out of place and season. Physical rest in bed has ever been, and ever will be, the surest of all cardiac tonics in serious cases of cardiac dilatation and asthenia, and this is the most essential remedy in the early periods of commencing dilatation. When exercise becomes desirable and necessary, gentle carriage exercise is of real value, and also horse exercise for those who are accustomed to it. The author has found the use of saline baths containing carbonic acid at temperatures from 88° to 93° F. beneficial in cases of chronic cardiac asthenia and dilatation following upon acute disease, and also in nervous persons with dilatation from strain and over-exertion, mental and physical. With regard to general considerations as to the appropriate treatment of cases of cardiac dilatation, in the first place the patient must be withdrawn from the influence of all those conditions which have caused it. If it has been due to over-exertion, then there must be avoidance of all kinds of muscular effort and only gentle exercise allowed. If it has been induced by over-excitement, either mental or emotional, or addiction to evil habits, these causes must be sought out and corrected. An open-air life in the country, or at the sea-side, gentle exercise, a nourishing but light and digestible diet, regular action of the bowels, and early retirement to bed are all very obvious but necessary remedial measures. Some form of cardiac tonic is generally indispensable in these cases, specially in those which follow attacks of acute febrile and septic diseases, and also in anæmic conditions. If there be much dyspnoea and troublesome palpitation, small doses of digitalis with iron may be given, but the author prefers to employ strophanthus, or strychnine, with coca, in combination with iron, quinine, or arsenic, as may seem desirable. In purely anæmic cases, iron and nux vomica with some aperient will be most appropriate. In cases of acute dilatation, however induced, the hypodermic injection of strychnine in doses of th toth of a grain will often be attended with remarkably good results. Free action of the bowels is very advantageous in nearly all cases of cardiac dilatation and feebleness, but aperients must be so given as to clear away only the residue of digestion. For this purpose the best method is to give an aloetic pill after dinner or at bedtime, and a saline dose early in the morning, about an hour before breakfast.

Suprarenal Extract in Cardiac Conditions.

Deeks (Montreal Medical Journal, November, 1901), gives the history of two cases in which he used the suprarenal extract with good results. The first case was a female patient, eighty-two years of age, suffering from the symptoms of dilatation of the heart. The cardiac action was weak and irregular, the legs much swollen, the oedema persisting in spite of rest in bed. The diagnosis was myocarditis, mitral incompetence and arterio-sclerosis. All the usual remedies had been tried with no benefit. Vomiting set in, and the patient's condition became extremely serious. Suprarenal extract in three-grain doses was ordered, and from the first day a marvellous improvement was observed. The vomiting ceased, the swelling disappeared, and the patient was soon able to walk. The heart's action became regular, and the patient was better than she had been at any time during the preceding three years. She took from nine to eighteen grains of the extract each day. The second case was a man seventy-six years of age, with oedema of the legs, heart regular but rapid, with weakness of the first sound. Under the use of suprarenal extract, the oedema entirely disappeared in six weeks, and the

heart's action much improved. In both of these cases the extract had only been given as a last resource, the usual cardiac tonics having failed to effect any improvement. These results are somewhat remarkable, in view of the known action of this remedy in raising arterial blood pressure, since with a weakened myocardium and degenerate vessels one would rather have expected unfavourable results-either a rupture of the blood-vessels, or fatal syncope from over-strain of the cardiac musculature.

Creosotal in Pneumonia.

Leonard Weber (New York Medical Record, November 2nd, 1901), relates his experience with this remedy in the treatment of nine cases of pneumonia, both lobar and lobular. The ages of the patients ranged from twenty to forty-seven years. The oldest patient died from cardiac degeneration, but all the others recovered. The course of the disease so treated shows that this drug exercises a remarkably beneficial and uniform influence. There were no symptoms of depression or disturbance of the gastro-intestinal tract. As soon as the patient came under the full influence of the drug the temperature fell, and the same improvement ensued as usually supervenes at the onset of the crisis. It is doubtful if the drug exercises any direct curative effect on the disease. The author administered the remedy in capsules containing ten minims six times a day, in some cases for eight days.

The Clinical Uses of Citrophen.

