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length of its apex. Also the hall for killing hogs halnothing built above. Indeed, it has two roofs running a1right angles with each other. The first roof is above thegreat wooden vats in which the pigs are plunged and scaldedto remove the bristles. This causes much steam, so that theroof is not only open along the top but there are three lanternventilators and a window at the top of the wall at each end.Thus the other side of the hall where the hogs are dressed isnot invaded by the steam. The mechanical conveniences fOIraising the pig are not of the most recent date. This hallis 96 feet by 40 feet and 12 sets of men can work here atthe same time. Opposite this part of the building there is alairage which will hold 200 pigs. Then there is a separate rowof buildings for dealing with skins, hides, fat, and there is atripery. Also there is a small slaughter-house for condemnedanimals and close by is a place to put meat or carcasses whichhave been seized pending their removal to the destructor.Finally, this row of buildings contains a boiler-house withtwo large Lancashire boilers supplying hot water and steamto all parts of the building. This is one of the importantadvantages of an abattoir. All the cold water or hot wateror steam that is needed is to be obtained just where it isrequired by merely turning a tap. For this purpose a largewater tower has been built which has on the top a tank20 feet deep containing 45 tons of water. Here a wholeday’s supply can be kept in reserve.

Altogether, and though this is the best abattoir which Ihave as yet seen in England, it does not come up to the degreeof perfection reached in Germany and at Basle in Switzerland.In one respect Birmingham has succeeded in providing itselfwith every facility and that is in regard to its wholesale meatmarket. This is situated in the centre of the premises. Onthe one side there are the 20 separate slaughter-houses withlairages above, and on the other side are the general slaughter-hall and the pig slaughter-hall. From one set of buildingsto the other are covered roadways all giving admittanceto the great meat market hall. This structure is 365feet long and 90 feet broad. The walls on each sideare 35 feet high and from them starts the roof whichreaches a final altitude of 65 feet. So that there is plentyof space, air, and light. 3000 sides of beef can be hunghere in the 73 market stands which are divided by twolongitudinal and three cross avenues. The great point isthe installation of a complete system of overhead travellingrails. There is no such thing as the carrying of carcasseson men’s backs. At the spot where the animal is killed it isaffixed to a roller hook. A slight push suffices to make itglide along suspended from the overhead rail and, with theaid of switch-points, to any part of the building or to thelifts where, without being unhooked, it may be taken downto the chill rooms or cold-storage rooms which are in the base-ment. Undoubtedly there is here every facility for tradingbut less care has been taken to secure a remunerative returnfor the city revenue and to aid the work of the meat in-spectors. If a butcher sees something suspicious and doesnot at once notify the inspector he may be prosecuted if thefact is found out. With so many private slaughter-housesand so few inspectors the chance of detection is not so verygreat. Therefore there still remains much to be done beforethe inhabitant of Birmingham can feel quite safe when hesits down to a meat dinner.

THE TWENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS OFINTERNAL MEDICINE.

(FROM OUR VIENNA CORRESPONDENT.)(Concluded from p. 1371.)

Cardiac Pathology.THE Pathology of the Heart was the topic of several papers

read on the second and third days of the Congress. Dr.WACHENFELD (Nauheim) spoke on the subject of the CardiacCirculation in Normal and Diseased States. He said that theheart was only a force pump which had to supply the wholebody with blood and thereby with oxygen, whilst the nutri-tion of the cells was supplied by the lymph current. If theheart was diseased the extent of its contraction was lessened,the circulation was hindered, and the supply of oxygen tothe tissues was diminished. Great differences of the intra-cardiac pressure could not exist on account of the gradualfailing of the valves. The danger of heart disease lay only

in the fact that the volume of the cardiac contraction might.become too small for the needs of the body. As much reliefas possible was desirable for a diseased heart ; active

l gymnastics were altogether out of place but passive move-ment and massage were indicated so as to favour the lymphflow.

. Professor SCHOTT (Nauheim) said that he had made observa-I tions on wrestlers who were asked to wrestle till dyspnoea. appeared. Orthodiagraphic pictures which were then taken. showed that their hearts were considerably dilated. In thei course of his investigations he ascertained that even normal, hearts might become permanently dilated as the result of.

great muscular exertions. Modern methods enabled it to be, proved that if over-exertion was carried to the point of pro-

ducing obvious palpitation and dyspncea it might bringabout acute dangerous dilatation of the heart.

Professor WEIss and Dr. JOACHIM (Königsberg) showedan apparatus called the Phonoscope which reproduced theheart murmurs and sounds. It consisted of a thin membraneon which an extremely light glass lever was mounted. Themovements of the lever were photographed, together with ascale showing hundredths of a second, and if necessary themovements of the carotids were photographed as well. Thedifferential diagnosis between accessory murmurs, anæmicmurmurs, and truç cardiac murmurs was an easy matter bythis method. The sounds of the heart could be made audibleto a meeting by means of a telephone. Special instrumentstraced the photographic curves and produced varying resist-ances for an electric current which was transmitted to thetelephone and caused vibrations of the sonorous plate. Bymeans of this apparatus the sounds of the heart of a foetus inutero were reproduced.

