manchester

2
1549 legality of such action was challenged. In time, however, the contending political parties accepted the principle, the Government gave its approval, and now the rival factions compete with each other as to who shall feed the children in the best and most complete manner. In England we are only just approaching the threshold of the question. Therefore the experience of Italy, where it has been in the domain of practical politics for ten years, must be of considerable value. The Italian experience will help to indicate what developments are likely to occur in other countries when dealing with similar problems. On the other hand, as notably at San Remo, a considerable number of school children have now been fed, more or less well, for ten years, it is time that statistics should be forthcoming to illustrate the physical results. Comparisons of the death- rates during the school age, before and after the introduction of the free feeding, would be useful but periodical records of the weights of the pupils, together with chest and other measurements, would be still more conclusive. This doubt- less will be organised by the special medical officer who is to be intrusted with the care of the children at the San Remo schools. BIRMINGHAM. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) The Hostel for Women Students. SOME two years ago a hostel for women students attending Birmingham University classes was opened in a house which was obtained in the Hagley-road. It was soon so over- crowded that a second and then a third house was rented in the immediate neighbourhood of the first. All the houses are filled and applications have had to be refused. It was shown at the annual meeting of the supporters of the move- ment that the present method of renting houses was very ’, expensive and it was stated that even if a building of suffi- cient size was provided the fees of the students would only suffice to pay the expenses of upkeep and management. In these circumstances it was determined to appeal for the necessary funds, about .612.000, to provide a building which would accommodate at least 50 students. Some of the speakers at the meeting urged the advisability of pro- viding a similar hall of residence for men as soon as possible, but it may be questioned if there would be a great demand for accommodation there. It is obvious that if the fees are placed at such a figure they will not pay for the accom- modation provided and interest on the outlaid capital, the provision of hostels is but a method of subsidising students, and it may be questioned if it is so advisable a method as the provision of good scholarships which would secure brains fit for further education. The Physical Gundition of SLnnz Children. In the course of a lecture delivered by Dr. H. Bagster Wilson before the Birmingham branch of the British Child Study Association some very significant comparisons were made between the slum children of Birmingham and the children of Bournville. The statistics for these comparisons have been prepared by Mr. Haywood, the physical director of the Young Men’s Christian Association. They show, apparently quite clearly, that taking children of similar ages both the girls and the boys of Bournville are dh;ticctly taller and heavier and that they possess greater lung capacity than the slum children. The difference in weight between Bourn- ville boys and slum boys was 9 2/10th pounds and the difference in lung capacity 22 inches, whilst in the cases of the girls the differences were 6 4/5th pounds and 11 inches respectively in favour of Bournville. The Dental Hospital and the Teeth of School Children. At the annual meeting of the Dental Hospital it was stated that the munificence of an anonymous donor who had provided E1200 for the purpose had enabled the committee to commence the examination and treatment of the teeth of the children in elementary schools. The work has been commenced in a school containing 1400 children whose teeth have been charted and the treatment found necessary is being carried out at the Dental Hospital. This is a new departure and one that must result in much good, but it is evident that it cannot be carried out universally by private means and if it is to be extended and continued the cost must fall eventually on the taxpayer. When this is the Case the private dentist must not complain if people who , now go to him claim to be treated at the hospital, for many , taxpayers are finding it increasingly difficult to pay all the 1 expenses to which they have been accustomed in association 1 with their own families and also the expenses associated i with other people’s children. The Dudley Guest Hospital. The annual report of the Dudley Guest Hospital must have proved very satisfactory to the supporters of the hos- pital. During the year an eye department and an out- , patient department have been added to the hospital ; the number of cases admitted increased to 903, or 139 more than in the previous year ; and the income increased from E3539 to £3834. With an increased income and a reduced expenditure on the year it was found possible to reduce the i adverse balance of the previous year from E743 to f.513. , At the same time the committee, in presenting its report, , pointed out that the new additions would necessarily entail increased expenditure and appeals, therefore, for increased support which must be forthcoming if the hospital is to pro- : ceed with its additional work. Not only must funds be found for the treatment of additional cases but also for increased sleeping accommodation for the nurses which must be provided before long. Tacberc2clous Pigs. We may congratulate ourselves upon the activity of our health department so far as tuberculosis in pigs is concerned, for the care it has exercised has been so great that the pig-dealers of Wexford have instigated the Member for . South Wexford to make inquiry in Parliament concerning , the matter. The pig-dealers complain that the authorities are more strict in Birmingham than in other places, and if that is so we can only recommend the example ot Birmingham to other cities and towns if they are as desirous as we are to eradicate a dread disease. The pig-dealers claim that the animals destroyed are often those which they consider the best and they urge that when an animal is completely confis- cated some compensation should be paid. They say that this is done in Germany, and although there seems to be little reason in the claim no doubt it will receive such considera- tion as it deserves. Nov. 27th. _________________ MANCHESTER. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) A New Coroner’s Court. UNTIL the provision now made for the coroner’s court in the new and substantial fire-station buildings in London-road the accommodation for those who had to attend the court was not creditable to Manchester. The new court was formally opened by the Lord Mayor, Mr. J. H. Thewlis, a day or two before the close of his mayoralty. He reminded his audience that although the coroner was appointed by the city council, after his appoint- ment he was practically an independent judicial officer. He bore testimony to the admirable manner in which Mr. E. A. Gibson had fulfilled the important duties of the office. In declaring the court open the Lord Mayor said he hoped that it would serve its sad and serious purposes" adequately and well. In reply, Mr. Gibson thanked the Lord Mayor for the terms in which he had spoken of him. Among other matters he spoke of the difficulty as to the viewing of the body by the jury and of the steps now being taken " in the direction of trying to get legislation that would do away with that necessity." In his opinion viewing the body was of great importance and the abolition of it would interfere much with the efficiency of inquiries. He spoke also of the removal of bodies by hand ambulance as not acceptable to people in great sorrow, as they did not think it "quite as seemly as it might be." There had been criticism about the removal of bodies from private houses for post-mortem examination, but he had ordered it to be done because such an examination could not be made as it should be in a private house. Speaking of the large number of cases of suffocation of children, he thought some were due to carelessness, bur. in the majority of cases "they were purely accidental." He did not appear to advocate separate sleeping accommoda- tion for all babies and said it was necessary that the mother should have the babe for feeding purposes, instancing two cases where children were suffocated in institutions in

