jpifdiral gjtas. LEAVE OF MEDICAL OFFICERS IN THE INDIAN MEDICAL SERVICE. Owing to the proposed operations in Chitral leave of all medical officers lias been cancelled. SURGEON-COLONEL R. HARVEY. We regret to hear that Surgeon-Colonel Harvey is not in good health and has been ordered home. THE ARMY REORGANISATION.
Surgeon-Major-General T. Walsh has been appointed Principal Medical Officer with the Bengal Command under the new scheme. "
Dr.
Lingard,
SURRA."
of the
Veterinary Department,
in the outbreak of " Surra" between Saharanpur and Rajpur last year, favours " the introduction of an Act dealing with " surra Glanders Act with does the as glanders.
specially reporting
on
DR. KEDARNATH DAS.
We understand that the University of Madras has conferred the degree of M.D. on Dr. Kedarnath Das in recognition of the excellence of his " Paper on Puerperal Eclampsia" read at the Indian Medical Congress. We congratulate Dr. Kedarnath Das on the honour bestowed upon him. J
^PSIL
INDIAN MEDICAL NEWS.
1895.]
THE LATE
SURGEON-COLONEL GAYE.
The Officers of the Army Medical Service in Bangalore have placed a Carrara marble slab over the late Surgeon-Colonel Graye, P.O., m.d., of the Bangalore and Belgaum Districts. The Memorial bears the following inscription :? Surgeon-Colonel A. C. Gaye, P.C., m.d., Army Medical Staff, died 20th April 1894, and erected by the Officers of a.m.s. who served under him. THE PASTEUR INSTITUTE OF INDIA. The report of the Bengal Central Committee shows a sum of Rs. 22,592-13-6 in hand, which, with the promised subscriptions, amount to over a quarter of a lakh of rupees. Surgeon-Colonel Ross and Surgeon-Captain Maynard have taken up the duties of Secretary and Assistant Secretary from Surgeon-Colonel Harvey and Surgeon-Captain Evans. THE ARMY MEDICAL STAFF. The following is a list of the successful candidates for commissions in the Medical Staff of Her Majesty's Army at the recent examination held in London. Smith, L. F. Fairrie, S. H. Blackham, R. J. Forrest, J. V. Grattan, H. W. R.
Fawssett,
...
...
... ...
..
...
2580 2410 2352 2245 2185 2175
Maurice, G. T. K. Gunter, F. E. Campbell, J. H. Grech, J. Dee, P. O'Leary, E. G. E.
...
... ...
... ...
...
2172 2077 1819 1761 1756 1611
THE INDIAN MEDICAL STAFF.
The following is a list of the successful candidates in the competitive examination, recently held in London for the Indian Medical Service. J. Stephenson F. N. Windsor P. D. Chapman W. B. Turnbull A. Hooton J. M. H. Macleod E. E. Waters A. Leventon A. F. W. King
...
...
...
...
...
3104 2811 2796 2779
2678
2653 2518 ...2487 2374 ...
...
...
K. F. Standage F. L. Blenkinsop T. E. Watson H. A. F. Knapton C. G. Webster A. A. Gibbs A. Moore G. E. Bensley E. M. Ilewicz
2250 2229 2155 2118 2004 1964 1963 ...1962 1959 ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
TYPHOID FEVER AT BOMBAY. A
outbreak of typhoid has occurred the men of H. M. S. Cossack. Thirty men are down ; six have died, and three are in a precarious condition. The ship is repairing. The men were staying at the Sailors' House, when the outbreak took place. Although many sailors are in the Home only the Cossack men are affected. The cause of the illness is supposed to be contaminated milk or watercress. serious
amongst
THE CHITRAL
The
Staff from
EXPEDITION.
Officers of the Army Medical to the Chitral Field Force Peshawar District
following
are
the
appointed
Coutts, Surgeons-Captain Alexander and Brogden.
