258

nor have I seen any evidence of such desire on the part ofthe profession in Scotland or Ireland. On the other hand,the Bill touched the radical defect of the Medical Council-i.e., its non-representative character-with such a tenderhand that I doubt very much if for practical purposes therewould have been a pin to choose between the old Counciland the new. At a time when some two millions ofuneducated agricultural labourers are about to get votes forthe election of representatives in the body which governsthe nation, it seems to me a little absurd that it should beoffered as a great boon to twenty thousand members of alearned profession that they should have the right to electless than one-fourth of the body which governs their ownprofession. Let us go in for a thoroughly representativeCouncil first, and our difficulties in obtaining othernecessary reforms will be very much diminished.

I am. Sir. yours trulv,aLu, J

Dniwich, August 2nd, 1884. H. NELSON HARDY.

DISINFECTANTS.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR, -In your Paris correspondent’s letter of July 26th,various experiments by M. Pasteur to determine the efficacyof different disinfectants are recorded.Some years ago, when I was medical officer of health, I

conducted some similar experiments by exposing vaccinialymph in small chambers to the influence of various dis-infectants. The results of these experiments were embodiedin my Government report. The disinfectants I used weresulphurous anhydride chlorine, euchlorine, carbolic acid, andsanitas. Owing to the passing of the Cruelty to AnimalsAct, I had to test the lymph on the babies brought for vacci-nation ; the difficulty in obtaining the consent of the mothersprevented me from carrying the experiments to a satisfactoryconclusion, but as far as they went they appeared to point toeuchlorine as being by far the most powerful. There are atleast two distinct classes of disinfectants : those that kill themicrobes (germicides), as corrosive sublimate ; and those thatdestroy or consume the germ by setting free nascent oxygen orozone. Fresh air, containing as it does free ozone, acts inthis way. As each molecule of euchlorine sets free four atomsof oxygen in the nascent condition, thus Cl203 + XCl + H2O =2HC1+XCl+40, it is probably the most powerful of its class.The free chlorine that it contains doubtless, also, contributesto its efficacy. Euchlorine is a mixture of free chlorine, orchlorine very loosely combined, and chlorous oxide, CI2Oa,and is prepared by pouring strong hydrochloric acid onpotassium chlorate and applying a gentle heat. I usuallyplaced a small basin containing the chlorate in a large onefull of boiling water, and on pouring in the hydrochloric acidthe euchlorine was freely given off. The practical experienceof several years’ use in all cases of fever fully bore out thetheoretical experiments, that in euchlorine we have a cheap,simple, and effective disinfectant.

T am- Sir. vonrs trnlv-T. HATFIELD WALKER. L.R.C.P.

Newcastle-on-Tyne, July, 1884. ----

---,

NORTH LONDON CONSUMPTION HOSPITAL.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

;SIR,-My attention has been drawn to an annotation inTHE LANCET of July 12th, headed as above. The writerinsinuates that the abuses of the last fifteen years are due toa committee over which I have had control.The facts are : (1) That neither I nor the medical staff

have had any voice in the management since 1868; (2) thatall present attempts at reform owe their origin entirely tothe exertions of the medical staff; and (3) that many yearsago objection was made to the committee by the physiciansagainst the printed addresses of the staff without effect. Asdelegate of the medical staff to the committee of manage-ment, I assert without reserve that the printing of the out-patients’ letters without their addresses will be most satis-factory to every member of the medical staff.

I am, Sir, yours obediently, .

GODWIN TIMMS, M.D. Lond.THE Library of the Obstetrical Society will be

closed from August 18th to September 18th

BIRMINGHAM.(From our own Correspondent.) )

QUEEN COLLEGE.THE appointment of a Professor of Anatomy who will

give his undivided attention to the duties has givenuniversal satisfaction among the friends of the school Eventhose who were at first unwilling to sink vested interestssee now that much good is likely to accrue to the College bythis arrangement. With three demonstrators, all highlyqualified and trained in teaching, the anatomical departmentought to be second to none, and able to compete with otherswhere the advantage was formerly theirs.

BIRMINGHAM ASSIZES.

After many years’ agitation, much perseverance andconsiderable energy, the town now enjoys the privilege of adistinct court of assize. The first opening was made on the4th inst., an awkward day for business purposes, beingBank Holiday. Owing to the absence of a separate court,the assizes were held in the Council-house, which has beenfitted up and adapted for the occasion. It cannot be saidto be a success from a health point of view, for the ventila-tion is necessarily defective and the transmission of soundbad, and very trying for those whose attention must befixed for a length of time on important issues. It is proposedto build new courts, a site having already been marked out;but in these times of trade depression the authorities lookaskance at any large expenditure of money, or, if wishing toindulge, are reminded of a vigilant body of ratepayers, whoview with suspicion any movements in this direction for the-present. Still, the new courts must ultimately come as &

matter of convenience ; and now that Birmingham has theadvantage of this important concession, it is but a sequencethat adequate provision should be made for the propertransaction of the duties pertaining thereto.

THE NEW EYE HOSPITAL.

The new premises of this charity were opened on the 24tbult. by Lady Leigh, in the presence of a large number offriends and visitors. The large and spacious building was-tastefully decorated, and much interest was exhibited in theproceedings. The new hospital has accommodation for 70in-patients, and room for 200 or 300 out-patients daily, thetwo departments being kept entirely distinct. The cost ofthe whole will be about f:20,OOO, of which £ 5000 was givenby one donor. The Eye Hospital has ever stood high inpublic esteem, and has drawn its patients from a very,wide area throughout the Midland Counties. It is hoped,therefore, that the deficiency announced of £ 4000 will besupplied without resorting to more than earnest appeals tunthe charitable public, who in this town have always mostwillingly supported the institutions for the relief of sufferingand disease.

UNPARDONABLE STUPIDITY.

The Borough Coroner held an inquest a few days ago onthe body of (a child, who had met with its death fromgross carelessness, in a manner almost incredible in thisenlightened age. A woman having attended the Queen’sHospital was supplied with medicine for her ailment. Thechild of a neighbour in the same court was taken ill, and inthe wisdom of the friends it was thought that the mixtureprescribed for the woman would do it good; accordingly theunfortunate child was dosed with this, was seized with con.vulsions and died. The mixture turned out to be iron andstrychnine. A more roundabout method of treatment couldhardly be conceived, and the result showed how ignorantamateurs base their conclusions upon a very slender andtreacherous foundation.

MANCHESTER.

(From our ourn Correspondent.)

HOSPITAL AMBULANCE.

A FEW months since a resolution was adopted by theBoard of the Royal Infirmary to the effect that a horse’ambulance should be acquired and worked on the planadopted in some of the large towns in America and also in