Upload: vodang

Post on 30-Dec-2016

213 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: MANCHESTER

1549

legality of such action was challenged. In time, however,the contending political parties accepted the principle,the Government gave its approval, and now the rivalfactions compete with each other as to who shall feedthe children in the best and most complete manner. In

England we are only just approaching the threshold ofthe question. Therefore the experience of Italy, where ithas been in the domain of practical politics for ten years,must be of considerable value. The Italian experience willhelp to indicate what developments are likely to occur inother countries when dealing with similar problems. On theother hand, as notably at San Remo, a considerable numberof school children have now been fed, more or less well, forten years, it is time that statistics should be forthcoming toillustrate the physical results. Comparisons of the death-rates during the school age, before and after the introductionof the free feeding, would be useful but periodical records ofthe weights of the pupils, together with chest and othermeasurements, would be still more conclusive. This doubt-less will be organised by the special medical officer who is tobe intrusted with the care of the children at the San Remoschools.

BIRMINGHAM.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The Hostel for Women Students.SOME two years ago a hostel for women students attending

Birmingham University classes was opened in a house whichwas obtained in the Hagley-road. It was soon so over-

crowded that a second and then a third house was rentedin the immediate neighbourhood of the first. All the housesare filled and applications have had to be refused. It wasshown at the annual meeting of the supporters of the move-ment that the present method of renting houses was very ’,expensive and it was stated that even if a building of suffi-cient size was provided the fees of the students would onlysuffice to pay the expenses of upkeep and management.In these circumstances it was determined to appeal forthe necessary funds, about .612.000, to provide a buildingwhich would accommodate at least 50 students. Some ofthe speakers at the meeting urged the advisability of pro-viding a similar hall of residence for men as soon as possible,but it may be questioned if there would be a great demandfor accommodation there. It is obvious that if the fees are

placed at such a figure they will not pay for the accom-modation provided and interest on the outlaid capital, theprovision of hostels is but a method of subsidising students,and it may be questioned if it is so advisable a method as theprovision of good scholarships which would secure brains fitfor further education.

