SCOTLAND.
1
168 SCOTLAND. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.) Medico-Chirurgical Society of Edinburgh. A SPECIAL meeting of this Society was held on Wednes- day of last week, and was occupied by a demonstration from Mr. Harold Stiles, with limelight views, of the changes in the mammary gland in cancer with special reference to operative procedure. The first point he took up was that the gland was larger and extended over a greater area than was taught in the books, extending both higher and further into the axilla than was usually described. He had intro- duced a simple’ and practical test which indicated whether all the gland was removed or not. This was by placing the removed gland in a 5 per cent. solution of nitric acid ; this solution had the effect of giving the glandular epithelium a yellow colour, and if this showed on the cut surface it indi- cated that the gland had been cut across and not removed atthatpart. he showed a number of slides illustrating this point, the glands being from operation cases. As to the mode of extension of cancer in the breast, he held wholly to the view that it took place by the lymphatics. He in- sisted on the importance of removing the whole gland and leaving no remnanb of it behind. Passing from the mamma itself, he then dealt with the structure of parts in the axilla, and showed that they might be so slightly affected that no indication of involvement was present save by microscopic examination, and he therefore argued that in all cases the axilla ought to be cleared. Edinburgh Association for the Reform of Medical Education. A statement prepared by this Association for presenta- tion to the Universities Commission has appeared in the local newspapers, and has been followed by a number of letters bearing upon the points raised by the statement, and most of these advocate even more forcibly than the statement itself the necessity for reform. The general tone is one of thorough dissatisfaction, and there promises to be even more plain speaking. The professoriate feel acutely the rebellion against their actions and judgment, for they are not accustomed to the strictures and criticisms now being hurled against methods and systems which have in the past been so remunerative, and with which they were abundantly satisfied. Glasgow Medico-Chirurgical Society and Tuberculosis. A memorial has been drawn up by the Medico-Chirurgi- cal Society of Glasgow for presentation to the Police Com- missioners, on the subject of the danger existing from the infectious nature of consumption or tuberculosis in man. The memorialists urge the necessity of preventing the sale of tuberculous meat, and dwell upon the danger arising from the use of milk given by cows kept in town byres. A rigid cleansing and disinfecting of byres and condemnation of carcases of animals known to be tuberculous are recom- mended. The Society suggest that the authorities should make widely known the fact that consumption is infectious, and suggest that the sanitary staff should extend its dis- infecting operations to the houses of those suffering from the disease. Health of Edinburgh. The mortality last week was 114, making the death-rate 22 per 1000. Diseases of the chest accounted for 46 deaths, and zymotic diseases for 3. The intimations for the week were : Typhus fever, 4 ; typhoid fever, 4 ; diphtheria, 2 ; scarlatina, 16 ; and measles, 23. Jan. llth. ________________ IRELAND. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.) The late J. H. Wharton, F.R.C.S.I., &c. AT a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Meath Hospital, held last Monday, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: " That this committee, at their first meeting held after the lamented decease of their esteemed friend and colleague, Mr. James H. Wharton, desire to express their sincere sympathy with his family in their sore bereavement, and their unfeigned sorrow at the great loss which they have sustained. They also desire to record their grateful appreciation of the great interest which Mr. I Wharton took in this institution, and the invaluable service which he rendered to it during a period of nearly forty years." Thc Influenza Epidemic. The epidemic shows no signs of abating, but on the con. trary has increased in Dublin and various parts of Ireland. In Newry the cases have been exceedingly numerous, and churches have been closed because the officiating ministers were victims of the epidemic. Influenza is spreading rapidly throughout East Tyrone ; it is very prevalent n Cookatown, and is on the increase in Dungannon, Coal. island, Coogh, and Pomeroy. A large number of deaths have occurred in these towns, and a large percentage of the. inhabitants in the rural districts are atfected. Mr. Z. Johnson, F, RC.S. L, of Kilkenny, one of the oldest medical practitioners in this county, is seriously ill with influenza. The Vartry Water-supply. A special meeting of the Dublin Corporation was held on Monday to consider the allegations made against the, water-supply of that city. Several members had visited Roundwoud, and examined every drain and sewer in the village, and they asserted that there was no contamination entering the Vartry reservoir from any service. If any con. tamination did leave the village it would paQs through 200, yards of a stream before it could get to the Vartry supply. Five samples of the water, all taken before the water entered the reservoir, were examined by Sir C. Cameron,, medical officer of health and city analyst, who made careful observations of the surroundings of the reservoir. The filtered Vartry water contained no suspended matters, and included a few unimportant micro- organisms. It con. tained per imperial gallon albuminoid ammonia 0’006 grain, and saline ammonia 0’001 grain. The liquid