that poison. Sulphur waters, passing through the tissues, favor the formation of an insoluble sulphide of lead, which is finally excreted by the kidneys, the skin and the intestines. Hot baths, by promoting activity in the circulation of the skin, stimulate the secretions of the glands of the skin. Finally, sulphur waters, taken internally, contribute by their cholagogue and purgative effects to the elimination of lead by the bile and the intestinal fluids. Phototherapy for the Relief of Pain.-Phototherapy seems to be destined to play a great part in the cure of various diseases, and particularly in the relief of pain. Dr. Rosenberg (N. Y. Medical Record, October 22nd, 1904) says that in acne and furunculosis the effect of phototherapy is rapid and certain. He thinks the blue, violet, and ultra-violet rays act almost specifically in the relief of pain. The ultra-violet rays obtained from the iron and carbon voltaic arc, with a high amperage, act as a specific remedy for acute muscular pains, such as lumbago, torticollis, and pleurodynia. In acute and chronic neuritis, these rays calm the pain and generally cure, especially in the acute forms. In rheumatic arthritis the results have not been encouraging, though German authors have published favorable results, a circumstance which may be accounted for by the limited number of their observations. In acute and chronic pleurisy, and in bronchitis, the ultra-violet rays have proved useful. In gonococcic peritonitis and in catarrhal inflammations of the posterior urethra, the results of treatment have been encouraging, and further trials should be made. Dr. Rosenberg thinks that ultra-violet rays may also prove useful in tubercular and gonorrheal arthritis, as well as for the relief of the pains of locomotor ataxia. A Sign of Death.-An absolutely trustworthy proof of death, other than the commencement of decomposition, is something to be wished for, if for no other reason than to soothe the terrors of those persons who fear to be buried alive. Dr. Icard, Paris, has published a test which is worthy of trial. After the injection of a solution of fluorescin deeply into the cellular tissue, if circulation continues, jaundice of the skin and mucous membrane follows the absorption of that substance, whilst the eye becomes green, "like an emerald set in the orbit," to use the author's expression. If the circulation has completely stopped, nothing of the kind is seen. Should none of the phenomena of coloration appear after the injection of fluorescin, it may be safely concluded that death has occurred. In time of epidemic, Dr. Icard thinks it would be expedient to make a subcutaneous injection of fluorescin at least two hours before a body is placed in the coffin. If the person is dead this causes no disfigurement; if he is alive only a transient discoloration is produced. J. J. C. PERSONAL. DR. JAS. M. MACCALLUM, with Mrs. MacCallum, sailed for England on the 28th ult., and intend being absent for about eight weeks. DR. WILLY MERCK, of the well-known firm, E. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany, has been honored by having conferred on him by the University of Halle-Wittenberg, for his merits in the field of materia medica, the degree of Medicinae Doctor Honoris Causa. THE NURSE. BY CHARLES P. CLEAVES. I lay my hand on your aching brow, You forget I am here? 'Tis the darkness hides. I tide you over the long, long night To the shores of the morning glow. So God's hand touches the aching soul, Softly, so! And the pain grows still. We forget, and yet He is always here! He knows our needs and He heeds our sighs, Till the dawn-light rims the skies. -From The Outlook. News of the Month. FIRST QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE PROVINCIAL THE first quarterly meeting of the Provincial Board of Health of Ontario was held Feb. 1st 1905, at the office of the Secretary of the Board, Parliament Buildings, the first session beginning at 2.30 p.m. The following members were present: Dr. Kitchen, Chairman; Dr. Hodgetts, Secretary; Dr. Cassidy, Dr. Oldright, Dr. Douglas, Dr. Boucher, and Dr. Thompson. After the minutes of the preceding quarterly meeting, held on November 10th, 11th, and 12th, 1904, had been read and adopted, communications were read: (a) Letter from Dr. Hamilton, Port Arthur, asking for the appointment of Dr. McCartney as bacteriologist for that town and district. (b) Letter from the Board of Health of Boston, Mass., announcing that a man who had been handling hides brought from Argentina to Boston on the barque Penobscot, had subsequently developed anthrax. Hides taken from the same shipment had been sent to different places in Ontario, notice being given to Dr. Hodgetts. (c) Letter from Dr. Elliott, Secretary Canadian Medical Association, conveying a resolution of that Association adopted at the Vancouver meeting held in August, 1904, in which the practice of giving notification of tuberculosis was endorsed. (d) Letter referring to the water supply of Ingersoll. (Samples to be sent to the laboratory.) (e) Letter in reference to the water supply of Burke's Falls. It transpired that this supply had never been approved of by the Board. (f) Letter referring to the sewage of Brantford. of the sewage are to be examined at the laboratory.) (Samples He Dr. Kitchen, Chairman, then read his annual address. said that the past year had been a highly satisfactory one from a health point of view. The number of deaths from scarlet fever