The Physical Gundition of SLnnz Children.In the course of a lecture delivered by Dr. H. Bagster

Wilson before the Birmingham branch of the British ChildStudy Association some very significant comparisons weremade between the slum children of Birmingham and thechildren of Bournville. The statistics for these comparisonshave been prepared by Mr. Haywood, the physical directorof the Young Men’s Christian Association. They show,apparently quite clearly, that taking children of similar agesboth the girls and the boys of Bournville are dh;ticctly tallerand heavier and that they possess greater lung capacity thanthe slum children. The difference in weight between Bourn-ville boys and slum boys was 9 2/10th pounds and the differencein lung capacity 22 inches, whilst in the cases of the girlsthe differences were 6 4/5th pounds and 11 inches respectivelyin favour of Bournville.

The Dental Hospital and the Teeth of School Children.At the annual meeting of the Dental Hospital it was

stated that the munificence of an anonymous donor who hadprovided E1200 for the purpose had enabled the committeeto commence the examination and treatment of the teeth ofthe children in elementary schools. The work has beencommenced in a school containing 1400 children whoseteeth have been charted and the treatment found necessaryis being carried out at the Dental Hospital. This is a newdeparture and one that must result in much good, but it isevident that it cannot be carried out universally by privatemeans and if it is to be extended and continued the costmust fall eventually on the taxpayer. When this is theCase the private dentist must not complain if people who

, now go to him claim to be treated at the hospital, for many, taxpayers are finding it increasingly difficult to pay all the1 expenses to which they have been accustomed in association1 with their own families and also the expenses associatedi with other people’s children.

The Dudley Guest Hospital.The annual report of the Dudley Guest Hospital must

have proved very satisfactory to the supporters of the hos-pital. During the year an eye department and an out-

, patient department have been added to the hospital ; thenumber of cases admitted increased to 903, or 139 more thanin the previous year ; and the income increased from E3539to £3834. With an increased income and a reduced

expenditure on the year it was found possible to reduce thei adverse balance of the previous year from E743 to f.513., At the same time the committee, in presenting its report,, pointed out that the new additions would necessarily entail,

increased expenditure and appeals, therefore, for increasedsupport which must be forthcoming if the hospital is to pro-

: ceed with its additional work. Not only must funds be foundfor the treatment of additional cases but also for increasedsleeping accommodation for the nurses which must be

provided before long.Tacberc2clous Pigs.

We may congratulate ourselves upon the activity of ourhealth department so far as tuberculosis in pigs is concerned,for the care it has exercised has been so great that thepig-dealers of Wexford have instigated the Member for

. South Wexford to make inquiry in Parliament concerning,

the matter. The pig-dealers complain that the authoritiesare more strict in Birmingham than in other places, and ifthat is so we can only recommend the example ot Birminghamto other cities and towns if they are as desirous as we are toeradicate a dread disease. The pig-dealers claim that theanimals destroyed are often those which they consider thebest and they urge that when an animal is completely confis-cated some compensation should be paid. They say that thisis done in Germany, and although there seems to be littlereason in the claim no doubt it will receive such considera-tion as it deserves.Nov. 27th.

_________________

MANCHESTER.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

A New Coroner’s Court.UNTIL the provision now made for the coroner’s court in

the new and substantial fire-station buildings in London-roadthe accommodation for those who had to attend the courtwas not creditable to Manchester. The new court was

formally opened by the Lord Mayor, Mr. J. H. Thewlis, aday or two before the close of his mayoralty. Hereminded his audience that although the coroner was

appointed by the city council, after his appoint-ment he was practically an independent judicial officer.He bore testimony to the admirable manner in which Mr.E. A. Gibson had fulfilled the important duties of theoffice. In declaring the court open the Lord Mayor saidhe hoped that it would serve its sad and serious purposes"adequately and well. In reply, Mr. Gibson thanked theLord Mayor for the terms in which he had spoken ofhim. Among other matters he spoke of the difficultyas to the viewing of the body by the jury and of the