:?Surgeon-Major O'Donnell, Hathaway,
Surgeon-Major Coutts, Medical Staff, is posted Hospital. The base hospital is
to the first Field
151
to be at Peshawar, and an addition of five nursing sisters to the present staff has been ordered. The Principal Medical Officer of the Field Force will probably be Surgeon-Colonel Maunsell. THE COUNTESS OF DUFFERIN'S FUND.
The elaborate report and successful operations of the Countess of Dufferin's Fund for the past much congratulation to all year is a matter of concerned in the arduous duties connected with its management. The proposal of building separate accommodation for high caste purdanaslieen women and the entire exclusion of male attendants should, in a measure, help to overcome the objections
great
met with. We are glad to learn that the Maharani of Dumraon has, with her usual liberality, given Rs. 2,000 as a special contribution towards the costs of an hostel for female students under instruction at the Campbell Hospital, Sealdah. This be augers well, and the Committee will, we hope, able in a short space of time to carry out the arrangements the necessity of which has been felt and rightly drawn attention to in the report, which, we hope, will reach the hands of our liberal and charitable native princes whose princely donations from time to time have so much helped to bring about the satisfactory report before us. now
FAREWELL DINNER TO SURGEON-MAJOR GENERAL W. R. RICE, m.d., c.s.i. On March 20th, at the United Service Club, a farewell dinner was given to Surgeon-MajorGeneral Rice on his retirement from the Indian Medical Service. Major-General Sir E. Collen was in the Chair, and a goodly company of over 40 sat down to dinner. After dinner the only speeches were the Chairman's on the guest of the evening and Surgeon-Major-General Rice's in reply. The Chairman gave a sketch of SurgeonMajor-General Rice's career from the time he landed in India just before the Mutiny, and the part he took in the stirring events which distinguished that period down to the time he gained the premier and much prized appointment in the Indian Medical Service, that of SurgeonGeneral and Sanitary Commissioner with the Government of India. Throughout SurgeonMajor-General Rice had gained a high reputation? a reputation which was only strengthened by the work he had in the highest adminisdone splendid trative appointment in the Indian Medical Service. After referring in sympathetic terms to the kindliness and amiability which characterized Surgeon-Major-General Rice, the Chairman concluded by wishing him God-speed and long life, prosperity and happiness in his retirement. Surgeon-Major-General Rice, who was affected by the reception given him, returned thanks for the kindly things which had been said about him and the manner in which the toast of
his
152
INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
health had been received, and in doing so, he took the opportunity of warning the younger officers in the Indian Medical Service not to be disheartened by the remarks which had recently been made regarding the absence of scientific research in India. They could not all be a Koch, Klein, Lesage, or even a D. D. Cunningham, but they were doing the work that had been set them to do. There were only some 650 of them, and were they carrying out the medical administration of the country. Their work did not lie in the laboratory, but in the practice of their profession, and as clinicians and observers they were second to none. He entertained great hopes for the Indian Medical Service ; it was stronger and more consolidated than it had ever been before ; the young men who were entering its service were distinguished by their high qualifications and scientific attainments, and the service was as popuHe would ask the lar as it ever had been. younger men to go contentedly to lonely and out-of-the-way stations, and not think that because they were far removed from the larger stations that their work was forgotten. Those in authority always appreciated good work wherever done, and in time it would be rewarded. The Hon. Lieut.-Genl. Sir H. Brackenbury, the Hon. Sir A. P. Macdonnell, the Yen. Archdeacon W. MacCarthy were invited as guests to meet Surgeon-Major Rice. The hosts of the
evening were? Major-General Sir E. Collen Major-General A. R. Badcock. Surg.-Lieut.-Col. G. Bomford. Surg.-Col. R, Harvey.
in the Chair.