was 529 in 1903, while last year it was 129. From smallpox there were only four deaths, and the two outbreaks cost but $1,500 to suppress. From diphtheria the deaths were 438, compared with 478; measles 32, compared with 53; whooping cough showed a decrease in deaths of 68. Typhoid fever was responsible for 397 deaths, compared with 298 in 1903. The number of deaths from tuberculosis showed an increase from 2,072, in 1903, to 2,168 last year. But while the whole number of deaths from contagious diseases, minus tuberculosis, was 1,790, the number of deaths from tuberculosis alone was 2,168. The time had arrived when the disease should receive notification. This did not mean that the houses should be placarded, but the Secretary of the Board of Health should be notified, so that information and assistance might be given to the families. "I fear," the report added, "it is not generally known that the Act requires the local health authorities to provide physicians with blank forms whereon to report contagious diseases." With regard to sewage disposal, the view was expressed that experimental sewage plants should be established in Toronto. The appointment of an inspector of sewage and water works systems should be considered. On motion, the annual address of the Chairman was adopted and ordered to be printed in the sanitary journal of the Provincial Board of Health. Moved by Dr. Boucher, seconded by Dr. Thompson: That the application for Dr. McCartney's appointment as bacteriologist at Port Arthur be not entertained, as it is the policy of the Board to support the appointment of County Medical Health Officers. Carried. Dr. Oldright moved, seconded by Dr. Boucher, that the Committee on Epidemics report regulations respecting the notification of tuberculosis. Carried. Dr. Hodgetts was instructed to reply to the resolution of the Canadian Medical Association, stating that the Board had already expressed a conviction in favor of the propriety of giving notification of tuberculosis. The Board's bacteriologist, Dr. Amyot, in his report said that during the past year a number of patent medicines, foods, and beef extracts had been investigated. In the patent medicines a large amount of alcohol had been found, but the foods and beef extracts were freer from deleterious ingredients than was anticipated, although they often contained ingredients cheaper than the name implied. The Chairman paid a tribute to the services rendered by Dr. Hodgetts, the Secretary of the Board, and his staff. Dr. Hodgetts and Dr. Amyot presented an interesting report on the sewage testing station at Columbus, Ohio. The sum of $46,000 was set aside for such a purpose, but it cost only $20,000. The balance will be applied for the maintenance. There are seven tanks, holding 12,000 gallons each. Two are used as grit cham bers, in which the sewage remains for one and a half hours. Another tank is used as a "plain sedimentation" tank, in which the sewage remains for eight hours. Two other tanks were intended to be used for experimenting on the efficiency of chemical precipitation, but they were not so used, but one of them instead was converted into a septic tank. The station also contained filterers, contact beds, and sprinkling filterers. The experiments carried out proved most valuable. Dr. Hodgetts read a report of the Committee on Sewage respecting an outbreak of typhoid fever at London, Ont. Action on the report was deferred until next day. On February 2nd, 10.30 a.m., the Board met and resumed business. The Secretary read his quarterly report. It dealt with the usual mortality statistics, the necessity of the supervision of water supplies, the increase of consumption and the supply of anti-diphtheritic serum. Dr. Hodgetts, in urging that tuberculosis be placed on the list of notifiable diseases, said: "If it had been found that 4,237 hogs, sheep or cattle, worth anywhere from $2.50 to $100 each, had died in the province during 1903 and 1904 from a contagious disease, and that, in addition, many thousands more had become infected with that disease, and would ultimately die-all this to the direct financial less of the farmer, and indirectly to the public loss-there would be such a stir over the length and breadth of the province that the Minister of Agriculture would be forced to take immediate action." The necessity for the adoption of a standard of anti-diphtheritic serum, as in the case of vaccine matter, was very fully dealt with in the report. The chief source of supply has been in the United States, but English firms have entered the market at greatly reduced rates. Dr. Hodgetts recommends the Board to carry on laboratory examinations of these products for the benefit of the public. The report was adopted. A report by Dr. Amyot, giving a résumé of the work done by a British Royal Commission in the matter of the treating and disposing of sewage, showing the results obtained from the dif ferent methods of treatment in sewage on land, was read and was ordered to be published in the sanitary journal of the Board. Dr. Hodgetts then read a report on the water supply of the town of Simcoe, which was received. It was referred to the Committee on Water Supplies. At the afternoon session it was decided that the next meeting of the Association of Medical Health Officers of Ontario should be held at Toronto, about the time when the meeting of the Ontario Medical Association takes place. Dr. Cassidy asked a ruling from the Chairman as to the right |