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countenance occur the sufferer is usually banished from hishome. These reports are published by the Inspectorate-General of Customs, Shanghai, and may be obtained in

London from Messrs. P. S. King and Son.

THE FESTIVAL DINNER OF KING’S COLLEGE,LONDON. I

IN another column will be found a report of the proceed-ings at this dinnei which may be summarised by saying thatMr. Balfour delivered an admirable address on the claims s

of science upon the community. No scientific man, and we

may say no really enlightened citizen, would desire to see aword altered in Mr. Balfour’s excellent speech. We hopethat it will be widely read, and that it will lead in the im-mediate future to the accomplishment of its direct object.

THE WEST LONDON MEDICO-CHIRURGICALSOCIETY.

THE annual dinner of this society was held at the CafeMonico on Wednesday evening last. The President, Dr.J. B. Ball, filled the chair. The attendance was large, thedinner was good, and the music and speeches were appro-priate. The speakers were the President, Mr. Gunton

Alderton, Mr. Howard Marsh, Dr. Frederick Roberts, Mr.

C. B. Keetley, Mr. Butlin, Mr. Herbert Menzies, Dr. Lamb,and Mr. H. Percy Dunn. The society seems to be the

largest and most flourishing of the local societies of London,having a membership of over 500, which is still increasing.The society is based on democratic principles and does nothave figure-heads, a fact which no doubt increases both itspopularity and utility. While not neglecting scientific

subjects it cultivates good-fellowship and takes a properinterest in the prosperity of the profession.

ALCOHOL AS AN ANTIDOTE IN CARBOLICACID POISONING.

IN a recent number of Merck’s Arohives (December, 1899)an editorial article is devoted to the above subject. Thewriter of the article observes that alcohol, as was first

suggested by Phelps and Powell, is one of the best anti-

dotes for carbolic acid poisoning. Phelps declared that hehad found in alcohol a safe and sure preventive against theescharotic action of concentrated carbolic acid, which wasthe mischief most to be feared in cases of poisoning by thestrong acid. From a careful survey of recorded cases ofcarbolic acid poisoning, in which over 60 grains of the

poison had been taken, it appears that where no alcoholwas administered the termination was in every case fatal.On the other hand, in all instances where alcohol was

given the patient survived, although it is stated in morethan one instance that it was given as a stimulant to preventcollapse rather than with the knowledge that it acted as a

spe0ific antidote. The article also points out that it is oftendifficult and sometimes impossible to get emetics to act

successfully in such cases of poisoning. The method oftreatment which is recommended is as follows. The patientis promptly made to drink a few ounces of whisky, brandy,or other spirit which thus acts as an antidote to the intenselocal action of the carbolic acid in the stomach. Immediatelyafter this a soft indiarubber tube is passed through theoeflophagus and into the stomach. A funnel is attachedto its upper end and about a pint of water (moreor less, according to circumstances) is poured into thestomach. The upper end of the tube is now depressedand the fluid is syphoned out. This process of washingout the stomach is repeated two or three times and inthis way every particle of the poison can be washed outof the stomach. A little sodium sulphate is next admin-

istered, a dose of about one drachm dissolved in a wine-glassful of water being sufficient. It may be noted that

if the water used for washing out ’the stomach contains:any notable proportion of a soluble alkaline sulphate its.

efficiency is increased. Moreover the small amount of itwhich may pass from the stomach into the duodenum andsmall intestine will be of use in aiding the elimination ofpart of the poison which has entered or become absorbedinto the coats of the small intestine. The addition of a.

small quantity of sodium sulphate to the water used in

washing out the stomach would thus be of distinct value,and the method of treatment advocated above promises togive more favourable results than are usually obtained ingrave cases of poisoning by carbolic acid.

THE PRINCE OF WALES’S HOSPITAL FUND FORI LONDON.

AT the annual meeting of the General Council of thePrince of Wales’s Hospital Fund held on Feb. 13th at.

Marlborough House, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales in the

chair, the draft report for the past year was read and

adopted. The receipts for 1899 were 48,536 15s. 4d., beingan increase of about E9000 over those of 1898. The totalsum distributed for the year amounted to .642,000, 26,250-being annual grants and the balance donations. We con-

gratulate the Prince of Wales and his coadjutors on theirwork, to which we shall make longer reference.

THE CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF NON-

PAUPER LUNATICS AND THE LONDON

COUNTY COUNCIL.

IT is among the merits of the London County Council that.it has shown much consideration for the insane and for their

responsible relatives. The case of such relatives in moderate-circumstances is often extremely painful. The shock ofmental illness overtaking a member of the family is sadlycomplicated with the financial question of his maintenance-in an asylum without subjecting him to the ordeal ofadmission as a pauper lunatic. The London County Councilhas recently announced to medical practitioners that it hasprovided accommodation for about 60 female patients.having a legal settlement in the county of London atthe Manor House, Horton, Epsom, at a weekly charge as at.present fixed of 15s., this being exclusive of clothing andspecial luxuries. Full particulars can be obtained fromMr. R. W. Partridge, clerk of the Asylums Committee.This is not the first service of the sort rendered to theinsane. At the London County Asylum, Claybury, Woodford,Essex, provision is made for private patients who can claima settlement in the county of London at a charge of 30s. a.week, and for others at a charge of 2. The London CountyCouncil, too, has not been unmindful of the higher dutiesof a lunacy authority-that of providing for research andinvestigation into the pathology of insanity. The first-

report of the work of Dr. F. W. Mott, F.R.S., with a prefaceby Dr. W. F. Collins, shows how thoroughly this work--suggested at an early stage of the history of the Council by-Mr. Brudenell Carter-is being carried out.

AT the last meeting of the council of the St. Andrews-Graduates’ Association, which was held at 11, Chandos-

street, Cavendish-square, the following resolution was

unanimously adopted: " That action be taken with a viewof restoring to the University the right which it so longpossessed of granting the degree of Doctor of Medicine toregistered practitioners of 15 years’ standing who are not-under 40 years of age on their passing a full and satisfactoryprofessional examination. The Council in so doing are onlyseeking to place the University in the position which the-

University of Durham now holds, and they desire to act.