Syers (Treatment, January, 1902), relates his experience of the use of citrophen in various conditions. He has found it of great service in the treatment of the headache of anæmic girls. In most cases one tengrain dose has been followed by a relief of the pain, and, as a rule, two or three doses of the same amount have cured the headache for the time being. No unpleasant symptoms have ensued. In migraine, it short the attack. In neuralgia, generally the relief has has seldom failed to give relief and frequently has cut been only temporary, and no permanent cure of this condition has been observed by the author. But he has obtained excellent results in the relief of the various aches and pains so frequently met with in neurasthenics. In lumbago and sciatica 15-grain doses given every three hours up to three doses have nearly always proved beneficial in removing the pain, at any rate, for the time being. In chronic articular rheumatism a dose of ten grains given night and morning has relieved the pain when other remedies have all failed. The author also has found it useful in the severe head pains at night in patients suffering from syphilis. In febrile diseases citrophen is certainly useful; in some cases of pleurisy in which the pain was very severe it was greatly relieved or entirely removed by a few 10-grain doses. On the other hand, the author has not found it to be of much service in reducing temperature-neither in acute rheumatism nor in pulmonary inflammations, acute or chronic-has the author's experience proved it to be superior to other remedies. Nevertheless, the very marked power of relieving pain in many and various morbid conditions which citrophen undoubtedly possesses renders it a valuable addition to the list of drugs in ordinary daily use. It is pleasant to take, and can be adminis tered in effervescent waters. It has no depressing or deleterious effect, and the author has never observed the slightest ill effect as the result of its use.

DISEASES OF THE EAR, NOSE AND THROAT.

Depressed Nose treated by Gersuny's Method. Scanes Spicer (Journal of Laryngology, January, 1902) reports a case treated by this method. The only disadvantage that followed was that some of the paraffin worked its way into the upper eyelid. The technique for inserting the paraffin into the nose was rather troublesome. He used just such a small syringe as used to be used for tuberculin injections. He heated the paraffin in a water bath, and had the patient standing near. The paraffin used melted at 105° or 106° F., and was sterilised. It was a mixture of lard and soft paraffin. Having sterilised the skin with alcohol and sublimate solution, he injected three or four syringefuls of the paraffin into the subcutaneous tissue over the naval bridge, and moulded the mass up with the fingers to the shape of a normal nose. The point of injection was sealed with collodion, and in future he would inject only a small amount of it at one time, and repeated as necessary, and he would press down the skin at the root of the nose on to the subjacent tissues so that nothing could escape. The paraffin had been in situ six or seven months, and it was really wonderful how well it filled up the depression which had previously existed in the bridge.

Bacteriology of the Nose.

Iglauer (Laryngoscope, November, 1901) concludes that the weight of evidence is strongly to the effect that the normal nasal mucus contains bacteria. Among other organisms he found the staphylococcus pyogenes, aureus and albus, the diplococcus pneumoniæ, and even the streptococcus pyogenes. He believes, however, that the nasal mucus is not a good culture medium, and that the organisms which have lodged in the nose, are expelled by the ciliated epithelium with great rapidity. He sums up as follows. (1) It is advisable to sterilise the vestibule of the nose before operating. (2) After operations, the nostril on the operated side should be closed with a piece of cotton to act as a filter. (3) Plugging of the nasal cavity after operation, is as a rule inadvisable, as it tends to retain the nasal secretions. (4) Nasal wounds do not heal by first. intention owing to the presence of bacteria. (5) Fever after operations, and the few deaths recorded have probably been due to the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in the nose.

The Use and Abuse of the Nasal Spray.

