28o4 MZDICAL JouRN;ALJ LETTERS, NOTES,aN ETC. rAUJG. 4, 1906. cannot be madam; it is a male," whereupon her fears were LETTERS, NOTES, AND ANSWERS TO allayed. We have none of us two opinions as to " honesty CORRESPONDENTS. being the best policy," but it is such a pitv that such a well-known good old story should be spoiled by incomplete telling. W Queries, answers, and communications relating to A BELOVED PHYSICIAN. subjects to which special departments of the BRITISH DR. A. IVOR THOMAS (Stoneycroft) writes: I take the liberty MEDICAL JOURNAL are devoted will be found under their of sending you the following account taken from an old .respective headings. guide-book describing Southport, North Meols, etc., in the QUERIES. County of Lancashire, written by T. K. Glazebrook, F.L S., and published in 1826. The monument is described as being AN ANTISEPTIC FOR THE HANDS. in Ormskirk Parish Church: DUNELM desires to hear of an efficient antiseptic that will "A most beautiful marble monument, surmounted with not harden the skin of the hands. His hands are the figure of the late Dr. Brandreth in the character of the extremely sensitive to hydrarg. perchlor., carbolic acid, and Good Samaritan, extremely well sculptured, is erected to even hydrarg. biniod., which is said not to coagulate commemorate that eminent physician. It is thus albumenl. inscribed: GLYCOSURIA IN PREGNANCY. Sacred to the memory of APEX asks for advice in the following case: A lady, aged 34, JOsEPH BRANDRETH, M.D., has just come under his observation; her second confine- Physician to his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester ment is expected in a few days, the specific gravity of the The Rt. Hon. Edward Earl, and Elizabeth Countess of Derby, urine is 1022, and it contains 3 gr. of sugar (glucose) to the etc., etc. oz. The quantity in 24 hours is not abnormal. There is no thirst or other symptoms. The patient is a fine, healthy- He was many years first Physician to the Liverpool looking woman. The first confinement was easy, and there Infirmary, and zealously exerted himself in estab- is no history of glycosuria at that time. " Apex" would be lishing the Dispensary. His industry and talents glad to hear from any one who has had a similar case, raised him to the head of his Profession, while the especially with reference to prognosis and to the question of kindness of his heart rendered him universally the mother suckling the child. beloved. * Born Oct., 1745-Died 10 April, 1815. With so small an amount of sugar, the specific gravity In the hope through Christ ,of the urine so low, and the quantity of the urine not of a Joyful Resurrection. inereased, -t is. probably unnecessary to do anything. The S. and T. Francey's, Liverpool. prognosis is good both for mother and child. The sugar is Dr. Brandreth's decease called forth the following tribute to his memory in the obituary of a Liverpool paper, dated 14th probably reabsorbed from the breasts, and indicates galacto- April, 1815: "On Monday night last Joseph Brandreth, suria, not diabetes. Esq. M.D., in the 70th year of his age, after along and painiul illness, which he bore with his characteristic forti- ANSWERS. tude and with perfect resignation to the will of his Creator. He commenced his career with no other advantages than FREEMASONRY. his own industry and talents, and his perseverance was ]3ALBUS is informed that no meeting is held of any of the rewarded with unexampled success in his profession. His medical lodges during the summer vacation, so it would mind was ardent in the pursuit of knowledge, and not- not be possible for him to be initiated in a medical lodge withstanding the avocations of a most laborious life, his before proceeding to India in September, He might obtain reading was universal, and few discoveries in science information about some new medical lodge on application to escaped his inquiry. He was possessed of a most accurate the Grand Secretary, Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, and tenacious memory, which he ascribed to his habit of W.C. depending upon it without referring to any notes. His ANTITYPHOID INOCULATION. medical course was principally distinguished by the L. M. has been asked if he recommends antityphoid inocula- establishment of the dispensary in Liverpool, by thirty tion for a person about to go to India. Our correspondent years' unremitted attention to the