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Foreign Medical Intelligence.(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) .

Inaugural ceremony of the Madrid Academy of Medicine: theMinister’s harangue -An unfortunate proceeding of thepresent Italian Ministry-Great doings at the Chemical

Society of Berlin-Severe epidemic of diphtheria in theDanubian provinces-Student manifestations at Madrid-Awholesale accusation against the army surgeons of Prrcssia.A FEw days ago the inauguration of the sittings of the

Madrid Academy of Medicine took place with great pomp,under the presidency of one of the ministers, Don MariaRivero, and of the "popular alcade" of Madrid, Senor D.Galdo. Besides the usual interest of this general meeting,considerable importance was attached to the ceremony onaccount of the harangue which was expected from theminister, Don Rivero, who, as I mentioned in my last

foreign chronicle, is a medical man. The medical press and

public have founded great hopes on the advent of M.

Rivero to the government, in view of an amendment of theexisting medical and sanitary regulations, which are inurgent want of reform. The meeting was opened by SenorMatias Nieto, the perpetual secretary, who recorded thedeaths of various members during the preceding Academicalsession. The names of Castello and Guallart were men-tioned with regret, and the Secretary especially deploredthe loss of the latter, who, at the outset of a distinguishedcareer, was one of the first victims of the late visitation oftyphus. Reference was next made to the help which theAcademy had been able to afford to the widows and orphansof deceased medical men. Another member then rose todeclare that the prizes of the Academy could not be distri-buted this year, as no works ’had been sent in for competi-tion, a fact which too plainly shows the want of scientificzeal and spirit which is now to be observed in Spain. Theinaugural address was next delivered by Don VictorianoUsera, who had chosen for his subject "The Influence ofPhysical, Moral, and Intellectual Education on the Healthof the Body and the Mind." The sovereign source of mentaland corporeal health (said the orator) was the applicationof the great principle, " nosce teipsum." By the observanceof this law, individuals and nations could follow the har-monious order which was necessary for advancing withoutany deviation or shock along the path of progress. Amidstthe deepest silence, Don Maria Rivero then rose to addressthe assembly. After solemnly announcing the opening ofthe session, in the name of the regent, Don Rivero alludedin most flattering terms to the value and high standing ofthe medical profession. Notwithstanding the circumstanceswhich had occurred in his life, and which had led him toabandon the practice of medicine for politics, he would neverforget that he belonged to the profession, nor fail to honourand cherish medicine and favour its progress. Theamelioration of the social standing and influence of theprofession, were interests of which he would never lose

sight. As an example of the paramount importanceof medicine, of the scientific ardour, the spirit of humanityand self-sacrifice which animated its votaries, he alludedwith emotion to an episode of his student life. In 1833cholera had broken out in one of the suburbs of Seville.The bridge connecting the suburb with the town was im-mediately destroyed by the inhabitants of ;Seville throughtheir dread of contamination; and strict orders were givenout not to communicate in any manner with the infectedlocality. Thus the unfortunate inhabitants of Triana wereabandoned to their melancholy fate, without the prospectof assistance ; and yet the medical students, in no waydaunted by these severe injunctions, nor by the possibilityof undergoing contamination, crossed over in a body,organised a system of medical care and attendance, andwere thus enabled to save the lives of many choleraicsufferers. The Minister next related how, after being aprofessor of clinical medicine, he took to law, became apolitical writer, then a representative ,of the nation, andwas sent into exile, and how, through a change of politicalcircumstances, he was finally named president of theCortes, alcade of Madrid, and now a member of the

Ministry. In concluding his harangue, which was greetedwith the enthusiastic applause of the audience, he againexpressed his earnest desire to favour the progress ofmedicine, and to better the condition of the profession inSpain.The spirit of economy has led the present Italian