Roy (Atlanta Journal, October, 1901) asserts that the abuse of sprays consists in, first, the improper use of spray solutions. The indiscriminate use of different substances in an atomiser without due reference to

their suitability to the given case is a most egregious error. Such practice frequently does harm to the nasal mucous membrane. Many rhinologists condemn the use of nasal sprays altogether. In Germany one rarely ever sees a nasal spray used. The second abuse of sprays is the frequency of their use. The popular use of late of the menthol oily spray is largely responsible for this error. While menthol is a valuable nasal therapeutic, yet the harm it has done to nasal mucous membranes far outweighs the good. The cooling sensation produced is most refreshing to the patient and like cocaine seems to open up the stuffy nasal passages; but experience shows that a reaction of dryness is sure to follow its prolonged use, and this needs a more frequent application to overcome this subjective sensation. The third abuse consists in the force of the spray. This applied more particularly when compressed

air is used. A compression of 15 pounds is quite sufficient force with which to throw liquids into the nasal cavities. A force greater than 20 pounds always causes an abrasion of the mucous membrane, especially if watery solutions be used. The author has never seen a case which required a spray of cocaine, and considers it criminal to spray a solution of it into the nose especially if it be a chronic case. He always applies cocaine by means of cotton on the end of an applicator, thus limiting its action to the desired portion.

Are the Tonsils Normal Physiological Organs? disposed to think they are not. Bosworth (Medical Record, January 11th, 1902) is He finds it difficult to understand why nature should place these sponge-like bodies in a normal throat, and believes that a far better and clearer understanding of clinical indications would be to regard this mass with its lacunar traps as a diseased body. He thinks this teaching is notably emphasised by the numberless observations published in the last few years of the different germs found lodged in these filtering lacunæ. Twenty years ago, at a meeting in London, he made the observation that practically there are no tonsils in a healthy throat. This observation was received with contemptuous jeers. After twenty years of additional clinical observation, he is disposed to repeat the same remark, believing that if this view were more generally accepted it would remove many supposed objections to operating on the tonsils. Instances are quoted of tonsils having been removed and the throat left in a worse condition than before, and in cases of this kind which he has met the subsequent symptoms were either due to some other cause or the morbid tissue had been only partially removed. He emphasises the necessity for thorough extirpation, believing that a partial removal occasionally leaves the throat in as bad, if not a worse, condition than before operation. With regard to the operation itself, he states that for the last ten years he has ceased entirely to cut tonsils with a tonsillotome. No tonsillotome has ever been devised which will remove the tonsil in its entirety. He uses the cold-wire snare, and finds that it has the additional advantage of obviating the possibility of hæmorrhage in the adult.

Blindness due to Empyæma of Accessory Sinuses.

T. H. Halsted (Laryngoscope, November, 1902) reports the case of woman of 45 years of age, who on awakening, had found herself totally blind in the left eye. Examination showed swelling of the sheath of the left optic nerve, enlarged and tortuous veins and quanti tative perception of light only. For two years she had had nasal catarrh, and some months previously had had an acute exacerbation characterised by a constant and left pupil was widely dilated, and there was exophthal free discharge of odorous pus from the right nostril. The mos. From the signs present, a diagnosis of empyæma sinuses, with rupture and probable pressure on the optic of the right antrum, right ethmoidal and sphenoidal nerve. Two operations were performed, and in six weeks could read ordinary type with the left eye. she was entirely free from headache and insomnia, and

MESSRS. C. J. HEWLETT & SONS' PREPARATIONS.We have received from Messrs. Hewlett & Sons samples of their Liq. Ergotæ Purif., and of their Antiseptic Emollient Cream. The former is an admirable preparation of ergot, and can be relied upon in all cases where the administration of ergot is indicated. The emollient cream consists of oleate of zinc and boracic acid combined with lanoline, perfumed with attar of roses

PUBLIC HEALTH.

New South Wales.

The Plague. Last week there were seven cases and two deaths; the previous week there were seventeen cases and five deaths; the week before that saw nine cases and four deaths recorded. Up to the present there have been sixty-three cases and seventeen deaths. At the Coast Hospital on Saturday, thirtytwo patients remained under treatment, while four have been discharged as cured. From March 1st to March 7th, the total number of rats taken to the depôts established by the Board of Health was 4,419. Including the number destroyed by the men fumigating coastal vessels, and the sewers, quite 7,000 must have been accounted for, in addition to many thousands more killed by residents in Wednesday's rat crusade, of which no record will ever be obtainable.

