DUBLIN
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1321 DUBLIN—BELFAST.—PARIS. he found it too much for his strength, so he gave it up and retired to Harrogate. Mr. Armstrong was afflicted with malignant disease of the rectum, requiring some time ago the operation of colotomy to be performed, which gave some temporary relief. He bore his affliction with great fortitude, and died much regretted by a large circle of friends, as he was possessed of a singularly amiable dis- position. His age was sixty-three, and he might be said to have been the head of a well-known medical family in the north of England, his brother, Mr. J. F. Armstrong, suc- ceeding to his practice in South Shields. Dr. Luke Arm- strong, of this city, and well known from his connexion with the Royal Infirmary and the Medical College, is also a brother, while Mr. Leonard Armstrong’s son, Mr. Leonard Henry Armstrong, is also in the profession, and was for some time attached to the Newcastle Infirmary, but he gave up all practice to attend to his father in his severe and trying illness. DURHAM UNIVERSITY. At the late Convocation of the University of Durham an incident occurred which somewhat enlivened the dulness of the proceedings. It appears that the undergraduates were locked out by order ot the warden during the conferring of degrees, but the assembly found out at the conclusion of the proceedings that they in turn had been locked in by the undergraduates, and the coup was. of course, a cause of much merriment to the "undergrads," while a way out by a side door was found for the "dons." The annual meeting of the Medical Graduates’ Association of the University was held in the hall, and the members dined together after con- vocation. It appears that there are now between 400 and 500 medical graduates in the University, and 200 belong to the Association. Dr. Arnison was elected president for the year. Newcastle-on-Tyne, June 26th. DUBLIN. (From our own Correspondent.) THE OUTBREAK OF MEASLES AT SKIBBEREEN. AN epidemic of measles of a very serious kind exists in Skibbereen and adjoining neighbourhood, and the mortality has been exceptionally high. Fourteen persons at the close of last week were admitted to Skibbereen Infirmary suffer- ing from malignant measles, and a panic exists among the residents. As showing the fatal character of the epidemic it may be mentioned that in one family no less than five individuals succumbed from the infectious malady. Measles is also very prevalent at Cape Clear Island, which is adjacent to Skibbereen, and as there is no medical practitioner resident there, those attacked are placed under circumstances not conducive to recovery. It may be noted that the disease principally attacks adults. THE PRESIDENCY OF THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS. Dr. James Little’s second year of office as President of the College of Physicians will terminate in October next, and there is a probability that he may be re-elected for another year. Should he, however, not wish to retain office for a ’further term of twelve months, some of the senior Fellows may seek the honour of President, and of these Dr. Lombe AtthilJ, ex-master of the Rotunda Lying-in Hospital, has been mentioned as a probable successor to Dr. Little. AMALGAMATION OF IRISH WORKHOUSES. It appears that there is a general opinion among rate- payers of all classes that the present workhouse accommo- dation is now beyond what is necessary. Fifty years .ago, when the population of Ireland was eight millions and the country was overcrowded, 168 workhouses were built, capable altogether of accommodating about a quarter of a million. At the present day, however, the population has decreased to about five millions, and there are on an average about 45,000 in-door paupers, or nearly one-fifth of the number for which accommodation was formerly required. ’The report of the Poor-law Union and Lunacy Commission, held in 1879, shows that the workhouse accommodation is needlessly large, and there is not the slightest prospect that the present Poor-law accommodation will ever again be wanted. For example, in three workhouses in Fermanagh there is accommodation for more than 2100 inmates, yet there are never 500 in them altogether; and the county Antrim, with an aggregate accommodation for 8965 paupers, has only 908, and most other counties tell the same tale. Guardians of unions cannot carry out amalgamation by their own motion; they can only ask the Local Government Board to send an inspector to investigate each individual case, and, if the evidence is in favour of amalgamation, the Board can make an order to that effect. The expense of keeping up separate staffs for each workhouse must be considerably lessened when the number of workhouses in Ireland are sensibly diminished. St. Mark’s Ophthalmic Hospital, Dublin, has received a sum of £50, being the amount obtained by a musical at home," organised by the ladies’ committee of the hospital. I Dublin, June 26th, 1888. BELFAST. (From our own Correspondent.) LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD INSPECTORS. IT is stated that Dr. Thompson, who a few months ago was appointed medical inspector under the Local Government - Board, has resigned the post, and has decided to return to : his practice in Omagh. Dr. Robert Clements of Belfast has L been selected to fill the vacant position. After having a E very distinguished career at Queen’s