DUBLIN
1
1401 tained only a small quantity of sulphuretted hydrogen, whereas the former sample contained a very considerable amount. The committee directed that the water be regularly examined for four weeks, and the results reported ,to them. Gift to the University Union. The Marquis of Bute has presented a handsomely bound set of Dr. Skene’s works to the Union ; they include "Celtic Scotland " and " The Four Ancient Books of Wales." There is still much vacant space on the shelves of the Union, and medical works are greatly valued, as the Union is largely maintained by the students in the medical ’faculty. Health of the City. The death-rate last week was 14 per 1000. Of the total mortality, 22 cases were due to diseases of the chest, and 7 to zymotic causes. The intimations for the week included il3 cases of scarlatina and 22 of measles. Edinburgh, June 17th. DUBLIN. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Dinner to Surgeon T. H. Parke. ON Monday evening a dinner was given to Surgeon Parke, Medical Staff, at the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, by Surgeon-General Sinclair and the officers of the Medical Staff on the active and retired list serving in Ireland, to welcome him on his return from the Stanley Expedition. The toasts included " Our Guests," proposed by Surgeon- General Sinclair; " Our Visitors," proposed by Sir Robert Jackson, C.B., and responded to by Mr. H. Gray Croly, President of the Royal College of Surgeons; Sir John Banks, K.C.B., &c. Surgeon Parke, when recently visiting his home in Roscommon, was met at Drumsna station by a large concourse of people of his native parish, and received a hearty welcome. A torchlight procession accompanied him to the residence of his father at Clogher House, where he was presented with an address. Dublin Main Drainage. The high mortality of Dublin, as contrasted with other cities, is attributed by many to the unsatisfactory state of the drainage, and there can be little doubt as to the necessity of obtaining a main drainage to relieve the -insanitary condition of low-lying areas. It has been sug- gested that much of the enteric disease which has prevailed for some years past, on the north side of the city in par- ticular, is directly traceable to the want of sewers to allow the sewage matter from the dwellings to enter the mains rather than the wells-a system which generally prevailed mn that side of the city. A proper main-drainage scheme for the city is urgently required, and must sooner or later be carried out, if the unenviably high death-rate of Dublin is to cease. Cork District Lunatic Asylum. The governors of the asylum held a meeting last week to .consider the recent report of Drs. Plunkett O’Farrell and Courtenay, inspectors of lunatic asylums in Ireland, to which I adverted in a recent issue. The inspectors learn that post-mortem examinations are rarely held, and are of opinion that in all cases where no objection on the part of relatives exist, the cause of death should be verified, ’not alone for the information and instruction of the medical officers, but for the protection of the insane, and to prevent ’unjust charges of improper treatment being afterwards made. The condition of the male patients they regard as unsatisfactory, their dress being generally untidy, and their linen soiled. This state of things may be - explained by the fact that there is no washing bath with a supply of hot water to be found in the main building. One bath in working order is in use on each side of the hospital, but this is quite inadequate, <even for the demands of sick patients. A Turkish bath has been erected, but there must be found in a large asylum many who are physically unfit to use it, and a larger number with so little brain power as to render it absolutely necessary that their bodies should be washed and inspected by those in charge of them. The governors, having fully discussed the various matters in the inspector’s .report, unanimously adopted a resolution that certain items which came directly within the duties of the medical staff for supervision should be referred to Dr. Woods, resident medical superintendent, for his immediate attention, with directions to confer with the house committee where he may deem it necessary to do so. Dublin, June 17th. PARIS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) The Effects of Chloroform. IN a recent discussion at the Academy of Medicine on the accidents due to anaesthetics, Dr. Laborde endeavoured to demonstrate experimentally at the tribune of the Academy that the beats of the heart were immediately arrested for two or three seconds when the cork of a bottle containing chloroform was placed under the nostrils. This phenomenon is not produced with the bichloride of methylene, but it is produced with ether, although less markedly than with chloroform. Professor Verneuil thought that laboratory experiments could not in any way throw light on the causes of death by chloroform, in man the most frequent being syncope. One important point that should not be lost sight of is the question of contraindications, among which Dr. Verneuil mentioned tuberculosis and heart affections. One cannot, therefore, draw any trustworthy conclusions from experi- ments made with healthy animals. Animals which die from chloroform, he said, always die in the same manner, and they do not die from asphyxia. Dr. Verneuil