Vital Statistics of the Metropolis.-During the month of January, 1902, 1,133 children were born, being 96 more than the average for January during the previous five years. The deaths during the month numbered 508, or 1 greater than the quinquennial average for January. The birth rate was 2.25 per 1,000 of population, and the deaths were 1.01 per 1,000. The deaths under 1 year, compared with the births for the month, the rate being 131 per 1,000. Of the 508 deaths, 200 or 39 per cent. were under 5 years of age, and 148 or 33 per cent. were less than 1 year old.

Zymotic diseases caused 70 deaths; the main causes were whooping-cough, 21; diarrhoea, 12; typhoid fever, 13; and 1, bubonic plague. The returns of the Department of Public Health show that 87 cases of typhoid fever and 45 cases of diphtheria were notified during the month.

From constitutional disease there were 86 deaths, the main causes being phthisis 38, cancer 30.

Developmental diseases produced 43 deaths, premature births being responsible for 20 cases, and senile decay for 15.

Local diseases caused 253 deaths of the subdivision of this class. Diseases of the nervous system contributed 49 deaths, the circulatory system 57, of the respiratory system 38 (pneumonia 16 and bronchitis 12), of the digestive system 74 (enteritis 50), of the urinary system 27 (Bright's disease 20).

Newcastle Vital Statistics.-During the year there were 1,738 births in the Newcastle District, or 31.51 per cent. of the population. The deaths for the same period numbered 742, or 13-45 per cent. Of these, 272, or 37 per cent., were under 5 years of age, and 202, or 27 per cent., were less than 1 year.

Zymotic diseases caused 86 deaths or 12 per cent.typhoid 26, whooping cough 17, influenza 12.

Constitutional diseases caused 116 deaths, or 16 per cent. (phthisis 46, cancer 32, tabes mesenterica 18). The deaths from phthisis comprise 6 per cent. of all deaths.

Developmental diseases produced 60 deaths, or 8 per cent. of the roll, premature births being responsible for 35 cases and senile decay for 16.

Local diseases caused 379 deaths, or 51 per cent. Apoplexy 25, convulsions 11, inflammation of the brain 10, epilepsy 9, of the circulatory system 64 (enlocarditis 21, heart disease 19, syncope 9), of the digestive system 88 (enteritis 49), of the urinary

system 37 (Bright's disease 25), of the respiratory system 94 deaths (55 above 5 years of age, 39 below), the chief complaints being pneumonia 62, bronchitis 19. The deaths from pneumonia comprise 8 per cent. of all deaths.

In the report of the vital statistics of the Newcastle district for the month of January, 1902. The births during the month were 175, or at the rate of 3.14 per 1,000 of the population. The deaths numbered 62, or 1.11 per 1,000. Of the deaths 30 were due to local diseases, 11 to developmental diseases, 6 to zymotic diseases, and 5 to constitutional diseases."

Victoria.

Vital Statistics.-The return for the month of January, 1902, in the district of Greater Melbourne states that 948 births were registered, and the deaths 661, excess of births over deaths being 287. The births for the period mentioned was the lowest recorded for the last 11 years except 1899, and 149 below the 211 below it if allowance be made for the increase of average of the month during the previous 10 years, or population. Children under 5 years of age contributed 37 per cent. to the mortality. The deaths of infants under twelve months numbered 205. Of the deaths, 77 occurred from zymotic (whooping cough), 17 diseases, 123 from constitutional diseases, 349 from local diseases.

Typhoid Fever.-Cases of typhoid fever continue to be reported in excess of the number recorded last summer. The return presented to the Board of Public Health showed :-Cases reported for the fortnight ended 15th February: For the whole State for 1901, 127 cases and 4 deaths; for 1902, 190 cases and 14 deaths; for metropolitan area, for 1901, 65 cases and 3 deaths; for 1902, 83 cases and 8 deaths. The returns show a slight increase of diphtheria, and a slight decrease of scarlet fever.

Bubonic Plague.-The Chairman of the Board of Health, Melbourne, on being called to examine the case of a wharf labourer who was taken ill on 1st March pronounced the patient to be suffering from bubonic plague. It was proved that the man had been recently at work unloading cargo from the hold of the steamer Coolgardie," which had lately arrived in port from Sydney, the cargo containing a quantity of superphosphate, a commodity in which rats fairly revel. The house in which the patient resided was promptly quarantined, and the man was taken to Goode Island

66

Sanartorium for treatment.

