excellent luncheon, Sir Lewis Michell acting as host in the unavoidable absence of Dr. Jameson. After lunch the visitors spent an enjoyable time in wandering over the beautiful grounds.

PUBLIC HEALTH SECTION.

On the morning of the 4th, this section met, under the Presidency of Dr. A. Jasper Anderson, M.O.H., of Cape Town, in the absence of the Hon. Dr. Turner, whom official duties kept in the Transvaal.

Dr. Anderson, after a few preliminary remarks, read the Presidential Address which Dr. Turner had prepared.

The following papers were then read and discussed. "Human Tuberculosis and the Means to be Adopted for its Prevention," by Dr. Jasper Anderson.

"Human Tuberculosis: The duties of the State in its Prevention," Dr. Guillemard.

"State Treatment of Venereal Disease," Dr. A. H. B. Kirkman.

Councillor A. H. Reid, Chairman of the Branch of the Sanitary Institute, by invitation, attended, and gave an interesting account of the steps taken by that body to secure efficient training of sanitary inspectors for South Africa, during the discussion upon the papers of Drs. Jasper Anderson and Guillemard. At the close of the discussion a resolution was carried for the formation of an Anti-Tuberculosis Association in South Africa, and the members present, with power to add to their number, appointed as a committee for that object.

The following papers contributed were omitted on account of lack of time:

"Notes made during a Year's Work Amongst the Native Compounds of the Rand," by Dr. Lane Sansom. "Miner's Phthisis" by the same author.

"The Difficulties Experienced by a M.O.H. in dealing with Sanitation in Small Towns and Villages," by Dr. Philip C. Walker.

At the close of the proceedings of this Section, a short general sitting was held, at which it was decided that the next Congress meet in Natal, the town and date of meeting, and the appointment of President, to be left to the Natal Branch of the British Medical Association.

SPECIAL SUBJECTS SECTION.

The sitting of this Section was held in the afternoon of the same day, Dr. F. Napier, President, in the Chair. The President gave a brief opening address on the position of specialism in South Africa.

The following papers were read and discussed: "Affections of the Eye in Pneumococcal Septicæmia' by Dr. F. Napier.

"Notes on Cases of Uveitis complicating CerebroSpinal Meningitis in Children" by Dr. D. J. Wood.

"Infective Corneal Ulcers," by Dr. J. Luckhoff.

The following papers were omitted from want of time:

"Some Notes on Intra-Nasal Surgery: Innocent Neoplasms of the Larynx. Middle Ear Disease as a Menace to Life," by Dr. Ainslie Hudson.

"The Circulatory Apparatus in General Paralysis," by Dr. T. D. Greenless.

CONGRESS BANQUET.

The Congress was wound up fittingly by a banquet at the Mount Nelson Hotel, the President presiding over a full attendance of members and guests, a large number of the leading people of Cape Town attending. After sumptuous viands had been discussed, the following toast list was given:

The Loyal Toasts, from the Chair.

"The Naval and Military Forces" by Dr. E. B. Fuller, responded to by Captain Limpus, R N.

"The Sister Professions" by Dr. Darley-Hartley, responded to by the Very Rev. the Dean of Cape Town, and Sir Henry Juta, K.Č.

"Our Guests," by Dr. Kitching, responded to by Dr. Napier, and the Mayor of Cape Town.

The Press by Hon J. W. Sauer, responded to by Mr. Voss (Cape Times).

The President" by Hon. J. H. Hofmeyr, responded to by Dr. Stevenson.

EXHIBITION OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS AND

INSTRUMENTS.

During the whole of Congress a very inter sting exhibition of pharmaceutical products and surgical instruments was on view in a room adjoining the meeting hall of Congress at the South African College. To this most of the leading firms in Cape Town contributed, the most notable stands being those of Messrs. P. J. Petersen & Co., Messrs. Mayer & Meltzer, Messrs. Burroughes, Wellcome & Co., and Lennons, Ltd., the last-named firm exhibiting, besides their own goods, the products of Messrs. F. Stearns & Co., Oppenheimer, Sons & Co., and Parke, Davis & Co.

