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cauterization may have to be employed. In all forms, attention to th general health and proper mode of living is essential. Before any line of treatment is decided upon, the condition of the upper respiratory tract must be most carefully investigated, for here is most commonly found the underlying cause of the disease situated lower down.

THE NASAL TREATMENT OF NON-SUPPURATIVE
OF THE MIDDLE EAR.

DISEASE

At the last meeting of the British Medical Association, Dr. Thomas Barr, in his address introducing the subject of treatment of non-suppurative disease of the middle ear, spoke as follows with reference to the nasal treatment of these cases. Jour. Laryngology: The propriety of operative nasal treatment in those forms of middle-ear disease has given rise to very pronounced divergence of opinion, and may almost be regard ed as a burning question in our specialty. Most of us probably approve of operating upon, or otherwise removing, marked obstructions in the nasal channels. There can be no doubt that such obstructions exercise an injurious influence upon the tympano-Eustachian apparatus, first by the effect of suction during the act of swallowing; and, second, by inducing persistent or recurrent swellings of the Eustachian tube. Hence we are pretty well agreed as to the propriety of operative or other treatment for the removal of marked hypertrophies in the nasal passages, such as enlargement of the inferior turbinated body, or very pronounced septal ridges, or deflections causing considerable stenosis. Also when postnasal adenoids exist, most of us would approve of operating without, however, expecting such brilliant results as in the case of the exudative catarrhs. Fortunately, the dry forms of middle ear deafness are comparatively uncommon in childhood. On the other hand, the existence of a small spur or knob on the septum, interfering very little or none at all with nasal breathing, and producing no special tendency to catarrhal attacks, may wisely be ignored. It is to be remembered that intra-nasal operations occasionally seem to aggravate the deafness perhaps through nervous shock, or from the entrance of blood through the Eustachian tube. There is probably unanimity as to the propriety of treating post-nasal catarrhs by the recognised methods, although it is not to be forgotten that these methods, such as the use of the nasal douche, may, in the absence of careful precautions be productive of much harm."

PROVINCE OF QUEBEC NEWS

Conducted by MALCOLM MACKAY, B.A., M.D., Windsor Mills,

The Montreal Civic Hospital for contagious diseases is again occupying the attention of the aldermen. It was thought that a solution of the difficulty had been found when in March 1903, the city agreed to support two hospitals, one for Catholics and one for Protestants, provided that the governors erected the buildings by Jan. 1905. The Roman Catholics

have fulfilled their part of the contract, by adding to the proposed new Notre Dame Hospital, a building for contagious diseases. The Protestants, on the other hand, attempted to buy land for their hospital within city limits, but they met with such opposition from the owners of adjacent property that they were unable to obtain the rite until it was too late in the season to begin building operations. The Civic Hygiene Committee, having enquired into the matter, extended the contract period until Sept. 1905, seeing that $30,000 had been expended upon the ground upon which the institution was to be built, and that there was every prospect of the work being pushed.

A very serious obstacle has proved to be the lack of funds, and a public meeting was called in order to put the question before the community. The chair was taken by Dr. Roddick who made an earnest appeal for funds. He stated that about six months ago the matter had been urged by the press, and some $36,000 collected, an amount of course utterly inadequate. Mr. Ross then spoke upon the necessity of a hospital for contagious diseases and added point to his remarks by subscribing $25,000. Several other subscriptions, varying from $500 to $1,000 were taken up at the same meeting, and committees were elected to bring this part of the plan to the individual attention of the Protestants.

At the sixtieth annual meeting of the Montreal Maternity Hospital it was announced that with $15,000 more the new hospital which is in course of erection, would be free from debt. The gift of $40,000, by Sir. Wm. McDonald, has enabled the management to present this very satisfactory report. The arrangement entered into last December with the Royal Victoria and General Hospitals had proved must satisfactory. Undergraduate nurses from these institutions now take a three months' course of training in obstetrical work at the Maternity Hospital and pass oral and written examinations before leaving.

Since December, twenty nurses had been received from the two hospitals. During the year there had been a total increase of ninety-five in the number of patients treated, there being three hundred and fifty-three

cases in all, besides outside cases. There were but two deaths during

the year.

There was a large attendance at the annual meeting of the Montreal League for the Prevention of Tuberculosis, and many interesting speeches were made. Sir George Drummond, president, occupied the chair, and among others present were Mayor Laporte, Sir. Wm. Hingston, Drs. Lachapelle, Roddick, Adami, Dr. Williams of Sherbrooke.

The president opened the meeting by referring to the fact that tuberculosis was now recognized as a communicable, preventable and curable disease, and this being so it was the duty of every community to take steps towards its prevention. Personally, he did not think it possible to deal with it by purely voluntary efforts, but thought that the Government should carry on the work. This, however, was no excuse for doing nothing, and everyone should aid to their best ability the society that was deing the work, although so badly handicapped.

Sir. Wm. Hingston said that the public and some medical men had fallen into the error of thinkng that the reporting of the disease was inquisitorial. It certainly was not. The purpose of it was to see that the disease was not spread, and that when it had carried off its victim, proper means were taken to prevent the locality becoming a centre of dis

tribution in the future.