always takes the precaution of placing the compress saturated with chloro- torm fifteen or twentv centimetres from the mouth of the patient. The association of morphine in subcutaneous injection with the inhalation of chloroform renders it ex- tremely difficult to rouse a patient, and the association of atropine with chloroform is very dangerous. The Treatnaent of Phthisis by Heated Air. In reference to this subject, Dr. Dujardin-Beaumetz, at a recent meeting of the Academy of Medicine, declared that it was important to remove the delusions concerning the treatment of phthisis by this means, which were entertained both by the public and by certain medical men. The first idea of Weigert, who championed this method in America, supposed the bacillus in the lungs could thus be destroyed. Mosso and Rondelli have shown that the air inhaled even at 212° F. is not, at the moment it reaches the alveoli, higher than the rectal temperature. From a clinical point of view, the same authors affirm that this method is of service in producing a species of respiratory gymnastics. Dr. Dujardin-Beaumetz adds that the experiments carried out by him in his hospital ward had given unsatisfactory results, and concludes that the hot-air treatment of such cases is positively dangerous. Apropos of this subject, Dr. Constantin Paul remarked that at all the mineral water stations where phthisis was treated it had been observed for a long time that when the tempera- ture of the air became high the treatment had to be sus- pended, as the condition of the patients became notably aggravated. Diuretic Effects of Grapes. Dr. Pecholier of Montpellier has published a note on the diuretic effects of grapes which would appear to confirm the diuretic action of glucose recently brought to notice. In two cases, one a patient with cardiac disease, and the other the subject of hepatic cirrhosis with ascites, a "grape cure" was undertaken with the best results. In the former patient, notably, five pounds of grapes were daily ingested, in three parts, and the diuresis produced was much more considerable than with milk, digitalis, or iodide of potassium. This effect can only be attributed to the sugar of the juice of the grape, the other parts of the fruit having been rejected. A Council of llTedical Jurisprudence. It is in contemplation to create a Superior Council of Medical Jurisprudence at the Ministry of Justice. The Council is to be composed of medical men and magistrates, who will be required to give their advice on the subjects of the responsibility of criminals, of suggestion and hypnotism, and of heredity. In fine, it will be a sort of Commission of Psychology and of Criminal Anthropology, which will be placed at the disposal of the courts of justice. Death of Dr. Bertherand. Dr. Bertherand, editor of the Journal (7e Médecine et de
Transcript of DUBLIN
1401
tained only a small quantity of sulphuretted hydrogen,whereas the former sample contained a very considerableamount. The committee directed that the water be
regularly examined for four weeks, and the results reported,to them.
Gift to the University Union.The Marquis of Bute has presented a handsomely bound
set of Dr. Skene’s works to the Union ; they include"Celtic Scotland " and " The Four Ancient Books ofWales." There is still much vacant space on the shelvesof the Union, and medical works are greatly valued, as theUnion is largely maintained by the students in the medical’faculty.
Health of the City.The death-rate last week was 14 per 1000. Of the total
mortality, 22 cases were due to diseases of the chest, and7 to zymotic causes. The intimations for the week includedil3 cases of scarlatina and 22 of measles.Edinburgh, June 17th.
DUBLIN.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
Dinner to Surgeon T. H. Parke.ON Monday evening a dinner was given to Surgeon
Parke, Medical Staff, at the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, bySurgeon-General Sinclair and the officers of the MedicalStaff on the active and retired list serving in Ireland, towelcome him on his return from the Stanley Expedition.The toasts included " Our Guests," proposed by Surgeon-General Sinclair; " Our Visitors," proposed by Sir RobertJackson, C.B., and responded to by Mr. H. Gray Croly,President of the Royal College of Surgeons; Sir JohnBanks, K.C.B., &c. Surgeon Parke, when recently visitinghis home in Roscommon, was met at Drumsna station by alarge concourse of people of his native parish, and receiveda hearty welcome. A torchlight procession accompaniedhim to the residence of his father at Clogher House, wherehe was presented with an address.
Dublin Main Drainage.The high mortality of Dublin, as contrasted with other
cities, is attributed by many to the unsatisfactory state ofthe drainage, and there can be little doubt as to thenecessity of obtaining a main drainage to relieve the-insanitary condition of low-lying areas. It has been sug-gested that much of the enteric disease which has prevailedfor some years past, on the north side of the city in par-ticular, is directly traceable to the want of sewers to allowthe sewage matter from the dwellings to enter the mainsrather than the wells-a system which generally prevailedmn that side of the city. A proper main-drainage schemefor the city is urgently required, and must sooner or laterbe carried out, if the unenviably high death-rate of Dublinis to cease.