Amongst the exhibits of Messrs. P. J. Petersen and Co. we specially noticed a portable steriliser for both dressings and instruments, a portable operating table, their full range of aseptic ligatures in capsules, and their improved gas aud ether inhaler. All are articles commending themselves particularly to the requirements of the South African practitioner in the smaller towns and the country. The portable steriliser is a marvel of ingenuity. In it both instruments and dressings can be effectively sterilised. After sterilisation, the steam can be withdrawn, and the case then packs up with the dressings and instruments in situ, so that no handling of them is necessary, and all the operator has to do is to carry the steriliser just as it is to the patient's house, confident that he has aseptic articles ready when he opens the case at the operating table. The portable operating table of this firm we have already noticed. It is an absolutely essential thing for every country practitioner who operates, and can be carried easily in an ordinary cart or by a boy on foot. The aseptic ligatures keep any length of time in perfect condition. One has only to withdraw a brief length from the capsule, cut off the previously exposed part, and then have as much ligature at hand as one wants in a absolutely aseptic condition. The gas and ether inhaler is extremely handy, can be used for either or both anaesthetics, and caboth portable and inexpensive

Knew

In Messrs. Mayer and Meltzer's exhibit, we abered particular note of the portable standard electric ning to

their admirable ward tables for hospital use, their improved syringe for the injection of paraffine wax for plastic purposes, and their "Samways dressing box. The standard electric lamp for aural, nasal, laryngeal or ophthalmic use is the handiest thing for utilising electric light where obtainable that we have seen. It gives a strong and fully focussed light, and is easily movable and alterable as to level. The movable ward dressing

tables are very helpful for hospital use. The paraffine syringe is the latest instrument for the injection of paraffine wax for deformities, and a specially prepared wax melting at 111, is supplied with it. It is well worth while for practitioners to take note of this instrument, remembering the amount of kudos that may be obtained by relieving deformities, especially nasal ones, by this now well recognised, and not, with ordinary dexterity, difficult, plan of treatment. Samways' Dressing Box is a most ingenious structure of many compartments, with a capacity for a large number of dressings. Spread out it forms a series of trays, and in a moment or two it can be folded up into a handy and portable box going under the cart seat or to be carried in the hand.

Messrs. Burroughes, Wellcome and Co. had on view a wide range of their world famous products, amongst which we specially noticed their admirable All Glass Hypodermic Syringe noticed in another column, and their very handy Water Analysis case, which supplies every thing required for the purpose, and is just the thing for the M.O.H,, of the small town. Tabloids were, of course, there in endless variety, also a very wide range of hypodermic cases of all patterns.

Messrs. Lennons, the oldest of our Colonial firms, had a full show of their own drugs and instruments.

Messrs. Frederick Stearns and Co., who have now a local office at Mansion House Chambers, Cape Town, shewed a number of their assayed Fluid Extracts, their oval and round gelatine and sugar coated pills, and their specialities, notably the Methyloids, Apioloids, the well established Vinum Ol. Morrhuæ, perhaps the most palatable of all forms of this agent, Tritipalm, Vibutero and Kasagra. All of these are admirable preparations, and do much to make dispensing easy.

Messrs. Parke, Davis and Co., who have also now a representative in South Africa, had a full range of their physiologically standardised Fluid Extracts, their serums, which are amongst the most reliable on the market, and their special preparations, amongst the best of which are chloretone, which is considered by many competent authorities the safest and most efficient hypnotic yet produced, the Takamine Adrenalin, a most reliable suprarenal preparation, and, perhaps most valuable of all, the Aseptic Ergot, one of the very few preparations of this drug to which the practitioner can

trust.

Messrs. Oppenheimer, Sons and Co., who have now a representative in this country, and whose goods are stocked by Lennons, showed a large selection of their goods, notably their admirable and elegant palatinoids, their Aerizers and Nebulisers, which we have personally proved again and again to be the very best of all modes of medicating the throat and lungs, their insufflators for dry powders, their Laxoin, (a Pental purgative), their Ergole, another splendid ergot preparation, and their aseptic glass syringe, the peculiar point of which is that

the glass piston is tipped with vulcanite, which prevents cracking, and, so far as we could see, does not interfere with its action in securing a complete vacuum.

We have dwelt at some length on this exhibition, and could devote pages to it. We feel that it is worthy of notice, as South African practitioners do not, we think, realise how excellently their peculiar requirements have been catered for of late years by various enterprising firms, and how the result of the catering is to make it now possible for even the most isolated man to practise medicine and surgery in a way impossible a few years

ago.

Registrations.

CAPE COLONY.