Ministry to take a step which has been loudly condemnedby the medical press of the country. The department ofPublic Health at the " Ministero dell’ Interno " (or HomeOffice) has been announced as being abolished without anymeans having been provided to compensate for, or supplyunder some other form, the useful work which it was theduty of this department to accomplish. It formed a centraloffice, which united, as it were, under one head and onedirecting influence, all the sanitary institutions of Italy.Its value was great as a means of gathering and comparingresults, and of giving an impetus to the working of thesanitary institutions throughout the land. If some othermeans for obtaining the same end at less expense had beendevised, this measure of the Italian Ministry could not havebeen censured. But, as I have already mentioned, thedepartment has been abolished without the least provi-sion having been made. This contempt of the publichealth, which is after all the supreme good of the State, isthe more to be wondered at, as the present Cabinet includesa member of the profession, who ought to have stood up forthe paramount importance of sanitary institutions, and di-rected the spirit of economy of his colleagues to some lessworthy object.There have been great doings at the Chemical Society of

Berlin. On the occasion of the renewal of its board, theSociety determined to honour its retiring president, M.Hoffmann, by the celebration of fraternal convivialities.The banquet was quite a success. Among those whomet to toast the eminent chemist were Mr. Bancroft, theAmerican Plenipotentiary, Professors Virchow, Du BoisReymond, Rose, Curtius, Dove, Kronecker, &c. Manyforeign chemists had telegraphed to express their sym-pathies. The end of the banquet was marked by humour-ous traits, quite characteristic of the favourite pursuits ofthe guests. A photograph was distributed to all present re-presenting M. Hoffmann, the author of "Researches onAmmonium," as Jupiter Ammon, with a halo of anilinebeams. To conclude, a hymn to aniline was sung by one ofthe convives, to the great amusement of the banqueters.A severe epidemic of diphtheria has been raging in

several towns of Roumania, situate on the Danube. AtIbraila the mortality has been especially heavy. Out of a

population of 30,000 inhabitants, there have been as manyas 700 deaths from diphtheria in less than sixteenmonths. The proportion of mortality among the diseasedhas been as high as 50 per cent.The student manifestations in Madrid, to which allusion

was made in a recent number, have come to an end, throughthe prudent spirit of the alumni, who, notwithstandingtheir just cause for complaint, have quietly resumed theirstudies at the University, and have contented themselveswith addressing an appeal to their brother students through-out Spain. It will be remembered that the cause of this

agitation was a very untoward measure of the Professors ofthe Faculty of Madrid, who, with the object of compellingthe students to attend their lectures, had bethought them-selves of dividing the total number of alumni into twoclasses-matriculated students, who were free to do what-ever they chose, and inscribed students, registered on therespective lists of the lecturers, and thus provided withespecial privileges.A report has been current that as many as twenty-

seven Prussian army surgeons are accused of having favouredthe escape of conscripts from military service by givingthem certificates of disease which did not exist. They hadtherefore been bribed to do so. It is added that this evilexists to such an extent in the medical department of thePrussian army, that the Government does not know how toact in the occurrence. This wholesale accusation is of so

grave a character that it is necessary to have full andauthentic confirmation of the fact before lending any faithto the report.

HEALTH OF EUROPEAN NOTABILITIES.

The severe cold which is now prevailing over Europe hastold seriously on the health of several continental person-ages of note.

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The Queen of Portugal, who is of a languid and consump-tive disposition, has been suffering from various symptomsof chest disease. She is now somewhat better, and hermedical attendants entertain a more favourable opinion ofher condition.The Pope, who has been suffering from an attack of

bronchitis grafted on chronic catarrh of the lungs, isalso well enough at present to be able to discharge thevaried and arduous duties entailed by the Sitting of theFathers.The Imperial family of France has been affected with

influenza. Two or three days ago the symptoms presentedby the Empress were sufficiently intense to give rise to afear of the existence of pulmonary congestion. In additionto influenza the Emperor has had a touch of rheumatism ;but he is looking very well, and has at no time been com-pelled to renounce his usual pursuits. A report had beenset afloat touching the Prince Imperial, who was affected,it was said, with a return of the complaint which some timeago imperilled his existence ; but, in reality, there exists nofoundation for the report.

There is no change for the better in the health of theEmperor of Russia, who is affected with hypochondriasis,as I mentioned in a recent number, and not from rupture,as certain German journals have recently reported.The Radical portion of the French chamber is quite dis-

abled at present, through the ill-health of several of itsmembers. Gambetta, its most distinguished orator, is asufferer from phthisis, accompanied by frequent haemoptysis.Bancel has had an attack of sternalgia, which seriouslythreatened his existence; whilst Raspail, who has justrecovered from an attack of pneumonia, has left Paris forthe more genial climate of Cannes.

ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL.

IN a recent number we inserted a copy of a memorial tothe Charity Commissioners, which is in course of signature,asking for an investigation into the various charges madein the press against the government of St. Bartholomew’sHospital. Although public attention has been almost ex-clusively directed to this hospital, it would be obviouslybetter that a public inquiry should be extended to the otherendowed hospitals; and it may be hoped that, though nodirect application has been made to them on this point, theCharity Commissioners will see the wisdom of including St.Thomas’s, Guy’s, and other endowed or partially endowedhospitals in their investigation. The following is the listof statements referred to in the memorial, which has beenprepared for the use of the Commissioners. The statementshave appeared in various newspapers during the past year,and probably the list is imperfect. Any of our readerswho are interested in the subject will doubtless oblige thememorialists by pointing out errors or omissions.STATEMENTS WHICH HAVE APPEARED IN VARIOUS NEWS-

PAPERS RELATING TO ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL.

1. That the sums of R500 and 2100 yearly respectively, bequeathed byJohn Radcliffe, M.D., for specific purposes, are not mentioned in the ae-counts.-Daily News, Jan. 14th, 1870; Examiner, Nov. 6th, 1869.. ’

2. That the accounts are not audited by anyone except certain of thegovernors, who are themselves responsible for the expenditure.-Times,Nov. 24th; Brit. Med. Jour., Nov. 27th.

3. That in the year 1865 the sum of .S6625, arising from the sale of thefreehold of four houses in Newgate-street and three houses in Thames-street, was improperly carried into the annual receipts.-Lancet, Nov. 20th.

4. That though at the beginning of 1866 the hospital had a balance inhand of .84566 12s. lld., : though in that year it sold out stock to the valueof £4442 lls.; and though in 1867 it borrowed R1000 from its own treasurer;yet at the end of 1867 it was £26 78. in debt on the general account.-Lancet, Nov. 20th.

5. That no particulars of the endowments have been furnished to theCharity Commissioners.- Daily News, Dec. 13th.6. That no statement of outstanding liabilities, or of sums due to the

hospital, is furnished to the Charity Commissioners. - Daily Nema,Dec. 13th.

7. That steps were taken about three years ago by the Governorstowards the establishment of a convalescent hospital, but that up to thepresent time the proposed hospital has not been built, nor has any state-ment of the moneys available for the purpose been furnished to the CharityCommissioners.-Med. Tirnea, Oct. 16th; Daily News, Nov. 27th; Laneet,Nov. 27th.

8. That the expenditure under the following heads is excessive, becausethe number of in-patients maintained at St. Bartholomew’s exceeds the

number at Guy’s by no more than 10 per cent.; whereas the expenditure atthe former exceeds -the expenditure at the latter by the proportions setdown in the annexed table.-Daily News, Dec. 13th; Laneet, Dec. llth.

9. That variations to the extent of R2500 occur in the amount of thetradesmen’s bills in different years, without any explanation being given.-Lancet, Nov. 20th.

10. That the statement of accounts furnished to the Charity Commis-sioners contains no information as to the persons by whom goods aresupplied to the hospital, nor as to the terms on which the goods aresupplied.-Lancet, Dec. llth ; Times, Nov. 24th.

11. That the Governors expended £310 of the hospital moneys in dinnersfor themselves in the year 1868.-Daily News, Nov. 3rd and 27th; Times,Nov. 2nd; Standard, Oct. 25th.

12. That while some portions of the hospital are in urgent need of im-provement, the Governors have expended a large sum of money in decorat-ing and gilding their own dining hall; and that this dining hall is of noservice to the charity, but is maintained only for the convenience and enjoy-ment of the Governors, and that the space occupied by it, as well as thefunds employed in its maintenance, might be with advantage converted tothe proper uses of the charity.-Lancet, Brit. Med. Jour., Oct. 9th; Med.Times, Oct. 9th and 16th; Daily News, Oct. 26th and Nov. 3rd; Ttmex,Nov. 2nd; Echo, Nov. 4th.

