44

so small extent as not seriously to affect the suitability ofthe hill for other purposes, would be of the utmost advan-tage to the patients. It does not seem to admit of doubtthat a willingness will be shown to aid in preventing themfrom being subjected to the gaze of idle curiosity. Dr.Sibbald’s report should certainly have great weight withthe authorities, and it is to be hoped that his strong recom-mendation will be followed by a reconsideration of thedecision already arrived at. This is a more importantmatter than most people seem to realise, and it is only byfrequently calling attention to its importance that it canreceive full consideration and fair treatment.

Meteorological Notes for June.Some most interesting facts are published by the officials

.at the Government Navigation School at Leith. Thehighest reading of the barometer was on June 5th, when themercury rose to 30’495 inches; the lowest on the 2nd,29 673 inches, the mean being 30067, or 0’138 inch higherthan the average of the last twenty-four years. The highestrecorded temperature (in the shade, four feet above the,grass) was on the 26th, when it reached 78’4°; the lowest onthe llth, 40’1°. Mean temperature was 502°, greater thanthe average for the month during the last twenty-fouryears by 1’7°. Rain fell on eight days; amount 1’44 inch,less by ’44 inch than the average for the last twenty years.No rain fell after the 12th, so that we have now had threeweeks of absolutely fine weather, and the crops are sufferingvery considerably in consequence. The death-rate is,however, again very low.

Royal Society of Edinburgh.At the meeting of the Royal Society, held on Monday

- evening, Professor Sir William Turner read a paper on thePlacentation of the Halicori Dugong. The subject of

placentation is one in which Sir William Turner is peculiarlywell versed, and his observations on the structure of the-

mucous membrane of the uterine wall and the relation ofthe placenta to this were of peculiar interest. Dr. Nausen,the arctic explorer and biologist, spoke of the importance ofthe paper in its relation to the classification of the dugong.In its complete and published form it will be looked for withinterest by naturalists. A paper on the Renal Organs ofthe Hematoidea was contributed by Dr. A. B. Griffiths.Edinburgh, July 3rd.

DUBLIN.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Child Mortality in Dublin.THE deaths of young children in Dublin, as compared

with the general death-rate, have always been exception-ally high, and various causes have been suggested for thisunenviable notoriety. Dr. Grinishaw (Registrar-General),at a meeting of the Statistical Society this week, read a,paper on this subject, and ofl’ered some suggestions as tothe main causes which lead to the excessive death-rateamong children in Dublin. If we compare the annual.death-rate per 1000 among infants under one year in thethree countries, we find it to be in England 167.8, in Scot-land 135’3, and in Ireland 115 5 ; while for children underlive years of age the rates are-England 58’4, Scotland 51’4,and Ireland 36 6. So far the death-rate of infants andyoung children in Ireland compares favourably as con-

trasted with the sister countries, and may be explained bythe fact that the proportion of the population living intowns in England and Scotland far exceeds that of Ireland;and we know that the mortality among town children farexceeds that of country children. If we now compare thechild mortality of Dublin with other large towns of theUnited Kingdom, we shall find that it is comparativelyhigh, not only as compared with English and Scotch towns,but also with the large Irish cities, as Belfast and Cork..During the ten years 1877-86 the deaths in Dublin averaged11,111 per annum, or 27.6 per cent.; and of these, 3511, or 31’6per cent., were of children under five years of age. Of these an.average of 1959 per annum were infants under one year, or.at the rate of 210’1 per 1000 of children living at that.age according to the census of 1881. The following havebeen assigned as the principal causes of this exceptionalmortality: the large proportion of very poor in Dublin, theunferior house accommodation of the artisan and labouring

classes, and the extremely intemperate liahits of the lowerclasses. As regards this letter, it cannot well he deniedthat the children of drunken parents are not horn so healthyas the children of sober parents, and when born are neglectedin every conceivable way, and are exposed to dangers froma reckless negligence which is almost inconceivable amongcivilised people. Recently a movement lias been started inDublin for the prevention of cruelty to children, and one ofthe objects Dr. Grimshaw had in view in bringing the siib-ject of child mortality before the Society was that the infor.mation contained in his paper might serve as an indicationof the necessity there is for taking measures to improve theconditions of child-life in Dublin.

Omagh District Lunatic Asylum.The Local Government Board are of opinion that the

Gortin Workhouse and Fever Hospital, now unoccupied,would be suitable for a lunatic asylum, and have requestedthe opinions of the Board of Governors as to the suggestionbeing carried out. Dr. Nugent, inspector of lunaticasylums, has reported that he saw no objection to its beingrendered available for about eighty lunatic inmates of theimbecile, aged, demented, and homeless classes, providedthe same system be carried out there as at the asylum. Thegovernors have resolved not to take any action at presentin the matter.

Galway County Infirmary.A special meeting of the governors was held last week

for the purpose of considering what steps should be takenwith regard to the mandamus of the Court of Queen’s Bench,addressed to the governors, calling upon them to proceedto the election of a surgeon to the infirmary. The matter

having been discussed, it was resolved by a large majorityto take the opinion of the Court of Appeal on the judgmentof the Queen’s Bench. Colonel O’Hara, who obtained themandamus, proposed an amendment that an election for asurgeon- take place on July 19th, but it was lost by 40 to 6.

Chemists and Druggists’ Association of Ireland.The committee of this Association had a meeting last

week for the purpose of taking steps to induce the Govern-ment to introduce the Pharmacy Amendment Bill as agreedto at a recent conference with the Law Committee of thePharmaceutical Council. A deputation from Belfast wereafterwards entertained at luncheon in the Gresham Hotel.

South Dublin Union Workhouse.At a meeting of the guardians held last week, Dr. Greene

was elected resident medical oflicer, at a salary of f200 ayear and residence. There were twelve candidates for thepost.

Outbreak of Scarlatina in Athy Union.Scarlatina has been rather prevalent in this union for

some time past, and on the recommendation of Mr. Kilbridethe guardians have decided to order the closing of the schoolsin the town during the continuance of the epidemic.,

Dublin, July 2nd.

PARIS.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Lactose as a Diuretic.A propos of the communication recently made to the

Academy of Medicine by Professor Germain Sée on Lactoseas a Diuretic, Dr. Dujardin-Beaumetz, in continuing thesubject at a subsequent meeting, stated that he had verifiedthe diuretic action of this substance. He had tried toascertain whether glucose had not the same diureticaction as lactose. He found that with a dose of 100 grammesof glucose in two litres of milk per day an abundant diu-resis was produced, whereas two litres of milk given alonedid not produce any, and he mentioned as a curious factthat at this dose the glucose did not appear in the urine-at least, not in the first days. He was led to deduce fromM. See’s communication that all saccharine principles maypossess diuretic properties. He, however, recognises theadvantage of lactose over glucose, because the first does notpass into the urine, whereas the second renders patientsdiabetic. He therefore considers it necessary to make furtherresearches on this subject, with the view of ascertainingwhether there would be any inconvenience in rendering asubject glycosuric in order to cause his dropsy to disappear.