As Medical Practitioners:

1

A. W. Reid, M.D., M.S. (Aberdeen). A. J. Rowan, M.B., B.C. (Edin). Wallace Benson, M.B., B.C. (Dub). J. G. Briggs, M.B., B.C. (Edin). N. H. Pringle, M.B., B.C. (Edin). R. C. Mullins, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P, T. H. Osler, M.B., B.C. (Edin). James Sterling, M.B., C.M. (Glas). G. M. Rae, M.B., C.M. (Edin), C. H. Muller, M.B., B.C. (Edin). Isabel N. Muller, M.B., B.C. (Edin). As Dentist:

J. F. Driscoll, L.D.S.

As Medical Practitioners:

NATAL

J. W. Hunt, M.B. (Lond)., M.R.C,S., L R.C.P.
A. S. Parker, M.B., B.C. (Edin).
ORANGE RIVER COLONY.

As Medical Practitioner:
P. E. Millard, M.D. (Edin).

For the Cape Legislative Assembly, the following medical practitioners have been nominated: Jameson, (Grahamstown), Smartt (East London), Vanes (Uitenhage), John Hewatt (Woodstock), in the Progressive interest Beck, (Worcester), Hoffman (Paarl), and Whyte (Swellendam) on the South African Party side, and Sir W. B. Berry (Queenstown) as a follower of Sir Gordon Sprigg. Dr. R. A. St Leger came forward as an Independent candidate for King William's Town, but retired at the last moment.

British and American firms are more and more direct

ing their attention to this country. Messrs. Oppenheimer are sending their representative who was in charge of their Congress exhibit, right through South Africa. One thing about the British firms doing business with our profession is that they are always ready to accept hints from customers, and modify their preparations or appliances in accordance with South African requirements. And, as a means to this end, personal intercourse on the part of their representatives with up country practitioners is of importance,

South African Medical Record.

(PUBLISHED ON THE 15TH OF EVERY MONTH.)

Offic.. Lloyds' Chambers, Long Street, Cape Town. Proprietor, Editor and Publisher, W. DARLEY-HARTLEY, M.D., M.R.C.P.L.

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Articles, notes of cases, reports of medical institutions, correspondence, and local and personal news requested from all parts of South Africa.

The Editor will at all times be pleased to be favoured with a call from medical practitioners passing through Cape Town.

The Editor will be pleased to insert, without charge, any announcements from recognised medical societies in South Africa to their members, provided these are of moderate length.

Cape Town residents may obtain copies at Messrs. Townshend, Taylor and Snashall's Stationery Department, 75, St. George's Street.

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A new volume is commenced with the January number, and at the same time the reading matter is permanently increased by at least four pages, whilst at the same time the subscription is proportionately raised to 15/6 post free. This increase in subscription will, however, only take effect from date, and will not affect the unexpired period covered by subscriptions already paid, but will of course be chargeable on renewal. An index for the first volume will be issued with the February number.

true of a profession like ours, in such a country as this. Do what we will, it is well-nigh impossible for the vast majority of men, if isolated from their fellows, to keep up that standard of enthusiasm in their work that is necessary for its successful performance. Here and there one meets with brilliant exceptions to a well-nigh universal rule. For the vast majority, however, interest in work fails if the only critics and the only admirers, are the ill-instructed laity, generally all the worse instructed in exactly the places where the medical practitioner is the most isolated from his fellows. And isolation in these places brings with it only too frequently another detrimental factor, that of exaggerated professional jealousy, a factor making the isolation more profound than even natural circumstances render it. In how many cases do we know of two or three practitioners in a district, not on speaking terms with each other, and therefore each treading his devious way, for it often is very devious, without the kindly aid of professional counsel. Good surgery and good medicine alike suffer., for the old adage that two heads are better than one is as true in our sphere as in any other. And finally, the sordidness of the social surroundings in many of our villages, the absence of intellectual compeers even outside the profession, too frequently reacts most detrimentally upon us, and produces a mental torpor, if not a moral deterioration, which is painful to witness, still more painful to endure. And to fill up the necessary intervals between those expensive recuperators, the regulation visits to Europe, a Medical Congress acts as a most salutary tonic. The work done, and the play indulged in, have alike their useful side, and we hardly know which is the more salutary. Men, in either or both ways, break the monotonous round, and

JANUARY, 1901.

The Sixth South African Medical Congress.

