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NORTHERN COUNTIES NOTES.

(From our own Correspondent.)

THE CARRIAGE TAX AND DISINFECTANTS.

A cuRlous case bearing on the carriage tax was tried anddecided at the North Shields Police-court last week. Aninland revenue officer summoned Mr. Harbottle, sanitary in-spector, Tynemoutb, for using two carriages while he helda licence for one only. Mr. Harbottle showed that in hispublic capacity as sanitary inspector he was obliged to use aconveyance for the purpose of carrying disinfectants to thevarious townships in the district. On a certain occasionthe ordinary conveyance broke down, and, as he had to goto the railway station for some disinfectants, he was com-pelled to use a four-wheeled vehicle, of which the inlandrevenue officer now complained, and which he had beenabsolutely compelled to do for the public safety. Themagistrates held that there was no evidence on the part ofMr. Harbottle to act contrary to the law, and dismissed thecase. The carriage tax is very unpopular in the north, andprosecutions of this nature are not calculated to raise it inpublic esteem.

A VACCINATION CASE.

An inquest was held last week on a child aged threeyears, in the Byker district of Newcastle. The mother saidthat when it was three months old it was vaccinated bythe public officer. Afterwards an eruption broke out on itshead, and finally it suffered from a discharge from the ears,for which it was duly attended by a medical man, and alsoby the dispensary visiting assistant. There was no medicalevidence adduced at the inquest. The jury returned averdict to the effect that the deceased died from naturalcauses, apparently accelerated by foul vaccination." It is tobe regretted there is so often no medical evidence called inthese cases, as these verdicts have a mischievous tendencywhen published, and may some day be the indirect cause ofgreat loss of life, as creating a prejudice against the onlyknown preventive of small-pox.

TYPHOID AND WATER HYDRANTS.

Dr. H. Ward, medical officer of Blyth and Tynemouthrural sanitary districts, points out a cause of typhoid whichhe believes has been hitherto overlooked in connexion withwater hydrants. He alludes to the apparatus known as theself-acting ball hydrant, which he believes is defective whenapplied to under-ground pipes. The self-acting ball is thesimplest of all hydrants; it consists of a ball of gutta-percha placed within a pipe projecting within the main.’When the water is turned on, it is forced up against theaperture, which is smaller than the ball, and so prevents thewater from escaping; but as soon as the water is turned offat the main, the ball falls and allows air to pass into thepipes, this being the object of the invention. Dr. Wardstates that when the hydrants are placed above groundthe apparatus is admirable, but the effect is totallydifferent when they are sunk under ground. The hydrants, ’,he says, in his district are sunk under the ground in themiddle and towards the end of back streets, at a distance ofabout seventy yards apart, and are covered over by iron lidsloose in an iron socket. They are also placed in many in-stances close to an ashpit door, so that when the scavengersare at work the hydrants are frequently covered by the con-tents of the ashpit, the liquid filth of which must frequentlydrain into and accumulate in the hydrant box, and con-taminate the water. That such is the case Dr. Ward issatisfied from close observation, and points out that, inconnexion with a recent epidemic of typhoid, the peopleliving in close proximity to the hydrants suffered most,the disease being more virulent and fatal than in otherlocalities in the district. Dr. Ward’s remarks apply to theCowper sanitary district, and are of much importance inconnexion with water-supply and sanitation.Newcastle-on-Tyne, Jan. 4th.

THE CLIMATE OF THE LAKE DISTRICT.-A clergy-man residing at Keswick, writing to a daily contemporary,states that on the day (Sunday, the 26th ult.) when themidland district, and, indeed, almost the whole of England,was suffering from all the horrors of an arctic winter, theresidents of the English Lake district were enjoying a dayof exceptional calmness and genial temperature.

DUBLIN.

(From our own Correspondent.)

ROYAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND.

ON the 30th ult. an election for a member of the Senatetook place, and a statement in THE LANCET of last week, inwhich I remarked that most probably Professor O’Sullivanwould be successful, has turned out correct. The votingwas as follows: Professor O’Sullivan, 316; Dr. McMordie,231 ; Mr. O’Connor, M.P., 166. The majority ProfessorO’Sullivan obtained was far beyond the expectation of hismost sanguine supporter. It is stated that the followingresolution, which was passed at a meeting of theexecutive committee, was sent to the graduates previousto the election by " The Graduates’ Reform Associa,tionof the Royal University of Ireland": " That, inas-much as it has come to our knowledge that a consider-able number of electors of the University pledged theirsupport to Dr. O’Sullivan while unaware of the candidatureof Mr. T. P. O’Connor, M.A., M.P., and inasmuch as suchpledges, given under a misapprehension of the facts, cannot bebinding, the committee trust that the electors from whompromises to support Dr. O’Sullivan were obtained under amisapprehension and before they were aware that Mr. O’Connorwas in the field, will not consider themselves bound thereby,and will use their influence to secure Mr. O’Connor’s elec-tion." At the meeting of Convocation a resolution wasadopted, by a narrow majority, to the effect that a specialcommittee should be appointed to frame new standingorders of Convocation and discharge the duties hithertoassigned to the Annual Committee. Prof. Pye’s motion(see p. 49), in reference to medical degrees, was amended bycalling the attention of the Senate to the matter, and wasthen adopted. The following resolution was also passed :-" That Convocation is of opinion that hitherto honorarydegrees have been conferred much too liberally, and that theSenate be requested henceforth to examine carefully thespecial claims of all upon whom it is about to confer suchhonours."