V Committee. Lieut.-Col. J. A. Miley. Surg.-Col. D. O'C. Raye. Surg.-Lieut.-Col. C. J. H. Warden. Colonel W. H. Wilkins. Surg.-Capt. A. W. Alcock. Surg.-Major R. H. Charles. Surg.-Major D. W. D. Comins. Brig.-Surg.-Lieut.-Col. D. D. Cunningham. Surg.-Capt. F. J. Drury. Lieut.-Col. G. L. Eliot. Surg.-Capt. J. F. Evans. Brig.-Surg.-Lieut.-Col. B. Franklin. Surg.-Major J. B. Gibbons. Lieut.-Col. W. Hailes. J. P. Hewett, Esq. F. J. Johnstone, Esq. Brig.-Surg.-Lieut.-Col. G. King. Surg.-Major A W. D. Leahy. The Hon. Brig.-Surg.-Lieut.-Col. A. S. Lethbridge. F. T. Lewis, Esq. Surg.-Lieut. J. N. Macleod. Surg.-Lieut.-Col. J. F. P. McConnell. Surg.-Lieut.-Col. J. O'Brien. The Hon. Mr. Justice J. O'Kinealy. Lieut.-Col. J. W. Ottley. Surg.-Capt. H. W. Pilgrim. Brig.-Surg.-Lieut.-Col. H. B. Purves.
[April-1895.
G. Ramsay. G. S. Ranking. G. C. Ross. Brig.-Surg.-Lieut.-Ool. R. C. Sanders. Surg.-Lieut.-Col. J. Scully. Dr. W. J. Simpson. W. T. Woods, Esq. Surg.-Lieut.-Col. F. W. Wright. Surg.-Capt. F. O'Kinealy, Bony. Secretary.
Suxg.-Lieut. Surg.-Major
Surg.-Coi.
LONDuN LETTER. The discovery of a new element is an event of small interest, and the interest is very greatly enhanced when the new element is a constituent of atmospheric air. Indeed up to the present moment it has not been found elsewhere. The existence of this substance was surmised by Cavendish about a century ago ; but it is only very recently that experiments conducted on the lines indicated by that distinguished chemist have Lord Rayleigh and demonstrated its reality. Professor William Ramsay to whom we owe this great scientific demonstration, which will constitute a notable incident of the closing decade of the nineteenth century, read a paper at a distinguished meeting of the Royal Society held on the 31st of January, in which full details of the processes by which the new gas was isolated was given, and the reality of the conclusions drawn from their proceedings was admitted by the chemists and physicists who took part in the discussion. The process of isolation consisted in the removal by chemical means of all the known constituents of the air. A residue amounting to th remained, and this was collected and about examined, and its chemical and physical qualities investigated. A comparison was also made between pure nitrogen and the so-called nitrogen of the air and important differences were detected indicating that there was an admixture of some other material with the latter. The new element has been called Argon (av-Epyov ) on account of its inertness or reluctance to form combination with other elements, and thus perform chemical work and give rise to energy. The most important physical property so far discovered is the solubility of Argon in water which is superior to that of nitrogen and equal to that of oxygen. No doubt this will be the starting point of a host of investigations, and we shall ere long be put in possession of a multitude of new facts regarding this new element. But the point that concerns us as physiologists and physicians, is the part that it plays in the vital processes of plants and animals, and the influence it may possibly exercise in the causation and cure of disease. On this subject we possess absolutely no knowledge at present, but as a constituent of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and perhaps the food we eat it must possess power for good or evil, and medical science will probably be enriched no
April
1895.]
