571INVITATIONfi TO TENDER FOR THE POST OF HEALTH OFFICER.

jerky. Although he was affectionate and fond of animalsand pictures he was very deficient mentally. Dr. Collins

regarded the case as one of "hereditary cerebellar ataxy," adisease to which Nonne in particular has directed attention.The hereditary character is not constant, but the disease isone of the group of family diseases, and its close relationshipto Friedreich’s ataxy is obvious. Dr. Collins’s case differs in

some respects from cases of this disease hitherto described,but the correspondence in general character of the symptomsis probably sufficient to stamp it as belonging to the sameclass.

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INVITATIONS TO TENDER FOR THE POST OFHEALTH OFFICER.

THE Farnborough Urban Council have succeeded in

lowering the status of medical officer of health in theirdistrict to a level which, we venture to hope, is nowhereelse even thought of. Just as sanitary authorities ask

scavengers to tender for the removal of filth so that it maybe done on the cheap, so have the Farnborough Councilinvited tenders for the first time in this country for the workand duties of medical officer of health ; and we cannot butregret to add that they received tenders as the result oftheir trade advertisement. The Local Government Boardseem to have done all they could to frustrate this attemptat putting professional services on the lowest trade level; for,having seen the advertisement, which applied to the post ofinspector of nuisances as well as of medical officer of

health, they informed the district council that they shouldhold any appointments made under that advertisement asinvalid. But this difficulty can be evaded, for, according tothe Aldershot News, the council will readvertise at the

salary which they have decided to give on the tenders

received, and then appoint the officer of health whom theyhave selected under the new advertisement. The introduc-tion of this commercial phase into professional appointmentsdeserves the serious consideration of the medical professionas a whole. Even artisans and workmen have combined

against being undersold, and the medical profession mayhave to adopt similar procedures with regard to clubs andpublic appointments. The matter will, in the first instance,doubtless be dealt with by the Incorporated Society ofMedical Officers of Health.

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A FIRST COURSE IN EDUCATION.

THE fact that some regard for the demands of appetite is.usually associated with intellectual discussions is not a

peculiar characteristic of any one people or state of society.The dining table, which in these islands constitutes a signalof concourse to groups of men who agree for the time to

think, speak, work, or give in common, is only our nationalsymbol of obedience to a world-wide custom. Other

peoples in like spirit exhibit their conformity to the sameruling principle. Not even savage tribes are exempt fromits control. The calumet, the gourd of mate-tea, with avariety of other means of solace, both civilised and savage,testify to a universal agreement in activity between

the forces of mind and body. It was recently assertedthat the Chancellor of the Exchequer had discovered onemore illustration of this truth in connexion with the still-nascent University of South Wales and Monmouthshire. A

very large proportion of the Government grant of L3000was said to have disappeared in the form of refreshments.The representatives of learning in the Principality hadevidently not been backward in vindicating the claims ofintellect upon the senses. The young university, like a

vigorous boy, required food for its healthy growth and ithad been satisfied. It was further suggested that other

grants from private persons might be applied to a like purpose.The suggestion, generous though it is, will not be taken up.

We are assured by the treasurer of the University that it isgroundless and unwarrantable. The authorities will havenone of it. Donors of funds may therefore give to the causeof education with a prospect of receiving their money’sworth in the actual service of learning. Some initial outlayon entertainment was doubtless excusable and even advisable.Whether the limits imposed by a wise economy have beenexceeded or not we are not in a position to state ; at allevents the indispensable festival is over and the time forwork has come.

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THYMUS EXTRACT IN GRAVES’S DISEASE.

IN a recent number of the Boston Medical and Burg-iealTo2crnal Dr. Edes reports a case of a woman aged thirty-fourwho, after much personal worry and anxiety, became nervous,3motional, and sleepless, and had severe pain in her rieck,chest, and arm. On admission to hospital she was foundto have an enlarged thyroid gland, prominent eyes, anda rapid and irregular heart. There was a slight systolicbruit to the left of the sternum. She was at firsttreated with dried thyroid gland, but without benefit.

Later she had a course of bromide of potassium, then splenicextract of two kinds, and the restlessness diminished some-what, although the rapidity of the pulse remained unaltered.She began finally to take an extract of the thymus gland.She continued this for two months, but without very markedbenefit. She was, however, discharged "relieved." She

was seen two months later, when she had been a monthwithout taking the thymus gland. She had attempted togo to work, but had not been fit for it. She resumed the

thymus gland and the pulse a month later was 94. She

was feeling much better and was able to resume work. Shewas last heard of as employed actively at a shop during thebusy Christmas season. Dr. Edes mentions several othercases in which thymus gland has been given, and in manyapparently with such good results as to justify more extensivetrial.

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ON Monday last the executive committee of the GeneralMedical Council met and had various matters of importanceunder their consideration, including returns on the dis-

ciplinary functions of the examining bodies and commu-nications with the Privy Council Office on the subject of theappointment of assistant examiners to the Apothecaries’ Hallof Dublin.

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AT a meeting of the Middlesex Hospital Medical SchoolCommittee on the 22nd inst. Dr. Arthur Robinson of Owens

College was nominated to the Lectureship on Anatomy, andDr. R. A. Young, B.Sc., to the Lectureship on Physiology,to fill the vacancies occasioned by the retirement from theseoffices of Mr. Bland Sutton and Mr. B. T. Lowne respectively.

His ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES, E.G., willlay the foundation stone of the new out-patient departmentof the Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, on Satur ay next,Feb. 29th, at 12.30 P.M.

BVIGAN MEDICAL SocIETY.-The annual xneet-ing of the above society was held on Feb. 12th, when thefollowing office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year :-President : Mr. C. R. Graham, M.R.C.S.Eng., L.R.C.P. Ed.Committee : Messrs. C. R. Graham (President), W. MitchellRoocroft (ex-President), Monks, Brady, Cowan, Benson, andMolyneux. Treasurer: Mr. G. H. Monks, L.R.C.P. & S. Ed.Secretary : Mr. Wm. Berry, F.R.C.S.I. The annual dinnerwas then held. There were a good number of members andvisitors present, amongst whom were Professor Banks(Liverpool), Dr. Ashby, Mr. Judson, Dr. Bury, and Dr. Donald(Manchester).