1008

alveolar abscess yielded post mortem a culture of the

staphyloccccus pyogenes aureus. The roseolous rashes were

probably due to septic absorption. In the Transactions of

the Pathological Society of London for 1887 Mr. JonathanHutchinson, jun., reported a somewhat similar case but

death seemed to have been due to miliary tuberculosis. The

patient was a child, aged 21 months, and the ulcers in themouth persisted for nine months. Such cases appear to be

due to the breaking down of the powers of resistance of thebody to the invasion of pathogenic microbes by an attack ofmeasles.

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WOMEN INEBRIATES.

THERE is no need to dwell on the misery and degradationwhich follow when a woman becomes a drunkard. But thereis every reason why efforts for her reclamation should exciteinterest and cooperation. At a retreat for such cases at Fallow-

field, Manchester, two classes are received. One consists of

persons of education who have fallen into the habit of

drinking and they employ themselves " in the lighterdomestic duties " and in needlework. A smaller fee is paidby patients of the industrial class and they are occupiedin more menial household work. " No patient can beadmitted to a retreat except at her own request, signed beforea justice." She may sign for one or two years’ detention,those signing for two being the minority. The report saysthat by the end of the first year they have become aware oftheir weakness and of the strength required before they canface temptation. The treatment is simple, without fads :

"rigid abstinence, no drugs, cheerful industry, regularexercise, and a sympathetic atmosphere of religious andmoral influence." The home has only accommodation for 25patients and to show how much it is needed and trustedthe applications for admission last year were 125, of which26 were successful.

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ISLINGTON MEDICAL SOCIETY.

A MEETING of this society was held on March 22nd,Dr. B. G. Morison being in the chair. Dr. Morison read a

paper on the Comparative Merits and Effects of Prescribingand Dispensing in Medical Practice. He maintained that

patients could pay, and were willing to pay, both practitionerand druggist. Even in club practice this arrangement hadbeen found to be possible and druggists were not averse toreducing charges in favour of the poor. The custom of

prescribing on the part of druggists was largely the outcomeof dispensing by medical men. He questioned whether theprofits alleged to accrue from the dispensing system weremuch, if anything, in excess of the expenses and even losseswhich it entailed. From a professional point of view thepractice of dispensing was indefensible. Dr. G. A. Heronstated that during the period from 1869 to 1871 the generalpractitioners of Margate, with one exception, at his sug-

gestion ceased to dispense. He found on inquiry thatin 1903 there were only three practices in that town

in which dispensing was carried on and that the medical

practitioners as a body strongly objected to return to the

original system. He also mentioned the fact that inScotland prescribing practice was the rule. Mr. J. SmithWhitaker also spoke in favour of the discontinuance of dis-pensing which he thought would be feasible if medical menin any district would unite for this purpose. Dr. H. Fraser

Stokes, Dr. E. S. Tait, and Dr. A. Reid also preferredprescribing but would like to be convinced as to its

practicability. Dr. Alexander Morison spoke in similarterms but held that the vested interests of dispensing prac-titioners must be taken into account. Mr. T. D. Jago saw noneed to change the method now existing and consideredprescribing in general practice to be impossible. Dr. J. G.

clover, though accustomed to prescribe and expressing

some sympathy with the change proposed, was of opinionthat it would bear hardly on the poor, especially in London.Any attempt to press it would be unjust as well as impoliticand would tend to drive patients to the prescribing druggist.The interests of the poor deserved every consideration and

though much might be done to promote a better understand.ing with druggists the liberty of medical men who preferredto dispense must not be interfered with. Dr. B. G. Morison

proposed to move at the next meeting of the society that acommittee should be appointed to inquire into the questionsin dispute. This was agreed to.

LEPROSY IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

FULL clinical histories of the patients admitted during1901 into the New South Wales leper lazaret are given inan official report by Dr. J. Ashburton Thompson, chiefmedical officer of the Colonial Government and president ofthe Board of Health. The lazaret is at Little Bay nearSydney. On Jan. lst, 1901, there were 11 persons underdetention. During the year ten persons were reported tothe Board under the Leprosy Act, 1890, as being suspectedlepers and nine of them were ultimately admitted to thelazaret under warrants. During the year there were fivedeaths and on Dec. 31st, 1901, there remained under deten-tion 15 persons, including nine whites, four Chinese, one

Javanese, and one South Sea Islander. In his remarks ontwo of the cases Dr. Thompson refers to instances in whichthe lesions of leprosy have been erroneously attributed tosyphilis.

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DEATHS AND QUACK MEDICINES.

AT an inquest held on March 30th Mr. Troutbeck

inquired into the death of a child aged seven months.Medical evidence was given to the effect that the child

weighed only nine pounds and died from meningitis set

up by improper feeding. The mother stated that shehad fed the child on tinned milk and a food prepared bya local druggist. One of the jurors raised a question as tothe sale of foods and pointed out that they were soldas foods fit for children. The coroner said that in the

present state of the law the sale of these foods by meansof enticing advertisements was allowed and there was notthe slightest doubt that this was the cause of a greatdeal of disease and death. The same remarks applied topatent medicines but in their case the State made animmoral profit on their sale. We are glad to be able toagree with Mr. Troutbeck. The false statements whichare made in advertisements are only too flagrant andwhether the Government wishes so or not the revenue stampon patent medicines is taken as an endorsement of thestatements about the medicines which are made by theproprietors. A morning contemporary publishes a seriesof police regulations which have recently been issued inLubeck regarding unqualified practitioners and very admir-able they are :Persons wishing to practise medicine professionally without being

approved by the State must notify their intention to the MedicalBureau. They must immediately report, with the name, age, andresidence of the patient, if they advise or treat a person suffering fromfevers and diseases of an inflammatory nature The rules regardingadvertisements are very stringent, reading as follows : Public adver-tisements by non-approved persons are forbidden, in so far as they arecalculated to mislead concerning the training, capacity, or success ofsuch persons, or contain boastful promises. Public advertisement ofthe objects, apparatus, methods, or means which are applied for theprevention, alleviation, or cure of illness is forbidden, when (a) superiorpower over and above their true worth is attributed to such objects,apparatus, methods, or means, or the public is misled by the mannerin which they are described; or when (b) the objects, apparatus,methods, or means, by the nature of their construction or quality, arecalculated to bring about injuries to health. These regulations are tocome into force on May lst and any contravention of the same will bepunished by a fine not exceeding 150 marks or by imprisonment.

We commend the rules regarding advertisements to theCommissioner of Police in London and the watch com-

mittees in the provinces. If something similar could be