IS STRYCHNINE AN ANTIDOTE TO COBRA POISON.
future by an accession of novel and valuable facts. perhaps The present year will be known to posterity as one of the great frost years. This is the twenty-fourth day of continuous depression, and there is as yet no sign of abatement. The degree of frost has in some places been phenomenal. In many parts of England and Scotland reading considerably below zero of Fahrenheit have been registered. Not for fifty years have such low readings been observed. The effects on life and health of the severe and continued health has been very disastrous. The death-rate of London has risen to 21 per 1,000, and the very old and very young, the feeble, the starving, the infirm, the houseless are having a very bad time. The severe snow in many parts of the country has fatal to stock, and the small birds are proved being chilled and starved to death in hundreds. Flocks of impoverished gulls hover about the rivers and marshes and are dropping dead from absolute inanition. Skaters and cutlers are having a paradise. The ice on the park waters is 5 or 6 inches thick. I walked on the Serpentine yesterday from end to end with enjoyment, and on the previous day a battalion of Grenadier Guards marched across it and performed some evolution. Sailors, bus-men, and persons whose life and work is outdoor, are suffering keenly, and many have succumbed to the intense cold. A great number of inquests have been held on persons literally frozen to death. Still, to people in good health and circumstances, the season, though severe, is by no means devoid of enjoyment, and is certainly preferable to the close foggy, muggy weather of December. The important subject of testing the eyesight of railway men, seamen, and other public servants, on the integrity of whose vision the lives of the public depend, has been lately brought into prominence by an influential deputation which waited upon the President of the Board of Trade. The points insisted on were the examination by properly qualified agents of this class of employes at the commencement of their service and periodically afterwards, in respect of proper perception of form and colour and absence of a disqualifying error of refraction. The deputation met with a patient hearing and sympathetic response, and more attention will probably be paid to the testing of vision by railway companies and owners of ships. Very definite rules have now been laid down in regai'd to eyesight in the army, navy, and other public services, and it seems reasonable and right that similar standards and tests should be laid down and used by employers of labour in which sound and keen eyesight is necessary. At the close of the winter session at Netley the usual distribution of prizes took place, and on this occasion the S. 0. Ps. were addressed by Dr. W. H. Russell, the celebrated war correspondent of the Times. He in the
near
153
able to bring his Crimean experience to bear upon the subject of his speech, and to insist with a keen sense of the sanitary disasters of that campaign on the necessity of being prepared for war in times of peace. This is the first occasion for many \ ears on which Sir Joseph Fayrer has failed to be present at this function, arid Dr. Russell made a very feeling and graceful reference to the circumstance. was
^
15th
February
1895.
Surgeon-Major-General T. Walsh has been appointed Principal Medical Officer with the Bengal Command under the new scheme. "
Dr.
Lingard,
SURRA."
of the
Veterinary Department,
in the outbreak of " Surra" between Saharanpur and Rajpur last year, favours " the introduction of an Act dealing with " surra Glanders Act with does the as glanders.
specially reporting
on
DR. KEDARNATH DAS.
We understand that the University of Madras has conferred the degree of M.D. on Dr. Kedarnath Das in recognition of the excellence of his " Paper on Puerperal Eclampsia" read at the Indian Medical Congress. We congratulate Dr. Kedarnath Das on the honour bestowed upon him. J
^PSIL
INDIAN MEDICAL NEWS.
1895.]
THE LATE
SURGEON-COLONEL GAYE.
The Officers of the Army Medical Service in Bangalore have placed a Carrara marble slab over the late Surgeon-Colonel Graye, P.O., m.d., of the Bangalore and Belgaum Districts. The Memorial bears the following inscription :? Surgeon-Colonel A. C. Gaye, P.C., m.d., Army Medical Staff, died 20th April 1894, and erected by the Officers of a.m.s. who served under him. THE PASTEUR INSTITUTE OF INDIA. The report of the Bengal Central Committee shows a sum of Rs. 22,592-13-6 in hand, which, with the promised subscriptions, amount to over a quarter of a lakh of rupees. Surgeon-Colonel Ross and Surgeon-Captain Maynard have taken up the duties of Secretary and Assistant Secretary from Surgeon-Colonel Harvey and Surgeon-Captain Evans. THE ARMY MEDICAL STAFF. The following is a list of the successful candidates for commissions in the Medical Staff of Her Majesty's Army at the recent examination held in London. Smith, L. F. Fairrie, S. H. Blackham, R. J. Forrest, J. V. Grattan, H. W. R.
