staffordshire and typhoid fever

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STAFFORDSHIRE AND TYPHOID FEVER.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-I see that your Commissioner has roused the autho-rities of South Staffordshire at Wolverhampton ; would hetake pity on North Staffordshire, for the existing circum-stances are these. The North Staffordshire Infirmary,built about four years ago, on the most approved principlesand splendidly situated, has not been free for any length oftime from typhoid fever during the last three years, manypatients and officials having caught the disease, and not a fewhaving died. The cause of all this is pretty obvious to mostpeople, but the Committee of the above-mentioned infirmaryhave done practically nothing to remedy this deplorablestate of things.

I enclose my card, and am, Sir, yours, &c.,A WELL-WISHER TO NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE.

October 21st, 1873.

Obituary.JOHN THURNAM, M.D., F.R.C.P.,

DEVIZES.

BY the sudden death of this able and highly respectedphysician on the 24th of September last the Wilts CountyAsylum sustained a loss which will not be readily replaced.

Dr. Thurnam was born at Ludcroft, near York, on Dec.28th, 1810. As his parents belonged to the Society ofFriends his education was of a private character; but tcthe excellence of it, it may with justice be said, the pupilwas a living testimony.

After passing through the required course of medicalstudy he became a member of the Royal College of Surgeonsof England in 1834. In the same year he was appointedresident medical officer of the Westminster Hospital,which office he held till 1838, when he was chosen as thesuperintendent of the Retreat near York. In 1843 hebecame a L.R.C.P., and in 1846 M.D. of King’s College,Aberdeen. During the above periods he distinguishedhimself by the zeal and ability with which he cultivatedvarious branches of medical science. Amongst others maybe cited the various published memoirs which he contri-buted on different pathological subjects, more especiallythose on Partial and Spontaneous Aneurism of the Heart;to the great merits of which all writers on cardiac diseasesof that period, whether in this country or on the Continent,have borne testimony.During his residence at the Retreat he published, in 1841,

the Statistics of the Retreat, and in 1843 Observations onthe Statistics and Treatment of Insanity. Those only whchave been somewhat extensively engaged in statistical reosearches will be able fully to appreciate the amount oflabour and care required to ensure the accuracy whichgenerally characterises Dr. Thurnam’s work.Before referring to the chief scene of his labours, we

think it will not be out of place here to remark that,though he evinced so much assiduity in the pursuit oistrictly medical subjects, it was by no means to the ex-clusion of other branches of scientific research. As a Fellowof the Society of Antiquaries, Dr. Thurnam, by his jointeditorship of "Crania Britannica," his "Observations onBritish and Gaulish Skulls," and by various contributioneto the different journals on allied subjects, earned for him-self no mean place in the domain of archaeology. In theWilts Archaeological Society, as a member of the council;he had in different ways rendered valuable service, and inthe annual excursions of the Society he was not unfrequentlylooked to as an expositor of the objects of scientific interestwhich were being visited.In 1849 he was selected by the magistrates of the county

of Wilts as the suitable and proper person to whom tcentrust the management of first establishing and after.wards of superintending the county lunatic asylum, whictwas opened for the reception of patients in 1851. Theability manifested and the success which attended hislabours in this important undertaking may be con

sidered as having fully justified their choice. The evi.

dences of painstaking diligence and high consoientious-ness he had shown in the pursuit of medical sciencewere the more manifestly developed in the discharge ofthe duties which he had now undertaken. It is wellknown to the writer that not only was Dr. Thurnam muchrespected as well as beloved by the poor patients in themidst of whom he spent so large a portion of his life, butin the difficult duty of governance, his patience and tactin settling disputes which from time to time might occur,won for him the title of 11 peace-maker."For some time previous to his death he had complained

of headache and drowsiness, but which, he had hoped,change and rest would prove adequate to remove. Nothaving been able to effect his purpose of taking a

holiday, he remained at his post to the last, and even onthe morning on which he died had been into the wards ofthe asylum to attend to some sudden call of duty. Hislast words evidenced the possession of unimpaired facul-ties immediately previous to the apoplectic seizure whichterminated his existence.

Dr. Thurnam has left behind a widow and three sons,with whom we know a large circle of friends, both lay andprofessional, deeply sympathise. Of him it may be trulysaid that he died beloved and lamented. Both attendantsand patients (those of the latter who were in a condition tocomprehend what had occurred) evinced most sincere griefat their unexpected loss.

Medical News.APOTHECARIES’ HALL. -The following oentlemen 5

passed their examination in the Science and Practice of Medi-cine, and received certificates to practise, on Oct. 16the :-

Eastall, Henry Francis, Shooter’s-hill-road.Waller, William Bevan, Milner-square, Islington.

The following gentleman also on the same day passed hisPrimary Professional Examination :—

Crawshaw, Benjamin, London Hospital.

COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, IRELAND.-At examina-tions recently held the following gentlemen obtained thelicences in Medicine and Midwifery :-

MEBiciNE.—George Deane Bourke, Patrick Horne, Michael James Kelly,Edward William Kelsall, George Legge Buchanan Stoney, Joseph HinesWolfenden. _

MiDwiFBET.—George Deane Bourke, Michael James Kelly, Edward Wni.Kelsall, William Stoker, George Stoney, Joseph Hines Wolfenden.

DR. WILLIA3f ADYE is a candidate for the coroner-ship of Wilts.THE Excise duty on medicine vendors last year was

over ae7000.

DR. GODFREY, medical officer to the ClonmoyleDispensary district, after upwards of half a century’s ser-vice, has been accorded a retiring allowance of .893 perannum.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, EDINBURGH.-Atthe annual meeting of the College on the 15th inst., thefollowing office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year :-President: Dr. James Simson. Treasurer: Dr. JohnGairdner. Secretary: Dr. Robert Omond. Librarian : Dr.Archibald Inglis. President’s Council : Dr. James S.Combe, Dr. Andrew Wood, Dr. James Dunsmure, Mr. Wm.Walker, Dr. Henry D. Littlejohn, Dr. Patrick H. Watson.Dr. John Gairdner (ex officio).

CAMBRIDGE LOCAL EXAMINATIONS AND MEDICALSTUDENTS.-The following grace received the sanction ofthe Senate of the University of Cambridge on the 16thultimo :—" That, on the recommendation of the Local Ex-aminations Syndicate, a student, though he is above theage of sixteen, may be admitted to the examination forstudents under that age, provided that he produces a cer-tificate signed by a graduate of the University, or a memberof the medical profession whose name is on the MedicalRegister, that such graduate or member believes him to bebond-fide intending to become a medical student; and thatthe names of students admitted under this condition and

satisfying the examiners be sent to the Registrar of theGeneral Medical Council, but that the ordinary certificatesbe not granted to such students.