PROBABLE POISONING BY TANNIC ACID
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838 the coroner’s officer. A medical man, who was not in any .event going to certify, could hardly be expected to leave his work, whether in a hospital or not, in order to verify the parent’s statement. The incident, however, calls attention to the uncertainty which may be imported into ’death certification by mistake or fraud, especially where hos- pitals are concerned. In existing circumstances it would be out of the question to expect the medical officers of hospitals to visit the homes of deceased out-patients for the purpose of death certification, nor would it be possible to insist upon the body being brought to the hospital. Where a motive exists for obtaining a death certificate wrongfully it is .usually, we may say invariably, to be found in the fact that the life of the deceased has been insured. PROBABLE POISONING BY TANNIC ACID. AN interesting case was recently inquired into at the -Southwark coroner’s court, when Dr. F..J. Waldo held an inquest on the body of a man who died after being immersed in a quantity of oak-bark tanning liquor. The evidence showed that the deceased man was found up to his waist in a pit of the liquor, whence he was removed, after having been seen by a medical practitioner who was summoned, to - Guy’s Hospital. He was then found to be suffering from violent diarrhoea and vomiting and was in a state of collapse. He died about three and a half hours after his removal from the tan pit. A post-mortem examination proved that he had - died from an irritant poison. A full chemical examination of the liquor was made but no metallic substances were discovered with the exception of minute traces of calcium and potassium. We are not aware that a case of this nature has previously been reported in this country, but it was mentioned during the course of the proceedings that a similar instance had occurred in Germany 40 years ago. Tannin in small doses acts as an astringent, but in larger .doses would in all probability act as an irritant. It is possible also that the irritant action would be produced in some individuals more readily than in others. From these considerations we believe that the opinion expressed by Dr. ;S. Hodgson, the house physician at Guy’s Hospital, that the man had died from poisoning by tannin to be a correct one. MANCHESTER AND SALFORD SANITARY ASSOCIATION. THE annual report of the Manchester and Salford Sanitary I Association for 1902 has just been issued. This very useful I society has for over 50 years-last year being its jubilee- done much to educate Manchester citizens of all degrees in matters affecting health. Amid many discouragements, much apathy and indifference, it has persevered with its work, and from having been suspected and covertly opposed by some of the authorities it is now recognised by the corporation and all public bodies as working usefully and unostentatiously for the good of the people. In an inaugural address Dr. J. F. W. Tatham in 1887 said: "The history of sanitation and of philanthropic endeavour for the good of this vast community, especially during the period anterior to the last decennium, is neither more nor less than the history of the Manchester and Salford Sanitary Association itself." Its work is absolutely dis- interested, for it is a voluntary agency composed of merchants, professional men, and private citizens not seeking their own benefit but striving to lessen the sanitary evils still too common in our big cities, evils which affect most of all the poorest, most ignorant, and most helpless of the people. The Manchester corporation is probably as regardful of the public health as any of our municipal authorities, but it is not claiming too much for the asso- ciation to say that it has long acted, and still acts, as a useful stimulus to that body. The chief event in tte history of the association last year was the Jubilee Conference but the report shows the wide range of subjects coming under its ken. The parks and playgrounds are watched with the view of preventing encroachments; the housing question, the ventilation of schools, the danger of domestic lamps, and a score of other allied subjects all receive attention. In view of an anticipated visitation of small-pox a leaflet on vaccination was reprinted and widely distributed, and a pamphlet on the same subject by Dr. J. W. Hamill has been published and has had a large circulation. A deputation from the association has urged on the paving committee of the city council the desirability of using noiseless pavement in front of hospitals. At the request of the Jubilee Con- ference a petition " that physical training may be promoted by the Government on a scale co-extensive with the school system of the country" was influentially signed and presented to the House of Commons. Chemical nuisances-and chemical manufacturers seem to the rest of the world to exercise their talents largely in the production of noxious odours-have engaged the attention of the association ; and ap’l’op08 of the explosions that have occurred in the Manchester sewers, the report states that the Manchester Corporation Act, 1902, "con- tains provisions empowering the corporation to prevent the discharge into sewers of poisonous or explosive gases." Letters signed by the chairman, Professor Dixon Mann, have been sent to the Manchester and Salford Tramway Committees and to the Marquis of Londonderry, President of the Board of Education, on the subject of spit- ting in public conveyances, and Parliament has been peti- tioned as to the provision of sanitary conveniences in work- shops. The report also rejoices in "the achievement of a portion of the scheme for cottage baths and wash- houses, which it has urged upon the baths committee for several years past "-a subject which has from time to time been advocated in the columns of THE LANCET. A new series of "Health Lectures for the People" is now in course of publication, and a series of 15 leaflets on personal care of health, the feeding and care of children, vaccination, infectious diseases, &c., has been revised and reprinted. They are largely circulated and must surely have influence for good. Lectures are given in the course of the year by medical men in the poorer parts of the town, and this work, involving the sacrifice of much time and thought on their part, is evidently appreciated by the committee of the association, for in the report they desire to record their best thanks to the gentlemen who have so generously given their time for the delivery of these lectures." The report also contains that of the Manchester and Middleton branches of the Smoke Abatement League, and of the Ladies’ Health Society in affiliation with the Sanitary Association, and a very practical lecture on Smoke Abatement by Dr. William Graham, medical officer of health of Middleton and chairman of the Smoke Abatement League. The association is doing good work on a very small income and the committee again make an urgent appeal for increased support. The annual income from all sources is under ;S140, and another 100 a year would render possible a general extension of the educational work of the association." Perhaps one of the most useful functions it has served has been to act as an example to other towns, many of which have formed sanitary associations of their own. ____ THE EXPECTORATION IN CHRONIC ENGORGE- MENT OF THE LUNGS. IN the sputum of patients suffering from the pulmonary engorgement resulting from cardiac failure certain cells, called by some German authorities cardiac-failure cells, are not infrequently found and have been supposed to be of some diagnostic value as an indication of the existence of cyanotie
Transcript of PROBABLE POISONING BY TANNIC ACID
838
the coroner’s officer. A medical man, who was not in any.event going to certify, could hardly be expected to leavehis work, whether in a hospital or not, in order to verifythe parent’s statement. The incident, however, callsattention to the uncertainty which may be imported into’death certification by mistake or fraud, especially where hos-pitals are concerned. In existing circumstances it would beout of the question to expect the medical officers of hospitalsto visit the homes of deceased out-patients for the purposeof death certification, nor would it be possible to insist uponthe body being brought to the hospital. Where a motiveexists for obtaining a death certificate wrongfully it is
.usually, we may say invariably, to be found in the factthat the life of the deceased has been insured.
PROBABLE POISONING BY TANNIC ACID.
AN interesting case was recently inquired into at the-Southwark coroner’s court, when Dr. F..J. Waldo held an
inquest on the body of a man who died after being immersedin a quantity of oak-bark tanning liquor. The evidenceshowed that the deceased man was found up to his waist ina pit of the liquor, whence he was removed, after havingbeen seen by a medical practitioner who was summoned, to- Guy’s Hospital. He was then found to be suffering fromviolent diarrhoea and vomiting and was in a state of collapse.He died about three and a half hours after his removal fromthe tan pit. A post-mortem examination proved that he had- died from an irritant poison. A full chemical examinationof the liquor was made but no metallic substances werediscovered with the exception of minute traces of calciumand potassium. We are not aware that a case of this naturehas previously been reported in this country, but it was
mentioned during the course of the proceedings that a
similar instance had occurred in Germany 40 years ago.Tannin in small doses acts as an astringent, but in larger.doses would in all probability act as an irritant. It is
possible also that the irritant action would be produced insome individuals more readily than in others. From theseconsiderations we believe that the opinion expressed by Dr.;S. Hodgson, the house physician at Guy’s Hospital, that theman had died from poisoning by tannin to be a correct one.
MANCHESTER AND SALFORD SANITARYASSOCIATION.