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS IN IRELAND.

The question of the College conferring a diploma inSanitary Science has, I believe, been under the considera-tion of the Council, and a committee has been appointed toconfer as to the necessary details. As the College of Phy-sicians, the University of Dublin, and the Royal University ofIreland grant these diplomas, there appears no valid reasonwhy the College of Surgeons should not do likewise. If theCouncil determine to grant the diploma, four examinerswill be appointed to examine candidates in the requiredsubjects of examination.

THE CROWN SEAT FOR IRELAND IN THE GENERAL

MEDICAL COUNCIL.

I am informed that the Government have appointed Mr.E. H. Bennett, Professor of Surgery in the University ofDublin and an ex-President of the Royal College of Surgeonsin Ireland, to be a representative on the General MedicalCouncil in the room of the late Dr. Robert Dyer Lyons. Mr.Bennett has also been appointed a Medical Visitor in Lunacyunder the Court of Chancery.REPORTS AND PAPERS RELATING TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

Sir Charles Cameron, medical officer of health for Dublin,has recently published a volume consisting of nearly fivehundred pages, whose contents are chiefly reprints of paperscontributed at various periods to the Dztblin Journal ofMedical Science. It would be impossible to refer to thevarious articles, all on subjects of considerable interest tothe community, which Sir Charles Cameron has collectedinto a single volume ; but I may mention particularly thefollowing as examples : "Cremation or Burial?" " InsanitaryCondition of Canal Boats"; "Contagion and Bacteria";"How Typhoid is Spread" ; "Btiology of Diphtheria";" Colour Blindness"; "Sewage in Oysters "; "Lead Poisoningamong Workmen"; " The Germ Theory of Phthisis"; 11 ills-pital Construction and Management," &c. Sir C. Cameronhas a facile pen, his style is remarkably good, and his com-munications are eagerly read by all classes of the community,both lay and professional. Considering the various officesand appointments the author of these reports holds, and theduties of which he discharges in a thoroughly efficientmanner, it is a mystery to many how he can find time for

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the enormous amount of literary work he accomplishes.Last year he finished his " History of the College of Sur-geons," a work which was reviewed in THE LANCET andother medicnl journals, and which was on all sides spokenof in the highest terms.

THE RICHMOND HOSPITAL, DUBLIN.The appointment of a physician to this Hospital, in the

room of the late Dr. Lyons, will take place on the 13th inst.I was under the impression that the physicians were paidby the Government at the rate of ;C100 per annum, but if soa change has taken place in the arrangements, as the gentle-man who succeeds Dr. Lyons will not receive any salary.Whether he may be allowed a share of the students’ fees is amatter of which 1 am ignorant; but as one of the medicalstaff he certainly would be entitled to it.

NATIONAL EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY, DUBLIN.A children’s amateur theatrical entertainment, in aid of

the funds of this institution, will take place on the 6th inst.The performance will be the Sleeping Beauty," and thevarious parts will be filled by juveniles between the ages offour and thirteen years.Samuel Connor, M.D., of Newry, has been placed on the

Commission of the Peace for the county of Down.Dublin, Jan. 4th.

BELFAST.

(From our own Correspondent.)

CHRISTMAS AT THE HOSPITALS.

THE inmates of the various hospitals in town enjoyed avery pleasant Christmas Day, thanks to the exertions of theladies and gentlemen who assembled at these local institu-tions, and who used every effort to secure to the patientssome of the comforts of the season. At the Royal Hospitalthe Board of Management and the resident staff paid everyattention to the patients, while at the Hospital for SickChildren and at the Ulster Hospital the wards were mostbeautifully decorated, and in each Christmas-trees, coveredwith every form and variety of toy suitable to the age andsex of the little patients, occupied prominent positions. Atthe Throne Hospital, the Asylum, and the Union Workhousethe inmates were treated most sumptuously.

BELFAST DISPENSARY COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of this committee held on Monday, it appearsfrom the reports handed in that the health of Belfast is in asatisfactory condition. There have been a large number ofchest cases owing to the intense cold and damp weather,and some cases of scarlatina and enteric fever have occurredin one of the subdistricts. It was stated that there hasbeen a slight decrease in the cost of maintaining the variousBelfast dispensaries during the past year. It was agreed togrant Dr. Mehany, one of the apothecaries, an increase of.626 per annum, subject to the approval of the Local Govern-ment Board.

ARMAGH LUNATIC ASYLUM.