13. That unnecessary expenditure has been incurred in the fitting np ofthe drug store and apothecary’s shop.-Lancet, Dec. llth; Daily News,Jan. 14th, 1870.

14. That cheap and inefficient drugs have been substituted for morecostly and efficient ones.-Med. Times, Sept. 18th and 25th.

15. That the work of the nurses is excessive, and more menial in charac-ter than is the case at other hospitals; that their hours of sleep are in-sufficient ; that they are required to sit up every third night; that their

bed-closets, in all but a few cases, have neither outside window nor fire-place, and in some cases contain only 400 cubic feet, more or less; that theirmeat is served out to them raw once in two days ; and that they have tocook and eat it in the ward scullery, which contains, in a space about 14 ft.by 10 ft., a bath, a sink, and a watercloset.-Times, Oct. 27th and 29th,Nov. 2nd; Lancet, Sept. 25th, Nov. 20th; Pall Mall Gaz., Nov. 22nd;Daily Neirs, Nov. 3rd and 27th.

16. That the wards are bare and cheerless; that there is no provision forventilation except by opening the windows; that there are no flanneljackets nor slippers; that there is nothing for convalescent patients to sit

upon but wooden stools, or forms without backs.-Lancet, Dec. 18th, 1869,Jan. 8th, 1870; Daily News, Jan. 14th, 1870.

17. That the mortality and the amount of preventable disease among thenurses are excessive.-Times, Nov. 27th; Lancet, Dec. 4th.

18. That the medical staff is insufficient in number for the proper treat-ment of all patients resorting to the hospital; that the patients are oftenkept waiting many hours; that patients have been frequently seen at therate of 100 an hour by the house-physicians, and that serious mistakes havebeen made in consequence.-Lancet, Aug. 14th, Sept. 18th and 25th, Oct.16th and 23rd, and Nov. 6th and 27th; Med. Times, May 29th, Sept. 25th,and Oct. 9th; B2-it. Med. Jozir., Sept. 18th and Nov. 27th; Med. Mirror,Oct. 1st; Med. Press and Cire., Sept. 29th; Pall Mall Gaz., Oct. 4th;Examiner, Oct. 9th and Nov. 6th; Punch, Oct. 2nd and 30th; Daily Nezca,Oct. 10th, 12th, and 26th, and Nov. 22nd and 27th; Times, Oct. 22nd; Echo,Nov. 4th, 16th, and 24th; Globe, Nov. 18th; Standard, Out. 25th; SaturdayBev., Nov. 27th and Dec. 4th.

19. That the mode of election of the medical staff is not calculated toensure the choice of the best candidate, and that the existing members ofthe staff oppose any increase of their own number.-Lancet, Oct. 9th andNov. 6th and 27th; Brit. Med. Jour., Oct. 9th; Times, Jan. 30th and Nov.23rd, 1869; Globe, Nov. 18th; and Daily News, Nov. 22nd.

20. That the effect of the wholesale distribution of advice and medicineis injurious to many of the recipients, and unjust to the poorer medicalpractitioners.-Med. Times, May 29th, Sept. 18th and 25th; Standard, Oct.25th and 30th; Times, Jan. 30th, 1869; Examiner, Nov. 6th.

21. That the governors have treated with neglect recommendations madeto them by the staff collectively, and by junior medical officers individually;and that the staff have shown an undue deference to the governors in mat-ters respecting which they ought to have enforced their own opinion.-Lancet, July 14th, Oct. 9th, and Nov. 6th ; Daily News, Nov. 22nd, 23rd, and27th; Times, ’-N-ov. 24th; Sat. Rev., Nov. 27th.

22. That the great majority of the governors are imperfectly acquaintedwith the affairs of the hospital, and with medical matters generally, and thatconsequently the entire management of the institution and its revenues,instead of being controlled by the whole body, is left in the hands of asmall number of persons, most of whom are engaged in business in thecity.-Times, Nov. 2nd; Daily :Xeu:s, Nov. 3rd and 24th; City Press, Nov.6th (Com. Council) ; Echo, Nov. 24th; Lancet, Oct. 9th and Dee. llth.

23. That the Governors chosen from the Corporation of the City of Lon.don take little or no part in the management of the hospital, and that they