Queensland.

Report

Bubonic Plague. Total number of Cases from January 27th to February 24th, 1902-11; Total number of deaths, 4; discharged, recovered, 1; Remaining under treatment, February 24th, 6. ending 1st March, 1902.-Remaining under treatment, February 24th, 6; cases reported during the week, 3; died during week, 1. Remaining under treatment, March 1st, 8. Total number of cases reported to date, 14; total number of deaths, 5; total discharged, recovered, 1. All the above cases have occurred in Brisbane; date of last case, February 27th, 1902.

Vital Statistics.-During the month of December, 1901, 145 births were registered in the district of Brisbane, being 9 less than in December,

1900. In the same district 105 deaths were recorded, being 19 more than in December, 1900. Within the municipality of Brisbane, 33:36 per cent. of the deaths were of children under 5 years of age, the true infantile mortality as compared to births for the city and suburbs being 17.88. Of the deaths occurring in Brisbane and suburbs during the month, 18 were from zymotic diseases, 34 from constitutional diseases, and 77 from local diseases. Of the zymotic group, 9 were from diarrhoea. Of the constitutional group, 15 were from cancer, 8 from phthisis. Of the local group, 21 were from enteritis and 7 from pneumonia.

Tasmania.

During the month of January, 1902, 120 births were registered in the districts of Hobart and Launceston, the same number as in the corresponding month of 1900, and an increase of 44 as compared with the average of the births recorded in January during the last five years. The deaths registered in January, 1902, in Hobart and Launceston numbered 94. Of these, 5 died from zymotic diseases, 15 from constitutional diseases, 21 from developmental diseases. 41 from local diseases. Of the developmental group. 20 deaths occurred from old age. In the country districts in January, 1902, 291 births and 75 deaths were registered.

South Australia.

Vital Statistics. During the month of December, 1901, 664 births were recorded in South Australia, or 185 per cent., the lowest recorded in the period 1896-1901, inclusive. For the same month 407 deaths were recorded, or 113 per cent. In 1896 the percentage showed 110; in 1899, 101; in 1900, 096. During December, 1901, 86 deaths occurred from zymotic diseases (diarrhoea 60), of these 52 were under one year. Only in the years 1897 and 1898 was this mortality exceeded. Constitutional diseases caused 59 deaths (phthisis 30, tuberculosis 7), the highest rate during the five years, 1897 only excepted. Developmental diseases accounted for 34 deaths in the month under notice, the lowest record during the five years. Local diseases caused 181 deaths, 62 of which were under one year. This mortality was only exceeded in the years 1897 and 1898.

In the city of Adelaide for the month of December, 1901, 73 births and 89 deaths were recorded, both of which numbers represent the average for the five years 1896-1901. Zymotic diseases caused 10 deaths, constitutional diseases were responsible for 15 deaths (cancer 4, phthisis 5, tuberculosis 4), developmental diseases caused 11 deaths, and local diseases 43 (enteritis 12).

Central Board of Health.-A meeting of the Central Board of Health was held last month. The chief inspector furnished a report on the sanitary condition of the district of Nairne, and the condition of cowkeepers' premises in the district. The infectious disease returns showed five cases of typhoid fever at Port Adelaide, four at Adelaide, and one at each of the following places:-Rosewater, North Croydon, Bundaleer, Gawler, Leamington, Kadina, Kapunda, Port Augusta, and Hilton; five cases of pulmonary tuberculosis at Adelaide, two at Port Adelaide, and one at Wallaroo; one case of diphtheria at each of the following places :-Adelaide, Bowden, New Hindmarsh, and East Adelaide, one case of erysipelas at Adelaide, and one at Yalumba ; one case of puerperal fever at Hundred of Younghusband. The infectious disease mortuary returns showed two

deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis at Adelaide Hospital and one at each of the following places :-Robe, North Kensington, Rowland's Flat and Langmeil. One death from diphtheria at Port Lincoln one death from puerperal fever at Glenelg; one death from erysipelas at Alberton; and one death from enteric fever at Burra hospital.