Cork District Lunatic Asylum.The governors of the asylum held a meeting last week to
.consider the recent report of Drs. Plunkett O’Farrell andCourtenay, inspectors of lunatic asylums in Ireland, to
which I adverted in a recent issue. The inspectors learnthat post-mortem examinations are rarely held, and are ofopinion that in all cases where no objection on the part ofrelatives exist, the cause of death should be verified,’not alone for the information and instruction of the medicalofficers, but for the protection of the insane, and to prevent’unjust charges of improper treatment being afterwardsmade. The condition of the male patients they regardas unsatisfactory, their dress being generally untidy,and their linen soiled. This state of things may be- explained by the fact that there is no washing bathwith a supply of hot water to be found in the mainbuilding. One bath in working order is in use on
each side of the hospital, but this is quite inadequate,<even for the demands of sick patients. A Turkishbath has been erected, but there must be found in a largeasylum many who are physically unfit to use it, and alarger number with so little brain power as to render itabsolutely necessary that their bodies should be washed andinspected by those in charge of them. The governors,having fully discussed the various matters in the inspector’s.report, unanimously adopted a resolution that certain itemswhich came directly within the duties of the medical staff
for supervision should be referred to Dr. Woods, residentmedical superintendent, for his immediate attention, withdirections to confer with the house committee where he maydeem it necessary to do so.Dublin, June 17th.
PARIS.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
The Effects of Chloroform.IN a recent discussion at the Academy of Medicine on the
accidents due to anaesthetics, Dr. Laborde endeavoured todemonstrate experimentally at the tribune of the Academythat the beats of the heart were immediately arrested fortwo or three seconds when the cork of a bottle containingchloroform was placed under the nostrils. This phenomenonis not produced with the bichloride of methylene, but it isproduced with ether, although less markedly than withchloroform. Professor Verneuil thought that laboratoryexperiments could not in any way throw light on the causes ofdeath by chloroform, in man the most frequent being syncope.One important point that should not be lost sight of is thequestion of contraindications, among which Dr. Verneuilmentioned tuberculosis and heart affections. One cannot,therefore, draw any trustworthy conclusions from experi-ments made with healthy animals. Animals which die fromchloroform, he said, always die in the same manner, and theydo not die from asphyxia. Dr. Verneuil always takes theprecaution of placing the compress saturated with chloro-torm fifteen or twentv centimetres from the mouth of thepatient. The association of morphine in subcutaneousinjection with the inhalation of chloroform renders it ex-tremely difficult to rouse a patient, and the association ofatropine with chloroform is very dangerous.
The Treatnaent of Phthisis by Heated Air.In reference to this subject, Dr. Dujardin-Beaumetz, at a
recent meeting of the Academy of Medicine, declared thatit was important to remove the delusions concerning thetreatment of phthisis by this means, which were entertainedboth by the public and by certain medical men. The firstidea of Weigert, who championed this method in America,supposed the bacillus in the lungs could thus be destroyed.Mosso and Rondelli have shown that the air inhaled even at212° F. is not, at the moment it reaches the alveoli,higher than the rectal temperature. From a clinicalpoint of view, the same authors affirm that this methodis of service in producing a species of respiratorygymnastics. Dr. Dujardin-Beaumetz adds that theexperiments carried out by him in his hospital wardhad given unsatisfactory results, and concludes that thehot-air treatment of such cases is positively dangerous.Apropos of this subject, Dr. Constantin Paul remarked thatat all the mineral water stations where phthisis was treated ithad been observed for a long time that when the tempera-ture of the air became high the treatment had to be sus-pended, as the condition of the patients became notablyaggravated.
Diuretic Effects of Grapes.Dr. Pecholier of Montpellier has published a note on the
diuretic effects of grapes which would appear to confirm thediuretic action of glucose recently brought to notice. In twocases, one a patient with cardiac disease, and the other thesubject of hepatic cirrhosis with ascites, a "grape cure" wasundertaken with the best results. In the former patient,notably, five pounds of grapes were daily ingested,in three parts, and the diuresis produced was much moreconsiderable than with milk, digitalis, or iodide of potassium.This effect can only be attributed to the sugar of the juiceof the grape, the other parts of the fruit having beenrejected.
A Council of llTedical Jurisprudence.It is in contemplation to create a Superior Council of
Medical Jurisprudence at the Ministry of Justice. TheCouncil is to be composed of medical men and magistrates,who will be required to give their advice on the subjects ofthe responsibility of criminals, of suggestion and hypnotism,and of heredity. In fine, it will be a sort of Commission ofPsychology and of Criminal Anthropology, which will beplaced at the disposal of the courts of justice.
Death of Dr. Bertherand.Dr. Bertherand, editor of the Journal (7e Médecine et de