Fawssett,
...
...
... ...
..
...
2580 2410 2352 2245 2185 2175
Maurice, G. T. K. Gunter, F. E. Campbell, J. H. Grech, J. Dee, P. O'Leary, E. G. E.
...
... ...
... ...
...
2172 2077 1819 1761 1756 1611
THE INDIAN MEDICAL STAFF.
The following is a list of the successful candidates in the competitive examination, recently held in London for the Indian Medical Service. J. Stephenson F. N. Windsor P. D. Chapman W. B. Turnbull A. Hooton J. M. H. Macleod E. E. Waters A. Leventon A. F. W. King
...
...
...
...
...
3104 2811 2796 2779
2678
2653 2518 ...2487 2374 ...
...
...
K. F. Standage F. L. Blenkinsop T. E. Watson H. A. F. Knapton C. G. Webster A. A. Gibbs A. Moore G. E. Bensley E. M. Ilewicz
2250 2229 2155 2118 2004 1964 1963 ...1962 1959 ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
TYPHOID FEVER AT BOMBAY. A
outbreak of typhoid has occurred the men of H. M. S. Cossack. Thirty men are down ; six have died, and three are in a precarious condition. The ship is repairing. The men were staying at the Sailors' House, when the outbreak took place. Although many sailors are in the Home only the Cossack men are affected. The cause of the illness is supposed to be contaminated milk or watercress. serious
amongst
THE CHITRAL
The
Staff from
EXPEDITION.
Officers of the Army Medical to the Chitral Field Force Peshawar District
following
are
the
appointed
Coutts, Surgeons-Captain Alexander and Brogden.
:?Surgeon-Major O'Donnell, Hathaway,
Surgeon-Major Coutts, Medical Staff, is posted Hospital. The base hospital is
to the first Field
151
to be at Peshawar, and an addition of five nursing sisters to the present staff has been ordered. The Principal Medical Officer of the Field Force will probably be Surgeon-Colonel Maunsell. THE COUNTESS OF DUFFERIN'S FUND.
The elaborate report and successful operations of the Countess of Dufferin's Fund for the past much congratulation to all year is a matter of concerned in the arduous duties connected with its management. The proposal of building separate accommodation for high caste purdanaslieen women and the entire exclusion of male attendants should, in a measure, help to overcome the objections
great
met with. We are glad to learn that the Maharani of Dumraon has, with her usual liberality, given Rs. 2,000 as a special contribution towards the costs of an hostel for female students under instruction at the Campbell Hospital, Sealdah. This be augers well, and the Committee will, we hope, able in a short space of time to carry out the arrangements the necessity of which has been felt and rightly drawn attention to in the report, which, we hope, will reach the hands of our liberal and charitable native princes whose princely donations from time to time have so much helped to bring about the satisfactory report before us. now
FAREWELL DINNER TO SURGEON-MAJOR GENERAL W. R. RICE, m.d., c.s.i. On March 20th, at the United Service Club, a farewell dinner was given to Surgeon-MajorGeneral Rice on his retirement from the Indian Medical Service. Major-General Sir E. Collen was in the Chair, and a goodly company of over 40 sat down to dinner. After dinner the only speeches were the Chairman's on the guest of the evening and Surgeon-Major-General Rice's in reply. The Chairman gave a sketch of SurgeonMajor-General Rice's career from the time he landed in India just before the Mutiny, and the part he took in the stirring events which distinguished that period down to