New Zealand.

Dr. Mason, the Chief Health Officer of New Zealand, has made report on his inspection of the sites suggested for consumptive homes. He is of opinion that the most suitable site in the South Island is Port Lyttelton, and for the North Island, he favours the establishment of a sanatorium in the Wairarapa district.

HOSPITAL INTELLIGENCE.

Hobart Hospital-An operating table, which arrived from New York has been fitted up in the operating theatre at the Hobart General Hospital. It is of the latest approved pattern. The frame is of steel, white enamelled, mounted on four heavy rubber wheels. The top is of heavy in. French crystal glass. The table, which cost about £40, was purchased out of the Grimston bequest. One of Aps's-Newton 18 in. Röntgen Ray apparatus is expected shortly. Its cost will be about £180. This has also been bought out of the Grimston bequest.

Sydney Hospital Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the Sydney Hospital was held on February 26th. The president, Sir Arthur Renwick, M.L.C., submitted the report and balance sheet. The report set forth that the patients remaining in hospital on 31st December, 1900, were 286, patients admitted during 1900, 3,951; total under treatment, 4,237; discharged cured, 2,467; relieved, 873; unrelieved, 165; died, 428; remaining in hospital 31st December, 1901, 304; percentage of mortality on admissions, 109; average number of admissions per week, 76; the average number of beds occupied, 306; average duration of stay in days, 31; the number of accidents and urgent cases admitted without recommendations, 1710; the number of cases admitted on Government orders, 1,475; the number of cases admitted on subscribers' orders, 103; the number of cases admitted who contributed to their maintenance, 663. Of the 428 deaths 121 died within 24 hours of admission. The number of operations performed during the year was 2.938. There were 28,647 new cases in the out-patients' department, and 96,101 attendances. The cost per bed for 1901 showed an increase of £1 15s. over that of 1900, being £63 7s. 7d., as against £61 12s. 7d. The increase was accounted for by the increase in the cost of almost all the commodities required by the hospital. The subscriptions showed an increase of £264 over those of the previous year. Towards the income the Government contributed as subsidy on subscriptions and donations, £3,777 2s. 7d.; for maintenance of destitute patients, £9,047 8s. 4d.; and for the Regent street branch the sum of £700.

Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney. The annual report of this hospital, presented at the meeting of subscribers on March 14th, states that the number of patients remaining in hospital on December 31st, 1900, was 223; admitted during the year 1901, 3,216; total under treatment, 3,439. Of these 1,848 were cured, 725 relieved, 268 unrelieved, 360 died, and 238 remained

in hospital, December 31st, 1901; total, 3,439. The number of beds in the hospital was 236; the average number of patients resident daily, 235; mean residence of patients in days, 28; rate of mortality per cent. (deducting the 61 deaths which occurred in patients within 24 hours of admission), 9-29; rate of mortality per cent. over total cases under treatment, 10:46; rate of mortality per cent. on admissions, 11.19; number of attendances in out-patients and casualty departments, 44,146; number of individual patients in these departments (approximately), 11,000. The income of the year was £18,317 2s. 4d., towards which the Government contributed £10,883 2s. 2d. Of the latter amount £3,189 Os. 2d. was in the form of a subsidy, on the £for £ principle, and the remainder for the maintenance of Government patients. The average cost per bed for the year amounts to £68 8s. 9d., as against £66 7s. 6d. in 1900. The slight increase in the average as compared with the previous year is due to the fact that in several items prices were higher than in the previous year, and that the imposition of the new Federal tariff duties also affected the prices of some articles of daily use for a part of the year.