Diseases of the Alimentary Canal.A special section of the Congress was devoted to the con-

sideration of the Diseases of the Alimentary Canal. ProfessorSCHMIDT (Halle) opened the discussion on this subject. Inspeaking of the latest methods of examination of the functionof the intestines he emphasised the value of fermentation,the necessity of a certain diet before beginning the examina-tion, and the value of exact chemical analysis both of thetest meal and of any vomited matter.

Dr. PLÖNIES (Dresden) remarked that the intestines hadthe function of killing the bacteria ingested with the food.The increase of the microbial flora and fauna in diseased gutwas the best proof of this action. In a good many diseasesthe degree of returning health was gauged by the quantity ofbacteria still present.

Dr. J. SCHÜTZ (Vienna) read a paper on the Examinationof the Functions of the Stomach of Infants, a subject whichhe said had been rather neglected during the last few years.He had proved that the diagnostic importance of free hydro.chloric acid was nil and that the mobility of the stomach wasthe factor to be examined. The investigation of the extentto which fermentation took place in that viscus in infantsgave a valuable clue to the chemical reactions in theirstomachs.

Professor MORITZ (Strasburg) and Professor LENHARTZ(Hamburg) spoke on "Colica Mucosa " ; the pathology wasnot quite clear but the best treatment was a rich vegetablediet. Professor VON NOORDEN (Vienna) and Dr. MÜNZER(Prague) said that they had obtained very satisfactory resultsfrom this diet.

Dr. BRUGSCH (Berlin) and Dr. DAPPER (Neuenahr) saidthat they concurred with Dr. Schmidt’s view that constipa-tion was often due not so much to insufficient metabolismas to a too high degree of digestion, so that all the food was-used up and the products of disintegration were only presentin small quantities.

Dr. OBRASTZOW (Kiev) made some remarks on Appendi-citis. He recognised two distinct divisions of the disease-namely, (1) the sero-fibrinous or benign type, with vomiting,flatulence, constipation lasting from two to five days, andformation of an abscess on the fifth or sixth day; and (2)secondary appendicitis of a septic type, with the above-mentioned symptoms superimposed on it. This type wasoften consequent on a common primary appendicitis andthe prognosis was serious.

Professor LoRENZ (Graz) spoke on Intestinal Diseases dueto Infection with Amcebas. He said that his experience ledhim to suspect the presence of amcebse in many epidemicsthe cause of which could not be traced. Copious irrigations-and careful disinfection of the bowels had given him goodresults with the patients whom he treated in his hospital.

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Pathology of the Nervous System.During the last two days of the Congress some papers were

read dealing with the Pathology of the Nervous System. Dr.S. FRANKEL (Vienna) read a paper on the Chemistry of theBrain. He said that he had found three different kinds of

lipoids in the brain substance-namely, cholesterins, saturated,phosphatids, and unsaturated phosphatids. The last namedcontained a carbohydrate, galactose ; the phosphatids werethe oxidisable part of the protoplasma. The proportion ofalbumoids and lipoids in the brain increased with the in--creasing development of the animals. The human brain was

especially rich in lipoids which formed two-thirds of thedried brain substance. Dr. Frankel had found differentlyconstituted bodies of phosphatids in different organs; hehad isolated similar bodies not only from the brain but alsofrom the pancreas, human milk, the skin, and the egg of thehen.

Dr. ERBEN (Vienna) discussed the Differential Diagnosis ofSciatica and Similar Affections Producing Pain in the Leg.He had found that if a patient said that he could not cough orsneeze without increasing the pain in the leg, this was patho-gnomonic for sciatica ; when the patient was asked to benddown his body very low, a stiffness of the lower part of thevertebral column was visible even in maximal flexion. Thiswas caused by muscular fixation, produced by pain, and wasalso pathognomonic.

Dr. BUM (Vienna) described his infiltration treatment ofsciatica. He injected a sterile solution of chloride of sodiumof 0’ 7 per cent. strength into the nerve below the glutealmuscles, where it crosses the flexor cruris. He treated 105cases, with 62 per cent. of permanent recoveries and 21 percent. of cases of considerable improvement. He injected about10 cubic centimetres of solution from three to five times. Sub-acute and chronic cases had been treated with success, butonly peripheral sciatica was influenced. No bad after-resultshad hitherto been observed.

Physiology and Pathology.Dr. HORNER (Vienna) read a paper on the Blood Pressure

in Nephritis. In this disease he advised the adoption of adiet containing no chloride of sodium. Along with ProfessorPal he examined a great many hospital patients sufferingfrom this condition. The patients felt much better underthe above-mentioned diet, the blood pressure and anasarcadiminished, and the urine was free from casts comparativelysoon.

Dr. B6NNIGER (Pankow) made some remarks on the

Physiology and Pathology of Respiration. He said that the

elasticity of the lungs could be neglected in comparison with the mobility of the chest walls. In emphysema, therefore,the abnormal immobility of the thoracic cavity must becorrected by gymnastics and passive movement.