One comments with unfeigned pleasure upon the resumption of the Congressional gatherings, so long and rudely interrupted by the war. It is hardly possible to overrate the advantage to the profession everywhere of these irregular professional parliaments. That mind sharpens mind as iron sharpens

of their profession, better of themselves. It is an unavoidable consequence of our immense extent of country, that but few can participate at one time in the benefits of a Congress. Of a necessity, the attendance must, for the most part, be limited to those in the same part of the country as the town in which the meeting takes place. But, as Congresses wander about from one centre to another even this defect is partially remedied, for each colony or part of a colony is in turn in the position of having a session within its borders, or within easy accessibility, and even to those at a distance, the good work done, the pleasant interchange of courtesies, are not altogether lost,

inasmuch as the medical press conveys at least the printed echo of them far and wide.

The Congress just closed, has not been the least successful of the series. The social and natural advantages of the city of Cape Town always ensure that recreation shall not be lacking. Indeed the old metropolis of the Cape Colony enjoys such an embarras de richesses in this way, that the difficulty for the entertainers is to make a selection that can be compressed into the scanty time at their disposal. And the existence on the spot of a large number of practitioners ensures that even if driven back upon local resources, the intellectual feast shall not be a despicable one. So far as the business of Congress is concerned, we think that the general run of the papers attained perhaps a higher level than on any previous occasions. At least there was a notable proportion of original research on medical matters of South African incidence. And, on the ethical and organising side, such important steps as the preliminary measures for the formation of a Guild, and the ratifying, at least in abstract, the idea of a South African Medical School, mark this session as a notable one, whilst of hardly less practical importance was the almost unanimous pronouncement of Congress in favour of the maintenance of the present equitable and salutary regulations with reference to the registration of foreign diplomas. In connection with all the business and technical work, one thing struck us very forcibly, and it is going to be accentuated in exact proportion to the development of original thought in South Africa, the unavoidable (under present conditions) maiming of the discussions of the sections from want of time. Many papers of merit were not read at all. None were discussed as they would have been had the members felt that they were at liberty to ventilate their thoughts. And this is a distinct loss, for the real value of a Congress lies in the discussions upon papers. Papers themselves can be given to the world equally well in the columns of a medical journal, but discussion can only be brought out by actual personal contact. For this defect we can only suggest one remedy, drastic enough, but we think necessary. It is that in future Congresses no papers should actually be read, that they should all be printed beforehand and circulated amongst members, and upon each being formally laid on the table debate shall follow. In some such way, not only would there be time for discussion, but the discussion would be infinitely

better directed, from the fuller grasp that members would have of the papers themselves. To take such a paper as that of Dr. Gregory for instance. It contained such a wealth of tangible facts, that to appreciate it properly demanded study that was impossible on a mere cursory hearing. It wanted thinking over, and without such thinking over, no man could properly discuss it. And the same applies, more or less, to most of the papers. We trust that our Natal brethren will give this matter very serious consideration.

One word in conclusion, and herein we are dropping the South African and assuming the Cape Town standpoint. We beg the visitors to pardon two or three little shortcomings in the social functions. We express our regret for them, and we can only plead in excuse that they were not meant, and were, directly or indirectly, the result of the inability of busy men to give themselves up entirely to the onerous duties of hosts. And we ask our visitors to remember that the unfortunate introduction of political controversy into one of the speeches at the final banquet, to the sore discomfort of an estimable body of gentlemen of a sister profession assisting at our board, cannot be set down to the account of the medical faculty, and further, that the questionable taste shewn must not be taken as characteristic of Cape Town society in general. In justice to ourselves we feel bound to make this passing allusion. And we conclude by expressing the hope that each Congress will learn from experience to be more replete with usefulness, more free from defects than any that has gone before.

We regret to report the death of a confrere, T. B. M. Sherwen, of Mocreesburg, Malmesbury Division, Cape Colony, which occurred last month. The deceased, who held the M.D. of Edinburgh and the "Triple Qual," was only 32. He was a native of Cumberland. He came out to this country as a Civil Surgeon during the war, and was subsequently Surg. Capt. in the Scottish Horse. He commenced practice at Mooreesburg early in 1903, and despite a good deal of trouble through political boycotting, which has been the subject of comment in this and the lay papers, he rapidly secured a good connection. Hæmorrhage as a complication of enteric was the cause of death. We feel it right to mention that certain painful rumours as to the refusal of a professional confrere to attend him in his late illness have no foundation in fact. He left a widow, who has our sympathy.

