beentru-ted with the contract for supplying medicines to theworkhouse It advises the guardian, to inipress upon theirmedical officers that the proper dis harge of their dutiesinvolve" not onlv skilful treatment of the t-ick under their

charge but also the due exeiei,,e of economy in requisitioningthe articles required for their patients. In addition, it ia tobe exacted that medical ’officers -hall possess ordinaryadministrative capacity and a sense of responsibility in

seeing that articles obtained under their signature are

really necessary and are applied to the purposes forwhich they are ordered. The want of control over thenurses and their wasteful extravagance point, the LocalGovernment Board says, to a lax state of discipline inthe nursing staff which, having regard to the tact thatthe Belfast Workhou-e Infirmary has become a large andimpoitant school for training, may, if not checked, havefar-reaching evil effects ; and the Local Government Boardrequeas the guardians to endeavour to provide for the propersupervision, education, and control of the nurses. As aresult of the inquiry the Local Government Board concurswith the view of its inspector, Dr. Smyth, that the sumof &pound;427 11 s, was excessive, and it has accordingly dis-’allowed recoupment from the Local Taxation (Ireland)ac ount upon this sum. The reports of the medical inspectorare to be carefully considered at a special meeting of theguardians.

The Smiley Cottage Hnspital, Larne.Early in 1901 Mr. H. H. Smiley, J.P., Drumalis, Larne,

county Antrim, agreed to elect an up-to-date cottagehospital for the town of Larne ; and since that time he has

agreed to provide an endowment fund by contributingf’.5000. A good site, with a frontage of 190 feet, has been:-ecured, the plans have been prepared and have passed theurban council, so that after a time the new and muchrequired cottage hospital will be ready. In recognition ofMr. Smiley’s princely generosity it has been decided to

present him with his portrait.The British Association.

The arrangements for the meetings of the British Associa-tion, which will begin in Bel’ast on Sept. 10th, are now in anadvanced state and it is expected that there will be a recordattendance. The buildings at Queen’.,4 College have beenplaced at the disposal of the local committee and will forman admirable centre for those attending this scientificreunion.August 12th.

____________________

PARIS.

(FROM OUlt OWN CORRBSfONUNNT.)

Dr. Doyen’s Anti-staphylococcic Serum.AT the meeting of the Academy of Medicine held onJuly 29th Dr. Doyen showed a new serum which he has just

obtained and which acts, he claims, with efficacy in patho-logical manifestations due to the staphylococcus pyogenes.It is specially beneficial in cae;: of carbuncle and boil?. Dr.

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Doyen has not yet made public the method of preparation Ibut has published some results which are extremely I

encouraging. One injection of 10 cubic centimetres made o

in the thigh, for instance, is enough in the case of a boil to r

bring down the temperature, to do away with the pain afterthe lapse of an hour, and to abort the boil altogether if it hasnot gone on to suppuration. If suppuration is present dis-charge takes place very rapidly through a small orifice, no new Ipurulent foci form, and cicatrisation is complete at the endof 24 hours. In cases of carbuncle results are remarkable rand many cases have already recovered by the use of thisserum together with a simple dressing moistened with some

1

antiseptic. No incisions have been necessary. Dr. Doyen also reported recoveries in cases of acute phlebitis, notably

1

one in which the ophthalmic vein was affected and wherethe cerebral sinus was already involved. Other diseaseswhich have rapidly ameliorated under the influence of theserum are osteo-myelitis, acute tonsillitis, and septic broncho-pneumonia. The action of the serum is so marked that Dr.Doyen compares it to that of the anti-diphtheritic serum ofBehring and Roux.

’

A Statue of Pasteur.On August 3rd a statue of Pasteur was unveiled at Dole.

M. Trouillot, the Minister of Commerce, presided. TheRector of the Academy of Besancon represented the Ministerof Public Instruction, M. Thureau-Dangin represented theFrench Academy, and Dr. Roux represented the PasteurInstitute. M. Ruffier (formerly mayor), M. Renaud (thepresent mayor of Dole), M. Thureau-Dangin, Dr. Roux, andM. Mollard, a deputy, gave addresses, M. Mollard drawing aparallel between Victor Hugo and Pasteur. The address ofM. Trouilot was frequently interrupted by loud applause. Atthe conclusion of the ceremony the school children sang acantata in honour of Pasteur and afterwards piled palmbranches at the foot of the statue. In the evening a banquetwas given by the municipality.Medical Excursions to the Mineral Water S’tations and

AS’rxnatori2cms of France.The medical excursion for 1902 will take place between

Sept. 7th and 16th inclusive. The places to be visited arein the Vosges and Eastern France and will be taken in thefollowing order : Vittel, Contrexeville, Martigny, Bourbonneles Bains, Luxeuil, Plombieres, Gerardmer, La Schlucht,Bussang, Le Ballon d’Alsace, Salins, and Besancon. Thescientific director of the excursion is, as in the three

preceding years, Dr. Landouzy, professor of clinical medi-cine at the Paris Faculty of Medicine, and he will deliverlectures upon mineral water treatment. The railways willtake any French medical man at a reduction of half priceon his ticket from his place of residence to Vittel and to anyforeign medical man from the place at which he shallset foot in France to Vittel. The same reduction is allowedat the end of the excursion from Besancon to the place ofdeparture from French territory. An inclusive ticket fromVittel to Besan&ccedil;on costs 200 francs. It includes every-thing-railway tickets, carriages, board, hotel expenses,luggage charges, and tips. Those anxious to join the ex-cursion must write to Dr. Carron, 2, Rue Lincoln, Paris. Names must be sent in by August 25th.