from the upper part of the "Roundwood Drain" was slightly yellow, contained various micro-organisms, and had a slightly unpleasant odour; an imperial gallon yieIdedO’027 grain of albuminoid ammonia and 0-012 grain of free ammonia. A specimen taken at the end of the drain contained per gallon 0’024 grain of albuminoid ammonia and 0-008 grain cf free ammonia, while a specimen taken from the upper end of the drain yielded 0’013 grain of albuminoid ammonia and 0.011 grain of free ammonia. These facts and analyses are reassuring as to the quality of the water which supplies the city of Dublin, and io is to be hoped that we have heard the last of the damaging reports which of late have been circulated as to the alleged impurity of the Vartry. Proposed Hospital for Consumption. It is proposed to establish a National Hospital for Cono sumption for Ireland, and a provisional committee com. posed of influential members of the community has been formed. The matter is one of considerable importance, and I shall have something further to say about it in a. future letter. The Progress of Belfast. The city of Belfast continues to increase by leaps and bounds, and its progress during the past year is quite remarkable, and altogether beyond that of any other town in Ireland. During the last twelve months 2215 new houses have been built in Belfast, and ninety new streets have come into existence. The buildings erected in 1891 exceed those of 1890 by 221, or about 9½ per cent. Taking the total buildings erected during the past thirty years, the average number per annum has been 1300, so that 1891 is about 71 per cent. above the average. The total valuation of Belfast in January, 1862, was ;E279,057; it is now £717,077. The rated wealth has therefore more than doubled. This increase has annually been about £19,600. This year that increase has nearly doubled. Of no other towns in Ireland-and it is doubtful if indeed of any in England or Scotland-can it be said that during the past thirty years the valuation has all bat trebled, as in Belfast. I regret to say that the report pre. sented by the medical officer of health at the meeting of the City Council on Jan. 1st shows that the health of Belfast. is far from satisfactory. In the four weeks ending Dec. 19th there were 596 births and 813 deaths-that is, the death’ rate so far exceeded the number of births that there was an actual decrease in the number of the population of 217. The death-rate was 41 4 per 1000; while for the corresponding four weeks in 1890 the mortality was only 25’3. The death- rate from diseases of the respiratory organs has been more than doubled by the influenza epidemic. It; is now general believed the maximum virulence of this disease has been
Transcript of SCOTLAND.
168
SCOTLAND.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)
Medico-Chirurgical Society of Edinburgh.A SPECIAL meeting of this Society was held on Wednes-
day of last week, and was occupied by a demonstrationfrom Mr. Harold Stiles, with limelight views, of the changesin the mammary gland in cancer with special reference tooperative procedure. The first point he took up was thatthe gland was larger and extended over a greater area thanwas taught in the books, extending both higher and furtherinto the axilla than was usually described. He had intro-duced a simple’ and practical test which indicated whetherall the gland was removed or not. This was by placing theremoved gland in a 5 per cent. solution of nitric acid ; thissolution had the effect of giving the glandular epithelium ayellow colour, and if this showed on the cut surface it indi-cated that the gland had been cut across and not removedatthatpart. he showed a number of slides illustrating thispoint, the glands being from operation cases. As to themode of extension of cancer in the breast, he held whollyto the view that it took place by the lymphatics. He in-sisted on the importance of removing the whole gland andleaving no remnanb of it behind. Passing from the mammaitself, he then dealt with the structure of parts in theaxilla, and showed that they might be so slightly affectedthat no indication of involvement was present save bymicroscopic examination, and he therefore argued that inall cases the axilla ought to be cleared.
Edinburgh Association for the Reform of MedicalEducation.
A statement prepared by this Association for presenta-tion to the Universities Commission has appeared in thelocal newspapers, and has been followed by a number ofletters bearing upon the points raised by the statement,and most of these advocate even more forcibly than thestatement itself the necessity for reform. The general toneis one of thorough dissatisfaction, and there promises to beeven more plain speaking. The professoriate feel acutelythe rebellion against their actions and judgment, for theyare not accustomed to the strictures and criticisms nowbeing hurled against methods and systems which have inthe past been so remunerative, and with which they wereabundantly satisfied.
Glasgow Medico-Chirurgical Society and Tuberculosis.A memorial has been drawn up by the Medico-Chirurgi-
cal Society of Glasgow for presentation to the Police Com-missioners, on the subject of the danger existing from theinfectious nature of consumption or tuberculosis in man.The memorialists urge the necessity of preventing the saleof tuberculous meat, and dwell upon the danger arisingfrom the use of milk given by cows kept in town byres. Arigid cleansing and disinfecting of byres and condemnationof carcases of animals known to be tuberculous are recom-mended. The Society suggest that the authorities shouldmake widely known the fact that consumption is infectious,and suggest that the sanitary staff should extend its dis-infecting operations to the houses of those suffering fromthe disease.