Dr. G. J. M. Melle, who is just convalescent from his recent serious illness, has left Paarl, and is about to commence practice at Somerset East.

Passim.

A correspondent writes to us complaining of the fact of the Cottage Hospital in his town being entirely worked by one practitioner, the District Surgeon, although that Hospital is managed by a local Board, and supported locally with the assistance of a Government grant. He urges the grievance of his being obliged to part with his patients if they require to go into hospital. Now, our opinion upon the subject is clear. We do not admit the principle that a hospital, as a hospital, should necessarily have its practice divided amongst all the medical men in the place. Just as many medical practitioners should be appointed to it as its needs require, and no more. But the number on the staff should in no case be less than two, except where, of course, only one medical man is available. But when the hospital, as in all but our largest towns, has to be also utilised as a nursing home for the accommodation of patients who are able and willing to pay for medical advice and nursing, it should be open to every qualified practitioner in the place. In other words, the staff as such should do all the attendance upon ordinary patients-that is, those paying nothing or only a small sum, people who are objects, more or less of charity. The class of private patients who pay a sufficient sum to remunerate the hospital, should be allowed to choose their own medical attendant, and pay him privately. This is the rule at almost all the hospitals of the Cape Colony. No difficulty whatever is found in administering it. In large towns, it is better for hospitals to take no private patients, leaving provision for them to private enterprise.

The issues involved in the lengthy complaint which Dr. Elliott, of Verulam, makes in our correspondence columns, so far as they concern the profession generally, appear to be plain enough. Natal has a law, we venture to say, a very proper one, forbidding the supply of intoxicating liquor to Natives or Indians, except on medical certificate. A local police sergeant assumes, rightly or wrongly, that a particular medical man is giving certificates without due justification. He thereupon orders the publican not to supply on a certain certificate, and he, moreover, obtains from the publican certain other certificates emanating from the medical man. The police sergeant thereby takes upon himself the position of being a censor of medical certificates and a court of appeal on a medical technical question, that is whether so and-so is sufficiently ill to require a stimulant or a particular quantity of a stimulant, or not. When the medical man complains to the official superiors of the police sergeant, those official superiors not only refuse to pass any censure on the extraordinary position taken up by the police, but actually imply that another censor, the hotel keeper, has the right to decide upon the bona fides of the medical practitioner. To us this appears monstrous. carefully avoid entering into the question as to whether Dr. Elliott did or did not exercise due care in the issue of certificates, simply because it is altogether a side issue. The right of issuing certificates on medical grounds is given to the only people capable of appreciat ing those grounds. For a layman to act as a court of

We

appeal upon them is absurd. So long as the issuer of the certificates occupies the position of a registered medical practitioner, any document issued in that capacity must carry with it unquestioned force. If the authorities have good reason to believe that he is acting mala fide in his professional capacity, their plain duty is to bring him before the Medical Council. If he is proved guilty of issuing certificates without due professional justification, let him be removed from the Register by all means. If he is not found guilty, then he must continue in the full enjoyment of all the privileges that registration confers. To put a medical man in the position of a lay official being able to take action which involves a standing accusation of grave professional mala fides, without bringing him to trial and opportunity of defence, is simply monstrous. If Dr. Elliott has done what the authorities accuse him of, we think he would admit that he is not fit to remain on the Register a day. if he has not so acted, the injustice of exposing him to a continual and public reflection of a serious character is plain.

From a copy of Bye-laws, kindly sent to us by the Natal Branch of the British Medical Association, we are glad to note that this branch has divided up into divisions, according to the new Constitution. It is the first South African Branch to do so, and we congratulate it on adopting an arrangement wisely conceived, and specially applicable to South African conditions. There are to be three divisions, with headquarters at Durban, Pietermaritzburg, and Ladysmith respectively. Dr. W. A. Skinner, the Asylum, Maritzburg, is Secretary of the Branch.

A judgment, in a suit for civil imprisonment, has just been given in the Cape Supreme Court against Dr. McMullen of Cape Town, who recently took over the practice of Dr. A. E. Seller, on account of a debt, apparently incurred in connection with a practice at Beaufort West acquired from Dr. Darter. Payment at the rate of £3 per month till March 1905 was ordered, and after that date £50 per month. This date is fixed on account of the fact that, until then Dr. McMullen is under obligation to pay Dr. Seller £50 per month, which he has been doing since he took over the practice. He stated his earnings to be about £90 per month.