steps now being taken " in the direction of trying to

get legislation that would do away with that necessity."In his opinion viewing the body was of great importanceand the abolition of it would interfere much with theefficiency of inquiries. He spoke also of the removal ofbodies by hand ambulance as not acceptable to people ingreat sorrow, as they did not think it "quite as seemlyas it might be." There had been criticism about theremoval of bodies from private houses for post-mortemexamination, but he had ordered it to be done because suchan examination could not be made as it should be in a privatehouse. Speaking of the large number of cases of suffocationof children, he thought some were due to carelessness, bur.in the majority of cases "they were purely accidental."He did not appear to advocate separate sleeping accommoda-tion for all babies and said it was necessary that the mothershould have the babe for feeding purposes, instancing twocases where children were suffocated in institutions in

Page 2: MANCHESTER

1550

Manchester during the short time when they were with theirmothers while feeding. A woman heavy with sleep mayeasily drop off while suckling her child and so makesuffocation not improbable, but this only strengthens the casefor the crib rather than the mother’s arms. He appeared tothink that these accidents were not altogether preventablebut that the cases of burning among children were preventable.They were just entering upon the season when there were agreat many of these and he appealed to parents to " safe-guard their children from fire by securing fireguards and notclothing their children in highly inflammable material."Anyone looking over the columns of the Manchester papersknows full well that there is ample justification for all, andeven more than, Mr. Gibson said. These precautions would,no doubt, save many lives.

The Nortltern Hospital.Saturday, Nov. 17th, was the last day of a bazaar beginning

on Wednesday. the 14th, in aid of the funds of the NorthernHospital for Women and Children, better known by someperhaps under its old name of the Clinical Hospital. Likemost charities supported by voluntary contributions it hasfound that the work of the hospital has increased without acorresponding increase in its annual income; nor has thecondition of its funds allowed of the expansion long needed.It was hoped that a sum of 25,000 might be raised, but prob-ably the miserable weather of the four days culminatingin that of the Saturday reduced the takings considerably.However, the total proceeds were S8000 and a number ofsmall sums have still to come in. In addition, Dr. J. J.Cox made the gratifying announcement that 17,000 badbeen promised to the Jubilee Fund. For the time being,therefore, the friends of the hospital will feel relieved and

happy in the thought that its means of usefulness will beincreased.

- Z7?—MO 2)MM.

Although the difficulty of distinguishing between somecases of cerebral haemorrhage and drunkenness is wellknown, cases occur from time to time where it seems to beforgotten. This was illustrated at Heaton Norris recently.A cabman was arrested by the police late one night andwas charged with being drunk while in charge of a horseand cab, driven to the police station, and placed in a cell.On the next morning he was found on the floor evidentlyill, was taken to the workhouse, and died there. The

diagnosis of the police was founded on his being helplessand smelling strongly of drink. The evidence of themedical officer at the workhouse was to the effect thatthere was partial right hemiplegia, that there seemed to besome cerebral irritation, and that the man was unconscious.A necropsy showed that death resulted from cerebral haemor-rhage. The medical officer said "it would be difficult totell if the man smelt of drink whether he was helplesslydrunk or whether he was unconscious from the hasmor-

rhage." The moral to be drawn from this and similar casesis pretty clear. It is that the responsibility for uiagnosingbetween these conditions should not be left to those ignorantof all but a smattering of half knowledge-even in the caseof those who have attended ambulance classes; that the

police should be relieved from the responsibility ; and thatin all cases of unconsciousness, even though the smell ofdrink be strong, a medical man should at once: be summoned.

Manchester Royal Infirmary.A meeting of the elective committee of the Manchester

Royal Infirmary (consisting of 30 representatives appointedby the trustees, ten by the board off management, and fiveby the University of Manchester) was held on Nov. 19th toappoint an honorary assistant physician to fill the vacancycaused by the promotion of Dr. Ernest S. Reynolds to thepost of honorary physician in place of the late Dr. ThomasHarris. Mr. Alfred Simpson presided. Mr. E. N. Cunliffe,M.D., Ch.B. Viet., M.B., B S. Lond., M.R.C.P. Lond., waselpcted.Nov. 27th.