I learn that Dr. Graham, who for nearly three yearshas been assistant medical officer at the Belfast DistrictLunatic Asylum, where he discharged his duties to theentire satisfaction of the governors, has been appointed tothe important post of resident medical superintendent ofthe Armagh Lunatic Asylum. Owing to Dr. Graham’spromotion there is a vacant post, and for it I hearthat Dr. Graham (a brother of the former assistant),Dr. Collier, and Dr. Thompson are candidates.Belfast, January 4th.

PARIS.

(From our own Correspondent.)

M. PETER ON THE INTENSIVE METHOD.

A GRAND discussion has taken place at the Academyon a case of hydrophobia communicated by M. Peter.The subject of the observation had been bitten six weeksbefore, and had undergone the intensive treatment

within forty-eight hours. Four days before his death

he was seized with pains, which radiated, not from the

cicatrix of the bite, but from the points where the inocula-tions had been practised. lle then fell into a state of stuporand prostration, and died in a paralytic condition, foam-ing at the mouth. M. Dujardin-Beaumetz contested thevalue of the observation on two grounds : in the tirst place,because the existence of rabies had not been confirmed byexperimental transmission to the animals by inoculation withdiseased medulla; and, secondly, because most of the sym-ptoms usually seen, more particularly the spitting, had notbeen mentioned by M. Peter, and because the paralytic formof rabies, of which the patient was said to have died, wasextremely exceptional in man. M. 1’erneuil begged theAcademy not to be inuuenced by communications such asthat of M. Peter. Let M. Pasteur’s work be disproved, ifsuch is its fate, said the speaker, by scientific argument, andnot by gossiping tales. M. Peter, in reply, remarked that noone could contest the fact that the man was dead. That hehad been bitten and had undergone the intensive treatmentwere equally sure. These circumstances formed a "naturalseries," and had the inoculations not been performed, no onewould have doubted that the case was one of rabies.M. Dujardin-Beaumetz had pointed out that the paralyticform of rabies-that which follows, as a rule, laboratoryinoculations--is excessively rare after a dog-bite. But, saidM. Peter, this is a point of great importance. The man hadbeen subjected to inoculations, and had died with symptomsof rabies such as are not usually met with in hydrophobia,but which are those that do occur in experimental rabies,and that have already been observed in England in thosedying of the disease after Pasteur’s treatment.

PANEGYRIC OF FLOURENS.

At the annual meeting of the Academy of Sciences it iscustomary for one of the perpetual secretaries to pronouncethe panegyric of an eminent predecessor. This year theduty devolved upon M. Yulpian, who selected as his subjectthe life and scientific work of Flourens. The éloge is ananalytical study of the most remarkable works left by theillustrious perpetual secretary, whose place M. Vulpian nowoccupies, and the fullest justice is done to his memory as aphysiologist--a title with which it was Flourens’ desire topass down to posterity. Allusions were made to his opposi-tion to the doctrine of cerebral localisation when first pro-posed by Call, and his adverse " Examination of the book onthe Origin of Species"-a work which justified, said M.Vulpian, the bitter criticisms bestowed upon it by Darwin.M. Vulpian seems to me less remarkable for impartialitywhen he assigns to Flourens the credit of the discovery ofthe anaesthetic properties of chloroform on the strength ofhis experiments with it in the physiological laboratory. Thediscovery of the value of chloroform in medicine undoubtedlybelongs to Sir James Y. Simpson, and is too well establishedto admit of any such posthumous claims.

ELECTROLYSIS.

The introduction of a medicinal agent into the body bymeans of electrolysis is a possibility that has been entertainedby competent authorities, amongst whom I may mentionMM. Onimus, Courserant, and Spellmann of Nancy. I mayconfess, then, that upon reading the annotation in THE LANCETof Dec. 18th, " On a New Method of Employing Electricity inNeuralgia," in which it is stated that Dr. Adamkiewicz hadfound the passage of galvanic current through a cathodesaturated with chloroform exceedingly effective in variouskinds of neuralgia, I remembered that a communication hadbeen made some time back at the Academy of Sciences onthe Introduction of Medicines through the Skin by Electro-lysis, and it occurred to me that the efficacy of theDr. Adamkiewicz treatment might be due to the same cause.In the communication I allude to Dr. Brondel of Algiersstated that when certain salts were placed upon the skinunder the cathode, the passage of the current producingtheir decomposition caused the acid element, or rather themetalloid playing the part of an acid, to dialyse through thetissues to the anode, where its presence was easily demon-strated by ordinary chemical tests. By this process he hadbeen able to apply iodine and bromine to any internal organselected, and had iodised the lung, the uterus, and the joints,and "brominised" the brain, &c. In proof of his assertions,M. Brondel adduced the following facts:--(1) The patients,being submitted to the electrical introduction of iodine,taste it; (2) its action is shown by the cures following thetreatment; (:1) when the iodine salt (KI) is placed underthe cathode the starch at the positive electrode quicklybecomes blue from the passage of the iodine. These experi-