College, Belfast, where he gained many prizes, and was senior scholar in therapeutics . and pathology, and Charters exhibitioner at the Royal Hos- i pital, Dr. Clements graduated in the Queen’s University with honours in 1873. S Soon afterwards he became resident medical ’. officer in the Union Hospital, where he gained a very large and varied experience of fevers and acute medical diseases. He was subsequently appointed medical officer of one of the Belfast Dispensary districts, and inspecting medical officer of health for the Port of Belfast. He was also on the staff of the Ulster Hospital for Women. Thus Dr. Clements enters on his new duties after a long medical training and with a thorough knowledge of the Poor-law medical system. Belfast, June 19th. PARIS. (From our own Correspondent.) "L’HOMME SANS LARYNX." " "L’HoMME SANS LARYNX," whose case was reported in THE LANCET of April 28th last, died two days ago under the following circumstances. Whenever it was necessary to clean out the cannula that was introduced into his throat the man was ordered to go to the Saint Louis Hospital, where the tracheotomy had been performed. Here the "internes" were in the habit of removing the cannula, cleaning it, and replacing it. A few days ago the man undertook to do this himself, when symptoms of asphyxia and other complications set in, and he expired in a short time. ARSENIC POISONING. Dr. Brouardel, Professor of Medical Jurisprudence at the Paris Faculty of Medicine, was lately consulted by the Tribunal Court on the question as to whether an infant of twelve months could have been poisoned by the milk of its mother in the case where the latter had absorbed arsenic. The following are the circumstances which caused this inquiry. A man, having been accused of forgery with the intention of appropriating to himself the fortune of his wife and that of his mother-in-law, was at the same time suspected of trying to poison his wife, and having thus caused the death of bia child, which the mother was suckling at that time. The child died with symptoms of cholerine a few days after the mother had herself presented analogous symptoms, such as diarrhoea, vomiting, &c. As it was during the hot season, these accidents did not excite attention. It was only after the second choleriform attack, which occurred in November last, at the same time in the mother and grandmother of the child, that the husband was suspected. On the other hand, the wife declared that she had found in her husband’s pocket a white powder, which was nothing else than arsenious acid. To resolve the question, Dr. Brouardel caused the coffin containing the body of the child, which had been buried about six months, to be
Transcript of DUBLIN
1321DUBLIN—BELFAST.—PARIS.
he found it too much for his strength, so he gave it up andretired to Harrogate. Mr. Armstrong was afflicted withmalignant disease of the rectum, requiring some time agothe operation of colotomy to be performed, which gavesome temporary relief. He bore his affliction with greatfortitude, and died much regretted by a large circle offriends, as he was possessed of a singularly amiable dis-position. His age was sixty-three, and he might be said tohave been the head of a well-known medical family in thenorth of England, his brother, Mr. J. F. Armstrong, suc-ceeding to his practice in South Shields. Dr. Luke Arm-strong, of this city, and well known from his connexionwith the Royal Infirmary and the Medical College, is alsoa brother, while Mr. Leonard Armstrong’s son, Mr. LeonardHenry Armstrong, is also in the profession, and was for sometime attached to the Newcastle Infirmary, but he gave up allpractice to attend to his father in his severe and tryingillness.
DURHAM UNIVERSITY.
At the late Convocation of the University of Durham anincident occurred which somewhat enlivened the dulnessof the proceedings. It appears that the undergraduateswere locked out by order ot the warden during the conferringof degrees, but the assembly found out at the conclusion ofthe proceedings that they in turn had been locked in by theundergraduates, and the coup was. of course, a cause of muchmerriment to the "undergrads," while a way out by a
side door was found for the "dons." The annual meeting ofthe Medical Graduates’ Association of the University washeld in the hall, and the members dined together after con-vocation. It appears that there are now between 400 and500 medical graduates in the University, and 200 belong to theAssociation. Dr. Arnison was elected president for the year.
Newcastle-on-Tyne, June 26th.
DUBLIN.
(From our own Correspondent.)
THE OUTBREAK OF MEASLES AT SKIBBEREEN.
AN epidemic of measles of a very serious kind exists inSkibbereen and adjoining neighbourhood, and the mortalityhas been exceptionally high. Fourteen persons at the closeof last week were admitted to Skibbereen Infirmary suffer-ing from malignant measles, and a panic exists among theresidents. As showing the fatal character of the epidemicit may be mentioned that in one family no less than fiveindividuals succumbed from the infectious malady. Measlesis also very prevalent at Cape Clear Island, which is adjacentto Skibbereen, and as there is no medical practitioner residentthere, those attacked are placed under circumstances notconducive to recovery. It may be noted that the diseaseprincipally attacks adults.
THE PRESIDENCY OF THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS.