__________________

WALES AND WESTERN COUNTIES NOTES.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

-R7tondda Isolation Ho.ripUal.WHEN the Rhondda isolation hospital was erected seven

Iyears ago it was said by some of the inhabitants that the 32 Ibeds provided would be ample for the needs of the district,

where there is a population approiching 120,000. It was

confidently predicted that it would be impossible to persuadepersons suffering from infectious diseases to go to the hospitaland that half the beds would be constantly empty. Thereverse has, however, been the case and for many months inthe year not only the wards but the administrative buildingshave been seriously overcrowded. There is fortunately amplespace on the site for extensions and the urban districtcouncil is to be congratulated upon the decision recentlyarrived at to erect a third pavilion for 16 patients and apavilion to include four "pure" wards, two being for singlebeds. Attached to this pavilion will be discharging rooms.To the administrative block will be added 16 bedrooms,making a total of 27, and accommodation will be providedfor a resident medical superintendent. The hospital issituated on the side of a hill and it has very wisely beendecided to erect a separate small-pox hospital on the top ofthe hill some half a mile distant where there will be accom-modation for 20 patients in two iron pavilions of unequalsize. The earlier hospital cost about 14,000 and was paidfor out of current rates. The extensions, together with theiron hospital, will cost about the same amount, and in thisins:ance the borrowing powers of the council will not beresorted to.

Cardiff Infirmary.The medical board of the Cardiff Infirmary has recom-

mended that subscribers’ letters of recommendation to

patients should be abolished and the board of managementhas decided to give effect to a recommendation of a sub-committee to the effect that it is not desirable to abolishthese letters at present. but that where the circumstances ofthe patient are otherwise suitable for treatment he shouldnot be compelled to produce a letter. It is proposed to trythis plan experimentally for a year.

Elementary Eduoation and -1-medical Officers of Health.At the meeting of the West of England and South Wales

branch of the Incorporated Society of Medical Officers ofHealth, held at Newport on Nov. 15th, there was an

important discussion upon the address which Dr. J. D.Jenkins, president of the branch, had delivered 1 on the

subject of the medical inspection connected with publicelementary schools. Dr. William Williams, medical officerof health to the Glamorgan county council, said that withoutdoubt there would in the future be much more attention

paid than formerly to the sanitary inspection of schoolbuildings as well as to the medical inspection of the pupils.He was of opinion that these duties were inseparable andshould be carried out by the same officers. The schemewhich had suggested itself to him included the carrying outof the whole work under the supervision of the countymedical officer of health, the actual work being done bymedical men (assisted by others) who were qualified in

public health and had a good knowledge of every branch oftheir work, especially of the diseases which children are liableto suffer from. Dr. Williams suggested also the appointmentof school health visitors to whom could be allottedgroups of schools. Amongst their duties could be thevisiting of schools to confer with the teachers and the givingof advice to mothers and others as to the treatment ofchildren suffering from skin diseases, verminous conditions,&c. Dr. D. S. Davies said that school medical inspectiondiffered essentially in urban and rural districts. In largeurban districts very little difficulty presented itself. An

important question was whether the school medical officershould be attached to the health department. He consideredthat less friction would be likely to result if he were directlysupervised by the medical officer of health and was ofopinion that the medical officer of health should have thegeneral control of the medical inspection of schools assistedbv medical men and by nurses and health visitors. Dr. E.Walford and Mr. Ebenezer Davies urged that great cautionshould be observed lest sanitary authorities should be hurriedinto ill considered schemes. They both agreed that themedical officer of health should act as the medical adviserto the education committee and in large communities thathe should be given medical assistance.

Medical Men and Local Administration.Mr. Colston Wintle, L.R.C.P..Lond., M.R.C.S. Eng., who

has been chairman of the Bristol health committee sinceFebruary, 1904, was on Nov. 20th unanimously re-elected tothat post.-At the recent municipal elections Mr. George

1 See THE LANCET, Oct. 27th, 1906, p. 1175.