190

with the general health quite good. To all intents and

purposes such cases have been virtually cured. In Norway,during’ the quinquennial period 1880-85, some thirty-fivecases have been regarded by the asylum physicians as cured.Dr. Danielssen of Bergen, whose experience of leprosyis probably greater than that of any other man living, hasstated that he regards cases in their early stages as notabsolutely incurable; and many other physicians, both inNorway and other places, have also demonstrated that,although there is no specific, considerable amelioration ofeven bad cases may be effected by surgical and other thera-peutical measures. -

FATAL RESULT OF CATHETERISM OF THEUTERUS.

AT the Society of Legal Medicine, M. Vibert reported acase in which death was caused by catheterism of the cervicalcanal of the uterus (L’Union Méd., No. 85). The unfor-tunate patient was brought to the hospital by two women,who said they had found her dead in the street. A post-mortem examination showed pregnancy advanced to aboutthe fourth month, without visible traces of injury or anyindications of commencing abortion. Inquiry revealedthe fact that she had sought the services of a woman,who confessed that she had introduced into the cervixthe cannula of a syringe, and that before the injec-tion commenced the patient felt ill and died in a fewminutes. The case shows that so simple an operation ascatheterism of the uterus may cause death by syncope,comparable to death following sharp blows on the abdomenor larynx. M. Leblond remarked that he had often seena tendency to syncope during uterine catheterism, butM. Vibert said that such attacks were not hitherto knownto be fatal.

___

THE FRENCH AND THE CONGRESS.

THE lively writer in the feuilleton of L’Union Médicale

(July 19tb) who signs himself "Simplissime" treats the

prevalent view that it would be derogatory for members ofthe French profession to attend a Congress presided over byProfessor Virchow, with some semi-satirical comments,which it may be hoped will serve to show M. Huchard and hisallies that their protests are somewhat baseless. The writer

begins by saying that he does not blame the Government forfollowing precedent in nominating delegates to attend theBerlin Congress. But he gives currency to a letter of Dr.Ch. Fauvel, assigning as his reason for abstaining from theCongress the near approach of the annual festivities in

Germany in commemoration of Sedaa. But, says the critic,M. Fauvel forgets that the Congress meets on August 9th ;the Sedan fetes do not take place till September 3rd, and itis not likely that the French members will prolongtheir stay in Prussia until that date. They hadmore reason in 1885, when, in returning from Copen-hagen, they traversed the then decorated cities of Kiel,Hamburg, and Cologne on the very days of these celebra-tions. He does not think, then, that the preparations forthe " F6te de Sedan" ought to deter Frenchmen fromattending a scientific Congress, since it is very natural for

Germany to celebrate so glorious a victory twenty years afterit had taken place, and he reminds his compatriots that in1871 they were saying " in twenty years we shall have ourrevenge." But this is not the true motive. No more is itthe Virchow-Starck affair which M. Huchard launched likea bolt out of a clear sky, just when the French press wereall uniting to bury differences and urging their readers toattend the Congress, although it was at Berlin. The realreason for abstention is to be found in the neglect whichGermany showed to the meetings in Paris last year. Thewriter says that he has always adhered to that; but, if he is

really serious, we would like to ask him if the "systematicrefusals " of the Germans to those gatherings were notjustified by the attitude of the French press, and the doubtswhether their reception would have been cordial. Therecan be no such doubt on this head in regard to the Inter-national Congress. -

THE BROWN INSTITUTION.

THE authorities of the University of London as thetrustees of the Brown bequest, have been compelled toappeal to the public for funds to enable them to carry outthe admirable work done at this institution upon a largerscale and with greater efficiency. The bequest left by Mr.Thomas Brown in 1871 yields an annual income of onlyE1000, and seldom has a trust been more advantageouslyused than in this instance. It has provided for the establish-ment of a laboratory in which the origin and progress ofdiseases are investigated, and a hospital in which animalsbelonging to poor people who are unable to pay for skilledveterinary advice may receive it without charge, exceptfor the keep of the animal treated. Five lectures on pathologyare annually delivered, to which the public have a right offree admission. As a hospital, over 45,000 animals havebeen admitted during the past sixteen years, and of these34,650, or an average of more than 2000 per year, havebeen completely cured. A moment’s thought will showhow great a boon the treatment of these poor animals musthave been to their owners, who, by the terms of the founder’swill, must have been persons " unable to pay for skilledveterinary advice." The readers of THE LANCET need no.reminder as to the valuable pathological researches whichhave been made in this institution by the past and presentdirectors-Professors Sanderson and Victor Horsley-and their assistants, and by numerous independentworkers under their guidance and direction. It would be.a national misfortune if its operations either as a hospitalor as a laboratory were to be curtailed, and we hopethat the public will freely respond to the appeal of thecommittee for increased funds. As scientific inquiries andinvestigations have been almost constantly carried out herefor the Privy Council and the Local Government Board,the Government might be fairly asked for a small grantin aid, and the Royal Agricultural Society should also makea practical acknowledgment of the services of the officers ofthe institution in undertaking researches into the causes andprevention of diseases of cattle at the request of the Society.The increase in the funds is needed for (a) a properly fittedroom for surgical operations and wards for the after-care ofthe in-patients, and to allow of the efficient performance ofmodern surgical procedures ; and (b) an endowment to per-mit of the appointment of a resident clinical observer toassist in the care of the large and annually increasing:number of animals, additional hospital attendants, and theproper equipment and maintenance of the laboratory.

THE MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF SUSPECTEDPERSONS.

IN THE LANCET of Feb. 22nd last, allusion was made tothe penalties which medical practitioners had incurred byexamining females without their consent, even upon a.

coroner’s or magistrate’s order. It was also shown that men

suspected of indecent or criminal assaults ought not to beexamined unless their consent be freely given, and that inevery case it was advisable to caution the person so-

examined, whether male or female, as to the possible resultof the examination—that it might be evidence for or againstthe accused. Although it is not five months since these-cautions were given, and though copies of a paper embody-ing them have been sent by its author to all thosereaders of THE LANCET who applied for one, (it appears