The Colonial and Indian Exhibition

889 liniment From time immemorial the lava Mount Wingen crater has been used 3y natives and settlers as a remedial agent both for cattle md human beings. Mr. Charles Allen, M.P.S., has now, however, extracted an oil from the lava which is most IODOFORM VASELINE IN SMALL-POX. popular throughout the colony as an application to sores Dr. Colleville recommends in the Union Médicale du Nord- and as an embrocation. Est a vaseline ointment of iodoform, of the strength of 1 to At the Exhibition, as in Australia, Victoria is the close neigh20, as not only an antiseptic emollient gratifying to the bour of New South Wales. As a rising colony its importance patient, but as somewhat anaesthetic, and as preventive of cannot be exaggerated, and such statistics as are at our the formation of foul-smelling scabs and of pitting. Dr. disposal indicate that it is also an exceptionally healthy ColIeville has observed that in a case of confluent small- colony. The illustrated handbook to Victoria prepared for pox where iodoform ointment was frequently applied the the Exhibition states that in 1884 the marriage-rate equalled vesicles were prevented from developing into pustules. No 7-63 per 1000, the birth-rate 30-49, and the death-rate 14-27. signs of iodoform poisoning have been observed in any of This is undoubtedly a remarkably low death-rate, but it the ten cases in which this treatment has been employed. cannot be compared with that of Europe, as the proportion of children in Victoria is much smaller. The fact that NEW ANTIPYRETIC. there is no winter, so to speak, in Victoria, must further It is asserted that the leaves of a Ceylon plant, the to the health of the population. Cattle are able Michelia niligerica, have been found to possess marked contribute to live in the field all the year round, though no sort of antipyretic properties, a decoction of the plant acting in this shelter is provided, and such climatic conditions must help respect more powerfully than cinchona. A peculiarly bitter to render physical existence easy. Winter is merely the principle is also said to have been extracted from the leaves. more rainy season of the year, and snow is unknown. Among the various exhibits in this court may be noticed photographs of the Victorian Asylum for the Blind, some Australian filters and disinfectors, various mathematical and THE COLONIAL AND INDIAN EXHIBITION. philosophical instruments, and a model of the quarantine [SECOND NOTICE.] station established at Point Nepean by the Central Board of Health for the colony. The Technological Museum is specially WHEN the Exhibition was first opened, the catalogues interesting, for we have specimens of 200 trees, the wood being relating to the various colonies were not published, and polished, and the leaf, bud, and flower accurately painted on the general catalogue was deficient in special information. the smooth surface. The Acacia and the Eucalyptus are the From a medical and sanitary standpoint Now, however, the catalogues of the different colonies would principal families. of the latter is becoming better understood the importance constitute a formidable and, in the main, an interesting every day. Indeed, all Australian plants have already been iibrary. These volumes are not mere dry enumerations of subjected to extensive examination. It is not therefore the objects exhibited, but generally contain essays on the the novelty, but rather the increasing appreciation of their colony and its principal resources. In some there are virtues, that calls for notice. The acacias only contain the numerous illustrations, so that from every point of view tan principle and certain gums soluble in water, such as information is forthcoming. The natural wealth of each occurs in the Indian acacia; but the products of the would repay closer study. For instance, the colony is carefully shown, and though the data are given eucalyptus moschata cortex, to be found in the deep Atherosperma principally for commercial and manufacturing purposes, the ravines of Victoria and Tasmania, is a useful sedative and facts are also most useful to the scientist. The botanist will diaphoretic. It contains a tonic bitter. The shepherds and find at the Exhibition many opportunities of extending his others exposed to coughs and colds make constant use of the practical experience and of examining innumerable speci- bark. As a tincture (four ounces of bark to twenty of mens. The chemist may see a variety of extracts from the rectified spirits of wine), it is taken on loaf sugar (not in plants special to each colony. New South Wales, for in- water); while the oil has the reputation of exerting a stance, has no less than four volumes ready for distribution specific influence in slowing the action of the heart when to those who are seriously studying the condition of the administered in small doses. For medical purposes genecolony. There is the official catalogue, a well-printed book of rally, too much importance has been attributed to the 478 pages. A report issued this year, under the authority of eucalyptus globulus. The amygdalina species is preferable. the Government of the colony, gives a detailed account of It is a purer hydrocarbon, while the globulus is nearer to the progress, present condition, resources, and statistics an oxycarbon. The odour also of the amygdalina oil is of New South Wales; this oecupies 221 pages. Then we more aromatic and pleasant, and would therefore be more have the Year- book of the colony, another 168 pages grateful when used as a disinfectant in a patient’s room. of very small type with illustrations; and a second and The essential oil of the Eucalyptus amygdalina is largely shorter work on the "Progress of the Colony," specially employed as a styptic ; it is sprinkled on a wet rag to prepared by the Commissioners at the Exhibition. This relieve rheumatism; five or six drops on a piece of sugar enumeration will give some idea of the literature forth- may be taken as a sedative and in cases of colic. In fact, coming, and the other colonies have shown similar energy the medical uses of the eucalyptus are far more extensive in this respect. From these books we gather that the mean than is generally known in England, though the Australians annual temperature at Sydney is 627° Fabr., that the have for many years appreciated all these advantages. Mr. average birth-rate was 37’90 per 1000 in 1884, the death-rate J. Bosisto, M.P., exhibits essential oils, gums, barks, and resins only 15’88, and marriages 8’35. Mortality tables ranging of this and other Australian trees, and particularly insists over periods of ten years are missing, and the above figures on the Succus eucalyptus rostrati, the red gum tree, as a therefore cannot be taken as conclusive. In some cases delicate mucilaginous astringent, which he considers a safer facts are forthcoming demonstrating the energy of colonists and more effective remedy than either kino or catechu. Mr. with respect to public enterprise bearing on the preserva- Bosisto is not only the president of the Royal Commission tion of health. Thus. the Sydney waterworks will cost for Victoria, but is an analytical chemist who has devoted more than .f 2,000,000 sterling ; it is necessary to cut more than twenty years to the study of the eucalyptus, nearly five miles of solid rock. ,E500,000 sterling both from a chemical and commercial point of view. His through is now also voLed by the Government to supply several opinion on this subject is well worth considering, and we smaller towns with water. Side by side with these great cordially join with him in the protest he is making against public works, there are, of course, details and exhibits the wasteful destruction of trees in Australia. These trees relating to individual firms and private enterprise; and aid materially in equalising the climate, while the aroamong these we noted a case of candles and night-lights in matic odours they give forth are believed to be beneficial. the court devoted to New South Wales, which are manu- Though there are 150 species, they all possess a volatile factured with the oil of eucalyptus; by the burning of essence, but the yield varies greatly. Taking the eight these lights peroxide of hydrogen is thrown off, and thisprincipal types, Mr. Bosisto found that for 1000 pounds’ should not merely act as a disinfectant, but relieve com- weight of fresh leaves, the minimum yield of volatile plaints of the respiratory organs, especially spasmodic: essence was 7 fluid ounces, and the maximum 500 fluid asthma and bronchitis. We have also the celebrated Wingenounces. Applying this calculation to the colony of Victoria, oils with which the Australian contingent to the SoudanLand reckoning according to the very lowest average, Mr. ment or causes anaesthetic effects on the skin. As liniment, the proportion is 5 per cent. of methylal in 85 per cent. of oil of almonds; as a syrup for internal administration, 1- in 100 parts of simple syrup. a amply provided. )owder found near the was , , 890 Bosisto concludes that there are 9,730,500 gallons of an essential and volatile substance held at one and the same time in the eucalyptus vegetation. For the whole of Australia he puts down theamount at 96,877,440,000 gallons. This may be rough guessing, but nevertheless it helps us to understand how vast the volume of this wholesome evaporation must be ; and its possible influence on the preservation of health is consequently obvious. ENTRANCE SCHOLARSHIPS, University College .Hospital.-The &C. scholarships. Savage ; ;E60,. entrance have been awarded as follows:—.6100, W. A. H. Tilley; .64:0, W. M. Stevens. University College, Liverpool (Royal Infirmary School of Medicine).-The Holt tutorial schofrship,,4 of £ 100 each for one year have been awarded to A. W. Collins and J. E. Gemmel; and the Roger Lyon Jones scholarships of twenty THE SCOTCH ELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVES. guineas per annum for two years to DIRECT H. A.Burrowes and A. J. Chalmers. University of Durham College of ltledicine,Newcastle-onTyne.-The Charlton Scholarship, value .635, the Dickiason Scholarship of .615, and a gold medal have been awarded t(> B. G. Sumpter; the University Scholarship, of S25 per annum for four years, to Raymond Henry Shaw; the Gibb Scholarship, of 25, to M. M. Bowlan; and the Tulloch Scholarship, of .620, to A. E. Cope. School of Physic in Ireland.-The Medical Scholarship, of THE following correspondence has been sent us, and is worthy of consideration by all who wish to make representation of the profession a reality. The return of the President of the Faculty, as a reply to the demand of the profession for direct representation, would indeed be a reductio ad absurdum. X20 per annum, tenable for two years, for anatomy and the 18, Carlton-place, Glasgow, Oct. llth, 1886. institutes of medicine, has been awarded to Henry C. Drury, DEAR SiR,-In acknowledging receipt of your circular and that of .620 per annum, tenable for two years, for letter recommending Dr. Sinclair, of Dundee, as a candidate B.A. ; physics, botany, and comparative anatomy, to for the representation of the medical profession of Scotland chemistry, R. Parsons. Alfred in the General Council, I take advantage of the opportunity thus afforded of acquainting you with the success, so far, of our exertions in behalf of Dr. Morton, of spina bifida repute, whom many of us in the west are anxious to see promoted to a seat in the General Medical Council. We had our first meeting of committee last week, and the LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT, returns so far showed that about 300 members expressed a wish to serve on the committee, while a considerable REPORTS OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH. number of busy men contented themselves with intimating their intention of voting for Dr. Morton. We are setting Salford Urban District.