The Women's Hospital, Melbourne.-The deadlock at this hospital resulting from the action of the Committee in dismissing Drs. Lewis and Yule, the resident medical officers, still continues. The Committee has not succeeded in filling the positions of medical officers to the midwifery and the infirmary departments. Advertisements have been published calling for applications, but, contrary to previous experience, no applications were sent in. On again applying for the vacant positions on the resident midwifery staff, Drs. Lewis and Yule invited the Committee to consider that in the present state of outside medical opinion, right or wrong, it was highly improbable that the Committee would be offered the services of any satisfactory men for the positions, a fact that it might infer the more surely from the circumstance that in spite of the close of the Medical Congress at Hobart there were no applications. It was clearly impossible, the letter stated, for one man, unceasingly on duty, to do the work hitherto performed by two for any length of time. It was useless for the Committee to plead inability to fill the positions when it had before it, still valid, the offer made by them last week. was unreasonable to suppose that, because they could not see their way clear to carry out the Committee's orders in reference to closing the hospital, they could not now loyally assist in keeping it officially open. It was resolved to inform the applicants that the Committee did not require their services. Under these circumstances we hope that no other medical men will offer their services for these appointments. We think the Committee ill-advised in refusing to re-appoint Drs. Lewis and Yule, considering the value of their past services to the hospital, and trust they will yet be induced to see the wisdom of reversing their decision.

It

Alfred Hospital Melbourne -The ceremony of opening a new ward of the Alfred Hospital, to be known as the Michaelis ward, was performed by Lady Clarke last month, in the presence of a large number of ladies and gentlemen, including the State Governor, Sir George Clarke. Mr. R. L. J. Ellery, the chairman of the committee of management, stated that by the gift of £1000 from the family of the late Moritz and Rachel Michaelis, of St. Kilda, they had been able to equip the ward and permanently devote it to child patients. The maintenance of the ward was a serious

matter, but the committee counted upon the generous support which had always been accorded it by the public. The new ward, which is a well ventilated, and airy apartment on the extreme western side of the hospital, contains 24 cots.

Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne. -The average daily number of patients at the hospital is about 150. The patients come from all parts of the State. The total number treated last year was 6,245, and the number of attendances of out-patients 28,791. The number of operations performed was 1,478. It is said that the hospital cannot carry on under present conditions. The reception hall for patients is a compartment that would hardly hold 50 people. As it is, come 200 people, most of them patients, crowd into it daily. There appears to be little likelihood of sufficient subscriptions coming in to carry out the enlargement of the building which is so absolutely necessary. Unless the Government comes to the assistance of the

hospital in carrying out an extension of the building, there is a great probability of the institution having to limit considerably the scope of its work.

Dubbo Hospital, N.S.W.-Drs. Tresidder, Burkitt, and Barton, have been appointed honorary medical officers for Dubbo Hospital for the ensuing year. Dr. Hope has resigned his appointment on the hospital staff.

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dr. JAMES REIACH, recently locum tenens for Dr. J. A. Dick of Randwick has succeeded to the practice of Dr. Robert Lamb at Molong, N.S.W.

Dr. ASHER of Lithgow, N.S.W, has been presented with a handsome souvenir by the members of the A. H. and P. Society in appreciation of his services during the ten years of his secretaryship. Dr. and Mrs. Asher have left for England.

RETURN OF DR. ASHBURTON THOMPSON.-Dr. Ashburton Thompson, President of the Board of Health, Sydney, returned to Sydney a few days ago after a trip to Europe, and very much improved in health. He stayed a considerable time in Paris, where he saw Drs. Roux and Momont, and visited the new hospital for infectious diseases attached to the Pasteur Institute. In London, he took advantage of the first opportunity of formal presentation to the Incorporated Society of Medical Officers of Health which occurred, since he had been chosen to be an honorary Fellow (a distinction he received in company with Lord Lister), and then joined in a discussion on the management of plague epidemics which was raised by a paper read by Dr. D. S. Davies, M.O. H. for Bristol. He was gratified at finding that our work at Sydney was thoroughly well-known, and that the discussion was largely guided by our recorded experience. He saw much of Mr. Shirley Murphy, M.O.H. London C.C., and discussed with him the terms of an amendment to P.H. (L.) A., by which, acting on our experience and our proposal for amendment of the P. H. Act, evidence that a building was infested by rats or so constructed as to be liable to become infested, would be made a nuisance, liable to be the subject of summary proceedings, and subsequently he discussed the same point with Mr. Power, M.O.H. to L.G.B. He visited Professor G. A. Wright at Netley, not merely as an old friend, but in his capacity of member of the late Plague Commission in India. He found him in his laboratory, very busy with his vaccine