Dr. James Little’s second year of office as President of theCollege of Physicians will terminate in October next, andthere is a probability that he may be re-elected for anotheryear. Should he, however, not wish to retain office for a’further term of twelve months, some of the senior Fellowsmay seek the honour of President, and of these Dr. LombeAtthilJ, ex-master of the Rotunda Lying-in Hospital, hasbeen mentioned as a probable successor to Dr. Little.
AMALGAMATION OF IRISH WORKHOUSES.
It appears that there is a general opinion among rate-payers of all classes that the present workhouse accommo-dation is now beyond what is necessary. Fifty years.ago, when the population of Ireland was eight millions andthe country was overcrowded, 168 workhouses were built,capable altogether of accommodating about a quarter of amillion. At the present day, however, the population hasdecreased to about five millions, and there are on an averageabout 45,000 in-door paupers, or nearly one-fifth of thenumber for which accommodation was formerly required.’The report of the Poor-law Union and Lunacy Commission,held in 1879, shows that the workhouse accommodation isneedlessly large, and there is not the slightest prospect thatthe present Poor-law accommodation will ever again bewanted. For example, in three workhouses in Fermanaghthere is accommodation for more than 2100 inmates, yetthere are never 500 in them altogether; and the county
Antrim, with an aggregate accommodation for 8965 paupers,has only 908, and most other counties tell the same tale.Guardians of unions cannot carry out amalgamation bytheir own motion; they can only ask the Local GovernmentBoard to send an inspector to investigate each individualcase, and, if the evidence is in favour of amalgamation, theBoard can make an order to that effect. The expense ofkeeping up separate staffs for each workhouse must beconsiderably lessened when the number of workhouses inIreland are sensibly diminished.
St. Mark’s Ophthalmic Hospital, Dublin, has received asum of £50, being the amount obtained by a musical athome," organised by the ladies’ committee of the hospital.
I Dublin, June 26th, 1888.
BELFAST.
(From our own Correspondent.)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD INSPECTORS.
IT is stated that Dr. Thompson, who a few months agowas appointed medical inspector under the Local Government-
Board, has resigned the post, and has decided to return to: his practice in Omagh. Dr. Robert Clements of Belfast has
L been selected to fill the vacant position. After having aE very distinguished career at Queen’s College, Belfast, where
he gained many prizes, and was senior scholar in therapeutics. and pathology, and Charters exhibitioner at the Royal Hos-i pital, Dr. Clements graduated in the Queen’s University with
honours in 1873. S Soon afterwards he became resident medical’. officer in the Union Hospital, where he gained a very large
and varied experience of fevers and acute medical diseases.He was subsequently appointed medical officer of one of theBelfast Dispensary districts, and inspecting medical officerof health for the Port of Belfast. He was also on the staffof the Ulster Hospital for Women. Thus Dr. Clements enterson his new duties after a long medical training and with athorough knowledge of the Poor-law medical system.
Belfast, June 19th. _____
PARIS.
(From our own Correspondent.)
"L’HOMME SANS LARYNX." "
"L’HoMME SANS LARYNX," whose case was reported inTHE LANCET of April 28th last, died two days ago underthe following circumstances. Whenever it was necessaryto clean out the cannula that was introduced into his throatthe man was ordered to go to the Saint Louis Hospital,where the tracheotomy had been performed. Here the"internes" were in the habit of removing the cannula, cleaning
it, and replacing it. A few days ago the man undertook todo this himself, when symptoms of asphyxia and othercomplications set in, and he expired in a short time.
ARSENIC POISONING.
Dr. Brouardel, Professor of Medical Jurisprudence at theParis Faculty of Medicine, was lately consulted by theTribunal Court on the question as to whether an infant oftwelve months could have been poisoned by the milk of itsmother in the case where the latter had absorbed arsenic.The following are the circumstances which caused thisinquiry. A man, having been accused of forgery with theintention of appropriating to himself the fortune of hiswife and that of his mother-in-law, was at the same timesuspected of trying to poison his wife, and having thuscaused the death of bia child, which the mother wassuckling at that time. The child died with symptoms ofcholerine a few days after the mother had herself presentedanalogous symptoms, such as diarrhoea, vomiting, &c. As itwas during the hot season, these accidents did not exciteattention. It was only after the second choleriform attack,which occurred in November last, at the same time in themother and grandmother of the child, that the husband wassuspected. On the other hand, the wife declared that shehad found in her husband’s pocket a white powder, whichwas nothing else than arsenious acid. To resolve the question,Dr. Brouardel caused the coffin containing the body of thechild, which had been buried about six months, to be