infirmary, and by the feels personally prejudiced against it, as he has heard un- discovery of the utility of applying cold in fever. Therq are satisfactory accounts of its results ; but on the other hand few persons in this neighbourhood who have not had oppor- he is aware that some authorities highly recommend it. He tunities of judging of his worth, and who will not regret asks us if we can kelp him out of his difficulty. We advise his loss." inoculation, assuming that it will be done by an expert in THE BRITISH LovE OF DRUGS. the work. Technical knowledge on this subject has DR. WALTER R. JORDAN (Birmingham) writes: Is not the improved during recent years, and we do not think that following passage from A Wanderer in Holland, by there is now any serious ground for fearing that any harm E. V. Lucas, interesting on account of the light it sheds on will ensue when the work is done by a careful and compe- the attitude to drugs, not of the Dutch, but, of an educated tent person. As to the question whether it will actually do and cultured Englishman ? "That the Dutch are a healthy good as a prophylactic against typhoid fever, we must point people one might gather also from the character of their out that the method is still on its trial, and we cannot druggists. In this country, even in very remote towns, one expect a complete consensus of opinion until further may reveal one's symptoms to a chemist or his assistant, statistics have been published. But we believe that those feeling certain that he will know more or less what to who express a hopeful view on the subject have reasonable prescribe. But in Holland the chemists are often young grounds for doing so, and we think that when a man leaving women, who preside over shops in which one cannot repose for India expresses a willingness to be inoculated, it is any confidence. . In Holland one must, in short, do as wiser for his medical adviser to encourage rather than to the Dutch do and remain well" (p. 11). discourage him. COINCIDENCE OR IMPRESSION? D. 0. FOUNTAINE (London) writes: I notice in the BRITIsI8 NOTES. LETTERS. Etc. MEDICAL JOURNAL of June 9th, p. 1384, a case reported from Gillingham, "Impression or Coincidence ? "-a very singular PREVENTION OF DIFFICULT LABOUR. one, certainly; but I should rather incline to the latter solu- MR. DAVIES M.R.C.S. (Bath) writes on the question of delayed tion, and ascribe it to some imperfect development of the labour and its evil effects on the mother. He asks whether second branchial cleft. the fate of the child ought not to have its share of attention. Is it not often seen in consultation and otherwise that delayed application of the " forceps" is a common cause of stillbirth? He would exemplify specially the labour of the SCALE OF CHARGES FOR ADVERTISEMENTS IN aged primipara where the membranes rupture early and the head becomes arrested in the pelvis. Given such a case, BRITISH MEDICAL JOlRNAZ* with only partially-dilated os, experience alone will tell one Eight lines and under ...... £0 4 0 when to interfere if the life of the child is to be saved. Each additional line ...... 0 0 6 A whole column ...... 2 13 4 IMAGINARY CURES FOR IMAGINARY DISEASES. Apage...... 8 0 0 D)R. CHAS. E. WADDINGTON (2, Marlboro Road, Manningham, An average line contains six words. Bradford) writes: In the BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL of July 21st, p. 171, Dr. Chas. Mercier tells a story of " what did Advertisements should be delivered, addressed to the Manager, at actually happen in one instance to his knowledge " as to a the Office, not later than first post on Wednesday morning delusion of a patient that she had a frog in her stomach. preceding publication; and if not paid for at the time, should be The story, as I have always heard it, goes one further, and accompanied by a reference. shows the physician to have been a man of much greater Post-Office Orders should be made payable to the British Medical resource. When confronted with the lady's anger and the Association at the General Post Office, London. Small amounts belief that the frog, though ejected, had left eggs in her may be paid in postage stamps. stomach and that she would be alive with tadpoles, the N.B.-It is against the rules of the Post Ofce to receive letters at physician took the frog up and examined it, then said, " That PoPwta BRetantee addressed eitherininitials or numbers.