Dr. GRUBE (Bonn) discussed the Formation of Sugar in theAnimal Body. He had discovered that the liver could onlyturn the fatty acids into sugar. The organism was capableof synthetic action in forming a substance having a largemolecule (glycogen) from substances having smaller mole-cules.

Dr. PFEIFFER (Wiesbaden) read a paper on the " GlandularFever "(Drüsenfieber) which he discovered several years ago.He said that the patients fell ill in the evening, high pyrexiaset in, there was pain in swallowing, and there were someswollen glands behind the sterno-mastoid muscle. Thea:Eection soon disappeared. The liver and spleen were alsosometimes affected. The pathology was not yet fullyexplained. Anti-influenzal treatment was beneficial.A few papers dealing with Haemophilia were read by

Dr. MORAWITZ, Dr. LoSSEN (Heidelberg), and Dr. PICK.They all found that the coagulability of the blood in thesecases was from three to seven times less than in normalindividuals.

After a summary of the proceedings by Dr. MILLER, thePresident, a vote of thanks was passed to the organisingcommittee; a grant of 500 marks was made to the RobertKoch Fund; and Wiesbaden was selected as the place forthe next Congress.

In connexion with the Congress there was arranged in theUniversity a remarkable medical exhibition in which allmodern medical and surgical requisites were on view. Thelatest developments of x ray outfits, electrical appliances,hot-air apparatus, and modern pharmacy offered themselvesfor inspection. Renier and Co. showed a series of accessorieswhich can be fixed on any microscope, converting it into anultra-microscope; the price is very moderate (about .S2 2t.).

Pounds and pounds weight of strychnine, cocaine, morphine,and other alkaloids were exhibited in glass cases. Samplesof compressed medicines and tablets, water charged withradium emanation for bathing and drinking purposes, soupsand beverages for invalids, and caffeine-free coffee weredistributed to the visitors. Taken altogether the exhibitionwas most interesting and admirably illustrated the extensiveramifications of modern medicine.

MANCHESTER.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Hospital Saturday Fund.THE Hospital Saturday and Convalescent Homes Fund,

Incorporated " of Manchester and Salford has received amunificent contribution from Colonel W. W. Clapham of£5000 for distribution among the local medical charities.From this fund the Royal Infirmary and its branch, theBarnes Convalescent Hospital, receive each year towardstheir maintenance about £600. Mr. W. Cobbett, the chair-man of the infirmary board, in a fresh appeal for financialhelp for the new infirmary. claims on behalf of the boardthat the erection of a new Royal Infirmary, with double thebed accommodation of the old one, calls for " special recogni-tion by the workers, to whose benefit, and to that of theirfamilies, the institution is dedicated." He pleads for asystematic weekly collection ’’ among the employees of everybusiness establishment in the district." One penny a weekfrom each would bring in a large sum. The workpeople ofthree establishments have already contributed £279 andseveral smaller sums have been received. Manchester anddistrict are wealthy and charitable but there is evidently agood deal of anxiety as to the future maintenance of thenew infirmary which requires £100,000 for its completionand an additional £12,000 a year for its maintenance. It isimpossible to think that Manchester will fall short of its

duty and its privilege of responding freely to the appeal forhelp for an institution so beneficial to both rich and poor.

The Pollution of Rivers.From the report to the Ribble Joint Committee from its

chief inspector, Mr. Halliwell, it seems likely that furthersteps will be taken towards the purification of manufacturers’

, trade liquids. He stated that members and staff of the

’ Royal Commission had visited several works in the watershed’ and he had recently been informed that at an early date they

i proposed to consider the means available for purification. It

has been stated that the President of the Local GovernmentBoard intended at an early date to introduce a Bill dealing

. with river pollution on the lines suggested by the Royal Com-mission on Sewage Disposal in its interim report of 1903.

. It is to be desired that this matter, in all its bearings,should be well considered and thoroughly dealt with. The

: filthy and disgusting condition of a large proportion of ourrivers and streams is a national evil and so disgraceful to apeople supposed to represent one of the highest types ofcivilisation that efforts to remedy it should be raised farabove the level of political strife and should be consideredsolely as a national question.

Good Record for Rochdale.It is pleasant to be able to say anything good, even if only

occasionally, about sanitary matters in our manufacturingtowns. The death-rate in Rochdale from consumption 50years ago was 3 55 per 1000 and has gradually declined

. to 1’29 per 1000, the average for the last five years.This. calculated on the present population, means that200 lives per annum are saved from this disease alone.It is worth noting that 30 per cent. of the deathsfrom consumption occurred in back-to-back houses and

? that 41 per cent. of the deaths of infants took place in theset ill-ventilated dwellings. The great reduction in the death-r rate from consumption warrants the hope, the medical

officer thinks, of the fnture extermination of the disease, bute if this is to be accomplished he suggests that notification

of the disease must be compulsory.e

, The late -Dr. C. J. Cullingn:orth.

s The late Dr. C. J. Cllllingworth was so long connected withs Manchester and was so happy here in his professional andn social life that his loss will be felt by many who still

think of him as a friend. He came to Manchester with