anthrax in cattle, and his inoculation for hjTdrophobia; but his direction of thought and his methods have opened up such an horizon that there is before the present generation a pro^ spect which could not even have been dreamed of before. CHOLERA IN EGYPT. The outbreak of cholera at Damietta on the Rosetta branch of the Nile and its further spread north brings to mind the epidemic of 1883 which at the commencement took a similar course in Esrypt and caused some 50,000 deaths in the country in the course of three months. There is a marked difference, however, in the date of commencement of the two epidemics, that of 1883 beginning in June, that of 1895 in October. As the cholera season is over by the end of October, there i3 little likelihood of the disease developing at present into a formidable epidemic, but it remains to be seen whether as a more favourable time of the year comes The round there wilJ not be a recrudescence. of the Nile will doubtless play condition an important part in the extension or nonextension of the disease. If it happens to be a low Nile then the prospects will not be

JEtlfdical Jjtcujfi. m. LILIAN HAMILTON.

Dr. Lilian Hamilton is

returning

encouraging. to Cabul.

THE LATE M. PASTEUR. The death of Louis Pasteur removes from the world of science one of its greatest leaders of the century. The influence which Pasteur has exerted on the scientific thought of the day has given an impetus to biological research which, however much it has already borne fruit, is destined to be still more productive of far-reaching results. It was his experiments which laid at rest the controversy that raged around the subject of spontaneous generation and brought into prominence the fact that without previous life there can be no life,and next in importance to that discovery was the equally brilliant one that there can be life without air. With these two important facts before him, Pasteur went on from one discovery to another, until he totally revolutionised the older views of fermentation, putrefaction and infection, giving a greater insight into these processes and causing us to alter our method in certain industries, the means of preserving health and our procedure in surgical operations and the treatment of wounds in the human and animal body, and in our measures for checking the spread of a number of infectious and inoculable diseases. In surgery alone the practical application by Lister of Pasteur's teachings has been of incalculable benefit to humanity. More limited has been the practical benefit bestowed by him on his countrymen and others by his discoveries regarding Pdbrine in the silk-worm,

M.

HAFFKINE.

With reference to the farewell meeting given the Calcutta Society to M. Haffkine the, Times has a eulogistic article on his work in India, and concludes by saying that controversy may continue with regard to the precise value of inoculation as a prophylactic against cholera. But there can be no controversy as to the disinterestedness of purpose and the nobility of aim with which Dr. Haffkine has laboured to protect our soldiers in India and the Indian people from that terrible disease.'

by

SIR EDWIN ARNOLD ON THE PROFESSION. The address delivered by Sir Edwin Arnold to the students of the Medical School at St. Thomas' Hospital on the occasion of the distrition of prizes is one full of praise of the Medical profession and should be read by all its members. The delightful and sympathetic way in which Sir Edwin traced the wonderful discoveries and advances that had been made during the Victorian era was well calculated to fire the young men commencing their career with noble ambitions. Sir Edwin Arnold is no cold admirer of the medical profession which lie characterises as "the best, the gentlest, the loftiest and the purest of the secular crafts which men follow," and as " an army whose victories are the triumphs of all mankind, and whose enemies are all men's enemies."

INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.

436

The occurrence of two fatal cases of cholera at Grimsby, where the disease prevailed somewhat severely two years ago, has caused some alarm. It appears that an excess of diarrhoea attracted attention in the last week of August. The excess was sufficient!}' remarkable to suggest to the Local Government Board the necessity of sending an inspector to investigate. The Town Council is reported to have met the difficulty by giving notice that cases of diarrhoea should no longer be notified. The first case of cholera occurred on the 30th of August, and the patient died on the following day after sevenThe second case sickened teen hours' illness. about the 1st and died on the 3rd of September. The former was a man who had been employed to clean out the cholera vessel used in 1893, and the latter a woman who had not had any association with either man or vessel. Clinically the symptoms were declared to be those of Asiatic cholera, but Dr. Klein has been unable to obtain any bacteriological evidence of that disease in either case. No fresh case has appeared since the 3rd, and the incident appears to have terminated, but it suggests several interesting questions which will not, I fear, obtain solution. Was the disease which attacked these two persons Asiatic cholera or its congener "British cholera ? The previous prevalence of the former disease at Grimsby, the circumstances of the first case and the clinical features of both cases are affirmative, and the results of bacteriological investigation negative. Whether this test is infallible is still a matter on which opinions differ. But, taking the cases to have been true cholera, why did it limit itself to two victims and fail to spread ? Did a small quantity of elaborated poison remain at Grimsby while the organism that generated it had been extinguished in 1893, or were the circumstances of the place and time unfavourable to diffusion ? There are persons who believe that cholera is always present everywhere in a latent or modified form, and that it but needs a conjunction of "