’

August 12th. __________________

NEW YORK.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Summer Work of Charity Associations of New York.THE Children’s Aid Association is one of the largest and

most efficient of the a-sociations in New York which supportsummer homes for poor children. The large home of thissociety at Bath Beach accommodates thousands of childrenevery summer and excursions are made daily there in theseason for the benefit of those who can only get a day’s outing.The Working Girls’ Vacation Society gives working girls inthe city an opportunity of getting a little rest and recreationin the country in summer and it also sends those who need achange to the Santa Clara Home in the Adirondacks. TheSt. John’s Guild supports three floating hospitals whichdaily carry children and their mothers for short trips downthe bay in hot weather. Together these hospital ships givesome 70,000 people a chance to breathe fresh sea air in Julyand August.-The Gilbert A. Robertson Home in Westchesteraffords whole families an opportunity to refresh themselvesfor a few weeks in the country.-The Association for the

Improvement of the Poor has a place at Sea Breeze, LongIsland, while the Edgewater Creche, near Port Lee, has oneof the prettiest and best equipped country playgrounds andrecreation-places for the poor in the country.

Opinions on Appendicitis in the United States,The illness of King Edward VII. and the operation

performed upon him by Sir Frederick Treves have causedendless discussion and much newspaper correspondence bymedical men of the United States with regard to appendi-citis and its treatment. The American medical professionhas shown great interest in the matter and heartfelt wishesfor the King’s recovery have been universally expressed.Eminent authorities in this country have, however, madesome severely critical remarks on the procedure adopted byhis medical advisers. The surgeons and physicians uponthis side of the Atlantic are with singular unanimity infavour of prompt operation in all cases of appendicitis, andargue that in the case of the King the delay in operating wasan error of judgment, although it must be said that thesuccessful issue of the methods used by Sir Frederick Trevesand his colleagues has to some extent silenced the advocatesof immediate operation.

Commattee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis.The Charity Organisation Society of New York has formed

a committee on the Prevention of Tuberculosis, consistingof Dr. E. L. Trudeau, Dr. Lederle, New York City, com-missioner of health, the Hon. Horner Folks, head of thecity’s department of public charities, and several othermembers, equally well known, 11 of whom are physicians.The objects of this committee have been formulated in partas follows in a statement made by the Charity OrganisationSociety : (1) the promulgation of the doctrine that tubercu-losis is a communicable, preventable, and curable disease ;(2) the dissemination of knowledge concerning the meansand methods to be adopted for the prevention of tubercu-losis ; (3) the advancement of movements to provide specialhospital, sanatorium, and dispensary facilities for consump-tive adults and scrofulous and tuberculous children amongthe poor ; and (4) the initiation and encouragement ofmeasures which tend to prevent the development of thevarious forms of tuberculous disease.August 4th.

AUSTRALIA.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The Plague.AT a meeting of the Board of Health held at Sydney on

July lst it was decided to declare Sydney free from plague,as more than 10 days had elapsed since the last case wasreported. There are 16 patients suffering from the disease inthe Coast Hospital but they are all recovering. As the plaguehas disappeared from Sydney Mr. T. A. Grieves has retiredfrom the service of the Board of Health. At the outbreak ofthe firat epidemic he was appointed to investigate reportedcases and he has diagnosed most of the cases that haveoccurred, and his services and expert knowledge have elicitedthe warmest eulogies from Dr. Ashburton Thompson, thePresident, and Dr. F. Tidswell, the chief medical officer ofthe Board of Health. On July lst Dr. B. B. Ham, the PublicHealth Commissioner for Queensland, in reply to a deputationof ship-owners, stated that as the port had been free fromplague for 31 days he intended to advise that the plagueregulations be rescinded.

The Friendly Society Difficulty.At a recent largely-attended meeting of the Friendly

Societies’ Association of New South Wales the followingmotion was proposed and after a long and general dis-cussion was carried by 20 votes to 11 :&mdash;

That the Australian Natives’ Association be requested to retire fromthe Friendly Societies’ Association, as their aims and objects are

inimical to the interests of the association.

This is a very severe reflection on the position of theAustralian Natives’ Association, and a great triumph for themedical profession in New South Wales. Leading officials ofthe Australian Natives’ Association in Victoria commentingon the action of the friendly societies in New South Walesattribute it to jealousy, to the intimidation of the medical pro-fession, and to the indiscretion of members of the New SouthWales Australian Natives’ Association in dealing with unim-portant public and political questions.-In Victoria friction