-Not only did Salford, in comagoing an organisation for a complete and satisfactory mon with most large towns in England, experience an excanvass not only of our city but of the neighbouring towns and western counties, and we hope in the course of a few ceptionally low death-rate in 1885, but during the five years weeks to obtain the pledges of nearly half the entire con- which have elapsed since 1880 the average annual rate of stituency. We are pleased to find that the University mortality in the borough has been lower than the average people are not as yet putting forward a candidate, and we rate in the five years which preceded that date by not less are in hopes that many of our friends in the east will help than 45 per 1000. When the Public Health Act, 1875, was us in the west to carry our man. Even without them, however, ’we hope to win. I suppose the friends of Dr. passed the rate of mortality per annum averaged 28per Sinclair and of Dr. Bruce also are likely to fight to the end. 1000, and in Salford proper, the oldest part of the borough, Should you, however, come to find from your returns that it averaged 31’5 per 1000. Since then the borough has proyou are not likely to win as we are here, instead of going to gressed considerably in matters relating to health. The Dingwall with your support, I need hardly say it would small-pox epidemic of 1875-76 led to the establishment of a find a hearty welcome from Glasgow and the west. hospital for infectious diseases ; then came large demolitions of bad house property; the scavenging arrangements 1 am, dear Sir, truly yours, and the ultimate disposal of refuse were greatly improved; JAs. DUNLOP, M.D., (Signed) President of Committee. were carefully looked after with the aid of the food-supplies David Greig, Esq., M.D.,-President of Dr. Sinclair’s Committee. Adulteration of Food and Drugs Act; the provisions of the Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order brought nearly 700 (Dr. Greig’s Reply.) establishments connected with the milk-supply under superDundee, Oct. 12th, 1886. DEAR SiR,-We have such confidence in Dr. Sinclair’s vision ; and many other improvements were carried out. prospects of success that the disposal of his support to The result is one as to which Dr. Tatham may be congratuany other candidate has never once entered our minds, and lated, for the sanitary administrstion of a borough contain- much less has it been, or is it likely to be, seriously enter- ing some 200,000 people is associated with numberless diffitained. Into your satisfaction that the University autho- culties. During 1885 there were reported under the prorities have not started a candidate we most heartily enter; visions of the Notification Act 632 cases of scarlet fever, 205 and it will give us equally great pleasure to learn that the of enteric fever, 54 of diphtheria, 32 of typhus, 15 of puerperal considerations as to the direct representation theory, which fever, and 11 of small-pox. The conditions affecting the incihave induced four prominent members of the profession in dence of these several diseases are discussed in the report; and, Edinburgh to decline invitations to come forward, have speaking generally of the diminution which has taken place in weight with Dr. Morton and his committee. These con- England and Wales in the mortality from infectious diseases, siderations mainly concern their University and Corporation it is pointed out that it has been mainly felt in the large connexions. Dr. Morton is an excellent man and would make towns. Thus in London it amounted to 17 per eent.,whereasin the rural districts it was only 5’5 per cent., and in the small an excellent corporation representative, but he has been too of the Faculty of towns only 2 per cent. This Dr. Tatham regards as implylong identified with the governing Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, of which he is now ing that although infectious diseases still have a tendency to President, to be acceptable to the great majority of the excessive prevalence in densely crowded districts, yet the profession in Scotland. When he says in his address that if sanitary efforts for their repression are commonly more elected he will strive to get this number of direct members effectual in great towns than they are in smaller commuincreased, I have no reason to doubt his sincerity. But I nities. But as to diarrhoea, Salford continues to occupy a would venture to point out to you that his own election. position of unenviable notoriety. The borough is grouped would be a very powerful argument in the hands of the with Preston and Leicester as possessing the highest parliamentary and other opponents of direct representation. diarrhoea mortality amongst English towns, and unfortuIt would obviously be open to them to say that the only nately her position in this respect has not yet indicated any effect of the concession had been to disturb the balance by tendency to improvement. As regards the isolation of the considerable progress has been made in increasing the representation of one corporation at thei infectious fevers, with the connexion of the others. steady improvements which the Corexpense I am, Sir, yours truly, poration have, at great cost, made in the hospital provision. Taking the nine years, 1876-84, during which such accommoJ. Dunlop, Esq., M.D. Glasgow. (Signed) DAVID GREIG. Public Health and Poor Law. ° body , . .