THE annual report of the Manchester and Salford Sanitary IAssociation for 1902 has just been issued. This very useful Isociety has for over 50 years-last year being its jubilee-done much to educate Manchester citizens of all degrees inmatters affecting health. Amid many discouragements,much apathy and indifference, it has persevered with its
work, and from having been suspected and covertly opposedby some of the authorities it is now recognised by thecorporation and all public bodies as working usefully andunostentatiously for the good of the people. In an
inaugural address Dr. J. F. W. Tatham in 1887 said: "Thehistory of sanitation and of philanthropic endeavour forthe good of this vast community, especially during the
period anterior to the last decennium, is neither morenor less than the history of the Manchester and Salford
Sanitary Association itself." Its work is absolutely dis-
interested, for it is a voluntary agency composed of
merchants, professional men, and private citizens not
seeking their own benefit but striving to lessen the sanitaryevils still too common in our big cities, evils which affectmost of all the poorest, most ignorant, and most helplessof the people. The Manchester corporation is probably asregardful of the public health as any of our municipalauthorities, but it is not claiming too much for the asso-ciation to say that it has long acted, and still acts, as a
useful stimulus to that body. The chief event in tte history
of the association last year was the Jubilee Conference butthe report shows the wide range of subjects coming underits ken. The parks and playgrounds are watched with theview of preventing encroachments; the housing question,the ventilation of schools, the danger of domestic lamps,and a score of other allied subjects all receive attention.In view of an anticipated visitation of small-pox a leaflet onvaccination was reprinted and widely distributed, and apamphlet on the same subject by Dr. J. W. Hamill has beenpublished and has had a large circulation. A deputation fromthe association has urged on the paving committee of thecity council the desirability of using noiseless pavement infront of hospitals. At the request of the Jubilee Con-ference a petition " that physical training may be
promoted by the Government on a scale co-extensive withthe school system of the country" was influentiallysigned and presented to the House of Commons. Chemicalnuisances-and chemical manufacturers seem to the restof the world to exercise their talents largely in the
production of noxious odours-have engaged the attentionof the association ; and ap’l’op08 of the explosions that
have occurred in the Manchester sewers, the reportstates that the Manchester Corporation Act, 1902, "con-tains provisions empowering the corporation to preventthe discharge into sewers of poisonous or explosivegases." Letters signed by the chairman, ProfessorDixon Mann, have been sent to the Manchester and SalfordTramway Committees and to the Marquis of Londonderry,President of the Board of Education, on the subject of spit-ting in public conveyances, and Parliament has been peti-tioned as to the provision of sanitary conveniences in work-shops. The report also rejoices in "the achievement of aportion of the scheme for cottage baths and wash-
houses, which it has urged upon the baths committeefor several years past "-a subject which has from time totime been advocated in the columns of THE LANCET.A new series of "Health Lectures for the People" isnow in course of publication, and a series of 15 leafletson personal care of health, the feeding and care of
children, vaccination, infectious diseases, &c., has beenrevised and reprinted. They are largely circulated and mustsurely have influence for good. Lectures are given in thecourse of the year by medical men in the poorer parts ofthe town, and this work, involving the sacrifice of much timeand thought on their part, is evidently appreciated by thecommittee of the association, for in the report they desireto record their best thanks to the gentlemen who have sogenerously given their time for the delivery of these lectures."The report also contains that of the Manchester and Middletonbranches of the Smoke Abatement League, and of theLadies’ Health Society in affiliation with the SanitaryAssociation, and a very practical lecture on SmokeAbatement by Dr. William Graham, medical officer of
health of Middleton and chairman of the Smoke Abatement
League. The association is doing good work on a verysmall income and the committee again make an urgentappeal for increased support. The annual income from allsources is under ;S140, and another 100 a year would renderpossible a general extension of the educational work of theassociation." Perhaps one of the most useful functions ithas served has been to act as an example to other towns,many of which have formed sanitary associations of theirown.
____
THE EXPECTORATION IN CHRONIC ENGORGE-MENT OF THE LUNGS.
IN the sputum of patients suffering from the pulmonaryengorgement resulting from cardiac failure certain cells,called by some German authorities cardiac-failure cells, arenot infrequently found and have been supposed to be of somediagnostic value as an indication of the existence of cyanotie
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