Health of Edinburgh.The mortality last week was 114, making the death-rate
22 per 1000. Diseases of the chest accounted for 46 deaths,and zymotic diseases for 3. The intimations for the weekwere : Typhus fever, 4 ; typhoid fever, 4 ; diphtheria, 2 ;scarlatina, 16 ; and measles, 23.Jan. llth.
________________
IRELAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)
The late J. H. Wharton, F.R.C.S.I., &c.
AT a meeting of the Standing Committee of the MeathHospital, held last Monday, the following resolution wasunanimously adopted: " That this committee, at their firstmeeting held after the lamented decease of their esteemedfriend and colleague, Mr. James H. Wharton, desire to
express their sincere sympathy with his family in their sorebereavement, and their unfeigned sorrow at the great losswhich they have sustained. They also desire to recordtheir grateful appreciation of the great interest which Mr. I
Wharton took in this institution, and the invaluable servicewhich he rendered to it during a period of nearly fortyyears."
Thc Influenza Epidemic.The epidemic shows no signs of abating, but on the con.
trary has increased in Dublin and various parts of Ireland.In Newry the cases have been exceedingly numerous, andchurches have been closed because the officiating ministerswere victims of the epidemic. Influenza is spreadingrapidly throughout East Tyrone ; it is very prevalent nCookatown, and is on the increase in Dungannon, Coal.island, Coogh, and Pomeroy. A large number of deathshave occurred in these towns, and a large percentage of the.inhabitants in the rural districts are atfected. Mr. Z.Johnson, F, RC.S. L, of Kilkenny, one of the oldest medicalpractitioners in this county, is seriously ill with influenza.
The Vartry Water-supply.A special meeting of the Dublin Corporation was held
on Monday to consider the allegations made against the,water-supply of that city. Several members had visitedRoundwoud, and examined every drain and sewer in thevillage, and they asserted that there was no contaminationentering the Vartry reservoir from any service. If any con.tamination did leave the village it would paQs through 200,yards of a stream before it could get to the Vartry supply.Five samples of the water, all taken before the waterentered the reservoir, were examined by Sir C. Cameron,,medical officer of health and city analyst, who made carefulobservations of the surroundings of the reservoir. Thefiltered Vartry water contained no suspended matters, andincluded a few unimportant micro- organisms. It con.tained per imperial gallon albuminoid ammonia 0’006 grain,and saline ammonia 0’001 grain. The liquid from theupper part of the "Roundwood Drain" was slightly yellow,contained various micro-organisms, and had a slightlyunpleasant odour; an imperial gallon yieIdedO’027 grainof albuminoid ammonia and 0-012 grain of free ammonia.A specimen taken at the end of the drain contained pergallon 0’024 grain of albuminoid ammonia and 0-008 grain cffree ammonia, while a specimen taken from the upper end ofthe drain yielded 0’013 grain of albuminoid ammonia and0.011 grain of free ammonia. These facts and analyses arereassuring as to the quality of the water which supplies thecity of Dublin, and io is to be hoped that we have heardthe last of the damaging reports which of late have beencirculated as to the alleged impurity of the Vartry.
Proposed Hospital for Consumption.It is proposed to establish a National Hospital for Cono
sumption for Ireland, and a provisional committee com.posed of influential members of the community has beenformed. The matter is one of considerable importance,and I shall have something further to say about it in a.
future letter.The Progress of Belfast.
The city of Belfast continues to increase by leaps andbounds, and its progress during the past year is quiteremarkable, and altogether beyond that of any other townin Ireland. During the last twelve months 2215 newhouses have been built in Belfast, and ninety new streetshave come into existence. The buildings erected in1891 exceed those of 1890 by 221, or about 9½ percent. Taking the total buildings erected during the pastthirty years, the average number per annum has been1300, so that 1891 is about 71 per cent. above theaverage. The total valuation of Belfast in January, 1862,was ;E279,057; it is now £717,077. The rated wealth hastherefore more than doubled. This increase has annuallybeen about £19,600. This year that increase has nearlydoubled. Of no other towns in Ireland-and it is doubtfulif indeed of any in England or Scotland-can it be said thatduring the past thirty years the valuation has all battrebled, as in Belfast. I regret to say that the report pre.sented by the medical officer of health at the meeting of theCity Council on Jan. 1st shows that the health of Belfast.is far from satisfactory. In the four weeks ending Dec. 19ththere were 596 births and 813 deaths-that is, the death’rate so far exceeded the number of births that there was anactual decrease in the number of the population of 217.The death-rate was 41 4 per 1000; while for the correspondingfour weeks in 1890 the mortality was only 25’3. The death-rate from diseases of the respiratory organs has been morethan doubled by the influenza epidemic. It; is now generalbelieved the maximum virulence of this disease has been