conditions, cosmic, telluric, climatic,

personal, and so forth,

hygienic,

to arouse it into virulence

These and similar adjectives have me to be a sorry refuge for igI have a special detestation of the norance. word telluric. How general or universal causes it is difficult to conproduce exceptional effects, of local and personal formula the but ceive, susceptibility is trotted out to explain the phenomenon. After all, if we concede general causes, it is the circumstances that render them operative in particular cases which demand study, and so we are driven back to the need of clinical, pathological, and etiological inquiry even under the hypothesis of general influences, The most probable view of the Grimsby outbreak, according to present information is, that

and

activity.

always seemed to

1895.

simply a severe manifestation of summer diarrhoea; some few cases presenting a choleraic

it,

LONDON LETTER.

[Nov.

was

It is really lamentable how little and precise knowledge we possess rethe causation of cholera, and the possiof bility discussing this Grimsby event, as I have done, indicates instructively how much remains to be learnt on that subject. The long visit which the second son of the ruler of Afghanistan has paid to England has come to an end. He appears to have been much and favourablyimpressed with all that he saw in this country, and his experience of Western civilization cannot fail to exercise a beneficial influence on his future life, and, let us hope, on the Government and institutions of his own country. He paid a lengthy visit to St. Thomas's Hospital before he left, and closely observed all the arrangements of that great charity. Perhaps on his return to Cabul he may concern himself with founding hospitals and dispensaries, and providing for the sick and suffering means of comfort and cure. It appears that lie intends to undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca on his return voyage. This may also result in go ;d, if he gains an intelligent knowledge of the pains and risks which poor pilgrims undergo, in executing that pious journey. Steps were taken before he left England by Mr. Ernest Hart and others to direct his attention to this matter. No doubt, his journey will be made as easy and safe as possible; but he cannot fail to observe the penalties and dangers to which this pilgrimage subjects his poorer co-religionists from India, and may take measures to mitigate them. If the Shazada's journey westwards contributes to these ends, it will not have been undertaken in vain. The issue of the educational numbers of the medical journals indicates that the medical schools will soon re-assemble for their winter work. Indian students ought to make a careful study of the conditions laid down by the General Medical Council regarding preliminary examinations and registration. "Every medical student must be registered by the General Medical Council at the commencement of his studentship. To obtain registration the student must pass a preliminary examination in general education and must produce evidence that he has commenced medical study." A list of examining bodies whose examinations in general education are recognized by the General Medical Council as qualifying for registration as a medical student has been published. This list indicates that the Entrance examinations of the Calcutta, Punjab and Allahabad Universities, the Matriculation examinations of the Madras and Bombay Universities and the preliminary examination of the Ceylon Medical School are accepted as sufficient, but an important proviso has been published to which I wish to draw pointed attention. No certificate of having

character.

positive garding

Nov.

1895.]

DUTT ON THE DIETING OP THE NATIVE SICK AND INVALID.

passed these examinations will be accepted after October 1st, 1895, unless it shows that the examination has been conducted by or under the authority of the body granting it, includes all the subjects required by the General Medical Council, and states that all the subjects of examination have been passed at one time. It has also been enacted that in the case of natives of India or other oriental countries, whose vernacular is other than English, an examination in a classical oriental language may be accepted instead of an examination in Latin. The subjects of preliminary examination required by the Council are these :? (?) English language including composition.

grammar and

Latin including grammar, translation from specified authors and translation of easy passages not taken from these authors.

(?)

(c) Mathematics comprising (a) Arithmetic, (b) Algebra as far as simple equations inclusive (c) Geometry, the subject-matter of Euclid, Books I, II and III with easy deductions. (cZ) One of the following subjects :? (a) Greek, (b) French, (c) German, (d) Italian, (e) Any other modern language, (f) Logic. Indian students proposing to study medicine in Britain to read tliese rules carefully before leaving India, and in case of doubt communicate with the Registrar, Mr. W. J. C. Miller, 299, Oxford Street, London, W. I have seen considerable trouble and disappointment arise from neglect to ascertain the conditions under which qualifications and degrees are obtainable in this

country. 12th

September

1895.

437

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