Mayor Laporte expressed appreciation of the work done and promised civic support in as far as he was able to promise it.

The work of the League was brought forward by Dr. Roddick. He said that the inspector had paid over 1667 visits, and 9,000 cuspidors had been distributed. Some 88 new cases had been reported since last June, and in the same time 31 had died. Steps had been taken to interest the working classes by means of literature and lectures. The work had been carried on in French as well as English. Further, the anti-spitting by-law had been brought upon the civic council. He was pleased to hear the remarks of Mayor Laporte as the League was at present getting a grant of $700 a year, a sum which could easily be doubled, and yet Montreal would not be doing as much as some other cities.

Dr. Dube, whose duties are principally in connection with the dispensary, said that since November 7th they had examined and treated a large number of patients. The dispensary was a necessary adjunct to the other branches of the society, but unfortunately it required the lion's share of the funds. This was of necessity the case, for not only must medicine be supplied, but also food and clothing for the destitute. The greatest difficulty encountered had been the absence of places of refuge where early and hopeful cases might be successfully treated, and where advanced cases might be placed.

Some interesting light is thrown upon the heavy infantile mortality of the city when it is stated that, during 1902, there were 248 deaths of children under five years of age from meningitis, and that fully 75 of these were tubercular in origin; enquiry also proved that adults suffering from consumption had been living in the houses either at the same time or shortly before.

Dr. Williams reported briefly upon the work being done in Sherbrooke.

Dr. Hutchinson, the Medical Officer of Westmount, had warned the householders of that town against the possible repetition of what occurred last year, an outbreak of typhoid fever, owing to contamination of the water supply. The municipal engineer has reported that the ice formations on the river are assuming the same aspect as they did last year, when the sewage of Verdum was diverted into the intake of the Westmount water supply. The water company has recognized the danger and are improving the channel by means of sand bags, but Dr. Hutchinson advises the boiling of all drinking water.

The Montreal Health Officer is impressing upon the Health committee the great necessity of notifying the public to promptly call in a physician when children contract bad sore throats, as in the initial stage diphtheria is frequently looked upon as a trivial matter and is thus neglected. Dr. Laberge states that the greatest cause of deaths from diphtheria is the tardy recognition of the gravity of the malady. It is expected that the Health Committee will issue a circular to parents, in regard to the disease and its treatment.

The sum of $6,500 was recently presented to the management of the Childrens' Memorial Hospital in the name of the school children of Montreal. The money was raised by means of a bazar which was conducted by the pupils of the Montreal Schools.

At the regular meetings of the Montreal Medico-Chirurgical Society the following papers were presented. Dr. Gillies, congenital absece of one kidney; case reports by Dr. R. P. Campbell, anthrax; by Drs. Martin & Hardisty (1) early renal tuberculosis with calculus, (2) cancer of stomach with sudden death. A discussion followed on actinomycosis by Drs. Bell, Keenan, McEachran, Chipman, Adami and Hamilton.

At the Quarterly meeting of the Board of Governors of the Montreal General Hospital, Dr. Campbell reported that for the three months there were 829 patients treated to a conclusion, with 57 deaths, 21 of which occurred within three days of admission making the mortality for ordinary cases 4.3 per cent. In the outdoor department there were 10,235 consultations and 375 ambulance calls. Owing to the great increase of surgical work it had been necessary to appoint a permanent assistant to

Miss Tedford in the operating room. In the out-door department two special rooms were now completed and ready for use.

The 34th Annual dinner of the Faculty of Medicine of Bishop's College was held on Dec. 8th, in the Place Viger Hotel. The function proved very successful and was spoken of as one of the most enjoyable in the history of the college. Mr. G. W. Gellatly, '05, presided, and at the table of honour were: Chancellor Hamilton, Dr. England, Dr. A. McPhee, Dr. Armstrong, Dr. Perrigo, and Dr. McConnell.

The chairman proposed the health of the King, following which Dr. Wm. Burnett proposed the Alma Mater. Dr. Hamilton, in replying, regretted the absence of Dr. Campbell and Dr. Whitney. He thought that Bishop's College had long enough suffered from self effacement while McGill loomed large in the public eye. He thought the undergraduates should advertise the College more and to better advantage.

Mr. Melik Vartanian proposed Sister Universities, and delegates from Toronto, Queens, Laval and McGill, replied. Our guests was proposed by Dr. Hackett and responded to by Drs. Buller and Armstrong of McGill.

THE OYSTER AS A POSSIBLE AGENT IN THE TRANSMISSION OF TYPHOID FEVER.

In the Medical Review of Reviews, September 25th, Bensel, Assistant Sanitary Superintendant of New York, discusses the conditions that surround the oyster fields from which the chief American supply is drawn, and the dangers that may arise in connection with them. The most important of the oyster fisheries are carried on from small towns situated on the banks of streams that drain directly into the sea in the vicinity of the beds, and along these streams are built the houses of the fishermen with the drainage from their houses and from their primitive closets passing directly into the water. On the banks, too, are situated the sheds in which the oysters are spread out to "fatten." They are covered, at high water, by the water from these streams which is much less salt than the sea water from which they have come, and thus both before and after being caught they are exposed to all possible chances of contamination. The description is accompanied by several illustrations showing the features described.

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