the time he gained the premier and much prized appointment in the Indian Medical Service, that of SurgeonGeneral and Sanitary Commissioner with the Government of India. Throughout SurgeonMajor-General Rice had gained a high reputation? a reputation which was only strengthened by the work he had in the highest adminisdone splendid trative appointment in the Indian Medical Service. After referring in sympathetic terms to the kindliness and amiability which characterized Surgeon-Major-General Rice, the Chairman concluded by wishing him God-speed and long life, prosperity and happiness in his retirement. Surgeon-Major-General Rice, who was affected by the reception given him, returned thanks for the kindly things which had been said about him and the manner in which the toast of
his
152
INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
health had been received, and in doing so, he took the opportunity of warning the younger officers in the Indian Medical Service not to be disheartened by the remarks which had recently been made regarding the absence of scientific research in India. They could not all be a Koch, Klein, Lesage, or even a D. D. Cunningham, but they were doing the work that had been set them to do. There were only some 650 of them, and were they carrying out the medical administration of the country. Their work did not lie in the laboratory, but in the practice of their profession, and as clinicians and observers they were second to none. He entertained great hopes for the Indian Medical Service ; it was stronger and more consolidated than it had ever been before ; the young men who were entering its service were distinguished by their high qualifications and scientific attainments, and the service was as popuHe would ask the lar as it ever had been. younger men to go contentedly to lonely and out-of-the-way stations, and not think that because they were far removed from the larger stations that their work was forgotten. Those in authority always appreciated good work wherever done, and in time it would be rewarded. The Hon. Lieut.-Genl. Sir H. Brackenbury, the Hon. Sir A. P. Macdonnell, the Yen. Archdeacon W. MacCarthy were invited as guests to meet Surgeon-Major Rice. The hosts of the
evening were? Major-General Sir E. Collen Major-General A. R. Badcock. Surg.-Lieut.-Col. G. Bomford. Surg.-Col. R, Harvey.
in the Chair.
V Committee. Lieut.-Col. J. A. Miley. Surg.-Col. D. O'C. Raye. Surg.-Lieut.-Col. C. J. H. Warden. Colonel W. H. Wilkins. Surg.-Capt. A. W. Alcock. Surg.-Major R. H. Charles. Surg.-Major D. W. D. Comins. Brig.-Surg.-Lieut.-Col. D. D. Cunningham. Surg.-Capt. F. J. Drury. Lieut.-Col. G. L. Eliot. Surg.-Capt. J. F. Evans. Brig.-Surg.-Lieut.-Col. B. Franklin. Surg.-Major J. B. Gibbons. Lieut.-Col. W. Hailes. J. P. Hewett, Esq. F. J. Johnstone, Esq. Brig.-Surg.-Lieut.-Col. G. King. Surg.-Major A W. D. Leahy. The Hon. Brig.-Surg.-Lieut.-Col. A. S. Lethbridge. F. T. Lewis, Esq. Surg.-Lieut. J. N. Macleod. Surg.-Lieut.-Col. J. F. P. McConnell. Surg.-Lieut.-Col. J. O'Brien. The Hon. Mr. Justice J. O'Kinealy. Lieut.-Col. J. W. Ottley. Surg.-Capt. H. W. Pilgrim. Brig.-Surg.-Lieut.-Col. H. B. Purves.
[April-1895.
G. Ramsay. G. S. Ranking. G. C. Ross. Brig.-Surg.-Lieut.-Ool. R. C. Sanders. Surg.-Lieut.-Col. J. Scully. Dr. W. J. Simpson. W. T. Woods, Esq. Surg.-Lieut.-Col. F. W. Wright. Surg.-Capt. F. O'Kinealy, Bony. Secretary.
Suxg.-Lieut. Surg.-Major
Surg.-Coi.
LONDuN LETTER. The discovery of a new element is an event of small interest, and the interest is very greatly enhanced when the new element is a constituent of atmospheric air. Indeed up to the present moment it has not been found elsewhere. The existence of this substance was surmised by Cavendish about a century ago ; but it is only very recently that experiments conducted on the lines indicated by that distinguished chemist have Lord Rayleigh and demonstrated its reality. Professor William Ramsay to whom we owe this great scientific demonstration, which will constitute a notable incident of the closing decade of the nineteenth century, read a paper at a distinguished meeting of the Royal Society held on the 31st of January, in which full details of the processes by which the new gas was isolated was given, and the reality of the conclusions drawn from their proceedings was admitted by the chemists and physicists who took part in the discussion. The process of isolation consisted in the removal by chemical means of all the known constituents of the air. A residue amounting to th remained, and this was collected and about examined, and its chemical and physical qualities investigated. A comparison was also made between pure nitrogen and the so-called nitrogen of the air and important differences were detected indicating that there was an admixture of some other material with the latter. The new element has been called Argon (av-Epyov ) on account of its inertness or reluctance to form combination with other elements, and thus perform chemical work and give rise to energy. The most important physical property so far discovered is the solubility of Argon in water which is superior to that of nitrogen and equal to that of oxygen. No doubt this will be the starting point of a host of investigations, and we shall ere long be put in possession of a multitude of new facts regarding this new element. But the point that concerns us as physiologists and physicians, is the part that it plays in the vital processes of plants and animals, and the influence it may possibly exercise in the causation and cure of disease. On this subject we possess absolutely no knowledge at present, but as a constituent of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and perhaps the food we eat it must possess power for good or evil, and medical science will probably be enriched no
April
1895.]
IS STRYCHNINE AN ANTIDOTE TO COBRA POISON.
future by an accession of novel and valuable facts. perhaps The present year will be known to posterity as one of the great frost years. This is the twenty-fourth day of continuous depression, and there is as yet no sign of abatement. The degree of frost has in some places been phenomenal. In many parts of England and Scotland reading considerably below zero of Fahrenheit have been registered. Not for fifty years have such low readings been observed. The effects on life and health of the severe and continued health has been very disastrous. The death-rate of London has risen to 21 per 1,000, and the very old and very young, the feeble, the starving, the infirm, the houseless are having a very bad time. The severe snow in many parts of the country has fatal to stock, and the small birds are proved being chilled and starved to death in hundreds. Flocks of impoverished gulls hover about the rivers and marshes and are dropping dead from absolute inanition. Skaters and cutlers are having a paradise. The ice on the park waters is 5 or 6 inches thick. I walked on the Serpentine yesterday from end to end with enjoyment, and on the previous day a battalion of Grenadier Guards marched across it and performed some evolution. Sailors, bus-men, and persons whose life and work is outdoor, are suffering keenly, and many have succumbed to the intense cold. A great number of inquests have been held on persons literally frozen to death. Still, to people in good health and circumstances, the season, though severe, is by no means devoid of enjoyment, and is certainly preferable to the close foggy, muggy weather of December. The important subject of testing the eyesight of railway men, seamen, and other public servants, on the integrity of whose vision the lives of the public depend, has been lately brought into prominence by an influential deputation which waited upon the President of the Board of Trade. The points insisted on were the examination by properly qualified agents of this class of employes at the commencement of their service and periodically afterwards, in respect of proper perception of form and colour and absence of a disqualifying error of refraction. The deputation met with a patient hearing and sympathetic response, and more attention will probably be paid to the testing of vision by railway companies and owners of ships. Very definite rules have now been laid down in regai'd to eyesight in the army, navy, and other public services, and it seems reasonable and right that similar standards and tests should be laid down and used by employers of labour in which sound and keen eyesight is necessary. At the close of the winter session at Netley the usual distribution of prizes took place, and on this occasion the S. 0. Ps. were addressed by Dr. W. H. Russell, the celebrated war correspondent of the Times. He in the
near
153
able to bring his Crimean experience to bear upon the subject of his speech, and to insist with a keen sense of the sanitary disasters of that campaign on the necessity of being prepared for war in times of peace. This is the first occasion for many \ ears on which Sir Joseph Fayrer has failed to be present at this function, arid Dr. Russell made a very feeling and graceful reference to the circumstance. was
^
15th
February
1895.
